Well...isn't THIS a surprise?

I recently was convinced by a friend to get more in touch with what used to really, truly make me happy. One of these things is writing. Let's be honest, I know I'm not the more eloquent writer in the world, but coming up with interesting storylines always used to get me going.

So here I am. Years later, 4 years into a job at Starbucks, graduating with my associate's degree in the fall, recently finished How I Met Your Mother on Netflix...for the second time...and I pulled a Lust was Right chapter out of my butt. I'll stop rambling, so without further ado...


Flash forward seven months…

Letting out a long sigh, Raven braced herself as she waddled down the last few steps leading away from their apartment building. She glared up the stairwell at her boyfriend, who could barely drag himself down to her level. Hands on his eyes, Garfield rubbed them fiercely as he yawned, shuffling down the stairs like a zombie.

Raven rolled her eyes and snapped, "Pick it up, grandpa. I'm the one carrying your spawn, and I'm moving faster than you are." She stomped toward the direction of their vehicle, a beater they had picked up after a few days of being away from the Tower. It was a faded red sedan, with some peeling paint on the left back door. The stereo was blown, and one of the windows didn't roll down, but at least it was transportation. Having stolen the T-Car just about seven months prior, the empath and changeling ditched it under a bridge once acquiring something that didn't have a built-in tracking device. They didn't want to be followed, and they knew Cyborg would be missing his baby.

"Hey now, sassy, you don't have to work nights like I do," Garfield grumbled as he caught up to his, now hugely, pregnant girlfriend. He managed to get ahead of her, holding the car door for her before getting in.

Raven sighed, feeling a huge wave of guilt wash over her. People at her office, when Garfield still worked there, had started to gossip about the "runaway Titans," and they didn't want anyone noticing resemblances between them and who they used to be known as. The couple thought it best that Garfield find a new way of making money, so they wouldn't draw attention to themselves as a pair. Unfortunately, the only thing available at the time was doing overnight shifts in a warehouse. Not ideal whatsoever for either of them, but it paid the bills and didn't get them noticed.

"I'm not being sassy," Raven mumbled as her boyfriend started the car. "I just hate being on opposite schedules."

Garfield adjusted one of his illusion bands. "I know, babe."

"This really sucks. You have to drop me off super early in the morning, just to go home for a couple of hours before you have to go in for an all-nighter."

"Yeah. I'm not a fan of it, you know that. But I gotta do what I gotta do for my baby."

"Are you referring to me, or your actual baby creature growing inside of me?"

Garfield took her hand as he approached a red light, kissing it softly and gazing at her. "Both."

Raven sat back in her seat, taking in the sight of her belly. "Like really though… What have you done to me?" she groaned playfully, only slightly resentful of the fact that she didn't fit into her clothes anymore. Though being very upset and skeptical at first, she had really grown to love this thing living inside of her. It was now a part of their lives, even though it wasn't completely here with them yet.

"Well, I did a few things, actually. I started with foreplay, then got you on top of me before-"

"Okay! Okay..." She laughed, self-conscious all of the sudden.

His brow furrowed "Hey by the way, we really need to figure out the whole doctor thing. I don't normally worry, because I'm awesome and everything, but I just want to make sure things are all good with the lil guy."

Raven frowned, nodding. They had been for an ultrasound when she was about two months, where the baby was small enough to not show any super-powered abnormalities. The couple nearly bolted out of the office when the ultrasound technician noticed that the baby's heartrate was running a little fast, as Garfield's does normally. As to not draw attention to the hybrid baby they were harvesting, they hadn't been to the doctor since. They knew they had to go, but figured the only way to do so safely was through a branch of the Titans, but they were worried who they may run into.

"Tell you what," she chirped, "I will call up Titans East today and see what they can do." She was worried about reaching out to some Titans for help, but it had to be done.

"Thank you, sexypants." After a bit more driving, Garfield planted a kiss on her forehead after he parked in front of her office building. "Time to get in there and earn some bacon. Meat-free, of course."

"Oh, of course." Raven kissed him goodbye and headed inside, tottering through the cubicles until she found her desk, taking a seat and beginning to shuffle her work into stacks.

Once lunch rolled around, she figured she should get in contact with her friend Karen at Titans East, AKA, Bumblebee. Raven was nervous, but knew that fellow Titans would help them out in their time of need. She strolled into the break room, fake-smiling at the people who she sits across from everyday, scanning the counters for a box of donuts.

"Damn it," Anger grumbled, "I bet that fat bitch from accounting ate them all."

"Now now, be nice!" exclaimed Trust. "We don't know that!"

"I do," Raven mumbled to herself, annoyed as she watched Sheri from accounting shovel down two boston cremes.

