Chapter 7

She had presented him with earplugs before bed, but the damned things didn't seem to work.

Raven had been correct when she said it was only on a particular side that she snored on, and thankfully, she had fallen asleep on the opposite. It was just after two in the morning when she had shifted in her sleep, and the roaring began. It was cute, at first, in a weird, demonic kind of way, and Beast Boy believed it to be only a minor nuisance. However, after the walls had more or less been vibrating for an hour, the novelty and anything cute about the situation had worn off.

Taking drastic action, Beast Boy decided to roll her over. He deduced that this would be the best way to stop her from snoring while still keeping her asleep. She seemed like a heavy sleeper, and really, how hard could it be?

Ever the gentleman, Beast Boy would never admit to anyone (especially the empath- he liked living, after all) that pregnant women were HEAVY and that trying to roll her over had perhaps been a mistake.

In the end, he found himself back on the couch. This time, however, he decided to be a little more strategic with the arrangement and made sure he put the TV on and had a game controller close to his body before drifting off into a dreamless sleep.

The smell of coffee woke him up. It had a faint burnt-like smell that made Beast Boy think it had been sitting on the burner for quite some time. He checked his watch, expecting it to be a little past five, but was pleasantly surprised to see it was just after six thirty.

Shifting his body, he felt a slight chill as his blanket rolled off the couch onto the floor. He reached down to grab back the fuzzy material but froze with a start. He did not bring a blanket from his room last night; it was what got him into trouble only yesterday morning with the suspicious boy blunder poking about. Panicked, he wrestled open his eyes and balked when he saw what was in his hands. It was no ordinary blanket he held- this was Raven's blanket. It was Raven's favourite blanket. It was given to her by Beast Boy a couple of Christmases ago and the only thing he had ever given her that she seemed to like. She pulled it out only when the weather was cool and only then was it just for herself -even though it lived in the communal corner of Ops. He still remembers the slap she gave him the one (and only) time he had dared to try and put it around his shoulders on one particularly cold night. He was just starting to get into her good graces and there was no way he was going to give it up over a tiny detail such as a chill. So why on earth did he have it on him?

Folding it carefully, Beast Boy slunk over to the corner of Ops, ready to hide the evidence. His eyes darted back and forth, expecting intrusion, but when none came, he gently put the blanket in its home and held back a whistle as he walked away.

Only seconds later, Robin walked into Ops, a newspaper under his arm and an empty cup in his hand. He gave Beast Boy a tight smile before pouring another round of caffeine into his mug.

"Another night on the couch, Beast Boy?"

Beast Boy mentally groaned. Robin had wasted no time on his interrogation this morning. "Yeah, man I-"

He stopped mid-sentence as a note on the counter caught his eye. He recognized the elegant swirl of the handwriting, and he couldn't help the wide smile that came to his lips.

"What's this?" he said, plucking the paper and holding it up for Robin to see.

"That?" Robin asked, taken aback by the rapid change of topic. He squinted for a second, reading the note quickly. "That's a note from Raven. She and I spoke briefly this morning and I've given her permission to visit those kids of hers. She said she needed a few days off missions to recover from healing you." The accusatory tinge to his voice did not go unnoticed by the changeling, but Beast Boy was too excited to dwell on it.

"This is fantastic!" he exclaimed, punching the air. He quickly skimmed over the note, verifying what Robin had just said, and confirming that she would be off for seven days.

"Seven days!" he said, laughing out loud, "Perfect! It's perfect!" He gave an overjoyed look toward Robin, who stared at him, mystified by his strange behavior.

"When did you see her? How did she seem?" he asked, practically glowing.

"She was fine. She brought me a coffee before I headed to the evidence room for research." His eyebrow raised under his mask, "Beast Boy, what is with you? Why are you so happy Raven has left? Has something happened?"

"No, no nothing has happened, Rob! Nothing at all! I will explain all soon! Very soon!" Gleefully, he started racing towards his room when he abruptly stopped and looked towards the blanket he had just put away.

"So, Raven put the coffee on," he said, eyes still on the blanket. "This is the first time you've been in Ops this morning." He waited for a beat before turning his head towards his teammate.

Robin frowned at the statement. It wasn't a question, and he was probably starting to wonder what the significance of it all was. "Yeees," he answered, stretching out the word.

