Current Events > Teen Titans CYOA: Romance Resurrected Part 21

(+) Yeah! (+)

B

"Alright," you say, "let's see what else is on."

You take the remote control and start skimming through the guide.

"Let's check the news," you say.

The Toddler Titans, your sisters, and even Grandfather Sixth, groan.

"It's just for a moment," you say. "We need to be sure everything is okay."

"For the 18th year in a row," the news anchor says, "Calendar Man has been thwarted in an attempt to commit Christmas themed crimes by The Batman. This year, Calendar Man was planning on using Christmas ornaments to spread toxin through skin contact."

"How awful," your grandmother says.

"18 years?" your father says. "You think he'd learn his lesson by now."

"Meanwhile," the news anchor continues, "the ice powered supervillain group, The Cold Chill Crew, was stopped by a new teen superhero unit calling itself 'Young Justice.'"

"What?" you and Raven both say.

"Joar 'Icicle' Mahkent, 'Killer Frost' Louise Lincoln, 'Captain Cold' Leonard Snart and of course, 'Mister Freeze' Victor Fries, looked to bring a powerful blizzard to central Florida. They had almost succeeded, if not for the combined efforts of Supergirl, Batgirl, Wonder Gal, Miss Martian, and Kid Flash."

"What?!" you and Raven both blurt out.

"The unit of five is 'Young Justice' for each member's obvious connection to a Justice League member," the news anchor continues. "Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Martian Man Hunter, and The Flash all helped found the Justice League, so it makes sense that their sidekicks would work together. However, it is not clear if Young Justice is a sub-unit of the larger Teen Titans network."

"Oh, pretty sure they would've said something to us if they were," Raven says.

"I hope Jinx and the others aren't watching this," you say.

"Yeah," Raven says. "She's gonna be soooooo mad."

"Did you just smirk?"

"What? No..."

A) Check in on them
B) Keep watching news

A.

A

A

"I think we should check in on them," you say. "If they didn't see it, they need to know."

"Yeah," Raven says with a sigh.

She brings out her communicator and puts in the call to Robin.

"Oh, hey, Raven," Robin says. "I'm assuming you and Rorek saw 'Young Justice' on the news."

"And of COURSE it's with Wonder Bra!" Jinx shouts.

"And judging by Jinx yelling in the background," Raven says, "you guys did, too."

"Yeah..." Robin says.

Robin moves away and Jinx is less audible now.

"So clearly," Robin says, "Kid Flash makes friends quickly, but forgets to tell his other friends."

"To be fair," you say as you lean in, "is Kid Flash close to anyone in the main group?"

"That's a good point," Robin says. "Batgirl could've told me, though. Or Batman for that matter."

"But now that we know about this," Raven says, "how're we handling it? Let them be independent? Ask them to be on brand with the rest of us?"

"We'll need to talk it out as a group," Robin says. "But maybe we should worry about that after Christmas. This is already ruining some of the fun over here."

"Yes, that might be for the best," you say. "Let us know if the mood doesn't improve. Otherwise, we'll be by..."

A) First thing in the morning
B) For lunch

B.

B

bump

B

B

"... for lunch. We'll even bring something over."

"Sounds good," Robin says. "Have a good night."

"Night," Raven says.

She ends the call and puts her communicator away. You look back and the news, and you're relieved to see that while things will be cool and cloudy, there won't be much wind or rain.

"Well," you say to the room. "How is everyone feeling? Is it time for bed yet?"

"I think for us, yes," grandmother says, motioning to Grandfather Sixth and herself.

"And I think it should be for these three," Raven says as she pats Teether on the head.

"Nuh-uh...!" Teether and your grandfather both say, though a bit sleepily.

"C'mon, Dad," your father says. "Let's get back to the hotel. We'll be back in the morning."

Grandfather Sixth slowly gets up out of the chair and follows the others to the door.

"Good night, dears," your mother says while hugging your sisters.

"Night, Mum," your sisters say. "See you in the morning."

Your parents and grandparents exit and you watch as the SUV drives away. You then put the dining room chairs back in the dining room and Raven brings out sleeping bags.

"I want the red one," Timmy says.

"Okay, okay," Raven says.

