Author's Notes: Hey peeps! Usagi has returned once more! This one-shot was kinda cool to write, 'cause I got to show the relationship develop over a period of time. It may be a bit longer then my other ones though, 'cause its split into four different encounters between today's couple (Terra and Aqualad), so bear with me. I usually like short and sweet myself. But enough chat. Please read and give me a challenge in your review! - Thanks!
Challenger: Demon's Moon
Character(s): Terra/Aqualad (romance)
Challenge Details: It has to take place in four different places.
Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans.

Past, Present, Future

Pacific Ocean, off the coast of California; Five years ago

Aqualad was doing his daily rounds. Only but a few hours ago had he left his home, Atlantis, where he was the local hero. Nothing really seemed out of the ordinary: fish swam, currents flowed and seaweed grew. It had been this way for about a week. The eleven-year-old aquatic hero was bored. He was about to bang his head on the sea floor out of pure frustration when he saw something floating far up above. His dark eyebrows furrowed in curiosity as he looked at it. Stringy, blonde hair tangled and went in all directions in the salt water, and a thin body floated above it. Aqualad darted upwards towards what he now recognized as a young girl, who was most likely drowning.

His head broke the surface of the water, and he got his first good look at the girl. Her eyes were closed and bony, delicate features decorated her face. She was barely breathing. Aqualad took her under the neck and waist and began to swim to the nearest shore. After only ten minutes he found a beach and walked up onto it, still carrying the blonde. As he placed her carefully onto the sand, she began coughing out water. Her eyes fluttered open as she spit out the last bit of seawater. Aqualad was amazed at the dazzling blue they were. It reminded him of the summer seas and blue skies. Just as he was being drawn in to the deepness, the young girl spoke.

"Wh-Where am I...?" She asked, dazed and holding her head.
"You're on a beach in California. Don't worry, no one's here but you and me." He replied quickly, snapping out of his dumbfounded state.
"Who are you?" The girl said, trying to sit up but failing. He bent down and helped her up.
"Aqualad, from Atlantis. I'm eleven. What about you?"
"I'm Terra. I'm nine."

Aqualad nodded as she fell onto his shoulder from exhaustion, her long hair draping like a blanket over his back. A slight blush rose to his cheeks, reflecting against his fair skin. This girl, Terra, was undoubtedly beautiful, although frail. A thought came to his mind.

"Why were you floating in the middle of the ocean? When I found you, you were nearly drowned." The boy questioned.
Terra looked away. "I got caught in an avalanche. I was washed down into the water. That's the last I remember. I don't know how long ago it was."
"An avalanche? How did that happen?"
"My powers..." She whispered so quietly that Aqualad barely heard her. Tears gathered in the young Terra's eyes, "I can move the earth. Sometimes it doesn't turn out so well."

She looked down at the sand, seemingly horrified, afraid and sad all at the same time. He patted Terra's back comfortingly and found himself upset for her, even though he barely knew her. Just when it seemed as though she never wanted to move again, Terra suddenly got up.

"I have to go."
"No. Please stay, I can get you help." Aqualad offered, standing up himself.
"I'm a dangerous person, you can't afford being around me." She said, turning away, "Bye, Aqualad."
"Terra, wait!"

She began to run away, down the shore of the beach and into the forest. She never once turned to look back. Aqualad gave up his chase quickly, he knew it was hopeless. He could only wish that he could see this mysterious Terra again, and maybe next time, get to know her a little better.

The Streets, Jump City, California; Present Day

Terra had finally escaped her stone encasing, the one she put herself into to save a city she had barely known. She had awakened but four days ago, and immediately had known she could never return to her former friends, the Teen Titans. She had caused too much pain to them already. But this decision had brought new problems upon her. Where was she to go? She knew she could run, but after a taste of true friendship and happiness, it was hard to turn back to her old ways. Yet, she didn't know anyone else. Only people she had stayed with for the night, no one she could really trust to keep her. So she wandered the streets of Jump City, avoiding the Titans and listening for rumors. One day, she came upon two younger children, no older then twelve, who were animatedly discussing the Teen Titans, heroes of their hometown. She stopped casually around the corner from them, just in earshot.

"Yeah, but what about the Titans East? Do you think they could take on the originals?"
"No way," The other child replied with a laugh, "Robin's way better then Speedy."
"Maybe, but I think Aqualad is really cool. He can talk to all those fish and even control water!"
"Do the teams even talk that much? I mean, the Titans East live all the way in Steel City..."

Terra needed to hear no more. At Aqualad's name, a memory sparked in her mind. One of a sea-faring boy who had rescued her years before, and wanted to help her. And he was even on a Titans team! He must be trustworthy! The geomancer could barely contain her excitement, the answer had come so much easier then she ever would have expected. She would take a day to gather supplies, then head off to Steel City and meet up with the Titans East.

Titans East's Tower, Steel City, Eastern America; Seven Days Later

It was a rainy day. Not that the Titan called Aqualad minded. He liked all forms of water, even on a day as miserable as this. He was just standing by a large window overlooking Steel City, his home, and watching the drops pound against the glass. It was soothing feeling the presence of his element all around him, like a mother's embrace.

A surprising sight outside of the window soon shattered this feeling. A mop of rain-darkened blonde hair hung over a frail body that was a girl. She walked slowly and uncertainly towards the Tower, stumbling every now and then. The rain fell harder, snapping Aqualad back into his mind. He shook his head frantically, straight black hair swishing with the movement, trying to put some sense into his brain. He remembered this girl, but it was impossible! The Titans West had told him that she was dead, turned to stone. For Terra to return would be a miracle. But no matter how much he told himself otherwise, she was still there, outside the window.

