The sound of laughter echoed in the common room as the elevator doors swished open, revealing a happy pair of Titans, who were laden with dozens of shopping bags from different stores and boutiques. Starfire and Rachel placed their treasures on the table. These included: shoes, jeans, pants, a few dresses, blouses, a few purses, and all sorts of accessories.

Robin was in the kitchen, unloading the dishwasher as they entered. He grinned when he saw them.

"Did you leave anything for the other shoppers?" He asked in a playful voice.

"Oh Robin, you think you are the funny." Starfire harrumphed.

"Well, you do like to shop, Star. It's a good thing Galfore sends you a generous allowance each month, because I can't afford it.."

Rachel blushed. "Actually, most of this stuff is mine."

Robin nodded in understanding.

"Well, you sure did get a lot. Starfire once took Raven to the mall, and all she bought was some socks."

Robin approached the table.

"So what did you get?" He asked as his eyes focused on a particular bag, which he reached for. "You went to Victoria's Secret?" He queried in a naughty tone.

Rachel snatched the bag off of the table.

"That's not for you." She announced as her cheeks blushed bright and red.

"Ooh, so that's for Beast Boy's eyes only, huh?"

The elevator doors opened a second time. This time Raven and Beast Boy emerged from the lift.

"What's only for my eyes?" He asked with a grin on his face.

Starfire looked as if she was about to burst.

"It is glorious, Beast Boy! Rachel has purchased the slinky, sexy sleepwear, with which she will seduce you tonight."

"Starfire!" Rachel shrieked.

"Oh, forgive me, friend, did I speak out of place again? It's just that earlier you told me that Beast Boy was the green throbbing love machine, and that you wished to stimulate him even more, in order to experience the multiple ..."

Rachel looked mortified, and she covered Starfire's mouth with her dark energy, muffling the princess before she could embarrass her any further (and consigning this story to the M section). Beast Boy's jaw hit the floor and he had stars in his eyes. Raven crossed her arms.

"Are you trying to give him a heart attack, or just make him explode?" Raven chastised her clone.

Rachel ignored Raven and quickly collected her purchases. She turned to her beau.

"I'll be in our room." She announced hastily before phasing into the floor.

Robin and Raven burst out laughing.

"She sure looked embarrassed." Raven snickered.

Robin slapped the changeling on the shoulder.

"I think she's waiting for you. You'd better go catch up with her."

At first the changeling looked confused. "Oh, yeah … right … I'll …uh … see you guys later."

As the changeling ran out of the room, Raven smiled subtly. The trap was about to be sprung.

-( scene break )-

Rachel materialized in their room and dropped her bags on the floor. She could still feel her cheeks burning from the blushing as she sat down on the lower bunk.

"Starfire, when will you learn to keep your big Tamaranian mouth shut?" Rachel grumbled unhappily. "Robin's gonna think I'm some kind of floozy."

She continued to sit, sulking, her packages already forgotten. Then she saw it. Twelve of the most perfect violet roses she had ever seen. Wide eyed she stood up and approached them. Their scent was both potent and heavenly. She leaned over to smell their aroma.

"Oh, Gar … you can be so sweet." She smiled happily.

Her smile intensified as she sensed him riding up the elevator. He was oozing apprehension and concern. Well, she could take care of that.

She snatched the Victoria's Secret bag and pulled its contents out. She smiled as she admired her purchase.

"Just what the doctor ordered." She told herself.

-( scene break )-

Beast Boy cautiously entered his room. The curtains were shut and his eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. He scanned the room and saw Rachel's packages on the floor, but he didn't see her. He shrugged his shoulders as he turned to leave … until he heard her voice.

"Where are you going, my green love machine?"

Beast Boy squinted as his eyes had yet to fully adjust to the dark. Rachel was standing by the closet. He knew it was her by her aroma, as he couldn't really see her; all he could discern was her shapely silhouette.

"I didn't see you, Rach, but I was looking for you. Why is the room so dark?"

