A/N: This is the very last chapter, and to be honest, my favorite. I'd like to thank everyone who has stuck with me through the beginning in May. I've been writing this story for so long, I'm sad to see it finished. But everything is resolved and there is no more conflict, unless I want to do a side story about Chase and Raven. ;) That could be fun. I really hope you loved this story as much as I loved writing it! Please review!
I study all the rest of Sunday, and a lot during school when I'm not taking tests. On Tuesday, when my mom is finally calm, I bring up the topic of me leaving. She brushes it off like she thinks I mean continuing living with the Titans on weekends. But I'm persistent. I say to her, "Mom. After this week, I'm not going back to school. Ever. I'm going to live with the Titans from now on. Not just on weekends."
She stares at me in shock. "You won't come back to us? But honey...we love you so much."
"I love you too. I'll still come visit, but I know that the Titans are my real family. They need me. And I need them."
"I drew the line at you staying with them every weekend. They're not going to take you away permanently!"
"I'll never be happy here like I am at the tower. And the city will be safer." I silently thank Chase again; I'm using the words he used to convince me. "Wouldn't you feel safer with six Titans protecting you instead of five?"
Mom wraps her arms around me. "I would. But I just got to know you. I don't want them to take my little girl away."
"Sally's your little girl. She's still only thirteen, and she's yours. I'm fifteen and my mom is dead, my dad finally behind bars. Please, Mom. Let me go."
She sighs at lets go of me. Tears are trying to fight their way out of her eyes as she takes my face in her hands and smiles. "You're a lot more grown up than I like to think you are. Just promise to visit me. Go be where you're happiest, Terra. As soon as school is over on Friday, you can leave. I love you so much."
"Thanks." I kiss her on the forehead as I stand up. "No matter who gave birth to me, or who I live with, you will always be my mom." Knowing she won't be able to take another minute of this, I go up to my room to begin packing. Though I know this family will be sad to see me go, and I'll be a little disappointed to leave them, I'm practically dancing with happiness that I'm never going to be normal again.
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"Finally!" sighs Sierra after school on Friday. She pulls the last folder out of her locker and shoves it in her backpack. "School's out for the summer! Wanna hang out with me and Julie tonight? Or will you be with the Titans?" I gave Julie permission to tell Sierra everything on Monday, so all three of us know now and can discuss it freely.
"Yeah, I'll be with the Titans." I adjust the butterfly hair clip. Ever since Beast Boy put it in my hair last week, I've only taken it out at night. "Actually, from now on, you won't be seeing much of me anymore. I'm moving in with the Titans permanently. Not coming back to school anymore, not living with my family anymore. Don't worry, I'll visit, but this is the last time I'm setting foot in this school."
"Oh...I'll really miss you, then." Sierra smiles at me. "I hope you'll be happy though."
"I will be. Thanks." I sling my bag over my shoulder. "Gotta bring the last few boxes over to the tower. Been bringing them over there all week without the Titans knowing! I want it to be a surprise that I'm coming back!" I start running from the school, waving to Sierra. "Don't know when I'll see you next! Bye!"
When home, I drop my bag on the floor outside my room, stacking up the last three boxes and jumping out my second-floor window. I land on a rock I raise at the same time, and glide through the air as quickly as I can over the city and to the tower. My new home. Or old home. The home I've wanted to make my permanent place of residence for a long time. I'm finally staying. My window has been open all week so that I can easily go in and out of my room as I please, filling it with boxes without the Titans knowing. I'm so excited to pop up and surprise them with my being back on the team to stay.
To my luck, the alarm goes off and the red lights flash in my room. I sprint to the common room and join the other five Titans without even changing out of my school uniform.
"Control Freak!" declares Robin. "Downtown! Titans, go!"
We all run from the tower, all with our own ways of getting from the tower to the city, and the Titans don't comment on my return. I suppress a giggle, suspecting that they don't see a difference; they've almost forgotten the events of last weekend.
Control Freak is, once again, attacking the video store, and I roll my eyes at how easy this will be. Give me someone like Billy Numerous, and he'll be hard to defeat.
Honestly, all I really do is crush his remote after Raven uses her magic to steal it from him and she throws it at me. I'm not sure if it's ever been easier to win against Control Freak. In minutes, we're on our way back home.
"Cyborg!" yells Beast Boy, plopping down on the couch of the common room. "I challenge you to a video games tournament!"
"I play winner!" I say, jumping into the spot next to Beast Boy.
"Oh, you're on!" exclaims Cyborg.
I watch the boys playing video games for a while, until the game is suddenly paused.
"Wait a second!" Beast Boy turns to me. "Terra? I thought you were gonna go be normal again!"
I throw my arms around him and kiss him. "Normal isn't nearly as fun as superhero."
Everyone stops what they're doing, realizing the same thing Beast Boy just did, and we all rejoice. I'm not just back for the weekend. I'm back forever.
"But you know, Terra," says Robin with an evil grin. "You did leave the Titans."
"You have to be initiated all over again," laughs Raven, holding up a tutu and a rubber chicken while Robin holds out a pink wig.
I start laughing and backing away. Initiation was bad enough the first time. I don't want to go through it again! But to be with my wonderful friends, I'll do it.
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My name is Terra and I have done horrible things. I swore to serve a dark master. I obeyed his every command and committed crimes in his name. I betrayed and attacked everyone that loved me. One by one, I tried to destroy the Teen Titans. And with no one left to stop me, I brought an entire city to its knees. My name is Terra. I have done horrible things. I have many regrets. But I know that no matter how many bad things I've done, I still have my friends by my side to be with me through it all.