Raven stared up at the ceiling. She was so dreadfully tired, that her whole body just ached. From her fingertips to her toes, everything seemed to throb. Raven heaved a sigh. She had wanted to get some reading done, but she was just so painfully tired, the very thought of moving made her cringe.

At this point, just lying here and possibly taking a nap seemed like a spectacular plan, and Raven breathed another sigh. She let her eyes flutter closed, her mind drifting towards dreamland.

The alarm began shrieking, spurring Raven upright with a groan. Her head pounded and she felt awful, but she managed to crawl off of her bed, slip on her boots, and stumble out into the hallway. Once on her feet, Raven felt a little more steady, and she marched her way to the ops room, trying her best to suppress a yawn.

And the desire to crawl back into bed.

The other Titans were waiting for her, their expressions determined. Raven could feel the irritation and resignation emanating from everyone, mixing with her own exhaustion and dread. Why now? Of all times, why now?

Nightwing eyed her curiously, a frown deepening on his lips. "You look tired," he said. Raven huffed, crossing her arms across her chest. She refused to meet his gaze, staring steadfastly out the window.

"I'm fine," she grumbled. It wasn't particularly a lie. She felt fine, per say. There was just an incessant feeling of exhaustion shadowing her every step, but it wasn't unlike anything she'd experienced before. Besides, her healing powers would most likely kick in once she did manage to get some sleep, and fix whatever the issue was.

So perhaps she was deflecting the question, but there really wasn't any reason to worry. Not that Raven could see, at least.

She could feel the Titan leader's gaze linger on her, his concern painting the air yellow. He sighed and looked away, much to her relief.

"Okay, team," Nightwing said, "there's a tip about a fugitive being spotted along fifth street. He's powered, so it's our jurisdiction, but he should be easy to catch. Raven, Gar, and Kori, you guys locate him from the sky. Me and Vic will tackle the groundwork." He paused, his gaze flickering to each of them as though to gauge if they'd digested the intel. Raven just sighed, giving him a flat look.

Nightwing ignored her, instead dipping his head in a nod. "Okay, Titans, let's go!"

~#~#~#~

Raven hovered in the air, feeling...bored. Her exhaustion still hadn't faded like she'd hoped, but it probably didn't help that Nightwing's assertion about how easy this mission would be was right. It was dreadfully easy. It took the three in the sky no time at all to locate the idiot, and all Nightwing and Cyborg had to do was block off the alleyway, and the fugitive surrendered.

So now she floated here, waiting for the cops to come and wishing she could just lay down and sleep. Another yawn bubbled to her lips, and she blinked sleepily.

"Geeze, Rae, you sure you aren't tired?"

Garfield's voice caught her focus, and she peered down at the green shapeshifter. Beneath the awkward smile was a fountain of concern, and Raven shivered under the intensity of his gaze. She forced an indifferent expression onto her features, and raised a brow. "What makes you say that?" she scoffed. Garfield furrowed his brow, his smile slipping away. He rubbed his arm and chewed his lip, uncertainty permeating the air around him.

"W-well, you look dead on your feet. Figuratively speaking, anyway."

Raven tugged her cloak tighter around her shoulders, averting her gaze. "I'm fine," she mumbled again for what felt like the upteenth time. Guilt gnawed at her as his concern colored her senses, and Raven suppressed a sigh.

Okay, maybe she wasn't so fine. She was pretty tired. But was that really so worrying? It wasn't as though they'd never gone weeks at a time with little or no sleep. So what if she felt a little sleepy?

"You might as well go, Raven," Cyborg said gently. "Gar's right, you look dead tired. Just head back to the tower and get some rest, okay? We can handle it from here."

Raven furrowed her brows, her mouth opening in protest, when another yawn broke loose, halting any argument. She blushed sheepishly and sighed, dipping her head in submission. "Fine, I'll go," she muttered, "but only to shut you two up."

They both seemed quite relieved with her decision, much to Raven's chagrin.

"I will go with you!"

Starfire's chipper voice caught Raven off guard, and she blinked at her Tamaranean friend. "Y-you don't have to, I'll be fine."

Starfire beamed and hooked arms with her. "Nonsense! I wish to!" She all but dragged her along, leaving Raven to throw a wide eyed look at the two boys behind her. They only grinned back, leaving her to her fate.

The Tamaranean lead her through the streets of Jump, settling them into a comfortable pace as they wandered towards the shoreline. Raven could tell something was on her mind, but whatever it was, Starfire kept silent. Instead, they threaded through the afternoon crowd, arm in arm. Raven let her gaze wander, idle thoughts about passersby bubbling to the forefront of her mind. That man in the business suit, was he going to a meeting? Or the woman with the stroller, was she just on a casual walk? The possibilities were literally endless, and it wasn't until they stopped that Raven paused in her musings.

A cool breeze tickled her skin and made Raven shiver. She peered out at the expanse of ocean before them, the blip of the tower on its island catching her gaze.

"Are you certain you are not unwell?" Starfire asked, breaking her silence. Raven blinked, turning sharply to her.

"I-I told you, Starfire, I'm fine."

