Chapter fourteen

A few days passed slowly, and then it was finally time for the homecoming of the Azarathian.

"Home sweet home," she disclosed, as she was wheeled in. Her legs were still failing her, and Natasha insisted that she was wheeled home. The goodbye was quite raw for Raven. She'd come to think of the nurse as a friend due to all the time they had been spending together and now she sort of missed her.

"See you later, Rae," the nurse said, smiling at the lavender haired girl. "It's been fun!"

"Oh really," droned the Azarathian, with a small smile on her face. "I would think you'd be glad to see the back of me."

"Well then, you know me better than you think," chuckled the brunette sarcastically, but amicably. "Goodbye, Raven."

"I guess it is goodbye, huh?" confirmed the Azarathian, raising her eyebrows. The nurse stroked her own chin and raised her eyes.

"Hmm," she answered, looking back down and then hugging the young woman. "Yes. For now! But you know where I am if you ever need a reading buddy!"

"Nevermore?" quoted Raven, smiling lightly. The brunette chuckled amicably.

"Nevermore," she confirmed, a few tears forming in her eyes. "Now go! Before I have to start blubbering like a baby!"

Raven smiled as the team wheeled her into her room. She felt awkward, them all being inside. She visibly cringed. Robin saw the look on her face and touched her shoulder.

"Sorry for coming in your room, Raven," he started softly. "We just wanted to make sure you're alright."

"No, no," Rae blushed, and pulled her hood up. The guilt was setting in. "I'm not meaning to…I mean…"

She stopped and took a deep breath.

"I mean, thank you. You're the best friends ever."

There was little sentiment in the voice, as usual, but everyone in the room knew exactly how much emotion there truly was behind that sullen face.

Starfire gave a grin, and lifted her friend with ease from the chair, placing her in the bed.

"Oh, friend," she gushed, grasping the empath in a death grip. "I am most overjoyed at your arrival! I have missed you so."

"Me too," squeaked a small voice from the back of the group. Beast boy stepped forward, a look of concern on his tired face. Raven raised her eyebrows, shocked yet mildly relieved that he had spoken.

"I'm fine. Honestly."

"Okay, Titans, what say we let this little lady get some rest?"

Cyborg took a few paces back, winking at the bed bound girl. She had begun to yawn, and the other titans nodded, backing out the room.

"Sleep like a Florthig!" exclaimed Starfire, smiling.

"Goodnight Raven," Robin said, giving a half grin.

They left the room, but BB lingered in the doorway. "Raven, I uh…"

Raven opened her eyes, and sat up a bit. "Beast boy?" she questioned, realising he was still in the room.

"I'm sorry about at the hospital the other day," he paused to run a gloved hand through his green hair. "I'm a jerk. I'm real sorry."

"Don't be," the lilac eyes didn't flicker once. "It's nothing."

"It's something," disclosed the green man, his hand touching the doorframe then with one last glance he was gone.

Raven sank down into the bed sheets, pulling them up to her chin. She closed her eyes and allowed some salty tears to squeeze their way out from the heavy lids. They ran a trickling trail down to her mouth and she pushed them away.

'Oh, Garfield,' she thought, sorrowfully. 'What are you thinking?'

A month or so passed, and the changeling and the half demon were hovering. The emotions teetering on something so wonderful yet neither would mention it. The small spiel in the bedroom and the strangeness in the hospital went unmentioned.

However, despite this, their friendship was still doing okay. Beast boy relished spending time with her. She was finally out of bed, though spent most of her time on the couch, whilst she was getting her strength back.

"Raven, you won, again!" he exclaimed, throwing his remaining cards down onto the table top as Raven gathered them up. "How are you doing this?"

Raven patted her temple and gave a mysterious smile. BB's ears pricked up.

"You cheating little…"

"What? Who say's I'm cheating?" the lilac eyes widened with innocence.

"You read my mind, didn't you?"

There was a mischievous glimmer behind the morose face. "Prove it."

BB's eye began to twitch. "You!"

Raven laughed slightly, the sudden sound making the shapeshifter's heart melt. He had perked up since she had been back, and seemed to be back to the old Beast boy everyone knew and loved.

However, memories of his gaunt face haunted the thoughts of the Azarathian each time she closed her eyes.

Beast boy knocked the pack out of her hand, and she stopped, slightly startled. There was now a troublesome look in his own cheeky face. She glared at him, daring him to do something.

