A/N: So, here is the next chapter… yeah… ok… before you read I think I should answer some questions some of my reviewers asked.
Some reviewers asked me why chose Roy to bring into this story and not Red X or Malchior. Honestly, I thought about Red X or Malchior or even Slade, but all them didn't seem right, because I wanted to emphasize that love can develop from friendship. And as much as I like Red X or Malchior or Slade together with Raven, I just can't imagine a deep friendship between any of them and Raven… it would be just attraction. Another reason is that in most stories Speedy is portrayed as jerk and I don't like that, because Speedy/Arsenal/Roy Harper is one of my favourite characters from the DC Comics… that's why Roy (Speedy) seemed better in this story.
Another thing I should tell you is that Richard isn't in love with Raven (yet)… I mean, he went to bring her back, but not because he realized that he loves her, but because he realized that he did a mistake… so don't worry guys there will be plenty of angst… ha, ha, ha…
I wanted to thank everyone who had reviewed… 35 reviews for the last chapter… that's amazing and I wanted thank you guys for that… you are the best readers and reviewers a authoress can ask for… thank you very much!
Thanks to Cherry Jade for beta-ing this chapter. And you should thank her as well, because the chapter wouldn't be updated today she hadn't edited so fast… so praise her…
This chapter is dedicated to Mol, Cherry Jade, Lain the Fluff-Master, sekai no yakusoku and Tecna
Last but not least, a warning: This chapter was written under the influence of Iron & Wine and their songs, a whole night full of hilarious and ridiculous "horror" movies, lots of painkillers (I twisted my ankle and it's swollen hurt like hell) and insomnia, so forgive any oc-ness, clichés and cheesiness…
Disclaimer: Not mine!
Enjoy the story!
Chapter two:
Back where we started…
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Flashback
"Rae, tell your father to stop stealing those cookies I baked!" Arella winked at her daughter before turning to scold a sheepish Trigon Roth.
He laughed, and Raven thought that his laughter was the best thing she would ever hear. "You're just unhappy that I took some pictures of you in the kitchen today," he replied with a grin.
"You forgot the part where you dumped flour all over me before you grabbed that camera and started snapping!" Arella answered him darkly, though her smile did not leave her face.
Through it all a six year-old Raven sat on the kitchen table and watched her parents. Her mother looked at Raven and Raven smiled as she broke off the black, charred sides of the cookies and ate the middle where it's soft and sweet.
End Flashback
Raven smiled at the memory as she sat on a swing in the huge garden.
She had a great childhood… full of love and happy memories, Raven knew that. She was aware of the fact that she was fortunate… fortunate enough to have both parents who loved her.
It could have been worse – far worse. Raven had been there when Richard had lost his parents at the age of eight. She was there when his perfect life broke into a million of pieces and she had watched him suffer through the nightmares and guilt-trips.
On the other hand, Raven had also seen what it´s like to have parents who didn´t care for you. Parents who didn´t notice you… who just don´t care. That was what Terra had to endure with her parents and Raven had always pitied her.
No, Raven was fortunate… yes, her mother could be annoying sometimes and loved to critize her clothes and her hair and her father was just a bit overprotective, but they loved her and just wanted her best. That was why she shouldn´t be angry with her parents… she… shouldn´t… but she was. Raven was sure that they hid something from her… something important… something she should now and she had the sickening feeling that it was something… terrible.
Throughout the whole dinner a strange feeling clutched at her stomach and it made her sick and the fact that her father kept telling stories about her childhood or that he constantly seemed to forget about what he was talking didn't make it better nor did it help that her mother had asked why and how long she would stay.
She had wanted to say the truth… she wanted to tell her mother that she thought about staying in Steel City for a long period of time, but the sickening feeling in her stomach hindered her to tell the truth. Instead she opted for an indifferent shrug at which her mother gave her a disapproving glance and her father just kept looking at her with a melancholy look in his soft brown eyes and again she had felt something nauseating clutch not only at her stomach, but her heart. It was strange and she just couldn't stand to sit on the dinner-table anymore… that's why she fled - as soon as the dinner was over – to the garden.
Raven loved to be in the garden. It was just so beautiful there with all the different flowers and bushes… simply beautiful…
"A penny for your thoughts," A soft, deep voice from behind her interrupted her thoughts and it surprised her that she didn't flinched or felt uncomfortable with the man behind her.
Roy Harper stepped forward, now standing next to her and smiling gently.
Raven looked up at him and before she knew what she was doing, she said, "Do you really think that my thoughts are that cheap, Mr. Harper…?"
Her eyes winded as she realized how confident and… flirty she sounded. This was not the way it should be… she shouldn't be so open with him… she…
Again Raven looked up at her companion to see his reaction, but all he did was smiling – that charming smile of she became so acquainted with… the same smile that reminded her of…
"Roy, its Roy," She heard him say. "Mr. Harper makes me feel so old and I'm just two years older than you."
