"What's that?"
Logan was standing in the door looking in at the new arrival.
"My bag."
"Why do you have it?"
"Because Robin asked me to live here for a while."
"Why?"
The man sighed and stopped unpacking. He turned and looked at the little girl with her semi-long green and purple hair and idiotically big green eyes.
"Because he needs my help."
"Why?"
"Because his team has suddenly shrunken down to half it's usual size, plus he has three children and three pregnant women to look after."
He studied her. His arms crossed, his trained mind trying to read and understand this little girl. She laughed and he was caught by surprise.
"You're funny."
"Why?"
She just laughed again as the dark haired man came up behind her.
"You settling in all right?"
"Yeah Rob, just getting friendly with the locals."
Logan looked up at Robin and pointed to the man.
"I like him."
"I'm glad he has your approval."
Then the girl ran down the hall humming.
"Weird kid."
"You'll get used to her. Everything's fine?"
"Yeah. I didn't know how much to bring since I don't know how long you need me fore, but Flash promised if there was anything more I needed he'd be over in a flash."
The two men looked stupid at one another.
"I know, but his Flash. He has to say such stupid things."
"Dude you're here. That's great."
Beast Boy walked into the room and greeted the new arrival.
"Thanks B. Happy to be appreciated."
"You're here."
Bumblebee walked through the door and hugged him.
"How've you been?"
"Fine. Not as busy as you guys, but busy enough."
He grinned. Cyborg followed his wife with Victor and Vanessa.
"Wow they've gotten big. How old are they now?"
"18 months."
"You can actually tell them apart now."
Bumblebee rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile.
"And that?"
He indicated to her stomach.
"A boy. All three are boys actually."
"Triplets?"
Bumblebee laughed.
"No. We're just having one boy, but both Raven and Starfire are pregnant with boys too."
"That's cool."
"Mommy says it's dinner."
Again Logan was standing in the door.
"Raven and Starfire made dinner?"
"I think we'll order pizza Logan."
"To celebrate the new team member."
"Why?"
Beast Boy bent down so he was levered with her.
"You know when mommy or Starfire cooks dinner you run away as quickly as you can."
"Thanks I'll be sure to remember that."
Beast Boy didn't even look up at his wife. He swallowed.
"Pizza just arrived."
"Somebody's in trouble."
"I'll tell Starfire what you said Robin."
Robin turned even paler than Raven.
"Please Rae don't. I like breathing."
She just turned her back, a tiny smile on her lips, and walked off.
--
"Don't touch that."
Logan back off, her eyes huge with surprise, as the man entered his room and ripped the weapon out of her hand. He placed it on the top of the shelf before he turned back to the girl. She was still looking at him and her lower lip was trembling. He sighed and got down so he was levelled with her.
"I'm sorry for screaming at you, but you can't be here without a grownup with you Logan. There are things here that can hurt you?"
"Why?"
"Because that's what they are meant to do."
She took a step back.
"You want to hurt me?"
"No. There are things which, when not used properly, can hurt you. You don't know how to use them and you might get hurt."
"Can you teach me how to use them?"
She took a step toward him and gave him a small smile.
"Maybe when you're older."
"Why?"
"Because you just turned four. Four-years-old shouldn't handle weapons."
"Why?"
He sighed, but he wasn't annoyed. He was almost enjoying himself.
"Because you could get hurt."
"Why?"
"Because you don't know how to use them."
"Why do you have things that can hurt people?"
He looked into her eyes. It was her father's eyes, but behind them he could clearly see her mother. Even if she was just four.
"Because some times bad people try to hurt other people and we some times have to do bad things to stop them."
"Why?"
"Because there is a difference between being a bad person and doing a bad thing, and not everyone knows that."
He looked up at Robin, surprised and embarrassed for talking like that and rose.
"I told you you'd get used to her. Logan your mom is looking for you. Bath time."
"But I don't wanna."
"Take it up with her."
Logan pouted as she walked out of the room. The man looked after her before looking back at Robin.
"She's not like other children is she?"
"She's the oldest daughter of Raven and Beast Boy. The oldest growing up in the original teen titans tower. No she's not like other children."
Robin looked around the room. Then it landed on the weapon.
"You need to lock those away."
"I realised."
"We have three children in the house, soon it will be twice as many. Either keep the door locked or the weapons locked away. Even if you lock the door, lock the weapons away."
"I get it Robin."
The man pulled his fingers through his hair and he sighed.
"I get it."
Suddenly the alarm went off. Robin looked at the red lightbulb before he looked back at the man.
"Have I said how happy I am that you're here?"
"Only twice today."
--
Raven sighed with joy as she sank down in the chair. Eight months, and every moment she could get of her feet was a small blessing. Logan came in with a film. Without asking her mother she popped it in and sat down next to her. Her head on Raven's big stomach. Raven smiled as the trailers started. A Disney movie by the looks of it.
"What movie is it precious?"
"Mulan."
"Oh, what's that about?"
"About a girl who can't be who she is told to be. Then she saves the world by just being herself."
Raven couldn't help smiling.
"You've seen it?"
"Daddy told me."
"Your dad told you that?"
"Yeah. Daddy said the girl reminded him of someone and that she was one I could look up to."
Logan pressed a doll against her chest. The Raven doll. It was her favourite.
"Daddy
says you're a hero."
"Your daddy says a lot of things
precious. He's the one out there every day saving lives. He's a
hero."
"He says that too."
Raven couldn't help but laugh. With one hand she pulled out the two braids in Logan's hair and started to stroke it. A tiny dragon was talking on the screen.
"I have nightmares some times."
"About what?"
"Four red eyes."
Everything turned cold.
"What?"
Logan was suddenly scared she had done something wrong.
"Logan?"
"Only a few times. It's dark and these four red eyes look at me and they make me angry and something howls and I can feel something inside me and then I wake up."
"Why didn't you tell me or your father about them?"
Logan was sitting up, paying no attention to the screen. Raven was holding her arms tight.
"Mommy you're hurting me."
"Why didn't you tell me Logan?"
"I'm sorry mommy."
There was anger in Raven's eyes that her daughter could easily read, but behind that was fright and desperation. Suddenly someone pried her hands away and took Logan away. Replacing her with Beast Boy.
"Raven? Raven calm down. Look at me."
"Beast Boy."
Her voice was weak as she started to cry.
"He's after her. He's after Logan."
Beast Boy hugged her tight. He didn't have to ask. He knew.
"I won't let him hurt her Raven. I won't let him hurt either of you. Just relax."
"How can I relax Beast Boy? My father is after my little girl. He's after Logan."