The autumn leaves rustled in the wind, moving down the street. Eddies formed in some places and the leaves became miniature twisters, which quickly dissolved, scattering their leaves. A lone figure, up the street had been attempting, in vain, to rake the leaves in his windy yard, and quickly gave up, heading back into his garage. The door slid shut behind him and the street was empty, except for a mysterious figure that was hiding behind a hedge, watching the lone man.

After a few minutes the figure quickly moved up the street, approaching the house in question. It moved like a shadow, for that is all that could be seen as it stealthily glided up the street, from hiding place to hiding place, checking to make sure no one in any of the houses had seen it. Finally, it reached the intended house, and once again hid behind a well trimmed hedge, concealing itself with perfection.

It didn't have to wait long. Within minutes a green SUV pulled up on the driveway. Its doors opened and a shapely woman with dark hair got out. Two children, perhaps nine and eleven years of age also emerged, one blond, one dark haired. The hidden figure could see that the woman was their mother, but they also bore a resemblance to the father, who the shadowy figure knew quite well.

The figure could see the mailbox from her hiding place. It had the name "Logan" stenciled on it.

Raven watched them enter the house and sighed.

-(-)-

14 years ago …

Raven walked into the common room. Nightwing was sitting at the table, reading a mission update on a tablet.

"Any news?" She asked.

Grayson smiled at her. "Your boy toy should be coming home today."

She frowned. "How is it you know this before I do?"

"Bumblebee just sent me an update."

"About time. We haven't heard a peep from any of them in weeks. So how did the mission go?"

Grayson sighed. "They were unsuccessful. But they came close; Gar and one of the new Titans East members did sneak in to the Brotherhoods base. But by the time they infiltrated, the Brotherhood was gone."

Raven's frown became more pronounced. "New team member? You mean Solstice, Kiran Singh?"

"Uh … yeah, her."

"So Karen sent him on a mission with the nudist?"

Grayson smiled. "She isn't a nudist."

"She doesn't wear any clothes."

"Does your soul self wear any clothes?"

"My soul self is not my body. She might look like a soul self, but she has a physical and very female body."

Nightwing gave Raven an odd look. "What are you trying to say?"

She glared at him. "How would you like it if Starfire was paired up on a multiday solo mission with a male equivalent of Solstice, with his male parts hanging out in the open?"

Dick paused before replying. "I would trust Star."

Raven snorted. "You know that Tamaranians are promiscuous hedonists.

He frowned at her. "Yes they are, but Star has already vowed to me that will never happen. She is my fiancée and I trust her. You should trust yours."

-(-)-

Raven pulled out a small pair of binoculars from her belt, and peered through a window. She could see Gar welcoming his family home. First he hugged his children, who did not inherit his powers or complexion; he then gave the woman a passionate kiss. Raven lowered her binoculars and looked away.

"How could I have been so stupid?"

-(-)-

Raven was unusually cool when Beast Boy returned from his mission. He of course asked her if anything was wrong, and she curtly denied that anything was wrong. He knew his fiancée could be moody at times and shrugged it off. At dinner he recounted how he and Solstice had been chosen for the infiltration because of their abilities. Unfortunately it was hard to sneak into the Brotherhood's secret base and by the time they did, the Brotherhood of Evil was long gone.

"We did our best, but got there too late."

Grayson nodded his understanding. "We'll get them next time."

Cyborg wagged his single human eyebrow at the changeling.

"So, B, what was it like being with the Naked Titan?"

Gar rolled his eyes.

"Really, dude? She looks like a silhouette with eyes."

"But she is naked. It's not like she wears spandex."

"Duh, because it would interfere with her powers."

Cyborg chuckled. Starfire glared at him, but he took no notice. It was too easy to make the grass stain squirm.

"So, you were cool with having a naked girl with you?"

Gar sighed. "Dude, it's not like that. Ask Bumblebee or any of the guys."

"Oh. Come on, how can you not notice?"

"ENOUGH!" Raven bellowed.

"Oh, come on, Raven, I'm just teasing B. You don't really think B would mess around with her?"

"You're an idiot!" She snarled before sinking into the floor.

Gar gave Cyborg a nasty glare. "Gee, thanks, Chrome Dome. She's gonna be upset for days, and I'm gonna have to deal with it." He said as he got up and left the room.

-(-)-

Raven continued to spy on Gar's family. Many years ago the changeling had suffered a serious injury which left him with a slight limp. In the big picture it wasn't a big deal, but he was no longer fit to be a super hero and he left the Titans … alone. Raven did not leave with him because she called off the engagement.

