Disclaimer: I do not own, in any way shape or form, the rights to the Teen Titans. This means that the Teen Titans are not mine. If they were mine, this would be happening in the series, wouldn't it? 'Cause this is what I'd do if I owned them! Why would I waste my time writing a totally awesome story like this by not making it a reality on the TV show? That doesn't make sense! So no, obviously, the Teen Titans are not mine to claim. So there.

A/N: Wow. I feel special. I'm getting reviews from authors who's stories I read ((and love))! Sweet! Keep reviewing people…

Oh and if it wasn't clear enough before… That final flat line beep… That means Raven is dead. I don't think I made that clear enough. So let me make it clear now. She's dead. Raven is dead. There. Now… Read and you shall find out what happens to dead Raven.

-Chapter Thirty Five-

Raven opened her eyes. The world she found was most certainly not her own. She found herself in something similar to fetal position and she unfolded her legs. They went beneath her without hitting a floor. What was this place? It had no light, no gravity, nothing other than herself. Up and down didn't even exist, and neither did light or dark. It was an odd place in between it all, where nothing but herself seemed to exist.

She tried to think. How did she get here? What was her name? Where was she from? Not here, that was sure.

She stretched a hand in front of her, looking at her hand. Gold bracelets dangled from her wrist and her long pale fingers were tipped with fingernail polish-less finger nails. With a thought, black energy surrounded the hand, swirling and encompassing it.

"RAAVEEN!"

Raven. That was her name. And that voice… Beast Boy… Beast Boy!

It all came back to her in a flood and she panicked, spinning around to check the place again. Nothing. No doors, no floor… no Beast Boy.

"Beast Boy!" She cried back to the voice. There was no response. What had happened? She remembered up until the ceremony… they went to the ceremony… they were going home… She held his hand, he squeezed hers, she squeezed his… and then…

Raven closed her eyes, squeezing them as far shut as they'd go.

Then what?

Her eyes snapped open. Red. Burning. Blood. Trigon. The Beast. Pain…

"Please, don't die…"

Dead.

Raven's hand went to her mouth.

"Oh my God."

She was dead.

Panic struck her. Had Beast Boy gotten home safely? Who was ruling Hell now? Which Hell would she get sent to? For, surely she was getting sent to Hell. You don't spend your life as a Half Demon Princess of Hell and go to Heaven to become an Angel. It just didn't work that way. Tears welled up in her eyes. A light appeared in front of her, a light which shouldn't have existed. Raven began to reach out to it. It was warm, comforting… Assuring…

NO!

Raven snapped her hand back as if something stung her. She closed her eyes, shaking the thoughts of comfort from her head. A trick. It was all a trick. The light at the end of the tunnel. Her portal to Hell.

"I am NOT falling for that end of the tunnel CRAP! You'll have to come out here and DRAG me to the afterlife!"

She tried to plant herself somewhere, tried to get a firm hold, but that was impossible in a place with no gravity or floor. Dragging her would be an easy task. The light shifted… then vanished.

And then, before her, appeared Death itself.

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Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

"Clear!"

Beep! Beep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

"Clear!"

Beep! Beep! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!

"Clear!"

Beast Boy clutched the blanket closer to his body, his eyes fixated on the white wall in front of him. They had already taken her back. He wanted to see her. They wouldn't let him see her. Tears rolled down his cheeks silently. Cyborg tossed a comforting arm over the changeling's shoulder, not trusting himself to speak.

"Clear!"

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Hours passed as 10 o'clock turned to 12... A new day had begun.

A doctor entered with papers. Robin went to talk to him.

"We're going to have to have you sign these papers before we can do anymore. They just state that you're giving us permission to operate on Miss Roth as needed."

Robin took the pen and the clipboard.

"Raven." Beast Boy stated, and everyone paused to look at him. It was the first word he had spoken since he appeared in the Tower. He looked up at the doctor with teary eyes.

"Her name is Raven, not 'Miss Roth'. I know what you're doing, being all formal like that. It's not about manners, it's about disconnection. You're calling her 'Miss Roth' because that's just a name, just a title. Raven is a hero. Raven is a person, a pure hearted person. Raven has saved more lives than you ever will and she's still a teenager. Her name is Raven. Call her Raven. Get connected, know her, and SAVE her. It's not 'Miss Roth' that you would be losing. If you fail, the world will loose a hero. We will all loose Raven."

Beast Boy was standing, hospital blanket clutched tightly around his body. Robin looked back to the clipboard, signing it. The doctor and Beast Boy stared at each other for sometime before the doctor turned back to Robin to accept the clipboard.

"We'll do what we can."

"That's not good enough! That's the same DAMN thing you say to everyone else you have no hope for!"

Beast Boy stepped forward, looking up to the man. The doctor looked down at him.

