A/N: Standard Disclaimers Apply

A/N: Thanks everyone again! I'm thrilled that you all are enjoying this little tale, and I hope you will continue to do so!

Chapter Four: Opening Presents

"It's great to see you!" Robin said and threw his arms around the dark haired girl coming down the stairs.

"Likewise, Short pants," Donna said warmly and kissed the Teen Wonder on the cheek. "It's been, what?"

"Far too long," Robin answered. They put their arms over each other's shoulder and walked toward the center of the room together. "Hey, everyone," he announced, "I don't know how many people know this young lady next to me, but this is Donna Troy or, as she's known in the spandex set, Wonder Girl. Donna, you already know Star, and there's Beast Boy and Aqualad (if they ever get off the Gamestation), Cyborg and Bumble Bee, Argent, Jinx, Raven (over against the wall) and…"

Speedy sauntered up, dropped to a knee and took Donna's hand in his. He locked his eyes on hers and kissed her hand lightly. "Speedy," he finished sultrily.

"Obviously, but what's your real name?" Donna said with a wry grin.

The young archer looked as if he had a house suddenly drop on him. He stood and feigned a heart attack, much to the amusement of all. The other Titans greeted Wonder Girl cheerfully, and Cyborg slapped a hand to Speedy's back.

"Dude, nice crash-and-burn," he said jovially.

She walked over to the gift table and added her present to the others. A large floral arrangement of sunflowers and chrysanthemums dominated the center of the table. Her blue eyes scanned for a simple card which read in neat handwriting, "For you, Starshine. –R," and a small smile spread across her lips. "Romantic cuss," she said softly. Donna turned back around as the music started up again.

"Hey, Boy Wonder, have you learned to dance yet?" she asked.

"No," Robin answered with a lopsided grin.

Starfire glanced at the two of them and moved in quietly. She snaked her arm around his and leaned on his shoulder, even though she was a good several inches taller. Wonder Girl smiled warmly at the willowy alien girl.

"You know, I'm a pretty good dancer," Speedy said rakishly.

"I'm sure you are," Donna agreed. A wicked grin spread across her face, "Whatever your name is."

"It's Speedy," the crimson archer said coolly.

Wonder Girl flashed her sweetest of smiles and took Speedy's hands. "Okay, Speedy, Speedo, or whatever, show me what you got."

Robin shook his head and smiled as Donna led the archer to the dance floor. He turned his head slightly, and Starfire's bright green eyes meet his. She smiled shyly and draped herself on the Teen Wonder.

"Thank you for the party," Star said softly.

"You're welcome," Robin said.

"And the flowers are very lovely."

"You're welcome, again," Robin said. He brushed his fingertips on her cheek, and she lightly cradled her head in his palm.

Argent watched them from the punch bowl and slammed down a cup. The energy wielder grimaced at the leftovers and wished they were spiked. She turned away and sighed deeply only to see Raven standing quietly to herself. The pale witch had one of her ubiquitous books in her hands.

"What're you reading?" the silver skinned girl asked.

"A Midsummer Night's Dream," Raven answered.

"That's the one with the fairies, right?"

Raven nodded. She glanced over to Robin and Starfire. The alien finally got the Teen Wonder to dance, and, contrary to all of his protestations, Robin was an excellent dancer. Her large, violet eyes closed slowly, reopened, and Raven returned to her book with a deep shuddering sigh.

Argent finished her punch, wandered toward the dance floor, and finally stole the handsome Aqualad away from the video games. He was surprisingly awkward on land, but Argent soon lost herself in his dark eyes and forgave him anyway. Beast Boy rolled his eyes and concentrated on the game in front of him.

Jinx wandered over to the punch table for a refill. She saw Raven standing there and opened her mouth, trying to speak to her, but nothing came out.

"For your information, I'm reading Shakespeare," Raven said icily.

"Oh?" Jinx said, surprised Raven was talking to her, "Comedy or tragedy?"

"Comedy."

"Really? I thought you were more…"

"Normally, I am. But it is a party."

"Yeah, some fun, eh?" Jinx commented.

Raven closed her book and drew her hood back. She narrowed her eyes on Jinx. The young witch sensed Jinx's emotions, self-doubt, and uneasiness. Raven knew these feelings all too well. The ashen-skinned empath also sensed a deep regret from the lilac-eyed sorceress. Raven looked across the room. All the others were mingling, laughing, and only Jinx and she were by themselves.

Raven took a slow breath before answering, "Yeah."

