Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the Property of DC Comics

Chapter 24

"…because I'm allergic to them," she finished, handing the pile of papers back to him.

"Okay, awesome," said Beast Boy, shuffling the papers until they were nice and organized again. He got up and threw the papers back on his desk, ruining the whole point of organizing them. "So, I'll let everyone know and we'll get this wedding underway."

He sat back down on the bed and gave her a smile. She gave him a small smile back, but he noticed how tired she looked now. They'd been going over the wedding details for nearly an hour now. That was a long time for her to be away from any of the children.

"You wouldn't happen to know what time it is, would you?" she asked, slightly stretching her body that was beginning to ache.

"Probably time you went to bed," he said. "After what happened yesterday I think you had far too much excitement tonight."

"Oh please, I feel fine," she said, brushing him off. "I'm just feeling my usual aches and pains, that's all."

"Which is why you should go to bed," said Beast Boy. "That way you can be near Crystal and feel okay."

"I hate having to go to bed so early," she sighed. "It really does make me feel like a child."

"Well, you never really got to act like a normal child," said Beast Boy. "So, think of this as you making up for that."

"Do you have a positive answer for everything?" she asked with a small smile.

"Just about," he shrugged, smiling back.

Raven retained her smile for a moment then looked to the floor, her face turning into a look of thought. Beast Boy stared at her curiously; he'd always wanted to know how she could go into such deep thought in a matter of seconds. He watched as she chewed on her bottom lip and then finally shook her head of all the thoughts she was battling with.

"Beast Boy?" she said at last.

"Yeah?" he answered.

"Do you… do you really, and I mean really, love me?" she asked, an odd shyness taking over her.

"Yes, I do," he said, confidently.

"Like love love?" she pressed. "Not pity love?"

"Love love," he chuckled. "I've really fallen in love with you, Rae."

Raven thought about this for another moment then seemed to straighten up. "Alright, then," she said. "You can kiss me."

Beast Boy looked at her strangely. "What?" he asked.

"I give you permission to kiss me," she said in a very businesslike manner.

He looked at her again and then started to laugh, which got her attention. "Are you kidding?" he laughed. "That's how you want our first kiss to be? All planned out with you giving me permission? That's not romantic at all!"

"I never said I wanted it to be romantic," said Raven. "I just want to get it over with."

"Well, then, I'm not gonna kiss you," said Beast Boy, crossing his arms in a childlike manner.

"What?" said Raven, turning to him sharply. "You just said you're in love me! So kiss me."

"Nope, I'm not gonna do it like this," he said, looking away from her. "It's not special when you're expecting it."

She frowned and said, "Well, fine. If you're not gonna kiss me then I'm going to bed." She stood up, got her balance, and headed for the door. "And you can forget us doing any kissing at the wedding. Here I thought you could actually be an adult about this, but-."

The sentence was never finished. In an instance Beast Boy had gotten up, twisted her back towards him, and pressed his lips upon hers. Was it spontaneous? Most certainly. Was it romantic? Raven felt her knees buckle, what did that mean? She felt his arms wrap around her and make sure she didn't fall to the floor. After a moment he released her and took a small step back.

"So… how was that?" he asked.

Still in a daze, it took Raven a moment to answer. "Well, um, it was, uh, adequate," she said, trying to keep her composure.

"Adequate?" he said, disappointed. "Is that all?"

"Well I guess it was okay… for a first kiss," said Raven.

"Do you think it needs practice?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

She shrugged and said nonchalantly, "Maybe."

He smiled slyly, took her cheek in his hand, and kissed her again… and again… and again. He wrapped his arms around her, as she did to him, and kissed her with all the passion that'd been dwelling in his heart. Raven felt her own heart race and all of her aches and pains melt away. This was a real first for her and she liked it.

After a minute or two they finally slowed their kissing and pulled apart to catch their breath. Raven moved in close, pressed herself up against him, and held him tightly. He held her close and soaked in the feeling.

"Beast Boy?" she said.

"Yeah?" he said softly.

"I… I love you, too," she said and held him a little tighter, as if she was holding on to the hope that this was real.

Beast Boy was actually pretty shocked by this confession, since up until then Raven hadn't shown him any real romantic feelings towards him. "You do?" he asked.

"Yes, I do," she said.

He smiled and kissed her head, holding her lovingly. "I'm really glad to know that," he said. "I guess now we're getting married for traditional reasons."

Raven smiled against him and couldn't help but feel a sense of peace take over her. This was what she'd always wanted. She really didn't care what happened to her now. She was loved and that's all she'd ever really wanted.

