Raven sat in her room, her head buried in her hands.

This was a special week if you want to call it that. Everyone in the house was acting different. Raven and

Crow were always in their room; Falcon stopped doing pranks for the time being and Dove laughed less. Meals were more silent, and the TVs were barely on. But most of all, Raven wasn't sleeping whatsoever, and the same goes for eating. Tiny bits of crackers and water were all she was going to eat for that week. And even though she would try her hardest to sleep and eat, it wouldn't work.

'Why should I still be sad? It was years ago.'

Raven got up and put on her jacket. Taking her keys, she walked out of her bedroom door, not even bothering to lock it, knowing she wouldn't need to since Falcon wasn't up for pranks this week. She walked out the house, locked the double doors, and got in Crow's car. Raven was seventeen, and barely even drove a car. Crow let her take the car a couple of times, and this would have to be one of them.

Raven drove the car to her favorite café. She always went there for occasions like these. She knew she shouldn't be stressing too much, it wasn't even 'the day' yet. Just 'the week'.

Raven got out of the car, locked it, and she strode into the dark café.

The café was small, yet comfortable. The lighting was perfect for her mood, dark and dreary. Raven picked her favorite spot in the back, the one with a lavender candle.

As she sat down, the waitress came to get her order.

"Herbal tea, please." Raven answered, lighting the candle.

"Anything else?" The waitress asked.

"No."

"I'll be back in a second." With that, The waitress walked away briskly.

Raven looked around; there were only two other people in here. A girl near the window reading a book, and a boy in the back listening to music and smoking, slightly bobbing his head with the music.

Raven looked back at the now aflame candle and watched as it danced in front of her eyes. The flame was always warm and mesmerizing.

She remembered when her mother would light many a candle for her husband on their anniversary. He would come home so surprised, so happy. Crow and Raven were sitting on the stairs, giggling when they were talking because the adults didn't look like they knew their children were there, or grossed out when the adults got closer. Raven was only 5, while Crow was 8.

But the adults knew their children were listening in, and sometimes used the 'I think I'm going to ground our children for no reason' tactic. Making her babies come out from hiding and beg for forgiveness on whatever they did. Arella would always meet their scared faces with a beaming one and hug her children to death.

The waitress came back with Raven's tea and left with a smile, something she hasn't seen since the week started.

Even Garfield was a little saddened. Arella was also very nice to Garfield.

"What the hell," Raven stood up and walked over to the counter, "I think I deserve some cake."

(Richards POV)

I watched as she stood up to go get something from the counter. In fact, I had been watching her for most of the time.

She entered the café without even noticing I was there, so I moved to a darker area so she wouldn't see me.

Something had to be wrong for her to come here, I wonder what. Oh well, I know I shouldn't care. But I can't help but be curious.

I turned off my iPod, but only lowered the headphones slightly so I can hear what she orders; maybe she has a secret sweet tooth I can use against her.

Raven orders but I can't hear her. I stand up and stick my iPod in my pocket. She doesn't notice me walking towards her yet, but she will soon. Before I come into her view I put on my trademark smirk.

"Chocolate cake? A hidden sweet tooth I'm guessing Raven?" I said, propping my elbows on the counter.

Honestly the only way I saw it was chocolate cake was because on the box covering it was a slight smudge.

"What's it to you?" Raven said quietly. I could barely hear her. I know when someone talks like that, I know they're jaded by something. She didn't even look at me when she said that.

"Nothing." Was my magnificent answer.

Raven looked at me with her pleading amethyst eyes, and I know she means for me to go away. I gave people those looks all the time, yet a little less pleading and little more demanding.

My smirk dropped slightly at the sight, but I managed to keep it up until she turned away again to pay for the cake.

"Thank you." Raven said timidly to the cashier as the cashier gave her some change back. She turned away and started to walk back to her table.

Should I follow her?

I looked back at Raven; she was already sitting down at her table and thinking. I watched as she slowly opened the box of cake and picked up her fork.

The cake looked good; maybe I should order some myself. Looking at the menu, I see it's 5.50.

Something I don't have at the moment. Damn.

As I look back at Raven, I see she hasn't even taken a bite yet. Her delicate hand grips the fork tighter as she slowly reaches the cake. Why is this so difficult for her? I watch as he fork lightly caresses the frosting.

