Authors Note: Hello! I'm back! I'm very sorry for not reviewing during my trip to Nottingham but it was unavoidable, however as I promised I didn't stop writing. In fact this is all I've written in the past seven days, yes I know I'm slow. I just spent all yesterday typing it up so I hope every one enjoys. By the way it starts to get a bit sappy... I'm very sorry it was unaviodable! As a result I am not as sure of the characters staying IC...

Once more a big thank you to all my reviewers. I love all types of flattery, most criticism and some blackmail/threats (yes that does mean you Bunnysquirrel) Thank you everyone!

saucywench20 - Glad you like it!

Silver Goddess1 - Thank you, it's nice to know I'm doing ok,

sillymail - Nottingham, and yes I did,

whitedarkness - Wish granted!

Firedoll22 - I know! Slade is very cool!

Chaos Tears - Well if you're feeling then I'm doing my job. Please... read on,

NumbuhZero - Of course your majesty!

Lily of the Shadow - Wow... thank you! For a cartoon Teen Titans isn't that bad, you should definately read some more...

DragonStar - Don't worry, I NEVER start something I don't intend to finish. Glad you're coming back for more.

LM22102 - Thank you very much! They're my two favourite characters and I've always thought understanding was more important than romance...

cheeseshirt - I have Chapter 6 to cheer you up! Don't worry, eventually school goes away (although I did just spend a week at a university...) Can't say the same about work though...

raven809 - Possibly... I'll see how it goes,

Bunnysquirrel - eep! ... Oh well (pulls out knife and fork) I like chickens!

mysti-eyed - It was sweet of him... updating now!

evilsangle - ok? I think we're forgetting to breathe again... (slaps evilsangle) Pull yourself together! Now... the next chapter is up for all good boys and girls...

Infamous One - Well I'm back! And so is Chapter 6. I've always thought bad guys should keep their word (makes threats worse) and I'm very pleased you're enjoying this... alas we are coming to an end soon...

Cherry Jade - Well I've never seen Robin as the understanding type (at least not till after he's blown off some steam)... you'll just have to read on for his reaction!

Dazzler420 - I know exactly what you mean! ... Don't worry, all of my reviewers make a huge contribution to both my sanity and the story!

ShadowVixen - You like making me blush! ... Thank you!

Bogbrush - Please read on...

RavenOfAzarath - Then I'm really happy. I love writing... and compliments!

Anukis-san - Thank you! It's always a relief to hear characters are IC! I hate stories were they're out, and I'm really glad yo like this!

xdire.vixenx - Ah patience is a virtue... Sorry for the wait but it's finally here!

Ralf Jones - Doing so now. Thank you!

lil runt - The couple is oddly addicting... Who doesn't like being told they kick ass-paragus! By the way... you've been reading a bit too much Shakespear! So... please read on... most will be revealed... (Nottingham was great thanks)

Setsuna Mudo (Ch2) - Thank you! I promise I will update to the end,

Setsuna Mudo (Ch3) - Computers are evil incarnate! I'm glad you like Slades origins, I was kinda dreading the comic book fans threatening to beat me up for butchering DeathStrokes history... hasn't happened yet! Yes the age difference... I was just a bit uncomfortable with Slade being mid-30's to 40's and Rae only 14... the wonders of fanfic!

Setsuna Mudo (Ch4) - Again thank you! I'm so glad I'm improving! Yes, I've been told I'm too critical of my writing, but if I wasn't it wouldn't be as good!

Setsuna Mudo (Ch5) - Slade had to keep his promise! Although I do feel sorry for Robin... oh well! By the way I really appreciate how you reviewed for Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5 instead of just 5. It was very thoughtful of you, thanks!

kinokokichigai - Absolutely!

Cruel and Usual - Thank you! Sorry for the wait but I couldn't help it... anyway Chapter 6 is here!

Disclaimer: I have just heard back from my lawyers who have confirmed that I don't own the Teen Titans... and gave me the phone numbers of several psychologists! Nice guys...

Raven sat on the edge of her bed, thinking about the events of the past few weeks. Had she been wrong? All she wanted was for someone to understand her… and Slade had. She'd enjoyed his company, their games, their talks… and she knew he felt the same. He'd even kept his promise when it was very dangerous for him to do so…

Raven sighed, she would wait for Robin. Hopefully they'd talk…

Raven interrupted her train of thought as the Titans alarm went off. She hesitated for a moment, what if he didn't want her there? She nodded as she felt his presence enter the living room. She knew her duty, whether he'd let her carry it out was his choice, not hers. She phased to the living room in time to see Robin hunch over the computer screen.

