Chapter 4

Raven's eyes followed Nightwing as he walked from the common room, being closely followed by Batgirl. She flicked her gaze to Starfire, seeing her also looking sorrowfully after Nightwing before she bent over and fetched a tray from one of the cupboards and began loading food onto it.

"Rae, you'll come to the beach won't you?" Beast Boy asked earnestly.

Raven narrowed her eyes, turning her attention to her boyfriend. "I went to Disneyland with you, isn't that enough?"

"Yeah, but that was last year," he said with a cheeky grin. "We haven't done anything as a couple this year."

Raven frowned.

He clasped his hands together pleadingly. "Please, Rae, it won't be any fun without you there."

"I'm not exactly the funnest person to be around," she said tonelessly.

"You could always read a book or something."

Raven saw Starfire lift the tray and head to the common room door. "Look, maybe it would be better if I stay here and meditate. We really shouldn't leave the city unguarded."

"I do not believe that Nightwing will wish to journey to the beach today," Starfire said as she passed, carefully balancing the tray of food. "He and I will remain to protect the city."

Raven silently cursed inside her head. Now how was she going to get out of this?

"Star," Beast Boy called, turning his head to see her. "Are you okay?"

Starfire nodded over her shoulder as the common room door opened before her and Batgirl walked through again. Starfire paused to allow Batgirl passage.

"Star," Raven heard Batgirl say. "I'm really sorry. I should've come to you first."

"Yes," Starfire replied. "But I understand why you did not. You were friends with him first. Your duty was to him." She headed out the door, carrying the tray of food.

"Please Rae?" Beast Boy begged.

Raven sighed in exasperation. "Gar, the beach and I really don't mix well."

He gave her those over big kittenish eyes that she'd started having trouble resisting. "Don't make me do the face."

She huffed. "Okay, fine. But I'm just going to sit under a tree and read a book."

"Will you come swimming with me?"

Raven narrowed her eyes. "I see," she deadpanned. "You just want to see me in a swimsuit."

Beast Boy blushed and scuffed his shoe on the floor. "Is that a bad thing?"

Raven wasn't sure if it was or not.

"Do Starfire and Nightwing often have fights like that?" Batgirl asked, coming up to them, a woeful expression on her face.

Beast Boy shook his head. "They've only fought like, maybe twice?" He glanced at Raven for confirmation.

Raven nodded. "Yeah, something like that. When they fight it's usually pretty big though. It will be rather tense around here for a while, until Starfire starts flying again."

Batgirl frowned. "Huh? Why would she stop?"

"Her powers are based on emotion, flight is from happiness. She isn't happy, she can't fly."

Batgirl's lips pressed into a line. "That's a pretty bad weakness she has there."

Beast Boy's eyes narrowed. "Not really. She hasn't lost any of her other powers."

"And Nightwing's the only one who can make her sad enough to lose her flight," Raven said. "Unless something really bad happens."

"Batgirl," Cyborg said, walking up to them. "You're comin' with us, aren't you?"

Batgirl frowned at him, planting her hands on her hip. "I'm supposed to be here for training."

"Aww, don't tell me you're a stickler for trainin' like Nightwing?" Cyborg complained.

"Well, I didn't think I was," she said quietly. "Does he often just let you go and take the entire Titan Network to the beach?"

"Actually," Beast Boy said, a finger to his mouth in consideration. "This would be the first time."

"Yeah," agreed Cyborg thoughtfully. "He's mellowed now he's getting some on a regular basis."

Batgirl went bright red and covered her ears. "I can't know that! Oh my god! I really didn't want to know that."

"Can't know what?" Kid Flash asked, zipping up to them.

Raven frowned at him. "You like to eavesdrop don't you?"

Kid Flash shrugged. "When did you want to head to the beach Cyborg? Nightwing left before we could ask him so I kinda get the feeling you're in charge for this little expedition."

Cyborg glanced over at the clock. "Let's say an hour. Might need you and the twins to go shopping for us and get some food. I'll go chat with Nightwing." Kid Flash nodded and zipped off while Cyborg turned back to Batgirl. "Sure you won't come, Babs?"

Batgirl chewed her lip. "I didn't bring a suit."

