While Robin worked diligently on figuring out exactly how Light could escape and where he might be hiding, Cyborg couldn't focus his efforts to the task. He was growing more and more concerned about his friend's behavior by the minute. He and Beast Boy had spent a lot of their free time together in the past. Whether it was playing games, watching television and movies, or pulling mischievous pranks on the other titans, the most memorable and entertaining moments had been with his little green friend. Now those days seemed to be so far gone it was like they had never really happened at all. He wanted them back, to remember what they were like and re-experience them. And he was willing to go to just about any lengths to do just that.

The first thing he thought about doing to loosen up his grief-stricken friend was to convince him to come out of his room and take a seat behind the steering wheel of the titan's prime source of transportation. There were few other things that make Cyborg forget his problems and clear his mind like driving down the open highway at a hundred miles an hour. Perhaps the same would hold true for the changeling. The two friends could cruise down the road, listen to music, and talking about whatever subject came to mind. Eventually it would have to turn to how Beast Boy had been so wary of the others, isolating himself more and more. And since they really wouldn't really be anywhere other than the middle of nowhere, it would be either put up or shut up.

But that consideration had several elementals that didn't sit too well with Cyborg. First was putting someone else behind the wheel of his car. Nobody was ever allowed to drive his baby other than him. As it was one of his most prized possessions, he wanted to do everything he could do to protect it. Strange since he almost had the vehicle parked within twenty feet of an explosion or some supernatural destructive force. Secondly, he wasn't even sure if the changeling would want to talk while he listened to the radio and watched the miles go by. On more than one occasion, it seemed like the changeling could ignore a nuclear explosion or a battalion of soldiers marching behind him when he had headphones on. And third, there was the concept of entrapment. Taking Beast Boy out and ending up in the middle of nowhere had no malicious intent; it was just for the privacy. But since the shape shifter was in an odd frame of mind, who knew how he might take it. That alone wasn't worth the risk.

Second method that Cyborg thought about was doing something that Beast Boy always enjoyed, playing video games and watching movies all night while drinking gallons of soda and snacking on anything he could get his hands on. Between staying up all night having a great time and overwhelming his body with sugar, the changeling was sure to be in a terrific mood. And Beast Boy could almost never keep his mouth closed when he was happy. Problem with trying to put the shape shifter in a better mood was trying to get him talking about his problems. Why bother to get someone in a good disposition only to remind them that they had been acting like a jackass and getting on everyone's nerves? Probably make things worse once Beast Boy realized that he was sleep deprived and the whole thing had been an effort to butter him up.

"You have any other ideas?" Robin asked, pulling Cyborg from his thoughts.

"Huh?"

"I was wondering if you come up with any other places that might have technology Light could have used to make his suit work like it did."

"Uh…" the half-mechanical titan responded, his mind coming back to earth.

"Are you ok? You seem distracted."

"I'm worried about BB. It's doesn't feel right to let him keep acting like this. If he gets any worse, I'm wondering if he'll need professional help. I don't want to see him locked up taking pills." Cyborg's tone showed how serious he thought the possibility was.

"I don't either. I know everyone thinks that I don't care, but he's part of the team. And I need my team to be the best it can be. And figuring this out is how I think I can help him out. "

"Then would you mind if I went and talked to him? You're doing fine on your own."

"Go ahead. No reason for you to try helping me if you can't concentrate."

Meanwhile, Beast Boy was lying in his bathtub, enjoying the music playing over his stereo while the warm water slowly soothed him into a state of serenity. But the euphoria couldn't last very long; doing nothing meant all that he could do was think. Although it was probably not the best topic to choose, trying to figure out where Dr. Light had gone was at the top of his list. Of course he wouldn't come up with the hows or wheres like Robin or Cyborg could, but he would consider places that nobody else would think of. Out of all the titans, the changeling definitely thought with the most random imagination.

Before the changeling really got into thinking about where Light could have gone, he wondered if the escape artist hadn't really gone anywhere at all. Quite obviously he was gone, but that was because none of the titans could see him. And that was exactly Beast Boy's point. What if that's all it really was? Rather than actually going somewhere, the man had figured out a way to faze himself into another form of life. Maybe the science fiction movies had rotted his brain. The theory was completely ridiculous, even borderline stupid. But that was exactly the shape shifter's point. None of his friends would ever consider openly suggesting so preposterous. Even if the odds of his theory being right were less than a snowball's chance in hell, it felt pretty good to come up with something original.

