Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the Property of DC Comics
Chapter 39
Three months and nearly a thousand diaper changes passed and the rather large Titan family was getting comfortable. Of course, having the three oldest discover that they had superpowers like their parents sure added a new set of problems. Now if little quarrels got out of hand the kids would use their powers irresponsibly. Now the team was really considering boarding school.
But, all was well with the triplets. Liam was a fat, happy baby who really looked just like his father; green skin, green hair, and green eyes. He loved to smile and laugh as the kids made funny faces in front of him. Larkin and Lily both, since they were identical, had green skin like their brother but violet hair and eyes. They looked so similar that they had to give each girl a separate color so they would know who was who. Larkin wore green, since her middle name was Jade, and Lily wore purple, since her middle name was violet.
"Hey, dad?" said Crystal.
"Hey, what?" Beast Boy answered.
"Can we go practice transforming?" asked Crystal.
"Not right now," he said, since he was currently washing Lily in the sink. Raven was in the nursery rocking an already bathed Liam to sleep and keeping an eye on Larkin who was getting a bath next.
"Well when can we?" Crystal whined.
"How about tomorrow afternoon?" suggested Beast Boy. "We'll go to the park and I'll teach you for as long as you want."
"Really?" said Crystal, liking the sound of that. So far she'd only been given tidbits of information on her powers and whenever she tried to use them she got in trouble.
"Sure," her father said with a smile. "But don't transform until then, got it?"
She sighed and said, "Alright. But what if Taye-"
"You come and get me," he said quickly and firmly. "I don't care what's going on, I don't care if he says you're a tattletale, you come and get me and I'll take care of it. Got it?"
"Got it," said Crystal, knowing that when her father got like this it was best not to argue with him. "Hey, I've got a question."
"What is it?" he asked as he wrapped a towel around Lily.
"Who's gonna teach me how to use my other powers?" asked Crystal. "You know, with the rocks and stuff."
"Hmm," said Beast Boy, thinking. "Well, I think mommy-Raven might be able to help you."
"Don't call her mommy-Raven," said Crystal.
"What? Why not?" asked Beast Boy.
"Cuz I don't call her that," said Crystal, matter-of-factly. "I call her mommy."
"And… what do you call your mother?" asked Beast Boy, curiously.
"Mom," said Crystal with a smile. "She was my mom but Raven's my mommy. Is that okay?"
"If you're cool with it, so am I," said Beast Boy with a smile. "Now go tell mommy that Lily's done and I'm ready for Larkin."
"'kay!" said Crystal and she ran off.
Beast Boy carefully dried every bit of Lily with the soft towel and then blew a few raspberries into her little tummy, making her smile and coo. She was a bit more laid back than her twin; an observer. She liked to sit in her seat and watch things happen around her, her little mind trying to understand what was going on.
"Ready for number three?" asked Raven as she walked in with Larkin.
"Oh yeah," he said and the two traded.
"So Crystal wants me to help her with her powers?" said Raven.
"Well I thought out of all of us you'd be able to help her the most," said Beast Boy. "You don't mind, do you?"
"No, I just hope I can help her," said Raven. "I have no idea how Terra's powers worked."
"I trust you," said Beast Boy with a smile. "Hey, did you hear that Crystal's not gonna call you mommy-Raven anymore?"
"Yeah, she's been calling me just mommy for a while now," said Raven. "I think when she saw that the triplets weren't going to be calling me 'mommy-Raven' she decided to just call me mommy."
"Well, you are her mommy," said Beast Boy. "Oh, just so you know, I'm taking her to the park tomorrow to work on her animal morphing."
"Do you think she's ready?" asked Raven.
"Whether she is or not she wants to try," said Beast Boy. "I don't think she knows how tiring it can get."
"Well, at least we know she'll sleep good tomorrow night," said Raven. "Now wash Larkin up so I can feed her and put her down."
"I'm on it," he said and began to refill the little tub in the sink. He stripped Larkin and gently laid her down in the warm water. She immediately began to thrash about and fuss. Unlike her sister, she was always moving about and got upset easily. If she had it her way, she'd be held all day and never put down.
Suddenly the alarm began to sound and the tower filled with a red blinking light. One by one the adults congregated into the common room to find out what was going on. By this point Beast Boy was trying to calm a now screaming Larkin who'd been scared by the alarm. Nightwing turned it off as quickly as he could.
"Who is it?" asked Cyborg.
"Mumbo Jumbo's robbing a bank on the south side," said Nightwing. "Plan Blue-4-9-4?"