"Huh," was all Beast Boy gave back in reply. His eyes went back to the blanket as if attracted by a magnet.

Both stood silent, lost in their thoughts. Beast Boy stared at Raven's blanket and Robin stared at Beast Boy.

It was Robin who finally broke the silence. "Beast Boy," he said very slowly as if he was about to admonish a small child. "What's-"

"Eight o'clock. Right here." Beast Boy interrupted, his eyes still away from his leader. "Make sure Cy and Star are here." His smile was back on his face, and he turned to Robin, "I've got something you're all going to want to see."

With a twist of his lithe body, he briskly walked out the door towards his room. Punching in the keycode, the door gave a slight swoosh as it opened.

Just as he had expected, Raven sat at his desk, one hand on one of his comics, the other rubbing her large belly. Beast Boy couldn't help the grin that crept onto his face at such a sight. And if his heart did a strange kind of flutter, he didn't acknowledge it.

"Guess who's left the tower?" He beamed.

It was 8:15 when Beast Boy strode into Ops, a sly grin on his lips and a twinkle in his eye. He had spent the last hour and a half with the future Raven, and he couldn't remember the last time he had had so much fun just sitting and talking with someone.

He had gone back to the café to get Raven her daily dose of pastries and tea. She had added scones to her mammoth list, and Beast Boy had to shift into a much bigger bird on his way home. While she was eating, he regaled her with a play-by-play of his disastrous training session from the day before (what he could remember of it), and she had even seemed to find him funny when he described his inner monologue while he was in the shark-infested waters.

With her looking to be in a good mood, he thought to push his luck and attempted to play the game of What is the Future like? A game of his own invention, it consisted of no rules, but rather, he would ask mildly innocent questions about life in ten years, and she would give him mildly exasperating responses in return. After replying "I can't say" as to whether Cyborg ever makes his Turducken dish that he's been threatening to make for Beast Boy's birthday, Beast Boy got creative and started to ask about pizza robots and Robin with a mullet. He had even managed to make her laugh when he asked about the world being taken over by talking vegan cheesesteaks.

Raven had then confessed to reading some of his comics while she was bored the day before, and they got into a lively discussion about the rise in popularity of comics, graphic novels, and manga and why they would appeal to a young audience. This led to a discussion about the comic run she had picked up (which happened to be his favourite from the 1980s) and why it was considered one of the best of its time.

He was having such a good time discussing the decline in the storylines and the lackluster art near the end of the run when he happened to notice the time. Panicked, he grabbed her hand and dragged her along the halls of the tower to the doors to Ops. He had left her there, hiding behind the door, awaiting his signal.

His friends were all in the kitchen, as he knew they would be. Starfire was happily chatting to Robin while putting some weird jelly substance into Silkie's food bowl. Robin was nodding along to his girlfriend while sipping his coffee and reading the paper, and Cyborg was frying bacon and ham and probably getting ready for his and Beast Boy's daily meat vs. tofu breakfast debate.

The smell of the meat made Beast Boy wrinkle his nose in disgust, but he pushed away his reactive banter. Instead, he planted a big grin on his face and gave a loud, dramatic cough to get the attention of his teammates.

Curious eyes turned to him instantly.

Under their gaze, he felt himself falter a little. He hadn't thought about how he was going to introduce the older Raven, and if he was being honest with himself, he was a little reluctant to share this secret with them. Once they knew of her existence, there would be no more trips to the café, no more hiding in his bedroom and talking comic books, no more of her small smiles just for him that made him slightly weak at the knees…

Nope. He had to do this. He was a superhero and selfishness was never the path to take when you wear a cape. Or a tight-fitting jumpsuit that showed off your amazing abs and full biceps. When you get them. Whatever. The point was he had to come clean with his teammates.

"So….Ummm... I have something to tell you all." He took a breath and closed his eyes as if to prepare himself for the aftermath of his announcement. He opened them again, met everyone's eye, and carried on. "Now, don't freak out, but I've had someone stay in my room the last couple of nights."

His teammates were silent. Eyebrows were raised and jaws were dropped.

The silence went on for almost a full minute before his words caught up with him, and he smacked himself on the head, "I mean- um- it's not like that! I mean, it is … but it isn't, and once you see who it is, you will completely understand. I think. Just stay calm, okay? Starfire, I mean it. Just. Stay. Calm. Raven? You can come out now."