"Oh hey there, beautiful."

Raven whirled around, surprised, but not entirely, to see the office pervert gazing at her lewdly. After her first few encounters with him, she had since learned that his name was Al. His eyes always followed her with a lustful gawk, and he made absolutely no effort to hide it. Hell, he tried to make it as obvious as possible, it seemed.

He sneered, a strange glint in his eyes as they traveled down her body. "Damn, look at you… Should have let me get you pregnant, I would've enjoyed that."

"I'm sure," Raven hissed sarcastically as she turned her attention back to the office snacks. This baby made her hungrier than she's ever been.

"Are you and that boytoy of yours still together?"

"Yes." People had started to leave the break room, stomachs full, and she was suddenly alone with this weirdo.

"Boytoy...or should I say...Beast Boy."

Raven's eyes widened and she spun back around to face Al. She stared at him in shock as she wondered how he would have come to this conclusion, trying to think of a way to cover her ass and deny it. "Excuse me?"

"You know what I'm talking about." He cocked his head downward and peered up at her with a knowing look, a lock of chocolate brown hair falling into his eyes. "C'mon, it's so obvious. Teen Titan gets knocked up, and the two of them move far, far away, disguise themselves, start a new life, et cetera." He rested a hand on her shoulder. "Now tell me...was your leader not so happy about this little bundle of joy?"

Raven pulled away from him, her gaze growing hot as she glared his way. "I have no idea what you're talking about. Will and I are together, yes, but what you're saying about us being Titans is preposterous."

"Why did he relocate, hmm? Were other people in the office here also catching on?"

She clenched her fists and felt a pit of rage pooling in her chest, cheeks hot with anger. "As I said, that is absolutely ridiculous. My name is Rita, and his is Will. Obviously no affiliation with the Teen Titans whatsoever. I'm sure they have more important things to worry about than filing papers or raising a child."

"Uh huh." Al smirked and crossed his arms. "Well, you're not a very good liar."

"And what proof do you have?"

His smile faltered a bit. "Yeah well that's what I'm working on. You just sit tight, Princess, I'll figure it out." Crossing his feet, he did a quick spin out of the break room, looking defiant.

Raven frowned, staring down at her belly. Well that's not good. As to not be heard, she whispered with the tiniest breath, "Azerath metrion zinthos."

Al's belt buckle burst from his waist, his slacks falling right underneath his butt as he made his way down the hall. He was caught by surprise and tripped between a row of cubicles, the men and women who occupied them laughing as he struggled to regain his balance. Hiking the pants back up around his hips, he fixed Raven with a menacing glare from across the room, to which she just smirked and turned away, focusing yet again on finding something for lunch. So long as this weirdo had no evidence, she had nothing to worry about.


Raven tapped her fingers apprehensively against her leg as she waited for the bus. Fortunately, the stop was empty, so she had a chance to call her friend at Titans East before it got too late in the evening. With Garfield working nights, he had to leave for work before Raven was done at her office, so she was forced to use public transportation to get home. As luck would have it, the only route that she could easily walk to went all around town, and it would be about an hour before she was dropped off close enough to her apartment.

She scrolled through her contacts to find her former Titan friend, holding her breath before hitting the call key, the sun beginning to set behind her. The phone rang, and rang, and rang. Thinking no one was going to answer, she was about to hang up when-

"Hello?" Karen's voice lilted through from the other end. "Is this who I think it is?"

"Hey Karen," Raven mumbled with a smile, embarrassed.

"Girl, I don't know what you did, but Robin is mad as all hell at you right now..."

"I know, I figured he still would be. Hey, listen, can I ask you a favor?"


It wasn't until after 4am that Garfield got home, yawning as he pulled into his apartment's assigned parking spot. He closed the door to his beat up car, letting out a sigh. These late night shifts were really starting to get to him, but he knew it was worth it. Mainly as a source of income for his soon-to-be-born demon child, and second, to keep under the radar. He knew the Titans had been looking for them right after they left, but he wasn't so sure they will still searching after he and Raven ditched the T-Car. He wondered if his former teammates gave up on finding them once they located the vehicle.

Stumbling up the stairs, Garfield fished his keys out of his jean pocket, feeling for the doorknob in the dark. As he made his way inside, he remembered back to the days where he would enter the Tower late at night, typically after a night out drinking with Cyborg, or spending the entire day out on the water with Robin. Man, did he miss those guys.

Garfield used to be a completely different person, spending nearly all of his time playing a wide array of video games. He had a pretty solid routine; eat, sleep, drink, play, fight the occasional villain. This new way of life was very different and unusual to him, but he's been trying his best to adjust. Not only is it helping him grow as a person, but it's for Raven. He would do everything in his power to set up a nice life for her and their child outside of the Titans.

