Chapter Nineteen: Normal?

Shadow sat on the sofa watching Holly out of the corner of his glowing eyes. The girl was looking around the common room in absolute amazement. Kid Flash was in the kitchen making some kind of snack for everyone. The Outsiders were all sprawled on the sofa still irritable from being woken up at such an ungodly hour. Robin and the Titans minus Raven were all alert and watching him (Shadow). Niki was sticking to Gar like she was glued to him

"This place is huge!" Holly exclaimed finishing her self guided tour of the common room and sitting on the sofa.

"Alright everyone, I have ham and cheese sandwiches for the Outsiders, Star, Jinx, Robin, Holly, Niki, and Shadow, ribs for Cyborg, a salad for Gar, herbal tea for Raven, and a box of Saltines and a jar of peanut butter for me." Kid Flash announced as he zoomed around the room giving everyone their respective foods.

He left Raven's tea on the table then flopped on the sofa to begin chomping through his crackers and peanut butter.

"Food!" Jason exclaimed waking up from his unconscious state of sleep.

Beside him Jessica rolled her eyes and chewed on her sandwich.

As everyone ate in silence Gar examined Shadow. Actually the demon had said his name was Shade. And right now he wasn't trying to kill anyone so that was an improvement

"I have it!" Raven's voice exclaimed. Gar gave a cry and flipped off the back of the sofa where he'd been perched.

The act released the tension in the room. Everyone started laughing at him. Even Shade joined in the laughter.

"Oh go ahead laugh your heads off, just remember this when you find a slimy frog under all of your pillows tonight." Gar grumbled his feet sticking up in the air.

Raven shook her head then flicked her hand. Gar was raised back up onto the sofa by an invisible force "Anyway as I was saying I think I've found a solution to our problems."

"Our problems?" Shade asked raising a black eyebrow

"Okay, your and Shadow's problems." Raven consented. She opened her book carefully "I found a spell that will allow… well basically it will eliminate the need for you to take souls."

Shade cocked his head "I see… and did it ever cross your mind that maybe I never needed to?"

"But-."

"Shadow's 'need' was fueled by my hate for mortals. Everywhere I've ever been people have been afraid of me. But none of you were even frightened."

"That depends on what you mean by frightened." Jessica said rubbing her shoulder with a slight shudder.

"… I suppose you have the right to be afraid Jessica. Anyway I think Shadow and I can come… to an agreement. If not for our sakes then for someone else's." he glanced at Holly who blushed and averted her gaze. Shade smirked slightly and stood "If you don't mind I'd like to be alone for a while."

Gar shrugged "The roof's all yours man. But you might approach Shadow a little carefully. He might just try to bite your head off."

Shade chuckled and walked through the wall as a black silhouette. On the couch Holly yawned a little. Jinx and Robyn stood "You can stay with me Holly." the blonde said already walking through the doors. The other two girls jogged after her.

Raven let out a soft sigh and sank onto the sofa. She was exhausted and starving. Sipping her tea she glanced longingly at the kitchen. Her stomach growled begging for food but she was too tired to get up and make something even if she was starving.

"Waffles?" Gar asked with a playful grin.

"If I had enough energy I'd kill you right now." Raven retorted.

"Waffles it is then." the changeling said.

Niki who had been silent the whole time watched Gar go into the kitchen then looked at Raven "I thought he was your boyfriend. Why would you want to kill him?" she asked innocently.

In a swivel chair Robin spewed his drink everywhere and stared at the Goth psychic with an open mouth "What?"

Raven cleared her throat slightly and Niki shrank away looking embarrassed. From the kitchen Gar came out carrying a plate of waffles. Seeing Robin's glare he gulped. He was in trouble with a capital T. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess someone just let a cat out of the bag?" he asked setting the tray down on the coffee table.

"Yes," Raven replied quietly. She glanced at Niki who was quivering slightly "Don't worry about it squirt, it was bound to happen."

Robin finally calmed down enough to talk in a normal voice "So it was Gar I saw on the security camera." Raven nodded "Why did you lie!"

"Oh for Ryut's sake Robin! This is ridiculous!" Starfire exclaimed "So what if Raven and Garfield are having a relationship? You have settled your differences."

"That was before I knew he was getting into the Tower behind my back." Robin growled glaring at the green man

"Robin, stop. The past can not be altered. I do not see what is so wrong about this." Starfire argued pressing the young man back into his chair with gentle but strong hands.

Raven sighed and glared at the plate of waffles "This is all your fault you know." she snapped. The food of course did not reply just sat there soaking up syrup and getting cold.

Robin had to smile at the bad humor "I guess I am overreacting. It's just… everything's happening so fast. I don't know what to do anymore."

"Welcome to my world." Gar replied relaxing now that his former leader wasn't ready to bite his head off. He smiled at Starfire "You still have the power over him Dudette." he praised.

The alien princess just smiled in reply and left the room her long hair swishing quietly. Robin watched her go then yawned

"Well I'm going to sleep for about six hours." he announced getting up and walking out the door his eyes already half closed.

Gar shrugged "That was weird."

"Very."

Raven glanced at the sparse collection of teenagers. Kid Flash was sprawled out on the floor behind the sofa, long since asleep. Jessica was sleeping with her head on Jason's shoulder, his head rested on top of hers. Cyborg was snoring with his head tucked into his metallic chest

"Come here you." Gar growled.

Raven let out a soft shriek of laughter as the changeling scooped her up in his arms. She wound her arms around his neck to keep from falling

"Do you think things will be normal now?" she asked as her lover carried her down the halls to her room

"No, Shahari's still on the loose. She'll be back to get me again. But right now I don't want to worry about her or anything else." as he spoke Gar opened Raven's door and stepped into the enveloping darkness of the room "It's just you and me and no one else."

Behind them the door slid closed just as Raven's cloak was dropped to the floor.

(Okay the waffle thing was my lame attempt at humor. And no the series isn't over yet! I think two chapters more at max. This is the longest fic I've ever done! Yayness for me! Anyway tell me how you think Shari should go down. I'm not going to kill her FYI. I was thinking of putting her in an asylum instead… plz R&R.)

(Sorry for the shortness)