The next few weeks were tense and yet Raven could not understand why. She had called Robin soon after talking to Cyborg but he hadn't picked up. That was in itself odd, but he could very well be busy and the conversation may not have been important. With a shrug she had gone on with her day.

Over the next week she began to worry. It was unlike Robin to ignore his communicator. Even when she was able to reach him, it always seemed that he had something else he had to do. She barely got a hello out of him before he was signing off. She knew something was wrong, something was off. She felt it very faintly through the connection she held with Robin, and yet she did not know how to identify the problem. It was causing her frustrations to no end.

Added to this was the fact that she had to call the kids and tell them they had to postpone their visit for the holidays. Long before her move to Titans East, Raven and the team had invited Melvin and the other children to the West Tower for the holidays. With everything going on Raven had forgotten. It wasn't that she didn't trust her team to watch the kids, not really. It was more the fact that she knew how to work with them best and how to keep the discipline in check with the fun. They responded best to her. And if she was really honest with herself, she was possessive of the small crew. Those were her kids and she would be damned if her team got to spend the holidays with them if she could not be there. That phone call had been the worst and put Raven in a foul mood. To hear the disappointment and the understanding had been heart wrenching. Raven had ended the call by promising them an extended Christmas when she was back at Titans West. All in all, the week had been draining and Raven needed a little pick me up. A knock came on her door and Raven gave an irritated sigh. It looked like she would need to wait. Sometimes being the leader was a real pain.

She was already extremely irritated when she opened her door to reveal Speedy's smiling face. "Hey Rae."

Somewhere in the back of her mind she registered that Speedy had just called her by her name. Normally she would have been confused at the seriousness of the normally comedic Titan, but today she was just too tired. "Shouldn't you be out somewhere?" Raven leaned against the door and crossed her arms.

To a casual observer she would have looked slightly irritated and a little bored. Speedy was hardly a casual observer. He had spent months trying to figure out this enigma before him. He had been mapping emotions, moods, and looks all in an attempt to understand this woman. There was something about her, something strong and yet completely vulnerable at the same time and Speedy felt the need to protect that at any cost.

He had noticed the tension and strain around her mouth the last few days. On others he would not be so concerned, but with Raven it was different. This was someone who spent her life trying, and succeeding, to control her emotions and reactions. When she actually showed the emotions, even a slight change, it was a serious thing and Speedy had decided that he could not stand to see that tension any more. He leaned back with his hands in his back pockets and smiled.

"I am exactly where I should be."

Raven rolled her eyes. "Cheesy pick up lines don't work with me Casanova. What do you want?"

Speedy placed his hands on his heart. "You wound me Princess."

There was no comment from Raven just a raised eyebrow to tell him to get on with it. Speedy grinned and put his hands down. "And that line isn't cheesy. Do you know how many dates I have gotten with it?"

"I don't think I want to. Now get to the point."

"Hey can't a friend want to spend some time with another friend."

Raven cast him a skeptical look. "Of course. But you have never wanted to before."

Speedy smiled at her. "Doesn't mean I don't like your company, or that I'm not willing to try. I mean we get along in the group so conceivably we would get along on our own. What do you say?" His face grew serious. "Besides, something is bothering you and you could stand to get out of the tower for a bit."

Raven stared at him, slightly shocked. She had expected the humor and the smile and jokes, but not the honesty. Few were blunt with her. They might know she needed a break but they would go about getting her to agree in subtle ways. Robin was probably the only one to actually call her on her moods, but that was rare. Cy had been known to on occasion but he usually went for the joking method or the subtle approach. The shock was enough to make her pause in her answer. Normally she would have shot it down already, but something about his eyes stopped her.

Speedy saw the hesitation and spoke softly. "I promise, no questions Rae. You can talk if you want, but I won't push. Sometimes the best solution to a problem is to get away from it for awhile."

Had he said anything else, she probably would have said no but there was concern and soft tones, and something in her wanted a friend she could possibly confide in here. Emotions she had been trying to control began to bubble to the surface. Before she could change her mind, Raven nodded her head once and Speedy's face split into a huge grin. As he grabbed her hand she began to doubt her sanity as they headed for the garage.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"You want me to what?" Raven threw Speedy a disbelieving look.

