OOC: you all thought I abandoned you, huh? Well, I promised I wouldn't. And though it took me awhile to finish this...I will! Only two more chapters after this one, folks, and then it is all over.. :( I had a request to finish this story before my others so..hey. Yeah, I like this chapter. Its very...well, you'll find out.

Disclaimer: Bah...grr...no I do not own the Titans or any of that.. -- But Red's true identity is mine! huggles

The morning's light shone upon her face, illuminating it. How different this girl was then Raven, oh how different. The hair, jet black suddenly in color with the strands of blue touching her pale features so delicately. The single hand, bare without the usual black hand covering, touched with an exotic red jewel rested with a few fingers under her face, head resting against a pillow. Several rings glittered on her fingers, bangles circling her small wrists smoothly.

Red stared at her, his head in his hands and his elbows on his knees. How beautiful she was. How perfectly flawless. All through the night she had not stirred, except for once, not shifting from that spot. But that one time, the one time she moved forward, nearly on her stomach before back onto her back. There was the softest cry and immediately Red was at er side.

He had never left her. From the moment he read the letter he remained sitting there, watching her and trapped in his own thoughts. But suddenly all thought escaped him and he sat upon the couch, cradling her head in his arms as she cried softly, no tears visible but anguish written upon her pale cheeks and drawn features. Her eyes remained close, thank god, but instead she moved against him, lying her head against his chest and falling back asleep to his heartbeat.

The sweet fragrance of her hair, the luring touch of her skin...oh Red could have taken her in his arms and done what he wished with her. She would have devoted herself to him, out of care for him and out of an inner-heat that roared like a beast inside. His fingers traced soft designs upon her sleeping cheek as she quieted and the anguish faded only to be replaced by that gentle peace. Regretfully Red returned her to her position and sank into the chair once more.

He cared for her, more than he had cared for any other. What was it about her? Her fierce and fiery temper, yes, but also that calm and penetrating gaze she had, the eyes that made you feel as if you were naked, like she could see right into the depths of your heart. Her power, her eyes, her skin, her voice...

The sun continued to rise slowly, casting even more beams upon Raven's face until at last the half-demon's eyes opened and she blinked several times, sitting up and stretching out stiff joints. Much to her surprise she saw red sitting there, eyes on the floor and a look of sorrow etched upon his features.

"Red?"

Red's head snapped up and he looked at her, softening his gaze and running a hand through his hair sheepishly. "Morning. Sorry..I didn't want to wake you."

Raven allowed a slight smile to touch her lips before swinging her legs off the couch and standing. "Not a problem." She stretched again before reaching out to her bag. Her hand stiffened as it neared the note and she cast a glance at Red before shoving the note down into her bag. "I'm going to go change.."

Raven slipped into the bathroom and Red stood, taking brisk steps to look out one of the few windows.

Today was going to be a rough day.

The alarm rang in the Titans Tower, jolting them from their sleepless night of trances, of hurt feelings, of tears, of sorrow and for Robin of an entire night in the exact position same position a thief was in far away in an apartment as he stared down at a sleeping Raven.

"Titans, Go!"

Somehow the call meant little to them. They felt sluggish and for a long moment even Starfire did not wish to go out and perform a heroic deed. Robin could see defeat in their eyes and he knew. They all knew. Today they would see Rose.

None of them were prepared for seeing her again. But they had to do it. For whether she was friend or foe, if she put people in danger it was up to the Titans to stop her.

She was there.

Her black hair gleaming in the sunlight, eyes gleaming with a hidden joy as she saw them approach. Above her head floated a car, surrounded y a black aura where people could be seen inside, screaming and banging on the door.

They had all felt that black power, the strange sensation of her telekinesis 1ifting them up into the air or gently setting them down. It was horrifying to see her use her powers this way.

But Robin's eyes fell onto red who stood next to Raven with his arms crossed across his chest. Robin could picture his smug smile and fury wound through him.

He turned to them. "Distract Red, beat him. Maybe we can talk some sense into Raven."

They threw themselves forward. It was amazing the difference between when they fought Red and when they fought Raven. Immediately Starfire had flown towards Raven, desperation in her eyes. "Raven, friend, why do you do this?"

Raven grinned at her, the grin a disturbing expression upon the face of one who held such hatred. "You're not my friend, remember?" She held out one hand and shot jest of black towards Star in an attempt to catch hold of her. Starfire dodged them nimbly, casting a glance at Robin, Beast Boy and Cyborg who immediately went after Red.

"I am sorry Raven!" With that starbolts were fired from her hands and hit Raven full in the chest, blowing her back and the car losing its hold. It began to drop but was caught by the super-strong alien and set down gently where the people escaped and ran for their lives.

Raven stood swiftly, throwing a glance at red who was managing quite well against Cyborg and Robin. Wait, where was Beast Boy?

From behind her came two huge hairy arms, wrapping around her and holding her arms to her side. Green hairy arms. Raven hissed at him as Starfire landed on the ground in front of her.

"Raven please! Stop this fighting!"

"No."

Azarath Metrion Zinthos!

Bolts of black light shot from Raven's hands as they were clenched at her side. One reached out to grab Starfire, locking her in a cold embrace of shadow. The other went under Raven and grabbed a single leg of the gorilla behind her, dragging him sideways and causing him to release her. He was hurled through the air only to crash into Starfire. The two went flying and fell to the ground, unable to move.

"No! Raven!" Robin's piercing shout ripped through the air and suddenly a blur of color flew before her, landing as Robin with a birdarang in one hand. "Raven! Don't do this!"