"It's Rancid… looks like he has a new pet," Robin turned to look at the assembled team, all awaiting his order. "Raven I want you to sit this one out."

The other threes expressions were pure horror as Raven tensed slightly

"As you wish Robin." Raven turned to the rest of the team, "Don't get hurt." Her friends could only stare as the two most powerful Titans walked off in opposite directions, reluctantly turning to follow their leader out the door.

Cyborg and Beast Boy hung back slightly.

"What was that about?"

Cyborg shook his head in confusion. "Maybe… those two had a fight?"

"Azarath Metrion Zinthos. Azarath…"

'How DARE he?'

"Metrion Zinthos. Azarath…"

'He just dismissed her? HER?'

"Metion Zinthos…"

'The arrogant, ignorant…'

"Azarath…"

'self-absorbed…'

"Metrion…"

'little…'

"Zinthos…" Raven sighed as she dropped from her meditative pose and onto her bed. For one of the few times in her life, trying to stay calm was not helping and thinking about the situation was definitely NOT helping… no matter how accurate her observations about her team mate were…

Raven took another deep breath. Trying to push out her anger with her exhale in a very simple meditation technique. She tried to remember past solutions to controlling her anger… and came up blank. The only other times her meditation had failed was back on Azarath when there had been a dozen priests at hand to calm her down. She shivered as she remembered some of the spells they had used…

Of course lately she hadn't needed to meditate as much. Raven smiled slightly as her powers brought a black orchid to her hand. He'd helped her more than he could realise… maybe she should talk to him now… he had offered her sanctuary…

Raven didn't allow herself to think about her decision as she opened a portal in front of her and walked through…

Her room seemed to shrink slightly as she left it, becoming less forbidding yet less alive. In the empty darkness a single flower fell to the ground as the books whispered for one last time, their magic gone with the sorceress they belonged to…

Slade didn't turn as another entered the perfectly white room, seemingly identical to one he'd been trapped in for over seventeen hours. Neither acknowledged the others existence as the newcomer walked to the centre of the room and picked up an object with an elegant grey hand.

"I didn't believe you'd come,"

Over the top of her cup the amethyst-eyed sorceress smiled slightly. "And yet my tea is hot,"

Before he turned to face her, Slade knew his own smile matched hers with a perfect mix of joy at the others presence and sorrow at the circumstance.

Slade tensed, refusing to let himself be drawn into the easy companionship that now existed between them and consciously forced his voice to become as heartless as it could in her presence. "As always the choice is yours Raven," the empath sighed, her eyes avoiding his piercing gaze as he refused to relent. "What are you going to do?"

Starfire cried out as she was thrown away from the battle and against the wall of a skyscraper. At the sight of his friend being hurt Cyborg felt his anger rising. Quickly he turned to Johnny Rancid and his new giant pet spider and with a move performed so many times he no longer thought about it, Cyborg turned his arm into a canon and… was thrown against the same building as Star. When his daze retreated Cy looked around, 'why hadn't Raven… oh.' Without a word Cyborg and Starfire looked at each other and charged back in.

Robin jumped out of the way of yet another mechanical spider leg and looked at his team. He'd seen Starfire and Cyborgs mistake, they'd both performed perfect moves that they'd trained for… except both times needed Raven… Robin sighed. It was Johnny, even with his new toy they should not be having this much trouble but they were a team. Without any member they suffered but without Raven? She was the one who always watched their backs, the one who made sure none of them paid for their mistakes to heavily and avenged every bruise. Without her they were lost… and not just in battles… Robin absently threw an explosive at the mechanical arachnids weak spot, causing a chain reaction that destroyed the monster. He nodded slightly, when they got home he'd talk to Raven. They'd work this out. He winced as he remembered calling her a traitor. How could he have been so stupid? Raven would never betray them… and when he talked to her he'd ask her forgiveness. They needed Raven… he needed Raven.

As Robin was lost in his thoughts the rest of the team restrained Rancid… and shared a look. They all knew that they couldn't stand more battles like that. Silently the other two nominated Cyborg who reluctantly accepted his duty and walked over to Robin.

"Why wasn't Raven here man?" asked the bionic teen in a very cautious voice.

