Day 6

Gifts

"Okay . . . I really need you to say something, Rae." He had expected a couple minutes of shocked silence, that was the point of surprising someone after all, but it had been ten minutes at the very least. Ten minutes and Raven was still silently standing in front of her birthday gifts, her face unreadable.

"Garfield." She said it with absolutely no inflection and it was impossible to know if she was commending him or reprimanding him for the things her large purple eyes beheld.

"Uhh . . . maybe a little bit more than just that." The silence prevailed and the changeling fidgeted nervously. "Do you . . . I mean . . . you understand, right? You get that, that this is yours, right?"

"I understand," she replied, giving one curt nod. Still, she didn't move from her spot, didn't advance in an attempt to look at her gifts any closer. "My birthday is over four months away," she reminded softly.

"I know. Raven . . . I'm dying here. Please tell me what you're thinking."

"I don't know what to think," the empath admitted, finally taking a step closer. "I'm struggling to understand why you did this."

"You know why. You needed these things and . . ."

"And it was my problem. Why did you . . . this isn't some trinket. This . . . how much was this?"

"It doesn't matter."

"It does matter. I'll never be able to pay you back."

"These are gifts, Rae. You don't pay me back. These are your birthday presents."

"No one gives a house and a minivan as a birthday present! No one does that!"

"Sure they do, I just did."

Raven had come to the decision that she wanted to adopt "her kids" fairly quickly. It was an easy choice, one that felt instantly right to her. Unfortunately, the decision was the only thing that was easy. The empath tried to remain optimistic at first, but as time went on she began to realize she was ill equipped to take on three children. Legally, Raven was practically nonexistent. She didn't even have a last name, let alone a birth certificate and social security number. That was a relatively easy fix, though admitting she wanted a secret identity had been trying. When she'd gone to Robin to ask for help, he'd asked her a million questions as to why. In the end she had given him some excuse about wanting the security of an iron clad identity if something should go wrong in the future and she needed to hide out for a time. The, at times, overly paranoid leader accepted the explanation. The empath wasn't ready to admit what she was attempting to do just yet. Partly, she coveted privacy as she worked things out, but she knew it would be easier if the others didn't know. That way if things didn't work out they wouldn't bombard her with condolences.

No one knew, except Beastboy. Raven hadn't exactly planned on telling him, but the changeling was nosy and had the worst timing. He had managed to see the paperwork she had been diligently preparing. And then he had pestered until she admitted everything to him. It had been nice actually, having someone to talk to about her plans. She and the changeling had become rather close in the last year. He had matured some and she had relaxed a little. The things that used to repeal them faded away and they found a good deal of commonality. They were more alike than they were different, in fact. And so, one stormy Friday night, it was the shape shifter she went to, her eyes slightly damp from the tears she so stoically denied herself.

"Why am I even bothering to do this?" Raven asked, shaking her head wearily. "What chance do I have? I'm a single woman with no car, no house, no job . . . no hope. I'm not even qualified to have a house plant." They embraced, there in the space between the hall and Beastboy's room. He muttered soft things against her ear as he held her close. He promised her that it would be okay.

And now, just a week and a half later she was standing in front of a lovely, two story home. Her eyes focused on the "sold" sign that hung from the larger real estate advertisement, part of the name obscured by a large, red velvet ribbon, squeaking loudly as it swung in the slight breeze. She took another step closer. There in the driveway of the house a dark blue minivan sat, a large red ribbon beginning to slide off the hood.

"You have everything you need now, Rae. They won't say no. You and the kids will be living here in no time."

"I still don't understand why you did all this."

"This is your dream. You deserve this."

"But, I . . . Gar . . . this is . . . hundreds of thousands of dollars." She knew he had money, not that he acted the part. He occasionally indulged in video games and pizza, but never threw money around.

"What's the point of money if you don't use it to help someone? I can't think of anyone I'd rather help that you." He smiled wistfully for a moment, then continued. "Anyway, it isn't right, those kids being alone like they are. I know what that's like . . . being little and alone. If I can help make it so there are three less orphans in the world . . . then it's worth every penny."

"Thank you," she finally murmured nearly forty minutes after she'd opened her eyes to the changeling's happy shout of "surprise". She moved with purpose now, toward her house, excited to look inside.

"There's one more gift, Rae," Beastboy told her and she turned back to face him, noticing a large envelope in his hands. There was a shiny red bow attached to the top and Raven took the envelope from him, opening it slowly. The paper inside was thick, an official document.

"This is . . ." The marriage license fluttered to the ground, her fingertips too numb to hold it once she realized what it was.

"It doesn't have to mean anything, if you don't want it to." He picked up the certificate and dusted it off lightly. "It's just easier for couples to adopt. And this way you can explain your lack of income. The daughter in law of Steve Dayton isn't really in need of gainful employment. You can claim my assets as your own. I mean, literally. Until you find a job or even if you just want to focus on raising the kids until they're all grown up. I'm here to support you. Emotionally and financially."

"Why? Why are you doing this?"

"I already told you why, Raven."

"This is just a piece of paper?" She questioned, taking the license back once more and studying it intently.

"If that's what you want then that's exactly what it is. Just a piece a paper, just part of your gift, so you can bring your kids home."

"But what do you want?" She slid the paper back in its envelope. "Do you want to stay here with me? Help me raise the children? Would you honestly want that?"

"Yeah . . . I'd like to stay and be . . . real, not just a name on a piece of paper." Raven nodded at his words, considering. Silently she pulled the small red bow from the envelope. Standing on the tips of her toes she pressed the sticky bottom of the bow to Gar's forehead, pulling away to look up at him with a slight smile.

"Thank you," she repeated softly. "You're the greatest gift I've ever received."