Yay! Got another chapter done! As usual I would like to thank all the lovely people who favorited this story and FiringShootingStar, cownoodle, katara4494 for all of your lovely reviews! They really make me feel like i'm doing a good job on this story! ^/^ Well enough with the rambling!

Disclaimer: Mine: Plot and OC's Not Mine: Everything else.

Raven ran up the stairs so fast she realized she didn't even know which room was his, 'though looking around, I'm guessing it's the one with the door closed.' She thought as she walked up to it, just as she was about to knock on the door she stopped mid way as she heard Jack's voice on the other side.

"I still think you're being absurd, you should go to the hospital where they can treat you properly." Silence, followed by;

"Yes, yes…alright. Well then just try to get some rest tonight and I will come visit you tomorrow. Good night love." More silence.

Raven felt bad for eavesdropping and promised to apologize when she got the chance, she quickly knocked on the door and stepped back a little so as not to come face to lower abdomen with the blonde haired man. Curse her shortness!

Jack opened the door a second later and looked down, 'man he's scary!' she thought as he looked at her with an annoyed expression.

"Yes? What is it? Spit it out!"

"Oh! Umm…D-Dinner is ready. If you would like to join us…" she squeaked as he walked past her,

"It's about time! You shouldn't leave a king to starve!" Raven giggled and curtsied

"Allow me to apologize to my king."

Jack turned back and smirked, "You're quite lucky I am a gracious king so I will forgive your tardiness and blame it all on Crow!" the after mentioned red head yelled up the stairs the next second, Raven giggled some more.

Yusei walked past her then,

"I'm gonna get changed you guys start without me." She nodded and walked down the stairs after the blonde and into the kitchen where she filled some bowls full of food, that Crow had pulled out for her.

~0~0~0~

Little tears formed in Crow's eyes as he looked at what she had made a simple dish; beef and garlic rice,

"Wow Raven! This looks great!" She blushed and quietly thanked him as she handed him his bowl, followed next by Jack and not long after Yusei.

They sat at the small dinning table in an alcove under the stairs; it had a large window next to it so they could see the storm outside. Not that there was much to see, as the sun set all the light seemed to have left the world except for little flashes when lightning would crash,

"Would you like anything to drink?" she said as she filled a small bowl for herself. Yusei walked past her,

"Don't worry about it. We can take care of that part, just go take a seat." She nodded and quietly took a seat in beside Crow looking out the window.

Not long after, their food was devoured and groans of pleasure rang out as the food settled.

"Oh my god Raven! That was delicious! Where did you learn to cook like that?" Crow asked patting his fully belly, she smiled sadly.

"In Alturas it's the women's job to cook, clean, and take care of the family. Cooking just seems to come naturally to me though." Crow looked down, Yusei and Jack looked confused. Raven just laughed,

"That place is pretty far behind in the times, trust me. I'm really happy I left."

They all nodded,

"So how are you adjusting to living here?" Yusei asked, Raven smiled again,

"Not well at first; I went to the store to get stuff for my cooler, so I asked the salesman what I should get and he filled up 3 baskets worth of stuff! So now I basically have enough food to feed an army," they laughed at this,

"But I'm slowly getting used to everything here, it's the people here that I have a hard time with."

Crow nodded understanding; the other two just looked confused.

"Were the people really that different there?" Yusei said putting his head on his knuckles; Raven wasn't sure what to say about that without revealing too much. So far Crow was the only one who knew the whole story about why she left.

"Well…people here are certainly…kinder then in Alturas." She smiled trying to keep the conversation light,"like I said people there aren't very kind to anyone who acts differently then them. It certainly wasn't easy growing up there but I managed, and left the second I got a chance."

She swirled the water in her cup,

"I guess if you think about it, lots of people have or had it a lot harder than I did. So in retrospect I guess my life was pretty ok." This wasn't a lie; she had always told herself that. She figured that if she thought of her life as not as bad as it actually was she wouldn't end up hating all the people that made her suffer so much.

