YAY...a new chapter...and...YAY...a NEW TITLE!

This chapter is devoted to Shademaster, who gave me the perfect new title. Smooches to you!

A/N: I'm really frakking with DC Universe in this.


Former Title: Has Anybody Seen My Baby?

New Title: A Strange New Déjà Vu


A/N: Me thinks we need some storytime...


Chapter Nine

Once the Tower was shut down, completely (oddly enough, completely darkened it frightened the Naval officers on the ships surrounding it far more than it did when it was lit up in activity, usually the crime-fighting type, though the men watching weren't aware), the Titans and the Teens realized...they had nothing to do but wait. Naturally, them being the friendly little heroes that they all were (or had been...or were going to be), they got to asking questions and gossiping in ways that only heroes can.

"Wait...so you're telling me...that Batman marries Catwoman?"

Kory nodded even as Robin incredulously shook his head. "They were married two years ago, approximately three years from your time. They are quite happy. They've retired."

The Teen Titans, though familiar with Robin's mentor, weren't versed enough in the subtleties of Gotham criminals to really see why this was so interesting, so they moved on.

Starfire, who sat next to the still stunned Robin, anxiously leaned forward. "And Aqualad is deceased?"

Kory wasn't so gleefully mischievous as she answered that question. "Yes. He died only a year ago, quite recently after Kid Flash also expired. It was in fact Kid Flash and Superboy's deaths that spurred the Meta-War, whose resolution was only brought about three months later and ended with the Meta-Charter, a lengthy document dictated by the Justice League saying what and where beings of power and abilities could be used and could do. I only thank X'Hal that Aqualad did not live to see it."

Beast Boy, though truthfully not paying much attention (he was too preoccupied with watching (teen) Raven sit next to Changeling in her pink scrubs (which was all provided to her...though why, no one knows), felt the urge to ask one small question here (he usually wasn't allowed to do such things, given the stupid questions he asks...always).

"What's an exhale?"

Kory laughed. "I spent two years explaining this to you, though you're not aware. X'Hal is my god."

Beast Boy opened his mouth to ask another question, but was cut off by a brief slap in the chest by Raven. "Leave it."

He shrugged and went back to watching Changeling watch (teen) Raven. Something about her fascinated his older self, but what it was he didn't know. Truthfully, other than a little height, a cup size, and a few "laugh" lines (Raven laughs enough in the future to actually GET some), they were, to Beast Boy, exactly the same.

Changeling actually was watching Beast Boy and Raven, though Beast Boy was studiously avoiding Raven and watching himself. Changeling, in hindsight, could see things in himself and young Raven that at the time he hadn't wanted to see. She sometimes looked at him from the corner of her eye; Beast Boy looked at her right on, and didn't even try to hide it. There were touches, seemingly unconscious or not deliberate, but really carefully coordinated. How all this went down without either making a show of it was also buried under much, much denial. It had taken a long time, and honestly, much too late, for him to realize just why he'd done the things he'd done as a teen. Making jokes to make her laugh, trying to get close if only to assure himself she was real, yearning for her smile...and he'd never gotten any of it. Instead, he'd left and returned to find that some smarmy archer had moved in and done everything he'd wanted to do. He'd made her laugh, smile, and lived with her. Changeling was jealous, but even in his jealousy, a thought occurred to him. He didn't have a change with his Raven, his adult Raven...but teen Raven was free at the moment, and there was no telling how long they'd be there.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what Beast Boy was seeing in Changeling's eyes, and not liking.

Meanwhile, the others continued.

"What about the other Teen Titans? Bumblebee? Mas y Menos? Bushido? Jinx?" Cyborg asked as he helped Victor plow through a giant sixteen foot sub-sandwich that had miraculously formed out of the fridge. They were both quite gleeful in their hunger, and moved in sync from opposite directions, so clearly the same person in that moment that it gave the rest of them the heebie jeebies.

Raven, the older one, looked away from the door, where she'd been pondering how long before Nightwing and Arsenal returned, and answered the question. "Bumblebee is with the Doom Patrol, along with her boyfriend Mal. Mas y Menos grew six feet and are now Playboys...literally, they pose nude..." She and Kory shared a fond grin at that. "Bushido is still in the East, doing what he does. The situation here in America has yet to spread to the rest of the world, though we don't doubt that it will be long."

Cyborg noticed Raven's deliberate "forget" of Jinx. And he brought it back up. "And Jinx?" So he'd had a crush on the girl. He'd long ago gotten over it...after all...she was currently/in the past involved with Kid Flash in some weird friendship/relationship hybrid that made him both envious and confused. They refused to explain.

