Author's Note: I apologize with every fiber of my being. Since I last updated, I have moved from Louisiana to Tennessee and this fanfiction has been delayed because of such. Still, I shouldn't be giving excuses and am wholly, truly sorry. Thank you for all who have supported my story thus far. Please enjoy chapter seven!

Chapter Seven : A Slumber Party

"Oh, this is wonderful, Raven! First, we shall fix each other's hair in a ridiculous manner!"

"Star –"

"Secondly, we will watch the 'chick flicks' while consuming corn kernels that have been popped!"

"Starfire –"

"After that, we shall take part in the communication of females and then –"

"Starfire!"

She looked at me with eager eyes and an undying smile. "Yes, Raven?"

"I appreciate your enthusiasm," I said over a yawn, "but right now I just want to get some sleep."

"Oh." Her face drooped as well as her flight.

I sighed with guilt. "But if you really want to, we can have a slumber party tomorrow night."

Like a light switch, her happiness flooded back to her in less than a second. "Really, Raven? Oh, thank you ever so much!" She attacked me with an organ-imploding hug.

"Don't mention it," I choked. When she released me, I looked around her bedroom. "Where should I sleep?"

She put a finger to her chin and watched the ceiling as she thought. An invisible light bulb flashed over her head after a few moments, and she scampered to her closet to retrieve a sleeping bag that looked as if it was meant to fit five. I call it a sleeping bag, but in reality it looked more like an overgrown, deflated balloon. With polka dots.

"Tamaranean?" I guessed.

"Yes, it is!" she said in excitement. "Behold the fortawklen! On my planet, we employ it in long journeys away from home. It is most comfortable and is perfect for slumber!"

"Am I supposed to sleep in that?"

She looked down, a little embarrassed. "To tell you the truth, Raven, I was hoping that I may use it as I have not had the chance to do so in a very long time."

"Knock yourself out."

She let out a squeal that could have broken one's eardrums if magnified to the appropriate audio levels. I kicked off my shoes and took off my cloak before slipping into her bed. I closed my eyes, but I could still hear her situating herself in her alien sack of snoozes. I fell asleep almost immediately and couldn't remember my dreams the next morning.

"The security cameras didn't pick up anything shady trying to sneak into Rae's room." Cyborg scratched the back of his head. "Was anything taken?"

Robin looked at me and I shook my head. "Nothing that I noticed."

"We'll keep up the surveillance," Robin said. "Something tells me we'll be seeing this intruder again very soon."

I sipped some tea, but almost spit it back out when I was assaulted from behind. Beast Boy now had his arm around my shoulders and a wide grin on his face.

"Who would want to sneak into your scary old room anyway?" he asked.

"Do you enjoy telekinetic punishments?" I asked.

He didn't flinch. "I haven't gotten to spend any time with you all week, Rae! I've got millions of jokes just itching to be told."

"As tempting as that sounds," I said, shrugging off his arm, "I think I'd rather just take a swim through the town's sewage routes."

Before he could think of a comeback, Starfire burst into our conversation.

"I apologize, Beast Boy, but tonight Raven is spending the quality time with me!"

Beast Boy scoffed. "Never mind then. I don't want to be caught up in all your girly activities."

Cyborg turned around to share his input. "Don't pretend you don't like braiding your hair, BB."

Beast Boy replied with a jaguar's roar. I ignored the two of them and took a look at the clock on the microwave in the kitchen.

"It's five o'clock already?" I pondered aloud. "How long did I sleep?"

"Till almost forever!" Beast Boy said.

"Two thirty," Cyborg clarified. "We thought you were dead at first."

I looked out the window and watched the sun as it began to glow a deep orange. For the three hours in which I was awake up until that point, I had been meditating. The doors of my powers had become loose in the midst of my lack of sleep. I was paranoid, thinking that one in particular might burst open at any second.

"Oh, please, Raven," Starfire began to beg. "Can we start the slumber festivities now?"

I drained my cup of tea and nodded. "Sure, let's go."

She had me in the air before I could stand up. It seemed that I was caught in a torrent of wind in the trip back to her room. After a few seconds, I was sitting on her bed, observing her as she brought back popcorn and movies that made me wince.

