Charlotte awoke to the feeling of liquid running down her leg. She was groggy but panicked. She'd peed the bed… again. She remembered what her mommy said & left the bed to go to her daddy's room.
Except she didn't know how to get in. Her door opened on its own so she didn't know what to do. Then it hit her. She could shift into something small & fit under the door. But what was small enough?
So far she'd only changed into things she'd seen before (even if it was something she saw for the first time). What animals has she seen? She'd seen a mouse before. Wendy Marshall's house had them.
Charlotte did what Changeling told her to do & thought about what she wanted to turn into. Focused on what it looked like & felt herself change.
Everything seemed to get even bigger than usual. Her eyes shifted around as her nose twitched. She went forward & slipped under the door. It was a tight squeeze but she made it.
She shifted back once she got on the other side. She went to the king sized bed (Changeling got rid of the bunk beds when he hit his freakish growth spurt) & crawled into it. She didn't feel him but maybe he had gone to the potty just like she had to?
She could wait for him…
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Raven breathed deeply. She rolled over & faced the window like she did every day. She could practically feel the sun's rays on her face through the heavy curtains.
Something moved against her back then wrapped around her waist. She was instantly on guard & sat up quickly to defend herself.
It was an arm. A green arm. Connected to a very warm body. She looked over to see Changeling sleeping peacefully & almost gave in to the urge to scream.
What was he doing in her bed?! She peeked under the covers. Naked?! She dropped the duvet as images from the night before flashed in front of her eyes. Vivid images.
She blushed & a book fell off a shelf. She looked around her room. Books were tossed all over the floor, candles were overturned & her pictures were strewn about. It was a mess but at least nothing was broken.
She took one last look at the sleeping angel (what was she thinking?!) next to her & slipped from the bed. She gathered clothing for the day & exited the room to go shower.
After brushing her teeth, she returned to her room to put away her clothing. She hovered so she wouldn't wake him up but he was completely out.
She hurried out & went to the kitchen to make her tea. She was totally confused by her actions. She wasn't supposed to give in. She wasn't supposed to be weak. She wasn't supposed to get caught!
Now he knew how she felt about him & of course he was going to be obnoxious about it!
She absentmindedly prepared Nightwing's coffee as she waited for her water to boil. If she were a nail biter, her already short nails would be nonexistent! This was driving her crazy! What exactly was she supposed to do when he woke up?!
Obviously he was going to push for a relationship! Right? Or would he leave her alone now that he got what he wanted?
Changeling wasn't that type of man… Right?
She was giving herself a headache trying to decipher what this all meant. She poured her water into her mug & took it to the bay windows. She levitated & folded her legs. She took a sip of her tea.
She sighed & tried to find her calm but all her emotions were yammering in her head. Usually she had to go to Nevermore in order to speak to them but when they all had something to say, a link was formed & they came in loud & clear.
Shut up! She barked mentally.
"You need to visit." Knowledge said immediately.
I am not. She said just as quickly.
"Why? Scared?" Rage taunted.
Raven frowned as she closed her eyes to focus. I'm not going & that's final. Hurry up & say your piece so I can meditate.
"I can't believe you had sex! I can't believe you had sex with Changeling!" Happy squealed.
"I can't believe it took so long!" Brave scoffed. "I've been trying to get you to loosen up for ages!"
Make your point & move on. Raven growled.
"You got the stick out, Rae-Rae. Proud of you." Rude belched.
"What if he doesn't like us anymore?" Timid murmured.
"Who cares?! We got what we wanted!"
"That is not what we wanted." Knowledge sighed heavily. "But you do have to figure out what it is you do want, Raven."
Raven knew that. She was a little offended the embodiment of her intellect didn't think she knew that.
"Raven, do what you feel is best for you. Follow your heart & be honest. With yourself & him." Affection spoke for the first time.
Raven waited but her emotions had quieted. She thought about the words Affection had spoken & reflected on what she wanted. She needed to talk to him…
But first thing first; she needed to meditate.
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Charlotte hadn't meant to fall asleep but she was tired. She didn't expect for her mommy to be waking her up in a new day nor for her to look so scared.
For once, Raven's emotional umbrage was written clearly on her face.
"Mommy?" Charlotte rubbed her eyes.
"Thank Azar you're safe." Raven gave in to impulse & hugged the formerly missing toddler.
Charlotte was majorly confused but she hugged Raven back.
Raven let her go after a while. "Did you wet the bed?"
"Yes. I didn't mean to but I woke up at night & I was wet. Daddy wasn't here." Charlotte played with Raven's hair.
"I meant this bed. There's a large wet spot."
"Oh." Charlotte looked down. Apparently she had had more in the tank, so to speak.
"It's alright. Let's clean you up." Raven picked her up & set her on her feet before stripping the bed.
"Will Daddy get mad?" Charlotte followed behind her as she went to the little girl's room to strip her bed, too.
"I'm sure he won't." Raven put all the bed covers on the floor & got an outfit for Charlotte before tugging the little girl to the bathroom. She cleaned her up then collected all the soiled linen that had accumulated for them both since Monday & took it up to the laundry room.
She put in the dark clothes first to get washed then took Charlotte to the kitchen. She sat her down then continued making breakfast with Cyborg.
Charlotte said good morning to the room's occupants & accepted her morning juice from Raven. She started sucking on it & paid attention to Christopher, who was telling her the story Nightwing had told him the night before.
"Hey, C!" Cyborg said suddenly. "Where's your usual greeting?"
Everyone turned to Changeling, who had walked in quietly. He shrugged as he stared at Raven.
She turned from him quickly.
"Well happy birthday!" Cyborg shouted.
"Happy birthday!" Nightwing & Bumble Bee yelled.
"Oh joyous day of birth, friend Changeling!" Starfire enveloped him in a bear hug.
He smirked. "Thanks, Starfire. Thanks, guys."
"It's your birthday? Happy birthday. What's a birthday?" Christopher rattled off.
"It's when you celebrate the day you were born. You do it every year." Nightwing explained.
"Happy birthday, Uncle!"
Changeling ran a hand over the little boy's braids. "Thank you. You know you can call me Uncle Gar."
"Uncle Gar? Why?" Christopher wrinkled his nose.
"That's my name."
"Oh! Like how you call me Chris? It's my nickname."
"Yup. Just a short version."
Christopher beamed. "Happy birthday, Uncle Gar!"
"Thanks." Changeling sat at his place setting.
Charlotte took her sippy cup from her mouth. "Happy birthday, Daddy."
"Aw thank you, sweetie." He hugged her.
"Happy birthday, Changeling." Raven whispered.
Of course he heard her… "Thank you, Raven."
Even though her back was to him, she knew he was staring at her. She dumped the eggs into a serving platter then set it on the table.
"Alright! Birthday breakfast! Apple Cinnamon pancakes with a hint of vanilla!" Cyborg set a plate of pancakes in front of Changeling.
Changeling smiled. "Thanks, Cy."
"Welcome, little buddy." Although Changeling was no longer little. He was the second tallest on the team after Cyborg's 6'5.
He was 6'3 & thanks to working out & getting his protein (chicken, fish, eggs, protein bars & shakes); he'd filled out quite a bit. His now angular face (complete with square jaw & perpetual scruff) was the icing on the cake while his long shaggy hair was the decals.
It was a small joke about the growth spurt he'd endured when he turned seventeen (& changed his name). Nightwing at 6'1 & three quarters was now the shortest male & still the boss.
Even so, they both were glad to finally be taller than the girls. Raven only grew to 5'4 while Starfire topped off at 5'9. But both made up for their height with killer curves & engaging eyes.
"I cannot wait to give you your gift, Changeling!" Starfire gushed.
