Dick's POV During the Wedding
What a beautiful day. I may be unhappy that I wasn't the first to get married like everyone including myself thought I would be but watching my brothers face throughout the night truly had the envy I had been feeling disappear from my body completely. I never thought I would see him again when he died. We got a second chance and so did he. I knew Raven was special. She had this annoying habit of changing people's lives and making them better. Though she never knew she was the reason behind it. She did the same for me. When I was at my darkest time she was dwelling in it and bringing me out of it. Now she went and did the same thing to my brothers. Seeing her smile throughout the night had me feeling more feelings. Knowing that I have seen when her eyes were void of light. When she was an empty shell of the person she was before. The Raven we knew before Slade is lost forever. But we got a better Raven.
I keep watching my family from the sidelines seeing how different the energy is here with everyone. I can tell that if there was any kind of problem that we would all be able to leap into action with a seconds notice. For a while I was anxious about something like that happening however the more I thought about it the more I realized we would be more than fine. We have over half the league and their side kicks here this evening. Anyone who tried to ruin this wedding would be making the biggest mistake of their life. I sit next to Kori at the large table for the wedding party. She is beaming at the vision of Jason and Raven dancing together.
"She is so happy" She says to me
"I know, who knew she was capable of it" I joke, she lightly hits me but even that kind of stings. "I'm just saying, she went though a lot. I never thought I would see her this happy"
"Do you think they will stay in the team?" She asks, I sense the sadness in the question and I wish I could say something to lighten that. However I cannot as I know the answer to this.
"They don't want to lose each other Kori. You saw how close this wedding came to not being able to happen." I reply she sighs
"Are we going to retire when we get married?" She asks fidgeting with the ring I gave her. The one we won't announce I have to her until Raven and Jason get back from their honeymoon. Looking out into the crowded dance floor I see Tim and his girlfriend dancing together and Damien standing alone in the corner. Victor and Karen laughing with Garfield and Roy next to the food table. Even Bruce and Selena are having a good time. I don't think I have seen every member of my family so happy.
"If you want to do that. I think I am okay with either. You aren't exactly easy to kill. My family seems to be allergic to death right now." I reply she smiles and looks at Raven being dipped by Jason. He leans down kissing her as they right themselves. It's cute I won't lie but every now and then I get a little pinch in my gut seeing her with him. Not that I would want it any other way. Feelings are just complicated sometimes.
"I am not sure. We don't really have as many close calls as they do" She tells me, she isn't wrong. For two people that can self heal they sure almost die a lot.
"We will see where we are when it comes to it. We don't have to decide right now" I say, she nods in agreement before getting up from her seat. She extends her hand to me and gestures to the dance floor. I take it without hesitation and she leads me to the dance floor.
The rest of the night goes by with a rush of feelings of happiness and sometimes I wish I could just stop time and live in the moment. Live right now for a long time. I can only imagine that's how Jason and Raven feel right now.
Jason's POV Three Years later
Sunlight hits the sheets, warming them and thus warming my legs. I turn onto my back more so to warm the front of my legs on the blanket but mostly to stare at the ceiling as I wake up the rest of the way. I deeply inhale trying to wake up even further. The smell of bacon hits my nose and I smile. I knew I didn't feel her next to me. Sitting up I stretch and this gives Ace the cue to jump on the bed. He licks my face and his tail wagging behind him as he invades my personal space. His black fur being shoved into my nose as he tries to shove his face closer for more attention. I laugh. The large wolf like dog is probably the biggest baby I have ever met.
"Morning buddy" I say patting him on the sides. I can tell he smiles at me through his facial expressions. I roll my shoulders back to pop them and we both walk into the kitchen where the smell was coming from. The bacon was already on a plate that was put on top of the microwave, which means Ace probably already got the first batch. Raven stands over the stove flipped a pancake. When she turns around a smile lights up her face.
"Good morning" She says handing me a cup of coffee. I grab it and sip it like it is liquid gold.
"Morning babe" I say she smiles and turns back to her pancakes.
"You're up early" I say she shrugs, does she think I am stupid?
"Am I?" She asks, god she is a terrible liar.
"Yeah, and you're chipper. What happened to the gloomy woman I married?" I muse she laughs shaking her head and moving the pancake to the plate.
