A/N; long AN note today, I think. Well here's the 9th chapter of this story. I am very proud of actually coming this far, I plan on finishing this thing if it's the last thing I do. I put almost everything else I was writing and everything in my life, on hold so I can write this.

I love it. I'm so proud…

I'm really starting to take writing seriously.

Well this is the 9th chapter; expect the next one in about two weeks or less. I didn't start it yet.

Also I am in need of writing experts. If you have ANY C&C at all PLEASE tell me. Email me or just put it in a review. Or IM me on AOL.

Anything confusing you, etc,. Even if there are little things tell me! I am here to improve my writing…also send me any links to any good writing info sites. I got Writer's Digest email's every day or so…

Oh and in the last chapter I forgot to add I have a LiveJorunal. I will be posting a lot of my story statuses there. I'm not going to post anymore statuses in my profile. Cause is pissing me off. You gotta click on this and that and then that just to get to your fucking story to edit it just a little. Also if you have your own Journal, feel free to add me as a friend or something. Links in the profile.

I went to the city yesterday…man I love it. I live in the suburbs, but sometimes I get to go to the city. My dad works right next to the Projects in Manhattan.

Now I remember why I set this story in the city.

Also another VERY IMPORTANT note. I have started revising the first chapter, and I totally in love with it. By the next chapter the first chapter will, hopefully, be around 8 or 9 pages. I am going to do this for every chapter. I will add in little things vital to the 'plot' I am working on.

Review Responses; tell me if I forgot you or something…cause I have the feeling I did…

MistOfDarkness- Hey! I just like making fun of Jackson. He's…so easy to make fun of. But I hate his music. Mom raised me on him and I still can't stand that music…my sister influenced me my entire life really... Metal music. And no, that was the first time I remotely mentioned Wilson. The person I was talking about earlier was Galfore, he had the scarred eye in the show, so I said what the hell and I gave him an eye patch. I have a little thing I'm thinking about…making Garfield say something about pirates…hehe…I just got the best idea. You'll see it in the next chapter or two…or three…

They-Call-Me-Orange- It was vodka! Not whiskey! Vodka is so much better…er…It's summer now so I will be updating more often…I hope. But I am also getting a job, cause…I NEED MONEY! That way I can buy my books and comics. Raven's mom is…well dead. She was murdered…that's what you find out in this chapter. I am not really elaborating about it because the story is really Raven's POV and her death changed her dramatically…

Raven Zinthos- I updated, read your stories, and reviewed them. Your never on AIM either. Go on so I can talk to you.

0kitten0lemonade0- Thank you. A few, very few, of my friends that have read this have told me to make it original, change the names and stuff. I haven't seriously thought about doing that till lately. I don't claim to live in the city, or know a lot about it. But the few times I have been in the city there is a lot of violence. Also this is Gotham City. If you have ever read any of the Batman comics then you will know how violent and dark Gotham is. I didn't know what else to make Kori. I was reading an Indian story while I was writing that part so…Kori is now an Indian. That means that her sister and Galfore are too.

NumbuhZero- I updated again too! Hehe…thank you.

Jaime Snyder- Don't die now…then one of my readers would never review again. ;Tear; Youre going to have to wait more then a couple of days on this one though, I'm trying to type faster.

pyro maniace- Won't be finshed for a while…I gotta put in a HELL of a lot more ideas before I'm done with this baby.

spiritual-s- Thank you!

Anne- I am sorry. I think your sisters killed you…can I have your drawings?

Hehe…

Read 'Raging Beast Boy' by Shadow Avenger. He rules, therefore so does his story. Read. Now. Like BBRae? Well read cause they get naked in the newest chapter up.

RAVEN AND BEAST BOY ARE NAKED!

TOGETHER!

In Raging BB anyway. Great reason to read it.


Chapter 9

Family…

The word echoed through Ravens empty mind. She never had a happy family. Her mother was the only one who really took care of her, she never knew of any grandparents, never had any siblings. Aunts and uncles were never spoken of, and her father just ignored her altogether.

Unless Raven managed to tick him off.

