Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Titans. Get over it. I already have. Holds up bill for intensive therapy.

...Will be in our hearts...is a line break.

Well folks, it's been nice writing. One quote comes to mind, from a song I heard once:

"It's like the end of era..." From Suzy Bogguss's Saying Goodbye to a Friend.

Maybe it's mellow dramatic- but it's the first time I've ever done a chapter story, and had such a good response to any submission. The inspiration for this chapter comes from Me and Emily by takimiromy. All thanks to Yaa, who's stuck with me from Chapter One and made my day again and again- THANK YOU. And so, reader, please move on to the final chapter of Maelstrom.

Chapter Seven: Me 'n Emily

Floorboards' filled with baby toys an' empty coke
bottles an' coffee cups
Drivin' through the rain with no radio,
Tryin' not to wake her up.
Cell 'phone says "low battery",
God, what if I break down?
I'm just lookin' for an exit with a lotta lights,
A safe little interstate town.

Raven cursed under her breath as a car cut her off, slamming on the brakes to avoid hitting him. Emily stirred and Raven glanced immediately in the rear view mirror out of habit. She moved her mouth and then stilled, sleeping once more. With a sigh Raven returned her gaze to the road and almost immediately slammed on the brakes again. "Damn drivers." With one hand she grabbed her cell phone, glancing at it. The purple screen read "Low Battery". "Crap." Steering with one hand she pulled onto an exit ramp, not really paying attention to the exit number. After a few more Cokes and checks on Emily she realized where she was headed. "Damn!" Unable to control her anger at Fate's last monkey wrench in her life, Raven felt the tickle on the back of her mind that meant Emily was awake and starting to get upset. Not here- Anywhere but here, because someone might recognize the signs of her power- somewhere else please.

Just a cheap hotel,
With a single bed,
And cable TV
Is good enough for me an' Emily.

"Em, go back to sleep. Mom's just being a little out of it." Her daughter's eyes blink innocently and then relax as Raven forced herself to be calm. Good. Whenever Raven got upset or mad, her daughter acted as a release mechanism and unleashed her power- but much stronger. That was the trick. They had found that out the hard way. That was why it was more important than ever for Raven to keep her emotions under wrap. But this was almost too much- damn it. On a one-way road she found herself going to the one place she didn't want to go. She'd have to deal with it though. Somehow.

Some day, when she's old enough,
She's gonna start askin' questions about him.
Some kid at school brings his Dad for show an' tell,
An' gets her little mind a-wonderin'
"Where's my Daddy? Do I have one?
"Does he not love me like you do?"
Oh, maybe I'll find someone to love the both of us,
An' I'll tell her when she's old enough to know the truth.

What would happen when Emily started to ask about her dad? How could she explain that her dad didn't even know she existed? Em and her sister had been born on a country road, no one there but Raven, screaming her agony to the empty wilderness. She had held them both in her arms, exhausted but innerly elated she hadn't gone through with the abortion. Something had told her not to, and while Raven had hesitated to deceive her friends, she knew what their reactions would be.

That was why, when Cinderblock had hurt her over five years ago, Raven had feared she had miscarried and found out that she was carrying not one, but two unborn. That was what had held her for the two weeks after the battle. But, knowing she had to make a decision, Raven had. It hurt, bitterly and unfairly even now, which is why it didn't help that she was going to where she was. Inadvertently so, but still…

Will it break her heart?
Will she understand,
That I had to leave?
That's what was best for me an' Emily.

So many reasons to leave… Slade in most. Lord, would her child understand? Could she possibly comprehend why? Saddened, and then annoyed at herself for there thoughts, Raven shook her head. She'd tell Em the truth when the girl asked, but only then. Emily's power would need a lot of training to control, and Raven didn't want to think about what would happen if she unleashed them without control. It didn't help her mood at that point that the car chugged, motor making grinding noises as she jerked the car to the shoulder of the lonely winding road. Snarling, she parked and yanked out the key, climbing out of the car to open the hood.

"Damn, damn, damn!" Biting her lip Raven studied the engine. What did she remember about motors from helping Cyborg? She rolled up the dark green sleeves of her sweatshirt and leaned in., head disappearing as she muttered in the depths of mechanical contraptions. Why now? Barely on the outskirts of Jump City and the damn car died. Just her luck. First running from Slade, all this time, and then returning to the place with the most painful memories? Absentmindedly she rose, hood falling over her head, looking up at the cloudless sky and giving Fate 'The Bird'.

"Need some help?" The amused voice came from behind her and she spun, hands falling into their places at her sides in a defensive position. The stranger laughed, holding up his hands. "I didn't mean to startle you, Miss. Merely thought you needed a hand." Raven stared.

Tall and muscular, he had dark green hair that looked wind tossed, dancing green eyes and light green skin. It was Beast Boy- but truly matured? She swallowed in a suddenly dry mouth.

