Finally! A long chapter to make up the last one. I apologize in advance for any mistakes you might find, feel free to point them out nicely. Sometimes I don't find them until days after I've posted a chapter. Enjoy and be excited because this is my longest chapter to date!

Chapter 11: Stirrings

When the news had finally reached the rest of the team, a meeting was called. And in less than a minute they were situated in the average sized computer room with Robin standing by the screen. It was already lit up with the picture Cyborg had found. Starfire and Beastboy took their seats on the half burnt couch from the common room that Cyborg was able to salvage. That, and a few other living room items took up the rest of the space.

"So...you're saying the Justice League might have something to do with the H.I.V.E.?" Beastboy summarized.

"It's a possibility." The team leader replied.

"And have something to do with Raven?"

"But this does not make sense." Starfire spoke up. "Is not the League of Justice suppose to be good?"

Cyborg took a step forward to settle on the other side of the desk. "Look guys, we don't really know what's going on here and we don't have enough evidence to pinpoint a suspect yet besides the H.I.V.E. and Slade. Judging by this," he waved his hand in front of the picture, "they are not working alone."

Robin immediately spoke next. "But we can't ignore the fact that our enemies' weapons are, according to this picture, being handled by the Justice League. That, or someone has stolen one of their cargo ships."

"Wait wait wait wait wait." Beastboy interrupted holding both his hands up. "Are you saying that someone could be stealing from the League? The League? Isn't that like totally impossible?"

Raven, who had been quietly leaning against the wall rolled her eyes and answered, "Yes Beastboy, it is possible. They may be the most elite force on this planet but they are not perfect."

Robin raised an eyebrow, wondering if she meant the members or their systems, or perhaps both. But he didn't question it.

"The other possibilty is that someone is using their ships secretly." Cyborg added. "But knowing how complex their security systems are, something like this would not go unnoticed."

"But, what does this have to do with Raven? And what about Myra?" Asked the changeling. Raven looked at him in surprise. She had almost forgotten about her! From the mirror expression donning Robin's face, he'd done the same thing. Her part in this was just as equally important. Myra was still a mystery to be solved. Raven gazed upward to the ceiling, finally noticing the sensation of being slightly pulled towards it. Then she knew where the little girl was, unbeknownst how, but she knew. Raven's face contorted into confusion. 'Why didn't I notice that before?'

"Well," the leader started, looking admittedly confused and placed a hand under his chin, "I'm not really sure, Beastboy. But what we do know is that the H.I.V.E. is working for Slade and using a weapons supplier that could possibly be the Justice League or a criminal we've never faced before. Either way, Raven is their primary target and Myra is much too involved."

Starfire turned her head from side to side looking around the room. "And where is friend Myra?"

"The roof."

Raven blinked. Her voice wasn't the only one that had spoken. Looking across the room she locked surprising eyes with Robin who had his mouth slightly open. 'H-how did he...'

"JINX!" Beastboy suddenly jumped up and shouted. "Now neither of you can talk until I say your name three times!" Placing both hands on his hips he smirked in victory. "Hmm... waven, haven, saven, craven... lobin, wobin, shrobin-"

One of the couch pillows collided with the changeling's face. "Knock it off!"

Beastboy flew back, scraping across the floor into the wall. "Ow... really... hurts..." He weakly groaned.

Raven raised an eyebrow in slight amusement. "Good one, Cy." Said person gave her the thumbs up and a triumphant smile. Some boys never grew up. During this little scene, Robin had removed himself from the front and went to stand by the empath. Crossing his arms he said, "He's lucky it wasn't me. A pillow wouldn't do nearly enough damage as a chair."

Raven tilted her head to view the leader, and he flashed her a smirk. It was just one small movement. A movement that should've been waved off, but something about it caused an unnatural reaction in the girl, that she forgot the loss of her powers and suddenly feared an explosion of some kind. But instead of feeling the tower shake, she could only feel heat rise to her cheeks. Raven realized her chest had constricted and her heart was beating off the charts. From a single look? From him? A sickness must've come over her to be experiencing these sudden and fearful symptoms. Something quick and something viral.

The dark teammate struggled to maintain emotional control. Her astute mind picked and pulled apart every possible meaning of the new sensations running rampant through her veins. Ever since the loss of her powers, it seemed everything was off. Or could it be that everything reset to a human's standard of normal? Was this normal? Raven argued against herself, attempting to deny that these similar feelings presented themselves long before the incident.