Raven didn't. "Jinx no longer does Hero thing."

Robin raised an eyebrow (and on that point...does Robin have eyebrows? Never see them, always covered...maybe he shaves them off so the mask will be nice and snug? Raven stowed those thoughts for later...she already knew he was psychotically well groomed in all areas via Kory and her love of "girl talk"). "Why?"

Raven ducked her head, idly scratching an itch near the top of her stomach...or was it a "womb" now? "After her husband was killed, she took their son and left the business."

Shock all around. Cyborg stopped eating long enough to speak. "She got married and had a kid."

Raven found it a bit amusing, even if just the memory of Jinx on her knees sobbing over Wally's body made her own eyes tickle with tears. "Well, I assume you're aware that she and Wally are dating in your time. In a year, your time, when he turns eighteen, they decide to get married. I'd like to point out they were both drunk. Still, neither wanted to annul it the morning after, and it's a good thing they didn't. Seven months later, Bart was born."

Beast Boy grinned devilishly. "Shotgun wedding!"

Raven shook her head. "No. Their apartment was attacked by the HIVE Four, and she went into premature labor. After that, she stayed home, raised Bart, while Wally did the Hero-business. After he died, she left it completely. Most of us haven't been in contact with her since."

Starfire had a sad look to her, just speaking of such things upset her greatly. "Who has spoken to her?"

"Me."

The real Flash, aka Barry Allen, Wally's mentor, Bart's godfather, and Jinx's current lover.

The Teen Titans, of course, had no real idea who he was. Raven explained. "This is Kid Flash's mentor, the Flash. After the...incident, we invited him here to stay. He hasn't left since."

"Except to visit my godson," Barry added, still standing aloof in the doorway. He'd participated in bringing these children here. He might as well at least see if they were worth it.

Victor snorted, but kept eating the sandwich (he was closer to the middle than Cyborg who was still not eating but staring in shock at the idea of Jinx engaging in...relations)(Victor actually thoroughly enjoyed such thoughts...yeah...).

"And his mother," Raven added, reclining into the cushions of the couch so that she didn't have to strain her neck to look at Barry, who removed the problem by joining her on the couch.

He also ignored that little dig. "What's the plan for Father Time?"

Kory patted him affectionately on the thigh. Barry was not and had never been a Titan, teen or otherwise. However, after the Justice League disbarred him and he'd no home left, they'd welcomed him into the fold, though he didn't actively fight crime anymore. He just lived here. "Well, since we know that the teenage Father Time will come for Victor, since he's the only one who knows where adult Father Time is, then we all stay here, and when he comes, the Teen Titans will tell us and we will attack and capture him."

Barry smiled. "How simple."

"The best plans are, Barry," Raven added sardonically, rising to meet Nightwing and Arsenal, whose soul presences she'd picked up as entering the Tower. She hurried to cut off Arsenal before he entered the common room, pulling him along with her to their room, which of course, despite the sneak-like way she did it, everyone noticed. Victor snorted under his breath about woman and their cravings, whereas Nightwing said nothing and had eyes only for Kory (which hadn't changed much since Robin was also currently looking at Starfire in the usual "you-can't-see-my-eyes-but-they're-hot-for-you" way). Beast Boy watched Changeling watch the little scene with what could only be described as "green" eyes.

Raven took Beast Boy's hand suddenly, startling him. "Gar, I think I need to lie down," she said in a whispered rush.

"What's wrong?" He whispered back, keeping her hand and leaning close to speak directly into her ear. Some of the others noticed, and some did not.

"My shields still aren't at the level they should be. The emotions of everyone is starting to get to me."

Beast Boy immediately stood, and used her hand that he held to pull her to her feet as well. "Uh, I think I'll go find a place to crash, I'm not really feeling too well."

Cyborg smothered a laugh. "And why are you dragging Raven with you?"

Beast Boy glared. "Stop asking stupid questions."

"I only ask stupid questions of stupid people."

"Well, if you ask a stupid question you get a stupid answer."

"Exactly."

"..."

"..."

"Shud up, Vicky." Beast Boy said through gritted teeth as he and Raven left the room. Avoiding adult Raven's room (from which odd squeaking noises were emitting), they entered one of the rooms at the far end of the hall, a spare room with only the bare necessities of a bed, a desk, a chair, a dresser, and a small bathroom on the side. Gar brought Raven to the bed and pushed her to a sitting position before entering the bathroom and returning with a cool rag for her head, a glass of water, and an aspirin (which actually wouldn't work very well given Raven's half-demon physiology, but it was the thought that counted).

