Hello dear readers!

My good friend TitanFan45 nudged me to update this story. It's been a year since I last updated this story. A very long time, so I will give you a recap:

It's the end of our heroes winter break in snowy Fort Collins, and it's New Years Eve. Raven was planning on hosting a party in their vacation home in Fort Collins, Colorado and she was hoping that it would be something simple. That is until Starfire decided to invite Queen Perdita of Vlatava, Beast Boy's former girlfriend from many years ago. Raven figured that Perdita would decline the invitation; but finds out on New Year's Eve that Her Majesty accepted the invitation.

For those unfamiliar with Perdita, she was Beast Boy's girlfriend in the series Young Justice, until she broke up with him (it really was all his fault, so don't blame her).

So, without further ado, onto the story.

-(-)-

Raven and Cyborg walked into the kitchen.

"So what's on the menu? Please tell me we're not having spaghetti."

Vic feigned a hurt look.

"That cuts deep, Raven. My spaghetti recipe was handed down to me by my grandma Stone. It's the ultimate comfort food, and nothing's better than it … but this is a special day."

"So you're not making spaghetti."

"No, I'm not, especially since we have a special guest tonight." He said as he wagged his eyebrows.

Raven crossed her arms. "You mean Gar's old girlfriend." Her voice dripped with displeasure.

He chuckled. "Hey, you told Stat to go ahead and invite her."

"Because I thought she would never accept."

"And you got burned … relax … it won't be a big deal. You can show off to her what she could have had, had she not been so stupid."

"You mean what Gar could have had."

Vic shook his head. "The lady is divorced … twice. I'd say that she's the problem. B didn't miss out on anything if you ask me."

"Oh. I see."

"You have nothing to worry about, little lady. As for what's on the menu, the main course is Beef Wellington."

-(-)-

Gar and Mark were in the basement, retrieving the good set of dishes that Raven had packed away for the season after Christmas was over. Gar opened a box, inspected its contents, then handed it to Mark

"Dad, why is mom making us unpack the fancy stuff, instead of using the regular dishes? I mean, they're brand new and still look great."

Gar didn't seem to hear his son, and stared blankly at the shelf where the boxes were stored, as if he were looking for the answer to an inscrutable riddle.

"Dad?"

Again, he didn't seem to hear his son.

"Why the hell did Star invite Perdita?" He mumbled to himself. Mark put the box down and placed a hand on his father's shoulder Gar snapped out of his funk and looked at his son.

"Dad, who is this Perdita anyway?"

Gar sighed. "She's an old flame from a long time ago."

"You mean an old girlfriend?"

"One I'd rather not remember."

"Why?"

Gar chuckled. "She dumped me., actually her Prime Minister told me that she wouldn't be seeing me anymore. She's the Queen of Vlatava and he said her hands were tied and she was going to marry some dude who was a Prince."

Mark grimaced. "I don't care if she's an Empress, screw her. So Aunt Star really invited her?"

"Yeah … don't ask me why … I love Star, she's the sister I never had, but sometimes she can be so, so …"

"Effed up." Mark completed the sentence for his dad.

I was going to say weird … but yeah … anyway, we need to get these dishes upstairs. I think mom is feeling threatened by Perdita coming and is trying to put her best foot forward."

Mark picked up one of the boxes. "Mom is better than any Queen. And we're gonna make sure she and this Perdita both know that."

Gar smiled as he picked up a box. "Thanks champ; but let's keep this polite, OK?"

"Sure thing, dad."

-(-)-

Raven was already at the dining room table, setting a very beautiful silk table cloth on it. Gar and Mark set their boxes down and Mark began to unpack them for his mother. Gar noticed the tablecloth, which was beautifully embroidered. He ran his fingers over it, enjoying its silky texture.

"Isn't this the super fancy silk tablecloth Rita gave you last year?"

"It is." She replied as she began to set the table.

"I don't remember us bringing it here with us."

"We didn't. I went home and got it, along with a few other things."

