Alternate Ending – Chapter 3

-( - )-

Beast Boy walked up to the door and knocked nervously. "It's open" the voice responded. He punched the button and entered the dark room. Even though it was physically a different room the resemblance with the old one was remarkable. The same furniture was there and placed in the same positions. He was carrying a small suitcase, the kind one could take on board an airliner and stow in the overhead bin.

"Gar, you don't have to knock before coming in!" She admonished him. "This is your room too."

"Sorry, its gonna take some time, that's all." He said as he put his suitcase down on the floor. She welcomed him with a hug and a kiss.

"Hungry? Why don't we go out for dinner?" She could see that he was almost terrified being with her.

"Yeah, uh, that sounds great. There's a new place on the bay. I, uh, can call, yeah, call and make a reservation." He offered nervously.

Raven stroked his muscular arm. "If they're booked we can go somewhere else, I just want to spend some time with you."

He nodded and picked up the phone. Fortunately it was a slow night and he was able to make the reservation.

"We'd better get going, it's in 30 minutes."

Dinner was a quiet and awkward affair. It was as if they were meeting for the first time, two strangers trying to assess each other, only worse. They knew each other intimately, and at the same time they were strangers. They ate their meal quietly, not knowing what to say to each other. Soon they were on their way back to the Tower and ended up in the common room. Starfire, Terra and little Raven were there.

"Daddy!" the little green girl shouted as she ran to her father, who scooped her up and swung her around as she giggled.

"Sweet Pea, its way past your bed time!" He chided her, but with a smile on his face.

"She refused to go to sleep until you came home BB. I don't know how she did it, look at her, she's exhausted."

Terra was right, as little Raven had already laid her small head on Garfield's shoulder. Raven placed a hand on his arm. "Go ahead and tuck her in, Gar, it's obvious she's been missing you."

"Why don't you go with him Raven, she needs to get to know you too. She is your stepdaughter after all." Terra suggested. Raven nodded her head and followed her husband and stepdaughter out of the common room. After they were gone Starfire placed her hand on Terra's.

"When are you going to tell them, Terra? This is important news you have shared with me."

"I guess I have to, I can't hide it from him forever" she sighed "This is going to make things even more complicated."

The Princess nodded in agreement. "Yes, it will make things more difficult for him, but do not be despondent; your news is not bad, only its timing is unfortunate."

-( - )-

Raven and Beast Boy walked down the hallway to Terra's apartment. He punched in the code to unlock the door, which immediately slid open. Raven followed him inside, all the way to the bedroom in the back. The crib was set up next to the king sized bed, a bed that until today was Gar's bed, but had now become forbidden territory, under pain of death. They walked past the bed to the crib and Gar gently laid his daughter down for a night of peaceful slumber. Raven leaned over and caressed her blond head, followed by a gentle good night kiss on her cheek.

"You're very fond of her. Why?" he asked gently.

"How could I not love her? She's your baby. She's the closest I'll come to having a daughter of my own. Poor Starfire, she doesn't even have that."

Beast Boy drew her into a tender hug. "You're a good sport. A lot of women would have hated her if they were in your shoes."

Raven sighed. "Maybe. I guess we'd better get back to the common room. We don't want to wake her." She said as she gave little Raven a friendly pat on the behind.

"No diaper?"

"She's been potty trained for a month."

"You're a good father, Gar. I'm really proud of you." She told him as they walked back to the common room.

-( - )-

As they entered the common room they could see that Terra wasn crying while Starfire tried to console her. As soon as the Geomancer noticed they had entered she turned away, frantically trying to pull herself together.

"Terra! What's wrong?" he asked.

Terra could not stop sobbing. "I'm sorry BB, I really am. I was going to tell you soon. Had I known that things were about to change I would have told you before. Please believe me."

Raven placed a hand on Terra's shoulder. "It's OK Terra. Just tell us what is the matter."

Terra sobbed even harder and Starfire intervened. "Would you like me to tell them the news?" Terra nodded her consent.

Raven stepped back. "Oh no, you aren't ill Terra, are you?"

"No friends, Terra is perfectly healthy, at least physically."

"Then what's wrong?" Beast Boy asked.

