Chapter 2:

Preparations

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah

Raven took a deep cleansing breath, and let it out slowly. It was just her imagination. She shook her head and stared at her palms, the ebony scabs barely visible in the faint morning light. "No way," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible, "it wasn't real, it couldn't have been!" Her heart was beating wildly, and her emotions were getting out of control, black aura enveloped a large a large ventilation duct and ripped it out of the roof blowing it far out into the water. Raven cursed under her breath and stood using some of the massive amount of energy her fear was generating to grab it with her aura and bring it back to the roof. She spent a few more minutes securing the duct and then looked out across the water to where the sun was slowly rising. She sighed and raised her face to the meager warmth that the morning sun was generating. She shivered again, but this time not in fear. She was freezing, her tank-top and shorts were not enough protection against the lingering chill. She murmured her magic words, "Azarath Metrion Zinthose," and let herself be transported back into her room.

Enclosed in the familiarity of her room she felt her energy level recede to a controllable level. She grabbed her own outfit off her dresser and her eyes lingered on the meditation mirror lying on the black marble top. She slid her hand across it then let it fall, there would be a time for meditation later she decided. She opened her door a crack and peered out into the hallway, there was no one in sight. She knew Robin had to have told the others of her nightmare by now, and did not want to face the sympathetic faces that she knew would be turned her direction. She treaded slowly down the hallway making no more noise than a cat stalking its prey. She knocked quietly on the door of the bathroom and when no reply came she slowly opened the door and stepped inside. She put a stick of incense into her burner and inhaled the fragrant steam. The fragrance had a calming effect and she felt her fears and doubts recede at least for now. She slipped into the methodical routine of filling a bath. She slipped down into the water and let the steam and aroma of her incense stick overwhelm her. With the ease of practice she let her cares slip from her mind and with a carefully blank mind began to relax.

She soaked until the water turned cold then got out and put on her costume. She followed the same routine as before, making sure the hall was clear before slipping through the door frame and padding as silently as possible down the hall to her room. She almost made it too. Just as Raven set her hand on the door knob she was enveloped in a giant bear hug that took her breath away. She muttered, "I can't breathe," and was released. She spun to see the red-haired tamaranian blushing a little and asked, "Is there something you want?"

"Robin has informed us of how you dreamt a bad dream," Starfire tilted her head to one side and asked, "would you wish to do the girl talk?"

Even though she would have dearly liked to tell someone about her nightmare and the frightening revelation that befell her once she was awake, she shook her head. As kind as she was, Star would not understand.

"Oh," Starfire intoned in a voice filled with something like disappointment, "Well then if you do not wish to talk about it I will leave you now."

"Thanks though Star," Raven said in her monotone and turned to enter her room. She was stopped once again when a hand was placed on her shoulder and she was spun around again.

"Friend Raven I have had a glorious idea!" Starfire positively beamed with happiness, and Raven groaned inwardly. "As a remedy for your troubles we shall journey to the mall of shopping to pick out a new outfit for you to wear when we go dancing tonight!"

Raven stammered, "But Star..."

"Nonsense!" Starfire grabbed Raven's hand and propelled her along, "I will not take no for an answer." She continued to pull Raven along. They burst into the main room where the other occupants of the tower were busily eating their respective breakfast choices. "Raven and I are headed to the mall to do the 'hanging out' thing." Starfire announced as they came to a halt.

Raven snatched her hand back from Starfire's iron grip and massaged it thoroughly. "Oww.." she muttered, glaring daggers at the beaming tamaranian who was now floating enthusiastically towards Robin who was settled in at the kitchen table reading the morning paper.

"Friend Robin," Starfire asked in a joyous tone of voice, "do you wish to journey to the mall with Raven and I and do the 'hanging out' with us?" Robin's eyes flickered to Raven's and Raven put all her effort into letting her eyes do the talking for her. Yes Robin, they said, please say yes! Don't leave me to go alone with her!

"Sorry Star," answered in a mirthful tone, "I can't."

Now her tone filled with sadness she asked, "Why will you not come?"

"I have to do repairs on my bike," he confessed, "it was making a weird noise the other day."

"Oh," Starfire's face fell but then lifted again as she turned her eyes to the other two members of the titans who were currently involved in a video game. She strode across the room to pose the same question to them.

Raven walked across the room to stand by Robin she leaned over to whisper so Starfire couldn't hear, "I'm going to so get you for this Robin."

Robin laughed softly and answered with a challenge in his voice, "Sure you will Rae." There eyes met again and a shadow passed over Robin's face.

"Is there something wrong?" Raven asked and against her nature she let a bit of concern seep into her voice.

"No," Robin shook his head, "nothings wrong. Go have some fun with Starfire." A malicious hint crept into his voice when he said that and he was now smiling from ear to ear.

Starfire had just returned from asking Cyborg and Beastboy, and shook her head now. "They both have things they must do today," she looked downcast for a minute then she turned to Raven and smiled, "it will be just us two, maybe we will do the girl talk after all?"

As Star walked towards the garage Raven muttered, "Don't count on it," and followed the joyous Tamaranian towards the exit.

Robin stood and walked to the window. He watched as the two alien girls flew and levitated towards the mall, when he could no longer see them he sighed aloud and said, "Finally, I thought they would never leave.'

"I know," the half robot answered him, his attention half on the game, and half on the conversation at hand, "we have a lot of preparing to do."

"Uh huh," Beastboy grunted his full attention on the game. Robin shook his head and walked back across the room to yank the turn off the TV, two angry voices yelled, "HEY!" and Cyborg and Beastboy spun to glare angrily at the Boy Wonder.

"What'd you do that for?" Cyborg grumbled.

"Yeah man, don't go ballistic we were listening," Beastboy pouted, he had been winning too.

"Guys, we have a lot of preparations to make before the girls get back. There's no telling how long Starfire can keep Raven at that mall!" He looked around the messy room, "And we have a lot to do. Come on guys," he coaxed, "get up and lets decorate this place so we can throw Raven her surprise party!" Rolling up his sleeves he set to work, and after a minute the other two boys followed suit. They worked quickly to set up their carefully planned surprise party, they were confident that the violet-haired vixen didn't suspect a thing.

Author Note: Sorry this chapter was so boring! I had to set something up! I promise things will get better soon! Please R & R again. And thanks to those of you who reviewed last time!