Getting the mail was always one of those duties that nobody ever really bothered to do. Cyborg would do it only if the delivery came when he was messing around in the garage. Beast Boy, well, we'd have about as much chance of that happening as him cleaning his room. Which reminds me…I pulled out my phone and made myself a memo to remind him to get rid of the rank stench in there. It was beginning to waft down the hall and Cyborg expressed concerns about rats chewing through the wires to the security system. As far as Starfire retrieving the mail, she meant well, she really did, but she had a tendency to read everybody's things. And honestly, the fact that I get a lot of fan mail made her angry. I tried to explain that it meant nothing, and I thought that it was clear she had my heart. But apparently, I was wrong. She's become so unreasonable these days. I had a duty to the team, the city, my mentor and quite frankly, myself…no kid should have to go through what I did. I couldn't help my parents, but at least I could help the parents of some other kids. Light soothing chanting from a low rolling voice filled my ears as I passed the door with its inhabitants name scripted across the front. Raven was busy in there no doubt, either meditating or something to that effect. She was the only other person who could be counted on when it came to some menial household tasks, such as getting the mail.

The doors swooshed and let me into the common room. Starfire, seeing it was me coming in stuck up her nose and turned towards the wall. Seriously? What the hell did I do now? She's probably still mad that I spent the morning trying to uncover a bank robbery that I thought was going to take place sometime next week. Those Hive losers have really hit a new low. I cancelled our morning breakfast date to try to put a halt to the plan. Starfire was mixing some kind of strange thing that I was probably going to have to taste to appease her later. My stomach dropped a little at that and I think I've got heartburn now. Cyborg was tinkering with the TV trying to get the picture back after Beast Boy had tried to wire in his new gaming console.

As I flipped through the envelopes, occasionally tossing one in the trash can, a bright golden one caught my hand. It was addressed to all of us and had the seal of the city on it. Thinking, this would be something important, I placed the envelope on the counter.

"Yo Robbie where are you going?" Cyborg called turning around at hearing the doors open again.

"I was going to get Raven. There's an envelope from the city addressed to all of us."

"Dude! I bet its an invite to the dedication of a statue in my honor." Beast Boy said putting his leg up on the couch in a heroic pose.

"This dedication, is it anything like defication?" Starfire piped up from the kitchen.

My eyes went wide. "Um, no…Star. Its not." I answered.

Beast Boy was trying to contain his laugh. Cyborg quickly excused himself, sputtering out something about going to get Raven.

An uncomfortable silence filled the air as Starfire looked at Beast Boy and I expectedly. A few awkward moments passed, but thankfully the voice of the resident sorceress came to our rescue. And she sounded none too pleased.

"Did you really have to disturb me? I don't see what's so important about this letter." Raven remarked as she walked into the living room trailing behind Cyborg. Her arms were crossed over her chest and her amethyst eyes were flashing lightly.

I cleared my throat. "Titans, we've gotten mail from the city." Cyborg scanned it with his arm and gave it a once over with his robotic eye.

"Clear."

I smiled at Raven trying to express my thanks at her joining us. She didn't return it, but instead her eyes flicked to Star, then back to me. I could never manage to hide anything from her for long. I was thankful for our bond in many ways. It has saved me multiple times.

"Who wants to do the honors?" Cy asked waving the envelope.

Starfire's hand shot up. "I wish to do the honors!"

"Oo! Ooo! Me! Me! Me!" Beast Boy said jumping on Cy's shoulders attempting to snatch the envelope. "I want to witness my greatest achievement of my very own statue." He turned to the other side. "Pretty cool huh Raven?"

Raven couldn't have looked more bored if she tried. "Icy." The envelope was suddenly encased in her black magic moving out of Beast Boy's reach. "Just let Starfire do it." She levitated it over to Starfire and hovered it in front of her.

"Good idea Raven," I said. "Go for it Star." I smiled encouragingly.

With a giggle, she opened the envelope and gave it a glance. "We are invited to a gala, thrown in our honor." She read out. "We are invited to pick apples?" She asked, but her question was drowned out my the cheers of Cy and BB.

"Woo-hoo a gala!" I'm going be so fly and attract all the honeys!" Beast Boy said licking his hand and slicking back his green hair. "Hey Cy so they make robot tuxes?" He teased.

"Forget the honeys BB. Do you know what a gala means?"

Both of them eyed each other and grinned. "FOOD!" They yelled in unison.

"Please Robin are they speaking of the picking of the apples?" Starfire asked. I turned back to her; I had been watching Raven rolling her eyes at the two and their antics.

"Its a party with food, dancing and entertainment Starfire." Raven said, looking more annoyed by the minute, then turning to me. "Can I go now? I was right in the middle of a divination ritual."

