"Pssst…..H-Hey! Raven!"

"Nnngh….," I look up lethargically from where I am doing dishes in the Main Room's kitchen sink. "What is it, Terra?"

Her back is to me.

She seems to be hunched over…examining something.

I can't for the life of me figure out why she and Beast Boy have stopped squawking to one another.

For a while, they were chatting noisily….annoyingly, as usual.

But now…. look!"

"I'm busy," I drone. "Spaghetti attacked your plates two evenings ago and here I am now stuck cleaning up the battlefield."

"You gotta come see this!"

I sigh.

I place the plates down in the dish sink to soak.

I adjust my robe and shuffle across the Main Room to the couch where Terra stands.

"What….is it?" I half-groan.

"Tee hee….," Terra points. "Look!" she utters in a hoarse, gentle voice.

"……..," I glance down.

Beast Boy lies on the sofa.

Full spread.

Still….his eyes shut….his mouth hanging open.

"………….you killed him. Congratulations."

"I did not!" Terra hisses.

"So he's asleep. Big deal."

"Isn't he so cute lying down like that?"

"…………," I raise an eyebrow at her. "I beg your pardon?"

"I just think B.B.'s really cute when he's sleeping," Terra smiles sheepishly at me. "Well, all boys are. But Beast Boy especially. Look how gently he breathes….I bet you never catch him being this still during any other hour of the day."

"For which….I am thankful….."

"Awww! Look! He even drools when asleep!"

I clench my eyes shut, turn around, and march back to the kitchen. "Excuse me….I need to go back to the sink. I think I'm going to throw up."

"Bah!" she again hisses….playfully. "You have no appreciation for truly handsome creatures!"

"Beast Boy is many creatures….all of which are green. Not 'handsome'."

"You sound so bitter when you say that."

I pause.

I turn around and gaze at Terra from afar. "Bitter?"

"Y-Yeah…," she nods. Her eyes are detached from both me and Beast Boy as she pushes a lock of golden hair away from her brow and fidgetingly utters: "C-Can I ask you something, Rae?"

"Call me Raven."

"Fine. Can I ask you something, Raven?"

"Sure…."

"………what was it that first attracted you to Beast Boy?"

"………….," I close my eyes and rub my temple. "Nnngh….ahem….e-excuse me…" I blink with fluttering lids like I'm waking up and try to re-focus on the earthen blonde. "What did you just ask me?"

Terra blinks at me. Innocently confused. "Er…..s-sorry if it's too personal a question…."

"It's not personal, it's perplexing."

"How so?"

"Number one…," I pointed. "I never was attracted to Beast Boy. Not in any sense."

"You weren't?" she leaned her head to the side, mouth agape in confusion.

"No ma'am."

"Then…Th-Then what ever possessed you to go out with him?"

"………….huh?"

Terra nervously pointed, still speaking in a low voice so as not to awake the sleeping elf. "I could have sworn that y-you two were an item long before I joined the team…."

"Ohhhhhh ho-ho no….," I slowly shake my head as I drift back over to the couch. A slight curve to my lips. "That would break the laws of all things fair and equal in this world where mass and energy is conserved."

"I see….."

A beat.

I squint suspiciously at her. "What ever made you think that---?" I pause. I clench my fists and practically snarl: "Beast Boy……he told you that we 'were an item', didn't he?"

Terra smiled nervously. "Well…."

"He lied…..didn't he?"

Terra toyed with a lock of golden hair and refused to look at me. "Well……….."

I shake. My eyes flicker an angry bright-gray….then fade as I relax with a sigh. "………….jerk."

"I don't think he's a jerk!" Terra frowns.

"Naturally….."

"He really had feelings for you, Rae…er…I'm sorry….'Raven'," Terra points. "Beast Boy had more than a crush on you at one time! I know it!"

"So do I," I murmur.

Terra does a double-take. "A-And you never did anything about it?"

"Why would I want to?"

I sigh. I explain: "Terra….whenever I'm around Beast Boy, I feel like I'm being a mother. Sorry…but…that doesn't appeal to me in the least."

"……….you don't say."

"I do."

"Well….," Terra simpers. "I-I guess that explains that then."

I gaze at the sleeping elf. His calm, green complexion. Eyes softly close.

"Feh……," I look back at her. "Seriously….you have nothing to worry about."

"Hmmmm?" she looks up.

I gesture. "I'm not about to rain on you two's romantic parade."

Terra makes a face: "Hey! Just what makes you think that he and I are--?"

I glare at her.

She shrinks away….wincing….. "Uhh…….yeah….."

"Stare at him sleeping all you want," I drone. "I don't care."

Terra rubs the back of her neck….but she is hiding a smile. A deep….happy smile.

I can see right through it.

A pause.

I haven't gone back to the sink of dishes yet.

Something strange is anchoring me there.

And I ask her: "Can I ask you…..just what is it that makes you like him so much? Besides watching him sleep that is…."

"………," Terra gazes at Beast Boy. With feather-light touches of her finger, she toys with the short hairs on the back of his scalp and she smiles. "He makes me feel…..like a mother…….."

"………………………………you're wyrd."

"Hehehehehehehe."

I push the strand of blue hair back over my bang. I drone: "I can't believe he lied to you…."

"I can."

"Yeah….whatever."

Terra stands up straight. "Awww…poor thing. He looks cold. Do we have any blankets around here?"

Why do I feel déjà vu?

"Yeah….out in the hallway," I point. "There should be a closet full of them."

"Wow, really?"

"Movie night," I explain.

"Ahhhh….hehe….sounds toasty."

"If you say so."

"Excuse me for a moment," she smiles and happily makes her way towards the adjacent hallway.

I'm alone with Beast Boy.

The sleeping….'handsome' elf.

The quietness of the room.

WHAP! I slap him across the back of his head.

"SNORT—Snnkkt-AAUGH!" he wakes up, gasping. Twitching. "Wha--…Whe--…Wh---….Slade? Mumbo? Mad Mod?" He sits dazedly on the couch. Blinking. "Nnngh….hello?" Silence. Loneliness. "Who the heck clobbered me?" Another beat. "And why am I drooling?"

I don't answer him.

I have already crossed the length of the Main Room and now stand inside the elevator about to descent.

As the doors close, I gaze into the wall.

And for the first time in as long as I can remember, I can't seem to get this smirk off my face…..