Raven gently folded clean civilian clothes into her black suit case. Matching outfits to the specific days that she would be gone she counted out loud softly. She noticed that she was missing her undergarments and turned back to her bureau. She let out a soft shriek as she came face to face with her boyfriend.

Wearing a somber expression on his face, he pouted his lip out to her. Lowering her hand off her chest, she gave him a huffed breath and put her hands on her hips. "Don't give me that look." She scolded. Looking down at her feet he took a step forward. He caught her off guard by wrapping his arms around her middle. Like a child would to its mother. It was an awkward position since he had long since grown nine inches over the years. Burying his face into her chest he growled and whined like a puppy would after receiving a shot.

"Gar." She responded, her voice was soft this time as she tried to swallow the emotion coming off of him.

"Please don't go." He whined into her skin. His head rose, from her inhaled breath.

"You know I'll won't be gone long." She reasoned. She gently ran her slim fingers through his green hair. "Come on don't be like this." He finally moved off her chest but kept his arms around her petite form.

"Why do you have to go again?" He asked.

"You know why, if I can leave early, I will." She stated looking deep into his pools of emerald. They seem to glisten at her, begging, pleading her to stay with him. "It will be okay, you'll be fine and it will be good to get some distance between us."

"Don't say that Rae."

"Why not? Haven't you heard absence makes the heart grow fonder?"

Scoffing he began muttering something under his breath that she was pretending not to hear. Her eye brows furrowed together as her eyes peered up at him. This was her classic look. He knew the look, it was one that in their early years he was positive it was only expression she ever wore. He was pushing her annoyed button. He decided to retreat, he couldn't stop her from leaving and he definitely didn't want her leaving with bad feelings towards him.

"When will you be back for sure?" He inquired dropping his hands to his side. Taking a step to the right, he quit blocking the bureau. She smiled trying to show him that she was grateful for his backing out of an argument.

"Three days is all." She reminded him.

"So August 6th?"

"Yes." She confirmed. She moved back to her suitcase her hands full her delicates. She felt him move right beside her. That was a interesting habit that he had formed over the years. When he was in deep conversation with her he liked to watch her eyes. He said they held all the answers to everything in them.

"You know what day that is?" He inquired. This times she couldn't stop the smile from forming on her lips. She turned to face him and answered,

"Of course, it seems like just yesterday you were pounding obnoxiously on my door."

"That was yesterday." He stated. Smirking at him she nodded.

"Yes, but I mean that day you came to my room and told me you weren't leaving until I accepted your offer." Grinning at her, he rubbed his neck.

"I'm so glad you finally realized the error of your ways." Raising her eyebrows gave him a swift shake of her head.

"Not funny Garfield." She retorted softly. His smile faded as he remembered that she would soon be leaving him. He was quiet as he watched her fold her black lacy items. A soft smirk form on his lips, showing off his fang.

"Maybe if I'm good you'll wear this for me on the day you come back?" His voice masked in seduction. He gently pick up his favorite undergarment of hers. Lace with green inseams. Besides the obvious fact of how she looked in it he loved tracing the green with his fingers. Cocking her head she gently reached against him so that he could feel her chest breathing in and out.

"Maybe if you behave I'll buy something special." She whispered into his ear. She took the item out of his hand and shoved it back inside. Shutting it softly she turned her back on the case. He gently grabbed her hips and pulled her in close. His eyes glimmered with excitement.

"You promised?" She arched up against him and then slowly leaned into him. He could almost taste the honey on her lips as she closed the space between them.

She was so close he could feel the word as it left her mouth, "No." She taunted then she pulled away from him. He let out a whine as he watch her grab her shoes.

"Why do you tease me like that?"

"Because it's funny to see you squirm." She stated plainly. She pulled up her normal boots, she always wore. Standing up she looked around her room, searching for any forgotten items. She turned towards her bed to see him sitting on the bed. His ears had drooped down, a classic sign of how upset he was. She shifted her weight to a different leg, wondering if she should tell him the real reason for her trip.'No it has to be a secret especially from him.' she answered to herself. Sighing she knew that it would be hard for him but he could do it.

