Chapter 26 – Steps

July 15th 2010, 12:32 pm

"Can I look now?"

"No"

"What about now?"

"I will tell you when you can look" said Raven with a mysterious tone "Until then, keep your mouth shut"

The empath guided him by his hand for some more steps and then took off the band that was covering his boyfriend's eyes.

"Okay, you can look now"

Beast Boy opened his eyes and found himself standing in front of a light green building with a bunch of plants around it and glass doors. Above these doors, one could read: Eggcellent – Vegan Restaurant. He turned to his girlfriend, the mouth opened.

"Happy birthday!" she said in a light tone of enthusiasm, which was the best she could do "I know it's early, but tomorrow everyone will want to celebrate with you and I know Cyborg would never ever…"

Her little explanation was interrupted by a very long and passionate kiss.

"You. Are. Awesome!" he yelled, pointing at the restaurant, parting from her, the other hand still on her waist "Thanks"

"Well, thank me after we leave…" she muttered, still with a little smile "I don't know how much tofu I really can take…"

Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0

July 16th 2010, 9:54 am

"Oh, that was so romantic!" said Starfire the next morning, her hands together and the eyes sparkling, after Beast Boy told them about Raven's little surprise.

"I can't believe you did this, Raven" commented Cyborg with a disgust expression "BB, never let her go, 'cause that's the biggest love proof I've ever heard of…"

"You don't need to tell me twice!" exclaimed the birthday boy, hugging Raven, who made an annoyed face and pushed him lightly with a little smile.

"Well Cyborg, in my defense, I discovered vegetarian food isn't so bad, Beast Boy's just a bad cook" she explained, and she meant it. Some of the meals she had she would never realize weren't really meat, but the ones she liked best were made of vegetables, like soups and scones, plus a spinach lasagna she loved.

"Boyfriend Robin, why have you never taken me to a Tamarean restaurant, or maybe a mustard one?"

"Hmm, because… These things don't exist, Star" argued the leader, seeming upset. Starfire pouted and turned back to her waffles.

Robin frowned at Raven. He was clearly annoyed by the fact of the empath's gesture made him bad in comparison.

Raven, however, couldn't care less.

Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0

March 17th 2010, 2:43 pm

The team was at the special school where Sarah worked. They went to the blonde's invite to present themselves to the kids and now were helping to paint a new room that would be inaugurated soon.

The children were helping too, since it was all about the integration. So, the kids could socialize and give a proper style to the room that would be theirs.

Raven finished painting one of the walls light yellow and turned, looking for her boyfriend. Beast Boy was on the floor, playing with the kids like he was one of them, apparently having the time of his life.

"Hey!" he said when he caught her looking at him, and got up, walking to her.

"You really like kids…" she observed, sitting down and opening a bottle of water.

"A lot!" he agreed, looking at the little ones with kindness "I can't wait for us to have one!"

Raven choke with the water she was drinking.

"Are you okay?" he asked, holding the bottle while she coughed.

"Yeah… You… Did you say: we have a one? Child?" she repeated, not hiding her look of terror.

"Yes" he simply answered, still smiling "Can you imagine a little Raven for me to play and spoil and… Rae, are you okay?"

"I…" the empath was paler than normal and staring at him like he was talking about setting her on fire. She looked around and took him by the hand, leading him outside, where they were alone and away from the all the mess.

"Beast Boy" she started serious "Don't say that anymore"

"Say what? Have a child?"

"Yeah, I don't think it's a good idea" she said shivering, to the changeling's surprise look "I had a very though childhood… If I have a kid, it may have my powers and it'll suffer just as much. I really don't…"

"Wait, wait, wait" Beast Boy lifted his hand, also serious "If we have a child, we won't raise it like you were raised."

"Oh, so you'll just let it destroy everything all around it, huh?" she questioned sarcastically.

"No, we'll just… find another way. You know, so it can be happy and play while keeps the powers under control" he explained like it was the easiest thing in the world "That's not a valid reason not to have a child"

"Can you stop?" she asked, running her fingers through her hair "Do you want to have a child now?"

"No"

"So…"

"No!" he repeated, interrupting her "You should know I want this now. So, when you have to decide if you'll have me for life, you can add that to the jokes and the vegetarian thing and the fact I'm not really smart…"

Raven was speechless, staring at him. Beast Boy was nervous, and, seeing his girlfriend didn't have any reaction, turned to leave.

"Wait" asked Raven, stretching her arm.

"What?" he turned, angry.

"I love you" she said, not changing her surprise expression. An abnormal silence fell between them, until Raven let out a little smile "I said it. I did it. Nothing exploded."

She threw herself to her boyfriend's arms and he tightened her against his chest. She felt her eyes wet, but couldn't stop smiling.

"You can't do that every time I get mad" mumbled Beast Boy with an emotional voice, and Raven laughed lightly.

