A/N: Welcome to this year's December story! It won't be posted every day, instead I'm gonna post long chapters once to twice a week. I don't have a posting schedule as of yet, however… As I write this it's the 29'th of November and the story isn't finished… I have 6-7 chapters of it, though, so I think I'll be able to finish it on tie. It won't be much longer than that, as all chapters (so far) are 10+ pages.

I've been thinking about this story, in different version, for YEARS. Well, it's been popping up now and then, I haven't PLANNED it for that long. In my mind I've called it "my Jane Austen story". It is an AU taking place in that approximate time period somewhere in England BUT I won't bother with much geography at all. If you don't like AU's then try reading it as simply and original story, you might enjoy it even more that way.

While reading bear in mind two things:

1. The views on women and women's roles weren't the BEST back then… it doesn't NECESSARILY mean that the person saying something is a complete ass-hat/stupid; he/she may simply be a child of their time.

2. Not EVERYTHING is as in good old England, let's just say some social constructs have been altered for the sake of this story. You'll find out.

Now; enjoy! (hopefully) AND DO NOT FORGET TO REVIEW! This has cost me many hours of time, a few seconds of yours is really not much to ask in return I don't think. Thank you! (If you are reading this in 2016 or later, that is, after it's finished, then just leave a review by the end, no need to review every chapter! ;) As I'm writing it right now, though, current reviews help motivate me and who knows, there might be ideas I will have time to use…)

Also, thank you to Aikino for helping me beta at least the first parts of the story (and maybe more depending on circumstances).

The General's New Bride

Part 1

"I don't want to hear another word. One of you has to marry the general," Bruce Wayne said sternly, looking at his daughters.

"But father, you said I would be allowed to study!" Raven objected.

"And I can't! My heart belongs to another!" Starfire sobbed. "Father, please!"

"Our houses would both benefit from the union. General Wilson is looking for a new bride, and he's going to choose one of you. I'm sorry, my daughters, I did want your hearts to choose your future husbands, but with today's politics… we might be on the brink of civil war, we simply can't afford to be without the support of House Wilson."

"Then you marry him!" Raven cried out before turning around and fleeing. Starfire, who always wanted to please the ones she loved looked heartbroken. She curtsied shallowly to her father and hurried away, her sobs echoing through the stone halls.

"This break my heart too," Lord Wayne sighed.

"Father?" Robin, his second youngest son, spoke up unsurely.

The man startled and looked up. "Robin! What are you doing up there? Get down at once!"

The young, limber boy dropped from one of the roof beams which crisscrossed the high ceiling and landed softly on the floor below, looking slightly guilty.

"I'm sorry, father, I didn't know you were coming in here. I didn't mean to overhear."

"Well, you would have heard later today in any case. I hope you understand? Times are… difficult."

Robin nodded solemnly. "We're all grateful to you for taking us in," he said. "Things will work out, I am sure."

"You, who always seem to hear things you shouldn't, could you tell me who has captured Starfire's heart this week?" Bruce asked his son, ruffling the black locks affectionately.

"The miller's boy," the young man grinned.

"I see. General Wilson is a handsome man, though. I hope he can distract her fickle heart. He's also an intellectual, who praises science even above the church, so I am hoping that will appeal to Raven. We'll see."

"He's old, though, isn't he? And hasn't he lost an eye?"

"He's just slightly older than I am," Robin's father answered, a bit put off. "He must seem old to you, I assume, but he's a man in his prime."

"You're not old, I'm sorry," the young man tried to amend. "But the eye? Does he have a terrible scar?"

"A battle wound is nothing to be ashamed of," Lord Wayne lectured his son grimly. "And I don't possess a woman's eyes, but I think it's safe to say it doesn't mar his features much."

"Sorry," Robin said, hanging his head slightly.

"Yes, yes, run along now. Try to find your little brother; he's probably in the stables again."

"Yes, a cat just had kittens!" Robin announced, like it was the most important piece of news to come out of the county for a month.

"Well, well, I assume I'll be hearing all about that at supper. Now, I have some correspondence to take care of. I think we're going to leave your sisters alone for now."

"When will the general arrive?" Robin asked.

"In three days," his father sighed. "I have been putting it off, telling them the news. We'll have to be on our best behavior, though. You realize that, don't you?"