She shifted her weight nervously and felt something tickling her hand. When she looked down her eyes met purple. Too many things had been consuming her mind that she'd almost forgotten about her new lengthy hair. No one had said anything still and she appreciated it. This time, though, she wasn't so keen on cutting it just yet. There were more important things to be dealt with.

Robin sighed next to her and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Meeting is over. Cy, the t.v. is yours."

Upon hearing those words the half robot ceased his bickering with Beastboy and grinned evilly and snatched the game controller before his friend could get to it. The room had now become the unofficial common room and luckily they possessed an extra t.v. which unfortunately was about 1/10th the size of the original one. The games were of no issue, since Cyborg kept them all in his bedroom, which for the others was a bit of a dissapointment. Not even an attack on the tower cost them their precious games and devices that were the cause of pretty much every argument between the two boys. Life was unfair.

"Friends!" Starfire exclamined dancing over towards Robin and Raven. How she always managed to stay high-spirited was quite beyond them. "Would you like to join me in the shopping of the mall? It is but a sunny day and I feel the gloom of what has been happening. Would it not be right to go out and, as they say, de-stress?"

Raven gave the exotic alien an 'are-you-serious' look. Starfire noticed the lost cause and solely turned towards Robin. "Robin? Would you like to join me? Perhaps we can go on... the date?" She pressed a finger to her cheek and looked away embarrassed.

A date? "Um... well, Star..." The Boy Wonder's hesitation drew Raven's attention as she curiously watched his facial expressions out of the corner of her eyes. Something stirred in the pit of her stomach, something she was unaccustomed to.

Starfire then seemed to banish her embarrassment and leaned forward eagerly, waiting for his reply.

'Way to put me on the spot, Star.' He thought a little bitterly. And then he mentally slapped himself, remembering that the green-eyed girl believed they were a couple. The Tokyo trip wasn't that long ago, but up until their dramatic kiss, their relationship hadn't gone much further than that. Being busy with their duties and now the new turn of events kind of held off on any kind of growing the two needed in order to become a full-fledged couple. At least, that was how Robin saw it. But he couldn't ignore her advances.

"Alright Star. But we'll have to wait until later tonight-"

"Oh glorious!" She shrieked in delight and clasped her hands together. Raven felt her stomach drop but showed no outward sign of her new inner turmoil. She began to feel angry with herself for the lack of control and the inability to switch off her emotions.

"I shall prepare immediately!" Starfire announced and flew out of the room, purely floating on cloud nine. Yet, Robin felt a disturbing pinch in his side, something he wasn't expecting but at the same time wasn't fully surprised with. He'd done it now... the phrase 'pity date' seemed a bit too harsh. Someone else was currently filling his mind.

"Dude! You can't do that! That's cheating!" Beastboy suddenly yelled over the noisy game.

"Oh yes i can! And I just did!" Came Cyborg's arrogant comeback.

'And that's my cue to leave.' Raven pushed off from the wall and headed out the door but then remembered something and turned back towards the spikey haired boy.

"Robin... yesterday you mentioned finding a disc, but that didn't come up in the meeting."

Robin looked up when she spoke and stared at the dark girl, suddenly overcome by a mixture of feelings. Her amethyst eyes took on a soft business-like look, and the almighty leader found himself transfixed.

"Robin." She repeated, which finally pulled him back.

"The disc? Ah..." The boy put a hand on the back of his head in slight embarrassment. "Actually... I haven't been able to locate it."

Raven blinked unprepared for an answer like that from her prestigious leader. "You lost it?" Robin never lost anything!

"I was sure I had put it in the top drawer, but when I went to retrieve it, it was gone. And I haven't found it since."

Odd. Extremely odd. No one would've taken it without notifying him, but Robin is not the irresponsible kind no matter how hectic things became. Perhaps things were finally catching up with him.

"We'll find it Raven, don't worry." He reassuringly smiled. Raven nodded and swiftly left. She walked through the halls clutching her chest, confusion and frustration creasing her face because inside something was terribly wrong. That smile...

'What is wrong with me? Why do I get like this when he's around... I don't understand...'

