Chapter 4 Safety Abounds

"Along the way tears drown in the wake of delight, there's nothing like this built today" Interpol 'Take You On A Cruise'

Disclaimer-I don't own the Titans, believe it or not. While I'm at it I don't really know much about Raven's mom, so this is why I'm taking some liberties with her history, hope that's ok.

Readerrr Girrrl: thank you so much for your reviews and encouragement, I hope to see more of your writing soon

nothing else worked: its going to work out the way it works out I guess. I have an idea in mind but it could change itself before I reach the end, sorry I can't be more clear than that, but thank you for the review

Margo86: dude thank you so much. the hand holding and what it represents was exactly what I was going for so it was really nice to hear someone point it out. Hey by the way, when are you going to start writing again?

DarkDeamon3: update! hope its aight

Jiro Arukawa: thanks mans and go BB indeed!

vinnie the geek: thanks for the review of all three chapters and the description. I'm trying to make the description more fluid and less...choppy I guess. so any criticism you or anybody else has is more than welcome.

Thank you all for your reviews and encouragement. I hope this chapter is to your satisfaction. If not, then I'll try harder, promise.

They had left the tower much earlier than his liking, but she had assured him that it was completely necessary. He now stood on the deck of a ship, watching the sun rise over a blue ocean. She stood beside him, watching the same sun rise, but unable to enjoy it. The thought of what this trip was about kept bothering her. It had been three years since she had last seen her mother's grave. She nervously bit her lip, unconsciously dragging her teeth across it. What would she do there? Would the people of the island welcome her or ignore her as they had done in the past? What would she say to her mother? A hand flashed in her line of sight causing her to jump. She looked over at Beast Boy, curious as to why he had... she saw that a drop of blood was in the palm of his hand. She touched the tips of her fingers to her lips and drew them back to see blood.

"Are you ok" he asked. He had never seen her like this before. Normally he would never have been able to surprise her like that and she never would have bitten her lip, ever. He saw the way her hands trembled ever so slightly at her sides. What were they about to face?

"Yes, I'm just thinking." She turned away believing she had shown enough weakness as of late, no need to show him the fear in her eyes.

He knew that was meant to end the conversation so he took a different approach. "Can I show you something"

She turned back to him, sure that he wanted to show her an arcade game or something... if her thoughts had physical form she would have destroyed it. She still hadn't gotten used to the other side of him that was serious and patient. She still wanted to tag him with a childish personality, even though she had learned he was more than that. This new side of him made her guess more. The more she was around him the more surprised she was by what he said and did. She remembered they had all been walking in the park and she had seen him slowly separate himself from the group and then turn into a small bird without being noticed by any of the team, but her. As a bird he swiftly picked up a baby bird that had fallen out of its nest and placed it back in, then just as quickly flew back to the group, changing back to his usual form. He didn't say a word about it to anyone, didn't brag, didn't exaggerate on the feat, just kept it to himself. She was proud of him at that moment. "Yes" just yes. There wasn't any question to what it was he wanted to show her. She respected him too much for that.

She followed him to the bow of the ship, where the passengers were fewer and then he spoke. "I've been thinking about our nightly visits and I wanted to try something with you if you're willing"

"What"

"Well, if you can exchange thoughts and emotions with me, what's to stop me from doing the same"

To be honest the thought had never actually occurred to Raven. What, other than her, would stop him"OK."

He placed his head to hers and then she felt it coming over her. A calmness seemed to flow over her, reassurance that she wasn't alone, and the courage to face her mother's grave. She pulled him to her, knowing he was scared of what was to come. "I just don't, what do you want me to" he whispered in her ear as he returned the hug.

"Don't worry" she assured him with her own newfound confidence. The island drew near.