Getting out of the tub and drying off, the changeling concentrated on his idea. The longer he could hold onto it, the better. Little did he know how quickly that positive feeling would be stripped away.

"BB," Cyborg yelled as he knocked on the shape shifter's door, "you in there?"

"…yeah, yeah…" the changeling answered as he pulled his shirt on and answered his door. "What's up?" he asked in a surprisingly composed tone.

Shocked, Cyborg didn't know what to say now. He was sure that Beast Boy was going to be scowling at him when he answered the door and he'd start by calming him down. But now, there was the old familiar smile. Had the poor attitude just disappeared in a few hours? Had months of isolation suddenly come to an end? What could have possibly happened to cause this radical change?

"So…what's up?" the green-skinned titan asked breaking the silence.

"Oh…I was just wondering if you were feeling ok. You left as soon as we got back."

"Me? I'm fine. See…happy," Beast Boy said with an exaggerated smile, which he instantly regretted. His eyes told the hidden truth. Under his mascaraed, he felt as miserable as ever. Now he just hoped that his lie would buy him a little time. Even if he had ignored everything that was talked about on the way back to the tower, his instincts told him that his friends were too concerned to stand to the side and watch him. And as much as he still wanted to avoid confrontation, it was now too late to evade.

"Beast Boy, I know you're lying to me," Cyborg replied matter-of-factly. Putting his hand up in the doorjamb, he made sure that his little brother wouldn't have the option to hide like he had been. "Everyone's worried about you. Can't you see that you're hurting the team?"

"Is that why you're here? The team?"

"BB…"

"Leave me alone. Can you do that? Can you just leave me the fuck alone? I want to be alone!" the changeling shouted as he clenched his hands at his side.

"Enough already," Cyborg shot back, raising his voice like he never had before. "You keep acting like a spoiled brat, doing whatever you want, to whoever you want, and not care about anything. You run off trying to show off, and when it turns to shit, you stomp off like it's everyone else's fault that things didn't work out. I just wanted to talk to you, but all you care about is yourself. So either you act your age or get the hell out of here. And if you walk out, I can tell you right now we won't let you come back. We're sick of it. So what's it going to be? Huh? You tell me right now what you're going to do 'cause this shit ends right here, right now."

Beast Boy was caught completely off guard. He figured that if he lashed out, he'd be left alone. Plus, Cyborg was never the kind of person that lost his temper without any warning. Now he had received the ultimate ultimatum from one of the people he respected the most. He knew that he was truly at a crossroads. Either he stuck to his guns, tried to take care of everything himself and end up wandering the streets, or he let his friends contribute to his personal wellbeing.

"I…" the changeling couldn't find the words he wanted to say as he felt warm tears starting to well up in his eyes. He knew that he couldn't defend the way he had been acting or the way he lashed out. It had just hurt so much to keep it buried inside that he became an emotional ticking time bomb.

"Look, BB," the titanium titan cut in using a much softer, sympathetic tone, "I didn't want to yell at you or say that but I also don't want things to keep going on like this. You can't keep hiding like this. I don't want to see you leave. Nobody does. We all care about you. We're your friends. It's why I'm here talking to you. If none of us cared, I wouldn't have bothered to be here right now talking to you. What's going on, BB? Talk to me."

"You wouldn't understand," the changeling said finding his voice as he found a nearby chair to sit in. "Nobody knows what it feels like. It's why I didn't ask for your help. You just don't know what it feels like."

"I don't know what exactly?"

"You don't know what it's like to…to…" Beast Boy couldn't hold back the tears that he tried not to show his friends.

"Take your time, BB. I'll stay here as long as you need me to. This is more important than anything else I have to do."

Between sobs the shape shifter managed to finish his answer. "To care…about… about someone…so much…so fucking much and they just go away…just like that," Beast Boy snapped his fingers as he choked out the last three words as he remembered the moment he watch the last strand of blond disappear from his sight.

For a split second, Cyborg found himself unable to follow what his comrade had hesitantly confessed. It definitely sounded like he was trying to imply Terra, but she had been gone for so long and the changeling never talked about her that he couldn't truly be sure. It didn't seem like a logical consideration. Yet time had demonstrated time and time again that Beast Boy used a completely different thought process than a typical human being. Maybe he was on the right track. It was defiantly worth the risk of asking since the situation had come to an impasse.

