One & Done

Charlotte looked at her sippy cup of grape juice like it held the answers to life's mysteries.

"What's wrong, Charlie?" Cyborg watched her.

She frowned. "I don't know."

She sounded so confused, all the adults stopped. "You don't know?"

She shook her head.

"Why not?" Christopher asked.

"I dunno. I wanna-" She stopped with a frustrated frown.

Changeling leaned over. "Wanna play?"

She shook her head.

"Do you want to finish your breakfast?" Raven led.

Changeling tossed her a dry look but Charlotte nodded. "You do?"

Charlotte nodded again, very intense.

Bumble Bee had an aha! moment. "Do you want to drink out of a glass like a big girl?"

Charlotte nodded. "But what if I'm not ready?"

"You're five now. You can do anything you set your mind to."

"Girl power, Charlie!" Terra cheered.

"You can do it, Charlie." Jinx added.

Everyone began chanting the little girl's name.

Charlotte thought about it. She wanted to be a big girl so much but her baby sister was an infant and got all the attention. What was it going to be?

1

Argent opened the door with a smile. "Hey, guys!"

"Guess what, Aunt Toni!" Christopher was bursting with news.

"What?" She gave him her full albeit startled attention.

"Charlie drink out of a glass like me!"

"Really?"

Charlotte beamed. "Yeah!"

"Big girl!"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now you guys come inside before the babies freeze."

Titans West went upstairs and unpacked before going up to the common room. Titans East greeted them warmly and the kids all mingled together to play.

"I hate that it's winter!" Cheshire wailed.

"Why?" Jinx frowned.

"No!" Bumble Bee was too late.

"I can't throw a carnival themed party like I wanted!" Cheshire was being extra dramatic for her daughter's first birthday.

"You knew she was going to carry on." Starfire guessed.

Bumble Bee nodded once. "Yep."

"It will not go quickly, will it?"

Bumble Bee shook her head. "Nope."

"Oh the darn."

"Yep."

1

Menos inched into the common room with a young but very pregnant girl. "Guys? Meet Arabella. Ara? These are my family."

Arabella Maniscalco waved shyly, only knowing very few of them. "Hello."

"Hello." The Titans blinked.

Bumble Bee rolled her eyes and went to her. "Hey."

Arabella relaxed and hugged her. "Hi."