Disclaimer TEEN TITANS and all other related characters and material are the property of DC comics and Cartoon Network, I claim no ownership.

Chapter 32: Dances part 1

By: Ansa

"Ladies and Gentlemen, if you would please clear the dance floor…" the DJ's voice echoed through the crowded reception area, to which a handful of chatting guests smiled and made their way back to their tables to witness the first dance. Beast Boy gulped in a stuffy mouthful of air and stood up, his hand firmly grasping that of his new wife. They were both nervous, they had been ever since they had been presented at the beginning of dinner. It had finally hit them that they were now, and forever going to be, Mr. and Mrs. Garfield and Soma Logan. It wasn't the "forever" part that was getting to them…far from it, the two of them relished this instead the fact that they were now finally together…forever made them more comfortable than either of them had ever been in quite some time. Rather, the fact that this had be so publicly made scared them. Now, everyone could no longer escape the fact that they were together. Why exactly this scared them was hard to tell on either side, although with Raven, one could expect such behavior. Perhaps, it was because they had felt secure in that period where, while they weren't exactly keeping it a secret, their love was not so publicly announced. They had their privacy with each other, and their love, but now…everyone knew.

Despite their nervousness, the Bride and Groom slowly made their way in front of the main table and onto the small dance floor where a single light shone down upon them. Beast Boy smiled at her uneasily, trying to hide just how nervous he was, and placed his hand upon her hip, while she placed hers upon his shoulder. They stood there, presented before everyone…as a couple, yet, still feeling like animals on display. They had almost wished that tradition did not dictate so many people to be present. But then again…they wouldn't have their friends miss this day for the world. Their heads were filled with numerous thoughts bouncing around scatteredly, making it hard to focus on any one thing, even if it was each other…that is until, the music started.

The melody they both chose came from overseas, and even though they felt it perfect for their wedding dance, neither of them knew exactly where it came from. They had heard it one day while at a hobby shop in the mall, or rather, Beast Boy heard it and ran out to where Raven waited to bring her in for a listen. The soft guitar and keyboards almost made them melt feeling like the music was raining upon them, cooling their bodies and sending chills down their spines. The clerk sold them the CD and gave them the track number of the song. Although they had studied the case many times, the fact that it was written in Japanese never changed, and the only clues they got was the few words that were in English and the cover on the front. When this music played, all their worries seemed to be so trivial…so meaningless. So what if everyone was there to watch? This was their day…their dance, and god dammit, they were going to enjoy it.

"It's…been so long since we've danced." Raven blushed, her eyes never leaving that of her new husband's. That night when Terra showed up, was the last time they had even thought of dancing, it was a wonder that she still remembered how.

"I know…I'm sorry it took this long."

"It's alright, I'm glad that, our first dance in a while is…our first being married."

Both blushed at this statement, and both smiled, their grip on each other tightening gently, lovingly as they floated across the floor, their feet moving only slightly but just enough for them to be moving at all.

"I can't believe we're actually here."

"I know…"
"I mean, I've dreamed of this since…well…" Beast Boy blushed, closing his eyes slightly, if he could scratch the back of his head he could, only his hands were currently occupied. "Well…for a long time."

"H-how long?" Raven's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of crimson. It never ceased to amaze her that as close as they were, even now, a married couple, that they still got bashful now and then when it came to "mushy stuff."

"Well…I mean…uh…"

"Hmm." Raven smiled contently, and did something that even surprised herself, something not in her character. The normal Raven would have stood their quietly, patiently waiting for an answer…while instead, she smiled warmly, and leaned in to kiss him on the forehead before resting her head gently on his shoulder. She didn't say a single word further for some time after this, instead swaying softly with the music, her beautiful flowing gown rustling here and there with the shifting of her feet.

"I still can't believe it…this time tomorrow, we'll be on our honeymoon."

"I know…" Raven's moment of bliss was suddenly cut short, and her breath became shallow as her mind drifted to yet another tradition…one which she still was not yet sure she was ready for. "D-doesn't it feel a bit rushed, I mean, first thing in the morning and we have to be off to the airport. We don't even get to…I mean…" The intense head from Raven's cheeks prevented her from continuing any further. She certainly wasn't suggestion what one might assume, and realized how suggestive the statement sounded. Unfortunately she didn't get a chance to clearify.

"Mr. Wayne said the only available commercial flight for a month was this one. I know it doesn't give us time to sleep in or anything but…we're lucky we're even getting this chance."

Raven smiled slightly, glad that her husband had either not picked up on her misspeaking, or had decided not to bring too much attention to it, knowing how hard the subject was for her. "I know…" Still, she scolded herself for still being so reserved about the even that would take place soon enough. If she were to continue to treat it so fearfully, then all the hours spent in preparation to train her mind so as to control her power, would be for naught. But she wouldn't worry about that for long, she couldn't, the music, the embrace of her new husband took over her. Nothing else mattered in this moment, nothing at all…

"Never thought I'd see the day…" Dick smiled, leaning over slightly with his arms crossed as he watched the two dances, Cyborg grinning from ear to ear next to him. Although somewhere in their minds, their own problems still lingered, only now they didn't seem so important.

"Tell me about it." Cyborg laughed softly in his throat, drifting back into nostalgic times back in the tower. Those times seemed so far away now, yet, with Raven and Beast Boy dancing in front of him, they somehow seemed within reach. "Do you remember how much they used to get on each other's nerves?"

"Yeah, it doesn't even seem like they're the same people anymore."

"Well, none of us are when you think about it."