"Are you talking about Terra?" the half metal titan asked hesitantly.

The changeling nodded. "Yeah…"

Now Cyborg knew that he had a certain connection with his friend. He was going to have to exploit that with some quick thinking and smooth talking to start his friend on a road to recovery. And he knew that he wasn't going to be able to fix years of emotional turmoil over night. Maybe he if could persuade his little green friend to come out of his room and spend more time with the team, they would come up with ideas and convince him that the geomancer he longed for was definitely not worth half the heartbreak he suffered.

"BB, can I tell you something? I know you could take it the wrong way, so I want you to know that I don't mean for it to upset you."

"I don't think you could make me feel any worse, Vic. Say whatever."

"I think…" he paused before taking a deep breath and tried again. "I think Terra is the worst thing to happen to you."

"How can you say that?" the changeling said in shock and horror. He had long fantasized what life would be like with the blond at his side. To hear that the one person he thought of as family considered his crush a terrible affliction to his life was more then he wanted to hear. But he had been warned so he forced himself to hold his tongue.

"I know you liked her, but she doesn't care about you the same way. Think about it. She didn't give you chance to say anything in your defense. She ran away before she knew the full story. She doesn't write to you. Never calls you. It wouldn't be hard for her to contact you. How long has it been? Three years? In all that time, have you heard a word from her? Do you even know if she's still alive?"

"Three years, four months, two weeks, and three days," the changeling stated absentmindedly, surprising his friend with such a specific answer.

"How…how did you remember that?"

"I'm not as stupid as you think," the changeling answered. "I remember a lot more than people give me credit for."

Now this was something that Cyborg had never thought to consider. For as long as he knew the changeling, not once had he displayed any sort mental acuity close to what he had just demonstrated. But then again, Beast Boy had said in the past that one of his dreams was to be an actor when he grew up. He had never achieved that dream, always being sidetracked by the next nut that wanted to show they could take down the titans. Perhaps the shape shifter still held to the idea of having a different life then what had been given to him. Maybe he had used the time with his friends to hone his skills by making them think that he was more immature then he really was. But then the question was raised; how much had been real and what had been an act? That quandary however, would have to wait for another day. Right now, take care of the Terra problem.

"I think it's time for you to move on," the titanium titan stated flatly as he got his mind back on subject. "If Terra had come back by now, I'd say you should go for it. The two of you looked really happy together. But like I said, she's probably moved on and you should do the same."

"I…I've tried to Vic. Really, I've tied as hard as I can. I just don't think it's possible for me to forget her. And I still don't think you know what it's like to feel like this."

"First," Cyborg answered, trying to remain sympathetic without getting carried away by his own unwanted memories, "I never said you should forget her. I know you can't and I don't think you should try to. I said you need to move on. And second, I might be the only other person on the team that knows what it's like to feel abandoned by a girl you like."

This time it was Beast Boy doing the wondering. Cyborg had never really talked about anything other than his car and how he wanted to make it into the perfect mix of strength and speed. By default, it was assumed that he was fully committed to his job, creating and upgrading anything he could get his hands on. Obviously he had been wrong with his assumption. Games, pranks, and arguing what did and didn't belong on top of a pizza weren't the only other interests Cyborg had.

"What do you mean you're the only other person on the team that knows what it's like to feel like I do? How could you possibly know? You've never had a girlfriend."

"You never asked me if I did," Victor answered. "And I don't talk about it because the past is the past. I lost contact with her years ago."

"What happened? I mean if you don't mind telling me."

"I'll tell you, but don't tell anyone else. It's history and I don't need to deal with it anymore. Promise me?"

"I promise. Cross my heart," the green titan answered as he made an 'x' over his heart.

"Alright, it happened to me in back high school. I met this nice girl: cute body, a great smile, and pretty smart too. Anyhow, we hit it off and in a few weeks we were inseparable. We did almost everything together. She was even at all my football games even though she really didn't like sports."

"She sounds great," Beast Boy cut in as he though how it was almost identical to how he and Terra had been. Almost too identical, but he chose to it and chalked it up to coincidence. With as many people that were in the world and how many relationships started and finished, chances were good enough to accept the possibility. "So what happened?"

"This is what happened," Cyborg answered as he held out his cold metal hands. "I was in the accident that ended up killing my mom and forced my dad to put this stuff on me to keep me from dying too. After that happened, she had nothing to do with me. She wouldn't hang around me or even make eye contact with me. I tried to get her to give me a chance but it ended up being a waste of time. I know it's not just like what happened with you and Terra. But my point is that some things are just not meant to happen."

