I guess you can expect one update a week, perhaps two. I'm taking my time because I really want this to come out just the way I want it to.

Title: Old Maid

Chapter Three: It'll Work Itself Out

Pairing: Chrave (Chelsea/Raven)

Warnings: The obvious homosexual relationship between two consenting adults. Eventual sexual content.

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Thirteen years later, eyes still watery, Chelsea shut the ring box. She cleared her throat a few times, the memories flooding back. On the other side of the table, Raven still couldn't bring herself to make eye contact. As the waiter cleared the dessert dishes from in front of them and brought the check, Raven reached for her purse. From Chelsea's reaction she decided to remove herself from the situation until both of them could function properly. Her actions were interrupted, however, when Chelsea found her voice again.

"Raven… you remembered, even all these years later." She managed to whisper.

"I, uh, yes… But like I was saying, I'll get you a gift that works."

Chelsea fingered the box, thinking about her life, and where she stood. "Rae… can I hold onto this?"

Raven let out a deep sigh -- a little louder than she had anticipated. Her foot was tapping anxiously under the table, but she pressed her hand against her knee to slow the jerking. Her head nodded slowly. "If you want…"

"It's not a no, Rae, or a yes right now." Chelsea put together her sentence slowly, eyes searching Raven's face. "I just want to see how this thing with Steve works out before committing, okay?"

As the blood started flowing normally through her body once more, Raven smiled weakly, "Yeah, of course. It's silly. How I'm feeling. I mean, it's not like…"

Curious as to why Raven's voice had faded off, Chelsea reached across the table and placed her hand on Raven's wrist. "Rae, like what?"

"I'm not some man who's totally in love with you, who would be completely broken if you said no. I'm your best friend who's offering lifelong companionship with a new title. You say no, we stay best friends for life anyways." Raven chuckled, "I got myself so worked up, when nothing would change either way."

"Yeah, best buds." Chelsea replied; she could tell, however, from the way Raven was speaking that there was more to it than Raven was playing it off as. She couldn't wonder long, though, as Raven grabbed her hand.

"Let's go! We're sproutin' roots, we've been here so long." Raven smiled and Chelsea knew it was genuine.

They hurried from the restaurant; Raven wasn't ready to drop Chelsea off at home, yet. She locked the doors and started the car, ignoring Chelsea's questions about what was going to happen next. Driving through the dark streets, Raven weaved in and out of traffic confidently, a silly grin on her face. As the car rolled to a stop for a red light, Raven peered in her mirrors before taking her eyes from the road.

"So, Chels, thirty years young. I'm so going to take you--"

Chelsea's ring tone sounded through the car, cutting Raven off. Smiling apologetically, Chelsea dug through her purse until her cell was out in her hands. It snapped open and she greeted her caller, a goofy grin on her face.

"Hey…" Chelsea twirled a piece of hair between her fingers and Raven rolled her eyes. Raven's mood was completely destroyed with that one word. The only person Chelsea would go so gah-gah for on the phone would have to be Steve -- the one man keeping them from a happily ever after. "Yeah, I'm just out with Rae… We had dinner… Tomorrow? Are you sure? That would be great! I'll call you at, like, noon?"

Raven tuned the rest of the conversation out, trying to keep her temper in check. As Chelsea chattered, she tried to take a small inventory of her emotions. It was confusing to her, to say the least. She loved Chelsea, in the way that only one best friend can totally adore another, and definitely wanted the best for her bud. It would kill her to maliciously hurt Chelsea, so why was she so intent on squashing the budding relationship with Steve? If she was a real best friend, she'd let Steve and Chelsea have their love, or their like, or whatever stage they were in. She'd fight this… this jealousy. It wouldn't win.

That struck another chord within her: Jealousy? Where did that come from? In her thirty years of life, she hadn't felt an ounce of possessiveness over Chelsea's love life. Sure, she'd wanted the gal-pal time that boys stole from them, but she'd never felt the urge to just steal Chelsea away from any breathing man or woman, to be just with her.

