Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the Property of DC Comics

Chapter 21

They were quite a sight to see, that was for sure. While they slept everyone made their way inside the med bay to get a glimpse. Cameras were snuck in and silent pictures were taken so that this moment in time could never be forgotten or lived down. Crystal was cuddling with her doll, Raven was cuddling with Crystal, and Beast Boy was cuddling with Raven.

"Do you not think we should wake them up?" whispered Starfire. "Crystal shall be late for school."

"No, let them be," said Cyborg.

"Yeah, this is good for them," said Nightwing.

"Damn, I've run out of film," said Bumblebee, looking at her camera. "I've gotta get another one."

"Uh, I think that's enough pictures," said Cyborg. "Come on, let's get outta here before they wake up and find us gawking at them." The group silently filed out and left the three to continue sleeping.

The first to awaken a few minutes later was Raven. She was a bit confused as to where she was, but soon remembered why she was in the med bay. She looked down and saw Crystal fast asleep in her arms. She smiled and was glad to have woken up feeling pain and ache free. She then became aware of breathing on her neck. She turned her head slightly and saw that Beast Boy was basically spooning her, his face nuzzled into the back of her neck. She knew that this should feel uncomfortable and wrong, but the truth was it didn't.

'Beast Boy, I wish I could feel your emotions,' she thought to herself. 'I wish I could know if you're truly in love with me. You have no idea how much I want you to be. I've longed for love for so long. If only there was someway I could know for sure. I need you to tell me without coming out and telling me.'

Just then Beast Boy let out a soft groan and pulled himself even closer to her, his arm that was draped over her side now hugging her affectionately. He nuzzled his nose between her neck and the pillow, causing her heart to race and an odd shiver to envelop her body.

'I certainly can't deny that my heart does desire to be yours,' she thought as she got used to the feel of him even closer. 'You've grown up so much and you seem to only want to take care of me, though I still doubt your reasons for doing so are genuine. You're a great father and just a wonderful person altogether. I want you to be in love with me because I… I… I'm in love with you.'

Upon this realization she felt an odd weight lift off of her. She now realized why she'd been putting him off so diligently and why she refused to believe that he could have feelings for her. She had fallen in love with him and therefore she knew she was vulnerable.

Crystal sighed and twisted about so that she was facing Raven now. She held the little girl close to her and stroked her hair affectionately. She closed her eyes and smiled softly, absorbing in this nice feeling of… family. She wondered if this was what it'd be like if she did have a family of her own. If Crystal were really her daughter and Beast Boy was really her husband. What an odd feeling this was.

"Raven," Beast Boy breathed into her neck, causing her to shiver. She wasn't sure if he was talking in his sleep or was finally awake. When he spoke again, she knew he was awake. "Raven?"

"What?" she answered softly, hoping not to wake Crystal.

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

She certainly hadn't been expecting that and wondered if he'd been sensing what she'd been thinking. She gently turned her head so that she could see him and he lifted himself from his comfy nook between her neck and the pillow. For a moment she looked into his tired, stilly puffy from sleep, green eyes. His arm was still around her and their bodies were very close, basically pressing up against each other.

"Please?" he added.

She sighed and slowly nodded her head saying, "Alright."

He was quiet for a moment then said, "Really?"

"Yes," she replied.

He smiled and said, "Good." He leaned down, kissed her cheek, and then immediately stuck his face back into the nook between her neck and the pillow. Within seconds she could feel that he was fast asleep again. She felt an odd feeling of relief spread over her and she closed her own eyes once more. She gently, if not slyly, moved a bit closer to him.

Once the two had fallen asleep again it was Crystal's turn to finally wake up. She threw Ravens arm, that was cuddling her, off and sat up, rubbing her sleepy little eyes. She looked to her side and saw her new mommy and her daddy fast asleep. She felt her little tummy rumble and she knew it was breakfast time. She crawled off of the bed and made her way to the common room, leaving the two alone. She made it to the common room and saw the rest of her 'family'.

"Well good morning lil lady," said Cyborg with a smile.

"Morning," she said, walking over to the table and taking a seat. "Can I have some cereal?"

"You got it," he said with a smile.

"Are your dad and Raven still asleep?" asked Nightwing.

"Yup," she said. "And Raven's my mommy, you know."

"Right, sorry," said Nightwing.

"Alright, hurry up and eat," said Bumblebee. "We've got to get you to school."

"Ugh, can't I just not go?" whined Crystal.

"Yeah, if we did that your father would kill us," said Bumblebee.

"No he wouldn't," said Crystal. "Please?"

"Not going to happen," said Bumblebee.

Raven and Beast Boy lay peacefully in the conjoined beds, sleeping to their hearts content. But it wasn't long before Crystal's absence took affect on Ravens body. She soon began to cough in her sleep until she woke herself up. This also woke Beast Boy from his slumber as well.

She held her chest and coughed roughly and painfully. Instinctively, Beast Boy wrapped his arms around her and held her close. But she continued to cough, nonetheless. She moaned with pain and he moaned along with her at being awakened in such a manner.

"Please stop coughing," he said into the back of her neck.

