Disclaimer: Don't own Teen Titans or Batman related items.

A/N: Holy snap! That was to long for me to hold this thing off, sorry guys, but things got a little hectic in my life. I just hope at least the length of this chapter will make up for the length of the wait.

--

It pains me to leave, literally!

"Well Rae …" Cyborg stopped and parked the car next to the sidewalk where they were to be dropping Raven off. Turning to look at her he noticed how distant she was and put a hand on her shoulder, "We're here."

"I see." Raven answered so quietly where the others in the back had too strain to hear what she said. With a nod she grabbed the door's handle and squeezing it as if it were her only lifeline she pulled and exited the T-car. The other's got out with her and went to the back to help her unload her belongings. Starfire was at the brim of tears, she didn't want her female friend to leave, and with the knowledge she learned from last night. She was hurting for her friends' heartache, Beast Boy walked up to Raven.

"You sure there's nothing I can do to make you stay?" Raven shook her head slowly and sadly, Beast Boy smirked, "Not even this?"

Jumping and morphing into cute little kitten he landed in Raven's arms and reached up to gently lick her cheek with his rough cat-like tongue. Purring loudly he cuddled his head under her chin and made sure she could feel the vibration of his purr. With a mew he looked up and for the moment Raven almost broken down in tears, he was so cute that she didn't want to leave. Damn you Beast Boy don't make this harder than it already is. He could tell he was really making a dent in her as she smiled and huffed to look away, but he saw. She was already watering up and didn't want him to see her holding back tears. Somehow this thought made him smile, at least he made her feel something before she left. Jumping out of her grasp and morphing back to his human form he tackled her much like Starfire would in a tight hug. "We're gonna' miss you Rae."

"I'll … Beast Boy … I'll miss you to." She held him and whispered it ever so silently to where only his animal senses could hear her. After one more squeeze he let her go and Starfire walked up to her with her fists under her chin and her cheeks already trailing with tears her lower lip quaking. Raven could see the struggle in her ever green eyes, she wanted nothing more than to tell her to stay, but knew she couldn't.

"I guess … this is … good-bye then …" Starfire chocked and couched for the tightness in her throat was becoming too much. Raven sighed, and opened her arms for a hug her own tears becoming too much of a burden to handle, letting one slide she tried again to hold back another as Starfire held her. Gentle and sweet, not like all the others before in the day as she chocked, "W-we will all m-m-miss you terribly."

Raven let go a laughed gasp feeling her voice quiver, "You act as if I'm leaving forever."

"Just please, be happy." Starfire pulled away and put her right hand to her heart and bowed, Raven followed the gesture before Starfire flew off to hide behind Beast Boy as Cyborg came up and held out a hand for a shake.

His face was stone, but yet held a kinder soft fire in his eyes, Raven chuckled. To hell with a handshake she was already breaking down might as well go all the way. Embracing him she gulped down the hard feeling in her throat, "See ya Cyborg, take care."

"You should take care." Cyborg pulled away and handed her, her communicator, "remember, if any one messes with you they mess with us. No one hurts my family."

Raven giggled, and sniffled, "We're not even remotely blood related."

"You don't have to be for a family." Stepping aside Raven nodded and her smile suddenly fell when amethyst met cold white of a mask that hid ocean blue. His expression was stone, no emotion was shown, yet if any one looked close enough they'd see his jaws clenching and unclenching. Straining to hold back any to all contact with her as flashes of what had almost accord the night before was still fresh in their minds. She could almost hear his mind pleading, begging her to not step a foot on that plane. To come back and be with him, and she wanted to obey it, but chose better … at least she thought it was.

"Bye," she whispered, and saw him visibly flinch, that must have been the hardest hit for him than any other villain could dare to dream.

"Take care." He was shocked at how steady and calm his voice sounded when all he wanted to do was take her away and finish what they started, then to never let her go. To see her make physical contact with the other males had drove him close to the point of insanity, no one of the same gender as he was to touch her. Him, and only him was allowed any to all access to her mind, body, and soul.

