First of all, I apologize for the tardiness with this chapter, which is 3 years late!
Now on with the show!
-(-)-
Even though the kitchen was big, it was a bit crowded at the moment. Raven had already loaded the Turkey into one of the four built in ovens and was getting the rib roast and pork loin ready to cook as well, as she was expertly applying a seasoning rub to them. Dick was peeling a mountain of potatoes with the usual aplomb and efficiency he always used for any task while Cyborg was multitasking, preparing the soup, the avocado/shrimp cocktails, and was filling a huge pot with hot water to boil the potatoes. Steve was slicing the cheeses and placing the slices on a huge platter, which had a small pile of Gorgonzola in the middle. After he was done he covered the platter with some cling wrap and put it in the fridge.
"You know your way around a kitchen." Raven remarked to her father in law.
"Rita taught me." He smiled.
Out in the dining room Rita was unpacking some boxes that were delivered the day before. They were marked "fragile, handle with extreme care". Starfire reached into a box and pulled out a plate which she flipped over, reading the inscription on the bottom.
"Ah, Wedgwood. Father Bruce also gave us Wedgwood as a wedding present, though it was not this pattern." The princess remarked. "I did get to select our pattern from the catalog, but this pattern was not in it."
"Those dishes have been in Steve's family for over 100 years, we thought it would be a nice touch for today, plus we're giving them to Garfield and Raven." Rita replied. "And the old, original silverware too."
Garfield was busy adjusting the table cloth, making sure is was perfectly centered, after which he began to set placemats on the table, along with the place cards Raven made the night before.
"Where's Karen?" He asked.
"She took the kids to the college campus to practice with their powers. It should be nice and quiet there, since everyone went home. They should be back soon." Rita answered.
"So that's why it's so quiet here. It almost feels creepy. Back home in Jump they're always making noise, the house is never quiet." He deadpanned. Starfire giggled at his remark.
"It has been so long since we were Jump's protectors." Starfire said wistfully as she placed the dishes on the table.
"I know, it feels like it was another life. It's nice that the new Titans are in the Tower these days. Sometimes they come over to talk with us, you know, to pick our brains. Like they need our advice." He added. "I know they have their eyes on the kids, especially Mark and Coraline. I'm glad Dad is going to train Mark, I mean, we all know he's gonna be a Titan."
"They all will." Rita interjected.
He shook his head. "Not Dylan, he has other plans."
"He wants to be a rock star." Rita snickered. "Which he has no chance at."
"He doesn't want to be a hero."
"He says that now, but you wait and see, he will be the greatest hero in the family."
Gar stopped what he was doing and looked at his adoptive mother.
"This is Dylan were talking about."
"I know, but he has a greatness underneath the surface, waiting to come out."
Gar shook his head and smiled. "If you say so."
About 30 minutes later they finished setting up, and some floral arrangements, which Starfire studiously adjusted, were the final touch.
"Wow, that looks great. Like we're at some fancy schmancy restaurant. " The green veterinarian congratulated his coworkers as they stepped back to admire their work.
The others came out of the kitchen, ready to take a break.
"Very nice." Raven remarked in her monotone as she took in the decorated table. "Shall we sit down and rest for a bit?"
They all agreed and sat down in the living room to drink some hot chocolate. Victor grinned as he sipped his cup.
"Man, it just doesn't get any better than this."
Just after he said that the door to the garage burst open and the kids along with Bumblebee came charging in. The kids made themselves comfortable and also began to drink hot chocolate.
"Was your outing pleasant?" Raven asked.
"You bet it was!" Mark gushed. "While we were practicing a bus load of Japanese exchange students pulled up."
"You mean a bus load of Japanese girls." Karen corrected him.
"Yeah, it was awesome." John interjected. "They recognized us and asked us for our autographs."
"No one asked me for mine." Dylan said in a sullen tone.
"One of the girls thought you were mom and asked for mom's autograph." Arella giggled.
"That's not funny." Dylan grumbled.
Coraline sat next to her father. "So, what do we do now?"
Gar shrugged. "I don't know, drink hot chocolate?"
Dick got up from his chair and walked to the Christmas tree. The kids' instruments were still in place and he picked up Dylan's guitar.
"When I was a kid, Alfred would have us do a sing along before Christmas dinner."
Raven arched an eyebrow. "So you're saying that you, Bruce and Alfred would … sing?"
"Yeah, we did. Is that so hard to believe?"
"Uh, yeah, it is." Gar chuckled.
"OK, Mr. Skeptic, I'll show you. Dylan, may I borrow your guitar?"
The gray teen suppressed a chuckle. "Sure … knock yourself out."
Grayson sat down on an ottoman with the electric guitar balanced on his leg. He played a few chords at first, adjusting the strings until he was satisfied.
"OK, here we go, and don't forget to sing along."
Every one watched with wary eyes as Dick began to play.
"Michael rowed his boat ashore, hallelujah ..."
