- This story takes place 7 years after the Titans disbanded. Robin and Starfire and Beast Boy are now 23, Raven is 22, and Cyborg is 25.

- Any and all criticism, that isn't obnoxious, is welcome. As well as any suggestions for the story within reason.

- Italics are used for emphasis on words and thoughts

- Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans

- 2 -

4 days later

... Cyborg ...

"So Raven's back huh?" Vic asked, tapping the edge of his fork on his plate. Garfield nodded as he ate his tofu salad quietly. Every night since Garfield had been back he'd eaten dinner with Jinx and Vic. Talking about the comedy tour and how Vic's new project was going. Vic hit the edge of his plate too hard and it sent a loud *cling* through the kitchen.

"Be careful not to break the plate, its bad luck." Jinx said with a smile, trying to at least lighten the solemn mood a little. Vic smiled at the joke.

"Have you seen her yet?" Vic asked.

Garfield shook his head. "No, all we've done is talk over the phone."

Jinx frowned. "She's being defensive." She said. Both boys turned towards her for a further explanation. "Well uh... You see." She held her hands up. "It's a girl thing. No matter how tough a girl might seem, i.e. Raven, she still worries. From what I can guess, as a girl, is she's scared." She looked over to Garfield. "I'm sure just calling you took every ounce of her courage. She may just not be ready to meet."

Vic sighed. "Still hurts she didn't call any of us too."

Jinx grabbed her boyfriend's hand and rubbed the top of his hand with her thumb. "I know but she didn't do it out of spite. She's just in a bad place."

Garfield grumbled under his breath. "Hey." He said looking up at Jinx. "Speaking of old friends. How's the other members of the Hive?"

Jinx sighed. "Cyclops, Mammoth and Shadow are in Arkham Prison after they failed trying to rob a bank in Gotham."

Garfield laughed. "Batman doesn't take shit from anybody."

Jinx smiled and continued. "As for Gizmo... I'm not sure. He kinda dropped off the map. I hope he's doing okay." She trailed off in thought.

Vic chuckled. "Probably hacking into banks and livin the good life."

"Probably. He could hack into any system so if he wanted to he could lay low and make sure no one found him if that's what he would do. I think he was only with us because he was bored. I picture him living off cyber-money he ripped off from the banks." Jinx said.

Garfield smiled. "Cy, remember that time Gizmo and I went inside you to stop a computer virus?"

"Are you kidding me? I've never been so full in my life!"

Garfield laughed. "Good times. I remember Robin flipping out when I told him that it was just a video game. I think that's the closest he's ever come to hitting me for real."

Jinx, oblivious to the current topic, "speaking of Robin, how is the 'Boy in Spandex' doing? He and that Starfire chick get married yet? Haven't seen either of them since the Brotherhood of Evil incidence." She said with a chuckle.

Garfield and Vic looked at each other and frowned. Vic cleared his throat. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you but…" Vic's voice faded. It was hard subject, for all of them.

"They broke up." Garfield finished. Jinx's eyes went wide.

"Holy Hell… Wasn't expecting that… What happened? They were the perfect couple from what I saw!"

Vic nodded. "It happened a year after the Titans split."

(Start Flashback)

Starfire hummed a song as she washed the dishes in her sink. She and Robin bought a single bedroom apartment on the urban side of Jump City. Starfire was in pure bliss, she couldn't contain her happiness. In her opinion, this was paradise. Living with the man she loved in a comfortable home, though small, was more than she could ever have wanted. She had already started to love a normal life more than her hero life. Calm, peaceful and always full of happiness. She stayed home and took care of the house and unpacked their boxes while Robin went to the police academy under some fake name Starfire already forgot. However, every weekend she went and did a photoshoot for her manager. Apparently her look was exactly what beauty products wanted. They always asked her to appear more often so she would gain fame but she could care less about fame, as long as she could stay with Robin. "Hmmmm hm hmm hm." She sang. She heard the door open and close from across the apartment and saw her devilishly handsome boyfriend drop his bag. "Robin!" She exclaimed, drying her hands quickly then rushing over the Robin. "Welcome home!" She kissed him on the lips. "I was missing you all day. I unpacked the boxes, did the cleaning, and even watched some on the TV that normal Earth women watch." She smiled brightly. Robin didn't respond, instead he stared daggers at the ground below him. "Robin? Is everything alright? You seem to be... Troubled."

