The sound of gears echoed relentlessly in Terra's ears as she returned to the lair. Always the gears, it was pure torture to hear them, worse than being water boarded. It was a reminder of the futility of her life, an existence that did little more than grind the joy out of her soul, leaving her as a dried out husk. She knew better than ask him to shut it down, because he owned her, and not just because of the ring.

Terra knew that she didn't deserve happiness in her life, because she was a wretch. How else could she describe herself, she had tried to murder the only boy she ever loved. You couldn't get much lower than that, she reasoned, and on more than one occasion she was tempted to removed the ring and destroy it even if that meant she would turn back into stone.

The only thing that stopped her was the sliver of hope that she could win him back from the gray witch. 'How hard could it be?' She asked herself. What could her Beast Boy possibly see in the demoness?

Yes, she thought, her Beast Boy. She might not ever be happy, but he would be hers again someday.

"Did you bring back a sample, apprentice?"

Terra snapped out of her funk and looked up into Slade's masked face.

"I found out what they feed it." She replied as she handed him a vial.

Beast Boy had sent her to retrieve some supplies for the infirmary after she had arrived with the then still paralyzed Raven. The geomancer took a quick detour to the hanger, where as Slade had predicted the alien ship was stored. She quickly found the nutrient tank with its feeding log, a clipboard attached to the tank via a chain. She quickly poured a sample into a vial she kept in her utility belt. She had been tempted to take another sample from the now egg shaped ship, but Slade told her that now was not the time.

"Well done. I will analyze it. Once we can produce our own nutrients you will procure a tissue sample from the ship."

"And how am I going to do that, Slade? I wasn't exactly welcome at the Tower."

Slade poured a few drops of the nutrient into a test tube, which he then loaded into a spectrometer.

"Patience apprentice, they will soon be asking for your help. Oh, and your interaction with Raven, well done. I know that there is nothing you would rather do more than terminate her, but now is not the time. She and Beast Boy will be sidelined for some time, and once Batman takes the inter-dimensional visitors away … well … let's just say that things will become interesting for Robin."

-(scene break)-

It was almost midnight as the R-Cycle pulled back into the Titan's garage, and its two passengers wearily dismounted off of the two wheeled mechanical stallion. They had covered the city from end to end, corner to corner, scaling every building, inspecting every alley. They had called out to her repeatedly using the communicator, but she had turned it off. After searching for her for over 5 hours they had conceded defeat.

Barbara knew what Robin was thinking, that Starfire had fled to Tamaran and that he would never see her again. He told her once, via email, about how Starfire had secretly quit the team when she thought she was being replaced by her sister. Babs wondered how a warrior princess could have so little self esteem. But she also knew that the Tamaranian was almost as strong as Supergirl and ten times as jealous. She realized that it could have been worse: she also recalled Robin's missive about how Starfire attacked a local villain name 'Kitten' who had tried to steal Robin from her.

"I'm sure she'll come back, Dick. I'm really sorry … about everything."

"Dammit, and Bruce is going to be back tomorrow morning."

"Don't worry about it Dick, if he says anything, I'll take the blame."

Robin snorted his displeasure.

"He lets you get away with everything, Babs."

Barbara frowned at him.

"In case you've forgotten, I was a 'freelancer' for the longest time, even after you joined the team. When I first became Batgirl, Batman wouldn't give me the time of day, he treated me like a hack, I was always out of the loop, I didn't even know where the Batcave was or that Bruce was Batman."

Robin returned the frown.

"If you're trying to get me to feel bad … it's working." He grumbled.

Batgirl sighed.

"Maybe we should just get to bed." She replied. "And don't worry; I'm sure she'll be back."

The two 'children of the bat' said their good nights and separated. Robin headed off to the gym for a quick end of the day workout while Barbara headed up to the guest room that Cyborg had prepared for her at the last minute: Terra's old room.

Babs rode the elevator to the habitat level and as soon as the doors opened she rushed off to her room. A she dashed down the hallway she walked past a door labeled 'Raven'. She stopped in her tracks. After a pregnant pause she turned around and knocked on Raven's door.

"Come in Batgirl, the door is unlocked."

Barbara felt a shiver go down her spine as she felt unnerved that Raven had been able to sense her presence. She also thanked her lucky stars that Raven wasn't a villain. She shuddered at the mere thought of having to fight the gray sorceress.

The door slid open, revealing Raven's unconventional room, with its collection of bizarre and even macabre knick-knacks, books and other artifacts. The room was dark and was illuminated in an amber glow of several candles, and the shadows they cast danced on the walls like sinister guardians, watching over Raven and her realm. As she slowly entered she saw that Raven was sitting at the foot of her bed.

"Your legs are back?" Barbara asked.

"Barely." Raven replied. "What can I do for you, Batgirl?"

As Barbara entered Raven's cavernous room she noticed they were not alone. Artemis was leaning against a wall and M'Gann sat down next to Raven.