"Don't you think I want to?" she snapped, wheezing.

"Oh, my poor Rae," he said, nuzzling her affectionately.

"Cut that out," she said, though she was actually enjoying the attention. "I'm in pain."

"I know," he sighed. "I wish there was something I could do to help you." Still in the fog of sleep he lost himself for a moment and kissed her shoulder.

Raven opened her eyes and furrowed her brow, wondering if Beast Boy had really done what she'd thought he'd done. Had he really just kissed her on the shoulder? He'd kissed her head before and even her cheek not too long ago, but her shoulder? That was very… intimate. And, as shocked as she was, she was still caught completely off guard when he kissed it yet again and then once more before she stopped him.

"Beast Boy?" she said, her heart racing and her body filling with an odd feeling she'd never experienced before.

"Hmm?" he asked, his lips still brushing her skin.

"W-What are you doing?" she asked.

"Hmm?" he asked again.

"You're kissing me," she said.

He opened his eyes and finally his mind cleared and awakened. He realized what he'd been doing and jumped back. As he did Raven turned over and looked at him. For a moment the two stared at each other, each feeling confused and exhilarated.

"Rae, I… I'm sorry," he said, looking like a deer caught in the headlights. "I wasn't thinking, I swear."

"Why… why did you do that?" she asked.

"I just, I thought, uh, I'm sorry," he sputtered.

"No, tell me why you did that," she said in a bit of a softer tone. "Why?"

Beast Boy let himself calm down for a moment and allowed his mind to function. "It… It just felt right," he said, unable to look her in the eyes. "I can't really explain it any better than that. Sorry."

"It's okay," she said. "You don't have to apologize."

"Yes I do," he said. "I mean, here we were finally getting along again and I go and do something stupid like that. Please don't be mad at me, I was just being an idiot, as usual."

"Beast Boy, it's okay," she said again. "I'm not mad."

"Yes, you are," he sighed. "I know you are."

"No, really, I'm not," she said. "I mean, you kissed my shoulder, that's all. It's not like you fondled me or anything. So, please, don't be sorry. I'm not mad about it."

"Y-You're not?" he said, confused. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure," said Raven.

Hearing this, Beast Boy let out a relieved sigh and collapsed back down onto the bed. "That's a relief," he said, rubbing his face. "I don't know what I would've done if you'd started hating me again."

"I've never hated you," she said, lying back down, feeling her aches and pains returning with the absence of Crystal. "I've certainly been annoyed and irritated by you over the years, but I've never hated you."

"Good," he said with a smile. "I'm glad to know that."

"Now, since that's all settled, I think it's time you got up," said Raven. "It's nearly ten."

He stared at her for a second and then said, "No, it's not."

"Oh, yes, it is," she responded. "Look at the clock."

He looked at the clock that was hanging on the wall and saw that it was, indeed, nearly ten. "Oh crap!" he exclaimed and practically fell out of the bed. "She's late for school again. I'm gonna get a call from the school now, I know it. Wait a second, where is she?!"

"She's probably already up and getting ready," said Raven calmly.

"God, I'm turning into the worse father ever," he said and headed for the exit.

"I'll quote you on that statement so I have something to use against you when they take you to court," she said sarcastically and settled into the bed.

He gave her a look and then ran out of there. He quickly made his way to the common room and found everyone but Crystal and Cyborg.

"Where is she?" he asked.

"Relax, Sparky's taking her to school right now," said Bumblebee.

"Is Raven awake?" asked Starfire, who was holding Jack.

"Yeah, but she's still in bed," said Beast Boy. "Actually, she's probably back asleep by now."

"How's she doing?" asked Nightwing.

"Fine," said Beast Boy. "She was coughing earlier, but it's calmed down. Hey, what's today?"

"Uh, Friday," said Bumblebee. "Sheesh, you are out of it."

"Friday, huh?" he said, thinking. "That means I gotta make plans. Oh, and just so you know, the engagement's back on."

"Oh, how wonderful!" said Starfire happily. "I am so glad I did not cancel the arrangements I have made."

"Yeah, speaking of which, I need to talk to you about the plans you've made," said Beast Boy. "I kinda wanna marry Rae as quickly and as easily as possible."

"Before you fight again, right?" said Nightwing.

"You know it," said Beast Boy and he headed into the kitchen. He grabbed Ravens teakettle, filled it up, and placed it on a burner.

"You sure it's not because you love her?" Bumblebee smirked.

Nightwing nearly spat his second cup of coffee out of his mouth. "What was that?" he asked.

"Beast Boy, you are in love with Raven?" asked Starfire.

Beast Boy glared at Bumblebee and said, "I wasn't exactly planning on revealing that to anyone yet."

"Sorry," Bumblebee chuckled. "Couldn't help it."

"Oh, this is such glorious news!" exclaimed Starfire. "You are not marrying Raven to fulfill her dream; you are marrying for you are in love!"

"No, I'm marrying her for both reasons," said Beast Boy. "Now everyone drop it and don't tell Cyborg."

"Uh, heh, too late," said Bumblebee.

"Oh God," said Beast Boy, thinking about the torture Cyborg was going to put him through now.