I hope that you enjoy this chapter….Don't kill me if I don't update for awhile, FCATs are this week…joy…that was sarcasm people….oi!

Disclaimer: Do not own Do not sue


Chapter 5: Gently

Raven sighed as she looked at the printed out piece of paper that Ricky had given her moments ago. They only needed a few hundred dollars more and then it would be time to go shopping, or borrowing for that matter, the mirror to free the rest of the Titans. Robin had been acting strangely for that past several days. He seemed to find any possible excuse to not be left alone with her, which was beginning to nag at her.

Why is he treating me as if I have the bubonic plague? Raven asked herself as she leaned against the wall looking over the large numbers. There's just no end to the weird things that can happen… Raven thought as she folded the sheet back up and placed it on the dining room table.

"I'm leaving!" Raven called as she closed the door. The manager had called her down to the studio for something or other. She hadn't much paid attention to his pointless ramblings. Not when she had met him, and certainly not now. With a tired sigh, the exhausted teenager walked down the steps and got into the limo waiting there for her. Hopefully she would receive that extra few hundred dollars if she asked nicely. Right? Not a chance.


Raven sat in the large, cushiony red chair in the office as she waited for one of the more annoying people she had met since entering this line of work. A man by the name of Caleb Rosenstein. He was definitely not the picture of a well organized and professional businessman.

With a quick turn of the handle, Mr. Rosenstein entered, his glasses, like usual, hanging lopsided. His tie was a mess, and his suit looked like it hadn't been properly cleaned in months. He was also very tall, making even Raven unnerved to have to look up at his 6'11" self.

"Well hello Miss Rei." He spoke in an odd voice, his voice both squeaky and deep at different times when he spoke. He clearly didn't know anything about her by the way he pronounced his hello, as if she were a two year old who would smile at such a stupid sounding word.

"Aly, please." Raven said, rolling her eyes.

"Yes, Ms. Aly. How are you? I understand that you want to have a few extra hundred early this month." His voice was way too cheerful, and Raven had the feeling if he said anything more like he had said hello, that she would end up hurting him.

"Yes, four hundred dollars is all I need. You see," Raven began, her voice total friendliness that would have shocked anyone that truly knew her, her smile completely false, although the imbecile infront of her had no idea, "My friend's father recently passed away, and he left her no money. She is trying to arrange his funeral, but she needs a few hundred more dollars to pay for the casket. Her parents were like my parents. In fact when I was little, they would always let me stay over even on school nights when my parents would fight. They were the best thing that ever happened to me, so you can see why this is so important." Her voice cracked slightly, and her eyes began to become misty.

Honestly, Raven thought, inwardly grinning, I should try being an actor.

"I'm so sorry to hear that." Caleb said, his voice dripping with sympathy. "Of course I'll pay you the four hundred in advance. Are you sure that's all you need?"

"Yes," Raven said pretending to wipe her eyes. "Four hundred is all I need."

"Alright then, I'll have the transfer to your account. It will be available tomorrow. I do hope everything goes well for you and your friend. I'm terrible sorry for your loss."

"So am I…" Raven said as she walked from the room, "So am I…"


The dark haired girl yawned as she walked into the apartment; her watch had said that it was near eight by the time she had left the studio. It was an hour drive in the late night traffic from there, so it was now nine, and even though it wasn't all that late, she was exhausted.

Entering the HQ for the Titan rescue operation, Raven noted that Sandra was lying on the couch, passed out from who knows what. Ricky was at the table working on something or other. All Raven knew was that it was something the science museum had asked him to do. Robin was no where to be seen on the other hand, and she had a pretty good idea where he was though.

"Hey." Was all Ricky said as she walked passed him. All she did was mumble something and continue on her way, which led her to the roof.

Sitting on a pile of bricks, Robin sat there staring out at the ocean, like what Raven had done back at the tower.

"Hey." Raven said quietly as she watched him jump at the sound of her voice. His reverie broken, Robin turned to look at her then looked back at the ocean. "Mind if I join you?" she asked, noticing that he looked preoccupied. "I have news on our money situation."

Robin didn't respond. All he did though was scoot over for her to sit down next to him, which she did with an exhausted sigh.

"How'd it go?" He finally said in a hushed sort of tone.

"I got the four hundred we need. I can call the good doctor tomorrow, and get the mirror. Then all I have to do is contact Slade and we're home free." Raven said trying to cheer the boy wonder up.

Robin, still looking depressed only gave a small nod and slight smile before he focused back on the ocean. "Raven…" he finally said after nearly ten minutes in utter silence.

