Author's Note: First of all, I am deeply sorry for not including the link to the 'shipper's web site in the last chapter. I had it there, but I guess when I converted the document to HTML the link didn't go through…or something like that. Anyway, if you're interested, the link is now on my author's profile as my homepage, and the URL is at the bottom of this chappie.

Second…yes, I have seen the dreaded episode "Terra." I have to say, it was the most melodramatic, unrealistic, over-sappy, OOC, let's-screw-with-all-the-characters episode I have ever seen and probably ever will see. I felt rather like I was reading someone's five-minute fan fiction than watching the show. I now officially despise Amy Wolfram, the writer for the ep (who also happened to write "Car Trouble"). I don't know what happened to her. "Sisters" was a good episode, but she went downhill from there. Anyway, back on the subject…not only is the prospect of Terra horrifying from an R/BB 'shipper's perspective, the episode was just bad in general. They have turned Teen Titans into a soap opera. And the sad thing is, I might have liked Terra. I really might have. But the way her romance with BB is paced is just really…unconvincing. In a let's-throw-up-from-the-cotton-candy-fluff kind of way. But this only leads me to believe that she is not permanent, because true romances (Robin and Starfire, just as an example…do you see them falling into each other's arms crying and getting insane hearts in their eyes and fainting whenever they approach one another? I didn't think so) take time, and this is not one of them. This ep was also a downer for a whole lot of Raven/BB fans. We are completely stranded, guys. There aren't many of us left who have any faith. Some of my closest, most die-hard Raven/BB friends are giving in to despair now. But until I am proven undeniably wrong (which, let me assure you, isn't happening anytime soon), I refuse to give up. I've come this far, and I'm not going to be tied down. I just can't believe that so many people are succumbing to Terra already, thinking she's the coolest thing and surrendering all that they hoped for. It's screwed, because in the end, we all know that she is going to betray the Titans. But only Raven is going to be suspicious. Well, God bless Raven. She is the representation of all our sanity.

I get really down just seeing all those Terra/BB fics that have popped up all over the place. I wonder if those writers understand what's in store for Terra in Season 2…? Especially now that it's been confirmed that the show will be following the original Judas Contract storyline even more closely than we expected. Now, that's some uplifting news. Those poor Terra lovers…I suppose they'll have to find out the hard way. That Marv Wolfman is full of trickery! lol.

And finally, to talk about the story. I have a feeling you will be glad about this chapter. I figured that I'd loaded you with enough angst, so it was high time we felt another emotion. You'll see what I mean.

In the meantime, be on the lookout for a new story from me. "Tea With Terra," co-authored by Mint Dragon, my sister Aliute, and I, should prove to be very interesting. Heh heh…

-Alys

Dedication: I would like to dedicate this chapter to those I have met online in the past few months, who, despite the distance, have instantly become my close friends: Brave Raven, for being the face of optimism through my doubts. Mint Dragon, my newest friend and a great writer. Toast, for uplifting reviews, a marvelous fan fiction, and many good laughs. All the TV Tomers, especially Dark Element and the "club" of 'shippers, for always welcoming me with open arms and giving me a nice place that I can call home. The few at the Raven Shrine who still believe in R/BB…you are blessed (psycho shocker, deathblade13, Metrion…I hope you're reading this). And last, but never least…my very best online friend, ROBINROX, the wonderful person who adds joy to my online hours, and who lit the first lighter.

Replies:

Mint Dragon: Recommended fan fictions, at your request: "Hopelessly Devoted" and "Forbidden" by SuNsHiNe10, the Goddess of Romance Fan Fiction, and my personal idol…lol, I hope she's reading this, I love to embarrass her. "Let It Snow!" by Jeeto…the best Teen Titans Christmas story I've ever read; though still not finished. "The Raven," a great little parody poem by Manny PenPen. "Accounts from the Tower" by Toast, the ultimate random-moments Teen Titans fan fiction, with a deliciously angsty chapter every now and then. "A Tinge of Insomnia" by songbirdjen, one of the few one-shots that really worked its way into my deep appreciation. "Teen Titans: Interlude with Hormones" by Dark Poot…frickin wrong, frickin hilarious. "Teen Titans: World's Greatest" by Seth Turtle…action-packed, emotional, and containing the perfect amount of slight BB/R. "Say It With A Song" by Red Moon Kree, a heart-wrenching collection of songfics. "Obsessions" by Noriaki Kakyoin…rather harsh for the devoted 'shippers, but extremely good in a dark, creepy, haunting sort of way. If anyone else is reading this besides Mint Dragon…I also recommend "Blind" and "Payback," both by Mint Dragon herself. Awesome fics. And that's about all I have for now. Most of them can be found on my profile under favorite stories, but there are a few you might have to search for. So, I hope that keeps you occupied…lol.

The Earth's tears: I hope that this is not too cliché, and I deeply apologize if it is. I already had it planned out for months, though, and couldn't go back on it. Please forgive me! T_T

ROBINROX: Wow! I could publish it? Well, if the opportunity arose, you know I would, but unfortunately it's just a fan fiction…

Rainbow Phoenix: Whoa, you cried? That's so…cool! I mean, not in a bad way, lol…but sadness was what I was aiming for. Thanks much. ^^

Le Chat: Yep, I only realized how long the last chappie was when I did the Word Count on Microsoft Word. It freaked me out. I hadn't intended for it to be so long, I suppose it just came out that way. Anyway, how are you delusional? lol…

Brave Raven: Raven never let BB in her room because…well…she wouldn't. At least, if it happened on the show, I couldn't see her doing that. I was trying to convey with that scene that even while I make their relationship seem all poetic and everything, they still get on each other's every last nerve. Besides, if Raven had let him in, there would've been no room for the nice little chat with Cyborg, which I had wanted to include. ^^

Scarred Phoenix: Yes, I wrote the poem myself. ::blushes:: I too like "My Last Breath"…in fact, I love every single song on that CD, which is the first time that's ever happened. Heehee.

Dragon Of The Rose: Um…well…thank you for The Fish! ^_^

TrickyFrog: Okay. First, I want to say that your reviews uplifted me so much that I started grinning madly and telling everyone in my house about what you said. It made me particularly happy to know that I convinced someone of the possibility of BB and Raven. That was the entire purpose of this fic…it was not only for the original 'shippers to enjoy, but for those who didn't believe in the relationship. I wanted so badly to prove its possibility. I had been on the forums forever, desperately posting my theories and ideas that no one seemed to understand. People ignored me…either that, or they called me "misled and deranged." They didn't get the point I was trying to make, and it was only then that I realized the only way I was going to be heard was by putting my ideas into a story. Hence this fan fiction was created. But anyway, I am ecstatic that someone heard my little voice! This relationship is a serious possibility, and even if the writers don't decide to take the show in that direction, I want everyone to know that they very well could have. Thank you for making my day.

Celeste: lol! As much as I love your suggestion, because I can't resist the fluffiness, I feel an obligation toward in-character-ness. Slow-paced romance is the most delicious…so no kissing or "I love you" confessions just yet. Heehee. Remember, Beast Boy has barely even admitted it to himself. I see love as a kind of disease, with all the stages involved: incubation, prodromal, acute, and recovery (sorry for all the weird terms, I just recently escaped Health class). BB and Raven are only in the incubation stage. It's there in their subconscious, but they haven't admitted it yet, even to themselves. However, they are quickly evolving into the prodromal stage, in which the first symptoms begin to appear. I'm not going to go anywhere near the acute stage, because, to be realistic, we all know that BB/R is going to take ages just to step out of the prodromal. And recovery, in this situation, is non-existent. True love, the love that really lasts, knows no recovery. :)

Darkness Gathering: Novels? Wow! Thank you! I don't think that's possible for me right now, I'm only 14…but I do hope to write professionally someday, so that was a very uplifting remark. About dedicating a chappie to ya, you know I am grateful to you for all the wonderful encouragement you've provided. Therefore, I do hereby dedicate this chapter to you too…though you're not up there in the "official" dedication, know that I always appreciate what you have to say!