"That's really noble of you, but a bunch of bull if you ask me!" Jack said with his arms crossed.

"Jack!" Crow yelled attempting to stop him, "You're just diluting yourself into believing your life wasn't as bad as it actually was, don't turn from your reality just because you believe its no worse than someone's else suffering."

Crow jumped up from the table shaking with anger, Raven just stared wide eyed unable to come up with a single thing to say back.

"Jack, you don't know what you're talking about! Shut up before I come over there and clobber you!" Crow said angrily, which caused Jack to stand up slamming his hands on the table.

"Any time any where half pint!"

Meanwhile Raven just kind of sat there amongst the chaos, a feeling rising inside her. She wasn't sure what it was, until a sound came out of her mouth. Suddenly she couldn't stop the sound, she tried to cover her mouth but more kept coming.

The three boys just stared at her like she had gone insane; after all she was sitting there laughing like a maniac.

When she was finally able to breath again she sighed and took in the shocked and confused looks of the people around her.

"I'm sorry, but what Jack said is exactly what my dad used to say to me when I was younger. The only exception is that he would knock me on the head first then he'd say, 'That's for being dumb enough to hide it from me'" She laughed some more at this but stopped after a moment.

Next thing she knew there was a sharp pain on her head,

"Ouch! Why did you do that?" she looked up and Jack held his fist up in the air,

"that's for being dumb enough to hide it from me!" Raven smiled; the biggest truest smile she had given in a long time.

~0~0~0~

Not long after that, when all the dishes had been done and Jack and Crow had once again gone at each others throats before the blonde retired to his bed for the night, Yusei had begun typing away at the computer on the desk and seemed in another universe. Raven stood by her runner tying back her hair with a ribbon she carried around for the drive back. It was still pouring cats and dogs but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle, 'the storms back in Alturas are ten times worse.' She thought as she finished and flipped her hood over her head.

Crow walked around the corner from the kitchen,

"Where do you think you're going?" he said playfully, though she still felt a chill run down her spine,

"Umm…home? To sleep?" she said confused. Lightning crashed lighting up the streets outside, Crow shook his head and scratched his neck nervously,

"Oh yeah, I meant to ask you this. But would you mind crashing here for the night? The storm is pretty bad out there." He blushed as he said this.

She blushed in return and quickly shook her head, "I-I really shouldn't, I've imposed enough as it is. Besides, a storm like this is nothing compared to what we used to get in Alturas."

"Eh?! But its pitch black out there! Not even an experienced rider like us could ride through that."

Raven laughed, "I'm not afraid of the dark Crow, besides I've got the lightning lighting the way." She picked up her helmet as she said this, slipping it on her head and pushing her runner toward the garage door.

Crow's eyes widened and he ran toward her stopping at the ramp,

"Don't go! Please don't go out there." He pleaded, Raven stared at him. Or more like the look in his eyes, the look that said he was worried, and scared. The same look her parents would give her after she came home from a particularly bad beating.

Sighing she backed up her runner and slipped off her helmet, "Alright, if you're that concerned I will stay." He sighed in relief and nodded,

"Thank you. Let me get you something to sleep in." he said as he quickly ran up the stairs.

She smiled, and went to sit on the couch. 'They're all so nice! It's a little hard to get used too, but I'm glad Jack isn't so scary to me anymore.' She rubbed her head in remembrance of earlier. 'Yusei is really nice too," She stared at the boys back as she thought this, 'he doesn't talk much but I can see in his eyes how much he cares about everyone, Akiza and the twins seem really nice too! Gosh, I've met so many nice people since coming here, and all of this would never have happened if I hadn't met Crow.'

Her heart skipped a beat at the thought of Crow, seeing him smiling in the sunlight as the kids played around him. 'He looked so beautiful then…' she blushed and shook her head, but her heart kept beating fast in her chest she placed her hand over her chest, 'What is this feeling? I don't understand…'

Her thoughts were interrupted as the sound her name being called shook her, she turned,

"Raven, come up here." Crow said from the top, he was smiling and it made her heart beat faster again.