A moment passed, and Raven didn't show.

"Beast Boy, what kind of prank is this? Raven left this morning. I saw her leave." Robin was the first to admonish him. No surprises there.

Beast Boy gave a nervous chuckle, "Just wait and see. She's behind this door." He gave a knock to the metal and called out her name again.

Nothing.

"Raven…." He said in a lowered voice through gritted teeth, "Ome-Cay On-Ay"

Still nothing.

A bead of sweat gathered at his brow, and Beast Boy could hear Robin muttering under his breath while Cyborg tapped his fingers along the countertops. Starfire, to her credit, remained silent.

Slightly panicked and more than a little bit annoyed, Beast Boy slammed his fists against the door controls and practically wrenched apart the door as it slid open to reveal-

An empty hallway.

He gaped at the carpet where she had stood. Was it a minute ago? Two? Three? It was this hallway-right? Right?!

"Raeeeveennn!" he called, looking up and down the walls as if she might be concealed in the paint.

He spun to face his friends. "She-she was right here! I told her to wait right here!" he dithered, eyeing the walls again.

Starfire floated over to Beast Boy and put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "You did take a rather large bump to the head yesterday, Beast Boy. Perhaps you are in the need of some more rest?"

He shook his head in disbelief. "No! No! Raven, an older Raven was right here! She's- she's from the future and she told me that she needed my help to get back to her time and to do that she needed Raven, our Raven to leave the tower and she needs to wait for a full moon to get a flower to conduct the ceremony and… and…" He had spoken so quickly he had run out of breath and had to take a second to collect himself.

From the corner of his eye, he could see Robin and Cyborg exchange a look of concern.

"Alright, BB. Why don't I make you some nice tofu eggs, and you can sit down for a bit," Cyborg calmly said.

"Yeah, Beast Boy. Maybe a rest is a good idea," Robin said in a caring, un-Robin-like way.

Cyborg is willing to handle tofu? Robin being nice to me? They must think I'm delusional.

"Guys! I'm telling the truth! A Raven from the future is here, and she's been staying in my room!"

"Uhh huh, Beastie," Cyborg was now by his side and ushering him towards the couch. Patting him on the shoulder as Beast Boy sat, he nodded toward Starfire and moved closer to his leader. Taking the cue, Starfire flew next to Beast Boy and put her hand on his knee. The look she gave him was reminiscent of the look she gave Silkie the time he chewed through Cyborg's vintage vinyl record collection and had a stomachache. It was also the look she gave Cyborg once he realized the wormy bastard had spat up his mint-conditioned copy of the White Album.

"Rob, I'm gonna fire up the CT, maybe even the MRI. Watch him a sec, okay?" Cyborg whispered to Robin.

This was getting a little ridiculous. Did they not realize he knew what they were doing? He did not need to be humoured or mollycoddled, and he certainly was NOT going back to the damn infirmary again.

"Seriously guys, I'm not kidding! Raven was here she was-"

"Okay, Beast Boy, just settle down. Do you want to watch some TV? Maybe we can all watch one of your zombie shows," Robin quietly said.

That was the last straw. Under no regular circumstance was Robin ever going to offer to watch Zombies take Manhattan with Beast Boy.

Jumping up, he shifted into a lion and gave a mighty ROAR that made the Titans stop and gape at him. He shook his great, green mane and pierced them with his most menacing, feline stare.

"DUDES!" He shouted after morphing back to himself, "LISTEN TO ME!"

His jaw set tight, he eyed them all with slitted eyes. "Raven from the future was here!" he bellowed. "She is trapped in this time and needs to get back to her life in the future." He softened as he saw the confused expressions on his teammate's faces. "It's her."

It was silent as the Titans contemplated this strange set of events.

Robin was the first to break the somber silence, "Even if we were to believe you, Beast Boy, how do you know it's actually Raven and not some villain trying to infiltrate our ranks?"

His words should have stung as the memory of Terra was still a wound he hadn't healed from yet, but he couldn't be mad at Robin, not really. As leader, it was his job to stay vigilant, and Beast Boy's past record wasn't without its complications. As much as he had issues with the guy, Beast Boy knew his words held no malice but came from a place of concern for his team.

