Chapter 3. Happy Birthday and Meeting Lady Jade and Lady Jenny

I do not own Teen Titans.

As Sheriff Rouge walked through the town, she soon spotted Friar Leonard, his wife Roseabelle and their son Wilson were heading towards Steve and Rita's bakery. She smirked. Looks like the old do-gooders are out doing good again,she thought.

Leonard opened the door and pushed his wife and son gently inside. He quickly closed the door and together, they walked up to Rita.

"Oh," she cried with surprise. "Good morning, what can I do for you?"

"Shh," Roseabelle said. "Wilde, keep an eye out for Rouge."

"Yes mama," Wilson said. He walked over to the window and looked out, being careful not to be seen.

"Rita," Roseabelle continues. "A small something from Roy Harper." She held out a bag filled with some money. Rita took it smiling.

"God bless you Roy."

"What's going on here?" It was Steve walking out with some bread.

"God bless Roy, Steve," Rita answered, holding out the bag. Steve smiled.

"Mama!" Wilson hissed. "She's coming!"

"Hurry!" Leonard hissed. "Hide it quick!"

Quickly, Steve took the bag and shoved it under some dough on the counter. The door opened. In walked Rouge.

"Greetings," she said. "Tax collection time."

Steve sighed. "Come on Sheriff, it hasn't been easy for the past few weeks. We are way behind in our work."

"That maybe so but you need to pay," Rouge reminded them. Rita sighed.

"Ok," she said as she opened her box that kept all the money in it. "Here's what we earn this week."

Rouge smiled as she took the money. "Well, I must be off. Places to be, taxes to collect. Good day." Then she marched out of the bakery.

"Oh Lord," Leonard prayed. "Send us a miracle."

On the other side of town, Rachel and Gar Logan were celebrating their daughter's birthday.

"Happy birthday, Melvin!" Her brothers, Timmy and Teether cried as her parents handed her a present. Then the door burst open.

"Happy Birthday!" she cried. Rachel and Gar bit their lips. Not good. Rouge peered down at Melvin. "That's a smart present you've got in your hands."

"Well," Melvin said. "It is my birthday madam."

"Of course it is," Rouge said. "Why don't you open it?"

Obediently, Melvin did. "Oh boy!" she cried. "Five whole dollars!" She tipped the box up into her hand, only to find that Rouge had beaten her to it and taken the money. Tears started to roll down her face.

"Have you no heart?" Gar snapped as Rachel leant down to comfort Melvin. "We worked and saved so hard so she could have that present!"

"Well," Rouge said as she placed the money in the money bag. "A family who works together, pays together. And don't worry, young one, Prince Jonathan wishes you a happy birthday."

"Um, for the poor," a voice at the door said. There were two blind men holding a cup each. Rouge smiled. She took two coins from the pouch and threw one each into the cup with enough force to cause some coins to fly out of the cups into Rouge's waiting hands. Rachel gasped in horror.

"Good day everyone," Rouge said as she walked out the door. Rachel started to curse under her breath in Latin.

"Horrible old lady!" she said as she and Gar walked over to the blind men, who were shaking their cups, wondering why there was no money in them. "Come in, dear sirs. You two must be exhausted."

"Thank you, Mr and Mrs Logan," one said as they sat down on some chairs. "Now did our old ears hear the word "birthday" around here?"

"Yes sir," Melvin said. "But the mean old lady took my present."

"Don't worry, sweetheart," the second man said as he pulled Melvin on to his lap. "It will be ok." And as soon as he said that, the two men lifted their glasses, revealing them to be Roy and Wally. Melvin gasped. "Happy Birthday, Melvin!" they both cried.

"Guess what, little Missy," Roy said. "I have a present for you." Behind his back, he pulled out a bow and arrow.

Melvin took it. "Wow! Thank you so much! Hey, how do I look?" she asked as she pulled the arrow back with the bow.

"Not much like Roy," Teether said politely.

"He's right," Wally said. "There's something missing. Of course!" Wally reached into his bag and pulled out a bag that looked like Roy's with a matching hat.

"There you go!" he said as he placed the hat on Melvin's head and the bag over Melvin's shoulder.

