Decided to update early because of holiday. :)


Raven was not exactly "Used" to having people be nice to her. She had been on her own since she was about ten, and even then, she had to take care of her mother. Jinx was her best friend, and she was always there for her, but honestly other than that, they were basically living for each other.

So thats why, sitting cross legged on the floor of a strange bedroom, Raven had no idea what to do.

The Stones couldn't really want her there could they. Raven wouldn't pretend that she didn't desperately need help, but she still felt that she was inconveniencing these people. Raven concluded that she should make herself invisible. Not go down for meals, only leave the room to go to work or to take care of Melvin Timmy and Teether. Give Mrs. Stone all her money. That would be it.

She sat there at the foot of the black and yellow striped bed for a long while, meditating, when there was a knock on the door. Raven chose to ignore it.

Vic opened the door a crack and peeped in. "You decent?" he asked. Raven made the tiniest of noises. Vic moved into the room and sat down next to her. They sat in silence for a second, before Vic gave her a gentle nudge.

"Hey," He said. "You ok?"

Raven mearly shrugged. Vic scooted a little closer. "You went right upstairs last night, you ok?"

"i;m fine." Raven droned.

"Hungry?" offered Vic. Raven just shook her head. Vics goofy smile turned into a mask of sympathy. "You didn't eat yesterday."

"I'll get something when I go into work." said Raven. "I don't want to bother you."

"Your not bothering us." said Vic incredulously. Raven just shrugged again. Vic put his arm around her shoulders and pulled Raven a little closer. "Your already paying us all your money, and you plan to work around the house. Theres no reason to do anything more for us. Don't be so skeptical that people want to help you." said Vic. Raven decided to study her feet instead of looking straight at Vic. Vic chuckled and nudged Raven. "Besides, its no skin of our nose. My daughter Karen has us heat the room twenty four seven anyway in case of surprise visits."

Raven let herself give a tiny smile at this comment. Vic smiled to. "Aha, all 47 muscles of your face are working!" he joked, tickling Raven. Raven starting giggling uncharacteristically, when her face froze for s second and she lightly smacked away Vics hand. "Seriously enough." she droned

Vic grinned and stood up. "Well since I genially convinced you to come down for breakfast, pat on the back for me, I hope you like waffles."

"Never really had them."

"What!" yelled Vic, falling back down on the floor. Raven shrugged. "Malchior was never one for cooking."

Vic through up his hands and seized Raven by the arm. "Ok i'm about to make your life girl" he said, dragging her out the door.

"Ok ok ok ok!" yelled Raven as Vic practically carried her down the stairs."Looks who's up!" announced Vic as he barged into the kitchen with Raven panting behind him.

"La señorita Raven!" yelled the twins as they launched themselves out of the chairs and tackled Raven to the ground.

"This is a very animated family I can just tell." Said Raven sarcastically.

"Chicos! Siéntate! Comè tus desayunos ahora!" yelled Sarah. The boys scrambled off Raven and sat down in their seats. "Si mamá." they said together. Sarah stepped over and helped Raven up. "Sorry love. They're not used to cute girls." she said.

"Thanks." said Raven looking down at her feet. Sarah sat her down in a chair and pushed a plate of waffles in front of her. Raven stared down at the food. It looked fantastic.

"Honestly I can go out and get something for myself, you don't have to..." Sarah picked up a waffle and shoved it in Ravens face. "I wish you were with me a second ago. Could've saved me a heartfelt monologue." joked Vic, kissing Sarah.

Raven swallowed the big mouthful of waffle. Her eyes bugged out of her head. Vic and the kids cheered as she sat frozen. Her eyes seemed to become lighter, her jaw, softer. Her dark eyes seemed to have a pinkish hue.

"They're ok." she said.

Vic rolled his eyes and hugged her from behind. "Yeah yeah I saw that!" he chuckled. Then he backed away and gave a great clap of his hands. "Ok kids! Time for school!" Marvin and Midas lept out of their seats and jumped on Vic.

