A/N: Well here's another chapter...not sure if its any good but this chapter and the next one are kind of slowish...setting the stage for I guess the final plot arc of the entire story. Keep in mind that just because something happened in the last chapter, doesn't mean something in this one can't happen at the same time even though it's the next chapter...time is a bit jumbled because of the two places the story is taking place at the same time. It should all make sense I hope...Well there you go...and I can almost guarantee there won't be another chapter for a bunch of days...free time is now gone for a bit and I just don't see myself using the time I have to write...

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, but hey, I think we all knew that already

Trying to Do the Right Thing

Chapter 35: The Pain a Father Can Bring

By: Finalitylife

Raven felt like she was floating in nothingness, wondering if she had died from the fight with Rose and the fall into the basement, a very real possibility in Raven's mind, but to be honest, she didn't feel like she was dead, but rather dreaming. The world around her suddenly came into focus, the very familiar landscape of the beach around the island Titan's Tower sat on coming into view. Everything seemed so real, the sight, the sounds, the feel of the relaxing bay breeze...a place Raven felt she could just sit down and lose herself in her mediation, however something else caught her attention.

Before her was the sight she had so desired to see more than anything in this world...the one she sought so hard to find...it was Robin...her Robin. However, standing next to him was the abomination that was the apprentice, the being Slade hoped to twist Robin into. She could hear his terrible words, could tell they were cutting deeply into Robin, and Raven could feel her rage building up inside her. She would not allow this to continue.

Her power sprang to life and with a scream she grabbed hold of the apprentice, and throw him far away from Robin toward the horizon, just as she had once done to Slade when he had attacked her friends in what seemed so long ago.

"Bastard..." Raven muttered it under her breath, unsure if she was talking about Slade or the apprentice. This thought though was quickly lost when her eyes again settled on Robin staring at her, her heart speeding up rapidly as she smiled at the young man she loved so much...he seemed so real to her.

Raven wasn't sure what came over her, maybe she knew this was only a dream and wanted to at least make the most of it, but soon she found her words comforting Robin, her lips pressed tightly against his, and Robin's arms wrapped so tightly around her that she truly felt lost in the warmth and love of it all. She smiled as she buried her head in his chest, basking in his touch, she could never forget his touch no matter what happened, quietly whispering 'I love you' to him over and over again, and just like that Raven was woken up by cold water splashing her in face.

Raven shot up from the sudden watery chill, realizing quickly that the movement was a terrible mistake as pain started coursing through her side, her shoulder, well pretty much everywhere. Her head was pounding, and her vision was blurry, but she was alive that much she was certain A small part of her, however, wished she had died, and she could have forever lived in that moment with Robin in her dreams but that was a selfish dream because if she was dead, she wouldn't be able to save Robin from Slade.

As Raven's vision cleared, she found the last person next to Slade and her father that she wanted to see in front of her. Rose was standing there, a bucket next to her that had probably once held water, a cocky smirk on her face.

"Wakey, Wakey Raevy...your friends should be here soon enough, so its best you pull it together. You wouldn't want them to worry now would you." Raven noticed that despite her demeanor, Rose was indeed injured. Her white hair on her right side of her head was red from blood, her one hand holding her side at her ribs, while it was clear she was leaning her weight on to a single leg. Raven smiled with some satisfaction in her mind though realizing that she was indeed in great trouble. Raven barely could move, and Rose, despite injured, was already on her feet. This was not good. Raven was shocked when Rose extended her hand to Raven, offering to help her to her feet. She eyed her with total suspicion.

"Do you honestly think I'm going to take your hand? You just tried to kill me." Rose smiled.

"Yeah...yeah I did, but if I really wanted you dead Rae I would have broken your neck while you were unconscious and left your corpse to rot in this fate infested dump so the fact that I didn't should tell you something." Raven glared harshly.

"That you really are insane?" Rose laughed loudly before abruptly cutting off her laugher, her face becoming serious, her one eye narrowing darkly.

"Don't call me crazy..." That was all she said but Raven knew the threat and couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable underneath the intense gaze.

"So are you gonna take my hand or just sit there on the ground dirtying up your lovely, blue cloak?" Raven remained motionless.

"Why did you try to seduce Beast Boy? Why did you try to kill me? I want answers..." Raven's voice came out low, again suppressing her spikes of anger. Rose only shook her head.

