Hey everyone! Just me, with a belated Merry Christmas wish for all of you. Hope yall had a great Christmas and God bless. Enjoy! I'd answer your reviews except this damn web site is going so slow its mind boggling and to the point where I can't hardly do anything. I was surprised I could even update. Sorry again, hope you like it.

Chapter Eleven

The Reluctant Titan

While traveling among the clouds in the T-Ship Starfire rested her head back against the seat and slept. However at that moment she suddenly awoke with a start. Robin heard her gasp and looked back at her cockpit. He tapped his head set.

"Starfire? Are you alright?" She looked about her small space and saw Robin and Beast Boy looking concerned.

"I am-fine," she said setting back down. "Just a bad dream I suppose." Robin hesitantly faced forward again and went back to piloting the ship. Starfire rested her head back again and sent a foreboding look up at the sky. She soon drifted back to sleep and hours passed like minuets. All too soon they were landing and she sleepily picked her head up off the headrest. Robin and Beast Boy climbed out closely followed by Starfire.

"Robin, this is where we will find Raven?"

"No but we should be able to find out where that old guy lives, and when we do we'll find Raven." A door bell rang as Robin pushed open the way into a country store. The clerk looked up from the counter and looked them over.

"You people aren't from around here are you?" Robin glanced back at Starfire and Beast Boy.

"Not exactly. Listen we're looking for a friend of ours. We have reason to believe she might have met up with someone who lives around here. Do you know this guy?" They held up a printed out photo of the old man and the store clerk took a look at it.

"Oh yeah, that's Joseph Yazi. One of the youngest code talkers during World War Two. He and his grandson live about five miles west of here." Robin nodded stuffing the photo back into his pocket.

"You know them well?"

"This is a small town," answered the clerk with a smile.

"Right, thanks."

"Hey listen if you promise to be back before eleven tonight you're welcome to burrow my truck. It's right outside." Starfire and Beast Boy both shrugged. "Can you drive stick?" Robin smiled and nodded gratefully.

"That'd certainly save some trouble, thanks." The clerk threw him the keys and they were out the door. They found the truck just as he had said and within moments of climbing in took off down the road. It took only a few fifteen minuets for them to make their way across the rocky landscape but soon they spotted a lone house with a jeep parked outside.

"Guess this is it." Robin, Starfire, and Beast Boy walked up onto the porch and gave the door a few knocks. A few moments passed and the door was opened by a little boy no older than nine. "Hi there," said Robin.

"Hello," answered the boy.

"Is your grandfather in?" He looked back into the house.

"Grandpa, folks are here for ya." He stepped away and an old man walked up to the screen door.

"Can I help you?" Robin cleared his throat.

"Joseph Yazi?"

"Yes, what do you want?"

"My name is Robin, this Starfire, and Beast Boy." They nodded as Robin gave their names. "We need to know if there's a girl here. About his height," he said pointing back at Beast Boy with his thumb. "Purplish hair, purplish eyes, kinda pale. Have you seen her?"

"Yes, I suppose I could call her 'Dark Hair' but then I'd be conforming to stereotypes. However in the interests of time we'll just call her that."

"So she is here," said Beast Boy eagerly. He stepped up beside Robin. Joseph surveyed them for a moment before opening the screen door and stepping aside. Knowing the gesture Robin, Starfire, and Beast Boy entered. They all sat down in the living and looked about room. The walls were covered with old heirlooms and animals that he had hunted. Beast Boy scratched his head and started the conversation.

"So can we see Raven any time soon?" Starfire gave him a short jab in the side.

"What you all need to understand is that Dark Hair is very…unique."

"Yes we know that, she was…she is a part of our team and we know her very well," said Robin. Robin seemed a little loss for words at the moment so Starfire decided to rescue him.

"Perhaps you may begin by telling us how it is you came to find her."

"I was bringing George home from a visit with my son, he and his wife separated and entrusted George to me. As I drove down the road a sudden and bright light blinded me and shown all around us. When I had finally regained control of the vehicle I saw that a girl lay on the ground. She has no memory of who she was." Starfire turned to Robin.

"Robin we must help her to remember." He nodded.

"Can we talk to her?"

"Is she wishes to talk, you may." Beast Boy stood up.