There stood Speedy holding out a helmet for her. "What? Don't you trust me?"

Raven blinked. "Of course. I just don't trust you on that thing."

Speedy tossed the helmet to her which she caught on instinct. "Come on Rae. I have never crashed, never had any broken bones, and you say you trust me…." Speedy reached out a hand and softly said, "…so trust me."

Raven looked at the extended hand for long moments. Nothing in her face or body betrayed what she was thinking and feeling at that moment. After long minutes ticked by Raven slowly reached out a hand to Speedy. His returning grin lit up his whole face and Raven felt her breath catch just a bit. As she settled on the bike behind him and adjusted the helmet she shook her head trying to clear the feeling. The bike roared to life and Raven instinctually grabbed Speedy. She could feel his laughter and Raven felt herself smile just a bit but she couldn't let Speedy get away with the last word.

"You know that last line was so cheesy."

His voice was faint over the sound of the motor. "Yeah, but it got you on the bike so it worked didn't it."

Before Raven could respond the bike ripped forward and the two were gone.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

At first Raven concentrated on not dying. She would squeeze her eyes shut as Speedy wove through traffic cutting too closely to cars and trucks. The wind rushed over her and again she felt a breathless sensation consume her body. It was that sensation that got her to open her eyes. It was exhilarating. Speedy could feel her relax behind him. Her grip loosened and she began to move fluidly with him through turns.

Before long the two were on their way out of the city. Raven lost track of time as she watched the scenery pass her. In the distance she could see other buildings and such popping up here and there, but this area was bright and clean and park-like. It was… refreshing. Raven could feel her emotions start to reorganize themselves as she relaxed. She had been stressed and meditation had not been easy this week. Her emotions had come closer and closer to the surface. Now, as her body relaxed, she could feel them retreating, back to where they belonged.

Not long after, Speedy slowed the bike. He turned off the main road and soon the sound of traffic and the sight of the city was left behind. Scenery changed from wide and open to more wooded. The road began to include small hills, and as she looked around Speedy's shoulder she could see a small mountain in front of them. It was not like the wilderness surrounding the Western mountains, but it was just as impressive. The hills and mountains were not as rough around the edges. They seemed to roll and connect fluidly. It was amazing.

As they crested a hill Raven gave a small gasp. There was the most beautiful ice blue lake. The sun hit it and made the surface ripple with diamonds. Trails could be seen weaving a pattern around the gem. Speedy slowed to a stop and removed his helmet.

"So what do you think?"

Raven did the same, shaking her hair out before tucking it behind her ears. She looked at him. "This is amazing."

Speedy smiled at the relaxed posture of his friend. "Well, let's not waste the day. Come on." He hung the two helmets off the bike before locking it up near the side of the road. He grabbed her hand and the two headed off towards the lake.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Hours later the two returned to the bike. Raven was exhausted but at the same time very rejuvenated. Speedy was true to his word and did not try and ask any questions. He had talked, but about the hike, the area, and other mundane topics.

The lake had been surrounded by small trails and Raven was sure they had only hiked a few but it had still taken them hours. She had not walked this much in ages if ever, but it had calmed her more than she was willing to admit. The sun was high on the crisp autumn day. The day was beautiful but also bitingly cold. The sun did little to warm the area, but Raven and Speedy didn't mind. The lake was off the beaten path so it wasn't traveled a lot, but the cold weather was keeping others away. They seemed to be the only two in the area.

Raven turned her face to the sun and closed her eyes. The sun warmed cold cheeks and she felt joy bubble up. She would have stayed like that if not for the hands that pressed a small cup into her own.

She opened her eyes, startled that she had forgotten she was not alone. When she looked down there was a cup of warm tea in her hands. Looking at Speedy she saw that he had laid out a small blanket and a small basket was there as well.

With a confused look she slowly approached the blanket where Speedy now sat. "What is this?"

