Disclaimer:

I do not own the teen titans.

Summary:
"And the only time she touches the ground is when that little bird… dies."
What happens when a certain bird falls to prey? Will she once again take flight? Or disappear into the night?

Raven centered fiction.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Memories

RECAP:
She stayed this way for a few minutes, 'I.. I can't be her..'

She frowned, as she watched him slowly open his eyes, he stopped half way, his eyes swimming in sleep.

And then he whispered. She quietly gasped. 'No..how does he..I.. no..'

"...Raven...?"

FLASBACK

Robin sighed, just coming back from the kitchen, a hot mug of chocolate in his hands. He sat down at his desk, he was so tired with everything.

It's been too long.. I.. don't know what to do anymore.

He rubbed his eyes, attempting to stay awake. Letting his eyes wander, he fell upon a picture on his desk. He smiled faintly, it was a rare picture indeed. They had finally convinced Raven to come outside on the roof to play a alittle basketball with alittle help of Beastboy's blackmail.

Cyborg was at the end, both hands up in the air with a huge smile on his face. Starfire was standing next to him, one arm wrapped around his waist, the other around Beastboy who was standing next to her. Beastboy was smiling also, arm around Starfire's waist, and his other arm around Robin's shoulder, bunny fingers sticking out from behind Robin's head. Raven was smiling, Robin's arm around her shoulder, he dared not to wrap around her waist. Her head was leaned against his shoulder and Robin was smiling.

Robin put his mug down and just leaned against his chair, his arms folded against his chest. He stared at the picture, with a small smile, but it soon disappeared when his eyes fell upon Raven.

I was her leader. Her friend. I was suppose to protect her. He suddenly felt heavy in his heart.

..Why wasn't I better..? Why couldn't I save her.. why couldn't I find her.. why.. did she leave us.. leave me..

He let out another deep sigh and stood up, siting on his bed, still staring at the picture. His glance went to the floor, he put his heads in his hands, his elbows on his knees.

Why aren't I searching more.. why can't I find anything.. I..I.. Robin let out a grunt of frustration and layed back in his bed, legs hanging off the end. He made no move to scoot up to reach his pillow. He stayed still, hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.

I failed as a leader.. as a friend.. as a.. Oh god.. where are you.. I miss you.. I need you.. Please.. I.. He paused.. Did he really? Was he really considering it..? Was it just admiration? No.. He needed her.. He missed her..

Robin closed his eyes, whispering softly to the darkness, "I love you.."

He sighed once again, falling prey to sleep, thinking one thought as his ticket to the dream realm, '..do you love me too..?'

END FLASHBACK

Raven watched as he whispered something incoherent to her, but she silently read his lips.. I love you.. What..?

She walked out from the shadows, memories slowly flooding to her. Her arms were hugged against her waist. She felt.. unreal.

Robin opened his eyes, thinking he heard something, sleep swirling in his eyes, for a moment, he thought he was dreaming.. There, in his room, standing at his feet (which were still hanging, mind you), was Raven.. Yet she had longer hair.. and she seemed tired.

"..Raven...?" His voice was hoarse, sleep tugging at him. He watched as she gasped.

Raven had gasped when he said her name, more memories had flooded her. Her eyes glazed over with tears. She smiled softly and sat on the bed still watching him.

"Is that really you..?" He made a move to sit up but felt a hand on his chest, witholding him to his bed.

He watched as she layed next to him, her hand retreating from his chest. He couldn't help it anymore, his eyelids were so heavy, he closed them, but could feel her next to him, he felt the bed shift.

Raven had shifted lightly so that her left arm was above her head, and her cheek layed on the soft sheets. Her hand made a move to his cheek. Cradling it.

Robin had to strain his ears to hear her whispers.. she sounded so.. desperate.. so sorrowful.

"Richard.." He heard a small sniffle. He didn't have the strength to speak, he didn't know why.. he wanted to talk to her so badly. Little to his knowledge, a little power from this mistress had forbidden his tongue. He heard her again, oh, the choked voice.. the small voice..

"..I'm sorry.." He felt her thumb caress his cheek repeatedly. Silence followed for a few quiet minutes, and she spoke again, yet it was so quiet.

"I'm everything that you stand against.. I'm in allegiance with your rival.." He heard a sad chuckle, "..I'm a ravaging raven.."

