AN: I do not own Teen Titans.

Chapter 25

The sun was setting and it was going to be an absolutely beautiful night. The air was warm and slightly humid, but in a very comfortable way. The sky was alight with brilliant colors that were slowly dimming into night. Dick and Kori had taken Raven's car and gone off to have a romantic picnic dinner together, leaving the other three alone in the house. Gar and Vic were sitting out on the beach with a couple of cold beers, enjoying the view.

"This has got to be one of the best summers on record," said Vic.

"Definitely," Gar agreed.

"I can't believe it's already half over," Vic sighed. "Fall's gonna suck."

"Yeah, but on the up side we can look forward to spending next summer here again," said Gar.

"True," said Vic. "So, what do you think is gonna happen between Dick and Kori at the end of the summer?"

"I don't think they're gonna break up," said Gar. "Hell, I bet they're gonna get married before the end of the year."

Vic laughed and said, "Fate totally had something to do with those two finding each other."

Gar took a long sip of his beer then said, "I wonder what fate's got planned for us."

"Probably a good dose of good times and bad times," Vic said wisely as he leaned back into his chair. "Wake me up if I fall asleep."

"Sure," Gar chuckled.

Within five minutes Vic was fast asleep in his chair. He wasn't one to take naps, but once he fell asleep he was out cold for a good while and no one could wake him up. So Gar decided to take this opportunity to go see what Raven was doing; though he knew exactly what she was doing.

He went up to her room and knocked on her door loudly, since he was pretty sure she was wearing her ear plugs. "Hey, Raven," he called.

"What?" she asked shortly.

"Whatcha doing?" he asked.

"What do you think?" she snapped. "What do you want?"

"Just wanted to see what you were up to," he said. "Vic and I were sitting outside watching the sun set. Have you looked outside?"

"Can't say that I have," she replied.

"Well do you wanna go for a walk with me?" he asked.

"Not really," she said honestly.

"Come on, it's beautiful out," he pushed. "Besides, you haven't taken a break all day. And I know cuz I watch your door like a hawk."

"You seriously need to get a better hobby," she said.

"I kinda like the one I got," he replied. "Now come out here or I'll start throwing rocks at your window again."

Raven sighed and said, "Fine, if it'll shut you up for the rest of the night." A minute later her door opened and they were face to face. She walked passed him and went down the stairs, to which he quickly followed.



Once outside Raven couldn't help but notice the passed out man in the beach chair. He was snoring quite loudly, yet he seemed motionless.

"Did you drug him?" she asked.

"No," Gar chuckled. "I think he was up late last night talking to one of your friends."

"Who?" she asked.

"Jen, if I'm not mistaken," he said. "Apparently he and Wally are both after her."

"She always did have a way with men," said Raven.

The two began to walk down the beach along the shore. Raven held her arms and looked like she was very bored while Gar had shoved his hands into his pockets and looked quite content with the situation. It didn't take long for him to break the silence they had been walking in.

"So, can you believe the summer's already halfway done?" he said.

"Yes," Raven shrugged. "It hasn't been exactly flying by for me. More like dragging out."

"Yeah, you've had a pretty rough summer so far," he said. "Well, hopefully things will stay calm."

"Well now you've jinxed it," said Raven.

"Sorry," Gar chuckled.

"So, have we walked enough yet?" she asked.

"Nope," he said.

"Well how far do we have to walk until it's enough?" she asked.

"I don't know," he replied. "I'm in no hurry."

"You're never in a hurry," said Raven. "I, on the other hand, have things to do."

"Nothing that can't wait," said Gar.

Raven sighed and the two walked on. The water that rushed upon their feet was warm and soothing. A light breeze blew and everything felt quite comfortable. The sun had set at last and the sky was darkening ever more. Above the first star of the night could be seen.

"This is paradise," Gar said with a relaxed breath. "I'm really glad you let us stay here for the summer."

"I had nothing to do with it and you know it," said Raven. "This was all Kori's doing."

"Well I'm glad you didn't call the police or something to get us taken off of the property," he said.

"I'm not exactly the dramatic type," she said. "And I'm sure karma would come back to bite me in the ass if I did."

"Karma sure seems to have you on a short leash," he said.

"You have no idea," Raven sighed.

"Kinda makes me wonder if you were a rotten kid or something to have so much bad stuff happen to you," said Gar.

"I'll have you know that I was a perfectly well behaved child," she said. "Hell, I don't know if I ever was a child in my family circumstance."

"I was totally an ADHD kid," he said. "You couldn't pay me to sit still. I think it's cuz I thought that if I was still then everything would catch up to me. Like all the bad stuff."

"That makes sense," she said. "I take it that you did finally stop moving and let it all catch up to you."

"Yeah, but not until a few years ago," he said. "I think I was ready to deal with it by then." He found a stone, picked it up, and tossed it into the sea. "Sucks growing up, huh?"



"That it does," Raven agreed.

