Chapter 11

Beast Boy and Raven were lead into Beast Boy's old room, blindfolded. They weren't sure what was going on, but their friends promised that it was a great surprise. Raven was now only a week away from her due date and was so large that Beast Boy had to support her so that she didn't topple over. Her back hurt most of the time and she liked having Beast Boy to lean on.

"Okay, are you ready?" asked Starfire in an excited voice.

"Yes," they both said together.

Cyborg and Robin took the blindfolds off the two and revealed the surprise. Beast Boy and Raven gasped as they saw that Beast Boy's room had been converted into a nursery. It had everything they would ever need for taking care of a baby; a crib, a changing table, a diaper genie, a rocking chair, and all the necessary supplies. The walls each had a different scene painted on them; one was a jungle, one was an African plain, one was under the sea, and the last was a forest. The ceiling was painted to look like the night sky on one side and the day sky on the other.

"Do you like it?" asked Starfire.

"It's beautiful," said Raven. "I love you guys!"

"I can't believe it," said Beast Boy still shocked. "This is great."

"We thought it was the best gift we could give you two," said Cyborg.

"This is way too much," said Raven examining everything. "When the hell did you guys find the time to do this?"

"Here and there," said Robin.

"Well I think I know why Starfire was at the mall so often," said Beast Boy laughing.

Raven laughed and then winced and gave a small squeak of pain. She grabbed her stomach and gasped. The others quickly stopped what they were doing and looked at her.

"You okay?" asked Beast Boy, going over to her.

"Yeah," said Raven opening her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing."

"Are you sure?" asked Beast Boy.

"It was nothing, don't worry about…" She grabbed her stomach again and went to let out a scream, but nothing came out. She leaned onto Beast Boy, who caught her.

"Well that can't be good," said Cyborg.

"Please, Raven, what is wrong?" asked Starfire.

"I don't know, I…" she screamed and nearly fell to her knees. "I think the baby's coming."

They all stood still for what seemed, to Raven at least, forever. Then they all snapped out of it and flew into action.

"Cyborg, get the T-car ready," said Robin.

"Got it," said Cyborg running out of the room.

"Starfire, go get Ravens hospital bag," said Robin.

"I am going," said Starfire frantically.

Then Robin and Beast Boy helped Raven out of the nursery and all the way to the garage and the T-car. Right as they were about to get in Ravens water broke. She gasped and began to get scared. Starfire arrived with Ravens bag and threw it into the trunk.

"It's okay, Raven," said Beast Boy trying to calm her down. He helped her into the back seat and sat with her, along with Starfire.

Cyborg drove as fast as he could to the hospital. Raven was panting and screaming with pain. Beast Boy took a hold of her hand and told her to breathe and not to worry. He himself was panicking just as much as she was. It was happening, it was actually happening!

They arrived at the hospital and got Raven checked in as quickly as she could. She was having horribly painful contractions and nearly broke Beast Boys hand, which she held the entire time. Once she was in a room the other three Titans went to the waiting to room to, well, wait.

The doctor came in to see how far Raven was. He wasn't a young doctor, but he wasn't very old. Very professional, he got right down to business when he came in. "You're dilated about three centimeters. Do you want something for the pain?"

"Dear Azar yes!" she screamed and cried.

The doctor quickly called a nurse and in a few minutes she was given an epidural. Soon Raven couldn't even feel any of the pain and started to relax. Beast Boy was relieved more than any of them as he took his poor crushed hand back.

While they waited for her to fully dilate Beast Boy and Raven talked. He sat as close to her as he could and summed the courage to take her hand again.

"This is it," he said with a nervous smile.

"I know," said Raven leaning back into her pillow.

"We're about to be parents," said Beast Boy.

"You ready?" she asked.

"Don't really have a choice now, do we," he said with a smile. She smiled back and he gave her a kiss.

Two hours went by and she was fully dilated, and that meant it was time to push. The doctor came in, gloves and mask on and ready. Ravens legs were placed in stirrups and the doctor positioned him self in front of her. Beast Boy chose to stay with Ravens upper half. He really didn't want to see what was happening.

"Okay, Raven, I want you to take a deep breath in and then hold it and push," said the doctor. "You ready?"

"I think so," said Raven getting prepared.

"Good," said the doctor. "Take in a deep breath and… push."

Raven grit her teeth and pushed with all of her might. The doctor told her to keep pushing for what seemed an eternity and then said she could breathe. She stopped and took in a few deep breaths.

"Very good," said the doctor. "Now take in another deep breath and push."

