Dedicated to everyone who stuck with me for so many years, trusting that someday I would get my act together and bring this one home. This is for all of you.

The poem at the end is by e. e. cummings.

Enjoy!

Dick looked around the room with a smile tugging at his face.

After the battle was over and the Titans had escorted the remaining two members of the Metabreed to Arkham for holding until charges could be filed (or they were shipped back to Dakota), the five young heroes had returned to Wayne Manor. Batman had handled Slade on his own, refusing any help at all, and Tim had vanished with a mysterious grin. The Titans themselves had been fairly exhausted, which didn't stop Cyborg and Starfire from arguing about which of them had gotten the most Slade-bots – and the Titans' Robin made a note to keep them from pairing off on the training course for a while, just in case. But none of them missed how elated Beast Boy looked, nor the happiness shining subtly in Raven's eyes, nor how close they stood to one another even when they did not touch.

And if Cyborg gave Beast Boy a surreptitious high-five, and if Starfire gave Raven an exuberant hug, and if Robin smiled at them both fondly – well, maybe they were all just in a good mood. They had been friends and teammates too long to need to ask or declare anything; when Raven rolled her eyes at one of Beast Boy's jokes but then smiled softly and took his hand, that said all that needed saying.

But they had returned to the manor to wind down and all ended up together in the game room sprawled all over the couches and cushions. Raven had settled in to meditate with a tiny green kitten curled up in her lap. Robin and Cyborg had played a few rounds of a video game before Cyborg yawned hugely and stretched out right where he was to nap. Robin found his head pillowed on Starfire's thigh, his eyes closing against his will. And Starfire ran a hand through his hair and hummed something soft.

"Wait," Robin had muttered. He took Starfire's fingers in his own and guided them to his mask. "Go ahead," he told her.

With infinite gentleness, Starfire had drawn off the mask, her fingers tracing over his exposed skin. Robin had fallen asleep while Starfire smiled over him.

Many hours later, they roused to Tim announcing food was waiting in one of the dining rooms. What they had not expected was a very small yet elaborate party.

Tim and Alfred – and Bruce, who apparently never slept, and that was not news to Dick at all – had set up the room to be bright and cheerful, complete with balloons and a couple of streamers that Dick could tell from an experienced eye had been hung using Batarangs. The spread of food was nothing short of extravagant, each dish carefully labeled with a little placard identifying its ingredients; a few even had a little green smiley face to show they were suitable for Beast Boy. There were no Tamaranean dishes on offer, but Starfire was delighted with the huge pitcher of mustard just for her. One entire table was dedicated to various types of teas, which Alfred seemed to appreciate at least as much as Raven did. Cyborg and Robin stared at everything – all their favorites, including a few things that were not often available to them – and exchanged a whispered debate about whether or not they could claim the leftovers to take back to the Tower.

"You can have anything you want," Tim said, catching them. "I…we…we wanted to do this for you."

"Why?" Raven asked, not sharply but curiously.

It was Alfred who answered. "We ought to have celebrated Master Dick's return properly at the start, but you were all rather busy," he smiled. "Additionally, a job well done always deserves recognition. And," his glance slid to Raven and Beast Boy for the barest of moments before settling back on Dick, "it seems something of a celebration is in order as well."

"Don't be shy about it," Bruce said, his light eyes warm. "Go on. Have fun."

That was all that he needed to say before most of the Titans were off in a rush, laughing and grabbing food and making an amazing amount of noise. They drew Tim in with them, shoving things onto his plate and elbowing him when he didn't move fast enough and joking affectionately with him as if he had always been one of theirs. And Raven was more aloof as always and Dick was conscious of Bruce's eyes upon him, but they still participated in the fun in their own ways.

Later, as things settled, as people went back for seconds and found places to sit where they could watch whatever antics had seized Starfire, Cyborg, and Beast Boy this time, Dick moved to Bruce's side.

"I've been meaning to ask you, Bruce."

"Yes?"

"Why did you call us in to Gotham to deal with the Metabreed? I know you said that Static and Gear were busy, but the more we've been here, the less plausible that sounds. I know you've worked with Static before, and I know you and Tim had dealt with these guys before too. Even if you were out-manned, it still would have made more sense to call in the League than the Titans."

Bruce nodded approvingly. "Very insightful, Dick. No, it was not only because the Dakota pair were busy, nor that I am avoiding Superman again, that I called upon you and your team."

"…Then why?" Dick asked, realizing in that moment how badly he really wanted to know the answer.