The alien princess held her gaze, her lips drawn in a pout. She nodded slowly, though Raven could feel her uncertainty tainting the air around them. Starfire breathed a feathery sigh, and she tightened her grip on Raven's arm. "Alright," she murmured, "I do believe you. But Raven, we are worried for you. Please, do tell us if something is the matter. You know I am here for 'the talking'."

Of course Raven knew this. Starfire was always there, eager to listen to whatever she had to say. It was a friendship Raven was ever grateful for, and it made her feel even worse for the worry that clouded Starfire's aura. She managed a smile, and squeezed Starfire's arm. "Of course, Star."

Seemingly satisfied, Starfire released her hold on Raven and took off into the sky, waiting for her to follow. Raven heaved a sigh and followed, wishing dearly for her fatigue to fade, and everything to return back to normal.

~#~#~#~

Raven awoke to the sunlight piercing through her curtains and beaming its overeager rays onto her face. She groaned, pulling the covers up over her head.

Ugh.

Despite going to bed at a decent time, Raven still felt exhausted. She just wanted to doze off once more, safely nestled beneath the warmth of her blankets. But her grumbling stomach and a burning need to pee had her up and moving, grumbling curses under her breath.

It was times like these Raven almost wished she was a full demon, rather than only part. Her flesh-trap of a body provided an overabundance of grievances, like depriving her of sleep by waking her up with its constant needs. Like peeing. And eating.

Raven tossed a cloak on over her pajamas and ventured out into the hallway, stifling a yawn. She made a pitstop at the bathroom to relieve herself before making her way to the common room.

From the bustle of activity hammering against her emphatic senses, Raven could guess most everyone was already awake. She bit back a sigh, readying herself for the barrage of questions bound to shower her.

It wasn't often she slept so late, after all.

Raven took a deep breath and pushed through the common room doors, her heart pounding in her chest. Immediately, the sizzling sounds of bacon tickled her ears, and Raven breathed in the accompanying smoky smell. She paused, blinking.

The usually mouth-watering smell revolted her. Her stomach began a series of somersaults, making her feel nauseous. Raven swallowed hard, trying desperately not to gag. What the hell was wrong with her? She'd felt fine just seconds ago. Was it really the bacon?

Before she could process what was happening, Cyborg's voice boomed through the room. "Mornin', Rae! I've cooked up some breakfast! Want a plate?"

She forced a thin smile and shook her head. "N-no thanks, I'll just have some tea."

Her response earned her a few baffled glances, but Raven ignored them. She all but ran for the stove, and sought for her mug within the cabinets, taking care to breath through her mouth. The bacon smell burned around her, making eyes water and bile rise in her throat. Raven poured tea into her mug with shaking hands and fled the room, gagging as she went.

Great Azar, she thought as she leaned against the wall in the hallway, what the hell is wrong with me? Raven chewed her lip and stared into her steaming mug, her appetite totally tarnished. The mug felt leaden in her hands, its weight pushing the events that just transpired through her mind again, and again. The very recollection of the bacon smell threw Raven into another nauseous fit, and she clasped a hand to her mouth and staggered to the bathroom.

Raven barely made it to the toilet before puking her guts out. A grogginess settled over her, and she couldn't focus on much more than the sour taste in her mouth and the cold porcelain pressing against her skin. Her head pounded, and Raven felt another wave of nausea crash over her. She let out a piteous moan, willing the dizziness to stop.

"Raven?"

Garfield's voice boomed through the bathroom, making her wince. She blinked up at him, a blur of green in the entryway. Raven attempted to pull herself together, pushing herself away from the toilet and shooting him an indifferent glance. "What?" she said, her voice shaking. Garfield stepped closer, wringing his hands uncertainly. He looked very much like a deer caught in the crosshairs, approaching her as though she could bite his head off any moment. If she hadn't felt so sick, Raven would have been miffed at his awkward behavior. But at the moment, she could care less.

"Are you okay?"

"M'fine," she muttered, shooting the toilet a glare. "Just feeling a little dizzy's all."

"...right," Garfield said. He hesitated, before stepping closer and offering a hand. Raven took it wordlessly, letting him pull her carefully to her feet. He steadied her, his concerned gaze making her feel flushed.

"Maybe you should let Vic check you out, Rae," he murmured softly. "I mean, this...isn't normal."

Raven opened her mouth to argue, but he spoke before she could formulate a response.

"Like, you even smell different."

At this, Raven balked. She blinked, pursing her lips. "What do you mean, I smell different?"

Garfield shrugged. "I dunno. You just smell...different."

"That doesn't make sense."

A sudden spike of anger forked the air, making Raven suck in a breath of air. Garfield's face twisted into a scowl, and he pulled away, glaring at the floor. "I don't know, Raven! You just do!" The words hung in the air a moment, stretching the silence between them for what seemed like an eternity. Then Garfield sighed, and the spell was broken.

"You smell...sweeter, I guess." He flushed, ducking his head. "I dunno, it's hard to explain." The green shapeshifter, rubbed at his neck, his embarrassment flooding the space around them. "Well, um, let me know if you need anything, okay?" His gaze found hers, and Raven realized she was nodding.

