I'm very much the sorry for posting a day late, but I was having an unplanned night with the boyfriend. He's so spontaneous and sweet! If he hadn't had a soccer game this morning, we'd just be getting to sleep... Haha, I bet you expected "still sleeping."
In any case... thanks again for all the reviews and to my beta readers. I'm actually typing to you from the bath, so I'll just sink back in, now...

Raven lay on her bed, mentally and bodily exhausted. She recapped on the previous night's events. She'd gone out on the town with Robin, against her better judgment, and had a surprisingly good time. She found that enough caffeine becomes like a truth serum to her. Robin had almost discovered her long kept secret.

And how did she feel throughout the ordeal? Really, her feelings ranged from contentment to happiness and a few moments of bliss. She liked the way she felt around him. He made her feel this way. He made her feel.

More importantly, she had let herself feel. She'd been cautious and careful, but there had not been a single mishap in her aura. She had a few personal misgivings, a few questions. Why him? Why now? Should she act on it?

She knew through empathetic means that Starfire felt strong things for their leader. She also knew Robin did not return those feelings, despite appearances. She also knew Beast Boy had more than friendly feelings for her, though they had dissipated while Terra had been around, then returned after Fate dealt a stony hand. She didn't appreciate being his fall back crush, not that she'd ever even considered giving him a chance. She had a very good reason for that—she just didn't like him that way.

She had felt something special with Robin from the moment she'd met him. She'd also been enough of a control freak about her emotions that she had battered and bruised that feeling to inconsequence. She had been resigned to a life of justice and fending off the will of her father. Those days seemed to be fast fading, what with the lack of crime. Still, she'd been quick to dismiss the feeling as admiration and loyalty.

She sat back and watched as he interacted with the rest of the team, patiently waiting her turn. She had watched him attain highs and silently celebrated with him from afar, and waited out his dark lows wanting to reach out and console him. She remembered feeling a dull ache as he moved mountains to accommodate Starfire. There was a reason he was the one Raven had depended on during her birthday disaster. Both creatures of the night, she knew him without having to know much about him. And, deep down, she was counting on him knowing her in that sense, too.

She drew herself up into a lotus pose. Azarath Metrion Zinthos… Azarath Metrion Zinthos… I love Robin… Her lips curled up in spite of themselves. I love Robin…and the knowledge is enough…Azarath Metrion Zinthos…

The next morning, she rose per her routine. She shook the bed-head out and wiped away the traces of sleep in her eyes. She put on her slippers and robe, deciding that today she would have hot raspberry tea.

Today, there was little to do in the living room and the kitchen, so she turned her attentions instead to the work out room and the labs. She carried with her glass cleaner for the monitors, compressed air for the computers, and sanitizer for the gym equipment.

While in the gym, she checked the hinges and springs of anything mechanical. She oiled and lubricated such things that needed it, organized medicine balls and dumbbells. There was plenty to do in upkeep for Cyborg's inventions—the attacking robots and discus launchers—but she limited herself to dusting, as she knew he took particular pride in caring for them himself.

She worked at a steady pace and eventually found satisfaction. She returned to the living room and sat softly on the sofa. She was reaching for the remote when she felt the presence of another.

"What are you drinking today?" Raven moved her head slowly around to find Robin sitting at the table with two mugs and what she assumed was a kettle of boiling water.

"I'll have raspberry tea," she spoke in a tone reflecting her contentment and pleasure at this surprise. She kept watching him as he picked out a flavored tea and brought over the service.

He looked her over, hair still slightly disheveled, cotton robe wrapped around her body, left over right. He was reminded, briefly, of kimonos. Bruce had taken him to Japan, long ago, and they'd gone to a festival. The women there had moved with such grace, beauty, dignity. He was reminded, elliptically, of the person sitting across from him. "Your pajamas too risqué to walk around in?"

Raven tugged at the sleeves of her house robe. The acrid smell of antibacterial cleaner reached her nose, and she wondered that Robin couldn't smell it as well. She pulled the sides together a bit higher on her neck. "Something like that." She removed the tea strainer and reached for the sugar bowl. Actually, she wasn't wearing pajamas.

He raised his own cup to his lips and took a long sip of the warm tea. Robin gave her his winning smile, but then it softened into one just for her. The toaster glowed black and threw itself to the floor. Come on, Raven, toughen up. "You want to help me make breakfast, again?"

