TS

Disclaimer-I own no one familiar.

Chapter 3-Heart on My Sleeve

(Aqualad's PoV)

(three days later)

I dived into the sparkling blue water. The brilliant sunlight shone like a promise. Below the surface fish in all colors of the rainbow darted about. I went deeper, the water cooling me as I shot through it.

A lone dolphin swam up to join me. Funny, where was her pod? She gamboled playfully about me; clicking softly as she swam.

I sent a wave of telepathy toward her, asking her why she was alone; attempting to communicate. She stared at me for a moment. Her bright eyes, black as jet, sparkling with laughter.

You know if you'd have just said hi I'd have answered. I don't have a pod by the way.

I stared at her. I was imagining things. A telepathic dolphin? She somehow picked up that thought and seemed to find it extraordinarily funny.

No; who's ever heard of a telepathic dolphin?

Suddenly in front of me there was a girl in the dolphin's place. One of the prettiest girls I had ever seen. Her hair was long and rippling and the color of over ripe wheat. Large sea colored eyes locked with mine. She wore a suit of the same color almost covered by the calf length cascade of her hair.

"Hi;" She offered her hand. "My name is Miriel."

I hesitated before shaking it, "I'm Aqualad."

She smiled. "It's very nice to meet you."

Her smile faded and she tilted her head as though she was listening for something in the distance.

"I have to go."

She turned to leave.

"Wait!" I had no clue why I'd just called her back but I was in too deep to quit now. "Maybe you could uh come over, you could meet the Titans. Maybe eat dinner with us. We're all eating together at the Jump City Tower"

"Sounds fun. I'll meet you at the T Island in Jump's bay at six. O.K.?

"O.K. um great!"

She morphed into a shark and shot off. I sighed as the she disappeared into the endless blue of the ocean. Gosh she was pretty. There were butterflies in my stomach. But pleasant butterflies; Like I sometimes felt around Raven only stronger. (A/N LOL)

Oh great! What had I done? Dinner? The cooking in either tower wasn't exactly the kind of thing that encourages return. Beast Boy only made tofu and Cyborg's food was cardiac arrest waiting to happen. Titans East didn't have any better cooks. And we all know that Starfire's food isn't worthy of the name. There was no way. Unless… Raven. Maybe she could cook. It was doubtful that she could and even more doubtful that she would help. But when it came down to it you never knew with Raven.

I swam to Titan's tower and hauled myself on shore. Raven was sitting on a rock near the water and smiled when she saw me.

"I have favor to ask of you." It may seem rude to do that but if I didn't ask right away I'd lose my nerve.

"O…kay. I'll help if I can what do you need?"

"I, well, I, was um,"

She raised a brow. "Come on Aqualad I can't possibly be that scary. Just tell me."

"ImetthisgirlandinvitedhertodinnerwithusbutnoneofuscancookandIwaswonderingifyoucouldcauseIdidn'tknowifyoucouldcookornotandBBandStarareoutofthequestionandCyborg'sfoodisallmeat. Please will you help me?"

(A/N Translation: (Slightly condensed version) I met this girl and invited her to dinner but no one around here can cook that great so I was wondering if you would.)

"Ummmmm; Was that English?" She smiled at me. "Sure I'll help. It's my turn to cook tonight anyways. Well according to me it is. The other Titans won't be too happy about it though. The last time I tried to cook it didn't turn out so great. Starfire compared my 'pancakes' to incinerated Glorka Roaches. But I have been practicing since then and I've eaten my own food twice with no ill effects." The last part was due largely to the rather pale green hue that I'm sure my face had taken when she told me about her pancakes.

"Thanks. I was just worried that if one of the others cooked I'd never see her again. I highly doubt that she has Terra's appetite and tastes."

Raven laughed. "Speaking of Terra, I brought her back."

"You did?"

"Yes, just thought I'd warn you so you didn't stand there gaping like a fool in front of your new friend."

I felt my face start to heat. Raven laughed again, this time at my obvious discomfort.

"Well, I'd better see what I can find to make for dinner before one of the others gets into the kitchen."

She flew off and I jumped back into the ocean; welcoming the cool water on my burning face.

TS

It was six o' clock. I sat on the sea floor about ten feet out from the island. A small barracuda swam up and eyed me curiously. As I looked it in the eye I felt slightly uneasy but did my best not to let it show. A second later Miriel shifted back to human form, laughing at my nervousness.

I took Miriel into the tower. The rest of Titans East were already there. I led my new friend over to where the teens were sitting on the floor around the big screen. Beast Boy and Terra appeared to be taking bets on whether Cyborg would beat Mas y Menos at Mega Monkeys III. I introduced the girl to my friends and they all gave polite variations on "nice to meet you" and went back to the video game. Except for Raven. She never had been interested in video games. The three of us talked until time for dinner.

The food was delicious. I and the pleasantly surprised Titans praised her until she blushed scarlet. It was about half-way through dinner when two teens in strange clothes walked in. (A/N Like the titans don't wear strange clothes. rolls eyes)

Raven stood so quickly that she knocked her chair over. It clattered unnoticed to the floor. All the color drained from her previously crimson face.

"Impossible."