"But she doesn't belong here, she belongs with us." Joseph held up his hand to silence him.

"I know, its obvious Dark Hair is meant for more than this," he gestured around himself. "But if she is not ready to face what hurt her in the past then you cannot force her to come with you." Beast Boy looked back down at Robin and Starfire. "Are you prepared to except that?" Beast Boy quickly faced him again.

"Yes. I just have to see her." Joseph told his son something in Navajo and he disappeared into another room. An extremely awkward silence followed until the boy reemerged closely followed by someone whose face was hidden by a hood. Starfire took hold of Robin's hand. Raven lowered her hood and stared down at her friends despondently. Starfire stood up and smiled softly at her.

"Raven, it is I Starfire." She stepped forward and Raven moved back slightly. "Your friend." Raven avoided her eyes. "Do you not recognize us?" Raven shook her head.

"I'm sorry." She began to walk away.

"Wait!" Beast Boy pushed past them. "You can't remember anything?"

"Isn't that what I just said? I don't know any of your names."

"Do you know this name; Anubis." Raven closed her eyes as she saw a sudden flash of a dark figure looming over her. A strange light coming from his hand. She gasped and turned away from him.

"Leave me alone!"

"Raven wait!" He began to run after her but Joseph stopped him.

"Be at ease, it will take time but she will soon see that your word is one that can be trusted."

"She's my wife; I can't fight this guy without her."

"And she cannot remember what she must without you. Just give her time."

"Beast Boy," came Robin's voice. He turned to his leader. He jerked his head outside and beckoned him and Starfire to follow. "Thanks, give a minuet to talk." Joseph bowed his head.

"If you want, I will have dinner made in few minuets. George is eager to meet you." Starfire smiled and nodded enthusiastically.

"We would be most honored, thank you." She followed Robin and Beast Boy outside. Starfire sat down on a swinging bench and sampled it. 'Hmm, it is not quite as nice as the one Robin made for me.'

"Alright guys, what do you think?" Beast Boy stared at him wide eyed.

"What do I think? I think Anubis fried her brain and left out to dry!"

"Alright alright calm down Beast Boy. Starfire you know Anubis better than any of us. Have you ever seen anything like this?" Starfire thought for a short moment.

"The damage or effect a Psion hand device can inflict on a victim is only bounded by the user's imagination. And I am more than certain someone with a mind as dark as Anubis' could do much more than what we have seen."

"Okay, Beast Boy why don't you get back in there and see if you can get through to Raven any. I gonna give Cyborg a call." Beast Boy didn't need telling twice. He dashed back into the house and Robin whipped out his communicator. "Cyborg?" Cyborg's face appeared on the screen.

"What's up Robin?"

"We found Raven, but it's just as I was afraid of; she hasn't got a clue who she is who we are."

"Well its simple man," said Cyborg. "Anubis brainwashed her just like he did you Star," he said looking at the alien girl. "I mean that is how we found you isn't it."

"Yes but that was because Blackfire severely injured me," said Starfire. Robin studied their findings.

"We'll check in a little while and see if we can get Raven back. Over and out." He closed his comm. link. "Well Star, while Beast Boy tries to talk to Raven I think our dinner is ready."

AT TITANS TOWER…………

Having ended his conversation with Robin, Cyborg clicked off the screen and let out a tired breath. He glanced to his side at the security monitors and saw Taka walking to the training room. She held with her a thermos and a cup. He gulped and looked at his reflection in the window. He examined himself scrupulously and polished the metal portion of his head. He looked at the security screen just as Taka disappeared into the training room.

"Alright, let's do this." Taka sat in the training room and was about to open her thermos and pour its contents when she heard behind her: "You know if you're looking for a good spot to drink that…" She turned around and saw Cyborg in the doorway. "The roof is always a good place." Taka screwed the cap back on and hid her smile.

"Why is that?"

"Well you know, it's always worked for Robin and Star."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Cyborg paused, trying to choose his words carefully.

"Nothing, they just like it." Taka nodded and looked off into space.

"But what about Blackfire?" Cyborg waved a hand dismissively.

"No prob." He showed her the little screen on his arm and displayed Blackfire's cell, still occupied by said Tamaranian.

"Well, lead the way then." Cyborg happily showed her the way up to the very top of the tower and to a spot where they had a few chairs and a small table set out. They sat down and were met by a warm breeze along with the calm view of the ocean. "You were right Cyborg, this is nice."