"I do, Father," Robin answered seriously.

"With Victor away you are the oldest son in the house, we can't have you climbing around the place like a monkey."

"No, Sir."

"And no spying on people!"

"No, Sir."

"Good. Not even to find out who took the last cookie."

"Father, I am an adult, you know!" the young man objected.

"Well… almost," Lord Wayne smiled affectionately and ruffled his son's hair once more.

"It's not my fault that I'm short," Robin muttered.

"You're not short, you just happen to have a very tall brother."

"But Garfield is almost as tall as me, and he's three years younger!" the boy complained. "Even my sisters are taller!"

"You have some growing to do yet, I'm sure," his father smiled. "You're only sixteen. Now run along," the man repeated.

Robin sighed. His father was obviously far from considering him an adult, but maybe it was partly his fault too… climbing around the rafters like that. He had difficulties being still for long, though, apart from when he was reading. Studying could keep his attention for hours, but then he needed action! The only reason that he hadn't tried to run away to join the army was that Victor, his older brother who had joined a year ago, had written about how boring it was to stay put and wait for orders. It was a time of peace, although tense, but the army wasn't a place for individual initiative and action either way, so Robin had decided it wasn't for him. Being an explorer was more up his alley. Or join the law enforcement in some big city. Maybe dig up ancient graves and buildings in some foreign land… Well, he did have plenty of time to decide what he wanted to do with his future; his studies wouldn't be finished for another two years or so.

"Gar?" Robin called out softly. It was dark in the stables, and the young man knew better than to disturb the animals.

"Over here, come look!" a young, excited voice answered.

Robin joined his little brother in admiring the kittens for a while. The boy with his brown-blond hair and olive skin looked quite exotic, but so did all the children of the manor in one way or the other. His big bright green eyes lit up when there was a sound behind them.

"Cute little buggers ain't them?"

"They sure are, Red," Robin grinned at the young man who had appeared next to them. The stable boy had a year or two on him and they had been friends since they were little kids. Lord Wayne had allowed it, despite the difference in status, as he believed more in friendship than in standing.

The stable boy, Red Ecks, had red hair like Star did, but unlike hers his went more toward the orange hues. A smatter of freckles across his nose, smiling light green eyes paired with a big grin was a surprisingly winning combination which made Robin's heart beat a little faster.

"Will Lady foal soon?" Garfield asked .

"Any time. Maybe tonight."

"Aw, but I wanna see!" the boy complained.

"Tell you what, if there's time I'll throw some gravel on your window if anything happens when you're sleeping, alright?" the stable boy promised.

"Thank you! You're the best!"

"Why don't you go check on her? Give her a carrot, the girl has deserved it," the redhead suggested.

"I will at once!"

As the boy scurried off Robin and Red chuckled.

"Wanna go up on the hay loft for a bit?" Red then whispered.

Robin blushed but nodded. "Oh!" he remembered, "I have news!" He grabbed his friend's hand and more or less dragged him to the barn and up the ladder to the loft, where they made their way to the far back and their 'secret place'. After Robin had told the news about General Wilson, Red gave a low whistle. "So one of them, huh? Married? Well, at least it's not you."

"I don't want to get married, we're going off on adventures, remember?" Robin huffed.

"I'll be your loyal servant, My Lord," the redhead chuckled.

"You'd better," Robin grinned.

"So… wanna … practice?"

"A-all right." Robin blushed but closed his eyes and parted his lips. Soon his friend's mouth touched his. They had seen a maid and a farm hand do this and they had decided that they wanted to find out what it was like, and 'practice' for when they were to be married as well. Robin himself didn't feel in a hurry to find a wife. Women weren't really that interesting to him, at least not to the amount he had heard other young men talk about them. Red's lips, though, was something he could lie awake at night thinking about.

"Red! Red! Where are you, boy?" the stable master's voice suddenly called from across the yard.

"Aw, darn. Gotta go," the redhead sighed. "No rest for the wicked."

"When we leave for our adventures no one will call you away from me again," Robin huffed. As the other young man paused he realized that what he had said might be too forward. "I mean-" he began.

"I'd like that," Red interrupted him softly and then kissed him again, quickly. "I'd like that very much." With that the redhead turned on his heel and hurried away to his boss. Robin, on the other hand, stayed where he was for a while and when he left he felt as light as a feather, almost floating above the ground.