"What is it?" Raven asked, her voiced as tired as his.

"Do you think Slade hurt them?" he wondered.

"No, I don't think that he hurt Star." Raven said, with a tint of annoyance in her voice as she ignored the fact that he cared probably more for StarFire than everyone else combined. That at least, is what she thought.

"I didn't just mean Star." Robin said defensively. "I mean everyone."

"Sure, and BeastBoy's not green." Raven muttered angrily.

"Rae…"Robin said with an exasperated sigh. "What makes you think that I care more about Star than you?" Robin said, annoyance now in his tone. "And the others as well." He said trying to cover up his single mistake.

"I don't," Raven said, her voice beginning to drip with sarcasm as she said her next statement, "People kind of get that type of impression when she's hanging off of you like a monkey to a banana."

"So I'm a monkey?" Robin asked, amused.

"No, you're just an idiot." Raven said, her voice truly sounding exhausted this time. "I mean come on, it's not like we haven't heard her talking about you. Personally it makes me sick." Raven grunted out, remembering one of Star's weirdest pieces of information that she had cared to share with Raven after a mission.

StarFire had begun to talk about how Robin only likes the smell of strawberry's, not vanilla, and that he had his underwear stacked neatly in two drawers. Those pieces of information Raven could have done with out.

"I don't want to know." Robin moaned.

"Good, because I'd probably scare you with how interesting Star thinks your underwear is." Raven grinned wickedly when his eyes widened in horror.

"Okay, I admit she's a little weird sometimes." Robin said looking away, and ignoring the creepy thoughts pop into his head.

"A little doesn't even begin to describe it. By the way, did I forget to mention that she told me that she found a…" Raven began but was cut off by Robin.

"Don't want to know!" he shouted, drowning her out, and trying to ignore her beautiful yet wicked smile as she gave him the all-knowing look.

"I thought so." Raven said with a small smile.

"Rae…."Robin began but stopped. His attraction for Raven over the past weeks had increased, and it was incredible to actually see her smile. When he had first met her, the only time she would smile is when she made a joke that BeastBoy didn't understand, but now she had become more open with the Titans; with him.

Raven looked over at him, and noticed that he was watching her intently. Blushing, she turned away and focused on the ocean. Why had she blushed? Why was he staring at her? All of these questions raced through her mind as she thought to control herself so that nothing in the surrounding area would break into thousands of tiny pieces.

Robin continued to stare at her, until finally he said her name again. Raven looked at him after a few moments, and the shock on her face was hard to miss as he gazed at her in the moonlight. She truly was beautiful.

Raven didn't know what to say or do. The look Robin was giving her made her want to jump up and hide somewhere, the feelings she was getting scared her.

Unsure of what to do, Raven gently asked, "Robin….?" Her voice barely able to hold back the nervousness she was feeling.

Without warning though, Robin placed his hand gently on her cheek and leaned forward, placing a soft, and slightly hesitant kiss on her lips. Raven's eyes widen immediately. So many thoughts raced through her mind. The feel of his lips, his hand on her cheek, which had moved now to her back. The heat of his body, even though they were not very close.

Raven relaxed, the feeling of his gentle lips asking for entrance caused her to open her mouth hesitantly. Robin let his tongue enter, and they sat there for several seconds before they had to separate for air. Raven's eyes still somewhat wide when she finally opened them after having closed them. Robin released her back, seeing her expression as she put two fingers to her lips as if to see if they could tell her what had happened.

He had felt something more with Raven then he had ever felt when being around Star. Raven was a mystery. She was unique, beautiful, entrancing, and most of all, he had grown to like her as more than just a friend.

Raven still looking shocked looked from him to her fingers then quickly stood up and squeaking out a quick 'I'm sorry', took off from the roof, and hightailing it back down stairs where she curled up on the vacated couch and thought about what had happened, eventually drifting off into a peaceful slumber, a gentle smile on her lips.


Well then! What'd you think? I had to do that, and I couldn't very well tell you in the beginning….I feel nice, so incase you haven't read my other updated TT fics, you should, because there's more …um….-cough-….um….action….um…..going on…heh…sorry, I got something in my throat….


P.S. I don't know why on Earth I'm saying this, but I'm starting to write a book. So far everyone who's read the first two chapters or so has loved it, and my mom thinks when I finish that I can get it published, so root for me…I need the cash…


Ps. P.S. I think there's only going to be like 2-3 more chapters. I hope you liked it...


Thoughts on other things….

DHM-