"No, man," he replied to his leader. "This is legit. It's her. She's… she's awesome." His eyes drifted up and became glassy, and without realizing it, his head had tilted to the side, and a dopey grin fell upon his face.

"She's super powerful and more in touch with her emotions. She laughs! She honestly does! She's still incredibly kind and beautiful and she's… she's…"

"-She's right behind you," a voice interrupted.

Beast Boy jerked his head around, and low and behold, the empath stood- Late to her party.

Beast Boy's eyebrows came down in a scowl, and he stomped towards her. Without a word, he turned back to his teammates (who were now stupefied) and gestured so widely at the empath that Vanna White would have been proud.

"Hello, Titans," Raven said, giving her younger teammates a tiny smile and ignoring the glares from the green changeling beside her. Without taking her gaze away from the others, under her breath she uttered, "A lion, really?" which was clearly meant for Beast Boy but was easily heard by the rest of the group.

"Sorry, but somebody missed their cue," he retaliated, crossing his arms and not bothering to whisper.

"Well, somebody had to go to the washroom," she said through clenched teeth.

"Well, that somebody should've gone before we left for the common room," he clapped back.

"If someone would have told somebody where they were going, maybe they wouldn't have had to make a detour." Raven turned towards Beast Boy, the other teammates forgotten and the whisper turning into a low growl.

"Ha!" he exclaimed loudly with a smile, "Someone did tell somebody this morning! Just before someone got them their breakfast!"

"No, that's NOT what happened. Someone only said that somebody's double had left and that we would be telling the others today! They didn't specify an exact time frame as to when this was happening! How is somebody supposed to know what someone else is thinking?"

They stood only a foot apart now, both arms folded over their chests, shoulders hunched, breathing hard through their noses and staring daggers at the other.

"Well…" Beast Boy said with as much malice as he could muster, ready to defend his honor to the bitter end, "If some…."

His accusation stood in the air, waiting to drop…

And waited.

Raven lifted a questioning eyebrow.

And she waited.

Beast Boy gave her one last icy look, took a deep breath as if ready to bark out an insult… and then slumped his shoulders down in defeat. "I can't remember if I'm the someone or the somebody.

Raven gave him a look before smacking herself on the forehead and muttering, "Azar," under her breath. She shook her head at him, but Beast Boy could detect the twinkle of laughter in her eye.

He was just about to retort when a high shriek pierced his ears. Raven and Beast Boy turned to the commotion; they had forgotten they had an audience.

Starfire was upon them in seconds.

"It is you! It is most definitely Raven! Only our Raven could argue with Beast Boy in such a manner!" She gleefully hugged the empath, who had to steady herself as the force of the hug had thrown her off balance.

"Thank you, K-Starfire. I can assure you; it really is me. Just a little older," she said, awkwardly patting the top of Starfire's head.

"Told you to stay calm, Star," Beast Boy muttered under his breath as he made room for the alien. She was well-known for her spinning hugs which would usually leave the recipient dizzy and adornments around the tower broken.

"This is most glorious!" Starfire gleefully exclaimed as she floated next to a wobbly Raven. "You must tell us everything! We wish to assist you in any way we can!"

Raven gratefully smiled at her friend, "Thanks, Star. I appreciate it."

Cyborg was next to approach the empath. "Can't believe our little Raven is all grown up," he said with a smile. Cyborg's eye glistened in what Beast Boy interpreted as brotherly affection as he watched his friend wrap his large arms around the small woman. "Just say the word, and I'll be there, little lady."

Only Robin stayed on the other side of the room, his skeptical glare boring a hole through his friends. "How can we be certain that you are actually Raven from the future? What proof do you have?" Robin questioned with a scowl.

Beast Boy tensed, ready to defend Raven's integrity. He knew that of all his teammates, Robin would be the one who wouldn't accept Raven until he had completed a thorough investigation consisting of the gathering of evidence, an interview, and possibly even a strip search. But Raven nodded as if she had expected this reaction from the boy.

"Robin," she said, walking towards him. "We share a bond, you and I. With your permission, can I…" she trailed off, watching his reaction.

Robin's scowl seemed to deepen but he slowly nodded.

Raven took two more steps, placed her hands on his shoulders, and closed her eyes.

