Chapter One: Garfield's Realization

Summary: It has been ten years since the Teen Titans was formed, and many changes, and some drastic changes happen to each and every Titan during those ten years. They all have grown closer to each other in their own ways, some more romantic than others. But, as we follow Garfield's and Raven's life now, we see changes in them both that, as both Garfield and Raven hope, that would one day lead them both down the path of love. This Story is rated M because of some language, violence, adult situations, and sex (lemons) later on in the story, and probably some graphic violence. Pairings: Mostly BBRae, some NWStar, and very slight CyJinx. Don't like anything of this story, please, don't read it, and OOC.


"One hundred and fifty four…one hundred and fifty five…and…one hundred and fifty six." Garfield mentally counted. It has been ten years since the start of the Teen Titans, or as it is called now, 'The Titans', and it has been six years since Trigon the Terrible's downfall, and four years since Slade's capture and downfall. Not much has happened since the team has been created. As Garfield, or Changeling, formally known as Beast Boy, done his daily exercises in the gym, but usually with a partner, Cyborg.

Cyborg, now 26, has grown fairly little in the years that he has a Titan. His facial expression hasn't changed a lot over the years, except the fact that he has now a faint mustache and beard, and also has sideburns. His used-to-be look has changed from a bulky mechanical robot, to a rather, normal looking, but very tall man. His once bulky exterior was replaced with more flexible and more "realistic" fitting, making him look like a really tall man if he was wearing a large hat and coat. Cyborg, still the oldest and the tallest out of the other four members now is towering at six foot three, and has grown into a fine young man. But, the once scrawny and stick-figured little immature boy, Beast Boy, or as the public now know him as Changeling, and his fellow companions, Garfield, is his competitor, when it comes to height.

Garfield, now 21, is not the scrawny little boy who would crack jokes whenever he could any more. This Beast Boy is more like the "Beast" in Beast Boy now. His entire outlook changed in the years proceeding Trigon's decent. When he was around 17 to 18, he had an enormous growth spurt that made him grow from four feet six inches, to right now five feet 11 inches. His facial expression has also changed a lot over the years. His face now makes him look very gentleman-like, while still making him look quite intimidating. His body has also changed almost drastically over the years as well. When the incident happened with Adonis over five years ago, the chemicals that had spilled on him, altering his genes, and the incident with Slade shooting him with bio-toxins that, not only boosted metabolism within his body, but also nearly killing him in the process, has really shaped him to his old name. He now, on a daily basis, works out at the gym for hours at a time, lifting weights, bench-pressing, and other exercises, has made him into a very strong person physically.

His chest wasn't flat like when he was Beast Boy, but now his chest is nicely chiseled out just in the right places. Also, his used-to-be flat stomach now has six-pack-abs to fill its place. Also, his arms are nice and muscular, and not all wimpy as he was six years ago. He is still the vegetarian like when he first came to be a Titan, and still has that boyish personality inside him, but can be very mature when he ahs to be. In other words, Garfield has become a fine young man himself over the years. Even though he may be tall and strong, but he is still not as strong, but almost as strong as, Nightwing.

Nightwing, now 24, or formally known as Robin, now has also grown a lot over the years with the Titans. He used to be rather short, but strong leader of the Titans, but now, he is five foot ten inches and a lot stronger than when he first was the leader of the Teen Titans. He also has grown some rather large muscle over the years, and has always wanted to stay in shape ever since becoming a Titan. His strength, outmatching all the Titans, but is well matched with Garfield, who he has hours of time sparring with each other in the gym to encourage one another to keep fighting until you collapse from exhaustion. His face changed rather lightly, since he now has a more serious looking face, has made him into a fine young man as well, but can be as soft as a feather, when it comes to his crush, Starfire.

Starfire, now 23, being the second to last tallest person in Titans Tower, has grown not a lot over the years. She was once five foot four, but now stands as tall as five foot nine inches, right below Nightwing's height. She has grown into a fine young lady, who has matured greatly over the years, but will always be the sweat naïve alien girl of Tamaran. Starfire might not have grown in height, but she grew in the places where maturity really shows, and she has the curves filled in the right spots for Nightwing's attention. But, the smallest of the five Titans, and is Starfire's best friend, isn't the least important, nor the weakest of the five Titans, is Raven.

Raven, now 22, which used to be around four feet 11 inches, grew to five foot seven inches, right below her Tamaranean friend, Starfire. She hasn't changed in facial structure, except that she looks a lot more mature and has the same expressions on her face. The thing that changed most about her wasn't just the height, but how she grew into a woman. Before, when she was around 14 to 15, she was just a regular gothic type person, but now, since se has grown up and matures, has filled al the curves in her body, and in the right places, enough to get Garfield's attention completely.