"I'm sure I'm going to love it, Star." Changeling tucked into his pancakes.
"What's a gift?" Christopher asked Nightwing.
"It's when you give someone something special." Nightwing said as he sipped his coffee.
"You get gifts for your birthday." Cyborg told him. "It's awesome!"
"When's my birthday?" Christopher wanted gifts.
"Not until next year." Nightwing uttered.
Christopher pouted. "No fair."
"We will plan the most wondrous party to celebrate your day of birth when it is your time." Starfire promised.
Nightwing rustled the newspaper in his hands.
Starfire knew what he was saying but ignored him. "It will be spectacular."
"Yay!" Christopher cheered.
Nightwing rustled the paper again as if restating his argument louder.
Starfire still ignored him. "Perhaps you can be a prince?"
Nightwing slammed down the paper. "I draw the line at that."
She smiled. "You have ideas?"
"I know that's not going to happen."
"What's wrong with being a prince?" Bumble Bee teased.
Cyborg laughed as he & Raven took their seats. "He's still a frog."
Nightwing glared at him. "I'm not a frog & princes are dandies."
"Dandies?" Raven was completely uncomfortable sitting so close to Changeling without having first talking but he was face first in his pancakes & wasn't coming up for air. "Been in any historical novels lately?"
A fine dusting of red brushed across Nightwing's cheeks. "I know words."
"Royalty are not these "dandies" of which you speak." Starfire was offended.
"They're useless, Star." He refused to back down from that.
"Princesses have been known to be as such but I assure you that I am not the useless."
"You broke the mold."
She blinked before eyeing him suspiciously. "Is that an obscene slur?"
"I'm saying that you're not the norm when it comes to royalty & it's a good thing."
She smiled. "Thank you, friend."
Bumble Bee laughed. "Sweatin, Nightwing?"
He blew out a breath.
She laughed again.
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Raven checked in on the laundry & switched out the clothes. She put the wet stuff in the dryer & put washing powder in the industrial washing machine.
She felt someone's emotional thumbprint behind her & turned around. It was Changeling. They hadn't spoken all during breakfast & she thought he was ignoring her (confirming Timid's thoughts that he no longer liked her).
"Would you go out on a date with me tonight?"
She blinked. She didn't expect that at all. "Excuse me?"
"We have to talk about last night & everything. Thought it might be easier to do over a plate of vegetarian lasagna." He shoved his hands in his pockets.
"Say yes!" Affection screamed.
"Yes." Raven said.
His eyes widened. "Really?! No! Not really! Really means giving you time to recant that! Just… thanks." He left quickly but she could see the nervousness coming off him in waves.
She sighed before leaving the laundry room. For better or worse, they would be talking.
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
"Where are you going?" Christopher demanded.
"The mall of shopping, dear little one." Starfire explained patiently.
"Can I come?" He wanted to know.
"No, not this time. We must do the shopping in a timely manner & no one must see you yet."
He frowned. "Okay."
The two were in the kitchen with Bumble Bee, Raven & Charlotte as the sorceress made tea before morning training.
"What's that?" Charlotte pointed to the tea bags in the awaiting mugs.
"Tea." Bumble Bee said as she stirred in two teaspoons of honey in her mug.
"What's tea?"
"It's a drink." Raven explained. "It can be a hot beverage or a cold one. It can be used for medicine or because you're thirsty."
"Can I have some?" Christopher asked.
"Which would you like to try?"
"There's kinds?"
"Yes, bumgorf." Starfire went to the cupboard & took out the many different boxes of tea. "Smell."
Christopher & Charlotte went over to sniff the boxes.
"I like this one." Charlotte pointed to a box.
Raven read it. "Orange Jasmine Green Tea. Good choice." She set about making more water for a cup.
Christopher, however, was less than impressed. "I'll just try this one." He picked a random box.
"Sleepytime?" Bumble Bee read the box. "You want to go to sleep?"
"No!" Christopher was stricken.
She laughed. "It'll put you to sleep."
He pointed to a random box. "I'll drink this one!"
"The pepper of mint." Starfire said.
Raven poured raw sugar in the bottom of the kids' sippy cups then poured in the hot but not boiling water. She added their preferred teas then held them out. "Wait a few minutes before drinking."
"Hot!" Christopher let his go & it spilled.
Starfire righted it & cleaned up the tiny mess. "It is the alright."
"Sorry, Mommy."
She kissed his cheek & he smiled.
Charlotte levitated hers with her powers.
"Smart move, Charlie." Bumble Bee complimented.
Charlotte smiled with pleasure. "Thank you, Aunt Karen."
Bumble Bee hugged her. "I like the sound of that."
Starfire chewed on her lips before her eyes alit with an idea. "You may call me the Aunt Kori."
"Star…" Raven raised a brow.
Starfire smiled as if she was a lamb. "They will need something to call us."
Raven wasn't convinced & her blank face couldn't hide that. "The tea should be a little cooler. Try it."
Charlotte stuck the spout in her mouth & sucked. She took it out. "Hot."
"But do you like it?" Starfire leaned forward.
Charlotte nodded & put the lip of the sippy cup back in her mouth.
"Alright! We got another tea drinker!" Bumble Bee sipped on her own ginseng & lemon tea.
Christopher tried his & gagged immediately. "Yucky!"
"You do not like it?" Starfire put her hand on his back.
"No, Mommy." He set the sippy cup away from him.
"I will get you the juice of oranges then." She stood up & floated over to the sink to wash out his cup & throw away the tea bag. Then she filled it with orange juice & brought it back.
He put the cup in his mouth happily. He really liked orange juice.
"Will you read to me?" Charlotte patted Raven's hand.
"I suppose I could." Raven helped her out of the chair & levitated to the couch. She opened a portal to her room & found Gulliver's Travels was still in its same spot. She plucked it up & closed the portal.
Charlotte climbed in her lap as the other girls & Christopher floated into the common area. She made herself comfortable by sticking the spout of the sippy cup in her mouth & laying her head on Raven's chest then playing with the gothic teen's hair.
Raven didn't do anything for a moment. This was a little too cosy & her emotions were starting to get loud again. But she shoved it all away & opened the book.
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
"I think someone should sit out while we train." Nightwing said. "I want to see what Bumble Bee has so maybe Cyborg?"
"That's fine." Cyborg didn't care.
"You are to stay with your uncle while we train." Starfire told her young charge.
"Can we play a game?" Christopher asked instantly.
"Sure." Cyborg agreed. "I can show you how to play video games."
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
That was easier said than done. Any game with reading was out & Christopher routinely forgot which buttons to push. He didn't understand some of the games & he was just plain bad at others.
But Charlotte could hold her own.
"With practice, you could be as good as your mom." Cyborg complimented her.
That's right; Raven played video games. Not often & not all but Changeling had found a few that appealed to her nature & even got her an i-Pod for her birthday that had all sorts of games that had different levels & skills.
"Mommy?" Charlotte looked over at him.
"Yeah. Mommy. She can whoop your daddy like a beast."
She giggled, not really understanding the words but finding them funny anyway.
Christopher tapped Cyborg's arm. "It's back on." Although not good at the games, he was a good sport about losing.
"Okay. Just push the "x" to go forward. Try not to hit the sides & try to go passed us. I'm the blue car. Charlie, you're the purple car & Chris, you're the orange car."
"What about the stick?" Christopher wanted to know.
"That's to steer. You know? to stay on track? Push it."
Christopher pushed it & his car jerked & spun. Christopher giggled.
"You're going to need it when we come up to the curves." Cyborg started the level & they were off.
Of course he left them in his dust but Charlotte was catching up. Christopher was having a good time spinning his car in a circle.
Cyborg went over the finish line first, closely followed by Charlotte. Christopher didn't make it...