"A few other things? You teleported all the way back to the house in Jump?"

"I brought the good stemware and the silver too."

"Rave, you don't have anything to prove to her."

Raven paused. "I know, but I want to show her that I wasn't raised in a barn."

"You weren't, but so what if you were?"

"She's a Queen."

"Who cares? I don't. And Star is the Empress at large of Tamaran. She outranks Perdita."

"I know; but we aren't on Tamaran, are we? … Gar, how do you feel about seeing her again?"

"To be honest, I'd rather not see her again. She dumped me with no warning and ghosted me. Next thing I knew she was engaged to some royal dude. I pretty much thought that door had closed a long time ago. And now, for reasons I can't begin to understand, Star invited her."

He pulled the last plate out of the box and handed it to Raven.

"Rave, how about we skip out, just you and me. There are a lot of restaurants in old town Fort Collins, I'm sure we can find one that isn't booked. Maybe that fondue place?"

Raven looked pensive for a moment, until she broke the silence.

"That's tempting … but no. I want to show her that you traded up." She said as one of her small smiles formed.

"You know what, Rave? I love the way you think."

-(-)-

Mark wandered into the cavernous dining room as his mother was setting the table, with a little help from her husband.

"Wow, that looks great mom." He then sniffed the air. "Uncle Vic's cooking smells great, too."

"Thanks." She said as she arranged a setting with surgical precision. "Mark, could you and you siblings change? Wear you Sunday best, please."

"Sure, but Dylan is gonna complain."

"Tell him I said so."

"Sure thing, mom." He said as he went to round up his siblings. The girls very much liked the idea of dressing up, and as predicted, Dylan objected.

"What's wrong with the way I'm dressed?" He griped in a whiny tone.

"Seriously? A grungy T-shirt and torn jeans? A Queen is going to visit us."

"So what? Aunt Star is an Empress and I never dress up for her."

Mark snorted. "She's family and already knows you're a slob. Now get changed, mom's orders."

Dylan grunted at his older brother. "Just because grandpa is gonna train you, you think you're already a Titan and can boss me around."

"I can boss you around. Now go get changed, unless you want mom to go four eyes on you."

"Whatever." Dylan muttered as he marched off to his room.

Mark went to his room and opened his closet. Fortunately he had brought his one suit on the trip. He picked a shirt. He didn't like the tie he brought and ran over to his parent's room, borrowing one from his father. He quickly changed and was admiring himself in the mirror, adjusting his tie when he heard the doorbell ring.

She's here!

As soon as he came out of the room he saw Starfire, Nightwing (who had changed into a tux, though still wore his mask) along with Mar'i and John Bruce in the house's large rustic foyer. Sitting on the banister he zoomed down the huge staircase and saw that Starfire had welcomed a blond woman, who was accompanied by what appeared to be two bodyguards, who were attired in dark suits, sunglasses and the telltale earpieces, meaning there were more outside. One of them pressed on his earpiece and mumbled "the football is in the end zone". Mark slowed his pace and stealthily approached, wanting to get a better look at his father's old flame. One of the bodyguards slightly turned his head toward Mark, indicating that he had seen the green teen. He too pressed on his earpiece and mumbled something.

Mark immediately noticed that Perdita was an attractive woman, even if she was as old as his parents. She was blond, had piercing blue eyes, stood regally and wore a dazzling tiara on her head.

"I welcome you to Fort Collins, Your Majesty." Starfire greeted the Queen with an odd alien curtsy.

"I thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty." Perdita replied with a hint of an eastern European accent, as she too curtsied at the alien empress.

Starfire introduced her family to the Queen as Mark continued to approach, until he had joined the group. Perdita immediately noticed him and did a double take.

"Garfield, is that you? You look so … young?"

Mark coughed to clear his throat and buy time to think of how to respond.

"Uh, no, I'm not Garfield ... your … uh … your majesty?" He sputtered.