"Oh boy!" Melvin cheered as the hat fell over her eyes. "Now how do I look?"

Timmy giggled. "The hat's too big."

"Shhh," Gar said. "Mind your manners."

Melvin's face fell as Roy and Wally laughed. "Don't worry," Roy reassured her. "You'll grow into it sweetheart."

Melvin's face instantly lit up. "Oh boy, I'm going to try it out!" she cheered as she ran out the door with her brothers at her heels. "Goodbye Roy and Wally."

Gar and Rachel laughed. "You really have turned Melvin's day into a special one," Gar said.

"How could we ever thank you?" Rachel asked.

"I only wish we could do more," Roy smiled as he pulled a bag of money out of his pocket. "Here and keep your chins up."

"Yeah," Wally agreed as he and Roy placed their disguises on. "Everything will get better." Then together, they walked out of the house.

"Thank you so much, the both of you," Rachel said. "You do so much to keep the hope in our heart. Thank you."

Meanwhile, Melvin, Timmy and Teether had grabbed Matthew and Michael and the five of them were running towards the oval outside the castle.

"Wow, did Roy and Wally really give those gifts to you?" Matthew asked. Melvin nodded.

"You are so lucky," Michael added.

"Go on, sis," Timmy encouraged. "Let it fly!" Carefully, Melvin pulled the arrow back and released it. Up the arrow flew through the air, over the wall of the castle. Everyone went pale.

"Uh oh," Teether said. Everyone quickly ran over to the gate.

"I have to go in and get it," Melvin said as she started to climb through the bars.

"Wait," Matthew said as he pulled her back. "If Prince Jonathan sees you, he'll cut off your head."

"Then I won't let him see me," Melvin said bravely as she again slipped through the bars and hid behind the bushes.

She stuck her head out and was surprised to see two women playing tennis in the yard. One looked like an Indian princess and the other looked like an Asian princess. After quickly scanning the yard, Melvin spotted her arrow next to a tree. Carefully, she snuck over and was about to grab it when she came face-to-face with the Asian princess who was picking up the ball she had dropped.

"Hello there little one," she smiled as Melvin looked at her in fear. "Where did you come from?"

"Please don't tell Prince Jonathan," she begged. "Mummy said he'll chop off my head!"

"Oh don't be silly," the princess said kindly. "You haven't done anything wrong."

"Jade is everything okay?" the other princess said as she walked over. "Oh, where did this little one come from?"

"Jenny," Jade said. "Who does this young archer remind you of?"

Jenny's eyes widen. "Roy Harper?"

"That's right. Only Roy Harper would wear a hat and carry a bag like that."

"Yeah," Melvin said. "He and Wally gave me these gifts for my birthday."

"Wally?" Jenny said, her face turning pink with happiness. "He's here too?"

Suddenly everyone heard a sneeze. Jenny turned and saw Teether, Timmy, Matthew and Michael at the gate.

"Jade," Jenny said. "We have company."

At the gate, Timmy whispered. "She's snitched on us."

"It's alright, children," Jade called. "Don't be frightened."

"Do you think it's safe?" Matthew asked.

"That's Lady Jade and Lady Jenny," Teether said as he pointed to them.

"They were good friends with Mummy when they were young," Timmy said. "Come on." Then the four of them climbed through the gate and ran towards the princesses and Melvin.

"Wow," Jenny said as she studied Melvin, Timmy and Teether's features. "You look a lot like Rachel."

"She's our Mummy," Teether said proudly.

"Rachel has children?" Jade exclaimed. "How much have we missed out on when we moved to Gotham Palace?"

Matthew and Michael, being the eldest out of the kids, told different stories about everyone. From marriages to Sarah's miscarriages and how Roy and Wally robbed rich folk to give to their families as Madame Rouge came day after day, collecting wages and taxes. They were just telling one of their favourite stories about one of Roy's robberies when the suddenly heard Prince Jonathan yell.

"I'VE BEEN ROBBED! MALLAH! YOU"RE NEVER AROUND WHEN I NEED YOU!"

"Oh dear," Jenny said. "Looks like Uncle has found out that he's been robbed. You kids better go. Give our love to everyone."

"Ok," Melvin said and Jenny and Jade watched the kids run away.