"Booyah! I win! I win!" Cyborg stopped & looked at the kids.
Christopher was giggling madly.
Calvin, who was laid out on the couch next to Cyborg, cocked his head.
Charlotte had a look on her face that reminded the cybernetic teen of Raven's you're-an-idiot face. It was completely blank but her nose was wrinkled, the edges of her eyes crinkled & her eyes really told it.
"Sorry." He blushed faintly. "I'm used to doing this with big people. Ready for the next round?"
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
"Are you sure we should have left the children with the boys again?"
Raven & Bumble Bee looked at Starfire. "Yes."
"What if something else goes wrong?"
"You told Chris to go to Nightwing if he has to use the bathroom, right?" Bumble Bee asked.
"Yes."
"Then it's no problem." Raven said as she picked up a stack of paper plates. "What about these?"
"I thought you were going to plan a mermaid party?" Bumble Bee was confused.
"That isn't a good theme." Raven shook her head as she fought her unnatural jealousy.
"But she adored the movie!" Starfire didn't get it.
"It could have just been her first movie."
Starfire & Bumble Bee looked at each other. Something was going on. They looked back to Raven, who was looking at party hats.
Starfire was silently elected to speak. "Perhaps you do not like the Small Merfish?"
"I don't care about mermaids." Raven's voice tinged with bitterness.
"Is it because Charlie seems to really like them?" Bumble Bee was gentle.
She glared at them. "No. Mermaids are utterly ridiculous! So they have a tail? & a great voice? Who made them so perfect anyway?"
"Charlie loves you. She thinks of you more than Ariel."
"I don't care. She's not mine." She sniffed.
"She will always care for you. The Small Merfish is just an attraction but she will always care for you." Starfire told Raven.
Raven thought it over. She was being ridiculous. Charlotte could like two things at once & it was childish to try to make her pick. It wasn't as if affection had a limit. "I think she would like a Little Mermaid party."
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Nightwing rubbed his stomach as he got off the elevator & walked in the common room. It was lunch time & he was hungry.
He looked over & saw Christopher was still playing video games. Badly. He shook his head & went to the pantry for his cereal. He liked Frosted Shredded Wheat with strawberries.
He went to come back to the kitchen but Christopher was standing in front of him. "Whoa!" Where did he come from?!
Christopher looked up at him with a small smile. "What's that?"
"Uh… cereal." Nightwing quickly composed himself. It was rare to sneak up on him but this child did it without trying. He could help develop that…
"Can I have some? I'm hungry."
Nightwing mentally shook his head to rid himself of such thoughts. "Sure."
Christopher slipped his hand in Nightwing's & pulled him towards the kitchen.
Nightwing let him. They made it to the kitchen & Christopher went to his seat. He struggled to get into it so Nightwing picked him up & set him in it.
"Thank you, Daddy."
Nightwing narrowed his eyes in thought but didn't say anything. He went about pouring milk & cereal in two bowls with spoons then sliced strawberries in both.
He carried the bowls to the table & set them down. He sat in his seat & watched Christopher dig in. The little boy smiled as he ate. Nightwing was surprised he liked it. Changeling called Shredded Wheat straw.
He found himself watching a three year old eat cereal & began eating himself. This was kinda nice.
"Daddy, how old are you?"
Nightwing started, used to the quiet & surprised by the question. "18. Why?"
"How old is that?"
Nightwing thought of a way to explain it to a child. "Like nine of you."
Christopher nodded. "What's a stripping club?"
Nightwing choked on his straw. "What?!"
"That's what Mommy said." The child looked at him with innocence radiating from him.
"A strip club is for people my age but it's not a good place." He hoped that would be the end of it.
"Then why did you go?"
Nightwing loosened his collar. "I didn't know we were going until we got there."
"It was a surprise?"
"Yeah." Nightwing wondered where he was going with this.
"I like surprises." Christopher stuck a strawberry in his mouth.
Nightwing nodded, hoping this mortifying talk was over.
"When's Christmas?"
A safe topic. "In December."
"When's Demember?"
"December is the last month of the year."
"Oh." Christopher nodded then frowned. "When is it?"
"In four months."
"How long is that?"
"A lot of days."
Christopher nodded. "How did Uncle Gar turn into all those animals?"
"You know how you have powers? Those are his."
"That's so cool! I want that power."
"Yeah, it comes in handy."
"What's your superpower, Daddy?"
Nightwing blinked. "I don't have one."
"Oh."
Nightwing hated to admit it, even to himself but he felt a little jealous of Changeling at the moment. Not for the first time, he wished he had a superpower.
"Are you the boss?"
Nightwing was startled from his thoughts. "What?"
"The boss. Are you the boss?"
"Oh. Yes, I am."
"Why come, Daddy?"
"Because I'm the most qualified."
"Why come, Daddy?"
"It was how I was raised." That was a can of worms he didn't want to open.
"Why come, Daddy?"
Nightwing opened his mouth but he didn't have an answer. Why was he raised the way he was? "I had an interesting upbringing."
"What does that mean?"
"It means the past is the past & we should leave it there."
"Okay, Daddy." Christopher went back to his cereal.
Nightwing waited but that was all he said. Nightwing didn't want to admit it but he liked that. It was as if whatever he said went. The little boy took his word at face value & as law. That was power.
But he wouldn't abuse it. With great power came great responsibility. But it was super cool that he was looked up to in such a manner.
"Hey, Chris? How about after we eat, I teach you how to play Sock 'Em Out?"
"What's that?"
"A video game."
"Okay, Daddy."
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Cyborg was exhausted. Every time Calvin woke up the previous night, Bumble Bee had come to his room to get him to help. She had said she wanted him to know what he was doing.
That baby woke up five times!
Either he was hungry, wet or both. But at least Cyborg knew how to change a diaper now. & he could burp Calvin. He liked that part. Calvin had some righteous burps.
Now he was going to take a well-deserved nap. He'd just fed & changed Calvin & put him down for a nap & he was going to get his in.
Cyborg had asked Bumble Bee why she changed Calvin so much & she said a fresh diaper prevented diaper rash. Apparently Calvin had one & she wanted it to go away & stay away.
Cyborg put the baby monitor on the counter by his metal charger & got on it. He typed in twenty minutes & closed his eyes.
Usually he programmed how much sleep he wanted (eight hours gave him a full charge) but he had manual overrides such as when the alarm went off or his senses told him it was important to abort charging.
His charging began & his system went through his dream mode. He of course had a dream where he & Bumble Bee were married & they got to keep Calvin.
Of course.
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Changeling yawned & rolled over. He smacked his lips a couple times before sitting up. He looked around & remembered that he was in Charlotte's room, taking a nap with her.
He stretched & picked up the little girl. He rocked her back & forth. "Wake up, Charlie. Wake up."
Charlotte opened her eyes & yawned. "Daddy?"
He nuzzled her cheek. "It's time to wake up."
"Okay." She closed her eyes again.
He chuckled. She was just like him. He liked to sleep in. He woke up every morning at sunrise & always simply rolled over & went back to sleep. "You gotta wake up or we can't put your bed back together before Mommy gets home."
Charlotte's eyes opened & she perked up. "Bed!"
Changeling had seen that her bed was stripped when he came in to put her to bed & decided to make her bed as soon as she woke up. "Let's go to the laundry room."
"Laundry room." She parroted.
He got up with her in his arms & went upstairs to the laundry room. He set her on her feet & opened the dryer. He saw his sheets & things. He'd wondered why his bed was also stripped. "Why are my sheets in here?"
"Mommy put them in."
"Why?" He took the sheets out & noticed clothes were mixed up in them.
"I peed your bed." Charlotte said softly.
Changeling looked at her but she was staring at the floor. "How?"