"The whole 'pleading for mercy' thing has gotten really old, Bird Boy." Raven stared at him, one hand turning black and glowing threateningly.

"Last chance Raven. We don't want to fight you."

"Too bad."

Robin threw himself forward, tossing the birdarang aside and pulling out his pole(I dunno what the thingy's called... 0.o) and hurled it towards her. There was a metallic clash as it hit her black shield, her hands moving to block every one of his blows. A malicious gleam was in Raven's eye.

"This seems familiar, doesn't it Robin? You know my weaknesses, why not use them?"

"You're not Raven, remember? You're Rose and it seems Rose has different issues."

Raven hissed in delight as she blocked a thrust of the pole, reaching out swiftly to touch it and causing it to glow black. It ripped from Robin's hands and hit him smartly on the head.

"How did that go? Oh yes..." Raven took up a high-pitched mimicking sound. "Stop hitting yourself, stop hitting your-"

The metal man ripped form nowhere, plunging into Raven and sending her flying, her grip on robin's pole destroyed. "Rae come on! I know you're in there!"

"Sorry Cyborg. Bird Boy already said I had my last chance."

Cyborg growled and moved in closer, his cannon erupting from his usual arm. "Don't make me do this."

Raven glanced away from Cyborg to where she had last seen Red.

No.

Red laid upon the ground, his hand over his stomach rolling in agony. A fire erupted within her, stronger than any other before. A fire of love and hatred, anger and passion. Her eyes began to glow with a heat, changing color from the violet to red and another set of eyes appearing atop her normal two.

"No!" Her scream was like a hiss and within moments Cyborg's entire body was encrusted with a black covering. Cyborg let out a strangled yell as the black formed into two claws, each one digging into him in an attempt it seemed to rip him into two. Cyborg's teeth were bared, his eyes shut tightly.

"Raven! Stop!" There was a thrust and Raven felt the pole hit her directly in the chest, knocking the breath from her and causing her to fall to the ground. With a wearied moan Cyborg did the same with a heavier crash but did not move.

Robin stood over her. She could feel the sorrow in his mind, see the emotion upon his face. "Why Raven? Why did you do this?"

The fire overwhelmed her once more and waved her hand swiftly, a black sweep sending Robin crashing through the glass of a store and into the wall. It was the same store Red and Rose had robbed for clothing, Raven noticed through her haze of hatred.

She stepped through the shards of glass that littered the floor, her uneven breath forgotten as she stared at Robin with a lust never felt before by her. A lust for death, for power, for murder. She felt the power swell through her veins, black energy welling around her in an aura of shadow, her hair flying around her face and her eyes glowing a hateful red. Robin's eyes were wide with fear.

He had crashed into a mirror, the very mirror Rose had looked into to see her reflection for the first time. But Raven didn't see the mirror. She only saw Robin. She only saw her hand move to lift a huge and heavy desk from the ground, lifting it and holding it in the air above him. She could only see his face.

It was amazing how much someone could see through a mask. It was amazing the emotions portrayed upon his face. The defeat, the utter defeat. The horror, the sorrow, the final despair. There wasn't an ounce left in him to fight.

Never before had Raven seen him like this. Even when the world had ended Robin had fought. And no he stared up at her with such a look of defeat Raven blinked and looked away.

But where she looked next was no better. The mirror had a single crack running up it and yet it still portrayed horrors. For she did not see the outfit she felt against her body. A red cloak fell to the ground at her feet, a hood lowered to see the horrific face behind it. Four crimson eyes stared out from a pale ashen face, locks of black falling around that face with only two streaks a different color. Streaks blood red.

And behind her reflection was Red. His mask had been ripped into pieces and Raven could see his eye and part of his hair, his lips opened just slightly in a look of absolute horror, eyes widened with the same sense of dread that overwhelmed Robin.

And behind him she could see into the street. She could see Cyborg stirring and Starfire helping Beast Boy stand. Had Raven once supported the green transformer as the alien did? Had Raven once watched Starfire shed tears and been the one to reluctantly tell her it was okay? Had raven once been the one to help the mechanical man fix what he had broken?

Had Raven once seen the feelings of the Titans when another girl held a rock above Robin's head as she did now and smashed it into his body as she was about to do?

Do it.

Raven bit her lip, fighting the eyes that stared from the mirror.

"No..."

DO IT!

"No..."

KILL HIM!

"NO!"

Raven screamed as the desk burst into a thousand pieces, showering over them all. She could feel her body taking the form of a raven but all else was blurred by tears.

Don't make me listen to the screaming...

'Cause I can already taste their tears

Don't make me take this empty torment

I've been fighting it already for so many years...

I've been wandering and I'm lost

Like a ship in stormy seas

And I break away just to find myself

Crawling on my kness

I am afraid of what is yet to come

I can see it in your eyes

I can see my empty heart

Ascold assnowy skies...

Catch me as I fall,

Just reach out and touch my hand

'Cause I fear I've already lost

Whatever things I had...

Don't forget about me

When your wandering begins

And don'tyou lose youself

Like I so wrongly did

I'm still standing here,

With my eyes upon the shore

I'm still standing here...

With my heart empty and yet so sore

Don't forget about me,

But please don't leave me behind

I don't want hear their empty screams

One more time...

OOC: tears Aww...I actually liked that poem. I hope you all don't mind me putting in my own poetry, Let me know so I know not to do it for the last chapters and on other stories...