"So… exactly how does this meditating thing work?" Avery asked, shifting to a more comfortable position. She realized she didn't like sitting Indian style all that much, but that's how Raven was sitting so she thought it was best to just mimic her. Raven, who sat about two feet away facing her, looked much more comfortable and natural in the pose. Surprisingly, so did Starfire, who also sat across from her, next to Raven. Perhaps they were more comfortable because they were floating half a foot in the air.

How do they have the energy to do this so early in the morning?

Starfire had practically dragged Avery off the couch at the break of dawn to bring her up on the roof to meditate.

"Meditation can help clear the mind, and with a clear mind the barriers in your head may open and then you may explore your memories!" She had explained.

"You just need to relax," said Raven, "but before we do that, let's go over what you've remembered."

"I don't like water, and I can dance," Avery replied bluntly. "Honestly, there isn't much else to it."

"That's not true," Raven countered.

"Huh?"

"You're pretty persistent."

"We watched you stretching last night," Star added a beat after her. Avery blushed a bit, suddenly really self conscious. She hadn't noticed anyone watching her. "You are very dedicated."

"You also don't like silence," Raven added, and they alternated.

"You can recognize the words from television programs, like the square shaped Porifera."

"You mean Spongebob Squarepants?" Avery asked.

"You enjoy music," Raven continued.

"You like the chocolate cracker pancakes for the morning meal."

"She means chocolate chip."

"And you don't seem to like mornings…"

"No duh," Avery yawned while rubbing her eye. "Wow, I guess my subconscious leaked more than I thought."

"It'll do that now and then," said Raven. "Okay, time to concentrate. The key to meditating is total relaxation. You have to just let your entire self be free, and clear your mind. It should be quiet enough up here to-"

"YOOOOO IS ANYODY UP HERE?"

A shriek escaped Avery's mouth and she nearly fell backwards. Raven and Starfire had dropped to the ground in surprise and they grimaced in pain.

"Well, if I wasn't awake before I certainly am now," Avery blinked, her heart slowing back down to normal speed.

"What do you want, Speedy? We're meditating," Raven growled, standing up and brushing herself off as said interrupting archer strolled forward, barely containing a chuckle.

"Yeah, I'm trying to clear my mind here," Avery stood up as well, her annoyance with the ginger increasing rapidly.

"Oh, I'm sure that's not very hard to do," he snickered.

And the annoyance grows stronger…

"Is something the matter, Speedy?" Starfire asked. If she was annoyed with him, like both Raven and Avery were, she was really good at concealing it.

"Yeah, Cyborg's calling a meeting."

"Cyborg?" Raven propped an eyebrow. "Usually Robin calls the meetings."

"Yeah, well Cy supposedly found a lead on the guy we're after, so he wants everybody down there." He shrugged.

Raven and Starfire shared a look, then nodded and headed for the roof access door. Avery followed after them, but was stopped by Speedy's hand blocking her way.

"This is strictly Titans business, Blondie. It's probably best if you don't get in the way."

Get in the way? "I realize that, Ginger, but I wasn't planning on staying on the roof."

"Maybe you should, just in case," Avery's jaw dropped at his suggestion. In her peripheral vision she saw Raven literally come up through the floor behind Speedy and smack him across the head.

"C'mon you two," she nodded towards the door and they both followed after her. Speedy complained saying how that was uncalled for and how he was only kidding, and Avery rolled her eyes and smacked him on the head in the same fashion.

He whirled around to face her. "Ow! What was that for?"

"Just a little reminder that I don't mess around," she narrowed her eyes in warning. He snorted and continued back into the Tower.

Avery stayed out of the meeting anyway. All the Titans had gathered in the monitor room. She decided to stay in the common room, flipping through TV channels sprawled across the middle of the couch.

Was Speedy right? Did she really get in the way like he said? Was her presence in general a distraction and a bother? No, that's ridiculous. They're helping me. They gave me a home while I figure all this junk out. Plus, I'm their friend…

Maybe Avery had to face facts: she wasn't a Titan. She wasn't one of them. The amnesiac couldn't get involved in things like meetings. She just didn't belong. The fact that I'm not a Titan doesn't mean I don't belong. The only one who seems to have a problem with me is Speedy. And what do I care? Who cares what Speedy thinks of me?