The dinner that evening was a somber affair. Starfire and Raven mostly pushed their food around their plates, and Garfield looked unhappy. Robin gave him a small smile, knowing that the younger boy wanted nothing more than to bubble over with talk about the kittens and other such things, but felt that the mood didn't allow for it.

"Rae, Star, please don't be sad?" Robin tried, ignoring a look of warning from the lord. "Father wouldn't let you marry a bad man, would he?"

"Then you marry him!" Raven snorted.

"I would, if it would help!" Robin threw back. "I won't let anyone hurt you, general or not!"

"Now, now, calm down. Let's not judge the man before he gets here, shall we?" Lord Wayne said sternly. "And no matter what, I expect you all to behave."

"Yes, Father," came a collective mumble from around the table.

"Good. Now, Alfred, what would you suggest to cheer up this lot?" the lord asked the head butler who was standing by, keeping an eye on the dinner proceedings.

"Maybe a trip into the town tomorrow? Or perhaps a picnic?" the old man smiled.

"Why not both?" Bruce suggested.

"May I buy a book?" Raven asked guardedly, not quite ready to cheer up yet.

"Of course, you may have two if you find any you haven't read already," her father smiled.

"Last time I saw a beautiful hat-" Starfire began hopefully.

"It shall be yours. Are you feeling better now?"

"I still don't want to marry anyone," Raven sighed.

"Well, maybe you don't have to!" Garfield piped up, "Maybe he'll think you and Star are too ugly!"

"FATHER!" both ladies objected, but the lord was too busy trying not to laugh to reprimand his youngest son.

They were a strange family. Lord Wayne had never married but had always ruled his county with a firm and fatherly hand. He had adopted his five children one by one. Victor he had found at a country fair, a freak show had showed of the little boy with his dark skin and injured body. He had only been four and it had taken the best doctors in the kingdom to help him heal. He couldn't remember where he had gotten his wounds and broken, twisted bones, but that was probably for the best. Bruce had named him Victor as he had conquered so much at such a young age.

Raven had been the oldest child he adopted, she had been eight. A timid girl who has seen too much with a sick mother and abusive father. The family's circumstances came to Lord Wayne's attention when her father was being charged for beating her mother to death. The demon of a man was hanged and Bruce took in the shy, pale child, with hair so black it shone in blue hues, and eyes so dark blue that they looked purple in the sunlight. It had turned out that she had quite a head on her shoulder and soon she had learned to both read and write. Her birth name was Rachel but at the adoption she had asked to choose a new name for herself. She had chosen the raven, a symbol of both wisdom and darkness, and it suited her well.

Starfire had been found bundled up by the roadside a winter's night. The old woman who had found the abandoned newborn had told the lord about it herself as she handed him the child.

"And I wouldn't have seen her, my lord, unless I had watched the sky and walked a bit away from the road by mistake… but the sky last night, my lord, did you see it? All the falling stars, like the stars themselves were on fire! I was so awed I didn't look where I was going and suddenly I stumbled over her in the ditch… the stars led me to her, be certain of that!"

So the child had received the unusual name Starfire. No trace of her mother or any other relative was ever found, and it was suspected that they were just passersby as that particular shade of red hair and vibrant green eyes didn't fit any known family in the county.

Robin himself was a gypsy. His family had been traveling alone and been ambushed by thieves. His father and mother had been murdered, but before that they had managed to hide their little five-year old in a secret compartment of their wagon. The robbery had been interrupted –too late− by Lord Wayne himself while he was out hunting with a few of his men, and the man had heard the little boy cry. The boy himself said his mom called him Robin, so Robin it was.

Garfield was an exotic child who's father had been an explorer and met his mother in some unknown country. They had travelled together until they had contracted a strange illness in some faraway land. They had returned to the kingdom in the hopes of being cured, but had instead succumbed quickly. Garfield's father had actually known Bruce personally since childhood and had, on his deathbed, asked him to take care of their by then two year old boy.

So the family had come to be, unorthodox but respected and well liked. Bruce cared for each one as his own but also expected them to live up to the expectations of little lords and ladies. He had never asked this much of any of them before, however.