"You should probably get to bed now," said Beast Boy. "You must be pretty tired and sore by now."

"Actually… I feel pretty good," said Raven. "I don't know why but I feel perfectly fine."

"Huh, that's odd," said Beast Boy. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure," she said. "I think I'd know if I felt good or bad."

"Alright, I was just asking," said Beast Boy. "I'm just… surprised is all."

"You and me both," said Raven.

"So… what do you wanna do now?" asked Beast Boy.

"Actually, I'd like to go sit with the adults, for once," she said.

"Oh," said Beast Boy, a bit disappointed.

"What?" she asked. "Did you have something in mind?"

"Well, I was kinda thinking that, you know, we could practice some more," he said, sheepishly.

Raven looked at him for a moment then rolled her eyes. "I think we've practiced enough for tonight," she said.

"Aw," he grumbled.

"Please don't tell me this is how you're going to be from now on," said Raven. "I'm not saying the kissing wasn't… enjoyable, but we're adults and we don't have to act like hormone driven teenagers about it."

"But I haven't gotten to kiss a woman in so long!" he whined. "I forgot how good it was."

"And that was my first kiss ever," Raven, pointed out. "But I'm not going to rush this."

"I just wanna kiss!" he said. "I didn't say I wanted to sleep with you. Not tonight, at least."

"And just what's that supposed to mean?" asked Raven. "You're planning on sleeping with me?"

"With your consent of course," he said. "I mean, we're in love, we're gonna be married, why shouldn't we get to do what every other couple does?"

"I-I don't know," she said, a bit flustered. "It's just… kissing was a huge step for me. I can't imagine actually… going all the way."

"Hey, like I said, I'm not talking about tonight or anything," he said in a comforting tone. "Once we feel a little more comfortable romantically with each other then we'll go a little further. Don't worry, I'm not gonna make you do anything you're not prepared or ready to do."

"But what if my heart gives out during… it?" she asked.

"Then that's one hell of a way to go," he laughed.

"I'm serious," she said, rolling her eyes. "How do we even know I'll be healthy enough to do something like that? Obviously we can't have any of the kids around."

"Well, you said that sometimes when you're with me you feel fine," said Beast Boy. "Maybe you'll feel fine when we have sex."

"Ugh, don't say it like that," said Raven, walking away and pacing around the room uncomfortably. "I'm not used to talking about something like this so casually. Maybe you've done this before, which you obviously have, but this is all completely foreign to me."

"Hey, calm down," he said, going to her. "Okay, I'm sorry I said it so bluntly like that. But soon you'll see how not a big deal it is. Your first time you'll remember forever, yeah, but after that they just sorta blend together."

"Well that sounds encouraging," she said sarcastically and suddenly felt tired. "Oh no."

"What?" he asked.

"My body's telling me it's time for bed," she said, her aches and pains returning.

"Alright, let's stop talking about this and put you to bed," said Beast Boy.

"For the last time, don't say it like that," said Raven shortly. "It makes me sound like a child."

"Okay, I'm sorry," he said. He knew she was starting to feel cruddy now since she was starting to snap at him. "I know you're not a child. Do you want me to walk you to your room?"

"Alright," said Raven. "And I'll even let you give me a goodnight kiss."

Beast Boy's eyes brightened right up and linked his arm with hers. "Milady," he said and opened his door.

"You're ridiculous," said Raven, shaking her head.

"Say what you want," he said with a smile. "But you said you love me, so now I know how you really feel."

They walked down the hall back to her room. Once they reached it Beast Boy barely gave them a chance to come a stop when he brought her close and kissed her. Raven would be lying if she said his kisses didn't spark something deep within her and dared her mind to go to a place she'd always forbidden herself from going.

He dragged out the kiss for as long as he could, savoring ever single second. He knew just how to kiss a girl and he was proud of that. Plenty of practice had certainly helped. He knew how to make a kiss simple, friendly, passionate, blistering, or sexual. Right now he was taking the passionate approach and he knew he was doing a good job. He could feel the heat of a blush radiating off of Ravens entire body and he subtly smiled to himself for doing just a good job.

And just as it was really starting to get heated, he pulled away from her. He got a good look at her and saw desire and slight confusion in her eyes. She was obviously confused by these overwhelming feelings raging through her, but she was certain that she wanted more. He'd done his job perfectly.

"Goodnight," he said, giving her one last kiss on the cheek and then turning and heading back for his room.

"Goodnight," she said, hardly able to find her breath. Again, she could feel no ache or pain in her entire body.