The door creaked as it slowly opened. Cyborg cautiously poked his head into the room. A nervous warble in his voice betrayed his anxiety.

"Raven?"

"Come in, Cyborg."

The tin man pushed the door open and entered the room, closing the door behind him.

"Starfire said that you wanted to see me."

He scanned Raven with his mechanical eye. She was still under the effect of the drugs and didn't seem to be quite herself.

"Yes, I did … Victor; we need to talk about what happened."

His shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry, Raven. I feel responsible for everything that happened to you."

"In part, you are. But the blame is also mine."

"Why did I drug Dick with that serum? You guys would be married now."

"Victor, I forgive you."

"You do?"

She nodded. "You did nothing out of malice. How can I blame you for siding with your friend?"

"But I screwed everything up."

"You did, I did, we all did."

"Star didn't."

Raven frowned. "Actually, she did too."

"Huh? What do you mean? What did she do?"

"She has a son."

"Yeah, B told me."

"Do you know who the father is?"

He shook his head. "Can't say that I do. The green bean didn't say anything about that."

"He didn't know. Right now, Starfire must be telling him."

"Whoa, this sounds intense. What's with all the secrecy?"

He saw an unhappy look flash across her face. She then locked eyes with him.

"Gar is the father of her son."

The tin man frowned. "You're joking, right?"

"I wish I was."

"But … how?"

"In the usual way, I suppose. I don't recall Starfire saying that she was artificially inseminated."

"That's not what I meant."

"They had a fling before Starfire left for Tamaran."

Cyborg sat down in a chair next to her bed.

"Raven, you know that doesn't change anything about how he feels about you."

"How he or I feel doesn't matter." She winced. "He has a son now, and Starfire told me that she has feelings for Gar. She's going to take him back to Tamaran to meet his son. Victor, we both know that he'll never return."

"We don't know that." He glared at her.

"Why would he return? For you? For me?"

"Yeah, believe it or not, he'd come back for you."

She huffed in frustration. "Don't be ridiculous. Look at me! I'm in the psychiatric ward and I have a power cancellation collar around my neck."

He reached for her neck, unlocked the collar and removed it. "There, no more collar. Your powers are back."

"Thanks. Are you sure that was a good idea?"

"I trust you."

"You're going out on a limb."

"Maybe, but I owe you. I shouldn't have given up on you."

"I told you to leave me alone, and I threatened to hurt you if you came back."

"I knew you didn't mean it. I was a coward."

Raven chuckled. "Only a fool ignores a demon's warning."

"I always thought of you as a sister, and I failed you, big time. Because of what I did he dumped you twice. And then I abandoned you in that apartment building, I left you there to descend into …"

He paused.

"Go ahead, say it. The word you're looking for is insanity." She deadpanned.

"You aren't crazy, you were traumatized."

She sighed and took his big mechanical hand into her own. "Victor, lots of women get dumped but they don't react the way I did. I went off the deep end."

"Which is why I should have been there. I should never have let you move out of the Tower."

"There was no way you could have stopped me. And to be honest, I thought being alone would do me good. There's no way you could have talked me out of it."

"I still failed you. I know I can't make it up to you, Raven; but I do want to reclaim my role as your brother. Once you're better I want you to come back to the Tower and be a Titan again. And don't say that you'll just go back to your apartment building. The last thing you need is to be alone again, plus the building is trashed. It's ready for the wrecking ball."

"I don't know if I can go back."

"Hey, you need to come back and you know it. C'mon, just say you will."

She gave him one of her tiny Raven smiles. "OK, I'll come back. But only because you're being a nagging pest."

"Hey, it's what big brothers do best!"

There was a knock on the door.

"It's me." The changeling whispered through the cracked open door.

"Come in." She replied.

Cyborg got up from his chair. "I'll uh, give you guys some privacy."

The tin man closed the door behind him. Raven gestured to her ex to sit down.

"Did she tell you?"

His ears drooped. "She did … I'm sorry, Rave."