Mark leaped to his feet waving his hands. "Whoa, time out … we're not singing that."
"Why not?"
"This isn't Vacation Bible School." Dylan protested.
"It's Christmas, sing something, you know, Christmassy." John Bruce added.
"OK, OK … sheesh … everyone's a critic. Fine, here goes."
He cleared his throat before restarting. His fingers strummed a few chords and he resumed singing.
"I've been dreaming of a White Christmas ..."
This time he was drowned by moans and groans.
"What's wrong? It's a Christmas Song." He said as he stopped playing.
"It was dreary when Bing Crosby sang it. And you are no Bing Crosby." Rita huffed.
Starfire rose and walked over to her husband and took the guitar from him.
"Perhaps I should try."
Raven leaped to her feet with a worried look on her face. "Starfire, are you sure? I mean, Tamaranian music isn't really our thing."
"Do not worry, dear Raven, one cannot play the glorious sounds of Tamaran on an Earthly guitar. Though the song I will perform is not of Christmas."
"Oh, OK." She said as she slowly sat back down.
"Very well, I shall now commence my performance." Star announced as she turned up the amplifier
To everyone's amazement the princess belted out a rendition of Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Good."
The kids stared stupefied at the middle aged Tamaranian, who continued to play and sing as she danced around.
"Go, Johnny, Go!" She sang as she hopped around.
The performance lasted a few minutes until Star played the final chord. There was a stunned silence until Raven rose to her feet and applauded.
"Starfire, that was amazing." Raven gasped.
"Thank you, Raven, you are most gracious."
All seven kids were slack jawed. Mark, who was still standing, was the first to find his voice.
"How … where … when did you learn to play like that?" He asked in an amazed voice.
"I took some lessons last month."
Dylan stood up. "You learned to play like that in a month?"
"Actually, it was only two weeks. My instructor, whom dear Alfred hired for me, said I was a natural."
"A natural? You're like a superstar!"
Starfire put the guitar back on its stand and turned off the amplifier.
"He did not say that." She smirked. " And I am too old to be a rock and roll star, plus this is ancient music. The new stuff, like the one you call hip hop, I do not like."
Dylan sat back down, grumbling to himself. "I don't believe it, Aunt Star is a Star. It's so unfair."
Raven placed a hand on her son's shoulder. "Now do you see why we want all of you to take lessons?"
"Lessons are boring." Dylan complained.
"Even Bill and Ted had to take lessons." Starfire remarked.
"Who are Bill and Ted?" Marie asked.
"They were in the movie, where they traveled through time to prepare the history report for school."
"Say what? I've never heard of that." Arella remarked.
Their father laughed. "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", it was a bit before your time, but it's a classic. You guys have to see it." He stood up and played an air guitar before shouting "Excellent, dude!"
"Whatever you say, dad." Coraline replied as she rolled her eyes.
-(-)-
Things were bustling in the kitchen as the final steps in preparing the feast were being made. Raven had just removed the Turkey and the various roasts from the ovens when the doorbell rang.
"Our guests are here, right on time." She announced in her deadpan. "I'll get the door."
"Guests?" Bumblebee asked.
Raven dashed over to the front door and opened it, revealing, Jenny and Sam, along with their parents.
"Merry Christmas, I'm glad you could join us."
Mrs. Holden, who was Jenny's mother, became wide eyed. "You really are Raven!"
Jenny scowled at her mother. "Mom, you're embarrassing me."
"Indeed I am Raven, please, come in. I'll take your coats."
Raven used her powers to hang the coats in the massive hallway closet. All four parents did their best to not stare in disbelief.
"This way please." Raven said as she gestured to the living room. "If you'll excuse me, I have some work remaining in the kitchen."
"Can we help?" Sam's mother asked.
"I already have plenty of help, please, go mingle." The sorceress replied before vanishing back into the kitchen.
The two teens, with huge grins on their faces, gestured their parents to follow them. They took off for the living room, and their parents hurried after them. They reached the cavernous living room, which had a huge fire blazing in the fireplace. Sam's father stopped in his tracks.
"Holy Moley! You're Beast Boy and Starfire!"
The changeling shook the guest's hand. "I haven't gone by Beast Boy for years. Just call me Gar, and this is Koriand'r, of the Royal House of Tamaran."
"You're royalty? We had no idea." Sam's mother gasped, before she attempted a very clumsy curtsy.
Starfire took her hands. "There is no need for such formalities. And please, call me Starfire.
Jenny's father looked flabbergasted. "We thought Sam and Jenny were joking when they said that the Teen Titans rented the vacation house."
"We haven't been the Teen Titans for a very long time." Raven called from the kitchen table as she used her powers to levitate the food out of the kitchen to the table. Vic, Steve, Rita and Dick, who was wearing his mask followed out of the kitchen. Raven walked to an intercom and pressed a button.
"Our guests are here and dinner is served." She announced in her monotone.
She gestured at the enormous table. "Please, have a seat."
-(-)-
OK, I got this wheel rolling again.