A nervous burglar was stuffing a leather satchel as fast as he could, indiscriminately grabbing jewelry from a shattered case while his partner was busy tying up and gagging the jewelry store owner. He noticed that his partner in crime was taking his sweet old time.

"C'mon Manny! Hurry up! It's only a matter of time before the Titans show up."

Manny grinned as calmly began to stuff his own satchel, picking through the spoils of their burglary and tossing aside what he didn't like.

"Don't you read the papers, Harry? They're having a big shindig in their Tower tonight. Black tie affair, which means they ain't coming. They're having their party, so we can have ours without worrying about them showin' up. We're like two kids in a candy store."

As Manny gave his little speech a portal opened in the floor and a dark, hooded figure rose from it, stretching its arms out at its sides, and was shrouded in a cape.

"Think again." A gravelly, female voice warned them.

"No way! You're supposed to be at that party." Manny shrieked.

Nightwing crashed through the storefront window, knocking Harry over after crashing into his back feet first.

"You're going to jail." Nightwing scolded Manny while Raven untied the shopkeeper. Police sirens could be heard approaching.

"You're not supposed to be here!"

"We had a change in plans, loser." Raven responded as Nightwing cuffed the burglar just as the first squad car arrived. Two officers hurried into the store and took over for the Titans.

Raven turned to Nightwing. "This is seventh burglary we've stopped tonight, does this happen every time we have a party?"

"Pretty much." Nightwing replied. "Which is why I thought this would be good therapy. So, how are you feeling?"

Raven looked at the clock in the store. It was almost 1 AM.

"I'm hungry … I didn't get a chance to eat anything at the party."

"Me too. There's an all night Chinese takeout joint not too far from here. You game?"

"Right now I'm so hungry that anything sounds good." She replied.

They quickly made their way to the all night kitchen. Nightwing ordered beef and broccoli while Raven ordered the Szechuan Chicken. While they were waiting she noticed there was no place to sit down to eat their food.

"I'm guessing you don't want to go home." Grayson remarked as he was handed a plastic bag with their dinner in it."

"I'm sure the Ball isn't over yet."

Nightwing paused as he thought about something. "I know a place we can go."

"Where is it?"

"Across the bay, over there. Can you teleport us there? It's on the fourth floor on the corner of Mason and Foothills Blvd."

"That shouldn't be too hard." She replied as she raised her arms. Within moments they were inside a clean but shabby apartment.

"Where are we?" She asked.

"This is my safe house."

"Your safe house?"

"Yeah, it's a place I can go to when I need to hide. I also come here when I need to be alone. You want something to drink?"

"What have you got?" She asked.

He opened a small fridge in the kitchen and frowned at its contents. "All I've got is beer."

"That'll be fine, but I want it in a glass. You do have clean glasses in your little bat cave, right?"

He opened a cupboard. "Very funny, of course I do." He grumbled as he poured her brew into a large green glass and set it before her. He joined her at the small table with a bottle of his own and using their chopsticks they began to eat their dinner straight out of the containers. They ate quietly, until Raven broke the silence.

"I understand that things aren't going well between you and Starfire."

"That's an understatement."

"So, spill the beans. It's not like you don't know what my problems are." She replied between bites of food.

"Fair's fair I guess … Star has decided that we shouldn't have sex anymore."

"Really, just like that? Did she say why?"

"Yeah, just like that, out of the blue. And no, she didn't say why. When I pressed the question she became evasive. I can't help but feel that I did something wrong. Do you have any idea of what I did?"

She shook her head. "I haven't got a clue, but I do know that she's pissed with you."

"How so?"

"She charged my dress for the Ball on your credit card, and it wasn't cheap, it was four grand. I'm sorry about that, Dick, I'll pay you back … I don't know how … but I will."

"Forget it; the bill goes straight to Alfred. He'll pay it off, no questions asked." He replied as he chuckled. "You know, it's funny, you're the only member of the team who knows my secret identity."