"You could borrow one of Raven's," Beast Boy said helpfully.

Raven arched an eyebrow at him. "We're different sizes." She eyed Batgirl, gauging her size. "You might fit one of Starfire's though."

Batgirl hung her head. "I'm not sure she'd be quite agreeable right now."

Raven shrugged. "Can't hurt to ask." She closed her eyes for a moment, slowly unfurling her powers to search for their friends. "They're both in Nightwing's office. Let's go and talk to them shall we?"

"Sure we won't be interrupting something?" Cyborg asked as the four of them walked toward the common room door.

Raven shook her head. "Hope not. Their emotions are too screwed up right now. I really don't think either of them are going to be thinking about that."

"Please stop. I don't want to hear it. Seriously."

"Babs, if you're staying in the Tower for a while, you're just gonna have to get used to it," Beast Boy said cheekily.

Batgirl groaned.

Cyborg shook his head, stopping at the door to Nightwing's office. Raven saw him steel himself to knock lightly on the door. "Man, it's just us," he called, his fingers hovering over the door button as they waited.

"Come on in," Nightwing called . "It's open."

He was sitting against a wall in the corner with Starfire curled between his legs; her cheek pressed against his chest and his head resting on hers. Raven felt a surge of relief pass through her. They were touching and cuddling at least.

He lifted his head as he saw them. "What's up?"

"Few things," Cyborg said carefully. "First, were you serious about letting us all go to Hawaii?"

Nightwing nodded. "Last thing though, training begins again tomorrow. Well, not for Raven and Beast Boy, are you two still heading to Azarath?"

Raven shrugged as though it didn't matter. "We'll see. I'll try that mediation tomorrow and go from there."

"Whatcha going to Azarath for?" Cyborg asked curiously.

"Gar's going to meet my mother."

Cyborg cast Beast Boy a sly glance while green changeling sheepishly tried to change the topic. "Are you guys coming to the beach?"

Nightwing shook his head. "I'll stay here and look after the city. Star will-"

"I will remain here as well."

Nightwing angled his head so he could see her face. "You can go."

"I do not wish to," she replied without even lifting her head.

Nightwing sighed and nodded, looking relieved. He looked back up at them. "What else?"

"When do you want us back by?"

Nightwing shrugged, shifting his arms around Starfire to hug her closer. "Cy, I really don't care at this point in time. I just want to be left alone. Have the day, whatever. You're in charge, use your best judgment." He frowned. "Just give Speedy hell for me."

"Already planned that."

"That all?"

Raven shook her head. "Batgirl hasn't got a swimsuit. Starfire, we were wondering if maybe you had one you could lend her."

Starfire raised her head from Nightwing's chest and looked at them. "I believe I have something that will suffice," she replied, pulling away from Nightwing and getting to her feet. She touched his head briefly. "I will return."

"Please do," he murmured in reply.

Starfire walked past them, gesturing them to follow and Raven and Batgirl fell in behind. Raven didn't particularly want to go with them, but she thought it would be better to act as a sort of buffer between the girls for the time being.

"Do you prefer the bikini or the one-piece?" Starfire asked quietly.

"Depends on if I'm trying to impress someone," Batgirl muttered, her eyes on the floor.

Starfire glanced over her shoulder. "And are you?"

Batgirl shrugged, not meeting their eyes. "Do you think Cyborg actually likes me?"

"You mean, 'like' like?" Raven asked tonelessly. "More than a friend?"

Batgirl nodded.

"You could always ask him," Raven deadpanned.

"Perhaps a bikini would allow you to see if he likes you more than a friend," Starfire said as she entered the room she shared with Nightwing.

Batgirl froze at the entrance to the room, hovering uncertainly at the doorway. Raven just brushed past her and sat on the bed, swinging her feet as though it was the most natural thing in the world to be allowed in Starfire and Nightwing's room.

Starfire looked over her shoulder at Batgirl as she rummaged through her closet. "You may come in."

"Thanks. Er, nice room." Batgirl glanced around and Raven saw her look at the painting hanging on the wall. "That's pretty."

Starfire nodded absently, shifting a box in the closet to allow her to get to the box underneath. "That is Tamaran."

