Gabriel shook her angrily, leaning down again to press his lips affectionately again her temple, "Come on you obscenely stubborn woman, don't you dare give up now…" his heart beat wildly in his chest, "I… I can't lose you."

He'd felt anger before, he'd felt and understood what it was to lose your temper. But he'd never contemplated what would happen if he were ever to exceed those levels.

She can't be gone, she fights so hard that she can't lose… she's not allowed to give up, not allowed to back down. All her resistance to me and she spared none for him?

Fight back, fight back.

His heart and lungs began to burn, incinerating within his chest. It felt the same as when he healed himself; he felt the familiar, blinding, white-hot heat radiating outward.

His body broke out into a sweat, his rage literally forming a thin sheen on the surface of his entire body. He even went as far to brush his nose against hers.

Feeling that she was gone made all the previously undecided feelings rush to the surface in seconds… he loved her.

He loved her more then life and air, loved her more then anything in the entire universe. He loved her enough to do anything to save her.

He leaned down slowly, pressing his forehead against her cool one, feeling her chakra dig into his own flesh. His newest revelation running through his head in angry cycles.

"Why in the world are you giving up?" he whispered angrily as he shook her again and then repositioned his arms more securely around her form. He wasn't angry at her; he was angry at himself and angry at the world.

The heat continued to build inside his chest, seeping down his arms and legs into his fingers and toes. It dripped from his form and seeped into hers, trying to preserve whatever was left.

He heard his father clear across the house, still in the kitchen… pacing from the fridge to the stove and then back.

Acwellan was nervous and unsure of his next move. It took him a few moments to snap out of the momentary panic.

Gabriel listened as Acwellan made his way slowly across the house, as he slowly moved towards them.

While Gabriel waited for Acwellan to show up, waited for him to move close enough to kill him, he literally pushed his soul into Raven. Using everything he had, full force. Then, even if he died, his soul would continue to force his healing powers into her soul.

Acwellan entered the room to find Gabriel on the floor, holding Raven. He briefly relived killing her, he could practically feel her frail body in his hands, he relived feeling her breathing shudder and then cease.

"Now you can move on with your life… we have things to do, people to see." Acwellan sighed, irritated, "Get up off your knees, dump her body in the city, and get over it." Of course he knew his son wouldn't be able to just forget. But he hoped to put him through as much misery in as little time possible.

Gabriel shook his head and looked up, "Why?"

Acwellan was shocked for a long moment, his son usually didn't question him, but then again they never been at an impasse where he had to.

Then Acwellan finally decided to humor Gabriel, "Why did I choose her or why did I kill her?"

Gabriel shook his head, closing his eyes as tightly as possible and focusing on the burning in his chest, "Let's start with the latter."

Acwellan rolled his eyes dramatically, "She was of no further use to me."

Gabriel looked down at Raven in his arms; tracing her thin, nearly delicate features with a yielding hand, "What was her use?"

Acwellan thought for a few moments, looking down at his pathetic excuse for a son, "Define, use."

Gabriel's anger flared, "You were the one who used it in the first place!"

"Oh, right… well, she was a challenging fuck, that's for sure." His eyes glinted in satisfaction, "And she was a pleasantly driven little thing, though I still regret her powers not returning in time, I'd have loved to see her really fight back."

Gabriel cleared his throat, "You're avoiding the real question."

Acwellan contemplated his son's tone for a few moments, "I took her because I knew you wanted something of your own… you needed a pet." It was a deep confession on his part and he continued, "You needed something to bring you out of your reverie." He sighed sharply, "You needed something tangible in your life, something to motivate you back into action… once we are back home I will find you a woman and you will have children."

Gabriel sat motionless.

"Of course… I'd rather planned to keep her in the beginning, so you could return with an heir in hand. But it seems to have been easier this way; she was a mess of problems for both of us anyway."

That little bitch would only cause trouble.

Gabriel looked away, "You didn't have to kill her."

Acwellan laughed loudly, "You would have gone after her if I'd simply sent her away… you would have followed her anywhere, gone to any lengths to have her."

Acwellan knew that Gabriel was not confused about anything.

Acwellan knew the Gabriel was very much aware and in tune with his physical, emotional, and mental desires.

"You could have lied, told me she was dead but really just send her home."

"You would have searched her out just to make sure there was no hope left… I can't stand to watch you become weak and submissive." Acwellan admitted, "She was turning you into something you could never be."

"Why her?"

"Why not?" Acwellan answered, "She's the perfect target. Outwardly she's strong and secure in herself, but on the inside she was just waiting to crack. Every second, before us, that she spent listening to those who didn't have her best in mind fractured her…"

"She was ten times stronger then you."

Acwellan raised an eyebrow, "Was? Are you admitting that she's dead past redemption?"

"She is never past that…" She disserves to much more.

"She looks pretty dead to me." She looks like she's been far past dead for years.

And that was it; Gabriel snapped like a tree limb under pressure… he suddenly felt all his energy explode outward.

A dark, thick haze spread out from the epicenter of his chest, consuming and destroying everything in its path.

. . .

The team was sitting in the living room when the entire city shook with a deep, resounding thud.

They all rose and ran to the window… they could see, miles away, a black cloud expanding over vast amounts of space quickly.

Raven.

"Titans, Go!" Robin yelled and they were off.

. . .

Gabriel rolled over, groaning, and then realizing that Raven was still in his arms… her limp body lulling against his.

Acwellan struggled up to his feet, stumbling towards Gabriel and Raven.

Acwellan's eyes were consumed in a deep, angry red, "How dare you!"

Gabriel pulled Raven closer, brushing her hair from her face, "You forced my hand."

"You're not even man enough to kill me!" Acwellan yelled.

"I would never kill another human being, evil or otherwise…" Gabriel sighed and then spoke to the empty space in front of him, whispering gently with passion and conviction, "I would give anything to have her back, anything."

Acwellan laughed, "After I kill you it won't matter how much you would give…"

Gabriel pressed a heated hand against Raven's chest, "Come on, beautiful, I know you're still in there." He paused and closed his eyes, "I can feel it."

Author's Note:

So are you guys feeling like it's time to end this thing (as in the next chapter would be the final or second to final) or continue? Because honestly I could go either way (end and start a new story or continue on with this one and delve deeper into team [Titan] dynamics and potential romantic dynamics for Raven).

Thank you guys still for the amazing comment/reviews, I read them before starting the next chapter and really do try to write to please. Based on what the answers to the above questions are I will be including some more of the suggestions/comments, it's all so exciting :P

Anyway... Have a Lovely Day!

-Kay