"I peed my bed & Mommy told me to go to your room if I had to potty so I did but I fell asleep while I was waiting for you to come back from the potty. She woke me up in your room & took all the stuff & put it in here."
He put his hand on her shoulder. "It's okay. I wish you didn't have to wait so long but you did the right thing coming to see me. Mommy is going to get you something that helps with that & we're going to keep taking you to the bathroom."
She headbutted his knee.
"Do you have to potty now?"
She shook her head.
"Okay. Help me fold everything & we'll take it downstairs." He handed her part of a sheet.
"I don't know how." She hated admitting that.
"It's easy! I'll show you." He held up two ends of the sheet & folded it in half. "Now you do the same thing."
She put the corners of the sheet together & held it up. "Like this?"
"Perfect! Now you fold it again."
She folded it again & held it up.
"Now you come to me & let it go." He waited for her to walk to him then took her ends. He neatly folded it in half twice before putting it on the table. "See? Just like that."
She clapped.
"Thank you. Thank you." He bowed.
"Can we do another one?"
"Sure. We have the rest of mine & all of yours." He handed her part of another sheet. "Wanna hear a joke?"
He'd been telling her jokes all day but she didn't think he was very funny. She smiled though because she didn't want to hurt his feelings. She nodded.
"Why did the orange stop halfway across the road? Because it ran out of juice!" He started laughing.
She stared at him for a second before smiling.
"Where do astronauts park their rockets? At parking meteors!" He laughed again.
She smiled, having no idea what astronauts, rockets, parking nor meteors were.
"What do astronauts eat off of? Flying saucers!"
She just looked at him before smiling.
"Ah! I got a million of them!" He laughed.
She hoped she wouldn't have to hear all of them…
They folded the clothes quickly & he put it all in a basket. He took her by the hand & led her down the steps to the bedrooms.
He stopped by Raven's room & put her folded clothes on her unmade bed. Then he stopped by to fix his own. He & Charlotte had a lot of fun playing Hide & Seek in the covers while doing so.
They went to her room & made up her bed after putting away her clothes. They played in the covers again until they had to really make the bed.
Afterwards, they collapsed on the bed, giggling.
"Sing me the star song, Daddy."
He looked down at her. "Twinkle, twinkle, little star…"
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Raven walked into her room & was startled to see a pile of clothes on her unkempt bed. The sight of the bed gave her pause in the first place but the clothes were a surprise.
She wondered who would have done it. She was gone with Starfire & Bumble Bee so they couldn't have done it (although she hadn't been in her room since she tiptoed out earlier). It could have been Cyborg but he would have called her & bugged her about her room so he was out.
It could have been Nightwing. He wouldn't bother her about details but he would have at least sent her a cursory message asking if there was anything to talk about.
So that meant one person… Changeling.
She blushed as she thought about him doing something so domestic, so nice, so homey. It was sort of cute.
She put away her clothes then put away her books. They weren't damaged by her powers thankfully & were amazingly easy to put back to rights. She cleaned up her decimated candles. Luckily they weren't melted, just thrown in the four corners of her room.
She set her photos back up on her dresser & flicked on the lights to make sure they still worked. By some miracle, she hadn't blown it.
She went to her bed & started making it but memories from the night before flooded her mind. She blushed again as she set her bed to rights.
She really didn't know how this date would go but hoped everything would work out fine. She was a nervous wreck & was just barely able to restrain her emotions (two of which were both excited & terrified [three guesses on who they were]).
After, she levitated above her bed & began meditating to prepare for the night ahead.
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Changeling was fresh from a shower after the second training of the day & was going up to the kitchen for a snack when his team surprised him at the door.
"Surprise! Happy birthday!"
He laughed. "Thanks, guys!"
"Come sit down & have yourself some birthday pie!" Cyborg wrapped an arm around his shoulders & led him into the common room.
"Birthday pie? Is it apple?"
"Don't guess." Cyborg pushed him onto the couch.
"Boysenberry." He grinned.
"I'll hit you."
"Cranberry."
"You don't put cranberry in no pie! What's wrong with you?!"
Changeling laughed. "I can't wait to see."
"I know we weren't going to do anything because we were waiting for the weekend but since we're having Charlie's birthday party Saturday, we decided to have a little something today." Nightwing explained.
"Thanks, guys."
"Presents!" Christopher shouted.
"You got me a present?! Thank you, little dude!" Changeling put him on his knee.
"Mommy got it at the mall of shopping for me." Christopher handed it over. It was wrapped in green paper with cats on it.
Changeling opened it. It was a magnet that said I can only please one person per day. Today I choose me. "Awesome! I'll stick it on the fridge right away!"
Nightwing went next. "I thought you would like something sturdier than a tree branch."
Changeling frowned in confusion as he opened the long shallow box. It was a retractable Bo staff. "Thanks, man!"
"I got you something from Cal." Bumble Bee said. "Star told me how one of your mugs was broken so I thought this was cute."
Changeling opened the box & found a Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) big mug. He high-fived the baby. "Thanks, little man!"
"But this is from me." She handed him a wrapped present that had to be a video game or DVD.
Changeling unwrapped it. "Hotel Trapper 4?! Thanks, Bee!"
"Welcome!"
Starfire handed over her box. "I hope you enjoy this, Changeling."
"I'm sure I will." He ripped the top off & flung it behind him. He lifted out a sweater & scarf set.
"I did the knitting myself."
"Thanks so much, Star!" He wrapped the long striped green scarf around his neck.
She flushed with pleasure.
"Here's mine, buddy!" Cyborg handed over another disc shaped package.
Changeling opened it. "Mega Monkeys XII! Awesome!"
Charlotte shoved a package on his lap.
"You got me something? Thank you, sweetie." He pinched her cheek.
She ducked her head. "Mommy got it for me."
He opened it. It was a dream catcher. "Thank you, Charlie. I love it."
She flushed with a pleased smile.
Raven realized she was last & hated it. Now everyone was going to be looking to how he took her gift. What if it was no longer adequate? She pushed the big box over to him.
He flung the top off & picked up the three books. They were a romantic odyssey. A series by an up & coming author that had written one previous book that had been widely received. The trio was on the Best Seller's list. He looked at Raven. "Thank you."
She flushed & pulled her hood up at his intense gaze. "You're welcome."
It was… odd. Electricity bounded between the two as the others looked on.
Cyborg was wildly uncomfortable & it showed as he suddenly clapped his big hands. "Let's have some pie! I got ice cream to go with it!"
Raven looked away first.
Changeling blinked before looking at Cyborg. "Strawberry rhubarb."
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Raven remembered what Bumble Bee had said about parents wanting to imprint certain traits on their children as to their sole reason for procreating & what Starfire had said about teaching Christopher before the kids left.
If she wanted to be perfectly honest, she wanted to teach Charlotte a rather archaic ritual. It was something she'd learned about while on Earth & quite frankly in an embarrassing turn of events as she'd learned it from old children's shows when it was late & she couldn't sleep.
It was a tea party…
Now don't get her wrong; she was appreciative that her teammates had gotten into tea (though Cyborg refused to touch it hot & Nightwing didn't go near it at all). It made her feel more like she fit in & had things (no matter how mundane) in common with her teammates, her friends, her family.
But they drank their tea separately & at different times during the day (aside from breakfast). A part of her had wanted to have a tea party since seeing this activity.
Subconsciously (or consciously if she were being honest), she had studied the tea party. She had committed the acts to memory & had saved the information for a time when she would get to use it.
Today was that day.
On the way back from the mall, Raven had convinced Bumble Bee & Starfire to stop at a bakery. She hadn't told them why or what she was getting but that it was important.
After Changeling's impromptu birthday celebration with three berry (raspberry, blackberry & blueberry) pie with rocky road ice cream (a helacious combination she knew), the team had split up.
