Hello my dear readers, Foamy here. Sorry this chapter took so long, I ran into some issues with what I wanted in it. The first version was fully written a week and a half ago, but after closely inspecting it and giving it some thought, I hated it. So I scrapped it and started again. The second version I wrote it and it turned out better since the user Bearhow suggested that I put something dramatic in. But the problem was that when I got to where this chapter ends, I felt no compulsion to keep going. So 'technically' this is the third version, albeit with no drama. It's a short chapter, only 4k words, but it's an introspective one of sorts.

If you're wondering why I chose this over say, a rescue chapter, it's because sometimes I feel that I don't flesh my characters out enough, which instills a need to look closer at the things they feel rather than the things I have them do. Of course, I could just be mildly insane and making mountains out of molehills.

On top of that, I'm desperately trying to not let things get out of hand and go berserk like they did in my story Accidents Can Happen.

I'm going to go ahead and warn you, this chapter starts a little saucy. It's borderline lime, but I have reasons for it. So for those of you that aren't into that sort of thing, I suggest you skip the entire section that is italicized since it immediately follows my Authors Notes.

Now, for reviews!

Ruvaak- Hot damn, someone noticed! :D

Mochafraptor- Oh don't worry, it's just as bad this chapter lololol

Bearhow- Sorry Bro, couldn't work in that drama, it just didn't flow with what I had going.

Rcktkid- It's mentioned in this chapter, but that's it. As for why it's only 'mentioned' instead of discussed is because both Beast Boy and Raven are preoccupied with their thoughts, so to speak.

LostDemonessRaven- Ain't it? xD

Luis519RS- Prepare for a complete 180 lol.

Kravinoff- I'm so glad you are, actually. That will be getting explored a little bit in a few chapters, so stick around!

SoniaBambini18- Of course! I'd never do something horrid to my characters! *guilty cough*

RPGPersona- What happens in the Tamaran kitchen STAYS in the Tamaran kitchen. Speaking of the shivering scene, I ALMOST did what you said lol. But since my mind tends to drift, it might have made me up the rating on this story to M.

Kinggamer- I've got SO MUCH CRAZY CRAP planned for this story I literally exhaust myself thinking about it.

DV8IN- BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

DarkAzarathian- I have a feeling in my gut that part of this chapter might not be your cup of tea, so I included the advisory paragraph earlier for you.

Guest- Updated! xD

And with that, I bid you adiu. Read and Review please, let me know if you think this was a good enough introspection chapter! It's probably not, but I need to practice lol.


"Hey Rae?"

"Hm?"

"We should totally get married."

I choked on the tea I was drinking, shock overwhelming me instantly. Beast Boy leaned over and pat me on the back until I could breathe properly. When I could, I looked at him like he'd gone mad.

"Married?! Why?!" I asked, greatly confused. We haven't even held hands, why would we get married?!

The changeling shrugged. "Why not? We've got a kid, a home, great friends, and we're best friends. It's the next step!"

I lick my lips nervously. Surely he can't be serious? "Um, Garfield, I know I said you make me happy, but I'm not sure if my feelings for you are that strong."

"Come Rae, just think about it!" Beast Boy laughed. "We could get out own house, maybe with a pool, oh, and a library! It'd be just me, you, and Emmy! No fighting crime, no arguing with Cy, no being forced to go shopping with Star, no training with Rob! Think of all the free time we'd have!"

As lovely as the peace and quiet sounds, I'm still not sure. I wrap my arms around myself and look away while I think. "I don't know Gar…that's a really big step. I don't know if I'm ready for that."

Beast Boy leans over and gently grabs my chin and directs my face towards his.

"Don't worry Rae." He said softly. "We can do it. We'll have the happiest family in the world."

My protest dies on my lips as he presses his own against mine. His kisses are soft and tender, but fiery and passionate at the same time as his emotions overwhelm me. I feel like I'm melting into his warm embrace as he gently pushes me back on the bed and wrapped his arms around me. I love the way he holds me, like no matter what happens he'll be there. I can't stop myself from whimpering a little when his lips move to my cheek. All I can taste and smell is his minty scent as he traverses to my neck, the heat of his body leaving a flaming trail of ecstasy in its wake. His kisses trace up and down on my jugular slowly, eliciting a sigh of pleasure from my lips that I didn't know even existed. My mind is absolutely numb right now, never before have I ever felt something so wonderful!

