Disclaimer: Well... I'm writing this, that tell you anything?

Hee, yes, yet another story. I should probably try to finish one of my others, but I'm having too much fun! Oh, in case you didn't notice, I've taken the story title from the C2 Robin and Raven community of the same name, managed by Velvet Death (who's a bloody good author in her own right!). Check it out of you like the pairing, there's heaps of classics!

Wings to Fly-Chapter 1: Feathered Roses

Everywhere she looked, there were rose petals. On the ground, in the punch, drifting on the breeze...

Watching as a twirl of her cloak sent the scattered petals floating up around her, Raven gave a inward sigh. Normally dark, the roof of the T-Tower was now bathed in a golden glow, Starfire's abundant arranging of candles flicking light all around them.

In honor of a Tamameran tradition of love, the happy alien Titan had eagerly taken to setting up their roof as a party for all their friends. With hundreds of roses scattered randomly across the rooftop, low lighting and soft music, everything gave off a romantic feel, making the air seem thick and the others slower than normal.

Or maybe Raven was just sick.

"So, Starfire, what's this about again?" Holding a cup of pink lemonade, Speedy gave the alien beauty a dazzling smile. "It's like Valentine's Day..."

Starfire shook her head, holding up a delicate hand to stop him from going on. "You are much mistaken, friend Speedy. Today, on my planet, would be Ammoleela. While it may be similar your day of all love, Ammoleela is a day where you find your Ammie" She scrunched her nose in confusion, trying to find the right word. "An Ammie would be similar to the forever couples present in your media. A... soul friend, I believe. Someone you can truly understand of whom you are. Someone who makes you, you" Then she was giggling, Speedy forgetting about her little speech and trying to flirt with her without Robin seeing.

But Raven, who had been standing near the ledge when Starfire explained about Ammoleela, remembered every word, making her depression stronger. A soul-mate? Half breed creatures like her couldn't have soul-mates. It was an anomaly; something that rarely happened. A fluke.

Angry that she would feel sorry for herself, Raven glared out at the stars determinedly. Why did she need a Ammie? She was strong, and she had her... friends. They were all that she needed for the moment.

All that she needed... Looking around at the small number of people that had joined them, Raven scanned around for the other Titans, hoping that she wasn't alone in thinking this was a waste of time. Cyborg was near the refreshment table, chatting to a girl the group had saved from Mammoth some time ago; well, he seemed to be enjoying himself. Watching as the pretty blonde blushed and looked down to her feet while Cyborg grinned charmingly at her, the Gothic wondered whether that girl would finally be the first female to replace his baby. Feeling her heart sink at the thought of one of her friends moving on to somewhere she couldn't follow, Raven turned her gaze somewhere else... but not before Cyborg threw her a discreet wink. Smiling slightly, she kept looking for the others.

Beast Boy was also by the refreshment table, stuffing his mouth with as many tofu chips as he could. Something inside Raven gave a pang when she saw the defensive look he'd give the couples that would walk past, his green eyes momentarily filming over. She didn't know how many times she had heard him in Terra's old room, whining. It would take a lot for him to get over the hurt the rock-moving titan had brought, and even more to forget how he had felt. He didn't deserve that.

Eyes flickering, she just watched as a few people she didn't really know strolled past her, flirting happily.

"Is something wrong, Raven?" Turning her head slightly, Raven blushed when she saw Aqualad standing by her side, smiling down at her. "No," She murmured, going back to looking out over the glittering water. "Nothing is wrong"

She could feel him frown, his dark, endless eyes boring into the back of her head. "If you say so, Raven" there was a pause, and Raven threw him a quick glance, admiring the way the soft light from Star's candles made him glow. She blushed at her thought and looked away again.

Romance was overrated.

Clearing his throat, Aqualad opened his mouth to talk, but before he could the music stopped, making all the partygoers cease what they were doing and face the Starfire, who was standing in the center on a small stage.

"My friends" She greeted warmly, looking around the small gathering. "I am most joyous that you have chosen to spend this Earth day celebrating a tradition from my home planet, known as Ammoleela to my people. Ammoleela is a day where people of our age would play games to find their Ammie; in brief, their soul friend" Starfire clapped her hands, going starry eyed. "If it were acceptable, I wish to perform one of these games in honor of the day" She smiled brightly at everyone. "Would that be all right?"

There were a few nodding heads, a few catcalls of agreement, then silence as Starfire held up a golden hand. "Then, if you would please, may I have everyone form a circle around the table that has been set up behind you?" They all turned, and to most of their surprise, Robin was grinning at them, leaning against a small table with a bowl in the middle.

So that's where he's been, Raven thought as she pulled her cloak around her, folding her arms and watching as Starfire stepped off the little stage and went to Robin, smiling at him with blind love. Setting up Starfire's match making kit.

Aqualad shifted uneasily beside her, and she glanced up in concern. "Dry" He muttered, rubbing his hands together. Spying the large container of water that had been placed near the ledge for this sort of emergency (thanks to the rare thoughtfulness of Beast Boy), Raven picked it up with her powers, levitated it over the other guests, and tipped it over the Water Wonder.

Blinking, he looked down at her, then smiled, amusement showing in his dark eyes. "Thank-you"

"Your welcome" She replied formally, trying to stay straight faced and deciding to look dead ahead. Aqualad grinned, but set his shoulders and faced Robin and Starfire, who were waiting for the conversation to die down.

