AN: No, I still don't bloody own Teen Titans so everyone stop asking me! (just kidding)

Chapter 7

A week passed and Raven began acting like her normal self. She gained control of her emotions and her powers and got right back into her meditation. She was still a little hesitant around Cyborg and Robin, but she made sure she spoke to them. She had to remind herself that they were her friends and that they would never hurt her.

"Raven, do you wish for some help with your tea?" asked Starfire, who was constantly trying to help Raven in any way, shape, or form.

"No, Starfire, I can do it on my own," said Raven.

"Are you sure?" asked Starfire. "I could perhaps get your cup or the tea bags or the spoon or the…"

"No," said Raven sternly. "Thank you, but I can get my own tea."

"Oh, alright," said Starfire slightly hurt and she flew away.

"Any of y'all up for some stankball?" asked Cyborg, holding up a particularly smelly stankball.

"Oh, I shall play!" said Starfire who forgot how miffed she was about Raven.

"Aren't we a little old for that?" asked Robin.

"Not if we call it a training exercise," said Cyborg with a smile and cocking an eyebrow.

Robin thought for a moment then smiled. "Alright, I'm in. Beast Boy, Raven, what about you?"

"No thank you," said Raven simply and she sipped her tea.

"Nah, I'm not in a stankball mood," said Beast Boy, stretching lazily from the couch.

"Stankball mood?" asked Cyborg doubtfully.

"Yeah, in other words, I've got a good feeling that I'd lose," said Beast Boy.

"But, Beast Boy, you are always the one to lose," said Starfire. "But you play despite that many other times."

"Come on, Star," said Robin. "If he doesn't want to play then leave him alone. Now let's go so I can set up the training room."

And with that the three left for the training room. Raven felt relieved that they were gone for she knew that Beast Boy wouldn't bother her with stupid, obvious questions. Now there's something she never thought would happen! Up until a few weeks ago he was the main source of stupid and obvious questions, not to mention how much he used to bother her.

Raven took a seat on the couch and began to slowly sip her tea. Beast Boy was already sitting there and smiled as she joined him. He had been kind of smiling at her more lately. He wasn't sure exactly why. Perhaps it was to make her feel better about what happened, or to show her that everything was going to be okay. Either way, he was smiling at her more and more.

He also made sure he knew where she was all the time. Unless she was in her room, he always made sure to be where she was. He felt a need to protect her. He never wanted another man to scar her soft, beautiful skin again. He never wanted to see her cry those tears of pain from her stunningly gorgeous violet eyes that not only held mystery but wonder. He suddenly realized what he was thinking felt his heart race.

"Beast Boy?" she said out of nowhere.

"Yes?" he answered, his voice slightly cracking. He cleared his throat and tried again. "I mean, yes?"

"I wanted to thank you for everything," she said, looking slightly humble.

"Awe, you don't have to thank me," he said with a smile.

"Yes, I do," said Raven. "You've really helped me this past week and you didn't have to."

"Didn't have to?" said Beast Boy. "Raven, you needed help and I wanted to help you. I mean, for like almost two months you helped me with my problems, so now it's my turn."

"Still, I shouldn't have needed your help," said Raven. "I'm too strong to let something as meaningless as Adonis feeling me up freak me out. I mean, it really wasn't a big deal."

"Okay, is this the part when you go into denial?" asked a confused Beast Boy. "Because almost being raped by a villain is a really big deal."

"I'm not in denial," said Raven plainly. "I accept that it happened, I accept that it was a horrible situation, and I accept that men will forever treat me like an object rather than a person. Acceptance is the opposite of denial."

"Alright, you accept it," said Beast Boy. "But that doesn't mean you're dealing with it. And I promise you that men aren't gonna treat you like an object ever again."

"You can't promise that," said Raven shaking her head.

"Yes I can," said Beast Boy.

"And how's that?" asked Raven.

"Because I won't let them," said Beast Boy firmly. "I am never gonna let a guy take advantage of you again."

"And how are you going to do that?" asked Raven, laughing bitterly. "Follow me around like my bodyguard?"

"If need be, yes," said Beast Boy, nodding.

Raven looked at him oddly. She didn't hear an once of joking in his voice. He was looking her straight in the eye and looked as serious as he had ever been. "You'd… you'd really do that for me?" she asked, half knowing he wouldn't and half hoping he would.

"Of course I would," he said, gently taking her hand. "I don't want you to think that men are all the same. We're not all like Malchior or Adonis. They're evil. I'm not."

"Uh… don't you mean men aren't?" asked Raven.

"Huh? Oh yeah, that's what I mean," he said, releasing her hand and scratching the back of his head nervously. "Men aren't evil."

Raven thought about this and sighed. "Look, I know you want to make me feel better," she said lowly. "But just telling me all of this isn't going to instantly change my mind."

"Then what can I do to change your mind?" asked Beast Boy scooting closer to her. "How can I make you see that we're not all bad?"