"What?" Dick's eyes were pried away from the happy couple, jarred only for a second by the statement, confused even.

"Well, those two ended up getting hitched, you're become more level headed…if only slightly…"

"Gee thanks…"

"And look at Starfire, did you ever think she would be able to make it out on her own?" Their attentions were now suddenly drawn to Starfire who, in the corner, was desperately trying to not seem too uncomfortable watching the dance while Jynx continued to sigh swooningly, overtaken by the romance of it all.

"I guess you're right…" Dick laughed, his eyes unable to leave the image of the red haired girl whom he still pined over. "Well, how about you?"

"Me?"

"Yeah, look at yourself. You're leader of Titans West, and even managed to turn one of our old enemies into a stable relationship."

"Uh…yeah…" Cyborg turned his head away slightly putting on the most sincere smile he could in the awkward moment. Earlier in the reception just before the dance the rest of his team managed to confront him about this very thing, seeing he and Jynx together at the head table. It wasn't the most comfortable of discussions, nor was it docile. No voices were raised in honor of the occasion, but it was made clear that they were no pleased. His very future was unsure, the very tone in their collective voices sounding a definite threat of exposure, not to mention possible imprisonment.

His own team, his friends, his colleges, were disgusted with him; so much so that had they no qualms about ruining the occasion, he and Jynx would have been drug out and back West for things to be dealt with. Instead, they left on their own, perhaps back West, perhaps simply to wait for him to leave once the reception was finished. Either way, he had the distinct feeling that tonight should not be taken for granted.

"Cy…"

"Yeah?"

"I'm not stupid you know…"

There was a long pause as Cyborg took a deep breath of air into his lungs, a cold chill ran down his spine as the reality of it all hit him. It was all over…his teammates knew, and were quite possibly ready to turn him in, and Dick, the one person who was sure to give him certain hell about the subject even knew. The room started to twist and contract around him, swaying with the rhythm of the dancing couple before him, a thick pulsation sending ripples through his reality with the beating of his own heart. What now?

"I mean, I can understand why you tried to hide it, but you should have at least known I would have figured it out sooner or later." Dick took a sip of his drink; water of course, his eyes staring straight forward, the tone in his voice solid and never changing from the seriousness that the issue had raised.

"Yeah…"

"Then why didn't you think to just tell me?"

"Would you have really helped me?" Cyborg and Dick never really saw eye to eye on most things, and although they were friends, they weren't above the constant bickering that filled their days in the tower. That's the only reason he said what he did, in the tone that he had used. Half, scared, half annoyed at Dicks further arrogance and patronage Cyborg shifted his feet slightly. He moved his gaze to Jynx as she sat watching in awe at the newlyweds from the table, eyeing the cheap jewelry hung around Raven's neck in particular.

"…Maybe, it's hard to say exactly. There have been…a number of things on my mind lately more pressing than an old enemy that never really posed much of a threat to us."

"You still concerned about the honeymoon thing?"

Dick paused for a moment, surprised at the comment even though he knew he shouldn't be. As hard as he had tried tonight, the situation still was present somewhere in the back of his mind, only now resurfacing in full force.

"…So I take it your teammates don't know?"

"Well…they didn't…up until tonight." Cyborg sighed, thinking back on how foolish he was, bringing her here. He knew very well what was likely to happen and yet he did nothing to prevent it. Perhaps, he thought, he wanted it to happen. Perhaps he wanted it all out in the open, even if it risked his reputation and even freedom, he wanted nothing more than to stop hiding from the truth. "You think I'm a fool don't you?"

"Yeah…I do." The pause afterwards cut through them both, more painful than anything either of them had ever felt before. "…but, I'll do my best to help you."

"Say that again?"

"You may have done something extremely irresponsible and stupid…but you're still my friend." Dick smiled, and finally looked into his direction, raising his glass to his lips before drinking. "After all, we all do crazy things when we fall in love."

The song was halfway through and already Raven had let her down her guard and let go of her pride long enough to relax, leaning in and resting her cheek on her husband's shoulder. It was so warm and soft, and in his arms she felt so secure, and more sure of herself and who she was than ever before. She felt as if she was floating, twirling alone with him, no one else in the world ever mattered to her…and no one else in the future would matter more to her, not even her…

"Rae? You ok?" Beast boy could sense the sudden tension in his new wife; just in the way she leaned into him, the way her heart beat against his, the way she held herself tight against him. Raven's eyes had opened suddenly as a cold thought once again returned to her, a thought that she never worried over until things between them started getting serious. The painful truth that was inescapable; and even though he had already assured her that he was ok with it…she wasn't so sure that she was. "Rae, what's wrong?"

She couldn't tell him…not now, not here, today was their day to be happy, to be joyful. The last thing she ever wanted was to ruin things by mentioning her deep regret that they could never conceive. She never really liked kids anyways, but…it was different now. Now she was with someone whom she loved more than her own life, someone who felt the same for her, and the only thing that could ever make her happier, was to have a child with him…a small piece of their love that was a mold of the two of them. To think that this was never to be broke her heart now…but today she must be happy, and so once again she swallowed her fears, her doubts, everything that made her hold so tight to him for fear to let go…and smiled.

"Nothing…nothing at all."

GOMEI! I know it's been a while but hey, I've been busy. This year is the home stretch for college and I got a lot of work to do along with maintaining a relationship I have a lot of new things I want to do but I promised myself I'd finish this for you all. Well, the wedding is about halfway over I should think and then it's off to Part 3. Until then, enjoy…Later Days!

ANSA