AN: Nope, still don't own Teen Titans… yes, I know, let's cry together.
Chapter 2: Of Jobs and Pets
Beast Boy sat on the couch watching television and Raven was on the deck reading a book. It had been a week since the wedding and now Robin and Starfire were off on their honeymoon. And that meant Raven was being spared the daily calls she got from Starfire. But, nonetheless, the phone began to ring. Beast Boy quickly jumped up and grabbed it.
"Hello?" he asked, his attention still on the television.
"Hey man," said Cyborg.
"Hey Vic," said Beast Boy. "What's up?"
"Well I wanted to know how it went," said Cyborg.
Beast Boy was quiet for a second, pondering. "How what went?" he asked at last.
"Man, you sure are dense," laughed Cyborg. "Did she say yes or what?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" asked a very confused Beast Boy.
"The proposal!" said Cyborg. "Did she say yes or no?"
"Oh, that," said Beast Boy, who had pushed that idea out of his mind. "I didn't do it."
"What? Why not?" asked a shocked Cyborg.
"Well, she doesn't wanna get married," sighed Beast Boy.
"You're kiddin!" said Cyborg.
"Nope," said Beast Boy, sadly. "We were talking after the wedding and she said that she doesn't want one. So, she doesn't want to get married."
"Awe, man, I'm sorry," said Cyborg. "You okay?"
"Yeah," said Beast Boy. "I mean, it doesn't really matter. Besides, I should've known that Raven wouldn't want to get married. She's just not like that."
"So you're okay with just being boyfriend and girlfriend?" asked Cyborg.
"Yeah," sighed Beast Boy. "I mean, what other choice do I have? Cuz I'm not breaking up with her, that' for sure."
"Well, as long as y'all are happy," said Cyborg.
"Oh yeah, we are," he said, smiling to himself. They really were truly happy.
Raven sat under the umbrella of the table on the deck. It was a warm day and she was quite comfortable. She was so glad that they had enough privacy in their backyard that she never had to wear her ring.
She finished the chapter she had been working on in her book and then closed it. She looked into the kitchen and saw Beast Boy on the phone. He was pacing back and forth and she wondered who he was talking to. He made eye contact with her and smiled. He gave her a wave and she waved back. She watched as he wrapped up his conversation and then hung the phone up.
"Hey," he said with a smile as he joined her out on the deck.
"Hi," said Raven. "Who were you talking to?"
"Vic," said Beast Boy, taking a seat.
"What'd he want?" asked Raven.
"Just checking in," said Beast Boy. "You done reading?"
"For now," said Raven. It grew quiet between them until finally Raven decided to speak. "Hey, Gar?"
"Yeah?" he said.
"I'm thinking about getting a job again," she said.
"Oh, really?" he asked, surprised. "Why?"
"Well, I'm getting bored," said Raven. "And I hate feeling so useless. So, I've decided to get a job."
"Rae, how many times do I have to tell you, you're not useless," said Beast Boy.
"I don't mean useless as in I have no purpose living," said Raven. "I mean useless as in I'm not doing anything to help or better anyone. Are you okay with that?"
"With what?" he asked. "You getting a job? Sure, as long as you're happy."
"Don't worry," said Raven, smiling. "I'm going to be very happy with this job."
"Wait a second," said Beast Boy. "Do you already have one?"
"Well, I haven't started yet," said Raven. "But, yes, I did get one."
"Why did you wait to tell me?" asked Beast Boy.
"Well, I wasn't sure how you were going to react," said Raven. "I mean, the last time I was talking about getting a job you were quite adamant that I not."
"Well, you were getting all stressed out about it," said Beast Boy. "I just don't want that to happen again. And I really wish you would've told me sooner."
"I'm sorry about that," said Raven. "But I wasn't even sure if I was going to get the job, so I figured I didn't have to say anything since nothing was definite. But they called yesterday and said I got it."
"And what is it?" asked Beast Boy. "You've yet to tell me what this job is."
"Oh, I'm going to teach meditation at the Y," said Raven.
"Really?" he asked. "Doesn't that mean that you'd have to, you know, interact with people?"
"Not really," said Raven. "I just give them instructions and then I get to meditate all day. And I get paid for doing it."
"Wow, now if only I could get a job where I got paid to watch TV," laughed Beast Boy. "So when do you start?"
"Uh, tomorrow," said Raven, knowing what Beast Boy's reaction was going to be.
"What!" he asked, shocked. "So, you're not gonna be home tomorrow? What am I gonna do all day?"
"What you usually do all day," said Raven. "Watch television and play videogames."
