Sleepover Bash

Part II

China was set out along with two pitchers of water and baskets of bread. Strings of light were also draped around every window. In fact, they were the clear Christmas lights.

"If you would, ladies?" Speedy offered his arm to Cheshire. She took it in shock and he led her to her place setting and pulled her chair back for her.

Each male followed suit, pleasantly stunning their women.

The guys went to the kitchen to retrieve the dishes of food. There was stuffed pasta shells, roasted chicken, salad and roasted asparagus. Each guy served his lady before telling them to eat up and retired to the kitchen to feed the kids.

"I think they like it." Jericho signed hopefully.

"Me too." Aqualad strained to see.

"What are they saying, C?" Cyborg hit Changeling's arm.

Changeling brushed his hair back. "They like the food. And they're talking about what they got."

"Is it club clothes?" Kid Flash was worried.

"No idea. Just that they can't wait to show them off."

"We're doing all this for them and they're not budgin?!" Hot Spot hissed.

"They just haven't had dessert yet. They'll warm up to us." Cyborg was sure.

The girls quickly ate, having been famished from their seven hour shopping trip. That was actually only an hour long. They'd goofed off for a few hours before going shopping then split up to have a much needed off day. Then they met up before heading back to the tower.

"Ooh! They're done!" Cyborg flagged the guys down. Each picked up a plate and a cup with by a saucer underneath it. They went to their favorite lady and exchanged the dinnerware.

"Is this what I think it is?" Argent gaped.

"Tiramisu." Hot Spot flashed a grin.

"And a spot of cappuccino." Speedy added.

Cheshire hadn't had Tiramisu in years and looked forward to this. "Thank you."

"You are most welcome."

Cheshire raised her brows at his humble tone.

"This dessert pales in the complex beauty that is your inner light but it was the only thing we could do to let you know just how very sweet you are to us." Jericho signed.

Kole almost broke right then and there. "That was a lovely compliment."

"Compliments are a dime a dozen but truth is the diamond in the rough." Changeling kept his eyes on Raven, who was sure he didn't even know what he'd just said.

"Enjoy." Nightwing bowed over Starfire's hand.

Starfire, for her part, melted. But she kept her cool. "I will. For your effort."

The guys took the dirty dishes into the kitchen and began washing them while listening in on the girls' conversation. They didn't hear anything daunting so when they finished scrubbing the kitchen, they headed back to the table.

"How's your dessert?" Cyborg asked.

"Really good." Bumble Bee put her fork down. "It makes this next part really hard."

Hot Spot's fists clenched but he relaxed with a lot of effort. "It doesn't have to be."

"I believe it will be." Starfire faked sadness.

"Please, sit, Changeling." Raven pointed to the sofa.

"I'd rather stand." Actually he'd rather not be having this talk.

"I think it would be best to just rip the bandage off." Argent sighed as if greatly troubled.

Cheshire put her elbows on the table and clasped her hands together. "The bottom line is that we've talked it over and we have something big in common."

"We're looking for a change in our lives." Terra went on.

"Now this change might hurt you at first but we're sure that in time you'll see this is for the best." Kole put her hand on Jericho's arm.

Raven held out her plain white paper shopping bag. "The outfit explains it all."

Changeling looked between her and the large parcel several times before he slapped it out of her hands. Everyone else was surprised by his actions (albeit for different reasons). He dropped to his knees in front of her and buried his head in her lap. "Please don't do this!"

"‪Changeling‬!" Raven was startled and a Christmas light popped.

"I promise to do better! I'll tell better jokes! I'll stop playing video games! It'll be hard at first but I'll do it for you! Please don't do this! Give me another chance!"

One by one, the other guys followed suit with promises of change of their own. They each begged from the bottom of their hearts.

"Changeling. Changeling, stop this." Raven commanded. "Have some dignity!"

"Dignity means nothing without you!" He swore.

She pried him off her then stood. "Like I said. The outfit will explain it all. Ladies?"

One by one, the girls peeled their boyfriends off them and gifted them with packages before they took the gawking kids and left in the elevator.

"I can't believe this." Hot Spot had never felt more lost.

A single tear rolled down Jericho's cheek.

Kid Flash dropped to the floor and refused to move.

Cyborg threw the shopping bag on the ground and kicked it.

Nightwing repeatedly ran his hands through his spiky hair as he tried to come up with a counter plan.

Aqualad sat in Terra's seat and simply stared at nothing.

Changeling swallowed hard before slowly opening the bag. He had some psychological need to punish himself. He pulled out a large white garment box and opened that. There was dark blue violet tissue paper inside.

The exact same shade as Raven's eyes...

He slowly pulled the tissue back and stared, confused. "Guys? Open the boxes."

"I don't wanna see what she's gonna wear for some other dude!" Cyborg spat.

"I think these outfits are for us."

Each guy grabbed the bag and withdrew the box inside before opening it. Pulling back the tissue, they saw what ‪Changeling‬ meant as they pulled out complete sets of lingerie.

Changeling held up the blue black corset with matching boy-short. "They got us good."