Nightwing took Christopher to the gym to work out; Cyborg took Calvin to take a nap while Changeling just disappeared. The girls were in the winds as Raven set the kitchen table up.
She poured boiling water over lemon raspberry green tea in a teapot she received for her birthday a few years ago & let it steep. She set it on the table with honey, raw sugar, mustard & milk.
She grabbed eight little saucers & put them on the table. She slid four under mugs & left the other four by them. She set out four spoons before going for the boxes she'd gotten at the bakery.
She had tea cakes, cookies & a few blueberry scones. The shop had even given her clotted cream & lemon curd for them.
She had debated getting a cheese board but knew there wouldn't be a lot of time before she had to leave for her date so she swore they'd do this again before the kids left. If they had to leave…
Raven shook herself before looking over at Charlotte, who was on the couch looking at the pictures in Raven's spell book. It was dangerous to think that way.
Especially since it would never happen…
She sighed inaudibly & opened her communicator. "Calling Bumble Bee & Starfire. Come in."
The little screen flashed before both girls picked up. "Yes?"
"Come to the kitchen. I have something for you."
"Okay. Be right up." Bumble Bee hung up.
"I will arrive shortly." Starfire said.
Raven closed her communicator & went over to Charlotte. She sat down next to her. "What are you looking at?"
Charlotte looked up. "Flowers."
Raven looked over then righted the book so it wasn't upside down. "That's- that's-" That was hemlock. Raven flipped the page. "That's a bad flower." Flower, root; same thing.
"Bad flower." Charlotte repeated.
"This is a good flower. Hibiscus."
"Hibiscus." Charlotte parroted. She looked over the image of the flower, not being able to read the words concerning it.
"It makes lovely juice."
"Juice? Can I have juice?"
"Not yet." Raven didn't want her too full.
"We're here." Bumble Bee's voice carried over to the pair.
Raven closed the book & set it on the table before standing up. "I have a proposition for you all."
"Of course." Starfire was accepting.
"You don't even know what it is yet." Bumble Bee said.
"I trust her judgement."
Bumble Bee shrugged. "It can't be that bad."
"It's a tea party." Raven came out with it. She wasn't one for beating around the bush anyway.
"A party for the tea?" Starfire's eyes glowed harmlessly. "Oh the joy!"
"Cool." Bumble Bee shrugged again.
Raven smiled at the positive reaction. She looked down at Charlotte. "We're going to have a tea party."
"What's a tea party?" Charlotte asked.
"A party like earlier but with tea & sweets." Bumble Bee explained.
"Presents?"
"No presents."
Charlotte pouted for a moment but her face cleared within seconds. "Okay."
The quartet moved to the table & sat down.
Raven held up the teapot. "Would you care for some tea, Kori?"
"Most assuredly, I would, Friend Raven." Starfire held her cup out.
Raven poured her a mugful. "Would you care for some tea, Karen?"
"Thank you, Raven. Yes, I would." Bumble Bee held her mug out.
"Charlotte, would you care for some tea?" Raven filled it.
"Yes, Mommy."
Raven gave her a third of a cup full. She filled her own mug before holding out a dish with the desserts. "Tea cake anyone?"
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Changeling adjusted his tie. It had been hell getting it tied but he managed to make a knot he hoped he'd be able to get out later. He turned from his mirror & hoped he was dressed okay.
He was wearing a green striped button down dress shirt with pressed dark wash blue jeans. He wore nice shoes & a watch that his adopted mother, Rita Farr gave him for his last birthday.
He sprayed on cologne that Nightwing had given him for the same birthday. It was a nice musk scent that made him feel like he wasn't wearing anything but his natural animal scent.
He even combed his long hair. It was now slightly gelled to the back.
He left his shirt untucked so that he didn't look too put together as he put on the holoring Cyborg had made for him.
His skin turned tan, his hair turned blonde & his fangs turned into normal looking teeth. Even his ears appeared rounded.
He was ready.
He grabbed a black jacket from his closet & left his room to go to Charlotte's. The door opened & he saw Charlotte jumping on her bed.
He probably shouldn't have taught her how to do that. "Hey, come on. Me, you & Mommy are going out."
"Yay!" She stopped mid-jump & floated over to him.
"Let's go see Mommy." He exited the room & went next door & knocked.
The door slid open & Raven was revealed. She wore a nice black top with bell sleeves & purple jean shorts with her boots. "Hello."
"You look nice." He sniffed the air. "You smell like honey."
She blushed but since she wasn't wearing a hoodie, she couldn't raise the hood to hide. "Thank you, Changeling."
"Are you ready?"
She floated a jacket over. "Yes."
"You um… are you gonna wear a holoring?"
"I can use a spell." She cocked her head. "Did you have to explain about this?"
"She hasn't even blinked. I think she knows it's me under here."
"Astute child."
He narrowed his eyes as he tried to think of the definition of the word. "Yup."
"Are we flying?"
"No. We're taking my car." Cyborg had built each of the Titans a car like the T-car when they turned sixteen & got drivers licenses. He didn't want anyone touching his baby.
She nodded & exited her room.
They walked to the elevator & went down to the garage. Changeling's car was next to his motorcycle, which he'd saved up for when Nightwing had gone on a rant about why motorcycles were much better than mopeds just to prove him wrong. He wasn't…
Changeling opened the back door & buckled Charlotte in. "Do you think we'll have to get car seats for them? I think this is illegal."
Raven waved her hand & mumbled a spell underneath her breath. A car seat appeared. "Now it's not."
"You can do that?"
"I can do a lot."
"Why didn't you get all the other stuff for them?" Changeling got in the back to set up the car seat.
"Because I didn't know what all the other stuff was. I know what a car seat is."
"I think I got it but don't quote me on that." He scratched his head.
She peeked past him. "I don't think that's right. Maybe we should get Bumble Bee down here to look it over?"
"No, no. I got it." He frowned as he unbuckled the carrier & tried again.
This went on for five minutes before he got it.
"Ha! I win!"
Charlotte & Raven looked at each other. Raven rolled her eyes. Charlotte tried to copy her.
Changeling set Charlotte in the car seat & buckled her in. "Feel safe?"
She nodded.
"Okay." He got out & closed the door before opening the door for Raven. "Milady?"
She shook her head in playful exasperation with a wiry smile. "Thank you."
"You're very welcome." He shut the door after she got in.
She waited for him to round the car & get in before saying, "You plan on being a gentleman the whole night, aren't you?"
"Of course." He buckled up & adjusted the rearview mirror before pulling out of his spot & driving down the bridge.
"Changeling? Can you slow down at least a little?" She tried to be nice.
He frowned. "Why? No one's on the bridge."
"It's just you're a little… fast." She knew he drove fast but she'd never been in the car with him before so she was unprepared for it.
"Sorry." He grinned sheepishly & slowed down.
She took a breath. "It's okay."
"How you doin back there, Charlie?" He looked in the rearview mirror.
Charlotte smiled. "Okay."
"Good."
"Why'd you want to bring her?" Raven asked. "Don't you think she would have had more fun at the tower with Chris?"
"I just wanted her with us." He shrugged. "Aren't you gonna… make yourself over?"
Raven waved her hand in front of her face slowly & her appearance changed. Her hair turned black as night, her eyes blue as sapphires & her skin pale as the moon.
"Nice." He nodded. "Cool spell."
"Thank you."
They drove in silence for a while before Changeling switched on the radio. He found a romantic jazz station at a red light. "Like this?"
"It's nice." Raven nodded. & it was. The song had no words & was turned down low.
Changeling bopped his head to the beat & drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he waited for the light to turn green.
"Where are we going?"
