Ever since the night of Starfires dinner, there was a few nights of pizza, and take-out that followed. They were all guilty for leaving the table that night, but none of them had the heart to tell Starfire her cooking was bad. But by the next day, Starfire had been her usual bubbly self. So they let the ordeal fade away. But no one in the team were ready to start preparing meals.

It was three weeks, two bank robberies, and a bomb threat (real bomb included) later, when Logan slammed the to-go menu on the counter.

"It's finally time..." the others looked to him with Starfire smiling.

"It's finally time... to start cooking in this house!" He was fed up with pizza, and tacos, and burgers from popular chains in the city. He wanted 'real' food gosh dang it. He wanted food made with love, even if it was pizza, tacos or burgers. "And I know just what's on tonight's menu."

Starfire happily flew over the counter, then rose up behind the counter with two bags in her hands.

"We are to have 'the spaghetti' friends!"

"Is that what you two have been doing in the kitchen lately?" Cyborg asked from the couch. He was wondering what those two were doing spending odd hours of the day.

Logan waived his hand up "We've been working on more than spaghetti Cy, we just made it through the beginners guide to cooking. And Stars ready to cook."

"And what about you?" Cy grinned.

"Like I said, WE made it through the beginners guide." He replied to his friend with a glare.

That didn't put much confidence in the rest of the team.

"But I promise you guys this," Logan leaned against the couch to look the other three over, "There will be cheesy saucy spaghetti on the table tonight, so be there."

"What about meatballs?"

"... eh..."

"Oh heck NO, dude!"

"I'll go to the store!"

"We shouldn't eat a carb heavy meal before tomorrow morning's training." Robin said sitting on the couch with the newspaper.

Logan smiled, "We shouldn't do a lot of things Robin, but were gonna eat spaghetti tonight. And there's gonna be a plate for you on the table. If you don't eat it, we'll put it in the fridge for you for later. And it'll stay there until you're ready to eat it."

Robin wanted to argue that they should eat light and rest early for tomorrow, but knew that Logan would go through one of his behaviors that instilled minor chaos in the room.

Then Raven rose up with her book and floated to her room. "I'll pass..." This wasn't new, they were used to Raven heading to her room often. So Cyborg looked to his arm terminal and viewed the towers security readings. Robin turned back to the local news of the mornings paper. Starfire began to put away the ingredients that would later be cooked for tonight's dinner. And Logan looked at Raven as she floated threw the open sliding doors of the common room.

-

Raven sat on her bed and opened the book she was just reading in the common room. She couldn't tell how much time passed, due to having her curtains closed at all time of the day. but she knew hours had passed when she made it through a sizable chunk of her book when she heard a knock at the door.

She placed it on her bed, floated to the door and opened it a sliver. On the other side was Cyborg.

"Hey Raven. Logan says dinner's ready. You wanna go to the kitchen?"

"No thanks... I'm not hungry." She could always go down later and get a bite to eat when the others were occupied with other things.

"Are you sure?" he looked worried.

"Yes." Then she closed her door.

She floated back to her bed and continued her book. She tried to concentrate on the inked words that were written on the pages. These past few days had been suffocating. Ever since they moved into the tower, 'someone' had been giving off strong feelings and desires everyday nonstop. Her meditation would have helped a lot more if it wasn't about a certain someone though...

'I knew there was something special about you.'

Why did he have to go and say something like that. She remembered she had smiled at his words. And that upset her for more than one reason. Who did he think he was to be talking like that to her, like he was familiar with her.

'that nice heroine outfit you have'

She was surprised she didn't break a few street lights with his words.

But then... he ignores her. Doesn't talk to her as much since... since Starfire had taken up so much of his time. She remembered after she sent the crowd away the night they all met. She approached the crater, ready to call the 'pedestrians' away, then realized that they looked similar to the costumed heroes she once saw at the Justice League. Despite her being shy, no matter how much she wanted to deny it, she headed to the group of teens. And then Starfire kissed him. She was surprised and embarrassed to be there. She thought she was going to provide help to anyone that was caught in the impact of a meteor. But instead walked into a couple making out.

She closed and lowered her book, before using her magic to return it to her shelf. After a few moments of thinking, she decided to call it early and prepared for bed. After a shower, drying her hair, and a new leotard, she crawled into bed and tried to will herself to sleep.