Mrs. Logan was preparing what looked like some vegetarian fare in the kitchen. So, in addition to being shapely and bearing two children for him, she could cook a vegetarian dinner from scratch.

"That's more than I ever did for him." She mumbled to herself.

-(-)-

It took Raven a little longer than usual, but she eventually appeared to have gotten over Gar's mission with Kiran. Their wedding day was a few months away and she grudgingly accepted Starfire's offer to help her plan for it. During one of those planning sessions, where they were choosing a wedding cake, the princess cleared her throat.

"Raven, you do know that friend Garfield would never cheat on you?"

Raven, who was flipping through the pages of cake book, nodded subtly.

"Raven, I have done the investigating. The Solstice, she has a boyfriend, the new Kid Flash, Bart Allen."

She looked up from the book. "She does? Wow, he must really trust her."

"He does, and so too should you trust Beast Boy."

Raven chuckled. "I've been telling him to pick a new hero name. He isn't a boy anymore."

"No, he is not … oh, look, I like that cake."

"The cupcake tree? I guess it is different from the stereotypical tiered cake."

"It is … Raven, fiancé Nightwing has told me that Titans East will be visiting tomorrow."

Raven stopped flipping through the pages. She didn't look happy. "Will she be coming?"

"I believe so. Richard says that we will have another mission against the Brotherhood of Evil."

"My favorite villains, always dangerous and psychotic. I can't wait."

-(-)-

Raven watched as the Logans ate their dinner. She had an audio spying device, which she pulled out of her belt. It was laser based and would pick up window vibrations to eavesdrop on people. She aimed it at the window, but stopped and put it away. She wouldn't do that to him. Not after everything else she had already done.

-(-)-

Titans East arrived on schedule, in their now expanded T-Ship which could seat seven. Raven was late and entered the hangar after they had landed and disembarked. Raven saw the original five were gathered around Nightwing and Starfire, who were greeting them.

She next saw Gar, who was chatting with Bart Allen. She then saw Cyborg, who was sporting a huge grin as he chatted with someone, and that someone turned out to be Solstice.

Raven gasped as she took a good look at her. You could see EVERYTHING. She quickly turned away and joined Gar. Eventually Nightwing also greeted Bart and Kiran. His face did not betray that he was shaking hands with a woman who was completely nude. Raven greeted her last and quickly retreated, not wanting to engage in chit chat with Titans East's Lady Godiva.

The confab began shortly. Raven found herself sitting across from Kiran. Strategy and tactics were discussed and the combined team members were assigned their duties. To her dismay, Gar was paired up with Kiran again. After the meeting ended, she approached Bumblebee and Nightwing. Grayson gave Karen a quick look and she subtly nodded. Before Raven could speak, Bumblebee did.

"OK, girl, I know you have issues with Kiran, but she's not like that."

"I don't care; I want to be Gar's partner in the mission."

Dick shook his head. "Sorry, Raven, but they are the right pair for the job. It increases the odds they'll survive it."

"If it's that dangerous, then it should be me."

"Sorry, girl, no. You're gonna have to trust him, OK. Plus she has a boyfriend. She isn't gonna mess around with BB. She's professional, plus let's face it, there won't be any time for messing around."

"I don't like him being alone with her." Raven seethed.

"I know you don't. You need to put on your big girl pants and get over your insecurities, OK?"

Raven looked up at Nightwing. He shrugged almost imperceptibly and said "You have to trust him. And if you want him to come back to you in one piece, then Solstice is his partner. I'm sorry. Look, even Bart is OK with BB being with her. If he can trust her, then you can trust Gar.

-(-)-

Raven continued to hide behind the hedge. They were cleaning up after dinner now. Gar's wife, she looked so happy at his side. And so beautiful. She sighed. Perhaps everything turned out the way it did for a reason. A gust of cold wind blew. Raven shivered and wrapped her cape around herself.

-(-)-

This mission also failed and once again the Brotherhood escaped, though this time Gar and Kiran actually saw them get away. So close and yet so far. Titans East went home and Raven spent countless hours meditating, trying to process everything she was feeling. Gar thought she was distant for a few days, but he knew the drill, she would get over it. But something unexpected happened that afternoon: Bart Allen showed up was irate and after storming into the Tower he found Beast Boy, who was in the common room with the others.

"You, this is all your fault!" He screamed as he pointed at the changeling.

"Dude, what are you talking about?"

"Don't act like you don't know. Kiran just broke up with me."

Gar looked stunned. "Whoa! What happened? Did she say why?"