NessaGGD: Hey! ^_^ Thank you for your compliments…and Dave Matthews Band rocks! XD I especially love "Gray Street"—it's my theme song.

Muse: Well, I love you too…you're a fellow 'shipper! ^^

Weasly4eva: Ah, I don't know about that. I specialize in angst and the deep stuff, but the thing about Sunshine is that she specializes in everything. She stays so very true to the show itself, I often get confused between what happened in Teen Titans and what happened in her fan fiction. Her dialogue is so perfect that you can hear it, you can see every expression on the characters' faces…the fact that she wrote her fic at all was a setback for me, because I thought there was no point in trying after such a marvelous fiction had already been done. ^_^ While I go in depth on everything trying to explain the relationship between Beast Boy and Raven, she sums it up in a few deliciously innocent, true, simple descriptions that go so much farther than my elaborate ones ever could. Sometimes I reread "Forbidden" or "Hopelessly Devoted," for the sheer heck of it, and every single time a smile lights up my face and my faith is restored instantly. That girl's writing has worked magic. She sets the standard that all fic writers should try to live up to. All I can hope for her is that someday she becomes a romance novelist…it would be a shame to have such talent go to waste.

Marshmello Da Strawberry Cow: Heh, sorry, I know they're long. Oh well, I've always been like that…my middle school teachers would tell me to write a page about myself and I would always end up writing five or six. O.O About the space at the end, I have no idea why it does that. It'll probably do it with this chappie too, and I apologize for that annoyance. Must get screwed up when I convert it to HTML or somethin'.

On with the third chapter!

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…And there she was.

Instantly he felt the whirling, unreal aura of a dream sweep over him like a strong wind. She had been out of his reach for seven days straight, just beyond the door, just beyond his potential. But there she was, in flesh and blood, alive…Beast Boy could not be sure that the serene figure on the cot was real.

And then, a splash of relief. Some part of him, not being able to see her, had assumed her dead. This portion of his mind had concluded that, because she had no voice and no strength to open her eyes, she was no longer alive. Now, he knew better.

There she was.

He could see her from where he stood, he could see everything…her eyes, closed in terrible harmonious resignation. Her hair that fell to her shoulders in the front, unmoving because she could no longer turn her head. Her face that was permanently expressionless, unchanging, unfeeling. The deep gash in her side that had been dressed with layers and layers of endless white gauze…while the suppressed blood continued to seep through to the outermost coating, turning the white a faint hue of red. Scars lashed into the once-smooth skin of her arms and legs, and a discolored purple bruise spread across the range of her throat where the monster had attempted to drive the air out of her lungs. Her breath was drawn in deeply and pushed out slowly, as though she were simply taking a nap in spite of all the disaster that had befallen her body.

For a moment, Beast Boy's feet were rooted to the spot. The paper bag crinkled softly beneath his trembling fingers, and he listened to it intently, as if its rustle was enough to break the burden of silence that the room bore. White crept along the walls and onto the unmoving body that slept on the bed. It littered what may have been color, clouding all other emotions and enveloping the room so that it was sealed from all other eyes. Beast Boy was alone now, alone in a way that he had never felt before. It was not because he wasn't sharing the room with another soul…he knew he was, because she was there. It was the kind of aloneness that sprang from the knowing that while someone else was there in front of you, you could never reach them.

In his state of transfixion, only his eyes remained mobile. They darted around the room in curiosity, in caution, in fear. There was a small table directly beside the bed, adorned with an assortment of gifts, cards, and letters…mostly from fans, Beast Boy presumed, allowing his gaze to linger upon the festive-looking table. He was vaguely reminded of birthday parties he'd had as a child, when his parents were still alive, and the guests would arrive bearing a variety of colorful offerings.

Pulled close to Raven's bed was a single chair, wiry and discomforting. Starfire had been there, mostly…Beast Boy could picture the innocent alien girl poised on the chair, talking optimistically to her sleeping friend. She never did lose heart, despite the grimness of the circumstances. He caught sight of a small wastebasket below the chair, filled to the brim with crumpled wads of yellow paper. He wondered briefly what could have happened to make someone trash so many thoughts, whatever their use might have been.

The chair seemed forlorn and unused as it perched there, empty, beside the foreboding bed. He knew he would have to fill the space sooner or later, and there was no use procrastinating, as the villain Mad Mod had said once. He needed to do this. Not only were his conscience and his sanity depending on him…Raven was depending on him. He had disappointed her too many times in the past. This time, he wouldn't let her down.

Beast Boy forced himself to take a step forward. His feet seemed weighted, as if there were heavy chains attached to him; what should have been a simple step ahead became a tireless burden that grew with each movement he managed. Something was opposing him; he didn't know what, but he could feel it. Maybe it was merely the dread he continued to possess for the possible truth. The truth that he could not bear, the one thing he could not accept.

Raven had taught him to accept. She had taught him endurance. That's what she was doing that very second, as he pressed forward: she was enduring. Hanging on by a thread over the grim and daunting canyon of doom. Any average person, he supposed, would have given in long since. But Raven had that ability to endure, and she wasn't going to let death or fate or whatever this was crush her.

But time was running short. If she didn't break through soon, it would be too late. She had to save herself, she had to crack the silence, she had to find the light that was beckoning somewhere in the endless void of darkness. But although she was strong, she was not immortal. One person couldn't bear the weight of the world alone…

Beast Boy finally reached the chair and lowered himself down into it. The plastic bag crackled and swayed in his grasp, as if pleading for release. Obeying its unsaid message, he turned it upside down and allowed the CD to fall into his awaiting palm. It was cool to the touch.

Beast Boy stroked the sharp edges of the hard, plastic case, tracing his finger around its ridged perimeter. It was here, it was all here…the beautiful serenity. The pounding, rhythmic anger. The bittersweet pain, the chill, the harbored darkness that was Raven.

He lifted his eyes and peered over the surface of the CD, then set it aside on the table, averting his gaze to look at her. Her face was pale, her eyes listless, her lips closed quietly, though behind them a thousand unheard screams were erupting. Wake me up inside. Wake me up inside.

A single hand dangled indifferently over the edge of the bed, giving the impression that she had died there in her sleep. But the heart monitor continued to beep steadily in Beast Boy's ears, scribbling patterns of waving green lines on the surface of his brain. It sounded to the tempo of that song, creating a ringing that echoed in the silence. Here it was again, the remnant of her. The life left in her that was subconsciously calling for help, summoning his touch, beckoning ever closer the life that flowed in him.

Beast Boy reached out and tentatively touched her arm. He jumped in surprise, drawing back abruptly.

She was cold as ice…

Without a soul

My spirit sleeping somewhere cold

Until you find it there and lead

It back home…

The pieces came together. The song replayed and reiterated its message, over and over again. Lyrics tossed themselves about in his mind, guitars thrashed, a high voice cried in anguish. Raven's hand seemed to pulsate in its presence. Beast Boy didn't know how it was possible, but he had a strange feeling that she could hear it too.

