Disclaimer: Don't own anything from the Teen Titans, however the name Rorex, and the characters Francesca, Malthenor, Sirus and now the new characters Jylin and Ice-Is – which I just own their names – are mine as well so don't touch them, even if they are adorable.

A/N: ATTENTION! This is NOT the end, I still got one more chapter then it will be fanito! But, I still would like to thank those of you loyal to this story you guys are the bomb! Love ya'll so much! For stickin' with me till the end of my first long story, you're all the greatest!

Well here's the second to the last chapter love it, hate it, blow it off, it's here for your viewing pleasure – or displeasure.

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Chapter 17: It's All About Second Chances

"Now this is interesting …"

"Do you have an inkling of an idea on how much this goes against the Paradox Law? If we're found we could very well be looking at an extra life sentencing."

"Oh do shut up Rorek your constant reminder of the rules, regulations, what is good and what is bad are beginning to greatly agitate me," turning and glaring his glowing green eyes on Rorek's ice blue hues, he snorted and ran a hand through his long silky smooth and well kept midnight hair reaching down past this thighs. Malchior dusted his dark violet velvet robe with golden intricate designs on the hem of the long bell sleeves and outlining the rest of his cape like robe, "Besides, why bother when you helped me cheat the timeline as well."

Rorek glared and looked around to the frozen world, nothing fazed him, or at least he didn't show it. The book from which they stepped out of the frozen moment still lay open at Raven's feet. Shaking his head to get the unruly snow white hair from his eyes he got a good look at the violet haired demoness finding her eyes closed in anticipation and slight fear as she fell back. He took a closer look and saw a tear was forming at the corner of her right eye.

She really did look like a fallen angel with the time around them frozen at the right moment to capture every emotion she had suppressed all her life. Content, fear, anger, sadness, kindness, exhaustion, intelligent, and many more Rorek could read if he just sat there to study her and the angel that was full of rage. It wasn't hard to decipher he wanted her, lusted for her blood and craved for vengeance on her interference.

"Second thoughts friend?" Malchior mocked as he stood next to Rorex studying his captured expression of utter fear, regret and failure. To him it was so funny he actually began to chuckle.

Rorek looked back and growled, "Your humor in all this disgusts me Malchior. This, right here, this particular time in the timeline we have just cut. The hal – the demoness was suppose to die here, if we stop it, change it, alter her death who's to say we don't alter the rest of the world."

"Is that not what we're here to do?" Malchior nonchalantly questioned as he looked up at Robin, the hybrid that was in shock, without his mask Malchior could very well read fear and determination. As if he was not going to let Raven die, like if she died today he'd spend the rest of his life looking for a way to revive her. Again Malchior found it all amusing, reason being cause he knew that was exactly what the little Robin would do if Raven were to die right here and now, "We change this history, then in away we save the world. This one, the hybrid, Robin I believe his name is, will not have to waste his life way for redemption. Stubborn ox, he never will see that not every promise can be kept … he cannot always be there for the girl."

"And of Rorex?" Rorek threw out, "What of him in this grand scheme of things? If she were to go, Robin would most likely hunt him down, the two half-brothers will not go without a fight. With Robin's bitter hatred towards Rorex claiming him to be the blame of it all and Rorex just hating to hate. Truly she is Fate's Daughter, everything that happens to her will mostly determine the fate of everyone else around her. Pity she doesn't that power she holds over everyone."

"So if she were to live …" Malchior let the statement hang in the air for the moment before finishing, "… if she were to live then how would it turn out … what would be the consequences of our actions?"

Rorek sighed and to Malchior's surprise chuckled, "What if there are no consequences? What if this was all meant to be?"

"Excuse me?"

"What if us interfering were meant to happen? If so … then the rest of their future would be determined not on her living … the consequences of all this, would be something trivial, say a broken heart?"

"You bring up a contemplating point," Malchior looked to Robin, then to Rorex and counted three feet from them was the falling Raven and the lethal Malthenor, and grinned, "So are we going to finish this?"