Even though the next day lifted everyone's spirits a bit, the day after that, the day before the general was supposed to arrive, was yet again gloomy. Robin even went to bed early just to get away from the tension. He really hoped one of his sisters would fall head over heels in love with this man so it all could have a happy ending. If the gods were really cruel they would both fall in love, though, and fight over him instead…

He woke up to the sound of something smattering against his window. While he was still half asleep he thought it was rain, but then the sound came back and he jumped out of bed to go investigate.

"Robin!" Red hissed up at him from below the window.

"Yes?" the young man whispered back.

"Oh, good. Thought I was gonna have to break your damn window," the redhead snorted. "It's Lady's time, I already woke the squirt. Wanna come too?"

"I'll be right there!" Robin grabbed his breeches and pulled them on, tucking the half-open short nightshirt inside. It was a warm summer night and he really didn't have time to dress properly. He climbed out the window and scurried down the side, using the uneven stone wall and the climbing plants as foot and handholds. It was the quickest and, more importantly; the most exciting, way of getting down.

He was met with a wide grin on the ground.

"What's that face for?" Robin laughed.

"Your butt looks really cute from below," the stable boy answered.

Robin blushed. "Don't say things like that!" he huffed.

"You're right, I shouldn't. It looks cute all the time," the redhead admitted and then gave the younger man's behind a playful squeeze, which he got an equally playful push for. The young men soon remembered that they had some place to be and joined Garfield and a senior stable hand at the scene.

"You can see the hoofs already!" Garfield whispered excitedly, obviously having gotten a stern order to stay quiet and out of the way. Robin and the others did as well. The mare needed no help what so ever, and soon a wobbly, wet, brown little creature was trying to keep his balance while making a few pitiful attempts at neighing. After the foal had found out where the milk was the senior stable hand nodded.

"There, all of you head back to bed now. Wouldn't do having you running around outside at this hour." He was talking to the Wayne-children, of course; Red was expected to be there.

"Yes, Sir! May I name him? May I?" Garfield asked.

"You have'ta ask your father in the morning," was his answer.

The brown haired boy scurried off, but Red and Robin weren't in quite the same rush. They strolled back towards Robin's bedroom window, enjoying the smell and sounds of the summer night.

"I love this time of year. Going to bed should be forbidden," Robin sighed.

"You wouldn't think that if you had to get up at four to shovel a ton of shit," Red grinned at him.

"Yeah, well… you won't have to do that forever. I'm taking you away, remember?" Robin smiled.

"I don't mind. 'Tis a good place, this," the stable boy shrugged. "Besides, you're here."

The black-haired young man snickered and then, after checking around quickly, gave the other boy a kiss. That led to a second one, which led to a third, and soon they couldn't stop, standing pressed against the wall in the darker shadows of the night. They thought they were safe, unseen, until a voice shattered that illusion.

"Sin wakes up early at this house I see."

Robin gasped, wide blue eyes looking over Red's shoulder just as the first light of the morning cruelly took away any chance of hiding. The man looking down on them was huge, but at least no one the young man knew. Robin was sure of that, even though the light behind the man made his featured shadowed and he was barely more than a silhouette.

"Two boys, huh? Imagine that." The voice, Robin discovered, didn't sound that angry or disgusted, more amused. "Run along and get your masters, the horses needs tending to."

"Yes, Sir!" Red said, gave Robin an apologetic glanced and hurried away.

"And you?" the man said, taking a step forward, "Aren't you going to obey?"

Robin had already understood who he had in front of him, and now, as the man moved and the light fell more over his features, he also saw the black patch over his right eye, confirming his identity.

"I… I…" the young man knew that he was in trouble. He could pretend to be a farm hand and just run away, but he knew the man would recognize him later; black hair paired with sky blue eyes would give him away if nothing else. "Ge-General Wilson, we… we didn't expect you quite this early."

"You seem to be implying that I'm addressing a member of the house?" the man said, arching a brow.

"Robin Wayne, Sir. I'm terribly sorry for… for…" the boy wasn't quite sure what it was he was supposed to be sorry for. Apart from getting caught, of course. He was very, very sorry about that. "I'll… I'll wake my father-" he started.

The general held up a hand. "No, don't inconvenience him. I'll rest in the barn with my men for a while. Have a servant bring word when a room is ready. I would like to clean up before breakfast, but there's no reason to wake the family for that."