The music set ended, and Robin took three steps over to the presents table. "Okay, everyone," he announced. "Let's settle down. Beast Boy, can you turn that thing off? Now? Thanks. Right. As you know, it's Starfire's birthday…"

"It is not really my birthday," Star interrupted. "With the orbital and revolutionary differences between Earth and Tamaran my birthday would be forty-seven days later every year on the Earth calendar."

"Thank you, Starfire," Robin said. "As you know, this is the day we celebrate Star's birthday..."

"How old are you, Star?" Beast Boy cut in.

Robin ran his hand through his hair as Star answered, "I am seventeen according to my actual birthdays, but I am just over nineteen earth years old."

"Cool!" BB exclaimed.

Robin snorted through his nostrils and pursed his lips together. He rolled his eyes and grinned. "You know, I had this nice 'We're all glad Star came to earth, and it's her birthday' speech, but, ah hell, let's just get her to open up her presents."

The crowd cheered. Starfire curtseyed as she stood and floated over to the table. She hugged Robin and thanked him again for the bounteous floral arrangement before scanning the table. She picked up a package wrapped in shiny violet paper.

"This is from Beast Boy," she announced before shredding the wrapping and the box underneath. She held a little green plush kitten with enormous green eyes and a sweet expression. "Oh," she cooed, "it is 'The Face!' Thank you Beast Boy!" Star hugged the plush toy and floated over to her elfin friend. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. Beast Boy couldn't decide if he was in heaven (his face pushed up against the taller girl's chest) or in hell (trapped in one of her spine breaking embraces).

The willowy girl released the green boy and hopped back over to the table. Starfire picked up the next package, a small gift bag from Bumble Bee. She reached in and pulled out a small, flat square box. The alien girl lifted the lid and smiled brightly.

"Oh, where did you find this?" Star exclaimed as she pulled a silver bracelet from its box. Five little charms dangled from it: an arrow, a bee, a wave, a plus sign, and a minus sign. She paraded it around the room showing the bracelet to everyone before embracing Bee warmly. "I shall treasure it always!"

Aqualad's gift was a coral and gold coin necklace. According to the Atlantean, the coins were simply something he found one day.

"If you find any more, you can give me a necklace just like that for my birthday," Argent said, cozying up to Aqualad.

Star tore open a small cubic box wrapped in plain, brown packing paper with "To Star, from Cyborg" scrawled across it in black marker. She pulled out a long coil of wire, and she looked at it confusedly. "It is… nice, Cyborg. Thank you."

Cy laughed, "It's called a Slinky, Star, watch…" He placed it on the table and flopped over one end. The momentum traveled through the coil and the entire spring flip-flopped across the table.

"Ooooooo!" Star cooed as she watched, kitten-like, the Slinky dance across the table. "How humorous! Thank you!"

The alien girl was almost distracted out of opening the rest of her presents, but Robin gently nudged her elbow. Jinx gave her a small, glass sculpture of a unicorn. Only Robin and Raven noticed Argent's eyes roll and her shoulder's slump. Speedy gave her a Steel City Tigers jersey. A note fell out and Star was about to read it to the group.

"Read it later, Star," Speedy said quickly and glanced around the room.

Starfire arched an eyebrow, folded the note, and tucked it in her gauntlet, "Very well, I shall."

Donna gave the willowy girl a stylish sweater with the proviso, "If it doesn't fit, don't hesitate to exchange it!" Wonder Girl then threw her arms around Starfire and gave her a spine-rendering hug. The two laughed airily and infected the others with giggling.

One present was left on the table: Argent's. Star floated over and obliterated the bright wrapping paper. She revealed a second glass unicorn sculpture. Star smiled brightly and ensnared the silver-skinned energy wielder in a friendly hug. "And now I have two! How wonderful!"

"Um, Star?" Raven said as the alien girl let Argent go who promptly gasped for air.

"Yes, friend Raven?"

"I didn't get a chance to wrap this, but I… here." The ashen girl held out her hand and gave Starfire a silver chain and an engraved oval pendant. Star looked at the brilliant metal in her palm and her bright green eyes noticed a little clasp and hinge.

"It is a locket!" Star revealed to the Titans and pulled Raven into an inescapable embrace. Raven wore her well practiced you're-hugging-me expression but that was her only protest. "Thank you," Starfire said softly to her best friend.

Robin stood and looked to the Titans. "All right guys, from here on the Tower is exclusively the girls'. Let's move out."

The boys rumbled their displeasure, but slowly got up. Cyborg smiled softly at Jinx. The lilac eyed girl returned a small grin. Argent tried to get Aqualad's attention, but he and Beast Boy had already filed out of the room. Donna walked up to Robin, and they shared a friendly hug.

"See you all soon," Robin said before he, too, left the tower.