Back at Titans Tower …

Distant thunder rumbled over gray skies as a small group gathered next to a grave and casket. A light drizzle was falling, and a tarp made of Raven's obsidian light shielded those gathered from the elements.

Raven stared stoically at the casket while holding Gar's hand. She was dressed in her winter costume while Gar wore a dark blue suit, the only one he owned. Robin, having been raised in Wayne Manor, had more than one suit and thus had a proper black suit for a funeral. Starfire's civilian wardrobe was vast, but it leaned towards the bright and cheerful in color. That morning she had flown out to the mall and purchased a black dress that was fit for mourning at a funeral. Cyborg was also wearing the only suit he owned, a light gray suit with pinstripes.

Robin had never told his crew that he had set aside the east lawn as a graveyard. He knew that it might someday be necessary, given the inherent danger in their profession, though he hoped and prayed that it would always be empty. When Terra was turned into stone he briefly considered bringing her back to the Tower, but brushed that thought away as she already had a natural grave in the huge cavern. Not to mention that the figure with the extended arms wasn't her statue but her fossilized remains. It would have been unsettling, if not outright creepy, to have her remains standing in the middle of the lawn.

Robin didn't know much about Gayla, other than she was Raven's nursemaid, at least until the demoness turned 10 years of age. Gayla still attended to Raven's needs after that, while starting to treat the precocious child as an adult. Raven eventually took over all of Gayla's responsibilities, except for preparing meals. Gayla often teased Raven about being able to burn water. Raven's reply would invariably be that Gayla needed something to do. It was one morning shortly after Raven turned fourteem, as she brought Raven her usual breakfast of porridge and tea, that she discovered that the girl had left Azarath, the night before, taking only one item with her: her book of Azar.

She ran to main house in the monastery, pushing monks and nuns aside as she frantically searched for Azar or Arella. She found them together in a meditation room.

Azar was a very old woman, short and bent over. Arella was younger and still in the flower of her beauty. Both wore blue cassocks and were startled from their meditation as Gayla burst into the room. Azar didn't even turn around to face her as she spoke:

"She has left, hasn't she?" Azar spoke.

"She has." Gayla replied as caught hr breath. "I a so sorry, I should have watched her more closely. She didn't give me any sign that she was going to leave."

Arella turned around. She had a sad look on her face. "She has gone to Earth."

"But that means the prophesy will be fulfilled." Gayla whimpered. "But why did she go? She knows of the prophesy."

"Maybe it isn't a true prophesy. Maybe the vision was false, maybe … it was from Trigon." Azar replied.

"Shouldn't we go find her and bring her back?"

Azar shook her head. "We cannot, it is all in Raven's hands now. And we have another problem … Trigon will come to Azarath first, to seek his revenge against us. At least Raven will be safe on Earth."

"Unless she chooses to become the Gem." Arella added in a sad tone. "We have no idea what kind of power Trigon has over her."

Azar bowed her head. "If that comes to pass, then all hope will be lost."

Back in the present …

Arella officiated the funeral. She was dressed as a priestess of Azarath, wearing a diaphanous robe, which was embroidered in gold and silver and had mysterious runes stitched all over it, over a white cassock. Raven seemed to be in a daze, tuning everything out, until she heard her name called.

"Raven, would you like to say some words?" Her mother asked.

She snapped out of her funk. "Yes … of course." She replied.

Arella was standing next to the casket and Raven joined her. Arella still towered over her petite daughter, who looked completely lost. Arella placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's OK if words fail you now."

"No … I will speak."

Raven looked up. Even though only the Titans were present, she felt as if many others were present as well. Gayla was a long time member of the monastery.

"Gayla raised me, and being that you all know who and what I am, that was no easy task. I was a frightful child, full of scary powers. I had a temper, quick to anger and was impatient with others, in other words I was me, but a lot worse. Yet Gayla never let that push her back. She was kind, patient and loving. All she thought about was my well being. She taught me to be patient. She never repaid my bad actions with anger. She helped me grow. If not for her, I would be a monster, reigning at my father's side."

Raven paused and stared at the casket.

"She taught me … how … to … love." She said between sobs.

Raven began to bawl and she wrapped her arms around the casket.

"I'm sorry I was too late." She gasped between choked back sobs. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

Gar rose from his chair and walked up to Raven. He gently grabbed her shoulders, pulled her towards him and wrapped his arms around her. She reciprocated and buried her face in his shoulder and she continued to cry.

Later that day …

Raven, still dressed in her gala costume, stared out the common room windows. It was raining even harder now and Gayla's grave looked very lonely in the vast lawn. As she continued to stare she heard his voice.

"Hungry? You haven't eaten anything all day." She turned and saw that Gar had a plate of lasagna in his hands. "It's chrome dome's three meat lasagna."