Rorek growled and shook his head as he looked way with a headache forming, "I can't honestly believe what I am about to do … this, Malchior is bittersweet."

"Really? And here I thought we were getting to be such close friends."

"Do not push it Malchior, that trick may have worked on the demoness, but it most certainly will not work on me."

"Ooo, someone's having mood swings. First you speak so highly of her then you suddenly degrade her as such? Be lucky she can't hear that, and in quote of your descendent, I'm not such a bad guy once you get to know me."

"How long exactly have you been watching these people?"

Malchior thought for a moment then shrugged and moved the angel up two feet and off aim, "Long enough Rorek, long enough."

Rorek chuckled a bit more s he picked up the book and held it under his arm, "Somehow that statement just fails to justify your constant roaming eye."

"Better be constant then to be subdued, are you ready?"

"I wish I were, but do we have a choice?"

Malchior gave a dry look, "Rorek for the while we've been stuck together in that accursed book all I've known you to do is never give me a straight answer. Now I'll ask again, are you ready of not?"

"Don't give me that Malchior, I'm still bothered with the fact I'm actually following through this crime. This goes against everything I was ever taught to stay away from." Rorek sulked as he walked put two fingers on Malthenor's forehead and proceeded to take his power and heritage away leaving him as good as almost human. Then like tweezers slowly pulled his fingers away taking with it the dark energy and everything else into his hand as he just jerked his arm back and the angel was no longer an angel. His wings gone, his claws gone, fangs gone, everything that made him a threat was gone.

Clutching his hand into a fist Rorek quickly opened the book and slammed his palm in it. There was a scream of protest, Malthenor's angelic heritage no doubt and Rorek felt him squirm and try to weasel out of his confines, but he wasn't strong enough. All Rorek had to do was press down harder and the angel was ceiled, with an irritated huff, Rorek blew up on his bangs and jerked his head to give a smug at Malchior who rolled his eyes very un-sorcerer liked.

"Do not let that go to your head Rorek, he was already weakened by rage."

Rorek snapped the book shut and watched as Malchior retracted his claws and slowly approach Raven getting in the position to – Rorek panicked, "Malchior! No! I thought we were going to save her!"

Malchior paused and turned to Rorek with a look that told him to clearly back off, "The poison is still in her system and the only way for me to extracted it is if I go about how Sirus had done it."

"Wouldn't that wound her the same?"

"You know I'm not even going to bother with you, just go back into the book and leave me to my doing."

"And risk you escaping like last time? I don't think so."

"Suit yourself." Malchior shrugged and without hesitating plunged his fingers into Raven's abdominal, Rorek cringed, but blinked when he notice that Malchior was using a phasing technique on her. Which puzzled him, how could you use a phasing trick to extract poison? Watching in curiosity as Malchior concentrated then finally pulled away with a sigh and showed Rorek his hand that was covered and dripping in green poison.

Flicking his hand to get rid of it Malchior shook his head in confusion, "I don't understand, Malthenor was right she should have died … what kept her alive? There was so much poison, enough to drop the hybrid in two days! There is so much mystery shrouding this girl that it's pathetic!"

"True," Rorek nodded and looked back to Raven, "if there was so much in one try, maybe you should do once more just incase."

Malchior shook his head, "There's no need I got it all I'm sure of it."

"Well then, our task is complete?"

"I believe so."

Rorek held up the book and sighed sadly as he closed his eyes and looked around to the open field, his blue eyes shinning with want and sadness. Malchior knew that look, it was the look either of them would have when they thought of how it was to be free from their prison. Eyes traveling down to the devil's wrists he saw the cuffs of the book were still on with fragments of the chain dangling from the side. The same was with his own once he pulled back his robe's sleeves.

Although Rorek's was steel gray his was pitch-black, each was never different from the other, cause they were both trapped for all eternity … or so the curse says. Stepping up next to the warrior that had imprisoned them both glowing green locked with ice blue and they knew it was back to prison for them both. Rorek opened the book, and in a soft pulse the world around them literally rippled and time was slowly starting to come back as they slowly began to disappear.

