It was raining as if God is weeping. Countless droplets of water hit the glass, creating a quiet splashing sound. A little girl with fiery red hair lied on the massive bed. She opened her emerald eyes and stared at her mother, who had a little boy on her lap. "Mummy," she said weakly. "Amelia, you should sleep." She said to her and placed her hand onto the little girl's hand. Her father stood next to her mother and nodded. "Sheesh Edward, I bet you are too old for a lap seat." She smiled then closed her eyes slowly.

"Let's go now, Ed." The father, who was silent for the whole time took the boy by his hand, and walked out of the room. The mother quickly followed, her heels hit the ground and created a knocking sound on the marble ground. The father handed the little boy to a nursemaid. The mother exploded with tears. "Oh Robin," She sobbed as she grasped his arm. "I am so scared that Amelia will…" Then she wept. He placed his arms around her and hugged her. "I know, Star. I am also worried to hell. But we have to meet Dr. Kemp. He is in the living room now." She raised her head and stared at her husband's ocean eyes with her emerald ones. He wiped her tears, and took her by his hand. Together they walked into the living room, where an old man with snowy white hair and thick glasses sat next to the roasting fire. "Mr. Grayson," the old man stood up and shook hands with Robin. "Mrs. Grayson," he nodded at Starfire. "Please Dr. Kemp, how is Amelia now?" Starfire asked anxiously. Dr. Kemp sipped from his coffee. "My condolences, yet there is nothing much I could do to help Amelia. I suspect there is something wrong with her heart. I suggest you consult a cardiologist. They might have some ways to help her… even if that means that she could leave more painlessly." Dr. Kemp shook his head as he spoke each word with a sorrowful tone. "Yet luckily, you are rich enough to consult the best doctors." He opened his leather bag and pulled out a card. "This is the best cardiologist in Jump City, one of the best in the world as I have heard." Robin took the card and stared at the name.

It wrote: 'Dr. R Roth, PhD cardiology, Master surgical, Mater medical. Tel no: xx-xxx-xxx-xxx; Address: 7/F, Saint Matthew's Private Hospital, 2 Oak Road, Maple Ville, Jump City.' "And I should leave now, good day, Mr. and Mrs. Grayson." Dr. Kemp nodded and left. Robin studied the card. "The name seemed so familiar." Starfire stated. Robin had to agree. "Should we go and find the doctor today?" Starfire asked him, he looked at her tearful eyes. "Okay, I will ask Rita to cancel the meeting today." He then walked away to the corridor. Starfire slumped onto the couch and sobbed, the tears fell onto her silk dress. She gritted her teeth. All she could do is to sit here, let her precious daughter suffer and do nothing.

Suddenly she felt an arm around her. Robin was wiping off her tears. "Star, don't cry, I am sure the doctor could help Amelia." She nodded and nudged herself into Robin. He helped her up as they walked to the car. "Please drive us to Saint Matthew's Private Hospital."

As the car drove past the buildings, they remained silent. Starfire stared at the passing views with her sorrowful eyes. Robin stared at her, his wife for the past fifteen years, the woman who bore him a now thirteen year old daughter and a nine year old son. She was one of the most beautiful women he ever knew, but he couldn't do anything to stop her from crying. The car drove in the rain, the rain sweep moved left and right continuously. "Davis, please drive faster." He said in an anxious tone. He couldn't even hesitate to reach out for the slightest ray of hope in front of him. He had to do anything possible.

The car stopped in front of the cold glass doors of the hospital. Robin and Starfire hopped off the car. Immediately they walked into the building hurriedly to the reception counter. There was a black woman sitting in front of the counter. "May I help you sir?" She asked with a slight concern in her voice. "We would like to see Dr. Roth, the cardiologist." Robin said quickly. The woman raised her eyebrow. "She is doing a surgery now, please wait for a while." Then she turned back to her computers. The couple waited impatiently. A second seemed to be an hour. Robin stared at the clock impatiently.

"Pass me the needle and thread," there was silence in the operation room, except for the surgeon who was sweating and sewing the tissues back together. "This should do it." The nurse wiped the sweat off her face. "Now clean up the wounds and send the patient back to his room." She said then walked to the preparation room. She took off her blood covered gloves and tossed them into the bin. She stared at herself into the mirror. Her face was covered with sweat and tiredness. She washed her hands and face. She shook her head and walked out to the corridor.

"Dr. Roth, there are someone waiting to see you. They are in your office," said the receptionist. "They seemed to be very anxious."

"Thanks, Monica." Then she walked to the lift and pressed the 'up' button. In five minutes time she was all silent. Her mind was blank, nothing but emptiness. The door of the lift opened and she stepped in. Slowly she pressed the number seven button. The lift went slowly, and she was not thinking about anything.

The lift stopped, and she walked out to the cold corridors of the cardiology department. "Dr. Roth, the patient is now resting, the anesthetics are fading," said a nurse. She nodded and walked to her office. Slowly she swiped her employee card and opened the door. "Sorry to keep you waiting, I am Dr. Rachael Roth, head of the cardiology department of this hospital." She did not look at the couple that sat on her couch, but walked straightly towards her armchair and sat down. Then she looked up. "Oh, it's you two." She did not look surprised. On the contrary, the couple could not be more shocked.