"And that's you and Dick isn't it? Who painted it? It's very good."

"I did. Ahh," she said as she lifted out a small bag and passed it to Batgirl. "I brought this at my last journey to the mall of shopping. I have not worn it yet. You may use it."

Batgirl peered inside the bag, her hand snaking in to hold the yellow object up. "It's a bikini, Starfire."

"You do not like it?" Starfire turned back to the cupboard. "I have others."

"If Cyborg likes you as more than a friend, he'll probably have a heart attack seeing you in that," Raven said, studying her shoes nonchalantly.

Batgirl shrugged, placing the bikini back in the bag. "Okay then." She hesitated. "Star, I'm really sorry about before."

Starfire stopped her rummaging and turned to Batgirl, regarding her solemnly, clasping her hands before her. "Barbara," she said quietly. "It does not matter. You believed you were doing the right thing. I am hurt that you did not come to me first, but I do understand why you did not. You have known Nightwing longer than you have known me." She gave a tiny smile. "And last time I was annoyed with you, you were damaged. I understand if you were reluctant to come to me first."

Batgirl nodded and ducked her head sheepishly.

Starfire smiled. "I hope that you both enjoy yourselves at the beach."

"Are you sure you won't come?" Raven asked, allowing a small amount of concern to creep into her voice.

Starfire shook her head. "I should not leave him alone. He is hurting."

"So are you."

"I would not be very good company today Raven." She smiled at Raven and lifted off to hover briefly and returned to the ground. "I am not as bad as you believe. I knew he would react like that." She touched the plaster on her neck with a small smile. "Perhaps not as spectacularly as that, but I knew he would be angry. Anger I was prepared for." She ushered them both out of the room. "Now, go and have the fun. Nightwing and I will protect the city."

TTTTT

The Titans congregated in the common room.

Raven concentrated on reading her book, rather than indulging in the excited buzz of the Titans as they waited for the last of them to change into their swimmers and return to the common room.

Batgirl had decided to wear the yellow bikini that Starfire had lent her, wearing a dark blue over long T-shirt over the top as she lathered sunscreen on her arms and legs. Raven found herself wondering if the black cowl that Batgirl wore was waterproof.

Raven had decided to join most of the other girls in wearing a bikini, but she'd hidden it under a white, long sleeved button up shirt and shorts and had planted a large straw hat on her head. The Titan guys had already started ogling the girls and Raven would decide later if she wanted to be an object of the boys' affections. Despite Beast Boy's assurance that she would look awesome in one, she wasn't prepared to show herself off just yet.

Beast Boy strode into the room, wearing bright purple board shorts and a sleeveless shirt, a towel draped across his shoulders. He plunked himself down beside Raven on the sofa. "Do I get to rub sunscreen on you?" he asked cheekily.

"No," Raven deadpanned, still pretending to read. "Already done. Kid Flash did all the girls."

Beast Boy went red. "What?" he yelped, surging to his feet. "I'm gonna kill him!"

Raven lowered her book, placing her bookmark in and tucked it in her bag. "Relax. I was joking."

"Oh, ha ha, that was so funny. You gave me a heart attack Rae."

"Yo!" Cyborg bellowed as he walked into the room, carrying a large bag of sports equipment over his shoulder. "Y'all ready?"

There was a chorus of 'Yes', from the Titans as they fumbled for their towels and picked up day bags.

"Speedy! You get to handle the sports stuff and the barbecue. No fun for you," Cyborg said, dumping the bag on the hapless boy.

"Aww what?"

"Tough. Deal with it," Bumblebee snapped, her wings buzzing angrily for a moment.

"I think we're ready," Cyborg said, glancing around the room. "Herald, if you please."

"Righto," he replied, spinning his horn before the pure note rang out and the shimmering black portal appeared in the middle of the room.

Raven sighed and got to her feet, placing her sunglasses on her face and bending over to gather her bag.

"Here," Beast Boy said, taking it from her and draping his hand around her waist. "Let me carry that."

"Thanks," she said quietly as they stepped toward Herald's portal falling in line with the rest of the Titans that headed through.

