Author's Note: Big thanks to my friend Bearhow for beta-reading this and for his suggestions!

-=oOo=-

Urges

"Out of my room!" the shout burst through the door as it swished open and a large green cat sprinted through it, yowling in distress. "OUT!" another scream followed, together with an assortment of loose objects thrown forcefully to impact against the opposite wall.

A very angry and very pregnant apparition from Hell floated through the door, its four blazing eyes catching just a glimpse of a green tail disappearing around a corner. The fire in them faded and they merged back into their normal shape, their amethyst color now clouded by tears.

Raven pulled her communicator out with a trembling hand. "Cyborg," she spoke hoarsely into the device. "My room. Now."

-=oOo=-

Cyborg scratched the back of his head. It was pure mannerism, there was no way titanium alloy could have itched. But there was no denying that he was confused.

"Um… Rae? I'm here!" he called out to the empty room.

"Take it away!" a muffled but no less furious voice came from the bathroom. "Take it away and burn it!"

He turned to the closed door of the bathroom. "Burn what?" he asked. "You're not making any sense, little sis!"

"The linen, the blankets, the mattress!" Raven's voice shook with rage. The bathroom door opened a crack. "His clothes! Wrap it all up, take it away and incinerate it!"

"Rae…"

"Wait, there's more!" she growled and fell silent for a few seconds, then a naked, pale arm extended through the partially opened door offering him a blue-wrapped bundle. "This, too!"

He took the bundle and lifted a corner of the wrapping. "These are your clothes?" he asked incredulously.

"He touched them! Burn them!"

Cyborg sighed. He tossed the bundle over the bed, then used the blanket to wrap it all together with everything else. "What the hell happened, Rae?" he asked as he worked.

The bathroom door slid open a little again. "Ask him. I can't… Let him tell you. I have to shower. I have to scrub myself… Ugh!" she growled. "My skin crawls!"

The door closed again. Sounds of running water could be heard. Cyborg rolled his eyes, picked everything up and carried it to the incinerator.

-=oOo=-

Cyborg's palm slapped over his face and eyes. "Are you insane?" his fingers split open a little and his human eye glared between them at the cowed changeling. "What in the blindin' blue blazes possessed you to –"

"Dude, I get urges, OK?" Beast Boy frowned. "I'm the entire Animal Kingdom put together! And that means that sometimes I need to –"

"Rrrrngh!" Cyborg's growl interrupted him. The half-robot's metallic hands clenched into huge, dangerous fists and he grit his teeth. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes and counted to ten.

"Dude. Think. I know it's not your strong side, but think," Cyborg felt himself relax as he fell into the Older Brother role. "Besides the utter idiocy of what you did, do you realize how dangerous it is?"

He stared into a pair of confused green eyes. He sighed again. "Do you have any idea of how many diseases you've just exposed Raven to?"

The green eyes widened in fear and concern. "But I…"

"You never thought of it. Yeah, doesn't surprise me." The metal man's hand went around Beast Boy's shoulder. "She's half-demon, and I've yet to see her fall sick, but still. And let's not forget…"

"The baby," Garfield whispered, his ears drooping and his eyes staring at the floor. Cyborg nodded, though his friend couldn't see it.

He squeezed Gar's shoulder and got up, looking down at his friend. "Let's go to the infirmary and have you checked out, then you can go and beg Raven to forgive you."

Beast Boy looked up hopefully. "Dude, you think she will?"

Cyborg shrugged. "All y'all can do is try," he said coldly, then smirked. "No worries, though. I'll bring flowers often and look after your grave."

-=oOo=-

"Um… Rae?" his voice quavered as he addressed the pregnant sorceress who was wrapped in a bathrobe, floating a foot off the floor in lotus position. Her lips moved soundlessly mouthing her mantra.

Good sign, a detestably rational part of his brain commented. She's probably calm enough not to kill me outright.

He shuffled in and approached her with quite a bit of trepidation. He lowered himself in front of her, sitting on the floor with his legs crossed. "Look, I'm sorry…"

The almost soundless drone of Raven's mantra stopped and her lips pressed together. An eye opened and regarded him with cold anger.

"Are you, now?"

He felt heat rise to his face, but he forced himself not to look away. "I am," his voice grated. "I know I screwed up. I promise, I'll never –"

"Why did you do it?" she cut him off. He could almost see the icicles hanging from her words.

His gaze dropped. "I… I had… an urge. It's my… the animals inside me. I just couldn't resist." He looked at her again. "They were all so playful, and so full of life, and so... friendly."

Raven's eyebrows shot up. "They?" she asked, incredulous. "There was more than one?"

"I'm… not sure. I kinda lost count… I – I mean we – were, uh, swept away. You know how it is."

"No, I don't." Her voice could cut steel and freeze Hell.

He hunched his head between his shoulders in shame and his eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Rae. I really am," he said, his voice breaking.

For a few seconds she just stared at him, breathing deeply. He didn't dare look at her. She finally floated closer and her hand caressed his face. "I know, Gar. I'm an empath," she assured him quietly. "I can feel your sincerity."

He couldn't help himself but lean into her touch. Her slender fingers ghosted over his cheek, then traced his ear, making him shiver. She dug them into his hair and scratched him gently, like she would a small kitten. His foot twitched and he began purring.

Then her touch was gone. "Are you clean?" she asked, her voice suddenly a menacing growl.

His eyes flew open, his mind still dazed and disoriented. "Uh? I… Yes! Yes, I am!" he stammered, finally understanding what she was asking about. "Yes, I showered carefully and Cy did a full test on me! I'm clean as a whistle!"

Raven relaxed, then turned around and floated backwards into his embrace, snuggling in. His arms went around her, one clasping her shoulders, the other caressing gently the large bulge of her belly.

"I will forgive you, Gar," she whispered. "But you'll have to promise me something."

"I will!" he said eagerly. "I promise! Never again –"

"Stop!" she cut him off. "Don't make promises you can't keep!" She turned her head and looked at him sharply. "That's not what I meant. We both know it will happen again. It's just a question of time."

"But Rae…"

Her glare faded and she gave him a small, warm kiss. "It's who you are, Gar. I love you. I love all of you, even the parts that I may not like." She rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I'll just have to learn to live with it."

"Then what –"

"Did Vic tell you about the dangers?" she looked at him, her eyes studying him. He nodded "Yeah."

"Then promise me you'll take care of yourself, and of me, and of our baby," she told him firmly. "Gar… I know how much you hate it, but you'll have to use protection."

He nodded vigorously. "I will, Rae. I promise!" A grin spread over his face. "You're right, I hate it, but knowing it'll keep you safe I'll have no problems."

Satisfied, she gave him another small kiss and snuggled into his embrace. He buried his face in her hair.

"It's a small price to pay, Rae. I swear I'll do it," he whispered into her ear. "I'll wear a flea collar every time I go to play with wild animals."

She smirked first, then her eyes hardened. "Good. Because next time you come back full of fleas and lice and ticks I will personally incinerate you!"