AN: Despite my hardest efforts, I still do not own Teen Titans or anything associated with them.

Chapter 16

Raven hadn't been able to see her toes for a while now, and she didn't like it. She was really starting to rethink this whole baby thing, but it was far too late now. She only had one month to go before the baby was due to be born. Everything ached and hurt and she did more moaning and groaning than anything else. And through it all Beast Boy was right there beside her, helping her in any way possible.

"Were you happy with the shower?" asked Beast Boy. The day before Starfire had thrown Raven a large baby shower with all of the other former Titan girls in attendance.

"It was alright," said Raven. "But you know me; I don't really like a lot of attention."

"Did you at least get some good gifts?" he asked.

"A lot of clothes and diapers," said Raven. "Which was exactly what I needed."

"I'm guessing Kori got you a lot of pink clothing," chuckled Beast Boy.

"Like you wouldn't believe," said Raven. She went over to her couch and sat down, letting out a groan as she did. "Thank God she was the only one. Everyone else knew better. I got a lot of outfits that are so cute I could've cried."

"Rae, I think your hormones are acting up again," said Beast Boy, starting to get nervous.

"I said I could've cried," said Raven. "I didn't say that I did. And as long as I can feel my emotions I've decided to just embrace it. I've only got a month left of emotional freedom, anyway."

"So, I shouldn't be afraid if you start laughing or crying?" he asked.

"Oh, no," she said with a devious smile. "Be afraid, be very afraid."

"Trust me," he said with a similar grin. "I already am."

Raven let out a soft chuckle and said, "I also got some things I need you to put together."

"Oh no," he said. "Like what?"

"Like a highchair and this bouncy chair thing," said Raven.

"Oh joy," he said, sarcastically.

"Hey, sarcasm is my thing," said Raven.

"Well excuse me!" he said very sarcastically. "I just figured that I could get away with it if you're gonna laugh and stuff."

"Oh shut up," said Raven, chucking one of the couch pillows at him. "And, just to let you know, no one does sarcasm like me."

"Like I would ever compete with you in a sarcasm contest," laughed Beast Boy, plopping down next to her. "That would be like you competing against me in a joke telling contest."

"I believe I would win that as well," said Raven smugly.

"Yeah right," said Beast Boy. "You've never even told a joke!"

"And yet I'm still funnier than you'll ever be," she said with a smirk.

"Ooh, that hurt, Rae," he said, grabbing his heart and pretending to be offended.

Raven rolled her eyes and tried to relax into the couch. "My feet and back are killing me," she groaned. "And I'm so tired."

"Why don't you take a nap?" offered Beast Boy.

"No, I have too much to do," said Raven. "And if I stop now I'll never get going again."

"You don't have anything to do," chuckled Beast Boy. "I know your planner, remember?"

"Doesn't mean I have a million little things to do," said Raven.

He got up off the couch and stood in front of her. "Come on," he said, holding out his hands to her. "Let's go."

Raven moaned, whined, and then reached up to take his hands. And with one great pull, he got her off of the couch. She immediately held her back and sighed. "Fine, but I have to go to the bathroom first," she said and began to wobble off to her bathroom.

Once she had relieved her seemingly shrinking bladder Beast Boy led her to her room. She crawled onto her bed and as her aching body blending into her soft pillows she let out a relieved groan.

"Are you going to leave or stay while I sleep?" asked Raven, closing her eyes.

"I thought I'd stay for a little while and put all of your shower gifts away," said Beast Boy.

"You don't have to do that," said Raven. "You do far too much for me, anyway. Why don't you go home?"

"Because I've only got one month left with you until I leave," said Beast Boy. "I just wanna make the most of it."

"By acting as my slave?" asked Raven, opening her eyes.

"I call it quality time," said Beast Boy with a grin.

Raven rolled her eyes and shook her head. Suddenly she let out a small gasp and then giggled.

"What was that about?" he asked, quite surprised at her sudden chuckle.

"She kicked," said Raven with a smile.

"She did?" he asked with a large smile. "What does it feel like?"

"It's hard to explain," said Raven, softly rubbing her swollen stomach. "It's almost like feeling a bubble burst inside of you. But she has a particular love for kicking my ribs."