He smiled as he began to unpack the basket. "Lunch." He replied simply. He was not looking at her directly but she could hear the satisfaction in his voice. It took quite a bit to startle Raven and he had succeeded.

"But where did it come from?"

He shrugged, "The bike."

Raven shook her head as if trying to clear cobwebs. "But I never saw you pack anything."

He grinned then, "Call me an optimist, but I packed before going to your room."

That shook her out of her shock as a single brow rose into the air. "You were that sure I would go?"

Another shrug. "No, but one could hope. Even if you didn't want to, I thought I might. It has been some time since I came here."

Seemingly satisfied with the answer and his sincerity Raven again looked around. "I don't know how you could leave."

Speedy smiled. "I know. I found this place when I first started with the Titans East. It has kind of been my get away spot. My little known secret. No one knows me here, no one cares about the crime rate, no one worries that the next day could be their last. They come here to unwind, to relax, to just…be. I like that." His voice had grown softer and the smile more gentle upon his face.

He looked up to see Raven looking at him as if she had never seen him before. All at once he felt self conscious. He rolled his shoulders trying to dislodge the feeling. After a few more minutes of silence he couldn't take it. "What?"

It was Raven's turn to shrug. She took a seat next to him still cradling her cup. She took a small sip before looking at him. "I don't know. You just don't strike me as the outdoorsy type. You seem so at ease in the city, I would think that this was not something you would enjoy."

That caused Speedy to let out a bark of laughter. "Is that all? Then I guess you wouldn't believe that my Da was a forest ranger before he died, after that I spent some time on a reservation. Most of my childhood was outdoors. I can track things with the best of them and survive in the middle of the forest better than most. It was only later that I moved to the city."

Raven looked at him, her eyes widening just a bit. She again shook her head and then a small, tiny smile graced her face. "Just when I think I know you…you go and surprise me. You are an interesting man Speedy."

He laughed. "You don't know the half of it."

And with that the two friends began to talk about childhoods…well Speedy more so than Raven, but she would occasionally make a comment. She sat and listened to his stories and the two quietly ate lunch in the brisk autumn air by a beautiful lake. Only later would Raven really think about it, but it was the first time she felt she was fully open with a friend without games, or fear, or hesitation. It was only later that she started to realize that after years she was finally starting to control her emotions enough in order to be so. It was a good feeling.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Speedy was not the only one who was concerned about Raven. Back at the tower, Aqualad had decided that he too had a plan. He had tried, subtly, to get Raven to discuss what was bothering her. She had not said much, but he did know that she was upset about The Maulers, though he did not know who that was. He had tried to get more information but the alarm had sounded and Raven was very tight lipped after that.

Aqualad had finally given up and made a new plan. He knew Speedy was concerned but Speedy was working more with the person, not necessarily the problem. Well, he had to admit that Speedy had done more to bring out a fun loving side of Raven that had never been seen before. Something about the two just clicked and no matter how grumpy or upset she was, Speedy could always pull her out of it.

But Aqualad was her friend too, and he was determined to help her, even if she had not yet admitted the problem. That was how he found himself on his communicator talking to Robin and Cyborg.

"Aqualad to Titans West."

His communicator came to life with a picture of Cyborg sitting in the main room of the West Tower. "Hey Aqualad, what's up?"

Cy's hands held a gaming remote and next to him sat Robin who seemed engrossed in a pile of paperwork. Aqualad smiled. "Hi you two. How is life on the West with Bee?"

Cyborg smiled at that. In fact he smiled so widely that Aqualad just chuckled. "That good then I take it."

Robin looked. "Don't mind lover boy over there. What do you need?"

Aqualad raised a brow at the response. Robin was always a to the point kind of guy, but this came out short and irritated. Something Robin strove to never be, at least when greeting friends. At that Cyborg glanced at the young man sitting next to him before looking back at Aqualad with something unknown hiding in those depths. With a low voice dripping condemnation Cyborg addressed Aqualad.

"Don't mind Mr. Stick up his ass, he has been short with everyone this week."

