Disclaimer: If the Teen Titans were mine, life would be good. Butlife is not good. See the connection, there?

A/N: I hope you like the next chapter!

TT

The next few days dragged on insufferably. Robin was now growing even more worried for their lost comrade and ordered overtime searching until he (or at least a clue to his whereabouts) was found. Each of the Titans was downtrodden over his disappearance, and each was showing it in their own way. Starfire had been much more quiet since the previous Sunday (It was now Saturday), and often drifted into her own thoughts while staring out the window. Cyborg, too, had been much more quiet, but also lost zest for things he once loved to do, like fixing up his car or beating the high score on the video games. Robin seemed to be taking it worst of all, though he would not show it. The emotional damage was certainly doing something to him, though he was too caught up in his own pride to admit it.

And last, but certainly not least, Raven. She was just like Robin; she did not show the emotional pain of losing someone close, if she could even call Beast Boy close. But, either way, her demeanor did not change; she constantly traveled, expressionless, through the halls, watching the other Titans but never saying a word. Most of the time she locked herself in her room, but when she did venture out nothing changed.

Raven traced circles on her midnight blue silk bedsheets, sighing. Everything was useless at this point. Raven had tried to locate him with a mental placement method, but that fell through. It just seemed to fizzle out. She tried sweeping the city with her soul self, but again the connection fizzled out. Raven didn't know if she could be of any help.

Chewing her bottom lip softly, she slipped silently as a ghost off of her bed, and without bothering to fasten her famed cloak about her shoulders, glided out the door. It had been a long week, and she was about ready to pass out, but not before one more visit to a place she had been going often.

Her fingers traveled over the keypad and punched in the access code to his room. With a slight groan the door slid open and revealed a dark room already coated with a barely noticeable layer of dust. Her delicate gray fingers skimmed over his desk as she maneuvered her way around piles of clothes and other paraphernalia. She looked about the room, to the bunk bed tucked in the corner, the closet tucked in the other, the dresser straight ahead, and various other stands littering the room. It was a while since she had seen this room.

"Too long, eh?" she asked herself with a hollow chuckle. "Ah, brings the memories back." She fell into his couch and found that it already had the print of his rear-end. She shifted until she got comfortable and then rested for a little bit. "Beast Boy. Annoying little twit," she spoke to no one in particular.

She stood and walked towards the window, giving it one great push and letting it slide open. She watched the sun reflect the beautiful colors of the sunset. The wind seemed to whisper her name as she closed her eyes and let the sensational feeling wipe over her. "Why do I care so much if you're gone? Good riddance," she was trying to convince no one but herself. "But a part of me realizes that you might be out there, cold, alone, hurt, or worse. I could never handle that. There's been too much drama in my life. I couldn't handle you being hurt too."

Beast Boy, though he had been an immature fifteen-year old, had grown. He was now almost seventeen, a towering green animorph with sparkling emerald eyes and a shaggy head of hair to match, with his trademark fang and pointed ears. His boyish charm still remained, though held more of a manly air as he evolved into a mature adult. As well, he had become a bit more intellectual since he was fifteen. Not much, but enough for Raven to notice him as maybe a bit more than a friend.

I mean, come on, the kid now WILLINGLY read books that were not classified as graphic novels and actually understood words more than three syllables long. Not to mention he was hot. What normal seventeen-year old girl WOULDN'T be attracted to such a package?

Even though Raven was not normal, she was still a girl-neigh-woman. She noticed the opposite sex. Maybe sometimes more than necessary. And, as much as she hated to admit it, Beast Boy was a member of the opposite sex. A rather attractive and borderline intelligent member of the opposite sex.

Raven smirked to herself. "Loser," she mumbled as she stared at a picture of him driving in Cyborg's back-up car. He was the only other Titan that drove a car; Starfire didn't drive, Robin drove his R-Cycle, Cyborg drove his T-Car, and Raven-

Ok, maybe I shouldn't have gone there.

You see, Raven failed her driving test six times. After the sixth time, she just decided to give up all together. She was positive the test was jinxed anyways. The stupid instructor made a recurring comment about her road rage. So, if Raven needed transportation, she would turn to Cyborg. And if Cyborg was not available, she had no other choice but turn to Beast Boy, or fly. And sometimes flying was NOT an option.