A crab scuttled past them to the water and was soon swept away. Above a seagull cried out in that annoying way that they often do. A few more stars had appeared and the only sound was that of the tide rushing in.

"So, you have any second thoughts about give me a try?" he asked.

"A try at what?" asked Raven, playing dumb and hoping he'd drop the subject.

"At, you know, being with you," he said.

"Somehow I knew that that was what this was about," Raven sighed. "I already told you, I don't want to be in any sort of relationship."

"You don't want to even give it a try?" he said.

"No," she said firmly.

"Well, for what it's worth, I really am sorry about what I did that night," he said. "I didn't mean to make you feel so uncomfortable when I held you down."

"It's alright," she said. "I know you did it without thinking."

"Yeah, I'm kinda infamous for that," said Gar, scratching the back of his head. "Anyway, I actually have been thinking lately and the fact is I can't get you out of my head."

"You will, don't worry," said Raven.

"But what if I don't?" he asked.

"Then you're in trouble," she said.

"Come on, Raven, what if we're missing out on something special?" he asked. "I mean, look at Dick and Kori! Don't you wanna be like them?"

"Can't say that I do," she said.

"Okay, maybe I phrased that wrong," he said. "But you can't deny that there's something between us."

"So tell me, Gar, what do you want me to do?" she said. "Do you want me to throw myself into your arms, say 'take me now', and spend the next month and a half with you just so we can depart at the end of the summer and go on with our lives like none of this meant anything? I'm not interested."

"I don't want that at all!" he said. "I'm not that kind of guy, Raven. I don't like one night stands or flings. When I'm with a girl I'm with her for a long time. In fact, I've never dumped any woman; they've always ended the relationships. Well… except for the whole Tara mess. I did dump her, but with good reason. So don't think that I just wanna be with you for the rest of the summer and then toss you aside when real life starts up again."

"So what does happen at the end of the summer?" she asked.

"We can work it out when the time comes," he said. "So, what do you say?"

Raven sighed, stopped walking, and went into thought. Gar stopped right beside her and waited for her response. He was surprised that she was even thinking about it, so whatever her answer was he knew that at least he'd made some sort of a dent.

"I need to think about it," she said at last.

"Sure, take all the time you want," he said, happy that he'd actually made her say something other than no.

"Can we head back now?" she asked.

"Yeah, I think we've walked enough," said Gar and with that the two turned around and headed back along their own footsteps.

When they arrived back at the house Vic was still fast asleep in his chair and Gar decided it was the perfect time to play a prank on him. He ran into the house, filled a bucket full of 

colder water with even a few ice cubes, and went back outside. Raven headed up to her room to think, and get out of Vic's path when he went after Gar.

She locked her door, which had become a habit of hers, and took a seat on her bed to think. He certainly was persistent, though he'd given her space for over a week and a half. She'd never had any man behave like this towards her before. Well, other than Malchior, but that had been a different situation completely. So, what was she to do?

There suddenly came the sound of a loud male scream, some pretty nasty cursing, a hysterical laugh, and then a scuffle. Raven rolled her eyes and went back to thinking.

In truth, she hadn't completely put him out of her mind since they'd last parted a week and a half before. Ever since then she'd had five dreams about the moment they'd shared and they always ended at the same point. She did her best not to look out on him when he was outside, which turned out to be harder than she'd originally expected. Every time she wanted to leave her room she would hear his voice and have to force herself to wait until it was safe to leave. He certainly had a hold on her.

But, putting all of that aside, the point remained that he had been with Tara and he wasn't exactly in her class. No, she didn't think she was better than him, she just knew that it was pretty improbable that they could get along with all of their differences. All of her reason and her logic told her that nothing could ever come of starting anything with Gar. But another part of her, she refused to say her heart because of how cliché it sounded, made her want to forsake logic and just do what felt right. After all, for all of his bad qualities he had twice as many good.

After nearly being killed by Vic after his brilliant prank, Gar had taken refuge up in his room. He now lay in his hammock looking at the slanted ceiling above him. He was filled with anxiety over Raven's pending decision beneath him. He really didn't think she'd say yes, but he always was one for hope. Well, whatever her decision, he hoped she'd get on with it.

Suddenly he heard his door open and the ladder descending. He looked away from the ceiling and braced himself for Vic to come storming up to beat the living hell out of him. To his surprise it wasn't Vic, it was the very girl he was thinking about. Raven slowly came up the ladder then pulled it up behind her, closing the door.

"Uh, hey," he said, clumsily getting out of his hammock and walking over to her. "Are you done thinking?"

"I think I am," she said and then did something he certainly wasn't suspecting.

She walked right up to him, lightly placed her hands on his neck, and gently brought his lips to hers. It was a shy and uncertain first kiss, but a kiss nonetheless. It took Gar a moment, but eventually he shook the shock away and kissed her back. The tension between them immediately disappeared and both felt relived.

"Don't make me regret this," she said against his lips.

"I won't," he replied and kissed her a bit more deeply.