A.N. I want to thank everyone who read the last chapter, and especially everyone who took the time to leave a review. It seems like the general consensus is that longer chapters are more appreciated, so I'll take that into account in the future. I suppose it's only fair to make the chapters a little on the lengthy side if I make you wait so long between updates, eh?

Chapter eleven of "Like It Or Not," entitled "Stumbling Block"

The villain drummed his fingers anxiously on the armrest of his chair, desirous to move along his plan and get this quick predawn meeting over with. His accomplice should have been there several minutes ago, but he was, once again, disappointingly tardy.

The underground room that currently hid him was dark and dismal as always, shadows cast by the few working light bulbs playing heavily over every surface. He had to clench his hands into fists to keep his restlessness at bay as he waited in the quiet room.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, he heard the heavy shuffle of his visitor once again. He set his teeth as the man walked unabashedly into the dimly lit room he occupied, producing a vial from his pants pocket and shaking it triumphantly as he neared.

"I got the stuff," the visitor announced with a sickeningly self-important air. "Just like ya wanted."

"Good," the first man replied darkly. "I'll admit I had my doubts." He held out his hand. His guest remained rooted to the spot for a moment, dull face doing nothing to mask his inner conflict. Although obviously reluctant to surrender his spoils of war to the man before him, the guest finally stepped forward and hesitantly placed the vial resolutely in the man's outstretched hand.

"Now we can put the next step of my plan into action," the first criminal said in satisfaction, while carefully, almost reverently tipping the vial from side to side and watching the carefully preserved blood slosh against the sides of the sealed glass tube. His own blood pounded with excitement. He could already taste the success of his entire operation. This vial, filled with the helpless lifeblood of that worthless Titan, reinforced his assurance of the complete mortality of his foe.

"I still don't see why we're going through all this trouble," the guest muttered, restating his opinion on the tired old argument. Parting with his vial, his prize, had obviously brought back his usual grumbling attitude. "You said we gotta get rid of one of the Titans. I don't see why I couldn't just take the green one down my way. Forget the blood, I should've just finished pounding the little idiot. God knows I could'a finished him off easy," he said with a very cocky, feverish grin.

The first man regarded his visitor's feral expression condescendingly. While it was easier to choose a dunce like this one as his partner, it was nearly unbearable to forever entertain his pathetic lack of appreciation for a well thought out plan. Well, what more could one expect from someone so accustomed to using brute force in lieu of tact?

"Just having one of their teammates bite the dust during a battle isn't gunna cut it," the host finally replied with a lofty sort of deviousness. "It'll hurt 'em bad, but it won't tear at them till they can't stand it no more. No, I hate those righteous little devils way too much to give 'em anything but the best." He spat on the floor forcefully and twirled the vial in his hand with a crazed expression of anticipation, as if he could hardly bear waiting any longer for his plan to proceed.

"Uh, those kids've gotten me chucked into the slammer more times than I can count," the visitor said warily. "And I hate how those perfect little do-gooders always gotta win, but what happened to you to make you wanna… crush 'em like this?"

The first man looked pensive for the briefest moment, obviously contemplating how much he should divulge to his temporary partner in crime.

"Let's just say I've got a little more in common with that Beast Boy than you'd think," he finally ground out, "And nothing will make me happier than to destroy him first and finally show his pathetic friends who really is the strongest."

"So you've got a grudge," the second man said slowly, a thickheaded smile of satisfaction growing on his face at his astute revelation.

"You don't know the half of it," the other man replied with a growl.

"So what now?"

"Now," the first man said, holding up and gently shaking the vial of Beast Boy's blood, "I ship this off to a guy in Star Labs who owes me a little favor."

"And what's gunna happen then?"

The first man's face was suddenly marred with a snarl of exasperation.

"Look, the less you know the better. I'm keepin' my end of the bargain, and you'll get your reward."

"So what am I supposed to do now?" the second man asked, his voice a sickening whine.

"Go play with your goddamn steel," the other replied. "You earned it, all six hundred pounds. Build something big. Something that could keep all the Titans occupied for a while. The bigger the better. I can arrange to get you more junk to build with if you need, so long as it pays off."

