It Happens.

Let it All Out

(Continuing from last chapter)

"What?" Robin asked.

"You heard me," Raven said with eyes full of hate, "fuck you," she repeated.

"But….why?" Robin asked in confusion.

"Do you think that you can just come into my house, say sorry and everything will be alright?" Raven snapped and suddenly a nearly chair exploded, "you have been at me for years about my father and how I was to be sorry for everything!" she shouted, "now I'm ready to apologize and you don't want it!"

"But I'm sorry," Robin insisted, "I really am."

"So what!" Raven cried angrily, "I can't believe you came here!" she ranted, "get out!" she ordered.

"No," Robin refused.

"Robin maybe you should…." Speedy started to suggest.

"No!" Robin refused, "Raven I'm really sorry," he told her.

"I don't care," Raven snarled and her eyes glowed red.

"Robin you're angering her," Aqualad said immediately, "leave."

"I'm not going anywhere," Robin refused.

"Raven wait," Speedy spoke and Raven eyes stopped glowing, "hear him out," he said, "give him the opportunity he never gave you."

Jinx was still silent. But her worried face showed that the situation definitely didn't look good to her.

Raven chuckled then grinned.

"You know what," Raven said, "I really don't care about what you have to say," she said to Robin, "but go ahead, say it."

"Years ago," Robin started, "Slade raped me," he said, "it was because….of many things," he continued, "but there's one thing that definitely didn't cause it," he said firmly, "I didn't know it then," he admitted, "but I know now," he said and walked right up to Raven, "that one thing is you," he declared and rested a hand on her shoulder.

Raven glared at Robin. But Robin could tell that she was listening.

"I'll think about it," Raven said formally, "for now I want to speak to Aqualad and Speedy," she told Robin, "alone," she added.

"Um, alright," Robin said, "but you will….?" he started to ask.

"If you stay here under Jinx's supervision I'll be back in an hour or two," Raven told, "but ONLY if you stay here and don't explore my house," she added firmly and walked off with Speedy and Aqualad following her briskly.

Robin gave Jinx a side-glance and looked away.

"You don't have to look away from me Robin," Jinx told him, "remember that I saw what your ass looked like after Slade raped you," she reminded him.

"Yeah you told me," Robin said softly, "do you think that I ….have a chance of Raven forgiving me?" he asked Jinx.

Jinx sighed.

"I can't guarantee that Robin," Jinx said frankly, "but are you really sorry?" she asked him with concern.

"Of course I'm sorry!" Robin exploded and suddenly he was in tears, "I never meant for all this to happen," he said as he sobbed openly.

Jinx was taken a back but she quickly took Robin into her arms and started to comfort him.

"It's okay Robin," Jinx said comfortingly and rubbed Robin's back tenderly, "just let it all out," she told him kindly.

(Ten Minutes Later in another part of the house)

"Take off the jacket Speedy," Raven said seriously for the fifth time and again Speedy shook his head in refusal, "I know what you must've done," she told him.

"It's just that….I feel so…," Speedy tried to say.

"Stupid?" Raven asked and Speedy nodded, "well Speedy you just can't be sitting by yourself all depressed and not expect to possibly do something stupid," she said frankly, "I'm much more used to loneliness than you are so I can take it."

"Well it's obvious that you kept your promise," Speedy pointed out.

"What promise?" Aqualad asked.

"To support each other," Raven lied, "right, Speedy?" she asked sternly.

"Yeah," Speedy said after finally getting on the uptake, "support each other," he said but Aqualad didn't look convinced.

"Okay Speedy you don't have to remove your jacket," Raven said changing the subject quickly since she knew that Aqualad wasn't buying her lie, "but let me hold your hands so that I can heal you quickly," she instructed him.

"Heal me from what?" Speedy asked fearfully and clung to himself even tighter.

"Oh come on," Aqualad snapped, "everyone knows that you slit your wrists Einstein!"

"Funny you should know," Speedy responded, "since you never read my letters or check up on me," he said angrily.

"That's your baby sitter's job, not mine!" Aqualad exploded.

"Stop it, both of you!" Raven ordered, "now give me your hands Speedy," she said firmly and Speedy slowly obeyed.

Raven chanted some magic words and a black aura washed over Speedy's hands and arms. Raven then closed her eyes and stood still for nearly three minutes. Her face looked as if she was in deep concentration. After it was all done she let go of Speedy's hands.

Speedy looked at Raven apprehensively then removed his jacket. His wrists were heavily bandaged. Speedy slowly removed the bandages and as more and more of the bandages fell off you could see that some of it was coated in dried blood. But when Speedy finally saw his wrists, they were fully healed. He looked up at Raven happily but Raven's face was full of disapproval.

"You broke your promise to me Speedy," Raven said.

"I'm sorry," Speedy apologized.

"I just don't understand," Aqualad spoke up, "you have money, fame, girls, people DYING to take your place," he said, "and you want to kill yourself?" he asked incredulously.