"I don't have any appetite."

"I know, but you need to eat something. The last thing you ate was one of those protein bars yesterday back in monster land."

She nodded as she accepted the plate and a fork from him. "Thanks." She whispered as she took a bite. He joined her in her silent vigil staring out the window, and before she knew it her plate was empty.

"I guess I was hungry."

"Want more?"

"I'm OK, thanks." She replied as she put the plate down on a table. She then took his hand.

"Thanks for coming with me on my crazy boondoggle."

"It wasn't crazy. We went to save your mom and we did."

"We almost got killed."

He shrugged. "What's new?"

"Had I gone alone, I would either be Asmodeus' concubine, or be dead, probably both given enough time."

"Well, I'm glad I came."

They both heard footsteps behind them. They turned and saw that it was Arella. Raven embraced her. Arella did the same and smiled.

"I haven't thanked you, both of you, for coming to rescue me."

She looked at the changeling and smiled.

"I often hoped and prayed that the right man would turn up for my daughter, a man who understands how special and wonderful she is. And a handsome one too."

Gar blushed at the compliment and stared at the floor. "Uh, thanks."

She then turned to her daughter. "Raven, did you know that you have relatives here on Earth? They are somewhat removed as I never had siblings."

"I figured that I did, but I have no idea who they might be and have never thought of looking for them."

"Would you like to meet them?"

Raven slowly shook her head. "I already have a family, and they are all in this room."

Arella looked at Robin, Starfire and Cyborg, who were seated at the table, eating lasagna.

"I understand. Question: why does the girl put mustard on her lasagna?"

"She puts mustard on everything … uh, ma'am, I have a question."

"Just call me Arella. I am your mother in law after all."

"Yeah, about that, are Rave and I, you know, really married. I mean we didn't have a ceremony or anything."

Arella smiled at him. "You are. You exchanged betrothal vows and you consummated. By the laws of Azarath you are married."

"But … are we married here in Jump?"

"I think you are. Does it matter?"

"It might matter to them." He said as he nodded to his friends.

"Then let's go ask them." Arella replied as she walked to the table.

Raven grabbed her mother's hand and stopped her. "Azarath law is good enough for me."

"Are you sure, daughter?"

"Positive. If we ask them Starfire will organize a monstrosity of a wedding. I don't want or need that. Plus, I'm not sure we can."

"What do you mean?" The changeling asked,

"Gar, do you have a birth certificate?"

"Yeah, I do. Why?"

"Because I don't. I don't have any papers. My Titans ID card is my only form of identification. Technically, I'm an illegal alien, and I can only cross borders because everyone is too afraid to ask me for my passport, which is fortunate as I don't have one. Gar, if we go to city hall to get a marriage license, they're going to want to see a birth certificate, and as I already mentioned, I don't have one."

Gar looked perplexed at first, until he spoke. "In that case, an Azarathian marriage works for me."

-(-)-

Time passed. While Arella officially moved into the Tower, she also spent time traveling and reconnecting with relatives. Raven and Gar officially announced that they had married under Azarathian law. Starfire was disappointed that there wouldn't be a wedding, and she would periodically ask Raven if she could organize an informal ceremony. Raven would always politely turn down her offer.

Two years later they were having dinner. Arella was in the Tower and joined them for the evening meal. It had been a busy day, as they were called to deal with several robberies and heists, and they were glad to be home.

On their way home, Cyborg drove the T-Car past a bridal store. Starfire was sitting in the front seat and she saw the store, with its many bridal gowns in the window. This of course meant one thing.

As they ate their dinner and bantered, the princess once again brought up the issue of the missing ceremony, Raven sighed, then looked at her husband. He smiled and nodded at her.

"Starfire, for the last time, we don't need or want a ceremony. Why do you keep asking?"

Starfire became crestfallen. "We only want to share in the joy of your marriage."

Raven sighed. "Starfire, we do that every day."

"But it is not the same."

"OK, so you want me to say something that will make you deliriously happy?"

She suddenly perked up. "Oh, yes, yes, very much so!"

"And if I can make you happy, happier beyond reason, will you promise to never ask me again about a ceremony?"

"So, you are not going to agree to a ceremony?"

"I didn't say that."

"Raven, I do not understand. What will make me happier than organizing your wedding?"

"Maybe Nightwing could finally propose to you … ow … Rave, what was that elbow for? That hurt!"

Raven ignored his complaint and stared at the princess. "So, do we have a deal?"

Starfire looked at her boyfriend, who suddenly looked mortified. She smiled before looking back at Raven,

"I agree to your deal. You may now proceed to make me happy."

Raven glanced at Dick, who had a "why are you doing this to me?" look on his face. She looked back at Starfire and said in her flattest monotone.

"I'm pregnant."

THE END