Then a shock wave hit once the book hit the ground time sped up and continued with the norm.

Like a bullet Robin shot down on the angel and Rorex had tackled Raven under Malthenor. It was a scramble, everything happened so fast that by the time Raven knew she wasn't dead and opened her eyes Robin had already subdued Malthenor. What the … I was sure he would have killed me … Raven thought quizzically and looked to her side to see Rorex looking down at her with utter disbelief, so much so he had to say her name to make sure she was really with him, "Raven?"

She blinked and sat up, putting a hand to her head she looked around and got up slowly ignoring Rorex for the moment she found Robin standing over a knocked out Malthenor. Looking back at Rorex she hoped he didn't get the wrong idea as she walked up to Robin and put a hand on his shoulder, "What's wrong?"

Robin side glanced her, then did a double take, "Raven?"

"Who else would I be?" Raven asked sincerely and Robin shook his head.

"No I didn't – I should be asking you if something's wrong."

"Well you didn't …" Raven looked down at Malthenor and tilted her head in confusion, "… okay, this is strange, how come Malthenor's out cold … and why aren't I picking up any power from him? It's almost like … he's human."

"Make's it easier for us," Robin grinned and turned to Raven, without warning he just caught her in a tight hug, Raven gasped and chuckled when he picked her up without effort and spun them around. Putting her down he sighed with relief, "I honestly thought I lost you."

Raven pulled away and gave him a mocking look of hurt, "Now I'm offended, you doubted me?"

Robin shook his head and chuckled, "Not for a second."

She plastered on a dry look, and Robin shrugged, "Okay, maybe a little."

Her look deepened and Robin grumbled and flicked his tail and wings in agitation, "Can you blame me? I promised to always protect you … if I lost you I would have broken that promise."

Raven smiled and patted his chest, "Like I said, you can't always be there for me."

"But I can try."

"Robin," Raven sucked in a deep breath and looked down to Malthenor, "We should probable take him to jail huh?"

He shrugged and nodded, "Yeah we should … I'll do it, I'm not the only one you should talk to."

Discreetly he moved his eyes to Rorex who had bent down to pick up the book and started to dust it keeping his eyes off the two, Raven watched him and looked up to Robin, "You sure?"

Robin could have laughed, but turned away from her picking Malthenor up and slung him over his shoulder he gave Raven a wink, "Go for it."

Walking away from her, Robin took one last look back and sighed, Rorex better pray he doesn't hurt Raven in any way or I'll see to it I become his personal executioner. I don't know how they happened, but … oh well, like what Beast Boy would say; 'Shit Happens' … still … where did I go wrong?

"Robin," Robin looked up to see a smiling Starfire as she floated down in front of him, "I am glad you are undamaged."

"Yeah … think you could help me out?" Robin gestured to the knocked out Malthenor and Starfire giggled and nodded.

"Of course," she looked over his shoulder to Raven and Rorex, "and what of Raven and the Rorex? Are they undamaged as well?"

Robin sighed, "Yeah, pretty much."

Starfire frowned, "You … seem, troubled by their conference … are you sure you're alright?"

"Yes, now let's go," Robin quickly answered and opened his wings about ready to fly when Starfire came up to him and put a hand on his shoulder with a stern yet comforting face she gave him a small smile.

"Robin … if Raven chooses the Rorex … then just know that you'll always have a special place in her heart that the Rorex could never fill. Just like I, or any of the other Titans, your friends … do you understand?"

Robin nodded, "Yeah I understand."

Starfire gave him a minor glare, "No Robin, do you understand completely and fully."

That was a good question … and she made an excellent point.

Staring at the ground for a while Robin sucked in a breath and slowly let it go, closing his eyes and nodding to him self in agreement. He knew what Starfire was trying to say … somehow she always had a good point to make. She was his moral out look on life and constant reminder that there was always another side to every story … not everything had to be black and white.