The light turned green & he stepped on the gas. "Uh… Luigi's. They have the best veggie lasagna in Jump."
"Don't they have the only vegetarian lasagna in Jump City?"
"No but theirs is the best. Not like Pot Licker's." He stuck his tongue out. "Ugh!"
Her mouth twitched. "Not a fan I presume?"
"It makes me wish I ate meat just so I can bash vegetarianism as a whole."
"That's really… intense. It's that bad?"
"So bad. The veggies are mushy, the sauce is bad & the noodles are hard. Lasagna isn't supposed to be al dente!"
The corners of her lips turned up. "It's really bad. When was the last time you were there?"
"It's been about two years."
"Maybe they've changed the recipe?"
"It was garbage before. It could only improve."
She gave a low laugh. "Changeling!"
He wanted to brag about getting her to laugh (he cherished each one) but something was more important. "When we're alone, maybe you can call me Gar?"
She flushed. "That sounds nice."
"You didn't think so two years ago when you & Cyborg were teasing me about it." He taunted.
"We are going to get lasagna."
He scowled as she silently giggled with a straight face. "I am not a fat tabby!"
"You do like to curl up as a cat in the window seat on Mondays."
"The sun is in the best position in that spot!"
Cyborg was right; it was too easy to get his goat. "Slow down. You're going too fast."
He eased off the gas. "We're close anyway."
He drove until he came to a squat red brick building amongst black skyscrapers. He drove around back & found a parking spot then got out.
Raven grabbed Charlotte & they walked inside.
"Name?" The majordomo asked.
"Logan. Garfield Logan." Changeling said.
"Ah! Here you are. Reservations for three." The tall, thin man showed them to a booth table & handed them three menus. "Your waiter will be right with you."
Changeling watched him walk away. "I didn't know it was possible to have your nose that far in the air."
"Maybe he has a deviated septum?" Raven supposed.
The man literally had had his nose in the air.
Changeling shrugged. "Maybe?"
"Do you know what that is?"
"Something to do with your nose, right?"
"Yes."
He grinned. "I know stuff."
"Let's talk about you knowing five languages."
He raised an eyebrow. "You can't get over that, can you?"
"No. Sometimes I feel I know nothing about you."
"You know all the important stuff."
"I feel we should talk about those things."
"If you want."
"Hello, my name is Paul & I'll be your waiter." A short blonde man appeared. "Are you ready to order now or would you like a few more minutes?"
"A few more minutes please." Changeling said.
"Of course, sir." He left.
"What do you want? You can have anything." Changeling offered.
Raven smiled & looked over her menu. "This sausage ravioli looks good. It has three cheeses & spinach with a red sauce."
"Get it."
"Charlotte, what would you like?" Raven looked at the little girl.
She shrugged.
Changeling scooted closer & looked at her menu. "They have spaghetti & meatballs. You want that?"
Charlotte nodded.
"Okay. We'll get you spaghetti."
Paul returned. "Are you ready to order?"
"Ladies first." Changeling nodded.
Raven closed her menu. "I'd like your sausage ravioli with a Caesar salad & raspberry iced tea."
Paul wrote it down. "Yes?"
"The young lady will have your spaghetti & meatballs with a side garden salad with ranch dressing & grape juice if you have it."
"We do, madam." He wrote it down. "Sir?"
"I'll take the veggie lasagna with a Greek salad & raspberry vinaigrette. I want root beer." Changeling said.
"I'll be right back with your drinks & a basket of breadsticks." Paul took his leave with the menus.
The trio at the table sat in silence for a while before Raven remembered what they were talking about before they were interrupted. "Why do you know five languages?"
"That's an odd phrasing." Changeling cocked his head.
She realized it was. "What languages do you know?"
"English, French, Spanish, Swahili & Afrikaans."
"How? How did you learn them?" She really was interested.
"I was born in Africa & learned Swahili from all around me. My mother spoke French so she taught me. My father knew Spanish so he taught me that. I learned Afrikaans after & I learned English when I was about ten or eleven."
"That's amazing. Why did it take you so long to learn English?"
"No one taught me." He said simply.
"How did you learn then?"
"Comic books. I taught myself how to read in English & that's how I began speaking it."
She was impressed. "I suppose I shouldn't mock your reading material any longer."
"It's okay." He smiled. "I'm a comic book geek."
Paul returned with two glasses, a child sized cup & a basket of soft, fragrant breadsticks. "Here you go. Your salads will be ready shortly."
"Thank you." All three chorused as he left.
"Daddy, what's Afrians?" Charlotte asked.
"Afrikaans is a language. How people talk?" Changeling explained.
"That's why you sing funny?"
He smirked. "That's why I sing funny."
"I am sorry about the cracks about you not being able to read." Raven said.
"That's alright. Sometimes I mess up words & get my meanings mixed up." Changeling shrugged. "It's not so much that I don't know anything, just that I know different things."
Raven digested that. "I've asked you a question. Ask me one."
He tapped his chin as he reached for a breadstick. "Magic. You've started practicing different magic. Why?"
She nodded slowly. It was a good question. "I wanted to practice white magic as a way to cleanse myself. I am a half demon. That's not going to change but like becoming a hero helps me atone for my heritage so does the white magic. The more I do good, the more I feel good."
"You are good."
"Thank you. My turn. I've noticed ever since you discovered you can shift parts of your body, you have taken to having a tail. Why?"
He chuckled. "I would say because it feels good but truthfully it helps with balance."
"Is that why you're always a dog or cat or monkey?"
"Yes. Plus the fur is a giant help. I'm used to African heat. I get cold easy."
"Azarath is frigid. I'm very warm here."
"We're total opposites. & you know what they say about those."
She rolled her eyes with a slight smile. "I asked my question. It's your turn."
He chewed on his breadstick in thought. She thought he was wondering what to ask but in actuality, he was wondering how. "Do you pray?"
Her brows lifted in surprise. "Excuse me?"
"Do you pray?"
"Usually people would ask do you believe-"
"You can believe & not pray." He pointed out.
She gave it serious thought. "Yes. It's not often but I've found myself praying to any entity that will listen when I feel the need."
He nodded once.
"You're not going to ask me why?"
"Do you want me to?"
She thought about it. "Ask me later."
"Okay."
She wanted to lighten the mood. "I know you take on some of the characteristics of your animal counterparts such as the ears & fangs & the fact that they grow back like a shark's. But can you eat chocolate?"
"I just ate rocky road earlier." He laughed.
"Do you get sick?"
"A little. It's not polite conversation to tell you how but yeah. But I love chocolate & as long as I don't die, I'm not gonna stop eatin it."
She didn't expect that & made a note of it. "Your turn."
"Since we're on the subject of food, have you always liked tea or did you have to grow to like it?"
"I can't believe I'm admitting this but I did not always like it. But it's the only thing to drink in Azarath besides water & milk."
"No soda?! I'd die!"
Charlotte giggled.
Changeling handed her a breadstick. "So when I put that root beer in your tea mug; that was the first time you've ever had soda?"
Raven nodded. "Yes."
"How was it?" He grinned.
She smirked. "It wasn't as bad as I pretended it was."
"Score!" He cheered. Loudly.
"Your salads." Paul returned with three plates of salad & gave them out. "Any refills?"
"No thank you." Raven said.
Paul left.
"He's stiff, isn't he?" Changeling noted.
Raven inclined her head. "I have a question for you. Why do you wear your gloves no matter the situation?"
He looked down at his grey & black gloves. He was so used to them, he didn't even realize he only took them off to wash or wash them. "I have claws."
She reached across the table & took one of his hands in hers. She slipped the glove off, revealing a slightly tan hand with short nails. "Not right now."
Changeling stared at his hand for the longest time. "Trippy."