Timmy gets the red sleeping bag and sets up right in front of the television. Teether gets the blue sleeping bag and sets up right next to Teether. Melvin gets the black sleeping bag and sets up on the couch, with Bobby squeezing himself in between couch and coffee table to be nearby.

A) Have everyone turn in
B) Stay up a little longer

A.

bump

A

A

bump, was rly busy

A

"Alright," you say. "Let's all turn in."

The Toddler Titans and your sisters groan and pout.

"Now, now," you say. "Think of it this way. The sooner you fall asleep, the sooner you'll get to have presents in the morning."

"Ooh, presents~!" Timmy says.

"Right?" you say. "Okay, let's all brush our teeth."

The Toddler Titans bring out their brushes and Raven guides them to the bathroom. Melvin puts paste on her brush, passes it to Timmy and he puts paste on his brush, then hands the tube to Teether, and Teether puts a lot on his brush. After the toddlers, your sisters take their turn, then you and Raven take your turn together.

"Good, good," you say. "Alright, TV off, lights off, everyone in bed."

The Toddler Titans return to their sleeping bags and settle in. Raven turns off the lamps while you turn on the hallway light. Your sisters go to their room, and you make sure they tuck into bed.

"Good night, all," you say while Raven turns on the light in your room.

"Good night," the Toddler Titans say.

"G'night, Rory," your sisters say.

You turn off the hallway light, enter your room, and close the door. Raven is already in bed so you simply join her.

"So how big are we going for breakfast?" Raven asks.

"Oh, so very big. I'm thinking..."

A) Omelets
B) French Toast
C) Strata

A sounds good

A)

A

"Omelets. Eggs, ham, cheese, veggies, all in one, so that everyone gets a balanced, hardy breakfast."

"That's a good call," she says.

"Also," you say, "I was thinking of gingerbread bundt cake. We can make one for the family, a couple more for the Titans."

"That sounds greats," she says. "But, also like a lot of work."

"Which is why we're turning in now," you say. "We've got a big day ahead of ourselves, so good night, Raven."

You kiss Raven on the forehead a couple times, then turn off the lights. Raven snuggles up to you as you settle in and close your eyes.

The next morning, you wake up to the sound of excited breathing and giggling outside your door. You look to Raven and she's also waking up.

"Merry Christmas," you whisper to her.

"Mer Crizmez..." she mutters, perhaps still sleepy.

You get out of bed, wait on Raven to stand up before you open the door.

"MERRY CHRISTMAS!" the Toddler Titans shout as they run in and practically tackle Raven.

"Merry Christmas," she says with a chuckle. "Okay, let's go to the living room. Wait, wait!"

The Toddler Titans pull Raven along. You chuckle as you follow them out. Your sisters also exit their room, some serious bedhead going on. It's remarkable how even the messy hair matches as mirror images.

"Can we wait for presents until we wash up?" Rebecca asks.

A) Yes
B) No

A.

bump

A

A

"Yes, fine," you say. "You two might as well go first since you brought it up."

Your sisters immediately play a round of rock-paper-scissors. They tie with scissors, but go again. Rebecca wins with rock and smiles while Roselind frowns. Rebecca gets in the bathroom and shuts the door while Roselind waits outside.

"Okay, now hold on," you say as the Toddler Titans look around the tree. "My sisters need to freshen up, and honestly, it'll be better if everyone freshens up. After my sisters have their turns, you three have yours. Raven and I will sort out the presents in the meantime."

"Aww..." Timmy pouts.

"Don't worry," Raven tells him. "The presents aren't going anywhere."

"Then I wanna take a bath first," he says.

"Okay, okay," Raven says.

After about 20 minutes, Rebecca finishes her shower and exits all wrapped up in towels. Roselind takes her turn, and that takes another 20 minutes.

"Perhaps I should've told you two to be quick about it," you say to Roselind.

Timmy grabs towels from his luggage and hurries to the bathroom. You and Raven have most of the gifts sorted. You simply place the gifts on where the Toddlers left their sleeping bags. Bobby looks around curiously.

"Don't worry, Bobby," Raven says. "I prepared something for you, too."

Raven brings out a big purple stocking stuffed full. Bobby looks surprised and happy, and then he gives Raven a big hug before taking the stocking.