"Wow," said Beast Boy. "That must be so cool."

"It's like nothing I've ever felt before," said Raven softly. "She usually doesn't kick me when you're around."

"She doesn't?" he asked curiously.

"No," said Raven. "Whenever you're hear, which seems like every moment of the day, she's calm and sleeps. But I swear that the minute you leave she starts fidgeting about and kicking me."

"That's weird," said Beast Boy. "You don't think she knows I'm her father, do you?"

"I can't see how that would be possible," said Raven. She gasped again and let out another giggle. She looked over to Beast Boy and saw him looking longingly at her stomach. "Do you want to feel?"

"You'd… you'd let me feel her kick?" he asked nervously, yet excited.

"Sure," said Raven, smiling. She patted the bed and he crawled on. She took his hand and placed it on her stomach. "And now we wait."

After a minute or two Beast Boy asked, "How long do we have to wait?"

"Shouldn't be much longer," said Raven. She had closed her eyes once more and began to ready herself for her nap. She kept her hand on Beast Boy's and soon she felt herself slowly falling into sleep.

Beast Boy suddenly felt a small thump under his hand. He hadn't expected to feel anything like he felt and he nearly jumped. He smiled and looked to Raven, but she had already fallen asleep, her hand still on his. He knew he should probably take his hand away and go do what he said he was going to do, but he just couldn't pull himself away from her. He decided to be daring and rest there with her, just for a little while.

He never wanted it to end; mostly because he had never been so comfortable and happy in his life. The feel of Raven being so close to him, softly sleeping, was pure bliss to him. To hold her and not have her yell at him was so peaceful and perfect. And, beneath his hand, slept his unborn child; his daughter, who would never know him as her father.

And yet, something told him that this child growing inside of Raven already knew him. Somehow, this little girl could already recognize when her father was there. And when he wasn't she got upset. Didn't that count for anything? He guessed it didn't to Raven. This baby would just have to get used to him not being there. That was how it was going to be. That was how it had to be.

Raven had loved sleeping lately. It gave her a chance to rest her weary body and get away from everything in her life. She was so glad Beast Boy had forced her to take a nap. She slowly opened her eyes and saw her large stomach in front of her. But she saw a green hand still on it. She looked over and saw Beast Boy sleeping cuddled up next to her. He looked so peaceful and happy.

Of course, at first, she wanted to scream at him and tell him to get away from her. But then she took a moment and realized that he really wasn't doing anything wrong. He wasn't touching her inappropriately or taking advantage of her. He was lovingly holding her stomach and sleeping next to her. This was a new experience for her; that was for sure.

She slowly put her hand back onto his and for a moment he sighed and snuggled in closer to her. She couldn't help smiling at this wonderful feeling. She closed her eyes and for some reason rested her head closer to his. She really did appreciate everything he did for her and she hated that she seemed to be so unthankful to him. She just wasn't used to expressing thankfulness or anything of that sort.

Suddenly she realized that this wasn't good. She was comfortable and actually liking the fact that Beast Boy was practically holding her in his sleep. She liked his soft and loving touch. She liked his giving nature and his willingness to do anything and everything for her. No, she had to end this.

"Gar," she said firmly, in order to wake him up. She took her hand off of his and began to shake him. He awoke with a start and looked around, confused. "You were sleeping."

"I was?" he asked and sat up.

"Yes, and you were very close to me," she said, trying to hide the fact that she had been enjoying it.

"Oh, sorry," he said, yawning. He stretched and then climbed out of her bed. "I think I'll leave so you can sleep."

"Thank you," she said and pretended to go back to sleep.

"I'll call later, okay?" he asked.

"Sure," she said and waved him away.

He stretched one more time and then left. Raven then reopened her eyes and sighed. She couldn't wait until he was gone. True, she would miss him horribly, but she would have a baby to keep her mind busy and he would be finally out of her hair. His constant contact with her was making her tolerate him more and more, and that scared her.

Beast Boy couldn't believe he had actually fallen asleep next to her like that. He was glad she didn't have her powers, or she would have probably thrown him out of a window. But, while it lasted, it had been great. He wished Raven could feel what he felt when he was with her. Maybe then she would understand.