He sighed. "Star. I've been thinking." He paused. "Is this really alright? This... Life. Is this what you want?"

Starfire tilted her head. "What do you mean Robin?"

"We hardly see each other Star... With me at the academy and you modeling... I don't know why but..." Robin paused. For the first time in the young man's life he felt true and genuine... Fear. This woman before him could bench press a school bus without breaking a sweat. He both feared and adored her. But he felt an ache in his heart that couldn't be explained. The love he once felt seemed to have shrunken in their time together. They were heading separate ways in life and Robin couldn't hold Starfire back anymore. She wanted what Robin couldn't give her, a simple life. He couldn't settle down with the woman of his dreams and live a peaceful life... That wasn't him... That wasn't who Robin was meant to be. "Star... I... I'm leaving."

Starfire looked at her 'boyfriend' confused. "What do you mean? You just got here." She said smiling. "Now come. Dinner is almost done." She reached for his hand but Robin pulled away.

"I'm sorry Star. We're breaking up." Robin said, choking on his words. "I'll pack my things."

"Why would you want to do the breaking up? Did I do something to hurt you?"

Robin bit his lower lip. "No Star it's… It's me. I can't be what you want. I can't be… this." He gestured to the apartment. "This life makes you happy. You're better off without me!"

"I want you Robin!" Starfire scream but Robin was no longer listening. He stayed in silence until he managed to get his things and leave, never turning back. Robin felt pain in his heart but chose to believe he'd done the right thing.

(End Flashback)

"Oh my God! What a dick move! I can't believe Robin would do something so horrible!" Jinx cried, looking back and forth between Vic and Garfield for support but didn't find any.

Garfield grumbled. "It's understandable." He said.

"What could possibly justify breaking up with someone because they couldn't work things out? Or that he would just straight up leave for such an idiot reason?" Jinx said. She looked to her boyfriend for support but found him looking at her with pleading eyes.

"There's something I never told you Jinx." Vic said. "I had the thought of doing exactly what Robin did when we started dating."

Jinx's eyes went wide. "You what?" She gasped.

"I was scared." He said plainly. "I wasn't even 18 yet and you were my enemy not even the year before. I was having an identity crisis. Being a hero was all I knew... It wasn't easy to give up and try to live a normal life."

Garfield jumped into the conversation. "We aren't saying we agree with his decision to break things off. We're just saying we understand his frame of mind. I went through the same thing. Being a hero was Robin's whole world, like it was ours, giving that up makes you feel... Empty." Garfield sighed. "It's like losing a part of yourself. The part that tells you who you are as a person. Except Robin fought instead of letting his part turn into what we are now. Civilians."

Jinx frowned. "I know what you mean... It made me cringe to have to start paying for things I wanted. I was so used to taking whatever I wanted. To just adapt to earning things was a nightmare. I often thought about going back to being a villain but I chose Vic over that." She grabbed his hand and smiled at him.

Vic smiled back. "Being a hero was Robin's whole world. A world he couldn't let go of."

Garfield sighed. "And because he couldn't let go, his world shattered and it cost him everything."

... Raven ...

Rachel laid on the couch and watched TV in her small 2 bedroom dorm. Hailey was in the kitchen making a sandwich. Today was Thursday and the last day before the end of the semester so Hailey and Rachel decided to stay home and watch a movie. Some roommate quality time before the two parted ways for the Christmas break. Hailey would go back to her home in Gotham and Rachel would stay back in her dorm, reading and enjoying her solitude for the next few weeks.

"Why don't you come to Gotham with me? You can spend Christmas with my family." Hailey asked from the kitchen.

