December 30th …

Raven slipped her flannel nightgown over her head, wriggling her way through it until her head popped out through the top. She then went to her bookshelf to pick a book to read. Since the Fort Collins house was the "vacation home" the shelf was poorly stocked with books. She of course had brought some books from Jump with her, and a few were Christmas presents, including Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" series, a gift from Cyborg, who told his gray friend that she needed to expand her variety of genres. Science fiction wasn't her cup of herbal tea, but she knew that Asimov was supposed to be a good writer, so she reached for book #1, "Foundation", and got into bed, sitting up as she read.

Raven was a speed reader, and she was soon at page 127 when her husband came into the room. He softly closed the door behind him, so as not to distract her. His effort failed and she looked up from her book. He had a look of mischief on his face, which was a bad sign. She put her book down.

"What?" She said in her gravelly deadpan.

"Nothing." He smiled back at her. She wasn't buying it.

"We both know that's not true. Spit it out. Was it something the kids did?"

"Nope."

"Then what?"

His grin widened. "Your butt was totally sweet when you were 18. Too bad I didn't get to see it in person back then."

Raven grimaced and leaped out of the bed, her read forgotten.

"So it was the kids!"

"Uh … no … it was Vic … he showed it to me."

Raven face palmed. "Let me guess, everyone has seen it."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, yeah, you could say that."

"I don't see how this could get any worse." She grumbled.

He chuckled. "Star says that she asked you once to go with her to Jump's topless beach."

"And I said no." She growled. "What's with Tamaranians? They're all a bunch of exhibitionists."

"Did she ever go?" He asked in a playful tone. "I know she would sunbathe in the buff on the Tower's roof."

"I have no idea. I never asked her. And how do you know she would sunbathe nude on the roof?"

"I … uh … walked in on her once. She asked me if I wanted to sunbathe with her."

Raven crossed her arms and smirked. "Did you … and be careful with your answer."

"What? No! Of course not."

"Really, a beautiful naked woman asked you to join her and you said no?"

"Hey, I didn't want Robin to kill me, OK?"

Raven chuckled. "Our princess from the stars. I wonder if we would have helped her had she looked like a bug or a lizard?"

"Or if she hadn't kissed Robin."

"Yeah, funny how that works." She quipped.

They stood together quietly, until he broke the silence.

"So you really didn't go to the topless beach with Star?"

"What part of NO do you not understand?" She growled.

"OK, OK, I just wanted to be sure."

Raven slowly shook her head and sighed. "You're hoping there'll be pictures of me topless, right?"

He grinned sheepishly.

She shook her head again. "Gar, we've been married for almost 20 years. There isn't a part of my body you haven't seen or caressed. Why do you want to see a nude picture of me?"

He sweat dropped."Well, you were 18 then."

"Oh, so now I'm a flabby middle aged woman with a saggy bust?"

"What? No! Of course not! You look awesome … but c'mon Rave … you were 18 … you were in your prime. I mean, that would have been the ultimate eye candy. I fantasized about you back then, a lot."

A small smile appeared on her face. "You know what, Gar? I saw you naked once, when you were 18."

His jaw hit the floor. "No fair! You saw me? When?"

"It was my turn to clean the showers. I thought the boys' shower room was empty and I went in with the bucket and mop. You were toweling off after a shower."

"Whoa! So what did you see?"

"I saw everything." She grinned. "Now that was eye candy."

"And you never told me."

"And for good reason. Gar, I had never felt so aroused. Had you asked me then, I would have said yes."

"You mean, as in do it in the locker room?"

She nodded. To her surprise, he scooped her up bridal style.

"What are you doing?" She deadpanned.

"I think we have some unfinished business."

Her expression was blank and the room became so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop.

"Agreed. Tonight, we will be 18 again, even if just for an hour."

-(-)-

The next morning, in the kitchen …

Vic was making waffles when the Chromatically Challenged Couple™ walked in. He stopped mixing the batter when he saw them.

"OK, you two look way too pleased with yourselves. Is there something I should know about?"

"I can't think of anything you should know about." Raven deadpanned.

"Fine, keep your secrets to yourselves. You guys want some waffles?"

"You bet!" Gar interjected.

Vic poured some batter into a waffle iron. "So, are you guys ready for the big New Year's party tonight?"

Raven winced. She hated New Years. Everyone got tipsy and more than a few were uninhibited and even crude. And this time they were hosting it, meaning that she and Gar couldn't slip away and leave shortly after midnight.

And there was going to be a new guest that evening. Raven wasn't sure why she suggested inviting her. Well, it wasn't really her idea. Starfire had pleaded to allow Blackfire to come. Raven had sarcastically said that if they invited Blackfire, then they should also invite Queen Perdita. Star enthusiastically agreed.

Perdita had been a very brief "relationship" Gar had before coming back to Jump. Gar swore that there had been no "monkey business" with the monarch. And their dating lasted less than a month. Anyway, to make matters even stranger, Starfire invited the Vatavlan queen to their superhero party, and Perdita accepted. That of course had been months ago. Raven secretly hoped that Perdita would not come after all and so far there had been no news of the Queen.

Vic placed a plate with a waffle on it in front of her. "Just the way you like them, Raven."

"More than life itself." She joked. As she was pouring maple syrup on her waffle, Vic cleared his throat.

"Oh, by the way, Flash and Jinx can't make it tonight. Something about spending New Years with her folks."

"You mean they've been released from prison?" Raven asked.

Vic laughed. "Yup. So they won't be here. Blackfire won't be coming either."

"I'm heartbroken. It just won't be New Years without an intoxicated Jinx trying to steal kisses from all the guys. Or without Blackfire actually trying to steal the guys."

Gar laughed. "Jinx never tried to steal a kiss from me."

"Because she knew I would kill her." Raven joked. "Anyway, that means we'll be having a nice, dignified party."

"Oh yeah, speaking of that, Perdita's office called." Vic interjected.

"Perdita? As in Queen Perdita?" Gar asked.

"Let me guess, she can't make it. Not surprising, I mean, why would she?" Raven added.

"You guys invited Perdita? Why?" Gar asked in a bewildered tone.

"Her office confirmed she'll be here. Her private jet should be landing this afternoon." Cyborg remarked.

"She's actually coming?" Raven asked.

"Rave, why did you invite her?"

"Starfire invited her. I let Star invite her, since I figured she wouldn't actually show up."

"Why did you invite my ex? Are you guys nuts?" He shouted as he waved his arms.

Raven face palmed. "Vic, please tell me we have good bubbly."

"I bought two cases of Dom Perignon . And don't worry about dinner; I've got it covered, though I would appreciate it if you helped."

"I will. What's on the menu?" Raven asked they left the kitchen together, leaving Gar behind.

The changeling still looked incredulous.

"You guys invited Perdita?" He asked the now empty kitchen.

-(-)-

So, what do you think should happen at the party?

For those who don't know who Perdita is, she's BB's girlfriend in Young Justice.