"Hearts Over Gotham City"

Summary: With the attack on Raven behind them, the Titans carry on, but a surprise attack tests the limits of their strength and that of their friendships. Takes place a year after "Can You Stand the Rain?". Rating changed due to violence. BB/Rae, Rob/Star, Cy/J

Chapter 1: Birthdays and Betrothal

"Aimer, ce n'est pas regarder l'un l'autre, c'est regarder ensemble dans la même direction." To love is not to look at one another, it's to look together in the same direction.

"BOOYAH!" Cyborg shouted, getting up from the couch and starting to dance. "Beat that high score, BB! Face it! I just TOTALLY SCHOOLED YOU!" The music of the video game chirped happily along as he danced, trying desperately to get Beast Boy's goat. To his utter annoyance, it wasn't working. Finally, Cyborg blew out a frustrated breath and flopped back onto the couch beside Beast Boy.

"You gonna tell me what's on your mind or do I have to guess?" Cyborg asked, exasperated. "I just seriously decimated your record in that game and you didn't even flinch." Then it dawned on him. A sly smile slid across Cyborg's face.

"Ah. I got it. You got Raven on the brain,"

"When don't I have Raven on the brain? She's like the world's most incredible girlfriend! She's independent, brave, and intelligent yet she can be sensitive and sweet. She can even be....passionate." Beast Boy hesitated on this last quality. Beast Boy avoided Cyborg's shocked expression.

"You two haven't..."

"Oh no!" Beast Boy cried, shaking his head. "I was referring to what happened Wednesday night."

What had happened Wednesday night was not a secret to the rest of the team. It was no mystery that now that Raven was having an easier go at keeping her powers under control, she was flexing a little more emotion than her friends were used to, but this had been downright crazy.

Beast Boy had been singing into a comb as he stood in front of the bathroom mirror after his shower, clad only in a dark green towel wrapped about his loins. The door to the bathroom slid open and quickly closed again, admitting Raven. Beast Boy froze mid-refrain in horror. How long had she been listening? Instead of scolding him for his lack of singing talent, Raven roughly pushed him up against the bathroom wall, pinned his arms over his head and issued him such a kiss as he had never had the privilege of participating in.

"I take it you found the roses?" Beast Boy had squeaked. She had simply swatted his backside and left the bathroom, lingering in the doorway long enough to tell him that the movie was starting at seven o'clock. Beast Boy had fainted and awakened still on the cold tile floor.

Remembering this, Beast Boy smiled. It had been a struggle to not turn into a puddle in her presence ever since.

"I love her, Cy," Beast Boy muttered.

"I know you do, little buddy. You're a lucky guy to have her, too," Cyborg replied.

"She deserves more than roses. I don't know if she's ready for what I'm thinking, though," Beast Boy said. From his pocket he pulled a blue ring box. Cyborg had to pick up his jaw off the floor.

"Is that what I think it is?" Cyborg gasped.

"Yeah, it is," Beast Boy said, opening the box. Inside laid a sparkling platinum banded diamond engagement ring. Cyborg whistled.

"Man, where'd you come up with that kind of cash?" Cyborg asked softly.

"You remember that jewelry store heist we stopped last month? I called in a favor," Beast Boy said. Cyborg took the box from Beast Boy and examined the diamond.

"This is a gorgeous stone, BB. What's this in the shape?" Cyborg wondered. The brilliant round cut of the stone was only part of the appeal. Beast Boy had had the diamond laser cut to reveal the shape of a bird in the center if one looked at it in the right light. Again duly impressed, Cyborg whistled.

"How you plan on poppin' the question?" Cyborg asked, still examining the bauble. Beast Boy only raised his eyebrows and winked before taking the ring back and leaving the room.

Raven's communicator went off fifteen minutes later, "Raven, can you come to the fifth floor lab please?" Beast Boy called. Confused, Raven complied. When she arrived, she was surprised to find Beast Boy bent over a microscope.

"I'm re-examining some of the evidence from the jewelry heist last month. Come take a look," Beast Boy said, coaxing Raven to join him by the instrument. Raven tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear and peered into the microscope. A soft, feminine gasp escaped her lips and she looked up at Beast Boy, his eyes wide with hope. Raven couldn't help seeing her entire life in them.

"Raven, will you marry me?" he whispered. Raven's heart skipped a beat.

"Yes!"

Beast Boy thought his heart had stopped all together as he fumbled to slide the ring onto her hand and then keep himself upright as she kissed him. It was more of a struggle than one would think.

"Beast Boy, this is beautiful!" Raven murmured, her arms still wrapped around his neck.

"That's not the best part!" Beast Boy said. He guided her hand beneath the lens of the microscope. "Look again."

"Is that?...it's a raven. You had a raven carved into my engagement ring?" she stuttered. She was awed beyond words. She kissed Beast Boy again, tears streaming down her cheeks. Raven pulled her communicator from her pocket and called for the rest of their friends. When they found out that Beast Boy and Raven were getting married, Starfire wept happy tears, Robin shook their hands and congratulated them, and Cyborg cheered.

"This calls for a special dinner. Let's go to the Blue Moon," Robin suggested.

"But Rob, that's a fancy restaurant; are you sure?" Cyborg asked.

"Cyborg, Beast Boy and Raven are getting married. I say we go all out," Robin said. The others cheered and all returned to their rooms to freshen up for dinner.

Later, after three courses of the most incredible food that any of them had ever had, Robin looked to his right at Starfire, her gold-hued skin glowing in the candle light. God, she was beautiful! Beast Boy's proposal was going to be a tough act to follow, but he would just have to try. His heart hammered in his throat as he pulled a soft, velvet bag from his pocket. He had been saving ever since his date with that nightmare, Kitten, and if this diamond didn't win Starfire over, then nothing would. It was called a 'hearts on fire' diamond and was cut so that one saw a starburst on one side, and carefully patterned hearts on the other. The other Titans were talking and laughing and Beast Boy had just kissed Raven's hand again. It wasn't the way he'd originally planned it, but the timing was perfect.

"Guys, I'd like to offer a toast. To Raven and Beast Boy: congratulations and good luck to the best friends anyone could have," Robin said, standing and offering his glass as the others clinked theirs together. Robin caught sight of Starfire's blue eyes and it almost took his breath away. "I'd also like to say one more thing. We've had an incredible run as a team. I don't think there's another super hero team out there with the kind of bond we've forged over the years. Part of that bond is never forgetting each other. We know all too well what can happen if we forget. To that end, I'd like to say this: happy birthday, Starfire!"

Starfire's mouth dropped open. She couldn't believe it. None of them had said anything all day!

"You thought we forgot your birthday?" Raven asked, smiling.

"We could never forget you, Star," said Cyborg, pinning a rose to Starfire's dress.

"I don't know what to say!" Starfire cried. She looked at all of her friends in turn and was about to speak again when Robin interrupted.

"Say you'll be my mate," Robin said, revealing the ring. Starfire's eyes welled with tears. The other Titans smiled as Starfire took in Robin's hopeful gaze and said:

"It would be my highest honor to call myself your mate, Robin," Starfire said, accepting the ring that he eased onto her left hand.

All five Titans went to bed that night feeling happier than they ever had in their lives.