He opened the door to the bedroom, expecting to see his girlfriend sound asleep in their full sized bed. To his confusion, no one was home, and the bed was empty. Bewildered, he slipped off his jacket, glancing around the room. He then noticed a folded piece of paper sitting on the dresser, so he gingerly picked it up. It was a note.

Garfield, I connected with Karen, she's willing to help us out. Because of the distance, I'll be gone for a couple of days. Don't worry about me, I can take care of myself. I'll see you soon. I love you and stuff.

Raven

The changeling sunk down into his mattress, sliding the rings off his fingers. The glint they usually carried when activated faltered as he set them on the table to his left. In a small flash of light, Garfield looked like his normal self. Though after holding up this charade for so long, he almost didn't recognize his green body. It was starting to become a foreign look to him, and he nearly felt more comfortable going by normal-guy Will. He had been so excited to explore this side of life, but with each passing day, he disliked it more and more.

With yet another sigh, he fell back into the pillows, resentful of his former teammates for making them feel as though they had to get out. He wished they never had to leave the Tower, or their true identities, behind. He hated living in this giant, illusional bubble, and every day he wished harder for that baby to come. Robin wouldn't say no to having a cute little green baby in the Tower, right? He wouldn't be able to resist the chubby cheeks. That's what Garfield hoped for, anyway.

He knew that Raven's refusal to go back to the Tower would still stand, even with the baby born. But his longing to be Beast Boy again was stronger than her repulsion to the team, at least he hoped it was. To be a hero again, to have a purpose more than just do laps of work around a warehouse… Surely Garfield could be a father and a Teen Titan. Even though it made him happy to provide for Raven and their future child, he hoped that one day he could return to that life, even just for a few days.


Raven stepped out of the car she'd been riding in for a good amount of time. After abandoning the Tower back in California, they had driven the T-Car as far as they could before completely running out of gas, picking up their beater car when they reached that location. After discarding their former team's vehicle somewhere in New Mexico, they drove their new car up into Colorado, residing there ever since.

Titans East, unfortunately, was located in the heart of New York. Not having used her ability to fly in some while, Raven shakily flew through the outskirts of a few states, traveling faster than she would have by car or bus. She had been surprised with how easily she was able to keep herself hidden in the sky, as most people these days were stuck looking down at their smartphones. She was proud of how far she made it, though she was completely spent and exhausted once she landed. Arriving in New York, Karen had arranged for a car to pick Raven up, so she wouldn't have to travel alone through the dense parts of the city.

Roy, also known as Speedy, had picked her up at the edge of town, offering her a lift to Titans East. Raven greatly appreciated the favor, as she was sure it wasn't a usual thing to sneak former Titans into a headquarters. But Karen was more than happy to see her friends when they entered the Tower.

"Rae-Rae, am I happy to see you-and what is this?!" The black and yellow-striped Titan known as the infamous Bumblebee rushed over to rest her hands on the empath's belly.

Raven flinched back the smallest bit from being touched, but she had since grown used to random people groping her stomach.

"Look at how big you are, girl!" Karen smiled so wide it seemed as if her cheeks could pop.

Delicately, Raven pried Karen's fingers off her protruding midsection and mustered up a smile. Though she was happy to see some familiar faces, she was tired from the flight, drive, and well, just being pregnant. "Yes hello, lovely to see you. Let's do the thing now."

"What thing would that be?" Aqualad stepped out from around the corner, drying his long, dark mane with a teal green towel. It looked as though he had gone for a quick swim.

With a streak of light and a trail of sparks, Mas and Menos appeared, jabbering about in Spanish until Karen hushed them.

"Ella está teniendo un bebé!" squealed Menos.

Mas nodded excitedly and stared at Raven in awe. "¡Sí, ella es! Oh, qué maravilloso!"

"¿Cree que será más como madre o padre?"

"Difícil de decir. Con suerte más como padre!"

"Sí, sí, eso sería mucho más fácil."

Raven began to grow irritated. The excitement of everyone around her was started to pound into her skull like a mallet, breaking down the barriers she's so careful to put up in her mind. Being an empath certainly had its advantages, but it also comes with a price. Her brain started to throb as the emotions coming toward her cut through her mental walls like butter.

"Okay, okay, let's give Raven a chance to rest." Karen grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the main room, away from the chattering boys. Knowing Raven well enough to not have to ask, she kept quiet as she led the pregnant Titan through several different corridors, into a large, bright room that held their medical supplies. There were a few hospital-grade beds, heart monitors, respirators, vaccines, you name it. Among these things, was an ultrasound machine. Typically its use was checking for internal injuries, but it had another job today.

