I don't own the characters, they are property of DC and Warner Bros.

We hope you enjoy what we have been cooking up...

Chapter 15

They had made sure she was fully healed before letting her back out on alerts. Good thing their relationship was still secret, as there had been a particularly energetic night with Beast Boy a couple of days before she was given the all clear, she had a feeling mother hen Cy would have had a stroke at her potentially undoing his healing handiwork. She hadn't felt anything apart from the usual strain of riding her pet hard, though he had been more than happy to comply when she teleported him to her room and jumped him, guiding his hands over her body as she straddled him. He had been concerned when his brain kicked in again and he could speak in complete sentences, but a cuddly Raven was hard to refuse. Especially when she actually giggled!

She had reassured him she was fine, her magic had recovered enough to heal her and had been off bed rest for a few days now. Not getting laid for nearly two weeks and being cooped up inside were beginning to get to her; the first part had been resolved for now, but as soon as she got the all clear, even if she had to dangle Cy out a window to get it, Beast Boy was taking her somewhere nice outside.

He wasn't one to argue with his girlfriend at the best of times, but a frustrated and very naked Raven, he wouldn't dare. Especially if it led to such amazing angry sex, as she pinned him down again, not quite satisfied for the night and grinning at how much they were both enjoying a more dominant empath.

The second she got the all clear from Cyborg, she was marching straight out the door. While she was happy to shut herself away meditating, reading or more recently spending time with Beast Boy, that was by her choice. Having been forced to stay inside first for healing and then to make sure the group that had targeted her was gone; over two weeks without being allowed to leave the tower and she needed some fresh air.

As Robin and Starfire were in the city following up leads, Cy was reluctant to let her out, until Beast Boy took him aside and promised to shadow her, keep an eye on things and make sure she wasn't attacked or disturbed. This was his cover when he departed the tower shortly after Raven, taking the form of an eagle and chasing after her. A chase that lasted until they were out of sight of the tower, before he landed on her shoulder at a prearranged meeting spot.

"So mighty bird, where are we off today?" she asked, smiling and actually enjoying being outside again while he changed back.

"Well there's a wooded area a couple of hours up the coast, less for us, I go there when I want to run around undisturbed in animal form. I thought it might be a nice place for you to relax."

"That, actually sounds perfect," lead the way. She gestured, the couple smiling at each other as he transformed back into a bird and went racing off; Raven flying quickly after him. Being able to fly freely again felt great, a certain green eagle was having the time of his life flying with her again and his enthusiasm was infectious. Doing this with him, flying around the skies, it was something she could get used to and look forwards to doing more.

She even tried copying a few of his manoeuvres herself, deciding to stick to the simpler ones after her cape wrapped itself around her head. She couldn't be certain, but she was sure the eagle was laughing after that one.

In the end they raced the last part of the journey, so made it in forty minutes. She followed him down to the middle of the woods, landing in a clearing that looked like barely anyone came by. Turning back into his normal form, he took her hand and led the way. Trusting he knew what he was doing, she let him take the lead, spending a while wandering through the trees, enjoying the peace and quiet. When they came to a waterfall, Raven smiled, the whole scene was a perfect, unspoiled slice of nature and she felt the tension leaving her body, slowly but the effect was noticeable.

"So, what do you think?" Beast Boy grinned at her, squeezing her hand gently.

"You certainly are full of surprises," Raven replied, smiling back at him, "never would have thought you'd know a place like this, let alone come here to relax."

"I am a man of many animals, helps keep them in check if I spend some time with nature from time to time." She nodded, it made sense given his powers, some heroes had to do odd things like that just to keep their power in check. Her meditation was still an important part of her daily rituals after all. "I thought this might be a good place for you to meditate if you need it," he added, causing her to pause in surprise.

"I came here with you, I can't just leave you to get bored!" She protested, stopping again and blushing when he tugged on her arm to pull her close and kissed her cheek.

"I can amuse myself, we've spent the last couple of hours together and I know you could do with some time away from it all. I will go for a run through the woods as normal, just let me know when you're ready to go back."

"Thank you," she whispered, kissing him and resting her forehead against his, before moving to a rock that looked like it would be perfect. Looking back, she gave BB a small smile as he turned into a wolf, stretching and shaking himself, before bounding off into the woods. To think he wondered why she compared him to a puppy at times, even if it was adorable when he let himself relax like this.

Floating over to her chosen rock, which sat towards the middle of the pool, she assumed her normal meditation position and levitated herself up, closing her eyes and breathing slowly. She was used to either doing this in her room which was mostly quiet, or on the roof which usually had the faint city noises as background.