"Do you hate your claws?"
He flexed his hand in hers. "It's not my favorite part of me."
"You must have been glad the Doom Patrol supplied you with them."
"Actually I started wearing gloves when I was little. I kept scratching myself & others."
She digested that. "You can put it back on if you want."
"It's a little… disconcerting."
"Wow. Big word."
It worked. He smiled. "Yeah. Big word." He slipped his hand from hers & put the glove back on.
"Your turn." She took her hands back & began eating her salad.
"Do you shave your horns?"
Her fork clattered on the plate. "What?"
"Your horns. Do you shave them? Is that why they're so little?"
"How did you-? who told-? how?!"
"Raven, I have amazing eyesight. I can nearly see through walls. I can see through hair."
She was flabbergasted. "I can't believe this."
"I won't tell nobody." He could see how upset she was.
She closed her eyes & breathed deeply.
"Are you okay, Mommy?" Charlotte questioned.
Raven breathed again before opening her eyes. "Yes. I never expected anyone to find out."
"I'll keep your secret." Changeling promised.
"It's just a demonic side effect." She slid her blank look on her face but he could see through it. "They don't do anything."
"You don't have to explain. Too many things on me cause damage."
She took a sip of her tea. "I can't believe you know. How long have you known?"
"Almost since the team was formed. I was struck by your eyes when we first met & it took me a minute to see past them to anything else."
She blushed. "What else do you know about me that I didn't know anyone knew?"
"You smell like brimstone when you get mad."
She paled. "You're making a horrendous joke."
"I'm serious. Fire & brimstone. It's a little intimidating. When you first got mad at me, I thought I was going to hell & I didn't know why."
She looked at him. "Before you knew what I was?"
"It doesn't matter what you are, Raven. It matters who you are."
A faint blush stained her cheeks. "That's an endearing sentiment."
He shrugged. "Always remember that, Charlie. You're human first."
Charlotte finished her salad. "Yes, Daddy."
"Since you've asked me a question-" Raven started.
"That you didn't answer." Changeling slipped in.
Raven sighed. "I do not shave them. They're just small."
Changeling grinned. "Tiny Horns."
"That is not a nickname you will be giving me."
"Yes, ma'am. Ask your question."
"Does it hurt for you to shift?"
He was startled. It was plain on his face that he hadn't expected that question. "Huh?"
"Does it hurt for you to shift? I've always wanted to ask but never wanted to intrude."
He looked down at his plate before looking up. "Yes."
She gasped.
"& no."
She frowned. "Explain."
"When I first shift into an animal, for the very first time; it hurts. My bones have to learn how to rearrange themselves. My organs have to shift & change. It's excruciating for the duration of the shift."
"Is that why you practiced shifting into mythological creatures when you first realized you could?"
"Yes. The less I have to worry about pain, the quicker it is for my body to get in the rhythm of it. It doesn't hurt anymore because I've changed into everything from a dog to a kitsune. I'm fine."
"I wish I'd known."
"Why?"
"So I could have told Nightwing not to push you so hard. You wouldn't have had to suffer."
"An object is only as strong as its weakest point." He shrugged.
"Since when do you know physics?"
"My parents taught me a little bit & I've read up on some. Just to understand myself better."
"You're not weak."
"I've always had a… complex about my strengths. Sometimes I feel strong. Sometimes I feel weak."
"Why would you ever feel weak?"
"Here are your entrees." Paul appeared.
Raven could have sent him to a dimension of bad tippers for interrupting like that. Now Changeling had a chance to write off their talk with a joke. "Thank you, Paul."
If Paul heard the anger & bitterness behind her monotone, he gave no notice. "You're welcome, madam."
She gave him a low level glare.
"Thank you." Charlotte piped up.
"You're most welcome, Miss." Paul said.
"Thanks, dude." Changeling said.
Paul bowed slightly. "You're welcome, Sir." He took the platter used to carry their dishes & left.
Changeling dug into his entree. "Man, this is good!"
Charlotte picked up a meatball & ate it. "Yummy!"
Raven was very annoyed but she sliced into her ravioli. It was very good. So good, her annoyance melted away. "This is actually quite good."
"Can I pick a restaurant or what?" Changeling grinned.
"This wasn't a disaster."
He chuckled.
They continued eating in silence until Raven couldn't take it anymore. "Are you going to answer?"
"Answer what?" Changeling knew what.
& she knew he knew. "Why would you ever feel weak?"
He was quiet for a long time. So long she thought he wouldn't say anything. "Ask me later."
She sighed. That was fair. "Your turn."
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
"That was the longest round of 20 Questions I've ever played." Changeling set money on the table.
"I've found out a lot more about you than I ever thought I would." Raven agreed.
He chuckled. "Come on. I got a surprise for you guys."
"Yay!" Charlotte stood up on the booth's seat & walked to him. She wrapped her arms around his head.
He laughed. "So you like surprises now?"
"Just yours."
"Yes!" He fist-pumped then stood up & picked her up. "Come on, Rae. Let's blow this pop stand."
Raven stood up & put her coat on. "I still don't like surprises."
"You'll like this one." He swore.
She followed him out of the restaurant & to the parking lot. They buckled in then he drove around the city looking for something. "Are you lost?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"You're lost."
"No, I'm not." He perked up. "See?! I know exactly where I'm going!"
"You just found the right street, didn't you?"
He was silent for three seconds. "Leave me alone."
Charlotte giggled as Raven smiled slightly.
Changeling drove until he came upon a small shop. He parked in the parking lot & got out to open Raven's door. "Milady?"
She shook her head. "Where are we?"
"You'll see." He got Charlotte out of the back & took Raven's hand to lead them to the store.
Raven blushed at the contact but didn't pull away. When they made it to the front, she pulled him to a stop. "Sprinkleland?"
"The best frozen yogurt place in all of middle California!" He said with a huge smile.
"Frozen yogurt?" She wasn't even a big fan of non-frozen yogurt (she had to dress it up with a lot of fruit, granola & whipped cream [& she didn't even care for whipped cream]).
"Yeah. It's amazing." He vowed.
She took a big breath. "I'm trusting you."
"Good." He smiled down at her before letting her hand go to open the door. When they both passed through it, he put his hand on the small of her back & guided her to the bowls.
"This isn't like an ice cream shop." She looked around at the sterile, clean, futuristic motif. "Except some of the decorations."
"It's better than ice cream."
She looked at him sharply. "No, it's not."
He bubbled up with laughter & set Charlotte on her feet. He pointed her towards metal interfaces in the wall. "Which one do you want?"
"I can't read, Daddy." Charlotte looked at him like he was stupid.
Raven smirked at his crestfallen face & her dry tone.
"I know that." He truly did. He'd just forgotten. "I'm going to read them to you."
Charlotte reached up for a bowl. "Okay."
"This is Strawberry Lemonade." He pointed to one machine that had two spouts. He was gesturing to the first one. "This is vegan raspberry."
"What's vegan mean?"
"It means it's not made from animals or animal byproducts. Daddy couldn't be a vegan cuz he likes milk & eggs too much."
Raven laughed then clapped a hand over her mouth. It was still a reflex when she laughed. Mostly because she tried not to laugh at his jokes.
His face was the reason why. There was a giant smug grin on his face.
"You're not funny." She wiped her face clean.
"Oh, I think I am." He started dancing in place.
"You're embarrassing." She covered her face with her hand as people started cheering.
"My moves are sweet!" He stopped dancing.
She shook her head with an eye-roll. "Just pick a yogurt already."
"There's Tahitian Vanilla & Coconut Lime-"
Charlotte stuck her tongue out. "I like the first one."
"Strawberry Lemonade? Alright." Changeling put a little in her cup then put a little Tahitian Vanilla in it. "I'm cutting it with vanilla so it won't be too tart."
