AN: I do not own Teen Titans.

Chapter 21

Dick came into the house and said, "Raven, do you want to press charges against Tara?"

"No, that's okay," she said.

"You're not gonna have her arrested?!" said Gar. "Are you nuts?! Look what she did to you!"

"Stay out of this," she snapped at him. She then turned back to Dick and said, "Just get her out of here."

"Are you sure?" said Dick. "I mean, I can make a call or two and-"

"No," Raven said firmly. "I don't want the police involved."

Dick sighed and said, "Alright. I'll get her out of here as soon as possible."

"Raven, you've got to get a restraining order against her," said Karen. "If you don't she's just going to keep coming after you."

"I know, I just… I don't want to go to the police," said Raven. "Now let's drop the subject and someone get me some bandages."

While Raven was tending to her wounds Vic and Dick were giving Tara a ride to the bus station to send her home. And while all of that was going on the others decided to get their beds set up. None of them were planning on going to bed, in fact they were going to go see the fireworks that were taking place downtown, but they figured it'd be nice to get it all done while they were awake and had the time.

An hour later Tara was on her way home and everyone else was ready to get on with the party. Well, everyone except for Raven who had had enough of this party. She got herself comfortable on the couch and waited for everyone to leave. As she waited she saw Gar walk over. He gave her a light smile and sat down next to her.

"So, how're you doing?" he asked.

"Fine," she said simply.

"You really don't look as bad as you probably feel," he said.

"I doubt that," she scoffed.

"Alright, you look like a mess," he said with a light chuckle. "But, it's nothing permanent. You're lucky she didn't put you in the hospital again."

"I know," she said. "For someone so skinny she sure can do some damage."

"The fact that you don't defend yourself helps," Gar added.

"True," said Raven. "So, are you doing downtown?"

"Nah," he said with a slight shrug and shaking his head. "I'd rather stay here and keep you company."

"Thanks, but the only company I'd like is silence," she said.

"I can be silent," he said.

"I doubt that," she said, a soft chuckle coating her words. "Anyway, you should go and see the fireworks. The Fourth of July only comes once a year so you should enjoy it."

"I would if I knew that you'd do the same," he said. "I mean, just cuz you got beat up doesn't mean you should stay inside and not enjoy the rest of the night."

"I'll enjoy it plenty if I can be here all alone," she said.

"Well, you're not gonna be alone, cuz I'm staying," said Gar.



"Why?" she asked. "I mean, why would you choose to stay here rather than go downtown with your friends?"

"Because I wanna talk to you," he said.

"About what?" she asked.

Gar never answered because Kori walked over and said, "We are leaving. Are you joining us, Garfield?"

"No, I'm gonna hang out here," he said with a smile. "You guys go ahead."

"Oh, alright," said Kori, a little surprised. "We shall return later."

"Don't get into too much trouble," Gar called after her as she headed towards the door where everyone was waiting to leave.

"Same goes for you two," said Vic.

"I've had enough trouble for one night, thank you," said Raven.

"Keep an eye on the bonfire," said Dick. "It's smoldering."

"Will do," said Gar and with that the group left. "Jeez, it's like we're a couple of children or something."

"Well I'm immobile and you've got the attention span of a fly, so I think they've got a good reason to worry," said Raven. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"A couple of things, actually," he said. "You wanna go outside? It's a really nice night and we might be able to see the fireworks from the beach."

"If you can find my crutches I will," she said. "And I'd also like to know which one of you stole them and why."

"We wanted you to stay and hang out with us so we had Wally steal them," said Gar with a nervous smile. "I honestly don't know where they are. But, I'll help you walk out there. I mean, between the two of us we've got three legs. I think we can do it."

"Do we really have to go outside?" she asked, almost in a whine.

"Come on, the salt air will do you good," said Gar, standing up.

Raven sighed and said, "Fine."

He held his hands out to her and helped her to her foot. They held onto each other and slowly began to move across the room. As they moved both couldn't help but feel odd about being so close. And, strangely, neither spoke a word as they moved.

Raven felt her heart race and that godforsaken blush return. Their skin was actually touching and this realization made her palms sweat. She could smell his distinct cologne as well as a soft layer of his sweat of the day. She knew she'd be lying if she said it did nothing for her. And his touch was gently yet firm. He knew that she was covered in bruises and scratches, but he also knew that if he held her too softly he wouldn't be able to support her properly. She bit her bottom lip and tried to concentrate on making it out to the beach.

Gar could feel his other personality trying to break through, but he held it back. He knew that this wasn't the time to be a pig and try to flirt with her or feel her up a little while she was so vulnerable. No, he'd never done such a thing before and he knew he would never forgive himself if he ever did, but, still, the temptation was there. The feel of her small body next to his, the scent of her lilac shampoo that still lingered in her hair, and the fact that she really relied on him right now was more than tempting.