Starfire smiled and wrapped an arm around Mark and drew him in tight. Mark's face was mashed into Starfire's bosom, and her children snickered as Mark blushed.

"Your Majesty, may I introduce to you Mark Logan, the firstborn of Garfield and Raven Logan." She said as she released him. Mar'i and John Bruce continued to grin.

Perdita stared in disbelief at the green teen. "Goodness, you look just as I remember your father."

"Uh, yeah, people say I look a lot like my dad, or the way he looked when he was my age." He said as he tugged his collar, still embarrassed by Star's enthusiastic hug.

Perdita's eyes widened. "Is your father here?"

"Uh, yeah, he is. This is my parents' vacation home."

At that moment, Gar, Raven and their other children entered the room. Raven was wearing a stunning violet dress, Gar a sharp looking suit and the kids were all dressed up, even Dylan, who looked like he couldn't wait to change back into his grunge. Perdita stared dumbfounded at Gar, who smiled awkwardly.

"Uh, hi Perdy. Long time no see."

Perdita stared more before finally speaking to him.

"I did not know you would be here. I thought it would just be the Empress and her family."

She looked completely at a loss for words.

"I am so sorry. I will leave now."

Raven stepped forward. "That won't be necessary."

Again, Perdita looked puzzled. "I do not understand. I would think that given my past with Gar …"

"You dated for barely a month, and it was mostly a long distance relationship."

Perdita look surprised. "You are not angry that I broke up with him?"

Raven smiled. "Angry? I'm grateful. Had you not broken up with him, he would be your husband and not mine. I am perfectly happy that you broke up with him. Your loss was my gain."

The Vlatavan monarch appeared to relax. "I am so relieved. So, I am welcome to stay for your party?"

"Very much so." Raven replied. Perdita noticed that Gar looked very amused with the situation.

"Thank you. That said, I have some unfinished business." She turned to face the changeling. "Garfield, I owe you an apology for the way I broke up with you. I am so sorry."

He smiled. "That was a long time ago. Plus Raven and I reconnected just a couple of months after our breakup. Don't take this the wrong way, Perdy; but I got over you pretty quickly."

She closed her eyes and nodded sheepishly. "I am glad, for you deserved someone better than me, and I think you found her."

She turned to one of her bodyguards, who handed her a magnum bottle of sparkling wine. She turned back and handed it to Raven.

"I believe that it is the American custom for the guest to bring a bottle to share. This is a dessert wine from Vlatava, it is similar to Asti Spumante, though we Vlatavans think it is better."

Raven accepted the bottle. "Thank you, I made some Crème Brule for dessert tonight. This will go very nicely with it. Excuse me while I go chill it."

Steve and Rita joined the crowd. Perdita's face betrayed that she recognized them.

"You are the Dayton's! We met once in Vlatava."

"We did indeed." Mento replied. "In case you are wondering why we are here, we are Garfield's adoptive parents."

She looked at Gar. "No one never told me, but I suppose that I never gave you the opportunity."

Gar noticed that Perdita's bodyguards had been looking very tense since their arrival.

"You dudes can relax. This house is full of superheroes and Cyborg installed a security system. Perdy is as safe here as if she were in her mother's arms."

Without betraying any expression, one of the guards replied. "We know that sir, but we would be derelict in our duty were we to drop our guard. And no disrespect sir, but we are better at this job than you are. You have been retired for many years."

Raven gave them an odd look. "You have powers, I can tell."

"Yes, ma'am, we do. Of course they pale compared to yours."

Cyborg popped his head out of the kitchen.

"Hey guys, dinner's ready." He shouted.

"You will be joining us for dinner?" Raven asked the guards.

"No ma'am, we can't. We will be stepping out now to help the rest of the security detail secure the perimeter. Don't concern yourself for us, we have made arrangements for ourselves" The lead bodyguard replied.

"As you wish." She replied as she thought the bodyguards were an even bigger buzzkill than she was in her younger days. "If you change your minds, let me know."