"I don't want to talk about it." Once more the team shared a look, but this time Robin caught it and smiled slightly. "Don't worry guys. I'm going to talk to her. Everything'll be fine," Cyborg nodded and let his friend walk over to his bike. He was going to make sure those two talked, whatever was going on needed to be sorted out. Cy didn't want to think of what would happen if things spiralled out of control and Rae left. She was the one they all relied on to stay sane…

"They're my friends. They took me in, accepted me. They care about me and I care about them. We've been through a lot. They are the only family I've ever had…"

Raven paced up and down the perfectly white and sterile room as she listed her reasons to chose her friends in an imperfect monotone. Slade looked on patiently and waited for a break in her rant before speaking in a soft tone.

"It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself,"

Raven paused with a thoughtful expression showing through her emotionless façade as she realised why she was standing in that room. "No… I made my choice before I came here…"

Slade felt a sense of dread filter through his self-control. She came to say goodbye, she was leaving and never coming back. Panic followed on the heels of that thought, to never talk to her again, to never hear her laugh again, to never see her again, her mesmerising eyes, her smile… With unmeasured steps that betrayed his emotion, Slade crossed the distance between them and for the first time invaded her personal space. His muscular form a mere inch from her petite frame as he looked down at her, eagerly drinking in possibly his last sight of her. His chest rose and fell as her scent enclosed him and without letting himself ponder his actions he gently raised his hand and cupped her face. Softly letting his fingers run though her hair before speaking in a voice filled with more emotion than he'd heard from himself in a very long time.

"Raven…" 'What am I doing? She's 17! … and in a few seconds she'll send me to another dimension for daring to touch her…'

"… whatever you choose… don't let it be out of duty… make sure it's what you want…" 'What am I saying? No woman that perfect would ever choose me… I'm a monster…'

Raven didn't look away from the darkly armoured man as she took his hand in her own and slowly moved it from her face, holding it between them.

"Slade… I made my choice a while ago…" Slade sighed in defeat. "My friends accept me but you understand me." Raven smiled slightly as she felt his confusion. "I've told you things no one in this dimension knows. I don't need to pretend with you. You're the only one who not only knows me well enough to give me a present I enjoy but the only one whom I trust enough to accept it from. I chose you Slade. How could I do anything else?"

Slade reeled slightly as her words hit him, incredulous at her decision. "Me? You'll stay?"

Raven nodded, her violet eyes sparkling with laughter at his reaction. A moment later her eyes clouded over as a thought crossed her mind. "Yes… but…"

Immediately Slade tightened his grip on her hand. "Anything… if you're here I couldn't care less,"

Raven turned from him slightly, her eyes downcast. "I can give up my friends without regret… but I can't live with a criminal…"

With his free hand he turned her face back to him. "I said anything Raven. I meant that."

She tilted her cheek into his hand, eyes half closed at the contact. "What are we?"

"I don't know… I've only felt this way once before…"

Raven nodded in understanding as his aura merges with hers, and she recognised her emotions in his…

The weary Titans walked into their living room, for once neither of the boys looking at the giant T.V. screen. The green shape shifter stumbled over to the huge sofa and collapsed, barely falling on top of it, every move showing his exhaustion. The others sighed, just pleased to be home and safe.

After a few moments Beast Boy looked up, "Where's Raven?"

Cyborg copied his movement. "Yeah, where is Raven?" He'd kind of expected her to be waiting for them when they got back to make sure they were ok… the trio watched as their leader flipped open his communicator and pressed a few buttons on the side. Robin stared at the screen, hatred filling his face and his free hand clenching into a fist as he quickly snapped the cover closed and put his communicator back into his utility belt.

In a voice closer to a growl than any human tone Robin darkly muttered his response. "She's with him…"

Beast Boy ignored his body's complaints and sat up sharply as Robin started to storm out of the room. "Dude where are you going?"

Robin didn't pause as he walked off. "I'll explain later."

In one move Cyborg strode over to his teammate and grabbed him by the shoulder, forcing him to turn and face the rest of them.

"Oh no! First you go psycho on a petty crook, then you ground Raven and now you're running off somewhere? You owe us an explanation man!"

For a few heart stopping seconds BB and Starfire could only stare at their friends, convinced that any moment Robin would turn on his friend. Instead he did something no one expected. He sighed, running his hand through his hair in defeat. They needed to know…

"All right. After you came to talk to me Cyborg, I decided to find out where she kept going so I followed her…" The team stared at him, Beast Boy the most panicked.

"WAIT! RAVEN? YOU FOLLOWED RAVEN?"

Cyborg shook his head, "Not good. Man you know how she values her privacy! How could you?"

