AN: I do not own Teen Titans. Please refrain from reviewing until the end of the story. Thank you.

Chapter 11

The sky had cleared and the sun was setting by the time they'd exited the movie theater. Raven seemed unmoved by the film but she'd actually enjoyed it immensely. Beast Boy was feeling rather refreshed as they left, having slept through two hours of it; he'd only stayed awake through the first half hour and the last half hour. He hadn't a clue what it was about but if Raven enjoyed it then he was content.

"Alright one more stop before we had back to the Sunnyhill B n' B," he said, stretching.

"Where are we going now?" she asked curiously.

"Out to dinner," he said, licking his lips. "I'm starving. Now this part you get to choose. We can go to an Indian, an Italian, or a Mexican restaurant."

"I'm in the mood for Italian," she said, smelling garlic in the air.

"Cool, I can see the place from here," he smiled and pointed up the sidewalk to a building that had a sign that read Nei Cieli. "You can smell the garlic bread too, huh?"

"Oh yeah," she said flatly but it was genuine.

They walked to the restaurant and Raven was surprised to discover that they had a reservation. Beast Boy had made reservations at all three restaurants so that he was prepared no matter what. She was very impressed and even told him so, which just about made his day. They were sat at a very nice table in front of the main window so that they could people watch while they ate. She felt that they weren't dressed up nice enough to be displayed for the public to see but he told her to ignore them, like she usually did. She realized he was right and that it was best to just focus on their meal. They were served buttery garlic breadsticks and soon placed their orders.

"So, be honest, how did I do today?" he asked, feeling confident but still bracing for criticism.

"I'm at a loss for words," she said, sipping her water. "I can't believe that you, of all people, managed to put together a day that I'd enjoy. I had no idea you knew as much about me as you do."

"Trust me, I surprised myself," he laughed.

"So how about you? Was today torturous?"

"Oddly enough, no. I liked the barn a lot. I would totally hang out there if it were closer to home. I got a good nap during the movie and so far this dinner is awesome."

"You've only eaten a couple breadsticks."

"Yeah but they're out of this world! So all in all I think I had a good day, too."

"Well good. I know this day was about me but I don't like putting people through things that they don't like."

"Really? I always thought you enjoyed watching me squirm," he smirked.

"There's a difference between light teasing and making someone uncomfortable," she clarified but then smirked back at him. "Though admittedly there is something satisfying about making you squirm."

"Yeah I get that a lot," he chuckled. "Oh! Before I forget, I got you something." He reached into his pocket and took out a small paper bag. He handed it over and said, "I hope you like it."

"You bought me a gift?" he asked, looking at him oddly. She opened the bag and poured its contents out. Into her hand fell a beautiful gemstone set on a silver chain. She was quite shocked by what she saw and rubbed the smooth stone with her fingers. "Beast Boy…"

"It's a…one second," he reached into his pocket and took out the small card that came with it. "An obsidian snowflake gemstone. I thought it was kinda cool and when I read its description I thought it'd be great for you! It says that it's a stone of purity and it balances the mind and spirit. The blackness of this stone enhances the ability to reach your inner self. It's one of the earliest known stones to be used for scrying, whatever that means. It helps you recognize and release 'wrong thinking' and stressful mental patterns. It promotes dispassion, inner centering, and empowers isolation and loneliness, aiding surrender in meditation. So it's gonna help you whenever you get stressed out and calm you down. I was just gonna get the stone but the woman at the barn said that she could put it on a chain so it'd be a necklace. So…do you like it?"

She stared at it for a few seconds silently. He was on the edge of his seat, anxious to know what she thought of the gift. Finally she closed her hand around it and looked at him, unsure and confused. "I don't understand. Why'd you get this for me?"

His ears lowered and, downhearted, he said, "I take it that means you don't like it?"

"I didn't say that," she said quickly.

"Because most girls would, you know, smile when they get a necklace," he shifted in his seat uncomfortably. "I know it's not like a typical piece of jewelry or anything but a little smile would be nice."

"No, I do like it. It's incredibly thoughtful," she said reassuringly. "It's just…this is the first time anyone's ever gotten me a gift for no reason. I'm not quite sure how to react. I can't even be thankful because I'm too consumed with wanting to know why. Why did you get this for me?"

"Well…because today's your day!" he said, rubbing his neck. "And, like you said, no one's ever just gotten you a gift for the heck of it so…there you go! I saw it, I thought it was nice looking, I read the description, and I thought you'd like it. And it's not like you don't deserve a gift from me at this point. You are letting me tag along with you on your vacation. So it's not just a gift for nothing. It's a thank you gift."

She opened her hand and looked at the necklace and gem again. The extreme corners of her lips went up ever so slightly and said looked at him. He involuntarily shivered. "Thank you, Beast Boy. I love it." She undid the clasp and placed it around her neck. Once it was secure she set it over her heart and asked as nonchalantly as possible, "How does it look?"

He looked at her and smiled. "Like it was meant for you."

She rolled her eyes but the gentle delight in her lips did not disappear. "You were far too nice to me today. If I didn't know any better I'd say you were doing this out of guilt or something."

The changeling stared at her for a moment before his cracking voice said, "Heh, yeah, go figure, right?" It wasn't the right response but he wasn't sure what to say she'd caught him so off guard. "Maybe from now on when I do nice things you won't be suspicious." He was digging his grave deeper and deeper but he just couldn't stop.

"We'll see," she said with a slight smirk.

He breathed a sigh of relief. She still hadn't a clue.

