Here's the deal. This may very well be the end of my story. I'm sorry to those of you who crave more. However, this is not for certain.

For anyone who wants to know what my story is going to be about, I've got it posted on my homepage, so check it out!

Also, anyone who's given a review up to chapter six, check under reviews; there may be a reply for you there.

Finally, in this chapter, the Titans are going to church. I'm Methodist, so if anything does not go as your day goes in church, it is because this is the only church I've ever really attended, and I've been going since I was nine or ten. Virtually speaking, I am young yet in my faith, though I have a stronger faith than some kids I know that have been to church their entire lives.

God bless and let's begin!


Chapter Seven: Bread and Wine

The Teen Titans were all milling around the Tower on a bright Sunday morning shortly after Raven's 'surprise party'. None of them had yet seen Starfire or Raven, but no one was worried yet; it was only nine-thirty five. Robin was reading a newspaper he had gotten and Cyborg was trying his hardest to keep Beast Boy and his 'tofu garbage' away from the kitchen long enough to make his own breakfast.

Suddenly, the door opened and all three boys looked up and saw both Raven and Starfire wearing dresses. Raven's was deep navy blue and reached her knees with sleeves that touched the wrists, while Starfire's was a light pink color and came half way down her shins. Both girls were wearing nice shoes with short heels. The boys were shocked because, for one thing, they didn't know Raven owned anything with a skirt on it and, secondly, they didn't know why either of the two would be so dressed up in the first place.

"Err… why is Raven in a dress?" Beast Boy asked Cyborg in a half-whisper. Trust him to point out the obvious.

"Because I'm taking Starfire to church with me. She wanted to go, and I decided that going every once in a while would be good for all of us." Her voice held her old hints of annoyance and anger. "Anyone who wants to go with us is allowed to come has to be ready in one hour so we can get there in time to find seats. Today should be, if I'm not mistaken, Communion Sunday, and you will not be there if you're going to take up space while others are trying get to the front." She was obviously agitated at the fact that she was dressed like a girl going to church, so no one spoke back to her, not even Beast Boy.

The girls walked into the kitchen and, carefully as to not ruin their clothes, ate breakfast. Robin left the counter after about ten more minutes of staring at the paper without a word. No one knew what he had gone off for, but no one really cared. Cyborg and Beast Boy had to have a long controversial discussion over whether or not they should join the girls. Finally, they decided that both would go, and Beast Boy had to both be quiet and dress appropriately. He also had to sing. To this Beast Boy agreed because he really didn't think he wanted to stay home alone.

At ten- thirty, everyone was ready to go to church. Both boys that wore clothes (which obviously did not include Cyborg) were in nice clothes, though not quite as nice as you may dress when going to a wedding. Beast Boy looked just as discomforted as any would expect him to be, but no one else complained, not even Raven, despite the fact that she desperately wanted to.

They left in Cyborg's car, which got them all to the building Raven specified safely and all in one piece. No one seemed to know quite how to expect their reception to be since it wasn't every day the Teen Titans waltzed into a church. They all piled out, and then they turned to the greeter, who stood with the door propped open. He was smiling at them, though slightly nervously, as Raven noted. He didn't know what to expect either. Well, here goes something.

The Titans all managed to pile into one pew, and Raven began flipping through the Directory, which the greeter had handed to her as she passed through the doors. There were announcements on the inside and a schedule of events on the back. The church's symbol was on the front (for those of you who attend church, imagine your church symbol, but since I'm Methodist, I only know my church's symbol).

The Choir stood and began to sing a hymn, but Raven didn't know the song. Once the service began, she'd be able to use the Hymnal, which lay on the back of the pew before her. For now, she simply enjoyed the sound of the high voices of the women corresponding sweetly with the lower tones of the men. When they finished, everyone clapped, even the boys, who did not particularly listen to any such music.

The pastor rose from his seat (once again, I'm speaking from the view of a Methodist, so if your church does not use this term, change it appropriately to 'Reverend' or whatever it is you say). He began to give the greeting, and then moved to announcements. He pointed out a church youth group procession taking place soon, then went on to tell about a picnic in June. He spoke loudly and clearly, and even the Titans, sitting in the far back, heard every word.

Finally, they stood to sing. May as well get it over with now, Raven, she thought to herself as she rose, they're going to hear you sing and you're going to have to live with it.

Everyone looked surprised to see her sing. She, Raven, who was so reclusive and walled herself within her room for hours or even days on end, was singing. More than that, she was singing well, with an angelic tone to her voice and matching each pitch with the Choir. For a moment, they merely stood there, mouths agape. Finally, though, they each woke themselves enough to sing along.

The singing done with, Cyborg, who was sitting next to Raven, turned to comment on her singing. The moment he opened his mouth, however, she pressed her finger to her lips and pointed toward the pastor, who was beginning prayer. Nodding his acknowledgement, he, too, bowed his head and folded his hands. It took Beast Boy a moment longer to catch on, but followed suit when the pastor began to pray.

During the entire sermon, Beast Boy could be seen fidgeting or twiddling his thumbs. He was not very good at staying still for very long, and so he tried to contain the anxiety it provided him with. He did make it through the sermon in one piece.

At last, it was time for the Communion, and the rows of people began rising and walking forward, looking to receiving theirs. "You don't need to be a perfect Christian, you just need to love Jesus to take the Communion," he had said. Raven knew that she was going, but, despite her threats, would her friends stay here? She knew that Starfire would not, and most likely not Robin, but what of Cyborg and Beast Boy? She dared not question.

She was relieved, however, to find that when Robin (who sat on the end) got up to let the others through, Starfire rose, and after Raven had gone through to the isle, she saw the other two stand and follow. But were they only doing this for fear of what Raven would do to them otherwise? She hoped not. Why did she have to be so scornful?

When she got to the front, she stood before everyone and got down to kneel at the alter (that's the term, once again, at my beloved church). She waited patiently for the bread and cup to come around, and saw her friends come kneel beside her to do the same. When the cup and bread came, she heard the words said softly to her "Body of Christ, broken for you," then "Blood of Christ, shed for you." She took them both, then took a moment longer to pray. She prayed about everything, from her friends, to the villains she fought regularly, to the people she had to protect whom she didn't even know.

And when it was all over, she felt a weight taken from her shoulders. She, Raven truly felt free.