But somehow…her mother always got the worst of it. But from what Raven remembered and saw when she was younger, Arella Roth never did anything compared to Raven's adventures. Of course there were the stories of what she did when she was a teen. Raven was catching up to her mothers police record.

Their family was always the talk of the neighborhood. What did Trigon do to Arella, rumors about Arella sleeping around, how Raven wasn't even Trigon's daughter. But the neighbors didn't know Arella Angela Roth. Other then being an alcoholic and suffering from past mistakes and bouts of depression, she was normal.

She had a garden, she was a photographer, she was a wife, she was, above all else, a mother.

"I am always a mother first my little Raven. Always."

Her voice sounded as though she was next to Raven again,

Soft but rough, almost like mine…I always did take after her…

Pushing her in the swing in the yard,

Dad tore it down…

Taking walks around the park during the day,

The park was much cleaner and safer…not like now where you have to carry a blade…

Burning the bad pictures in the winter for fun,

We always acted like Indians, dancing around…mom set her coat on fire once…

Playing with dry ice in the kitchen,

She always said you haven't lived until you burn yourself with dry ice. It was amother-daughteractivity.

Feeding the doves in the street, mom loved doves,

She said they were pure, white as snow. I asked her why she didn't name me Dove…she said I was more like a raven then a dove. I never figured out what she meant…

Just living life during the moment…

Till it got her killed.

Raven remembered the sound, the crack of the gun. Arella's face as the bullets lodged into her chest. Her eyes widen in shock and pain. The crimson blood staining her white tee-shirt…laugher of that man…the gun pointed at Raven…the red and blue lights…the man getting away as her mother bled to death…

Raven shook her head and looked down at her lap, her face felt wet; tears fell onto her dark jeans. Her eyes stung and her nose was starting to run.

Shit…I can't cry…I…never cry…

She wiped her eyes and kept sniffling to stop the crying.

Mom…fuck, distract myself.

Raven looked around the living, trying to not cry while waiting for Luke to get back with his family.

Framed pictures were plenty in the Logan's living room. From the looks of the pictures, the Logan family consisted of a grandmother, the one that was there when she woke. The beat up girl that was on the swings, Raven guessed it was Garfield's sister. There was Tommy, then another, older looking boy. He looked about 21 and in the pictures of him he looked like he was drunk in all his pictures.

Maybe…he's where Garfield gets the drinks for his parties.

Over the blazing fireplace was an old fashioned family portrait. Raven stood up and wandered over there.

All of them were smiling, grandmother, Tommy, Gar, sister, drunken brother, mother and father…

They look…

The sound of concerned chatter drifted in from the kitchen area.

So…

"Raven! You're alright, right?" Garfield ran over and started looking the dazed Raven over. He turned her around and she faced the family of Logan's.

happy…

Luke grabbed Garfield by scruff of his neck and threw him to the ground by his brother, who decided to kick him. Garfield groaned on the floor, clutching his stomach muttering something about trying to be nice. Raven gave them both looks that Medusa would be proud of.

Defiantly father and son.

"Alright Raven," Luke said clapping his hands, "I think its time for you to be introduced to the Logan's. Roll call!"

Marie took the hyper Tommy from the older lady and said, "You already know us, Marie and Tommy Logan at your service!" Tommy did a fake salute and ran to hug Raven. She felt her face burning up as she forced her lips to turn down.

The older, grandmotherly type of lady gave a snort and said something in a different language before hold her wrinkled hand out to the bewildered Raven. She took it as the lady began to speak.

"Call me Grandmother dear."

"Uh…sure," Grandmother gave Raven a glare that made hers look like something on Barney, "…Grandmother…"

Grandmother nodded and left the room muttering the strange language again. Tommy giggled. Marie leaned toward Raven.

"Gaelic. We're Irish you know, dear…"

Gaelic huh? Sounds…interesting.

The brother of Garfield, who was currently being attacked by the girl for something about Michael Jackson, strutted forward and held out his hand.

"Names William, call me Will," Will said as Raven hesitantly held out her hand. He grabbed it, tugged her toward him, and leaned down; he was about 6 inches taller then Raven. She instantly made a fist and made it ready to plow into his nose but he grinned and winked. Not a sleazy wink but a teasing wink.