"What's done is done." She replied in an emotionless monotone.

"You know that I didn't do that to hurt you."

Her jaw trembled ever so slightly. "I could say the same about what I did."

"I'm so sorry Raven … I … shouldn't have abandoned you."

"And I shouldn't have done what I did." She added.

"I overreacted … it wasn't that big of a deal."

"You're wrong, it was that big of a deal. Had you done that to me, who knows what I would have done? They say that Hell hath no fury as a woman scorned. Trust me, I should know about Hell."

He bowed his head. "How did this all happen?"

She shook her head. "It doesn't matter anymore."

"How can you say that? Of course it matters."

She sighed. "Gar, you have a son. I don't know much about families, having been born into mine; but I do know that a boy needs his father."

"What are you saying?"

She took his hand. "Go to Tamaran and meet your son. Be there for him."

"Rave … are you sending me away?"

She didn't answer right away. "This is the hardest thing I've ever done."

"What about us?"

She wiped away a stray tear. "We have our memories."

"We … we had some good times together." He sniffled.

"And some bad ones too, but good or bad, I'll treasure them and never forget them."

"Me too." He replied.

They sat together in silence for a few minutes, until he broke it.

"I love you."

"I know, Gar, I know. And I'm sorry I cheated on you."

"You weren't yourself."

"That's not true, and you know it. I can't run away from that blunder."

"We could put it behind us."

She took his hand and squeezed it. "I think we already did. But things change. Go to your son."

"Will you be OK?"

"I will be, within reason, I suppose. I don't think that I'll ever be fully whole again, but I'll be OK, I won't be alone this time."

"I won't leave until you're out of here."

"Thanks … that means a lot. Gar … I'm tired, I need to sleep."

"The meds?"

She nodded. "Yes. The meds."

He leaned forward and gave her a tender kiss. "I'll come see you tomorrow."

"OK." She softly replied before dozing off.

-( - )-

Later that night …

The city sparkled in the late night hour. Rush hour had long since passed and traffic was light on the city's signature bay bridge. Beast Boy stood on the rooftop of one of the skyscrapers that dotted the downtown skyline. His hands on his hips, he surveyed the city that was once his to protect. While he was out of shape his ears were as sensitive as ever and he heard the stealthy footsteps approach him. Without turning around, he acknowledged his visitor.

"Nightwing."

"Beast Boy."

"What do you want?" He asked Grayson with an edge in his voice.

Nightwing approached him. "We have some unfinished business."

"No, really? Are you sure?" His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I messed up what you and Raven had going."

"You already said that at the apartment building."

Grayson looked away. "I know."

The changeling clenched his teeth. "You had Starfire; you had countless girls before her."

He paused, struggling to maintain his composure, and failing in the end. "Why did you do this to me? How could you do this to me?" His voice cracked. "I thought we were friends."

Grayson pursed his lips. "What do you want me to tell you?"

Beast Boy sat down on the building's rooftop ledge. "How about the truth for a change?"

"Are you sure that's what you want? The truth?"

"I don't to hear a pleasant lie."

Nightwing joined him on the ledge, though he didn't sit next to the changeling.

"Fine … I wanted her."

"What happened to being her big brother?"

"I'm not her brother, I never was. Was I her friend? Sure, we were friends, but … she's always intrigued me. But since she was yours I didn't poach her."

The changeling did a double take. "You mean you've slept with other guy's girls?"

"Hey, if they aren't faithful, then they aren't really theirs."

Beast Boy snarled at his former leader.

"You're a real piece of work. I hope you're proud of yourself."

Nightwing looked away.

"I'm not, but that's how the world works, Gar. Sure, in an ideal world men and women don't cheat on each other. But that's not how we're made. We are, by nature, unfaithful."

"Some hero you are. And you did poach my woman. You just couldn't resist. You had to have her."