"Sure Rae, thanks for coming down." As soon as the words had left my mouth, she vanished into the floor.

I looked over at Starfire, she lowered her eyes towards the floor. Here's my chance to fix things. "Starfire, would you like to be my date for the evening?"

As soon as I asked, her frown turned upside-down. "Oh I never thought you'd ask! We can go to the mall of shopping and select our attire yes?"

"Hey Star that's a great idea!" Cy commented, momentarily stopping his conversation with Beast Boy.

Beast Boy jumped off Cy's shoulders. "Yeah! I need to get some pomade for this luscious mane." He said running his hand through his hair. "I'll tell Raven to come along." BB said just as Starfire took my hand.

"I don't think that's such a good idea dude." Cy warned. "She seemed like she didn't want to be disturbed."

"Aw man! But all she does is hold up in that room doing who knows what in there! For all we know she could be casting a spell to make me bald! Ahhhhh!" Beast Boy said quickly putting his hands on his head.

"Enough Beast Boy." I said letting go of Star's hand. "I'll see if I can talk her into going." I didn't need to look behind me to catch Starfire's annoyed glance. Jeez, what's with her? Its weird…things aren't what I thought they'd be. It started out fine, but she's become so possessive lately…I raised my fist and knocked on Raven's door.

"What?" Her voice cut like a whip, despite only half her face being visible. She had pulled up her hood.

I stumbled over my words for a moment at the tone of her voice. "We were wondering if you wanted to come to the mall with us and buy stuff for the gala."

"No."

Okay, no surprise there, but before my mind could register what I was doing, my hand found its way onto her door to keep her from closing it. Her eyes looked stunned for a sec before being replaced with her usual even look. "Please Raven? Starfire will drag me everywhere. She's more open to reason when you're around."

A small scoff escaped her. "She's YOUR girlfriend. Why do I have to get involved?"

Damn, she has a point. "Please Raven?" I tried again.

Something in my voice must've gotten to her, either that or she picked up on my desperation through our bond. "You owe me boy blunder." She stated stepping out into the hallway.

"Thanks Raven."

We began the walk back to the living room. Raven turned to me. "So what's been going on with you two?"

I sighed. "Things are just so different than they were before. I used to enjoy spending time with her and she was fine with me doing what I usually do." Raven kept looking at me. "But now she's getting so easily annoyed with me and the things I do. This morning I cancelled having breakfast with her to chase down that lead on the Hive bank robbery and she's been acting so immature and treating me like some kind of annoying little brother instead of her boyfriend!" I let out frustrated. I quickly shut my mouth, not meaning to reveal so much to her. Though, in the few silent moments that followed, I realized that I was okay with her knowing though. She's easy to talk to and very nonjudgemental. Her no-nonsense attitude and the advice she gave that was wise beyond her age was a welcome change from that of Cy and Beast Boy. I purposefully slowed my pace, Raven doing the same.

"It sounds to me like you should tell her how you feel. If she cares about you the way she claims to, then she'll accept your habits, commitment to the city and the team. Knowing who you are and how much you care about each of us, she should be able to ascertain that despite you not always showing it or showing it in a different way from what she imagines does in no way mean that you do not care." Raven spoke confidently.

The elevator shot up, must be faster than usual because a weird almost…fluttery sensation filled my gut at being with her. Her words, as always, rang true. "You're right. Thanks Raven, I appreciate the advice. Its so easy talking to you." She tilted her head slightly. "Its nice." I added quietly.

"Glad I could help." She stated as the doors opened and we entered the living room while the others waited for us.

"Dude! Raven!? You're actually coming?" Beast Boy asked wide eyed.

Raven didn't even acknowledge him as she walked towards Cyborg. "Glad you decided to come along." He said enthusiastically. She let the briefest of smiles onto her face before leading the walk to the garage.

I began to follow as a loud 'ah-hem' made me turn around. Starfire tapped her foot impatiently. "Oh sorry," I mumbled grabbing her hand in my own. "Sorry Star, I'm really tired."

We walked along far behind the others. "Robin, why were you so long with Friend Raven?"

Uh-oh…that just doesn't sounds good; I felt my anger rise a notch. Why does it matter? Why should it? "She took a lot of convincing Star." She seemed to consider this. "I think she was still pretty annoyed at getting her spell interrupted earlier."

"That is the truth you speak Robin." Phew! Dodged that bullet.

The rest of the team piled into the car. Cyborg rolled down the window. "Yo! You coming?" He called.

"We're taking the bike."

At that, Cy rolled up the window and drove off. Hopefully, having some time with just us will fix things. Starfire's arms around me hanging on for dear life usually made my heart race with a thrill, but that didn't happen.