Slowly but surely they exited the house, went across the deck, down the three steps, and made it onto the beach. The walk across the sand was even harder, but somehow they managed. They walked all the way to the water's edge and then sat down.



"See? That wasn't so hard," said Gar with a smile, finally breaking the silence between them.

"Took long enough, though," said Raven, getting comfortable in the sand. "Okay, we're here, what do you want to talk about?"

"Alright, let's see," he said, thinking about what he wanted to ask first. "Well, first off, if you're a pacifist why did you take karate and kickboxing?"

Raven thought for a moment then said, "A fair question. I took them up as a form of meditation and to help take out my frustration. Not to mention it's good exercise."

"Okay," said Gar. "Why didn't you want to have the police come and arrest Tara? Do you have a problem with the cops?"

"It's a little complicated," she said. "You see my father is pretty well known to most police and there have been multiple times when I've asked for their help and have ended up being interrogated about him and his business. So I've decided that it's better to just not get the police involved with my life."

"But Tara needs to be arrested," said Gar. "She can't just keep doing this to you without any punishment."

"I believe in karma," Raven said with a shrug. "What goes around comes around."

"Didn't you say something about karma after your accident?" said Gar.

"Yes," said Raven. "I'm pretty sure I did get into that accident because of how I was acting before, especially towards you. I just didn't want anyone to point it out."

"Ah, I see," said Gar. "So, you really think Tara's gonna get what's coming to her someday?"

"I can only hope that she realizes the error of her ways," said Raven. "I really don't wish any harm on her. But it'd be nice to know that she's sorry for what she's done to people."

"You really are a pacifist," he laughed. "You know, I've never seen this side of you before."

"That's because I've always kept it hidden," she said. "If people know that I'm capable of killing them then they leave me alone. But, if they know that I'm capable of killing them but can't because of my beliefs, then that makes me vulnerable. Tara learned that fact and look what happened."

"Well I want you to know that even though I know, I'm not gonna do anything like what Tara did," he said.

"I'd appreciate it," she said.

He smiled and then something caught the corner of his eye. He turned and saw a bright ball of colors in the distance. "Oh, there're the fireworks!" he said, pointing. The two of them turned towards the fireworks to watch them.

"You really should've gone," said Raven. "I'm sure the others are having a great time."

"As much as I love a crowd, I'm kinda liking it being just the two of us," he said, his other personality coming through slightly. He cursed himself and felt like an idiot. 'Smooth, Gar, smooth,' he said to himself.

Raven felt her heart race again for a moment by his words. She bit her bottom lip and looked down at the sand that was slowly seeping into her cast around her toes. She replayed the events that had led up to this moment again and again. That morning she was planning on spending the next twenty-four hours at a hotel and now she was sitting with Gar on the beach all alone watching fireworks.

Gar cleared his throat and said, "So, um, how's your book coming along?"



"Fine," said Raven. "I'm hoping I'll finish it before the end of the summer."

"Not many people can write a book in only a couple months," said Gar.

"Well, not many people are me," said Raven. "And not many people spend all of their time writing and doing nothing else."

"True," said Gar.

A silence passed as they watched the fireworks in the distance. They were much better than the ones that Dick had bought, but they weren't as close. It took forever to hear the booms from the fireworks after they'd exploded. But the colors were beautiful and there were quite a few types.

"You know, I've never seen fireworks before," said Raven.

"What?!" said Gar, turning towards her. "This is your first time? How can that be?"

"Well, my boarding school was overseas, so we didn't celebrate Independence Day," she said.

"What about New Years?" he asked.

"I've never stayed up for New Years," she said.

"You've never stayed up for New Years?!" he shouted. "Jesus, what else haven't you done?"

"Many things, I'm sure," said Raven.

"Do you celebrate any holidays?" he asked.

"Not really," she said with a shrug.

"Not Valentine's Day? Not St. Patrick's Day? Easter? Mother's Day? Father's Day? Halloween? Thanksgiving? Christmas?!" he rambled.

"No, I don't take part in any of those holidays," she said.

"What about Passover or Hanukah?" he asked.

"No!" she said. "I don't celebrate any holidays at all. I don't even celebrate my birthday."

"What?!" Gar explained. "Well no wonder you're so weird! I'd be antisocial and creepy if I was raised like that! How can you have never had a birthday? You've never had a party or a cake or gifts or anything? Your birthday is the biggest celebration of them all!"

"Let's just say that I never had much to celebrate," said Raven lowly.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"Never mind," she said. "Forget I said anything."

"But-" he began.

"If you don't stop talking I'm going to miss the fireworks, and as I've said this is my first time viewing them," she said firmly.

Gar wanted to push the issue, but decided to just keep his mouth shut for now. He wasn't going to forget about this. So he turned his gaze back onto the fireworks and kept quiet so that Raven could enjoy the fireworks.