So Aqualad ran past the elevator, which Speedy was currently walking out of, ignoring the questioning look on the archer's face. The aquatic hero ran straight to the staircase, flinging himself down three steps at a time. It was as though he thought the faster he reached her, the more of a chance there was that Terra might be real. Sooner then he realized it, the hero was at the bottom of the stairs, dashing through the lobby and out of the huge front doors. He stopped as soon as he came outside, looking in amazement through the rain at the stunningly real girl before him.

Fifteen feet away he saw Terra, who now seemed nothing but a stick on legs from years of malnutrition. Her once beautiful long, blonde hair lay flat and tangled upon her head. Dark circles surrounded her lifeless, icy-blue eyes and cuts adorned her graying skin. She took a few weak steps forward, knees wobbling under fatigue. Aqualad ran forward to her, closing the gap between them. He reached her just as the geomancer fell forward, catching her in his arms. He propped her up on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around her back, placing his other hand gently on her head.

"Terra..." He said, above the pounding of the rain, "What are you doing here? I thought you were dead."
"I-" She began, then interrupted herself with a coughing fit. Aqualad could feel her body shuttering and shaking even under this small force. It must have been days since she had been inside a warm building, colds would be easy to catch. He responded by holding her tighter, desperate to keep her on her feet.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know where else to go." She whispered, still recovering from her fit, "Aqualad, I'm so, so sorry."
"It's alright, Terra." He said soothingly, petting her hair to calm her.

Terra began crying. She let sobs escape her body, sending more shudders down her spine. Rain and tears mixed on Aqualad's shoulders, he could no longer tell the difference. The rain pounded unabashedly on their heads, until he didn't know whether he was crying also, or if it was only the drops on his face. Terra stopped shuddering after a long time. She slowly picked herself up, still holding onto the hero's forearm for balance, and whispered a quiet 'Thank you.'.
"Come on," Aqualad said, a sympathetic smile playing on his thin lips, "We should get you inside."
Terra nodded and allowed him to help her into the Tower, and a new life.

Justice League of America Base, Earth's Orbit, Space; Six Years Later

Six years... Terra thought to herself. That's how long it had been since she had joined the Titans East. Four years later she was invited to be part of the Justice League along with Aqualad and Bumblebee. Mas y Menos, still both teens, remained part of the Titans East, and Speedy (who now called himself Arsenal) was a solo hero in Metropolis. The geomancer had immediately accepted her invitation, and moved into the J.L.A. Base a week later. Now, at twenty-two, she was a full-fledged member of two years.

Terra and Aqualad, now a couple, were holding hands and looking out the window down to Earth. It was good to be home. They had been together for three years, but had not recently seen much of each other. Both heroes had been on many missions recently: Super-Villains had been infesting the Earth after many of the veteran heroes went into a well-earned retirement. So they were now thankful for this moment of peace together. Terra sighed happily and placed her head on her love's shoulder.

"I missed you." She whispered truthfully, words brushing his ear.
"I missed you too." He replied.
"Do you have a mission soon? It really sucks not being able to see you that much."
"No, I don't. Do you?"
"Nope." She said, smiling. It always felt so comfortable to be around Aqualad.
"That's good, 'cause there's something I want to talk to you about..."

Terra had a look of confusion on her face as Aqualad took his hand from her grasp and went in front of her. She saw him removing something from his pocket, but before she could get a good look at it, he bent down on one knee. He took a big breath and closed his eyes, obviously willing himself to calm down. She still looked befuddled as her boyfriend gazed at her with his all-encasing black eyes and began to speak.

"Terra, I've known you for eleven years, and have trusted you since the beginning. We've already passed our third anniversary as a couple and declared our love for each other so many months before that. We've been there for one another as Titans, friends and lovers. I want to be with you every waking moment and every sleeping moment too. And now, I want to show you that I will still be there for you forever more. And if you agree, we can be all of that. So, now, I leave it to you with this question:"

He looked down for a moment and calmed himself once more. This time, he held up a diamond ring set in gold up when he asked:

"Terra, will you marry me?"

Tears seemingly appeared from nowhere and sprang into the young woman's eyes. Suddenly, everything seemed right, as though she was born for this moment. Past terrors of earthquakes, stones, villains and statues disappeared into the joy of the moment. She slipped her finger gracefully into the ring and took Aqualad's hands into her own. He stood up and she leaped onto him in a hug. She pulled her head back and laid a teary kiss onto his lips.

"Yes."

Aqualad returned the kiss. He picked her up and twirled her around. They both laughed and smiled and embraced. Behind them, through the window, the sun was rising at the top of the Earth. To them, as well, the a new time was dawning. They didn't really comprehend it yet, but this would be the biggest change of their lives. Yes, there would be tears and pain, but ultimately a time of new light was coming. Their past, present and future all seemed as one in this moment of pure happiness. It was the very essence of life.

.:End:.

End Notes: Sorry if that was a little long. I really wanted to get the gist of each area and time. If you were wondering why he didn't call her "Tara Markov" or I didn't really use any of their real names, that's because this is based on Teen Titans, and it was intended that they are only their superhero identities. Also, it was a bit more fluff-filled then I originally planned, not really my best work. I think it turned out liveable, though. But tell me what YOU think in your review! (add a challenge in too, please!) Thanks!