"What'd you get him?" you quietly ask Raven.

"I wasn't sure what to get him at first, so I just got him a bunch of stuffed animals."

"Really?" you say. "Bobby himself is a giant living teddy bear. Wouldn't giving him stuffed animals be inappropriate?"

"Humans created dolls which are little humans," she says. "Same difference."

"Uh, um," Timmy says as he walks out of the bathroom, all wrapped up. "Where do I get dressed?"

"You can dress in our room," Raven says.

She guides him into your room and next up in the bath is Teether.

"So," you say. "Melvin. Are you enjoying your time here?"

"Oh, yeah, it's been really fun," she smiles. "Especially seeing Raven again. She's so different now! Her costume is white, and she is having fun, too. You're a good influence on her."

"Thank you for saying that. She's had a bit of a positive impact on me, as well."

"Really? How?"

"Well, before meeting her," you say as you sit with Melvin, "I never thought I'd find love. A relationship, a marriage, a wife, sure, because my family had candidates lined up for me since the day I was born. But finding real love, that is in my heart, that is organic and because of who the other person is, that seemed impossible. And then I came here to Jump City, encountered Raven, and there it was."

"Aww...!" Melvin says, eyes sparkling with wonder. "That's beautiful!"

"Thank you," you say. "I'm thinking of having that in my wedding vows."

"You definitely should!" she says, eyes still full of wonder.

Timmy finishes dressing in a nice little shirt and slacks, Raven guides Teether from bathroom to bedroom so he can get changed, and then Melvin hurries off with her own towel.

"Looking sharp, Timmy," you say.

Timmy has a big smile being complimented. Teether comes out a few minutes later in his own dapper shirt and slacks. Your sisters finally finish dressing, and they're in mirrored dresses. Roselind has white with black snowflake pattern while Rebecca has black with white snowflake pattern. Melvin finishes her turn in the bath and Raven guides her to the bedroom. Melvin comes out in a pink dress with fluffy neckline and stockings.

"So cute~!" your sisters say, to which Melvin has a proud smile.

"Alright," you say to Raven.

A) She showers first
B) You shower first

A

B

B

"I'm going to shower next, then you shower while I make breakfast."

"Wait, what?" she says.

"Well, you can keep an eye on the kids," you say. "And once I get started on breakfast, I shouldn't stop."

"Yeah, okay, that makes sense," she says.

You go to the bathroom, get towels for yourself, and start on your shower. You go as fast as you can, and hope the hot water holds up.

After you finish, you also hurry to dry and dress in your bedroom. You see Raven neatly folded all the Toddler Titans' clothes and put them on the side. You do the same with the clothes you were wearing, and dress in your own slacks. You also put on an undershirt and a black button up with white tie. But then you think ahead and realize you should be careful, you're going to be cooking.

"Alright," you say as you step out, wearing a T-shirt over the undershirt. "Everyone be patient, the omelets are on their way."

"What're you wearing?" Raven asks as she looks at you, baggy shirt over slacks.

"I don't want to make a mess of my formal shirts," you say.

"Oh, good point," Raven chuckles.

Raven hurries to the bathroom and you go to the kitchen.

"What's in a omuwet?" Teether asks.

"It's going to be a big thing of eggs," you say, "full of ham and cheese, maybe some herbs."

"Mmm~!" the Toddler Titans say.

You scramble eggs in a bowl and season with salt and pepper while a pan heats with oil and butter on medium-low heat. You wait until the butter on the pan is melted and foaming. That's when you pour the scrambled eggs on, and carefully tilt the pan ever so slightly, back and forth, so that the eggs swirl and cover the pan. This cooks for just 20 seconds so that it can coagulate, and you scrape a line through the middle with a spatula.

You tilt the pan more, to let it fill back up with the runny egg. You repeat the process again and again until it has all set and nothing is runny. Then you throw on shredded cheese, diced ham and diced cilantro, making sure it is all evenly spread around the area. Then you carefully fold the entire thing and plate it.

Raven is done showering by the time you finish this one omelet, and you are almost done with the second one by the time she's done dressing.

"Oh, lovely as always," you say as she enters the dining room.

"Thank you," she says as she smooths out the skirt of her royal blue dress.