She giggled so softly that it sounded like a purr.

"I have a surprise for you."

"You do?"

"Yes, I do. Why don't you turn on the light so you can see it?"

The changeling walked back to the door and flipped on the light switch. Now that the room was illuminated, he turned back to his girlfriend.

"So what's this surprise you have for … DUDE!"

Rachel was wearing the nightgown that she had purchased earlier that day. The changeling's jaw hit the floor. He had seen Rachel in the buff already, but there was something about the "outfit" she was wearing that simply blew his mind. It highlighted her figure most exquisitely and it was completely sheer, fully revealing her feminine charms.

"Well, what do you think?" She asked seductively. "Is it me?"

The changeling gulped. "Oh yeah … it's you … wow."

Rachel slinked up to him like a cat. His eyes were all over her, as if she was a forbidden fruit. She grabbed the back of his head and pulled him into a deep and sensuous kiss. His legs suddenly felt like rubber and he almost collapsed.

"Rach … you were upset when you left the common room."

"I was." She replied as she pulled off the top part of his costume. "But I'm feeling a lot better now … so tell me, baby, do you like what you see?"

"More than life itself." He gasped.

She giggled as she pulled his pants down, leaving him just in his boxers. She ran her palm up the inside of his leg.

"Ooohhh" His voice trembled. "I don't know what got you into the mood, Rach, but whatever it was, we gotta patent it."

She continued caressing him, to the point where he was beginning to tremble.

"You silly green bean. The flowers you gave me are beautiful."

Oh crap!

"The flowers?"

She wrapped her arms around him, pressing their bodies together.

"Yes, the roses. They're beautiful, they made me feel so special."

His mind began to race. What should he tell her? He could pretend that he bought them for her, but knowing his luck, she would find out that he didn't buy them. If she found out that he lied to her, he would be in the doghouse for who knows how long, and probably never see her again in her erotic nightie. But how would she react when she learned where they actually came from?"

"Gar, are you OK? You sound like you're hyperventilating."

He locked eyes with his girl.

What do I tell her?

"Gar?"

He swallowed hard. He couldn't lie to her. He told himself that lies are what destroy relationships.

"Rach … those flowers … they're not from me."

Her eyes opened wide and the seductive smile vanished from her face.

"What? Are you saying that someone else gave those to me? Who in the world would do that?"

He began to sweat profusely.

"Uh … there not for you … they're for me."

Her face fell.

"Raven gave them to you?"

"Uh huh." He replied timidly.

"And you accepted them from her?" She growled.

He smiled sheepishly. "Well, they were pretty nice. She said that they were an apology, for the way she's treated me over the years."

"Oh, and you believe that?"

"Well … why shouldn't I? She's been my friend for years. Raven wouldn't lie."

Rachel harrumphed. "Oh, I see. You've known her for years, while I'm just the new girl on the block, the girl who's given herself to you, body and soul!"

"Rach, why are you saying this? You know I love you."

"And what about Raven? Do you love her too?"

"Of course I do, but not the way …"

"Get out!" She howled at him. "Get the Trigon out of here!"

"But Rach …"

"Get out before I hurt you." She shrieked as she threw his clothes at him.

Rachel regretted the words as soon as spoke them. She saw the fear in his eyes as he slowly backed away.

"I'm sorry, Rach, I really am." He mumbled as he dashed out of the room, the door slamming shut behind him.

Using her dark energy, she picked up the vase and smashed it against the wall.

-( scene break )-

Raven was standing in the hallway, hiding in the shadows near Beast Boy's room and eavesdropping on the lover's quarrel as she sipped on a mug of herbal tea.

She's reacting just as I expected, which isn't surprising … it's how I would have reacted.

Beast Boy came barging out of the room. As expected. Raven felt the tsunami of negative emotions that came pouring out of the room. It had gone better than she could have hoped. She knew that Rachel would confront her later, but at the moment there was more urgent business at hand.