Raven allowed herself a small smile.


The dark little girl let out a sigh as water cascaded down her back. It's been so long since she had had an enjoyable shower. Not to say she was dirty or anything. There was a running shower at the book store. And the baby wipes in the girls bathroom. And a rather unfortunate situation involving the fountain in the mall. In hindsight she should have never listened to Jinx.

The point is, though she wasn't dirty twenty four seven, she hasn't had a nice long, warm shower, in her life. And dahm it felt awesome.

Raven stepped out of the shower and wrung the water out of her short black hair. She stared at her pale, gaunt face. She never really liked her face. Carefully, she fingered the little red scar on her forehead. Jinx said the scar was cool, like a schakra mark or something. Raven gave a sad sigh and started looking around for her clothes.

"Hey Raven! Just wanted to tell you I washed your clothes!" yelled up Sarah.

uh oh.

Raven grumbled and slipped on a black robe that was on the hanger.

"You realize that I don't have other clothes right?" she asked, meeting Sarah at the stairs. "Aw don't worry love. just barrow something from me and i'll take you shopping tomorrow." She said, taking Ravens arm and leading her to Vic and hers room.

"No I don't want you to spend money on me." said Raven Sarah scoffed. "Your paycheck sweetheart now pick something." She said, opening the closet doors.

"Wow."

Raven stepped into the closet. It was about two and a half feet deep, but it was still the biggest closet Raven had ever seen. "Wheres vics stuff?" asked Raven.

"Over there." said Sarah casually from her place on the bed, pointing to a small pile in the back corner. "Oh". Raven stepped over the pile and started looking around the walls. Sarah was a few sizes bigger than her. And by that she meant the woman was a freaking amazonian. Raven pulled out a black shirt with sleeves that went to her elbows. It hugged her body, but the scoop neck went down to low, showed way to much "neck." It also practically went down to her knees. Raven pulled a blue tank top on and put the shirt over it, then tucked the shirt into one of the shorts with the really billowy legs. Sarah had to safety pin the shorts together in the back.

"You sure you want that old sweatshirt?" Inquired Sarah. Raven pulled up the hood. "Yeah. I like it.


"Hey baby girl. wow you look better." said Vic, meeting Raven and Sarah at the landing. Raven blushed. "Its just clothes.' She muttered. Vic chuckled. "Its more than that. You look healthier." he said. Raven shrugged. "Hey your work doesn't start till two right?" questioned Vic. Raven nodded.

"Wanna help me in the bar?" asked Vic, taking Ravens hand and leading her down the stairs. "Um..." went Raven. Vic chuckled. "C'mon its not like I'm gonna force feed you illegal substances! Besides you wanted to earn your keep around here right?" Raven nodded. "You don't talk a lot do you?" asked Vic.

"I don't like to waste words." said Raven. Vic put his arm around her. "Smart girl."

Vic showed her into the bar. It had yellow walls and bad lighting. Raven had to squint for a second for her eyes to adjust. A big shelf of colorful bottles stood behind the actual bar. Vic took Ravens arm and sat her down on a bar stool.

"Ok so it should be a slow morning so you won't have to do that much, but if someone does come, there's a tray of fries down here." started Vic, pulling out a tray of french fires from a compartment in the bar. "Just pour some water on it an nuke it for two minutes got that?" asked Vic. Ravens eyes flicked from him to the fries. "I won't have to eat those right?" she asked.

"Lucky for you, no. Ok and lastly you just rinse out the shaker if I use it. Just fill it with water then go around it with the rag, be careful, theres a sharp part at the bottom. Got that baby girl?" asked Vic.

"Are you sure I don't need a college degree for this?" asked Raven sarcastically.

"Great. No one should be in for a while so just read your book, watch TV whatever you want." said Vic, flicking the small TV on to the news channel.