My body is hot and tingly all over, some parts more than others. I have no idea what's going on with myself, but I want, no, NEED, his lips to kiss those places too. But how can I tell him that when he was nibbling on my earlobe? I can feel his tongue scraping across it ever so gently and it makes me bite my lip. I never knew my ears were sensitive and it takes all I have to not moan at the sensations.

My hands came up on their own and grasp his shirt, tugging it upwards. Garfield chuckled and straddles me long enough to remove his shirt. I can't help but lick my lips at the sight of his muscular torso, his emerald green skin rippling with goose bumps from excitement. His lean but muscular form has been rather appealing to me for some time and I couldn't be happier that he didn't choose to become overly muscular to the point of being grotesque the way Robin is. I love the way it looks so natural on him, like he's some sort of predator in the wild. His hair has gotten a little shaggy and it only accents on his wild look as he looks at me with hungry eyes. Nobody has ever looked at me with such intent and it sends a shiver down my spine. He leans back over me and began suckling on my neck, his sharp teeth pricking my skin as he seeks to leave my neck peppered in love bites.

"Gar, no marks!" I pant into his hair as I grasp his head. "The others might notice!"

"To hell with them. You're my girl and I'll mark you how I want." He growls against my throat, sending a shudder of pleasure throughout my body. I can't help but to whimper again as he starts trailing down my neck, where his teeth start nipping on my collarbone. I never knew being bitten felt so good! I bite my lip as my nails dug into his skin after he starts to trail down to my chest, his hot tongue caressing my skin in swirls. His hands trail up my side and reach for-

"Friend Raven!"


The empath bolted upright, right eyes flying open and her heart hammering in her throat. Wild eyed, she looked around. No longer was she in an unknown room, Beast Boy looming over her alluringly. Instead she was in the infirmary of Titans Tower, hooked up to the various medical equipment and laying in a bed. Starfire sat before her on a stool, a concerned look on her face.

"Friend Raven?" The alien asked, concerned for her friend. Raven's head snapped to her instantly.

"Starfire?" She squeaked, much to the other girl's surprise.

Star noted the distressed look in Raven's eyes. "Are you okay? You were making some rather strange noises in your sleep."

The empath paled (a remarkable feat for one so naturally pale to begin with) but nodded. "Yes, I'm fine. What happened? How did I get back here?"

"We found you and friend Beast Boy in the deepest and darkest part of this planets ocean after one of friend Cyborg's machines detected some sort of tremor." Starfire said gently.

"Tremor?" Raven repeated as her mind struggled to comprehend the abrupt shift from dream to reality. Her brows furrowed for a moment before she recalled just exactly made such a tremor: her embarrassment about her and Beast Boy's 'seating arrangement'.

Noting the blush rising on Raven's face, Starfire leaned forward in curiosity. "Did something happen between you and our green friend?"

Raven licked her lips, half wanting to tell the other girl about the incident and half wanting to deny it. She decided on only partially answering. "Let's just say that things were a little cramped in the pod and it led to an awkward situation."

The alien princess gave her friend a small smile. "Am I correct in assuming that you and friend Beast Boy are…closer…now?"

"Depends on what he remembers." Raven mumbled to herself. She then looked up and around the room. "Where is he anyways?"

"Friend Beast Boy is in the shower, he awoke some hours ago and told us a bit of what happened."

"A bit?" Raven asked cautiously.

"Yes, he informed us of how he kept the water from entering the pod for several hours, then of napping and you taking over. He told us how he awoke to find your powers weakening and the dire situation the two of you were in. He told us that you told him to leave you and get home to your bumgorf." Starfire frowned sadly at the thought of losing her sister.

"That's not quite what I told him." Raven sighed. "But I should have known that's how he'd interpret it."

"Should I retrieve Emelia for you? She has been most distraught since you disappeared."

Raven nodded. "Please?"

"I shall return in a few minutes." Star smiled before dashing out the room. She passed Cyborg in the door and he smiled.

"Hey there little lady." He said to Raven, who gave him a small smile and a nod.


Warmth. Heat. Blistering. Burning.

Absolute bliss.