She was probably better off staying at a foster home. A hero's headquarters isn't a motel. Look at what that arrogant, self-centered archer's done to me! He's planted these ridiculous notions in my head just to freak me out. The Titans are my friends. They're going to help me figure out who I am and get me back home.

She sighed, turning the TV off and standing up. She circled to the back of the couch, and bent backwards until her hands hit the floor and she was in a bridge. Her stomach stretched, and she felt her muscles loosen. I just need to relax. Breathe in, and out. Forget what Speedy said. Forget Speedy in general… She raised her heals into releve, her claves tightening as her foot arched.

No. Don't forget Speedy. Keep what he said in mind, just shove it to the very back of the mind. You've done enough forgetting lately. You can't really afford to forget anything else. She tried kicking her feet over, but her arms gave out and she collapsed on the ground, a pain running through her shoulder as it collided with the floor. She sat up, ignoring the pain, and raised her arms above her head, arching her back. If I forget anything else, I think I'd lose my mind completely.

Out of boredom she slid into her straddle split, resting her elbows on the ground in front of her to be comfortable, her rear against the couch. Her bare feet stretched and pointed automatically, helping her push forward. She inched herself a little further, so that her stomach was just barely on the ground. She had sat like this, watching television, for a half hour that morning after she finished all of her stretches. Hmm, this is more calming than the meditation position.

Avery hummed to herself, playing with the hem on the sleeve of her new shirt. It was one of those loose ones that ended just below her belly button, faded baby blue with some weird abstract navy design. That with a navy sports bra underneath and a pair of stretchy material skinny jeans, she was content. They were regular street clothes that she could be flexible in. But she had bought so many clothes. She had figured out a way to organize all of them into only four bags. She kept them under the table in front of the sofa in the Titan's common room. I should return some of that stuff, and buy more dance clothes. It's not like I really have anywhere to wear all that fancy stuff to.

"Hey, Avery! We're going- Whoooooaaaaaa," Beast Boy came running in through the door, halting in front of her. "Uh, are we interrupting something?" Starfire and Speedy came trailing behind him.

"Ouch, I'm in pain just watching you sit like that, Blondie," Speedy commented, making a pained face, his arms crossed in front of his chest in a reserved way as usual.

Avery pulled through her split so that she was on her stomach, and tucked her toes, pushing herself up into a downward dog position, and walked her hands into her feet until she could balance and stand upright. "It's not that painful, Ginger. Actually it's pretty relaxing."

"In what universe could that be relaxing?" He retorted. "And stop calling me Ginger."

"I'll stop calling you Ginger when you stop calling me Blondie," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest, mirroring him.

"Then I believe we've reached an impasse."

"Please, stop arguing!" Starfire pleaded.

"It's okay, Star," Avery assured her friend, giving her a warm smile that didn't completely convince the alien. "We're not arguing. He just can't take pride in his hair color."

"What? You're such a hypocri-"

"Oh, glorious!" Star interrupted Speedy before he could start ranting. "There will be no fighting amongst one another today!"

"Right…" Somehow Avery wasn't so sure her and Speedy were on "no fighting" grounds just yet. "So what's up? Did you guys track the villain you're after?"

"Oh! Uhh-" Star started, kind of flustered.

"It was a false alarm," Beast Boy answered for her. "So we're using the time to gorge ourselves with pizza!"

"Yes!" Starfire agreed joyously. "We shall gorge until we can gorge no more!"

"Can we please stop saying 'gorge?'" Speedy asked at the same time Avery said, "The four of us?"

They ignored Speedy, and paid their attention to Avery instead. "Yeah," said Beast Boy. "Everyone else is busy, so it's just us."

"Oh, okay then," Avery said uncertainly, hopping over the couch and grabbing her high top sneakers from under the table. She had liked the ones she borrowed from Bumblebee, so she bought a pair for herself in a different style. Stepping into them, she smiled tentatively and said, "Let's go-"

Before she could even get the words out, Starfire took her arm and pulled her to the door, squealing anxiously and rambling about how much fun they'll have and how she'll introduce Avery to the wonders of mustard.

