The next morning …

The sun had yet to rise and all was quiet in the snowbound cull-de-sac in the upscale Fort Collins neighborhood. Raven and her husband were sleeping blissfully in the massive four post bed in their rustic bedroom. Garfield rolled over and wrapped an arm around his wife and she mumbled something as she snuggled up with him as he kissed her on the nape of her neck. They both quickly dozed off and the sounds of soft and gentle snoring resumed.

It was the perfect Christmas morning, or it would have been had they woken up a few hours later, but that was not to be as the silence was broken by the sound of feet thundering down the staircase, which woke the Chromatically Challenged Couple from their Christmas slumber.

"Please tell that isn't what I think it is." Raven groaned as she sat up in the bed. She could feel the excitement all the way from the distant living room. Sometimes being an empath wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Soon the blast wave of emotions was followed by one of the sonic type.

"Yes, YES! They got it for me!" Dylan's shout echoed in the house.

The changeling rubbed his head as slowly sat up. "What time is it?"

"It's 4AM" Raven replied. "Gar, please tell me that you didn't buy him an electric guitar."

Before he could answer the whole house shook as their son began to play some chords on his new toy.

"I'm going to kill you. What were you thinking?" She hissed at her mate. Before he could answer the sound of a drum set joined in the predawn cacophony.

"Drums? You also bought them drums?"

Her green spouse shook his head. "It wasn't me. I didn't put any of that stuff under the tree. I bought them all new iPads."

The sound of a keyboard joined the symphony. Raven leaped out of the bed. Clad only in her nightgown she conjured one of her portals and stepped into it. He watched her disappear into the darkness and debated on what to do next. He knew where she had gone and his first instinct was to go back to bed. He knew of course that wasn't an option and slowly rose and headed out the bedroom door, wondering who had given the kids all those noisemakers. He morphed into a hummingbird and flew out the door.

-( - )-

The young Logans and Graysons were having a full blown party in the cavernous living room. Dylan was playing the guitar, grinning a he played, somewhat imperfectly, some complex chords.. Coraline was playing the keyboard and Mar'i was banging on the drums; both were grinning as well. Their performance was quite miserable as Coraline was a neophyte piano player and Mar'i had never played the drums in her life. It didn't seem to matter, as the other kids were dancing around the Christmas tree while they unwrapped their presents. They were having so much fun that they never noticed the black hemisphere that rose from the ground, which melted away, revealing a four eyed Raven.

The sorceress clenched her fists and screamed "STOP!"

Just as it had happened years before, a wave of energy came out of her body and time slowed down until it came to a standstill. The kids all appeared frozen and silence ruled the house once again. Raven stared dumbfounded at the scene before her as her husband finally caught up with her, resuming his human form. They both looked around the room. The flames in the fireplace were no longer moving and the pendulum on the grandfather clock was not swinging.

"Gee, Rave; why didn't you tell me you could still do this?" He asked.

"I didn't know I that I still could."

The changeling looked around the room. He saw Mento frozen, walking down the stairs, with a grin on his face. It was pretty obvious now who gave the kids the noisemakers. Gar placed a hand on his wife's shoulder.

"Rave, why didn't I freeze?"

Raven shrugged. "I don't know, maybe because you're my husband."

"So, the whole world is frozen?"

"I think I stopped time in the whole universe."

He took her hand and led her to the stairs.

"What are you doing?" She asked.

"We're going back to bed."

"We can't do that!"

"Why not?"

She swept her arm in a circular gesture, waving at the room. "I can't leave the whole universe frozen!"

"Why not? It's not like they know they're frozen. After we've had some more sleep you can thaw it out … uh, you do know how to do that, right?"

She nodded. "Yes, I do."

He smiled and led her back to their room. As they entered the upstairs room she looked back at the frozen party below.

"I wish I had known that I can still do that … it would have come in handy for a lot of things."

"We survived. So, shall we get get back to sleep?"

She nodded and the climbed back into bed, snuggling under the covers.

"Gar, I feel wrong about doing this."

"Shh, sleep time."

As soon as she felt his strong arms wrapped around her she closed her eyes and relaxed. Before they knew it they were back in slumberland.

-( - )-

After the Chromatically Challenged Couple had a good sleep Raven allowed time to resume. It was still 4AM of course, at least from the perspective of the rest of the world. Raven and her spouse calmly walked down the stairs.

"I see that Steve gave you some Christmas presents, some loud and noisy Christmas presents. You do know what time it is, don't you?" Raven deadpanned.

The kids stopped banging on their instruments.

"Uh … sorry." The kids replied in a contrite tone.

"It's OK, I am delighted that you have taken an interest in playing musical instruments."

The kids all grinned.

"Which is why as soon as we get home you will all begin take proper lessons."

