I'm warning you ahead of time, you ARE going to hate me at the end of this chapter... BUT, it's worth it.

And, I didn't make this clear before. This is a little in the future: Robin is 19, Raven is 18. I'll try and make that clearer as I progress through the story. Old enough to feel... things, but young enough they still question themselves. Okay, before I ruin anything else for you... Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans.

As the food was making it's last appearance, I realized that it was my night for dishes. Now I could have pulled seniority and made someone else do them saying I had to work on a case or something, because I had ate enough that all I wanted to do was go lay down and sleep. Yeah, and dream of those beautiful amethyst eyes, piped up another little voice in the back of my head. But I knew that everyone had done the same thing I had, I could tell it by the look on their faces, they were gonna probably head straight off to the Island of Unconsciousness.

"I'm gonna go save my game and crash guys, thanks again Cy." was the sound that became beginning of the end of one of the greatest meals I'd had in a while. Everyone was just lounging in their chairs for a minute, when we heard the big screen turn off and steps fade down the hall.

This seemed to be Starfire and Cyborg's cue to get up, both excused themselves and said, "Most pleasant of dreams for you friends." along with a low, "Goodnight." I expected Raven to follow suit and excuse herself to leave me alone to my chores, instead she just sat there.

Finally breaking the silence by saying something simple, yet under the circumstances shocking, "Are you gonna just sit there? Let's get these done." My jaw hit the floor in my mind, and apparently it showed, "What? If you don't want any help I can just get my tea and leave."

"No, no. Please feel free to help. I just wasn't expecting you to help, not that you aren't helpful, no I don't mean that at all, it's just this was a big meal and I figured you had ate a lot... Wait no that came out wrong too... I'm not saying you ate a lot or that you are fat, 'cause you're not...Okay I'm just gonna shut up and say thank you for the help." What came over me?... It's as if I forgot how to talk in coherent sentences... and those that came out came out wrong... I never speak without thinking and here I was rambling... is she smiling, no I think she's laughing at me... can this get any worse?

I started to grab the plates and silverware and went to the kitchen, all the cups started float to the sink right beside me with a black "glow". I looked at her standing in the door way allowing her little parade to pass while she held the door, "What happened to you having a problem using your powers for household chores?" I winced inside as I said it knowing that it came out harsher than I wanted it to. To which I got no reply aside from the last cup splashing suds all over me instead of easing in like the previous ones. Dang it, you know better than that apologize right now. "Raven, I'm sorry that came out harsher than I wanted it to." I said quietly as I turned around to an empty room. Great, just wonderful. I was kicking myself for the umpteenth time today.

I saw a dial on the front of the stove turned, I'm gonna have to remind Cyborg to shut the stove off. Then I realized it was for one of the back burners, and what I saw made me feel a little better, at least I'll have a chance to talk to her tonight.

Hurrying through the dishes I watched the pot sitting on the stove. You know the saying "Watched water never boils", well they were close. It just takes a long time, but I didn't want it to whistle so I had to watch it. Just as it hit the point that it would have started screaming to the world "I'm hot" I grabbed it and found two coffee cups; knowing that she drank camomile in the evenings I put a little bag in one cup and put a bag of Earl Grey in mine. With the clink of two spoons dropping to the bottom of the cups I hastily made my way to the roof, where I was sure she had disappeared to.

Once again disaster was saved by my reflexes as I almost ran into a large figure that had just stepped in front of me as I got to the bottom of the stairs. "I think it's time we had a little talk, Robin." came a quiet and obviously restrained voice from a good head and a half above me. Who was I to disagree? So I nodded and stepped back so we could see each other, and you're scared to death... yeah, maybe that too. "I'll try and make this short and... well not sweet... If you ever," forceful but still quiet as not to alert the others of our meeting, "hurt her, I don't care how big and bad and strong you think you are, I will hurt you." When did he get to be so perceptive... I guess people are growing up... all the Titans were growing up, now that I think about it...

I stood there for a second letting the words that had just been uttered sink into my head. Then was even more shocked, I wonder why I'm still shocked by anything today, when the same voice said, "You better get up there before her tea gets cold, she might not accept an apology if it's accompanied by cold tea."

Raven's POV

I was on my way to the roof almost as soon as he said that. He knows I don't do it very often, I was just trying to help him out. Just calm down Raven... find your cent... "Oof!" That's odd I've never ran into a wall before... wait there isn't a wall here... I looked up to see that I had not, in fact, ran into a wall (maybe the equivalent in this case), but rather the titan who had taken over the 'big brother' spot in my life. Then I remembered that I still needed to say sorry for the speaker comment, but as if he was reading my mind he saved his hand and hushed me.

"I know something, I don't know what... yet, is going on between you and Robin. But I know you will make the right decision what ever it is, even if it's the hard one." Wow, he's really good at the big brother thing... and what is going on with Robin and me..., I thought to myself. Then, trying to make it look like an afterthought he added, "Oh, by the way. I saw what you did in the kitchen. And I heard what he said... all of what he said. You might want to give him a break on this one." Then as I let the words roll over in my head, he was gone. For a big guy he can sure be quiet and fast.

I was where I always was when something was bothering me, on the roof floating in meditation. Well, I was trying to meditate. But everything the metal chef had said kept me from clearing my mind. What did he mean 'all of what he said'... did Robin say something after I left... did I not give him a chance?... no, I didn't... but why should I have... it's not like he cares if I'm nice to him... do you know that for sure... no, but I know where to find the answers... hiding behind that cursed mask...

I remembered that I left the water on the stove, it was probably screaming right now. I was about to go get it when I smelled the familiar herb that I was so fond of, along with another smell I had learned to be Earl Grey. So, he's brought me tea to apologize?... interesting... oh please, you know he just doesn't like it when the team is having problems... are you sure, he doesn't take anybody else a peace offering... could it be because no one else needs one... okay, so I'm a little harsh... a little?... well lets work on that... "Thank you." in an almost whisper slid between my lips. But I knew he could hear me, because the steps that I hadn't been able to hear before transitioned into his normal stride till he was right beside me.

"I didn't want to interrupt you if you were meditating." he said with what sounded to me like relief. He handed me my still warm tea and sat down beside me at the edge of the tower staring at the water below. After an eternity he took a deep breath, almost as if gathering strength for a battle, and let one of the most powerful phrases in the English language come out of his mouth.