Meeting You

Day of Turkeys (Part 2)

*Day of Turkeys Part 2*

Thanksgiving Day: In the future

Steel City, New York

Titan's East Tower.

*Refer to character index*

The wind was blowing hard outside, the debris hitting against the window. It was evening when the titans had returned to the tower after their traditional Thanksgiving football. Unlike Titan's West Tower, Titan's East Tower was located on the side of a cliff. Despite the weather, several of the titans went to the roof to play basketball. Some remained in the Ops room and talked while others were watching the football game.

"Raven, will you participate in the Dance Dance Revolution?" Starfire gestured towards Kole and Melvin competing against each other.

Raven absently played with Marcus' braids that reached the nape of his neck, "No thanks, Starfire." The dark skinned boy was content in Raven's arms.

Starfire had been desperately trying to cheer up Raven from her previous state. It wasn't just limited to titan's west, all of the titan's knew of the incident that had affected Raven so much. It was obvious in Raven's appearance alone: underneath her eyes were shadows, her frame thinner than usual, and she barely kept control of her powers. Her condition also took its toll on her green husband.

Starfire reluctantly left, seeing that Raven didn't wish to engage in conversation. Despite everyone's efforts, Raven had somewhat become unresponsive. Beast boy could see the fear in her purple eyes and feel it rolling off of her from his animal instincts. But Raven had stopped opening up to him several weeks ago and he then kept a close eye on her.

"Aunt Raven?" Marcus had twisted around to look at Raven with his light brown eyes.

Raven looked at his passive face, "Hm?"

"Do you like cars?" Marcus leaned his head back against Raven's chest as he lounged on her lap.

Raven nodded her head, not really hearing what the boy was asking her. "Yeah."

"I want to play a game." Marcus slid off of Raven's lap, forcing her to let go of him.

"Auntie Raven," Ryand'r ran towards the empath, his black hair was spiked like his father's. Savannah was on his heels, her pink dress flying up a little. "Want to play hide n' seek with us?"

Raven was about to refuse to the three children in front of her but changed her mind, "Okay." It was for their sake rather than hers. "I'll count to one hundred."

"One thousand." Marcus disagreed with her.

"That's too high, Marcus." Savannah said. Her red hair was parted in two long braids down her back.

Raven stood up as well causing Beast boy to turn and look at her out of habit. "Are you going to ask Shawn if he wants to play too?"

"I will." Ryand'r turned to grab his best friend amongst the sports fans.

In a matter of seconds Shawn stood in front of Raven awaiting directions. He wore a red and gold football jersey that hung loosely on his skinny frame along with a matching football helmet. Timmy, Teether, and Melvin were busy elsewhere in the tower, all three of them too old for games as the two oldest were in their teens.

"Close your eyes." Savannah said and she slowly backed away from Raven. "And no peeking or counting fast."

Beast boy had to smile as the kids succeeded in getting Raven to play their game. Raven obediently sat back down and closed her eyes and counted loud enough for them to hear her. Her voice slightly faltered as she felt a hand rubbing her back. For a moment she tensed up but continued to count until she reached the last number.

Beast boy had kissed her cheek just before she had opened her eyes. Raven's eyes widened in shock, her powers causing a few of the lights up above to flicker. Beast boy mentally kicked himself; he of all people should've remembered how fragile her control had become. He opened his mouth to apologize but Raven had already left his side and exited the Ops room.

Cyborg had walked away from the football game and pulled his friend away from the couch. "Don't stress about it, B. We don't need both of you to crack."

Beast boy pulled out a stool and rested his elbows on the counter. "Easy for you to say, Raven's already broke down."

Cyborg nodded as he understood, "She's mostly worried about what had happened in the past."

"She told you that herself?"

Beast boy knew that Cyborg and Raven had a relationship similar to a brother and sister. "We've had our talks before. She won't relax until she knows Hazel and Ivy are safe."

"But I-

"A computer monitor can't calm a mother's fear." Cyborg took a seat next to him at the counter.

Beast boy heaved a sigh, "I know that Cy. But...but if something isn't done soon? Raven will probably be in the hospital in the next couple of months."

"We won't let it get that far. We're here for you and we're keeping as close of an eye on Raven as you are."

Beast boy now had his hands covering his eyes, "Her health is bad. She barely eats, she can't control her powers. She doesn't sleep and she strains her body by training for hours to keep her mind off of it."

Cyborg's metal hand rested on Beast boy's shoulder for comfort, "Perhaps Robin ca-

"I've confronted her about it but every time she leaves before I can tell her what I really think." Beast boy explained. "It's not like it's a secret, all the titans know but she doesn't care."

This time Cyborg thought to himself in silence, "Maybe Rita can talk to her."

It would be impossible to get Raven to take them to Azarath in her unstable condition. Getting Raven to speak to her own mother was impossible since the titans couldn't travel though dimensions.

"And you'd think that would work?" Beast boy dropped his hands.

Cyborg shrugged, "It doesn't hurt to try. We'll try everything to avoid having to hospitalize her."

"Her depression is really bad." Beast boy said without looking Cyborg in the eyes. "I never wanted her to feel that way."

"And because you have experienced what she's going through, you might be the one to help her the most." Robin appeared on Beast boy's left. "I think we're approaching this all wrong."

"Look," Beast boy began. "I have no idea what to do anymore. Everything I've tried always backfires. She's really scaring me; I can't lose her." Beast boy's voice broke at the end. It took several seconds before he was able to compose himself again, "I'd be lying to say that she isn't sick."

Their conversation stopped shortly when Savannah burst through the door with Marcus screaming as he tried to keep up with her. Marcus stood in the center of the room until he found Bumblebee and eagerly ran towards her for safety. Ryand'r and Shawn entered the Ops room next with Raven trying to tag one of them before they made it to home base.

"Yeah, I think I'll give Rita a call." Beast boy said observing his wife running around with the kids in the room.

"Auntie Star can we play fashion show now?" Savannah skipped to the tamaranian that stood in front of the large glass window.

Anyone could see that Raven wasn't particularly happy as she engaged in the game. It was surprising that she had given in to the request alone. Raven's movements were slow and a little jagged, her purple eyes held a blank stare. It wasn't too long until Bumblebee and Harold called for everyone to wash up for dinner. Beast boy stared at Raven before leaving to climb the stairwell to tell the others on the roof. Almost everything depended on Rita... on his adoptive mother.