"But I'm gonna be lonely," pouted Beast Boy.
"What, do you want me to take you to work with me like you're my child?" she asked.
"No," he said. "It's just. I don't want to be home alone all day."
"Oh, you're ridiculous," sighed Raven. "You're almost twenty-six years old. You can stay home alone."
"But I'm not gonna be happy," he said sadly.
"Gar, please stop it," said Raven. "Look, if you really don't want me to take the job, then I won't…"
"No, no," said Beast Boy quickly. "I can tell you really wanna do it. Don't worry, I'll find something to do with myself."
"You've never had trouble before," said Raven. "So, it's okay?"
"Yeah," he said, taking her hand affectionately. "It's okay." She smiled and squeezed his hand back. "Maybe I can get a dog or something."
"What?" asked Raven. "You're not getting a dog."
"Why not?" asked Beast Boy. "It'll keep my company."
"You can turn into a dog, you don't need one," said Raven.
"Yeah, but if I'm the dog then who's gonna play with me?" asked Beast Boy.
"Are you really serious?" asked Raven. "You want to get a dog?"
"Well," said Beast Boy, thinking. "Yeah, I do. Can I?"
"You don't need my permission," said Raven. "But you have to realize that a dog is a huge responsibility. It's like having a permanent two year old. And, trust me, dogs do way more than just play. They eat, they poop, they bark, and they shed."
"Rae, I know they do all of that," laughed Beast Boy. "I've been a dog many times before. And I think I can take care of one. Like you said, I'm almost twenty-six. This'll be a great way for me to show you how responsible I can be."
"Okay," said Raven. "If you think you're up to it, then go ahead. But I'm going to get my own pet."
"What? You don't like animals," said Beast Boy.
"I like you, don't I?" she said. "Besides, I've always wanted a… cat."
"A cat?" asked Beast Boy. "Oh, hell, I can do that!" He turned into a cat and crawled into her lap. She chuckled softly and began to scratch him. He purred and rubbed her hand lovingly.
"Sorry, but I want a real cat," said Raven.
Beast Boy jumped off of her lap and back into his chair. He turned back to normal and said, "I was a real cat!"
"You know what I mean," said Raven. "So, are we agreed? You can get a dog if I can get a cat."
"Okay," said Beast Boy, shaking her hand. "I just hope they get along."
"You can turn into a dog and then a cat and tell them to get along together," said Raven.
"I guess I could do that," said Beast Boy, thinking. "Wanna go right now?"
"Go where?" asked Raven.
"Duh! To the pet store," said Beast Boy jumping out of his seat.
"We're not ready to get a cat and a dog today!" said Raven. "There's a lot of preparation to be done, first."
"Like what?" asked Beast Boy.
"We need to get a doghouse, a running line, dog bowls, cat bowls, a litter box, pet toys, and we need to make sure our house is pet safe," said Raven.
"We need to do all that?" he whined.
"Or we could just not get any pets at all," said Raven shrugging and getting up from her chair, heading into the house.
"Okay," he sighed. "But lets go out and get all of that stuff now! I'm too excited."
"Alright, let me go get our rings," said Raven and she headed upstairs.
Beast Boy looked around the house and tried to see if it would be dog and cat proof. He didn't see anything that would endanger either animal, so he wasn't sure what Raven meant by making it pet safe. She returned and handed him his ring. He slipped it on and the two headed out.
"Okay, I'm making a list of all the stuff we're going to need," said Raven with a small pad of paper and a pen in her hands. She began to scribble down various items and where they should go to get them.
"I can't believe I'm finally gonna get my own dog," said Beast Boy with a large smile as he pulled out of their driveway. "I can't wait."
"On that note, I think that, other than telling him not to bother the cat, you should never turn into a dog and play with him," said Raven.
"Why not?" asked Beast Boy.
"Because you want him, or her, to know that you're the master," said Raven. "And if you turn into a dog and become its little play buddy, it'll never listen to you when you turn back because it'll know you're its friend and would never do anything to it."
"I guess you're right," said Beast Boy.
"I know I am," said Raven with a small smile as she continued to write out her list.
"You don't have animal allergies, do you?" asked Beast Boy.
"I don't think so," said Raven. "Do you?"
"Of course not!" laughed Beast Boy. "Or I'd be sneezing every time I changed back from being an animal."
"That would be kind of funny," said Raven.
Beast Boy smiled and the two headed over to the mall. He was so glad he was going to get a dog. Now he knew he wouldn't be lonely when Raven went to work at the Y.
