A peaceful stillness hung in the air. The room was dark and the only sound was that of two people snoring softly in the predawn morning. The bedcovers were rumpled as they had both been tossing and turning throughout the night, as couples often did when they slumbered together.

A digital alarm clock broke the silence, piercing it with a sharp, shrill series of beeps which progressively became louder until the male half of the couple groaned and reached for the clock. After several blind attempts he found the alarm and shut it off. Still groaning, he buried his face into his pillow.

"C'mon, get up; it's your turn to get the kids ready for school." His mate muttered at him, the sleep still lingering in her voice.

"It's still dark." He complained. "It's uncivilized to get up before the sun rises."

"Stop complaining and get up." She retorted as she sat up in the bed and stretched. "Daylight savings time ends in two weeks. Just be glad you can work at home. I have to get up and be out the door by 7:30."

He ignored her, rolling over in the bed.

"C'mon, hon, get up. If the kids aren't downstairs having the breakfast by the time I'm done getting ready they'll be late for school." She castigated him as she turned on the lights in their bedroom.

"I know, I know." He moaned as he shielded his eyes. "I'm getting up now."

The woman, who appeared to be in her late twenties to early thirties, pulled off the oversized T shirt she was wearing and tossed it into a hamper before entering the bathroom in her birthday suit. Her mate finally sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the bed. He sat there, motionless, for a few minutes until he heard the toilet flush in the bathroom, which signaled to him that it was time to rise. Grabbing the pair of boxer shorts he shed the night before he slipped them on and plucked a robe that was draped over a chair. He put it on without closing its front and trudged out of the room.

He knew the routine, heck; he probably could have done it in his sleep. He reached the first door in the hallway and pounded on it with his fist.

"Melissa! Time to get up!"

"Isn't it Saturday?" A small voice whimpered through the door.

"No, it's Wednesday and you know it. Now get up before mom catches you snoozing."

He continued to the next door, which had a large sign on it that proclaimed "Jake's Room – Stay Out!" He ignored the sign and barged in. Jake was sound asleep in his bed. His father grabbed the bedcovers and pulled them away, exposing the boxer clad 10 year old boy to the chilly autumn predawn air.

"Dad! It's cold." The boy protested sleepily.

"I don't want to hear about it, just get ready for school."

He quickly exited the boy's room and headed for the staircase. As he passed the girl's room he pounded on the door a second time.

"I'm up, I'm up!" She shouted.

He ignored her and made his way down the stairs. After retrieving the newspaper from the front porch he made his way to the kitchen. The coffee maker was pre programmed and a fresh pot was waiting for him. He poured a steaming cup of the bitter drink and took a deep swig of it, savoring its caffeinated glory. After putting the mug down he lumbered over to the side by side fridge/freezer and opened the freezer section, from which he produced a box of frozen, store bought waffles. He shoved four of them into the toaster and quickly set the table for the kids and his wife, pouring orange juice for them. He would eat his breakfast later at a more relaxed pace.

Thankfully the two kids arrived before their mother did. They retrieved their now warm waffles from the toaster, shoving four more in before smothering the contents of their plates with pancake syrup. They ate in silence and he wandered over to the family room, turning on the TV as he always did when he had morning duty. With his coffee mug in his hand, he sat down to catch the morning news. The news that morning was … unexpected.

He frowned as there was an image of Titans Tower in the background, with the rising sun shining on it. The reporter was babbling wide eyed, speaking incoherently.

"What the hell is going on?" He asked no one in particular as he continued to watch.

Suddenly he too became wide eyed in shock. Without saying a word he leaped from the couch and ran to the bottom of the stair case, where he stopped and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"TARA! TARA!"

The blond woman, who hadn't finished getting ready, emerged from their bedroom.

"What is it, Gar? What's wrong?"

-( scene break )-

Tara Logan sat on the couch with her two children, staring in disbelief at the news bulletin on the TV. A clearly disheveled female reporter spoke, her voice betraying her own shock and disbelief.

We now have official confirmation from the Titans. At approximately 4AM this morning the Titan known as Raven was killed during a mission against Brother Blood …

Melissa Logan turned to her mother, choking back sobs.

"They can't be right, mom, Aunt Raven … she isn't dead … she can't be."

Terra stared blankly at the screen, almost in a trance. Without warning the phone rang, snapping her out of her funk.

"Hello?" She murmured into the handset.

"Terra? It's me … Nightwing."

"Oh yeah … hi … we just saw the news on TV. Is it true?"

He voice was listless.

"Yeah, it's true. Where's Beast Boy?"

She paused before replying.

"He's upstairs, putting on his Doom Patrol costume. He'll be on his way soon."

She heard the former boy wonder choke back a sob.

"Tell him we're at the city morgue … I have to go … we'll talk more later on."

"I will … Dick … is there anything I can do?"

"Just take care of Beast Boy when he gets back … Raven's body …"

He sighed before continuing.

"… it isn't pretty. Look, we'll swing by the house tonight, OK?"

"Sure … we'll see you later. I'll make some dinner for everyone."

Terra restored the wireless handset to its cradle. She was suddenly feeling overwhelmed and almost didn't notice that 13 year old Melissa was now bawling and Jake was sitting very quietly at her side. She instinctively reached over and drew her daughter into a hug. Terra blinked repeatedly to clear her own eyes from the tears that were welling in them. As her eyes regained their focus she saw the group portrait that hung next to the TV. It was taken on their wedding day. Raven, dressed in her leotard and cape, stood at the far right.