"If ya ever need any kind of cigarettes, or drinks…come to me missy!" Will winked again and dodged the jealous charging Garfield.

"Don't you worry Gar, I won't hit on your girlfriend!" He shouted and then hid behind his mother and father while Raven tried to land a punch on him. Garfield stood there for a few seconds. The girl gave a grin that the cherish cat would be proud of as he suddenly snapped out of his dream land.

"SHE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" Raven jumped out of the way as Garfield throttled his brother. She gave a low growl and looked at the boys running out of the room. Her gaze fell on the last Logan, the girl, who was still looking pretty bruised. Raven tuned out the laugher of Luke and Marie and the shouting one room over. Tommy had started running after his older brothers.

Great influence they are…

The girl gave a small chuckle and held out her hand. Raven hesitated again, and the girl took notice.

"Hey, I ain't gonna bite you, that's Tommy's job, names Maggie. Call me Meg if you want… nice to finally see the girl Gar idolizes." She and Raven shook hands while shouts turned into screams.

Raven looked at the remaining people in the room and tried to decide how to thank them. She cleared her throat, the family looked at her.

"I, uh…I am not…well…" Raven tried to get out the words. They looked on patiently.

"Eh…I'm not great at…well…umm…thanks?" Ravens' voice went lower and lower until the last word was barely heard.

"Hey!" Garfield had returned. "What Rae, think we would leave you unconscious in the park in the middle of the night?"

Raven's eye twitched.

"Rae…?" She muttered.

Maggie raised an eyebrow. "I'll be in bed now…invite me to the funeral Gar…yea mom I'll put Tom away for the night, bye Raven!"

Garfield seemed to realize his mistake and started to slowly back away from the advancing Raven. She lunged at Gar and he started running.

More yelling, this time with Gar screaming he was sorry and Raven with death threats. Luke and Marie sat on the couch together. Luke wrapped his arm around his wife and pulled her close. Marie relaxed and leaned against him, he grinned into her hair.

"She's just like you said Luke…" Marie murmured, "When I saw her this morning…well…I thought I was seeing a ghost."

Luke nuzzled the top of Maire's head as he responded.

"Yea…but…in a way Raven is Arella's ghost. They are exactly alike."

More screams sounded around them. They both chuckled lightly.

"Gar! Walk Raven home, alright!" Luke yelled as Marie and he snuggled on the couch.

"Or in both your cases run! Run kitty, run like the bloody wind!" Will shouted, his voice muffled, making him sound like he was outside.

"Will! We're Irish, not British!" sounded Meg.

"ARGH!"

"You die tonight Garfield Mark Logan!"

"How do you know my middle name!"

The door slammed open then a few seconds later after the scuffling feet then the door slamming close.

Luke and Marie, still lying together on the couch, gave each other knowing looks. Will was laughing hysterically outside while he smoked and Meg…was…well trying to sleep, as well as Grandma, who was already out like a light.

"Shut the hell up, will ya! I'm trying to sleep!"

Luke grinned at the sounds of his insane household and sighed.

"Young love…"

"…No matter how many times you deny it…you're a romantic at heart."

"Naw Marie, just a matchmaker."


The cool crisp air stung Raven's lungs, most likely Gar's too.

He's pretty damn fast!

The cool wind blew Raven's odd hair around as well as Gar's. Her lungs burned and she couldn't feel her face.

Just end this pointless chase…for god's sake…

Raven suddenly put on a burst of speed and was a foot behind Garfield. Raven let out a war cry and jumped, Gar turned at the instant she yelled and was tackled onto his back in the middle of the dirty city street.

Ugh…lungs…pain…feels like I had half that bottle of vodka…

Both teens refused to move, even though they were in a pretty amusing situation. Raven was sprawled across Gar's chest, which was heaving along with hers.

Straight…

Raven had her hand over his heart, she felt him move, looking at her head probably, then felt his heart work double time. She looked at him and noticed his deep blush. Raven felt the burn in her chest dull to a throb and she stood up silently, staring at Garfield.