Walking to him she gently parted his legs with her knee, so she could stand in between them. She gently shook her hair tossing it back behind her. She knew that he loved when she did that because he would get a perfect whiff of her lavender scent. His eyes softly closed as she rested her forehead against his.

"I'll miss you Rae." He informed her, for the fourteenth time that week. Using her powers her hands began to glow, warming his face. A silly thing she did when he was upset. It honestly was placebo effect that she did to lift his spirits. The first time she did it she claimed it was healing kind of ability to help lessen the ache of a sad heart. He of course didn't think any different and it seemed to work. She had since told him that when she did this to him all it was just using her using the light from the powers to produce heat, nothing more. This didn't stop her from doing to him every now and again. He sighed at her touch and gently kissed her soft lips. She gripped his cheeks pulling him deep into a kiss. Finally after a few moments of her trying to convince him that it would be okay with her lips, she pulled away.

"I'll see you soon." She whispered. He open his eyes he watched her pick up the small suit case. Giving her a nod he fought with his tongue to mutter out the words that were constantly in the back of his throat. They were simple words but the power that came with them was enough to drive her away. So instead of staying the three words he stuck to his normal, phrase that he said to her.

"Stay safe Rae." She smiled at him and then surrounded herself in blackness.

-

He sat on the bed, his eye lingering at the spot she had just been in. As soon as she melted in to the floor the emptiness found it's way into her dark room. Gulping Garfield shuddered. It was weird how the second she left a room he got that empty feeling. It was feeling that couldn't be describe in words, it was the most horrid feeling in the whole world. Like the color was completely drained from the room and he would never feel joy again. He quickly moved out of her room. Although she had told him he was more than welcome to sleep in there, since that's where he spent the last four months, there was no way he could stand it.

Raven had never been gone for more than a day before. As he entered his room he let out a heavy sigh. The room had been cleaned for the most part, while some things did still linger in the corners as forgotten treasures waiting to be discovered later. He grabbed the picture off his TV stand and cradled against his chest. He didn't think Raven really had any clue how difficult her not being around was on him. Blaming it all on his powers he gently laid down on his bed. Looking at the picture of the team his heart ached as he stared at the emotionless girl. Besides the emptiness he felt, it was also the fact that he couldn't feel her presence just down the hall. Even when they fought and he would get pissed and leave for a couple of hours, coming back he instantly could sense her, smell her.

"What am I suppose to do for three days?" He asked the picture. He sat down the picture and began to rub his eyes. "I love you." The phrase popped out unintentionally. Staring up at the ceiling he began to think. The words often made their way out, and while as of late they frequently left his lips, it was always while there weren't ears to hear them. After shutting the car door, after a date. Long after she was asleep in his arms. Or after a battle as the team rejoiced in victory. That is when the L word would come out. He was terrified of what the words would do to their relationship. It already was a very dysfunctional one and he didn't want anything to jeopardize it, especially a phrase.

He knew it the second she opened her door to him. It was probably the millionth and half time of her doing this but this time, almost a year ago, as she opened the door, he couldn't help but feel his entire body go rigid. He asked a simple question, will you be my girlfriend? They both had been fighting and hiding the feelings. But he decided that it was time to give it up, give into the uneasiness of it all. Her eyes glimmered at him as she softly told him yes. He loved her then, and he loved her now. Even if he never said it he felt it with every fiber in his being.

He mainly had chosen to prove his love through different ways. He figured it was better this way, if the time ever came for him to say it that she could never question it, only accept it. Never hearing or speaking the sentence it still had found it's way into their new relationship. It was there the time he surprised her and cooked her favorite meal, which consisted of meat. After they fought Plasmus, and Cinderblock, the whole team looked terrible. She had bits of dirt and gravel caked with purple goo, in her hair, but it was there as he gently whispered,you still look beautiful. When someone made fun of his green skin at the movie theater and she went off like a bomb on the foolish person. and it had been there every time she came to get him, and would softly tell him to come to bed with her. Love had only grown more and more as time when on. He never said the actual word love, and yet he told her everyday.