-(-)-

After the dinner, but well before midnight …

Perdita was sitting on a couch in the living room. A huge fire roared in the fireplace and Coraline, Marie and Arella were sitting with her.

"So you're really a Queen, like with a crown and scepter. "Arella asked.

Perdita chuckled. "I am."

"And you were dad's girlfriend?" Marie asked.

She smiled sadly. "Not really. We had a few dates, until I broke things off with him."

"Why did you break up with dad?"

"It was complicated, and by that I mean it was me. Your father was always a lovely man. He did nothing wrong."

Raven showed up with a tray with two coffees, two desserts and two goblets of the Vlatavan sweet bubbly.

"There's a whole Death by Chocolate cake in the kitchen, but the boys have already attacked it." Raven droned in her monotone.

The three girls leaped to the feet, knowing that if they didn't hurry the cake would be gone. They remembered to excuse themselves and ran off to the kitchen.

Perdita laughed. "I did not know that cakes could be attacked."

"They can when you have teens."

Raven handed her a Crème Brule after setting the tray down on the coffee table. Perdita tried it.

"It is perfect. I do not have children, sadly, so I do not know what it is like to be a mother."

"Starfire told me. I am so sorry."

"The royal doctors told me that I cannot have children. Your children are very lovely, especially Dylan."

"Dylan, really?"

"He is very charming. Of course, all of your children are delightful. You are most fortunate and blessed."

"Thank you."

She took a sip of her coffee before continuing.

"As you also already know, I am divorced."

"Yeah, Starfire also mentioned that."

"When we found out that I am barren, my husband, Prince Gustaf, divorced me. He was the last of his line and wanted to have children to carry on the lineage. He was able to persuade the Archbishop to annul our marriage, even though there was no basis for it."

"So, did he remarry?"

"He did, to a billionaire's daughter. He has his heirs and will not have to sell any of his property to maintain his lifestyle. For him, it was as you Americans would say: a win-win."

"What was it for you?"

Perdita didn't answer right away. "It was heart breaking. He did not even discuss it with me. He filed for divorce in France, I only found out when I read it in the morning newspaper."

"You also remarried, right?"

"A most grave mistake. While my marriage was annulled no one of any royal house was interested in me. A wealthy Russian magnate courted me. He was very charming and handsome too. We married and for a while it was pleasant. Days on his mega-yacht in the Mediterranean, ski trips, etc. I hobnobbed with Hollywood celebrities. But he was very busy and was often away. He spent almost no time at all in Vlatava and I spent many lonely days at the palace, until I found out he was cheating on me. That time I was the one who ended it. Anyway, I have not courted since then, nor should I as I know my annulment was a sham."

Raven nodded. "I understand what it's like to be lonely."

"But you have Garfield and your family."

"I do now; but it wasn't always that way. I was alone for many years. I was an awkward introvert, and that's when I wasn't being cranky and difficult. After all these wonderful years you might think that the past is forgotten, but I remember what it felt like to be alone and unwanted."

"But you are so lovely."

A small smile appeared on her face. "Thank you. When I was in the university, everyone knew who I was, and, well, I already had a reputation in Jump City: I was the scary Titan. Everyone gave me a wide berth at school. My classmates were pleasant, and would sometimes talk with me, mostly to ask me what it was like to be a Titan. I graduated and started a small business. I thought that would be my life, working alone in my store, until one day Gar showed up, unannounced. The rest was, as some would say, history."

"There is much history in my past." Perdita said solemnly

"In mine too." Raven replied as she picked up her wine glass. "To happiness."

Perdita picked up her glass. "To joy."

They clinked glassed and took a swig. "Mmmm, that is good. It is better than Asti." She paused. "Perdita?"

"Yes, Raven?"

"Don't give up. I thought there was no one out there for me, until I found out he had been right in front of me for years. I'm sure there is someone out there who is waiting for you."

-(-)-

OK, let me know what you think! If you give me enough encouragement, I won't make you wait a whole year for the next chapter.