While the changeling had listened intently to the whole story, the last eight words were the ones that struck him the hardest. Destiny was something that he had wrestled with his entire life. Was it fate or his fault that he had contracted a deadly disease that caused his parents to use an experimental drug to save his life? Could he have saved his parents like he always thought he could have or were their deaths unavoidable? And most importantly now, was Terra going to leave him regardless of what had happened? No, he couldn't accept that. His life was his to control; unknown forces were not going to control what happened to him.

"How'd you do it, Vic?" the Beast Boy asked as he reasoned to himself that the only reason that it wasn't going to happen was because Terra had died. Destiny didn't exist. It was just bad luck that death had taken the parents. So why not take his girlfriend too?

"I focused more on my academics, tried to do things that I hadn't been doing. It was hard but it paid off. Why?"

"'Cause everything I do now reminds me of Terra. I don't know what to do. I was thinking that since you did it before, maybe you would?"

Contemplating to himself for what seemed like forever, Cyborg tried to come up with some ideas that would interest his friend, make him spend more time with the rest of the team, and of course was different than anything Beast Boy had done before. But all he could really come up with at the moment was to get the changeling to work with him in his workshop. It didn't seem like a good choice, but then again Beast Boy did show that he was smarter then he acted. Perhaps his interests were more diverse as well. It might be worth a shot. A new hobby could end up being found. At the very least, there would be an extra set of hands to take care of the more monotonous tasks. Interest would likely have to be found in conversation and spending time with his friends. It was worth offering as an idea.

"How about you work with me in my shop? You know, make things."

"I'm not good at that Vic. You know that. I don't know anything about what you do. It's all out there to me," Beast Boy answered as he looked at the ceiling and made gestures with his hands.

"You said you're smarter then you acted. So give it a shot. You might like it and even learn something. And hey," Cyborg said trying to add a little incentive, "maybe I'll even let you drive my car sometime."

"Really?" the spark in the shape shifter's eyes came back for the first time in months. He had dreamt that one day he'd be behind the wheel of the T-car. To hear that it might actually be the first person other than the car's creator to take control of the machine, that was incredible. It didn't occur to him that it might just be some sort of enticement to get him to stop being a recluse. But it didn't matter. He was in.

About a half hour later, Cyborg almost finished getting everything arranged and prepared for the second workstation Beast Boy would be using. There weren't a great deal of tools, but that was to make sure that there wasn't an overload of information but enough to make a challenge. To meet those ends, Cyborg had written down explanations and descriptions for each piece of equipment that he expected the changeling to use in coming days and possibly months in very simple language. Once a basic knowledge had been established, he would offer a little hands-on experience. Hopefully the whole process wouldn't be too boring for the thrill-seeking shape shifter and get his mind off of Terra entirely. And maybe, just maybe, it would be as fun as it could be enriching.

"Ok," Cyborg thought to himself as he finished everything up for his friend's arrival, "now I just hope I didn't mess this up."

"Hey, Cy," Robin said cutting into Victor's thoughts, "is Beast Boy coming down? I thought you said he was but I still haven't seen him."

"I told him that I'd need to get things set up for him before he started."

"That was an hour ago. Are you sure you got through to him? Maybe I should go talk to him."

"Give him some time, Robin. He was going to clean his room up a little before he got down here."

"Why would he do that?"

"Because I told him I needed time to get ready and maybe if he cleaned his room and changed his environment a little, it wouldn't remind him of Terra. You know, get a different look going so he's not living in the past."

"Terra," Robin stated with surprise. "What brought her up?"

"Shit," Cyborg thought to himself. He knew that he should have kept his conversation with the changeling in confidence. The boy wonder could have a big mouth when he wanted to look into something. And this was one of those times that he could. If Beast Boy thought that he had somehow been betrayed by the slipup, all of the effort would have been for nothing. "Look, don't say anything about her. I didn't mean to tell you and if he thinks I messed things up, it could make everything a whole lot worse. And I won't be able to get through to him next time. Promise me you won't interrogate him about her."

"Ok, ok," the titan leader said putting his hands up in surrender, "you don't need to get defensive. I get your point."

"I know how you can be," the titanium titan answered as he took a seat and wait for Beast Boy. "Go figure out what Slade is up to."