"When do I gotta have it finished by?" the second man asked suspiciously, but an eager expression of greed for the promised supplies shined through his wariness. "It takes a long time to build my robots."

"You've got a week," the first man said firmly. "And you better have it done by then," he added dangerously. "The guy who's, ah, volunteered his services over at Star Labs has been sufficiently motivated to finish within that time too."

"You're not gunna tell me what he's doing?" the visitor asked disappointedly. The first man rolled his narrowed eyes and huffed in response.

"If you get your machine together on time and the plan goes along smoothly, you'll get your information when you need it." He continued before his guest could reply. "Now go start on that robot. I can promise you that I won't take any excuses for anything but the best."

There was something about the dangerous gleam in the first man's eyes that took away the second man's desire to protest completely. He nodded and turned quickly, lumbering for the door, his otherwise slow mind furiously working over the project he had been commissioned to hastily complete. He shuddered at the thought of not coming through for the man who had roped him into this. He quickly made up his mind not to get in the way of his colleague's dead set hatred against that unlucky troop of kids, and to just do what he was told. After all, he was in this for the reward: spoils, prestige, and a jump to the top of the criminal food chain in this damned city, once those brats got what had been coming to them for so long. There was no reason to feel ashamed for what he had gotten himself into. He just kinda wished that they weren't, ya know, kids.

TT

Raven was still feeling distraught when she awoke from another long night of subpar sleep. The rest must have sufficiently cleared her head and strengthened her resolve though, because she knew that she could no longer put off traveling into her mind again for some introspective answer seeking. Heck, whatever she might discover couldn't be as bad as sitting here like this, assuming the worst and making herself sick with distress.

Holding onto that semi-comforting thought, Raven soon shook herself awake, fixed herself up, and settled into meditation in front of her window, intent on finally discovering answers to questions that she had put off from the day before. Ignoring her slumbering new husband on the floor behind her, she carefully controlled her breathing and her mantra flowed quietly from her lips, and slowly she was able to fall into her mind.

However, the sight that greeted her as she opened her eyes into her mind made her mouth hang open in shock. She was almost certain that she had gotten off at the wrong stop or something, because this wasn't Nevermore. Feeling quite shaken, she was just about to attempt returning to her bedroom when Happy came running in her direction, laughing in glee.

"Happy!" Raven hailed down her giddy emotion as the pink-clad girl ran by. Happy did not slow down, but turned and ran right into Raven, giving her a gigantic bear hug that almost sent them both to the ground.

"Raven!" she exclaimed in surprise, as if she hadn't seen the empath in years, "You're here, and isn't life just fantastic?"

Mouth set in irritation, Raven carefully pried off her ecstatic emotion and took a few steps backward to put a healthy amount of distance between the two of them.

"Where is Knowledge?" Raven asked, ignoring Happy's jubilant words completely.

"Who cares?" Happy replied, unfazed by Raven's attitude. "All broody Miss Books-For-Brains does all day is read. Come on, do something fun with me instead! We could make daisy chains, or braid each other's hair, or play capture the flag, or talk about your dreamboat husband and what a cutie pie he is–"

"I swear, Happy -- wait, dreamboat?" Raven made a disgusted noise and shook her head. "I need to talk to Knowledge," she insisted through gritted teeth. "Now."

Happy blinked at Raven and frowned. "But she's all… boring," she whispered, wrinkling her nose.

"At least she's sane."

"Aw, you don't mean that, Ravie! Come on, why not talk to me instead?" Happy beamed. "We could talk about how funny Beast Boy is, or how gorgeous he is when he smiles at you with those adorable pointy fangs, or how cute he looks in a tuxedo, or how he kissed you – on the lips – twice!" The emotion swooned and clapped a hand over her heart.

A vein throbbing prominently in her forehead, Raven came extremely close to snapping back with something she probably would have regretted saying in the future, when a thin hand closed over her tense shoulder. She turned around in surprise, her harsh words dying on her lips.

"You called?" Knowledge asked, a wise smile flickering at the corners of her mouth.

"Oh pooh, does this mean we're not going to have any fun?" Happy said, her lower lip turning down in a pout.

"Absolutely none," Raven replied, waving off the pink-cloaked girl.