When he moved, Raven got a cup full of Tahitian Vanilla. It was the only vanilla she saw & she didn't want to experiment.
Changeling got a combination of flavors before pulling them to the topping bar. "They have all kinds of stuff. Want to try some things, Charlie?"
She nodded & held her cup to her chest.
He gave her a pretzel piece & she ate it. "How you like pretzels?"
She nodded again. "Yummy."
"Chocolate chip?" He handed one over.
She put it in her mouth. "Yummy."
"Gummy worm?"
"Changeling!" Raven snapped.
"Ah, ah, ah! It's Gar."
She scowled at him. "Don't feed her all that junk."
"Fine." He put chocolate chips & pretzel pieces in Charlotte's cup before loading his with a bunch of junk.
Raven put a handful of chocolate chips in her cup. The trio walked to the counter & Changeling paid.
He led them to a table. "Taste it."
Charlotte didn't need any prodding. She stuck her spoon in her mouth. "Yummy!"
Raven didn't find that to mean too much. The child wasn't even two. She scooped a bit of yogurt into her mouth & prepared herself for the worst. It was delicious! "This is what frozen yogurt tastes like?!"
Changeling laughed. "See? Was that really so bad? Trust in me more, guys. I know what I'm doing."
Raven looked at him in surprised pleasure. "I suppose you do."
"Come on. Let's take a walk."
"Take a walk? But your car-?"
"It'll still be here. There's a park close by."
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Changeling parked in his spot in the garage & turned off the car. He looked in the backseat & saw Charlotte was completely out. "Hey? She's gone."
Raven looked in the backseat & realized he meant she was asleep. "I guess we have to wake her up."
"That's okay. I'll carry her." He got out & opened her door for her then got Charlotte out of the back.
Together they walked to the elevator & rode it up to their rooms. They got off the lift & walked around the small corner & went straight to the corridor that housed the trio's rooms.
They went to Charlotte's room first & Raven got her night clothes ready.
"I have something for her. I'll be right back." Changeling laid Charlotte down.
"Okay." Raven went over to the bed as he left. She unbuttoned the back of Charlotte's dress & pulled it off of her. She slipped the nightdress on her then took off her shoes. She left the little girl's socks on.
Changeling came back with something behind his back. "Is she awake?"
"She's still asleep." Raven set aside her shoes & dress.
Changeling put his mystery item down & crouched down by the bed. He took Charlotte's arm & shook it. "Wake up, Charlie. I got a surprise for you."
She frowned & scrubbed at her eyes. "Daddy?"
"Wake up, sweetie. I got something for you."
She opened her eyes & stared at him in her serious way. "Is it another surprise?"
"Yes but my last few have been gold, haven't they?"
She thought it over & sat up. She clutched the chicken lying next to her. "What is it?"
"I'm going to have to take the chicken back." He broke it gently.
"No!" She cried.
"Gar,-" Raven tried to intervene.
"I'm sorry, Charlie but it wasn't mine to give you. But I got you something that's all yours." He reached down & picked something up from the floor.
It was a giant silver stuffed wolf.
Charlotte stopped wailing & looked the wolf over critically. She shifted into a wolf pup & yipped.
Changeling laughed. "Yeah, I am a very nice daddy!"
Charlotte shifted back & threw her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Daddy!"
"You're welcome! What are you gonna name him?" He rubbed her back.
She let him go to put her hand to her mouth in concentration. "I think… Riley."
"Riley? Why Riley? Where did you hear that name?"
She shrugged. "Can I hold him?"
"Sure! He's yours." He handed the stuffed toy over.
She grabbed the wolf around the neck & squeezed like she wanted his head to pop off. "Eeee!"
Raven almost smiled.
Charlotte tucked Riley in beside her. "Tell us a story, Daddy."
"Okay, let's see." Changeling crossed his arms & laid on the bed. He started a rambling story about a princess & a pea but had pirates & jellyfish & snowboarding in it.
Raven was convinced he was just making up words as he went along.
"& they lived happily ever after."
"Sing us a song, Daddy." Charlotte yawned.
"Okay, how about this one?
Mary had a little lamb
Little lamb
Little lamb
Mary had a little lamb
Whose fleece was white as snow
& everywhere that Mary went
Mary went
Mary went
Everywhere that Mary went
That lamb was sure to go
The lamb followed her to school one day
School one day
School one day
The lamb followed her to school one day
Which was against the rules
All the children laughed & played
Laughed & played
Laughed & played
All the children laughed & played
To see a lamb at school"
Charlotte fought sleep. "Sing one in your funny words."
"I'll have to get my guitar."
"I'll wait."
He chuckled.
"It's still in my room." Raven cleared her throat.
Changeling looked at her & everything she'd ever wanted to know about how he felt about her was in his eyes.
She nearly died on the spot. It was emotionally bearing.
He stood up & left the room.
"Mommy?" Charlotte sat up. "Can you come here?"
Raven switched gears & came to sit beside her. "Yes?"
Charlotte held out the chicken. "I know Sammy's yours. Thank you for letting me sleep with him yesterday."
Raven was truly touched. She knew the toy was hers but the fact that Charlotte was relinquishing it was endearing. "Sammy?"
"I named him yesterday but you can change it."
Raven's heart melted. No one had ever treated her like this before. "I think Sammy is a great name."
Charlotte smiled as Changeling walked back in. "Okay, I got it!"
L~O~V~E•Y~O~U
Raven was quiet as she & Changeling left Charlotte's room. The little girl had dropped off in the middle of his song but he played it to the end to make sure. She stopped in front of her door & leaned against it, holding Sammy in her arms.
Changeling leaned against the wall next to her. "Did you have a good time tonight?"
Raven looked at him. "Yes, I did."
"Good. Maybe we can do it again some time?"
"Maybe."
"Maybe we can leave Charlie at home?"
"Why?" She quirked a brow.
"So we can have a grown up talk? I don't know."
"We did a lot of "grown up" talking tonight. She's fine."
He shrugged. "It was just a suggestion."
"I really did have a good time." She reiterated.
"Look, I don't want to rush you but I have to be honest. I've wanted you for a long time. I've liked you for so long; I can't think of a time I haven't."
Her cheeks colored. "You have?"
He nodded. "Can I-? Can I kiss you?"
Her blush intensified. "You took more liberties last night."
The tips of his ears turned red; reminding her he was still wearing his holoring. "I'm taking that as a yes."
She nodded. "It was a yes."
He leaned in & pressed his mouth to hers gently. His protruding yet invisible at the moment fang licked her upper lip as he applied pressure.
She pressed into him (though Sammy was between them). She wrapped an arm around his neck.
He swept his tongue over her sealed lips. She opened her mouth & he tentatively crept inside.
Her tongue was not shy as it encouraged his to dance.
This went on for a while before the need to breath overrode their hormones. He leaned on her, sharing her breath as he gazed into her eyes. "…"
"What does that mean?" Her voice was as low as his.
"You're breathtaking."
Her color was already high but his comment meant that it wouldn't be going down any time soon. "You aren't hideous."
He flicked his ears. "Chicks dig the ears."
She went to his ear & fondled it. "I suppose there are worse things."
His left leg began to shake. "Stop it before you start something you can't finish."
She let his ear go. "I'm sorry."
"It's okay. They're just sensitive."
She watched as he blinked the rabid lust away. "Noted."
He pressed a kiss to her mouth before pressing one to her collarbone & blowing. "Get to bed & dream of me!"
She blinked as a twinge of annoyance (& amusement) hit her. "Gar!"
He laughed & ran into his room.
"Child!" She shouted at his door before going inside her own room. But his childish self was hers…
Mary Had a Little Lamb