"Okay."

There was a beat where they merely stareed at each other, seemingly at a loss for words, before Garfield managed to find the will to scurry away, leaving Raven alone with her jumbled up, disjointed thoughts.

You smell different.

The words knocked around her head, mixing with her bizarre episode and onslaught of exhaustion. She heaved a sigh, leaning against the sink. What on earth was going on? Why was she so suddenly sick? And what kind of illness could this possibly be? A deadly one?

Raven gulped, squeezing her eyes shut and willing herself to breath. She slowly blinked them open, her gaze climbing up to the mirror hanging in front of her. A pale, tired reflection stared back at her, the dark circles under her eyes screaming for attention. Raven let her gaze become unfocused, the reflection's backdrop taking on the forefront of her attention. A blinking alarm clock caught her attention, the backwards numbers on proud display as the clock blinked out the time. Raven squinted at it a moment, before whirling around to get a good look at it herself.

It was one of those clocks with the date listed beneath the time. Simple, yet effective. The Titans had these clocks stashed all over the tower, and yet somehow it wasn't until now that Raven really paid them any attention.

September 2nd, 2017, it read.

September second…

September second…

Raven's eyes grew wide, her mouth dropping open. A sudden, horrific realization dawned upon her, and suddenly everything made perfect sense. A weight formed in her belly, and Raven sank to the floor, her hands trembling.

Oh, shit. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.

The room trembled with her, as though her fear had spread through the floor to the walls and beams, shaking the tower's very structure to its core. She tried to control her breathing, but all that came were erratic gasps spilling from her lips. This couldn't be happening, could it? But the evidence was clear, laid out before her in a nice, neat package. Still, the thought turned over in her mind, a revelation so shocking, she just couldn't fathom it.

Could she be...pregnant?

~#~#~#~

Raven glared at the offensive package, chewing her lip to keep it from quivering. It's stupidly cheery, bright pink colors did nothing more than hurt her eyes and bring a scowl onto her features.

Know six days sooner!

The words seemed to leap off of the packaging, flashing across her mind and burning itself into her memory. Raven huffed, reaching for it with trembling hands. She'd made the purchase earlier that day, offering to pick up groceries so enthusiastically, she was pretty sure she'd nearly given Nightwing a fright. Luckily no one had offered to go with her, and Raven was free to pick up the horrendous box herself.

Of course, this was just a preemptive measure. Chances were slim to none that she was pregnant; after all, Raven was fairly certain she was infertile. Still, her period was almost two weeks late, and she certainly did have sex recently…

Images of jade skin and emerald eyes flashed across her mind. She could almost feel his hands dancing across her bare back, his kisses staining her lips…

Raven gulped, suppressing a shiver. She forced herself to read the directions on the box, doing her best to put that night out of her mind. After all, what happened then was meant to stay in the past, locked away in the dark corners of her memory. It did her no good to think about those fangs nibbling at her jugular; it was a distraction at best.

A very satisfying distraction.

She shook herself and focused on the box. The directions seemed easy enough; just uncap the stick, pee on it, cap it, and wait for the results. Raven took a deep breath. She could do this, ease her mind, and move on with her life.

Simple.

Raven carefully unboxed her unwanted product, eyeing the stick uncertainly. "It's just a test," she murmured. Trembling, she uncapped the test and did the necessary deed, afterwards placing the stick on the counter and pacing the room while she waited.

It was the longest minute of Raven's life. She paced back and forth, anxiety wrapping her tighter within its embrace with every step she took. Her heart pounded, her breaths were shallow, and a cold sweat dampened her skin. What if this was legit? What if she was pregnant?

Horrific memories of her father and his control plagued her mind. Was it possible he could harm her unborn child? Or worse, curse any children she had, just as he cursed her? The sharp, metallic taste of blood danced across her tongue, and Raven realized she'd been chewing into her lip.

Raven paused, raising a hand to her lips. She forced herself to breath, her mantra flooding across her mind. It's just a test, she thought. No need to panic. Still, ice gripped her veins when she rested her gaze onto the little white stick, her lungs seemingly forgetting how to breath. She reached forward, plucking it carefully off of the counter, and held it up close, her heart in her throat. Raven's gaze scanned the test, and immediately her heart plummeted to her feet. There, frozen within the little window, were two bold, little lines.

She was pregnant.

The stick dropped from her grasp, clattering onto the tile floor. The room started to spin, and Raven felt like she was going to be sick. Only one thought emblazoned across her mind; she needed air.

She needed out.

Raven fumbled for the door and stumbled into the hall, her flight responses taking over. She had no plan, no course of action in mind. But none of that seemed to matter; her only drive was to run as far away from the pregnancy test as possible, and maybe clear her mind.

"Raven?"

The voice echoed through the hallway, bringing Raven to a grinding halt. She wavered in place, her heart still pounding out of her chest.

"Raven, is...is everything okay?"

Dun, dun, dun!

Chapter one! I had this ready to post yesterday, too, but I wanted to space the updates out a bit. So here it is! Hopefully you guys will enjoy this as much as I'm enjoying writing is. XD

Thanks!

-vixensheart