"Sorry, Christmas has never really been an important holiday to me." Rachel lied. In reality she loved the holiday, but ever since her Christmas 7 years ago it'd never been the same. Every year it felt like a normal day compared to how it felt back then. Hailey walked out of the kitchen and turned off all the lights as she entered the living room.

"So today makes it our second Christmas celebration together but still separated." Hailey said, plopping down in the chair next to Rachel.

"Yup." Rachel said. "I remember when you first moved in I was preparing myself for the worst." She chuckled.

"Yeah." Hailey smiled. "I remember thinking, 'this chick is gonna kill me in my sleep'."

Rachel pressed play on the movie and the trailers for old movies started to play. "How'd the exam go? Did you pass?"

"Barely." Hailey said with a smile. "We can't all study 24/7 like you."

"I don't study 24/7." Rachel defended.

"Or read." Hailey added.

Rachel laughed. "Now that I can't deny."

Hailey laughed. "So how'd your exam go? Get an A or an A+?"

"A+" Rachel said with a smile. "How close are you to your masters?"

"15 more hours and I'm done for good."

"Wow, didn't know culinary took so much work."

"Well it's not as hard as studying literature. I mean that's insane. There are countless works of literature from thousands of years ago that you have to study and research, you have to be obsessed with reading not just love it." Hailey cried. "What are you wanting to do anyway?"

"I want to help criminals." Rachel laughed as Hailey sat up in her chair and looked at Rachel in disbelief.

"No way!" She said. "Why the hell would you want to help those guys of all people? Is a high school teacher not stressful enough already?"

"No." Rachel said with a chuckle. "I just wanna give them a second chance. Most of the people in there can't read or write, never had anyone to take the time and help them. Figured it'd be fulfilling work."

"Yeah, as you are threatened with being stabbed everyday." Hailey said.

"No, actually I'll only get the best behaved prisoners. Plus, I'll have guards with me at all times." Rachel said, trying to reassure her friend. In reality she didn't fear anyone. There was no way a normal prisoner could even hope to hurt her. She would sooner blast those prisoners into another dimension before she allowed any of them to even get close to hurt her.

"I sure couldn't do it." Hailey laughed. "But that's just me."

The two watched the movie, commenting here and there about stupid things the characters did. "Hey, you know what sounds like a great idea?" Hailey asked sarcastically. Rachel looked up at her. "Going into the creepy old building you just was haunted." She said with a smile.

"That sounds amazing!" Rachel said with a smile. "Afterward we can go our separate ways to look for ghosts!" She said sarcastically. They both laughed and continued watching the movie. Enjoying the small comment each other made. Making the scary movie seem almost like a comedy to an extent.

After the movie, the two got up from their positions and stretched. "I'm gonna go to bed." Hailey said. "Try not to make too much noise when you come in tonight."

Rachel smiled. "I won't."

"What are you gonna look for this time?"

"To be honest I have no idea. Maybe I'll get some Christmas stories to pass the time for the holiday."

"If you find a book on deserts at that bookstore pick one up for me. I'll pay you back. I need to make a new recipe for brownies. You can be my taste tester." Hailey said with a wink and smile.

"I swear, I'm gonna get fat eating your food." Rachel laughed. Hailey walked back into the kitchen to wash her plate and put it away. Rachel got her dark purple jacket on and headed toward the door. "Good night Hailey. I'll be back in a few hours."

"Alright! See you tomorrow!" She called from the kitchen.

Raven smiled and opened then closed the door behind her. Should be interesting to see what the old lady got in stock today. Every thursday was shipment day for the old bookstore down the street. It was run by an old lady that seemed to be one of the only people who loved reading as much as she did. She passed several night clubs, listening to the electronic buzz and thumping as she passed. She never could understand just how people could stand to stay in such an awful place.

Rachel opened the door to the shop and saw the old lady carrying a box onto the main desk. "Good evening dear." The old women said with a smile. "You're right on time. The package just arrived." Rachel smiled as she closed the door behind her, enjoying the warm atmosphere of the comforting store.

... Robin ...

Richard sat at his desk as he went over several files from the day's arrests. All the Detectives were centered in one area while the normal officers were spread out through the building. He searched and searched but found no connection between Mikey or Slade. Files as old as 20 years proved to be unhelpful. Was Mikey a pawn in Slade's game? Was Mikey even involved at all?