"R-right, coming."

Quickly walking up the stairs she met the red head at the top, he handed her a stack of neatly folded clothes, she must have made a strange face because he laughed and said,

"Don't worry! Those are clean, but they might be a little big on you. We don't have anything much smaller than what I wear. I hope you don't mind…" he said trailing off and scratching his neck again.

She shook her head blushing,

"N-No, I don't mind at all…thank you for going to so much trouble for me…" she bowed a little, which made his face go red.

"T-The bathroom is over there!" he said as he pointed to a door at the far left of the hallway, "You can change in there. I'm gonna crash on the couch since Bruno won't be back tonight, so you can take my room. It's the last door at the end." She nodded and walked past him and through the door.

She made sure to lock it before leaning against it and sighing, she squeezed the clothes he had given her against her chest. Her heart was beating a million miles a minute and she didn't even know why. 'I do know who though.' She thought, 'But it's not a bad feeling I guess…I mean it's nice.' She blushed and shook her head.

Moving the clothes from her hands to the sink she quickly stripped out of her clothes and into what he had given her. The light yellow t-shirt hung off her and the blue sweats she had to tie multiple times just to make sure they stayed firmly on her hips.

All and all she was quite comfy in them, 'Maybe I can get some at the place they call 'the mall.'" She thought happily as she exited the room and into the door across the way, she wasn't paying attention so when she saw what she did she stopped dead her face instantly lighting up a bright shade of red.

Crow stood in front of a small dresser in nothing but a pair of sweats like hers, his back was turned toward her as he reached up to take off his headband and placed it on the dresser. With his gloves off Raven noticed a strange red mark on his arm, it looked like the tail of something…

"Oh! Raven, you scared me." Crow said turning around the same light yellow shirt she wore in his hand. Raven's face turned completely red and she had to turn to keep from fainting completely. 'If I thought his face was beautiful, his body is equally as beautiful!' she thought as visions of his well toned abs consumed her thoughts.

"I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to look." She said shaking from how hard her heart was beating, Crow laughed.

"It's no biggie, I'm done anyway. You can go ahead and get in the bed, I'm gonna get some extra blankets. It's supposed to get cold tonight." Crow walked past her, she quickly placed her clothes on the floor and sat on the bed.

Hearing him walk back in with a pile of blankets he smiled, "These should keep you warm." He said spreading them on the bed, when he turned to walk out Raven did something neither of them was expecting.

"You should sleep in here!" it blurted out so quickly she blushed again; Crow just stared at her with a shocked expression.

"I-I mean I don't want you freeze and your bed is big enough for both of us to sleep. I-If you don't mind…." She suddenly found her hands extremely fascinating as she waited for him to reply.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to be uncomfortable." She nodded still unable to look at his face.

"Well alright then...if you're sure." He walked toward her and she could tell he was scratching the back of his neck again.

"I can take the wall okay?" he said in the gentlest tone she'd heard from him, it made her heart beat increase more. Nodding she stood up so that he could climb in, once he was comfortable she climbed in after him lying on her back and pulling the blankets up to her chin.

She felt him shift slightly up onto his knees, "I'm gonna turn off the lights now." She nodded and the room was filled with pitch darkness. More shuffling next to her then finally a sigh, she felt the warm breath on her shoulder.

She could feel his steel colored eyes on her even through the darkness; it made her heart pound even harder. He must have heard her take a shaky breath, "Are you sure you're alright? I could always jump on the couch."

"Mhm, I'm sure. It makes more s-sense to do it this way. I would feel worse if I not only kicked you out of your bed but you got sick as well." She whispered back,

"alright." He replied, she could feel the concern in his voice. 'Come on Raven! Get it together! Relax! Just think about sleeping!' she coached herself.

"Crow?" she whispered, he hummed in response, "Can we be friends?" she heard him chuckle, 'Oh my gosh, I was supposed to be thinking about sleeping and that's what comes out of my mouth? Great job Raven…' she hid her face under the covers as he continued to laugh.