"Thanks." said Raven, sliding onto the stool behind the bar. She pulled a old book out of her pocket, still slightly mud caked and began to read. "I'll be unloading the new delivery out back if you need me" said Vic. Raven nodded slightly. Vic grind and ruffled her short hair. Raven gave a tiny smile as Vic went into the back room.


Raven had been sitting, reading for a little over an hour. Vic had been in and out but other than the light hum of the anchor woman going "Blah blah blah Gotham blah blah blah crime blah blah blah Kardashians" it was generally quiet. Thats why Raven was surprised when the bell rang.

two boys walked in, one short and skinny with white blonde hair and a pointy nose, the other large with darker skin and a buzz cut.

"Two long island ice teas with a bourbon chaser." said the skinny one in a high pitched voice.

"No" said Raven in a monotone, not looking up from her book.

"What?" the two boys said together.

"No"

"What do you mean no!' said the large one. Raven sighed. "You guys are obviously under twenty one. Go somewhere where the bartenders stupid. I recommend chucky cheeses." she said, bored

"We're older than you are!" said the large one defensively.

"Of course you are. I'm underaged too. Doesn't matter."

The skinny one banged his fist on the bar. Raven sighed and bookmarked her page, reiterating herself to face them. "Do you know who we are?" asked skinny. "We are thunder and lightning! You can't deny us, you don't have proof we are underaged!"

Ravens eyes flicked from the Lighting tattoo on lightings arm to the storm cloud on Thunders.

"You got ID?" she asked. Lightings face fell.

"Uh yeah sure." he said. they both handed over ID. Raven carefully inspected them.

"How old did you say you were?"

Lightning and Thunder exchanged looks. "uh... twenty eight?" Thunder said. The ID said thirty. "So sorry sirs. My mistake." said Raven. Her voice stayed the same but the boys visible relaxed.

"Don't let it happen again." said Lightning in a fake authoritative voice.

Raven leaned in closer to the boys and said in a low voice "To make it up to you, how about I give you something new on the house. Some really strong stuff."

The boys looked at each other then nodded quickly. Raven leaned back and put her feet on the bar. "You just have to answer some questions. Safety reasons. First, whats your blood type?" she asked. Thunder shrugged. "I think we're both O positive." said Lighting.

"Very good. Do you or any other family member suffer from sickle cell anemia?" asked Raven. Both boys looked confused. "Duh... not that we know if." said Thunder. "ok. Would you describe your erections as frequent?" asked Raven, holding back laughter. Both boys blushed wildly, before hanging their heads in shame.

"Lovely." said Raven in a deadpan voice. "How old are you?"

"Nineteen." both boys said together.

"Get out."

"Hey!" yelled Lightning, realizing the trick. "I'll be twenty in a week!"

"To little to late." said Raven, bored again.

"Why you..." Thunder moved toward her.

"Hey!" barked Vic, coming through the door. "Get away and then get out shits!' he yelled. The boys yelped and scrambled away. "And wash off those spray on tattoos!" yelled Vic from the door. "You ok?" he asked Raven.

"Despite slight nausea from the big ones halitosis, i'm fine." she deadpanned. "That was awesome girl the way you handled them!" said Vic, pulling down Ravens hood to ruffle her hair. Raven sighed and pulled it up again.

"Wanna help me fix my car during lunch? Then I can take you to work." offered Vic. Raven looked down. "I don't know much about cars. You don't have to..."

"Nonsense" Butt in Vic. "C'mon, i'll teach ya"

He gently took her arm and lead her to the garage.


"Ok so if you need to jump start it what do you do?" asked Vic, putting things back into a box.

"Positive to positive, negative to ground." recited Raven, cross legged on the hood of Vic's "Baby".

"And how do you push start it?"

"Rev the engine with brake on, then off." she said. Vic chuckled. "Karen was never as into this." he said. "Oh you got oil." he said, whipping a smudge of oil off Ravens cheek. Raven felt the biggest smile spread across her face. Vic cheered.