"I don't know, Beast Boy," said Raven putting her teacup down and looking at the floor. "Look, can we not talk about this anymore?"

"No," said Beast Boy shaking his head. "I want to prove to you that men aren't evil."

"I don't think men are evil," said Raven. "I just think the men who are attracted to me are evil."

"That's not true," said Beast Boy.

"Yes, it is," Raven sighed. "My stupid evil genes send out a message to villains saying, 'Take advantage, she's evil and ripe for the taking.' It's no one's fault, it's just the way it is for me."

"Well, I don't know much about evil genes," said Beast Boy. "But I do know that not just evil men are attracted to you."

"And how would you know that?" asked Raven.

"Well, I'm not evil," said Beast Boy. "You know that, right?"

Raven looked at him queerly and felt her heart race. "Yes, but… but you're not attracted to me," said Raven. "Right?"

Beast Boy felt all of the blood in his head rush to his cheeks and he could have passed out right there. "Well… uh… yes, I mean no! I mean, kinda," he sputtered.

The two sat there in silence for what seemed an eternity and neither felt comfortable. They both just wanted to disappear to their rooms. The fact that they were sitting so close didn't help, either. Their knees were just about touching. Finally, after what seemed the longest ten seconds of their lives, Beast Boy spoke.

"Okay, the truth is that… I do find you attractive," said Beast Boy, expecting his heart to explode right from his chest.

"Really?" she asked, feeling naked in front of him.

"Yes," said Beast Boy, blushing.

Then Raven sighed and said, "But you're not attracted to me."

"Well… um… yes, I am," he said, feeling like he was holding pools in his palms. Now his gloves were nice and soggy.

Raven looked at him, surprised, and let out an, "Oh." All of the cupboards in their kitchen area began to burst open. She quickly put her hood up and said, "Sorry." She stood up and began to leave. "Oh, and for the record," she said, making Beast Boy turn to her. "I… I'm kinda… attracted to… you, too." And with that she quickly made her way out of the common room.

Beast Boy watched as she practically ran out of the common room. He couldn't help the large smile that crossed his face. "She likes me," he said smugly to himself. Then it hit him. "Oh my God, she likes me!" he said, shocked. "Me! I… I gotta think about this." He quickly jumped up and decided to go take a walk.

He walked down one of the many paths in the park thinking quietly to himself about all of this. He was positive that he was attracted to her and the fact that she felt the same way about him only made him like her even more. So, could this really happen? Could they, Beast Boy and Raven, be together?

He looked up and nearly tripped when he saw her. She was walking towards him with a group of her friends surrounding her, both men and woman. Her blond hair was cut short and cute, making her look both older and prettier. He quickly jumped off of the path before she could see him.

He hid behind a tree and watched as Terra and all of her friends walked by, laughing and chatting amongst each other. He felt a horrible pain fill his chest and he had a sneaking suspicion it was his heart.

"Excuse me?" he heard someone say behind him.

He quickly turned around and saw a man, no too much older than him, standing behind him. He had longish black hair and wore black sunglasses. He looked to be like any normal guy. "Uh, yes?" said Beast Boy.

"You're a Teen Titan, aren't you?" he asked. "Beast Boy, right?"

"Yeah, that's right," he said with a small smile.

"Then could you do me a favor?" he asked, an innocent smile on his face.

"What?" asked Beast Boy.

"Could you get me Ravens autograph?" he asked. "And, if it's not too much trouble… her belt?"

"Her belt?" asked Beast Boy. "Why do you want that?"

"Oh, I'm just a huge fan," he said. Then he leaned in closer to Beast Boy and said in a hush, "And I kinda have a bet with my buddies that I'd get it. I mean, I'll return it, I just need it for a day or two."

"Oh, jeez man, I don't know," said Beast Boy.

"I can make her remember you," he said in a different sort of voice. A low, devious voice that completely caught Beast Boy by surprise.

"Excuse me?" asked Beast Boy.

"I can make her remember you," he said again. "Terra."

"Who are you?" asked Beast Boy, growing suspicious of this guy.

"Just get me Ravens belt," he said.

"Look, buddy, I'm not getting anything for you," said Beast Boy.

"Watch this," said the man with a sly grin. He whistled loudly and caught Terra, and all of her friends attention. "Excuse me, miss!"

Terra said a few words to her friends and then headed over to them. "Can I help you?" she asked.

The man snapped his fingers and Terra looked dizzy. She held her head for a moment and nearly fell to her knees. She groaned and then looked up. Her eyes met Beast Boys and she gasped. "Beast… Beast Boy?" she said, shocked. She then wrapped her arms around him. "I can't believe it's you!"

"Terra, you remember me?" he asked, shocked.

She pulled back and smiled, nodding yes. The man snapped his fingers and Terra went through the same symptoms again. She then looked at Beast Boy and jumped back. "You again! Get away from me!" she screamed and ran back to her friends.

"I can give her her memory back permanently," said the man with a grin.

"You wanted Ravens belt, right?" asked Beast Boy.