Once again, this story has been adjusted. I just don't know when to leave well enough.

However, I'm sure readers will enjoy this slightly altered version. I've updated a few things to reflect the ending of Season Five, not to mention the addition of a plot point or two.

So, without further delay, on with the story!


Chapter One: Reflections

The girl bolted upright in her bed. She had the nightmare again.

She was in a cold sweat, made worse by the chilly winter air outside. Sighing, she walked to her window, which was a quarter of the way open, and shut it.

Her nightmares had grown more frequent now that they had returned, and particularly after he spoke to her. She hated it, mostly because it served as a reminder of her regrettable past.

She sat on her bed, facing the drawer. On it was a mirror, the only luxury she had in her room. She stared at herself, dimly lit by the light filtering in through her curtains.

She was in a sad state; her face drawn out in a frown, streaks of tears on her cheeks. Glancing at her own attire brought other feelings to the surface; she was clad in a t-shirt and sweat pants (during warmer months, she wore shorts in place of sweat pants). She had asked her foster mother for some regular pajamas, but she declined (perhaps because she didn't have any herself). But it wasn't her sleepwear that bothered her; it was how much she felt unloved.

She had been picked up by her new mother 6 days after she arrived at the shelter. She seemed genuinely interested in having her as a daughter. But, after nearly a year of living with her, she saw that she apparently only wanted her for company. That, and as something as an extra hand to help her around the house.

The house was a two-story, with bedrooms on the second floor, kitchen, living room, and a reading room on the first floor. Only she and the mother stayed in the house. The girl assumed the woman had a family at one time, but she never spoke of them (and the girl was too afraid to ask).

Despite living in a fairly descent house, it was a bland existence. After school, and homework, there were chores to do. The girl didn't mind them, but she was not complimented on the work she did. It was as if she was a machine. Weekends were worse.

What more, they never spoke of anything outside of house work or the girl's performance at school. And the woman never helped her with homework when the girl asked.

Although physically well, the girl was emotionally in turmoil. She felt neglected, ignored, and lost. Because it wasn't abusive, she felt she couldn't tell anyone about it (she also felt that it would make the woman angry anyway).

She felt she had no escape from this dull, loveless home she was in. That was until she saw them. Could she go back to them? He certainly would welcome her back. At least, she thought he would. But what about her? Would she be kept under control, after all she did to them?

She got up and stared out the window, looking toward the bay. She barely was able to make out the top of the building; a home she once knew. Tears welled up in her eyes as she considered her options.

'I would be leaving my new friends behind.' she thought. 'But then I'd gain my old ones. I would also be with the only person I felt true love for.'

She went to her closet and took out her old traveling bag. She opened it, and removed a sealed package. It contained clothes that she thought she would never wear again. She held it in the light and stared at it.

Her mind was in turmoil once again. 'God, I am screwed up!' she thought.

She then looked out the window once more. She concentrated her thoughts on her love, her true love. She then smiled, and ripped open the package.

"Thank god for you, Beast Boy." she said aloud as she changed her clothes. "You're my best chance for a new life again."