'Raven... that's a nice name.'

She could feel the warmth on her face, and knew she was blushing.

-

*knock* *knock*

She floated to the door and opened it a sliver. On the other side was Starfire.

"Friend Raven, dinner is the 'hot and ready!' Me and Logan received fair reviews from the boys for last nights spaghetti. And we are confident that tonight's 'enchiladas' will be the 'hit!'"

"No thank you Starfire, you go and enjoy dinner with the boys." Then she closed her door.

-

*knock* *knock*

She floated to the door and opened it a sliver. On the other side was Robin.

"Raven. You haven't been joining us for dinner these past few nights. Is something wrong?"

"No, I'd rather eat when I'm actually hungry, and not on a set schedule." He couldn't argue with that.

"But you are eating, right?"

"Yes, don't worry. I'm not starving myself." She then closed her door

Robin looked at her door for a short time, before turning around and heading back to the common room. He had a feeling that would be her response, but Logan asked him to go anyway. He decided to just do the small favor. He made it back to the common room, then walked over to the kitchen area before sitting at the table.

"She's not coming." He said after a few seconds. He looked around the table and saw that Starfire and Cyborg were picking at their plate. But Logan. He was sitting in his chair, food untouched. On the table, to the chair next to him, sat a plate of food that wouldn't be eaten this evening. He took a breath, then started to eat his dinner. He didn't want to look at Logan, he mentioned to him that Raven would most likely decline to join them. Just like she said no yesterday, and the evenings before then. But Logan wouldn't take the hint. She wanted to be left alone. But he kept serving her a plate, then later return it back to the pot when she didn't show up.

'I plan to not only make this a team, but a family'

Maybe some of us don't want to be a family...

-

"… Star?"

Starfire turned from her mixing bowl in the kitchen. "Yes Logan?"

He hand been placing their dinner in Tupperware to marinate in the late morning, when a thought occurred to him.

"Have you been spending time with the others?" He asked.

She looked confused before answering "I have not. Robin has been busy doing the workout, and Cyborg has been spending more time in the garage… As for Raven , well…" she hesitated to continue. "I believe that she does not care for my company" she finally said with her head down.

He wanted to tell her that wasn't how Raven felt, but he didn't really know. And he wouldn't lie to her to make her feel better. But as for him, she was spending a lot of time with him. So he closed the fridge, and turned to her.

"... Can you do me a favor Star?" She placed the mixing bowl onto the counter, and gave him her full attention.

"Yes Logan?" She asked excitedly.

"Can you spend more time with the others?" She did not expect him to make a request about their friends. Hoping that she wouldn't take his favor as a way to get rid of her, he explained. "The others, their very special to us, right?" She nodded. "And sometimes they can, get lost in their hobbies, they sometimes forget that were here for them."

"OH, you are asking me to spend the 'quality time' with our friends. So that they are reminded that they have others who care for them, yes?" She caught on quick.

He smiled. "Exactly, Star. I cant hog you all to myself, now can I?"

She didn't understand how you 'hog' someone, but that would be just another thing she would ask Logan at a later time.

"Oh, I just remembered! Have you heard of the 'Mall of shopping' Logan?"

"Yeah Star."

"Can we please venture to there? I wish to see the people and the shops."

"I'm not sure the others would like to go, the mall doesn't seem like their thing you know."

"… would it be possible for the two of us to go…?"

He looked at her, and the shy smile that grabbed her features. Everything told him that she really wanted him to go with her, and never one to hurt her, he smiled and nodded his head.

"Sure Star. We'll ask Cyborg about getting us some clothes so we're less obvious to the crowd." She squealed and after giving him a quick hug, zoomed out of the Kitchen to go tell Cyborg.

She just stopped herself from colliding with Raven, who had to stop and concentrate after Star had such a sharp emotional reaction to Logan.

"I'm sorry friend Raven, but I must get ready for Logan and myself to go to the mall of shopping.' I would invite you friend, but I know that such a place would not be your 'scene.'" Then she continued to head out the double doors.

Raven balanced herself, before looking to Logan who was standing in the kitchen.

"Hi Raven…"

"…hi," she said as she went to make herself a cup of tea.

"Me and Star are going to the mall later… you're more than welcome to come."

"… I didn't get that feeling from Starfire. No thanks, you two have fun on your date."

