Part Two Two Birds, A Blind Woman, and a Baby
When the person who was talking looked away, Raven closed her eyes in agony. She found herself growing fond of Jasper, and believed Robin was as well. She was not, however, happy with the neighbors, who would talk for what seemed like hours on end.
"So, anyway, just where did you meet that hunky hubby of your, Rachel?" This woman asked, snapping Raven out of her reverie. Raven had been outside, weeding the flower garden, when this woman named Tilly had ambushed her.
"Oh, uh…" Raven thought a moment. "We met where I used to work. Richard worked there, as well."
"Ah, office romance. You know, you both seem younger than that." Tilly gushed.
"Looks can be deceiving…" Raven concentrated on Tilly's house, and found something to save her. She focused, and opened the cage to the dog kennel, letting her St. Bernard out. "Tilly, isn't that your dog?" The woman looked, and rushed over to her house. Raven rushed back to Nana's house, and slipped inside.
Nana laughed. She was sitting by the window, and had heard the whole twenty-minute conversation. "I see you met Tilly the Talking Queen." She said.
"Unfortunately. Where's Robin?" Raven said, taking off her gloves.
"Oh, that young man of yours is changing lightbulbs for me…well, for you two. I guess I don't very well need 'em, eh?" The old woman laughed, drawing a smile from Raven.
When she heard Raven walk off Nana smiled again, shaking her head.
Robin, when Raven found him, was standing on a small ladder, using his good hand to screw a bulb into the socket. Jasper was sitting in a walker, watching as the light came on.
"So, Mr. Grayson, you just can't stand not being able to do anything, can you?" Raven asked.
"Of course not, Mrs. Grayson." Robin replied. "So, is the kid sleeping in my room, or yours?"
"Actually, Jasper's sleeping in Nana's nursery room."
"The same one where Cyborg slept?" Robin asked. He picked Jasper up, and kicked the walker out of Nana's way, should she come this direction. "I have to see this."
It was just a plain nursery, painted blue in the traditional style. The baby bed rested in the middle of the room, and after both Robin and Raven inspected it, both deemed the bed to be inescapable, for the time being.
"This room hasn't seen any use in 18 years." Nana said. She'd decided the nursery was likely where the three would be. "Not since my little Victor got too old. I had Victor clean the room when he was here the other night." She sighed.
"Why don't you put the little tot to rest for now, and come down to the kitchen. We'll have some iced tea."
On their way, Robin's communicator chirped. He began to answer it, but Raven poked the bridge of his nose, silently reminding him about the mask. Robin put it back into place, and answered.
Starfire came on screen. Speedy and Cyborg could be seen chasing Beast Boy in the background. Muffled noises suggested they caught him after vanishing.
"Hello, Robin. We…that is, I have decided to call and check on you and Raven. How are you and the baby faring?"
"We're fine, Star." Raven rolled her eyes. "Raven says hi. Look, we're kind of busy Star."
"Very well. Take care." Starfire shut off the communicator.
"We aren't overly busy, boy blunder." Raven said. "You could sit here and chat all day with Starfire."
"Nah. Nana expects us in the kitchen, remember?" Robin replied. "We can't keep her waiting."
While they sipped at the tea, Nana took Jasper. "Oh, you're a big one, ain'tcha?" She asked, poking the kid on the stomach. Jasper giggled. Nana grinned toothily. "Let me ask you something." She said. "What if y'all can't find the little one's real ma?"
"We haven't thought that far yet." Robin replied. "I'm not sure what we could do. Jasper's mother wanted the Titans to take care of him, and I'm not sure placing him in foster care would be doing that."
"Mayhap y'all should consider officially adoptin' the tyke." Nana said.
"I don't think that would be a good idea. Jasper would become a target for our enemies." Robin explained.
"I didn't mean the Teen Titans. I meant Richard and Rachel Grayson." Nana countered, smiling at the baby. "Its not like you two wouldn't be able to pull it off." She smiled, and the two Titans wondered what exactly she meant.
Cyborg and Beast Boy sat on either side of Starfire, both focused intently on their game.
"You can't beat me, grass stain." Cyborg said. "You know you can't." He slipped his car past Beast Boy's, and took the race. "Booyah!"
"I play winner!" Speedy called from the kitchen.
Starfire sighed. "I wish friends Robin and Raven were here. Then perhaps I would have something to do as well."
"What? You and raven never hang out." Beast Boy said, dropping his controller on the table.
"And robin would be locked in his room trying to figure out who Jasper's mom is." Cyborg added.
"So, Robin and Raven are off on their own, with a baby?" Speedy asked. "You know, that kind of thing is fodder for tabloids." He sat down, and scooped up the second controller.
"What do you mean?" Starfire asked.
"Well, you've already told me that both of them are undercover, but it isn't like we've been able to hide their absence." Speedy replied. "So, when, not if: when the tabloids realize that both of them are missing…"
Realization dawned on Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg at the same time. Beast Boy, like expected, fell on the floor from laughing so hard, Cyborg just kind of ignored it, but Starfire went insane.
"Y'all okay?" Nana asked. Robin and Raven had both sneezed so hard that Jasper began crying.
"I think so." Robin replied. "What was that?" Raven ignored him for the time being, and took Jasper from Nana. Almost immediately he stopped crying.
"Robin!" Starfire's voice almost screeched over the communicator. Raven glared, and took Jasper from the room.
Robin slid his mask on. "What, Starfire?"
"Speedy just informed us of terrible news!"
"What? Does he have to go back to Titans East?" Robin asked, suddenly concerned.
"No! He told us that if you and Raven are gone too long, then the publishers of the Tabloids will declare that you and Raven have run off together!"
Nana chuckled, unable to ignore the conversation.
"Starfire." Robin said. "Let them think what they want. In a few weeks, Raven and I will be back, and we'll figure out what to do with Jasper then. From now until then, do not call unless there is a real emergency." He shut off the communicator before Starfire could reply.
"Child, that was funny." Nana said. "Doesn't take a genius to figure out that young lady has it in for you."