Choose Me

The morning air was muggy and suffocating as it pressed itself against her chest. The brightness of the outside world seeped through the crack between her shades nearly blinding her in the process. A pathetic groan passed through her lips as some form of protest to her normal routine. Her bladder responded to her as it twisted and expanded making its needs known. A sharp pain shot through her stomach immediately followed by a lingering pressure on her abdomen. 'Fucking Braxtion Hicks, kept me up all night.' she thought harshly. A small 'fuck' managed to mumble through her chest and she moved her feet to the edge of the bed and prepared herself for the most challenging part of her day.

Actually getting up.

With a huff and a puff her feet made contact with the carpet and her sides tightened in hopes to lift her from the comfort and warmth of her bed. To her distress the momentum that she had acquired was not enough to fully lift her from her mattress causing her to crash back down into her original position. Another cuss word left her lips as her hands began to rub her swollen belly in frustration. "You know you are kind of a pain in the ass." she retorted to the thing growing inside of her. "I just wish you would be out already. I hate that feeling so helpless."

As if to answer her call the sound of scraping proceeded to erupt from outside her door. An animistic whine came from the barrier indicating that the green dog and in fact slept in the hallway for the fifth night. Anger boiled within her at his persistence and her stern and loud "No." silenced his pathetic action. With a long inhale and a swing of her arms, her very large, very pregnant empath was able to force its way the edge of the bed. A smirk crossed her face at her success as she was finally able to take her first step of the day.

After a long while she was able to dress herself, relieve herself and head out the door all without any assistance. A small feat, yes, but progress none the less. As the doors to the hallway opened a large green dog let out a bark to indicate his enthusiasm in her presence. An eye roll was the only answer she offered and with a small sigh she began her way through the hallway. The sound of dog feet soon followed close behind and the annoyance that she felt followed as well. The human inside of her rolled and kicked in protest, however she could not find the strength to calm down and found herself speeding up her pace. Another rip tore through her abdomen, however she managed to bite back the wine that begged for release as she neared her destination.

The common room doors opened with a swoosh reviling her fear. She was alone. Well, not totally alone but those who she actually allowed to help her through this difficult time were currently tied up in other things. Things that did not involve a blimp that was nearing her due date with rapid pace. Her green annoyance was offered a place with them but he made it apparent that he was not to leave her side. That in itself was curse rather than a blessing. "So they weren't kidding, I really am alone." she muttered and made her way into the kitchen, ignoring the sound of nails on the tile floor beside her.

Pulling open the cabinet door another grown left her lips as soon as she realized how high the tea was placed. Her hands reached towards the ceiling in hopes to near the box only to have her fingers push back the object further from her grasp. "God damn it." she hissed to herself. Normally she would have just used her powers to solve this easy task, however as her belly grew her powers diminished, leaving her a drained carcass of herself. It was agonizing but in the end she only hoped that the ends would justify the means.

"Here." a soft voice said from behind and she watched as a green hand passed just beside her head and pulled the box from its perch. "I've got it." her eyes closed and she couldn't help the fuzziness that began to spread through her chest. The child within her was silenced and the warmth from his body radiated onto her. He smelled like a forest, moist dirt and new bark flooded her nose and took over her senses. Flashes of what once rushed through her head. A moan, a stolen kiss, the moment that caused her so much confusion and yet so much happiness at the same time. How could things end up like this?

Her head shook revealing the grasp her feelings had on her mind and forcing herself back into reality. "Thanks." she bit and pushed her huge self past his fit form.

"You know I can make your tea if you want to sit down." She didn't have to look at him to know that he was rubbing his neck and avoiding eye contact at the same time. His nervous tick had never grown unnoticed by her, however only recently had she seen it as somewhat...cute. That, she only blamed on the hormones. "I heard you tell Star that your feet hurt and I just want to-"

"I don't need your help." he hissed involuntarily wincing as another pain came from her lower stomach only to go ignored by the annoying changeling.

His groan caused the hair on her arm to raise. Even without her empathetic ability she could sense the frustration that radiated off of him, "Raven. Please, I just want to-"

"No. I've already told you this." she huffed and placed a full kettle on the stove. "And no more sleeping outside of my door, that's getting redundant."

She looked over to him just in time to see the flash of hurt that crossed his face. The child within her kicked her rib in protest causing her to flinch slightly. "You know," he almost whispered and he leaned against the counter opposite her and crossed his strong on his chest, "if you would just let me sleep with you, then I wouldn't have to stay outside your door."

A scoff answered his simple statement, however she decided to expand on it. "You act like we are actually together and last time I checked we weren't."

