"This was a great visit." Diana hugged Charlotte. "I'm going to miss you."

"I miss you, too Grandma." Charlotte replied.

"I've got to come visit more."

"& we'll play?"

"Yes, we'll play." She nuzzled her cheek.

"I know I'm going to miss this little bundle of cuteness." Rita kissed Sebastian's cheek & held him away from herself as he kicked.

Shirley tickled Calvin & watched as the sun shone brighter. "I'm going to miss all of you."

"Come back soon." Jinx suggested. "We all miss you."

"Too bad you can't come back to babysit next week." Changeling said.

"For New Years Eve?" Shirley asked.

"Yeah, Titans East is hosting the party this year & it's going to be epic!"

"What are you going to do if I'm not there?"

"Me." Melvin raised her hand. "I'm the babysitter. Always."

"You should have some fun. You go on to that party. I'll watch the potato dumplings." Shirley nodded once.

"You can't come all this way to watch them then go all the way home after." Bumble Bee grinned. "That means you have to stay the night."

"Yay!" Christopher, Charlotte & Calvin screamed.

"If you don't have plans." Cyborg didn't want to assume.

"I can always change them." Shirley waved that away.

"You got plans, Nana?!" Kid Flash teased. "You got a hot date?!"

Shirley blushed. "He's quite attractive."

Cyborg turned to her sharply. "What?!"

"Ooh!" The girls crowded Shirley.

"You have a boyfriend?!" Cyborg wanted to be known.

"He's not my boyfriend." Shirley rubbed her chest nervously.

"Get it, Nana!" Bumble Bee snapped her fingers.

"I'm hearing that she has more than one." Jinx grinned.

"The Nana has the full social life!" Starfire hugged the woman.

"Go Nana!" Terra raised a fist.

"Wait a minute! Are you listening to me?!" Cyborg waved his arms. "Who is this guy?!"

"I don't think I like this." Changeling frowned. "Who is this guy? He could be a creep."

"He's a doctor." Shirley rolled her eyes. "He has good standing in the community."

"That could be a cover for his human trafficking operation." Nightwing was serious.

"What's his name, Nana?" Kid Flash asked.

"Jake Barnes. Why?" Shirley was suspicious.

"No reason." Nightwing coughed into his fist.

She eyed him with pursed lips. "Uh huh."

"Forget them, Nana." Rita waved them away. "Tell us all about this Jake Barnes."

"Jacob is a very nice man." Shirley blushed again.

"Have you kissed?" Terra asked with a giggle.

"I don't kiss & tell."

"That's a yes!" Jinx high-fived Bumble Bee.

"Go Nana!" Melvin cheered.

The men grumbled before getting up. "We have some business to take care of."

The girls looked at them like they were crazy.

The guys left.

"Ooh La, they're weird." Bumble Bee shook her head.

The women nodded. "Agreed."

#happyholidays

Nightwing sorted through the files. "Alright this is everything on one Jacob Barnes of Birch Cove, California."

"Let's see who this old timer is & what he wants with Nana." Changeling frowned.

Nightwing clicked on the first file & read. "Okay this is about some award he won for best surgeon in town."

"Nobody cares about all that!" Cyborg snapped. "Let's look at his record!"

Nightwing made a noise with his mouth. "Yeah! His record." He pulled it up. "Says here he's sixty two, widowed, lives on Woodward Lane, 5'11, 146lbs, brown hair, green eyes, can still operate a vehicle. He has a pilot's license. He does have quite a few marks against his driving record."

"What for?" Kid Flash leaned forward.

"Seems he's like Changeling. He has a lead foot."

Changeling scowled. "He thinks he's going to race off with our Nana?! I don't think so!"

"He's in a few clubs around town like the Lions Club & the Society Against Illiteracy. His credit score is 721. He doesn't seem to have any outstanding debts either."

"Does he have kids?" Cyborg asked.

"Um… let me see." Nightwing clicked through files. "Ah! Yes! A son."

"Do they have a phone number for him?" Aqualad wanted to know. "Maybe you can call him up & ask him what his dad's about?"

"No number for him but there is one for Jake Sr." Nightwing wrote the number down & handed it to Cyborg. "He's listed."

Cyborg ran through the numbers. "I say we call this doddering old fool."

Changeling picked up the phone. "What are you going to say?"

"I don't know. I'll think of something on the fly."

#happyholidays

Terra looked over from her game. "Where have you guys been?"

The guys looked at each other. "Places."

"Uh huh." She stared at them before turning back to her game.

"Where's everybody else?" Kid Flash asked.

"The kids & Nana are taking a nap while Diana's with Rae in Sebastian's nursery. Starfire's outside. She wanted to fly. Jinx went to her room & Bumble Bee went to take a bath."

"In the middle of the day?!" Cyborg was bewildered.

Terra chuckled. "She said she wanted to try out her Christmas present from Jericho."