Finally the fork plunges into the chocolate cake and she lifts it, holding a piece of it only a few centimeters from its original place. I notice her hands start to shake. Raven looks downward, dropping the fork and chocolate, but she stands up before it falls and walks away briskly.

Her quick pace made the candle blow out, but by the time it did she was already out of the café and starting her car.

What's the matter with her? I walk over to her table and relight the candle so I can see.

On the uneaten cake I see that she wrote something into the frosting with her fork.

It read: R.I.P

(Normal POV)

Raven zoomed off in her car and arrived at her home in record timing as the rain started to fall.

Stomping out of her car she stepped up the stairs as the rain pounded hard. Raven fiddled with her keys for a little bit.

"Come on!" She tried to fit the key in the keyhole but her shaking hands kept that from happening.

"Damn it!" Raven gave up and sat on the steps, letting the rain pound against her in rhythm. She wanted to not cry desperately because she wanted to cry in the solitude of her room. Where it would be safe to cry without anyone worrying, or saying it'll be ok. Because it wont, not until she's up there with her.

Raven hugged her knees and laid her head in her arms, making sure no one could see her face. As she felt a few tears slide, she hugged her knees tighter. Rain was now only something in the background, something that barely even mattered anymore.

She remembered her parent's funeral. It wasn't raining at all, and she didn't know if that was a good thing.

Someone she didn't know came up to her as she cried, and she had no idea where the person came from. But she could tell by their face they were nice. Raven was under a tree crying her eyes out, and when the person asked why, they were shocked.

'I thought for sure you mourning over your parents death young girl.' The woman with blue eyes and black hair said. Raven looked and saw that the woman wore clad in black dresses, like right after the priest had said a few words in the graveyard and everyone left.

'Well, that too. But isn't it suppose to rain when people die?' Raven said wiping away remaining tears.

Raven remembered the person chuckling and sitting down next to her, 'No, it doesn't have to rain. In fact, it's a good thing it didn't rain today. You see, when people die and it rains, the rain is the extra tears they never let shed. The extra tears that they held in, and kept in their need to cry. But on this day, the death of your parents, it didn't rain. It didn't rain, because your parents had expressed every emotion freely, they cried when they wanted, they laughed when they wanted. And that's why it isn't raining dear. Because they had no tears to cry when they died. So neither should you, ok?'

The little Raven smiled and wiped away more tears after saying a thank you.

As Raven looks back on that more 'lesson learned' day, she feels a tap on her shoulder.

Forgetting that she was crying, Raven's head shoot up to see Richard looking down at her, a pack of cigarettes in his extended hand.

Raven eyed the offered cigarettes, and complied, taking one and putting it in her mouth. Richard fished a lighter from his pocket and lit it, surprisingly without extinguishing it in the rain.

Richard took a seat next to her and watched Raven inhale as if she's done it before, no coughing or throwing up. But he wasn't surprised, he knew her parents died once, he would have done the same.

In fact, he did.

They sat together in the rain in complete silence. Neither said a word as they shared and enjoyed the moment of bonding between the two.

Richard remembered when her parents died. He and his family had gone, before they died themselves. But when they went, they stood silently in the back, his mother shedding a few tears while his father held her in one arm, and one hand clasped tightly on Richard's shoulder. After the priest said a few words, his mother and father talked briefly and walked away from each other. Richard's father pulled him away with him.

'Dad, where's mom going?'

'She wants to have a talk with that girl over there, son.' Was his answer.

Richard turned around and watched his mother talk to a cute dark haired and purple eyed girl sitting under the tall tree next to the buried people's funeral they were just standing near. The small girl near his age was crying as she asked his mother a question, he watched as she answered it with the smile she always gave him to make him feel better.

Richard came back to reality as Raven took one last inhale and dropped on the ground, letting the rain wash away the sparks.

"Thanks." Raven said quietly and stood up, walking back to her door.

"Wait-" Richard stood up and handed Raven her sister's umbrella, "It's Dove's." Richard turned around and walked in the rain without hearing her answer.

Raven looked after him. 'He is so complicated.'

Before Raven could open the door, Crow opened it and stared at her.