"Yeah, well last time I checked you were pregnant with my child." he hissed back. A few tense moments passed and his aggression was almost immediately followed by a look of sympathy that she choose to ignore.

"Congrats, what do you want a cookie?" she growled in response.

"No." he whimpered, "I just want to help you Rae. That child is half mine, the only thing I want to do is make it easier for the one doing all of the work growing it."

She flinched slightly at his soft tone. All of her time was spent pushing him away when all she wanted was to pull him in. Her heart wanted exactly what he wanted, a relationship but no matter how much she craved him she couldn't bring herself to follow through with it. Not like this. "I don't want your help Beast Boy." she said with a bit of bite.

"Why not?" he replied with slight force. "You let Star care for you and she isn't even responsible for what is happening to you. Why are you doing this to me? It's agonizing to see you like this Rae, just let me-"

"No!" she yelled out of aggravation. The sound of her shrill voice ripped through the air between causing it to become think and tense.

"God dammit!" he hissed as his hands shot to his head. His nails raked through his scalp from frustration and she could almost feel the pain that ripped through his body. It was almost unbearable to see him like this, however she knew that she needed to stand her ground. "WHY! WHY THE FUCK NOT!"

"Because I said so. It's my body-"

"It's my child too!" he growled anticlimactically.

"Debatable!"

His anger peaked at her disrespectful comeback, she could see the heated tears that threatened his face, his face was twisted painfully explaining just how close he was to the edge. "All I want to do is help! All I want to do is take care of you! Can't you see how much I care! Fuck Raven, I wanted to marry you! What in the hell is wrong with you!"

The sound her her heart as it pounded against his ribs filled her ears. Adrenaline pumped itself through her veins and the anger inside of her began to crawl at her chest, begging to be released. "Oh so there has to be something wrong with me because I won't marry you? Is that it!"

"I didn't say that!" He yelled, throwing her tone back at her. "I don't get you! First you want me, then when things take an unexpected turn you shut me out! I have only been supportive of you and all I want to do is help!"

"I don't want your help!" she repeated for the thousandth time.

"Why not!"

"Because!"

"Because why!" he screamed, the sound of desperation lingered in his tone expelling the last of his persistence with it.

"Because I don't want you to be with me just because you knocked me up okay!" Her body shook slightly as tears streamed down her face as the truth finally filled the air, easing the pressure that had built up their harsh words.

Confusion covered his face and the only word he was able to force from his lips was a small pathetic, "What?"

"I wanted you to be with me because you wanted to, not because you had to. This-this thing that is between us only exists because of the baby and I don't want that!" She ignored eerie feeling of water on her face and attempted to regain some kind of composure by running her fingers over her eyes. "I wanted you to want me and me alone, and now that is never going to happen! I ruined everything and now I've got to live with it!"

A sob ripped through her and she turned away from him shamefully. A painful pull of her stomach forced her to lean against the counter for support. The pain from her Braxton Hicks contractions were almost unbearable and the situation at hand only made it worse. This isn't what she wanted, this is never what she wanted. Even from the beginning she only wanted him, and now she got more than she intended. Although a child frighted her, she intended to take full responsibility for her actions and in all honesty she intend to take them alone. Being a single mother frightened her, but being with someone just because of their child frightened her more.

"Raven." a soft whisper came from beside her. "Are you-" Before the word 'okay' could make it past his tongue the feeling of rushing water passed between her legs. She gasped in surprise as the liquid hit the tile floor without warning. Shock and embarrassment passed through her followed by the feeling of pure terror.

"Oh no." she whimpered, "No, no no no."

"Your water just broke." Beast Boy whispered calmly as his hands found her shoulders. Moments passed as fear settled into the pit of her heart and darkness clouded her eyes. Her original thought had been very wrong. These weren't false contractions, they were real. Very real. She felt herself fall into the pit of no return however she heard his soft whimper and with that he pulled her back. "Raven." he cooed gently, "Raven we need to go to the hospital."

"No. This can't be happening, I have another week. I need Star, she's done this before. I can't do this, I can't-"

"It's okay, I'm here Rae. I'm right here for you." the sound of his voice soothed her fears and calmed the nerves that were on had been set ablaze. "I've always been here for you."

Her gaze finally met his for the first time in almost nine months and she couldn't help but be taken aback. His green pools seemed endless and a small shiver found it's way up her spine. Even if it was just for now he was here, he was here and even against her better judgment she found herself feeding off his false sense of security. Finally his voice called out to her once again.

"We need to go."