"Where did you come from?" Somehow those weren't the first words she'd dreamed of saying to him, but something was different. He looked slightly puzzled, but gestured towards the woods.

"Merely taking a run through the woods, ma'am. Say," he leaned in slightly, "You aren't from around here, are you?" Raven shook her head, numb. He didn't recognize her! Oh, Fate deserved more than a flick off!

"Ah. My name is Changeling, one of the Titans, and proud to be of service. So, do you need a hand?" Raven choked down a wave of irrational anger and just spoke, words bitter to even her ears as she turned back to the car.

"No. I don't need any help; I didn't want to go there," and her chin thrustin the direction of Jump City from under the hood spoke eloquently, "Anyway. Thanks, but you can go away now, Changeling."

Big rigs are throwin' rain on my windshield,
An' I feel like they're laughin' at me.

Changeling frowned, looking at this strange woman more closely- which was hard because she had her stiff back towards him. She seemed so familiar, but he couldn't place that face in the shadows of her hood. Shadows… No. There was way- But Fate had thrown them more twists than this.

He stepped forward, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder and feeling her tenseness and surprise. Without another hesitation, turned her around. With his free hand he pulled the hood off and stared.

Tears streaked their ways down her face, violet eyes glittering with pain. Long violet hair fell past her shoulders and the ruby red jewel glinted on her grey forehead.

"Raven?" He breathed, unbelieving. She shook like a leaf under his hands. "Raven. You said you were never going to come back- I had given up hope- Oh Lord. And I didn't even recognize you-" Fearful, he watched her face. She swallowed.

"Beast – Boy-" Her voice cracked as she lifted a hand and touched his face, feather light.

Fin'lly the storm is lettin' up,
An' the mornin' is breakin' free.

Moved by some impulse neither fully understood, she threw her arms around him as he leaned down, a hesitant reassurance that this wasn't a dream found as their lips met and deepened the kiss.

"Oh God, Raven-" That tickle itched at her mind and she pressed a hand to his lips, eyes hoping even as they sparkled with mischief. Raven steeped away, sliding open the door. Changeling stared.

A little girl, around five, looked brightly at him, light green hair framing brilliant green eyes and a gleaming black chakra. She smiled, a bit embarrassed, and then clapped herhands together and looked at Raven. Raven smiled softly.

"Say hello to your daughter, Emily."

It's a brand new day,
It's a second chance.
Yesterday is just a memory,
For me an' Emily.
Ah.

There was a startled pause, and then Changeling moved forward, unbuckling her from her car seat and swinging her about in his arms. "Why hello little one! Aren't you the cutest thing on God's green Earth?" Emily giggled, and then quieted, a smile playing at her lips. So like your mother . He thought. Raven watched Changeling as he turned to her.

"You knew, didn't you? That something was up?" He nodded.

"I put two and two together and got five. After that fight with Cinderblock, there was more than just normal pain there and you were really worried. When you were leaving I noticed your waist was thicker than before and more so than normal. And then-" He shrugged. "Just a feeling. But you said she's my daughter. How?" Raven became expressionless for a moment, and then took Emily back and held her on her hip, letting the girl play with her hair.

"My body rhythms after I got away from Slade were highly irregular, because of my suppressing them. Even though when I got away I was somewhere around 3 months pregnant, something got screwed and, well-" She shrugged with one shoulder and bounced Emily lightly. "I had two children instead of one. One yours and one his." The word dripped off her tongue. "Emily grew fast enough to be the same size a Hailey, and they were born at the age of 10 months. Something in my demon blood, I guess. For a while I was content. Then, six months after they were born, Slade showed up. I couldn't fight him off, because he had back ups to distract me. It was then I found out Emily can amplify my power greatly- but by then Slade was gone, and Hailey with him. I've searched and in turn run from him since." Her breath hitched at the thought of her stolen daughter. "Five years she's been with him… and I'm so afraid… And that's my story," Raven finished after a moment. "Somehow I found my way back here. Completely by accident." Changeling nodded.

"The others took your leaving pretty harshly, and the general consensus was that if you wanted to leave, then go and don't come back." Raven turned her head away, accepting the brutal words. Emily crooned softly, worried, and Raven reassured her. Changeling put his arms around her, smiling at Emily even as he imparted the news. "I don't know if anyone else figured it out; maybe Starfire, because you two were so close. And the Titans went on, though much was different. Starfire and Robin, or should I say Nightwing? They're engaged, but Starfire refuses to hold the wedding until you come back." Raven turned her head to look at him, startled and confused. He chuckled. "Robin set a date though; if you didn't return by-" He frowned in thought, then muffled a laugh, "Today, they would have it without you. Isn't Star in luck? Bumblebee and Cyborg are about three years into the dating relationship now, but Robin and I have been prepping Cyborg to ask the question. He's so nervous that we think she'll do it instead." Raven laughed and Emily giggled, clapping her hands.