"I wanted to talk about Starf…"

Batgirl stopped midsentence when she notice that the Tamaranian Princess was seated in a recliner in the far corner of the room.

"Starfire, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to … uh … it wasn't what it looked like. I know I kissed Dick on the lips, but it wasn't romantic, you have to believe me."

"Dick?" Starfire replied.

"You kissed him on the lips, and you want us to believe that it was just a sisterly peck?" Artemis growled. "Do we look stupid?"

Babs swallowed hard. What was that expression? If you're stuck in a hole, stop digging.

"Batgirl, are you saying that you know who Robin is, that you know his secret identity?" M'Gann asked.

"Uh, yeah, why do you ask?"

Starfire stood up, her eyes were glowing a menacing green.

"Because I do not!" Starfire growled at the Batgirl. "Robin has insisted that he must keep his identity a secret. But now I see that he is the 'intimate' with you and shares the secrets that he will not share with me." Starfire of course did not know that Raven knew Robin's identity from the one time she entered his mind and saw his memories.

"Are you sleeping with him?" Artemis accused her.

"Hey, it's not like that!" Barbara protested. "And I've never slept with him. As for his identity, we're both members of the Batclan; we both know who Batman is."

The four women gave her a skeptical look.

"You don't trust me."

M'Gann watched from a distance, absorbing the impromptu lesson in human interaction. She was still trying to come to terms with how humans did not trust each other, but after quickly studying their history, she could understand why: Earthlings were savages; they would actually kill and murder each other. It was so hard to fathom.

"Should we?" Artemis asked.

Barbara closed her eyes as she concentrated, searching for a solution to her dilemma. Then with no warning she pulled her cowl back, revealing her identity.

"You're Barbara Gordon, the Gotham PD Commissioner's daughter." Raven commented, knowing that the others would not recognize her.

"That still doesn't explain why you kissed him." Artemis remarked.

Starfire raised her hand.

"Because she has taken us into her confidence, I accept Miss Gordon's explanation." Starfire interjected.

Barbara heaved a huge sigh.

"Thank you, Starfire."

"I welcome you."

As Barbara slipped her cowl back on she recalled the Boy Wonder's anguish.

"Robin's in the gym Starfire … maybe you should go see him?"

The princess glanced at Raven, who subtly nodded at her.

"I shall." She replied as rushed out of the room.

Batgirl exhaled in relief.

-(scene break)-

The breakfast dishes were still being loaded into the dishwasher when the whine of the Batwing's engines could be heard, followed by a dull thud coming from the landing pad on the roof. Cyborg finished wiping the table top clean of the breakfast debris and headed off to meet the Dark Knight.

TT-Robin surveyed the room and its occupants. Beast Boy was seated in his wheelchair at the end of the crescent shaped couch, reading a graphic novel. Raven was next to him, seated on the end of the couch, reading a book. Her legs were still weak from the paralysis beam, but she would not give Batman the satisfaction of seeing her in a wheelchair.

YJ-Wally, M'Gann, Superboy and Artemis were also seated on the couch, unable to mask the anxiousness that their body language betrayed. Starfire, YJ-Robin and Kaldur were in the kitchen, finishing the clean up, which they accomplished as the sliding doors parted, revealing Batman and Cyborg's figures.

Beast Boy expertly turned his wheelchair around to get a better look at the Dark Knight. The green changeling was able to discern similarities between Batman and his own former mentor, the Doom Patrol's Mento.

Both were obsessed men, obsessed with their own crusades. The changeling knew nothing about the Dark Knight's troubled past, which paralleled Robin's. The green lad had no inkling that he shared a common burden with Batman and Robin: the loss of his parents when he was a child.

What he could see was that Robin was far more like his mentor than he would ever admit. Both were imposing and brooding figures, shrouded in mystery. They were both super-athletes, lacking superpowers, yet were indomitable in their spirits. Both were natural leaders, who inspired confidence in their followers.

But there were also differences. Robin had his moments when he was affable, warm, inviting. Beast Boy had never heard of Batman described that way. And while Robin commanded respect from his opponents, Batman commanded fear, and not just from villains. With his keen animal senses he was able to detect apprehension emanating from Robin, whereas from Batman he sensed … nothing. Not even Raven was that good.

"Don't stare Gar, that's what he wants you to do." Raven whispered to him.

He nodded in reply and got up from his wheelchair. The sorceress scooted over and he sat down next to her, taking her hand in his own.

"Are you ready to leave?" Batman asked the 6 Young Justice League members.

Kaldur exited from the kitchen and approached the man known as the world's greatest detective.

"We are ready Batman, and we are grateful for the Justice League's assistance."

Robin frowned upon hearing their decision.

"Is that what you really want, to be sidekicks?" Robin asked.

"Of course we don't want to be sidekicks." Artemis interjected. "But after yesterday's battle, well, maybe we do need more training."

"You could train with us." Beast Boy interrupted. "Or do you think they never screw up?"