"Booyah! Never thought i'd see that!" he celebrated.

"Don't get used to it." she laughed. Vic went rigid. "Oh man! It's almost two! Got to get you to work!" he said, lifting Raven off the hood. "Time to get you there in style!" he said rubbing his hands together.

"Style? You just refluxed the carburetor." she said. Vic just laughed and grabbed a remote. "Check this out." He pointed it to the garage door, which started to open slowly. Then he pointed it at the boom box, which started to play the theme to back to the future. Vic and Raven went around and got into the car.

"Lets do a one eighty!" yelled Vic, speeding out of the garage with Raven, leaving Sarah in their wake, screaming to turn off the dahm boom box.


"Malchior did what!" shrieked Jinx

"Volume Jinx volume." moaned Raven, rubbing her tempels.

"That sick bastard is so dead." said Jinx, starting to pace madly around the store. "Jinx calm down."

"NO! that kinda stuff can't just happen!" yelled Jinx, pounding her fist on the table. "Headaches." growled Raven. Jinx sighed and sat onto the table. "Sorry. I was just worried." Raven sighed and leaned forward. "I know. Sorry."

"Don;t you dare. So that big guy from that nights putting you up?"

"Yeah."

Jinx slid back into the empty chair next to Raven. "Cheers to that schmuck." said Jinx, and they clinked styrofoam cups of water.

Jinx huffed and relaxed into the chair. " By the way, whats with the new outfit?" asked Jinx, taking a sip of water.

"Oh, Vics wife's. She said she'd take me shopping sometime.

water shot out of Jinxes mouth.


"Raven!" yelled the twins as they rushed her. Raven was more prepared this time and side stepped them, causing them to run into the wall instead. Marvin toppled over, and Midas fell on top, but that hardly perturbed them as they hopped up and wrapped their arms around her tiny waist.

"La señorita Raven! Ayuda me con la tarea de clase de ingles!" begged Midas. "Si por favor?" chimed Marvin.

"Uh yeah, sure." said Raven, kind of understanding.

"Hurray!" yelled the twins as they pulled her at light speed.


"Ok so how do you spell erroneous?" asked Raven,the twins on either side.

"E.R.R.O.N.E.O.U.S" they recited in unison.

"Ok know spell unison." asked Raven. "Que?" asked the twins, before they got the joke and started laughing. Raven smirked slightly under her hood. Melvin, Timmy and Teether will always have a special place in her heart, but the twins were growing on her.

"Hey Rae." said Vic, ducking into the twins room. "I need your help downstairs." he said. "Ok, just give me a second." Raven called back. "You think you can do this on your own?' she asked the twins. They both nodded vigorously.

Raven followed Vic downstairs to the bar. "Want do you want me to do?" asked Raven, looking around the bar, which had come alive since she came back. "Just collect the glasses and wipe the tables down when people leave. " said Vic with a wave of his hand.

"Whatever." said Raven. Vic reached behind the bar and pulled out a denim apron. "How much stuff do you have back there?" asked Raven.

Raven put on the apron, then put her sweater back on and pulled the hood back up.

"Aw man, I was liking your back." said a voice behind her. Raven inhaled sharply.

"Congratulations. You just got here and you're already cut off." said Raven, turning to Gar, who was leaning casually against the bar. "I didn't know you were also working here." said Gar, following Raven as she went to clear a table.

"Oh yeah. I'm trying this new thing called working for a living." she said sardonically, reaching over to collect the empty pint glasses. "Hey i'm not that rich!" protested Gar. Raven turned around and put her free hand on her hip. "Lets see. Rolex watch, diamond ear stud, and a t shirt made by some girls designer who's name I can't pronounce. Keep telling yourself that."

"You're cruel Rae." joked Gar, following Raven back to the bar to where the cups go.

"It's Raven. Two syllables." said Raven harshly, tensely setting the cups down with a clatter. Gars featured hardened slightly. His goofy grin became sharp around the edges.