I think I should go home now…

Raven turned without a word, while Gar stood up quickly and followed her at a distance. Raven gave him a look after a while that clearly said, 'what the fuck do you think your doing?' Gar ignored her warning look and walked up beside her. Raven growled and tried to stalk away, but he had longer legs and kept up easy.

"Where you going Raven…?" Gar asked with an innocent tone.

"Home, we do have school tomorrow…no…scratch that, a few hours. I don't feel like staying out anyway."

"The storm stopped…"

"Your point being?"

"Why not go to the show?"

Raven turned and gave Garfield a dull look, the kind cows have then you poke them nonstop.

"What," Raven asked slowly, "Show are you talking about?"

Garfield gave a huge grin, seemingly happy to get her attention.

"The show! At the old warehouse downtown? You know, the place they hold all those bingo games for the old people?"

"Why would I want to spend the night in warehouse when I could be home in my bed, reading or doing something productive…" Raven and Garfield walked up the block to Raven's house, Kori's lights were out.

"Well, there's a show tomorrow! Go then, it's at seven, on till about midnight. Ten bucks to get in but totally worth it. Metal music, punk rock, all the good stuff!"

Walking up Raven's driveway, the light in the living room was on.

"Leave me be. You're not going in my house."

"Aww, Raven isn't it common courtesy to invite someone into your house when they walk you home?"

Raven stopped dead at the sight of someone moving by the living room window.

Oh shit. I am so dead…I need to get Garfield outta here…

Thinking rapidly, what were all guys afraid of?

Fathers…

Raven turned from the front door to the grinning Garfield and gave him a cold smirk.

"Sure, you can meet my dad…you know…the one that almost killed that guy a few years ago? At the middle school conference?

Gar's grin died instantly and he turned paper white. The door knob rattled. They both looked at it.

"Yea well, sorry Rae-VEN!" Gar started walking backwards down the driveway, onto the block. "My parents will probably be pissed bout me running outta the house, night! See ya in a few hours!"

As he went streaking down the street the door jerked open, Raven felt numb, she always felt numb before her father beat her senseless. Like her body tried to dull the pain, if only for a little while.

"…Where the fuck have you been you little whore!" Trigon shouted. Garfield turned back with a startled look on his face, he stopped in the street. No one in any of the houses dared to go out. If they heard the shouting at all…except Garfield

He wasn't going to move.

Raven stayed silent and had her back to her father, she looked straight at Garfield, willing him to go home, forget about her…

Raven was on the balls of her feet, ready to run at a short notice, she kept bending and straightening her knees, loosing up her leg muscles for a sprint.

I am not getting beat tonight.

Garfield gave her a confused look, he started toward her then stopped as a car came down the road. He waved at them, still looking at Raven, who had started to breath deeply.

Not tonight.

She knew something was going to happen, she felt like a fight was going to happen, she started shaking and her adrenaline poured though her body.

Make one move toward me dad…I dare you.

Her thoughts seemed more violent then usual. Like there was someone else in there.

The edges of her view started to redden.

fight…

Trigon growled and shoved Raven into the driveway she fell but quickly stood and got into a stance, still looking at the car and Garfield. She started shaking, her hands wouldn't stay still.

Gar had waved down the car, out stepped a stoned faced Luke and a worried Marie. Luke took one look at the semi-crazed Raven and Trigon, who had raised his hard fist to the back of his daughters head.

stop him…fight back…

"Stop Trigon."

Trigon snarled and slammed his fist down on Raven's shoulder; it wasn't hard, just a warning shot.

Fight…

But the demon had been released, red flooded her vision.

For fucks sake FIGHT!

"Stop! Now! Oh fuck…Raven! Don't!"

Raven didn't fall from the hit, she turned and crashed her own fist into Trigon's enlarged nose.

Crack!

Raven felt the bone crack in between her knuckles. The bone and cartilage resisted till Raven stepped into her punch, putting her whole 133 pounds behind it. The sound it made was a sickening crunch and her fathers howl filled the silent night air, she was shoved back into the middle of the road. Luke was walking toward Trigon and Garfield and his mother were running toward her. The adrenaline faded, pain returned along with her normal vision. Her shoulder throbbed, even though her father didn't hit with all his might it still hurt. If he did hit her harder, her arm wouldn't be in her socket.

