Wow, so I'm kinda excited that I've already gotten some reviews and favorites! So, I went ahead and typed up the first chapter and I'll try and get more typed up so that I'm ahead of the game. (No excuses to not post, right?) Anyway, I'll minimally do one post a week – I'll aim for once every other day but no promises. And if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

R&R

3

Raven wasn't one for introductions, nor for going out in society and pretending like she was normal. Maybe it was due to her insecurities, or perhaps it might've been the fact she could hear every single one of their emotions screaming at her to turn around and walk away. But lately, she found herself wandering in the outskirts of town, doing her best to stay hidden beneath a slightly large black hoodie. One that smelled of the woods and a certain green creature that had long since disappeared. Raven found that, if she dared to do so, wandering alone at night helped her clear her head of everything that had happened throughout the years.

Last Christmas might've been the worst best holiday she had, had yet.

-Flash back-

"Starfire, look what we got you for Christmas!" Robin had enthusiastically approached his girlfriend of three years. Next to his feet had been Silkie and in his hands he had held a replica of Tameran. The red headed, emerald eyed alien girl had shrieked with a bright smile on her face – forgetting about the "pudding of celebration" in the process.

Cyborg had promptly – and discreetly – shoved the food into a trashcan while Starfire had been distracted and began making their Christmas dinner. Raven on the other hand had sat there on the couch, as she had been for many months now, staring blankly into a book that she pretended to be reading.

"Oh, friend Raven! Did you see what boyfriend Robin has done?!" Her ecstasy from the present had Raven's attention captivated at once. How Starfire always managed to be so happy stunned the now woman.

Raven offered her a small smile, attempting to cheer up for her teammates. And she spent the evening in their company, doing little things to help around. She had gotten Cyborg some new gear for his newest car, Robin some ancient martial arts weaponry, and for Starfire she had simply promised her a "girls night out" to which Starfire immediately began planning much to the dismay of everyone in the room.

With the snow drifting through the city, the night was seemingly peaceful. It was quiet outside, no alerts had gone off. But everyone still stayed wary in case they were to be caught off guard. It wasn't until later that night when Cyborg had approached Raven's room and rapped upon her door did things begin to slant downhill.

"What is it Cy?" Came the quiet voice from within. The door opened, revealing a half-meditating Raven sitting on her bed, legs folded and hands placed lightly on her thighs. The feelings she could grasp from Cyborg troubled her. He seemed worried, antsy, almost like he was hiding something and was scared of how she's take it.

"Well, you see Raven, I didn't really get to give you your present yet. And I wanted to deliver it to you in person." Cyborg had shifted then, placing one hand behind his head and scratching at the hair that wasn't there. He let out a nervous laugh, holding forth something for Raven. "You uh, might want to open it when you're alone."

Raven had raised one eyebrow delicately, curiosity getting the best of her when she accepted the package from him. "Thank you." She whispered quietly, watching Cyborg's shoulders instantly relax from the tension he was feeling.

"Ah, yeah! No problem! Just uh, take care!" And he had darted out of her room, probably off to go play the video games Robin had gotten him or throw away the food Starfire did manage to make.

Raven had stared down at the package for a long time. She unwrapped it quizzically. Why would Cyborg act so weird? It wasn't until she opened it up and saw the picture that she suddenly understood why she'd react badly.

A light bulb exploded. A pillow ripped to shreds.

Little droplets of water began falling on the picture Raven had in her hands, the note attached to it falling to her lap.

It took her about twenty minutes before she was able to rip her gaze away from the frame. Another ten minutes to read and process the note. At the end of the night though, she was alone. Alone in her room, clinging onto the past and clinging onto the life she used to have.

-End Flash Back-

Entering her room, Raven removed the hoodie she wore and folded it neatly on top of her desk. Her eyes gazed over the photograph next to her bed, and once more turned to the note tacked up on her wall. The note she read every single night since last Christmas.

Maybe she was torturing herself. Or maybe this was her hope, her possibility of Beastboy still existing. And if it was, she would hold onto that. Just like she still held onto his communicator each night when she was too afraid of the nightmares that would come.

And just like that night last Christmas, tonight was no different. Raven curled up in her bed, repeating those words on the wall to herself. Over and over again until they were branded within her memories.

Hey Rae,

I know you're probably pissed off at Cy and I for all of our breakfast wars, so this Christmas we wanted to do something special for you! We won't argue, at all. How does that sound? We'll even give you an entire week to yourself that way you won't have to hear us arguing back and forth! I wanted to let you know how much we appreciate everything you've done for the team. And to show you how much we care, we kinda think you deserve a break. So, we're going to give you one! Oh and don't be mad about the picture! Cy snuck it in while we weren't watching and he thought it'd be a nice touch.

Well, Merry Christmas!

Love,

BB

And like every night, Raven turned over and stared at the picture frame. She couldn't remember when that picture was taken. But she could feel the warmth emitting from it. The smile on her face, on his face, while he held her in his arms.