"Johnson!" The JCPD Chief of Police called from down the hall.

Richard snapped out of his trance. "Yes sir?" He asked.

"In my office." The Chief said, pointing to the chair inside his office. Richard made his way inside and sat down in the chair in front of the Chief's desk. The Chief took his time sitting down and looking at Richard. "Care to tell me what you're doing pulling almost 20 year old files on Supervillain Deathstroke? You know these files are to stay locked up unless I gave the okay that they're valid."

"Sir. I have reason to believe that Mikey is connected to Deathstroke." Richard said.

"Deathstroke? How in God's Green Earth is a dead supervillain connected to a lowly drug dealing teenager?"

"I saw him sir! I was following Mikey and I saw him with my own eyes!" Richard said, his voice growing in volume.

"Enough Johnson! You weren't even supposed to be tailing Mikey in the first place!" The chief yelled over him. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. "You're a good Detective Johnson... You're dedicated and strong willed. You've pulled more criminals off the streets in the 6 years you've been here than most cops do in their entire career." He said. "However, pulling classified files without authorization can not be overlooked. I have no choice, you're on probation until further notice. I don't have to tell you what this means." The chief said seriously.

Richard knew exactly what it meant. If I so much as think about stepping out of line… The chief will suspend me… If not fire me. "I understand Sir."

"Good, now go out on patrol until your shifts up."

With that, Richard got up from his seat and walked out the office, closing the door behind him. "Yo Rich." He turned to see Detective Smith waving and running up to him. "What'd the Cap want?"

Richard sighed. "He's being pissy cause I pulled some files on a super villain."

Smith hit on Richard on the shoulder. Richard almost laughed at how slow and weak the hit was. In the time it took him to throw the punch Richard could've knocked him out 6 different ways and not have broken a sweat. Instead, Richard closed his eyes so his reflexes wouldn't take over and hurt his friend. He faked a grimace to convince that he felt it when the hit connected. "Dumbass." Smith said laughing. Richard couldn't stop himself from smiling back. Smith was his partner during the academy and the two just clicked. He made Detective the year after Richard had, and ever since the two had worked on cases together. However with the recent Mikey cases Richard has chosen to go solo more often than not. In a way, ever since he was a child, Richard never has been able to shake the desire to have a partner in crime… Crime fighting that is. "Wanna grab a drink after your patrol? James, Bart, and Dan are meeting us there. You know Beth? The hottie from accounting? She supposed to be there too." Smith knew Richard didn't drink but he wanted to hang out and having a good time with his friend after work. "Don't worry they have water and soda." He added with a smile.

"Uh sure. Why not?" Richard said, trying his best to smile at the irritating proposal. Relaxing was never his strong suit but he figured it couldn't hurt to entertain his friend for a night. Guess I could relax for one night.

Richard was sitting patiently in his car, holding to trigger to his speedometer reader. Screen every car that passed by. He sat on the lower part of the highway so that when someone rushed over that hill, they wouldn't be able to see him and slow down fast enough. It was Saturday night, there would be a speed demon rushing down the road any minute. And almost on cue, there he was. The dumbass driving his Charger well over a 100 in a 60. Took him long enough. He thought. He flipped the lights on and floored the gas pedal. Richard dodge cars left and right, trying desperately to catch up to the assailant. The Charger pulled off the highway and turned down a few streets obviously trying to lose him. He hit a few stop signs and even a mailbox before ultimately turning down a dirt road and coming to an end. Shame, Richard thought, the chase was just getting fun.

The man, around Richards age with more facial hair and tattoos, got out and pointed a gun. "Don't move! I don't wanna hurt you! I can't go back to jail! I won't!" The man yelled.

Richard got out of his car and smirked. He closed the door behind him and started to slowly walk towards the man.

"Stop man! I have a gun!"

"That's adorable." Richard said through a smile.