"My little girl's name is Hannah. She just turned 9 two weeks ago. If it weren't for Raven, she would never have made it to 8. Now believe me when I say this. We will do all we can to save Raven. Until then, I suggest you go home. Raven will go directly to the OR and the to ICU. You're not allowed to visit at either place and there's no telling how long it will take. There's no point in you staying here. Go home. Get some rest. We'll call you if her condition changes."

With that, the doctor left. As he suggested, so did the Titans.

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"You're Death?" Raven resisted the urge to laugh at the little kid that stood in front of her. The girl looked about 7 years old with burning blue eyes and long curly black hair that seemed to stand out oddly in the absence of light. Her purple and black lacey dress didn't help either. The little kid came complete with velvet black cloak with silver and amethyst clasp and a little kid-sized scythe.

"No, Santa Claus." Death said, rolling her eyes. "I am so tired of hearing that! Little young to be Death, aren't you? Is that a scythe or a teddy bear? I decide to try a different form and everyone laughs at me. So I got sick of a being a freaking skeleton, okay?"

With a hand on her hip, Death continued.

"Now… Why must you be so difficult? Drag you? I can't DRAG you, Raven."

Raven crossed her arms.

"Then I guess I'm staying here."

Death shook her head. "Look, kid. If I leave you here, you become a lost soul."

"You're calling me kid?"

Death raised an eyebrow. "What? I've been around ever since the creation of life. Don't I have the RIGHT to call you kid?"

Raven shrugged.

"Now, are you going to stay here for the rest of eternity, or are you just going to follow me?"

"Forgive me for preferring being here than in Hell."

"Hell? What makes you think you're going to Hell?"

"Hell-O! Demon!"

"Half demon."

"Still demon."

Death sighed and took a seat… or at least it looked like she took a seat.

"Honey, you're a first. Never before has a demon, even a half demon, become a superhero. Never before has anyone with demon blood saved so many lives. You are a very special case indeed. I've heard… now this is just what I've heard… But I have heard that the council is willing to forget your demon blood altogether."

Death smiled before picking at her nails with a scythe. Raven snorted.

"Look, I can't tell you their decision. You just have to accept your death and your afterlife, no matter where you may go."

"I'm not risking it."

Death gave a noise of frustration and flopped backwards in annoyance.

"Quit being so stubborn! You're dead. That's it. Now move on. Your mother wasn't this difficult about it."

Raven perked up, looking at Death in shock. Death cursed as she pricked her finger with the scythe. She sucked on the injury, but it was healed before it reached her mouth.

"Where did she go?"

Death sighed. "I'm not supposed to say."

Raven stood… or thought she stood… and moved… somehow… over to Death.

"Tell me."

"Heaven."

"And Azar?"

Death sighed again, thinking about how to phrase it.

"It was difficult… very difficult… She wasn't evil, she wasn't good, she just was. So, due to her religious preference, she was reincarnated."

"What if… What if I did go to Heaven? Is it all just clouds and worshiping God, because I don't think I could stand that for all eternity."

Death shrugged. "I'm the bus, not the tour guide. I guess it depends on religious preference. Heaven, Nirvana, Summerland…" Raven shook her head.

"I want to go home… to the Tower." Death sighed, shaking her head.

"Nothing I can do I guess, but consult the council."

With that, Death struck the scythe against the "floor" that she seemed to be standing on and it made a clicking noise. With that clicking noise she vanished.

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The call came three days later. Raven was stable, but not conscious. Even so, the Titans all packed into the T-Car and went to visit her.

The blank white covers stretched to her shoulders, tucked in over her immobile body. Her hair was combed and neatly fell over the pillows. Her eyes were shut so gently that it was hard to imagine life behind the lids. Even her skin was paler than usual, giving her a remarkable resemblance to a corpse, painted pretty and laid to rest. The only sign of life was the gentle and subtle rise and fall of her chest under the bleached blankets, but even that was aided by the oxygen mask that covered her nose and mouth.

Her arms rested on top of the blankets, an IV in her arm. The monitors beeped slowly, steadily. Beast Boy slumped into a chair, staring at her motionless form blankly. Cyborg made a noise of interest, staring at the monitors in his arm.

"What is it?" Robin asked, looking over his shoulder.

"I compared the scan I ran while she was at the Tower to a scan I did just now… and I got some pretty strange results…"

"Strange like…" Robin asked, urging him to continue.

"Well, the scan from Raven at the Tower three days ago shows shattered shoulder and upper arm, approximately three cracked ribs, torn tissue on her forehead as well as torn tissue that went completely through her abdomen, meaning she was impaled as Beast Boy said. However, now the torn tissue does not even pierce any major organ and the shoulder and ribs have repaired completely with no scar tissue. It's like the wounds were never there. Or, at least, no to the extent that they were before. Even when she's healed before, she's left scar tissue. It's just… really odd, that's all. Even for Rae."

