A/N: Yet again, thanks so much to all who have reviewed! Here's the new chapter for yah. More cuteness! You may interpret how you wish. Also, Merry Christmas, !

xxxx

"Are you telling me," Robin said slowly. "That the mirror is...is a black hole?"

"Well, when you put it like that, it seems a little over the top..." The grey Raven whispered back. She inched away from him, as if afraid of his reaction. They were still sitting side-by-side at the door of the cafe.

"It's going to suck the city – and then the rest of the world – into nothingness. That sounds like a black hole to me."

She backed away even further. "Well, Nevermore will eventually replace the world. So it's not all bad..."

"Raven, it is bad! If we don't fix that mirror of yours in time, everyone...you, me, the Titans...everyone in the world...they're going to die."

"You won't die!" Raven blurted. "You'll be sucked into an alternate dimension of utter emptiness."

Robin grimaced at her. "That makes death sound a lot nicer."

"Sorry..."

"Raven," Robin sighed. "What did I tell you about saying sorry all the time? You haven't done anything wrong."

"I'm so-I mean...okay." She began twiddling her thumbs again.

"So, do you know how long we have?"

"Not really, but another side of me might know."

Robin punched his fist into his other hand. "Of course! The yellow version of you. She's the intelligent one. Is there anything else I should know?"

"Umm...well..." Raven was shuffling her feet nervously. "I know where another piece is. Of the mirror, I mean."

"Excellent." Robin stood up instantly and tightened his belt. Raven sighed, but before she could begin to get up, two gloved hands appeared in front of her face. Robin was reaching down to help her up.

"Oh...thank you..." she said shyly, and took his hands. Once up, she indicated to the rear of the cafe and began walking. Robin followed her, clutching the small piece of glass in his left hand.

xxxx

Beast Boy was still turning the past over and over in his head. Should he have done this? Should he have said that? Maybe he should have...it might have gone differently. Raven wouldn't be in trouble; Raven would be okay.

The yellow Raven's words had got him thinking. If she felt so terrible about the mirror and Nevermore, did the others? Did the one, true Raven? Did she feel bad all the time? Maybe she was hiding all her pain, not wanting them to know...afraid to ask for help. Beast Boy cursed himself for being such a bad friend – she should be able to trust him enough to ask for help, and she didn't...maybe she really did still think he hated her.

He was in the library. It was closed, of course, but sneaking into such a low-security facility was a cinch for a shapeshifter. Raven liked books, so maybe he could find one of her personalities here. Perhaps she had a "boring" side, or a "quiet" side...did they count as personalities? He didn't know, but was sure that this was a good place to look.

Beast Boy stopped by the tall, lancet-shaped window that overlooked the main street, and peered through it. The city was bathed in the red glow of the sky, with a river of what looked like living shadows creeping ever so slowly across the ground, eating away at the city like a giant, demonic monster. The Titans were almost used to the idea of the city being "swallowed" by something or other, but it wasn't usually something that came from one of their own minds.

"I'll save you Raven," he said. "I promise. I'll fix that mirror and I'll get you back."

He suddenly heard a thud from behind him, and whirled around, tiger claws popping out of his fingers. No one was there, but he heard someone breathing. In an instant, he transformed into a terrier and crept underneath a bookshelf, sniffing. However, he didn't need to. The intruder began to chuckle.

"Aww, you're kind of cute when you're all fluffy like that."

It was Raven's voice, but it couldn't be her speaking. "YIKE-OW!" Beast Boy was so shocked that he transformed back into himself while he was still under the bookshelf, causing himself to be squashed. The quiet laughter came again. It was a lovely sound; made more beautiful by the fact that it was very rarely heard.

Beast Boy squeezed himself out from under the bookshelf with a small pop and sat on the carpet, rubbing his head. "Oww..." he groaned. The person who had laughed squatted beside him and joined in, petting his hair like a little kid. He looked to her, and grinned.

"I knew I'd find you here!"

Raven, this time, was wearing a deep violet cloak, but she'd swept it around her shoulders like a large, floppy scarf instead of letting it drape down her body. It made her look taller, and a little older. Raven was never really into fashion very much, and always wore her cloak the same way, so Beast Boy couldn't help but admire the way this Raven looked. She smiled back at him, neglecting to show her teeth like he did. "I wasn't actually here, but I heard you creeping around," she said.

"Wait, what?"

"I was over there," Raven pointed to her left. "In the children's section."

"Oh okay," Beast Boy blinked, and then understood what she'd said. "Wait, the children's section?"

"Yes, is that bad?"

"No," Beast Boy stood up, Raven following suit. "It's just that...you never read books with pictures. Do you read children's books every time you come here?"

