A/N – So my wonderful readers, I'm not exactly sure where this story is going to go. My original idea got tossed out the window when my inspiration died for those short few months. If you have any suggestions, thoughts, or really want to see something happen, send me a PM or write it in a review (I do read them all). I look forward to hearing your thoughts and opinions. This chapter might be god awful. Just as a prewarning…

R&R

3

-Within the depths of despair I hear your voice calling out my name-

Raven's lip drew between her teeth, biting down hard trying not to let her emotions get the best of her. He had just shown up out of the blue and all he could say is his name had changed? They were surrounded in darkness now, the only light shining upon them was that which emanated from the stars up above. Her chest thudded erratically and his keen ears picked up on it, that along with the nervousness that cloaked her normally stony features. The green changeling knew not what to do. On one hand, he really wanted to apologize for his absence. He wanted to set things right, to wipe away her sorrows. On the other hand, he really wanted to run. To go back into hiding.

And damn it all to hell if he didn't want to just kiss her right then and there. His arm snaked around her waist, quickly hoisting her body against his. His breath started spluttering, his eyes zoning in on hers. His descent into hell was quick, the bittersweet flavor of lavender and tea coating his lips as they crashed upon the abnormally colored pair of Raven's.

Raven's body instantly stiffened, an overwhelming bout of confusion settling in the pit of her stomach as her lips responded to his in a moment of desperation and agonizing relief. Her eyes melded close, if only for the moment, her hands drifting to his hair and grasping it in emerald tufts. Both of their breaths hitched in the back of their throats, the heat transpiring between the two enough to ward off winter's chill. His musky scent brought to her a peace of mind that he was indeed here, and then it seemed to don upon her what was truly transpiring, ripping herself from his grasp.

"I hate you." The words sounded past her lips before she could stop them. The salty water seemed to build within her eyes, gathering within the corners and slipping down her pale cheeks. The too heavily applied makeup smearing in the watery trail.

Garfield flinched. At first he had been surprised that she responded to his kiss. And then he was feeling everything she had felt. He wanted to hold onto her and never let go of her delicate figure. He wanted to keep her warmth in his arms. But now, hearing those words trail out of her lips, he couldn't prevent the sting that took place within his chest.

"I had to leave." His voice came out in a whisper, a hand gently raising to cup her cheek. He didn't even withdraw when her glare snapped in his direction. He didn't withdraw when she flinched from his touch as if he were to burn her.

When her lips parted to speak, the green one was quick to interrupt, shushing her attempts to override him and to throw even more accusations his way. One finger quickly found its way to her lips, silencing her with his pleading gaze. "I know this may be difficult for you to understand, but I had to leave. I didn't want to hurt anyone, especially the way that I have. But I was afraid of hurting you. I couldn't control what happened that night, and there's still some pieces missing. You have to believe me."

Raven felt confliction rise beneath her hooded gaze. The bitterness within her settled low and she tried not to let her emotions rise again as they had so often tonight. What was he doing to her? How could he make her feel so much after being gone for so long? She could hear the sincerity in his voice, and she could feel his desperate plea for her to forgive him hiding in his eyes, but she felt herself retracting into herself, unable to feel the trust their previous friendship had before his disappearing act.

"Don't touch me…" Her voice came out soft, almost broken sounding if that were possible for someone like her. And it killed him to hear that resolution in her voice. Her chin jerked away from his hand, her body turning away from his. And if Beastboy had ever known what the word listening meant, he still to this day never showed it.

His warm hand enclosed itself around her miniscule wrist, pulling her back towards him. And his arms wrapped around her in an embrace, his attempt to both hug her and restrain her from leaving.

"Please don't go." His words whispered within her ear sending shivers tingling up and down her spine. Words she so badly wanted to have been able to say to him all those years ago.

Raven's legs felt weak. They felt like jello, crumbling beneath her body weight. And her hands latched onto his tone arms, keeping herself in a position to stand. She wanted to blast him with her energy. She wanted to hurt him as badly as he had hurt the team. But she couldn't bring herself to do it. And that moment might have been perfect. It might have been their saving grace. The moment where her eyes caught ahold of his, the blush filling her cheeks with color. The moment when she almost leaned in to kiss him, and she could feel his muscles rippling with a primal need hidden beneath his gaze. It might have been the perfect moment for them to reconcile their past, had the gate not swung open to reveal the other three titans.

"When were you going to tell us?" Robin's voice shook with rage. And rage he had every right to feel. His emotions slipped past him, smacking against Raven's empathetic abilities like a freight train. She could feel Starfire's happiness, Cyborg's confusion and disapproval, and Robin's uncontrollable anger. She could feel it all and she could feel the room spin.

"Let me explain…" Garfield had started to say. But his voice was drifting. His arms tightening and constricting themselves around the empath's body.

In that moment, the both of them felt rather small. And Raven felt herself slipping further into his embrace, further away from the angry glares of Robin and Cyborg. Away from the teary eyed green eyed Starfire. Shying away from the possibility of their anger. Shying away from the pressure she suddenly felt building in her chest. Cringing into his form and away from it all. Away from them and into the safety of his arms.