"Wow."

"What are you playing?" Changeling came to stand behind the couch.

"Zelda." Terra resumed her game.

"Hook me up. I'll play with you."

"Cool. What about you guys?"

"I think I'm going to go mess with Jinx." Kid Flash raced out.

"I guess I'll go down to the garage." Cyborg waved a hand.

"I'll play with you, babe." Aqualad sat next to her.

"Me too." Tim walked over.

"You should begin packing. We're leaving soon." Bruce told him.

Tim sighed.

Nightwing rolled his eyes. "I'll be in the gym." He walked out.

Bruce narrowed his eyes. "Come along, Tim."

Tim waved sadly. "Bye, video games." They left.

"We're ignoring that, right?" Aqualad looked at the door.

Changeling continued to add the controllers. "Yup."

#happyholidays

Cyborg came up from the garage. He stopped in the common room. "Hey? Where's Nana?"

"Still asleep I'd guess." Aqualad said.

"Where's C?"

Terra grinned. "We traded games & he got tired of me whipping him in Space Ninjas V."

Cyborg snickered. "If he comes through before I find him, tell him I'm looking for him."

"Why?" Aqualad asked.

"It's almost time for us to take Ms. Rita to the airport."

"Yeah, we'll tell him."

"Thanks." Cyborg walked out & to the elevator. He rode down to the barracks & walked to Shirley's room. He knocked twice. "Nana?!"

Shirley opened the door. "Ah! Bugs! Just in time! Help me close my suitcase."

Cyborg came inside & closed her suitcase easily. "It's a good thing you're packing. We have to go soon."

"How soon? I'm almost done."

"Like forty five minutes."

"I'll be done way before then."

"You're always punctual."

She laughed. "Don't say it like that!"

"But you are! I admire that about you. We can never leave on time."

"What about your missions?"

"We could be better."

Shirley shook her head. "Get it together, Bugs."

"I know we a mess, Nana."

She cupped his chin. "I'm so proud of you."

"Even though I yelled at the mother of my child?"

"I know that's not the first time you've done so. I wasn't born yesterday." She smacked his cheek lightly.

He grinned sheepishly. "It could have been."

"Sammy."

"But it could have been."

"Victor."

"Fine. I don't try to yell at her. She is just so stubborn!"

"The word is headstrong. You'll appreciate it when you're older."

"Doubtful."

She smacked him again. "What I say? You'll appreciate it when you're older."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. Now help me pack my other suitcase. I appreciate all the gifts you children gave me."

#happyholidays

Changeling knocked on the door in front of him. "Mom?!"

The door slid open. "Gar! Why are you so loud?"

"It's a soundproof room."

"But I can hear you."

"The hallway isn't soundproof."

Rita facepalmed. "What do you want, Gar?"

"It's time to go. Come upstairs & say goodbye to everybody."

"Grab my things." She floated out.

Changeling smirked before grabbing her bags. He followed her to the elevator & they rode up to the top floor. They got out & walked to the common room.

Rita went to Raven & hugged her. "I'll see you all soon. I don't want to wait eight months."

"Visit anytime." Raven patted her back awkwardly.

"I'll try to come back very soon." Rita hugged everyone else, saving Charlotte for last. "I'm going to miss you, my sweet girl."

"Goodbye, Grandma." Charlotte wrapped her little arms around her neck.

"Say goodbye to Nana, guys." Cyborg said.

"No!" Calvin wrapped his arms around her legs.

Shirley patted his back. "I have to go, cherub."

"No go! No go!"

"Come on, little man." Cyborg pulled him off & gave him to his mother.

Calvin started crying & clouds turned ominous & threatening.

"Come on, Cal." Bumble Bee began dancing with him but he was not to be swayed.

Rain started falling then quickened its pace. Soon it turned to hail. The wind began howling & snow swirled around the tower.

"Can I say I'm scared?" Kid Flash lifted a finger.

"Not funny, Kid." Bumble Bee kept dancing.

"Who's joking?"

"Calm down, little man." Cyborg rubbed his back. "She'll be back next week."

Calvin thrashed around.

"I'll go put him down. You guys go while you can." Bumble Bee hugged Shirley quickly then left.

"I feel so bad." Shirley pouted.

"Pandering to his whims…" Bruce muttered.

Cyborg side-eyed him. "Just say goodbye to Nana so we can go."

"Can we even go out in this weather?" Rita asked.

"He's going to go to sleep soon." Changeling leaned on the back of the couch. "It's a routine. He cries, the weather acts up, Bee doesn't give in, he cries himself to sleep & then the weather goes back."

"She believes in tough love." Diana noted.

"She doesn't want him growing up spoiled." Raven said.

"I suppose she isn't giving in to his demands." Bruce stroked his chin.

"Give me hugs, children." Shirley ignored him.

The kids raced to give her hugs. "We'll miss you!"