"Yes, Sir," Robin said and then hesitated.

"Well?" the man was obviously used to his orders being obeyed right away.

"Well, I… umm… climbed out the window, so… I… um…"

"So much trouble to be with your boyfriend?"

"He's not-! I-! We're just-!" the young man babbled. "We were just… practicing." Robin could feel his face flushing a deep red by now.

The general made a sound between a snort and a chuckle. "I bet."

"Please don't tell my father?"

"When I see you at breakfast I'll pretend we've never met," the general nodded to the young man's relief. "Now, off with you, or are you too afraid to climb back up?"

It was Robin's time to snort, and he turned around to quickly scale the wall once more. When he had a leg safely over the windowsill he looked back down. The general was looking up at him with a peculiar look on his face. When their eyes met the look turned into a smirk. It made the young lord remember the comment about his behind Red had uttered before. A new blush bloomed on his cheeks as he quickly ducked inside.

He wasted no time in alerting Alfred to the fact that they had guests. After that he tried to fall back to sleep for an hour or so, but gave up. Instead he got up, washed and dressed. Alfred usually doubled as his valet, but only when dressing for more official dinners, otherwise he managed himself. His sisters had help, but Robin guessed female attire was just more complicated, for some reason. Alfred also assisted Bruce in choosing and straightening his clothes. Usually that wasn't the butler's job, of course, but Lord Wayne wanted it that way. Also, Robin now started to realize, it might be a way to keep costs down. Other houses had a much bigger indoor staff than they had. He hoped the reason was frugalness rather than necessity, though. Maybe he should warn his siblings against asking for too expensive Christmas gifts this year… Yes, his father had said that they needed House Wilson for political support, but Robin knew that most arranged marriages had to do with money. Were they suffering economically? He had no idea, his father hadn't mentioned it, and he knew Bruce worked hard but with five children to support and marry off well… And dowries were expensive. But maybe the general, who was much richer, not request much in that way…? It was rather difficult for him to imagine that there would be one less of them next Christmas. First Victor left for the army and now one of his sisters would be living with her new husband… the thought made him sad; his family was shrinking.

Everyone was dressed to their teeth for breakfast. Robin had been made to change into a finer jacket and a slightly stressed Alfred had brushed his hair as Robin's efforts apparently weren't satisfactory. The ladies of the house had gotten the most of the attention and effort, though. While they lined up to meet the general, Robin couldn't help but glance at his sisters and notice that they had a bit more pink in the cheeks than usual. He had expected them to look sullen or angry, but instead they seemed curious… maybe they had been swept up in all the preparations and found it all exciting after all. He wanted to keep looking at the girls to see the expression on their faces when they first saw the man, but it wouldn't be polite, so he turned his eyes to the closed double doors as the rest of them. He heard small gasps as the doors open, though, and he was pretty sure he wasn't making the noise.

It had been hard to see every detail of the man at dawn, but even so Robin had found him handsome in the manliest of ways. He hadn't been in full uniform like now, however, with buttons shining and the dark blue fabric hugging his body perfectly. Extraordinarily perfectly.

"General Slade Wilson," Alfred introduced the man, and Robin's eyes jumped up from where they had been inadvertently drawn. To his embarrassment the man's single grey-blue eye was on him, a small smirk on his lips.

"Welcome to Wayne Manor," Bruce said warmly and came forward to greet the man. The rest of the family stayed in line until introductions were made. Bruce started with the boys, getting them out of the way before focusing on the ones he assumed the man would be the most interested to meet; his daughters.

"This is Starfire, my youngest daughter," he said. Robin barely listened, his hand still felt warm after shaking the general's hand. The man had given him a quick grin and a nod, leaving him blushing again. "She sings like an angel and her embroidery is famed in the whole county." Bruce continued. "And this is Raven, my oldest; you'd struggle to find a book she has not read and she can balance the numbers better than my own accountant."

"Ladies," the man bowed, making Starfire give a delighted but nervous giggle. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you both."

The conversation at breakfast was easily kept up by Bruce and Slade as they spoke about current affairs and the state of the country. Robin snuck glances at the man while finding himself enjoying the deep voice. His sisters seem to do the same.