"Are you done having romantic moments, or do you want me to come back later?" he asked, surprisingly joking, yet having the most serious face on earth.

Raven just rolled her eyes and pushed past him, shutting the door in the process.

Richard had walked away from her stoop and crossed the street.

As he looked back, he saw the same guy from before open the door and talk with her. She pushed passed him and shut the door.

Again, Richard felt that old flame come to life. But he quickly shook it off, or at least tried.

'Why the hell am I feeling jealous over her? Jeez, I don't even like her.'

Richard kept walking back to his house, arguing with himself the whole way.

It had been 3 days since that rainy day, and like predicted, Raven didn't eat or sleep.

Today was the day. The day her parents had died and left 4 children alone in the world to take care of them. It was their 'special' anniversary.

Raven rummaged through her closet. She was looking for the black dress she had ordered just for this occasion. She dug deeper and deeper until she got to the end, a velvet long black dress waiting to be tried on.

After putting on her dress, she looked at the clock. 2:45. Raven and her siblings had all left school early, deciding to spend their anniversary at the graveyard.

Finishing her hair, she walked out of her room and walked slowly down the stairs.

There waiting was Crow and Falcon, both wearing black tuxes. Crow had combed his hair today and brushed it back so you could see both eyes. He was sitting on the couch, his ankle propping itself on his other knee while his hands were laced together, playing with the thumbs. If anyone else, they would have suspected Crow to be calm, but to the other Roth children, he was extremely nervous.

Falcon was sitting on the floor near Crow's long legs with his legs pulled to his chest and his arms hugging his ankles while Falcon's hands also played with each other's thumbs. His hair was gelled neatly so nothing was messy like it usually was, and no hairs were lying on his forehead. Raven guessed Crow helped Falcon with his hair, though she couldn't imagine it.

"Where's Dove?" Raven asked.

"I think she's still upstairs." answered Falcon.

"Can you go and get her please?"

"Sure, Raven." Falcon untangled himself and flew up the stairs.

Raven and Crow sat in silence, today was harder for them, and they had known Arella the longest and knew her personality traits were living within her children.

Falcon came running down the stairs with Dove trailing behind him.

"Are you ready?" Raven asked Dove.

"Mhhmm." She nodded.

Without another glance, the Roth Children left their house and headed for the graveyard.

"Where's Raven?" Richard yelled.

"I don't know dude, she never misses meetings like this."

"Ugh, if she doesn't get here soon." Richard looked towards the other group in hopes that they were way behind them. And much to Richard's disliking, they were almost done.

"Damn it." Richard was always a competitive one. "Doesn't she have a cell or something you could call?"

"I don't remember the number." Garfield said timidly, he didn't like where Richard's temper was going.

"If we don't get this thing finished today, then we'll have to finish it all tomorrow, which I don't think we could do." Richard finalized with slam of the fist to the poor defenseless table.

"Richard, I don't think it's wise to punch the things that cannot punch back." Kory said placing a hand on his shoulder.

But Richard just moved out of her touch and walked out of the room.

'Maybe she's in the library or something.' He thought.

The Roth children all had their heads bowed towards the grave of their parents. They had each taken a turn to say something, and it was now Dove's turn.

"Um, I really didn't know you, both of you. And I'm sorry that my birth was the cause of your deaths," The Roth children had done this year and year, and every year they would get more comfortable in front of each other until the point they would talk to their parents as if the others weren't there. And if the others heard the speaker say something like, 'it was my fault' or 'I don't think it was wise for you to have gone home so early' they wouldn't say anything, or correct them if they knew it was wrong. They would let them speak, and maybe talk to them afterwards.

"But, maybe I can repay you guys. I could do more dishes and chores around the house. I'll make sure Falcon doesn't get in anymore fights, and…um... I'll clean my room. If it makes you happy that is. And even though I didn't really know you guys, I love you." Dove bowed her head once again and began to cry.

Raven looked down towards her younger sister, watching as her shoulder started to shake violently with every sob. Raven had also cried, but only a few tears. Falcon cried like Dove, but he finished faster and wiped them away with dignity. Crow didn't cry. Crow doesn't do the crying thing. When she asked him, he was surprisingly willing to explain and said that he was finished crying when their father had left them. Raven just nodded and let him off easy without any interrogation questions.