"It's going to be a long night …"

I feel sorry for toy dolls. They have to be groomed, dressed, undressed, and sometimes even maimed without getting a say in about what they detest. I mean, do you seriously think that they like having all their hair chopped off with a pair of plastic scissors knowing that it will never grow back. Luckily, Starfire didn't have any scissors on hand. God forbid that anyone ever loaned her a pair. When that day comes, keep her away from me. My hair is short enough, thanks.

I didn't ask to paint her nails or do her hair though. I couldn't be held responsible for any type of vengeance I would have tried to take out on her. Plus, knowing her, she'd probably be thrilled with a shaven head. But no, my conscience kept me from doing anything drastic and it's most likely better that way.

Besides, convincing her to play beauty parlor is what got me out of those disastrous romance movies. Yuck.

"Do you like it, Raven?"

I stared hard at my reflection. No. I did not like it. It looked like weasel that had taken a trip through a lawn mower after wetting his fur in a puddle of mud. Realistically, it was just a bunch of clips holding up what few hair I had haphazardly into place. But come on, can't a girl complain?

"I love it Star," I lied.

"Oh, I just knew you would!" she said. "Now, onto the next part of the slumber party!"

Oh, goody.

"Girl talk!"

… Arkham straightjackets!

She pushed me into a cross-legged position on the floor in front of her. She looked at me excitedly, saying nothing for many long moments.

I raised an eyebrow in a question. "Well …?"

She shrugged. "To be honest, I do not know what we are supposed to talk about."

I sighed. "I'm not exactly the guru of girly-time either."

"Oh, now I remember!" Her face suddenly lit up. "Boys!"

" … No, Star, this is girl talk."

"Yes! And in the 'girl talk', we must converse about the opposite gender and their benefits and disadvantages!"

"Dandy. You want to start, then?"

I expected her to start gabbing on about how great she and Robin were getting along in their relationship, but instead she turned the subject around on me.

"Are you interested in any male specimen, Raven?"

Okay, first of all using the word "specimen" makes it sound like we're talking about lab practices or something. Secondly, who the heck did she think I had my eyes on? As if I actually get a chance to get out of the Tower …

"Umm … No, not really," I said. That was another lie, but even I didn't want to admit it.

She wagged her finger at me. "My slininklar tells me that you are hiding something."

Her what? "I'm not hiding anything, Star."

"Is it Beast Boy?" Her eyes were now aglow with curiosity.

"No, but –"

"Oh, please do not tell me that it is Robin!"

How come Robin made second on the list? Nonetheless, my face was suddenly solemn.

"He's going out with you, Star. I'm pretty sure I'm not interested."

That was yet another lie. But heck, what do you want out of me? She's my friend. What in the name of Azarath would you want me to say?

On second thought, don't answer that.

"Oh, then it must be Cyborg!" she exclaimed as if she had triumphed.

At this point she could have said Slade and I wouldn't have cared. As long as she didn't push the subject of Robin, I was fine with anything she suggested. Still, I had to deny her assumption for the sake of her doing anything stupid.

"It's not Cyborg, Starfire," I said with little enthusiasm.

"Do not lie to me, Raven. My slininklar knows all!"

Seriously, what is that?

"All of my teammates are just friends," I said.

"But the two of you would be so perfect together!"

"We would?" How'd she come to that conclusion?

"Oh, yes, I am most sure of it! In fact, we should set up a double date!"

You see, that's what I meant by doing something stupid. I immediately shook my head.

"I promise you, Starfire, I don't have any feelings for Cyborg besides friendship."

Finally, she sighed in disappointment. "Alright, if you say so, Raven."

Goodness this girl was way off. And how am I perfect for Cyborg?

Again, don't answer that.

After our chitchat, we pretty much crashed and called it a night. It's amazing how much talking can exhaust a girl. When I woke up, I embraced my bedroom with open arms. I can only take so much pink for so long.

Call it a delayed thought, but it was just then that I noticed the chest set up against the wall near my bed. My heart skipped a beat.

No one took anything …

I walked slowly, as if my steps would trigger the very thing I was so anxious about.

Jinx scared them off before they could steal anything …

I kneeled down in front of the chest and stroked the engravings while my mind was in a daze.

It's still there … It has to be …

I finally opened it.

The chest was empty.