He had an odd feeling that she was one making it…

Frozen inside without your touch

Without your love, darling…

Hesitantly, Beast Boy reached out to the sleeping dark girl once again. His hand came in contact with her arm, and though he cringed at the deathly chill the touch sent out in waves, he forced himself to ignore it. His hand ran down the curve of her arm until it reached the limp palm that hung suspended over the edge. Much to his surprise, his hand slipped into hers as easily as if it had not known home until that very moment.

Resolutely, Beast Boy laced his own fingers between hers and lifted her hand to eye level. He could feel each tiny intricacy of her finely lined palm. His gaze lingered a moment on the contrast that existed in the communion of their hands: the green with the white. The light and the dark…the fire and the ice. Despite the many differences, his fingers twined with Raven's in a perfect kind of unity. Raven's palm filled the empty void over his so perfectly, it looked as if their hands had been created simply to lock together.

Don't think like that, he scolded himself. Forcefully, he pushed his own thoughts deeper into the reaches of his mind, where even he could not find them. She was his best friend. He could not afford to think like that…

Beast Boy concentrated on remembering how to breathe. He had never touched Raven…not truly. There was always the occasional hand on her shoulder, or the friendly nudge. But never like this. And it was partly because she was simply…untouchable. She didn't want to be near others, to be embraced, to be stroked or held. Raven was isolated, and it had been that way for far too long. If she was awake, Beast Boy knew she would have pushed him away. But now, she needed this. She needed warmth, and light, and life…

"Raven, I—"

He trailed off, at a loss for words. He knew he had to talk. To say something. But it was difficult, with the way her eyes did not open to receive his message. It was awkward, with her hand still enclosed in his. And most of all, it was heart-wrenching, because he knew there would be no reply.

Gazing down at the floor, Beast Boy gave his friend's hand a gentle squeeze. "Okay, to tell ya the truth, I feel like an idiot. Like I'm talking to a wall or something."

The high-toned sound of his own voice shattering the silence startled him, and he chuckled nervously. "Then again, you were always like that…"

Lifting his head to see her face, he continued hurriedly.

"I don't even know why I'm doing this. You can't hear me. I mean, how could you? You barely even listened to me when you were awake, and now I'm kinda interrupting your sleep." Once again, a tiny giggle escaped his lips. "Well…I guess you'll just have to put up with me. For a while."

Beast Boy's thumb stroked the back of Raven's hand absently. He was abnormally surprised to find that he felt more like himself than he had in a week.

"I know you always cut yourself off from everyone. We all know that. But Raven…whether you like it or not, you have friends here who would do anything for you. And we're all really worried…I mean, you should see Starfire. She's turned into a total basket case!"

What was he saying? Starfire had handled things nicely, given the dire situation. He was the basket case.

"Okay, take that back. I admit it. I'm a basket case too. But it's not just me. It's all of us. We're just…not the same. And even though we try to cover it up, we really…really appreciate you, Raven."

Beast Boy's voice changed suddenly in pace, picking up speed as if there was a painful revelation in his words that he needed to rid himself of quickly.

"And all the stupid things we say, just trying to get you to notice us, we don't mean them. They just…come out. We never should have said them in the first place. All the times we argued with you, we know we could have just listened to you. But we didn't. We took you for granted, ya know? We didn't know how important you were to us until all this crap happened."

All of this time, I can't believe I couldn't see

Kept in the dark, but you were there in front of me…

Beast Boy shifted uncomfortably in his chair, fumbling with her hand.

"We can't be ourselves without you. We can't do anything. The only color here is white, and it's like it's…it's just…everywhere. We're going ballistic. We feel horrible…it's like someone has told us we're going to die, and all we can do is wait for it. And we have to live knowing that you never knew how much—"

He stopped himself just in time, and exhaled deeply.

"Sorry. The point is…well, ya know when me and Cy went into your little mirror world? And we helped you fight that humongous red demon thing? I think you said it was your dad…man, that sucks. Well, anyway, you kept telling us to leave. You said that we would be trapped there forever if you lost. I guess you were afraid for us or something. But we didn't listen. We told you that we weren't going to leave you there alone."

An odd sort of feeling rose from somewhere within the pit of his stomach. It felt vaguely familiar; a burning sensation that seemed to be fighting for release. At first Beast Boy wasn't sure what to make of it. It was pressing at his eyes as though threatening to explode behind them. Ignoring the feeling, he continued.

"We fought that stupid thing till it dropped dead. Or at least something like that. It didn't stand a chance. And Raven, when you were falling I took you back up to solid ground. You asked me why I stayed…you thought I didn't like you."

I've been sleeping a thousand years it seems

Got to open my eyes to everything…

Beast Boy exuded a sudden violent shudder.

"I guess I never answered—"

His voice cracked, and one hand flew up to his neck in a vain attempt to relieve his burning throat. That feeling in him was multiplying, bursting out all over the place, welling up like something was going to go over the brim. Beast Boy tried to make his voice return, but all that sounded was a whimper. Finally, he managed a tiny whisper.

"I never would have left you."

There was nothing left to fight. Nothing left to stand against. He needed to break down. He needed to let it go. Somehow he knew there was hope but there was no way to be so sure and if she did not wake up and if she left him here alone he would never be the same and he would never find himself in this madness…

"So…don't leave me."

And then it happened. A single, silent tear rivered down Beast Boy's cheek.

He didn't even attempt to brush it away. He just let it fall, the way it was supposed to, the way it should have for an entire week…for years. Beast Boy cried, and he didn't will himself to stop. He cried because there was nothing left to do. Nothing could be done for her, and he couldn't change this truth. As his friend lay here dying, awaiting her fate at the break of morning, for once he had to put it all in someone else's hands, he had to let that unknown force take control. Raven was going to leave them all, and despite the fact that he was considered a hero, he was nobody's savior. He never had been. It wasn't up to him to save Raven, or his friends, or himself. They were all powerless beneath the invisible hand of fate, left to their own demise, left to enjoy the ones they loved for the brief time that life lasted. Suddenly, Beast Boy didn't know why, but he thought that death might take him next…might take Starfire, might take Cyborg, might take any of one of them.

But it had already taken the most important thing of all…the source of darkness, caring, friendship, shade, sarcasm, beauty, strength, and wisdom; the counterbalance that kept him alive…

Raven.

Suddenly, Beast Boy's head vaulted up in alarm. His eyes, still glistening from the recent arrival of unfallen tears, traveled across Raven's serene face in astonishment. There was a change in the room. Something about the stillness in the air…it changed, and felt like it was circulating again. Beast Boy could sense it the moment it happened. It was instinct, and he recognized it instantly…something about the atmosphere had lifted a notch, and was bursting with positive thought.

It was only then that he felt it. There was a soft pressure on his hand.

He looked down, and realized with a start that her palm within his was no longer limp. In a kind of slow apprehension, her narrow fingers curled around his, as if holding onto something for dear life. Beast Boy held his breath, tensing as his eyes blinked wildly from her hand to her face. What was going on…?

And then, a whisper…barely that. A voice practically inaudible floated through the room, fragile, but at the same time…strong. Deep, assured, calm, familiar. It was a voice that he had coveted for seven long days.

"I won't."

A flash of color spurred the room. Deep, metallic blue. The color you'd see if the ocean ever froze over…

Raven had opened her eyes.