After they'd finished dinner they headed back to the Bed and Breakfast to pack and head for the train station. They'd be taking an overnight train straight to Civic City where they'd make it with a few hours to spare before the signing. Unfortunately when they arrived at the train station they discovered that there wasn't a nonstop to Civic City…but there was one for Empire City.

"Of course there's not a train to Civic City," Raven growled. "Now there's no way we'll be able to get there in time. Even if we catch the last train we'll still have to sit in the next station all night until the first train in the morning."

"Well hang on," said Beast Boy, looking over the map that highlighted the train routes. For once things were turning in his favor without his interference! "What if we go to Empire City?"

"Because the book signing is in Civic City," she said tensely.

"I know but if we take the overnight train to Empire City then we can hop on a bus and get to Civic City in no time!" he explained. "The train gets to Empire City at seven and a bus to Civic City can't take more than two hours so we'd get there by nine and the book signing isn't until eleven! And, as much as we like these books, I'm pretty sure the line won't be too long."

She thought about this, obviously not very pleased with the idea, but in the end said, "I guess that's what we're going to have to do."

They bought their tickets to Empire City and soon boarded the overnight train. The accommodations were pretty nice and both were glad to just be on their final train ride. And after one more bus they'd be at their destination. Well Raven would be. Beast Boy had to somehow think up an excuse that would allow him to stay in Empire City. That wasn't going to be easy. He didn't want to come out and tell his teammate, and now good friend, that he'd been lying about everything from the beginning. She deserved the truth but he didn't want to endure the fallout that would come with being honest. He liked what he had with her now. They could look at each other as friends and not just teammates now. And if he told her his real intentions she'd undoubtedly be angry and forget the good times they'd had.

"Hey Robin," said Raven, checking in with the team once again.

"Well you're looking a little cheerier than the last time we spoke," he noted. "Things finally getting better?"

"Well they're not getting any worse," she said evenly. "We had a good day today and are nearly at our destination."

"That's good," he said, glad to hear it. "Would you mind talking to the others for a moment?"

"You mean Starfire?" she stated.

"Hello friend!" Starfire gushed, grabbing the communicator before Robin could answer. "I wish to know all about your adventures. Please regale me with your tales of travel."

"Trust me, you'll hear all about it when we get home," said Raven.

"Please, may I see Beast Boy?" asked Starfire. Raven handed the communicator over to the changeling. "Hello Beast Boy!"

"Hi Star," he smiled. "Miss me much?"

"Oh I have missed you and Raven very much," said Starfire, though she was smiling so hard it was difficult to believe she was sad. "It has been oddly quiet around here without the both of you. Cyborg says it is because your daily quarreling as though you were an aged couple bound by marriage has been taken outside of the tower."

"He said what?" asked Beast Boy, rather confused.

"I said it's quiet around here without the two of you bickering like an old married couple," Cyborg smirked, snatching the communicator from the alien. "How're you doing, grass stain?"

"Cyborg! Dude, you have no idea how great it is to see your bucket-of-bolts face," Beast Boy laughed. "I can't wait to get back home and play some videogames. Oh and guess what! Raven's gonna play some!"

"I'm not playing in front of him," Raven said clearly. "You said you were teaching me. I'm not letting Cyborg critique me as well."

"Whoa whoa, wait a second," said Cyborg. "Raven's gonna play videogames? Our Raven?"

"See? It's stuff like that that makes me not want to try it," Raven grumbled.

"Cyborg, shut up!" Beast Boy hissed. "Do you know what I had to go through to get her to agree to try it?"

"What you had to go through? You read a book," said Raven.

"You read a book?!" Cyborg laughed.

"Okay I'm done talking to you," Beast Boy frowned. "Put someone else on." The image jumped around for a bit as the communicator was passed to someone else with Cyborg chuckling up a storm in the background.

"Nice to hear that things are going better," Aqualad smiled.

As usual, Beast Boy was less than thrilled to see him. "Oh you. Yeah, everything's peachy here."

"Can I talk to Raven?" Aqualad asked.

"Why?" Beast Boy snapped without meaning to.

"Because it's her vacation and I want to know how she's enjoying it," Aqualad explained.

The changeling felt a growl brewing in his throat but before he could reject the other Titan Raven had grabbed the communicator. He felt the growl itch around his mouth so finally he spat it out in the form of a cough that sounded quite threatening. She gave him an odd look but then turned back to the device.

"Hello Aqualad," she said pleasantly. "I'm doing fine."

"That's good," he said. "So I never did hear how Beast Boy ended up joining you."

"It's a long story," she sighed.

"I bet," he laughed. "So which city are you heading to, again?"

"Well Civic City is the end destination but we're actually on our way to Empire City at the moment," she explained. "Again, a long story."

"Empire City? You don't say," he smirked. "Any particular reason? You know there's a big concert taking place there tomorrow."

Beast Boy knew exactly what he was doing and felt his gut jump with fear. He was trying to let Raven in on what was going on! He couldn't let that happen. He quickly pretended to yawn and basically punched the communicator out of her hands.

"Whoops, I'll get it," he said and jumped after it, turning the electronic off as soon as he got his hands on it. "Well would you look at that? Accidentally hung up on him. Oh well."

"That's alright we can just call them back," she said, holding her hand out for it.

"Nah, I'm sure they'll understand," he said, pocketing it. "They probably think we've lost reception or something. It's been known to happen when we go through tunnels and stuff. Besides, you said we'd tell them everything when we got back. Well I don't know about you but I'm pooped. How about we give these cool little beds a try? We got a big day tomorrow, right? Finally get to meet the author of Ashen Splendor. Excited?"

"Uh, yeah," she said, her head spinning from his quick talking and change of subject. "After all we've been through it'll be nice to finally do something I planned."