"Thank you," Raven mumbled, gulping down the aspirin and taking the cool rag. She lay back, pulling her legs up onto the bed with her. She wasn't entirely comfortable being so covered up, but she could deal with it. Gar stood to leave her to resting, but she called out his name and said something that surprised both of them. "Gar...stay."

"Are you sure? Cause if you want some peace and quiet, I don't really recommend keeping the team joke around."

"You're not a joke, Gar."

"Yeah, tell that to robot boy out there."

Raven smiled long enough to ease Gar's mind on how much of a toll this was taking on her, which really was only about half a quarter of a second. "I don't find your presence disturbing. I'd...like company."

He shrugged and started to pull the desk chair over. "What do you want to talk about?"

She shrugged, laying the cold compress over her eyes and stretching out. Inside, over tense muscles and bones cracked in relaxation. "Tell me a story."

Beast Boy relaxed in the chair, stretching out his long legs and slumping. "There once was a princess..."

Raven kicked him lightly in the shin.

"Okay...there once was a bad-ass superheroine who was most definitely not princess-like in any way. She had a most handsome side-kick who made everyone green with envy given his charm, and implacable attitude, not to mention his awesome body and great sense of style..."

She kicked him again.

"...and they worked together to fight evil. But over the years and many new friends, they drifted apart until they could barely stand to be in each other's presence anymore."

Raven peaked at him from under the rag. "Do you think that's what happened?"

Beast Boy shrugged. "I don't know. Between you and me, I think you're my closest friend on the team."

Raven sat up, forgetting the rag which dropped to the bed. "I know that you're mine."

Beast Boy smiled, and moved off the chair to kneel beside the bed, grasping the rag as he did so. "Lay back down. We can overanalyze our future actions some other time. This is hard on you." He gently pushed her back into horizontal position and leaned over her to place the rag over her eyes. Since she couldn't see him, he took pleasure in moving closer so that he could feel her oddly cool breath on his own lips. "Sleep tight," he said gently before rising to rejoin the other Titans in the common room.

In Raven's room, where she'd pull Roy into several minutes before, it was silent. Roy went about pulling out the weapons he carried and checking their gauges and ammunition, whilst Raven tried to think of the best way to tell him their "great news". So, she started with what he already knew.

"Roy?"

"Yeah, babe?"

"Don't call me babe."

"Okay, duchess."

"..."

"What would you like to talk about, Mistress Raven?"

"Remember what I told you about, just before we engaged in a physical relationship?"

"About how spanking and back-doors are bad and not allowed?"

"Before that?"

"That I have a nice ass?"

"After that."

"The demon thing?"

"Yes!" Raven said in relief. "About how demons are exceedingly fertile, and that it is unknown whether or not contraceptives would work on me and that there was a chance..."

Roy stopped cleaning his gun and turned to stare at her. "...that you could get pregnant no matter what precautions we took. Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Raven nodded slowly, watching him cautiously. "I am."

Immediately jolted from his stillness, Roy swept her up in his arms, kissing and squeezing her so hard that she started to make breathless little squeaks. After minutes of that, he calmed down enough to put her down and worry. "Are you alright? Been to a doctor? Let's go to the doctor now, just to be safe. Or, should we go to a priest? Wow...I'm gonna have a quarter demon baby...will he be red? Have horns? No...two sets of eyes? WHOA! What if it's a she? Awww...a she-demon."

"Hey..."

"Oh, sorry..."

"You're not...upset?"

Roy shook his head and grinned. "No! We decided to take our chances, remember? It was worth it. Besides, we'd make great parents. Well...I'd make a great parent. You will...pale in comparison."

"That's nice."

Roy laughed. "Let's go tell everyone!"

Raven latched onto his arm. "Let's not."

He frowned and stopped pulling her to the door. "Why not?"

"Changeling is here. I have neither want nor wish to...tell anyone at the moment. Let's wait until this is over. So no one worries about it during the fight that is sure to come."

"I'll worry."

Raven wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. "It's only right that you worry...Daddy."

Roy got stars in his eyes and nodded absently. "After. We'll tell them after."

Raven laughed as the stars were replaced with love and lust. Roy pulled her down into the bed with him and they rolled about playfully. Then he froze again. "Will it hurt the baby?" He asked in a whisper.

Raven smacked him in the head. "You're going to be like this the whole eleven months, aren't you?"

"Wait...eleven months!"

"Demons also have a longer pregnancy. I figure only a couple months longer than human would be about the halfway point between human and demon."

"Eleven months?"

"Yes."

"Seriously?"

"Yes."

"That's a long time."

"I'll be carrying it, so I think I'm aware."

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"We're going to have to tell your father about this...eventually..."

Raven just laughed. Granddaddy Trigon.