"What I tell you? So how about we crack open that hot chocolate?" Taka bit her lip.

"Oh sorry, I don't have a second cup."

"No worries. That's what the cap is for don't you know?" He unscrewed the cap and poured an amount of the beverage for her and for himself. She sipped it and sighed as it warmed her stomach. Cyborg racked his brains for anything that could result in a good conversation.

"Sssso, how you like it here so far?" 'Good one Robocop!'

"To be perfectly honest Cyborg it has puzzled me more than anything. Don't get me wrong I love it here it's just…"

"What?"

"I don't know I feel like Robin took me in because I felt like he had to or something." Cyborg shook his head.

"You can cut hat out right now. First of all we unanimously decided to have you aboard. Second, we don't just take in every Joe Bob or Mary Jane that comes knocking on our door. You're here Taka because first and fore most you're a good person and you've got the skills to watch our backs in a fight."

"Can I ask what Robin says about me?"

"That's another thing you don't need to be afraid of." Taka looked slightly crossed.

"I have told you, I'm not afraid."

"I know I know, I was just gonna say that he said to me that you were an honorable person that he was glad to have part of our team. And so am I." Taka looked up from her hot chocolate and smiled.

"Thank you." Cyborg tipped his glass toward her and took a long swig. Cyborg noticed that Taka was fiddling with something in her pocket.

"Have you found out anything new about that triangle thing?" Taka pulled it out and shook her head in disillusionment.

"No. I think I've nearly burned my eyes out trying to find anything that looks even remotely like a symbol or writing, so far I have found nothing. All I know about it is what it has done to me in the past."

"What you mean make you stronger and healthier?"

"Yes but as Raven has said those things are unnatural and should be looked at with caution. I only wish we knew more about what its purpose was."

"That's no problem; let me run it through a few radiation scans. I'll figure out what it is."

"No we should have patience Cyborg, when we are ready we will be able to understand its secrets." Cyborg playfully rolled his eyes.

"Oh come on Lady Confucius that's the corniest thing I've ever heard." Taka gave him a lopsided grin. "Let me see this." She handed it to him and he examined it for a moment. "You know I'm not an expert with all this mystical hoochi koo stuff, but I know enough." He handed it back to her and Taka chuckled.

"Starfire once commented that in the proper light I looked cute with it on."

"Naaa, I think you look just as beautiful without it." 'DOH!' Taka gripped her glass rather tightly and did her best to shield her reddening cheeks from him. She looked about frantically.

"Wow look at the inside I'd better get back in time I MEAN….I think I'd better go in now." She left quite hurriedly.

"Wai-" Cyborg then hit himself off the top of the head. "Doh, doh! You just had to let it slip didn't ya?"

REJOINING ROBIN, STARFIRE, AND BEAST BOY…………

Raven lit a match in her room and touched it to the wick of a candle. She heard a knock at her door and sighed.

"Please leave me alone." Not taking 'no' for an answer Beast Boy slowly pushed it open and stuck his head in.

"Raven?"

"Why do you keep calling me that?" He stepped inside and closed the door behind him.

"Well for one it's your name. And it just also happens to be my favorite word." Raven sat down on her bed and looked away from him. "Come on Raven…" He sat down beside her. "You've got to remember me." Raven paused.

"Beast Boy…"

"Yes! See I knew you were in there somewhere."

"Just because I happen to know your name doesn't mean my memory has suddenly come back."

"But it's a step in the right direction. Here this ought to jog your memory." He held up his hand and showed her a gold band around his middle finger. "Now take a look down at yours." Raven glanced downward and saw a beautifully cut diamond. "You're my wife Raven. Those two people in there are Robin and Starfire. A short time after they got married I asked you and you said yes." Raven continued to be passive. "Fine listen, a few years ago we were all part of a team in a humble little city on the ocean. We'd fight bad guys on a daily basis. Come home, I'd cook non-dairy macaroni and cheese and you'd gripe at me for having the TV on too loud while you were trying to read. You still do sometimes but I digress." She seemed slightly put off. "What I'm trying to say is we really need you Raven. I need you."

"But…but how can I possibly be any help. I hardly remember anything about the Titans." She quickly closed her mouth and Beast Boy blinked a few times.