The first thing Raven noticed was the warm sand cascading between her toes and into the sandals that she wore on her feet. The next thing was the lovely warmth of the bright sun that shone over head and the refreshing salted air against her face. Sound came after that, the rolling of the waves, a squawk of a sea gull, the rustling of winds against palm trees, the quiet murmur of people, the squeal of the laughter of a child.

The ocean was crystal blue, white frothy waves kissed the shore as they ebbed and flowed with the tide. Palm trees bent toward the sun, offering up their large leaves to the heavens. A rocky outcropping stood not far from where the Titans poured through Herald's portal, casting a little shade down onto the beach and its base providing a private ecosystem for the creatures that lived there before disappearing into the sea.

"Ahh," Beast Boy breathed, his face tilted toward the sun. "Nothing like a warm day at the beach."

"It's too pretty," Raven deadpanned, tugging him away from the portal so that the other Titans could come through. "And I already have sand in my shoes."

"Aww, Rae, lighten up. It beats being cold. Today's supposed to be fun."

Raven glanced down the beach. There were other groups of people sunbathing along the beach, nestled in little clumps, including several groups of girls that were eyeing Titans arrival, but they were too far away to make out any clear details.

"C'mon, we'll set you up somewhere quiet and you can read." He tugged on her waist gently, leading her a short way from the other Titans and dumping her bag in the shade of a palm tree. He unwrapped his towel from around his neck and lay it on the ground, grabbing hers from the bag and placing it next to his.

"So, do I get to do sunscreen?" he asked again as he plopped himself down on his towel.

"I'm already done," she said as she sat down beside him. "I did mention that."

Beast Boy pouted. "Even your back?"

Raven paused. "Well, no, but I wasn't going to take my shirt off."

Beast Boy grinned and nudged her. "And if you decide to?"

Raven rolled her eyes. "Then you'll be the first to know."

"Yo! BB! Gimme a hand with the volleyball net would you?" Cyborg bellowed, gesturing madly to the changeling.

Beast Boy let out a sigh and got to his feet, flicking off the flip-flops he wore on his feet. "I'll be back soon," he said as he darted away to help Cyborg.

Raven reached for her book, pulling it out of her bag, along with the water bottle she'd brought and wriggled until she was comfortable. She cast her eyes around as her fingers found place where she'd marked her book.

Cyborg, Beast Boy, Hotspot and Herald were busily setting up the volleyball net. Speedy had dragged the rest of the equipment and the small barbecue they'd brought into the shade of a tree, the twins trotting toward him with the cooler of food. Gnarrk was looking through the sports equipment with a puzzled look on his face. Kid Flash was busily blowing up various flotation devices, while Red Star blew up a beach ball.

Aqualad was standing knee deep in the water, communicating with a dolphin and Raven guessed he was checking on locations of sharks. Or communicating with an old friend, or perhaps even trying to pick up, Raven wasn't sure.

Jericho had set himself up on one of the rocks by the cliff, quietly playing his lute while Thunder, Lightning, Killowat, Pantha and Wildebeest were already engaged in a Frisbee battle.

Bumblebee, Jinx, Argent and Kole were setting up their towels under the shade of a nearby tree, giggling to each other as they watched the boys and Raven found herself rolling her eyes. They were in for a day of girls giggling and guys parading around like jocks, flexing their muscles. Already most of the guys had removed their shirts in favor of the bare chest appearance and the girls were all sporting their bikinis.

"Can I sit with you?" Batgirl asked quietly. "I really don't know the other girls well yet. I don't want to intrude."

Raven nodded. "Bee will have you sorted out by the end of the day," she said. "She's almost as good at making friends as Starfire is."

"I noticed that last night," Batgirl said as she spread out her towel.

"You noticed a lot of things last night," Raven deadpanned, taking a drink from her water bottle.

Batgirl sighed as she flopped down on the towel. "You're mad too?"

"Anger is pointless. What's done is done."

"But I should've done things differently, I know."

"Doesn't matter anyway. Nightwing and Starfire will work though it, they always do. And we need to keep a close eye on Speedy. I just wonder why Starfire went to the roof."

"She looked sick. She went pale and looked like she was about to fall over."