Raven recalled the time she entered his mind, when he was hallucinating about a non-existent Slade. From that that point on there were no secrets between them.

"Star doesn't know who you really are?"

"No, she doesn't."

"Has she ever asked you to remove your mask?"

"All the time."

"So you're saying that when you have sex with her, you wear that stupid mask?"

"That's right."

"That's ridiculous, she's seen your penis, but she's never seen your eyes?"

"Yup, guilty as charged."

"No wonder she doesn't want to have sex with you anymore." Raven continued eating. "Then again, you're not the only who isn't getting laid tonight. My boyfriend probably has a big smile on his face right now, while he's humping that bitch."

"Raven, why do you keep saying that?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Yes, I do."

Raven put her food container down. "Why do you think I treat him like crap?"

"That's a question Star, Cy and I have been wondering about for a long time. Why do you do that?"

"It's simple, when you think about it."

"Oh Raven, you don't really think you aren't good enough for him?"

"Winner, winner, chicken dinner." She replied.

"But why? How could you not be good enough for him?"

"In case you didn't get the memo, I'm a nasty, undesirable witch. He's only stuck around with me for the sex, and now I've been replaced."

"That's not true."

"Dick, let's be honest, other than Gar, no one had ever shown any real interest in me. I'm not exactly a good catch."

"Now you're selling yourself short."

"Am I? Dick, do you find me attractive?"

Nightwing tensed up upon hearing the unexpected question.

"Raven … I've … I've never thought of you … or us … that way."

"I'm not your sister, so don't give me that BS."

Grayson sighed in defeat.

"Ok, fine, I have … thought of you that way."

"You have? When?"

"When we first met, I thought you looked kind of hot in your leotard and cape … you have nice legs."

Raven paused and pursed her lips. Dick could tell that she was having an inner struggle. Finally she spoke.

"Good … because I need a favor."

"A favor? Well, we are friends after all, so what do you need from me?"

"I need you to make love with me."

Grayson nearly choked on his food.

"You want sex? Raven, that's more than just a favor."

"I understand, but I need to know what it's like to be with another man besides Gar. I need to know that I am desirable, so if he doesn't come back, I know I can move forward."

Grayson rubbed his forehead, still clearly in dismay. "Are you sure about this? I mean, this is a really big deal. I've only ever had sex with Star before."

"Don't worry, Starfire, or whoever you end up with, will never know… no one will, especially not Gar. I swear to keep this a secret. But you have to understand, this is important to me. If I know that I'm attractive, that I have the goods, it will redefine my relationship with him."

"Raven, this isn't necessary, take my word for it, you are desirable and attractive."

"No, you don't know that. And I don't know that. I've had a single partner for five years, and the day an old flame comes back he runs off with her."

"Maybe you need to stop treating him like crap."

"And I will once I know I'm good enough for him. I need to know if I can make you shout out my name while we do it. I want to see you turn into a quivering mass of flesh, unable to stand up after we're done."

"Raven … why me?"

"I've had a small crush on you since I met you. And I know I can count on you and trust you. You stopped me from making a mistake with Aqualad."

"And doing it with me isn't a mistake?"

"No. it's different. You and I are already intellectually intimate; I've been in your mind, I know all your secrets. As you've said in the past, we have a special bond. You came looking for me when I was lost in Trigon's pit. If there is anyone I can share myself with like that, other than Gar … it's you."

"But Raven, I have a girlfriend …"

"Exactly, and I have a boyfriend. If I can get you to beg me for more, then I know I have what it takes. And I'll take back what's mine from that blond bitch."

Nightwing sighed. "So you want a "friends with benefits" screw? No romance, no tenderness, just heavy breathing and orgasms?"

"I do expect you to please me." She replied.

Raven leaned forward and peeled his mask off his face. "And I want to see your eyes while we have sex. You know that you have beautiful eyes, they're the window into your soul."

