A/N: Hi, hi! Long time no see! Hhhmmm. . . What to say . . . well, thanx for tuning back in, and I'm glad you're here :D Keep reviewing so that I keep writing, k? I apologize for the slowness of the story, but obviously, these two are sort of hard to work with. They tend to wander off and clash a lot. But it keeps things interesting, ne?

Disclaimer: Must I remind you I own no one in here? Well, maybe the small side characters, but I will say so if I do put some in. Otherwise, I own nothing but the idea, capeesh?

Ch.3: Gaps

The rest of the week had passed with no incident. Draco had even felt well enough to begin exploring well outside the small infirmary he had first awoken in.

But he had yet to see Raven again.

He hadn't even had any dreams as of late. Everything had gone well, if not a bit monotone since her last visit, which left him in a turmoil of confusing emotions. Even through the calm of the evening tide outside the window, he couldn't forget everything that had happened.

How she had done such a marvelous job, effortlessly making him rethink what he wanted drove him mad. Pansy Parkinson had never had that sort of power over him. On the contrary, he had always been the one in command. And even though he had only minor experience with those of the opposite sex, he knew well enough that feelings of this nature would only cause disarray; which was exactly what they were doing.

As he stood standing out the den window, he couldn't help but wonder why now, of all times, she was suddenly recurring in his mind. Maybe it was the guilt behind what he had said. Even though he had meant every word of what he had said, he felt as if he had stabbed deeper into her than he had intended to.

Starfire was no help in the matter as she bounded in.

"Friend Draco!" She yelled chirpily, "It is glorious to see you at such early an hour!"

He didn't even get a chance to speak as she flitted up to him, her hands clasped excitedly up to her chest as she spoke of breakfast and what she would be cooking today. Robin was close behind her, which she suddenly noticed and thus turned her efforts on him.

The Boy Wonder gave him a silent nod as he led Starfire away. Returning it, Draco turned back to the window with an empty mind. With others around, he never really had the chance to just reflect on everything. He had to admit that having Crabbe and Goyle around had dulled his sharp sense of thought.

So what of them, back in England? He had found to be on the shore of the American country. Though at first he hadn't taken to it well, he soon warmed up to the idea. Was this a chance to redeem himself for his past mistakes, or a new chance to mess everything up in someone else's life?

Maybe a little of both? It was like taking three steps forward and one back. But what else could he do? He wasn't strong enough to face the wizarding world back in Europe, let alone Voldemort, even though his painful reminder burned through the pale skin of his back.

"Right Draco?" He turned at the sudden mentioning of his name, looking at Beast Boy. The changeling's green hair was still partially matted from the pillow and his movements a bit dazed. Beside him Raven stood as poker faced as ever.

"I was saying to Raven here," He said gesturing to the silent girl, "that she should get out more. You too. You've been inside so long, it's a wonder you haven't gone crazy in here. I would."

"Well," Draco countered, "You haven't been out much yourself."

Beast Boy shook his head. "Dude, you sleep like a rock! You don't even hear the alarms go off at night do y- ow!" Raven had elbowed him quite stronger than she intended, but it still got the message across as Beast Boy glared at her. Draco's blue eyes widened in confusion.

"What alarms?"

"Nothing you have to be concerned about." Raven cut in with finality in her voice. Their gazes met for a second before she turned on her heel and headed for the kitchen.

"Jeez, you'd think she'd-" He suddenly remembered that he was standing next to Draco and clamped up. "Yeah, heh. Anyway, you, uh, wanna get out or not?"

"It's snowing though." Draco's gaze shifted towards the window. Beside him, Beast Boy shrugged.

"Yeah, so?"

"It's cold." Draco clarified.

"Just put on a jacket, no big." He didn't know how to answer to that. So instead, he nodded.

"You can borrow one of Robin's. I think you're closest to his size. We'll leave after breakfast, okay?" Draco nodded and turned back to the window as Beast Boy left to ask Robin for a coat. Left once again alone, Draco drifted into empty idleness as he stared out the window.

"She wanted to let you rest." Draco turned to the side, caught by surprise at the sudden appearance of Cyborg beside him. His silence astounded the Malfoy heir.

"What?" Cyborg's blue eye focused on one slowly falling flake of snow that melted as it came into contact with the window.

"Raven. She made a spell that made it so that you wouldn't hear or see the alarms go off."

"Alarms for what?" Cyborg grinned.

"We're superheroes, dude. We protect the city when they need us." He shrugged as he turned back to the window. "Hey, it's a tough job, but someone has to do it."

A sudden image of an angry Gryffindor passed before Draco's eyes. The other young man's eyes, green and full of a hatred Draco had never seen before; even in his own father's gaze. And a pained determination to continue, even though all others seemed to long give into the fear. An anger directed at the last of the Malfoys now standing on the brink of a large abyss to nowhere.

"She's a bit rough around the edges, but she's the most hurt of all of us. Don't pull another stunt like the one you did ever again. You don't know how much you hurt her when you say those things."

"No, I don't." Draco agreed, snapping back to the present, "But she also doesn't know how much she hurts me by keeping me alive."

To this Cyborg had no reply. He wished he did, but found no words to console the young man beside him. Nor to fight in his silent friend's defense. His features hardened suddenly and his voice came out with a threatening undertone.

"If that's what you want, leave. I don't want to see her break again." And without another word, Cyborg turned and left to join his fellow titans at the breakfast table.

Break.

Break again.

There were just too many loose threads everywhere.

Draco joined them soon after, wondering what exactly was going to happen now. For a moment his gaze had met Raven's but nothing happened. There was no connection anymore, there was nothing there.

It was in that one moment he realized just how big the fledgling gap had grown between them.