Beast Boy sat, frozen, his mouth agape, his eyes glazed with shock. He wasn't quite sure what was real anymore. Then, it hit him like a slap in the face…reality check. She was awake.

"AAAHHH!!!" Beast Boy pulled his hand away as quickly as a bolt of lightning, then fell out of his chair with an abrupt clatter that rang across the entire hospital. A dazed Raven raised an eyebrow, confused, unsure of whether she should ask where she was or burst out laughing. The startled boy rose to his feet quickly and allowed his jaw to remain dropped in full expression of a delirious shock.

"YOU'RE AWAKE?! HOW DID…WHAT JUST…HOW MUCH DID YOU HEAR?" Quite suddenly, he remembered that he had been crying, and he blushed a hot scarlet as his hand flew to his face and quickly smeared the single tear away.

Raven replied with a weak smirk, then whispered calmly. "Just the last part…"

But Beast Boy didn't stick around to hear the answer. He had already darted out of Raven's room and into the waiting room, screaming at the top of his lungs. "STAR! ROBIN! SHE'S AWAKE!"

He felt wave after wave of warm relief crash over him, one after the other. She was awake. He had done it. Raven was awake. She wasn't going to die. He had done it!

As he bounded across the whitewashed hallway, gasping for breath and spinning with delicious relief and reality, he knew that everything had been restored. Before his eyes were colors, millions of colors that he had only begun to notice…the metallic gray gleam of the cameras dotted along the ceiling, the rainbow variety of color in the framed posters on the walls, the screaming red of the buttons on the elevator. And just ahead, the auburn of Starfire's hair; and the yellow, green, and red vibrancy of Robin's costume. Beast Boy could hear the thudding of his feet against the carpet and the heartbeat pulsing in his ears. He could feel the tension in his fingers as he flexed them, the blood rushing to his cheeks in his joy, and the thrill of the air flying past him as he ran. But most of all, he could feel the color he thought he had lost, sweeping over him again, whirling past him as he tore down the hallway. Raven's eyes seeped back into his memory, and he could feel them, and he could feel her…

Beast Boy reached the sleeping couple triumphantly and shook them awake. "ROBIN! GET UP! SHE'S AWAKE! I WOKE HER UP!"

"Wha…?" The Boy Wonder shoved him away, muttering to himself with lidded eyes. "Tell me in the morning." Starfire stirred with a slight moan of annoyance, but remained in her comfortable position on Robin's shoulder.

"ARE YOU GUYS DEAF? HELLO! I SAID, RAVEN'S AWAKE!"

Starfire's eyes flew open abruptly, and for a moment she looked around the room with a dazed expression. "Hm? Beast Boy…what did you—" a wide yawn interrupted her question, and she sat up before it died away, rubbing her eyes absentmindedly and staring at her green friend in confusion.

"Star, she's awake! Come on! Come see!"


At this final realization Starfire's jaw dropped, and in a flash she shot up from the cushioned chair, fully awake, tugging on Robin's arm anxiously. "Robin! Awaken! Beast Boy says that Raven is awake!"

Feeling a sudden pang of guilt for leaving Raven alone, Beast Boy sped off in the direction of Patient Room 124, gasping for breath. He flung the door open and burst through, fleeing over to the side of her bed anxiously. "I'm sorry! I was just getting Robin and Star! Are you okay?" he sputtered in one enormous breath.

The dark girl opened her mouth to reply, but she wasn't quick enough—at this exact moment, Starfire sped through the door, Robin at her heels, and gasped in joy. "Raven!" she cried happily, her feet lifting slowly off the ground as her "unbridled joy" became more conspicuous. The Tamaranean girl hastened to her friend's side, leaned down, and caught Raven in a somewhat life-threatening hug.

"You have awakened!" Starfire's sing-song voice cooed happily as she squeezed the life out of her friend. "Oooh, there is much to tell you! But I must first recite the Poem of Perfect and Unrestrained Happiness, the longest and most cherished of all Tamaranean poetry!"

Beneath Starfire's crushing embrace, Raven moaned slightly. "Ugh…Starfire…you're hurting me…"

Starfire gasped in horror. "Oh! I apologize!" She backed away from her friend, her face flushed with joy and embarrassment.

Raven reached a hand up to her head, and winced. "Oww…what happened? Did we beat him?"

Robin raised an eyebrow, then realized what his friend meant, and began to laugh. "Oh, him? Yeah, BB let him have it."

A flood of voices swept over the room…Starfire babbled, Robin conversed, Beast Boy chattered. Raven didn't interrupt—she was slightly confused, oddly content, and very, very tired, though she couldn't pinpoint why. She felt no strength to talk, or do anything else, for that matter.

Raven's eyes shifted around the room as she looked at each of her friends in turn. Each of them beamed at her, Starfire wringing her hands excitedly, Robin grinning with relief, Beast Boy flashing her a contagious smile.

For some reason, her gaze lingered on her green friend. Their eyes met quietly. He was rocking on his heels, eyes dark and shining in the brightness of the room. Quite suddenly…she didn't know why, but…she felt as if she owed him something.

Robin pulled out his communicator and sent a message off to Cyborg, beckoning him to return to the hospital and see his newly awakened friend. Starfire pulled up a chair and leaned over her friend, touching her hand and jabbering happily away. Beast Boy watched his friends, the Titans, reunited with a new appreciation for all that was really important. But mostly, he watched Raven, realizing all that he had never seen before, looking at his own life through new eyes. He watched as she coolly replied to their comments, smirked at their melodramatic musings, wondered in awe at their undying concern. Beast Boy watched her, and appreciated her, not because he wanted to or because he had been dragged into it. For the first time, quite clearly, he saw everything he had almost lost, but had fortunately found. There in front of him, in the dark, she had always existed…but now he knew.

And—he realized with breathless surprise—he was flooded with gratitude.

***

"Okay, okay, I've got one! So this guy walks into a bar in—"

"A…bar? What is this 'bar' you speak of, Beast Boy?"

"Uh…well, it's, um…Raven? Starfire wants to know what a bar is."

Raven sighed exasperatedly. "Yes, Beast Boy, I realize that." She turned her pale face to the naïve alien. "A bar is a place where immature, arrogant people go to talk and drink a substance called alcohol that rots the brain and causes cancer of the liver."

Pressed close against her, Beast Boy giggled at the blunt wisdom. "Oh," whispered Starfire. "I see."

The trio made their way slowly down the brightly-lit hallway of Titans Tower. It had been only one week since Raven's return from the coma, but the dark girl had jumped at her first opportunity to escape from the hospital. Apparently (as she had confided to her friends the moment the nurses had turned their backs), the food was absolutely unbearable, and she was growing restless lying in a hospital bed for hours upon end.

Now, she found herself half-wishing that she had stayed—her wounds, particularly the large stitches in her side, were still causing her considerable pain; not to mention the fact that she was still weak as a kitten. Raven knew she would be pretty much useless to the Titans for the next couple of weeks—her lack of energy made any flight or powers utterly impossible. She supposed they would just have to put up with her until she got her strength back.

The expression on Raven's face at this moment was particularly sour, as it was being pressed with conflicting emotions of embarrassment, annoyance, and amusement. Her position was not exactly favorable: her left arm was hung over Starfire's shoulders, her right over Beast Boy's; and the normally independent young woman was helplessly sandwiched between her two lighthearted friends, literally hanging onto them for dear life. If someone had seen them from a distance, they might have gotten the impression that the three were melded together at the sides. It was particularly mortifying and deathly to Raven's reputation to not even be able to walk on her own, and she had never been too fond of close physical contact—but her friends had proved themselves gentle and concerned, so she had allowed herself to be helped to her room.

