A/N: Hello readers, I know I've been a very bad writer this whole time, and I'm very bad at updating content. My muse has been fighting with me for a very long time and I'm trying (hoping) to start on the fanfics that I am behind on and it still has been a struggle to produce anything. But, nonetheless, I'm still trying. I want to thank everyone who has been reading, and specifically Mooncutie11 who has been reading since the beginning and comments on every chapter they read. I am hoping to make my content more consistent.

As well, I am looking for a Beta Reader, so if there is anyone interested in becoming the beta reader for this story please contact me.

Enjoy the story~

Chapter 11

If there was one thing Titans East did with their visit it was certainly making sure that it was no longer somber and silent. Silent would, in fact, be the last word that Raven would use to describe the Titan Tower that first morning. She had become so accustomed to easing into the day for so long that it sent her out of her comfort zone to walk into the living room and already see Aqualad and Speedy talking animatedly over on the couch. Bumblebee was in the kitchen, gracelessly moving pots and pans around as she made breakfast, it rivaled the banging that Cyborg made - and he was part metal himself. The liveliness of it all was what stopped her from being annoyed. They had brought life back into the tower, and Raven found that she greatly appreciated that, even if it meant straying from her usual routine.

Once he saw her, Aqualad motioned her over to join the two on the couch. She stood next to them, leaning on the back of the couch between him and Speedy. The redhead turned to her with his cool smile, far more usual than the wide grin he had given her yesterday. She was used to people smiling at her and never really having to feel like she had to offer one herself, so it surprised her when the ghost of a smirk pulled one corner of her mouth upward. She could tell the glimpse of a smile towards him made him cocky. Showing any attention to Speedy was proving to inflate his ego. Aqualad glowered at Speedy, and, while Raven could sense the tension he was throwing at his teammate, the redhead seemed unphased. Normally, Raven would want to know why, but she felt like she needed a calmer start to the day than figuring out their issues.

"What are all of you doing up so early?" Raven asked. She felt her body tingle with annoyance and the loss of her quiet morning, but the chance to have company again was keeping her emotions balanced enough to be controlled. Titans West was far more slow to start in the mornings and Raven liked that, so she knew immediately that if this is how Titans East was she is going to have to adjust and fast.

"We are all still kind of adjusting to the time zone change, I think," Speedy said, "but I'm sure you're more than happy to be able to see my face first thing in the morning." Raven returned his flaunt with a hefty eyeroll, but she did notice the tension from Aqualad spike in response to his comment. For a moment it made her even more curious but she couldn't stop the smirk that rose when she realized that Speedy was probably just trying to get a rouse out of his teammate like always.

"How many injuries would I be risking if I tried to get into that kitchen right now to make some tea?" Raven asked, trying to be hopeful as she peeked over at Bumblebee who was flitting around the small kitchen. Aqualad's face scrunched up and Speedy barked out a laugh, that told her all she needed to know. Forgetting her hopes to get a cup in, Raven simply shrugged. "Well, then I'm going to skip the cup, for now, it's too early for me to risk it." With that, she left Titans West to their own devices and went to the roof.

It was just 7 a.m. now and Raven settled into position, the sun had just reached over the buildings of Jump and it really was a lovely sight. Thankfully, no matter how much noise anyone makes inside the tower, the only noise that would reach her would be an alarm if they were needed. In her meditation, Raven tried her best to think carefully about all her problems, being calm while thinkings things through was key in solving them, after all. The first was that the email she had sent out has not returned, so it must be back to the drawing board for that situation. Thankfully, Raven is nothing if not prepared, so she thought about her options; there was the reckless kind, such as traveling far just to cause enough trouble to draw attention, and then there was the quiet way, which was to contact the commissioner. Perhaps, that would be the best way to go, though she kept the former in mind as a last resort.

But then her mind wandered to her conversation with Beast Boy the other day, the thought that maybe she should start thinking about what she should do after. The only thing she thought she might be able to do is simply move to another city that would need her help, it sounded disheartening to think that it was the only option for her, and the thought that she would have to do it without her friends made it feel even more lonesome. Maybe staying on the east coast would be best for her, unlike Beast Boy. She liked the idea of staying in the more populated areas because of the familiarity. She was just trying to be realistic with herself at least, and the reality was those were the only things she thought possible for herself.

Then the smell of Earl Grey wafted over to her making her open her eyes for the first time in a half hour. When she looked beside her she saw Speedy standing there with two mugs in his hands, though his eyes were masked like always the way she felt the enveloping warmth of his emotions. The intensity of it surprised her.

"I thought I would brave it for you, so make sure to give a reward to your white knight," Speedy said, always full of snark.

As usual, Raven rolled her eyes at him, but this time she gave him a smile as she took the mug from him. She thought after bringing it to her he would head back down as the others do, but instead, he sat on the blacktop next to her and started drinking his own tea.

"I knew it would be a rough day if you had to go without your tea in the morning - this is your coffee equivalent after all," Speedy said as he got comfortable, leaning back and using his hands to prop him up like a lawn chair. "How long do you normally meditate for?"

"Normally about an hour, recently 90 minutes because of everything going on. Needed longer to get my head together," Raven admitted looking forward. "I'm also far more used to quieter mornings with fewer people," she peeked at him as she gave the hint.