The other Titans watched, as with each second that passed, Robin's frown gently transformed. His thin-lipped glower softened to that of pleasant surprise- evident even behind his dark mask. Raven opened her eyes, lowered her hands, and seemed to watch him with knowing eyes. Seemingly stunned, he looked at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. Then he did something that surprised everyone, including the empath- he wrapped his arms around her and held her in a tight embrace.

Cyborg and Starfire let out audible sighs as Robin tucked the older woman further into him. Despite the years, Robin was still taller than Raven, and both the alien and bionic man gave low chuckles at the sight.

Beast Boy, however, did not join in their laughter. Instead, Beast Boy felt a fiery wave of emotions hit him as he watched the embracing pair. The blaze seemed to burn in his chest and made his mouth dry, his temperature rise, and his head spin. With this came a flash of anger, and he had to hold himself back as it felt as if the animals inside him wanted to get out his claws to rip them apart. From, there, they would not be satisfied until they had torn Robin's limbs from his body in a bloody mess.

Just as he was about to give into his instinctual rage, Raven stepped out of Robin's arms, and the look they gave each other stopped Beast Boy in his tracks. It was such a serene look of calm, trust, and understanding that his body jolted as if he had been physically punched in the gut. The heat he felt was snuffed out as fast as a lone candle on a birthday cake, and in its place was a coldness and a sore ache that made him hunch slightly into himself.

The others didn't seem to notice his roller coaster of emotions as they surrounded the empath and started talking at once. Only Raven eyed him curiously before being bombarded with questions and shuffled towards the kitchen.

Of course. Of course, it was him. How could he ever think otherwise? It wasn't enough that there were at least twenty times more fan clubs dedicated to him than any other Titan. It wasn't enough to be Batman's protégé, and it wasn't enough to have a girlfriend like Starfire. Just when Beast Boy was starting to think… It didn't matter. That look he just saw told him everything he needed to know about the future.

He hunched even lower into himself, and he felt his ears droop. He really did think that maybe, just maybe… But of course not. He was kidding himself.

He shuffled his feet and started to make his way out of Ops and back to his room. He had done everything she had asked him to do so far, and it was time someone else stood up to the plate. Someone she would probably want more, he thought, his positive attitude from before having melted away.

He paused on his way to the door to take one last look at his friends. Echoes of the conversation, previously tuned out, now came to him full throttle.

"How did you get here? Is there an enemy we need to be aware of?" Robin asked.

"I can see you are carrying a bumgorf! I am most excited for you! How many months do you have until the birthing?" Starfire gleefully inquired.

"I knew there was nothing wrong with my systems! You came when we were battling Plasmus, right?" Cyborg probed.

"Have you come to warn us? Are we in danger?"

"I see you wear the band of matrimony on your finger. Can you tell us who your life partner is?"

"I bet the tech you have is crazily advanced! What breakthroughs have happened in nanotechnology?'"

Although Raven's face remained calm throughout the barrage of questions, Beast Boy could see her finger clicking nervously at her thigh and a small bead of sweat gathering at her brow. He breathed in, and under the disgusting smell of roasting flesh (no doubt the bacon and ham Cyborg was frying earlier), he could detect the faint scent of panic.

"Enough!" he shouted without thinking. "Can't you see that she needs her space? Geez, guys." His boots hit the floor hard as he marched towards the group.

The three younger Titans looked at each other guiltily. They had practically surrounded the empath in their eagerness, and she did indeed look like a cornered animal about to be put up for slaughter. They took a few steps back and murmured apologies as Beast Boy brought out a stool and waved at Raven to sit down. She said nothing to him, but the gratitude in her eyes was evident as he helped her into her seat.

They were in the kitchen area now, and Beast Boy moved to put away some of the dirty dishes that his friends had left out. They weren't his mess, but if truth be told, he was a little embarrassed for his friends and he felt the urge to move his hands.

He could feel her eyes follow him as he stacked the dishwasher. He turned to the pan that had held the meat, ready to give it a soak, and out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw her nose wrinkle ever so slightly.

Before he could process this information, the rest of his friends had silently and meekly joined them.

Beast Boy put down the dirty dishes and took a minute to glower at each one of the perpetrators. "Raven will answer as many questions as she can, but remember, she can't divulge too much information about the future, got it?" He saw Raven tilt her head slightly at him, and he knew it was due to his using the word divulge. He lifted his eyebrow as if to say, See? I listen.