Before Raven could help Dove, Falcon tugged at her sleeve as he wiped his eyes.

"Can…can we go home now?" Falcon asked timidly.

Raven stared at him, taking a note at how even when he cried, he was beginning to look like a man. His bravery was always persevering and never wavering when he needed it.

Falcon started to bawl, but quickly bit his upper lip and made himself stop.

"I shouldn't cry. Crying is for wimps." He murmured.

Raven kneeled down in front of him. Now being shorter than him, she wiped away the tears on his cheeks.

"Falcon, do you remember what I told you exactly a year ago when you started to cry and stopped yourself?" She asked softly.

Falcon shook his head no.

"Ok, I'll tell you again. But if you forget I'm not telling you again, alright?"

Falcon nodded his head and looked down at his sister, viridian meeting amethyst.

"When people die and it rains, the rain is the extra tears they never let shed. The extra tears that they held in, and kept in their need to cry. But on this day, the death of our parents, it didn't rain. It didn't rain, because our parents had expressed every emotion freely, they cried when they wanted, they laughed when they wanted. Falcon, when you hold in your tears it will rain immensely when you die. And the people mourning will cry their hearts out, for the fact that you didn't live long enough to express your tears." Raven had said almost word for word of everything that lady at the funeral had said, adding a few sentences of her own.

"Now I remember." Falcon nodded smiling slightly.

"Good. Do you still have to cry?"

"No, but I wont hold back the next time I do." Flacon promised.

Raven smiled back and stood back up.

Crow had already let Dove cry on his shoulder as he held her. Dove fell asleep, resting her head in the crook of his neck. That was a picture people would have killed to have.

Raven looked back down at Falcon, who was looking back up at Raven. She took his hand, and let Crow lead the way to the car.

Raven walked in the science class an hour after they left the graveyard. They had immediately went home and changed back into their normal clothes. Falcon watched over the sleeping Dove as Crow took Raven to school, since she didn't feel like driving.

As Raven walked over to Garfield and their science project, she noticed Richard was no where to be seen.

"Raven!" Out of sight, but not out of room.

Raven turned around to see Richard stomp through the door.

"I saw you walk in from where I was in the library and ran after you the whole time! Where were you?" Richard yelled.

"I was …at home." Raven didn't feel like it was his business to her mother's anniversary of her death.

"You were at home? AT HOME? You do know this is the second to last day we have for our project right?" Richard was going all out on her.

Raven just stood there, looking back at him and keeping quiet. She didn't deserve this, but this was the only way to get him to finish faster.

As Richard kept yelling, Garfield thought of something. Garfield knew he was right about one thing, Raven was never late to anything. That he knew for a fact, a fact he would gladly bet on. He knew the only time she would be late for something was if something with much greater importance would pop up.

'With much greater importance.' He repeated in his head.

"If we get a horrible grade on this then I'm blaming this all on you!" Richard was still yelling. No, he wasn't yelling just because she was late. All the confusing feelings he was feeling were converted into anger and he was leashing it out on Raven.

'With much greater importance.'

"You do know that me and Logan are totally clueless on this right?"

'With much greater importance.'

Finally, a light bulb brightened in Garfield's head.

"Dude, Grayson, give it a rest. The less you yell the more we can yell." Logan explained.

As if on cue, Raven turned to the science project and started to work on it.

"Why should we let her off so easily?" Richard asked aggressively.

Garfield leaned in slightly and whispered, "Look if this is personal between you two, good luck. But now isn't the time. Alright?"

Richard narrowed his eyes at him. "Fine."

The group quickly got back to work and managed to finish most of it that day.

After everyone packed their backpacks, they were all outside of the high school either waiting for their rides or starting to walk home. Victor had taken Terra home, while Raven and Garfield were waiting for Crow. Kory and Richard were supposed to walk, but Kory was talking with Garfield while Richard was using the restroom.

"Wow, Richard definitely lost his temper today, huh?" Garfield asked chuckling.

"Yes, he did," Kory laughed back, "But was it not really Raven's fault for being late?"

Garfield debated whether or not to tell, but decided Kory could keep a secret.

