Raven sat wrapped in her cloak in front of the library fireplace, the same spot she had been nearly everyday since Slade had shown her the room. She was slowly making her way through the entire library. So far, she was nearly halfway through the column of books. When she wasn't sleeping or helping Slade with sign language, she had the book open in front of her nose.

The library featured large windows that looked out at the back and side of the mansion. Snow had surrounded the house since back in December when Slade stole the file from Jump City High School. January only brought more snowfall, and soon it became impossible to even push open their door. Raven was comfortable and warm in her library chair by the fireplace, but if she woke early enough, she could sometimes catch Wintergreen outside the window shoveling a path.

Raven made her way down to the library in mid-January, stopping on their stairs when she heard Slade yelling in the hall below.

"You'll kill yourself out there," Slade was shouting. "I don't care if there's snow on the paths. I'm the only one who walks that way - leave the snow."

"It's a city law to have your pathways shoveled," Wintergreen replied calmly. "And you're not as young as you think you are. I don't want you slipping on ice while walking in one night."

"You aren't as young as you think you are," Slade argued. In truth, Raven had no idea how old Slade was, but for some reason she imagined that he was much younger than Wintergreen. It was hard to judge though, since Slade always had a mask and suit on. Wintergreen didn't have any disguise - it was clear that he was an old man.

"I order you to stop shoveling the paths," Slade said firmly.

"That's an order I'm afraid I can't follow, sir," Wintergreen replied. "I do hope you'll forgive me."

"Don't disobey me, Wintergreen," Slade said. Raven could hear footsteps walking away, and Slade called: "Come back here - I am talking to you."

When there was a moment of silence, Raven finally finished walking down the steps. She turned the corner to find Slade was still standing there. Anger was radiating from him, and Raven paused for a moment before asking: "Are you okay?"

Slade took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes," Slade replied. "This doesn't concern you." With that, Slade turned up the hallway and walked away.

Raven spent another day in the library, taking her dinner in the library as well. She went to bed early that night, and when she arrived the next morning, she lit herself a fire and curled up in her favorite chair, beginning to read. The movement outside the window caught her eye, and Raven looked up expecting to see a disobedient Wintergreen shoveling snow. Instead, she saw Slade there, shovel in hand, shoveling the snow off the pathway before Wintergreen could.

The library door opened, and Wintergreen brought Raven her usual morning cup of tea.

"Slade's shoveling snow," Raven said quietly.

Wintergreen nodded. "He seems to feel I'm too old to shovel," Wintergreen replied. "I disagree but, he's almost as stubborn as you are, Miss. Raven."

"That's sweet though," Raven replied. "Almost kind of him."

"I think you'll find that Master Slade isn't all so bad, once you get to know him," Wintergreen said.

"He's always been evil," Raven said. "Coarse, unrefined, villainous."

"But he's trying," Wintergreen pointed out. "Trying his best, I think."

Like every other night, Wintergreen knocked on the door promptly at seven in the evening. "Miss. Raven, dinner is being served in the dining room. Shall I bring your plate here this evening?"

Raven looked up from the book in front of her. "I'll meet you in the dining room," Raven replied.

"You- you will be joining Slade for dinner?" Wintergreen asked.

"I was invited, wasn't I?" Raven replied.

Wintergreen nodded. "Of course, I'll set you a place." Wintergreen hurried down the halls towards the dining room where Slade was already waiting, leaning over the fireplace. Wintergreen brushed past him into the kitchen and after disappearing for a few moments, he returned carrying several plates and silverware.

"What are you doing?" Slade asked as Wintergreen set a second place at the table.

"Raven said she will be joining you for dinner this evening," Wintergreen replied.

"Why now?" Slade asked. "For months now she's been so …" he paused to choose the right word, then said: "stubborn about it."

"Being kind to her seems to have been a good plan afterall," Wintergreen replied, placing the last pieces of silverware around the plates. He disappeared into the kitchen again, this time returning with a wine glass and setting it in front of Raven's plate. Just as he finished, the door to the dining room opened and Raven stepped in, shutting the door behind her.

"Nice of you to join me," Slade said. He stepped forward, pulling her chair out for her.

"Don't make me regret it," Raven replied. She sat down, pulling the chair in herself.

"We certainly won't," Wintergreen promised. He claimed both of the salad bowls and took them into the kitchen, leaving Raven and Slade alone.

"What are you reading today?" Slade asked.

"A book on Epistemology," Raven replied. "It's outdated, and parts are in Greek, but it's been interesting."

"I'm glad you're enjoying it," Slade said. Wintergreen reappeared, placing a bowl of salad in front of Raven and then crossing the room to place one in front of Slade as well.

The two ate in silence for a bit, and then Raven asked, "So what made you want to join the military?"

Slade chewed on a bite of salad rather slowly, then replied. "I was sixteen and tired of school."

"You can't join the military at sixteen," Raven said.

"You can't, but I lied about my age," Slade replied. "I was a good fighter. They didn't look into it too much."

"What were you running from?" Raven asked.

"I don't run from anything," Slade replied. Wintergreen came out of the kitchen and took their now empty salad bowls away, returning with a plate of chicken and asparagus for each of them. Wintergreen poured wine into Slade's glass, and offered it to Raven, who shook her head no. Once Wintergreen went back into the kitchen, Raven looked up at Slade again.

"So you left your home, all your friends, your family, and your education to join the military at sixteen years old, but you weren't running from something?" Raven asked.

"I don't run from anything," Slade repeated. "I also don't probe you with personal questions."

"I'm just curious," Raven replied.

"What about you, then?" Slade asked. "How was it growing up with Trigion as dear old dad?"

"I didn't," Raven said. "I was raised by the monks of Azarath."

"Where was your mother?" Slade asked.

"I don't know. I met her when I was about ten," Raven explained. "Azar was the head of the monks and when she passed away, the other monks didn't want to raise a demon's child so they sent me back to Arella."

"Arella?"

"My mother," Raven replied. "And your parents?"

"They are both long dead," Slade said. He cut off a large piece of the chicken and pushed it into his mouth.

"Were you close with them?" Raven asked.

"No," Slade replied. "But I was their only child so I got the inheritance anyway."

"Lucky you," Raven replied.

"I thought about what you offered last week," Slade said slowly. "I can't let you see inside my mind."

"I know," Raven replied.

"I don't have any intention of harming my son," Slade continued. "I like to choose when I share stories of my past though. I've never had anyone else in my head and I'd like to keep it that way."

"I understand," Raven replied. "I have had other people in my head before. It's not fun."

"Who was in your head?" Slade asked.

"Beast Boy and Cyborg. It's a long story," Raven replied.

"We've got time," Slade replied. Wintergreen eventually returned, catching the middle of the story explaining how Raven uses a mirror to enhance mediation. He cleared away their dinner plates, and brought out some chocolate and tea for dessert. Long after Wintergreen took the dessert dishes away, Slade and Raven sat at the table talking.

Eventually, the remains of the fire began to die out, and the candles on the table were burning low.

Slade just finished recounting a thrilling story of a mission he went on in Korea when he was young, and the two sat in silence after hours of conversation.

"We should head to bed," Slade said finally. "It's almost dawn."

"That's a good plan," Raven agreed. Neither of them moved for a moment, then Slade shifted his empty glass in front of him.

"I'll clear these," Slade said, taking his own and standing up to get Raven's empty teacup.

"He's in Tibet, living in the mountains," Raven said suddenly. Slade sat back down, waiting for Raven to continue. "Joseph goes by Jericho now. He was in town last year to help us fight the Brain."

"He works with the Titans, then?" Slade asked.

"No," Raven replied. "Not officially. He doesn't like to fight unless he absolutely has to, he considers himself a pacifist. I only met him for a few hours, but he seems to love music."

"Really?" Slade said. Raven nodded in reply. Slade smiled. "He was such a talented singer when he was a child. I'm glad that he didn't give up on music."

"It'll be hard to pinpoint him exactly," Raven admitted. "He wanders the mountains, from what I remember, he doesn't have a permanent home."

"Where's his mother?" Slade asked.

"We didn't really ask," Raven replied. "We aren't in a position to be asking teenagers where their parents are."

"That is fair," Slade said. "Thank you for telling me."

"If you try to hurt him, I will kill you," Raven replied.

Slade chuckled. "I have no doubt you will. I have no plans to hurt him."

Raven nodded. "I'm going to bed, then. If you end up leaving for Tibet, make sure you leave a note or something."

"I won't be leaving tomorrow. Soon, though, I think." Slade picked up the dishes from the table. He began to head towards the kitchen, and then he stopped, dishes still in hand, and turned back to her. "Are you happy here?"

Raven raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I'm a prisoner," Raven reminded him.

"I am aware," Slade replied. "I only mean, is there anything I could do to make you more comfortable? At home?"

"This is not my home, Slade," Raven said firmly. "This is a prison."

Slade nodded, more to himself than to her. "When my children are safe, when my hands are no longer tied -"

Raven shook her head, and Slade fell silent. "Don't make me a promise you can't keep," Raven said. "Goodnight, Slade."

"Goodnight, Raven."