"Sure, whatever," Robin said as he turned to leave. "Oh, by the way, if Beast Boy asks, I have nothing on what happened with Light. We'll probably have to wait and see if he shows up again."

"I tell him if he asks."

About five minutes after the boy wonder walked away, the Beast Boy showed up with visions of making things that would make anyone jealous. He had no idea how long it could be before he would get a chance to use any tool much less help build anything. But at least he could try moving on like Cyborg had suggested.

"So what we making?" the changeling asked as he hopped up on a stool. "Wait. Don't tell me. We are making a …rocket powered moped that turns into a plane."

"Uh…no," Cyborg answered as he wondered where that idea had been pulled from.

"OK, bad guess. We're making…"

"You're going to study what I have written for each tool in front of you."

"Yes! I'm going to…wait, what! You told me I'd be making stuff with you," the shape shifter said feeling deflated.

"I know. And I'm not going to break that promise but you need to know how to use some of the tools before you make anything, get used to working with your hands. You said it yourself; you don't really know how to make anything. This will get you acclimated with what you're going to be using. This is a process. You're going to have to take your time and learn a few things. Don't rush and don't get yourself frustrated. Ok?"

"Alright…I guess I've got nothing to lose." Taking a deep breath and hoping that it would work out for him in the end, the changeling dove into the task set before him.

Several months later, Beast Boy was still spending a fair amount of his free time in the workshop. But for all that he was worth, he couldn't get his brain to absorb all the information that Cyborg had written down for him to learn. Still, it wasn't as upsetting as he had originally thought it would be. Rather than letting the failure get to him, he was more determined to make the most of his presence, to be as helpful as possibly while making sure he didn't interfere. And while he never got the hang of using the most tools either, he could hand them off and return them to their assigned location, cutting the time Cyborg needed to finish his own set of tasks. That was where the reward came in. The changeling could see how much he was appreciated and it made him feel like he had been such an idiot to overlook the support he needed all along. Terra, while he still missed her, no longer had a firm grip on his psyche. And that was far more important than ever getting to take the car out for a spin around the block a couple of times.

However, as the days went on and it seemed like he was getting really set in a routine; the changeling found himself wanting to do something else. Spending time with his best friend was great and all, but there had to be something new to take up his time. The occasional things that he did with Robin and Starfire from time to time didn't lead him to believe that they would have anything he would be interest in anything suggested. The boy wonder would just do something that made him think that he was a titan first and nothing else should matter to him. Starfire on the other hand was into things that were 'too girly or pink' for his comfort. Doing something with Raven never came to his mind. The dark sorceress always gave him the impression that she would rather have her peace and solitude then do something fun with him. Plus, he thought he'd end up annoying her more than she would help him.

So while he was handing off tools one afternoon, Beast Boy decided that he couldn't hide his discontent any longer. He just wanted to say it in a way that wouldn't offend Cyborg. After all, he had done so much to help him forget what a jerk he had been and help him move on with his life. What were the words that would show that he was very grateful but just needed to do something new and hopefully exciting? But as hard as he tried, his brain couldn't string the right words together.

"I'm bored," the changeling stated bluntly once Cyborg had slid himself under his car change the oil. If he had said it wrong and upset his friend, at least he now had time to run.

"I was wondering how long it would be before you said something," came a much calmer response then Beast Boy had expected.

"I sorry I just…wait…you knew?"

"Grass stain," the armored titan said as he slid out from under his car and sat up, "I knew from day one that you weren't doing something you liked. You just did this to help make yourself feel better. And it looks like it worked. That's all I was after. Go, have fun. I'm fine with you getting out of here. Better to be doing something you want to do then sit around here and get in my way."

"Actually I was just thinking maybe you'd have another idea of something I could do so I don't…you know, start moping around again."

"I really can't see you making that mistake again. But if you really need something, ask Robin if he needs your help."

"No. No way. Not going to happen," the changeling said as he stepped back and held his hands up in front of his chest defensively, hoping he'd show how much he wanted to stay away from spending hours with the boy wonder. The idea repulsed him. He could just imagine how he'd be told he was getting in the way or that he should stop being so ridiculous with suggestions. Why lock himself in a room where he'd be driven to insanity or possibly even violence?

"Ask Starfire then," Cyborg said as he went back under his car.

"And end up going shopping? I know I can be any animal but I don't think I want to end up being a pack mule carrying dresses all day."