Raven did as he said and pushed even harder this time. She continued this cycle of breathing and pushing for almost a half hour before the doctor finally said those wonderful words.

"The head's out," he said.

Raven felt a slight wave of relief and fear. There really was no turning back now. She felt exhausted and wasn't sure if she could go on.

"Alright, take a deep breath in and push."

She did, but it only lasted for a few seconds. She let it out and gasped for air. She was sweating horribly and Beast Boy continually dabbed it away.

"You're doing great," said Beast Boy kissing her head.

"I don't think I can do anymore," said Raven panting.

"The baby's almost here, Raven," said the doctor. "I just need a few more good pushes and then you'll have your baby."

"Come on, Raven, I know you can do it," said Beast Boy.

"Ready?" asked the doctor.

Raven nodded reluctantly and took in a deep breath. She pushed down for as long as she could and then stopped. Everyone in the room was cheering her on, she almost felt like a sports star, but she just wanted them all to shut up and leave her alone. She breathed in again and pushed. Every part of her was drained and she wasn't sure if she would have the strength to finish. She gasped in one last breath and then pushed as hard as she could.

"It's out!" called the doctor.

Raven collapsed onto the bed and panted for air. Beast Boy watched as his child was hoisted into the air, all pale and wet. It began to scream and breathe its first breath of air.

"It's a boy," said the doctor as he handed the child over to a nurse to get him cleaned up.

"Oh my God, it's a boy!" said Beast Boy looking to Raven. He took her hand and kissed her. She was still covered in sweat and was shaking all over. She felt dizzy and half dead. But then she saw the nurse walking over to her with her child. She found the strength to sit up and took him into her arms. She could feel tears streaming down her face as she kissed the top of her son's head. She was so happy and relieved. Beast Boy couldn't help crying as well.

"He's here," said Raven crying. "I can't believe it."

"He's so beautiful," said Beast Boy rubbing his eyes.

Raven laid back into the bed and held her son close. He was still crying and whimpering, but soon found comfort in his mother's arms. His little fingers grasped the blue blanket he was wrapped in and his poor eyes tried to open, but the light was just too bright in this new world. His skin was pail, a little pink, like his mother and he had elf ears like his father. His tuft of hair on his head was soft and of the violet color.

Beast Boy leaned close to Raven and touched his son's small fingers. His whole hand wrapped around his father's finger. Beast Boy laughed in amazement and cried with happiness. He kissed Raven and held her close to him.

"He's perfect," said Beast Boy.

"Do you want to go tell them?" asked Raven.

"Okay," said Beast Boy wiping his eyes. He kissed Raven once more, took his finger from his son, and left to tell his friends.

Cyborg sat reading a magazine, but he barely took in a single word. Starfire had been pacing back and forth for so long that she had actually worn a hole in the carpet. Robin tried not to fall asleep in his chair. They had been waiting for hours and weren't sure how much longer it would be.

Beast Boy burst through the waiting room doors and saw his friends. Starfire stopped pacing, and the two boys looked up. They waited for a few silent seconds to hear what Beast Boy would have to say.

"It's a boy!" he said and began to dancing around. Starfire cheered and began to bounce around the room. Robin and Cyborg got up to congratulate their friend.

"Congratulations Beast Boy," said Robin shaking his hand.

"Awesome man!" said Cyborg ruffling Beast Boy's hair.

"How is Raven?" asked Starfire.

"Good," said Beast Boy, unable to keep from smiling. "She's really tired, but really happy."

"So when do we get to see the little guy?" asked Cyborg.

"Come on, I'll take you," said Beast Boy.

Raven couldn't believe she was holding her son. Her son; a child she had created and brought into the world. He had finished his weeping and was now fast asleep. Once in a while his little legs would start fidgeting and Raven was glad that he was now longer kicking her ribs.

The door to the room opened and Beast Boy entered with their three friends behind him. Raven smiled and held her son a little higher on her chest. "Hi guys," she said.

"Oh Raven, he is magnificent," said Starfire getting a good look at the babe.

"He's got ears like Beast Boy," said Robin.

"Awe, he's like a little BB splashed with Raven," said Cyborg.

Raven smiled very proudly. She saw Beast Boy with a similar look standing right next to her. "You ready to hold him?"

"Yeah," said Beast Boy excitedly. Raven slowly handed their child to Beast Boy. He squirmed a little bit, and gave a small whimper, but then grew comfortable in the arms of his father. Beast Boy held his small head in his hand and cradled they baby's body in his arm. "Dude, this is so cool," squealed Beast Boy with a smile. Raven smiled and shook her head. No matter how much Beast Boy matured he would always use that word, "Dude".