They went rather quickly down the stairways, and when they finally hit the warm fresh air and sunlight, Avery suddenly thought of the T-car. "Hey, how are we getting there? The T-car is in the garage, isn't it?"

"You think Cy would trust us with his car?" Speedy snickered.

"Then how-" She didn't get to finish. Beast Boy morphed into a giant pterodactyl and lifted into the air, grabbing Avery by her shoulders with his feet, his talons hooking under her arms.

She screamed, her stomach doing somersaults as she was hurled into the air and over the bay. She could feel the mist from the water hit her skin. Suddenly Beast Boy's grasp on her didn't feel tight enough. She imagined herself plummeting down and hitting the water hard, that cold, horrific pressure encasing her. She screamed louder.

"Will you stop screaming? Just relax!" Speedy yelled. Starfire was carrying him in a similar way that Beast Boy was carrying her.

"Easy for you to say! How many times have you done this?" She yelled over the wind.

"I'm not sure how the Titans East travels, but we traveled this way numerous times before Cyborg built his T-car," Starfire jumped in.

"Really? So, wait, how did you get off the island? There's seriously no way? Except for flying or levitating cars?" She thought back to when she rode shotgun on their way to the police station, how she looked out the window and suddenly they were floating above the water in the car.

"No, there is. But this is much faster," said Speedy.

There was a pause of silence, no sound but the wind hurling in her ears, then a short but loud gasp escaped her mouth when Beast Boy banked a bit too low.

"Oh, stop worrying, you're perfectly safe," Speedy called.

Avery ignored him, looking up at Beast Boy's elongated face, hidden by his beak. "Beast Boy, whatever you do, don't drop me!" He cawed in response, a piercing sound that hurt her eardrums.

"He said, 'No shit,'" Speedy teased.

"You do not speak pterodactyl!" She snapped.

In no time, though much longer than Avery would've liked, they were passed the water and nearing the Titan's favorite restaurant in the heart of the city. Avery recognized several roads they had driven through as she peered down at the busy city. It took a third of the time to get into this area of the city by flight than by car.

They touched ground a block away from the restaurant. Beast Boy changed back to his human form almost immediately. Avery brushed her fingers through her wind blown knotty hair, and caught some passerby's staring. She blushed, then realized they were staring at Starfire and Beast Boy. I don't think I could ever get use to that…

Walking along the sidewalk, Avery attempted a conversation. "So… uh, why couldn't the, uh, others come? What did they have to do that they couldn't get pizza?"

The three heroes shared a look, one that made Avery think for a second that they were going to give some lame excuse and not tell her, but then Beast Boy shrugged and casually said, "Eh, Robin's always working. He's probably looking deeper into that case with the creepy chaotic unnamed villain group. I think Cyborg wanted to fix up his car. Raven never does anything fun if she doesn't have to. I'd say she's meditating."

"What about Bee? I would think she'd be the kind of person who's into this stuff."

"Bumblebee said she wanted to check in on our teammates back in Steel City," Speedy replied, not being sarcastic for once. "She doesn't believe Aqualad can handle Mas and Menos. Frankly, I don't think Fishboy can do it either."

"Who and who now?" She arched an eyebrow.

"Aqualad! Defender of the sea! Can breathe underwater and talk to fish," Speedy said in an announcer voice, waving his arms around, back in his teasing manner.

"He sounds like a mermaid."

Speedy laughed heartily, "Except he doesn't have a fin."

"Of course, because of all things, having a fin would be absolutely crazy. Who are these Mash and Minos characters?"

"Mas and Menos," Speedy corrected her.

"Funniest little guys ever!" Beast Boy praised them.

"They are most adorable," Star added.

"Says the girl they've had a crush on since they first met her," the archer interrupted.

"Which is twice as hilarious as it was before because now it comes with Robin's reactions," said BB.

"So you two are dating!" Avery elbowed Star lightly in the side, wagging her eyebrows.

"Yes, we have been relationshipping for a few months now," Star blushed madly, looking down at the sidewalk.