"Are you…Raven?" Starfire looked at her. "But…how?" Robin's eyes widened. She smiled coldly. "I suppose this is normal." She said, with a disdainful smile on her face. "After all, I can't be a teenage hero forever." She walked to the coffee machine and started to brew a pot of coffee. "So…what brings the Grayson couple, richest of Jump City and the CEO of Wayne Enterprises to my office? Did any of you have a heart attack?" She then laughed coldly. "Rae," Robin called her. She turned and stared coldly. "I prefer you calling me Dr. Roth." She stated. "Please continue."

"It is our daughter, Amelia." Starfire said. "Our family doctor said that he suspected that she had some kind of problem with her heart, and he suggested that we should come and consult you."

"Hmm…interesting, since when did you discovered this problem?" She asked and poured herself a cup of coffee.

"We first thought she was just pale and weak, until this early summer, when she suddenly fainted and lost her pulse. The doctors said she had a heart failure." Robin said to her. Raven nodded. "And you were still not considering in finding a cardiologist?"

"We never thought we needed to," said Starfire. "I wonder why," said Raven, sipping her coffee. "So…when can I go to your house and see this little girl of yours?"

"Anytime," said Robin. Raven said. "I would have to check my schedule," she said with a chilling smile on her face. "I am always busy."

Then she placed two cups of coffee on the coffee table in front of the couple. She took out a thick leather book, and began to flip over. "Hmm, how about…today at midnight?"

"Midnight? Wouldn't that be too late?" Starfire stated. "I think that Amelia should be resting." Raven shook her head and stared at her emerald eyes. "Then maybe you would have to wait until next week, or even next month." She smiled coldly. "As I have told you, I am very busy. I had an appointment with the mayor this afternoon, and I have to attend a meeting tonight," she said. Robin nodded and then stared at a photo frame on her desk. "Who are they?" Raven's face twitched for a second. "They are my daughters, Esmelerda and Caroline." She said coldly. "They are adorable," said Starfire smiling. Raven frowned for a second. "Yes, Esme is a good girl, but Caroline was the most obedient." Then she looked at the old grandfather clock. "It is time for me to go to the mayor's manor. Leave now, please." Robin and Starfire walked to the door. The door shut behind them.

"I bet Raven would help us, Robin." Starfire held Robin's hand, as they sat in their car. "She will help Amelia."

"Hopefully," said Robin. He stared out of the window. He was not sure.

Raven walked into her dormitory apartment. "Esme, I am back." She said. A tall girl walked out of the darkness. She stared at Raven, with her dark violet blue eyes. "Oh, you are back mother." Then she walked to the living room and switched on the television. Raven went to take a shower. The warm water splashed on her body. She stared at the tiles of the bathroom walls. The water blurred her sight. She bit her lip. Tears poured out of her eyes. She wiped them away with the back of her hand. Quickly she washed her dark violet hair and her body. Then she dried herself with her towel, and put on a t-shirt and trousers. "Esme, have you finished your homework?" She asked her daughter, sitting on the couch and staring at the television. Esmelerda nodded. Then suddenly she turned and stared at her mother. "Caroline was here, she talked to me." Raven looked at her daughter. "But Esme, Caroline is…dead." Raven said to her, Esmelerda shook her head. "I know, but she came to me. She said that it isn't anyone's fault that she died." Esmelerda stared at her mother. "Not even yours, mother." Raven burst into tears. "She must hate me for being unable to save her." Raven hugged Esmelerda. "I am sorry that I let your sister die, Esme." She cried on Esmelerda's shoulder. Esmelerda hugged her back. "It isn't your fault mother; she doesn't blame you for that." Esmelerda said to her. "You have done everything you could; it is just that…it's her time." Raven shook her head, while Esmelerda stroked her back. "It is not your fault that Caroline got hit by a car. It is not your fault that modern medical technology was not enough to save her." Esmelerda then stood up and passed her mother a piece of tissue. "Now, I will heat up the dinner for you." Esmelerda walked into the kitchen and started to heat up the food. Raven sat there motionless. She was holding the photo of them: Herself, Esmelerda and Caroline.

Esmelerda never smiled. She was the dark one among the twins; she had black hair and dark violet blue eyes. She always dressed herself in black and other dark colors, creating a totally different contrast with her twin sister, Caroline. Caroline was the quiet and timid one. She had black hair and blue ocean eyes. Unlike her sister, she always smiled and wore warm colors. She was the bright one. They were everything that Raven cared in the world, and now, half of here world had collapsed. "Mother, the food is ready." Esmelerda took a plate of spaghetti and placed it on the dinning table. Raven ate that in silence. "I think you should eat faster, because you are having an appointment at midnight tonight." Esmelerda said. Raven took the empty plate to the kitchen sink and washed it. "Yes, and remember to wear more clothes, the weather is turning pretty cold." Esmelerda's eye suddenly flashed white; a black hand appeared, placing a black waterproof coat in front of Raven. "Think you're going to need it, it's still raining." Then she walked to her room. "I am going to bed."