"I already told you back at your place. I went to Beast Boy for a little action. He is such a cute, innocent young man isn't he...I could have had so much fun making him a man over and over again...hehehe, but you had to ruin all that. I bet Beast Boy is pissed you messed that up for him. I mean I am completely a once in a lifetime opportunity." Raven glared, disgusted by Rose and her twisted thoughts.

"As for trying to kill you? Like I said, I was bored and needed to burn off my built up aggression so I decided a good spar would be in order, and let me tell you, you did not disappoint. Hell of a right hook you got...never expected it from someone as small and dainty looking as you."

"You tried to kill me for fun?" Raven's voice was filled with outrage.

"That's how I learned to train Rae...fight all out or you'll never get stronger. I'm sure you can understand that, but also, the fight was a test for you, for me to find out if you truly were someone who I felt could help me in finding and confronting my father, someone with the strength and motivation to finish the search. Oh by the way Rae, congratulations, you passed!" Rose clapped her hands together in front of herself bouncing slightly with glee...a very Starfire like reaction and that thought again disturbed Raven.

"Only a test?" Rose nodded eagerly.

"Oh yeah...you know as well as I do that my father is not someone to go lightly against and I truly had to make sure you four weren't just a bunch of kids searching blindly for their lost leader, so I decided to test their new leader...you Raven, and you gave me the best fight I've had in years. I can really feel the burn..." Rose arched her back eliciting a few pops from her back, followed by a satisfying ahh of relief.

"If it makes you feel better, I am sorry you had to get beat like that, but in my life, you either gain my respect, or you don't exist in my life. You've gained my respect blackbird, so for now, we are allies." Again Rose extended her hand to help Raven to her feet.

"Just take my hand...like I said your friends will be here soon, and I prefer that they see us both upstairs so that they don't overreact to the giant hole you made in the floor. Honestly, remind me not to have you over for a party...hehehe..." Raven eyed Rose and could feel a truthfulness from all of her words no matter how demented the logic was. She reached out and took grip of Rose's hand, and Rose pulled her forcefully to her feet. Raven didn't even have time to react, as the second she was up, lips were pressed hard against her own, Raven trying to protest and pull back but the strong grip held her there, her words muffled by the kiss.

Finally it ended, Raven finally pushing Rose off of her with disgust. Rose stood there smiling strangely, looking like she was thinking about something intensely.

"Hmm...ya know, Beast Boy is much better...sorry Rae Rae...hehehe..." Rose turned around and started skipping toward a nearby stairwell, Raven amazed at how quickly she seemed to recover, as if she didn't feel the pain anymore. Raven wiped her lips as if they burned, but decided maybe it was a good time to get some information..

"Why do you hate your father?" The question echoed in the basement, and Rose's movements suddenly stopped dead and cold, her aura instantly going from one of carefree happiness to one of darkness.

"You know why the Titans are searching him out, know why we hate him so much, but what truly is your motivation...why do you seek him out...why do you hate him Rose?"

"What makes you think I hate him?"

"Do not think me stupid Rose...it is obvious you loathe him, and though I can think of plenty of reasons why you could hate him, I want to know your reason for hating him. Why Rose?" Rose snapped around, her one eye burning with rage yet at the same time tears forming there and a wicked grin on her face. She looked crazed, and at the moment, Raven realized that maybe asking about Slade in her current situation was not the best idea. However, Rose did not make any aggressive movement toward her, only standing there, her shoulder hunched slightly.

"That bastard...only cared about himself...always about himself and his goals. I know he killed my mother, and it was his insane demands and training that drove my two brothers to their deaths...killed them...killed them too.. He took them all from me...and me, nothing but an experiment to him...nothng...nothing...he left me like I was a nothing...nothing...all alone...so very alone...I hate him...hate him...hate him." Rose kept whispering the same words over and over again as she stared at the ground, seething with pain and anger, her fists clenched tightly, and Raven could feel everything coming from her, her mental barriers completely let down in the utter chaos that was her mind...far more chaotic than any other she had encountered, almost as if there were several different people all vying for power there. What a twisted girl...so very sad...

Raven walked forward stopping next to the girl, not touching her or looking at her, but saying a few words.