"We did not do the screwing up!" Starfire protested. "We were victorious yesterday, even if we were not optimal in our performance. The Teen Titans are not amateurs or sidekicks. We have defeated the Brotherhood of Evil and Brother Blood."

"Don't forget Slade." Cyborg added.

Batman turned to the one Titan who had remained silent so far.

"What do you think, Miss Roth?" Batman asked her.

After a long pause Raven replied.

"Please do not call me that, unless you prefer that I share your identity with the Titans."

Batman glared at Raven, but she did not even flinch.

"I think that the Young Justice League should do what they think is most appropriate for them. I know that Robin is disappointed with their decision, but it is theirs to make."

"Your reputation as the wise Titan is well founded." Batman replied, before turning to his six new charges.

"It's time to go." He deadpanned.

Batman pulled out a communicator and keyed it up.

"Hawkgirl." A disembodied voice sounded.

"They're ready." Batman replied.

The 6 super heroes began to shimmer and suddenly disappeared.

"Transport was successful. They're here. Hawkgirl out."

Cyborg was bug eyed.

"You have teleporters? Since when do you have teleporters?" The tin man shrieked.

"Since a long time ago." Batman deadpanned. "Let's go, Batgirl."

Without even saying goodbye Batman turned around and headed to the elevator. Batgirl ran to Robin, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry." She whispered before running off to catch up with her mentor.

As soon as the doors closed Beast Boy spoke up.

"Big whoop, so they have a teleporter. Raven's been able to teleport for years."

Raven placed a hand on his shoulder and shook her head. He got the message and fell silent.

"Well, I guess that's it, they're out of our hands." Robin announced in a forlorn voice.

The sound of the Batwing's engines was heard and the signature black jet streaked away from the Tower, as the 5 Titans watched through the large windows in the common room, which remained quiet until Starfire broke the silence.

"I do not like the Batman."

"He's a jerk!" Beast Boy added. "He thinks that he can just walk in here and push us around!"

"He did push us around." Cyborg added. "And what's with you Raven? Whose side are you on anyway?"

"Dude! That's not cool! You know Raven's a Titan. She's on our side!"

"Well, she practically handed them over to him on a silver platter!"

Starfire gasped upon hearing the unfounded accusation.

"Cyborg, that is not true and you know it. They deserve the right to make their own choice." Raven replied in her monotone.

"But did they Raven? You don't think he bullied them?" Robin added.

"If they succumbed to his pressure, then they aren't ready to be Titans." She retorted.

"You don't understand Raven, he's a manipulator. You don't know what he's like!" Robin howled.

"I don't? Have you forgotten that I've been in your mind, Robin?"

"Don't remind me." He grumbled.

"What's that supposed to mean?" She snarled at him.

Before Robin could reply the Tower's klaxons went off. Instinctively he rushed to his console and typed a few keystrokes.

"It's just a bank robbery. Starfire and Cyborg, let's go! Raven and Beast Boy, don't even think about it, you're both injured, so you're staying home."

The three healthy Titans rushed out of the common room, with Cyborg in the rear. The tin man stopped and turned around.

"Hey green bean, don't have too much fun messin' around with your girlfriend while we're gone!" He taunted the changeling while sporting a big grin. His reverie was short lived; as Raven zapped him with a black lightning bolt, sending him flying out the door, which slid shut with a loud thud.

The changeling began to laugh and guffawed loudly, until he stopped, grimacing in pain.

"I … I guess the saying is true … it only hurts when I laugh." He wheezed.

Raven helped him lean back against the couch.

"I'm sorry Gar, but my healing powers are still gone. Just relax and I'll get you some pain killers."

Before Raven got up she gave him a kiss. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, drawing her in, which she did not resist. And they continued locking lips for what some would consider a very long time.

And Beast Boy decided he didn't need any pain killers after all.

-(scene break)-

The six teens gasped as they rematerialized in the Justice League's space station. They were used to being teleported, which was not a novelty for them. What was unexpected was their destination. They had never been to the Justice League's space station before.

What also surprised them was their host, who stood monumentally in his red and blue costume.

"You must be the Young Justice League. Welcome to our space station."

The man of steel focused his attention on the young man wearing a black T-Shirt with the family crest on it.

"And you must be Superboy. We have a lot of training to do young man. Come with me."

Except for Robin, each of the teen heroes joined with his or her mentor: Green Arrow, The Flash, The Martian Manhunter and Aquaman. Powergirl and Capt. Marvel watched from a distance.

"So what do you think their chances are of ever getting home, Billy?" The busty Kryptonian asked.

"Next to none." He replied.

"I'm not sure I agree with what the League is doing." She replied. "They just want to put the Titans in their place, that's what all this training is about. They just want to upstage the Teen Titans with the Young Justice League."

Capt. Marvel chuckled.

"You're cute when you're paranoid."

-(scene break)-

OK! I hope I didn't bore you with this chapter. The plot will soon thicken!

What? Only a single review for the previous chapter? It got 21 reviews when I originally posted it in the Young Justice section a year ago.