"Like I was saying," Beast Boy continued good-naturedly, "the guy walks into a bar in Texas and—"

"Texas? What is…Texas?"

Raven and BB both groaned.

"It's a large state in the southwestern part of the U.S." Raven looked apathetic.

"Yeah, what she said." Beast Boy cast the dark girl a sideways, boyish grin. His gaze lingered on her for longer than he had intended as he etched her profile into his mind. A few scars were still present over her smooth complexion, and the bruise at the nape of her neck had not yet begun to heal. Nevertheless, the shapeshifter smiled contentedly, happy just to be beside her.

Realizing quite abruptly that she was in the spotlight of his adoring gaze, Raven raised a curved eyebrow at her friend, turning her head ever-so-slightly to meet his eyes. "What?" she implored suddenly, shattering his concentration with a miniscule, barely perceivable smirk.

"Nothing." Beast Boy continued to grin, even after he redirected his stare to the hallway winding before him.

Though he refused to admit it, even to himself, this was a rather blissful position. His left side had conformed to the contours of her body in their close contact, and her arm was draped over his shoulders in what was like the better half of an embrace. Beast Boy clasped her pale hand in his and held it close to his cheek, feeling her every intake of breath and even, occasionally, the drumming of her heart.

Words could not describe how grateful he was for the rhythm of this heart close to his, or the blood that flowed through his friend's veins, making her warm and giving her life. Beast Boy wasn't quite ready to remember the internal hell it had been without her.

He liked the feel of her weight bearing over him; it helped him to know that he was lifting some of her burden. But then again, that was the way it always was with Raven. With her—for the first time in his life—he was content to linger in someone else's shadow. He was happy just to lift someone else up.

"Anyways," he began, emphasizing his call for attention by shooting a glower of warning at Starfire, "the guy walks into a bar in Texas. Then, check this out, he sees a—"

"Oh! It appears we have reached our destination!" The red-haired alien beamed warmly as Raven's gray bedroom door came into view.

"Starfire!"

She looked offended. "I apologize, I was merely stating that—"

Raven cut in. "Don't worry about it, Starfire. I'm sure we didn't miss much."

A vein popped out of Beast Boy's head in rising frustration. "No one appreciates comedy anymore!"

Raven cast Starfire a sideways glance that visibly read, "Yeah, right," and the alien girl giggled in amusement.

As the six plodding legs slowed to a gentle stop in front of Raven's door, Starfire's uninhibited concern resurfaced. "Raven, do you wish us to assist you—"

"No, it's alright, I'll be fine," Raven murmured, eager to be free of the all-too-supportive arms of her friends. Beast Boy reluctantly slipped from beneath her arm and stepped away from the dark girl; Starfire, on the other side, did the same, though with considerably more enthusiasm than her green teammate. Almost immediately Raven came toppling down like a pile of bricks.

"Eeep!" squealed Starfire, bending low in a rush to scoop up her weak friend—but Beast Boy was faster. In one breathless, intuitive motion, his hands sprang from his sides and circled around Raven's arms the moment before she hit the floor. Raven's eyes, which had been squeezed shut to brace herself for the impact of the fall, flew open abruptly at the gentle, fearful feeling of falling so helplessly against someone else. She looked up at Beast Boy's face.

He chuckled nervously. "Heh…guess you weren't as sturdy as we thought."

Starfire watched with anxiety as the two quickly regained composure. "Oh, Raven, I am sorry! I should have partaken in the act of helping you stand for many moments longer! Are you undamaged? I hope I have not been the cause of such pain and—"

"Whoa. Just chill," the dark girl assured her friend, as Beast Boy helped her to her feet. One white hand grasped the wall determinedly. "It's not your fault." For a reason neither Starfire nor Beast Boy could understand, Raven reached a hand up and pulled her hood over her purple-crowned head. The second after, two dark eyes bore cryptically at them from the shadows.

Raven gyrated slowly to face her own door, and punched a few numbers into the keypad beside it. The entrance flew open almost immediately, and she stepped quietly in, stopping to rest her back against the frame.

"Raven, are you certain—?"

"Yes, Starfire, I'll be alright," the girl replied weakly, folding her arms over her chest, her eyes bearing into her teammate's brighter ones. Starfire beamed cheerfully.

"Well, if you require further assistance, your friends are always here for you," she informed dutifully, smiling widely at the beautiful concept of friendship that she loved. Raven suppressed a tiny smile before stepping completely through the doorway, one hand still guiding her way along the wall, the other at the ready to seal the entrance of her dark domain. Her eyes flickered over her two friends gratefully, knowingly, lovingly. In all honesty, she didn't belong anywhere without them. They were the reason she continued to fight.

"'Night," Beast Boy chimed.

Raven's eyes rested on his, and she paused for a moment before replying. When finally her lips parted, her voice came in so hushed that it could barely be called a whisper: "…Good night."

In a flash of swift movement, a whir of gray and a flutter of blue, the door clicked shut.

For a moment, Starfire and Beast Boy were stock-still. Perhaps they were listening to see if their friend would take another fall, or maybe there was simply no need for conversation. But for whatever reason, the two friends stood, gazing intently at the closed door before them as if it concealed a thousand unsolved mysteries behind it. And, in a way…it did.

Finally, Starfire turned her head and allowed her gaze to linger upon her green friend. Her eyes contained a beseeching curiosity. "Beast Boy, are you unwell?"

BB's head swiveled around abruptly to meet the alien girl's eyes. Saying that he was confused would have been an understatement. His brows furrowed in incomprehension. "I'm fine, Star. What made ya think that?"

Slowly, Starfire smiled. "Your face…it is a most vibrant shade of red."

***

Through the blanket of darkness that had settled over the city, not a single pinprick of light could be seen. Purplish-blue clouds hovered here and there in the expectant sky, and a bitter chill gnawed at the exposed flesh of the city's inhabitants as they hastened past. It was a blustery evening, graced with the occasional descent of a snow flurry. The city was brimming with the sensory delights of the whipping wind, the glowing traffic, and the brilliant beams of streetlights that towered above the slick roads. Crimson-cheeked children skidded playfully on patches of ice as they walked by with their parents. Restless night-shifters switched lanes in the endless throng of hissing traffic. The wealthy strolled in fur towards the churning doors of gold-decked hotels, while the less fortunate bundled together in alleyways, warming their hands over a few flickering flames. Jump City, in its small, unseeing corner of the world, was bustling with the chilly glow of night life.

From where he sat idly beside the huge window, Robin observed the tiny cars that inched past in a sea of shining gold and red. The Boy Wonder pressed his face against the cold glass. It was this city that he felt called to serve, these people who were in need of his protection—from monsters, from criminals, from Slade. Without the Titans, this city would be lost; and without this city, the Titans would be lacking their reason for life.

Inside the lived-in comfort of the Tower, Robin turned to face his friends, who were scattered randomly across the main room. He wryly smiled. They were his real reason for life. It was amazing, he thought, how close he was to them after only a year as a team. But during that time they had fought, ate, slept, laughed, cried, and breathed together nonstop, with no break from one another's company, and no relief from each other's nerves. Robin supposed that in itself was enough to bring five very different people together as lifelong friends.