"Raven and I need to talk, Happy," Knowledge said. "Why don't you go play tag with Rude and Affection? Maybe when the two of us are done we'll join you."

Happy's face broke into a wide grin again. "Alright-y. See you around, Ravie!" With that the jubilant girl skipped away, leaving Raven and her much preferred emotion alone.

"To what do I owe the visit?" Raven asked. "I usually have to go searching for you if I want to speak with you."

Knowledge smiled again. "I had to offer my congratulations on your marriage and avoidance of untimely death, of course," she replied, "And I also figured that you might have a bit of trouble finding me, due to, ah, certain recent landscape modifications." Knowledge made a sweeping motion with her hand, as if to draw Raven's attention to the environment around them. Raven obediently looked around, even though she had certainly already made note of what Knowledge was referencing.

Just as she had noticed with great shock as she had arrived in Nevermore, the once black and red sky had turned to clear blue, and little fluffy clouds drifted lazily across the great expanse. Green grass and flowers had begun to sprout from the dark, rocky ground in little patches, and some of the withered trees around them had begun to bud. The once bleak, sinister land had suddenly come into springtime, which Raven did not appreciate.

"What happened to my mind?" Raven moaned, obviously distressed.

"I'll give you three guesses."

Raven shook her head, barely needing to stop and think. "It's his fault," she said cholerically, temper rising as she took in all that had changed. She bent down and picked a tiny, sunny yellow flower from what had been –– and what was supposed to be –– hard, dry ground. She dropped the flower soon after picking it and watched it flutter to the dusty ground, where its warm animation was juxtaposed painfully with the coarse, gray soil. Raven looked back up at her wise emotion. "Tell me," she implored in vexation, "Is all of Nevermore like this now?"

Knowledge nodded somberly. "I'm afraid so," she replied. "Every region has taken on similar new attributes."

"Dare I ask why?"

"You already guessed correctly," the emotion responded. "Every change you have witnessed, every new feature of the biome around us, all of it is a result of the bond that now links yourself to Beast Boy. And the change has only just begun."

TT

Beast Boy awoke to a clear blue sky with the most content feeling that he had experienced in a long, long time filling his body. It was amazing what a really good night of sleep could do for you, especially after so many stressful days and nights. He recognized his surroundings as the same he had looked upon last before falling into a deep sleep the night before. He was in Raven's bedroom, on the floor near the foot of her bed, tangled in a now messy pile of sheets and pillows. He had to grin when he recognized his comfortable blankets as the purple and green striped ones that Cyborg had bestowed upon them the day before.

Despite his odd sleeping arrangement, however, the changeling felt remarkably well rested. He hefted himself into a sitting position and stretched luxuriously, groaning as the tightness in his muscles seemed to melt away. He jumped up and fixed his skewed pajamas, looking around for Raven. He spotted her over by her window, meditating in the lotus position on the floor. For a moment he simply looked at her, and it felt like he was truly seeing her for the first time, however corny that might seem. He had never noticed before how the golden sunlight glanced off her hair like that in the morning, or what elegant poise she held herself with, even when relaxed in meditation. She was always quick to discount any compliments sent her way concerning her appearance, however seldom they came in the first place, but finally looking at her like this, he saw that she really was beautiful. And, more importantly, she was his.

Beast Boy blinked, and his brow furrowed slightly. He seriously doubted that Raven would want him thinking about her like that, and by his own admission it was a little bit strange, but he could not deny that he would see her differently now that they were married. He would always remember what he had sworn to her the day before. His fingers found his wedding ring, and he twisted it absently. They had even kissed. Twice! The first time was an obligation, but the second was of her own will. He couldn't help the dopey grin that made its way to his face when he remembered that second kiss, and God, he never wanted to forget it either. That inexplicably fuzzy feeling of rightness and belonging was more addictive than anything he had experienced before, and he couldn't help but wonder if kissing brought such a feeling to everyone.

The changeling's growling stomach was what finally took him from his thoughts. He glanced over at Raven's bedside clock and found that it was just after ten in the morning. He had a serious craving for a big stack of soy pancakes, but decided to ignore his hunger and wait for Raven to finish up so they could eat together. After all, it wasn't like he had anything better to do that day.