She spoke once again, more softly, "..The Raven you knew.. is no longer.. Richard, she's dead. She died hoping.. hoping that someone would save her.. that you would save her.." she paused, ".. but you didn't come.. and it's okay.. it really is.."

Tears were now falling freely through her amethyst eyes. She moved closer to him.

Robin felt her weight settled on his side, her head against his chest, he could feel her hair on his chin, her hand still caressed his face.

He heard her sob, he felt the tears, and yet.. he had no power to comfort her.

"I'm so sorry Richard.. I didn't mean to leave.. I didn't mean to hurt you.. You have to believe me.. I didn't mean to.." He felt her shiver to take breath, "But I'm okay Richard.. Really I am.. You don't have to worry about me.. Stop searching.. stop searching."

Raven took a deep breath and lifted her head to look at his closed unmasked eyes.

Robin felt the weight lift off his body, then something wet fall on his cheek. 'Raven.. please.. dont cry.. stay with me..'

The girl lowered her face to his as so they would share the same breath. She paused, her lips above his. She kissed him softly on his bottom lip. She whispered, "I'm okay.. Richard.. I'm okay.."

He had felt her lips on his and yet he couldn't move.. he was immoble.. he was useless.. he was.. desperate to touch her. He felt her say something against his lips. 'Don't leave me Raven.. please don't leave me..' His heart was hurting, he felt tears gather in his closed eyes.

Raven bit her lip, still hovering over his face, she heard his cry of thought. He sounded like a child.. so lost.. so innocent.

He felt her adjust herself so that both her hands were on each side of his head, he felt the bed move a bit as he felt her lips touch his forehead, it lingered there for a second, and then as quick as it came, it was gone. Yet he felt her presence still on him, and then a whisper.

"..I do love you.. ..I do.." He was shocked, he stopped breathing for a moment.. 'How did she..?' But then he felt her remove herself from him, the bed shifting as her weight left it. 'No! No! Raven! Please! Don't go!' He was starting to panic. He wanted to see her.. he wanted to feel her.. he wanted.. he wanted ..her..

Raven now stood at his door, arms hugging at herself, a soft, sad smile featured on her face. She stared at him, and she lifted her powers from him.

Robin suddenly felt free, but he was still tired. He slowly opened his eyes to find her standing across the room, her back to the door. He eyes caught with hers. He made a move to lift himself from his position, but found no strength in it.

He watched as she opened her mouth, he strained to hear her. She paused, then, "..I always did."

Robin suddenly found himself feeling very drowsy, he tried to keep his eyes open, but they refused and closed. Sleep finally claiming him.

Raven stood there watching him, she had used a bit of her power to let him sleep. She closed her eyes tightly, letting a tear fall. She opened her eyes once again after a few moments, and the tears were now gone from her vision. She stepped back, fazing through the door.

She sighed and walked down the corrider, making no attempt with the hall cameras, 'Let them see me. I don't care. Not anymore.' But she did disable the alarm system as to not wake anyone up.

Padding through the halls, she soon made her way into each of her former teammates' rooms. Always just fazing through the door and standing there, letting her eyes drink in the sight. All of them were asleep. Whether they were charging on a metal table, or almost falling off their bunkbed, even if their head was hanging off the end of the bed. She just stared, and then stepped back, fazing out of their room and into the hallway ocne again. Fazing out of their lifes once again.

Raven stopped infront of her room. The engraving of her name staring back at her glared eyes toward her old room.

'It's as if I died and lived again.. and this is my grave..' She fazed through her door, and stood. She stood a good few minutes before making a move against her bookshelves, fingering the spines of her favorites books, sometime one floating out of their place and floating behind her. She let her fingers wander on figurines that came from azarath.. colorful, yet dusty hair ribbons that were given from Starfire.. a ring of car keys from Cyborg.. She chuckled at this, she was the only one he had given her extra keys of his 'baby.' She smiled at the thought and sat at her bed, looking at her items. She glanced toward the pile of books that floated near by. She waved her hand and they disappeared.

'Might as well take some of my favorite books..'

Through out all of this, Slade had watched. He watched from his chair. Contemplating.. thinking.. wishing.

'She's going to stay.. she's..' Slade refused to be weak. He had frown fond of her. He felt.. her as his daughter.. as family. She was the only thing he had besides Wintergreen. He sighed, turning off the cameras, refusing to say goodbye.

Slade stood up and walked out of the room. He needed some rest.

Raven made her way to the main room. She stood at the entrance, and the scene infront of her faded and changed in form of memories.