"Sounds good to me," said Bumblebee.
"Actually, if it's alright with the rest of you, I'd like to go out," said Raven. Everyone knew this day would come and they each looked to each other, unsurely.
"Are you sure?" asked Nightwing.
"Yes," said Raven. "Besides, it's just Mumbo. He's probably one of the easiest villains there is to take down."
"Okay, if you're sure," said Nightwing. "Let's go with… Green-8-7-5."
"Whoa, wait a second," said Beast Boy. "You want me to stay home? If she's going out there I've got to go, too."
"Beast Boy, I'll be fine," said Raven. "And you still have to bathe Larkin. You know that I want either you or myself here with the babies at all times while they're still this young."
"But-" he began.
"No buts," said Raven, firmly. "I'm going, you're staying."
And with that Poor Beast Boy watched as Raven, Nightwing, and Starfire headed out, leaving himself, Bumblebee, and Cyborg home to take care of the children. He wasn't happy about it, but he knew she had to start going out on missions again sooner or later. He just wished it was a little more later than sooner.
Mumbo Jumbo looked quite proud of himself as thousands of dollars flew out of the bank's vault and into his bottomless hat. Over the years he'd grown older, but was as tricky as ever. The team was a little less aggressive with him now, since they didn't want him to break his hip in the getaway.
"There's nothing like having an audience of presidents," he chuckled to himself as the money continued to fly into his hat.
"Sorry, Mumbo, but I doubt any president would want to be at any show of yours," said Nightwing.
Mumbo turned around and saw the three Titans. "I quite disagree," said Mumbo, smiling. "They seem to like this particular act a lot!" He turned his hat towards them and from within they could hear a thunderous applause.
"You still use that old hat trick?" asked Raven, crossing her arms.
"Well, well, look who's back," said Mumbo. "I have to admit, I wasn't sure I'd ever see the likes of you again. An event like this calls for a special show!"
"We are not interested in any show of yours," said Starfire.
"Oh, but I've got a really good one!" said Mumbo, pouting.
"You know what would be a great show?" said Raven. "Watching you give back the money and come with us quietly without any ridiculous 'magic' stunts."
"Sorry, no can do," said Mumbo. "That's one act I'll never perform. Mumbo jumbo!" And with that the money ceased to fly into his hat and, instead, went after the three Titans.
"Titans, go!" said Nightwing and they went into action.
Starfire blasted the money away before they could wrap around her, but unfortunately flew into her face and blinded her. Nightwing fought off the bills and headed straight for Mumbo, but the magician had more tricks up his sleeves.
"Kazzam!" he shouted and thousands of rolls of coins exploded and began to pelt the team's leader.
"Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" Raven cried out and did a clear sweep of all the money that was attacking her teammates. She kept them secured in a tight dark energy bubble and threw it all back into the vault.
"Ooh, forgot you could do that," said Mumbo. "No matter, I'm not finished yet. Time for the grand finale! Hocus Pocus!"
The money, that was back in the vault, became a large tornado, swept up Mumbo Jumbo, and then proceeded to leave the bank. Starfire shot more starbolts at him, but she only burnt a few bills; he was safe inside.
"We've got to stop him before he makes it outside," said Nightwing.
"Leave that to me," said Raven, who melted through the floor.
Mumbo felt quite content as he rode his tornado of cash through the bank and was nearing the exit. He suddenly felt someone grab him and he went flying through a black portal that instantly turned into the vault room in the back of the bank. He was back where he started! And without the money. Nightwing instantly grabbed him and threw his hat to his wife.
"What the… what just happened?" asked a confused Mumbo Jumbo.
"I pulled the curtain on your big finale," said Raven, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms.
"Nice job, Raven," said Nightwing.
"Yes, you did wonderfully!" said Starfire.
"I told you he was one of the easiest villains to take down," said Raven.
"I'll take him to the station," said Nightwing. "You two can go home. I'm sure Beast Boy's made himself sick with nervousness."
"Yes, I suppose I should let my husband know I'm still alive," said Raven.
The two women flew home and found that everything was fine. Of course, the moment Beast Boy saw his wife he let out a sigh of relief and everyone could see him relax. Seeing that she was fine and safe he knew she could go on missions now without him worrying.
"Trust me, Beast Boy, you had nothing to worry about," said Raven. "It was actually a whole lot easier than even I thought."
"Well, wait until you get an actually threatening villain," said Beast Boy. "Then you'll get a good workout."
"I look forward to it," said Raven.