She didn't see Logan scrunch his face at her words. 'Date?' He decided to ignore her last comment.

"I haven't seen you at dinner these past few days, is everything all right?"

"Yes, everything's alright. I already told Robin that. And as for dinner, I prefer to eat alone."

"Why?" She looked at him like he was butting into her business, which he was. "Because I don't want to eat with the team."

"Why don't you want to eat with us, or spend time around us?

"Because I want to be left ALONE!" She stated slowly yet loud and firm. She hoped we would get the picture and leave her alone. With her tea done, she began to float out of the room.

"I made a plate for you last night…" she slowed down some.

"I made a plate for you the day before too…" she finally stopped.

"I'll make you one tonight, and every night after today."

She wanted to blush, but she also wanted to throttle him.

"Stop it!" She calmed down her emotions, "Whatever it is you're doing, stop trying to get me involved. I'm not going to be this lady that sits by your side or comes to you just so you can feel good about yourself. Isn't one enough for you?"

"… I just want to be your friend Raven." He spoke softly.

"Well I don't want to be yours." She bit back.

"It's not healthy Raven, eventually… you'll need people. You'll need someone to make life worth living. You… you just can't see that right now."

Now she was angry, angry enough to vibrate the kitchen counters that let their contents shake and rattle. This guy, this stranger who smiled at her and said nice things to get her defenses down, was lecturing her about needing people.

"I came here to do good with the powers bestowed to me, I don't need people. I don't need someone, and I especially don't need you."

*swoosh*

Cyborg entered the common room and looked to the two.

"Is everything alright?" He asked.

Raven just floated right past him, most likely heading to her room. She didn't say a word, and the living room of the tower was quiet. Cyborg looked to Logan "what happened?"

Logan looked and stared at the double doors. "We're not on the same page right now."

Cyborg was confused, but decided not to get involved. He lifted his arm over his shoulder with a hitch hikers fist pointing towards the hallway.

"I just got finished with talking to Starfire, and there's a few boxes of basic clothes provided by the city, in the event we'd like to head out on the town undercover. Starfire took the one for the ladies, which leaves you with the hoodie pull-up or blazer. Try to have her back before ten mister" he laughed at the end, before heading outside to do who knows what.

Logan continued to stand there, still confused by Ravens and Cyborg's jabs.

—-

They were looking at him, expecting an explanation for her behavior. Not like it was any of their business.

"She's a foreign exchange student…"

That seemed to settle their curiosity, so they continued on their way down the main isle of Jump City Mall. He looked over to the 'build a bear' workshop where Star was oohing and ahhing at the display.

"We must return Logan and do the construction of the cloth bear!" Then another store front caught her attention, and she almost flew to the window.

Sometime later, they continued on down the isle. Her with a bucket hat and tinted shades to hide her identity. And him with a pair of glasses… how original. He could see from the corner of his eye that she was shifting, and looking around them to the people walking in both directions. She seemed nervous.

"Is something on your mind?" He slowed down, in case she wanted to stop.

"… Logan?" With just his name, she was asking him something. So he stopped, turned to her and nodded.

She looked around at the people again, before putting on a somewhat brave face.

"May we hold hands… for the rest of our trip to the mall?" She finally asked. And with some confidence, she held out her hand to him. He looked down at it.

She was nervous. No, she was afraid. Afraid that he'd say no. That despite all the kindness that he showed her, the thought of touching an alien would upset him. He then began to drift away from her.

She looked to Logan. He had done such things since she first met him. She wanted to ask him where his mind was going, but friend Cyborg told her it's best to give Logan privacy until he was ready to share his troubles.

"… I can't remember the last time I... really held someone…" in his eyes, she saw the truth to his words. She was held by her mother, her father and those that loved her on Tamaran. But it seemed as though Logan had not been given the same love and kindness. So she stepped forward and reached out to him.

He was lost in thought, when he felt strong yet delicate fingers intertwined with his. They were warm and caring, but... it wasn't Starfire. It was a feeling that was familiar and he was brought back to… somewhere. Somewhere where there was an end to something.

"OH MY GOD, IT'S STARFIRE!" "Hey look!"

Separating from one another, Logan and Starfire turned to the crowd, fearing that their cover was blown. But they found the crowd looking upward. They both looked up to see a young lady flying overhead towards the tower.

"Blackfire?"