Gaze not leaving his new wife, Beast Boy sat down on her bed and scooted up by her pillows. He crossed his arms over his stomach and his eyes drifted shut. Gosh, her bed was a whole lot more comfortable than her floor, and if he was going to wait for her to finish meditating, he should at least be comfortable. That was the last thought that flickered through his head before he easily fell into a light sleep.

His acute hearing awoke him thirty minutes later. Raven's cloak rustled slightly as she came out of meditation, and the first thing she did was bring a palm to her forehead and squeeze her eyes shut.

Shaking off the throes of sleep for the second time that morning, Beast Boy slid up on one elbow, turning to look at Raven. Her mattress squeaked with his movement.

"Good morning, Rae," he said quietly. "Happy birthday."

The empath visibly stiffened, and her hand dropped to her lap again. She turned her head and looked at Beast Boy.

"Good morning," she replied curtly. "I would appreciate it if you got off my bed."

Beast Boy blinked. "Oh," he said, eyes slightly downcast. A grin spread across his face. "What," he teased, "You afraid I'll get cooties on it?"

Raven didn't directly reply to Beast Boy's remark, but stood carefully and made for her door.

"Have you eaten?" she asked distractedly.

"I was waiting for you, actually."

"Well come on," she replied with a pained sigh, "We need to… discuss some things."

TT

You're not thinking of bailing on me, are you?" the villain growled at the cowering man before him. It really was a pitiable sight; the tall criminal towered over the very old, very frightened scientist, who shook in his bleached lab coat and stared miserably at the gray linoleum tiles on the floor. The vial of Beast Boy's blood was clenched tightly in the old man's trembling fist.

"No," the white-haired scientist wheezed, "But this project you need me to accomplish, it utilizes a method that is still in its experimental stages. Why, its potential for success is little more than theory."

"For your own sake it better work," the villain ground out menacingly. "You have one week." The scientist made a distraught noise at this and looked imploringly at the man before him.

"Please," he begged, clasping his thin, shaking hands around the vial, "I need more time than that! Think of all my other research! I cannot shelf all of my work for an entire week. I will surely be investigated for my negligence, and I may still fail in the task you have forced upon me! I beg you to consider my petition rationally, and give me a more realistic task to accomplish, or at the very least give me more ti–"

The man's pleading words were silenced when the villain uttered a frustrated cry and struck him harshly across the face, sending the scientist careening into the wall behind him. He crumpled to the floor with a choked sob and made no effort to stand. The bookcase that he had crashed into swayed dangerously over his head from the impact. Luckily nothing fell but a few books and a DNA double helix model. The vial fell from the stunned man's slackened grip, hitting the floor with a gentle clink but not breaking open. It rolled to a stop against the scientist's arm.

"You have one week," the villain spat, enunciating every word with cruel deliberation. "And you better not disappoint me, or your little ol' wife just might not find her way back home tonight. And if you even thought about telling anyone about this, your entire family might just," he waved his hand flippantly, "disappear." He erupted with peals of sadistic laughter as a stream of pleading words flowed from the scientist's mouth, but he turned smartly and stalked from the room without paying the defeated man any heed, exiting triumphantly through the same slightly smoldering hole in the wall that he had blown open just minutes ago.

TT

"So, are you gunna tell me what you wanted to talk about, or are you just gunna watch me stuff my face with pancakes?" Beast Boy asked, in the process of drenching his second piping hot serving of hotcakes in syrup. Beast Boy and Raven were alone in the sunny kitchen, and although they had gone to share breakfast, the empath had refused to eat anything of substance, claiming simply that she wasn't hungry. In the kitchen they had discovered an envelope leaning against Raven's teapot, with her name written across it in red ink. It was a birthday card that played "Happy Birthday" when one opened it, and inside was a simple note of well wishes, signed by Raven's four teammates. Several large bills fluttered to the floor as she opened the card, which she supposed was her birthday present. Frankly she appreciated the cash more than any material purchases they could have gotten her anyway. Sadly even this birthday gift was unable to lift her spirits.

Raven apathetically glanced up from her glass of water and apple. She looked out the window at the sunlight rippling over the quiet bay, briefly contemplating where she would be right now had she not married the changeling the day before. It was hard to fathom that she would actually be dead, or worse, while her teammates lived on without her.