She gave him a look that said 'yes.' He got up and went for the fridge. He brought out eggs, milk, sausage, and cheese. He set these down and got tortillas out of the bread box. He paused and looked to Raven. She was getting a bowl and had set a frying pan on the stove.

"Yes, Robin?" She'd felt his eyes on her back.

"Where do we keep potatoes?" He looked embarrassed, not knowing the way around his own kitchen. Raven eyed him curiously. "I thought we'd have breakfast burritos."

"They're in the drawer by your knees." She began cracking eggs into a bowl. "How do you want the potatoes prepared?"

Robin set down two potatoes and one Vidalia onion. "I thought we might sauté these together. Country fried, I think it's called."

"We're a little north of the Mason-Dixon Line, but I think I can handle it. Will you scramble the eggs? I'll dice the potato and onion."

She pushed her sleeves up as she washed the potatoes. She heard the tinking noise of the eggs being beaten stop and she felt hands on her shoulders.

"You might have an easier time with this off—no matter what's underneath," and he began to pull down with gentle pressure. In the time it took to drop the tubers, he had already unveiled bare shoulders. Her now free hands flew to her shoulders and she spun around.

"Robin, no," she said, rattled. The hot water handle flew off the sink. He stared back at her, dumbstruck. "I, uh, I'm not… I'm going to go get dressed; you can handle this for a few minutes…" A black circle opened under her and she sank into the floor.

"She wasn't… she was… I'll get some pliers for that."

Once Raven returned, dressed simply in a cotton tank and yoga pants, and Robin had managed to get the hot water turned off, they nodded at each other and set about their tasks. He scrambled the eggs as they'd agreed, then put them in a covered dish on the table. He then began cooking the sausage, breaking it into small pieces. Having finished dicing, Raven was sautéing the potatoes and onions in butter. It wasn't until Raven was placing the tortillas in the microwave that a word was spoken.

"I'm sorry," said Robin, bending down to pick up the forgotten toaster.

"Don't mention it," Raven mumbled. "Seriously."

They continued setting the prepared fillings in bowls on the table, though the silence was a bit less awkward. Without their notice, the three other Titans had taken places behind the bar, watching the scene play out. Starfire grew incensed by the comfort level between the two, and by the looks Robin kept throwing her. Beast Boy had been grimacing for a while, yet.

"Dear Robin! Wondrous morning to you!" Starfire called loudly over to them. Robin looked up from putting serving utensils into the dishes. "Please, I shall assist in setting the places for sitting." She flew over to the cabinets and brought out plates. As she set them on the table, she eyed Robin as he whispered something in Raven's ear and she nodded.

"So, what have we got here, today?" Cyborg plopped down into his chair. "I see eggs, sausage, potatoes, cheese, tortillas…"

"Breakfast burritos, Cy." Raven was taking her place at the table. "We left the meat separate so Beast Boy couldn't have much to complain about."

"Gee, thanks," Beast Boy grunted. "I'm sure I've been first in your thoughts lately."

"Uh, sure, whatever you say."

"I am noticing that our home has been especially clean, as of late. Our chilled keeper of foods has been particularly free from the blue fuzzies."

"Now that you mention it, yeah, things have been suspiciously tidy. Dude, what if there are ghost maids here at night, or—"

"Maybe it's a fairy. A magic cleaning fairy." Raven maintained a deadpan as she said this. Everyone turned to look at her.

"Oh how delightful! A tiny winged being taking care of our dwelling. Robin, could it be so?"

"Sure, Star, a fairy," he said. He looked meaningfully at Raven. "I'll bet she's very beautiful, too."

"Ah, and what a wonderful meal. Thank you, Robin, for preparing it." Starfire beamed at their leader. "These browned tubers are a delightful element with the egg and crumbled pig meat."

"Actually, Star, Raven made the country potatoes." He bit into his wrapped food and gave Raven a soft look. It was a look he would continue to give her throughout breakfast.

"Oh, I see," Starfire wilted. "Much appreciation for the delicious addition, Raven."

"You're welcome, Star," she replied. The emotions emitted from her teammates were not at all lost on her. Starfire's feelings of abandon and slight confusion were easy to pick up on, while Beast Boy's extreme jealousy and possessiveness were loud and clear. She knew Cyborg was feeling very satisfied and a little amused. From Robin there was… a very familiar feeling. She would've liked to investigate any one of them further, but she was starting to get overloaded. She quietly excused herself from the table and went to meditate on the roof.