Yet, he couldn't even have that, in fact he couldn't even touch her for fear of something regretful later on. But seeing her willingly throw her arms around their necks and freely letting them hold her … well … it was pretty damn hard not to lose it. He thought he deserved a little something for that, and that was what he got. To deep in thought he barely felt her wrap her arms around him in a tight embrace. He stifled a groan at the thought of having been this close to her and had done so much more than her kiss on his cheek. Trying not to seem so out of it he held her like the others had as she whispered the same why she whispered to them, "I'll call you guys as soon as I get to my place. It's been nice working with you, I'll be back, I promise."

"Better keep to your word." With that she let him go, damn, their time wasn't long enough, her warmth was addictive and he wanted more, her taste was like life liquid he needed to sustain his very life. With out her … he didn't know what to do … he saw her grab her things and enter the airport, he heard the other's shuffling into the T-car to drive back to the tower, he felt himself follow suit. Yet he was numb, he couldn't really feel anything, couldn't see, and couldn't operate correctly. How could you when your heart and soul was leaving on a jet plane with out a moments thought? This is a spell all right … you've bewitched me Raven Roth, this may have been an accident … but I'm not regretting it. The only thing I'm regretting is letting you go.

Ah, bittersweet realization, the perfect irony of him actually falling in love with a midnight beauty …

--

The plane ride back to Gotham was a numb one. Where most would have been shifting and moving to get in a comfortable positions and putting ear plugs on to drown out the roar of the engines. Raven did nothing of the sort; she just sat in her one spot next to the window and watched as her life vanished under the clouds. Her purple eyes showing nothing more than sadness as she sighed and leaned her forehead on the cold unfeeling glass of the window. It felt good to actually feel something other than numbness, for a split millisecond she was glad the frozen window was able to help her out.

Then realty sunk in. She was leaving it all behind, leaving Starfire, Beast Boy, Cyborg and … Robin. Quickly she pressed her forehead a bit harder against the glass and bit back the pain throbbing on her shoulder. Damn it all! Ever since she turned her back on her friends the thing was pulsing. Emitting strong waves of energy and practically tugging her back, she never understood its meaning. Why was it pulling her back to her friends? Why was it hurting the way it did like last night? Why didn't she know the answer? Why? Why? WHY? So many fucking questions and no goddamn answers!

Out of her thoughts, the flight attendant that was coming down to ask the passengers if they would like any refreshments and gasped in shock when one of the cans just crushed and popped itself. Raven put a hand to her forehead and groaned, Get it together Raven, get it together. Just take a step back and look at it from a different angle, that's the reason you're doing this right? To step back and see where you're going …

Raven sighed and finally calmed down for now, but that didn't mean her tattoo was going to do the same. It still hurt like all hell and she wanted nothing more than for it to stop. Damn, was she missing something about this marking? She heard stories were only the brave of heart and most noble of nobles receive the mark. It was then to her gasping realization she found that those stories all ended in tragedy. Either by death of rash actions to save a lover from immanent doom or by a broken heart, the result was all the same. Not something you'd expect to happen to the main character of the story, living their life to the fullest only to die by a silly emotion.

She gulped, that thought was just not comforting. Kicking herself in the head she scolded herself for not remembering something obvious! Raven found herself worrying, why was it all the noblemen(women) all died from a silly reason of love? When they had withstood the forces of impending doom? This was all disturbing, so she made it her number one on her things to do, to find out more on her mark. Cause like it or not, every mark whether good or bad not only made the statement of your rank in life, but challenged your lacking quality. In this case, the mark of nobility Raven assumed to challenge the one thing every hero did not have. A serious relationship. Damn.

Before she knew it the flight was over, the fasten seat belt sigh was turned on and the decent had take place. Granted the decent startled Raven, but only because she couldn't believe how rough it had been. That was why when the plane taxied to its drop off point Raven was relieved to finally be off the plane.