"You don't need those things to have a happy life," Speedy said softly, "it just makes you rich, famous and lucky," he told Aqualad, "it doesn't always bring happiness, at least not true happiness," he added.

"And what brings true happiness Speedy?" Aqualad asked Speedy.

"Among other things a clear conscience," Speedy told him, "and my conscience hasn't been clear for a while now."

"So you finally realize Raven's innocence?" Aqualad asked him coldly.

"I've realized that Slade raping Robin wasn't her fault and she was an honourable member of the Titans before she was tossed aside and pushed away," Speedy responded, "I only made it worse and I'll never be able to fully forgive myself for that," he added.

"So what does this have to do with me?" Aqualad asked.

"I was the one who made you leave Titans East," Speedy said sadly and looked at his feet, "I was the reason that Titans East has ended and Steel City doesn't even want it replaced, ever."

"No," Aqualad said, "you can't blame yourself for everything Speedy," he told Speedy, "Titans East ended because we lost the unity we had and turned our anger against each other," he said, "we each have ourselves to blame," he continued, "in fact the least to blame is Bumble Bee," he said, "she tried her best to keep us all together and I left, and the twins ran away to be with each other," he said softly, "and I never got to tell her that I was sorry for leaving, sorry for abandoning Titans East before she died," he said regretfully.

"You felt that you abandoned us?" Speedy asked in surprise.

"Yes," Aqualad admitted, "I guess I'm a bit of a hypocrite telling you to let go of guilt when I still have mine," he said, "but I've not let mine overwhelm me," he said seriously, "you can't let yours overwhelm you," he told Speedy.

"It's not so easily done," Speedy told him.

"Well you have to try harder," Aqualad said, "my wife told me to answer your letters," he revealed, "maybe if I did I could've helped sooner," he said sadly.

"Well there's no time like the present," Speedy said, "how about you and me catch up on old times and maybe even eat some fast food," he suggested.

"I swore off fast food," Aqualad said immediately.

"Then I order a burger and you eat a salad," Speedy countered, "it's been a week since my one month vacation has started and I've been eating fast food everyday," he declared.

"That's not healthy," Aqualad criticized.

"What's not healthy is the rabbit food I often have to eat and drink with only water," Speedy told him harshly, "do you know that besides at parties it's been three months that I've drank anything but water and eaten anything but lettuce, carrot sticks, a few vegetarian dishes large enough to fit in the palm of my hand and still leave space, calaloo and Brussels Sprouts sometimes coated in cheese," he listed and at the last one Aqualad made a face, "you try eating just barely a handful of vegetables per meals and see if you wouldn't something a little bit different and more filling than just those vegetables," he spat at Aqualad.

"The cheese makes it more filling?" Aqualad asked.

"Not really but it does give a different taste and I can only do it sometimes," Speedy responded, "I can't do liquid diets," he said, "I feel too weak when I do them."

"But you're already thin," Aqualad pointed out.

"But I was able to keep it because I was VERY active," Speedy pointed out, "now I gain weight very easily and I can't be too active when I'm often doing photo shoots, walking run ways and flying or being driven to the next location."

"Why not try cycling or walking to those that are not very far away?" Aqualad suggested.

"I'm a model Aqualad," Speedy reminded him, "I'd get stripped naked and raped," he said, "and it's not just likely the female fans alone that would do it," he added.

"We definitely don't need a Robin part two: Speedy's Turn," Raven pointed out in monotone.

"I'll have a more tasteful role to play in life," Speedy said bluntly, "so um Aqualad, you want us to go out and catch up on old times?" he asked.

"Sure," Aqualad agreed, "you coming Raven?" he asked.

"I have Robin here, remember?" Raven reminded him.

"Why not make him wait?" Speedy suggested.

"Speedy," Aqualad said with disapproval, "deal with Robin Raven," he said firmly, "we can always hang out later," he said simply.

"Yeah," Raven agreed, "I might bring Jinx and Gizmo along," she told them, "you don't mind?"

"How about just us the first time?" Aqualad asked and it was obvious that he wasn't comfortable about Jinx and Gizmo.

"Fine," Raven said, "maybe tomorrow?"

"I'm busy at my wife's parade," Aqualad said, "but you're both invited," he added.

"The underwater thing isn't for me," Raven declined, "just take Speedy."

"Who me?" Speedy asked in surprise.

"No Casanova," Aqualad said sarcastically, "of course YOU!"

"Well I'm certain the mermaids will love having a handsome model like me down there," Speedy declared.

"Oh brother," Aqualad muttered, "bye Raven," he said.

"Bye Raven," Speedy said as well, "Aqualad's just jealous of me," he added in a whisper.

"No I'm not!" Aqualad cried angrily and Raven couldn't help but let out a giggle.

"Don't start getting on each others' nerves already," Raven warned.

"ME, get on anybody's nerves?" Speedy asked innocently, "but everybody loves me," he protested.

"Says you," Aqualad said.

