The parade's starting point was at the eastern side of the city, so that they could herald Christmas day in and lead the light through the streets. They had a good day for it; despite the snowfall overnight, the clouds were beginning to split apart, revealing glimpses of dazzling silver.

The Titans parked their car in a small car park and made their way to the congregating crowd. Musicians were setting up their instruments: tuning tubas and strapping drums to their chests. Entertainers and dancers were neatening their costumes and applying make up. There were a few police cars parked nearby, no doubt on call in case something went wrong.

Twelve drummers were assembled at the front of the group, chatting idly and twirling their drumsticks.

With stinging eyes and heavy limbs, the Titans loitered at the edge of the crowd, looking for the villain before they could initiate the final attack.

"Is that- it is! Teen Titans!" someone gasped nearby. A plump woman in a green jumper scurried towards them, smoothing her hair as she went. "I didn't realise- what an honour! Oh, but you look shattered. Here- Oscar! Oscar!"

A thin, balding man scampered over, holding several pieces of paper against a broken clipboard. "Yes, dear?"

"The Titans are here! Bring them some coffee, and some cookies."

"Yes, dear."

Oscar disappeared into the crowd and the woman resumed her babbling about how fantastic it was that they could make it. Fortunately, after a few moments she was remembered she had other duties to attend to and hurried away. Oscar returned shortly with a tray of five coffees and a paper bag of cookies but didn't stay to chat.

Each Titan armed with caffeine and sugar, they split up into the crowd to continue their search. Robin headed towards the musicians and positioned himself between the tuba-players and the trumpeters, sipping his coffee. As the scalding, bitter liquid send waves of warmth and rejuvenation through his body, he listened in one of the trumpeters' conversation.

"My wife's coming later on, so I had to walk because she needs to car," the musician complained, one hand stuffed in his pocket, the other clamped around a polystyrene cup. "At least she can give me a lift back."

"Why's she suddenly coming?" his companion asked. "She told me she couldn't join in the marching band because she was busy."

The trumpeter laughed. "Busy sleeping, maybe. She was meant to be playing in Swan Lake last night but it got cancelled."

Interest piqued, Robin made his presence known by stepping forward and coughing. "What do you mean cancelled?"

The trumpeter turned to him, shocked, but cleared his throat and explained. "She got an email from the director yesterday afternoon. Said the performance had to be cancelled last-minute."

"But the dancers were at the theatre," Robin pointed out. In his mind he replayed the battle with Mumbo, recalling the empty car park and auditorium.

"Dunno. Maybe they were rehearsing?" he said, shrugging. But Robin was already walking away, puzzle pieces floating around his brain.

"Or maybe," he muttered to himself, "they didn't get the email…"

He thought back to every crime that night. The unlocked buildings with no signs of forced entry, the police turning up at the bakery before Robin could alert them. See-More's reluctance to co-operate. Billy Numerous' escape from prison. The anonymous tip about the deal that never happened at the strip club…

It hadn't been an anonymous tip at all. They'd already known. He'd already known.

Robin pushed through the crowds; he had to find his team before the parade started. They had to get to-

"EVERYONE, IN POSITION!" cried the green-jumper lady. "We're beginning in ten seconds!"

There was a flurry of movement as the crowds jostled to get to their starting places whilst spectators gathered on the pavements. The entire street was now quite crowded, tinted gold by the sunlight sending orange splashes across the sky.

Robin spotted Raven and Starfire rise above the hullabaloo, and Cyborg and Beast Boy stepping to the side. He rushed over to them, waving at the girls to join them.

"I know who's behind it," Robin breathed. "It's-"

"And a one, and a two, and a-"

With a crash of cymbals and a merry toot on a bugle, the parade began. A line of police officers, smiling and waving to the cheering crowds, led the group. Then the brass band, fingers raw red from the wintry air. Gymnasts flipped and twirled and cartwheeled next.

Then the drummers.

Only they weren't drummers. They beat out a loud, steady tune, but it didn't take long for the Titans to notice that beneath their tall, red and gold hats, they were in fact a group of people who should have been in jail.

Billy Numerous, Mad Mod, Fang, Gizmo, Mammoth, Dr. Light, Mumbo, Control Freak, Johnny Rancid, Killer Moth, See-More, and Kyd Wykkyd. They marched in a long, single-file line, flanked by dancers waving pieces of red and green gauze.

"Titans," Robin yelled, turning to point dramatically at the false-drummers. "Go!"

For the third time, Billy Numerous was sent spiralling through the air by a well-aimed sonic cannon. Cheering from the watching crowds sputtered, as though unsure if this was part of the act. But, when someone cried out, "Hey, isn't that the moth dude!?" the cheering began again with newly revived vigour.

Mad Mod managed to whack Robin on the head before he was unceremoniously tossed aside. Starfire barrelled forward, eyes aglow, and swept Fang's legs out from underneath him, sending the spider sprawling to the ground.

Cyborg blasted Gizmo out the air as Beast Boy morphed into a gorilla and wrestled Mammoth on the road. Raven grabbed a nearby dustbin and thrust it on top of Dr. Light's head.

Mumbo got as far as to wave his wand a few times – having been using it in lieu of a drumstick – but only managed to conjure a few exploding cards when Starfire grabbed him by his ridiculous collar and deposited him on top of Dr. Light's dustbin. The two went rolling down the street, Dr. Light screaming and Mumbo scrambling to stay on top of the bin.