Okay, let's make this look good. Smoothing out her black turtleneck sweater and her long dress pants she had decided that if she was going to act the type she might as well dress the type. Gathering her belongs and stepping off the plane with her single black bag she proceeded to go through everything as a normal civilian would go through in an airport. Even in the process of collecting the rest of her things, which she thought was totally a drag.

Until things got little interesting when she felt a hand on her shoulder, on instinct she kicked up her concealment spell and turned to see a human security, crap. Not even out the airport she was already getting busted, "Excuse me, miss Roth correct?"

Raven blinked, Okay how did he know my name? "Yes?"

The security guard nodded, "Okay good, just wanted to let you know your bags have been taken by Mr. Grayheart and he's waiting for you outside once you go through everything else. Is that okay with you?"

Raven got suspicious and showed it with a raise of her brows, surely she should have been grateful, but she never even let her friends help her pack let alone go into her room alone! Now here was Grayheart, her soon-to-be boss, taking possession of her things. Just where the hell did he get off even touching her things? Talk about invasion of privacy, Raven took a deep breath to keep from imploding someone else's belongs and smiling forcefully at the guard she nodded her head, "Thank you for letting me know officer really appreciate it."

"Not a problem and by the way," the officer grabbed her hand and shook it, Raven's inner demon was screaming to kill him. No one touched her but Robin! Wait a minute … she did not just think that, "welcome to Gotham."

"Th-thank you." Pulling her hand back to her body she watched him leave back to his post as she gulped and put hand to her forehead, Not even the second day and weird shit is happening. I need a vacation.

Shaking her head she continued with the airport security and the works before she found herself home free from the insufferable building. Fuck it, the next time something like this comes up she was not taking a plane. Especially Earthen planes, they're so freakin' paranoid, not only that but there were to many people.

Exiting the airport she looked around, Now where the hell is this guy? Just because he's doing all this for me doesn't mean shit! I could very well take care of myself thank you very much. He has no right to – a hand to her shoulder; she spun around, startled to come face-to-face with blood-red crimson eyes. He was close, too close, the only other time he was this close was when he asked her to dance back at the ball. Even then she felt slightly uncomfortable, especially with the look he was giving her. If it were not for his exotic eyes that showed nothing, yet displayed the wild flicker of fire Raven would not haven even spared him a second glance. Let alone get lost in them, they reminded her of – "Miss Roth, I trust your flight went as painless as possible."

It was okay until I found my things have been hijacked by a red-eyed menace, she thought sarcastically as she took a step back to put some distance between them and rolled her carry on in front of her to indicate discreetly she didn't want him to come any closer then they already were. Bad enough she was feeling vulnerable with only him and her and none of her friends there to back her up. She tried not to show it as she shrugged, "What could you expect on a trip like that, though I have to say for my first experience it was mixed."

She shocked herself, that didn't really come out the way she was feeling, it came out clam and steady like she usually was, she only hoped she could keep it up. Grayheart nodded and bent to take her bag from her, "Very well then, here let me take your things and we can be on our way."

Raven wanted so badly to decline, but he had already whisked her bag away and put a hand on the back to lead her to his limo. Well, to say any other girl would have been swooning and falling for his guy head over heals would not be a surprise. He had the looks, the brains, and most importantly the money. Not only that, but he was the definition of what a gentlemen should be. He honestly gave no reason for her to hate or distrust him, minus the luggage part, that wasn't really something some one would freak out about right?

In the back her bag disappeared and in the limo she went with the escort of Grayheart right behind her. Making sure to sit with some distance she was glad he didn't try anything to make her uncomfortable, what was with this guy? Raven took him for the type to have his way with women, so she expected him to try something as soon as they were alone and no one was looking. Not that she wanted him to, but he was shocking, surprising, taking her back at every turn.