Since the fall of Trigon the Terrible and Slade, not many enemies or crimes have been committed since. Occasionally, there would be robbing, maybe a rape case here or there, or even a natural disaster, but nothing really that the Titans couldn't defend or solve or stop. But, the Titans daily routines have barely every changed in the years, since the Titans have started. But, the only thing that really is changing is the fact that Nightwing and Starfire have started dating last year, and Garfield has had that "fuzzy-jumpy-butterfly feeling in him. Ever since Terra's betrayal, he has always searched in his heart, to try and fine someone whom he could care for, someone to be with, someone to hold, some one…to love.

Since the last seven years, he has always admired everyone on the team in different ways, and vice versa. H has cherished Cyborg's older brother type personality towards him. Cyborg has always been there for him, and has always had something to cheer him up or help him solve something or just to have fun with. Robin was someone he could also look up to, since, after all, he is the team leader, and has always admired and sorta creeped out of his non-stop goal to stop crime. Starfire has always been like a sister towards him, and she has also been there for him, just as Cyborg was there, is he needed him.

But then there's Raven…he has always thought Raven was there to help him when he had troubles that involved with the mind, or his feelings. She has always come through to him when he is on the verge of breaking down. She was always there to keep him in shape and to keep him, somewhat up. But then again, she always has a cold remark or a cold expression towards him. But over her "maturing" years, she has softened and lightened up towards him. And, she was usually the only thing in his mind if he were bored, sleeping, and just about everyday and every second. He also, now realizing it, always had a thing for her, even when he was with Terra, he always thought that something sparked, but never really registered it, until apparently now.

While Garfield finished up with his morning exercise, he has just realized that, the feelings, the thing, and the person he was searching for, was right under his nose. The person whom he wanted to spend the rest of his time with was her…Raven. He just sat up from bench-pressing 150 pounds, and started to ponder why now? Why? He has always wanted to make her happy, make her smile, and try to make her have fun while life lasted. He also has always been there for her, and vice versa. The last thing was that whenever he got the chance, he would either stare at her, without realizing it until it was too late, and the fact that he flirts way too much with her as well. Even on a daily basis, he would flirt with her.

He the got up from the bench chair, and slowly went to the towel rack, and started to wipe away the beads of sweat that was poring down his face, chest, and back. As he finished up this task, he then started to head out of the gym, and the up stairs to the kitchen, where he would meet everyone else for lunch, since it was nearly noon. But as he neared the kitchen doors, he realized, after another intense day of exercising, he should go take a shower first, then eat. As he flung the sweat-covered tower over his shoulder, the sliding doors that lead to the kitchen opened with a small swoosh as he entered the kitchen.

Upon entering the room, he noticed Cyborg cooking on the stove, and thought he was probably frying or stir-frying another defenseless animal. Then, as he walked further into the room, he noticed that Nightwing was on the couch, watching tv and Starfire right next to him, with her head resting peacefully on his shoulder, and Starfire playing with Nightwing's hair absentmindedly.

"I envy you Nightwing…" Garfield spoke to himself.

"What did you say?" Came a voice towards his right.

"Huh? What?" Garfield responded. He didn't know whom he was talking to until he turned his head towards the direction the voice was coming from.

"I said, 'What did you say'." Raven's voice could be heard. As he turned to face her, he started to blush rather deeply, since he thinks that he heard what he said.

"Oh, uh, nothing. Nothing." Garfield lied.

"Oh, I thought you said something." Raven stated. She then returned to her herbal tea, and started to read her book, where she had left off.

As She engulfed her mind with her book, Garfield stopped walking towards his room, and just stood there, staring at her unknowingly.

"Wow. She really is beautiful." Garfield thought. "Man, she really is the Ice Queen, the Goddess of Goths, the Queen of Darkness. Her face looks as if angels were carved out of it, and man, she has a fine body, and nice boobs…what?" Garfield then snapped back to reality. "Wow man, what was that? Did I just think…and look at Raven's…Oh my god. I'm really obsessing over her. Ok, calm down…" Garfield told himself. He then realized that he was staring at her for far too long, and then suddenly dashed out of the room, towards his room, and to his bathroom.

When he was just about done taking his shower about ten minutes later, he heard a faint knock on his door, when he was drying himself off with a towel.

"Yes?" Garfield asked the person who knocked.

"Gar., it's time for lunch, ok?" Raven called from the other side of the door.

"Ok, I'll be right out." Garfield yelled back. He then thought of Raven coming into the bathroom and…"Wow!" Garfield screamed. "Ok, maybe I like her more than I thought. I think I'm falling in love with her."

As he emerged from the bathroom, he then dashed down towards the kitchen, to have lunch with the Titans. About a half and hour later, everyone had finished their lunch, and was practically doing their own separate things, when the alarm went off.

"Titans Trouble!" Their leader screamed.

"Were?" Starfire asked.

"In Sector Seven. There seems to be about twenty men trying to steal gold from Jump City's Gold Refinery." Nightwing said. "Titans, Go!" As Nightwing said his trademark saying, all five Titans went into action expecting the unexpected.