"Yes, friend Raven would not be pleased by your behaviour Robin."

Their leader put his hands up in defence as all of them berated him. "I just wanted to make sure she was alright!"

"Uh-huh," came Cyborgs sceptical reply. He had a pretty good idea why he'd been following Raven…

Robin merely glared at the team from behind mask. "Anyway! I followed her to the southwest warehouse district…"

Cyborg looked confused. "Why would she go there?"

Their leader merely shook his head. He would tell them the entire story. "… inside one of them I heard laughter… Ravens…" Robins voice began to falter as the memory threatened to resurface.

Beast Boy looked completely and utterly stunned. After all his jokes… "Dude, Raven laughed?"

"Guess you weren't completely insane after all BB," shrugged Cyborg, slightly disappointed that she hadn't told him anything.

The young alien simply looked very confused. "Please, why was Raven laughing in such a strange place?"

Robin sighed again, refusing to meet anyone's eye. "She was talking to someone Star…"

Cyborg perked up as his suspicions were confirmed. "Who? Come on, we have to meet him!"

"You already know him…" None of the team noticed how quiet and pained Robins voice became with every statement. However Starfire had just caught on to the veiled subject. "Who? Friend Aqualad? Speedy?"

Robin turned from his friends and hanged his head. "Guys… it was… Slade…" Robin hissed the name and he heard a thump as Cyborg fell to the floor, his legs giving way from shock. The previously floating Starfire landed on the floor, stumbling against the floor slightly as her grace left her and Beast Boys jaw hung open, his eyes wide.

Beast Boy recovered first, with a sensible response. "Whoa…"

"Uh… are you… sure Rob? You weren't imagining it?" pleaded a semi shell-shocked Cyborg.

Starfire nodded, preferring that alternative. "Yes please?"

Robin shook his head, still refusing to look at them. "I wish I was…"

Cyborgs stunned expression hardened as he resolved to process that later. "What happened next?"

Robin turned back around, one eyebrow raised. "I heard that mad mans voice in a warehouse. What do you think I did? I charged in and attacked him!"

The rest of the team looked puzzled, Beast Boy voicing their shared question, "… um… if you two fought then… why aren't you hurt?"

Robins face turned puzzled. "We didn't fight… he didn't fight back. The most he did was block me, most of the time he just… avoided me…"

Cyborg shook his head. This entire situation was getting stranger by the second. "Where is she now?"

"She's in the same warehouse,"

Cyborg eyed him suspiciously. He knew exactly what their communicators could do. Robin must've altered his… he'd talk to him about boundaries later. Right now they had o find a certain dark girl and ask her what the hell was going on…

Slade looked down at the delicate maiden. "Are you sure Raven?"

She nodded, still relaxed at his touch. "Yes."

"… I know how much your friends mean to you… I don't want you to regret this…" Raven looked up sharply as his voice began to falter.

"Slade listen to me. I want to stay with you. If you stay here Robin will find you. You have to leave. Therefore the only option for… us… is if I go with you… unless…"

He looked at her curiously as her eyes became downcast. "Unless?"

"… you don't want me?"

Slade smiled. "Raven, for the past few weeks you've haunted my every thought. I have told you more than anyone alive knows. I … enjoy your company more than I ever believed possible. I want to be with you. If you tell me to leave then I will and if you say you want to come then I am more than happy to oblige. I wish for you to be happy more than anything… and I promise I will never leave you."

She looked up at him. "Do you always keep your word?"

"I try," his voice was barely a whisper as he gazed into her hypnotically violet eyes.

With an almost innocent nervousness, Raven slowly raised her hands to Slades mask. Her fingers found the edge as Raven kept her gaze firmly on his. He stared at her, silently granting her permission as she slowly removed the villains last defence, the metal clattering to the floor. Raven gasped as she saw his face, his short ash-blonde hair in disarray above his steel blue eye, his pale skin and sensuous red lips. His handsome face was at odds with his terribly scarred right face. Hesitantly Raven ran her fingers down the scar tissue, past his ruined eye and down to his lips. Slade repressed his moan at her touch as his gaze sought her own, desperately hoping for no look of horror at his appearance. His heart would break at her disgust…

When she had finished her blind examination she looked up at him… and smiled. Gently she let her body rest against his, sighing as his arms wrapped around her waist and moved her left hand behind his head. Slowly Slade succumbed to the pressure and his head leant down the few inches between them as she stood on tiptoes. With unyielding softness their lips met, each one deepening their embrace to be closer to the other. The kiss lasted for eternal seconds before Slade broke it, his chest heaving against her own as he looked into her eyes, searching for her reaction. At her unguarded smile Slade grinned and his lips sought hers once more. Raven eagerly responded to his passion as their tongues met, each of them lost in the others spirit.