"I knew it! Star, that's adorable!" She playfully whacked the alien on the shoulder with the back of her hand.

"BARF," Speedy yelled obnoxiously.

Avery rolled her eyes at him and smiled at Starfire. "I bet you two make a great couple."

"We all thought so too," Beast Boy agreed, "but it still took years for them to finally get together."

The pizzeria was closer in sight now. Avery could see it fully, taking in every detail. It was built into the corner of a large sky scraper that cut the boulevard in half. It was only one story, but the roof held several tables set up with seats and red umbrellas. Above the outdoor eating area, bolted on the skyscraper, was the restaurant's sign.

"The pizzeria is called… 'Pizza…'" Avery said, coming out like a statement rather than a question.

"Ehhhhhyeeeah, Jump isn't really the best with originality," Beast Boy explained. "But, it is the best with good pizza!"

"I'll be holding you up on that," she warned playfully.

He side eyed her, a devious smirk growing across his face. "Is that a-" he sniffed the air dramatically, "a bet I smell?"

She held her hands up defensively. "I didn't bet anything."

"Not that you have anything to bet," Speedy snickered.

"Hey! I'm not completely at a loss anymore!"

"What, your ballet slippers?"

Beast Boy held the door open for them, and Avery glared at Speedy as she passed him.

They sat at the farthest table on the roof, all the way in the corner, with the best view of the city avenue. Apparently this was where the Titans always sat. Not exactly reserved, it was just understood that it was theirs.

"Let's try the meat lovers' special! Cyborg said it was good, but I'll be the judge of that!" Speedy suggested, jerking his thumb at his chest.

"I'm up for the meat lovers'!" Avery declared, raising her hand. Speedy cocked an eyebrow at her, shocked that one: she had agreed with him, and two: that she had an appetite for something like the oversized stuffed-crust pizza with four different types of meat toppings.

"Blech," Beast Boy grimaced, "there is no way we're getting that massacre with a crust! Why can't we just get mushrooms and peppers or something?"

An annoying chatter rose amongst the three. Avery couldn't listen to one without hearing another.

"Can we order extra mustard?"

"Who puts mustard on pizza?"

"She doesn't put it on the pizza…"

"Whatever, I say we get extra bacon."

"We're not getting meat!"

"Who put you in charge?"

"Please, stop shouting!"

"No one! I'm just debating!"

Jeez, they may be a team on the battle field, but they certainly can't compromise in-

"That's not debating!"

"It'd be easier if you just cooperate!"

Avery couldn't even hear herself think. They were starting to give her a serious headache.

"ENOUGH!" She yelled. Amazingly, they listened to her and stopped fighting. They blinked, almost simultaneously. She didn't. She had stood with her exclamation, and now looked down at them with a hard glare. "It's amazing you guys get anything done. I can't even imagine what it's like getting pizza with all of you present."

"Trust me, you don't want to know," Beast Boy grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and slouching a bit.

"Here's an idea: why don't we just get two pizzas?" she suggested.

"A brilliant idea!" Starfire agreed.

"Two whole pizzas? For just the four of us?" Speedy asked doubtfully, like he wasn't completely on board with the idea.

"Fine, then how bout we get one pizza, half with bacon and sausage, quarter with peppers and mushrooms, and quarter plain?"

There was a long pause where Avery just stood there, waiting for an answer patiently on the outside but biting her nails and pacing in anticipation on the inside. The three shared a look, then a nod, then they looked back at Avery and nodded again. She breathed a sigh of relief, and sank back down into her seat, waving the waitress over.

"And then, Cyborg and I were able to hoist the fusion device through Herald's portal and into space!" Starfire told, making lots of hand motions.

"Yeah, and then Robin and I froze Mallah and the Brain!" Beast Boy finished the story. "And you know what I said?"

"Oh no, not this again," Speedy groaned.

"Check it out, brain freeze!" He erupted with laughter.

Avery faked a smile, faking an unconvincing laugh with it. "Hehe, good one, BB. Very, uh, clever. So… What did you do with the frozen villains afterwards?"

"They're being held at the several of the highest level security prisons in the world," Speedy explained.