She smiled, eyes glowing with silent laughter. "No. I've only begun to read in that section quite recently. Hey, would you like to come?" To his immense surprise, she took his hand. She began to walk off, and he barely noticed the tugging, completely dumbfounded at this small, yet extremely uncharacteristic gesture. In fact, he stared at their connected hands until they'd reached the kids' corner.

She turned to him. "Are you okay, Beast Boy?"

"Y-yea, I...I mean...it's just that I thought...I thought you hated touching people and stuff."

"That's not true," she replied. "I guess it's just that I'm too shy."

"Oh...right." Beast Boy thought back to the day he'd met Raven's shyer side – she'd been strange too, but somehow sadder. He watched as the purple Raven flopped down onto a huge cushion, snuggling into the hole she created. She then proceeded to pat the space beside her, inviting him to sit down beside her. He complied, but slowly, fighting an instinct that told him she'd punch him or something if he sat anywhere near her.

"Raven," he began, but had to stop as she picked up a tall picture book, titled "Animals: A-Z" and sat it on her lap. She opened the book to the first page, and smiled at him before beginning.

"A is for ant," she read. "Small but strong."

It was like he was sitting with a big sister, reading the kids' picture book together. It was probably the only time Beast Boy had ever felt truly comfortable with Raven. Ignoring the crisis at hand and the worries he'd been stressing over, he read along with the purple Raven.

"G is for gorilla. King of the Jungle."

"H is for hedgehog. Watch out for spikes!"

"I is for iguana. Slippery little thing."

Ten minutes, twenty minutes...the time just flew. Beast Boy found himself laughing along with Raven, not even worrying over why or how. He was just so glad to finally be accepted by her. After they'd been through three picture books, however, Raven was the one who finally called him to attention.

"Are you going to ask for the shard?" she asked casually, reaching for a fourth book.

He blinked. "Oh! I...I totally forgot...sorry, I...I mean, yea...can I have it?" he finished lamely.

"Of course you can, Beast Boy." She handed a small piece of glass to him. He took it and stowed it in a pouch on his belt. Raven continued, "You seem nervous."

"Sorry I...it's just that you...you're not...er, normal. I mean, you're acting strange...er, I mean...argh!" Beast Boy dropped his head into his hands and moaned softly. Idiot! Why couldn't he speak properly! If Raven was going to be nice to him, he should be just as nice back, instead of acting like a total idiot.

"Don't be angry at yourself, Beast Boy," Raven put the book down and sat a little closer to the changeling. "I know you find it strange how I am behaving. However, even though I normally behave so differently, this is what I truly feel. I do want to be your friend, Beast Boy, and I do care about you."

Beast Boy shook his head in disbelief. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "I swear, you're the strangest Raven I've ever met. Even more than the happy one."

"You don't believe me?"

"No, I do...kind of. It's just so hard, because you're always...you know..." Beast Boy trailed off, wondering if he'd offend her.

"We are friends, are we not?"

"Yea...we're best friends."

"Well, this is what best friends do, Beast Boy." And with that, she opened her arms and pulled him close, into a tight, warm hug.

The earth stopped spinning...and turned backwards. Beast Boy held his breath, utterly shocked. A hug. Raven was giving him a hug. Raven never hugged. Never.

Nevertheless, Beast Boy felt extremely happy. He finally felt accepted by her, like he mattered to her. She didn't hate him, and she knew he didn't hate her. She just found it hard to express what she felt...probably because she feared her powers. He slowly wrapped his own arms around her and hugged her back, the world suddenly a lighter a place.

They broke apart, and she smiled sincerely at him. "See?" she said. "Friends."

"You're the nice Raven," Beast Boy commented, smiling back. "I wondered if there was going to be one."

"I am nice, Beast Boy, but I cannot express everything I feel. You know that. Since I am split apart right now, my powers will not manifest if I feel emotion."

"So when you're back to normal, you're going to be mean to me again?"

"Well, maybe just a little bit nicer," she teased. "But you had better go, now. Get that piece back to the mirror."

"Okay. Thanks, Raven...for...y'know..." Beast Boy was standing now, but didn't want to leave. He'd finally met a compassionate Raven, and now he had to bring the real Raven back. Was she going to be as nice as this one? She waved to him, and he waved back, beginning to walk off.

"Oh, Beast Boy?"

He turned instantly, almost tripping over himself. "Yea?"

"Don't tell the others. You know, that I hugged you. Please?"

He laughed. "Sure Raven, but don't expect me to forget it."

xxxx

A/N: Okay, I apologise. I couldn't think of a good way to write in the compassionate Raven without having the cuteness a little over-the-top. Hope you enjoyed! Next chapter up soon...