"Because," with sudden, startling sincerity and a touch of characteristic sardonic humor, "I missed you and I wanted you home again."

For a moment Dick couldn't respond. But he nodded slowly to show he understood. Finally he said, "I can't stay for long. You know that. Jump City is my home now, even if…even if you're still my father."

"I know. But I'm glad to have you even for a while." Bruce looked at him steadily, unflinchingly.

Dick swallowed a sudden lump in his throat at that, the words and the gesture filling him with something that he couldn't even fully grasp. At just that moment, Starfire appeared.

Dick seized his chance.

"Bruce…" Then, because that wasn't right, he straightened up even more. "Father…I want you to know…that is…"

Starfire took his hand, understanding in her open face.

Dick found his courage again. "Starfire has taught me that I can be more than just Robin, more than just a crime-fighter. She makes me better than I thought I could be. And…I really, really care about her." He looked up into Bruce's eyes. "I wanted you to know what I have. What I found."

Bruce smiled in a way he rarely showed to the world – the smile that proved that the heart that drove Batman was as powerful as the will behind it – and extended his hand to Starfire as if she were a courtly lady.

"I am very happy that you have come into Dick's life, to give him something even I could not," he said seriously. "Thank you for keeping his heart safe."

"I will always protect him," she replied. "His heart and everything else. And he protects me."

Dick squeezed her hand. "Always, Star."

"And should you need it, any of you," Bruce said, "you may call on anything that is mine to give as well. I respect that you have your own city to protect, but sometimes there's value in having another team on the ground, perhaps?"

"No," Starfire shook her head, catching both men by surprise. They exchanged concerned looks.

"Starfire, what…?" Dick began.

"Batman might help us if we need him," Starfire said firmly, "but Bruce Wayne is the only family you have. We will do better about remembering that. We are all far from our own people, but we should do all in our power to keep the closeness we share when we can."

"She's a very wise young lady," Alfred appeared suddenly, a tiny smile at the corners of his eyes. "You would both do well to listen to her."

"If you and Starfire are ganging up on us, we don't stand a chance," Bruce teased Alfred, winking at Dick.

"It is about time someone did!" Alfred sniffed with exaggerated dignity.

Dick grinned, but then turned to look to where Cyborg and Beast Boy and Tim had invented some sort of game that seemed to involve rather a lot of flying food, and Raven watched them with clear amusement, and he shook his head.

"You're mostly right, Star, but you missed something."

"Oh?"

"Bruce Wayne is my family," Dick said, his eyes falling on his adopted father and mentor, "And so is Alfred," he smiled shyly at the man. "But I have more family than that, now." He looked back over his shoulder. Raven turned at just that instant and nodded to him, her touch in his mind as delicate as a butterfly.

Dick turned back. "We all have a family now. We have each other."

-==OOO==-

The Titans stayed in Gotham another week – mostly for the pure fun of it – before they finally returned to Jump City. They brought the Titans East team a huge box of treats before chasing them out of their Tower and reclaiming their home.

Though it would take two weeks to find all the places Mas and Menos had hidden what they called "emergency tacos" and nobody really knew why.

For the most part, the Titans settled quickly back into their usual routine after an absence. Their return to Jump City was heralded by another attack by Doctor Light, whose post-vacation timing was now becoming almost predictable, and this time Raven didn't even have to threaten him before he squeaked in surrender. Robin set about rebuilding the training course at the base of the Tower, adding a few new obstacles and challenges after studying the set at the Batcave. Beast Boy made use of the many cheats and tricks he had learned from Tim and managed to beat Cyborg at most of their video games for the better part of a week. Starfire spoiled Silky rotten, as usual, and took him on some extra walks in the park because apparently none of Titans East really enjoyed having him on a leash in public. Raven had a whole new set of books she'd mysteriously acquired in Gotham, and could almost always be found reading while hovering on the edges of whatever else was happening.

And yet, some things had changed, too.

Robin no longer slept in his mask – though he kept it right by the bed just in case – and sometimes when they were having a movie night or just hanging out together, Starfire would gently tug it off and he would let her. And in those moments, he let himself be Dick instead.

Starfire took quite seriously her words about including Bruce as a member of the family more often, which meant she enforced a strict weekly schedule of secure video calls between the Tower and Wayne Manor. Even if for only a few minutes, she insisted that father and son speak, and often Alfred and Tim and the Titans joined the little conferences. Starfire had left her planet, her home, her people, and she was not sorry about that, but she would not miss a chance to have a family again when it had been offered.