So in understanding that, and listening to her words closely, Robin really did know that everything she said about Raven was true – in this situation any way – Raven wasn't the type to just simple forget about the others in her life. Everyone and thing that proved to be an ally or close friend to her was never forgotten … so like she – Raven that is – questioned if he doubted her. Robin felt that the question could have been direct not only for her to save the world … but on her judgment, choices, ethics, and love for the ones that came before Rorex.

As if she knew he was … afraid in a way he'd be losing her … but now that Starfire brought out this point, he had the comfort of knowing that Raven was not one to doubt about. If anything she was the most reliable person in Robin's life … that was the reason why he trusted her with his life so entirely.

Robin looked up to Starfire and smiled with a knowing face, "Yes, Starfire, I understand."

She smiled brightly and turned, "Good, then let us go."

--

Raven turned to Rorex who had just looked up and with his amber eyes he gave her a weak, but content smile. For a while silenced reign, Raven looked away to the ground and rubbed her arm to distract her self from him. Rorex stayed put, never moving to come closer to her as he fiddled with the book not believing that all it took was just a simple white innocent thing to cause chaos and hell on Earth. He also couldn't believe that he had helped save the world – not just the city – the world.

That … was something he never thought he found himself doing … but then again it all felt as if he hadn't done enough. Like through all this, he was just a background character in a much bigger picture. What did he really do to contribute to this whole thing except maybe play the distraction, and possibly the info devil, but what did he really do?

Reaching to his pocket to take out the crimson vile he stopped when Raven spoke, "I'll grant you amnesty."

That caught him off guard, "What?"

Raven sighed and looked up to him, "I said I'd grant you amnesty. I'll have the mayor clean your record so you could start anew … you deserve it …"

Rorex gave her a pensive look and shook his head, "Deserve it? Raven you don't know what I deserve. What I deserve is my time in prison; I shouldn't even be out here in the open with you. I can't, I can't accept it … you're right, I'm a bad influence to Francesca … I don't want her to follow me anymore."

"Rorex," Raven walked up to him, when he looked to the ground unable to hold her violet orbs, she ended up reaching up and firmly yet gently grabbing his chin turning him to look at her. He did, and this is what she said, "Rorex, what I'm giving you is a chance to change all that. You can become a Titan … you can work with us."

He moved from her grasp and glared defiantly at her, "Well that's the problem Raven," he was beginning to growl, low and none threatening, but frustrated. Raven could almost swear she heard him force down a puppy like whine, "I don't wanna' be a hero, I just want to be Rorex a good older brother to my sister … I just – I want – you don't … never mind, you didn't hear me say anything."

He turned away and walked a few feet from her before harshly throwing the book on the ground and plopping down next to it. Looking out to the forest with his back to the city, Raven found that there was some kind of meaning to that. Like he wanted to get away from it all, he didn't want responsibilities, he didn't want to be expected to do anything. Good or bad. He just didn't want it all … that was when Raven saw the true Rorex, the one that ran when things got to intense, yet beat himself over and over again when he did.

In truth, Raven wondered if that was what he was taught, to run and never stand to fight. For if you fight there was always a 90 percent chance you'd never come back alive and in a way Rorex couldn't afford that, he had a young 7 maybe 8 year old sister that still depended on him. Even if she was quite the hustler, go-getter kind of girl she still needed Rorex and Raven knew due to pride that he'd never admit it out loud … but he needed her.

Francesca was his conscious, his reason for staying alive and keeping from getting into serious trouble. With him risking his life to come and right something he thought was his wrong was reckless. For all he knew he couldn't have come back to his sister. There was a great chance and there is still a great chance because Raven saw she could still put him in prison.

Even if she knew she couldn't.

She came to that conclusion a long time ago when she had Francesca's words playing in her head.

Rorex was risking everything for her, for them, for the only two girls that had the ability to affect him like this.

So sitting in the field, Rorex felt something strange.

From behind Raven knelt down and wrapped her arms round his neck then rested her head on his back, turning as well as he could to try and see her all he caught was her violet hair, "What are you doing?"