"Excuse me?" Robin turned to glare at his friend.

Cyborg turned to Robin. "You heard me. You have been a royal pain in the ass these last few days."

"I have not."

"Oh yes you have. And I know I am not the only one to notice, I just happen to be the only one willing to tell you to your face."

"Is that so?"

"GUYS!" Aqualad stood before them on the screen with hands upraised trying to stop a fight. The two silenced but still shot each other a glare. He gave a small sigh. "Look I just wanted to know if you had talked to Raven this week."

That had the two turning to face him. "Why?" They asked the question at the same time.

Aqualad shrugged. "I don't know she just seems really off. I mean she has locked herself in her room in the mornings and she isn't interested in joining us for dinner. I mean she comes out to train and when we make her for Team Night. She is closed off from us all and isn't responding to our requests to do anything."

The two gave Aqualad a confused look. Finally Cyborg spoke. "Um yeah, so what's the problem?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Raven is always like that. So what makes you think there is a problem?"

Aqualad crossed his arms. "I don't know what she was like there, but here she tries to be out with us so she is always available for questions or just to be there. She is only in her room for meditation and sleep. It isn't like her to lock herself away from us."

Cyborg stared at Aqualad wide eyed. "How did you manage that? We have been trying for years to get her to come out of her room more often."

He shrugged. "We asked her."

Robin was frowning. "We do too. All the time but she stays in there all the same."

Cyborg interrupted. "Well she has been getting better but she still spends a lot of her time on her own here."

Again he shrugged. "I think she decided she needed to be out more if she was the leader and on top of that, Speedy doesn't take no for an answer. In the beginning she was hesitant to be out with everyone but now it the norm. She doesn't always talk to us, in fact she reads a lot of the time or just listens, but she is rarely in her room. Now that I think of it, Speedy does a lot to get her to open up. It was him that convinced her to join the Team Nights and I think he got her out of her room today."

Robin huffed and mumbled under his breath. "I bet he did."

At that Cyborg turned to him and raised a brow. He grinned a bit. Robin saw him. "What?" he asked defensively.

Cyborg just grinned wider. "Nothin man, nothing." Cy turned back to Aqualad. "Sorry I haven't talked to her much this week."

Aqualad turned to Robin. "How bout you?"

At that Robin squirmed a little. He was thinking of the calls that he had cut short. He felt just a bit guilty. But every time she called he felt…angry. But not really at her. He was still having a difficult time explaining the emotion to himself, but every time they talked this week he had wanted to pound something. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Just a bit but they were really short conversations."

Cyborg glanced his way again and Robin fought the urge to defend the short conversations. It was none of Cys business. He turned his attention back to Aqualad. The Titans East member looked thoughtful for a moment.

"Did she mention anything about the Maulers?"

That got the attention of the two. "No. Why?"

"Well I know she mentioned something about having to call the Maulers about Thanksgiving. I mean she was a little withdrawn before that but she really got cranky then. Even Speedy can't get her to talk about the call."

Robin slapped himself in the head. Of course, Thanksgiving. Cyborg met his eyes and summed it up in one word. "Shit."

"What" asked a very confused Aqualad.

"The Maulers are part of Raven's family. I don't know if you remember them, the kids she was with when we all fought the brotherhood of evil."

"Vaguely."

Cyborg took over explaining. "Well Raven kind of became a…not a parent, more like a much older sister that takes care of them. They are being raised by a group of monks but the kids love Raven. She is their family. We promised them they could come to Titans Tower for Thanksgiving."

Robin continued. "And with the Tower move we forgot all about it. Thanksgiving is next week."

Aqualad's eyes lit up with understanding. "And she had to cancel Thanksgiving."

Cyborg looked at the two others. "And we need to fix it."

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Ok, sorry again. I am working full time, going to school, and I am in a play so my free time is non existent. Just a few more chapters and this one will be done and then I will finish off my other stories. After that I have a few more Teen Titans ideas, but I don't want to start any more until I finish the ones I have started. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and stuck with my slow updates. I hope it will be a worthwhile story. Thanks again.