The sounds of cars and honks were quieted for a second, as Cyborg paused the game. He turned in his seat, and looked over the couch toward her. "Hey dark girl, Robin and Starfire went to get food. They'll be back in a second." He turned back to the tv, resuming the game, unfortunately, Beastboy was facing Raven too when this happened.

"Yeah Rae, hope you like chinese and pizza! HEY!" Beastboy yelled the last part when he heard the game resume, he turned, pressing furiously on his gamepad.

"THATS NOT FAIR! CHEATER!" He yelled.

"OH YEAH! GRASS STAIN! LETS SEE WHO WINS THEN!" Cyborg countered.

Raven smiled at the memory, and watched as her friends faded and returned to the empty room that it was. She walked toward the large window next to the tv. She glanced as a memory appeared to her side, Starfire's figure slightly transparent.

"Friend Raven! Silkie and I have decided to go to the Mall of Shopping! Shall you join us?"

Silkie was gurgling happy in her lap and Starfire was on the side couch, smiling happily at her friend.

Raven smiled once again and continued her walk to the window.

Finally reaching her destination, she looked out into the harbor. The sun was just starting to rise. Leaving its mark of colors upon the sea waters. She sighed and leaned against the glass, her shoulder taking most of the weight. Her heard toward the side, still looking at the rising beauty.

Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw another memory play out.

Robin was walking toward her, something in his hands, he seemed nervous. He stopped infront of her, his eyes away from her, hands fidgeting with his item.

"Umm.. I know you don't like.. the whole holiday thing.. and all that stuff. Uh.. so Um.."

Raven raised her eyebrow at this, Robin never stuttered or fidgeted. She watched as the memory continued.

"This is for you.." He hesitantly handed her a small box.

Raven held out her hands to the memory and watched as the memory put the transparent box in her hands. She looked back at Robin. He was scratching his head, and muttered something about work and quickly walked around, fading until he was no more.

She looked down in her hands at the box, though it was a memory.. she felt the need to open it. For she did not remember what was in the box.

Opening it gingerly with her fingers, she was surprised that the memory commanded to her touch. She gasped slightly as a small necklace shined from inside, untop of a small velvet pillow. But the small token soon faded away like her other memories.

She smiled softly as she let her hands down and looked back outside.

Robin groaned and sat up, Raven's powers finally dissapating from him. He rubbed his head. His eyes shot wide open as he rememebred the earlier night. Or morning.. He groaned again.. He had a massive headache growing..

'Was it.. all a dream..?' He sighed heavily, he'll think later, he needed coffee. Now. He took his mask from his bedside table and attached it to his face. There were no cameras in his room, so he wasn't worried. But he was always conscious out of his room.

He heaved another sigh and left his room, clad in only his pajama pants hanging loosely on his hips. Heading toward the kitchen.

Raven tensed when she felt Robin's presence coming toward the kitchen. She teleported right when the main doors opened.

Robin looked around, finding it empty, he walked to the kitchen counter and made himself a cup a coffee.

A black pool of magic appeared on the roof and Raven rose from it. She sighed, and stepped to the edge of the roof. She continued to look out to the sunrise.

Robin poured his coffee in his mug, receiving a steady steam emitting from the cup.

He sat down on the table, his glance toward the window. The sun's morning glares falling through out the room.

Raven lowered her eyes to entrance of the tower, there was a good amount of ground before it reached the water.. So she stepped to the ledge and turned her body, lifting her arms for balance though she didn't really needed it.

When of course, did she every do this? She smiled and walked, lifting her legs in a exaggerated way, then into a full sprint run toward the other side of the tower, where there was no ground if she fell from the tower.

She reached the end and jumped, spreading her arms as if it was wings. She free fell, her eyes closed, as she let the sensation of gravity overwhelm her. About to hit the water, she let her powers kick in and she flew sharply up, letting the water splash from pressure of air of her fall.

His chair toppled over as he stood up, his mug of coffee dropping on the table with a smash. Robin ran to the window, his hands on the glass, he thought he just saw something fly by.. '..Raven...'

Authors Note: Good god people, I am so sorry. School started, and writer's block is like.. hunting me down.

Suggestions, suggestions, would be nice! And reviews are awesome. I have like.. 2-4 chapters left of this story, and then I'll focus my attention to Beautiful Disaster.

Thanks guys! Reviews are rocking. And you readers are rad.

Hearts,
Ist.