"Weirdo, we already are! I don't let just anyone meet my family ya know." She peeked out, even though she could only see his outline she could tell he was smiling.

"Really?" she asked tentatively,

"Of course! And the kids seem to love you too so they're your friends too, even Jack has taken a liking to you. So you have lots of friends now." Raven smiled and blinked back tears.

"But you're special…because, you're the first person I've asked on my own. Is that ok? If you're my special first friend?" He gently placed his hand on top of hers,

"Sure! And you can be the first girl I've ever had sleep in my bed." He said playfully.

She giggled before letting out a rather large yawn as the days events took their toll on her, Crow chuckled again, "its bed time for Ms. Sleepy-head." As he went to move his hand away she quickly grabbed it again.

Too tired to blush she asked, "Do you mind…if we just stay like this for a while?" he gripped her hand back in response. Turning towards him she felt her eyes slowly slide closed, muttering a quiet thank you before slipping into the darkness.

~0~0~0~

'Where am I?' Raven thinks as she wanders blindly through the blackness around her,

"Where are you?" She stands stock still as she listens for the voice again,

"Who's there? What's going on?" but no reply comes.

Instead a new sound erupts from the silence, a scream; one of the high pitched bloody-murder type. She covers her ears it's so loud, suddenly the blackness around her is replaced by a blinding light and the blue eyed girl is standing above a child.

Her dark black hair spread out around and her filled with knots, her breathing his labored as she lies shackled on a metal table wearing only a raggedy white dress with blood and dirt stains over it.

"Someone…help me…" she begs quietly, but no savior comes. No knight on a white horse, no hero in a cape. The tired little girl cries in resignation to her fate.

Another more powerful voice echoes around her, the sound so strong it makes Raven cover her ears but still she cannot look away. The child seems to have heard the voice as well as she looks up, her dull empty eyes open a crack.

"What do you seek child?" The girl seems to think about it for a second,

"I want…happiness." The air around the child seems to heat up, turning a bright crimson color.

"For the child who was born without love, I ask that you will be my portal for my Singers. Do this and I shall guide you to the people who will grant your wish. Do you accept?" Raven can feel her heart beat speed up, 'Why does this all seem like something I've seen before?'

The child nods her head,

"I accept, I will help you." Suddenly a crimson aura appears around her and seems to take shape, gliding and winding in a snake like motion. 'I don't want to see this...' Raven thinks as she closes her eyes, but to her horror the vision continues behind her lids.

The serpentine creature shone a bright crimson color; its scales seemed to move like fire about its body. Its wings flared up behind it, but what scared her most was the face of this beast, the eyes shone a blinding yellow light. Like that of looking into the sun, she whimpered as the dragon curled up and sprang towards the small child.

The girl screamed as the beast made contact with her body, forcing its way into her chest. Burning her from the inside out, her blood seemed to boil as she writhed under the snake's force. When finally the last of it had disappeared within the girl she crashed onto the table unconscious.

"Do not forget what I have said; find those who will grant your wish. Then you shall grant mine."

Suddenly a door opened behind the unconscious girl, and in stepped a man with long blonde hair tied back and dark almost black eyes. Raven's breath hitched, she didn't know who this man was but just seeing struck fear deep in her heart.

The man wore a long white lab coat over a blue button up shirt and black slacks, his hands were folded neatly behind his back. The part that had Raven's heart and breathing labored was his smile, it was a smile of true madness. And it froze her to the core.

"N-No! I don't want to be here anymore! Make it stop!" she buried her hands in her hair and shook her head, tears forming and falling within seconds. A new sound however caught her attention, this one more calming, it froze the world around her.

A soft pressure around her and more specifically on her hand, combined with the sound of humming melted the scene around her. She breathed slowly as it faded into darkness once again, the last thing she heard before fading with it was, "Shhh…its ok Raven, its ok."

And there we have it, a little more about Raven here and hopefully everyone remained at least a bit IC. Anywhu...please Read and Review! Helpful comments are always welcome as well!

Till next time! :3