Chapter Fourteen: Presents and Questions

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans but I do own this fic and the plot lines and if Cartoon Network wants to buy it I'll gladly sell it for a chance to play a voice on the show!

(A/N: I'm sorry but I will not be writing about the snowball fight. I'm trying to bring this story to an end so I can focus on The Beast. No chapters for The Beast will be posted until I'm done here.)

December 24

Raven smiled as she finished wrapping a present in bright red color. Robin had bought rolls of wrapping paper in different colors for each person so they didn't have to write names out. Starfire had suggested that they let each other guess at who sent them as well and everyone had agreed

"Raven?" a soft voice asked. The half demon flicked one hand and the door opened. Arella stood outside looking nervous

"May I speak with you?"

"Of course come in." Raven replied putting the newly wrapped present on her desk and sitting down on her bed. Arella sat down as well and was silent for a long time. After a few minutes she got up and picked up a picture of Raven and Beast Boy from a few weeks ago. The changeling was smiling widely showing off both fangs while Raven's mouth was barely turned up

"You and he are close." Raven nodded. She knew what was coming

"Yes we are. Really we're not that different. He hides behind his mask of happiness at times and I hide behind my door." she smiled to herself then it disappeared as Arella looked down at her. The woman's expression was serious

"He has never tried to take anything from you? Have you given him anything?" she asked quietly. Raven flushed slightly and shook her head

"No. He's really been a gentleman to me. Besides I think Robin would have a fit if we did anything like that."

"I just worry about you Raven. You're my little girl and I want to make sure no one ever hurts you like they did me." Raven stood and hugged her mother gently. Arella stroked her hair gently then backed away

"Just promise me you'll tell him 'no'."

"I promise." Raven said smiling. Arella nodded then they both looked up as someone knocked on the door

"Yo Raven; come on downstairs. We're opening one present before dinner." Cyborg yelled through the door. Raven smiled

"I'm coming." she yelled back to her friend. She levitated the five packages into the air then grabbed her mother's hand

"Come on I'm starved." Arella smiled and followed her daughter downstairs.

Beast Boy came in the room carrying four large packages and one small one. He put them under the tree in the corner and plopped onto the sofa. Raven smiled and put a large red bow on his head

"There; now you're Christmas colored." everyone laughed and Beast Boy rolled his eyes

"Very funny. Alright now are we going to open presents or what?"

"Only one BB." Cyborg warned. The changeling nodded and picked up a neatly wrapped green package with a pink bow on top

"I wonder who could have wrapped this?" he said. Starfire blushed then picked up a bright pick present. Raven levitated a dark purple one into her lap then handed the remaining boys theirs. Arella picked one up gently as if she was not sure of what to do

"Ready set Go!" Cyborg yelled. The boys all tore in the wrapping eagerly while the girls watched. Beast Boy pulled a deck of cards with animals on it out of his box, he grinned happily

"Thanks Star. These are awesome. Now we have a full deck of cards!" Robin pulled out a leather bound book with no title except a design on the front. He flipped it open and found that the pages were blank. On the inside of the cover there was writing

Dear Robin,

Thank you for everything you've done for me. Especially for accepting me into the Titans. I don't know where'd I'd be without you guys. I'm sure you can put this journal to good use.

Raven

He looked up at the girl and smiled

"Thanks Raven." she smiled in return. Cyborg had finally tore all his wrapping off and was holding a small square disk in his hands shiny eyed

"You got me a copy of Street Racers 8? You rock!" Beast Boy laughed

"Ya just remember that I get to play too." he returned then the boys all looked at the girls. They started opening theirs slowly. Raven pulled out a book of poetry from Cyborg

"Thank you, where'd you get this?"