Raven's shoulders slumped. "Oh..."

"Raven?" Batgirl timidly asked.

Raven sighed and looked off toward the distant blue horizon. "Starfire has anxiety attacks if she's around too many people for too long. She must have had one last night. She can normally control them, if she gets to a quiet place. We were hoping that she would be over them by now."

Batgirl chewed her lip. "Is it related to whatever happened at the Citadel?"

Raven nodded, taking another drink of her water bottle, watching as Cyborg and Beast Boy accidentally toppled the volleyball net and had to begin again.

"What actually happened?"

Raven shook her head. "Not my place to say. The Titans don't know all the details; even I don't even know all the details and I was in the middle of it all. Ask Nightwing, if he wants you to know, he'll tell you."

"Rae," Beast Boy called from where he was struggling with the volleyball net. Somehow he'd managed to get the net twisted around his ankles and had fallen to the sand as he tried to disentangle himself. "Would you give us a hand here please?"

Raven sighed and raised her hand, enveloping the net in her energy and unraveling it from her boyfriend's struggling body, planting the poles in the ground while the four boys erecting it quickly hammered the pins into the ground.

"Thanks Raven," Cyborg called once they were done and Raven released the net. "So! Who's up for a game? Batgirl? You can be on my team!"

Batgirl nodded and got to her feet. "Sure," she said as she removed her shirt.

Raven turned her eyes to Cyborg as Batgirl dropped the shirt on the ground beside her towel and removed her sandals.

Cyborg's jaw dropped and he stood stock-still as he looked at Batgirl. The volleyball he was holding when plop on the sand as his huge hands lost their grip on the ball. Beast Boy trotted up and waved a hand in front of Cyborg's face, eliciting no response before he turned and grinned at Raven.

"I think it's safe to say Cyborg likes you," Raven murmured as she readied her book on her lap. "I think he's forgotten how to breathe."

Batgirl's head flicked up. "Really?" she asked. Seeing Cyborg's reaction she began to chuckle. "Oooh, today is going to be fun." She tossed her head and walked over to Cyborg, her hips swinging just enough to make Cyborg's eyes bug out even further.

Raven rolled her eyes and found her place in her book and begun to read.

She vaguely heard the laughing of the other Titans and the thumps of the volleyball as it hit either the ground or someone's hands. She heard Beast Boy's laughter and glanced up to see him pointing at Cyborg, who had face planted himself in the sand as he'd dived for the volleyball.

Cyborg stood, spitting sand as he wiped his mouth, grinning at Batgirl. He tossed the volleyball in the air, his hand connecting against it with a resounding thump. Beast Boy swan dived for it, managing to get a fist underneath it and the ball bounced into the air. Herald leapt up, a gleeful expression on his face and slammed the ball down toward the sand on the other side of the net.

Batgirl dove for the ball, skidding on the sand and creating spikes of it through the air as the ball bounced off her wrists. Hotspot lunged for it, setting it into the air so that Cyborg could spike it, but Cyborg seemed to be too busy getting an eyeful of Batgirl as she raised herself from the ground and the ball went over his head.

"Dude!" Hotspot complained immediately as the ball plopped on the sand. "Pay attention."

"Yes," Batgirl complained, winking at Raven as she dusted the sand from her slim figure. "I'm not diving for any more balls if you can't do your job."

Raven absently watched them play for a while then returned her attention to her book.

Raven could hear the other Titan girls whistling and giving cat calls to those playing volleyball as their boyfriends leapt into the air and showed off their bodies in an inspiring array of clumsy acrobatic movements as they lunged for the ball. Raven fought not to roll her eyes, unable to see what was so interesting in watching the boys making fools of themselves. At least Beast Boy didn't seem to be trying to show off, but then he probably didn't realise she was still watching him through her eyelashes.

"Well, that was a good game," Beast Boy said conversationally as he flopped down on the towel beside her some time later. "Did you see me? I made some awesome shots and Cyborg planted face first in the sand so many times trying to get them. Did you see the way he was looking at Batgirl? He's got it bad. And there was the one hit that I made that Herald said it wasn't possible, but I did it anyway and I nearly hit Hotshot in the head. And Cyborg banned Kid Flash from using his powers cause he was cheating, but I just think Cyborg was sore 'cause Kid Flash was on my team. And then this space alien came down and blasted the net and we were all like 'Woah' and 'whatcha do that for' but then he made us cake and everything was fine again."