"Lessons!?" Dylan shrieked. "Mom, I already know how to play!"

"You could do … better." Gar retorted.

"Moooom! Do I really have have to take lessons?" Coraline protested.

"Yes, my child, you do. Don't be upset, you'll thank me later."

Coraline and Dylan were crestfallen. "Aww, mom." She protested again, knowing that it was in vain.

Mar'i was smiling. "Well, at least I won't have to take any lessons."

"Guess again." A voice with an alien twinge to it replied. "I think it would be a glorious idea."

Mar'i gasped, but did not protest her mother's decision. And just when did her parents walk into the room.?

"Your mother's right, you should also learn to play. It will do you good." Grayson announced.

"I think they should treat us to a concert next year." Gar added. All adults present approved.

Dylan stepped forward. He had an alarmed look on his face. "Grandpa, we want to give them back!"

Mento grinned. "I'm afraid that boat already sailed. Plus, I am looking forward to that concert next year."

The three kids dropped their heads in defeat, while Raven levitated next to her father-in-law and whispered in his ear: "What were you thinking?" He smiled and shrugged.

Mark was sitting, fiddling with his new iPad, feeling both happy and grateful that there wasn't an instrument for him under the tree. Raven cleared her throat.

"Since the three of you woke us up early, you can come and help me make breakfast."

The three kids followed her into the kitchen. Dylan grumbled subaudibly.

"Did you say something?" He mother replied.

"Uh ..."

"The three of you also get to clean up."

Dylan was about to protest when Mar'i covered his mouth. "Shut up." She whispered to him before replying to Raven. "We're more than happy to clean up, Mrs. Logan."

Mrs. Logan? Mar'i always called her Raven. Smart girl.

"You may clean up after we open the rest of the presents … OK, Dylan, you beat the eggs and make scrambled eggs. Also make some tofu eggs for your father and I, you're also in charge of making hash browns. Coraline, you're in charge of bacon, sausage, both real and tofu. You're also making oatmeal. Mar'i, you're in charge of pancakes and waffles. I will take care of everything else. And make plenty of everything, we have a full house, and that includes your uncle Victor."

-( - )-

It was till dark outside as the sun had yet to rise. The youngsters, after helping to clean up, had retreated to their rooms, where they compared their presents. A warm blaze was roaring in the fire place, the logs crackling and shooting an occasional spark. The adults were still in their sleep wear, sipping on tea, coffee and peppermint hot chocolate.

"It's so peaceful right now, I wish this would never end." Starfire remarked between sips of her hot cocoa.

"It will." Raven replied. "It always does. I'm going to be busy, I have quite the feast planned for this afternoon."

"I'll never forget those pancakes you made." Cyborg quipped.

Raven sent a mild glare in his direction. "I thought we had agreed to never discuss that again."

The tin man snickered. "I know I did, but come on Raven, those were the worst pancakes in the history of pancakes."

"Yes, and I remember what you said, that I didn't know how to cook. And I also remember what you said the other day, that I could burn water."

"And I was wrong, you're a great cook now, even better than I am."

"Thank you for finally admitting that." She smirked.

"So, Raven, what is on the menu?" Grayson asked.

"I was wondering how long until someone would ask. Here is the menu."

She conjured a ream of printed paper, which she distributed. She read it aloud, while everyone else read their copies

"First course: avocado halves stuffed with a shrimp cocktail. Gar and I will have vegetarian substitute for the shrimp."

"Second course: butternut squash bisque soup."

"Third course: a cheese platter with 10 different kinds of cheese."

"Fourth course: smoked salmon. Gar and I will abstain from that course."

"Main courses: roast turkey and non vegetarian stuffing, prime rib, roast pork tenderloin and roast tofurkey with vegetarian stuffing. Sides of mashed potatoes, potato dumplings, German red cabbage and roasted vegetables, with beef, turkey and vegetarian gravies. Served with a variety of dinner rolls."

"Dessert: apple, peach, pumpkin and pecan pies. Those I ordered from a local bakery. Also ice cream plus plenty of whipped cream. Followed by coffee, tea and hot cocoa."

Cyborg nodded his head in approval. He then looked at his dear gray friend. "That's awesome. If you need some extra hands in the kitchen, I volunteer."

"So do I", Nightwing and Mento volunteered.

"Starfire, Garfield and I will do the set up." Rita interjected.

"When do we need to start?" Dick asked.

"I have the Turkey almost ready to pop into the oven. I prepared the stuffing last night, so after I stuff it and do some final prep, it goes into the oven. Let's plan on starting the rest at 10. We can be seated at 2PM if we all work together."

-( - )-

I will post the rest of the Christmas Day story before Christmas.

Is there anything you would like to see happen? Have Slade crash their dinner? Jinx and Wally show up and eat everything? I am open to suggestions.