Despite the fact that it was water that almost killed him, water was soothing him more than anything right now. The shower poured water down his backside, cascading rivers of liquid fire relaxing his tense muscles.

He'd been at death's door a few times before, so this shouldn't have affected him so strongly. There was the time when he was a child, bitten by the Sakutia infected monkey. The virus would have killed him if not for the experimental serum his father developed. Not long after that he had almost drown because he wasn't used to his newfound powers and had, in fact, watched his parents drown. Then he had almost starved to death in the jungle before a passing tribesman had found him. After all, what six year old boy knows how to survive in a jungle alone? Later, after being given to his only remaining family member, his Uncle Galtry, some year or so later the older man had gotten quite drunk one night and smashed a beer bottle upside his head, leaving a nine inch gash that almost caused the young changeling to bleed to death. After being rescued from his money-obsessed uncle by the Doom Patrol, his very first mission almost ended up with him being crushed to death beneath a ton of rubble. Heck, the last mission with them almost got him sucked into a man-made black hole. His next close call was when Terra was about to kill him, which he only survived by sheer luck and a death threat from Raven. After that, their encounter with Trigon almost killed him in so many ways. That darker, evil version of himself was fully capable of killing him at any moment. Beast Boy knew this because he had kept the more primal part of himself locked away for years, that part of him that knew killing is so very easy. The situation with the Brotherhood of Evil wasn't that dangerous (those robots they use are useless) until the final fight, when he had taken four other hero's against ten times that number of enemies.

Yeah, Beast Boy and Death were old friends.

But this time was so much different.

Raven had almost died.

And it was his fault.

He knew he should have studied up on deep sea life forms far sooner, there could have been something to save them. He knew he should have been prepared for another ambush from Triton, it was pretty much the fish man's calling card. He knew he and Raven should have been spread out instead of grouped up, it made them an easy target. He knew he should have researched creatures with higher body temperature, it could have helped them there in the freezing depths. His laziness and refusal to take things seriously almost gotten people killed before, but this…this was a whole new ballpark.

He had almost left Emmy an orphan, just like he was.

"Hey man, you been in there for a while. You iight?" Came a voice from outside the bathroom. Beast Boy shook his head but answered anyways.

"Yeah Cy, I'm good." He called out. "Just enjoying the warmth."

"Iight bro…just checking." The cybernetic young man replied before stepping away to check the other patient in the tower med bay.

In the three days that had passed since the underwater incident, everyone's nerves had been on edge. Emelia hadn't smiled or eaten much and nothing Martin did could cheer her up. Robin had spent more time in the med bay than he did his own office, constantly pestering Cyborg about their vitals. Starfire spent most of her time in the kitchen, trying to keep her mind off her comatose friends but making enough Puddings of Sadness to feed all the homeless in America (and probably kill them). Cy himself would have pulled his hair out, if he had any. His friends had been trapped at the bottom of the deepest part of known Earth for sixteen hours, not only under a monstrous pressure but near-zero temperatures too. Beast Boy, who had been awake for a few hours, had told them most of what he could remember, though it was obvious he was hiding something. Cy figured something had happened between him and Raven. Something…personal.

Said empath had apparently woken up a few minutes ago and was simply laying there on bed resting. She hadn't said anything but she did wave him off when he started to check her. Cyborg gave her another little smile. She'd be just fine if she could shoo him away already.

The sound of the shower turning off caught his attention. He turned to Raven and spoke softly.

"Would you talk to him? I think…I think he's a little shaken up. You guys did cut it really close this time."

Raven nodded, so Cyborg left the room. Within minutes the bathroom door opened, revealing a shirtless and damp changeling wearing only a pair of pinstripe pajama bottoms and a towel on his head. Amethyst met emerald and the world stopped for a moment.

"Hi." He said softly, his emotions clamming up instantaneously.

"Hi." She replied, wondering why she sensed guilt and worry emanating from him.

"You okay?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Thanks to you."

Beast Boy shook his head. "Nah, you saved both of us Rae. I hardly did anything."

Raven quirked an eyebrow. This was odd, normally he'd boast about saving her. She wondered if this unusual attitude was connected to what he was feeling a moment ago. She pat the bed and he sat down near her, but not too near. She was partially grateful for that, the dream she had was still fairly fresh in her mind and she couldn't bear to look at him right now.