"Bye…" Chelsea hung up and sighed quietly. "Um, what were you saying before?"

Raven swallowed awkwardly, "I'm so going to take you home, that's all. Sounds like you've got a big day tomorrow with… Steve?"

"Yeah, Stevie. He's taking me to the zoo." Chelsea gushed, holding the phone as if she thought it was Steve..

"I thought you hated the zoo?" Raven was in a state of semi-shock, "What happened to all the fire over the cages being too small, the animals ripped from their homes, the horror of it all?"

"Well, I… You know… It's just one visit… Steve has a season pass and all…" Chelsea fumbled. "It's just a date, that's all. He's paying, so I'm not technically supporting the suppression of all the animals…"

Raven found her way to Chelsea's house, tipping the scale in her back and forth between being friendly about this, or cold. She ended up on the friendly side, so she smiled warmly at Chelsea and got out of the car to walk Chelsea to the door. The night air was crisp, but not entirely uncomfortable. They paused in Chelsea's doorway.

"Raven, thanks for a great time tonight." Chelsea put one hand on the door handle, yet seemed reluctant to leave.

Nodding slowly, Raven took a deep breath. "I'm going to tell you something, Chels. I haven't really worked it out myself, so I don't know what's really going on with me, but we don't keep secrets."

"Do you want to come in?" Chelsea asked.

"Yes. I think that would be… good." Raven summoned her courage, and her thoughts, and entered Chelsea's home. Sidestepping Prince Albert, Raven went to the living room while Chelsea let the jumpy dog outside once more. Ten minutes passed before Chelsea finally had everything together in the house and fell down onto the sofa next to Raven. Their eyes met briefly.

"Chels, I'm feeling a lot of whack stuff right now." Raven started, eyes darting to the floor. "I'm… I'm jealous of Steve."

Chelsea cocked her head, "Why Steve? He's just a man, not my best friend."

"I didn't say I understood it, Chelsea, just that I'm feeling it. I'm jealous that you're seeing someone. I've never been like this before, ever. I've always been able to share. But now…"

Laying her head on the couch, Chelsea took it all in. "Rae, I think this popping the question thing has gotten under your skin. You were fully prepared to make a commitment tonight, which I really appreciate by the way. I bet it's just your mind, I don't know, still thinking about being married."

Raven shrugged, feeling a little shut down, "You're probably right. You should have fun with Steve, no pressure. Keep me in the loop, 'kay? Standard best friend details. And no unprotected sex."

Raven shook her finger at Chelsea playfully. Chelsea closed the distance between them in a tight hug. As Raven returned the embrace, Chelsea nuzzled her neck gratefully.

"You're the best friend I could have ever asked for."

Pulling away, Raven rubbed Chelsea's arm and got to her feet, "I'll let you get some sleep. Call me tomorrow?"

"Yeah." Chelsea walked her to the door, smiling softly. She was the luckiest girl in the world, she figured. A new loving boyfriend, an awesome best friend, a good career. It was great.

In the doorway, Raven paused for a moment, considered her options, and leaned forward. Her kiss hit Chelsea's astonished lips for a split second before Raven drew back. When she was out the door, Raven hurried to her car, not willing to look back and gauge Chelsea's reaction. She drove a couple of streets away and cut the engine.

Maybe… maybe Chelsea was right about her jealousy. But on the other hand, Raven had her doubts. She strongly suspected that her emotions were playing a very confusing game, one that she wanted to win quite desperately. While Chelsea had been unlucky playing the field since leaving high school, Raven was the opposite; she'd been out and about with all sorts of men. It wasn't that she was easy, or promiscuous, but she knew how to have a good time. Yet all of it seemed so meaningless now that Chelsea was an option.

But Chelsea had Steve, and Raven was determined to keep her opinions about the man to herself, even if she disliked him. If he could get Chelsea to go to a zoo, he must be good for something, right?