The man fired at Richard but missed as he had side stepped around to the man's side in the blink of an eye. The sound of the bullet hitting a metal sign echoed. He looked at Richard, ready to fire again. "What the Hell?" Richard reached for the man and dislocated both of his wrists with a pinch of his hand. "AHHHHH!" The man cried. Richard slammed the man to the ground and shoved his head down. "WHAT THE... WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU?!" The man yelled.

Richard smiled. "I'm the cop that's bringing you in." He pulled the mans hands behind his back and handcuffed his still limp wrists. After the man winced in pain at the sudden movement, he almost cried when Richard popped them back into place.

"Lets go buddy." He lifted the man up and threw him into his back seat. Before closing the door, the man needed to be read his rights. "You are under arrest for speeding, destruction of public and private property, and threatening and attempting to harm an officer. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in court. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be-"

"How the fuck did you do that?"

"I get paid to do this."

"You really need to get laid."

Richard groaned and slammed the man into the car, locking the door so he couldn't get out. He got back into the drivers seat and called for the tow truck to come pick up the car. Richard put the car into drive and sped away at full speed, testing his driving skill as he headed toward the station. They sat in silence, listening to the car bounce over bumps in the road, until the man spoke up.

"What's your name?" The man asked.

"Doesn't matter." Richard said.

"Come on, I deserve to know the name of the guy that arrested me." He stated.

Richard sighed. It didn't matter, this guy was going to jail anyway. "Richard Johnson."

"My names Patrick Todd."

"That's nice." Richard said, trying his best to avoid getting into a conversation with this punk.

"Do you enjoy busting up normal guys like me, Richard?"

"More than life itself." Richard said with a smile. It was closest he could get to being a superhero again.

"My girlfriend's gonna kill me for this…you sure you had to bring me in?" Patrick said.

"Shooting at an officer is a felony." He couldn't help but sneak a glance in the rear view mirror. This fuck-up had a girlfriend? Richard sat at the stoplight and stared at a billboard of Starfire, this time it illuminated her her alien green eyes for some masquara line or something like that.

Patrick noticed this and smiled. "Damn, she's a hot piece of ass isn't she?" Patrick said. "I think just about any guy would kill to be with her."

Richard frowned. I would kill to just see her again.

... Starfire ...

"Hey babe, do we have any beer?" Thomas called from the living room.

"Check the fridge!" Kori called from the bathroom. She finished her makeup and hair. Now all she had to do was put on her dress and head to the bar.

"Found it!" She heard from the other room.

She came out of the room and looked at her boyfriend who say comfortably on the couch watching television. "How do I look?" She asked sweetly.

"Hot date tonight?" He asked playfully.

"Drinks with the girls." She said.

Thomas ran over to his girlfriend. "I wish you'd stay here and keep me company. We could cuddle and watch a movie, might lead to a little somethin-somethin."

Kori stopped. "That actually does sound nice. But I'm not really in the mood tonight."

Thomas sighed. "Well than I get to pick the movie."

"That's not fair." Kori said, growing frustrated but still playing along.

Thomas grabbed Kori's hips and pulled them closer. "Don't worry babe. Daddy's got you."

Kori felt anger grow inside her. "Don't wait up." She said, shoving Thomas's hands away.

"Kori, what the fu-" Kori slammed the door behind her when he walked out, locking it behind her. She fumed as she made her way outside and towards the bar down the street. He always did that. Treating her like a child and acting as if she is dependent on his every word. He lives in her apartment for Christ's sake! How could he possibly think that she needed him out of obligation? She was with him because…. Well because… Kori's mind went blank. Why was she with him? They had little to nothing in common. He could make Kori laugh but that wasn't hard to do in the first place. Guess I never really thought about it. Kori thought. She opened the doors to the bar and almost immediately was struck with the electronic bass of the thumping club.

Some things about human life had never made sense to Kori. The girls she modeled with barely ate and chain-smoked the entire damn day, shunning the big carb-filled meals that Kori ingested three times a day. But every Friday night, without fail, all of them went to bars and drank down hundreds of dollars worth of girlie shots and other drinks. She didn't get it, but she went with them every week anyway when they were in town. She concluded they were her new friends now and she might as well get used to it.