Turning to her after telling the driver where to go and capturing her attention again with his hypnotic red eyes he grinned. Not a scary grin, but a grin a friend would give a friend when they had a surprise for them. "We'll be heading towards your new place first so to get yourself situated and comfortable, then if you like I'll give you a tour of Gotham before we head to the office and get you ready for your new job. Are you well with this?"

No damn it! Give me a reason to kick your ass and go back to being a Titian. Come on, show me you're not who I think you are! Raven thought and struggled to keep her face from showing her frustration. She didn't know his she was so bothered with his caring ways. Maybe because she didn't believe there to be any one in the universe to pull off the innocent act so completely. She almost felt like she could trust him, and that scared her, trust did not come natural to her, but with him it came all to easy. Sighing she look away from his crimson hews to stare at the carpeted limo floor. Steadily she said slowly, "I guess it would be fine."

She felt a hand on her hands, which were on her lap and she struggled not to tear it off. At least she struggled to keep her demon under control; damn what was up with that? Her demon was going crazy every time a male that it was not familiar with touched her. That never happened before, and with her confused head she didn't know whether to be grateful for Grayheart's next string of understanding words that comfort her. Or to try and hate him for it, she had to be going insane. Then she looked down at his hand and tried not to raise a brow, Hello what's this? A scar, from what I wonder.

"Ms. Roth, I know you may not trust me. Even question your trust in me, and I know I can't ask for you to trust me … but I will ask that you at least feel comfortable to talk to me about any doubts you have on this whole thing. If you feel in anyway that you're not up to this, I'll pull the plug." Now, Raven can honestly say she found something to challenge him at, but damn it! Why did it have to be the wrong one? He knew how to word everything so perfect; she cursed him again for the umpteenth time that day.

"Well Mr. Grayheart I'd have to say, and excuse my term, but bring it on." Raven grinned at his taken back look as he pulled his hand from her. However, her fun ended when he recovered from his shock all to soon and returned with his own grin. Not a friendly one any more, but for a split second Raven saw his barrier drop to show a flash of something … strange … she didn't like it.

"You are … intriguing … Ms. Roth, a mystery that calls me to solve." She didn't like where this was heading, curse her luck she should have known this would back fire on her!

Still playing the part Raven bowed her head ever so slightly with her grin still on, "You flatter me Grayheart, when it is not I that is the mystery, but you." Raven! Shut your trap! You're already in trouble don't magnify it!

He chuckled a chuckle that'll leave any girl breathless, especially with that damned sexy smile to go with it! Raven chilled, oh fudge this was so not what she bargained for. "Don't overestimate me Ms. Roth, what you see is what you get. If there is more you wish to know … well, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that you'd rather keep this strictly business correct?"

Raven glared, "Intrigue me Grayheart, while you are out on that limb did you see anything that gave you reason to doubt my true intentions? Of course this is business, nothing more, nothing less."

Stupid grin would not go away, she just wanted to smack it off, "Then I see no reason to press the matter on. You said so yourself nothing more, nothing less so I do not believe there is reason to stress."

"Who's stressing?"

The limo stopped, but neither made a move to leave, Raven was caught not being able to move for the challenges in those blood-red eyes were taunting her. No one taunted her and got away with it, especially with that twisted grin he just wouldn't let down, "A bit of jetlag Ms. Roth? Gotten you rather tense?"

The bastard was playing with her; again she kicked herself in the head scolding herself for not noticing sooner. Curse it all, she came to get her head straight, but now she believed she had just twisted it straight off. Shaking her head she opened the limo door to get out, the air in the car becoming to much for her to take. The nerve! How dare he, she's the one new here and he goes and does –"Forgive me Ms. Roth, I have stepped out of line. I should not have insulted you in such a way."

She half expected this guy to drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness. Even as she turned to him he looked genuinely sorry, how could any girl not forgive that? Letting her guard drop for the moment she rolled her eyes and turned back to the building, "It's nothing, forget it I was just being childish. You should be the one asking for the apology."