He shifted in place and pondered the dynamic of his team. It was so weird—they might as well all be dominos. When one Titan fell, the rest toppled over after their teammate. Each person provided something necessary for the team that they couldn't cope without. They were all linked together in their relationships, all connected, all ultimately affected by one another. Despite the constant bickering that resulted from living together 24/7, everyone was so utterly unique and helpful that the five friends pieced together as perfectly and precisely as a jigsaw puzzle. It was what made them strong.

Cyborg was their confidence. Their assurance. Their solid rock. Robin couldn't count the times he had find himself ranting to Cyborg, numbering his problems on his fingers, voicing every single doubt on his mind aloud. And even though Cyborg didn't always have a viable solution, he did always have a listening ear. Something about the way the cybernetic teen dove headfirst into a situation, perpetually giving his all, was very vital to the team.

He and Cyborg were alike in many ways, Robin thought. That was why they clashed so horribly—the two tended to argue endlessly until one of them finally cracked and stormed off to ventilate somewhere. But when it boiled down to it, forgiveness ensued between the friends. No one had covered Robin's back quite as many times as Cyborg had, and this gave them a powerful bond that somehow managed to survive every single one of their torrential disagreements.

Then there was Beast Boy. The laughter of the group. The sheer delightful insanity. Things seemed to explode into being when the green comedian walked in, and without him, the Titans lost their ability to lighten up and see the amusing side of life. BB wasn't always funny (actually, he was usually horribly corny), but his easygoing manner allowed the team to relax, to kick back and enjoy all the crazy twists and turns that life had to offer.

Beast Boy was the younger brother of everyone, including Robin. The two had never been very close, but when they did interact, that was the kind of relationship that existed. BB could annoy the crap out of the leader of the Titans, while Robin in turn could shove him away, much as any older brother would do. But usually, they got along remarkably well. Robin would guide him in achieving his goals, and Beast Boy would make the time they spent getting there considerably more fun.

And next on the list was Starfire—the optimism. The innocence. The simple, cheerful, gold-hearted kindness that had saved them all time and time again. God only knew where the Titans would be without the alien's imploring view of Earth and her undying desire to know more. She was so very warm and all-accepting…when her friends were caught up in the chaos of civil war, that unconquerable sweetness of hers always melted each of them back into their place.

Star had as many questions as a pestering five-year-old, but the crazy thing was, Robin didn't mind answering any of them. In fact, he enjoyed every second of her company. He savored every single word that fell from her mouth. There was something undeniably appealing about her, and she was his best friend.

No…that's not it.

Robin sighed and folded his arms over his chest. He wasn't quite sure what to call Starfire anymore. She was a friend, of course, but she extended beyond that simple, overused word. He had settled on calling her his best friend, but lately that label too seemed to have faded beneath the vibrancy of all that made him thankful for Star. It just wasn't fitting anymore. He knew she deserved the title more than anyone else, but it left him unfulfilled, as if he wanted to shower her with an even higher honor than that of "best friend." But what exactly was above a best friend? Nothing, of course.

Unless…

The blood rushed to Robin's face, and he quickly took this as a sign to steer his mind clear of the subject.

Last but never least, his thoughts drifted to the one Titan who formed the final piece of the puzzle: Raven. Their sanity, their strength, their calm. The week the team had spent without her had been a chaotic jumble of emotion and spiraling insanity. Robin had never realized before just how much they all needed her for their overall mental health. Raven was the one who taught them how to stay cool, to control themselves, to quit complaining and carry their burdens sensibly. There were so many times when, if she had not interceded with wisdom and tranquility at the ready, the Titans would have driven themselves crazy.

The relationship between the leader and the dark girl was one of deep, underlying respect. They left one another alone, both of them being very fond of privacy, and didn't question each other's opinions or logic. They were, in truth, very much alike—both were extremely intelligent, self-sacrificial, and independent—and the two understood one another in a way that was left unsaid.

Robin knew Raven could take care of herself, so he didn't worry over her—but sometimes, he felt concern for his deeply secretive friend. She was very grim, very pessimistic, very unfeeling and alone. And he, believe it or not, knew how it felt to be that way.

But since he had met Starfire…there had been a certain light about his life that he was drawn to. It was only recently that he'd realized she was the one generating it. This light had beckoned, guided, and brightened everything for the past year—beneath it, his secrets were exposed, and he felt no need to hide. The purpose in everything became clear; in her eyes was a resolution that he had been looking for forever. The absolution he tried so desperately to grant himself through all his searching, all his working, all his fruitless attempts to find Slade and to rise above the others, brought him nothing but the emptiness he had started with. It was only when he was with her that he found forgiveness and completion. The world became as new for him as it was for her, and a certain childlike innocence that he thought he had lost forever was all restored. In her, he had finally found peace…Starfire, his best friend and confidant, had saved him.

Though Robin knew Raven would never admit it, she needed some kind of light. She had the same aura of darkness that he did, except that her case was about ten times more intense. That was what he wondered about. Wasn't there some person in the world who could trespass into her darkness and bring her warmth, the way that Starfire had done for him? Robin believed that there was. He supposed it was simply a matter of waiting for that person to come around. Or maybe they already had—Raven just hadn't realized it yet.

Robin smirked as he rose from the window and plopped down into the couch next to Cyborg—who had, from the looks of it, been sucked into the three-dimensional free-for-all fantasy that was Super Smash Brothers Melee.

"Which level are you on?" Robin interrogated, reaching for the open bag of Chex Mix that had been abandoned on the coffee table. His friend merely grunted in reply. On screen, a determined-looking hero garbed in green launched arrows at a giant white hand that was repeatedly pounding him into the ground. Cyborg groaned and jabbed restlessly at the purple game controller, his face sunken.

Warm peals of feminine laughter floated up from the floor where Starfire sat cross-legged, surrounded by an assortment of scrapped photos, newspaper clippings, colored pencils, and caking bottles of glue. She leaned over the unfinished scrapbook in her lap and gently tossed a photo to Beast Boy. Opposite from her, sprawled lazily on his stomach, he caught it in a single outstretched hand.

"Do you remember the evening we visited the park of amusement?" Starfire babbled reminiscently. "We flew upon the coasters which rolled, won prizes of large furry inanimate creatures, consumed mounds of edible pink cotton…" The Tamaranean girl counted off all the wonderful things about the amusement park on her fingers, suddenly sneaking a glance at Robin. "…Gazed upon the slightly frightening yet very beautiful explosions of fire in the sky…"

Beast Boy studied the picture in his hands and giggled. It was a group photo, probably taken by some random person they had approached and asked the favor of. The Titans stood in front of a large ferris wheel, each of their faces bright from the colors that danced around them. Robin grinned casually, one hand on Starfire's left shoulder, who was (oddly enough) smiling shyly. Her eyes were gleaming quietly, and a tinge of crimson brightened her cheeks. Beside her, Cyborg beamed enormously, his eyes squinted shut in glee. Raven looked as stony as always, her arms crossed over her chest, her legs concealed by the smooth falling folds of her cape. She was casting a sidelong glance in the direction of Beast Boy, who grinned maniacally, striking a cheesecake pose for the camera with a large stuffed snake that was wrapped around his neck. His eyes were bugged out, and his hands clutched his throat as he feigned being choked by the lifeless creature. All five of the Titans held a can of their signature sodas, and Robin grasped a warm, dripping caramel apple that made Beast Boy's mouth water as he looked over the picture.