"Good night." Raven smiled at her daughter. Esmelerda disappeared into her room. Raven changed into a blouse and suit trousers and put on the coat. Then she shut and locked the door silently.

Esmelerda sat on her bed, as she stared outside, into the chilling rainy night. A lightning stroked past the pitch dark sky. She sat there emotionlessly, pressing her cold hand onto the cold glass. When Caroline was still alive, she used to be frightened by the lightning and thunder. She would cuddle her in the bed, stroking her black hair and tell her that it is alright.

When Caroline was still alive.

Now she sat in her bed alone, stared at the last photo they took together. It was when Esmelerda won the national teenage poetry competition. She always said that she admired her abundant vocabularies. She always looked at her with her ocean eyes while she played the piano. She was always the fan-like little sister. They all called her 'Esmelerda Roth's sister'.

But Caroline was unique herself. She did well in sports, in all other things; she was just not as unique as Esmelerda. Among the two twins, only Esmelerda inherited Raven's powers.

Caroline was as normal as any teenager. At least to Esmelerda she was unique. She and Raven was all she had in the world.

She placed her fist on the wall. Then her mind played back.

(Flashback)

Esmelerda walked at the school corridor, dressed in a black dress, fishnet gloves and tights; a huge, mount studded black leather belt hanged onto her waist. She kicked the ground with her leather boots. She stared at the end of the corridor, where seemed to be a ray of light. Everyone on the corridor stared at her, while she ignored them. On her hair, she pinned a white rose. She could hear the people saying. "That is the girl whose sister is killed by the car…", "That is so awful…"…the noise filled her ears. She really wanted to turn around and beat them to a pulp. I don't nee anyone to pity me, she thought. Then suddenly she felt a light tap on her shoulder. "Hello, Esme." She heard the school counselor's voice. "I am Jenna, the school counselor." Esmelerda glared at her for a second. "I prefer you call me Esmelerda," she said. "What do you want?" Jenna smiled at her. "I wanted to invite you to talk with me for a while." Then Jenna walked Esmelerda to a bench. Both of them sat onto the bench. "Spit it out." She demanded. "Well, I know that…your sister…" She then paused and saw Esmelerda glaring at her. "Stop it." She said coldly. "But Esmelerda, time can erase everything." That was the time that Esmelerda felt like her heart was being engulfed by the fumes and flames of rage, she leapt from the bench. "Time can erase everything? She was my twin sister! Who the fuck gave you the permission to tell me to live on my life? Do you understand how it feels to lose the most identical thing, the most precious thing you ever possessed in the world? No you don't! You are just some fucking social worker who thinks that you understand what I feel! Fuck off you bitch!" Then she stormed away and walked into her classroom.

Fifteen minutes later she ended up in the principal's office. Jenna was crying next to the principal. The principal frowned at her. "Esmelerda, I hope you realize what you have just done was not correct." He said to her. "Apologize to Jenna; I think she will forgive you." Esmelerda spat onto the carpet. "Screw you, bald ass." She said with a sneer. The principal's face turned red in rage. "I will expel you from the school Esmelerda Roth! I demand an apology to myself and Miss Green here!" Esmelerda stood up and leaned forward. "I am sorry, that you two were even born." Then she walked outside.

(Flashback ends)

Caroline was special, she was not something that time could erase. She was her sister, not even the devil or God himself could snatch the memories of her away. Caroline's soul lived on, in her mind. Her eyes closed, and slowly she fell asleep.

It was raining cats and dogs. Robin and Starfire sat impatiently as the majestic grandfather clock went 'tik, tok, tik, tok,', Starfire was staring at the door anxiously. Robin was flipping a file impatiently. Suddenly the clock bellowed twelve times and then Raven appeared in front of them. "Oh friend Raven, I am glad that you have arrived." Starfire beamed at her. She stared coldly for a second. "Where is this little girl of yours?" Robin immediately led the way. Raven saw the little girl on her bed, she took out some simple apparatus and began to check. The couple watched anxiously. Then finally, Raven packed up and turned to them. "I think you should send her to the hospital, at the earliest time possible." She said to them. "I suspect she is having a kind of congenital heart disease that is undetected during infancy." Robin then took hold of Raven's shoulders. "Please Rae, please save her. She is the only daughter I have got." Raven stared at him coldly and got loose. "I will do what I can do." She teleported and disappeared in front of their eyes. They were silent for a minute, then Starfire spoke. "She would save Amelia right, Robin?" Starfire stared at her husband, who was still staring at the spot where Raven was a minute ago. "Hopefully, Star." Maybe he was grasping at a ray of light of hope when he grabbed Raven's shoulders, or it might be a monstrous thing.

The future remains unclear.

Like the gray dark skies of the rainy cold night.

Author's note:

Wow it has been a while since I typed my last teen titans story.

Well this is the new one, please enjoy.

V.S.V