Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the Property of DC Comics

Chapter 11

It was a horrid night. There wasn't a star to be found for the sky was covered with threatening black clouds. Lightning flashed and thunder clashed overhead in a horrible way that made the tower shake. Needless to say, none of the children were very happy. The worst of it all was that the storm hadn't hit until two in the morning.

Beast Boy slept in his tangled sheets in nothing but boxers and an undershirt. He was known to sleep through anything, and that included such terrible storms like the one outside. So he definitely didn't hear his door slide open and someone enter quickly.

"Daddy?" a little voice said through the darkness. She didn't get a response so she fearfully began to shake her father's arm. "Daddy!"

Beast Boy snorted and sprung up, startled. "What?" he said. "What's going on?"

"Daddy, I'm scared," said Crystal. "There's thunder and lightning."

"There is?" he asked. Moments later the night sky lit up and a loud crash of thunder rumbled and shook the foundation. Crystal squealed with fright and covered her head. "Awe, it's okay," he said and lifted her up onto the bed with him. "Nothing's gonna happen, it's just loud."

"I'm scared," she cried, hugging him tightly.

"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe," he said, rubbing her back. "You can sleep in my bed tonight."

"I'm too scared to go to sleep," she said.

"Then what do you wanna do?" he asked.

"I wish Raven could read me a story," said Crystal. "She hasn't read me one in forever!"

"She read one to you two days ago," said Beast Boy. "And I think she's asleep."

"Maybe she's not," said Crystal. "Please? Can we check?"

Beast Boy sighed and said, "Alright." He got out of bed, scooped her up into his arms, and made his way out of the room. He walked down the long hallway to Ravens room, knowing full well that she was asleep. But Crystal needed proof or she'd never let it go. They made it to Ravens door and he lightly knocked on it. They waited about four seconds, but no reply came. "See? I told you she was asleep."

"You didn't knock loud enough," said Crystal. She reached forward and, before Beast Boy could stop her, knocked as hard as she could. As soon as she finished it thundered again and she clung tightly to her father until it was over.

"Well if that didn't wake her up she must be asleep for the night," said Beast Boy. "Come on, I'll make you a glass of warm milk and then-"

"What's going on?" asked Raven, opening her door.

"I knew you were awake!" said Crystal.

"Well I am now," said Raven. Her hair was in tangles and her eyes puffy from sleep. "What's the matter?"

"Sorry to wake you," said Beast Boy, genuinely feeling bad. "Crystal just wanted-."

"Will you read me a story?" Crystal blurted out.

"…now?" asked Raven after a moment. She had to make sure this wasn't some odd dream.

"She can't sleep because of the storm," said Beast Boy. "Just tell her that you need to sleep."

"Please, Raven?" pleaded Crystal.

Raven yawned and said, "Alright."

"Hurray!" said Crystal and she leapt onto Raven, who luckily caught her and happened to have the strength to hold her. Beast Boy nearly had a heart attack.

"What story do you want?" asked Raven.

"Beauty and the Beast," said Crystal.

"Okay, let's go get that one," said Raven, leaving her room and heading for Crystal's.

"Uh, Raven, are you sure you're feeling up to it?" asked Beast Boy.

"Absolutely," said Raven, not giving him a second thought. He watched as they went off down the hall.

"Daddy, you can go get me some warm milk now," said Crystal over Ravens shoulder with a smirk. "Raven, you want some?"

"Sure, I could go for some warm milk," said Raven.

"Two warm milks, daddy!" Crystal called to him.

"What about me?" asked Beast Boy.

"You don't need any cuz you're already sleepy," she said and then giggled.

Beast Boy grumbled, mostly because he was wide awake now, and headed off to the kitchen. He poured two glasses of milk and one glass of soy milk, heated them up in the microwave, and then headed back to Ravens room. All the while the storm continued to rage on.

He reached Ravens room and found that the story had already begun. 'Jeez, they could've waited for me,' he thought to himself. Raven was sitting cross legged on her bed with Crystal in her lap. The curtain of her large window had its dark curtain pulled over it so the lightning wouldn't scare Crystal. He gave them both their milks and took a seat in Ravens chair with his own milk. He reclined it and drank while listening to Raven read to his daughter.

"Once upon a time there lived a prince who was given anything his heart desired," read Raven. "But he was a spoiled, selfish prince who thought about no one but himself…"

As the story went on Beast Boy found him self studying Raven as she read. Her voice was soft and soothing and even when the thunder rumbled it never wavered. This calmed Crystal and made her feel like everything was alright. He knew she was feeling comfortable when she reached up and began to twirl a lock of her blond hair. She only did that when she was growing tired and felt completely comfortable. He watched as slowly but surely Crystal nodded off in Ravens lap. And even when he was sure she was asleep Raven continued to read to make sure she really did fall into a peaceful slumber.

He couldn't believe how nurturing Raven was; nothing like Terra. He remembered how Terra always reacted when there was a storm and Crystal went into her room crying. She would turn her away and tell her to go to him. Of course, he'd always let her sleep in his bed. He could never turn her away. Terra wasn't a bad person, she just wasn't maternal.

He hated how cruel life was. Terra had been blessed enough to have a beautiful daughter and wanted nothing to do with her. Raven was a natural mother and she would never get to have children. It just wasn't fair. Life never seemed to be fair, especially when it came to Raven.