"See if you enjoy the forced dance movements!" Starfire yelled after them then turned her glare to the next villain in line.

Control Freak gulped and had the sense to at least attempt to escape before a green cow charged at him and knocked him over, then stamped on the remote which had fallen from his pocket. "No!" he cried, scooping up the pieces and pouting. "This is the only one I haven't lost down the back of the sofa…"

Robin performed a triple flip over the green cow and landed in front of Johnny Rancid, who seemed distinctly sulky. With a panicked gape, Johnny dug his shoes into the road and flung his drum forward. Robin bashed it aside easily, whipping out his staff. He brought it down hard on Johnny's head then nonchalantly kicked him aside.

Johnny fell, dazed, onto Killer Moth who growled and jumped into the air, wings unfurling. However, he only rose a few feet when Starfire ignited her fists and shot like a dart towards him. They flew circles around each other, grappling for the upper hand.

Below them, Cyborg ducked to avoid another exploding eye-bomb blasted from See-More's helmet. He dived to the left, rolled, then came up onto his knee, cannon poised. Before he could shoot, See-More plugged the barrel with another eye-shaped projectile.

"I can't believe you fell for the same trick twice!" See-More cackled, too distracted by his mirth to see Cyborg getting up and sprinting towards him.

"I didn't," Cyborg said then smartly walloped him with his cannon-arm. See-More sailed though the air, colliding with Killer Moth who Starfire had defeated with a few good kicks. The two villains fell in a groaning heap on the ground.

Then, with Kyd Wykkyd securely planted in a dustbin by Raven, the Titans surged through the gymnasts and dancers, past the brass band, and finally reached the line of police officers heading the parade. With Robin leading the way, they broke through the ranks and came to stop before a bleary-eyed Sgt. Miller.

"Titans?" he questioned.

"Anything you'd like to tell us, Miller?" said Robin.

Confused, Miller and a few other officers followed the Titans off the road, leaving the rest to continue leading the parade. They found a quiet spot and cornered Miller against brick wall.

"Admit it, Miller," Robin hissed. "You're the one behind the attacks."

Miller spluttered, indignant. "What? I think you need some rest because-"

"Cut the innocent act. We know it was you."

He pursed his lips, gaze flickering between the five sleep-deprived superheroes, and cleared his throat. "And I'm sure you have plenty of evidence to back up this claim?"

"We will."

Miller snorted and shook his head. "You forget that I'm the Police sergeant here. I'm the one with the power to make arrests. And if I say I'm not guilty then I'm not going anywhere." Eyes narrowed, he took a bold step forward, locking gaze with Robin. "You're just a bunch of teenage freaks who have grown too big for your boots. Now I suggest you drop this insane accusation before I arrest you for wasting police time."

He glanced at the other police officers, still awkwardly standing around them, but his expression fell when they frowned thoughtfully.

"Come to think of it," one said, tapping his chin, "you seemed to know that power cut was going to happen."

"What, no I didn't," Miller insisted.

Another officer stepped forward. "No, no, he's got a point. You were the only person who'd saved their work before the power went. I lost three reports – took an hour to type it all up again."

"Yeah, and all those alarms… it's like you were expecting them," said a female officer. "Not to mention Billy Numerous escaped when you were on guard duty."

Robin smirked and crossed his arms. "There was no 'anonymous tip' at Sugar and Spice, was there?"

The sour expression on Miller's face was answer enough. An officer unhooked a pair of handcuffs from his belt, wary at first but Miller merely sighed and allowed his wrists to be bound.

"Why'd you do it, man?" Cyborg asked, scratching his head. "You've been complaining all night about all the attacks, but you were the one organising them?"

"Because of you!" Miller howled. "Because whenever something happens, who gets the credit? The precious Teen Titans. Never mind us at the station, filling out the paperwork and making sure they don't escape. We've got to put up with their complaining and shouting and trying to break out. And don't get me started on when they make bail…"

"So your reaction to all the paperwork we get…was to give us more paperwork?" cried one of the officers. "What were you thinking?"

"And now we've got to process the arrest of a sergeant," sighed another. "On Christmas."

Despondent, they marched a grumbling Miller away, back to the top of the street where their cars were parked. The rest of the officers quickly followed to handcuff the remaining villains, vowing not to let them escape again.

"Anything we can do?" Beast Boy asked, ears dropping at the sight of their tired eyes. However, they shook their heads with tight-lipped smiles.

"We got this. You kids have done enough. I think it's time you got some rest."

They didn't need to be told twice. The Titans marched back up the street to the T-Car and clambered in. The sun head well and truly risen, the clouds had parted, and the city glistened merrily in the morning light. Exhaustion hit them like a snowball to the face, and it took more energy than they had to buckle their seatbelts.

Eventually, Cyborg started the ignition and began to drive. No one could muster up the effort to speak, apart from Robin who mumbled something about not seeing Red X in the parade. No one could be bothered to point out that it was probably because he wouldn't be seen dead wearing one of those ridiculous hats.

Finally, the arrived back at Titans Tower. No more alarms, no more alerts. Just the welcoming silence of their own home. They dragged their feet up the stairs and pared off to their rooms.

T'was the morning of Christmas, and all through the city
Children were opening their presents with glee.

Merriment was had in all houses except
The Tower, where the Titans went to bed – and slept.

There we have it. I'm sure you can guess what this chapter's title is from...