As the changeling gave his reason why he didn't want to tag along with the Tameranean, the image of a green animal being burdened down by bags of pink skirts and dresses made him nearly burst out in fits of laughter. If it hadn't been for the fact that he needed to focus on helping his friend along and finish working on his car, he wouldn't have been able to contain himself.

"You know that the only one you haven't said no to is Raven."

"Oh…maybe Robin's a better choice."

After a lengthy pause, Cyborg asked the obvious question. "Why?"

"I think Raven hates me more than Robin does," the green titan answered feeling a little upset that even though he had worked with the reclusive woman for years, she didn't seem to want to associate with him unless it was a life or death situation.

"Raven doesn't hate you, grass stain," the hybrid titan defended, "if anything, she likes you and tries to treat you with respect. Sure she picks on you say something stupid but so does everyone else. And just think about how many times she's helped you out or defended you when Robin got on your case. If you ask her nicely, I'm sure she'd help you out with almost anything. I wouldn't ask her out though; that's probably where she draws the line. I mean could just imagine you two going out? You two would definitely make the oddest couple I've ever seen. One almost never talks and the other almost never shuts up."

"Ha ha, very funny," Beast Boy sarcastically laughed. "And what even makes you think that I'd want to date Raven anyways?"

"You're the self-proclaimed lady's man aren't you?"

"Fine, I'll ask Raven…for help, not a date. But if my picture ends up on a milk carton, you saw me last and knew where I was going."

Chuckling as the changeling walked away, Cyborg pictured his friend asking the mysterious Raven out for a date. Part of him did want to see it happen, just to see how far someone could be thrown by dark magic. If only there was a way to make it happen. But the shape shifter's answer gave him the impression that he wasn't looking to be in a serious relationship and wouldn't even entertain the idea. Best to get back to work instead of tampering with someone else's life.

Meanwhile, Raven was up on the top of the tower, deeply focused on controlling her emotions through mediation. Ever since Beast Boy's dilemma had at least seemed to be resolved, the dark sorceress had felt increasingly frustrated with herself. There had been such a golden opportunity to demonstrate that she was more than just a friend with sound advice. It could have been the one moment in time for her to hint that she wanted more than just his friendship. If only she could find a spell or a chant that would allow her to turn time back several months to give her an excuse to talk to him and try to make him understand why she treated him the way she did. Damn her fears, damn her curse, but most especially damn the regret she just couldn't put to death.

The only other alternative the sorceress could use to remind herself that things would likely only become worse for her was her reasoning. Long before she had left Azarath, before she had come to the city she would call home and became fast friends with the other titans, she experienced her first crush. Even then the dark sorceress had thought it foolish to believe that she could have a deep, affectionate relationship. But the desire to know, the curiosity that she could feel rising inside her, got the best of her for the first time in her life. Temporarily abandoning everything she had been taught about remaining apathetic, Raven gathered all her courage to ask a very charming boy if he liked her. A very solid 'no' devastated her then fragile emotions and sent her away in tears, far from any of the people that had trained her. It had taken her weeks to calm down enough to go back to the temple where she resumed her training and forget about ever having something that resembled a normal relationship. "I will never allow that to happen again," she told herself, "I cannot sacrifice the team for the sake of my curiosity."

If all went well and she remained undisturbed for another hour or so, everything that she was trying to suppress would soon become a thing of the past. However, before that moment of enlightenment could dawn on her, she sensed a very familiar and often very annoying presence walking up behind her. Oddly enough though, he hadn't announced himself yet. It was a nice change, but it didn't prevent her emotions from acting up and completely shattering the peace that she desperately needed.

"I know you're there, Beast Boy," she said as emotionlessly as possible. Already two of her facets were getting excited. If there was so much as a suggestion that he was interested in her, the tower might end up collapsing underneath them.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bug you. I'll come back later." The shuffling of his feet told the sorceress that he wasn't joking about giving her back her solitude.

"Stop him!" a voice rang out in the empath's mind.

"You're not bothering me," the half demon calmly answered, fortunate to keep any signs of her emotions from being noticed.

"I didn't know you would be meditating. I was just looking for you and…um…well…uh…um…."

"Just spit it out already," Raven interjected, annoyed that her meditation had been interrupted and Beast Boy couldn't even explain why he had been looking for her.

"I've been trying to keep my mind off…off Terra. I was hoping you could come up with something that could help me," the changeling said bowing his head.