Beast Boy glared at Robin as if he had stolen something very precious. He ignored any attempts to converse by Robin. When he finished eating, he violently pushed back his chair and left without clearing his setting.

"I am wondering if there is not something amiss with friend Beast Boy. I do not recall him being quite so lobstery before."

"That's 'crabby,' Star."

"Do not argue semantics when there is a friend in trouble!"

"She's got you there, Rob. Honestly, you'd think you'd broken his little red wagon."

"I thought friend Beast Boy had a moped, has he also this 'red wagon?'"

"It's a figure of speech, Starfire. He means that I did something to harm something dear to him."

"Yeah, well, I think it's kind of obvious, but it's not my place to say."

"Friend Cyborg, this is your home. If you have a place to say anything, this would be it, unless I am mistaken."

"He means he feels it isn't right or fair for him to say. I, however, feel that if he has anything to say, he should, because maybe it could help us help Beast Boy."

Robin and Starfire looked expectantly at Cyborg, who was stuffing another burrito into his mouth. He cast his eyes downward as he swallowed and prepared for what he had to say.

"He's getting a bit territorial. He's used to not having competition for… certain things." Cyborg's eyes glanced up to the roof.

"But Cyborg, Robin does not challenge him to the gaming boy and he craves competition on the station of gaming. Surely Beast Boy cannot be woeful over such."

"No, Starfire, this has nothing to do with our videogames. You get it, though, right Rob?"

"I do, but I don't. I'll deal with it."

Cyborg nodded and got up from the table. He began to clear away the plates and bowls. "Thanks for the breakfast, again. I hope you and Dark Girl make a habit out of this. I'll clean up."

"Right, I'll go talk to Beast Boy."

"I shall accompany you, friend Robin."

They explored the halls and rooms of the tower but to no avail. All the while, Starfire had been carefully considering their leader, as well as asking a multitude of questions regarding fairies and their home. When they finally decided to rest in the conservatory, she took the opportunity to pick his brains.

"Robin, there seems to be something going on that I am not aware of. You are not telling me things which I feel you should."

"Starfire, would you please just give me a break? I'm not the only one you can go to." He leaned his head back and heaved a sigh.

"No, there are things that only you can answer. I will cease abusing the circumference of shrubbery." Robin's forehead wrinkled while he translated what she said into English. "Robin, I am feeling things I do not wish to feel. I observed you at breakfast as I have for the past few weeks, and I do not like what I see! You are spending less and less time with the team—with me—and more time with Raven. Robin, I do not like the way you look at her! I wish to be the one you look at in such a fashion! I want to be the only one you look at and seem to forget there is unpleasantness in the world!" He looked bewildered in response. Starfire stopped floating and sank to the floor. "Robin, what is going on?"

"Starfire, it's ok. I'm sorry I haven't been spending as much time with you; I honestly hadn't realized I was doing that." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "And I hadn't realized I was looking at Raven a particular way. But, Star, I think there's been a great misunderstanding for a long time." He paused and looked at the alien girl. "Starfire, I think situations may have lead you to believe there was something between us that there never was. You're a very dear friend to me," Starfire winced. "But that's all."

"But, Robin, all those times… When I was betrothed due to a scheme of my sister's, what of your fury?"

"It was out of a strong sense of injustice."

"And what of your returned hugs and consolations in my times of worry?"

"I would do that for any friend. But, you most of all because you're so far from home and family, your basic support system. I wanted to make you feel as welcome and comfortable as possible; anyone would have been happy to, I was just the first one in line."

Starfire was quiet for a spell, her eyes closed and a look of concentration on her features. "On Tamaran, this would be the occasion for the Mass Slaughtering of Unrequited Love. Is this a tradition on Earth?"

"Er… I'm afraid not."

"And a duel for your affections is also uncalled for?" Robin nodded.

Again, she sat silent. Her jaw was set and her brow knit. "Yes, I understand and accept this. No hard feelings, leader?" She stood and held out a hand. She looked at him tearfully, but not a single drop dared escape. He stood from the bench he was sitting on and waved her hand out of the way. He embraced her, as he always had, and she understood.

"Is that all, Starfire?"

"Well, no… What of Raven? I may not have the gift of empathy as she, but I am no fool."