"U-huh. Aliens and cake. Rrrrriiiiiight," she drawled without looking up from the book she had been pretending to read throughout the game.

"Just seeing of you were listening."

Raven grunted noncommittally, watching him out of the corner of his eye.

He grinned at her cheekily. "Aww, c'mon Rae, have some fun."

"I am having fun," she muttered, carefully turning the page that she hadn't even read yet, feigning nonchalance.

Beast Boy huffed, lying down on the towel beside her, propping himself on his elbows. "Only you could find reading fun."

Raven snorted and kept her eyes on her book.

"Well, I'm going swimming, wanna come?"

"Maybe later."

A shadow loomed over her and Raven glanced up from her book as Beast Boy slipped his shirt over his head, tossing it beside his towel. The corner of her mouth twitched into a smile, she did like seeing his bare chest, although she'd never admit it. All those lovely half-developed muscles that were etched into his green skin. She didn't like the chiseled, overdeveloped appearance some boys displayed, but she did like the subtle firmness of Beast Boy's chest and stomach.

What happened next was something she'd never expected.

Beast Boy undid the lacing of his shorts and hooked his fingers into the waistband, dropping them to the ground.

Raven's world froze.

Beast Boy was wearing a Speedo.

A red one.

Her Beast Boy. In a little tiny slip of material that showed just enough to let her imagination run wild. And boy did it run; it galloped away, taking with it any sense of reason and restraint Raven contained within her, vanishing over the horizon, never to be seen again.

Raven swallowed, unable to break her eyes away.

"What?"

Raven felt a blush colour her face and spread down over the back of her neck.

Beast Boy cocked his head at her. "What?" he repeated, confusion clouding his eyes.

She'd seen Nightwing in boxers when Torkor had stabbed him but she hadn't been interested, after all Nightwing was like a brother. Put Beast Boy in a Speedo and suddenly she was enthralled, every part of her attention riveted on that small red number.

Her eyes racked his body of their own accord and Raven found herself glad that she was wearing sunglasses, they would hide her eyes at least, conceal the fact that she was staring. She touched her face; she was wearing sunglasses wasn't she?

Beast Boy squatted down before her. "Rae, are you all right?"

Raven didn't think her eyes could get any wider. He didn't just squat before her did he? By Azar, that left nothing to the imagination and made her breathless.

Her head began to spin from lack of oxygen and she gulped in a breath of air, tearing her eyes away from the little red number and the temptation beneath. She locked them on his face, determined to get her emotions under control even though her heart pounded in her chest and her stomach was a basket of nerves.

Much to her dismay, she squeaked.

Beast Boy frowned. "Babe?" he asked, reaching out to touch her forehead. "Are you sick?"

She wiped her chin, certain she was drooling before trying to speak again. "I'm fine," she croaked out. "Just the heat that's all."

Beast Boy looked unconvinced. "Are you sure?"

Raven nodded rapidly, feeling her sun hat bouncing on her head. She fought the urge to take it off and fan herself.

"Are you coming in the water?" Beast Boy asked, getting to his feet and Raven found her eyes drifting downward once more.

"In a little while," she squeaked, and cleared her throat several times. She had to get these emotions under control before coming anywhere near him.

"Okay," Beast Boy said, turning and walking away and Raven's eyes glued themselves to his behind.

"GAH!" Cyborg cried loudly, cringing away and scampering backward, his hands clawing at his face. "My eyes!"

"Dude!" Hotspot cried. "That is so much more of you than I ever wanted to see!"

"What?" was Beast Boy's clueless response.

"Oh what a world, what a world," Herald complained, pretending to melt.

Raven saw the Titan girls lift their heads from where they were clustered around and twittered like birds, their eyes plastering on her boyfriend. A strange spike of jealous surged within her and she clamped down on it.

