Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans. They are the property of DC Comics and Cartoon Network.

: Dawn : Robin :

I wake up with a smile on my face and my fingers entwined with another's. Raven is lying next to me. In my bed. Half naked. It's a good morning.

For a long time now, something has been growing between us. Something unnamed and good. Something like the long slow thaw from winter into spring. Something that you only really notice when the birds you had forgotten ever existed suddenly return or when you are startled to rediscover a green cricket on the stairs outside. This morning is a new shoot of grass under an early spring sun.

My smile broadens and I long to trace her jaw and run my fingers through her silken hair. But I could no more rush this than make it June in February. And I am content with that, with these slow tai chi movements between us two on a dew covered lawn.

Maybe I will suggest that when she wakes. We could go practice by the shore. I know how she loves the ocean. Qishi, yema fenzong, baihe liangchi--

I brake off from reciting the basic forms; no need to get too many steps ahead of myself, here. Lately, I've been working hard at enjoying the present instead of constantly trying to plan out my life like an elaborate game of chess. And looking at the girl presently asleep at my side, what's not to enjoy?

I crack another smile. Egads, I seem to be doing that a lot this morning. I half want Raven to wake up, just so she can arch an eyebrow and ask in that monotone of hers, 'What are you grinning about, boy blunder?' to which I would reply, 'You, princess' and--

And I'm doing it again. I settle back down on my pillow, blowing a stray hair out of my eyes, only to have it fall back into the same annoying position a moment later. Ah, well. I stare at our linked hands and absently rub my thumb over hers, marveling at the smooth texture of her skin under mine. Another slow smile breaks over my face.

"What are you grinning about, boy blunder?" Her voice washes over me like a wave, at once startling and refreshing.

My eyes dart up to her face. Her wide purple eyes sparkle in the 6 a.m. sunlight streaming through my windows. Her slight smile is part shy and part amused. Not for the first time, I wonder where exactly the line between empathy and telepathy is. I squeeze her hand slightly. "You, princess."

A blush spreads across her pale cheeks. "Robin--"

"Rae." She tries to look cross, but I can tell she really doesn't mind the nickname. "Wanna do some tai chi after breakfast?"

She thinks for a moment, then nods once. "Mm."

I smile and stare at her. The moment doesn't last long enough to become awkward. "Well, turn around, bird brain," she says with a twirl of her her free hand.

I laugh mischievously, at which she rolls her eyes, and I obediently disentangle my hand from hers and turn over.

The bed springs creak slightly at her movement, and I hear her padding across my carpet to the pile of clothes she left on my floor.

"Robin." Her voice is soft, and I turn my head back toward her. My testosterone levels jump at the sight of my scantily clad teammate--the loosely clutched cape only does so much to hide her curves--but even that view is secondary to the expression on her face. She wears the same small, sweet, genuine smile from last night. "Thank you."

At that, she is enveloped by the shape of a large black bird and disappears down through my floor. As I get up out of my bed to shower and dress before going down to the kitchen to maybe make some waffles, I smile. It's a very good morning.