A few moments passed and Raven stopped herself at the rooftop entry way. At the warmth of the sun at high noon the girl relaxed to take the elements in, temporarily forgetting previous things. Titan Tower surely boasted the best views of Jump City and the blue-gray ocean reaching past the horizon. It was hard to believe that almost a year ago, all of this was nearly lost. Sometimes, the scenes that burned still freshly in her mind would flash before her eyes, that would release a fear of another possible apocolypse. But it couldn't happen again... No, her destiny had been fulfilled and she was no longer bound to her terrible father. Or... were the chains just weakened? No matter, if the skies dared to turn red again, Raven knew this time she'd stand alongside her teammates through it all.

As her legs carried her to the edge of the roof, a small movement caught the corner of her eye. Myra was sitting cross-legged a few yards away and when they both noticed each other, the tiny girl smiled.

"Would you like to join me, Raven?" Raven quietly accept the invitation and settled down next to her, also mimicking her position.

"And what is it that you're doing?" Raven asked a little playfully.

"A few things. Meditating, thinking, dreaming... I find I think best when I'm up here."

Raven still held some bewilderment at the child's advanced maturity.

"Do you come here often?" Myra asked.

"Often enough."

"Always by yourself?"

"No..." Raven's mind darted throught the memories of all the sunrises and sundows she shared with the Boy Wonder.

"I like it up here. Isn't it beautiful?" Myra held out her hand gesturing to the ocean. "You are so lucky you get to live here. I wish... I had a home." She tucked her legs to her chin somberly.

"You have a home. With us."

"But Raven, I can't stay here forever."

"Maybe you can."

Myra's head shot up with hope filled eyes.

"Is... that possible? Do you really think Robin would allow it?" Raven threw her a confused look. "I don't see why not."

Myra's heart stood on the edge of something. Hope for a future with the Titans, which she dared to get excited about, and an unwilling duty to a criminal backed with a terrible threat. How much could an eight year old handle? What kind of person would place such a heavy burden on someone so small? Myra sure felt small at this moment, becoming ridden with guilt. And Raven sensed it.

"There's more you want to say." She stated.

"I...am..." Myra hesitated until it seemed an idea struck her. "I am just stressed about everything, and I'm always worried he will come back..." 'Well... that is mostly truth... but she seems to always see right through me... and I don't want to lie anymore...'

"Raven? Have you ever been torn trying to make a decision?" Raven remained quiet, understanding it wasn't meant to be answered. "My past is all I ever think about. I feel that it holds the key to everything that's going on, but I can't even remember what letter my real name starts with. It's... really frustrating. I could be missing out on something really important. I could be missing out on my own family, my own life. But i'm here with you and the rest of the Titans. And you've all made me feel like part of a family... and for some reason I feel a bond with you. It's strange I know, but don't ask me why because I honestly couldn't tell you. But it isn't just with you. Ever since I met Robin he's been almost like a big brother to me or maybe like a father I'm not really sure. And he genuinly cares about me and accepted me no questions asked. I don't know what it is, but something about being around you two, just makes me feel so... at home. So right."

Raven pondered over her words feeling a little uneasy.

"You all have done so much for me and yet... I..." Myra gripped her knees and squeezed her eyes shut. "Oh Raven, I'm such a terrible person! I really... I... I'm awful!"

Tears began to roll down the little girl's face much to Raven's surprise. What could this child have possibly done to think she was so awful?

"You're not awful, Myra." She tried to console.

"But I am..." Myra whispered. If it were any other circumstance than this, Raven would have hesitated to calm someone down. She just didn't do sentimental. However, the feeling rising inside of her lacked anything but a motherly instinct and she couldn't keep it down.

Raven turned her body to fully face the crying girl.

"Listen Myra, you are not awful. The moment you begin to believe that, you begin to lose yourself. Trust me, I know."

Myra lifted her head to stare wide-eyed at the sorceress who held a serious but soft expression.

"Wow... you both really are close." She said in slight awe, remember that Robin had said almost those exact words. Raven had an obvious question mark over her head.

"Who?"

Myra answered with another question, "You like him a lot don't you?" 'What in the world is she talking about?' Raven thought with a hint of frustration.

"Who is 'him'?"

"Robin, of course!" Myra waved her hand in the air with impatience as if her friend should've known who she was pertaining to. The twist in Raven's stomach tightened as the leader once again flooded her mind. And she'd just stopped thinking about him too! Her thoughts produced an image of him and Starfire out on a date, and that new fiery sensation lit up again.

