Bart's POV:

I'd finally gotten the courage to man up and go fix things between Raven and I and just as I thought this I could see the Titans tower coming into view as I sped towards it. I wasted no time in going to find Raven, and as entered the building I smelt the familiar scent of pancakes and waffles from the kitchen and assumed she would be up there eating breakfast with the rest of the Titans. I took a deep breath, psyched myself up and ran into the room as if nothing had happened, no one could know anything was out of the ordinary. Robin noticed me first "Speak of the speed demon, we were just talking about you, you seem a little late today, which I guess is somehow the Flash family's trademark, but you're normally here watching the early morning cartoons, you get held up somewhere?" he said to me, somehow Robin's conversation starters always seemed like an interrogation but of course today the feeling was intensified, "Uh, no I just overslept, that's all, and they're usually repeats anyway." I replied casually, I noticed Raven glare at me after hearing me lie through my teeth, damn, it was like those cold, angry eyes were shooting a shard of ice right into my heart. Beast boy smiled "Well you can watch the discovery channel with me if you like Bart? There's some really interesting stuff on about the animal kingdom today." I faked a smile back, genuine happiness being impossible right now, "Nah, it's ok Beast boy, you may love to know more about the animal kingdom, but I'm good, thanks for asking though." I replied, he just nodded back and continued eating. At that point my stomach grumbled, I needed food, my hyper fast metabolism combined with all my running and pathetic crying had burnt through all my energy "Hey Cyborg, toss me a plate of food will ya?" I shouted to him, "Coming right up." he answered and suddenly a plate with a tower of pancakes, and waffles covered in maple syrup was coming my way, luckily having light speed reflexes, I easily caught it. I proceeded to wolf it down as I usually did and it was back in the sink before Cyborg had put the bottle of syrup down, "Thanks." I said and was quickly back in my seat, not wanting to let any of the others know anything was out of the ordinary. There was the general chit chat, Cassie teaching Starfire about the different types of fashion and earth slang, Tim telling us about his latest exploits in Gotham, Cyborg explaining the latest upgrades and additions to his car, and Raven silently sipping her herbal tea. The only thing different about this particular morning was Raven giving me death stares that could Rival the Bat-glare. I couldn't take it anymore "Hey Rae, come talk with me in the hall a minute." I said to her and before she could no doubt refuse, I'd taken her by the wrist and sped us into the hall way.

"What?" she seethed, her voice filled with rage. Was I scared? Hell yeah, was I going to back down?, no way "What? You just gonna give me evil stares for the rest of our lives, yeah I screwed up ok? Everyone makes a mistake, it's just that when you were saying I should stay away from you, I got so scared of losing you, that I guess I panicked and did something stupid ok? So let's just forget about it." I said to her, Raven just stared back with venomous eyes, "Just forget? Just forget the fact you kissed me?" She replied, her voice laced with sadness and hurt, "It was just a kiss-" Before I could continue, Raven's eyes were glowing pure white and I was slammed against the wall by an invisible force, flames of dark magic were flickering around her fists "Except it wasn't JUST a kiss, it was my first kiss! And YOU took that away from me and it's something I can NEVER EVER get back!" She said furiously. I was terrified, it looked like she wanted to kill me right there and then, but then she shook her head and let out a grunt of frustration as she regained control, I did feel terrible though, I placed my hands on her shoulders "Raven, please look at me." I said softly, she looked up at me, her eyes now welled up with tears "I'm sorry Raven, I truly am, and to be honest with you, it was my first kiss too. So call it even?" I said to her, hoping she'd forgive me. Raven sighed now calmer "We can't just call it even Bart, you kissed me, it's not just that you took my first kiss away, that's a sign of love a kiss isn't just a sign of liking someone a lot, it's LOVE, do you realise how big of a thing that is? You can't just do that to someone and expect to apologize and have everything go back to normal, look I'm sorry I tried to shut you out earlier, but now knowing that you might think that you love me, god, I don't even know what to think! my powers are even more unstable, I don't know what to do!" she said a tear rolling down her cheek, she quickly wiped it away with the back of her hand. I took her hands, screw all this hiding my feelings, she needed to know the truth, at least then it was clear to her. "I don't think I love you Raven, I know I do." I said honestly. Raven looked into my eyes "You're 13 years old! How can you know the difference between love and infatuation, your hormones are all over the place and you're probably only feeling that way because I'm the girl you spend the most time with! You can't keep saying this stuff Bart! Can't you understand what it does to me?" Raven said to me her voice sounding almost pleading and desperate, I looked right back at her "But I DO love you." I said again sincerely "Bart! I just said-"Raven began but I cut her off and placed my hands on either side of her face "Raven, listen to me, I love you more than words can explain, but I'll try. When you walk into a room, I instantly get butterflies in my stomach, my heart starts beating even faster than usual, I get so nervous, but also happy. Since the first time I saw you, I've barely been able to keep my eyes off you, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you, you're always in my thoughts, my dreams. You're the first person I think of when I wake up and the last person I think about before I go to bed, I've wanted to touch so much that it hurts, I've wanted to hold you, caress you, kiss you! I want to be with you more, I want to be with you all the time actually, and I tell you things I don't even tell Barry or the others, and I don't want you to have a boyfriend, and I know that sounds selfish but I just want you to be mine because... because you complete me Raven, and I don't think I could live without you in my life, you've given me a reason to stay in the past and well... for god's sake Raven, I love you, there's no other way to say it! I love you." I said with honesty and I just realised as I'd been confessing my love to her our lips had suddenly gotten so close I could feel her breath on mine, we both leaned in. Just then Cassie walked around the corner and we both stepped away from each other quickly "Hey guys! What's going on out here?" She said as Raven and I were awkwardly looking around, "Uhm...Bart was just telling me about a temple he saw when running one day and thought I might like to check it out, he was describing where he saw it so I can have an idea where to look." Raven nervously said. Cassie looked at us suspiciously "Right. Well Raven, Kori and I are going to the mall for some new clothes, I don't suppose you'd want to come but I thought I'd ask you anyway just in case, cause you know, it'd be nice to have a girls day out right?" she said, "Actually that sounds like a good idea, I'll come along" Raven said and with that she followed Cassie out of the hallway, leaving me to wonder to what the hell just happened. I just confessed my love to her, we almost kissed...and then she just left!

Raven's POV:

I felt bad about leaving so abruptly, but I had to go, I had to get away! Bart just told me he loved me! and it's quite clear that he really does, I don't even have to read his emotions, I know, I accused him of not knowing what love was, I thought it was all down to his hormones. Maybe I don't really know either, but what he just told me sounds exactly like love, and I can't deny it anymore, I've been having feelings for him too. I needed to get my head straight, figure out what to do next and relax. This shopping trip would help me take my mind off of things and I could act like a normal girl for once.