"I went to Nevermore this morning," she said absently, eyes still wandering the Jump City skyline.

"That's cool," Beast Boy replied, shoveling half a pancake into his mouth as he spoke. "Did you learn anything interesting about the curse?"

Raven took a sip of water. "I guess you could say that," she admitted.

"Did you figure out why your powers are still gone?"

She nodded sadly. "Unfortunately I may have."

"Did you learn what happened when we kissed the first time yesterday?"

Raven frowned. "Why don't I just tell you what I found out, so you can stop with the questions?"

Beast Boy held up his hands defensively. "Fine, fine. Please do."

Raven took another sip of water before beginning, and the expression on her face suddenly reminded Beast Boy of the look someone might get when they tried to dredge up a bad memory. She closed her eyes for a moment and her hands fiddled subconsciously with the browning apple on the table before her. Finally she looked up again, changing her posture so she could lean her arms on the table as she spoke.

"Well," she began uncertainly, "When I arrived in Nevermore, it was immediately clear that something had drastically changed. This change most likely took place at the time that we kissed." She glanced up at the changeling sharply as if to discourage a response, and the words he was about to speak dutifully died on his lips. "Things looked different," she explained. "The sky was supposed to be black, but it was blue. There were clouds and the sun was shining, and there were flowers and grass. You've been there. You know what Nevermore is supposed to look like. Today it didn't look remotely normal."

"Was it definitely Nevermore?"

Raven nodded. "It just appeared a whole lot more… alive. My emotions were still there. They hadn't changed. Knowledge explained what she believed had happened."

Beast Boy had finished consuming his breakfast, and he pushed his sticky, empty plate and silverware to the side. "And what's that?" he asked quietly.

Raven looked at the table as she spoke, shoulders drooping.

"You know how it is said that marriage represents the complete union of two people? Mind, body, and soul?" she asked, voice laced with despair.

"I've heard it explained like that, yeah."

"Well, it seems like I was right when I guessed that our souls had joined," she said quietly.

Beast Boy's eyes opened wide, and he chuckled in disbelief. "Are you serious?" he asked, suddenly feeling vaguely uneasy. After all, something he could never hope to understand was tampering with his soul. What made him him. That definitely seemed like panic worthy material, if ever anything was.

Raven glared at him despite herself. "No, Beast Boy, I'm making this up for the hell of it," she bit. "Will you please just let me speak?"

The changeling's awkward grin died down. "I'm shutting up now," he said. "Continue."

The empath took a moment to recollect her thoughts. When she began again it was with the same even tone that she had started with.

"As of yesterday evening, we were two completely separate individuals," Raven explained slowly. "I possessed and was in control of every aspect – or almost every aspect – of my own being, and the same could be said for you. That changed when the wedding ceremony ended and we kissed. All the things that we had sworn during the ceremony became reality, and we, in effect, became one. We began to unite, body, mind, and soul."

"So what you're saying is that all the changes in your mind are because of me?" Beast Boy asked.

"Yes, they are."

"All the blue sky and grass and stuff, that's from me?"

Raven frowned. "I'm at a loss as to why that makes you smile, but yes."

Indeed, beyond his anxiety, Beast Boy felt a very strange sense of excitement from what Raven had told him. Something tangible had resulted from the ceremony the day before, and Raven could no longer insist that nothing had to change since they were married. She couldn't deny his importance in her life now, and that knowledge at least partly appeased his fear that she would try to completely discount the marriage. Plus, a little bit of sunshine in gloomy ol' Nevermore couldn't hurt the girl either.

"But wait, don't lose yourself in excitement yet," Raven continued miserably, taking note of the giddy look on the changeling's face. "It gets even better."

"Lemme guess," Beast Boy replied eagerly, "Am I gunna have telekinesis too now? Are we gunna share each other's thoughts?"

"No, and, thank Azar, no," Raven responded. She took a last sip from her glass of water and set it down carefully while she collected her thoughts and built up the courage to say what came next. God, if he would just sit still and take this with an ounce of maturity, the urge to go shoot herself would be far less strong. "You asked if I knew why my powers have not returned yet. From conversing with Knowledge, I'm afraid I have a theory." She willed herself to look up at him and maintain eye contact while she spoke. "Just because our minds became linked when we kissed does not mean that we've become completely joined."

