Heya

Thanks to The Amethyst Eyes, ravenkakashiluv26, XLucy0117X, and Gingerstorm101, The Imperfect Me, and Luna Arashikage.

We'd just like to mention that there aren't any pairings with Raven. You could possibly argue Raven/Robin, or Raven/BB. We don't want that. No Romance was implied in the story...that's not what we wanted from this story...we want an adventure...without the snuggaly boo-boo.

Okay guys, we own zilch. Review PLEASE?

And most importantly...ENJOY!

Chapter nine,
Titans' view:

Robin, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Cyborg were all in the main room, having breakfast.

Christmas, had come and gone. It wasn't the same without Raven, they realised. It felt empty. They always had sensed her presence, just knowing she was there. Without her, it just was not the same. It was like eating a tofu turkey, or kissing under the 'poison ivy'...it just wasn't right, something was obviously missing... a member of their family was Lost.

They had gone to the pizza place, watched a movie and eaten a home-cooked dinner by Cyborg.

They had a good time, but it was mostly just forced smiles and laughs. The Titans had left Raven's presents outside of her room, with fear of entering it.

The tower was normal now, all decorations having been removed; the thousands of twinkling fairy lights turned off, the huge trees removed, and the red-green-white of the tower, replaced by yellow. It had all been for show, and now the demonstration was over, everything was back to routine ordinary...just without a certain member of their team.

"So," Beast Boy started, trying to rid the now common silence, "How do you think she's holding up?"

Everyone looked at the youngest Titan with annoyance for bringing it up, but sympathy for his naïveté. They glanced to the empty chair, as if half expecting for the empath to pop up out of no-where and take the place.

Beast Boy had to admit he missed Raven. He had pranked her, tried to make her laugh, anything to see her smile. He wanted to make her happy. He had acted as the annoying and careless younger brother, to stay optimistic, but he couldn't pull off the facade anymore.

He saw Raven as someone who was emotionless, and felt nothing. She batted people away, she shut herself away, to protect them. She was his sense of realism, giving him an idea of what and how things really were.

Beast Boy wanted to make her feel some sort of happiness. Feel something that gave her joy, made her feel like he had...like she should have felt. He found the whole situation as cryptic. He couldn't find any clue; nor could he find the key to unlocking her emotions. The comic relief of the team found that he was also of no use.

Where was she? Where was the person who he came to for comfort? Where was the empath who could feel what he did? Where was his team-mate...his friend?

He missed her dreary face, her witty remarks, the sarcasm, her being annoyed by him. He even missed the times she yelled at him and threw him out of the many windows of their home with her 'creepy' magic.

Starfire dropped her plate in the sink, walking over to Beast Boy.

"I too, fear for our friend. I hope she will be of the alright."

Starfire was the happy one of the group, grinning all the time. Without Raven, she found that she couldn't even lift up the corner of her mouth.

She walked back to her seat. Emotionally powered, she found she couldn't generate the happiness to fly. For all the missions, she had to stay back in the Tower. She couldn't fight properly if her powers didn't work.

The Warlords of Okara didn't train her for this, to be a weak, emotional fool. Her head drooped. She had to try, for her friend, for herself. If she did, her friend might come back. But she just couldn't.

She missed the only other female in the group, the only other that could also understand her better than the boys could. Where was the person he could spill her feelings to? The girl who had become a sister to her? The only person in the team who had really told Starfire what she felt...and who even after petty fights had still managed to be forced by Starfire to go shopping...even get her nails done! Who was there to be angry at? Seeing all of her friends so depressed, made her feel the same.

She feared for what would become of her. Raven had already gone through enough after The Prophecy.

Cyborg sensing the growing sadness in the room, and forever being mature, stepped in. "Raven will be fine. She's a big girl; she can take care of herself."

He hated seeing all of his friends - no, his family, like this. He was the big brother of the family, offering comfort and cheeriness. And with his little sister gone, he didn't know how to act. He had to occupy himself with cheering up the others.

Now all the other titans were... distracted, he tried to stay the same, for Raven. She wasn't dead, but she wasn't there either. He blamed Slade for wanting the DD, but it's not like Slade had planned it either.

Where was the girl who would always lend him a hand? Where was the girl who assured him? Where was the girl who came to him for comfort?