Her eyes shimmered in amusement for a quick moment before she cleared her throat and looked at the others. "What Beast Boy says is correct. I know you are all curious about the future, but the complexity of time travel is notorious. While I do not know if there would be consequences to any knowledge I may divulge," her gaze flicked to Beast Boy for a fraction of a second, "I feel it best to err on the side of caution. Therefore, I can tell you only minimal, inconsequential details of what is to come."

It was silent while everyone took it in. Slowly, all the Titans nodded in subdued understanding.

"We trust your judgment, Raven," Robin said for the team.

"Thank you," Raven said quietly.

"Well! If this isn't a cause for celebration, I don't know what is! I'm getting out the good meat!" Cyborg jubilantly cried as he made his way to the fridge. "Ohh! I've got some Canadian bacon that I've been-"

"Not necessary," Raven quickly interrupted in an almost panic.

"Ya! You've already eaten some poor, murdered animal this morning! Do you really need more?" Beast Boy threw his arms up in irritation.

"C'mon salad head, it's not just for me! Raven is growing a tiny human! She needs all the meaty protein she can get!"

Beast Boy frowned at his best friend as he pulled out a new pan and started to whistle as he turned on the stove. The bacon sizzled as Cyborg threw it on, and the smell emulating from it made Beast Boy take a few steps away in repulsion.

"Cyborg, actually I no longer-" Raven started.

"Let's add a nice steak to the meal as well!" Cyborg threw a hefty steak on the pan. The air was starting to get thick with the aroma of grilled pork and beef. Beast Boy rolled his eyes and did his best to block out the odor.

"No really Cyborg, I-"

"Please, Raven, can you tell us how many weeks of gestation you have left?" Starfire asked, repeating her earlier question.

"And how long you are going to stay? I don't need to worry about you giving birth in the Tower or anything?" Robin hurriedly asked.

"Oh yes! I would love to be there for the birthing! I can sing the song of delivery to you as you push your bumgorf into the world!"

"Now, now, Starfire, I'm sure that won't be necessary, will it, Raven?"

"Yum, let's get that ham out again!"

Raven was starting to look a little pale.

"Starfire, that is very kind, but I'm- I'm seven months, and assuming all goes smoothly… and it doesn't matter, I should only be here a few days and… and.." she took a flustered breath and winced. "Cyborg, I appreciate the gesture, however-"

"What do you need to get back? Is there a spell? What can we help with?"

"Indeed, we will do whatever it takes to get you and your bumgorf back to your time."

"Better put on a napkin, Rae! This steak is gonna be JUICY!"

Beast Boy felt helpless as the colour started draining from Raven's face. "Raven?" he said, moving fast towards her. "Are you okay? Take a deep breath! In through the nose, out of the mouth."

She shook her head and started to sway on the stool. Instinctively, Beast Boy grabbed her shoulder to hold her steady.

"Does she need something?"

"Perhaps a handful of Zorkaberries will help!"

"She needs a nice meal in her stomach! I have ham, I have bacon, I have steak! She'll feel as right as rain once she's eaten these up!"

Raven shook her head again, this time more forcefully, and Beast Boy had to practically hold her up.

"Raven, look at me." Beast Boy was only inches away from her face, and her pallid complexion was starting to alarm him. "What is wrong? What can we do?"

Raven blinked at him in a way that reminded Beast Boy of a drunk who had one too many and was about to pass out.

"Rae! Please, you're scaring me!" he said desperately.

She nodded, her head bobbing up and down as if in tempo with the bass of a badly timed rock song.

"Raven, please. I'm begging you. Tell us what you need," he clutched at her shoulders and didn't even try to hide the panic he was now feeling.

"Ga-Beast Boy," she started, but couldn't finish as she violently shook her head from side to side and squeezed her eyes shut. Opening them, she gave Beast Boy an intense stare that made the anxiety on her face even more pronounced. She opened her mouth as if to speak…and threw up all over him.

Author's Note:

Okay, Okay, so I know it sounds like it isn't real, but I can assure you that pregnant women WILL throw up at the smell of the strangest of things. Trust me.

Next week, the aftermath of the vomiting and Beast Boy takes a minute to ponder things. Let me know what you think!