Beast Boy raised his eyebrows. "I don't get it. I've apparently got half of your soul. How much more linked can we get?"

"The soul and the mind are entirely different things, Beast Boy. You cannot alter or control your soul. When I use my soul-self as a weapon during battle, that is the only time I command mine. Without our conscious consent, our souls have mixed, and that is the concrete, indelible bond that has been created between us."

"Oh," Beast Boy replied in a subdued tone. The expression on his face made it clear that his brain was working furiously to understand her words. "Like the bond you have with Robin?"

Raven shook her head. "As Robin would say, I've been in his head. His mind is linked with my own now, that's true, but only on the most superficial level, and our souls are completely separate. The link between his mind and mine was created solely by myself, and I'm sure that you remember it was a terrible situation and a last ditch effort that led me to create that link in the first place."

"So why is the bond between our minds any different from the one you have with Robin?"

"Our minds would not be able to link as they uniquely have if our souls had not first joined. I did not actively seek out your mind, not like I could have without my powers anyway. Our minds began to automatically meld when we kissed, because our souls had first been joined. And because the bond between our minds is based around our souls, it is stronger than any link I could create by myself with another person's mind."

Beast Boy put a hand on his forehead. "Trying to wrap my head around that is giving me a headache," he complained absently. He sure as hell couldn't comprehend exactly what she was telling him, but he got the gist of it, and he probably couldn't hope for more than that.

"Well I hope you understand, because I do not feel like explaining that again."

Beast Boy offered her a feeble, apologetic smile. "I think I get it. Kinda. Uh, you said that our minds haven't completely joined yet?"

Raven quickly cast her gaze heavenward. "No, they haven't. The basic link has been made, but that link would need to be strengthened in order for the individuality that still separates us to be worn away. My powers may not come back until our bond has been strengthened to the point that I have truly done all in my power to join you in marriage. Then the curse will be, I hope, satisfied."

"Great. So how do we strengthen the link thing?"

Before she replied, Raven solemnly caught the gaze of Beast Boy again, hoping beyond hope that he would show an ounce of maturity.

"Through total communion," she replied gently.

Beast Boy studied her face carefully as he mulled about her response. Slowly, taking what felt like ages to the distressed empath sitting across from him, his expression changed as comprehension finally bloomed in his mind, until he was regarding her with wariness and awe.

"What do you mean by total?" he asked, suspicion in his hushed voice.

Raven quirked an eyebrow. "Complete. Perfect. Consummate," she replied. The seconds seemed to stretch on in painful silence as she watched his face for a sign that he understood.

"You mean," he breathed in wonderment, "The only way to strengthen the link between our minds is… sex?" He startled to laugh. He couldn't help himself; the absurdity of the situation was almost overwhelming. Normalcy was so far gone that what could he do but laugh?

"That would fully satisfy one third of the 'body, mind, and soul' dictum," Raven replied, ignoring his chuckling. "The physical aspect. And based on what Knowledge said, the physical connection of kissing alone affected my mind as well. Honestly, I don't know what it will take to become completely linked on all three counts, but I'm not about to assume that sex is the only way."

Beast Boy's posture visibly changed. His laughter subsided and he appeared to relax. His hands, which had balled subconsciously into fists, spread out on the tabletop again. He almost appeared lost in thought for a minute, and Raven allowed him to reflect in silence while she tried desperately to erect her perfect wall of poise that had somehow crumbled.

"That totally makes sense," Beast Boy said resignedly, "That's why it feels the way it does to kiss."

"You're right," Raven agreed quietly. "But a kiss is far less intimate than having sex, and similarly it must have much less of an effect on the link between our minds."

"So, logically the quickest way to strengthen our link and possibly regain your powers would be…" Beast Boy trailed off, the color rising in his face for the first time that morning.

Raven nodded almost imperceptibly, well on the road to not caring if Azar damned her soul to hell if it would just get her out of the conversation she was in.

"But it's not the only way?" Beast Boy inquired ingenuously.

"Like I said, I don't think it is," Raven replied, "Sleeping together would be the most effective way, but every other type of contact, to the best of my knowledge, would logically yield a lesser form of the same union."