"He'll pay as he should for everyone he's hurt in his quest for power and control. He will not escape...I promise that." With that, Raven limped up the stairs, her one hand glowing at her side beginning the healing of her battered body, sensing that the other Titans had just arrived. Rose remained in her prone position, her body slightly shaking, a single tear continuing its downward quest down her cheek.

"I hate you...hate you..." Slowly her mouth formed into a malicious smile as she straightened her stance into one of strength, not of one of a crying little girl.

"I'll kill you father...but I'll make sure first I kill your precious little apprentice...prove to you that you I am strong...that you should have never abandoned me." Rose spun around, humming to herself as she bounced up the stairs, to go greet her new allies. Tomorrow they would travel to the last place she had seen her father...he always did like to use old haunts...

--

Raven continued up the stairs, her body already feeling better from her own healing touch despite her mind not concentrating on the task at hand. Rose...such a tragic figure it would seem, not all that different from her it would seem...fathers truly have a way of destroying a child's life. Raven couldn't help but pity the crazed young woman who had not that long ago tried to kill her in some sick, twisted game. It was Slade who made her this way, just as he was trying to make Robin into a monster who would mirror his own evil...she could not allow that to happen.

Just as Raven had told Rose, Slade would indeed pay for everything he had done to all of them. Robin would be back by all their sides, and they all could return to their homes to be happy again, and Raven couldn't help but think that maybe they could help Rose too. It was a blatantly optimistic thought, something completely foreign to Raven, a thought more inclined to prance through the head of the bubbly alien princess from Tamaran, and truth be told, Raven believed that helping Rose was probably far beyond any of their abilities. Slade had truly done a number on that poor girl.

Raven finally made it back to the main floor, noticing the hole she had made to save her life. It had been a desperate, yet well thought out plan in her final possible moments...Robin would have been proud of her.

It was at that moment the other three Titans came barreling through the door, ready for anything, only to find a large hole in the ground, a weary and bruised Raven standing there looking at them, and a smiling and bloody Rose hopping up the stairs waving at them

"Alright...would someone please just please tell me what the hell is going on here?"

"Its nothing Cyborg. Rose and I had a spar that got out of hand. No one's seriously hurt." Cyborg shook his head.

"That really doesn't explain anything Raven. I mean we've been racing all the way across town since Rose showed up at the hotel, and we get here, it looks like a war was raged, and you can barely stand up. Something doesn't add up." Raven let out deep breath.

"Trust me Cyborg...please...everything is fine. Just leave it alone." Cyborg looked upon the small girl, realizing she had said please, and Raven wasn't one of those people who often even came close to sounding like she was begging...at especially in front of strangers He would give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Alright then...do you need any help then Raven? You don't look so good." Raven smiled a very small smile.

"I'll be fine Cyborg or have you forgotten I can heal myself." Cyborg smiled back.

"Didn't forget...just wanted to make sure." Raven nodded.

"Hey...isn't anyone going to ask if I'm alright?" Everyone looked toward Rose who had her hands on her hips, pouting slightly like a child who needed attention that they weren't getting. Beast Boy was the one to speak.

"Um...you okay Rose?" She smiled at him.

"Of course Beast Boy...thank you for asking. You are such a gentleman aren't you?" The green skinned changling managed to still blush though a strong part of him was terribly nervous around this girl, especially after what happened in his bedroom. In his mind, he couldn't forget Terra's face, and just felt guilt every time he looked at Rose.

The fact that Beast Boy was blushing and unable to look at her made Rose smile as she licked her lips slightly. He was so easy to her...so easy to play with.

"Well I hate to break up the party, but I think I'm going to go to sleep. It has been a long night. I'll see you tomorrow...don't worry when, because I'll know exactly when you'll show up before you do. G'night." Rose disappeared from view but not before giving Beast Boy one more glance. He barely noticed it lost in his thoughts.

Raven walked over toward her friends, still limping slightly though no one said anything about, Starfire having to hold back herself from asking if Raven wanted her to carry her. She knew Raven did not like being made to feel weak.

"Seriously Raven...that girl is nothing but trouble." Raven walked past Cyborg.

"You really don't need to remind me of that Cyborg...can we please go back...I need a long, hot shower..." The three Titans watched Raven continue walking out the door, before hurrying after her still wondering exactly what the HELL just happened back there.