Author's Note: Sorry you guys, I became preoccupied with other projects but seeing as that some people have been bugging me to post some more chapters for some more of my stories I suppose I shall humor them and do so. Please enjoy! Oh, and please excuse me for going back on my word. I decided not to use Rolling Stones Lyrics for all the chapters...but for some of them. My apologies.

It's always dark

Here in my head

The moon is the Empress

And the sun is the Challenger

Luna's rule must not be questioned

And yet it is

Here inside my thoughts

There is a battle waging

Dark and Light

Good and Evil

Death and Life

I long for the light

But I am afraid to step outside my shadow

Fearful of the consequences I have turned

To you for comfort--

The sound of paper tearing disturbed the silence that had settled in Terra's room in the Tower. The poem she had labored for all but five minutes to create lay in tiny pieces so that if one tried to read they would be daunted to put the pieces back together. Terra's icey blue eyes flashed in annoyance and rage but she soon buried it, for, if she should allow her anger to consume her once more her powers could hurt someone. And that someone could be the one that meant a great deal to her. Beast Boy. Of course, she loved the other Titans as well but it was obvious that Terra and Beast Boy had bonded. Having been confined to strict bed rest until she was fully recovered Terra had to resort to portable video games or helping computerize all the files that the Titans had amassed on their various adventures and opponents.

Staring out the window she glanced down at her legs, covered in a white blanket. Her hands searched for the wheels of her wheelchair and she smiled as she wheeled herself closer to the window, watching the day progress outside. Beast Boy had been dragged off by Cyborg and Robin, giving her some much needed time to herself. Forcing her gaze away from the window she glanced down at the notebook and the pen lying in her lap. I just can't concentrate...what's wrong with me? Frowning slightly she wiggled a bit; wriggling her fingers underneath her leg cast to scratch an itch. She was already itching for company again but she wasn't about to press the button StarFire had placed beside her bed. I don't want them to get sick of me...I can take care of myself. Besides, they all have work to do and I'd just be in the way...but I swear, once I get better I'm going to make up for everything I've done to them. To this city. I'm not going to look back. Her icy blue eyes were shining with resolve as she turned and wheeled away from the window, all this soul-searching she had been doing had taken it's toll on her.

Meanwhile...

"I think she's bored..." Raven supplied as she and StarFire watched Cyborg and Robin take on the practice course. Her hood drawn back to expose her pale skin to sunshine, arms crossed as she stood, feet spread apart. "Friend Terra does seem especially..." StarFire's brow creased as she sought for the right word, always trying to improve her English. "Anxious?" Beast Boy volunteered as he walked up beside them, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Ever since he had "temporarily" returned to the Tower he had been listening in on their conversations from afar...defending Terra like a Rottweiler if arguments ensued or unkind words were said.

StarFire brightened at the word and nodded, "Anxious...yes. That is the correct word...isn't it, Raven?" Raven nodded, her gaze carefully trained upon Beast Boy. The usual deadpan traded for a look of cautious concern. None of the Titans had expected such a radical change in Beast Boy and now that he was back it was almost the same...almost. They still had their awkward silences but the boys re-bonded over video games and pizza. With the girls however, especially Raven, Beast Boy was especially guarded. Raven sensed his animosity towards her and flinched at it. She still did not trust Terra...that much was certain. Raven was never one to easily forgive and forget. As far as she was concerned Terra was far past forgiveness, at least hers anyway.

Watching Beast Boy eye her now with anger in his eyes she did not recoil, merely met his gaze. StarFire seemed oblivious as she prattled on about how she and Terra would travel to the house of clothing together and whatnot when she was better. Beast Boy humored StarFire and nodded and mumbled, "Yes..." and "No.." and "That's great StarFire..."

Finally tiring of the strained conversation Beast Boy quietly withdrew, heading toward Terra's room.

Moments later when the handle turned Terra's head jerked up from her writing and she quickly stashed the notebook underneath her pillow. A small smile appeared on her face as she sat up, "Hey Beast Boy! How's everything?" She watched his face, noting the green that had settled there.

"Nice to see you smile...StarFire says you have had the cloud over your head...has something happened?" Terra watched him with quiet inquisitive eyes, noting him twitch uncomfortably.