"In case you haven't noticed, my emotions can be dangerous. I can't afford to feel anything."

"But Raven you're powers are gone." Myra countered. "And you're wrong. You can afford to feel love."

'What?'

"Love?" Raven barely choked out, completely taken aback.

"I see the way you two act around each other. I don't know how many times i've caught you both staring. You can't at least deny that you have special feelings for him, Raven." Myra said with a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. Raven remained quiet, unsure how to respond. Her emotions seemed to be rioting against her again and it was a struggled to maintain them.

"I thought we were meditating." Came her only monotone reply. Myra chuckled and settled back into the lotus position, mimicking the dark teen.

"Just one more thing." She started, her eyes still shut. "With your powers gone, does that not mean you can experience a normal life? If it were me, I'd take this chance, no matter how long it will last, and live everyday to the fullest. I wouldn't hold back. So you shouldn't either."

Once again, the eight year old managed to silence the female Teen Titan. Raven didn't have anything to add or counter to that suggestion. After several minutes had gone by, she was finding it increasingly harder to remain still. Finally, with a soft exasperated sigh, she got up.

"I'm going to my room to read." She explained already walking away. Myra turned to watch her leave, a sad smile appearing on her face.

'Love? For Robin? Is she delusional?' Raven trudged slowly to her room. 'Even if I am without my powers, I don't think I can do it.'

The door slide opened to reveal a dark room. 'She said she noticed his behavior around me... but that couldn't... even if he did...' Raven collapsed onto her big bed and stared up into the gray ceiling. "It's impossible." She said outloud.

'"I am your truest emotion in the most truest form. I am what you have always wanted to be! Oh Raven... I am Love."'

Raven turn on her side and stared dejectedly at the wall. "He would never love someone like... me."

'"Love. You were meant to feel it Raven."'

"Stop it!" She threw her hands over her ears. These stupid notions, these unrealistic possibilites had to be shut down immediately before someone got hurt... but damage had already been done. So the small empath hugged herself, disheartened and only more confused.

Across the tower, someone paced. Robin had been feeling guilty from the moment he agreed to a date with Starfire. Unsure why his emotions were in a tangle over this, he could only assume stress from previous events were the cause. Yet, on a deeper level the Boy Wonder knew better. But since when did he begin to notice his dark quiet friend? Not that he hadn't before, because he had noticed her on a friendly level. Only on a friendly level. Never did he imagine his heart would take him further.

"Maybe I should talk to her." Robin made for the door but stopped suddenly with his hand only inches from the doorknob. 'And what would I say? How can I tell someone about my feelings if I can't even understand them?'

He retreated and slumped down on the edge of his bed. 'What is going on with me? I have to get it together.'

Seconds later there was a shift in the atmosphere. Robin froze and began to feel a pulling sensation much like the last one. Instead of it feeling sour and angry from the previous time, the air felt somber almost depressing. There was a hint of frustration too. 'Raven...?'

A part of him strongly desired to run and console her from whatever was making her sad. That will to protect her from any kind of harm had never been stronger, but then... did that mean something? He'd always wanted to protect his friends and keep them happy and yet, ever since Raven's near death, that feeling increased dramatically. And for her alone. They had a bond. And now it was running deeper than ever.

Then there's Myra. The little eight year old girl who looked remarkably like his precious teammate. The moment he locked eyes with her, he was sold. He knew that no matter what, he had to protect her. It was an instant connection that had him partaking in a role almost parallel to a parent's. But something stranger was happening... not only did he feel a bond with the child, but at times he swears he can sense her... Of course it sounded ridiculous! On several occasions it happened, but Robin mistook it for just being overly worried. Well, shouldn't he be sensing the others then? Why did it only involve those two? Too many questions, too many scenarios, too many emotions colliding that it made his head spin.

Against his natural instinct, Robin remained in his room and dragged himself to the window. He'd do anything to keep them safe. Never again will he allow any of them to be hurt. Never again will he allow Raven to fall into the hands of the enemy. Never again will he see her suffer.

With the decision to stay put proving harder to commit to, he found himself gripping the windowsill.

"Raven...I wish I knew what was bothering you..."

Review! Give me your insights on what you think is going to happen, and what you think should happen. I have my story line but suggestions can sometimes make it better. Thank you!