Coming Home

Chapter Three: An unexpected meeting

Nightwing walked down the hallway, holding the unopened letter in his hand. He was sure it was from Raven. This was due to the handwriting, and the wax raven-shaped seal on the back.

The other titans were in the living room, still talking about the upcoming party. Terra was the first to notice him approaching them.

"Hey, I thought you were going to bed. What's up?" She asked him. The others stopped talking, and looked at him curiously.

"I found this," Nightwing held up the envelope, "on my bed."

"Who's it from?" Cyborg asked.

"Is it a love letter?" Changeling asked, grinning. Nightwing barely kept himself from blushing, thinking of the boxes of unread love notes in the various storage rooms.

"It's to all of us. I don't know who it's from, though I have an idea..." Nightwing told them, and opened it. He scanned it quickly, and smiled.

"Well? Who's it from?"

"What's it say?"

Nightwing noticed for the first time that Star was absent.

"Where's Star?" He asked.

"Went out with Speedy," Terra answered. "She probably won't be back until tomorrow morning."

"That's more than I needed to know," Nightwing muttered, and handed the letter to Cyborg.

My dearest friends,

As I promised you years ago, I've come back. I can't tell you where I am right now, but I'll be in touch soon. I promise. Oh, and Star, congratulations. I love you all.

Your friend,

Raven

Cyborg read it silently, his eyes growing wide. "Raven?"He whispered. He had forgotten her–they all had. Until that night when the first letter came from their friend.

"What?" Changeling said. "Let me see that!" Cyborg handed it to his green friend without a word. Changeling beamed as he read it.

"What's she mean, though? Why's she congratulating Star?" Changeling asked as Terra read it. Nightwing and Cyborg shrugged.

"She knew about tonight," Terra said, a puzzled expression on her face. "She knew Star would be with Speedy, so she wouldn't read it until tomorrow... after it happened."

"After what happened?" They asked, wondering how Terra knew this.

"For a few weeks now, I've been helping Speedy with some stuff. Helping to pick out a romantic spot, what to wear, what to say, and most importantly, to pick out the right ring.

"Raven somehow knew that Speedy was going to propose to Star tonight, which is what she's congratulating her on. What I want to know is how Raven knew." Terra concluded.

"Speedy and Star are gonna get married!" Changeling yelled. "Where're they gonna live? I guess Speedy can share a room with Star, hehehe..."

"Pervert," Terra said, and Cyborg whacked him lightly on the back of the head.

"Only around you," Changeling told his girlfriend, who laughed and whacked him.

"I'm going to bed," Nightwing told them again.

"Night," Cyborg said. "I think I'm going, too. I have to get away from those two." He jerked a thumb back at Changeling and Terra, who were making out on the couch.

"Go to one of your rooms, guys. We really don't need to see anything. I'd like to keep the footage on the security cameras below R." Nightwing told them, rolling his eyes beneath his ever-present mask.

"Sorry," Changeling muttered. Terra giggled, blushing.

"I think we'll take that advice," She told Nightwing, and grabbed Changeling's hand. The blonde then pulled her boyfriend into the elevator, laughing.

"I liked it better when we were all chaste losers," Cyborg commented. "It was a lot less... freaky that way. I really didn't need to see all of that."

Nightwing laughed, and agreed with his friend as Cyborg went into his room. Nightwing started towards his room, and then changed his mind about going to sleep. He needed a walk.

He changed into a black sweatsuit, and put sunglasses on. He didn't want to be mobbed by those fangirls again like he was last week.

Nightwing frowned at the unpleasant memory before turning his thoughts to happier ones. Most of them of Raven.

Memories that he had long forgotten came rushing back. Raven making sarcastic comments, Raven reading, Raven talking with him, Raven meditating, Raven cooking, Raven laughing, Raven smiling, his thoughts were so focused on his friend that he didn't notice when he ran into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry," He said, and reached down to help her up. She smiled at him.

"It's alright," She told him. The girl was pretty, Nightwing thought. She had a good figure, black hair, and...

He paused at her eyes.

They were not-quite the same color that Raven's had been. These girl's eyes were a shade darker...

"Nightwing, right?" She asked.

"How did you know?" The superhero asked.

"Who else would wear sunglasses at night?" She answered, smiling.

"Oh, these... I guess I didn't really think about those," Nightwing admitted. "What's your name?"

"...Cesia," She told him after a slight pause.

"Cesia... That's a pretty name," Nightwing said, and instantly regretted it. He didn't want his mind to start wandering off of his duties as Jump City's protector. He couldn't start a conversation with this girl. He couldn't become her friend. But that didn't change the fact that he wanted to. He was drawn to this Cesia girl for some reason.

"Thanks," She answered, giving him another small smile.

She did look a lot like Raven. It could be possible, he told himself. She was on Earth again, after all. It could be her. Why not give it a shot?

"You look like someone I know... A friend of mine," He said, trying to sound casual instead of inquisitive.

"Really?"

"Mm-hm, her name's Raven."

"Wish I could have a normal name like that. But no, I had to get stuck with some weird parents who decided to name me Cesia," She rolled her eyes, smiling.

Nope, not Raven, he decided with some disappointment. Raven never talked about her parents. Ever. It was just one of those things about Raven.

"Well, it's late. I'm sure your teammates will be worried about you," Cesia told him. He nodded, smiling.

"It was nice meeting you," He told her.

"You too," She agreed. "See you around."

"Yeah." And he walked off towards the tower.

Raven let the door to the hotel room fall shut with a loud thump, not paying any attention to it. That had been too close for her. She didn't want any of the Titans to know who she was yet. Not until she was ready to tell them, and she certainly wasn't ready yet.

She knew the comment about her parents had thrown him off, but it wouldn't work a second time, she knew. She would have to make herself seem completely different from the girl they knew, until the time when she was ready to be part of the team again. Raven was pretty sure she didn't want to use her "tell them on the anniversary" plan. Maybe she would just wait until next year.

But for now, sleep was her top priority. She needed to get all the rest she could so she could hunt for an apartment and a job tomorrow. Wonderful.