"Hey!" Speedy cried in offence.

"Bye you two," Raven told them.

"Oh, Bye Raven," they both said in unison with grins and blushing faces.

"Let's go eat," Speedy said, "your treat Super Model," he added.

"Hey! You're married to a Princess," Speedy protested, "why my treat?" he whined as they walked away and Raven simply shook her head and disappeared.

(Where Raven left Robin and Jinx in her house)

Raven appeared where she left Jinx and Robin ready to hear whatever excuses Robin had cooked up for her while she was gone. But neither of them were there. Raven looked into nearby rooms but they weren't there. By now Raven was seething. She simply used her powers to automatically take her to their location.

(In the Attic)

"This is a picture of Raven at my birthday party last year," Jinx told Robin as she showed him another picture in Raven's private album, "oh and…"

Raven appeared in the room interrupting Jinx's words.

"What are you two doing up her…?" Raven started to demand, "give me that!" she exploded and tore the album out of Robin's hands, "how dare you show him this!" she shouted at Jinx.

"I just wanted to show him that…" Jinx started to explain but stopped and looked down at her feet in shame.

"Don't blame her," Robin spoke up hoarsely and Raven looked at him just to notice that his eyes and face were puffy and red from crying, "I was crying and she thought that showing me some of your stuff with you being happy might um help," he told her but towards the end of his sentence looked away from Raven's eyes.

Raven looked at Robin. She thought that she'd already seen him at his most depressed worst. Now she knew that she was wrong. She placed her album back into his hands.

"Don't smudge it," Raven instructed.

"I'm really sorry Raven," Robin said suddenly, "I'd give my life to take it all back," he told her, "all the bad things that happened to you after the rape because I blamed you," he said, "all the pain that I caused you," he whispered, "I'd give my life to make things the way it was before."

For a moment Raven was taken a back by his words. Then she felt her anger subside and let out a defeated sigh.

"I know," Raven responded and walked away, "if you want you can spend the night," she continued unsure of why Robin's words made her feel like being nicer to him, "just use the guest room next to the room Jinx usually sleeps in when she sleeps over," she instructed, "I'm going to bed," she said and walked out of the attic.

Jinx and Robin sat silently for a few minutes thinking about what Raven had just said.

"Did she say that I could sleep over?" Robin finally spoke.

"Yeah," Jinx told him, "I'm just as shocked as you," she added.

"Will you sleep over?" Robin asked her suddenly, "it would be nice to have someone in the house who I can actually talk to."

"Sorry Robin," Jinx said, "I have a romantic date with Gizmo tonight," she explained.

"I heard you two are seeing more of each other," Robin said.

"True but neither of us are ready to be tied down yet," Jinx responded.

"But if you were who would it be with?" Robin asked.

"I have to admit Gizmo," Jinx confessed, "I like Hot Spot but it's only a sexual attraction," she told Robin, "well at least that's it for me," she added.

"Hot Spot has feelings for you?" Robin asked in surprise.

"Yeah, but he knows I'm not rushing for marriage," Jinx pointed out, "besides, he's been going out with Kitty lately and she's totally in LOVE with him," she said and Robin immediately made a face and used his finger to gesture retching, "don't like her much, do you?" she asked and Robin firmly shook his head, "me neither."

"What's this?" Robin asked and picked up a book off the top of a nearby box, "hmm, 'The What If Book'."

"Be careful," Jinx warned, "Raven has many magical books here," she told him, "once I read aloud what I thought was a book about growing plants and I ended up being transported to a world of just plants and water," she revealed to him, "took a week for Raven to find out where I was and get me before I died of starvation," she said, "the plants could move and ran every time I tried to pick fruit off of them," she explained, "I was lucky to have water," she added.

"Ouch," Robin said and placed the book beside him.

For the next few hours Jinx and Robin continued to look around the attic and besides being punched by an angry sweater because he stepped on it's arm, there were no bad incidents.

But by 6pm Jinx had to go.

"I'm going to go get ready for my date," Jinx told Robin who smiled and nodded, "Good Night Robin," she said and headed for the exit.

"Good Night Jinx," Robin responded as Jinx left and closed the door behind her, "now to see about that book," he said and immediately went back to the book he had picked up earlier.

Reading through the introductions he realized that it was just what he suspected. A book that showed you what could've happened if things had turned out differently in your past or future.

"I need to find an open space to read this in," Robin said as he carried 'The What If Book' and exited the attic, "but when I do I will what the Titans might've been like if Raven never left the Teen Titans," he declared.

End Chapter 7

Reggae: I hope to complete this story before October 12, 2005. I've completed this chapter Monday October 3, 2005. Just three more chapters to go and I'm going to start the next chapter right now. At 6:45pm. Hope I can get at least ten pages worth done tonight. Wish me luck. So Robin wants to find out what it would've been like if Raven had stayed with the Titans. Will he like what he sees? Find out in the next chapter of 'It Happens'.