Bumblebee let out a long whistle, dragging her sunglasses down her face as she peered over the top of them. "Boys, you can learn from this one," Raven heard Bumblebee drawl, that cocky smile on her lips and she wondered how many people would miss Bumblebee if she suddenly vanished.

"Honeybee," Herald complained, turning toward her, a woeful expression on his face.

"What? If he's gonna parade, I'm gonna look."

"Who's parading?" Beast Boy asked, looking around.

Jinx put a hand on her hip. "Sweetie, why don't you ever wear one of those?" she called, making her boyfriend turn as red as his hair.

Kid Flash dropped his eyes and mumbled something.

"Is something wrong?" Beast Boy asked curiously as he looked around the dumbfounded Titans. "Why are you all staring at me?"

"Raven," Bumblebee called cheekily. "You are one lucky girl."

"Wow," Batgirl said, flopping down on the towel beside Raven. "Who'd have thought his uniform concealed that. Are you seriously okay with him wearing that in public?"

Raven remained silent; her eyes still fixed on Beast Boy's retreating behind.

"Raven? Raaaaaven?" Batgirl cheekily sang. "Yoohoo? Anyone home?"

Fingers clicked in front of her face and Raven snapped back to reality. "What?" she muttered, casting a glare at Batgirl.

"You're drooling."

Raven wiped her chin before she could stop herself while Batgirl erupted into giggles. She scowled at Batgirl, her eyes narrow.

"That was too easy," Batgirl chuckled, tossing her mane of red hair. "Seriously though, we spotted some trawlers earlier. You might want to go swimming with him."

"Trawlers?"

"Yeah, those girls that go up and down the beach looking for cute guys to hit on."

Raven narrowed her eyes as she glanced up and down the beach.

Cyborg darted up to them. "Excuse me, Raven," he said, yanking Batgirl to her feet and throwing her over his shoulder. "Someone needs a dunking."

"What?" Batgirl shrieked good-naturedly, kicking her legs and pounding her hands on his back as Cyborg grinned cheekily and dashed off toward the water. "You overgrown tin solider! Don't you dare drop me in the water!

"Hey, that looks like fun," Kid Flash exclaimed as Cyborg bolted past him. He turned to Jinx, gesturing at her coyly with his fingers. "C'mere Jinxy."

"Don't you dare," she said, taking a step backward, her palm held out before her to ward him off. "I'll hex you."

"Gotta catch me first," he replied cheekily, zipping up to her and sweeping her off her feet and plowed into the water. Jinx squealed before erupting into laughter as they were engulfed by the water.

Herald and Hotspot exchanged a cheeky glance, darting off after their respective partners, while Bumblebee and Argent turned and fled, dashing across the sand. Raven arched an eyebrow, they could have easily evaded the boys by taking to the air, but they seemed to delight in the case.

Beast Boy glanced over his shoulder at her, his face etched in indecision and longing and Raven knew what he was thinking. He would have liked to do the same to her, but knew she'd probably kill him for the trouble. She watched his shoulder slump and her heart ached for him. She knew she could never be like other girls, she always had to distance herself, control her emotions. But maybe, it would be nice to be a normal girl for a while, just for him.

Raven tossed her book aside, kicked off her sandals and stood. The sun hat flopped to the ground, quickly followed by her shorts and sunglasses. She hesitated in unbuttoning her shirt when Beast Boy turned around to stare at her, his eyes going wide. She gave him a small smile and slipped the shirt from her shoulders, standing there uncertainly in her dark blue bikini.

Beast Boy's jaw dropped and his eyes bugged out of his head.

She walked toward him, taking a page from Batgirl's book and swinging her hips a little. "Are we swimming?" she asked, an eyebrow raised. She opened her senses to feel the emotions rolling from him, ones of awe and amazement as he thought himself the luckiest guy in the world and a strange longing.

"Heads up!" Thunder bellowed.

A volleyball whacked Beast Boy on the head and bounced away.

"Huh?" he asked, snapping out of his daze, rubbing his head ruefully. "Did something hit me?"

Raven arched an eyebrow. "Didn't that hurt?"

"Uh… did what hurt?" he asked, clueless, still rubbing his head and staring vacantly at the ball on the sand.