"Jesus, should I bow or curtsy?" he said, matching her tone. Ravens large eyes flicked up and down his body in thought.

"Curtsy."

Gar blushed heavily, taken slightly off guard. He tried to think of a comeback, but all he could muster is weak laughter and a awkward rub of the neck. "Hehe good one." he said weakly.

"Hey Gar." said Vic, dancing over from behind the bar. "Hey Vic." said Gar enthusiastically, "Did you get those new car stuff I sent?''

"Oh yeah, me and Rae were using them earlier today, weren't we." said Vic, nudging a shocked Raven. "Uh, yeah. you sent them?' she asked in surprise. Gar blushed a little bit more. "yeah, I um, wanted to apologize for that night, so I sent some stuff over..." he trailed off.

"Well, uh, thats very nice of you Gar?" said Raven, reaching over to grab a rag then went back over to the table to wipe it down. Again Gar followed her. Raven suppressed a groan.

"Hey how come Vic is allowed to call you Rae?' asked Gar. Raven leaned over to wipe down the table, Gars eyes were immediately pulled down. "He's putting me up for almost nothing. He can call me whatever he wants." she said.

Raven straightened out and scanned the bar. No other table was empty. Raven let out a huff and sat down in the booth of the table she just cleared and pulled out her book from her pocket. Gar slid in across from her, this time Raven didn't hide her groan.

To her further surprise though, he didn't try to engage her in conversation. Vic dropped him off a beer, but other than that, they sat in silence for a while. It was odd that he was staring at her, but Raven tuned it out as she became engrossed in her book.

"You have a really beautiful smile."

Raven jumped slightly. It was just Gar at the other end of the table.

"R-really?" she said.

"Yeah of course." said Gar, leaning forward. "What book are you reading?' he asked.

"The Goldfinch."

"Whats that about. looks big." he continued.

Raven decided it wouldn't hurt to talk. "Well, its about a boy who survived a bo..."

"EVERYBODY!" Yelled a man, skidding into the bar. "Turn on channel two now!" he yelled. Vic seized the remote and flipped to channel two. The entire bar gasped in horror at the sight of the inferno. A reporter stood from a safe distance.

"Twenty minutes ago a bombing started on west tenth and..."

"Oh god. Oh my god." whispered Raven in horror. "Raven whats wrong?" asked Gar, concern in his eyes. Raven was up like a shot, leaving her book behind. "Rae wait!" called Gar.

"Vic Vic!" cried Raven. "Whats wrong?" asked viv in a panic, his eyes wide with horror at the images on screen. "Melvin, Timmy and Teether live on west tenth!" she yelled. Vics face was stricken. "I'll drive you."


Vic's car pulled up near the large crowd of cop cars, ambulances and fire trucks. Vic and Raven got out and started running toward the cluster.

"Hey you guys can't be here!" yelled a police officer, catching Raven by the arm.

"You don't understand, my kids live here!" cried Raven. "Your kids?" the cop asked.

"Long fucking story! Now where are they!" yelled Raven, a sudden change coming through her demeanor. Raven took a short breath. "Just tell me where they are." she said shortly.

"I don't know about no kids, but everyone here was evacuated to the Mirakami hotel." said the cop pushing Raven away.

"Come on Raven i'l take you there." Said Vic, pulling Raven away. All she could see was the commissioner being pulled onto a stretcher.


"Melvin! Timmy, Teether!" yelled Raven as she pushed through a crowd of people. "Mel! Timmy Tantrum! Teether! Bobby" she yelled, practically crying. Vic looked worried at Raven.

"I don't think they're here Raven." he said, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"No they have to be here." she yelled, jerking her arm away. "Really Raven I don't think..."

"Raven!" came a chorus of voices

"Kids oh god your ok!" cried Raven opening her arms for the three. "I love you guys so much!" she sobbed

"We love you too!"