Raven opened a book and pretending to read it, she walked towards the changeling, on a collision course. He kept looking back at the door and didn't see her approaching. It couldn't have been more perfect.

He slammed into Raven like a runaway train, sending her tea and book flying; she fell backward, landing on her butt. Beast Boy landed on her and wound up lying on top of his friend. Raven moaned, and it wasn't a fake moan either. Beast Boy wasn't the ropey little kid she met years before anymore. He packed a wallop.

"Rave! Are you OK? I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking."

Raven rubbed the back of her head. "Ow!"

Realizing that he was clad only in his boxers, he hastily dressed himself. He thenpicked her up bridal style.

This is better than I hoped.

"You bumped your head! I'll take you to the infirmary."

Still rubbing the back of her head, which she did actually bump pretty hard, she replied.

"That won't be necessary; I'll just go to my room and rest."

"I'll take you there." He volunteered as he scurried off to her room at the other end of the hallway.

It's much better than I hoped.

Beast Boy took Raven into her room and gently deposited her on top of her bed.

"Can I get you anything? Some aspirin? Another cup of tea?"

She shook her head.

"It's OK, Gar; I'm fine … but tell me … what happened? Why were you running down the hall like that?"

Beast Boy sat down on the edge of the bed and cradled his head in his hands as he leaned forward.

"I blew it, Rave, I blew it."

"I don't understand, what exactly did you do?"

He turned to look at her; tears were welling in his eyes.

"Rachel, I made her angry, and she threw me out. She even threatened to hurt me."

Thank you sister, you handed him to me on a silver platter.

"I'm sure that it was just a misunderstanding, Gar. Did she say why she was angry?"

He nodded.

"She saw your flowers and went crazy. I told her why you gave them to me, but … she kind of went nuts, I mean, I know you have feelings for me Rave, I do too … we've been through a lot together."

She smiled as she ran her fingers through her hair. "We have been through a lot together. Don't worry, I'll talk with her later, everything will be straightened out."

"I don't think she wants to talk to anyone right now. Dude, this blows … I got kicked out of my own room."

"You can stay with me tonight."

His eyes widened upon hearing her invitation.

"You sure that's a good idea? I mean, I could stay with Chrome Dome, he's got lots of room."

"They don't need to know that you had a fight with her. You can stay here tonight and we can keep it a secret."

Beast Boy looked at her and felt a shiver go down his spine.

"Are you sure nothing will happen if we do that?"

"Of course nothing will happen. What are you talking about?" She fibbed as she felt lust and desire course through her body. The pendant became so hot that she thought it would leave a brand on her chest. But it wasn't entirely a lie … it was still too soon to make that move.

He rubbed the back of his neck as he blushed.

"Of course, what a dumb thing to say. I'm sorry Raven; you do know that I respect you."

She leaned forward and gave him a chaste peck on lips, hiding her true desires, which raged inside her like a storm.

"I know Garfield, that's why you're such a special guy."

And soon you'll be mine.

Nearby, inside Raven's magic chest, Malchior had heard everything, the entire exchange between them. He would have warned the changeling, except that the chest had a spell that prevented sound from leaving its confines. That didn't stop the imprisoned dragon from venting.

"Raven, you fool! Can't you see what the pendant is doing to you? Sure, it relieves you from the burden of Rage, but it also saddles you with new burdens. It makes you selfish, callous and even cruel. You think that you are winning him, sweet Raven, but you are only destroying yourself in the process!"

Malchior heaved a weary sigh.

"Why am I saying this? Whatever happens to her, whatever suffering she endures because of this folly, she has earned it!"

He paused.

"So why does it bother me so much?"

-( scene break )-

So, while the Star of Eradon takes Rage away, it amplifies other negative traits. Which explains why Raven is being such a douche bag.

And now the mail bag!

titanfan45

Rachael won't take long to figure out what is going on with Raven. There's going to be some serious fallout from all of this I would think.