From the first moment she sat down, Kori wasn't feeling herself. She sat on the bar, the pounding music and giggling of her coworkers filtering in and out of her brain as she drank down martini after martini, chasing that elusive buzz. As an alien calories had no impact on her, but that also meant that she had an incredible alcohol tolerance. The only time she'd ever been drunk was after 25 consecutive shots on her twenty-first birthday. She figured it'd take at least ten tonight to get her buzzed, so she'd better start now.

"Kori!" Her friend, Susan, called from a few feet away. "Meet us at the cafe across the street when you finish up!"

"I'll be there in a little bit!" She waved, turning back to her drink. She sighed as she took another sip.

"Kori? Is that what they're calling you these days?"

She turned to the voice and gave a crooked smile. "Well. If it isn't the Boy Wonder." Why is he here? He doesn't drink.

"Let me buy you a drink Star." He said pleasantly.

"Don't call me that." She hissed. "I gave up that name, remember?" She turned to face him. "Why are you here? You don't like alcohol."

Richard held up his beer. "Non-alcoholic." He said with a smile. "Tastes like soda in a way."

Kori winced. "I always did hate carbonated drinks."

Richard frowned. He took the open seat next to Kori. "How have you been?"

Kori ignored him and instead called for the bartender. "Another drink please!"

"Put it on my tab." Richard said as the bartender nodded and handed Kori her drink.

"Still trying to be the knight in shining armor huh?" Kori asked in a disgusted tone. "Your kindness is the last thing I want Dick." She said, making his name sound like an insult.

Richard remained cool and collected. "Can't an old friend buy another a drink?" He asked with a smile. He felt his cheeks hurt by how much it was taking to force a smile. In reality he was shocked. Her green eyes were so, so cold. Her Tamaranian accent was gone. If he didn't know her, he'd have thought she was born on Earth.

Kori downed her drink and slammed it on the table, cracking the glass but not breaking it. "After what you did to me you think we're friends? You think after everything I went through that we could ever be friends again?"

Richard looked down at his beer. He was shocked at how the warm and bubbly Starfire, turned into the cold and resentful Kori Anders. He stayed silent for a few minutes, choosing his next words carefully. "This city really has changed you Sta... Kori." He said reluctantly.

Her name sounded like poison coming from his mouth. "Looks like it hasn't changed you. Still chasing the bad guys Detective Grayson?"

"I'm going by a fake name while I'm a cop. They wouldn't have hired me if they knew where I came from or who I was. So I made a fake profile and back story. Figured I'd enjoy being a cop before Bruce finally decided it's time for me to take over the company." He said. "Till then it's Richard Johnson."

Kori chuckled. "Both names that describe you." She sighed. "When you go back to Gotham to take over for Bruce. Are you planning to pick up the cape and cowl again? Or will you try and live a normal life?"

Richard chuckled. "My life will never be normal." He stepped beside Kori and leaned on the bar. "After I take over the company I was planning on helping Bruce as Nightwing." He smiled, remembering when Kori traveled in time and defeated the Time Thief called Warp. She came back and told the Titans about their future and how Robin would eventually take up the mantel Nightwing. In reality, that was the only reason he even chose that name. In a sense it made him chuckle how the future might have changed a little but in the end, the Titans still split up and he would eventually become Nightwing.

"Figured." Kori scoffed.

Richard once again ignored the sourness in her voice. "Whats new?" He asked, once again trying to sound pleasant.

"I've been to almost every country in the world because I'm a supermodel who's face and body is known everywhere. I have a pristine high rise condo on the south side of the city that overlooks the ocean, where my boyfriend is waiting for me." Kori sighed. She looked up toward the bartender. "Can I get another please?" She asked irritably.

The word stung in his chest. Boyfriend huh? He thought to himself. Richard adjusted his sunglasses and gave another fake smile. "As long as you're happy Kori. I'm happy."

