WAZZUP! Hey loyal readers! I'm really liking this, so I decided to update early! HUZZAH! So, as always, read and review for me! I love you guys!

The day passed quicker than the teens would have liked.

Even though he seemed better, they knew it was coming.

Until tonight.

The two words struck harder than anything that had happened so far.

"Rob, are you sure you don't want me to call Bats?" Wally asked for the tenth time that day.

"No, Wally. He's busy in Gotham. And besides, it was my idea to stay over the weekend, not his."

M'gann looked at him, worry evident in the way she moved.

"But are you sure there isn't anything we can do to make...whatever this is...better?"

Robin looked at her, a pained smile on his face where a smirk should be. "No, M'gann. Let it come. It has to happen, there's no way around it. I'm sorry."

Artemis snapped her head up, anger radiating off her in waves. "Sorry? Why the hell are you sorry? Are you blaming yourself for this? Dammit, Robin, just tell us what's happening so we can help."

Robin flinched, looking at his feet. "It's ok, Artemis, you'll find out soon enough."

As he walked out of the kitchen, away from the chocolatey smell of M'gann's cookies, he tried to ignore the crash when Artemis threw the pot across the room.

Artemis clenched her fists as Robin trudged out of the room. The way he just had to hide everythingfrom everyone... she was done with it.

She decided to let out her anger by throwing the nearest pot as hard as she could at the other side of the room.

"Artemis!" M'gann cried as it crashed into the other pots. The others looked startled, but not very surprised.

"That's it!" she snapped, stomping her foot. "I'm so sick and tired of him hiding everything from us! We could help him if he would just open up!"

Wally raised his hand like he was in class, brow furrowing with thought. "But Batman-"

"Screw Batman!" Artemis cut him off, and was met with four stunned faces. Aqualad, on the other hand, was expressionless, as usual.

"Artemis," Wally had taking on a calmer tone. "Robin needs his space. I just want to warn you that tonight - and tomorrow, for that matter - are going to be awful. For all of us. He just doesn't want to...word it, I guess. He's scared, Artemis. I know him well enough to see that, and so do you. Tomorrow is going to be one of the hardest days of Rob's life. He's only fourteen - and barely even that. He's probably seen worse stuff than all of us-" he gestured to the whole group with one hand "-combined. You've got to understand that, if nothing else."

Artemis was frozen, her eyes wide. That must've been the longest Wally had talked without mentioning food. But that's not what she was worried about.

Kaldur spoke up. "Yet if he still refuses to talk to us, his emotions will try to take him over. Soon, he has to let it all out."

Wally met his eyes. "Believe me, he will."

Robin rejoined the group late in the afternoon, his expression was distant. If they had been able to see his eyes, they would have known that they were glassy and red from crying. Robin was good at hiding it, though, because he had a smile plastered onto his face.

"Hey guys, whatcha watchin?"

They all looked up from the t.v. Wally was the first to react. "Nothing much, Rob, just channel surfing. Wanna join in?"

The Boy Wonder nodded. "Sure."

The next hour was torture.

The team - minus Robin - kept sharing nervous glances. He could easily tell something weird was going on. Like, we're-having-a-psychic-conversation-without-you weird.

"Guys, I know everything's kind of messed up right now, but seriously? You don't have to exclude me from a convo. I mean, ouch."

Ashamed looks were spread throughout the room.

"Sorry bro, we're just worried about you," Wally mumbled, a light shade of red coloring his cheeks.

Robin moaned and rubbed his eyes with his knuckles, refusing to let the tears threaten to spill over.

"Guys, I'll manage. Honest. I mean, its not like this is the first... the first time it's happened. Actually, I think I would feel a little better if we just didn't talk about it."

M'gann nodded. "Alright, Robin. I'm sure we can all agree to that. Right, guys?"

Murmurs of agreement could be heard from the others. Wally put a hand on the Boy Wonder's shoulder.

And slowly, Robin let a small smile - a real one - tug at his lips.

"Thanks."

It was well past ten when the six teens (lol - six teens, sixteens. Pshhaw) decided to head to bed.

The movie marathon they'd had had helped Robin forget for a while - but there was no turning back now.

The others left without much protest, still sending worried glances over their shoulders as they left.

Then it was just him and Wally, and the bird couldn't find the strength to lift his gaze to meet the speedster's.

"Rob, listen," he said, stepping forward to place a hand on his shoulder.

"You know I'm here for you, kay? We all are."

Robin looked up, tears hidden by the dark lenses of the shades.

Nothing could hide the look of agony on his face, however, so Wally took no time at all in wrapping his arms around the smaller boy, somewhat gently.

It was like something just...snapped, inside of him.

In a heartbeat, the younger boy had flung his arms around the older, burying his face his chest and letting out a soft gasp.

The tears came then, flowing down his cheeks and wetting his friend's shirt.

Wally fisted his hand in the back of Robin's jacket. The speedster closed his eyes and let the him cry.

Batman's protegé let out a light sob, his throat tight. His eyes hurt from holding back tears for so long and his nose burned.

He let himself cry.

Sorry it took so long to update! I'm working on a bunch of other stuff, so you know ;)

The next chapter is "Until Tonight!"

Love you all!

- N.F.