"Beast Boy, can I see it?" Robin extended an awaiting hand from the couch, eager to return to the distant night at the fair. Beast Boy obeyed and handed over the old photo, which the leader accepted gratefully, reclining back into the cushioned depths of the sofa. Shortly, he began to chuckle, tickled by the nature of each of the Titans' poses. "Good times," he muttered, as Beast Boy reached for another stack of pictures.

BB couldn't believe all the things Starfire had held onto. There were events in her randomized piles that he had completely forgotten about: headlines about minor villains that had temporarily terrorized the city; remnants of collaborated online chats the Titans had had with their fans; bottle caps with funny messages on their undersides that Beast Boy had found lying around the street; the crude, handmade birthday card each of the Titans had signed when Starfire turned one hundred and four (sixteen, in human years). It was amazing how one person could remember so much, and hold it all so close.

A sigh descended from the sofa, and Robin stood abruptly, making his way to the kitchen and pulling open the refrigerator. "Man, I'm thirsty." He reached a gloved hand in and removed a Coke. "Star, you want one?"

Starfire looked up from her work and beamed. "Why, yes," she stated happily, thrusting an index finger into the air informatively. "I would be delighted to consume a carbonated beverage of high fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, and caffeine!"

Robin and Beast Boy sweatdropped.

"What am I, chop liver?!" Cyborg whined, thumbs violently punching random buttons into his controller. "Get me a soda too!"

Robin's eyes narrowed ominously at his oblivious friend, but he filched a third soda from the fridge nevertheless, mumbling something under his breath. In the blink of an eye, the can was flying across the room in the general direction of Cyborg.

"Ow!" The cry of pain was accompanied by the hollow, clanging sound of metal on metal. Cyborg's hand flew to his head to nurse the wound—while on screen, the green-clad hero stumbled off the edge of a rock into the black abyss below. The flaming words "GAME OVER" emerged onto the screen, and Cyborg's jaw dropped in astonishment as he gaped at his involuntary failure, the full can of Coca-Cola rolling forlornly on the sofa beside him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Cyborg. I sure hope it doesn't explode on you," Robin crooned sweetly. Beast Boy was suddenly dissolved in a fit of the giggles, and began rolling rampantly across the floor, consumed by hysterical laughter. Robin grinned with satisfaction.

"Oh, Cyborg, are you injured?" Starfire jumped up in concern, abandoning her scrapbook to rush to her friend's aid. "I shall destroy the flying carbonated beverage of high fructose corn syrup and/or sucrose, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, and caffeine!" The alien girl had a starbolt at the ready, and was, to the horror of everyone except Beast Boy (who was struggling to breathe through his own maniacal laughter), aiming at the innocent can of soda.

"No! It's alright, Star, I'm okay." The cybernetic teen scooped up the can in an immense palm and cupped it there for protection. He shot a menacing glare at Robin. "I'm just slightly pissed that Robin here made me lose this game when I was on the last level!"

Beast Boy's outbursts of laughter finally subsided, and he spread out over the carpet once again, one hand over his stomach. "Gotta give it to ya, Rob…that was a good one!" He grinned.

The Boy Wonder snickered with jubilance, starting towards Starfire and gently handing her one of the two sodas he held. Lowering her glowing hand with an expression of defeat, she accepted it quickly, an adorable frown plastered over her face. Robin leaned in to whisper in her ear. "He deserved it."

The Tamaranean girl jerked away abruptly, averting her gaze to look her friend directly in the eye. Her eyes glinted dangerously. "Thank you," she snapped, popping the soda open with a sharp fizzle, never removing her stare from Robin. She took a sip and continued to gaze at him in superior disapproval, as if daring him to say anything else. Defeated and, truthfully, very intimidated, the masked boy gulped, turned, and slunk away.

Beast Boy raised an eyebrow and watched as Starfire returned to her position over the scrapbook. That girl was all sweetness…until you made her mad.

As things once again settled into some form of normality—Cyborg and Robin now competing in versus mode, Starfire doodling sketches of her friends on the pages of her scrapbook—Beast Boy returned to the entertaining process of examining the pictures. All of them. Each photo told a different story, relived a different memory. There was a certain excitement in not knowing what picture you were going to run across next, or what images it was going to replay in your head.

Quite suddenly, Starfire looked up, pressing the cool can of soda to her bronze cheek. She sighed contentedly. "Friends, is it not wonderful to have Raven back?"

Beast Boy's head shot up at the mention of her name.

"Yeah," murmured Robin and Cyborg in unison. Cyborg threw a barrel over Robin's head, and in turn the leader began to chuck bombs at his opponent. But BB remained alert. He wondered briefly if he should answer—no, no, not a good idea. He was, of course, relieved and overjoyed to have the presence of Raven floating through the Tower once again. But…he didn't want to think about just how much relief and joy had washed over him. If he let anyone else know, they might think he was—

"Beast Boy?"

He jumped in surprise. "Huh…what?"

"Is it not wonderful to have Raven back?" Starfire cocked her head expectantly, her eyes imploring.

"Oh." He had been afraid of this. Beast Boy rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Well…yeah…I guess…"

He breathed a light sigh of relief as Star smiled, satisfied, and gestured invitingly towards a single deserted stack of photos. "I believe you have not viewed these yet," she stated with anticipation.

"'Kay." Beast Boy leaned over and snatched up the deliciously uninvestigated batch of pictures, eagerly rolling onto his side to have a better look. The first in the pile depicted a lush green landscape, dotted with a few white benches that nestled beneath tall oaks. In the foreground, Starfire, Cyborg, Raven, and Beast Boy sat cross-legged on a red-checked picnic blanket, the sun beaming light over their faces.

I remember this, he thought to himself as he studied the photo. Robin must have taken the picture. Against the red and white pattern of the blanket, Beast Boy's arms were thrown above his head in glee, as if he were telling some outrageous joke. Star lay comfortably on her stomach, her head in her palms, as she watched him—confusion at the humor of Earth inevitably etched in her features. Cyborg pointed at BB wildly, one hand slapped to his forehead, obviously in a bout of spontaneous laughter. Beside him Raven's mouth hung open, her face looking absolutely horror-struck. He had to giggle at her expression. It drove him to wonder exactly which joke he had been telling.

Beast Boy set aside the first picture and proceeded to the next. This roll of film had most definitely been used up at the park—each photo portrayed the Titans under a cerulean dome of sky, accompanied by hot dogs (or tofu dogs, in BB's case), a well-worn football, and that omnipresent picnic blanket. Little kids in baseball caps ran aimlessly in the backdrop, under the adoring gazes of their parents, who relaxed in lawn chairs nearby.

A flood of memories rushed into Beast Boy's brain as he pored over each captured moment. Everything about the pictures just screamed summer, a time of year that he loved, especially in the freezing, abysmal chill of January.


Reluctantly, Beast Boy realized that he was nearing the end of the selected mound of photos. He didn't want them to end—he wished suddenly that there were more pictures that he could sift through, satisfying his curiosity and returning him to times and places he had forgotten existed. Maybe he would get a camera; take some of his own. That sounded like something he could occupy himself with, at least for a while. Who knew, maybe he'd start a scrapbook of his own…

He reached the last photo, and his musings stopped short.

The snapshot did not depict the verdant sprigs of grass or the colorful young inhabitants of the park that he had expected. There was no dome of sky, no little kids in baseball caps, no red-checked picnic blanket. The summery aura of the previous pictures dissolved at the grand entrance of the very last photo.

