She lay on her bed in the dark, trying to ignore her feelings of despair and pain. He had lied to her, to the team! Right to their faces and sounding so sincere all the while. He had run off, leaving his friends, leaving her, with the assurance of his return. But he had lied. It had been six months, a long, hard six months at that, and there had been no word. No communication what-so-ever and…she missed him. His lame jokes, corny pick up lines, goofy smiles…she missed how he tried to force tofu down everybody's throats and how he couldn't be silent for longer than five seconds.

She held a pillow tightly to her chest as she fought down the urge to cry. He wasn't coming back, she knew that. She could feel as strongly as she could the texture of her pillowcase. Unbidden, a tear escaped her violet eye and fell down her cheek to the sheet below her head. Her eyes squeezed shut as more tears spilled and a sob caught in her throat. The team didn't know yet, but they would. She had to tell them eventually. But not now. She had to be strong for them when they heard, but she wasn't strong right then. She was a puddle of tears, emotions, and pain without a single thing for comfort save her pillow. Despair covered her form like her cloak and she wept. She cried for what seemed like hours, ignoring the knocks on her door from her friends who said things she couldn't comprehend and who radiated with worry.

"Beast boy," she whispered into her pillow as her sobs softly turned to yawns. "Beast boy, why? Why'd you leave me?" she asked softly. A hand gently brushed her hears away, her eyes remaining shut.

"I'm sorry Raven. I didn't mean to be gone for so long. Mento-" he stopped with a sigh.

"Mento what?" she murmured, curious.

"Mento was so determined…I'm sorry. Please Raven, I need you to understand that I-"

"I know and I forgive you. It's just…" the violet haired half demon sighed again as she snuggled into her pillow before continuing. "I miss you. And the others will be crushed…I need to be strong for them."

"No, Rae. They need to know now…you guys can comfort each other-make each other stronger. Don't try to do this by yourself," he replied softly but firmly. She groaned.

"I don't want to say it. It makes it…"

"You've got to Rae. I need them to hear it from a friend."

"But why'd you have to pick me?!" Raven demanded as she sat up in bed, glaring at the emptiness of her dark, silent room. There was no response and her eyes filled again. It was all in her head and she wanted to lay down and cry some more. However, she swung her legs over the side of her bed and slowly, ever so slowly, got up and shuffled out of her room towards the common room, her tears blurring her vision.

Robin sat on the couch watching the news, laughing at something Cyborg had said, who was standing in front of the fridge. Starfire was at the table, playing with her pet larvae, Silkie, both of whom were smiling broadly.

"I can't…" she said softly, head bowing. "I can't destroy this right now…"

"Raven?" Robin called, his masked eyes scrutinizing her seemingly defeated form, taking in the slumped shoulders and crumbling emotions that were written all over her face. More tears fell from her eyes as the team surrounded her and she knew that she had to now. There was no going back.

"I…" she began slowly. "I have some bad news…concerning Beast boy…"