"What's done is done I suppose." He more stated than asked as he walked around the limo and lead her into the building, and was knock flat on her butt when she saw that the place could not have been an apartment building! It was so … beautifully styled, it looked like you could have put it on MTV cribs! That was just the lobby; when they got to her "room" Raven found that it was the top. That isn't a typo; the whole top floor was hers like a penthouse suite or something along those lines. A mini one-story house she supposed. The first thing that comes to mind was what Beast Boy had said a while back at Bruce Wayne's "house", Guy got too much money.

"Grayheart," she whispered in disbelief shaking her head as she walked to the center of her living room. Dodging the no doubt expensive furniture that was circled around a glass coffee table. Raven ignored it to walk where the whole far wall was nothing but tinted glass with silken curtains to cover if it got to hot or bright.

This was too much, but the view was splendid, granted not as great as the one back at the tower, but nice enough to just sit at the corner bay window and just stare off. Never had she lived so lavished, even at her home planet. It all felt strange as she turned to face a smiling Grayheart obviously feeling rather well with himself that he had pleased her. Raven shook her head, this wasn't right, this went against her Azarathian belief how was she going to pay all this back? "Grayheart, you didn't have to do anything to this extreme. I would have been well off with something less extravagant."

"Don't Roth," Grayheart shook his head and walked the distance she had traveled to the view at the window. He stood beside her and put a hand on her shoulder, "I insist, to be honest your friend Grayson did not look all to well with you're decision. So this is to prove you are in good hands."

"Yes, but –"

"Ah-ah, that's enough of that. Call your friends and when you're ready to leave I'll be sitting right here. You're room is that way." Looking to where his finger had pointed Raven sighed and shook her head; if you can't beat'em take advantage of'em was her though. With a shrug she walked across the dinning room to the hidden hall to her room where she found the rest of her luggage all neat and ready to be unpacked at the foot of her bed. The bed, like wow, you could have the Teen Titans and Titan's East all lay on it and still have room for a cat or two. That thought disturbed her; images were not a thing to mess with.

Shaking her head she pulled out her communicated and before she called the Titans she stopped and shot her head up to glare at her door. Hold the phone, why did he send me to my room? She thought, the second meaning to it ignored completely as a suspicion began to creep in. Finally a reason not to trust him, did he know she was going to her room, did he know she was Titan? She shook her head again, better to think about it later, right now she had to call her friends and she had to look convincing.

--

The familiar jingle caught the entire sulking Titans' attention, looking to each other they all shot their head up to the screen where the video communicated was. The noise was coming from there, but that could only mean, in a split millisecond the house went from sulking silence to chaotic and wild.

Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy were all wrestling trying to see who was going to answer it first saying ridiculous things like: 'I heard it first!' or 'Dude get off my hand!' or 'I wish to speak to friend Raven first!'

Although as they fought they were shot down when Robin had calmly crossed the living room and answered with single press of a button. "Robin here. How are you Raven? Everything fine? Grayheart treating you okay?"

"Dude! Like where the hell did you come from?" Beast Boy ignored the fact Raven was on the big screen with the background being some seriously tricked out luxury room. To stare weirdly at Robin, never understanding just how it's possible the guy could just pop out of no where with out a sound. It freaked him out.

"Hello Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire, Cyborg," Raven nodded with a smile, though on closer examination Robin could tell it was forced. "Nice to see you all are normal."

"Dear friend Raven it is not even been a day and we all miss you so much, especially friend Robin who has been locked tight in his room with a pout." Leave it to Starfire to tell the ghastly truth, Robin rubbed the back of his neck nervously and stared at the ground obviously embarrassed.

Raven chuckled, at least she now could smile with sincerity, "Gee, I never would have guessed. Is this true Robin?"

Robin smirked and looked up with an aura of all-knowing that got Raven to blink and struggle to keep up his masked gaze. He was giving that look, "Could you blame me?"