He told himself to try to get some sleep, it would be a good way to waste the hours. Closing his eyes with such force he felt a headache starting to come on.'Great, so you can miss someone so much it makes you sick.' He thought to himself. He sat up for a second, reaching behind him, he pulled the shirt that was on him off. Throwing it off into direction that he didn't care. He laid back down on the pillow. Pulling up the sheets he began to focus on calming his brain. With closed eyes he choose to focus on the fact that she would be back soon, and then he could hold her all night long. He tried to envision what that would feel like. Her well defined anatomy pressed right against his, like a puzzle fitting perfectly together. Her soft velvet gray skin gently brushing against his with every breath she took. Her violet hair draped across the pillow like a waterfall. The soft smell of her lavender lingering on her skin from the wear of the day.

Breathing in a deep sigh he finally felt his body relax. He had memorized the sound of her heart beat. He knew how it sounded when she was upset, excited, tired, or when she was in the middle of a battle. Out of all the different patterns, and rhythms it made, he had two favorites. First one was how it raced right before she reach her pure ecstasy. He had discovered it after months of just kissing turned into more lust filled highs until it happened. She finally accepted, trusted him enough that they made love to each other. It wasn't planned or how he thought it was going to be the moment he heard her heart began its drumming he fell in love with it. The second favorite was a steady beat. It gently pulsed as she relaxed and let her body go into a deep sleep. This sound was his lullaby at night. Letting his mind play the sound of her heart and slowed breaths by memory it wasn't long before he too was taken by sleep.

-

Raven transported right into the place she had been told to meet at. Softly putting her suitcase down she glanced around the spacious room. She admired the brightly colored painting that hung on the walls on either side of her. Walking down a bit she wondered if the host had forgotten that she was coming today. She turned her head looking in both directions, it was quiet. Maybe there was a problem and they had emergency? Turning back towards her suitcase she straighten up at the sound a door shutting. She looked over her shoulder, down the hall. Then almost out of thin air the woman appeared into the room. Smiling softly she reached out to shake Raven's hand. Greeting her she spoke with a soft understanding voice,

"Sorry to keep you waiting, it's good to see you again Raven."

Extending her hand out to her, Raven took a step forward and took her hand. "Thank you for having me." She replied, "You have a lovely home." She added softly. She let go of the woman's hand and began to let her eyes wander again.

"Of course I'm glad you decided to help, I wasn't quite sure who to call." The woman replied. Raven didn't answer as she was taking in the feeling of the room. She could sense someone else was home, someone who wasn't as calm and collected as the woman was. "Please let me take you into the kitchen, I could get you a drink? Do you still love tea?" The woman asked extending her arm out towards the hallway. This time Raven locked eyes with her and nodded politely.

"Yes that would be perfect." Smiling brightly the woman began to lead her down the hall into the kitchen. Raven looked around and noticed much like the front foyer it also was large and immense. Sitting down on a large bar stool, her hands gently rested on the smooth cold marble counter. The woman moved towards the oven and picked up the tea kettle. It was quiet as she filled it with water and sat it back on the stove. Turning around the woman smiled once again and folded her hands.

"So?" She began breaking the awkward silence in the room. "Please tell me about yourself. I know we met years ago, and while Garfield has mentioned you a few times, I hardly seem to know anything about you." Focusing her eyes on her, Raven gently swallowed back her uneasiness that she was feeling and tried to explain herself with little detail as possible.

"Well you know my name and my powers, so what else would you like to know?"

The woman raised her eyebrows taken aback by her response. "I suppose, tell me why you were so willing to come out here. On the phone you seemed so sure of helping." She remarked she turned her back on her and moved towards a cabinet. Opening it up she pulled two green mugs off the shelf and sat them next to the kettle.

Biting her lip Raven questioned whether or not she admit the reason. "I'm very close to Garfield and I'm willing to help out anyway I can."

"Close?" The woman inquired she pulled out two boxes of tea, a fruit one and a earl grey. Turning her head she continued, "Are you two together or?"