"I kinda followed you to your favorite bookstore and picked it out after you left." he said sheepishly. Raven shook her head then looked over to see what Starfire had opened

"Oh it is beautiful!" she exclaimed pulling a small silver necklace out of the box. It was in the shape of a heat with a small green emerald in the upper right hand corner of the heart. The chain went through the gem and the heart

"Gee, I wonder who gave her that." Beast Boy said sarcastically. Robin's face flushed deeply and his ears turned bright red

"Oh thank you Friend Robin. It is most stunning!" Starfire exclaimed happily

"You're welcome." Robin mumbled still embarrassed from the other's teasing. The alien girl squealed happily and fastened the necklace around her neck

"I believe it is my turn." Arella said starting to pull out a small rectangular box. She opened it and tears sprang into her eyes. Everyone peered over her shoulder to get a good look. Inside was a drawing of a small Raven laughing and swinging her legs over the side of a wall. Her eyes were closed and she looked really happy. The whole thing was colored in and shaded perfectly

"Thank you Raven."

"I didn't draw that." Raven protested. Arella looked around the group. Finally Beast Boy broke the silence

"I drew it. I figured you didn't have and pictures of Raven when she was little so I thought you'd like a drawing."

"It's wonderful. Thank you very much."

Later after a large dinner of chicken and tofu everyone sat down on the sofa and munched on Christmas cookies Starfire and Beast Boy had whipped up

"These are actually pretty good." Cyborg admitted after eating one. Starfire smiled and ran her fingers over her new necklace

"Hey Star, I think I know a spell to keep that chain from breaking. I'll try and do it tomorrow okay?"

"Thank you friend Raven." she said cheerfully. After a few minutes of silence Raven got her feet and began making some tea for herself and her mother

"Well ya'll what do you want to do?" Cyborg asked lazily

"I'm going to meditate then go to sleep. Too much food tends to make me tired and I ate way to much." Raven said getting to her feet. Beast Boy yawned and curled up into a ball

"I'm going to bed too. See you all in the morning." he headed out the door after Raven. In truth he wanted to talk with her

"What is it Beast Boy?" she asked softly. He caught up with her and held her hand gently

"Rae can I ask you a question?"

"Of course." Beast Boy's face turned a slight reddish color and he looked away

"Actually never mind. Good night." he turned to leave but Raven caught his elbow gently

"Beast Boy, could you stay in my room? Please?" she asked pleadingly. Lately dreams of her father had been haunting her and she wanted someone there when she woke up

"Sure Rae. I'll get a blanket from the hall closet." (FYI: The last time he just came in early in the morning)

Raven slid into her silk pajamas slowly feeling nervous. It was only Beast Boy she told herself but it didn't really help. He set up a bed on the floor next to her then went to change in the bathroom

"Calm down Raven. Beast Boy wouldn't do anything to hurt you." she whispered to herself. After a moment she rose in the air and slipped into a trance.

Beast Boy opened the door softly and slipped in. Raven was floating above her bed just slightly. He smiled and kissed her forehead lightly. A smile played over her pale features

"Night Rae." he whispered. The violet eyes opened and locked with his. His face heated up when he realized how close they were. After a moment she closed the space and kissed him gently. A few seconds passed and Beast Boy's mind finally kicked into gear. He returned her pressure just slightly harder and found himself starting to sit down on the bed. Raven seemed to be okay with that. She was kissing him a bit harder now but he liked it. He reached out one hand and put it behind her head pulling her closer to him. They broke apart for air for a brief moment then continued.

Raven didn't know what made her do it. But she liked what was happening. His hand traveled to the back of her neck and held her close. After taking a quick breath he pulled her back. He wasn't demanding anything from her; he seemed so gentle right now. A small voice in the back of her mind told her to stop before something bad happened but she didn't hear it. Instead she listened to the voice that told her to run her fingers through his green hair.

Beast Boy knew they should stop but he felt so good. Raven's had touched his hair hesitantly then ran through it. He let his free had wander down her side until it came to rest on her hip. His animal senses told him to continue but he forced himself to stop. No matter what he wanted he would respect Raven. To his surprise the girl put her free hand on his and let him run it over her leg. Another break for air.

Rave finally heard the little voice in the back of her head and pulled away from the changeling breathing hard and blushing even harder

"I'm sorry." she whispered

"For what?" Beast Boy asked removing his hands from her hip and neck. Raven looked up at him slowly

"You didn't mind that?"

"Not at all. Now let's get some sleep before someone comes in here and jumps to conclusions." he smiled slyly as he got down onto the floor. Raven smiled and lay down.