It was nighttime. In the backdrop, Beast Boy could see the blazing lights of the city that diluted the darkness, as well as an inky black sky which was penetrated by the occasional swirls of purple. To the side, the heel of Cyborg's right foot intruded into the picture—he must have been in mid-step when it was taken, Beast Boy supposed as he observed the out-of-place glint of metal.

Towering in the upper half of the photo, an immense light-up sign gleamed invitingly with neon shades of red and blue. "PIZZA" was its colossal message. Beneath the sign, a slab of narrow concrete stretched over the ground, leading on in both directions farther than the picture had been able to capture. On the sidewalk, face garnished with light and a prevailing grin, Beast Boy saw himself.

And Raven.

The two stood casually in front of the elaborate door of the pizza parlor, unaware that there was a camera anywhere near them. If they had known, it surely would not have turned out like this: so naturally. It was this factor of obliviousness that had caused Raven to leave her hood off, not allowing the stony expression she usually wore in pictures to prevail. And it was for this same reason that Beast Boy did not act like a total and complete idiot to impress the camera. They looked completely normal, relaxed, comfortable. No one had announced the picture. Nobody had told them to think of a pose before the flash went off. Beast Boy and Raven stood as themselves, simply and truly.

His hand rested on her shoulder, and he was gesturing outwards to something beyond sight, telling her about something or another. The grin he possessed was, for once, not fake. He didn't smile because someone told him to, or because he was aiming to please the world. He smiled because he was happy. This shone through conspicuously as he stood close to the dark girl, his friend and his balance.

Raven was turned to the side, and the photo captured perfectly the angle of her hair—short in the back, and long where it framed her face. She looked at him intently, giving him the full capacity of her attention, which he basked in as if it were sunlight. It wasn't often that Raven decided to devote herself to a conversation with anyone—especially not Beast Boy. But when she did, she stayed incredibly focused and attentive, concentrating on each comment that was said, choosing her own words carefully. It was amazing, he thought, the very preciseness of her nature.

Raven's profile was assured and calm against the highlighted backdrop of all those dancing lights. Her skin was a grayish white, patterned with foreign colors that reflected down on her from the blazing sign above. The oceanic blue of her cape wrapped around her body in modest beauty, and her hands fell tranquilly at her sides as she listened to the rants of her half-crazed friend. Raven's lashes were dark and smooth over the solid, azure color of her eyes. And, Beast Boy realized with a start—she was smiling.

It was slight, of course—coming from her, what smile wasn't? But it was a smile. It was Raven, smiling at him, caught in a moment, frozen in time forever. Every single time she smiled, and he would try to convince her of it, she would perpetually deny ever having allowed such an expression of happiness light her face. But here was his proof. Now, maybe she would listen to him. Now, maybe she would be able to see herself the way he saw her.

Beast Boy stared in awe at the picture in his hands, his surroundings completely forgotten. He studied the couple in the picture. He observed the place his hand touched her shoulder, the curve of her face as she smiled at him, the gleam in his own eyes as he rambled something off to her in innocence and delight. It was all there—the quiet placidity of her aura, the raucous animation of his, and the perfection of the combination.

It came upon him like a punch in the stomach, a slap in the face. He didn't think anything or admit anything, he did not even claim to understand what had just happened.

But he did not ever want to lose her again. He did not want to go another second without her near. He wanted to be close to her.

Now.

The shapeshifter replaced the photo in its stack, a glint of mingled worry, loss, revelation, determination, and adoration in his dark eyes. If that was even possible. He stood and started towards the door, his legs knowing exactly where he was going, but his brain having not the remotest idea. He almost made it, too. But Starfire was too quick.

"Beast Boy! You are leaving? Where do you proceed to go?" She waved a different pile of photos at him. "I located yet another set of photographs that you have not yet viewed!"

"'S okay. I'm not really…up to it…" Beast Boy gyrated to face her, and tensed suddenly, aware of the situation at hand.

As if hearing the conversation in the room for the first time, Cyborg paused the game and swiveled around to face his friend, one arm over the back of the couch, and one eyebrow raised suspiciously. "What is with you, man? You've been completely out of it all night!"

Starfire nodded in eager agreement, and Robin tossed his controller onto the table to turn on Beast Boy as well. His head popped up over the back of the sofa beside Cyborg's, and Starfire continued to gaze pleadingly from the floor. Oh, great. They were ganging up on him.

"Yeah, Beast Boy, it isn't like you," Robin pointed out concernedly. "Where are you going?"

Beneath their anticipating stares, BB rubbed the back of his head apprehensively. "Well…um…I thought I'd go visit Raven."

This time, everyone's eyebrows jerked up. There was a deafening silence—Starfire's scissors ceased to cut the photo she had been working on, Cyborg halted chewing his most recent mouthful of Chex Mix, and the only sound that could be heard in the room was the distant tinkling of video game music that emitted from the paused screen. Finally, Robin spoke up, his face softened by sympathy, but pinched with confusion.

"Beast Boy…she's asleep."

The green boy found himself chuckling nervously, and searching desperately for an explanation.

"I, uh…well, in case she wakes up. Don't want her to be alone, ya know?"

He held his breath, waiting for their responses. Beast Boy fidgeted in place, uncomfortable beneath the intensity of their looks. An insane blush took over his face, and he stared at the ground, wishing suddenly that he could reverse everything, just to be safely back on the carpet looking at pictures…

No. He couldn't go back on this now, obviously. Without breathing another word of explanation to his friends, Beast Boy turned on his heel and shuffled quietly through the door.

After listening to his footsteps disappear down the hall, the three remaining Titans could do nothing but exchange incredulous glances. Had he really just said that? Didn't he realize that if he intruded upon her privacy, Raven was going to blow his little green head off? What in the world was he thinking?

Slowly, Starfire reached down and scooped Beast Boy's displaced photo into her palm. The alien girl studied the snapshot she had taken of her two very different friends, and understood. After all, it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what had happened. She raised her eyes, and found herself, oddly enough, exchanging a knowing glance with Robin. A slow smile crept over his face, and it was contagious. Starfire grinned in delight.

Cyborg looked from Robin to Starfire and back again, sensing the unstoppable flow of knowledge that was passing between them, and raised a single dubious eyebrow. "Okay…did I miss something?"

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For the perverts out there: get your mind out of the gutter! This is rated PG-13! :P

Well, that chapter was random, huh? More so than the others, anyway. Like I said, the angst needed a break. And it was wake-up time. In the wise words of BB: "Wakey wakey, tofu eggs and bakey!" lol. If you didn't like the change of pace, the next chapter should make you happy. It will return to the angst and depth that the story had originally…just from a different point of view. By the way, the coming chapter shouldn't be a long wait, since it's already written. I just have to type it up. I wrote it first, even before "From the Dark." Yeah, that's the crazy person that I am, writing the last chapter first.

Hm, you know what I have realized? I've been making up words. Apparently, things like "unfallen," "rivered," and "humongous" are not words in the English language. o.O

I sure hope you're enjoying all these Robin/Starfire moments…I know I am. Also, if you go back and reread some of that R/S fluff (from this chapter and the last), you'll notice that I made many references to the song "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel, which is what I call their theme song. Seriously, it could have been written for them.

As I promised, the URL to R&B 'Shippers United (which you are still invited to join):

Last, but not least, I must tell you that there is only one chapter left. I think you'll like it. Well, I hope you'll like it. Until then, please be kind…review. It is so very helpful. ^_^