He hoped what he said was right. It probably was. Well, that's what he told himself, repeating it as though it were a mantra. He remembered Raven's mantra, and missed her saying it.

Cyborg tried to reassure them. "They...she'll be okay. Right, Robin?"

He looked to his teammate with pleading eyes. Robin didn't notice. Cyborg didn't blame him.

Robin nodded his head absentmindedly. "Y..yeah, sure, whatever. I've got to figure this out. We will get Raven back. Don't disturb me unless it's an emergency. You know where to find me." And they did. He locked himself up repeatedly, and the Titans were used to it. It was almost impossible to persuade him to leave.

Robin knew, that as the leader, it was up to him to figure it out. To fix it. He walked into the room he always worked in, the one that he had used to sleep in before Slade had called.

He didn't have time for his emotional friends. He pushed all his feelings away, bottling them up. They wouldn't help him. That's what his friends needed to realise. They couldn't mope forever, it wouldn't bring Raven back.

Where could she be?

He pounded his fists on the table. Why couldn't he do this? It shouldn't be as hard. His fists...no, his whole body ached, but he didn't care. He hadn't slept in days, but he wasn't going to make a big deal of it. If anything, he wouldn't call the JLA, Batman, or any powerful hero organisations- he could do anything and everything himself, or so he thought.

After having many battles against the Hive, Doctor Light, and other 'petty criminals', the Press and other people had realised a Titan was missing. He had told the Press that Raven was on an undercover mission, and couldn't reveal herself. They didn't completely buy it, but it was enough.

Everything was one big... accident. He stared at the wall, at the mask of Slade. He found himself thinking of the criminal mastermind, again. Was it Slade's fault? Unintentionally, Robin admitted, it was.

He wanted to hunt Slade out, so that he'd help them find her. But the problem was, they couldn't even contact him. He resisted the urge to hit the table again, but damaging furniture wouldn't bring her back.

Robin couldn't believe Slade had gone in with Raven, even after watching the security footage. He swore he would kill Slade if he hurt Raven. He wouldn't put it beneath the criminal. He had reassurance though. Raven and Slade were both stuck, together, in the same place, and both needed to escape. Being trained by the world's best detective, he had put the pieces together. Raven and Slade would make an alliance of sorts.

He sighed and shuddered slightly. At least Raven would stay alive. That was the main matter. The second most important thing was: How would they escape?

There were infinite amounts of dimensions, each different in their own way. Some were dangerous, some were safe. Robin hoped she was in the latter. It was just impossible to know which dimension they were in. He hated feeling helpless; he should be able to do something!

He needed to talk to the Titans. They couldn't help her, but they weren't giving up on her either. Robin could depend on Raven to return safely, he just didn't know how he'd tell the Titans that.

Walking back out to the main room, he managed to make all the titans sit on the large, semi circle sofa. He had their attention. The Titans were shocked he came out because he chose to.

Immediately he spoke, guilt consuming him. "Look, guys, I'm sorry. I should have been able to find her; I should have helped you guys and been more sympathetic, I should've..."

Cyborg put up a hand. "We know, man, but it ain't your fault. Don't beat yourself up, 'kay?" Robin nodded, and all the other titans added their opinions on how it wasn't his fault. He smiled, since it felt reassuring to know the Titans supported him. That's what friends were for.

"Thanks guys, now we get to the serious things. There's no possible way we can locate Raven. We can't help her."

Starfire gasped. "You are suggesting we give up on our friend?" Robin looked annoyed, yet pitiful.

"Look, Star, we just can't. If we can't find her, how can we help her?" He was met with silence. They couldn't help her.

Beast Boy chose now to speak, as he had held his tongue before. "Dude, do you think she'll be okay?" Cyborg glared at him.

Robin thought fast, of something that would comfort the youngest on their team. "She will. She can protect herself; she's the strongest on this team. Plus, Slade won't try anything on her, while they're in an alliance. And if he does then Raven will beat him. Remember when the Prophecy happened? She slapped him round like a ragdoll."

The Titans gave a genuine laugh at the joke. "Okay, guys, we can't help Raven, but that doesn't mean we should mope. I know how it feels, but trust me, Raven will come back. And till she does, we should defend our city, be how we should. She's not dead, but Raven would want us still to be doing the right thing, and not worrying over her. She's strong, she'll make it. So, it's movie night, let's get some pizza, and watch some ninja films. Okay?"