"I'll miss you, too." She hugged them tightly. "Dick, Wally, where's my hugs?"

Nightwing & Kid Flash gave her a hug each. "We'll miss you, Nana."

"Girls?"

Jinx, Terra & Starfire hugged her tightly. Raven gave her a gentle hug. "See you next week, Nana."

"Diana. Where's my hug?"

Diana hugged Shirley. "It was nice to see you again."

"Bruce. Are you too big & bad to give me a hug?" Shirley put her hands on her hips.

Bruce hated being put on the spot so he hugged her. So briefly that it barely counted. "Farewell, Shirley."

"Um hmm." She pursed her lips. "Garth, honey, give Nana a hug before you go."

Aqualad, who was leaving as well, gave her a hug. "Bye, Nana. Hope to see you soon."

"Me too, sugar. Me too."

"Let's roll." Cyborg waved a hand. He, Shirley, Changeling & Rita left the room.

Aqualad turned to Terra. "Walk me out?"

"Sure thing." She blushed. They left.

"We should be going, too." Bruce remained standing. "Tim, pack your things. I'll call for the car."

"Raven, would you like to help me pack?" Diana asked.

"Help you pack?" Raven was confused.

"Yes, dear. It'll make it go much quicker."

Raven looked to Sebastian in the playpen. "I suppose I could."

"Delightful."

#happyholidays

"You did amazing this visit." Jinx said. "No one had hurt feelings."

"No one cried. Besides the kids." Bumble Bee added.

"It was a good visit." Raven acknowledged.

"Raven?" Melvin walked into the common room, where the girls were watching Pretty Little Liars. "Our ride's here. We're leaving."

"I'll walk you out." Raven stood up & walked over to her.

"Goodbye, everybody!" Melvin waved. "See you soon!"

"Bye, Melvin!" The others waved.

Raven & Melvin left.

"The Tower's going to be quiet compared to this week." Terra said.

"I'm going to miss Nana." Bumble Bee sipped from her drink.

"I can't believe Cal threw that fit."

"I can. His mama doesn't let him do anything." Jinx teased.

Bumble Bee turned a dark eye on her. "We can fight."

"I'm just saying. You're always telling him no. When he gets older, he's going to find him a woman that always tells him yes."

"Woman?!" Bumble Bee was horrified.

"He's going to grow up & get married." Terra giggled.

"No, he's not!"

"You do not want him to grow & mature, to find the life of his love?" Starfire asked.

"No!" Bumble Bee snapped.

Jinx laughed. "You can't keep him to yourself for the rest of his life!"

"Yes, I can! That's my baby!"

"He's already a year & a half."

"& he can stop growing."

"But he's not." Terra pointed out.

Bumble Bee's wings fluttered, irritated. "Stop it."

"Aww! You don't want your wittle baby growing up & leaving you?" Jinx put on a baby voice as she laughed.

Bumble Bee glared at her.

"He's going to leave you to chase after little girls?"

"Friend Jinx?" Starfire tried to warn her.

"Poor Bumble Bee's going to have an empty nest?"

Bumble Bee put her hand on Jinx's leg & let her power flow through her.

"Yeow!" Jinx jumped as bolts of electricity pumped into her. "Too far?"

Bumble Bee nodded once.

"I can take a hint."

"Obviously not." Starfire murmured to herself.

"We can talk about Terra & how she finally took the plunge." Jinx ignored Starfire.

Terra blushed.

#happyholidays

Raven turned a page in her book & breathed deeply.

The door slid open & Changeling walked in. "Hey."

"You were gone for quite a while." Raven didn't look up.

"Nana needed some help around the house before we left then there was a disturbance that we had to take care of before we hit a traffic jam." Changeling crawled onto the bed & slumped.

"Is that why you're so disheveled?"

He nodded, his face in the duvet.

"Go get cleaned up then come to bed."

"I hope I don't drown in the shower." He lifted his face.

"Take a quick one."

He sighed heavily before getting up to do so. He grabbed pajama bottoms & his toiletries before exiting.

Raven continued to read. After 20 minutes, she put a bookmark in her novel & set it aside. She took a long draught from her water bottle then prepared to turn out the light when Changeling came back in.

He dumped his dirty clothes in the hamper & put his things away before climbing into bed. He pulled the covers up to his chin. "So tired."

Raven turned out the light & arranged the covers around herself. "Go to sleep."

Changeling opened his arms. "I need you."

"I thought you were tired." She accused.

"I need cuddles."

She blushed. "Changeling,-"

"No!"

"Gar."

"I'm tired & I wanna hold my Rae-Rae!"

Raven sighed. "Just until you fall asleep."

He grinned. "Thanks, Rae."

She moved into his arms & laid her cheek against his chest. "Feel better, spoiled?"

"I feel much better."

"Good. Now go to sleep."

It was quiet until… "Wanna fool around?"

"Gar!"