With out even realizing Raven narrowed her eyes a bit, maybe it was for the best if she did come clean considering who she was. "We are." She answered slowly. She wanted a good reaction and she only knew this woman from what Gar had told her. She poured the boiling water into the mugs. She moved to the other side of the counter and placed the mug in front of her. Still wearing a smile, she moved around the side to Raven.

Raven was stunned as the woman gently brushed her cheek before wrapping her into a tight hug. "Uh," was the only thing she could think to say. Feeling more awkward then ever, her hand gently rose and patted the woman's shoulder twice. The woman pulled away and began to wipe tears away from her eyes.

"I'm sorry!" she gushed. "I always turn into a big cry baby about these things." Sighing softly she moved back around to her side of the counter. Raven stared at her wide eyes unsure of what do or say. "I just want him to be so happy, and now that he's found a beautiful girl," She paused picking up the tea. "He best never let you go." She gently held out the teas for her to choose. Raven felt her face heat up from the statement. Picking the raspberry one, Raven pushed her tea bag into the steaming cup. She could feel glimmering eyes on her as she did this. She looked up and the woman was indeed staring at her. Reaching out to her she grasped her gray hand. "You're so sweet to do this for Garfield."

She nodded briefly and stated, "Well actually he doesn't really know I'm here." Smirking the woman rubbed her thumb on the top of her hand.

"So she's smart too." She announced. Hearing this Raven felt a tiny bit of the awkwardness leave from the complement.

"I'm sure you know all about his feelings then?" Raven asked quietly. She watched as the woman's smile faded off her face.

"Oh yes, Garfield made it clear long ago he didn't want anything to do with the inheritance, or the possessions of the Logan family." She commented. Handing over a jar of honey and a spoon to the Empath, she frowned.

"Why?" Raven questioned. She had often wondered this, but never could get a straight answer from him. And with feelings of grief and regret inside of him she could only come up with her own conclusion.

The woman let out a sigh as her eyes met the floor. "I think Garfield has never forgiven himself for not being able to save them."

"But he was only a child, he shouldn't even blame himself for the accident." Raven protested. Stirring her tea, she couldn't help but peer at the thin woman.

"You know him, when has he ever been able to not to blame himself?"

Raven shut her mouth instantly realizing the truth of it all. He did have a problem with always putting himself down. He never forgave himself when Terra died either. Noticing the quietness she offered a sad smile, knowing that she was not mistaken and began to drink her tea.

"RITA!" Came a deep voice that cause both ladies to jump slightly. Rita swiveled her head around and looked towards a door that was closed.

"I'm sorry Steve doesn't realize we have company, just a second." She apologized then quickly moved to the door. Raven closed her eyes as she sipped her tea. It was obvious now, whom the bad feelings she was reading were coming from. What she didn't know is why he was emitting these types of negative emotions, but something told her she was about to find out.

"WHAT is SHE doing here?" Came the loud booming voice, he was getting closer. Raven looked back at the door. She couldn't make out what Rita was saying but her voice was so calm compared to his. "I don't want her here!" He shouted. It was clear he wanted her to hear that. Her stomach flopped as she wondered if she should make a quick exit.

"Steve Dayton, you stop it right now. She is a guest and I'll have you know she could be a future Logan one day." Rita scolded her husband. Raven nearly dropped her cup as she heard this. Her heart heaved itself deep into her throat as she stared bugged eyed at the door.

'Future Logan?!' she thought. She felt a sudden need to escape, abort the mission. She rose off the stool but before she could even make it to her bag, she heard, Steve say,

"Raven isn't it?" Holding her breath she closed her eyes before she turned back on her heel. Face him she let out the breath and nodded.

"Yes, Mr. Dayton pleasure to see you again." She stated politely as possible. She offered her hand even though she didn't want to. She could feel his eyes piercing into her as he made no offer to her hand. Slowly dropping it to her side she wondered what she had deserve such feeling from him.

"So? I hear you came to collect some of Garfield's belongings?" He questioned. She could feel everything he was emitting and the strong emotion was making her ill. He didn't like her, which was funny since he didn't know her. Swallowing the lump in the back of her throat, she looked towards Rita.