Kori stopped mid shot and looked at Richard with a death-radiating stare. She grabbed his shirt by the collar and picked him up with ease. His feet dangled but he didn't struggle. Kori might be incredibly strong but Robin could still take her down if she tried to hurt him, but that wasn't why he didn't move. He felt that any punishment she felt necessary he would accept, no matter how painful it may be. Kori leaned in close to Richard's ear. "You have no fucking right to say that to me." She gritted through her teeth. "Six year ago you said you just wanted to be friends." Richard felt a cold tingle down his spine. "I've moved on." She said, shoving him back into his seat. She grabbed her purse and took money out to pay the bartender for the drinks. She turned back to Richard with a cold stare. "Looks like you still need to." And with that, she turned and walked out the door. She felt her eyes sting as she left the bar and turned the corner to head home.

She'd forgotten about her friends at the cafe. All she wanted now was to go home and forget the hero's face, knowing it was pointless. She knew that he was forever embedded in his mind, body, and soul. As she passed the people in the crowd she neared the intersection of Main Street, she started running, slow at first but gaining speed until ultimately slamming into a woman when she wasn't paying attention. 4 books fell to the ground with a thud and landed open. A book on dessert recipes, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, All Through The Night by Mary Higgins Clark, and The Christmas Train by David Baldacci. Kori quickly made her way to pick up the books and hand them to the woman but paused when she went to hand them to her. "Oh God, I'm so..." Her words were cut off when she found who she'd run into. Her eyes widened as she collected her thoughts. "Raven?"

Richard sat at the bar and stared at his drink. Damn. He thought. I can't ask her for help with the way things are. There's no telling what Slade is up to.

... Slade ...

Two henchmen stood outside the warehouse near the docks that housed Slade's base of operations. The docks were connected to the main oil supply of Jump City. Oil was the blood of the city's economy, all export and import depended on its profitability. Which, as anyone could guess, made the city very wealthy. They paced back and forth, keeping watch to make sure no one even came close to the warehouse. They stood shoulder to shoulder and looked out at the ocean as the dawn made its way over the horizon.

"So how'd you end up working here?" The 1st asked, trying to dull the silence.

"Dropped out of high school. I signed up thinking this was a construction job but found it to be this."

"Why'd you stay?"

"Pay's too good to pass up. We're getting paid a thousand a night to stand here and look pretty." The 2nd responded. "What about you?"

"I couldn't get into the military because I have a busted shoulder. But when I was contacted for 'Security' I was all over it. Didn't know it was this till I got here." The 1st henchman said. There was a long silence between them until he spoke up again to try and pass the time. "What do you think the boss's plan is?"

"No idea. Slade's a hardass when it comes to secrets."

"Really now?" They both felt a hand placed on their shoulder and turned to see Slade towering behind them. He had a good 6 inches on both the guards as he bent down to speak to the henchmen. His eyes curved underneath his mask to seem as if he were smiling. Though his grip was tight on the two guards, enough to not hurt them but also enough to make sure they couldn't move away. "Would you like to hear my plan?"

They both nodded and Slade sighed. "I know you both are loyal so I figure it's only fair you know what you're guarding." He stood straight up and walked back to the front door of the warehouse. "Follow me gentlemen. It's dawn. Anyone who would want to attack is long gone. So your services are done for the night. I'll explain everything inside."

They both looked at each other and reluctantly followed behind their boss. Closing the world off behind them. Leaving no one to know where they were or what they were doing.

Moments later a pair blood chilling screams was heard. The sound of what could be mistaken for a jet engine ignited and then quickly faded. All that was left was the sound of the ocean waves crashing along the sea wall as the sun slowly rose to begin a new day.

- What is Slade's plan? How will Raven and Starfire's reunion go? Will Robin be able to find help to confront Slade or will he be forced to act alone? Who is that mysterious beauty Kori's boyfriend is having an affair with? How will Robin react to the news that Raven has returned to Earth? WHY DOES MY DOG KEEP BARKING AT THE TREE?! Stay tuned!

- Any thoughts, comments, reviews are welcomed. Don't forget to follow and favorite for more updates.

- As always guys, thanks for reading and I hope to see you in the next chapter.