Having just the sound of the forest and running water as it flowed past her, it was a nice change of pace. Even Raven would admit she was a bit of a shut in, but this new side of Beast Boy, his secret retreat, it might be just what she needed. The warm fuzzy feeling she got, knowing he had trusted her enough to share, this also helped.

After a while, she was relaxed enough she began reaching out to test her surroundings, until she brushed against a certain mind and had to smile. True to his word, he was keeping himself amused, racing back and forth between the trees and shifting from animal to animal. He was either getting better at racing around in animal form, or he knew the trees that well, dodging between them faster than Raven had realised he was capable of.

It was endearing, feeling his happiness and excitement as he bounced around. Was this why people owned pets? She had taken to calling him her pet lately and couldn't even remember where that had started.

The sun was beginning to set when she got up and stretched, hunger more than anything forcing her to move. She hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time, between this and looking after her while she was injured, she would have to find a way to make it up to him. Knowing him like she did, he would wave it off if she gave him the chance.

Reaching out mentally, she gave Beast Boy a poke, he was running around with a group of deer, but immediately peeled away from them and headed straight for her. She could feel him planning something smugly as he shifted to a small form and went racing away, before hearing a thud near the edge of the clearing she was standing in. Sighing, she had an idea of exactly what had happened.

Wandering into the treeline, it took her a minute or two before she found him. Based on the dent in the tree and how he had landed on the ground on his back, that's what had caused the thud she had heard. Smirking down at him as she bent over him and gave him a nudge, she was a little amused to see he had been trying to get to her in the form of a raven.

"Wakey wakey sleeping beauty," she almost sang, the smirk only getting bigger as he roused himself sluggishly.

"I regret nothing…" he declared dramatically in his mind, brain still too scrambled to sort himself out properly as he staggered around almost drunkenly.

"Come here, you daft bird," she picked him up, setting him on one arm and using the other to stroke his head and back, soothing his pain and healing what was most likely a concussion. She could feel him humming happily when he felt better, nuzzling her hand with his head before hopping onto her shoulder and preening. "And how long have you been waiting for an excuse to do that?" she asked him, crossing her arms and giving him a bemused glare; all while he did an agitated little dance on her shoulder. He gave her a sheepish grin, she felt it more than saw it because beaks are not expressive, before hopping off and returning to normal.

"I might have wanted to do that from the day we met, but never felt confident enough to do so before." He admitted this, with his trademark grin, while scratching the back of his head nervously. She was torn between messing with him and glaring, but settled for a compromise in the end.

"Just this one time, if it gets out, you will be sorry," she said, patting her shoulder and looking away and coughing; slightly embarrassed to even consider allowing it. Beast Boy was frozen in shock for several seconds, before she felt him settle on her shoulder again and croaked proudly. He mentally directed her as they strolled back to their landing point, she purposely took it slowly as she liked the woods, but could also feel how happy this was making her boyfriend, so did it partly for his sake.

Eventually they made it back, the sun beginning to set properly, forcing them to speed home to avoid being caught out in the dark. Around the city there was enough light to see by, but getting stuck in the woods would cause problems.

They grabbed pizza on the way home, taking it back to the tower to eat there rather than stay out. Tidying up afterwards, making sure there hadn't been any alerts or problems, they decided to call it a night after a long day. Thanking him and kissing his cheek, before glancing around and giving him a proper kiss as they were alone, she retired for the night.

Beast Boy had one last stop to make before retiring for the night, waving to Raven, he detoured to Cyborgs room.

"How was she?" his friend asked when he opened the door.

"She's good, spent most of it meditating in some woods, but seems happier for it."

"How are you going green bean?" Cy looking at him closely, they both knew what he was referring to.

"It's settled for now, have you had any luck?"

"None, I don't know what Grodd did to you, or where to start. You need to tell the others, before it gets worse."

"I will, just need to come to terms with things first Cy, I'm…." Beast Boy wrapped his arms around himself, the earlier confidence he had shown to Raven was gone, replaced by worry.

"I know Gar, but we are going to get you through this." The metal hand comforting as it came to rest on the smaller heroes shoulder as he sighed.

Raven hadn't gone straight to bed, between Starfire and Beast Boy, she had picked up some ideas on how to repay him for everything he had done lately. The internet really was a useful tool for late night shopping. She picked up on a twinge of worry from her lover, frowning in concern, but resolved to ask him about what was bothering him tomorrow as she was too tired for it tonight.