"Hold it. I never said anything close to the word 'Titan'." Raven tried to put her hood up and demand that he leave again but Beast boy beat her to it. "You do remember, don't you?"

"Beast Boy I need you to understand something-"

"You lied to me…"

"Beast Boy!" he hushed and she looked about to see if anyone else was listening. "I can't go back."

"What, sure you can all you have to do is get in the T-Ship with us and go home."

"Don't you get it Beast Boy! I don't want to go." Beast Boy's mouth hung ajar for a moment.

"What?" Raven took his hand and led him back over to her temporary bed.

"What I actually don't remember is what happened to me after Taka left. Anubis could've done anything to me, planted some kind of hidden suggestion or programmed a command in my mind I don't know. I just can't let you guys take the risk of bringing me back to the tower."

"But Raven…"

"Or he could've even implanted me with a Kami symbiote like Blackfire."

"Well I think we would've noticed that by now."

"A Kami can take control of their host at any time, if I do have one inside me it may just be bidding its time."

"Even if that's so we can have Cyborg scan you or something."

"Please Beast Boy don't make this harder than it already is."

"I'm not Raven, you are! Whatever's happened to you we'll fix it but I'm not going to just let you sit out here and waste away. For better or worse, or are you pretending to forget that too." Raven lowered her head.

"Can you give me a little while to think about it?" Beast Boy smiled and gave her hand a squeeze.

"You bet." She received a peck on the cheek and he left her alone. Raven folded her hands in her lap. Though much of the time with Anubis was all but a blur to her, it was clear to her that the only thing that kept her alive was the thought of being with Beast Boy again. 'Can I really just leave him like that?'

--------

Starfire set her fork down on her plate and sighed with a satisfied smile. "I thank you Mr. Yazi, the meal was most delicious." Robin agreed by nodding while chewing. He finally swallowed and wiped his mouth.

"Yeah this was great what is it?"

"Sorry, secret family recipe." Robin leaned over and whispered to Starfire.

"That probably means we don't wanna know." She covered her mouth to shade her light hearted giggles. Beast Boy walked in and sat down across from Robin. "So, how'd it go?"

"You know for the first time I think I'm not sure what Raven's going to do."

"Yeah I hate it when that happens," said Robin. Beast Boy rested his face in his hands and let out a long breath.

"Ohhhh boy I should've seen this coming. Every time we start a fight with some big bad dude like Anubis…"

"This, Anubis…he is a villain with whom you are waging war?" asked Joseph. Robin bobbed his head.

"Yeah you know red and black cloak, bit of an over the top really cliché bad guy…kina spooky." Starfire cleared her throat. "Okay really spooky. He's an old buddy from a long time ago in a galaxy far far away. And if we don't find a way to stop him there's a good chance that he's gonna come and wipe out the world." Joseph nodded pensively.

"That is bad news."

"We think so," replied Robin.

Starfire said; "We know very little about Anubis, but what is clear now is that he has somehow moved up to another level of existence. If we are to finally defeat him we must first learn more about what he is exactly."

"Well that's all great but what about Raven?" asked Beast Boy.

"She, is going home." They all turned and saw Raven walking in. She slung a stuffed backpack over her shoulder and nodded her head at Joseph.

"Thank you, for everything." He curved his mouth into a tired smile. Raven felt a tug at her cape and saw George standing beside her. She knelt down and held his shoulder. "Good bye George, I'll miss you.'

"Do you have to leave, Raven?" Raven closed her eyes and nodded.

"I have to. See there are things out there that have bad intentions for us," she said pointing upward. "My friends and I have to stop them." He nodded understandingly.

"Will you come back to visit us?" Raven glanced up at Robin who ushered Starfire outside alongside him. She smiled and brushed his hair.

"I'll try." With one more smile she stood up and took Beast Boy's hand. "Okay, I'm ready." They started walking out the door.

"Dark Hair…" Raven turned back at Joseph. "Go with God." Raven noted his words and allowed herself to be led outside by Beast Boy. As they rode in the truck back to jet/ship Raven couldn't felt but sit stock still. Beast Boy wound an arm around her.

"Hey, don't worry we'll be alright.' She gulped and looked out the window.

"I hope your right."

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year!