Robin was taken aback by her directness, but smiled. "I don't know, Star, but it's different. I like her a lot, and I wake up each day now with the hope of learning something new about her. She's special."

"I see, Robin. I wish you luck in your endeavor. I shall take the initiative to inquire of other minds in the future." With that, the Tamaranian princess turned solemnly and left Robin to his own devices.

Robin walked the path around the plants and let himself get lost in thought. He'd felt a huge weight lift off his shoulders at the prospect of having to spend less time explaining Earth ways to their foreign friend. He was so distracted by his own musings, he didn't notice an off-color boa slither out from the bushes and wrap around his ankles.

"Robin, I need to talk to you." Beast Boy's voice was hoarse, tired. "About Raven, and you, and…" He choked up. "Why, dammit, why now?"

"There's nothing going on, really, I'm just trying to learn more about her…"

"You could at least respect me enough to be honest. I can see it in the way you look at her. You want her like I do."

"Beast Boy, this is childish."

Beast Boy had returned to his human form. "I know what you're thinking… What about Terra? Well, she turned on us, then she turned to stone. I'm still pretty sore from all that, and now you're going after Raven…"

"Beast Boy… Garfield… Is it really so unreasonable to see why, though? I thought it wasn't an issue with you anymore. I'm sorry. But I can't undo it. And it wouldn't be fair to Raven for me to try."

"No, Robin, don't you get it? I just might love Raven. She may not laugh at my jokes, and she may ridicule me, but when push comes to shove, she's the one person I can count on. She's the ying to my yang. She's everything beautiful and wonderful that a boy could ever dream for."

"Beast Boy, I know, I see it, too."

"Then why do you have to take her from me? I've gotten so little right in my life, wanting Raven is the only thing that I haven't screwed up! And I know I can help her get over her darkness! You, with all your obsessions and moodiness, you'd bring her down with you! You could never give her what she needs, not like me!"

"But I'm going to try."

"I guess there's only one logical thing to do, then: we have to fight." Beast Boy rose from the ground and lifted his fists.

"Beast Boy, I'm not going to fight you, not for anything. I'm sorry we like the same girl, but you're like family." Beast Boy threw a punch, square into Robin's jaw. Robin could have dodged, easily could have blocked, but he took it.

Beast Boy glared at his leader. "Don't speak of family to me. You should know better. Now defend yourself!" He threw his fist into his opponent's stomach. Robin's jaw clenched.

"Do as you please, it won't change how either of us feels." Robin was looking straight into his attacker's.

"Feelings," Beast Boy mumbled. "What about how Raven feels? Do you know if she feels anything for you?"

"I could pose you the same question."

"Answer me."

Robin bit his lip and shut his eyes. "Lately, I'm sure you've noticed, she has been smiling more."

Beast Boy's face darkened and his eyes became glossy. He turned and took an accusing voice with his leader. "So, Starfire wasn't enough, huh? You just have to be the playboy of the Titans. Well, I hope… I hope… I'll get over this…" He turned and slumped out of the sunny room.

Alone, the bird looked at himself reflected in a puddle. Robin was drained after the two confrontations and again sought out a bench. Raven walked in after a while.

"Will you come sit with me, Raven?" She nodded consent and came cautiously over. Raven stared at the ground and softly sighed.

Her eyes stayed glued to the ground. "Starfire said that I should come see you?"

"Oh… did she mention why?"

"No." Raven studied him for a few moments. "You've got a welt on your face."

"Heh, yeah... Strangest thing; Beast Boy punched me"

She seemed to have lost the ability to speak. The tiniest of smiles played across her face.

"Raven, I –"

She put a finger to his lips. "Sh, some things are better left unsaid for a time. Let's just sit in silence."

The two birds shared in the quiet enjoyment of each other's company for quite a while on that bench. There were a few butterflies flitting about their indoor garden. The warmth created by the sun streaming in through the large windows was a comfort. Robin's pinky overlapped Raven's in a most significant sort of way.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

RE: WINTER UPDATES

Oh man! Coming home today was rough, but that does not concern any one of you, so I'll move on. See, I've been invited up to visit some one in another state for about a week. IF I find time to write, it will be up after next Monday. Then, of course, there's Christmas. Same conditions will apply.

Now to indulge myself :) I'm going on a triiiip, I'm going somewhere neeew, I'm gonna make a frieeeend, I'm going with my looove. Heehee, roadtrip with my sweetheart. Wish me luck!