Grayson shook his head in dismay.

"I think this is a really bad idea … but I'll do it. I just hope this isn't something we'll regret later."

An hour later …

Grayson was laying on his back, panting, the bed clothes for his double bed were strewn on the floor. Curled up next to him, her head resting on his shoulder and just as naked as we was, was Raven.

"Raven … that was incredible. You're a love goddess!"

She kissed him on the lips. "I also enjoyed it. You're a pretty good lover too; you know how to touch a woman."

"I felt like I was electrified … Raven … was this different for you?"

She smiled and kissed him again. "I've never experienced such an intense orgasm. I was literally shaking. You were very passionate, if I didn't know better, I'd say that you have feelings for me."

He frowned at her. "You know that I do … Raven … this wasn't a one night stand."

"Uh … yes it was, that was the deal, remember?"

"I want to change the deal."

"You have a girlfriend."

"I know that I do. But Star never satisfied the way you did."

"So, you're saying that you want more?"

"Raven, I took my mask off. I have never been more intimate with anyone … I shouted your name. I've never experienced something like this before. Of course I want more."

"And what about Starfire?"

"I … I don't know."

"Dick, I will always cherish this night we shared together, it was truly exquisite. But now we need to go back to our significant others. You need to work things out with her and I need to do the same with Gar. You know that you don't love me, not the way you love her. I know you can work your problems out with Star. And some friendly advice … lose the mask. I couldn't have done it with you if I only knew you as Nightwing, it would have been so impersonal. Really Dick, banging your girl while wearing that mask, that's a huge turn off. If you want her to want you, she needs to know who you really are."

"But if I reveal my true identity to her …"

"Bruce can suck it; you have a right to a life of your own. Kori is your soul mate, she has a right to know."

"Does she have a right to know about us?" He frowned.

"Don't be stupid, she'll be hurt if she finds out ... look, we both learned something really important tonight. I learned that I can enjoy sex with a friend and that I really am damn good at it, so much so that you're willing to dump your girlfriend for me. You learned that you can't have intimacy while concealing your identity from your lover. And right now you are far more intimate with me than you've ever been with her. You need to fix that."

"So what happens to us?"

Raven sat up in the bed. "We go back to our platonic friendship. This night never happened."

"I'm not sure I can do that, Raven. I'll never be able to forget what we just shared. This was a game changer for me."

Raven stood up. "You don't have any other choice. I'm sorry if you feel this way, Dick, but it's Gar who I want, not you. I'm sorry, but we won't be doing this again, ever."

"This sucks." He complained.

"We should shower before heading home. Gar has a sensitive nose, he'll smell you scent on me. And Starfire, her race is descended from felines; she'll smell my scent on you too."

"You had this all figured out."

"No, I didn't. When you first suggested we go on a patrol this had yet to cross my mind."

Without saying another word, Raven stepped into his bathroom and the sound of the shower began. Nightwing sat up in the bed and sighed. Raven was right, that night and everything associated with it, was being washed down the drain.

Deep down inside he knew she was right, but he still wasn't happy about it.

-( scene break )-

Raven and Nightwing phased into the hallway on the habitat level in the Tower. The Ball was long since concluded and the Tower was silent.

"Goodnight Dick and thanks. You have no idea how much you've helped me."

"It's what platonic friends are for." He replied in a dejected voice.

"Just go to her and take the mask off … everything will be fine, you'll see. And forget about tonight … it never happened."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I'll try … goodnight Raven."

The sorceress headed straight for her room and phased through the door. As expected, he wasn't there. Raven immediately stripped down and after liberally applying her signature lavender perfume she put on a fresh leotard. She examined herself and once she was convinced that she had eradicated all traces of Grayson from her body she phased through the wall that separated her room from the changeling's abode.

As expected, he was asleep in the lower bunk. She calmly disrobed and slipped into bed with him. He was only wearing a pair of boxers. She spooned him from behind and began to kiss his neck. He rustled as he woke up and slowly rolled over, until they were eye to eye.

