Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.

Chapter 10 – Two Rings

It continued to rain, and Raven remained at her post standing like a sentinel. Even though she had changed a great deal she hadn't added a single inch to her stature since the divorce. She wore her hair long now, having abandoned her signature A-line many years before. Her locks danced around her head, buffeted by the storm's wind. Her figure was more muscular than when she was younger. Robin, now Nightwing, had introduced her to the art of using workouts as mental therapy. She chose to follow his advice and spent the first few years hitting the gym, often for hours at a time. Her physique became quite impressive, without reaching the levels of grotesqueness often found on female body builders. At her peak she was able to bench press over 400 pounds. Eventually she realized that salvation was not to be found in the gym and scaled back her hours. Nevertheless she had a figure that was the envy of most women, even those in their prime.

She stared at the familiar T shaped tower. She had never liked this place, even before Beast Boy and Terra set up shop there. There weren't any good memories she could associate with the Eastern Tower. Cyborg almost ditched the team to move here. And there was that harrowing experience with Brother Blood.

She just didn't like the place. She felt that from its inception it was trying to be something it wasn't. To this day, when the Titans were mentioned people thought of the landmark in Jump City. It didn't matter that there were now seven T shaped Towers spread around the world. They were replicas, facsimiles, reproductions and not the real thing. The only quality that gave this Tower any credibility in her mind was that he lived here.

Raven still had the vial in her hand. It contained a thick greenish liquid inside. The sun was beginning to peek between a few clouds and she raised the vial so that it was between her eyes and the stray sunbeams. The fluid sparkled with a supernatural quality and she gazed in to it depths. Her eyes betrayed an expression of awe and even a little fear. The vial contained a mysterious power and it had taken her years to track it down. Its visual effect was mesmerizing and Raven felt as she had fallen into a trance, captured by the power magic that tried to escape from the vial. Within a few seconds the sun was once again concealed behind the stormy clouds and the moment was over.

Raven lowered her hand and reached for a pouch that hung from her belt. Her costume still lacked pockets and she had started using a small leather pouch that she dangled from her belt as a place to carry small items with her. After she released the vial inside the pouch she felt around and found the other object that was in there. She grasped the small felt covered box and pulled it out.

She held it carefully and slowly opened it. It was a ring box and it contained two nondescript bands made of platinum. As she stared at the two glimmering circles memories came back, flooding her mind like a river that was over flowing its banks. Suddenly she could see that day as if it had been yesterday.

The T-Ship was making its final approach into Steele City's controlled airspace. Cyborg was at the controls and he had been cleared by air traffic to approach the Tower and land. It had been a long flight and Raven had fallen asleep during the journey, awakening as the Tower was within sight.

The Steele City Tower was lit up like a Christmas tree and there were floodlights around the Tower, which were proudly announcing the day's special event. As they got closer to the Tower they were able to discern other aircraft that had arrived before they did. The Batwing stood out with its unique design but it was not alone in the superhero department, as other strange craft, some of which were not recognizable to the Titans were parked there as well. Cyborg landed the T-Ship next to the Doom Patrol's ship, which did not go unnoticed by Raven. It still hurt her that Steve and Rita had snubbed them during their brief marriage, but seeing their jet parked there merely served to rub salt into the wound.

Terra is acceptable, but I never was.

After Cyborg completed the post flight check they disembarked and made their way to the Tower's main entrance. Much to their surprise there were three burly men guarding the entrance. They wore T-shirts that highlighted their steroid induced musculature, and the shirts had the words "Event Security" stenciled on them. One of them had a clipboard and he stepped forward, intercepting the 5 heroes before they reached the entrance.

"Your names please." He asked them.

"Our names? Who the hell do you thing we are, trick or treaters?" Cyborg growled at him.

"Listen pal, if you're not on the list, you're not going in, understood?"

Cyborg threw his head back and laughed before replying.

"That's rich, and who's gonna stop us? You and what army punk?"

The three bouncers quickly produced advanced plasma rifles and aimed them at the Titans. Before they could fire them the 3 rifles were encased in obsidian light and were crushed in oblivion.

"Now are we done being stupid?" Raven droned in her monotone.

The clipboard guard frowned.

"Those rifles are expensive."

"Then you shouldn't have pointed them at us." Robin growled as he put his bird-a-rangs away. "And since when do the Titans East hire bouncers?"

"Miss Terra's orders. You must be Robin." The bouncer replied as he glanced back and forth between the clipboard and the superheroes. "And you're Cyborg, Starfire, Wonder Girl and …"

He turned to face Raven.

"I'm sorry ma'am but you're not on the list."

"Are you stupid or are you just brainless? Don't you know who I am?"

The bouncer gulped nervously as he saw the demoness's eyes glow red.

"I'm sorry Ma'am, but Miss Terra gave explicit instructions to not admit you."

Robin stepped forward and grabbed the man by his shirt.

"Raven is coming with us. We can do this the easy way or the painful way. The choice is yours."

"Sir, you have to understand the position you're putting us in. Miss Terra said …"

"I don't care what she said. I'm the leader of the Titans, and that includes Titans East. I never authorized this and I don't give a damn what Terra said. So if you know what's good for you, you'll step aside."

The three bouncers knew they were beat and yielded to the superheroes, who made their way into the entrance hall. As they walked to the elevator they were greeted by none other than Alfred Pennyworth.

"Master Richard, it is good to see you. And your highness, welcome. Miss Raven, Master Victor and Miss Troy, it is gratifying to see you again. Please, follow me."

Alfred led the 5 Titans to the elevator and entered after that had all boarded the lift."

"I was beginning to worry that you would be late. The ceremony will begin in just a few minutes."

The elevator's doors opened and Alfred led them towards the entrance of the Common Room. Standing next to the door was Beast Boy, dressed in an elegant tuxedo.

"Dudes! Where were you? We can't start with my best man."

"Sorry green bean, I had to make some last minute repairs to the T-Ship. One of the onboard computer's multiplexors went down just as we were leaving …" Cyborg apologized.

"Forget it dude, no harm done." He grinned. Cyborg nodded in reply and stepped aside, revealing Raven's previously hidden figure.

"Rae! You did come!" He beamed as he ran up to her. The former spouses greeted each other with a chaste kiss and long hug.

"Come on Beast Boy, you're holding things up!" Bumble chided him after seemingly appearing out of nowhere. "I've got an anxious bride holed up in a conference room and she can't come out until you and Sparky get in there. So get moving green bean!"

The changeling rubbed the back of his neck. "Sure thing Bumblebee, I was just wait for Cyborg, so I'm ready."

"It's about time." She replied as she ran off to retrieve the geomancer. Alfred cleared his throat.

"If you'll follow me, I'll show you to your seats. And do not worry; I reserved a seat for Miss Raven, in spite of Miss Markov's orders."

Alfred quickly led the Titans to 5 empty seats in the front row. The common room had been transformed into an impromptu chapel, including a simple nondenominational altar where a generic Protestant minister awaited. As they were seated the minister looked uncomfortably in Raven's direction. She frowned at him in return. After hesitating for a moment he stepped down from the altar and approached Raven.

"Excuse me ma'am, am I correct that you are the groom's ex-wife."

"I am." She replied in her signature monotone.

The preacher then began to shuffle his feet before continuing.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave, demoness."