"I know … I slipped and for that I'm truly sorry. Look, that's all I've got, I can't undo what happened. I'm not going to say something lame, like it wasn't about you and that it was about us. Beast Boy, I've never apologized to anyone before, and believe me, more than a few of my conquests were stupid enough to confess their infidelity to their boyfriends and husbands. For what it's worth, I never apologized to any of those guys, not once."

"And so you're apologizing to me?"

"Yes, I am. Believe it or not, Beast Boy, I think of you as a friend. And I've never had many friends."

"And even though we were friends, you did it to me too. You went and banged my girl."

Nightwing got up and began to walk away. "Like I said, I'm sorry. Take it or leave it, it's up to you."

"Wait … don't leave. I haven't had my say yet."

Grayson stopped and turned around. "Fair enough. I'll take whatever you have to say. I know I have it coming."

The changeling walked up to Grayson, had they been the same height, they would have been face to face.

"I fucked her."

Grayson frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Beast Boy grinned. "The night she dumped you, I took her to the forest and I did her. And she loved it."

Nightwing's face twitched. "You're lying."

"I plowed her. She screamed my name and kept asking for more."

Nightwing balled his fists.

"You're full of crap. You're a freak and a loser, she'd never let you touch her. You aren't good enough for her."

"Really?" The changeling smiled.

"Really!"

The changeling reached into his utility belt and produced the small holographic projector Starfire had shown him earlier. He flicked it on and the 3D image of his son appeared, floating in the air in front of an astonished Grayson.

"His name is Gharfeeld'r. He's our son."

Nightwing stared at the image, momentarily stupefied. "You son of a …"

"What are you upset about? You just said that if you couldn't keep her, then she wasn't really yours."

Nightwing stared at the holographic image which continued to float in the air in front of him.

"You had an awesome lady. Star is sweet, loving and true. Oh, and she fucks like an angel too. But that wasn't good enough for you; you had to add Raven to your collection."

The changeling glared at Nightwing before continuing. "After I left I spent three years hiding in a forest in British Columbia, I almost forgot who I was. But one thing reminded me of whom I was. I was planning on letting the Beast out and having it rip your head off. But now I know I found a better way to get even."

He threw the holo projector at Grayson and turned to leave. "That could have been your kid. Think about it."

"Where are you going?"

The changeling stopped and turned around. He had a malicious grin on his face. "I'm going back to the hotel room I share with your ex."

He morphed into an owl and took off, vanishing in the darkness.

-( - )-

Three weeks later…

"Room service!"

Attired in a plush bathrobe the changeling opened the door. A hotel staff member pushed in a rolling cart and parked it next to the small dining table. Beast Boy signed the receipt and tipped the young man, who thanked him before promptly leaving.

The suite was one of the nicest ones in the hotel. It had two sumptuous bedrooms, though only one was being used by the occupants. Gar walked back to the bedroom and cracked the door open. The sound of a blow dryer could be heard.

"Star! Breakfast!"

"I am almost done." She called back.

The changeling walked back to the dining room. He sat down and unfolded that morning's copy of the Jump City Tribune. There was a large color photo of Titans Tower on the front page. The T shaped building was flanked by several cranes as rapid repair work was underway. Starfire had made good on her pledge and set up a trust fund that would bankroll the Titans into perpetuity. As Forrest Gump once said, they didn't have to worry about money no more.

The main headline on the page proclaimed that the Tower would be back online in two more weeks. Below it a smaller headline announced that Raven would be rejoining the Titans. Starfire sat down at the table and began to eat her meal.

"I have missed the Earth food, especially the bacon."

He looked up from the page. "Star, do you ever think of coming back? You know, to be a Titan again."

"If you are asking me if I miss the old days, I do. But I am the Grad Ruler, I must eventually return to Tamaran. But what about you, you have not told me of your plans."

He folded the paper shut and set it aside. "I don't know. Cy's been asking me if I'm gonna come back, but I haven't given him an answer."

"Why not?"

He unfurled the paper a second time and looked at the picture. "I guess I feel like my time there is over. We had our run as the Titans; maybe it's time to hand it over to the next generation. Plus going back … it would be weird, and it's been a long time. I don't think I'm cut out to be a superhero anymore."