"So, what now?"

"Now I start figuring out how I'm going to live permanently without my powers."

Beast Boy looked at Raven suspiciously. "Are you serious?" he inquired.

Raven offered a dry smirk. "I don't know, Beast Boy. I'm already scarred by this whole situation. I miss my powers, but I have to draw the line somewhere."

The changeling shrugged. "Kissing wasn't bad," he defended. "You can't argue about that."

Raven looked at him strangely. "I take it you vote in favor of trying to help me regain my powers?"

"Absolutely, Rae. You're my wife."

The empath smiled faintly. "I appreciate your willingness, I suppose."

"Anything for the birthday girl," Beast Boy offered with a little shrug. "Are you sure this is going to get your powers back?"

"I'm not sure of anything anymore. Especially since we aren't utilizing the most direct method of achieving communion."

"Any clue how long it will take?"

Raven closed her eyes and leaned her head on her palms. "Days, weeks, years –– it's impossible to predict how much we would have to exercise our bond to sufficiently strengthen it, considering the fact that we're not going about it in the way intended. The curse was designed in order to continue on the population of Azarath. Demanding complete physical communion of two people would accomplish that goal. Azar, it's just so obvious now that something like this would happen," she scoffed, shaking her head bitterly. "The awkwardness of marriage couldn't possibly be enough of a burden to bear, so let's add mandatory procreation to the equation."

"So basically," Beast Boy spoke up quickly, sensing that Raven was fighting desperately to suppress her mounting distress from his sight, "Anything but sex is a workaround." Raven nodded curtly. "What happened to Azarathian law being so airtight?" he wondered aloud. "If it was intended that we sleep together, why would there be a loophole avoiding it?"

The clock clicked over to noon, and in the distance Raven could just barely hear the clock tower in the city's old church chiming out the new hour. She glanced over to the door. "There needs to be one," she finally replied in misery, "Or I will never regain my powers. I'm sorry." With that she stood quickly, leaving the remainder of her breakfast behind on the table as she made for the door.

Beast Boy rose when she did, quickly following after her and laying a hand on her shoulder. Raven shrugged it off and continued walking.

"Raven, stop," Beast Boy called to her, but she did not. "Raven! Please don't just run away again. We can figure something out, I swear."

The dark girl finally turned around briefly when she reached the door, and Beast Boy was shocked to see her face so blank.

"I don't love you, Beast Boy," she said plainly, but the ache in her voice was almost unbearable for the changeling. "I don't think I ever will. Don't ask me to do something I don't want to."

With that Raven stepped quickly from the room, leaving Beast Boy standing alone, completely stunned, in the middle of the kitchen. Once she was gone he let go of his breath in a disbelieving whoosh, the distinctive and horribly familiar feeling of rejection making the air feel heavy and unbreathable around him. Something inside him sank numbly to the pit of his stomach as a throbbing ache jumped to his throat. He shook his head hard. Raven's words shouldn't have come as a surprise to him. God, how pathetic was he to hope that she would do anything else? And still he couldn't tear his eyes from the door, as if he was hoping beyond hope that Raven would return and apologize, or tell him something, anything, to break the wretched feeling of hopelessness she had just inflicted upon him. But of course, she did not return, and Beast Boy was left alone again to wonder if things would ever start to look up between himself and Raven, or if this was already the end.

--

Ooh, drama. I hope that I didn't lose everyone while attempting to explain that body, mind, and soul thing. Please tell me if I did, and I'll be sure to explain it more lucidly in my next author's note.

Also, a few reviewers now have asked if this story will eventually contain a lemon. I've been tossing that idea around in my brain for a while, and while I'm not sure that I want to steer the fic in that direction anyway, I'm curious to know what you guys think. To get a general idea, I've set up a poll in my profile asking whether or not you would like to see a lemon/lime before the story ends. If you vote and would like to explain why you voted thusly, feel free to send me your thoughts in a review. Don't forget that anything seriously pushing the classification of "fluffy" will bump this fic up from Teen to Mature. While I might end up going against the masses anyway, I'd definitely like to see if I'm on the same wavelength as my beloved readers.

Don't forget to vote in my profile poll if you care, and thanks for reading.