"Thank you for doing this," Raven murmured as she lay back on one of the tables, squinting at the fluorescent light overhead.

"Of course, sugar." Karen flipped on the machine and looked around for the little bundle of joy on the monitor, smiling as she went.

"Everything's there, I'm guessing? Two legs, two arms, ten toes and fingers?"

"Oh yes, everything looks perfect. He does have a tail, though."

Raven's face flushed and her eyes snapped over to the screen. "What, really?!" Surely, she wasn't sure what she expected, mixing demon DNA with that of a mutant, but she definitely didn't think-

Karen laughed, it lilting throughout the quiet room. "No silly, no tail, I'm just messing with you. Everything looks good. Appears as though he has a bigger brain than his father, though."

Raven let out a sigh of relief, followed by a chuckle. "Well that's not hard to believe." Then what her friend had said actually hit her. "Wait...you said...he?"

Grinning, Karen nodded back at her.

Suddenly Raven's heart began to overflow with copious amounts of joy. She imagined a sweet, tiny version of Garfield that would need constant chasing around. She wondered what abilities and powers this amazing child of hers would be cursed with. Would he have his father's dark green complexion, or have that of a dull, pale look? So many questions raced through her mind at once, but she didn't feel overwhelmed. For the first time in a long while, she felt nothing but happiness.

Unfortunately, it didn't last long. The lovely spell of bliss was broken when a huge crash occurred right outside the room.

Raven bolted upright from the bed, wincing, as she had moved too fast. "What the hell was that?!"

Karen's eyes darted around the room, the face that had been smiling not one minute ago, suddenly fierce with energy. "You stay right here." Her wings kicked into hypergear, and she zipped over to the door, unsheathing her electric stingers. With a quick look or reassurance back at Raven, she kicked the door down with the thick heel of her long, black boot, holding her weapons out in front of her as she stepped around the corner.

Raven wasn't sure if she should run, hide, help, or…

Mas and Menos suddenly appeared at her side, leaving a trail of sparks behind them. "¡Vamos, vamos! Es una emboscada!" they shrieked in unison, tugging at her to move from two different directions.

Not knowing the tiniest bit of spanish, Raven took this to mean she needed to help her friends. Lifting herself out of the bed, she flew to the doorway and peered around the corner, reaching out with her mind to the closest, hardest thing she could find. Hearing footsteps approach the door, she clenched her fist and held her newly-found weapon in a tight ball of telekinetic energy. More crashing and banging… Tufts of smoke… She was preparing herself to fight, when suddenly-

"Ah!" It felt as though a hot knife pierced her stomach, and Raven dropped to the ground from four feet above the ground.

Menos rushed to her side and clutched her arm. "¿Estás bien? ¿Que está pasando?"

"I don't..." The pain got more intense as Raven tried to speak, so she held her breath until she could relax for the smallest moment. All the while, more crashing and ticking was happening outside the door.

"Tenemos que salir de aquí!" Mas began to pull at his brother, who was still tugging at Raven in an effort to try and help her.

Nearly blinding, two flashes of green light filled the room, their energy bursting against the brothers, sending them flying backwards into the medical equipment. A large shadow appeared in the cloud of smoke that was billowing in through the doorway.

Raven shakily stood, the pain subsiding a bit as she let rage kick in. Her face grew fiery and she knew she had the appearance of a demon at that moment. The fury she had towards whoever was hurting her allies made it more than necessary. "Leave them alone!" With a jerk of her body, she threw her fists downward, her powers reaching through the ceiling tiles to grab onto the pipes and layers between floors, willing them to fall onto the unknown enemy.

She couldn't even tell if that did anything. As is came crashing down around her, another searing, stabbing pain hit her torso, so bad that it made her knees buckle. Willing herself to stay standing upright, her rage began to falter, and now it was replaced by a terrifying bout of fear. The rubble stopped right around her feet, and the dust slowly began to settle, but the shadow still lurked only a few feet away from her, unrecognizable. "Show yourself!" the empath screamed.

That burst of energy from her caused a bit more overhead debris to fall, a large chunk of material clunking her right on top of her skull. Knees giving out, she fell to the floor, hands shakily holding her up as she began to feel woozy, on top of this awful, awful pain she was experiencing.

"Well now..." The shadow finally had a voice, and it appeared to come a bit closer as Raven slowly blacked out. "Isn't this timing just wonderful?"


As always, grammatical errors being pointed out is always greatly appreciated. My writing is very similar to how I speak...if I have a cool idea or get excited, my mouth starts running so quickly that I mess up words and my life and yeah.