"What about you and Raven?"

He shrugged. "I don't know … Star… don't take this the wrong way, but you and I, we've been sharing a bed for the past three weeks. Why are you asking about her?"

The Tamaranian put her fork down. "Garfield, it is true, we have been lovers again for the past few weeks. I have neither the regrets nor the guilt, as we are both the single. And it has been very special for me, to be able to share myself once again with the father of my son. But I know that you have feelings for her as well. Garfield, today she is leaving the hospital. If you wish to have the private time with her, I will understand, for I have no claim over you."

"But we have a child."

She nodded. "We do, but you have made no promises of exclusivity to me. She was once your betrothed."

"That was a long time ago."

"But you still have the feelings for her, yes?"

He nodded. "I'll always love her. But I'm not ready for that now. Right now, our son is on my mind. I need to figure out how to be more than an absentee dad, and that's hard to do when you live light years apart."

"Do not worry about that. There will always be a starship ready for you."

"I promise I'll be a good father, no matter what else happens."

"While I wish for more, I expect nothing more of you."

He looked down at his plate. "I'd better eat. Chrome dome is gonna be her soon."

"Yes, today we take Raven home. I have reserved a room for her here at the hotel."

The phone suddenly rang. "Crap, he's already here."

He wolfed his breakfast down and ran off to get ready.

-( - )-

Later that day …

"Nice digs, huh?"

Raven walked around the elegant hotel room. "It's very nice. It was very generous of Starfire to put me up here."

"I'm glad you switched to your white outfit. I always thought you looked pretty cool in white."

"Except it's impossible to keep clean. Once Cyborg puts me back on active duty I'll probably switch back to my old blue and black."

"So, you really want to be a Titan again?"

"I do. After talking with Steve, I realize that it's what I need now. Being alone wasn't and isn't good for me."

She locked eyes with him. "What about you? What are your plans?"

He sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'm off to meet my son in a few days. After that, I don't know yet."

"And how does that make you feel?"

"Can't you tell?"

She shook her head. "Part of my therapy is to clamp down on the empathy, at least for now."

"Oh, I see. Well … how am I feeling? I guess I'm a little scared."

"You're afraid that he'll hate you?"

"Well … yeah. I mean, I haven't been there for him and suddenly I show up out of the blue. I guess I don't know what to expect. But I swear I'll do what's right for him. I know that I can't undo the past, I just hope he can forgive me."

"Gar, I'm sure he'll be thrilled to meet you."

"And what do I do if he isn't?" His ears drooped. "Who could blame him?"

Raven sat down next to him and leaned over. She pecked him on the cheek.

"You forgave me. We're still friends. You're his father, he'll forgive you too."

"Thanks, I hope you're right." He looked up at her. "I saw Dick a few weeks ago."

"You did?"

"Yeah, we kind of bumped into each other one night when he was out on patrol."

"So … uh … what happened?"

"He said he was sorry."

"Did you forgive him?"

His face formed a scowl. "I'll never forgive him."

"I understand … I haven't forgiven him either, and I share part of the blame."

"He knew better." The changeling grumbled. "You don't mess with a friend's girl."

So what did you do?

"I got even with him. I told him I was banging Star and that we have a kid."

"You mean you're still sleeping with her?"

Again, his ears drooped. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. We aren't a couple anymore and I know full well that we aren't ready to be one again. Still, if I said I wasn't jealous, I'd be lying."

"I'm sorry, Raven. If I could do anything to help you feel better, I would."

She got up and sat on his lap. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest.

"Gar, even if it's just for an hour, could we pretend none of this ever happened and that I'm still your girl? Could we just be like we were before everything fell apart, even if it's just this one time?"

He gently grabbed her chin and raised her face, and kissed her. "OK".

The "moment" lasted for the rest of the day and it ended with them in bed, asleep in each other's arms.

-( - )-

BB seems conflicted.