"Raven? What are you doing here?"

"You weren't in our room."

"Yeah … well … that's how it works, right? We fight, you kick me out. So why are you here?"

"Well, I thought that some make up sex was in order, and then we could talk about what happened."

"Raven, we do need to talk, but we should skip the make up sex."

"What? You don't want to make love?"

He rubbed the back of his head and sighed. This wasn't going to be easy.

"Raven … I'm going back to the Doom Patrol … I'm leaving the Titans."

"You're going back? But what about us? Why didn't you talk with me about this?"

"That's the thing Raven. You crossed the line tonight."

"I know, I physically hurt you, I'm so sorry. I promise that will never happen again."

"I've been thinking about us, lately, a lot and … I don't know how else to say this, Raven. There isn't an us anymore … I'm sorry."

Her eyes flared red. "You're dumping me for that bitch?"

"It's more than that Raven … we just don't work as a couple … other than sex, we don't do anything together … nothing. And … Raven … you have issues, big issues."

"And instead of working them out with me, you're running off with that trollop?"

"Raven, Jill and I go way back. But face it, we've been doing, well whatever it is we've been, for five years … and it just isn't working. We should have moved on a long time ago."

Tears began to well in her eyes. "You told me that you loved me."

"I still do, I'll always love you … but we're a really bad couple. You know it's true."

She choked back a sob. "I can change."

"Raven, I've been waiting five years for you to change. It isn't gonna happen, we both know that."

"So … that's it? You're just gonna dump me like that? The five years we spent together don't mean anything?"

"I never said that. Of course they mean a lot to me. You mean a lot to me."

"Then why give up?" She cried.

"Raven, we failed a long time ago. There's nothing left to give up … we've been living a lie."

She began to sob. "No, I won't accept that. That isn't true … we can fix our problems."

"Come on, what happened tonight, that was pretty bad. I went out of my way to humiliate you and you used your powers to hurt me. Where did you go afterwards anyway? No one saw you after you clobbered me."

Raven felt her heart freeze in her chest. "I … I went out on a patrol with Nightwing. It was his idea, he said that it would clear my head … Gar … can't we talk this over?"

"Why?"

She continued to sob. "Because I don't want to lose you … please don't leave me, I promise I'll change, I'll even see a therapist … I really will."

"You know, that's not a bad idea. You should see a therapist."

Her expression brightened.

"But I'm still breaking up with you."

"But Gar …"

"Raven, stop it! It's over. Just accept it and move on."

"Move on? Move on to what?"

"I don't know, but that's your problem not mine … Raven … you need to leave now."

"Gar … please … no."

"Fine, if you won't leave, then I will." He got up and began to get dressed.

"Where are you going?"

"To Jill's hotel room. I'll be back in the morning to tell the others and pack my stuff. Mento's sending a jet to pick us up in the afternoon."

"This … this isn't happening." She cried.

He opened a window and looked back at her.

"I'm sorry, the last thing I wanted to do was to hurt you. Good bye, Raven … have a good life."

He morphed into a bird and flew away. Weeping, and only clad in her underwear, she walked out of his room into the hallway.

"Raven, what happened?"

She looked up and saw Grayson, who had also changed in a fresh outfit and was on his way to Starfire's room. She ran to him and burying her face into his chest she began to sob. Starfire woke from the commotion and came out of her room, as did Cyborg.

"Raven, why are you weeping?"

The sorceress lifted her tear drenched face from Nightwing's chest.

"Gar broke up with me … he's left me for Jillian and he's going back to the Doom Patrol."

Raven reburied her face and resumed sobbing. Grayson stroked her head in a futile attempt to soothe her. Starfire crossed her arm and frowned, as tears dripped down her face. Cyborg looked stunned. Starfire approached her friend and gently wrapping her arms around her she drew her away from Nightwing. Grayson backed away and approached Cyborg, who looked very unhappy.