"This game," The beautiful alien started, picking up a handful of rose petals and squeezing them softly, green eyes shining, "Is one were the names of all those who are participating, our guests tonight for example, are written onto a piece of paper and placed into the bowl, where someone mixes them up and then showers the slips over their friends" She smiled at the excited murmur that started, then continued. "If you catch a slip, and there is a name of one of our number on it, and they have yours, then it is meant to be" Pausing dramatically, Starfire waited for all eyes to be on her.

Everyone stilled, and she nodded happily at the attention. "However, if they do not have your name as well, or you have caught a blank sheet, then either it was not destined, or your Ammie is not present among us"

No one talked, but from the corner of her eyes, Raven could see a few of the boys, Hotspot and Beast Boy for instance, roll their eyes. And personally, she could see why. There would have been at the most, fifteen people here tonight. Most of them were fellow superheroes, Raven and Starfire being the only girls in the category, while the rest were civilians whom the Titans had helped out and had grown to like. It would be a ridiculous exercise to do, given the ratio of boys to girls, but Starfire had been missing her home lately, and no-one wanted to disappoint her.

"There are multiples of the earth plant roses on the table, of which you are to give your Ammie should you find one tonight" Starfire indicated to the tall stemmed beauties laying on the white cloth behind her, throwing shy glances towards the blushing Boy Wonder while she did. Looking away from Robin's eyes and straight into Raven's, Starfire's smile grew, and she held out a hand to her dark teammate. "Friend Raven," She chirped, "Would you do the honor of mixing the papers, please? I ask you because your powers would make it easier to scatter them, and I wish for everyone to have a chance"

Raven rolled her eyes, but with an encouraging touch on the arm from Aqualad, she walked out of the circle and to the bowl. "What do I do?" She asked, picking it up, and examining its contents. She only caught glimpses of white paper among the vast amount of rose petals, and with a raised eyebrow, she placed it back on the table.

Robin slid over to her then, and in a low voice asked, "Do you think you could give them a bit of a show? A few patterns, then dump it on their heads" He grinned, and Raven felt something inside stir helplessly. "Like what you did with Aqualad"

She snorted, the queasy feeling forgotten. "Fine, if that's what you want"

He grinned again, straightened from the position he had bent to talk to Raven, and waited.

Closing her eyes, the Gothic raised her hands over the bowl, centering her power. Suddenly, Rose petals and the slips of paper flew from their container, stilling, then twirling around Raven in a patterned dance as she concentrated, perfectly motionless.

Aqualad watched in wonder as the violet glow around Raven started to form into the shapes of flowers, twisting and turning as the papers flew away from her. Everyone around him whistled or gasped, impressed, while Starfire clapped her hands in excitement. "Wondrous!" She cried. "Amazing!"

Lightly... lightly... spread them out... let them drift... and... now!

Eyes snapping open Raven let go of her hold, and watched as the papers just drifted along, some slowly starting to come down.

"Thanks Raven" Robin whispered, leaning across the table. "I know Star loved it. It was great"

She gave him a small smile, and started back to Aqualad. "Thank-you, I-" Her eyes widened slightly as a small piece of paper drifted down and onto his shoulder. "I think you have your Ammie's identity, Robin" He blinked, confused, then noticed his slip before going bright red and excusing himself.

Raven's smile turned grim. Suddenly, she wasn't enjoying herself as much as she had been a few moments before. What was the matter with her? "Hey," Aqualad greeted by her side, clutching onto one of the Ammie papers.

It was still closed. He had waited for her.

He had waited.

Not sure of what to say, Raven was saved the trouble by his surprised , "Oh... Raven, you have a slip in your hood" She frowned at Aqualad, not wanting this to be the water hero's sense of humor. Noticing her look of disbelief, he reached out behind her neck, and pulled back, showing her the small white piece.

Slowly, still afraid that this was a joke, she took it with trembling fingers. "Open yours" She told him, her voice barely coming out. Could she have an Ammie? She didn't want to get her hopes up.

A muffled cry from Starfire sounded through the air, but they both ignored it, looking down at their respective slips.

Sighing, Aqualad folded back the paper, frowned, then showed her what it said:

Nothing.

Something akin to disappointment flooded through her, and Raven's hand tightened around the slip almost repulsively, till Aqualad arched a dark eyebrow, telling her to open it.

Breathing out, she carefully lifted a folded half, ignoring the thumping of her heart. When she saw the name, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. She glanced up at Aqualad's impassive face, then down at the name.

It was... it was...

It was Robin.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, telling her that someone was staring at her. Slowly, she turned to the shadowy corner where Robin and Starfire had retreated too. Starfire had her back turned to them, her shoulders heaving with sobs.

Heart heavy, Raven's gaze turned to Robin, whose face mirrored the shock on hers. His slip... it must have said... it must of...

He hesitated, throwing a concerned look towards Starfire, but stepped forward. Then slowly, like it was hurting him, Robin went to the table, and picked up a pretty, pink rose, looking directly at Raven the whole time.

"I think you've found your Ammie, Raven" Aqualad whispered sadly.

T
T
T
T
T

AN: Ha! Did you like this one? It's a bit rushed, but it's probably going to be the only REAL romantic thing I do, so wish me luck!

Next Chapter: Starfire's still crying, Aqualad sulks, Beast Boy coos to a rock, Cyborg makes a move, and Raven and Robin...