You make another omelet, and then put together the gingerbread bundt cake batter. The first cake, meant for your family, bakes while you finish up another omelet.

"You kids can go ahead and eat now before the rest of the family arrives," you say. "Make sure to eat up."

The Toddlers are served at the kids' table, including tall glasses of orange juice. Being that they're exactly the same type of glass cups, Timmy can't demand to have a specific one.

A) Cook a side dish
B) Just serve toast as a side

B

B)

bump, got busy again

bump, will get this after dinner

B

For a side dish, you simply put bread in the toaster and bring out the butter and jam. You then finish up a couple more omelets and serve those to your sisters.

You check the gingerbread bundt cake, and it is almost done. You get the batter going again for a second bundt cake, which will be for the Titans and lunch.

*ding dong* The doorbell rings.

"Don't worry," Raven tells you, "I'll get it."

Raven goes around to the front door and opens it up. You hear her welcoming people and walk back. And indeed, it is your parents and grandparents.

"Welcome," you say. "Just in time for fresh omelets."

"Smells delicious," Grandfather Sixth says. "Is that ham and cheese?"

"Yes, it is," you say.

The rest of the family sits with your sisters and Raven at the table as you keep the omelets going.

The toaster pops, you bring out the bread and get a butter knife.

"Alright, who wants buttered toast and who wants jam?" you ask.

After going down the line, Raven, Roselind and the Toddlers want butter, everyone else wants jam. You yourself go with jam.

The toast is served, you finish up omelets so that your parents and grandparents can eat, and then get the last two done for you and Raven. The first bundt cake is done and set that aside to cool. You then put the second bundt cake in the oven and have that bake.

A) Frost the bundt cake
B) Keep it plain

A.

bump

A

A

You get out the cream cheese based frosting and load it into a squeeze tube. You get the bundt cake going on a Lazy Susan to rotate it as you squeeze the frosting out, going out from the center along the top of each bump. The cake is still warm enough to melt the frosting and help it spread. You let it cool and you finally sit down to eat.

The Toddler Titans finish eating up first, naturally, and excitedly wait in the living room. Your sisters finish up their meal next and sit with Melvin on the couch.

"Presents! Presents!" the Toddlers start chanting.

"Patience. Patience," Raven chants back at them.

You and the adults finish eating, you put the plates away, and now everyone is in the living room with the presents organized.

"Alright," you say as you sit with Raven. "Ready and... Begin."

Everyone starts opening their presents, and you start with the gift from...

A) Raven
B) Your parents

A

A)

bump, got busy

A

Raven's gift is a rectangular box wrapped in blue with a white ribbon, very fitting. You untie the ribbon, open the box, and move tissue paper aside to reveal a black and white plaid scarf.

"Oh, this is nice," you say. "Is this reversible?"

"Yeah," she says, "black with white on one side, white with black on the other. And it was hand-made."

"Really? When did you have time to sew it?"

"Oh, I didn't," Raven says. "I got it from that website where people hand-make products."

"Oh, yes, they have very nice things. Thank you so much for this."

You kiss Raven on the cheek.

A) Wear the scarf, black side out
B) Wear the scarf, white side out
C) Don't wear the scarf right now

A) Wear the scarf, black side out

bump

A

A

You wrap the scarf around you, black side out, and Raven smiles. Raven opens your gift to her now, and she sees the card you made.

https://i.imgur.com/wvZAJNK.png

"Aww," Raven says. "When did you make this one?"

"Don't you worry about that," you say. "Do you like it?"

"Of course I like it," she says. "Nice layering, with the lateral lines under the curves. And this little heart with the R in it."

Raven puts the card aside to then move tissue paper aside and brings out the real gift.

"You also got me a scarf?" Raven says with a little laugh.

She brings out the blue and white scarf, non-reversible and you have a big smile.

"Did you get this from the same place?" she asks.

"No," you say. "And as far as I know, it isn't hand made, but it is still nice, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is very nice," she says. "Thank you, Rorek."

"You're welcome," you say. "Oh, we should make something more for our lunch with the Titans. Just showing up with cake won't be enough."

"We don't have to cook more, do we?" Raven asks.

"It's more special that way," you say.

A) Make something here and bring it there
B) Buy supplies and make the food there