Terra recalled the events that led to that happier day.

-( scene break )-

Just over a year had passed since the day Beast Boy saw Terra at Murakami School. Her final words still rang in his ears: "Things Change."

Terra's rejection sent the changeling into what was for him an uncharacteristically long depression, which lasted for months and showed no signs of abating. In a surprise move, Raven approached the changeling and … talked with him.

Their chats took place in her room and sometimes lasted for hours. Their three teammates always knew that the green and gray Titans cared deeply about each other. What did surprise them was that after a month the Chromatically Challenged Couple™ began to go out on dates, which they both insisted were not dates as they both vehemently denied that they were in a romantic relationship. The others knew to leave well enough alone and did not tease the young couple about their budding relationship.

Things were progressing slowly but steadily between the two, and on his 17th birthday she actually gave him a very timid and chaste peck on the cheek, which when one considers that it was Raven who kissed him it was indeed a very big deal. Their friends were pleased beyond words but remained silent, out of fear of jinxing their budding relationship.

Jinx might have moved to Star City with Kid Flash, but her residual bad luck seemed to be in the air. Just two weeks after the changeling's birthday the blond geomorph, dressed in her old costume, reappeared at the Tower, asking to be readmitted to the team.

There of course was a great deal of skepticism when she literally returned from the dead. Cyborg ran DNA and other tests, including fingerprints and brainwave matches. In the end he confirmed that she was the one and only Terra.

Beast Boy was overjoyed. Terra apologized to him for send him away when he first found her. She then surprised everyone when she dropped onto her right knee and begged Beast Boy to be her boyfriend. Needless to say, he enthusiastically agreed. Cyborg and Robin quickly congratulated the couple, and the Tin Man even said "It's about time."

Only Starfire noticed that Raven was out of sorts. The sorceress hid her disappointment masterfully behind her gray mask, but the princess knew her all too well and could read through the blank poker face Raven often wore. She attempted to console Raven, who brushed her off, claiming she was fine and that there was no reason for her to be upset.

Terra rejoined the Team and things went well. The two women were cordial to each other, which surprised everyone. It was the shortly after Beast Boy's 18th birthday that there was a second "bomb" to be dropped on the team: Terra was pregnant.

Beast Boy and Terra were married and at Raven's insistence they retired to a civilian life to raise their soon to be born child, which they did. At first Beast Boy protested, saying that he should stay on the team, and that he and Raven always covered each other's backs. But Raven reasoned with him, insisting that he should retire and focus on being a father and that she would be fine without him watching out for her. Robin also agreed, and offered them a stipend to get them along during their transition into civilian life.

Terra remembered the day they moved out as if it was yesterday. Cyborg threw a huge party for them, which was attended by the extended Titans family. Everyone was there, everyone … except for Raven.

-( scene break )-

The former Beast Boy entered the chilly morgue examination room. His nostrils were assaulted with the tell tale smells of antiseptic and formaldehyde. The Medical Examiner had already performed an autopsy and filed her report and she was already gone, leaving the Titans alone to mourn their lost friend. He entered the room cautiously, as if afraid of disturbing the dead who slept in the ubiquitous drawers with tags dangling from their toes.. At the far end of the room he saw Nightwing and Starfire, who did not bring their young daughter Nightstar to witness the grisly scene. The princess was weeping silently while her husband beckoned the changeling to approach. Cyborg, Wally (who was now the Flash) and Jinx intercepted him.

"Are you sure you want to see her, B?"

The changeling nodded. Cyborg patted him on the shoulder and he approached the table where Raven's lifeless body lay in state. Her eyes were closed and her violet hair, which she now wore long, was stained with her own blood.

Garfield shivered as he gazed on her face, which was far paler that usual. He stopped about two feet from the table. Raven's body was covered by a surgical sheet and his first thought was to wonder if she was cold, which he immediately knew was and absurd thing to think. He stood still for the longest time, not knowing what to do next. He then stepped forward and stood next to the table, where he once again paused.

Surprising himself he pulled the sheet away from her body and gasped. There was a hole in the middle of her chest big enough to fit a softball. He stared at the gaping wound in abject horror, through which he could see her internal organs. He immediately surmised that she died nearly instantly as she probably lost most of her blood in just a few moments through that monstrous wound. He took her cold hand and held it as tears dripped down his face. After several minutes he covered her back up and turned to his friends.

"Brother Blood did this to her?" His voice croaked.

"Actually, it's a new Brother Blood." Cyborg replied. "And this one is far worse than the other guy … he's sick …he … he actually drank her blood after killing her."

The changeling's face looked as hard as flint.

"How did this happen? Raven's the most powerful Titan. How did some stupid wannabe take her down?" His voice trembled.

"That's the problem. She knew she was powerful, so she took risks that she shouldn't have, she's been doing it for years. She just wouldn't listen." Dick replied. "The new Brother Blood, he's just a 14 year old kid. She thought he wasn't a real threat and got distracted. He got behind her … she never saw it coming." Nightwing's voice choked up.

The changeling grimaced as he looked away.

"This is my fault. I never should have left the team. Raven's dead because I wasn't there, covering her back."

He turned back to Raven and fell to his knees, weeping bitterly.

"I'm sorry, Raven, I'm so sorry." He whimpred.

-( scene break )-

I thought of making this a one shot, but I think it will have 2 or 3 chapters.