"Oh….I could definitely come up a few ideas I'd like to try. Might need to gag you but it will definitely get your mind off Terra," Raven heard in her head.

"Don't you think that one of the others would have something you'd want to do?" she asked as she one again fought herself.

"I got bored working with Vic. And honestly I'd rather get an idea from you then Robin or Star."

"Why?"

"Robin's always looking for Slade and I don't want to be so…I dunno. But I want to relax, not worry about something that might not even happen. And Star would probably drag me to the mall…or make me eat puddings 'til I puke. Vic said I should ask you, so that's what I'm doing."

"I can't imagine you'd be desperate enough to try mediation. The only other suggestion I can offer is reading. I'm sorry you wasted your time."

When the changeling didn't respond to either of her offers, Raven was convinced that she had made the right choice in denying what most of her emotions screamed out for. He wasn't interested in anything she did to relax so how could they truly enjoy each other's company? If their only commonality was their job, how could they have a deeper and more meaningful relationship? They would spend far too much time away from each other to make it work and only add unnecessary tension their work environment.

"Well," Beast Boy said finally breaking the uneasy silence, "I never thought I'd say this but…it's better than anything I'd get from Robin or Star…you have anything interesting?"

"I think you might be able to find something you'd like," the dark sorceress answered.

Ten minutes later, the two titans were standing in the half-demon's room looking for something that Beast Boy could imagine himself engrossed in. But predictably and unfortunately, Beast Boy seemed to only eliminate choices one by one. It appeared that the only thing that could catch his attention was a TV guide or a comic book. Perhaps it had been too much to hope for. After all, the shape shifter never stayed still unless he was watching a movie. And even then he would get up several times for snacks or use the restroom. So why were they wasting time on a wild goose chase?

"You still haven't found anything you like?" Raven asked, hoping that it was a lack of mediation that was making her pass judgment so quickly.

"Not yet, but I'm going to go through all of 'em," the shape shifter said trying to remain positive. He wanted to stay optimistic for fear that he might end up coming down on himself too hard and undo all his previous efforts. Plus, if he gave up too quickly, he would feel like he had wasted Raven's time. And he had learned the importance of never wasting her time needlessly.

"Give me an idea of what would interest you. I don't want to spend all day in here with you," Raven offered.

"Bullshit. Everyone's busy and they know you don't like to be bothered unless it's an emergency. There's a nice warm bed, and he's a prime cut, grade A catch," the dark sorceress's lust whispered once again trying to break her will.

"I was thinking something funny or maybe space aliens," Beast Boy answered as he looked around. He felt that the longer he took, the more likely things were going to end up being trashed and shattered by random black magic.

"Is fantasy substitutable? I can assure you that you won't find what you're looking for. Remember that these are all books that I would read."

"You mean like werewolves and stuff? Yeah, I think that's pretty cool."

"I believe it's over here," the dark sorceress stated as she moved down a couple bookcases and traced a finger down the spines of several books. "These are the ones that have werewolves in them. I haven't had a chance to read any of them so you have to be sure that you don't damage them. Choose one."

"You'd tell me to take care of it even if you had them memorized," Beast Boy said slightly amused. Raven's collection of books was like her children. She made sure that each one was respected and securely put in its place. The one time that Cyborg had accidently used one as a coaster, he found himself watching a movie from the other side of the tower.

"I want you to respect my property, Garfield. Now then, a few things I want you to not do. First, you are not to put anything on top of it. No snacks, no drinks, nothing. Second, do not wildly flip through pages and rip them. And finally, if you're not going to bother reading it, just give it back to me so it doesn't get destroyed."

"I promise Rae…ven," the changeling said as he nodded, accepting the terms that had been set for him to follow. "I promise I'll take good care of it. If I mess it up, I'll do anything to make it right. Cross my heart."

With those words, he left the dark sorceress to her solitude once more. She wasn't sure what to feel anymore, if anything at all. In a few hours' time, she had gone from thinking that it could happen, to it shouldn't be allowed to happen, to there was no way it could happen, and back again. Something as complex as emotions was not what she needed to deal with. Helping a friend find his way, resolving conflicts that threaten the stability of the team, even ridding the streets of crime was much more preferable then this. But at least she now had the time and space she had been needing for the meditation that had been delayed for far too long.

Sitting in a full lotus position, she closed her eyes and focused on chanting the only three words that helped calm her emotions.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos"