I realize that last chapter had like a lot of typos, so I ended up going back and fixing it because I couldn't read it without cringing. What's the lesson?

ALWAYS PROOF READ. AND WHEN YOU'RE DONE, PROOF READ SOME MORE.

I ended up replacing the chapter like six times.

Well, we're really getting to close to the end of this thing. What's going to happen? Hehe, you'll have to find out.

Chapter 21: A Fleeting Moment

"I'll...considering staying here."

Beast Boy's eyes shot to the empty door with his heart was pounding against his rib-cage. He was so excited that he tripped as he got off from the bed which toppled some boxes in the process. The green man let out a yelp and instinctively turned into an octopus to grab the falling boxes. He sighed and morphed back into human form before dashing towards the door.

His green eyes looking left and right at the empty hallway. He had to make sure that he heard that right and he wasn't imagining it. He slapped himself in the face and shook his head.

'Okay, this is real! Did I just convince Rae to actually stay?'

His feet took him all over the tower as he tried to look for the purple-haired maiden. He checked the halls, roof, her room. He eventually found her in the common room, gazing at the city. She stood in the sunlight which gave her a ethereal glow. And her long purple locks contrasted against her black cloak.

She turned back to give him an acknowledging look. Her amethyst eyes having a melancholic look to it. The green man could swear he could get lost in the sadness behind them.

"Beast Boy..."

"Did...did I hear you right? You're actually thinking of staying?"

"Yes?" she said drawing it out as if he hadn't heard her the first time.

Raven looked back at the city and placed her fingertips on the glass.

The green man did a victory dance in his head, so as not to draw attention but it wasn't like the empath could feel his enthusiasm.

"Don't think too much into it. I still haven't decided whether or not I am staying."

That didn't matter to him though, just her reconsidering was enough. Now all that was left to make her want to stay. He felt bad that Terra had just left, but they really did need another member.

"We could really use your help, y'know now that Terra's gone."

"I'm going to head back go my room. Feel free to speak to me if you need anything" she said as she curtly teleported away.

Beast Boy was so excited that he searched out the other Titans. He found Robin in the evidence room, Starfire in her own room playing with Silkie and Cyborg in the garage working on his car. He decided it best to tell them all together rather than just individually.

"Friend Beast Boy, what is this news that you wish share with us?"

"Yeah man, you're so giddy."

He grinned before answering. "I think I got Rae to think about stayin'!"

"What?"

"Friend Beast Boy! That is great news!"

"How'd ya manage that, man?"

"Beats the hell outta me!"

"Friends! This is good news, indeed! If we can convince Friend Raven to stay, it will be most joyous!"

"Did you manage to something else outta her?"

"Actually...yeah. She told me everything."

"You actually got her to talk?"

"Yeah. Weird, right?"

"Friend, would you please enlighten us on the events?"

"Alright, but you guys might wanna sit down for this."

The trio sat down on the large circular, black couch and gave their green friend their full attention.

"Where do I start?"

+Raven's Room+

The umbrakinetic paced around her room, nervously. She had told someone about her past. Her heart was beating so quickly that she thought it might pop out of her chest. The empath had not spoken of what she had done to anyone and now she just told someone. More specifically, Beast Boy and he wasn't known for keeping secrets well. From her experience, keeping secrets had kept her alive for so long and trusting them to other people was dangerous. Even if the person also kept it a secret, a problem was that anyone could be listening in. What sort of consequences would arise now that her secret has been revealed? Would she have to leave again?

But she was beginning to tire of running. She had been running for so empath recalled how she was like when she was younger, that felt like an eternity ago. She felt as though she had regressed even further and let out a disappointed sigh.

Tired of pacing, the empath sat down on the bed for a moment before lying down. The cool ocean breeze blew lightly from her window and the passing clouds made the room a little darker. She let out a small yawn before submitting herself to the lull of sleep.

+Common Room+

"I think that's pretty much it..." Beast Boy finished as he looked at the amazed faces of his friends.

"I-I don't know what to say..."

"Friends...I am at a loss for words."

"She...she seriously did all that?"

"I don't know but that's what she told me."

Raven had astroprojected herself outside the common room. She mentally kicked herself. Her anxiousness had leaked into her powers, and now she was projecting her soul self unconsciously. The Raven doppelganger was about to slide back into her physical body in her room when the voices of her housemates caught her attention.

'?'

"What do you guys think? Should we let her back?"

"I don't know...I mean can we really trust her? I mean I don't know if I wanna trust my life to an ex-merc..." Robin said.

"What if one of Raven's old charges managed to track her here?" Cyborg said.

"Raven said that that's unlikely since they're all gone and even if they aren't, they think she's dead."

"Boy, and I thought we've been through a lot. But still, Rae did a lot of bad shit but that doesn't excuse them."

"I agree. But I think that having Friend Raven here to assist with fighting the crime would help her absolve her crimes."

"I agree, Star. She did something wrong, so she has to do something good to make up for all of it."

"We still need to be careful. How do we know she's not using Blood Magic to influence us? Or that she hasn't used Blood Magic on us since she first arrived? How do we know that she won't use Blood Magic on us? I'm not comfortable with someone with that amount of power" Robin said.

Even though the Titan leader was just looking out for his team, Beast Boy couldn't help but getting irked by him. It was probably because he couldn't prove or disprove what Robin was saying.

Raven's soul self backed away from the door. It wasn't like the other Titans could see or hear it. She knew it; this place wasn't the one she was looking for. The empath drifted back and allowed her soul self to evaporate.

"I don't think she has. She would've needed blood, ours probably. Besides, I think Rae's seen enough Blood Magic to know it never ends well."

"True. Well alright, let's go tell her we want her to stay" the Titan leader said.

+Raven's Room+

Raven's soul-self slipped back into her physical body. Her amethyst eyes opened lackadaisically before she slowly rose. She let out an inward sigh; she knew she wasn't couldn't stay. So what was the point in even thinking about it?

'Mistress, if I may?'

'What?'

'What if we're wrong?'

'We're not.'

'What if this is the world we're looking for?'

'How many times did we second guess ourselves? How many times have we been wrong? We cannot stay. That is final.'

'Honestly, your stubbornness is most taxing, Mistress.'

'I am not hearing this, Sagacious.'

'Yes, it's too bad that you can't not hear me.'

'Your sarcasm is not appreciated.'

'Neither is your stubbornness. Listen, are you not tired of running? I think it may be safe to assume this is our home.'

'We have no home.'

'Negativity, you're just adding fuel to the fire!'

The empath stopped listening to her emoticlones and zoned out. She shook her head and and a pool of blackness appeared beneath her before she melted to it. A deep sigh escaped her lips as she looked at the bright blue sky. An ocean breeze welcomed her, happily obliging the wind.

"Nice out here, ain't it?" she heard a voice behind her ask.

Not bothering to look around, the demoness gave him a small nod. She got to her feet, expecting it to be the green Titan. What she found was not just one Titan, but all four. Raven deduced that Beast Boy had already told the Titans and sighed again, prepared for whatever verdict they decide.

"Friend Raven...we just...we do not know what to say after we learned of your...prior experiences."

"It couldn't be helped. I know what I did was wrong and I can't go back."

"Look, Raven. I don't claim to be a priest or something, we've all done things we're not proud of" the Titan leader said.

"But, you're trying things that right your wrongs and that counts for something!"

"Please, just be straight with me. Where do all you stand?"

They all looked at each other and nodded in unison.

"Our decision still stands: we want you stay here!"

Raven blinked as she took a small step back. The news shocked her. How can they still take her in? Why? Aren't they afraid of what she'll do?

"I-I don't know what to say..."

They all smiled softly. "We hoped you'd say yes."

Raven looked to the floor. She had tried dam the emotions she held back and failed. Tears were forming in her eyes, and her chest tightened. The empath was so lost in thought she failed to notice her friends surrounding her. She flinched as she felt a heavy hand on her shoulder. Her eyes looked up to see Cyborg's warm smile before flying to Starfire's eager grinning face and even Robin was smiling.

Her eyes made their way to the floor again, as she dried her eyes. Had she been wrong? Was this truly her home that she had sought for so long?

"I...I don't know. I'd like a moment alone, please."

They all nodded before exiting through the door on the roof, save for Beast Boy. He just looked at her, quietly. Somehow, she didn't find his presence the least bit distracting. Her purple orbs found their way to his body. For a moment, the image of the spirited green boy with lanky limbs overlapped with the man today. He truly had matured, that instilled a sort of amazement in the enchantress.

"I'm sorry I...I don't like looking weak like that."

"It's not weak; you've been through a lot. Don't you think it's time that you forgive and forget?"

Somehow hearing those words made her body tense. Those words weren't exactly in her dictionary. He gave her a concerned look which she pushed away.

"Why...why do care so much? Why do you want me to stay?"

She didn't know when he got close to her, noticing they were mere inches apart. Raven couldn't understand why but it felt like she already knew the answer. Beast Boy's heart was beating so loud and so fast. She was right there. So why couldn't he say or do anything? His nervousness was winning but he had to do something, anything. The green man knew if he said or did the wrong thing, Raven would deny staying here.

Her eyes trailed his face, expecting some answer.

"You...you can't leave again...We... I don't know if I could take it again."

"You?"

"We...I lost you once, I don't ever want to lose you again."

Her face was full of pain and what seemed like a spark of realization. She looked down again only for him to tilt her face back up. He needed to see those eyes, those damn pretty eyes. They drew ever closer until Raven backed away suddenly. The green man looked at her confused, her head tilted down and it looked like her eyes were scanning something.

"Raven?"

A startled look came onto her face as her arms drew up instinctively. Her breathing rather shallow.

"No..."

"Raven, what's wrong?"

She slowly backed away, her eyes wide in shock but she didn't seem to be looking at him. Was she having a vision?

"I-I can't! I'm sorry!"

That was all he heard before he saw Raven dash off the roof and soar into the sky.

End.

So what'dya think? Lemme know! :)