Chapter 8

Raven's POV

I languidly opened my eyes. Everything that had happened yesterday, or whatever day I had fainted, zoomed though my mind. Loki's gift, the events on the roof – everything. I felt Loki's arm tightened around my torso as I gently tried to get out of bed.

"And where do you think you are wondering to?" Loki murmured as he pulled me into the internment of his arms.

"I need to meditate." I monotonously replied as I turned in his embrace. It made my heart break having to use that tone with him but since our arrival overstimulation of my emotions had already caused some damage to the tower. I could feel his mind probing into mine looking for answers to the many questions that I could see reflecting on his eyes.

I'm not going to be able to evince my emotions like I could in Asgard.

I could not utter those words for the trepidation that it would make our situation even more real than it already was. I had closed my eyes not wanting to show Loki how weak I was in my own world. Unexpectedly, a pair of lips decided to crash onto my own. The action startled me out of my daze and made me open my eyes. I could only see Loki; the love of my life. My body stiffened for a few moments waiting for the tell-tale signs that I needed to control my emotions. When they failed to come, I relaxed and melted into Loki's kiss; putting everything I felt for him into it.

"I still need to meditate." I finally said after we parted for air. I got up and noticed my cloak lying on the back of a chair.

"Hurry back." He said as I neared the door. "I would like to take a shower and I refrain from taking one without you." Our actions in our last shower flew through my mind and made my pale cheeks burn crimson. I heard something outside the door explode and I walked down a semi illuminated hallway with Loki's laughter echoing off the walls.

RxL RxL

Although I knew it was early, I expected Robin to look for me in the places I frequented before my parting. That took the roof and my room out of the question for mediating places. As I aimlessly walked the halls, I ended in the garage; the perfect place to meditate when no one was around. I could see Cyborg's baby in the middle of the room, modified and remodeled for the four years I was away. Next to the table with copious tools on it was a chair – my chair, which Cyborg had put there after I had aided him with the reconstruction of his car.

I passed the car as I made my way to my chair. I settled myself and relaxed for what I planned to be a long meditation session.

Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath Metrion Zinthos.

"No one has sat on that chair since you left." I heard Cyborg comment from the doorway.

"I didn't leave." I responded. "How did you know I was here?"

"I've learned from my mistakes, Rae. My baby has heat detectors so it will not get stolen again." He said as he neared his baby. "And that little green bean gets too close for comfort sometimes." He claimed facetiously.

"Well what do you expect from Beast Boy?" The smile that was blooming on his face suddenly fell and the atmosphere changed.

"It's . . . it's not Beast Boy anymore, he goes by Changeling now." Pain seemed to swim in his eyes. "We've changed so much in the last four years you were away. Robin is Nightwing now. So much has happened." He sighed and shook his head. "I mean look at you," He motioned to me. "You're not the little dark girl that used to be my little sister. Now you're a married woman but that does not change the fact that you're still my little sister." He leaned on his car and closed his eyes. The moment he leaned against it, I knew this was serious. Cyborg would never compromise the state of perfection that was his baby's paint job. I got up from the chair and hugged him.

From the distance I could hear pans and pots being slammed against a hard surface and each other. I looked up at Cyborg and we both knew this could only mean one thing. Beast Boy or Starfire were up and attempting to start the day with the breaking of the fast as Starfire eloquently put it.

"Okay well, I better go try and salvage the kitchen." He turned as soon as he was on the doorway. "Coming?"

"I need to go wake up Loki." I said as I nodded.

"Rae?" I hummed. "I only have one question." I motioned for him to continue. "Does he make you happy?" I stopped walking and turned to look at him.

"Immensely." Something I said or done must have changed his view of things cause the moment I proclaimed that he smiled.

"Good, then I approve. Now go get green boy down for a hearty, meat-filled breakfast, a la Cyborg style." He said as he gently pushed me down the hallway. As soon as the door to the kitchen opened, I heard the start of Cyborg and Beast Boy's famous meat-tofu debacle; things had not changed as much as they seemed.

RxL RxL RxL RxL

Third Person POV

Even though Raven did not notice or realize the way her visage transformed when talking about Loki, Cyborg definitively did. He saw the love she held for the man and the happiness radiated from her when she thought about him. Cyborg would do anything to keep that smile on her face, even if it strained the team.

AN: I apologize for the time I have been away. The last two weeks I have been taking AP exams and if you know what they are then you should know why I have been away and if you do not know then I will not plague your mind with the thought of exams. I will keep updating this story so I am sorry if I made anybody worry, I just did not let myself get on fanfiction because I would not have gotten anything done if I did. I know this chapter is short and I am sorry but I will make up for it with quicker updates, I promise. Thank you for everyone that reviews, favors and alerts this story.

P.S. My friend made a drawing of Loki and Raven and it is FABULOUS! It will be the picture for this story soon. It is sooooo pretty.