"Garfield" Starfire addressed him. "You and Terra are going to have another baby."

-( - )-

Raven sat on the edge of her bed, still stunned from the news. She was wearing the Victoria's Secret nightgown Starfire had given her as a present years ago, which Garfield had long ago confessed to her was his favorite. The seductive piece of lingerie felt inappropriate to her now and she was about to get up and change into something more chaste as her husband emerged from the bathroom wearing some Lion King boxers.

"Lion King? I didn't know that you had a Simba complex." She joked.

He chuckled. "When little Rae was potty trained we bought her some new undies as a reward. She chose Lion King underwear at the store, and then insisted that Terra and I also needed Lion King underwear. But to be honest I really like what you're wearing. I see you haven't forgotten what I like."

"I'm sorry, I'll change."

"Time out! Where are you going? You don't have to change."

Raven walked over to the desk. Their marriage certificate was still unrolled and she picked it up and appeared to study it.

"You belong with them, Gar. You have a family, a real family. I can't take you from them, no matter how badly I want you. It would be wrong, the kind of thing my father would do, so I can't do that." She sighed before continuing "I want you to exercise the escape clause, and don't tell me you won't do it, because I'll run away and you'll never see me again. I promise you that."

"Are you sure Rae? Will you be OK?"

"I don't know if I'll be OK, but it has to be done."

"But what about you?"

"I'll still have you Gar; you'll always be my best friend, right?"

Garfield embraced his wife while sobbing quietly.

"Of course I will." He sniffled. "Ok, I'll do it, but not until tomorrow."

"No!" she interrupted. "We must do it now. I know what you're thinking. I'd also like one last night together, but it'll be best if we don't."

He could see the tears forming in her eyes. "As always, you're right. I'll always love you RaVe, I always will." He choked back. "I guess there's no point waiting. Let's get this over with."

"Yes" she said between faint sobs, "Let's get it over with."

They walked back to the desk where the certificate was still lying after Raven put it back down. She opened a book and placed it on the desk, pointing to the words Gar needed to say. He placed his palm on the certificate.

"I invoke my legal right to terminate this marriage on grounds of criminal behavior." he pronounced, his voice was trembling. As soon as he completed the invocation red words formed on the certificate. They simply said 'Marriage Terminated, effective November 7, 2009'. It was done. They sat on the bed and held each other, both crying.

"You'd better get going." She told him, while handing him the certificate. He embraced her one last time before walking out the door.

It had happened, she was alone again. It was her inevitable fate. She had no idea of what she was going to do now. Should she return to Azarath? She felt agitated and decided that some meditation was what she needed. After moving into the Lotus position and began to meditate. She repeated her mantra 1, 10, 100, 1000 times? She did not know. Inner peace was searched for, but it eluded her. She lost all track of time and only realized how long she had been struggling when the sun rose and lit up her room. Dejected she gave up and fell on her bed.

"You will always be alone with them, dear daughter. You will never find comfort in their company. You belong with me."

"Go away! Return to Hell where you belong." She snarled.

"I am in Hell, dear Raven. I cannot escape."

"Then leave me alone."

"Yes, alone. That is your curse, isn't it Raven, to always be alone. You tried to be like them, and look where it got you. He slept in her bed last night, didn't he? How many more children will he father with her?"

"SHUT UP!" she screamed.

"Come home to me Raven. It's where you belong. I promise you will never be alone. I will even find you a suitable mate."

"A suitable mate? Like who? Hitler? Slade? Jack the Ripper? Get real!"

"It will be easier once you accept your true nature, and it will come to pass my daughter, it will, for it is inevitable. And if it happens while you reside in the land of mortals you will destroy them, all of them, including your lover and his children."

"That's a lie, it will never happen. And he's not my lover anymore. He belongs to Terra now, I gave him to her."

"Oh yes, my noble daughter gave her husband away. So selfless. Mark my words; you will commit adultery with him before the month is over and it will be the best sex you will have ever enjoyed."

"I would never do that! Now leave me alone!" she HISSED between clenched teeth.

"As you wish my daughter, but remember you cannot escape who you are."

And with that Trigon's voice was gone. Raven was panting and her heart was racing.

He can't be right, he can't be.