Kind of sorry that I took forever to update this? I just haven't been writing a lot of my older stories. And I know this is a newer "older" story, but I still haven't updated because I've been churning out a lot of one-shots and shorter stories, as well as writing some non-fanfiction projects that I really like. But this story is completely planned out, it will have 15 chapters as well as the prologue, 16 installments altogether.

Go check out Boys Support Boys and Common Mistakes for some more Teen Titans related stuff. Or read and review another author. You do you, right?

Chapter 2

Richard was sobbing and wouldn't come out of his room and it was very very hard to explain to the three-year-old that just because they were celebrating Raven, Kori, and Gar's birthday didn't mean Richard was neglected. One year ago today Bruce had found the four strays on his steps. Victor remembered the date of his birthday and they'd already celebrated it, but the other three were clueless of their actual birthdays. So today was the day they celebrated. And despite having celebrated Richard's birthday not long ago, the little boy was still livid that this wasn't his day.

Richard wasn't usually selfish, but today he had decided he would be grumpy that most of the attention was on his younger brother and sisters, and he refused to come downstairs and join the celebration.

Alfred, Clark and a few other family friends were all downstairs, watching the three kids tear into presents and gorge themselves on cake. Though it was to be their day and they were theoretically allowed to do whatever they wanted, there was a strict rule in place about Gar not running off. Fortunately, the cuddly boy was easily transferable to whichever heat source wanted him next, but Alfred, Victor, and Clark were all on high alert anyway.

Raven was in the corner avoiding other people and reading a picture book she'd gotten for her birthday. Kori was running around making friends with all the other little kids around. She was bubbly and enthusiastic and it was hard to say no to her. The fact that she didn't use her persuasiveness for mischief was something that Bruce was increasingly grateful for. The only person who seemed able to resist Kori's charms was Raven, who absolutely would not be dragged around by her sister to socialize. She did not need more friends. Her siblings were clingy enough. Like right now, when Gar was snuggling up in her cloak (What kind of toddler wanted a cloak anyway?) because it was warm and cuddly. Obviously, Raven was frustrated, but Gar was another one of the honorary Waynes it was hard to say no to. Not because he was bubbly and charming, he didn't even talk and used signs to communicate, but because he cried when he didn't understand something. It was just better to wait for the little heat-leech to fall asleep, and then she could remove him from her cloak without a fuss.

"Richard, don't you want to go downstairs and have cake and play with the other kids?" Bruce begged.

"No! It's not my party so I won't go!" The three-year-old screamed. He literally hadn't made even half this fuss when Victor had had his party. But Victor wasn't as close in age to Richard as the other three, so it might just be hard for Richard to see them getting something that he wasn't getting.

"Richard, please… It will be so fun to play with the other kids! I know your siblings will share their new toys like you share yours with them, and you'll get ice cream and cake."

"No! You go!"

"Fine, I will. Come downstairs if you change your mind, buddy." Bruce wasn't just about to miss his kids' birthday party. He had done his best to get Richard to join the fun, and he had one more trick up his sleeve to try out. He walked down the stairs, picked Gar up from his space next to Raven so that Raven wouldn't reveal her telekinesis, and then walked over to his sunshiney little girl.

"Kori, do you want to do daddy a favor?" He asked, unable to withhold a smile around his kids.

"Yeah!"

"Run upstairs and see if you can get Richard to come join the party." Gar was asleep on his shoulder, sucking on his thumb. Victor was helpfully overseeing the games and making sure no one messed with the cake or presents before it was time for them.

"Okay! Be right back!" It was nearly impossible to say no to Kori, and she and Richard were nearly inseparable most of the time. Sure their inseparableness was punctuated by moments of silly sibling rivalry, but they were still best friends by all accounts. If anyone could get Richard to snap out of his funk, it was Kori.

And sure enough, soon Richard had made his grand entrance. Well, he was being dragged by an overeager Kori, who insisted upon introducing him to every single one of her new friends, who would hopefully soon become his new friends. Richard seemed to be having a good time, Kori's energy was infectious after all.

Then it was time to sing for the three and blow out the candles. They waited for Gar to wake up on his own so he wouldn't be cranky and then the celebration commenced. Cake was distributed and ice cream added, and then the sugar rush started. Victor had a much harder time helping keep order when all the little kids were hopped up on sugar. The previously sleepy, cuddly Gar was now trying really hard to escape. Richard's jealousy over the presents and the attention was reignited and Raven was hiding on top of the bookshelf from the chaos. Nothing was as it should be. So Bruce just rolled with the weird, made sure someone was holding onto Gar at all times, and decided that having a normal birthday party with his extraordinary children would be impossible. Maybe they would try again next year. Probably not! Probably this would never happen again.

Eventually, the sugar crash calmed the rowdy crowd of children. Parents ushered their own progeny home, all bearing generous gift bags, and Bruce assessed the damage to his first floor. Well, kitchens could be repainted. Memories would last. Maybe they wouldn't be the most pleasant memories, but hopefully once the presents were opened and the sugar crash had worn off, this day would be remembered fondly.