Okay and the next chapter, no questions really answered because...well then the story would be over and I am not ready to end it yet lol. Just a note, I am looking for some song ideas for this fic (not to post in it, but to listen to while I write it.) so if you have any ideas please add it into your review or head over to my livejournal (link is in my profile) and add your thoughts.

Read and Review :)

Disclaimer: not mine.

The mission had been over for a week and despite a few awkward silences, mostly on his part, they acted as if 'The Kiss' had never taken place.

This was a problem, because it had taken place and the fell of her body pressed to his; her lips yielding to the pressure of his brought on many nights full of dreams that had him aching with need when he awoke.

"Speedy, man we are headed out to the park for a little football and rest," Cyborg's baritone voice intruded on his train of thought, Cyborg had just poked his head into the control room and the rest of the group could be heard moving down the hallway towards the exit. "You wanna come?"

"Uh," Speedy knew he should go, knew it would go a great deal to setting his friend's minds at rest about his recovery, but he just couldn't face Raven right now. The scent of her, the sound of her; the look of her. This was enough to drive a crazy man sane. "Naw, I'm not feeling so hot, going to catch a quick nap while we have the down time."

"Yeah, you have looked a little run down since the last mission; make sure you get plenty of rest. I don't need you turning up in my infirmary with something a little rest could have cured." Cyborg replied, friendly concern in his voice as he gave the red headed archer a once over.

"I'm sure a nap will set things right, I just haven't been sleeping well is all." Speedy dismissed the worries with a wave of his hand. "As a matter of fact I think I will start on that nap now." He gave the mechanical man a quick smile and plopped himself down on the couch, his arms crossed beneath his head and his eyes closed behind his mask. A few moments later he heard the swoosh of the door closing and knew that Cyborg was gone.

As he felt sleep begin to claim him he forcibly steered his thoughts away from the dark eyed girl, thinking instead on his friendships with the other Titans. In his dreams memories swarmed his mind; football with Cyborg and talks about lost families; video games with Beastboy and long conversations about how to keep the beast within controlled, although he still wasn't sure who had been dealing with the worst beast at the time. He remembered his rivalry with Robin, always wanting to outdo him on the course and in battle; he shuddered a little in his sleep as he remembered his valiant tries at eating various concoctions created by Starfire.

He also held close to his heart conversations with the both of them, Starfire on being so unfamiliar with 'nice' when she had first come to this planet; a heartrending thought for one so innocent and kind. With Robin, in times that their shields had fallen for awhile they talked about growing up alone, or with their mentors who were more concerned with their jobs than with their charges at most times.

He realized in his dreams of remembrance that Raven had spoken truly when she had said that he had never been alone, because these weren't the only Titans he had talked to or found a connection to. He had refused to see, had blinded himself to this when he began his spiral downwards into a life that he shuddered to remember, but he forced himself through the memories of the drugs; of the self hate and self loathing, only to come out the other side of them to a pair of dark amethyst eyes filled with understanding; a mouth curved with a wry smile and arms open to receive him.

Speedy sprang to his feet in one movement, awake and cursing himself for thinking about Raven once again, cursing himself for the mistakes he had made in his past that left him feeling unclean and unworthy of being a Titan.

"Are you okay?" Her voice drifted over his raw nerves and soothed him back to full reality.

"Raven?" His voice croaked slightly on her name, whether from sleep or from surprise he wasn't sure which. "I thought you left with the others."

"Obviously not," She replied with that arched brow, something indefinable in her eyes. She turned to move into the kitchen area and make a cup of tea.

Oh no, she wasn't going to walk away from him this time. He wanted answers now damnit, he was tired of the questions that were beginning to circle his brain like bats in a cave.

"Why did you kiss me?" It wasn't so much a question as a demand for an answer and he crossed to her in a few strides, glaring at her as he did so. Maybe not the best tactics, but the only thing he had at the moment.

"I don't recall kissing you," She didn't look at him, but continued her movements in the ritual of making her tea. "I believe that you kissed me."

He sputtered, "You kissed me back." He exclaimed in defense.

"Yes, well that wasn't what you asked." She turned to face him, the tea cooling on the counter at her elbow. She refused to take a step back from him and again just arched a brow at his close proximity.

"Raven…" Warning edged his tone like a red light, he wanted answers not evasions.

"Why does one normally kiss back Roy?" She quite deliberately used his real name, hoping to make him stumble enough that she could make her escape again. She wasn't ready with the answers he sought and being near him made it hard for her to think.

She underestimated him though, he wasn't Robin and he wasn't nearly as protective of his identity as the bird.

"Can you never just answer a question?" He shoved a hand through his red hair, frustration evident in his movements. "I need to know what all that meant Raven."

"Maybe I don't know," She replied softly, she didn't even pretend not to know what he was referring to.

"You? Not know?" He gave a derisive sort of chuckle. "You never do anything without thinking at it from every direction."

"This wasn't something I foresaw." She said eyes still on his. She wondered what she would be able to read in his eyes if he didn't wear the mask. Her eyes grew distant for a moment, "The others are home," She raised a hand to forestall argument. "I will find you later."

With a flash of shadow she was gone; leaving a very frustrated and confused archer behind to ponder what was going on.