"Yes, I have." She spoke softly. It was hard for her not to retreat or bite off his head for all the emotion running through him.

"And he didn't come with because?"

"He has no knowledge that I'm here. I hope to pick up the items and take them back with me." She reported, she could feel her confidence getting stronger with every doubtful look he gave her. He had no right to treat her like this and she knew that if Gar had been there he wouldn't have let him treat her like that.

Shifting his eyes back from his wife to her, Raven waited for him to make his rebuttal to her.

"I see." He finally responded bluntly. His twisted almost if he was fighting to keep his thoughts inside. She kept her face straight knowing that if she didn't it too would show a similar look to his. Being the type of person she was she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of her anger. Not getting any reaction Steve let out a huff. He turned back towards his wife.

"She's not staying here." he whispered angrily at his wife. Rita gave him a glare before catching Raven eye.

"Excuse me. I'm actually sitting right here." Raven stated to him. Cocking his head back he stared at her wide eyed. She sat back down on the stool before going on. "I know you don't like me, which is completely your opinion, although you have no reason to dislike me considering you don't know me-" She was cut off from his scoffs.

"I know plenty." He had twisted his body all the way around and was now trying to show his dominance. She only raised her eyebrow at him as he continued. "Raven, of Azarath, born from a whore mother, and the incarnation of evil of itself. Making her half human and half demon. Raised by monks until you ran away from a prophecy at the age of 14. An Empath that practices black magic, and call them powers. And almost destroyed the planet almost five years ago."

Raven didn't say anything at first, she honestly wanted to make sure he was finished before she made reply. Noticing the only sound was Steve's heavy breathing she licked her lips and calmly stated, "How long did it take you to look me up on the internet?" Steve's mouth dropped slightly as shock played on his face. "I wonder what kind of dirt I could find on you?" She raised the cup up to her lips and took another drink.

Looking over the rim off her mug she saw that her comment had done it's job and now he was sporting a death glare at her.

"I'll have you know that while, yes everything you did say is true, I'm not an evil demon that you just assumed I am. I'll repeat myself once again, you have no reason to hate me because I have never done anything to you or your family." She finished her remark and stepped off of the stool she had been on.

Looking at Rita she gave her a look telling her that she was quite done with them. "Rita, if I could just get the information from you," stopping she turned her attention back to Steve. "I'll be right on my way." She spat to him.

Rita huffed and shoved her husband out of her way. She walked to the fridge and pulled off a sticky note. She paused reading the note. Pulling out the slim drawer she reached inside and produced a light blue envelope. Spinning back to Raven she handed the sticky note first. "Here is the number for the office that is in charge of the estate, Tom is been the one we have been in contact with. The address at the bottom is the apartment the Logan's lived in for about a year in half when Garfield was born." She talked with the same kindness as before but Raven could hear the sadness and disappointment in her voice. She gently looked down at her left hand that contained the envelope, frowning it looked as if she was doubting whether or not to hand it over to the goth. Finally she sniffed slightly and handed the letter over to her. "Could you please give this to Garfield? I know it will be a while before he'll want to open it, but maybe it will be different if you deliver it."

Raven nodded and took the items. She gave a last glance at the male in the room and then walked back into the foyer. Picking up the small suit case she heard Rita begin to reprimand her spouse, "I won't stand for your cruelty. I swear if you ruined Garfield relationship with that beautiful young woman, I'm done with you." Sighing Raven had hoped for a better interaction with the two people that Garfield had once called parents. Showing herself to the door, it wasn't until she was walking down the drive way did she hear Rita's soft footsteps behind her.

"I'm so sorry for Steve's behavior, I know you must be tired, please come back in." She called out to her. Raven shook her head and continued down the drive.

"I appreciate your hospitality and your trust in me getting these items for Garfield, but I had no plans of staying here. I made reservations the night you called me. You were nothing but sweet and kind to me, but it's clear as to why Garfield doesn't talk about Steve." Raven explained she stopped briefly and gave Rita a small smile. "It was nice to finally meet you." With that as her final remark she trudged down the street and out of sight of the large spacious house.