"Holding you," she answered quietly and breathed in deeply in haling his mixed sent of chocolate and strawberry, how he got such a unique scent was Raven's wonder, but she enjoyed it.

"So I see … but why?"

"…" she didn't really have a reason and she didn't want to say sympathy cause that wasn't entirely true, she didn't want to lie and say that it was only for thanks for saving her life. She just wanted to hold him, "I don't know … but you can't say you don't deserve a second chance … you do Rorex, you really do deserve a second chance. And I don't care if you don't want to be a Titan … just take my amnesty and do what you will. For Francesca's sake if not yours or anybody else's."

Rorex nodded, and smirked, "So does this mean that you trust me?"

Raven sighed and held on to him a bit tighter, "It's hard for me to say … but I do. I don't want to sound pathetic, but this is the truth from the moment I first saw you I knew I could trust you … it's not some words I'm just spitting out, I'm empathy and when I saw you I felt trust, but I didn't think anything of it … until now."

"So what about Boy Wonder?"

"Robin … he's a friend … a close one … like a brother … but – I don't know, I really don't know … on one hand I have you where I just can't explain how it is we connect, then I have Robin where there is every reason for me to be with him. In all sense the story should end with me with him … but the funny thing is …" she let the unfinished sentence hang in the air for a good while, Rorex let it hang never pressuring her to finish he sighed and leaned back against her. Forcing her to sit up and change her position so to have her legs folded to the side as he laid back with his head on her lap so he could look up at her.

She hesitantly brought her hand to his hair and began to weave her fingers in and out of the messy tangle, breaking and fixing where ever she found a spot to fix. Then just pulling his hair from his forehead back so she could see all of his face, and temptingly traceable markings. Raven reframed from touching them remembering Rorex's warning she just kept her hands in his hair as he closed his eyes and purred away, asking quietly, "…So what about us? Where do we go from here?"

Raven gulped and just continuingly played with his hair as she looked up to the forest, "I wish I knew … where do you think we should go from here?"

Rorex sat up, leaving Raven to rest her hand on her lap as he turned around and scooted closer to her. This time though, she wasn't at all bothered, only curious to what he had to say as he ran a hand through her hair and cupped her face. Bring her closer he kept his eyes on her burning her violet hues into the back of his memory forever as he whispered, "I know where I want to go with you Raven … but it's up to you, balls in your court … no pressure."

"If that's so," Raven paused as she snaked her hands on to his shoulders a strange glimmer in her eyes as she pulled herself up to his height, "then catch this."

She pulled him flush against her body and planted her kiss on him, the summer breeze that blew by suddenly became a swirling twister as large sums of rocks were brought up and spinning in circles all around them. Each going different ways then colliding with another like an Earth made explosion. Rorex smirked and dared to deepen the kiss running his tongue along her lower lip then playfully pulling on it with his fangs coaxing her into play. Raven gave in and the wind acted as if a bomb had been dropped sending shock waves spreading through out the large open field, Raven was sure the city would have been leveled if they were in it.

But did she care at this point?

Did either of them care?

If you answered no to anyone of these questions then you're right!

They didn't care, cause all that mattered to Rorex was Raven and all that mattered to her was Rorex.

Soon that little thing called "oxygen" was tapping them on the shoulder and forcing them to pull away from their ignorant bliss. Rorex kissed her once, then twice, before just pulling her down and resting his head on her hers as they lay side to side on the grass … with scattered pebbles all over them. Raven shook her head and let him hold her as she laid her head on his shoulder, with a small smile on her face, "This is so wrong … but I guess I can live with it."

"No regrets?"

"…" Raven looked up at him and smiled, "being with you for this long period showed me there's no time for regrets."

Rorex nodded and smiled as he kissed her on the forehead, "Good … then let's go."

The two stood up and dusted each other off of the dirt from the broken earth that was Raven's power. With a light heart Raven turned and reached of the book, but gasped and stared in shock. Rorex followed her gaze and cringed, "Ouch."