All the titans simultaneously responded with approval. They had their spirit back. What he said was right, Raven would return, and they'd wait. They laughed at Beast Boy; "You're right Rob! But we are soooooo watching 'Princess and the Frog' again..."

Starfire flew out the door, content again. Robin was of the right, and friend Raven would return! Everything was good...

Beast Boy whipped out another of his bad, corny jokes, his spirit renewed. He, and Cyborg battled for what pizza they should get. He grinned, happy that it was like old times.

Cyborg sighed. The team wasn't sad anymore, and he felt relieved. He was also glad everyone was their old self again, but he didn't have time to mull it over, as he immersed himself within him and Beast Boy's argument over the snacks and genre of the night.

Robin found himself more relieved than Cyborg. It had worked. He gave a speech and the Titans listened. They understood, they were happier now. A sense of pride welled in his stomach. What he said was the truth, and Raven would return. He just didn't know when, or where, or how, or who helped her and a lot more. He was surprised by the power of words. He realised he shouldn't be thinking, and enjoying himself. Raven could wait till later, as they'd wait for her.

They were a team, and would do anything for her.

-

Raven and Slade had been stuck in the dimension for over a week, yet it felt like forever.

They were around the campfire, dinner having been eaten. Sparks flew around the fire, creating a peaceful atmosphere. The silence was unbearable.

"It's been a week, plus almost a few days more, and we're no closer to escaping. Slade, what if we don't get out?" She said it with a small hint of panic, curiosity and annoyance. What if they never got back to Jump City?

"Patience, Raven. We'll escape. If we didn't escape, well, we'd have to test our skills, which I'm sure wouldn't make itself a challenge. Rest assured, Raven, we'll escape. Stay calm."

She was amazed at how tranquil he was, and it made her calm. Sighing, she nodded. Raven relaxed, back to feeling dull.

"The Titans, do you... think that they're okay?" Raven wasn't really directly asking him, but herself. She expected an answer from Slade though, because he knew she wanted one.

He gave a chuckle. "Raven, Raven, Raven, forever worrying over your friends. I'm sure they're okay, defending the city. It's up to you how you think they're doing. What are you worried about? That they'll forget about you, replace you?"

She shook her head. "I don't know, Slade. I really don't know."
He didn't believe that. "Are you sure?" He got no response to that.

Raven remembered a question that lingered in her mind. "What do you see me as?"

He chuckled, which had been a far too common sound recently. "Really, Raven? Your persistence is amusing." He paused, "But, I guess I see you as a girl, with purple hair, two purple eyes..."

Raven smiled, giving him a small playful hit on the shoulder. "I'm serious, I mean personality wise. I was honest with you, it's only fair that..."

He nodded, interrupting. "I know. Raven, you...humour me. You're quiet, mysterious, very mature, naive, short tempered, strong willed and intelligent. You're also powerful, shy, sarcastic and...quite the loner. There's a lot more I could add, but let's leave it at that."

Raven closed her jaw that had fallen open. She was shocked. "You don't... think that I'm weird, or... creepy?" She just had to ask, as the Titan's thought she was creepy and weird, whether they'd admit it or not. She didn't join in with them, didn't always laugh and smile, had a demon father, and was a half demon and so onwards...

"No, Raven. I don't think you're creepy or weird. You're just different, and that's a good thing. However much you do something that changes someone else's opinion of you; you do it for a reason. It doesn't make you weird, or creepy. Why do you ask?"

Raven's smile grew wider. "Oh, nothing... I just wanted to know. Anyways, I'm going to meditate. I don't want to lose control."

Slade agreed, as they probably had more conversation than Raven was used to with him. He could wait, and maybe she'd open up more.

Raven sat in the lotus position, eyes closed. A soft smile stayed on her face. While she chanted her mantra, their conversation played itself in her head.

The same line repeated itself in her head.

"You're just different..."

"And that's a good thing..."

She was different, everyone was. And if they couldn't see it, she was glad that Slade did.

Thanks for reading guys. Did you all have good holidays?

Seems ours have been busy!

Did you enjoy? What do you think? Tell us! Review!

Soph & Amy salute you.