As the day progressed the general took both the young ladies for walks around the garden. Red and Robin were watching one of those walks from the side lines, half hidden among the trees. Red had snuck away from work for a few minutes. He had more to do now as Slade had brought a few men with him; a valet and other servants, so the stable was pretty full. The young man seemed to think it was worth it, though.

"Quite a man," Red commented.

"M-hm," Robin agreed.

"You shouldn't look at him like that."

"Like what?" the black haired young man blinked.

"Like you want to take off on adventures with him instead of me," the stable boy grinned.

"You're silly," Robin snorted. "Who do you think he will choose?" he then asked.

"Depends on what he wants," the other shrugged. "They are both beautiful, if you forgive me saying so. If he wants a traditional wife, he'll choose Lady Starfire. If he wants a challenge he'll choose Lady Raven. Maybe she will be more interesting to him."

"I just hope that whoever he chooses wants him as well," Robin sighed.

"Who wouldn't want him?" Red snorted. "He's rich, powerful, handsome, and-"

"Something's happening!" Robin interrupted, watching Raven stalk away from the man, skirts flying and a look of thunder on her face. The young man hurried up to intercept her.

"What's wrong?" Robin asked under his breath.

"Apparently being his wife would 'leave little time for books'," Raven growled under her breath. "I told him I'd rather be in the library than with him."

"Lady Raven!" The general's voice boomed across the lawn, commanding her to stop.

"Don't let him follow me!" Raven pleaded in a whisper and disappeared into the house.

Robin swallowed. Don't let him? Don't let General Slade Wilson do whatever he pleased? How? Well, he wasn't a coward, and his sisters were worth risking anything for, so he boldly stepped up to the man he barely reached up to the chest to and raised his hand.

"Pardon me, Sir, my sister doesn't wish to speak to you right now."

"She's a feisty little thing, isn't she?" the man leered.

That comment made Robin's blood boil. He had better manners than to explode, though.

"She's my sister, Sir. I don't appreciate you talking about her like that."

"That's sweet. Now move out of the way, I need a word with Lady Raven."

Robin bristled. "No."

"No? Are you challenging me, young man?" The general looked amused, but there was annoyance just below the surface. "A duel at dawn, perhaps? You seem to enjoy those…"

The redness on Robin's cheeks was more due to anger than embarrassment. "I wouldn't challenge an old injured man to a duel, there would be no honor in winning that kind of fight," he growled.

"Shit." The word was uttered by Red, who had followed the young lord at a respectable distance. Robin met the wide, green eyes at the moment he realized wheat he had just said.

"Fetch your sword," the general ordered grimly.

"Sir, I- I-" Robin stuttered.

"I assume you have one? Like any gentleman's son?"

"Y-yes, but-"

"Fetch it. Now. You'd better be back before I've counted to one hundred."

"But-"

"One."

"Sir, you-"

"Two."

"General, I-"

"Three."

Robin turned and ran.

He didn't dare tell anyone what was going on; he didn't want to get in trouble with his father. Him getting killed by the general somehow seemed less scary, if only a little. He hoped to be able to talk the man out of the challenge once he had fetched the sword, but when he returned Red stood holding the general's coat, looking sheepish, while Slade had his sword out and ready.

"Sir, I really don't-"

"Remove your jacket, it allows freer movement."

"But-"

"Now, Robin."

The young man obeyed, leaving him in a white shirt and scarf, more or less the same thing the general was wearing.

"I don't want to duel with you!" Robin blurted out before the man had the time to interrupt him again.

"Oh, we're not going to duel," Slade said.

"We're not?"

"Of course not. Your death would dampen the festivities of the upcoming wedding, after all."

Robin couldn't even feel insulted. He saw the way the man moved, the way he held his weapon, the muscles bulging under the thin linen summer shirt… he knew he had very little chance at all. He didn't feel much better as the man smirked and continued: "This is going to be a lesson."

It was. Robin learned a lot, but he also taught the general a thing or two. Like not to underestimate a certain short young man. Robin had trained with his father and older brother, and done so rigorously. He was limber and strong from all his climbing as well, and before his older opponent realized this, Robin held his ground fairly well.