There also started up a regular postal service that passed between the Tower and a secure drop-point which allowed them to send care packages back and forth. Starfire sent Tim samples of her food and her cultural items, most of which confused him even if he was pink when he spoke to her. Robin sent Batman copies of case notes and status reports and sometimes explanations for whatever had happened this time that meant some part of the Tower needed an expensive repair. Alfred and Raven formed a tea exchange; they almost never spoke to one another over the video calls, but a nod of the head or a slight shrug seemed all they needed to communicate. Cyborg and Batman traded schematics and parts, and sometimes Batman would send equipment to Cyborg for fixing or improvement when Bruce was too busy himself. Beast Boy mostly just stuck jokey items in the corners of the boxes for Tim, but he also sent over weird things – a jungle-edition Batman figurine, a pair of sunglasses whose lenses were the size of dinner plates, one lonely sock. And he also sent pictures. Pictures from their work, pictures from hanging out, pictures from candid moments and press releases and late at night when everyone was asleep.

And Robin found that he was glad his father had those pictures, that Alfred and Raven shared tea, that Tim was also dealing with whatever weird alien food Starfire had cooked this week, that Batman and Cyborg were consulting on equipment. He was glad and his only regret was that they hadn't done it sooner.

Cyborg was outwardly the same as ever, except of course the new mechanical projects, but to those who knew him best, he had very subtly changed as well. Beast Boy teasingly called him the T-Chaperone at one point, and they had all laughed, but there was a weird sort of truth to it. Cyborg never took sides when either of the pairs that surrounded him ran into trouble. He never offered advice except when asked, and he was never anything but honest with everyone. Cyborg could smooth over a misunderstanding or pound reality into prideful denial or serve as a friendly ear for doubts and fears – and the other four never forgot it. They didn't do date nights or couples-only outings. They remained as they had always been, five friends, and Cyborg knew that his role as big brother was a big part of why it worked.

And the fateful night Cyborg and Bumble Bee went on one disastrous date that might or might not have ended with burning down part of a sleazy carnival, when Cyborg came stomping home, he found the others waiting with a movie and popcorn and Beast Boy curled up on one side and Starfire leaned against him on the other and Robin and Raven talked about anything and everything until almost dawn and it was all right again.

Beast Boy was happy. He'd always been happy, of course, but now he was happy all the way through as he said himself. He still yelled about video games and whined about practice and snarked at bad guys and shouted about tofu – but he was happy. And whenever no one could find him, they simply tracked Raven to wherever she had settled to meditate and there he would be, quietly nearby, and no matter what he was doing, he was smiling.

Because Raven was happy, too. Not the bouncy, expressive happiness she'd shown for that brief period before Malchior revealed himself as a villainous dragon, but a deeper, more hidden joy was evident. She almost never retreated to her room to meditate anymore, instead opting for a common area that coincidentally tended to have something for Beast Boy to do. She was still quiet and her deadpan dry humor was as sharp as ever, but when there was no one but the Titans to see, she smiled more often. She also shied away from touch less, particularly with Beast Boy but with all of them as well.

Robin asked her about it one day, while the others made some sort of mess in the kitchen.

"I'm not sorry," he said, "but can you tell me what changed? I mean," he blushed very slightly, "other than the obvious, I guess."

Raven regarded him warmly. "My emotions are tied to my powers. You know that."

Robin nodded.

"What I didn't really understand until now was that they aren't only tied to my negative emotions. And…my negative emotions aren't as strong anymore."

Robin's eyes widened. "You mean…"

"I'm still half-demon," Raven anticipated him. "I'll always have that part of my nature and I'll always have to fight to control it. But…" she smiled a very small smile, "it's hard for my father's influence to get much of a foothold with Beast Boy there to give me something else to think about. Something else to feel. Something else to believe in. It makes me…less afraid of myself."

Spontaneously, Robin gave her a quick hug. He laughed at her surprise. "I'm glad, Raven. I'm glad you have that now. And you know that we aren't afraid of you, don't you?"

She nodded. "Of course I do."

The bond in Robin's mind widened a fraction and he understood what Raven wasn't quite saying. Understood that love had made her spirit strong in a way silence and isolation never had, that Beast Boy's infectious joy and laughter had made it easier for Raven to forgive herself, to accept herself. That who she was, what she was, could be defined now by something other than her past and her heritage.

Robin understood that part all too well.

"Are you honestly happy?" he asked very softly.

"I…I think so," Raven told him with almost a touch of shyness. "I don't really know, but I think so." Then she peered at him. "Are you happy?"