Bart was nearly apoplectic. "No, but she didn't have to. It was you!"

"Me?"

"Yes, you. Don't deny it. I've seen the way she looks at you. And the way you look at her."

"I did not mess around with her!"

"Oh, really? Is that why she broke up with me after the mission?"

"Dude, I have no idea of what you're talking about. Look, Kiran never talked about you during the mission, so I don't know what's going on."

"Sure, you don't. I heard that Raven wanted to be your partner; but you said you'd rather be with Kiran. You can't take your eyes of her!"

Gar was almost red with ire. "Look, it's not my fault your girlfriend has to be naked to use her powers. It's not a big deal, when I morph into animals, I'm also naked. But I did not lay a finger on her or talk with her about anything other than the mission."

"You're a damned liar. All she does is talk about you."

"Again, not my fault. Can I help it if she finds me attractive?"

Raven sank into the floor and vanished.

"Great, now you've upset Raven. Way to go, Bart."

Nightwing intervened. "Bart, it's time for you to leave."

-(-)-

The memories had always been painful. The mistakes mocked her relentlessly. She hadn't seen him since he left the Titans. It felt both like a lifetime ago and at the same time she could remember it as if were yesterday.

-(-)-

Gar ran to Raven's room. To his surprise her door was open and he looked in. She was levitating in the Lotus position, humming her mantra. To most her voice would have sounded flat and devoid of emotion; but Gar could hear the most minute amount of stress. He entered.

"Raven?"

She stopped reciting and lowered her legs to the floor.

"Are you OK, Rave?"

She looked forlorn and she slouched. "I don't know."

"Oh, come on. I don't know what Bart's problem is … you believe me, right?"

She hesitated before answering. "I'm not sure what to believe any more."

"What? Are you serious? Look, for all we know she's been planning on dumping him for months. You know I had absolutely nothing to do with that."

She made eye contact with him. "Were you tempted?"

He heaved an exasperated sigh. "Ok, I'll admit, it was weird being with her. Her pheromones are insane. And yeah, it didn't help that she's naked. But I didn't do anything! Why won't you believe me?"

Tears were streaming down her cheeks. "I did ask you if we could wait until we're married."

"And I happily agreed. Raven, do you think that us being chaste would make me cheat on you, and with a fellow Titan who's attached to someone else?"

"I'm not sure … Gar … I would like to go into your mind."

He staggered backward, unable to conceal the shock on his face.

"You don't trust me."

"Just this one time, I promise I won't ever ask again."

He slowly shook his head.

"No … the next time you have doubts, you'll want to rifle through my memories again. Sorry, Raven, either you trust me … or you don't."

"Gar, I need this reassurance, just this one time, I promise."

"My answer is still no."

Raven sighed sorrowfully. "Then you leave me no choice, I'm breaking off our engagement."

She could see him fighting back the tears, and when it looked like he could no longer do so he turned and quickly left her room. Raven resumed levitating.

"Azarath, Metrion, Zinthos …"

Two months later Beast Boy had his career ending injury. After recovering he had a heart to heart with Nightwing, and both agreed it was time for him to retire. After packing his room into boxes to be shipped to Dayton Manor, he went to Raven's room. He knocked the door. It slid open.

"Come in." she called out.

He entered; but remained silent.

"You're ready to leave?"

He nodded.

"Raven, come with me."

"I will, after you let me see your memories."

A tear welled in his left eye and slowly dripped down his face.

"I'll always love you, Raven … goodbye, and have a good life."

-(-)-

And that was the last time she saw him, until now.

She peered through her binoculars and saw that the kitchen was clean and unoccupied. Then, for reasons she didn't understand, she came out of her hiding spot and walked to the front door. The temperature had fallen and it was beginning to snow, though she was oblivious to that fact. When she reached the door she rang the bell.

Gar's wife, Adriana, opened the door. Raven's teeth were chattering from the cold. Though she had never met her before, she immediately recognized Raven.

"You're freezing! Come in." After bringing Raven into the house she turned around and shouted. "Gar, could you please come to the front door?"

Gar's eyes widened as he arrived.

"Raven?" He said in near whisper.

She made eye contact with him.

"Gar, I'm so sorry. Please forgive me."

The End?

-(-)-

For those who aren't familiar with Solstice she is a Teen Titan. Originally she looked normal and actually wore clothes. But a villain group known as N.O.W.H.E.R.E. altered her physique, which Wikipedia describes as "a black, smokey appearance with light shining through various cracks and openings", and while I am not certain, she doesn't appear to wear anything.