Raven? Raven, please wake up!

Raven squirmed around on the floor. Then her eyes shot open. She was breathing hard, and she was disgusted to find vomit all around her. Starfire was bending over her, confusion in her eyes.

What is wrong? You look so...... pale! You were scaring me so much, Raven!

Calm down, Starfire, Raven said solemnly, but her breathing was still shaky, so it didn't come out as calm as she had hoped.

What has happened to you?

Why did you come in my room, anyway?

I hope you are not angry about that. I was walking by your room to get to the kitchen, it is morning if you didn't know, and when I went past your door, I felt.... cold. I still do not understand this. I knew that you do somewhat odd things, but this was very, well it was- freaky. So I went to check on you, and when I opened the door, I saw you..... and you didn't look right. You were on the floor and all pale, and your face was freezing cold and sweaty. And you were screaming in a whisper and crying for help. I am very relived to see you are unharmed, but I am clueless to what has happened to you. You looked frightened, almost. I've never seen you truly frightened before. Maybe a little freaked out, but never actually dead scared. What has happened?

It was a dream then, Raven said quietly. But in a way, not so. Starfire, you have no idea what it was like. I was running, and I couldn't stop!

Raven went on to tell Starfire the rest of the story. Every detail she gave freaked Starfire out more and more.

And I just fell into nowhere.... then I woke up.

That may truly be one of the most terrifying things I have heard in my life. Oh Raven, I tried to wake you, but you wouldn't.... I just..... Tears were beginning to pour down the alien girl's face.

Please, Starfire you must relax. I'm fine. Let's get you some breakfast before you start bawling. Sound good?

she sobbed, and nodded her head.

Look, you weren't the one there, I was and you don't see me breaking down.

But you were, Starfire reminded her. And you're still pale now.

Yeah, well... she grumbled. Here, let me clean this up first, she said, nodding to the vomit on the floor. I'll meet you at breakfast.

Yes. Are you sure you don't want any help?

Are you actually okay with that?

Not really, but I'll help if you need it.

No thanks, I'm fine. See you in a moment.

Raven kneeled down, cringing, and cleaned it up, before leaving to meet Starfire and everyone else for breakfast. It's not like she was going to eat anything though.

Hey ya, Ra...... Cyborg began, but stopped as soon as he saw how pale she was. What happened to you?

Yeah, Raven, Robin said. I went by your room this morning, and it was icy cold, and now you come to breakfast looking so pale!

It's nothing, she said. I just spent too much time in the..... dark.

You get weirder by the day! Beast Boy finally came out and said. I thought you like darkness! Make up your mind!

Raven didn't even bother saying anything. She was just too freaked out to even start to argue with him.

A full week passed, and pretty soon, the darkness dream became a routine. But despite how many times it kept coming back, it was still as terrifying. She would wake up every morning as pale and shaky as she was, but she only vomited once again. Finally, this morning she decided she should take the test' , so she went into the bathroom. It was a negative. She took a deep sigh of relief and leaned against the wall. She slid down the wall, and sat in the corner, smiling for the first time in what seemed like forever. She had to go talk to Beast Boy.

He was playing video games with Cyborg.

Cyborg laughed. Won again!

Hey, I want a rematch!

Not now, I think Raven wants to talk to you, BB.

You're speaking to me?



Whoa. I thought you hated me!

I do. But I have to tell you something. Come over here.

Beast Boy followed Raven to a corner.

I took the test.

Really? So what did it say?

It was a negative.

See! No reason to get worked up!

Well, when I didn't know, it was. What if I just came here and told you it was positive?

Uh...... adoption?

Beast Boy! Who's going to adopt a baby from a shape-shifter and a demon/human?!? Huh! What then?

Raven, I don't know! Let's just be happy we don't need to worry about it.

See, this is what got us in a fight before! You're too careless to realize how serious this could have been! You don't even care about me, it seems!

But I do! I swear!

Oh, I'm sure.

She walked over to the other side of the room, and sat on the floor with her back up against the couch, her head in her hands. Why did she even try to make things right with Beast Boy? He didn't care! But why did she feel like she wanted to make things right, still?