The fight turned from a punishment to something both of them seemed to enjoy. By the end they were both sweaty but grinning. Robin knew that the man held back, but when the young man tripped on a tree root behind him, Slade had no other choice than to end the game, holding the blade against the young lord's throat. Robin lifted a hand as a sign of surrender and was then offered the general's hand as help to get back on his feet. He accepted it and was hauled to his feet like he had no meat on his bones at all.

"What is going on here?" Bruce came hurrying towards them, and Robin could hear in his voice that there might be trouble.

"Your son is entertaining me by joining me in my daily exercises. I hope you don't mind?" the general answered smoothly.

"I thought Raven and you…?"

Robin shot the general a warning look.

"Ah, Lady Raven had a bit of a headache and needed to rest," Slade said.

"The sun," Robin explained while trying to catch his breath. Lord Wayne nodded. Raven did tend to get headaches if she was out in the sun for too long.

"Very well. I believe lunch is in an hour, I hope Raven will be well enough to join us by then," Bruce said.

"So do I," the general replied.

"If you would excuse me, I have some correspondence to attend to," the lord said with a short bow. "Robin, wash up and change before we eat, you look dreadful."

"Sorry, Sir," the young man mumbled, looking ashamed.

When Lord Wayne got out of earshot, the general said in an amused tone; "I don't think you look dreadful at all."

"Um. Thank you, Sir," Robin, who didn't quite know how to reply to that, said. "About Raven, though-"

"More threats coming? Haven't learned your lesson?"

"No, I was just… she's wonderful and incredibly intelligent. If you like her you should shower her with books, it's cruel to take them away from her! If you can't stand a wife being more intelligent than you are, then there's always Starfire." Robin paused as his own words sank in. "Let me take that back…"

"Yes, please do," the general said tersely.

"I didn't mean that Starfire is stupid, she just enjoys more artistic things."

"So you are not going to take back the implication that your sister is smarter than I am?"

Robin met Slade's eye levelly. "No."

A tense moment passed and then the corners of the man's mouth twitched. "You're quite brave, aren't you?"

"I'm just honest. Raven is brilliant. I'm sure you are quite knowledgeable as well, but I know who my money would be on in an academic test."

"And you?" Slade asked a startled Red, who was still holding their coats. "Who would your money be on?"

"You, of course, Sir," the redhead quickly replied.

"Clever boy."

"Yeah," Red grinned. "Just not very brave."

Robin talked to Raven before lunch, but she was still very frosty towards the general. Robin couldn't blame her. Starfire was giggling a lot, not seeming that upset about her eternal love anymore. She wasn't that amused later in the evening, however, when Slade nodded off in a chair while she was playing the piano for them. Insulted and with tears in her eyes she slammed the piano lid down and stalked away to her room. Robin glanced at his remaining siblings as they tried not to snicker.

"I have to blame your fine wine cellar," the general said to Lord Wayne. "And your cook. The dinner was divine."

"I'm sure she'll forgive you," the lord, who had been nodding off as well, answered. "I'll go speak to her now, and then I think it's time to retire for the night. Boys, come along now," he gestured to Robin and Garfield.

"Yes, father," the younger boy yawned widely.

"I'm just about to finish the book, may I stay for a few minutes?"

"Of course. Good night."

"Night!"

Robin had been ignoring the playing and focusing on his latest book instead, and as he now sank back into it, he didn't notice the general lingering in the room.

"Seems like I need to apologize to your other sister as well," the man then said, making the young lord jump slightly.

"Oh! Yes… I'm sorry to say that you're not making a great impression."

"Maybe spending my nights listening to music doesn't seem very worthwhile to someone like me," the man grunted.

"Well, you could have spent it having an interesting conversation about almost anything in the world, but you didn't seem to want that either," Robin huffed. Maybe he was being rude, but the man was just impossible.

"What are you reading?"

"The Iliad. Do you know it?"

"Very well."

"I've read it many times. I hope to read the Odyssey too, but we don't have it."

"I own a copy. Once I've married one of your sisters, I can send it to you, as a loan."

"I'm sure that will make up the loss of a sister," Robin grunted jokingly. "Thank you. It is hard to come by, it seems. I really want to know the full story."

"I could tell it to you right now. I've read it many times," the general offered.

And that's why they didn't retire until long after the fire had burned down.

To be continued…

A/N: hope you liked it! We all know how this is gonna end, but I hope you enjoy the ride there… ;)