Raven jumped, her heart thudding as she regarded the closed door. Had her desires finally driven her crazy? She could have sworn she had just heard Beast Boy, but everyone else (including Beast Boy she assumed) had gone to the picnic. Hadn't they?

"Raven," Beast Boy softly repeated, erasing all the doubt within her tortured mind.

"What are you doing here?" she asked sharply, "Why didn't you leave? I thought you were going to the park."

There was a long and torturous pause. "I thought about going," he finally answered, "but I'm worried about you. You said that what was going on with you didn't have anything to do with me, but you're wrong."

"But I told you," she said, "I'm not mad at you and this is not your fault."

"Just because it may not be my fault doesn't mean it doesn't concern me," he replied, "I want to help you, if I can, but I can't even try if you don't let me. Please, tell me what's going on."

"I don't know how," she whispered, shaking slightly.

"You can tell me anything," he assured her, "just not through a closed door."

She took a deep breath and quickly opened the door before she could change her mind. There he was, standing before her with genuine concern plainly written upon his features, but she dared not move. The silence of the empty Tower loomed about them as they stood looking at one another.

Beast Boy broke the silence. "Thanks," he said, taking a step towards her.

She put her hands in front of her to stop his approach. "Don't," she simply stated, "I'll do my best to tell you what the problem is, but not here. We need to be out in the open."

"In the open?" he repeated, his puzzled tone turning the phrase into a question.

"Yes," she clarified, "Let's walk down by the water."

She stepped out of her room and walked past him, careful not to so much as brush against his body. She could hear his footsteps whispering upon the floor behind her, but she didn't turn around as they made their way out of the Tower and onto the island. It was a beautiful day, but it seemed it seemed almost to mock her state of mind. For a brief moment, she wished the sun would hide behind a cloud and the soft breeze would cease blowing. Finally, she made it to the water's edge, where the waves lapped against the worn rocks.

"We can't go any farther unless we want to swim," Beast Boy said, lightly.

Raven knew he was urging her to speak, but her words seem to catch in her throat. "I don't know how to say this," she began, "I guess you have a right to know, but this is really embarrassing." She sighed deeply as she peered into the deep blue water.

"Just do your best," he encouraged her.

She sighed again as she rallied all of her available strength. If she was to do this, she had to get started. It was probably best if she just said outright. "Well," she managed, "You see, there is something going on inside of me. Inside my body."

"Your body?"

"Yes. It wants me to, uh, be pregnant," she blushed slightly, but she managed to say the horrible secret she had been hiding, "So, I just keep thinking about, well, sex. It's all I can think about and I can't trust myself to keep fighting it."

"Oh," was all that he said, and she risked a glance back at him. He was blushing, and his eyes were comically wide and round. She felt laughter building up inside, but held it back for fear it would hurt his feelings.

"So you see why I have to keep you at a distance," she continued turning back to face the waters, "or who knows what might happen."

"Oh," he repeated, "Uh, can I ask a question?"

"Yes."

"Is it everyone you can't trust yourself around or is it me?" His blush deepened as he asked.

She had been expecting that question, but she still felt no more prepared to answer it. "Everyone," she said in a tone barely above a whisper.

He paused for a moment. "Do you know how long this will last?"

"I wish that I did. Hopefully it will just run its course soon, but who knows. It might go on forever until I give in. Do you understand why I can't be around you now?"

"Yeah," he answered in a strangely flat tone, "I wouldn't want you to do something that you'd regret." Quietly, he left and made his way back into the Tower.

Raven turned to watch him go, the lie feeling bitter on her tongue. After all, it wasn't everyone that caused these desires to reach their highest potentials.

It was him.

AN: I hope you enjoy reading this section. I appreciate any and all reviews.