:Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. The two week old chicken in my fridge is starting to scare me. Over ten inches of snow is a good reason to go outside for once. Don't look into the sun- it burns. It's not good to get only three hours of sleep...
:Author's Notes: So if anyone has me on Author Alert, they have a grand total of four updates in their Inbox. o.0
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Ever Forward: Sorry Doesn't Mean A Thing
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Mary Ann, you'd never believe how stupid some of this man's jokes are. Even a kindergartener would realize it's bad. And yet he keeps it up.
Then there's Rose; she had to be the strongest woman alive. Handles a gun pretty well too; even in the most extreme situations she's never missed her target. Can't imagine why she hasn't found somebody already- background says she's a former prostitute though, which could be a reason why.
Miranda is the calmest, most unaffected person I've ever met. I think she's got a good head on those shoulders, and should make an excellent part of the System Force. (The creepiest thing is when she seems to read your mind; that's the one thing I might never get used to.)
Jacob is this immense powerhouse that just starts going and doesn't stop. If you ever need a hand with anything remotely electrical, he's your man. Though, considering my brother in law is a wiz at that stuff already, I don't think you'll be needing him.
It's going to an interesting ride to say none the least. But I think I like them.
- Tim Erics, in a letter to Mary Ann Wade
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First was Miranda- Tim felt he owed it to her. If he could manage to get her back on the team, it might be easier to persuade the others.
Flipping through the record files, the determined man eventually found her new address buried under seven months of paper work. His lips moved silently as he memorized the number and street, and then he slipped out of the office, heading for 8145 Cherry Orchard Lane.
It wasn't that far away; actually on the border between the 'safe' zone and the shadier side of town. He decided to walk; the cars the Force used were too flashy for this area. Finally, about half an hour later, Tim stopped in front of the fence and looked up, keen eyes sweeping across the small house in front of him. Slowly, unsure for a moment, his hand hovered over the latch; then his resolve came back and the former leader came in, lifting a hand to knock on the door.
"Who is it?" Miranda's voice floated out, tired but patient as always. Apparently the question was rhetorical, because a few seconds later the white door swung on it's hinges and her grey eyes appeared in the opening. There was a moment of shock and recognition, and Tim wondered if he saw anger in her face. And then she sighed, as though accepting the inevitable.
"Erics." No first name, though the tone wasn't unfriendly. "What are you here for?" He swallowed, somehow finding it harder to speak in the face of her calmness.
"I… wanted to say I was sorry, and ask you to come back- I won't be there if you do." She took a slow breath, looking up to the cloudy sky above.
"I can't accept your apology, Tim." Leaning on the back of the door, hidden from his sight, she took another shuddering breath. "Do you know why?" Silence as Tim stared at the white wood hiding her from him.
"I was pregnant when I left the Force, Erics. A human life was growing inside of me, and I swore that I would protect it while Kevin protected the city. It was my child, Tim. My baby." Her voice twisted, taking on an edge of inner pain and tears. "Three weeks ago a group of thugs picked me out as a target. I can only do so much- I could only fight so hard- and it wasn't enough." The man on her steps found it hard to breathe, feeling the weight of guilt and blame settle on his shoulders as she spoke.
"And so I lost her. My child, Tim. A baby girl depended on me for her life, and I failed her." She turned, grey eyes meeting his. "So that's why I can't accept your apology, Tim."
Eternity stretched as the once proud man stood before her, lost in confusion and guilt, unable to speak. Finally she wiped the tears away.
"Would you like some tea?" It would have been an odd question from anyone else, but Miranda stepped back and he slowly came up, pausing beside his former teammate.
"… I'm sorry." He saw her accept it before she turned and made her way to the kitchen, leaving him to follow.
Half an hour later Miranda looked up at the clock.
"You should go. He'll be home soon." He understood the unspoken message: He's not ready to see you yet. Rising, the black haired man nodded goodnight to her and slipped out the door. Once outside, he was forced to stop in the alley next to their little house and sit, waiting out the weakness in his legs.
A car pulled up and Kevin got out, going inside. The cheerful sounds of dinner made their way out to Tim, and it was only when Miranda began to cry, and Kevin to comfort her, that he rose and walked home.
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