Raven was afraid; her father was going to kill her, if not tonight then before the end of the week.

Gar and Marie were about ten feet away when Raven jumped up and ran into the house, she went right up to her room and locked the door. To enforce the lock she rammed the desk chair against the knob and went back for her book case when a voice sounded from the other side of the door.

"It's ok Raven. He deserved it," Luke's voice was soft, "The ambulance is coming and the cops will want you with someone for the night."

"…"

"You can stay with us for the night, well what's left of it."

"…no…" She whispered.

They've done so much already…why waste more of their time on me?

"Yes Raven, just for the night…please…open the door."

Raven reluctantly moved the chair out of the way and unlocked it. Luke and Garfield were standing outside. She gave them and even look, Gar had a mix of emotions in his face but Luke was stone.

"Pack, and bring your book bag. You do have school…" Luke said and then he gave her a small smile and winked at her.

"One hell of a punch ya got there kiddo!"

Raven snarled at him as he went back down the stairs. Garfield looked at her, almost like he was evaluating her.

"…I'm sorry Raven," Garfield said, his voice was sincere. She gave him calm look, though her heart soared for some reason, and evenly spoke.

"As am I Garfield…as am I…"


The car ride to the Logan house was quiet. Raven hadan extrabackpack filled with a days worth of clothing and her laptop. Her books were at the Logan's home, along with the vodka.

why do they want to help me?

Marie kept looking her over, almost like she was looking for injuries. The only this Raven had was a pretty bruised knuckle and a sore shoulder. Garfield didn't meet Raven's eyes; he stared out the window until they pulled into the driveway. As Raven reached for he bag Garfield took it and slung it over his shoulder. Luke excused himself for bed as Marie told Garfield to take Raven to her room.

Raven studied her feet as the family talked by the stairs. Deep snores came from the living room.

William perhaps…

Marie kissed Garfield on the cheek and then did the same for Raven, only she hugged her too. Raven froze and her eyes widened.

Mom always did this to me before I went to sleep…

It felt odd to Raven; she never let anyone touch her. People didn't want to touch her unless they were going to hit her. Except Kori, but she was the first person to hug her for about six years. It felt…nice to be hugged by someone again…

Almost like mom…

Marie pulled back and went with Luke down the hall, presumably to their room.

Garfield had a soft smile on his face when he look at Raven's confused one. He gently placed his hand on Raven's uninjured shoulder and she jumped, but he kept his hand their firmly.

"Come on Raven, I'll show you to your room," Gar said, steering Raven up the stairs. "We don't know how long you're going to be here, Dad might file charges or something."

Raven nodded and followed Gar to the top of the stairs. A long hall was the sight that greeted her, doors on both sides, one with a stop sign on it, a real stop sign. Raven eyed the sign and looked at the sheepish Garfield.

"Yea, that's my room…umm…the sign was a gift from at friend…" He mumbled and went the door next to his. Raven shook her head and sighed.

Can't he come up with better excuses?

Gar opened the door and stepped inside toward what looked like never-ending darkness. A click sounded and the room was lit up with a dim light. Gar gently placed the backpack onto the bed, next to her school one,and turned toward Raven expectantly.

She walked in and looked around her new room. It had black walls and two windows. Both of which led out to the roof of the house. A plain twin bed with extra pillows lay in the corner, by the window.

Easy to climb out…

Raven set her bag on the springy bed and gave Garfield a look. He blinked and blushed.

"Sure ya wanna go to sleep now huh? Well…umm… bathroom is right next door to you and I'm over here if you need me." Raven didn't move, she just kept staring. Studing him.

Gar scratched the back of his head and closed the door softly.

...shit…

Raven contemplated throwing her back pack through the door and then brutally attacking Garfield. Then she would repeatedly slam his head against the ground and laugh like hyena.

The Logan's are breaking the walls in me down; him more so then the others.

Funny thing was, she had no idea why.

...Did I get hit in the head?