"Are you okay?" She asked him gently. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"Yeah. It's just…that was a close call, ya know?"

She tilted her head in slight confusion. "We've looked death in the face before."

Beast Boy nodded once more. "Yeah, but not like that. It was just a little too close for comfort this time."

"Hmm…" Raven murmured thoughtfully. "I agree."

An unknown emotion flashed in his aura as he turned to look at her with a small grin. "What say we, uh, not toe that line again, eh?"

She returned his grin. "Sure."

They sat there quietly for a moment, each lost in their own thoughts. Beast Boy was struggling to determine whether or not he made the right call by refusing to leave Raven while Raven herself pondered just where that dream of hers came from. She wished she could blame some saucy romance novel she had, but she had never actually had the courage to open the one Jinx had given to her in secret.

This is Rose's fault. She decided. I never thought about such things until that talk with her. I accept that I have feelings for Garfield, but I don't even know if…wait.

"Beast Boy, do you remember what I told you?" Raven asked suddenly in a soft voice, staring at him intently. There was something she needed to know.

"Huh?" The changeling said, confused. "When?"

"After I said that I'll never understand you."

Beast Boy closed his eyes for a moment while thinking. "I…no? I think I blacked out right after that."

Raven frowned and gave a little sigh. "Well, that's fine. But…there's something I want to tell you."

His eyes flew open and he looked at her. "Uh…you what?

"Thank you for saving me." The empath said pointedly, hoping he might remember his own joke about getting kissed by the girl he saves, Rose be damned.

Unfortunately, he didn't.

"Yer welcome?" He said confusedly, wondering if she was trying to tell him something. But that would be totally unlike Raven, she was always blunt and honest. It was one of the things he loved about her.

"I meant it, Beast Boy. Thank you for saving me." She repeated more firmly, praying he would catch on.

Beast Boy gave her a funny look. "I said you're welcome, Rae."

Raven rolled her eyes. Looks like she'd have to be a little more direct. She still didn't understand what was upsetting him nor did she know why he couldn't remember his own damned joke, but for now there was something else they needed to address.

'Something else' being the little violet eye peeking through the crack of the door.

Raven turned and looked directly at her spying daughter. Catching her movement, Beast Boy turned and found what she was looking at.

"Come on in." Raven said gently.

The door opened and Emelia shuffled in. Her hair was a mess, her clothes were wrinkly, and it looked like she hadn't slept much. Beast Boy immediately walked over and scooped her up. The little girl wrapped her arms around his neck, sniffled, and reached out for her mother too. Raven scooted to the edge of the bed as the changeling sat back down and she wrapped her arms around both of them, her head laying against her daughters'. The little girl shed silent tears as she squeezed them both as tightly as she could. Both teen were struggling to not cry, though it was a losing battle with Raven. She had shed very few tears in her life, so this overwhelming urge to cry was taking quite a toll on her. She credited it to the maternal instincts she had developed while caring for her clone-daughter.

After a few moments Beast Boy noted something soft, warm, and squishy pressed against his arm, making him realize Raven was wearing nothing but a hospital gown.

"Um, Rae?" He said nervously.

"Hm?"

"I, uh, think you should put your uniform on."

Raven pulled her head away from Emelia's, then looked down at her body. Right there in front of Beast Boy, her face turned a very lovely shade of crimson. That feeling of indecency brought to mind the little incident in the T-ship to both teens and soon enough they were both blushing. The nearby window cracked.

Raven looked around after pulling away, refusing to look at the shirtless boy in front of her. "I-I don't see my uniform anywhere."

Beast Boy also looked around, refusing to think about what was pressed against him. "Ya know, I don't see mine either. Cy just handed me these after I got up a while ago."

"Uncle Cy and Auntie Star had to cut them off of you." Emmy murmured. "Daddy's feet were blue and Mommy's hands and legs were blue too, so they had to find more blue."

Both teens grimaced. Frostbite.

"Good thing we both have regenerative abilities." Raven murmured as she stroked the girls' hair.

"No kiddin'." Beast Boy chuckled.

Raven gently pushed on his arm. "Here, let me up so I can go get a dressed."