"Well, everything is okay...I guess...and yeah, I guess I have been a little moody lately..."

"You...guess?" Terra watched him carefully, a frown forming at the corners of her lips. "What's up with you lately, BB? You've been...quiet...and kinda crabby...is there something wrong? You know you can tell me, right?" She watched him carefully, apprehensive of his answer.

Beast Boy shrugged, as though that was all he needed to shake it off but he saw the look of reproach and concern in Terra's eyes and with a sigh he explained, "Raven and the others...I don't know...I don't trust them. I don't like the looks they give me when they think I can't see. I don't like what I see in Raven's eyes every time I look at her. I need to get out of here...but until you're better...I'm staying here with you."

Terra shifted slightly, watching him with that same concern glittering in her eyes. As he finished speaking she turned her head away, hiding behind a shield of golden hair. "You should go, if you feel that way...I don't want you to stay because of me. I'll see you when I get out of here...it'll be great...promise."

She watched as Beast Boy shook his head, "No...I'm not going to leave you here alone with them and their judgements...I would never do that to you."

"I can take care of myself Beast Boy, they won't hurt me...besides I deserve their judgement after...what I did."

"No...no...no way!" Beast Boy's adamant gaze met Terra's and his shoulders sagged a little. Glancing up at her uncertainly from his fidgeting hands.

"Are you absolutely positive that you'll be okay...and that if they get too bad you'll call me?"

Nodding in what Terra hoped was a convincing way she felt her spine straighten as she spoke, "Yes. I'm absolutely positive. I'll call you if the big, bad Teen Titans start picking on me...just go. You don't need to be here if this place makes you miserable. I really wish you guys could make amends. You shouldn't let me get in the way."

"If they don't accept you, they don't accept me," Beast Boy mumbled gruffly, avoiding Terra's gaze.

"Beast Boy...why won't you look at me?" Terra suddenly became very still, staring hard at the green boy that sat at her bedside with his fidgeting hands and lowered eyes. "Does it disgust you to look at me? You feel guilty about choosing me over you friends, don't you? C'mon BB I would NEVER EVER pressure you into choosing me over them. They're your best friends and they only have your best interests in mind when they do the things they do. I betrayed you...and StarFire and Raven and Cyborg and Robin. I betrayed all of you. I wouldn't let myself open up to anyone...I wouldn't...I wasn't...I'm still not ready to let anyone in. I was so afraid of being hurt that every glance turned into a silent accusation. Every word sounded like it was laced with disapproval. I just...I just couldn't take it. I did terrible things to all of you. I DESERVE this."

Terra's head was now bowed, silvery tendrils of hair hanging in her face, bandaged hands clenched into white-knuckled fists, every word was forced out of her, like bile forced out of her lungs. Out of her very soul. "I care about you so deeply...but I didn't show you who I am...you don't know anything about me. Everything you think you know about me is a lie. Everything Robin has in that file about me is a lie. I've lived so many lies...what happens when they become your truths? I can't remember which is fact and which is fiction when it comes to my life."

Beast Boy sat in stunned silence, watching her sit there, her body rigid with mental and physical agony. He felt something inside of him clench, his body tense with disbelief. He half-expected her to rise out of her bed and disappear in a blinding light. Terra was a tie to his past. To a part of him that he had managed to kill and resurrect when she was near and when she wasn't. "Terra..." He whispered helplessly, standing up quietly and moving closer to her.

As he reached out to touch her shoulder she shrank away and whimpered, "Don't touch me...I'm...I'm unclean. I'm...I'm not right. I'm not RIGHT!" Her head jerked up and tears flew from her eyes as Beast Boy momentarily drew back as if she had struck him.

"Terra..." He whispered...moving closer once more, seating himself precariously on the edge of her bed. His arms began to slip around her and he was surprised and yet again at how frail she felt but he felt the strength in her fists as she pummeled his chest, "LET ME GO! LET ME GO! LET ME...GO..." She collapsed against him, hot tears burning through his shirt.

"I can't let you go, Terra. I won't let you fall again. I can't," Beast Boy let his chin come to rest on the top of her head, hugging her tightly and he couldn't deny...even in this moment as he held her...he felt the burst of happiness tinged with a premonition that this was far from over...

And he was right.