"Rae, you're not getting rid of me that easily," he said laughing, it was a hearty laugh, too, like she had told a joke that they should both be laughing at. Not used to so many words, Raven let him fill the conversation. He was telling her all about Cyborg's reaction to Bumblebee's mess and how odd it was for him to wake up on the East Coast. He went on rants about his motorcycle and how he wanted to make sure he made Cyborg jealous with how it runs and how he should make sure that he trains today. Raven found that, while he was talking much more than she would normally like for the start of her day, his presence was actually quite welcomed after feeling lonely the past few weeks.

"I was surprised to hear that this little gathering was your doing, Rae." She looked at him but he didn't turn to let her see his face. Instead, she watched his profile, feeling the warmth and uncertainty radiating off of him. "I wonder though, who is it for? Are you really going through all this for everyone? Or just Wonder Boy." The last bit was clipped, and she could feel that this was indeed where his uncertainty was, feel it spike just as he said it.

Raven didn't really want to say, instead, she just changed the subject. "It's so strange," she said, pausing for a moment. "Do you know I can feel your emotions more than most? Like it envelopes me rather than brushing me."

"Is that really that weird?" he asked, letting her lead their conversation away. "Aren't you able to do that with the other titans too?"

Raven shook her head, "No, only with Robin, because we were in each other's minds before. Everyone else feels nothing like this."

"Well," Speedy said, looking at her finally, "I think it is because we are good friends, and I want you to feel my emotions. I want to be an open book with you, so being so open might cause it to feel that way." He gave her a big grin and in fact, it made her smile as well, she found she rather liked that explanation. "With that being said, though, that means I am not her for Wonder Boy, Rae. You may want to take care of him, make sure he is okay, maybe make sure the rest of us are too… But," he got up as he finished, "I am here to make sure you are okay." With that Speedy gave her a sincere smile and headed back inside.

Raven sat there just a few minutes more, unsure of what that entire moment had meant.

After a large mess and quite a bit of coercing, the Titans are back in Jump for a night on the town. This time Robin didn't feel like arguing and gave in to the plans. Beast Boy was his usual self, cheering on everyone to hurry into the garage, Raven even saw Aqualad shake his head at the green boy's antics. Robin didn't even bother with the thought of joining everyone in the T-car, heading straight for his R-cycle. Even though he was coming with them Robin was sticking to his monosyllable responses and mostly ignoring everyone, it frustrated everyone but they were at least pleased that they were able to get him out of the room. Raven felt the cold shoulder even more than everyone else. He had already slung himself onto the bike by the time the others started piling into the car.

"Hey Rae, are you riding with Red?" Cyborg called over his shoulder as he gets into the driver's seat. Raven looked at everyone piled into the car, her face scrunched up with the thought of being squeezed in the back seat with three other titans. She thought for just a moment what it would be like to ride with Robin the way she had with Speedy and when she looked at him she found the whites of his mask looking right at her. It was the first time she felt a different emotion from him in days; surprise.

"If Speedy doesn't mind…" Raven replied, dropping the ridiculous thought she had. She heard Speedy give a satisfied laugh.

"I told you she liked it! You owe me five bucks, Cyborg!" Speedy said, getting far too much pleasure from being right. It almost made Raven reconsider. Nonetheless, Raven walked past a surprised Robin to Speedy's motorcycle. "Do you remember how to get on, Rae, or should I teach you again?" This time Raven knew he was trying to show off because he looked up at Robin with an arrogant smirk.

"Don't make me kick you while I'm getting on Speedy," Raven said, hoping it would make him stop gloating. Thankfully, it did, because he was far too invested in making sure what he was gloating over would actually happen. Getting on the bike, the redhead looked at her with the affirmation that it was her turn. Raven quickly got on the back of his back and put her hands on his shoulders to hold on. Cyborg, as usual in his brotherly way, not going to let Speedy enjoy it for longer than he needed to and honked until they hurried up and headed out the tower.

This ride felt just a bit more interesting, this time they were practically racing with Robin who kept looking over at them, making sure that he was beside them as much as he could. They were speeding down the tower's highway into the city, nothing beside them besides Robin, the wind and sun on her face.

"Rae! Rae! Spread your arms out!"

"Are you crazy, Speedy?" Raven yelled at him over the wind.

"Just do it!"

She gave in, trusting enough. With her arms out, the wind going under her arms, her cape blowing behind her, facing the glittering skyline. She felt light, like a feather being blown in the wind. She didn't have to control anything, she could just move and witness the world fly by her instead. She felt it in her stomach first, rising up, glowing. And then Raven was laughing with a smile breaking over her face, her eyes closed as though this were all a dream - it felt like a dream.

She couldn't see the awestruck surprise from Robin, she couldn't see the splendor spread across Speedy's face, nor could she hear the other titans gasp at her actions from the car. For one single moment, she even let herself feel her own radiant joy instead of the emotions of everyone around them. This was a moment she never would have been able to have a year ago - but with everything looming closer she wanted to retain that bliss just a little longer. As it passes, as she settled back into the day, back into herself, and the city gets closer, Raven puts down her arms. As she did she felt Speedy reach across his body and pat her side right behind him. She gave him her hand and he pulled it around him. Shaking her head she smiled, Raven wrapped her other arm around him as they crossed into Jump.

This is why she wanted them to all be together. For moments to happen just like this. With sun and laughter and her friends around her. She turned to look at Robin who was still keeping up, giving him a sight at the rare wide-toothed grin on her face.