The changeling scooted away from her and she got off the bed. After a few wobbly steps she strode towards the door, stopping only when she heard a smacking noise. Turning her head, she found Beast Boy's hand over his eyes, his face flushed even harder. Curious, the empath moved her hands behind her back to try to find out what had caused him to block his vision.

She found her bare back and, more importantly, her bare bottom.

The window exploded outwards as Raven faced him and covered herself, her blush returning tenfold.

"I-I appear to have forgotten the bizarre nature of hospital attire." She stammered, trying some way to save her dignity. "Would you fetch one of my uniforms? I'm still rather tired and don't have the energy to teleport to my room."

Eyes still closed, Beast Boy nodded. Standing up, he walked over to her and handed her the quiet Emelia and then walked out the door. Raven took several deep, calming breaths before returning to the bed. She only had a few minutes of quiet before Emmy spoke.

"Daddy saw your buuutttt!" She said in a singsong voice.

The nearby medical equipment imploded.


The changeling in question was debating on whether or not to forget what he had seen. One part of him said yes, it was the right thing to do to preserve Raven's dignity and his own by being a grown up and not making a big deal out of it. It was just a butt, after all.

The other part of him said the first was stupid and that Raven's butt was much nicer than he thought.

Of course, those thoughts might get him killed, so he reigned them in. He had a uniform to find.

Getting to Raven's room was quick and easy. Hers was on the floor below the med bay. Getting in her room was also easy, seeing as she had given him the code to the door. He had been confused at first when she did that, but she had the reasoning that it was for depositing the nap-prone Emelia in her bed. It made sense to him, so he never questioned it further.

Now where does she keep her uniforms? He thought to himself as he looked around the room. It was a funny thought, considering that he had snooped in her room countless times in the past but never actually explored much in there. It was still dark and spooky, but not creepy like he thought years ago. The weird statues still stared at him, but he knew they were just plain stone. The rows and rows of books she had weren't creepy, they were just paper. And Raven's mirror casually lay on her desk. That he was most certainly not going to mess with again.

Had he peeked at it, he would have found her emotions contemplating erasing the memory of her bottom from his mind.

Well, two of them were discussing doing violent things to a certain white haired girl, but that wasn't as important as the other discussion.

But instead he stared at her dresser. He kept his uniforms on hangers in the closet, but Raven might keep hers in the dresser. It would make sense since her uniform lacked legs and feet on it (which had never made sense to him, she uses magic, shouldn't she need more protection?) and let her store more by folding them. It was understandable for Starfire to wear so little since the girl was nearly invulnerable and her body temperature was way higher than a humans.

He wasn't complaining, mind you. He did enjoy checking out Raven's backside from time to time.

"I think I'll check the closet first anyways." He mumbled to himself. Better safe than sorry. Upon opening the closet, the first thing he found were several uniforms on hangers.

And then he found a rather familiar stuffed chicken with a penny on a chain around its neck.

Is that…? His mind reeled from shock. She kept those?!

He stared at the items in question, not really knowing what to think. The chicken he had given to her not long after he realized he liked her as more than friends. She had accepted it and said something sarcastic and that was the last time he saw it. He had always assumed it was lost in the wake of Blackfire appearing. It was okay, he didn't really know what you were supposed to do to get a girl to like you back at the time anyways. As for the penny, he didn't really know why he had given it to her. It felt like the right thing to do at the time, especially with all the Trigon-related stuff that followed. He dang sure didn't think she would keep it. It was just a goofy little good luck charm.

He was now probably more confused than he had ever been before, so he grabbed a uniform and started for the door. He could sort these things out later, when he had some down time in his room away from people.

He paused in front of the dresser once more, wondering if he was supposed to grab her some underwear too. Rootin' around in a girl's panty drawer ain't cool dude. His conscious said. Beast Boy was inclined to agree since this particular girl could kill him easily. With that in mind, he left the room. As he walked, he continued to question himself.

Which would have been worse, Raven dying in his arms or both of them dying and leaving Emelia an orphan?

And why did she still have the chicken and penny?


A/N: Okay, now that I finally got that out of the way, we can get to the good stuff! The next chapter will directly address a few things as well as pave the way for Beast Boy's trip to Comicon!

Spoiler alert: Beast Boy *censored* and then he *censored* and then Raven *censored* and Emmy is just like *censored* and Cyborg is all like 'Wth?'