This time Raven withdrew first and smiled at Slades heavy breath. She had sensed his growing need for oxygen yet reluctance to stop. Due to her demonic heritage she had more endurance than he, yet something was bothering her. As she waited for Slade to catch his breath she brought her hand to her lips and closed her eyes. There was something in his taste, not strong or she would have smelt it… something recent… a power…

Slade watched her with growing anxiety, "Is something wrong?" At his voice her eyes flew open in surprise. She knew what she had sensed.

"You're immortal,"

"What?"

"Immortal," Raven placed her hand against his cheekbone as she looked into his eye in amazement. "You've stopped ageing,"

"How?"

"It must be the chemicals in your blood. They increased your healing ability right?" Slade nodded. "Well you're body is repairing itself constantly. You have stopped ageing, probably very recently or I would've sensed it immediately." She smiled slightly as she realised what this meant.

Slade panicked, "No. I do not want to be immortal,"

"Why?"

"Because you'll leave…" he couldn't bring himself to say that she would die and that he would be there to watch.

Raven laughed slightly as she realised his fear. "Slade I'm half demon. When my physical body has reached its peak it will stop ageing. I have lived my entire life knowing that unless someone killed me, I would watch every thing I ever cared about grow old and die while I remained," she smiled as she caught the understanding in his eye. "This is perfect,"

Slade brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "We won't be torn apart?"

"Never,"

"Then I will never leave you,"

"Promise?"

"Promise."

The pair met again in a kiss, both losing themselves once more. Not that either cared…

The four Titans walked into the derelict building, all of them prepared for anything but what they saw. An empty room… well almost empty. In the centre stood a table, surrounding the table lay two chairs, both had been knocked over, and on the table was a simply carved marble chess set. Cyborg spared it a glance before turning back to Robin. The teams leader was staring at his communicator.

"Something's disrupting the signal. The most I can tell is that she's underneath this warehouse," Robin looked up. "That means there's a way down. Find it," with his order given Robin walked over to the far wall. With a silence very unusual for the teenagers they split up. For the next five minutes the friends searched for some sort of doorway, Beast Boy was giving up. He leant against the wall, still tired from the earlier battle. Suddenly he heard a click… and the section of wall he was leaning against swung open, letting him drop to the floor.

"Uh… Guys? I found it."

The rest of the team rushed over to where BB was lying on the floor and looked down the perfectly white corridor… that split into four paths.

Robin nodded. "Everyone split up! Find her!"

The team raced down the corridors, each one faithfully carrying out their leaders order.

In the middle of a perfectly white room stood two figures, both entwined in the others embrace and both rejoicing at their fortune. Their bliss was marred by the sudden noise of an alarm.

Slade looked up, carefully keeping his arms around his love until she let go. He had already promised himself that she would never feel unwanted and would go to insane lengths to keep such a promise.

Sighing Slade walked over to the closest wall, scooping up his mask on the way there. In one absent move he pressed his armoured hand against the surface as he re-adjusted his mask. A keyboard and six screens appeared in a hollow as a hologram deactivated itself. Four of the screens appeared to be surveillance cameras… and each one tracked the movements of a Titan. Slade spared them a single glance before looking at the centre monitor, which was filled with computer code, and starting to type. He didn't look up as he felt Raven move to his side and stare at her friends.

"The self-destruct's been activated,"

Raven turned to him curiously. "… your entire lair is set to self-destruct with intruders?"

"Of course,"

She tilted her head, studying him for a few moments before saying, "You're paranoid."

His typing barely slowed as Slade turned his attention from the screen and glanced at her. "You've only just realised this?"

She shook her head before turning to more important matters. "Can you shut it down?"

"No they're too far in," Slade stopped his lightning fast typing and straightened up as he turned to face the empath. "You have three minutes."

The sorceress nodded, still looking at the images of her friends. "Then this is my chance to say goodbye." She turned to him and they shared a quick embrace as Slade silently gave her his support. "I'll meet you at the City limits, North road?"

Slade reached out to her, running his fingers through her violet hair before answering.

"I'll wait, take as long as you need."

His last few of her was her smile before she fell into her soul-self and phased through the floor and to her friends.