Raven frowned and wanted to ask him how he knew how old she was when she remembered what Roy had told her earlier in the floor: ' "Your mother and father talk about you all the time. I think I know you better than I know myself…" '
One day she had to kill her mother for talking with strangers about her… somehow she suspected that her mother didn't stop with just telling him about her age.
A sigh escaped her lips and she caught Roy looking at her with a smirk that unnerved her, yet at the same time helped her to relax.
"I think you were about telling me about your thoughts, weren't you?" Roy told her and looked at her questioningly. "So…?"
"I…" The dark-haired girl began, but caught herself before she could spill something out. Instead, she intelligently said, "I wasn't…" A blush crept to her cheeks and light laughter filled her ears.
"Your mother was right, you look cute when you blush," Roy pointed out and Raven felt herself getting angry.
"I'm not-" She was cut off by the red-head man.
"So, how long did you say will be stay in Steel City?"
"First of all, I didn't say anything about how long I will stay and secondly, if I had said something it wouldn't be concern you…" Raven spat out and for the hundredth time she asked herself how he was able to get under her skin. But she was sure that he would should up and leave her alone now.
"And?…" Raven heard him ask and to her confusion she realized that he still had the smug smile on his lips.
"And what?" She asked him annoyed.
"Where is the thirdly…"
"…?"
"You said firstly and secondly, but you forget the thirdly. You can't stop without saying the third point… that's just not right." He explained his smile never wavering and Raven just looked at him for a moment before a small smile broke out on her face.
"I guess… you are right…" Raven admitted reluctantly.
"Of course I'm right," Was Roy's reply. "I'm always right…"
Flashback
"C'mon Rae, admit it!" Richard said as they stood in front of the movie theatre. "You liked the movie…" He wriggled his eyebrows and smiled evilly.
"No," Raven shook her head. "I did not like it… it was too mushy and too romantic and too cheesy and… I just didn't like it."
"Oh yes?" He asked in mock surprise before a wicked grin broke out on his handsome face. "That's probably why you had a dreamy smile on your face throughout the whole movie…"
"That's not true…"
"… or why you had glassy eyes when the boy nearly died…"
"Argh…"
"… or why you…"
"Ok, ok, I admit it: I liked the film. Are you happy now?" Raven said her arms crossed in front of her chest.
Richard just laughed at his friend.
"You're right once and you already get cocky…" Raven grumbled and began to walk.
Richard caught up with her and with an arrogant smile he said. "I'm always right, Raven…!"
Flashback End
"Raven… Raven…" She jerked up as she heard her name and saw a hand waving franticly in front of her eyes.
"You were daydreaming – again," Roy explained with a chuckle.
"Sorry," Raven mumbled embarrassed.
"It's ok…" He told her and Raven smiled. "…if you tell about what you were thinking…" And Raven's smile faltered, but her surprise she found herself answering.
"About a friend of mine," She answered truthfully and began to swing slowly. "You remind me of him…" She added and her eyes looked away from him to the rose brushes on the left side of the garden.
"He must be important to you if you keep thinking about him all the time…" Roy mused and Raven's eyes winded in shock. "Not to forget that he must be handsome, charming, and intelligent when I remind you of him." He finished a serious look on his face and with that Raven began to laugh… hard… and it seemed as if she couldn't stop anymore and through all the laughter she realized that she couldn't remember the last time she had laughed so hard or when she had been so carefree.
"Wow, I made you laugh… although I don't know if I should be happy about that or insulted… I mean, it's not everyday that someone laughs when I tell them that I'm handsome and charming, but since we only met I'll let it pass." The young man winked at her and Raven just looked at him skeptically before shaking her head.
For a while they were both silent and Raven closed her eyes as she continued to swing slowly. She could smell the wonderful scent of the flowers and a slight breeze ran through her skin. She felt at ease…
"So, I guess I was right, he is important to you…" Roy suddenly asked and Raven's eyes jerked open and for a moment she couldn't say anything and didn't know why.
She struggled with herself before she said, "He's my friend…"
"I…" Before he could say anything else she jumped of the swing.
"We should go back inside… my mother is probably already searching for us," Raven spoke hastily and already proceed on walking to the mansion as she tripped and swayed forward…
… into Roy's arms.
Her head collided with his chest and the first thing she registered was that it was a hard chest and before she could think clearly her mind was befogged with a familiar scent of black wood and cinnamon… and for a moment she had the urge to bury her face in his chest and stay there.
It felt nice to be in his arms, but Raven felt as if something was missing… something important…
Distinctly, she heard a familiar voice calling her name and looked up only too see that Roy's eyes were closed and again she heard her name.
Raven looked over the young man's - who was still holding her – shoulder…
… Violet eyes crashed with icy-blue ones and a single name escaped her lips…
"Richard…"
A/N: Yup that was the second chapter and I'm ready for all the flames, because this chapter wasn't that good… but what did you expect?
Cookies to everyone who can tell me what is wrong with Raven's dad (I gave some hints… not really good ones, but they are there) and who can point out at least one cliché scene or line I used in this chapter… and believe me, there are plenty of them…
Ok, now you can review… if you want to…
Until next chapter
Alena