Taking the white book into her hands she shook her head as the wind brushed up and blew the torn pages away into the world. The once thick book was now reduced to nothing but shreds as the pages scattered all around them. Raven bit her lower lip and looked up to Rorex, "Sorry."

He chuckled and took what was left of the thing into his hands turning it over and shaking what was left of it out to the ground, Raven held her breath worried if that caused Rorek or Malchior any pain. Rorex gave Raven an amused look, "Don't worry about it baby-girl … at least no can use the spells any more eh?"

"But still … it was your heritage … the only thing left of your past, and now it's shredded." Raven shrugged and Rorex waved his hand in dismissal as he wrapped his free arm around her waste. Pulling her close to him and kissing her chastely he smirked.

"I said don't worry about it … now let's get out of here."

--

"You know, forget what I said about this girl. She's a menace to my society, how could she just shredded our only way out of this hell hole!"

"Oh calm down Malchior, this is a sign … a sign for us to stay put in our prison."

"I swear to whatever god there is out there Rorek that if I ever get the chance to slaughter you again I will. I promise you that I will!"

"Yes, yes, yes and so I've heard time and time again, could you please sing me a different song once in awhile?"

"Why you smart arrogant little – Rorek!"

Rorek blinked as he looked at his hands and saw that he was going transparent, "What in the name of NoLincous is going on?"

Malchior reached out to the devil and felt his hand pass through nothing but thin air, he swiped again and still Rorek was slowly disappearing. The cuffs on his wrists rattled then snapped and in a brilliant flash he was gone. Leaving Malchior alone in his prison to stare confusingly at the disintegrating cuffs, reaching down to take a hold of one he gasped when he saw his own hand vanishing. Standing straight up he looked form hand to hand, "What's … happening?"

He before he knew it the cuffs snapped and he felt a hard pull, yanked and traveling backwards, he tumbled in darkness and tried to gain control to see where he was going. But to no avail, he fell, he floated, then instinct kicked in and he screamed … but the strange was he felt the warmth of light flood over him, as well as the warms of a cloth wrap around him. Then a voice … tired and exhausted he heard another wailing and try as he might to ask what the hell was going on he just screamed and opened his eyes.

The first thing he saw couldn't have been possible; he locked with warm amber eyes of Rorex that held an infant in his arms, "Welcome to the world my little Jylin."

Jylin looked to his mother and almost died of shock, Raven, older looking to be at least 25 smiled down at him and kissed him on the forehead, "Want to see your little brother?"

Rorex came to her side and showed the little boy that was fast asleep in his arms with a thumb to his mouth, "His name's Ice-Is."

"Say cheese!"

Beast boy snapped a real 'Kodak moment' and laughed purely estatic about the whole thing. With the rest of the Titans around him, Raven glared and flared her power glowing with pure black energy the only reason everything was still in tact was because this was a special room that concealed her power, "Beast Boy I am warning you if you don't grow up one of these days I will kill you, you understand?"

"Friend Beast Boy I believe it is time for you to leave while we clean Raven up," Starfire shoed everyone away as well as the growling Rorex taking Ice-is from his hands his growl deepened showing is pure dislike of having others touch his child. They ignored him and smiled at Raven as they began the task of cleaning.

"You go girl!" Bumble Bee cheered, "You did it and my are they adorable! I just wanna' squeeze'em!"

Raven closed her eyes and laid back then looked down at Jylin while Starfire brought Ice-is over and the three of them looked down at the two twins. Starfire cooed at the two as Jylin was lolled off the sleep, then hugged Raven, whispering so not the awaken the newly born babies, "I congratulate you my dearest friend, you have now complete the transformation which we so envy of you."

"Transformation?" Raven repeated with unsure of she heard correctly.

"Yeah girl," Bumble Bee whispered with a playful pout, "You're a mother now, lucky."

"Yeah," Raven sighed and closed her eyes allowing her friends to take her kids as she found herself captured by sleep, "lucky."

--

Well, well, well looks like reincarnation does exist … at least in this story.

So what'cha think? Be honest; tell the truth, I need to hear it.

L8er daez, I'll be back with the end soon enough.