"Of course, they were unfrozen once they were in the prison," Beast Boy added.

"It would be immoral to keep someone frozen, even if they are criminals. They are still people," Starfire threw in, sounding very wise for someone who seems so naive.

"Robin's paranoid, and continues to call the prisons' directors for updates. He doesn't put it pass all those villains to attempt an escape, and he believes one of them might actually do it," said Beast Boy.

"Have any of them tried to escape?" Avery asked with interest and eyebrows raised.

"Some of them, but they were only the stupid ones," Speedy said, cracking a smile.

"You know, the bad guys who think they're all high and mighty and a real threat, but can actually be taken down pretty easily," said BB, mimicking the archer's smirk.

"Speaking of easy villains, did I tell you guys about the new demolition master recently trying to take over Steel City?" Speedy asked, leaning in and resting his elbows on the table.

"No, please tell us!" Starfire begged as they all leaned in, ready for another good story.

"What kind of 'demolition master' are we talking about here?" Avery asked, just as curious about the Titans East's new villain as Star and BB were. After hearing several stories about their battles and adventures, including the extra long and epic tale of their fight against the Brotherhood of Evil, Avery was developing a liking for the hero work and "fighting the good fight." It was inspiring to her, to picture these teenagers, not much different from her, with incredible powers, fighting off bad guy after bad guy. She had seen a glimpse at the mall the day before, but she wanted to see them all in action, working as a team, side by side, against more than a couple of stupid teenagers with special guns. She wanted to see one of these battles up close.

"Well, that's the best part," Speedy clarified. "His name actually is Demolition Master. He goes around with this huge wrecking ball on a chain, swinging it around and just messing stuff up. Just for the fun of it! He claims by doing this he'll 'claim the city as his own personal city of ruins!'"

"He sounds awfully dangerous," Starfire shrugged her shoulders, bringing her fists close to her face, anticipating the next part of the story even though Speedy had already said he was an easy villain.

"He was," Speedy nodded, leaning back in his seat and slouching. "But he really didn't know what he was doing. In the end, we tied him up with his own wrecking ball chain. I remember I gave him one good uppercut after he had me in a headlock and seriously messed up my hair." As he said this he pulled out a comb from his utility belt along with a handheld mirror, and started fixing his hair. "That was unforgivable."

As the other two started laughing, Avery's mouth hung open, and she chuckled dryly. "Uh, do you… always carry that with you?"

"Speedy is never without his trusty hair comb and mirror, for his hair might be damaged and need the repairs!" Star explained.

"Not exactly 'repairs,' Star, just sprucing up," Speedy said, looking at himself in the mirror and combing the front of his hair.

Avery tried to keep it in, but failed, and erupted with laughter. "Yo-ou… You ca-an't be se-erio-o-ous. You're joking, right?"

"Hey," Speedy straightened in his seat and pointed his comb at her, "I never joke when it comes to my hair."

"You really carry that thing around everywhere you go?"

"Of course! I'd be at a total loss without my lucky comb."

"Oh, it's lucky too?" This just got better and better.

"It hasn't let me down yet," he smiled at the object appreciatively, before placing it back in his belt.

Beast Boy suddenly put his nose in the air and took a long, exaggerated whiff. "Guys, our pizza's ready! I can smell it!"

The waiter arrived at our table with our pizza. "He-here you go," he said with a shaky smile, as he placed the tray on our table. "E-enjoy!"

Beast Boy chuckled as he scurried off, spinning the tray so the mushrooms and peppers portion was facing him. "He must be new here."

Twenty minutes later, Avery was grabbing for a second slice. "Man, this stuff is good!"

"Told ya!" exclaimed Beast Boy.

She took a big first bite of the meat-topped slice of saucy goodness, and watched Starfire drink mustard out of the bottle with a straw in the corner of her eye. "You really like that mustard, don't you Star?"

She took another big slurp, smacked her lips and said, "It is most delectable! Would you care to try some?" She handed the bottle over to her, and Avery hesitantly shook her head and put up her hand in rejection.

"No, that's okay, Star. I'll stick with my root bee-"

BOOM!