AN: It is my duty to inform you that I in no way, shape, or form own the Teen Titans.

Chapter 7: Getting Close vs. Close Calls

By the time Raven was being shown around, the Titans had cleaned up most of the tower. She felt horrible about what she did to the television and apologized to Cyborg. He had been planning on yelling at her about it, but when he saw her all weak and helpless on Beast Boy's back he had no choice but to forgive her. Anyway, now he had a chance to upgrade the entertainment center.

As they went around the tower Beast Boy told her exactly what had been broken or moved and kept reassuring her that everything was replaceable. His words were comforting, but she still felt horrible for losing control. The last place Beast Boy showed her, and he saved it for last for a reason, was her room. He slowly opened her door and the light from the hallway seeped in. Raven gasped when she saw it.

"I know, it looks bad," he said in a hushed voice, knowing that she was really shocked by this. "I really hope you didn't have anything irreplaceable."

Raven looked at her books which were thrown about the room; a few looked like they had been beaten up. But they were savable. Her bed had split in half and looked like it was caving into itself. All her potion bottles had exploded and there was glass all about the room. Her few statues were tipped over and broken. She even saw her meditation mirror among the debris, but it was, luckily, still intact.

"Are you okay?" asked Beast Boy.

"Yes," she sighed sadly after a bit of a pause. "You were right, everything can be replaced."

"I know, but it's different when it's your stuff," he said. "I mean, you must have had a few things from your past in here."

"Just my books," she said plainly, but he could hear the sadness in her voice. "Everything else I collected here on Earth. I can always buy more statues."

Beast Boy felt her sigh again and she laid her heavy head on his shoulder. "Come on, I'll take you back to my room so you can lie down," he said quietly and backed out of what used to be her room.

Once they got back to his room he helped her lie back down. She was feeling very depressed now and just wanted to be alone. Of course, Beast Boy wasn't about to allow this. "I hope it's okay that you'll be staying in my room for a while," said Beast Boy.

"I just can't understand why you would want me in your room," she said. She was curled up on her side and looking at Beast Boy, who was sitting next to the bed on the floor.

"Well, I'm the only one with two beds," he said plainly. Raven suddenly felt unwanted and closed her eyes sadly. Beast Boy quickly realized what he had said. "Uh, and I want you near me. You know, so I can take care of you."

"Don't worry, as soon as I'm strong I'll be out of here," she said, keeping her eyes closed.

"Now don't get like that," he sighed. "Don't act like I don't want you here or something. This was all my idea, remember."

"But why?" she asked, opening her eyes. "Why did you want me like this? Am I so horrible to live with you would rather have me indisposed?"

"What? No, that's not it at all!" he said getting closer to her. "Raven, I wanted you to talk to me. I still want you to talk to me. I knew that you needed to just actually let loose and be free, to get all of that stuff out of your head that kept you so… alone."

"Beast Boy, I know that you thought that making me lose control was a good idea," she said. "But I can't let loose like that. It's irresponsible of me. You saw the damage I caused."

"Well that was all of the frustration that had built up over the years," said Beast Boy. "If you just let go like once a month then it will be much smaller and you'll feel better."

"You don't know the first thing about my powers," she said growing desperate. But, as hard as she tried, she couldn't find the energy to be mad at him.

"And I don't have to," he said. "No one, no matter who they are or what powers they have, can survive living the way you live. You need to actually enjoy life, for once."

"I was enjoying my life," she said weakly.

"No you weren't," he said shaking his head. "The way you looked this morning, when you were eating that pastry; that was you enjoying something. I've never seen you look like that before, ever! And you said that when you woke up you didn't have a feeling of dread in your stomach. That's enjoying your life, Raven! That's being happy. I just… I want you to be happy."

Raven looked at him in a way that Beast Boy had never seen her look before. She looked scared, vulnerable, and in a way hopeful. "You… you do?"

"Of course," he said, taking one of her weak hands. "That's all I've ever wanted for you." Raven felt her heart race and she wanted to cry. She felt like she was naked in front of him. She closed her eyes and wanted to turn away. Beast Boy took his hand from her hand and placed it on her cheek, making her open her eyes with surprised. "Please, let me in."

Suddenly the room began to flash with a red light and a siren sounded. Beast Boy jumped with shock and looked up at the light. He sighed and stood up. "I'll be back," he said and ran out of the room. Raven was left feeling quite flustered and confused.

Three hours later the four Titans returned after taking care of Mumbo Jumbo and then running into a shoplifting Gyzmo. It was a little harder to take care of these two, since they were one short, but it was in no way difficult. Beast Boy was a little tired, but he still ran to his room.

He quietly opened the door and found Raven fast asleep. He sighed and walked in. He had been so close to her actually opening up to him. He was positive that no one had ever spent this much attention on her. Everyone always gave up after the third try. He had seen it happen whenever Robin, Cyborg, or Starfire tried to get her to open up. But not him. He refused to give up on her. He wanted to know her, to make her feel like they were friends, not just teammates and not just roommates.

He silently made his way into the room and sat down next to the bed, on his spot on the floor. He studied her sleeping face. It was so calm, so innocent. Once in a while her eyes would look around beneath her closed lids. Her violet hair had fallen into her face and it tickled her, causing her face to twitch. He softly reached up and moved the purple locks out of her face. Her deep gray lips were slightly separated and he could see that they were growing dry. He suddenly remembered that his lips had touched hers.