He wondered if she'd ever gotten a chance to be in love. Had she ever even been kissed? He knew that it was an absurd question, but he wouldn't be surprised if she hadn't. Raven had always been afraid of intimacy and wouldn't have allowed her self to fall in love. But, with her powers gone, she must have finally felt the pain the absence of love could bring. He knew he certainly felt it.

And that's when he realized that the pain he'd been bearing ever since he and Terra had broken up was gone. Instead, he felt sense of peacefulness and happiness inside of him. He watched Raven reading and felt this wonderful feeling intensify. Could it be that he was starting to develop feelings for her? He couldn't deny the fact that seeing her with Crystal made him happy and sometimes, when they were alone, he felt like he could spend hours upon end with her and not mind at all. All of this helped him come to the conclusion that, slowly but surely, he was starting to fall for her.

Hours passed and soon all three had fallen asleep. The storm had finally moved on and the night had become calm once more. Within hours the sun began to rise and any evidence that there had been a storm at all was gone. But not even the sun could penetrate through Ravens dark curtain and the three inside continued to sleep.

Beast Boy awoke in Ravens chair and for a moment had no idea where he was. He looked around and realized he was in Ravens room. Events of the night came back to him and he realized what'd happened. He looked to Ravens bed and saw both she and Crystal still fast asleep, curled up next to each other.

He stood up and gave a good stretch. He looked upon both the girls and smiled. They looked so cute together; as if they were mother and daughter. He couldn't believe that Raven could look cute. She sure was full of surprises.

And then his mind couldn't help but go to darker thoughts. Raven was dying. She should have been dead already. The fact that she was still alive was a miracle. She could die any day now. For all he knew this might be his last day with her. No matter what, it was going to be hard on him when she did go. But he knew he'd feel a little better if he could make her happy. He just wasn't sure what he could do.

And then it hit him; a small epiphany that began to grow as he thought about it more and more. He knew what he could do to make her happy, or at least make one of her dreams come true. He just had to think it through and make it work. And he prayed he could get the support of the others.

He gently scooped Crystal into his arms and brought her to her own bed. She didn't wake up for a second. Raven had certainly put her into a deep sleep. Once he'd tucked her in he headed for his own bed. As comfortable as Ravens chair was, which it really was, he liked to sleep in his own bed. His head had just hit the pillow when the alarm sounded.

"You've gotta be kidding me," he groaned. He rolled back out of the bed and immediately started putting his uniform on, cussing and grumbling all the while. Once he was dressed he ran to the common room to meet the others.

"Man, that was one hell of a storm last night, huh?" said Cyborg.

"You're telling me," said Beast Boy tiredly.

"Where's the trouble this time?" asked Bumblebee. "Whoever's causing it I'm gonna kill for waking us up so early."

"It's Control Freak," said Nightwing. "He's raiding the grocery store this time."

"What is he doing up this early?" asked Starfire.

"He probably never went to bed," said Cyborg. "Alright, y'all, let's get this over with."

"Who wants to wake Raven up?" asked Bumblebee.

"I'll do it," Beast Boy sighed. "You guys go, I'll catch up."

"Alright, don't take too long," said Nightwing.

"Like you guys won't be able to take down Control Freak without me," Beast Boy scoffed and ran out of the common room to go to Ravens room yet again. He finally made it to Ravens room and opened her door. "Raven," he said loudly to wake her up.

"What?" she groaned.

"We've got a mission," said Beast Boy. "You gotta watch the kids, and just so you know the twins are crying."

She sighed and sat up. "Alright, I'm on it," she said, sliding out of her bed. "Good luck on the mission."

"Thanks, see ya later," said Beast Boy and he turned to leave. He took barely three steps when he heard a thud from her room. He turned around and looked back inside to find Raven on the floor. "Raven!" He ran to her and, first off, made sure she was alive before he went into hysterics. He saw her breathing and was relieved. She'd only fainted. Not that that was much better.

He scooped her up and put her back on the bed. "Raven?" he said. "Come on, wake up."

She began to moan and that meant she was coming back into consciousness. Her eyes finally fluttered open and she looked around. She looked up and saw Beast Boy looming over her. "Beast Boy?"

"Thank God," he said. "Are you okay?"

"I… I think so," she said, unsurely. "What happened? Did I faint?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "You stay put." He grabbed his communicator and flipped it open, dialing Nightwing. "Hey, NW?"

"Beast Boy, where are you?" asked Nightwing.

"I'm still at the tower," said Beast Boy. "Raven fainted."

"Is she okay?" he asked, alarmed.

"She was only out for like a minute," said Beast Boy. "She's awake now. Listen, I'm gonna stay with her. You guys should be fine."

"Alright, we'll be back as soon as we can," said Nightwing. "Take care of her."

"Trust me, I will," he said. He closed his communicator and went back over to her. She was attempting to sit up, but he wasn't going to allow it. "No, no, no, you're not getting up."

"But the twins are crying," said Raven, feeling dizzy again.

"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of them," said Beast Boy. "You just stay put."

Raven sighed and decided to stop resisting. She hated it when she fainted. She always felt weaker afterwards. She could still hear the two little boys crying and she wished she could go to them and comfort them. She wanted to help out, not be a burden, which was how she felt now. She really wasn't sure how they could put up with her; she knew she was horribly high maintenance.