As Slade said in the episode "Birthmark": It has begun

GreennaveyblueRaven

Hmm instersting...wanna bet the team going to notice all those changes?

They will, but Raven is being crafty. But at some point, BB is going to see the necklace.

RobRae4Ever

One mistake in my last review, letter C should be: "Has been replaced by a clone."

Noted

SladeRavenFan

Awesome chapter, but in the end Rachel is trying to impress Beast Boy with Raven's assets. It's not fair she divulges Raven's personal thoughts, too.

That was kind of unfair of Rachel.

RobRae4Ever

The Titans should be more worried with Ravens change. I mean, if Raven is being nice is only because:

A) She has an evil dragon boyfriend;

B) The world will end;

C) She is using a mystical amulet and her life will be shortened;

D) Terra is dead.

Ok, the last still didnt happened, but she would get happy. By the way, where is Terra? Will she appear?

You know me; I always love to throw Terra into the mix, but not this time

Guest

Love the story and is it odd that i kinda prefer rachel with gar since she did bag him first and hasnt done anything wrong

I have mixed feelings about Rachel vs. Raven.

Curse you Perry the Platypus

Wow Raven that was low.

You ain't seen nothing yet!

Hairul The Nightrage Beast

Well then Raven probably would get ready to write her will then just in case the Star consumes her. Now that reminds me of Shin from Fist Of The North Star, because he loved the Kenshiro's girl's Yuria, he was willing to take her away from the latter and in the end died for the sake of love, such is the sad life of the star of Martyrdom, live and die for the one they love.

It almost seems like the pendant is possessing her

Avandra the Mary Sue Slayer

I can't say I blame Beast Boy nor anyone for that record, but right now the only one who's behaving is Rachel. Don't take me wrong, I kind of like Raven fighting back and playing dirty, but this one's going to hurt. True, Rach can't say Raven didn't warn her, but I still feel bad for her. About Raven I must say she made a difficult choice which will no doubtly come to be a heavy burden, but I understand her refusal to see Rage as a part of herself. Rage has always been a burden for her, so BB rejecting her was a trigger for her to get rid of it. Now, about BB I have to say that he's been behaving like a jerk throughout this story, so this is not a surprise. Anyway, I understand why he behaves like that, people can't control their feelings after all, I'm sure that he harbors feelings for both girls and what makes him stay with Rachel is the fact that they got together first. Had he not thought she was Raven, he probably wouldn't get to feel anything for her. And yet he loves her. Complicated, just like real life.

Yeah, poor Rachel, Raven is tricking her to lure BB away from her.

gabylokita41

Awesome loved it, rae-rae is starting to make her move to win Gar's heart back, nice loved it i already wanna see what other side effects Malchior referred to :)

It's too bad she's doing it in such an underhanded way, but like the saying goes: All is fair in love and war!

Dezarulordoftwilight

I'm mad at raven for 2 reasons

1 she is totally cheating, its like using a love portion or something I don't approve.

2 I really like bbrach yes I have named it its official, she has no right to hit on bb she said she wasn't interested.

But good chapter nonetheless.

You are the first official BBRach shipper!

Pureawsomeness123

Damn it Force! Im out of the loop for several months and you start writting amazing suspensfull stories again! ! Why cant you kill Rachel off already ;; I feel so bad for Raven, this is Through a Dark Mirror all over again! Please dont kill Raven again ;; Cant wait for chapter 19!

Welcome back! I see you still haven't forgiven me for what happened in The Gift

discb2lazy2log

No, I just don't like any Robin... Todd was the most palatable but I was bummed that he came back to life until I learned he was running as Red Hood or whatever.

What do you think of Damian Wayne? Does he work for you as Robin?

Azarune

"It's sad, someone has to lose!"

How dare you! As a great man once said. "I don't believe in a no-win scenario"

Either way, dis gonna be good but filled with possible sadness.

Was that Captain Kirk?

Dragonkyng

It makes sense Rachel would figure it out... she does know about it too.

Someone is gonna figure it out