As of now, there was no doubt in my mind that this was a bad idea. Why was I reacting like this? These are the people I grew up with. Beast Boy…Garfield…always got under my skin. But I don't remember it feeling like this. I used to want to hide from everybody. Now that I was here, all I wanted to do was hide from him. But why? He was the same, and yet, so unrecognizable…but he wasn't? Why is this so confusing. I was up on the rooftop with Kory, watching the sunset. It was five in the evening.

"I was rather taken aback by the way you reacted towards Garfield, friend Raven." My cheeks flushed.

"What do you mean?"

"When we were kids, he never effected you in such ways. Do you have, the lust?" My eyes widened and I looked at Starfire, completely dumbfounded.

"No fucking way! I haven't seen him 8 years; I just couldn't believe he looked the way he did. The way he acted..."

"You have not seen me or Cyborg since then, either, friend Raven, and you seemed…how you say, composed. Well, sort of…"

"Everything is just too much for me, right now, Kory."

"But this is a joyous experience. I know it is a lot, I understand. We all do. We all know you are driven by your emotions – do not fear or be embarrassed. We still love you." They care. They care so much. I left them – no – I abandoned them for 8 fucking years. I was 24. 24! The last time I was with them was when I was 16. They are acting like that never happened. Why?

"It was really nice to see you all. I'm glad I did. But I have to go – I work in a few hours. Maybe I will see you all again soon?"

"So you're just going to come in and surprise us all, throw me to the ground, and not even stay to hang out for a bit?" I spun around – there was Garfield, walking towards us. Behind him was a teenaged girl with thick, curly gold hair and a sparkling red jumpsuit. Next to her was a boy around the same age – skinny, tall, and Hispanic. "Don't you want to check out your old room again? All of your things are still there."

"Stay out of my room, Garfield." I joked, but it still was a bit bitter. I needed to relax; he was a human being. I was being way too harsh. "I-I was joking."

"I know, Rae." He laughed and rolled his eyes. "This is Cassie, also known as Wondergirl, she's one of our new cadets. This is Jaime – Blue Beetle; he isn't a Titan, but he helps out and trains with us here and there." I gave them both a nod. The awkward silence was absolutely killing me. He and I continuously caught each other's gaze and I couldn't help but look away immediately. What should I talk about with him? What should I say? Oh my God.

"How is Tara doing?" Really? That is what I could come up with? Out of all of the conversations we could have had, I asked about Tara. Why the hell would I ask about Tara? Starfire's face melted into a solemn expression and Gar turned his head away from me.

"She's dead."

"O-oh." That explains why I felt this heaviness when I was around him; this underlying feeling of loss, betrayal, and hurt. "I didn't know."

"Xena is the one who killed her. She deserved it." Gar still looked away from me. "I don't want to talk about it. You haven't been around to know, nor do you deserve to know. You don't even care. You can't just walk back into the tower and ask personal things like that Raven. You don't even know any of us anymore." Pain. So much pain. My heart fell into my stomach. My face turned hot with anger and embarrassment. "Maybe we needed you. Then you just left." The two behind him looked incredibly awkward. Where was this little dramatic speech coming from?

"I need to go." I ran for the edge of the roof, jumped, and allowed a black portal to swallow me whole. Was I doing it again? Was I running from the ones that loved me the most? Even after all of these years, I felt something weird around Garfield. There was something I couldn't quite read correctly when I was with him and I didn't like it. I had to get away. That feeling I was getting – it wasn't something I had ever felt. It was all too much. Those negative emotions radiating off of Garfield that I could sense– they weren't directed towards Tara – they were directed towards me.

"Vodka cranberry on the rocks, please." Demanded Phil, one of our regulars. I was used to his rude behavior, I was the only one who could take it. Mandy was too sweet and innocent and he usually brought her to tears by the end of the night. I made his drink and slid it across the counter gently. It glided right into his hand without a single spill.

"Anything for you, sunshine." I mumbled under my breath. I brought my attention to my next customer, and then to the next, and then the next… God this was so repetitive. Everyone was so rude and so demanding.

"Everything okay tonight, Raven?" Terry walked up behind me and began to clean some glasses. I shrugged and grabbed at some Midori for the next drink I had to make up. "You seem on edge tonight."

"It was supposed to be my day off."

"I'm sorry…I thought that you wouldn't have minded – usually you are more than willing to work overtime I-"

"I just want free time. I need to have free time. I never get out of this place." The glass in his hand was consumed by black and shattered, cutting his palm. Blood seeped into the rag he was holding in his other hand as he stared down at the scene in shock.

"What in the world?"

"I need to go. I can't tonight, I'm sorry." I ran out, terrified. I had never, ever lashed out like that at work. What if I lose my job? I'm getting paid so well after all of this time. I just caused a scene – I hurt my boss. I fucking hurt my boss. Why are my powers freaking out? Why was I freaking out? Tears. It was pouring rain outside. I ran towards the street for a taxi. No. I was weightless. Higher and higher I flew, up over the buildings of Jump City – high enough to look at that one tower that was in plain sight – the T.

I slammed on the two metal doors with both fists. My knuckles were white from clenching them so hard. I was absolutely drenched. My black hair stuck to my forehead and the bit of mascara I wore was most likely running down my cheeks. Finally, they had opened. There stood Cassie, looking completely terrified. Her expression quickly faded to something a bit gentler when she noticed who was ramming on their door like a psycho.

"Raven?"

"Please let me join. Please let me come back. Please." I fell to the ground at her feet, shaking from both being overwhelmed and freezing. "I miss this. I can't live like this anymore."

"Cassie, is everything okay?" That voice. Garfield. He ran up next to her, I knew it was him. That feeling – that damn feeling – it started to consume me all over again. "Raven?" His tone fell flat.

"Beast B—Garfield. Gar. Please, I'm so sorry." I stared at my hands holding me up on the floor. Slowly, he crouched down next to me. "I'm so sorry."

"Raven, come on, let's get you dry. You're going to get sick." His hands grabbed my arms firmly, but tenderly, and he stood me up. I haven't used this much energy in a long time; I was completely fatigued. Today was all too much. My eyelids fluttered and my head fell back, and then nothing.

"Good morning, beautiful." Cyborg hovered over me and placed a blanket on top of my body. I shuddered and sat up a bit. Then, the smallest of smiles spread across my face. I was in my old room. The same old gray and navy accents – the same old headboard that strongly resembled my hood, the same old spell books on the shelves and enchanted objects on my vanity – they were all there. This warm, familiar feeling fell over my body, and it sure as hell wasn't the blanket, either.

"I have so much explaining to do, I know, but—" he shushed me before I could finish. He knew. He knew nothing had changed – while flying and using my powers used to be a norm for me, it was too much for my body to handle after neglecting it for so long. He knew I just needed to rest for right now. The talking would come later.

"Re-gather your strength, boo. Cassie and Bart are cooking breakfast this morning. Give them an hour, and come and get some grub to round up some energy." He patted my bed and turned to leave. "Oh, and don't worry about Garfield with the whole Tara commentary – really. He is long past it. But with you leaving? Not so much. Not even after all of this time. But all that matters now is you're back. You're home. You're with your family."