Raven shook her head, concealing a smile. "Never mind. Are we swimming?" she asked as she walked past him, heading down to the water.

Beast Boy laughed as he suddenly scooped her in his arms and bolted toward the ocean. Raven actually felt a giggle bubble up as she wrapped her arms around his neck and played an ordinary girl for a while.

TTTTT

Beast Boy was ecstatic.

Not only had Raven decided to join in the fun of a day at the beach instead of parking herself on a towel and reading the day away, he'd actually heard her laugh.

And boy did she look hot in that bikini. Mind numbingly gorgeous. He'd completely forgotten where he was for a moment as her shirt had hit the ground and it had taken a volleyball to his head to knock him out of it. He'd thought that she'd always looked nice in that leotard of hers, but she'd always hidden behind her cape.

She'd stood there shyly as he'd gaped at her and he'd known in that moment that she'd worn that number just for him.

And now he was pulling her along through the rolling surf, her hands clenched around the fin protruding from his back as his dolphin tail powered them through the water. He didn't know where they were going, nor did he particularly care, just as long as they were away from the others so he could kiss her senseless and tell her she was gorgeous. So he swam, enjoying the feeling of her pressed against him.

He slowed until he just floated in the water, Raven releasing his fin and treading water beside him. He lifted his dolphin head, expelling a breath of air though his blowhole and cast his eyes around.

Raven ran a hand up his body and to his nose, stroking it lightly as she swam around him. He chittered and clipped at her, emitting a series of whistles, nudging her with his nose. She smiled, both her hands encasing his long nose, before she planted a small kiss on it.

He shifted back to normal as quickly as possible, treading water beside her. "Rae, you look really gorgeous in that," he said shyly.

She blushed, swimming in closer. "You don't look half bad yourself," she murmured. She placed her hands on his chest and he felt her power slipping through them, keeping them afloat. He reached for her, one hand on the back of her neck, the other going to the small of her back, pulling her in to attach his lips to hers.

TTTTT

"What do you think are they doing out there?" Batgirl asked peering at the couple in the distance, her hand over her eyes to shield them from the glare of the sun.

"Making out, what else?" retorted Cyborg as he stood with the water up to the middle of his chest, trying not to seem interested.

She looked at him as she steadied herself against the waves and chuckled. "You poor thing, living in a Tower with two couples."

Cyborg shrugged, hunkering down so that only his head and shoulders appeared above the water, his arms floating lazily along the surface of the water. "Least they're considerate about it I guess."

Batgirl raised an eyebrow, smirking at him, and flicked water in his direction. "I see. And part of that consideration doesn't stem from you spying on them all the time?"

Cyborg feigned indifference. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I've been warned about you," she said with a sassy smile, one hand going to her cocked hip.

"You've been warned what exactly?" he asked, his eyes narrowed.

She waved her other hand vaguely. "Oh, just something about payback when you manage to get a girl."

"Let me guess; Dick said that."

Batgirl shrugged, still looking at him and smiling.

Cyborg sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "That'd be right. Well, at least it won't be a problem, I'm not about to find me a girl anytime soon."

The smile died immediately, to be replaced by a frown. "And what, pray tell, am I?"

Cyborg continued gazing out into the ocean, refusing to look at her. It was better this way. "Dick's ex-girlfriend."

Batgirl's jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon?" she asked disbelievingly. "What's that got to do with anything?"

"Look, Babs, I really like you and all, but he's one of my best friends."

"And he's getting married to Starfire."

"Don't make it right," Cyborg said softly.

Batgirl frowned. "Well, at least I know where I stand," she muttered, moving away.

"Don't be mad Babs."

"Whatever," she snapped scathing as she stalked out of the water.

Cyborg rubbed his hand on his face again. "Yeah, that went well." He sighed. Perhaps he should have just told her the truth, no matter how much it might have hurt him. After all, he did see real potential in a relationship with her. Maybe she would be the first that would understand.

"Dude," Kid Flash called, running along the surface of the water toward him, zipping in tight circles, his feet moving in a blur. "Speedy said lunch is ready. Want me to go and fetch Beast Boy and Raven?"

"Nah, they'll come in when they're ready," he muttered, standing up once more and wading out of the ocean.