I'm back for part four of eleven! I hope people are still interested in my story! I love getting reviews from everyone, just so you know! Thankies! By the way, just in case you didn't know, I don't own Teen Titans. Uhm… on with the show! ;

Part 4: What is a Romantic Interest?

Raven had already figured out where she was supposed to meet Shade. This riddle hadn't been that hard, and it was even a little flattering. Perching on the bust of Pallas above my chamber door… That was part of a rather famous poem. A poem called…. 'The Raven,' by Edgar Allen Poe. Part of the poem told of a raven perching on a bust of Pallas.

Pallas, Raven knew, was referring to the Greek goddess of wisdom, Pallas Athena. A 'bust' was a special sort of statue with no arms or legs. It was basically a torso and a head. And, the only place to find a Pallas bust in Jump City was… the museum.

Raven arrived, standing in front of the Jump City museum. Was she supposed to go in? Land on the roof? What? She or he one could trip the security alarm… She looked at the huge sculpture of the planet earth in front of the museum. Rows of columns greeted her, and she slowly walked towards the museum, walking between them. "Thank you for coming." She stopped and turned, seeing Shade leaning against a column. "I like your company."

"I never got to thank you for… for saving me yesterday." Raven whispered, blushing a bright pink. She approached him, reaching and touching his shoulder. He didn't move, but looked at her. "Th… thank you." she summoned her courage and gave him a quick hug. She felt his arms gently embrace her, and she sighed softly. After a few moments, she lifted her hood so her face was in view. "So, why here?" she asked, standing next to him as he let go. They went to the fountain where the sculpture of Earth was situated. "Every place you've led me had a reason behind it. You put a lot of thought into each riddle, and the meaning of each place that they led to."

"Go on." He said, enjoying the fact that she was figuring it out.

"Well…" Raven paused, clasping her hands as she began. "The Siren was to tell me you knew I was dangerous… but still thought I was…… beautiful." She forced the last word out. He nodded twice, not speaking. "The church was to tell me no one is perfect. Since I'm a half-demon, I was nervous to be in there."

"You're right so far. What about this place?" Shade gestured with his arm. Raven, who had yet to figure it out, didn't know. "This is similar to the church, but there's something I wanna show you." He stood her up and put an arm around her. Raven blushed, but he stood behind her and pointed. "See all the columns we just walked past? See how they're spaced from each other?"

"In two perfect rows, equally spaced from each other the whole way?" Raven tilted her head. It looked like an Art 101 version of a 'perspective' drawing. Things got smaller to the eye, the farther away they were…

"No, actually." He said, putting up a finger like a teacher. "These columns are in rows, but not perfectly spaced." He gestured that she look between the first two columns of one row. "Human eyes are imperfect. We don't have perfect vision, so the Greeks made this illusion up. They spaced columns so it looked like they were evenly spaced. But, in reality, they were not. Because our eyes aren't perfect, it looks as though these rows are parallel from each other." he paused as Raven looked at the columns in wonder. "It's an illusion that's thousands of years old, still useable today." He let go of her and she looked at him before he decided to vanish again. "Sometimes, the best magic is a good trick."

"Whoa…" she whispered. "I… never knew that." Raven knew some Greek things since they were a respectable civilization of the old world, but this… this was new to her. "Shade?" she murmured, growing a little moist in the eyes. He stood before her, his head tilted down so they saw eye to eye. Well, she couldn't see his eyes through those slits… but she knew they were there. "What's behind the mask?" Raven whispered softly, looking vulnerable.

"I told you before–"

"I said 'what's behind the mask?'" she said quickly, reaching up and touching the sides of his head with her hands. She could feel his ears under the thick fabric, but nothing more. "Are you…… real?" she whispered. Raven felt her heart drumming against her ribcage. Her emotions were running rampart, but nothing was happening as far as her powers went… so far. Shade looked at her for a long time as she tried to see into his eyes. "Are you human… are you……?" she fell silent as he made to speak.

"Close your eyes." He whispered. She let go of him, staring at his mask. Finally, she did as she was told. "Keep them closed, no matter what, until I say. …Promise?" She nodded after a moment. She heard a little snap. Then, another. Then, one last snap. Raven heard something cup-shaped hit the ground close by. He'd removed his mask! She could find out who he was, once and for all! But… she'd promised.

With his voice distorter removed as well, he did not speak. He looked at her with his own eyes. Slowly… reaching with trembling hands… he slowly touched both of her shoulders. Stroking her upper arms… he was reaching inside her cloak, stroking her back with slow… easy movements. Raven flushed deeply at the embrace, her eyebrows tilting upward into an expression they'd never formed outside of pain. Then… he drew her close. Raven knew what was going to happen right before it did. Her arms folded upward, and she felt the muscles on his chest.

He gently kissed her.

The soft lips pressed to her own were like an electric storm, and it blasted through her body like nothing she'd ever felt. She felt strong and light-headed at the same time. A soft, barely audible moan escaped Raven, and she leaned into him. He accepted her weight, and… after what felt like an eternity… broke the kiss. Raven ached to open her eyes, but she just couldn't do it. He let go of her, and she heard him walking towards where his mask had fallen. Snap. Snap-snap.

"…Okay." He said at last. Even though the voice distorter he sounded as light-headed as she felt. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Interesting talents, you've got." He said, pointing. Raven gasped, looking around them both.

The columns that had been in two perfect rows when she'd shut her eyes… where now arranged in a heart-shape around them both. In Nevermore, Raven's emotions burst into cheers as a girl dressed in a softer red emerged into the world. She was blushing when she saw everyone that was waiting for her, but offered a shy smile.