Turning into a lion he pinned her down to the couch. She gasped, suddenly taken back by the outburst. She blushed a shade more than crimson, and feigned anger.

"Beast boy get off!"

The young man didn't budge. He had her hands pinned down, and she could feel the hot breath on her neck. It was making her shiver, and she looked up at his face. The lion's eyes were filled with that person she knew, and it took her a few seconds to realise that he had turned back into the human form.

She pushed him up and sat up, not moving her eyes from his. Swallowing gently, then blinking, she spoke.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry?"

"For…cheating," admitted the gothic girl, the lilac eyes gazing intently and the emerald ones. There was a glint of smugness about the man. She pushed him and frowned.

"Told ya!" he gasped, laughing. She felt hot fury rush to her face.

"Shut up," she hissed, pushing him once again with so much force that she toppled over. She had landed with her nose a few inches from his. He opened his eyes, the toothy grin disappearing slowly from his face.

Raven blushed, but made no attempt to move. He stroked the side of her face gently, his mind racing, his heart beating faster.

Raven leant closer, closing her eyes.

The alarm started to blare.

The two, jumped apart as if they'd been hit by a lighting bolt. Raven looked flustered as the table flew over. She smoothed her hair out, and blinked rapidly. Beastboy, tried to knock the strange look off his face as the other three titans raced into the room. It took a moment for them to realise that the pack of cards and the table were strewn across the room.

"What the…?" started Robin, slowing his run down. "What happened!"

"Beast boy hates to lose," replied Raven, a smug grin now on her own face. She cast a sideways glance at the young man, who's green eyes glinted with understanding.

"I wasn't losing! You were cheating!"

"No time to argue Titans. We got trouble. And it's Slade."

"Uh oh," said the other four in perfect unison.

"It is, as you say on earth, time for us to kick the butt?"

Cy snickered at Starfire, as Robin smiled. Cy proceeded to glance over at the now standing Azarathian.

"Hey, Rae, you sure you're okay for this?"

"I can handle it, Cy," she said sternly but fondly. "I'll be fine."

The titans left the building and ran towards the mass destruction which was tearing their beloved metropolis apart.

Robin and the other four skidded to a halt outside the large faculty. Robin narrowed his eyes as a familiar stranger walked out of the shadows.

"SLADE," he shouted, the anger rising in his normally calm voice. Starfire touched his arm.

"Robin, please. You must not let him anger you so."

"I'm not angry, Star," explained the dark haired man softly. "I'm ready."

"Titans go!"

Okay, how much do you hate me right now:hides and ducks from flying objects:

Replies:

Jackdaw: Poor Raven indeed. Thanks for the review!

Burning-embers-of-flames: It isn't finished yet! At least another four chapters I think. Actually haven't finished writing it yet but…hopefully you liked this chap!

Estel-Elf-Lover: Thank you!

Shantel: Uhm..welcome!

Ryuu no Taiyo: Sugary fun! I'm not evil…I'm just a tad malevolant! BB is a was a little OOC he was just a bit confused! Thanks for reviewing!

Afterdark: BB is always slow. But that's why I love him! You likey this chap?

Moo: Bless ya:huggles: Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Dana13: Thanks, dude! (:

GoOD-BaDz2: Thank you!

Moonchild10: BB had some…ehm…issues but he's okie now! I always try to make the characters as IN character as possible! Thanks:hugs: I don't think it worked for chapter twelve but…never mind! Put up your fanart! Join devart and give me your sign in name so that I can look! Thanks for your kind remarks! Keep reading, soldier:salutes and clicks heels:

Grey-Rain: Good to see you again:glomps: Hope you like this chapter and well done for your stories – I'm not much of a reviewer but I've read most of them! (:

Lyzz2nwn: Wondered where you'd been! Hey, no worries! And also, no worries about the crush thing – I dream a lot about stuff like that. It's a bummer when I wake up, but still! Never mind, eh? Glad you're enjoying the story:hugs:

Gladdecease: Your email didn't show up properly! All I got was up to the bit but what its I don't know! Anyway, as for what you didn't understand – the reason Raven went away was to learn to control her powers and she spent the five years in deep meditation. She learned to control her powers a lot better than they had been. Hope that cleared it up for ya! (:

Vale: Aw bless you! Thanks! (:

Gubba-Gubba:hugs you: Thanks for your review it made me laugh!

Phew,

Love you all

xChibix