"Raven, we'll find Hailey. Please, say you'll come back?" The violet eyed woman looked once more at Emily, seeing her other daughter, and then nodded.

"We can't let Star go without her best friend at her wedding, can we?" Changeling grinned as they exchanged a quick kiss. "All right. Let's go." She look at Em. "Ready?" The child sobered, nodding. A giant black and silver raven rose into the sky, a green one following close behind.

...Will be in our hearts...

"Starfire, you know Changeling said Raven wasn't coming back. We have to accept her wishes." Nightwing stood in front of the alien, frustration obvious in the exasperated words. Star hung her head, a sigh escaping her lips.

"I cannot believe friend Raven would not come back! She is my sister- does that not mean anything?" There was a moment of silence.

"Star, she isn't coming back, for you or anyone else." His words were soft and regretful as tears started to form in her green eyes.

"Robin, don't make me follow up on that promise…" A silver and black bird rose from the floor, twisting apart in vaporous strands.

"And I'd always come back Star." Raven stood, one hand on her hip, the other holding a giggling girl. Long violet hair fell down, same color eyes glinting defiantly in a pale face. She was dressed in a dark green sweatshirt, sleeves rolled up and hood down, and a pair of blue jeans. Starfire and Nightwing gaped.

"Raven? You have come back to us? For good?" Her pitiful tone questioned whether the person in front of her was real or not.

"Of course Starfire." With a squeal the red head launched herself at the former Titan, crushing her in a tight hug. "Star- Emily-" Raven gasped. Starfire drew back.

"Is this?" She looked at Raven. Changeling stepped up from behind her.

"She's my daughter." Starfire blinked, then clapped her hands together. Grabbing Raven's free hand, she dragged the unbalanced woman forward, smiling at Nightwing.

"Raven did come back!" Nightwing was still staring at Raven but nodded.

"Alright, Star. You were right." Raven righted herself, still holding Emily. She mouthed, 'I'll tell you later.' He nodded shortly. "Do you want to go tell Cy and Bumblebee?" Raven hesitated.

"Sure." She looked into Emily's eyes for a moment and then handed her to Changeling and turned, hugging Starfire briefly. Without another word she walked out of the room.

...Will be in our hearts...

Cyborg grunted under the T-Car, loud clanking noises signifying he was seriously redoing something. "Wrench, Bumblebee?" Before she could move, it flew up and into his waiting hand.

"Thanks, Bee." He paused, catching sight of her stunned face. Then, looking behind her, his jaw dropped.

"Raven?" His voice was incredulous. Raven gave a half grin.

"Hey Cy. Long time no see."

...Will be in our hearts...

Raven leaned against Changeling's shoulder, for the moment at ease. As the sun set, he slipped a hand around her waist, breathing into her violet hair.

"We'll find Hailey. And then we can take Slade down. For good." He said softly. She looked up at him, violet eyes still sad, but no longer hidden by a mask.

"I know." For now, she could hold on and wait, knowing her friends and lover were with her no matter where she went or how many times she had to leave. The sun's dying beams slipped away as the wind ruffled her hair and she turned her face into it, letting the tenseness she had for so long go. There was always tomorrow.

I'll find you, Hailey. We'll find you and bring you home, safe.

and time goes by

against our will

there's nothing we can do

to make it stand still

but the memory we have

of the moment- no more

will be in our hearts

forever.

there's always tomorrow.

Fin

That's it, people. The end of Maelstrom. I'm going to come out with it's sequel (Because there's no way I'm leaving the Hailey problem hanging) Upheaval sometime within the month. I need to write it out (Maelstrom took me two weeks to write), check it over and then type it up, so a month sounds about right. In the meantime I'm going to be posting some one shots and mini-series I've collected while I've been writing everything else, so look forward to those soon. Anyone want to see Starfire's wedding? It won't show up in Upheaval, but I might just add it on as a bonus chapter here. Let me know.

Technogirl: This chapter's dedicated to answering your question of why did she leave- so I hope you liked it! Thanks for the compliment.

Ravenrocs4eva: Yes! I've snagged another reviewer! This is, as you can see from the author's notes, the last chapter. Was your guess right?

Yaa: And thus it ends. I hope you were satisfied- well, as much as you could be, because I've promised the sequel up in a month or less, and somehow I get the feeling you're going to be telling me to post it as often as you can... Sorry for distressing you unnecessarily; all I can say is thank God for snow. It's the only reason I was able to type this up today. I just added another twist and hope that you approve, or just don't out hate it. And I update the day you review- what can I say? Praise makes fingers type faster. I hope I'll see one of your reviews in Upheaval!