"Years ago on this day, her mother and step father died in a car crash on their way home from the hospital. Raven's mother had just given birth to Dove, Raven's youngest sister. Dove was the only survivor of the crash since she was just a baby and her bones were flexible. She was also wrapped in a ton of blankets. Her and her siblings go to the cemetery on every anniversary. That's why she was late." Garfield explained solemnly.

"That is horrible!" Kory exclaimed, a hand already resting on her mouth in amazement.

"Yeah, just don't tell anyone, alright?"

"I won't, but why does she not want anyone to know about this?" Kory asked.

"She doesn't want pity for it. But people can already guess something like that happened since no one ever sees her parents."

"Oh."

Raven yelled over to Garfield, "Crow's here! Gar!"

"Alright I'm coming!" Garfield looked back at Kory, "See ya later, Kor."

"Good bye, Gar." Kory giggled at the nicknames they gave one another.

Garfield smiled back as he ran off towards his ride home.

Sorry it's shorter than the other two, but I already wrote what is going to be in each chapter, and I'm guessing some will be shorter than others.

In my other story I just wrote until a certain number of pages, but in this one, everything is set one what is going to be in each.

Give LadyHood a round of applause for putting up with my grammar/spelling mistakes, and being my first beta! –The crowd goes ahhhh-

Shouts-

watergoddess08- You make me feel all happy inside when you write a review! Thanks for doing it, it really means a lot lol.

CrimsonFire490- lol yes a question indeed. Thanks for reviewing

Cherry Jade- haha yeah, maybe I should have let Crow have his way with that boy. Thank you!

cutter-with-a-cause- me likey that you reviewed! Thankeys :-D (…is that even a word? I think not.)

Kr0nnikal- yeah…lol my beta's LadyHood, but next time I need one it can be yours if you want. Thanks for reviewing!

Evil-Phan-Raven- Really? Wow, thank you sooo much!

Yami-MeKayla- Hey Alyssa (I love that name, it's my best friend's) Thanks for reviewing, I'm sooo glad you like to so far, thanks again!

Rubianca- hahaha…wootcakes, that's hilarious. If you don't mind, I'm going to call you wootcakes now, next chapter instead of seeing 'Rubianca' you shall see w00tcakes! lol. Thanks for reviewing, it totally means a lot to me!

Lain the Fluff-Master- Thanks! Yes I agree, our Richard smoking isn't a good idea, lol but I wanted to go into the whole highschool drama 'oh I'm so pathetic I smoke when I feel bad' kinda thing. He'll get off the habit really soon though, and it'll be all thanks to Raven – woops, I mean...you'll see ; D. Haha that'd be funny if your Beta saw your review…I can only imagine the reaction. By the way, I was reading a story and the author made a note about how the actually saw all the 'The End' episodes of TT. She let a spoil slip about how Robin is being the hero and really protecting the innocent little Raven. I cant wait to see it, she said that we wont be disappointed…wow I'm so giddy!

Raven Ariana- Yeah, like I said in Lain's answered review, I wanted to show how I pictured the whole 'Wow I'm so pathetic I smoke when I feel bad' sort of highschool drama, you know? But don't worry…Richard will get off the nasty habit in a way you might like –wink- hehe. That's the only reason (well besides the drama thing) that I put him smoking in there. Also, if your wondering about Raven in this chapter…no she doesn't smoke anymore, and she wont be smoking for the rest of the story. But she will explain why she was experienced. She also helps Richard get off his habit like she did. Thanks for reviewing what you felt though, it really means a lot!

Tecna- haha your reviews always make me laugh. So I updated this as soon as I could, please don't hurt me! Lol, thanks again! btw: is 'The End' episodes a trilogy? How many parts are there?

alena-chan- Hahahaha that's a hilarious image, squirming and kicking away from the docter, especially when we're all teens here (mostly). Yeah I also like the idea of Richard being jealous, so I added it in for kicks lol. Thanks for reviewing!

sexgoddessmisha4draco- I soooo know what you mean. I love email alerts, so helpful. Their like a remote control…your too lazy to get up and change the channel, so you just get the rectangle looking controller to do it for you while you sit on your butt and watch. You've gotta love it, lol. Thanks for reviewing!

Amber Myst- Yeah I agree, but all will change soon don't worry lol. Thanks for reviewing!

M