Suddenly they heard a commotion inside the room being painted, and walked inside, holding hands.

The different paints were floating out of the cans in a circular movement, mixing and spreading, painting the walls with several spots and flicks, making the room extremely colorful and happy. Children and adults looked at the phenomenon in wonder and excitement.

Beast Boy turned to his girlfriend.

"Did you do this?" he asked with a smile.

"No" she answered with a sweet look "You did"

Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0

September 22nd 2010, 2:34 am

Beast Boy and Raven had gone to their favorite movie theater again, the one of their first date, and arrived home pretty late, when everyone inside the Tower were already sleeping. Beast Boy stopped them at the hall, kissing her passionately against the cold wall.

Raven tangled her fingers in Beast Boy's hair and felt the hands in her waist start to go up. She lifted her leg, which was quickly taken by his arm, and he approached her even more, all his body against hers.

It was normally then that someone entered the room or the alarm ringed, interrupting them. This time, however, nothing happened and nobody came. Raven felt her heart racing and separated from him, breathing heavily.

"Problem?" asked Beast Boy, also out of breath.

"No…" she muttered, putting a lock of hair behind her ear "I think I… should go to my room"

"Oh, yeah. I'll walk you" he offered. Raven could feel a strong disappointment coming from him. They walked silently to her room, where she stopped, opened the door and turned to say good night.

"Good night, Rae" he said, smiling "I love you"

In that moment, the disappointment was gone, and she was only feeling the warm and almost soft emotion she always felt when he said that. When he leaned to kiss her, Raven made a decision. She took his warm green hand and pulled him inside, closing the door.

"Am I allowed in your room now?" he asked, with an expression of shock.

"Yes" she said, her face red and a rebel tone "I'm giving you permission to come in… And to stay, if you want"

The both of them only came out the next morning.

Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0

September 24th 2010, 8:43 am

"Good morning!" exclaimed Cyborg, entering the common room, with a smile and a dreamer look.

"Morning…" answered Robin, looking at Starfire with a loving look.

"Good morning" repeated Star, returning her boyfriend's look.

"Good morning…" said Terra, also with a smile on her face and staring at the horizon.

"I had a really good dream" told Cyborg, opening the fridge "Did you guys sleep well too?"

"Yes! I had the most wonderful dream!" answered Starfire with a giggle "And Robin did too, when he woke up…"

"Star, remember those things we don't tell the others?" mumbled Robin, stopping her from saying further.

"I had a good night of sleep too, like in a long time…" said Terra "I even slept through the whole night"

The four teammates remained with dreamy expressions and smiles, until Robin frowned.

"Wait a minute… Isn't this weird?" he wondered putting his right hand on his chin "We all had nice dreams… Could a villain have put some kind of gas or drug in the Tower?"

"Robin… Could you not do this, just this time?" asked Terra, rolling her eyes. Cyborg didn't even seem to hear him.

In that moment Beast Boy and Raven came inside the room, holding hands and with light and dreamy expressions.

"Did you have good dreams?" Robin interrogated the couple immediately, and they just look at him, surprised.

"What do you mean?" asked Beast Boy.

"Well, we all had pleasant nights and nice dreams" he told, turning and not seeing Raven's guilty expression and Beast Boy pointing at her with the eyebrows lifted.

'Was it you?' his look said.

'I guess…" her eyes answered as she shrugged.

"… So I think we should inspect the Tower and put on gas masks right away and…" continued the leader, no one really listening to him.

"Wait, no!" yelled Beast Boy, interrupting him "I had a pretty okay night"

"Yeah, me too" added Raven, lifting her hood so they couldn't see her expression "I even had a nightmare…"

"Really?" he asked, relaxing "Oh, do I guess it was only a coincidence"

"That's right" assured Beast Boy, sitting at the table "Just a coincidence"

Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0

Terra was at her quarry, alone, exploding rocks here and there. What did that mean?

She sat down, feeling lonely, and for a brief instant, thought about forgetting about everything and try to move on. Then she reminded the voice, so many years ago. It was right about not trusting Slade, so it should be right about Beast Boy being her way to happiness.

She took a smooth rock and threw it at the sea. It bounced three times before sinking.

She sighed and remembered what she had heard. Cyborg complaining about the fact that Beast Boy and Raven had spent the night in a room.

Worst of all, one day, when she entered the Tower silently and heard Beast Boy saying I love you to Raven. He had never said it with so much meaning to her.

Terra realized she was feeling left behind. Beast Boy was winning the break up by being happier. But there was no rush. She still had time to be happier, or to Raven finally realize she and BB had nothing in common.

She just needed a little something to show them she wasn't a loser. But she had time.

It was not like they were getting married or something.

Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0Oo0

Author's Note:

Dear readers,

Thank you all so much for the incentive to the continuity of this fic.

This chapter ends part two of three of the story.

I hope you all keep following and enjoying it. All comments are welcome.

-beautifulfantasy