Starfire smiled upon hearing this. "But it is weird in a good way, yes? Our friend is healing wonderfully, yes?"

Cyborg nodded, unsure. Beast Boy touched her cheek running his fingers up and down the smooth curve of flesh.

"Hey, Rae. It's me. Beast Boy."

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"Guess what?" Raven spun around, coming face to face with Death, who was grinning.

"What?"

"You…" Death put a fingertip on Raven's chakra. "get to be a guardian!" Death clapped her hands together, holding the scythe in the crook of her arm.

"Guardian? Like, a guardian angel?"

Death blinked, then laughed.

"A guardian half-demon! Oh, this is my favorite case ever! You're going in the history books, honey. The first and most likely last half-demon guardian ever!"

Raven crossed her arms over her chest.

"Guardian to whom?"

Death shot Raven a 'are you serious?' look.

"Uh… Beast Boy? Duh."

Raven's arms dropped and she smiled. Finally, a part of being dead she didn't mind.

"So… now all you have to do is get there."

"What?"

"Ya know, get there. Teleport or something. I don't know. All I know is that this bus doesn't go in that direction. Sorry."

Raven nodded. Teleport. She could do that.

"Hey Rae. It's me, Beast Boy. I know you can hear me. Don't ask me how, but I just know. It's Monday, August 8th. It's been 3 days. I'm sorry I didn't visit you sooner. They wouldn't let me."

Raven looked up at Death, who was lounging in the air above her head.

"They who?" Death shrugged.

"What do you think I am? A God? I'm HERE, not there. I can only be at one place at a time."

Raven raised an eyebrow.

"Am I the only one who's died in 3 days?"

Death gave an amused laugh.

"Hell, no! This place has no time, so it really doesn't matter how long I spend with you. It's been 3 Earth days since you've died. Have you noticed? I don't think so! So go ahead, take your time. I'm enjoying a little vacation."

Raven took a deep breath and began to summon the strength to teleport.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos…"

She opened her eyes. Nothing. Death grinned, amused. Out of no where popped a bowl of popcorn. Raven glared up at Death when a kernel hit her head.

"You're not making this any easier."

Death laughed.

"Of course not. Why would I? This is going to be the best show I'm going to see for a few more centuries."

With a growl, Raven closed her eyes to try again.

"Hey, Rae. It's me again. It's the 10th. I'm sorry I didn't visit yesterday, but Plasmus was attacking downtown… well, you understand, right? Same old, same old. After Trigon and Hell and everything, Plasmus was a breeze. Crime fighting has gotten a lot easier. The doctors say you're healing pretty well. Please, wake up soon."

Raven stood, or tried to stand, and looked up at Death.

"They don't know?"

Death gave her a very frustrated glare.

"How am I supposed to know? Now are you leaving or not?"

"I'm trying!"

Raven crossed her legs and closed her eyes.

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos! Azarath Metrion Zinthos!"

Death rolled her eyes and sighed. The bowl of popcorn vanished and the kid landed by Raven.

"Look. Don't try so hard. You're a ghost now. Things have changed. It takes a lot more energy to manifest yourself somewhere. Try a different approach. A less… controlled… approach."

Raven sighed. What the Hell was she supposed to do?

"Hey, Rae. It's the 11th. The others say that we should get on with our lives, but I just can't, ya know? They don't know I'm here. I had to tell you. The doctors will call us if you improve. So, until hen, I'm only going to visit when I can sneak out, okay? I'm sorry, Rae. Please, wake up soon."

Raven tried to lay back like Death, but only succeeding in doing spiraling unstoppable somersaults. Cursing, she flapped her arms trying to stop tumbling through space.

"Hey, Rae. It's the 29th. The doctors say you're almost fully healed. That means you'll wake up soon, right? I thought about bringing you flowers, so when you woke up you'd see something nice, but then I thought that it would be too much like…"

Raven stopped spinning, but she felt like she was upside down. She tried to lean forward.

"Well… So I got you a balloon instead. I know, it's childish…"

Raven groaned in frustration.

"Why can't I do this?"

The room flickered from darkness to a bright room with voices… then back to black.

Less controlled method…

Emotional method.

"Hey, Rae. It's September 18th. I know you're not going to like this, but I figured that I'd tell you so that when you woke up, it wouldn't be a surprise…"

Raven closed her eyes, trying to feel all of her emotions. The frustration of being dead… for it was a major inconvenience, the fear of going to Hell, the love she felt for Beast Boy, the longing she felt for home, and the determination she had to get there…

"You see, about a week ago, the doorbell rang and, well…"

The darkness around her faded. She was going home.

((Well? 12 pages, this chapter. Be happy. Worth the wait? The whole Death thing wasn't stupid, was it? I promise she won't be a ghost for the rest of the fic. Just for a few more chapters. Okay? Review please!))