She fought back with a smirk of her own, it felt so nice to hear his voice again, yet her dragon was acting up, "I don't know, yeah I think I can and I think I will."

"I beg to differ." Robin challenged, Raven rolled her eyes and rolled her shoulder to try and sooth the pain that was getting more intense. Like the way his masked persona was looking at her making her feel those things again.

Cyborg and Beast Boy rolled their eyes to look at each other with that amused twinkle while Starfire was floating and giggling. Being the happy-go-lucky alien that she was she pulled the other boys closer to the screen and made sure Raven could have a good look at them all. Robin was agitated that he had to share "his" Raven with everyone, but alas they were her friends as well. With a peace sign Starfire giggled, "Please my friend I insist that you tell us about your life thus far. Is the Grayheart still as charming as he was? Are you well? When will your first visit be?"

Raven smiled, Starfire will never change, and that was why Raven loved her like the sister she never had. She was sweet and sincere with a sigh she nodded and answered the questions offhandedly never noticing Robin flinching at the first answer and holding his breath for the last, "Yes, yes, and … I'll have to come back to you on that one."

Starfire noticed the sudden distance in Robin's eyes and the struggle in Raven's. For this is pained her to see her friends so sullen, "I guess it is okay, at least you will come back right?"

"Promise Star." Raven bowed her head.

"So, you never told us if this Grayheart is worth the effort and have you flirted with him yet?" Beast Boy asked with a playful grin, never sensing the danger signs from Robin.

Again Raven chuckled and shook her head, "Don't worry Beast Boy, Grayheart may be a complete and utter gentleman, unlike you, but he'll never take the place of you guys."

"You're killin' me hear Rae, that all the credit you'll give me? I could be gentleman if I felt like it." Beast Boy in Robin's eyes was flat out flirting with Raven and that did not sit to well with him.

"Sure Beast Boy," Raven snorted.

"So you're sure you're okay there girl?" Cyborg cut in and suggested the on thing that was on everyone's mind, "I mean we'll come get you if you want no skin off our backs."

Raven smiled, "No, I'm fine really. Now I gotta' go I think I've kept him waiting for long enough."

Robin glared, "He's there?"

"Not in my room no, but out in the living room waiting for me."

"You act as if he is," Starfire paused trying to put the words together, "as if he is courting you."

"No he's just going to show me around town and then we're going to head down to office to get me started. Might as well right?"

"Yes the faster you are finished, the faster you shall come. Good luck Raven." Starfire nodded.

"Yeah, and on your next call tell us everything that's happened. Don't leave anything out." Cyborg smiled.

"Take care of yourself girl, don't let any stuck up suitwads talk you down. You're a Titan, stand tall and proud." Beast Boy puffed out his chest and Raven only stroked his ego further when she chuckled ever so silently.

"Don't let that Grayheart guy get to you," Robin said forcefully, trying hard not to growl and show that said guy was already getting to him. The statement, whether Robin realized it or not had two meanings to Raven and she found herself becoming guilty for the earlier confrontation.

"Don't worry about me so much guys … take care, and good-bye for now."

"Bye." All four said in union and before they knew it Raven had switched her communicator off leaving them to their sulking and depression. Was the year over yet?

--

"Are you ready?" Grayheart stood up when Raven had finally stepped out of her room, her look of forlorn and distance clear on her face. It disturbed him, that she was troubled. Once she next to him he ran a finger along her right cheek, she gasped and pulled away as if electrified. Looking up at him he saw one thing in her beautiful violet eyes: guilt. "Ms. Roth, does something trouble you?"

Blinking her eyes as if waking from a dream she composed herself and straightened up, "Uh … no-nothings wrong sir, everything's fine, are we going?"

"If you feel up to it?"

"Then let's go." Some how, she didn't know how she did it, but she had hide the pain on her shoulder from her eyes so her friends could not see nether could Grayheart. Damn. The thing was just getting to intense, it was like it wanted something, but what?