Trust me; sometimes being in a car with Beast Boy was a worse fate than death. He was a superb driver, and he never made any slip-ups or mistakes (which Raven found very illogical, and in many instances, questioned his ability), but Raven could not take the awkward silences. He often cracked a joke or two, and then just left it to pure silence. Sometimes it was fine, for he would turn up the stereo and let Raven pick a station. By now, he knew her favorite song to come over the radio was 'Lying is the Most Fun a Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Pants Off' by Panic! At the Disco. He actually bothered to make a mix CD of Panic! At the Disco for her. It wouldn't surprise her if he knew all the words to all their songs because of her.

But Raven was getting off track again. She always managed to do that when thinking of her fellow platonic teammate. Platonic. Beast Boy is platonic. She reminded herself of this over and over, smiling softly for she knew she was lying. She would never be able to look someone straight in the eye and clearly say, "Not once have I ever or will I ever even consider having feelings for the green little fluff-ball I call a teammate".

All girls, even Raven, were allowed to be hormone-driven and shallow at atleast one point in there life, right? Raven stepped over a small pile of clothes towards his closet. That was another thing; he was a neater person. Well, not really, Robin just yelled at him that the stench of his room was killing all the Titans, so Beast Boy tended to clean up his room more often (and he actually did a good job!). He was still messy as ever, though.

Raven slid open one of the mirrored doors to his closet and peered inside the walk-in to see it was rather neat (for Beast Boy). There were boxes on the top shelf and his shirts and pants and uniforms were all semi-organized on their racks. There was a wire shoe rack below his clothes that held a few pairs of sneakers, some of his boots, a pair of sport sandals, and a pair of slippers.

Raven chewed her lip nervously. She had no idea why she was even doing this. Why did it matter? Why did she bother?

She walked out and closed the doors back up, walking over to his desk for one last look about before she would retire to bed and sleep until the next morning, when they would be on patrol again. Her fingers traveled over the empty part of the desk where his notebook computer normally lay. He must've taken it with him on the drive, but Raven had no idea why he would do that.

Her hands traveled over papers skewed across the desk and she cleared a few papers to reveal a large emerald box. She cocked her head as if questioning the box. It was thin, somewhat flat, and long, as if it held a piece of jewelry. Raven curiously used both of her delicate hands to open up the lid and dispose of it somewhere on the desk. She didn't pay attention as to where.

Her violet eyes rested up an ornate silver necklace that was made up of beautiful chain links, with Azarathian scripture upon it. In the center, there was an octagonal deep violet gem, that reflected light and shone beautifully. Raven could see her awed expression against the gem. With delicacy, Raven picked up the necklace and awed at it. It was the revered Amulet of Azar. Raven noticed a white piece of paper had been under the necklace and softly set it down to retrieve the folded note, unfolded it, and read.

Raven,

I was browsing a book store for something new to read (imagine, ME, reading! I guess I got bored with all the video games in the tower) and I saw a book about ancient other-worldly cultures. One was Azarathian. I read about the myth of this gem, and about how whatever Azarathian wears it has the ability to feel as long as they have it, having been granted special powers by the great Azar. I enclosed the passage if you'd like to read it. Well, I thought, y'know, it would help you to 'just live'. I hope you like it.

Love,

Garfield (Beast Boy)

Raven's eyes nearly bugged out of her skull. Just when she thought she had him figured out, he went and did something like this. Something so completely uncharacteristic, she didn't even know what to say. Instead of saying anything, she slipped the necklace onto her neck and clasped it. The gem glowed silver for a second, before returning to the normal deep amethyst.

"It's beautiful," she breathed, a smile cracking her long-emotionless face. And an unusual feeling was sweeping through her body. Could it be-happiness?

Raven sighed and felt hot tears of anger and sadness slipping down her ashen cheeks. She had screwed it all up. She had this wonderful boy right in front of her the whole time, and she chickens out before admitting her feelings, and now he may be gone forever. And Beast Boy often complimented her for her smarts.

Suddenly, making Raven jump, his alarm clock went off like it does every night at six (for dinner, of course), and the short piece of a song played before Raven could cross the room and shut it off. It flowed softly out of the lips of a female duo and through Raven's ears, soothing her soul; "I over thought, I locked up my heart, yeah, there you stood". It could describe Raven's feelings perfectly right now. Funny a song could do that when even she couldn't.

So feelings did get in the way.

Well, there was no use moping about it now. Raven made sure the passage was in the box before she lightly placed the note back in, closed it up, and picked it up to press it against her chest. With an air of semi-confidence, she walked out of his door, hoping he would return soon.

Raven had quite the thanks to give to someone.

TT