"What the hell is the grass stain thinking? He can't quit the team … Raven … where is he?"

"He's … on his way to see Jillian, he's going to spend the night with her."

With a grimace on his face, Cyborg headed off to the elevator

"I'll be back, I'm gonna open a can of whup-ass on him …"

"No, Cy, wait … we'll confront him tomorrow. We all need to calm down and let cooler heads prevail. I'm sure that this is all just a misunderstanding and we'll straighten it all out tomorrow." Nightwing announced.

"I will spend the night with Raven. Tonight she needs the company of a friend who is a girl and who cares about her."

Nightwing suppressed a wince, seeing his girlfriend consoling his secret one night stand. He suddenly felt sick and disgusted with himself.

"Thanks, Star … I think we should all try to get some sleep tonight … tomorrow's going to be … eventful."

They all adjourned for the night. Starfire took Raven to her room while Cyborg followed Nightwing.

"Yo, Nighty, you don't look so good. Is everything OK?"

"No, it's not."

"Say, where were you? You kind of just vanished."

"I was with Raven, I took her out on a patrol … you know, to get away from here."

"And you just got back?"

"We lost track of time, we busted a lot of perps."

"I see, well, I guess that seemed like a good idea at the time. Was she OK with you?"

"Yeah, we talked about what happened. She was going to apologize to him. I don't think he has any idea of how much he means to her."

"Well, I can't blame him; she does treat him like crap."

"You know what the sad thing is? She was ready to change … Cy we have to talk him out of this … he can't leave Raven or the team."

"Well, what happens between them is their business, I'm not their momma. In a way, I'm kinda glad he dumped her. But him quitting the team, that's my business, and I'm gonna read him the riot act about that."

They stopped in front of Nightwing's door. "See you in the morning, Cy."

"Later, dude."

As soon as the door slid shut behind him, Grayson sat down on a chair and rubbed his temples.

"How the hell am I gonna talk BB out of all this?"

-( scene break )-

Now you gotta admit, this is very different from the original. There was a cheat, and no one knows about it. Meanwhile, BB dumped Raven and he's going back to the Doom Patrol.

Also a note: Jillian Jackson is not an OC. She really was BB's first girlfriend in the old 1980's comics.

Now the mailbag. Reviews are increasing. Thanks. And to those of you who find this story cringe-worthy … that's the whole idea.

Anoymous136 – I hope I succeed.

Guest – Bone headed mistakes have been, and will continue to be made.

Avandra the Mary Sue Slayer - Raven thought she was being so clever, until she got blindsided.

The Cretin - There's going to be a heaping serving of regret coming up.

gabylokita41 – BB and Raven are both being stupid, except that Raven's mistake is a secret. A secret that can hurt a lot of people.

Wolf of IndigoRiver - It's kind of sad, now that Raven is ready to turn over a new leaf, the opportunity is lost.

Dragonkyng – OK, put the ax down … pretty please?

Bizarrecollector - You must have a crystal ball.

Anonymous - Yeah, they're both screwing up ... big time.

Thowell3 – Thanks for the remark about the original version, which got way too complex.

titanfan45 – The truth is that is wasn't just the sex that kept him around. He's just telling himself that so he won't feel guilty about dumping Raven for Jill.

bigC94 – It will get interesting. Much like in the original, BB's gonna learn some bad stuff about Jill. As for fish lips, Dick would never let him join the team.

St Rhon - Even though he's being a bit of a jerk, it's hard to not be on BB's side, especially after Raven's secret and unjustifiable cheat.

greenhatred77 – I also dislike Grayson, because in the comics he dumps Starfire's and breaks her heart. Then he has the gall to have casual sex with her.

Katie TDC – I take that as a complement!

LurkingShadowWillow - Oh yes, he's dating Star. And he wants Raven more than Star.

Shadico – Good! As I mentioned before, while this story is sordid, it isn't as bad as the original.