Robin let himself grin. "Yeah. I am happy. And…" but he ran out of words to describe what he was feeling.

But Raven knew. Of course she did. She smiled and put a hand on his shoulder. "We're here. We're together. We're home. That's enough."

And it was.

-==OOO==-

Most evenings, Beast Boy and Raven went up to the roof to watch the sun set over the ocean, feet dangling off the Tower. That night, Beast Boy cautiously took Raven's hand. Her eyes smiled at him and filled him, somehow.

"Raven?"

"Yes, Beast Boy?"

"Uh, I was kinda wondering…would you mind calling me Garfield sometimes?" He blushed even as he said it.

"Why?" she asked, looking at him with a little surprise and a little confusion. She squeezed his hand encouragingly.

"Well, it's my real name, you know? Beast Boy is sort of what I do, but Garfield is…more of who I am. Does that make sense?" His green eyes sought hers. "I want to always be who I am with you, not what I do out there." He gestured to the city's shoreline.

"I'd be honored, Garfield." She smiled then the private smile he had come to understand was her way of grinning and laughing and everything else he did when he couldn't hold it in anymore, and he felt a rush at hearing her call him by his name.

"What about you?" he suddenly asked.

"What about me?"

"Well, don't you have another name besides Raven?" the changeling asked. He had never thought to ask before.

"No," Raven glanced away. "I've always only been Raven. My mother never gave me another name."

Garfield gently put his arms around her. "Do you want another name?" he asked softly.

"No," Raven shook her head. "It's different for you and Robin. For me, being Raven is exactly what I want. I've already spent my whole life being two people – me and my father. Now, because of you, I can finally be Raven without being afraid of anything else."

"That's okay. I guess I'll have to give you one myself, then." He smirked as he said it. Raven looked up at him. "What? You don't want a cutesy nickname?"

"Actually, no," she told him frowning. But a few moments later, she asked, "What kind of name would you give me?"

"One that only I would know. One that would help you be you when we're like this and you don't want to be what you used to be before. Something like this." Smiling even wider, Garfield drew her against his chest and whispered in her ear.

"But…that's…it doesn't suit me. It's not my style." Raven spluttered, but there was no mistaking the blush on her cheeks.

"It does too suit you. You may be Raven to the whole world, but to me, you'll always mean light and hope and peace, all the good and happy things there are. The best thing that ever happened to me. Nothing could be better." He held her tightly, and slowly she relaxed into his cradling arms.

"Thank you," she whispered. She smiled up at him in pure, contented trust, and his heart hammered with unbridled joy.

"Thank you," he told her, "for caring about me. For…letting me care about you."

"Garfield," she said softly, and his heart danced with it, "I feel a lot more than just care about you."

"I know," he said. "That's why I named you…"

"But," she interrupted and caught him in her fierce glare, "if you ever, and I mean ever call me that, I really will send you to another dimension."

Garfield chuckled. "As long as you come with me, I could probably handle that."

"That would not be the point of my banishing you."

And he laughed and leaned against her and gazed out at the ocean for a little while.

Several minutes later, Raven spoke. "But I would, you know. Go with you."

"I know," he said. "Just like I'll go anywhere with you, even the creepiest dimension you can name. Even if it's full of monsters and stuff that smells like old socks and the only food is made of meat."

Raven shook her head but didn't fight the smile that followed the light he always seemed to bring to her heart. "I'll pack you a tofu sandwich."

"I'll pack you a mug of tea." Garfield smiled.

There was a plop and Starfire was on Garfield's other side. "And I shall bring the Tamaranean Pudding of Journeying for us all to share."

"Why is it always pudding?" Robin wondered, sliding in beside her. Then, softly, "I'll bring the breadcrumbs to lead us home."

Cyborg sat beside Raven and nudged her with a friendly elbow, "And I'll bring the waffles since you know we're gonna need waffles."

Raven glanced at her friends. "Is it always going to be like this? We were having a moment. Sort of." But there was amusement in her eyes.

"Pretty much," Robin told her. "I think we're all stuck together now."

And then Garfield looked out at the ocean and began to recite:

maggy and milly and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles, and

milly befriended a stranded star
whose rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea

But then he glanced around and repeated the last line with an impish grin. "For whatever we lose, like a you or a me," he nudged Raven, "it's always ourselves we'll find in the big giant Titan's Tower T!"

"I think you're right," Raven said softly, leaning her head on his shoulder.

And even the coming night couldn't put out the light in their hearts that bound them together.

-==OOO==-

The End