'I can't believe I've kissed her,' he thought. 'Well, she kissed me, but still.' Then he thought back to what she had said when they talked about it. 'What did she mean that that was her only kiss? She doesn't think anyone will ever want to kiss her? Dude, I have less of a chance of ever being kissed again than her! At least she's attractive, not green. And, sure, she doesn't look normal, what with the grayish skin and purple/blue hair, but if anything that makes he look even prettier. Wow! Did I just think that? Well, it's not like there's anything wrong with it. I mean, I think Starfire's pretty. But, then again, Raven's a different kind of pretty. She's… she's…"

"Beautiful," he said out loud. He quickly covered his mouth and held his breath, hoping Raven hadn't woken up and heard him. She hadn't and he tried to relax. But he couldn't relax now. He had just said, out loud, that he thought Raven was beautiful.

'Oh man! Why the hell did I think that? Okay, okay, calm down Beast Boy. She's just like Starfire. They're just two girls who are attractive and your friends. There's nothing different between Raven and Starfire. So I shouldn't feel any different for Raven. Wait! I don't feel any different for Raven. Oh, stop thinking Beast Boy!'

Raven stirred and let out a moan. She opened her eyes, and this surprised Beast Boy. Raven gasped and would have jumped if her body was strong enough to. "Were… were you just watching me sleep?" she asked.

"Un… no. No! No, I was just, um, waiting for you to wake up," he said nervously smiling.

"So, you were watching me sleep," she said, a little freaked out.

"No, I was waiting, not watching," he said feeling guilty. They stared at each other for a few awkward seconds. "Do you wanna take a shower?" he blurted out.

"Excuse me!" she asked shocked and creeped out.

"Uh, what I mean is, I'll have Starfire help you take a shower, if you want," he said quickly. "You know, to wake you up and make you feel better." He was blushing horribly now and his heart was racing. His palms were sweating and he had never felt so embarrassed in his life.

"Um… sure, go get Starfire," she said, blushing as well.

Beast Boy was out the door before she could even finish the sentence. He bolted down the hall and pummeled Starfire's door. She quickly opened it and he grabbed her by the hand. "Hi, Raven wants to take a shower and she needs you to help her because you're a girl and she can't stand up on her own and I can't be there and, uh, yeah." He said in one breath as he dragged a very flustered Starfire back to his room.

Starfire carried Raven out of Beast Boy's room and took her to bathe. Beast Boy was glad to be rid of her. Well, he wasn't really glad. He was just happy that she wasn't there to make him feel awkward. He wasn't sure what had made him think about Raven in a different light than, say, Starfire. He sighed and felt very confused. He decided to keep his mind busy be remaking Ravens bed. He never made his own bed, but he knew that Raven slept in a well made bed every night. And he wanted her to be comfortable. But why? Why did he care so much about her lately?

A half hour later Starfire returned with Raven in her arms. She was in a pair of pajamas, which Beast Boy had never seen before, and her hair was still dripping wet. Starfire placed her down on the newly made bed as gently as she could.

"There, now you are clean," said Starfire with a smile. "Are you in need of anything else?"

"You wouldn't happen to have a comb, would you?" asked Raven.

Starfire smiled, "Of course! I shall retrieve it and then I shall comb your hair and make it look pretty!" Before Raven could object Starfire left.

Beast Boy tried not to, but he couldn't help staring at Ravens outfit. She was in a pair of black silk pajama pants with midnight blue ravens spotted about. She also had a black, tight fitting tank top that also had ravens on it on.

"What are you wearing?" he asked at last.

Raven was leaning against the ladder of the bunk bed so she wouldn't fall over. "Oh, this," she sighed. "Starfire bought these for me last Christmas. She insisted that I wear them. I must look ridiculous."

"No, you look fine," he said with a small smile, but feeling a little awkward.

Starfire returned with the comb and a box of hair accessories. "Oh, we are going to have so much fun!" she said as she set the comb and box down. "I shall try the braiding and the tails of ponies and the tails of the pigs…"

Suddenly, Robin burst into the room. "Starfire, Silkie just ate two of the T-car's tires and he's heading for the other two. Cyborg's about to kill him."

"Oh no!" gasped Starfire and she rushed out of the room with robin following her. She suddenly returned. "I am sorry Raven, but I shall be unable to do your hair!" And with that she ran back out.

Beast Boy and Raven were quite stunned by this whole little event and were left in silence, before looking at each other. Beast Boy looked to the comb and box and then back to Raven. "Do… do you want me to comb your hair for you?" he asked hesitantly.

"No, I'll just fix it when my strength's back," she said humbly.

"Come on, I've never seen you without pin straight hair," he said with a smile and reached down for the comb.

"No, you really don't have to," she said, but it was too late. He moved behind her and started to gently comb her hair out. Raven was nervous that he would snag the comb on a tangle and yank a huge chunk of her hair out. A comb was much different than a brush, and she hoped he would be kind to her poor head. Of course he was beyond careful. He combed extremely slowly, mostly because he was as nervous as Raven was, maybe even more.

Raven closed her eyes and soon her nervousness went away. Beast Boy was taking his time and whenever he got a little tangle he stopped and gently worked on it until it straightened out. He was going so slowly that eventually his neck and back began to hurt. He moved a little closer to her so he wouldn't have to bend his neck as much. Raven could feel the heat of his body behind her and she was actually… okay with it. It was comforting. She was used to feeling cold most of the time, so feeling the heat of someone else was new and pleasant.