Raven quickly put the columns back where they were, still shaking slightly. That kiss, as short or as long as it had been, had taken a lot out of her for some reason. She was trembling as she finished putting the columns back , and she knew she wouldn't be able to fly home. Not without shooting to the moon first, that is. She suddenly felt a little more than light-headed. She fainted. Strong arms caught her, easing her to the ground.

Raven awoke in her bedroom. She turned over, and saw a flower resting on her other pillow. Sitting up and rubbing her eye with the heel of her hand, she picked it up. Once more, it was a rose. She blushed happily, wondering how one Earth he'd gotten her inside the tower without being caught. She scented the blue rose, wondering if there really was such a thing as blue rose, or if he'd put a white rose in water with food coloring in it. It smelled real enough, with the latest riddle attached to it.

She decided to read it later, and looked down at herself. She was shocked to see that she was wearing white. Raven looked at the backs and fronts of her hands. Was she really…… at peace? She let her smile continue to broaden. She changed clothes, and as soon as she put them on they turned white as well. Raven put her hood down, still smiling, and made her way to the common room.

Taking a deep breath, she emerged to see all of her friends were already up. Immediate silence fell over the tower, and the TV seemed to mute all by itself as Raven hovered over to the kitchen area. She pulled a bright red apple out for breakfast instead of tea. Her friends silently gathered around as she chewed the first bite. "Uh… hey Raven." Robin said. "Haven't… seen you in the early mornings lately…"

"Yeah, 'cuz she's been sleeping like a rock the past week or so!" Beast Boy said. "Even I've gotten up before her!" He looked exasperated, trying to find an explanation in Raven's eyes.

Cyborg palmed the top Beast Boy's head, shoving him down behind the counter. "Uhm… I like your new look." Everyone present knew something was going on. Raven only wore white when something was making her really, really happy. Something had helped her come to terms with her own powers…. But what?

"Friend… is there… something you wish to tell us?" Starfire hinted, leaning a little too close for comfort into Raven's face. "You wear your sacred white garb, surely there is an occasion?" Beast Boy peeked over the counter at Raven as she spoke.

"I had the best sleep I've had in a long time last night." Raven said, biting her apple again as she distanced herself just a little. "It was… nice." She smiled at them.

"Duck and cover! She's smiling!" Beast Boy squealed, diving behind the counter again. All the Titans tensed up. But… nothing exploded or melted or cracked thanks to Raven's powers. Robin looked around, not sure he believed what she'd said. "Dude… nothing blew up! What gives?" Beast Boy wanted to know.

Raven gave a little sigh, walking out with her apple. She went to the roof to meditate, leaving her friends to gossip. "Something's going down with her…" Cyborg said.

"Something has caused friend Raven happiness, and she is hiding it from us? Why would she do such a thing?" Starfire interlocked her fingers, looking worried. "Surely she would share her happiness with us… but she has not." Her face wilted, and she looked sad.

Robin held his chin, deep in thought. Beast Boy tilted his head, leaning on the counter. Cyborg's red eye became a question mark, and there was a long silence. "Starfire," Robin said at last. "Why don't you go talk to her? Y'know… girl talk." He pointed towards the roof, where Raven had retreated to. "If you find out anything let us know, okay?"

Starfire nodded, and began making her way to the roof. The three male Titans were left there, but soon they went about their own activities as well. Robin, Beast Boy and Cyborg alike eagerly awaited Starfire's return, to see what was making Raven so happy.

Raven had lied to the Titans. When she was able to wear white, she didn't have to meditate. All of her emotions were free, and there was no need. She stood atop Titans Tower, looking out across the city. Somewhere out there was Shade. Probably undisguised, living like a normal person. Her crush on him had only deepened, and she heaved a sigh.

"It is a boy, is it not?" Starfire's voice floated over her, and she turned in shock.

"What?"

"You were out late several times of the week." Starfire approached and stood next to her. "You are happy, and wearing your white garb… and yet you will not tell us what it is?" The red head looked hurt, looking at her friend with vulnerable eyes. "And so… my first guess was perhaps it is a boy."

"Uhm…" Raven said, careful not to look at her. Starfire was looking at her expectantly. "My life outside of this tower is my own business." She said a little coldly. Her white outfit suddenly faded to gray, and both girls gasped. Raven looked up and down her outfit. "See what you've done!" Raven snapped at her, and she recoiled. Starfire looked at her, looking hurt. "Sorry, Starfire." Raven's flat tone had returned for the first time that day, and Starfire's face saddened even more.

"I find it hard that you will not share your experiences with even me." Starfire whispered, a little moist in the eyes. "I thought that perhaps… we would have the 'girl talk'." Her lower lip trembled, and Raven felt a little guilty.

"Starfire…" Raven whispered. "You're my friend, but I gotta have my own privacy. If I had a romantic interest, I couldn't let any of you meet him. Bad things could happen." She turned towards the city. "I… I…" she couldn't find a sentence to go with it. "You wanna go to the mall together?" she said. Starfire brightened considerably.

"Yes! But… before we go, Raven, please…" Starfire had a question. "What is 'romantic interest?' A form of romance that you find interesting?" Raven sweat-dropped. "I enjoy the heart-shaped boxes of small candies, that is my romantic interest!" She declared happily, blushing. "Perhaps we will talk of yours another time?" She tilted her head, but Raven didn't respond immiediatly.

"I'll meet you at the front door in an hour." Raven said, vanishing down the stairs. Her outfit had returned to its normal black and dark blue. Starfire clasped her hands at her breast, giving her a timeless worried look.

Well… she was in white for a little while! That's gotta count for something, right? If you have any questions or comments, please let me know so I can explain things along the way! See you in part five! R and R if you would, please! Thank you!