"I'm not allowed to be happy?" she asks, I sip my coffee again squinting at her with suspicion. That's when I hear it.
meow
She freezes and turns around pressing her lips together. I make eye contact with her as she holds my stare she puts the spatula down next to the stove. She turns the flame down to off as she continues her eye contact.
meow
It's coming from the bathroom. She holds my gaze and pokes her cheek with her tongue. We bolt at the same time towards the door and she gets there first blocking my path. We stand inches from each other and I look down at my beautiful wife, the smile on her face making my heart go crazy. I arch an eyebrow at her.
"Let me see"
"No"
"Raven, move or I will move you" I say she smirks
"Do it, you won't" She replies, I laugh and shake my head leaning down to kiss her. I grab her shoulders as she melts into my kiss. Falling for my trap. I push her to the side and open the door she giggles and wraps her arms around my waist trying to pull me back. I laugh and as the door finishes swinging open I see the little thing. A little black kitten in a large cardboard box wrapped with wrapping paper. I look at her as she releases me and flashes me a toothy smile.
"Happy birthday" she says sheepishly, I slowly walk into the bathroom kneeling down next to the kitten. It's so small that when I grab it out of the box it fits into my hands. "I had to go get him this morning"
"Do you have a name for this little trouble maker?" I ask she shakes her head kneeling down next to me and petting the little thing with her index finger.
"No, I thought I would leave that for you to do" She answers, I nod looking at it's face. It's completely black, it's eyes a beautiful green. I have to admit I have never owned a cat before. Never knew if I liked them or not. However watching countless videos of them being adorable pets had Raven begging for one. I am not surprised at all she pulled this. I am not angry about it though, I secretly wanted one as well. I think to myself, trying to come up with something unique but fitting for the dark creature in my hands.
"Would Midnight be too Cheesy?" I ask she giggles slightly
"It would but if that's what you want to name him" She replies
"What if we gave him a really stupid name like Burnt hot dog" I ask she laughs throwing her head back
"Is that what you want?" she asks still laughing I nod
"Yeah but not Burnt Hot Dog. Maybe..." I think hard trying to find the most out of pocket name that I can think of "Burnt Foreskin"
"No!"
"Okay okay, BBC" I say her eyes pop open
"BBC?"
"Big Black Cat" I reply she shakes her head rubbing her forehead.
"I regret this choice so much right now" She says I laugh looking down at the little black blob in my cupped palms.
"What about Grim?" I ask she pouts her lips out and looks lovingly at the small animal.
"I love it"
"I love you"
Her eyes flick to me and the loving look in her eye doesn't fade.
"I love you too" She says, and it warms my heart once again.
Raven's POV - 7 years later
My legs curl under me, even if I wanted to get up from this comfortable window seat that I have grown to adore, I am unable to. Grim lays in loaf position on my lap stubbornly sleeping as I read. Every now and then chirping at me to pet him with my soul self's hand so I can focus on my book. My once again short hair clipped out of my my face. The smell of waffles lingers through the house.
I see out of the corner of my eye the movement first. That's when I hear the little giggles. The girls giggles. I shake my head smirking. I hear the shushing followed by more giggles from the trouble makers. I don't move but I hear the footsteps coming closer. I feel the little hands on my shoulders first.
"BOO!" in Unison the girls shout and I pretend to be startled making a big show of jumping. Grim slides off my lap, actually startled and then loafs angrily on the window seat alone, as I am now standing. Laughs erupt from the two.
"You scared me! How dare you!" I reply, Mar'i laughs first and Rae shakes her head.
"I know you weren't actually scared! Nothing blew up!" She says matter of factly, I wink at her and she smiles.
"I will have to tell Dick and Kori you both tried to blow up my house" I say they shake their heads furiously. Running into the kitchen. I hear Jason laugh from the kitchen at their pattering feet. I walk behind them leaning against the cold granite.
"How long are we watching them?" He asks
"I don't know, Kori said the mission ran longer than normal. So they aren't sure" I reply looking at the two now in our backyard chasing each other around. My eyes fall onto Rae, she's going to be thirteen soon. She looks so much like her mom.
"It's kind of creepy isn't it?" Jason asks, I nod
"She looks so much like Terra. Gar would have hated it" I say sadly
"Do you think she has any memories of him? Do you think she knows?" He asks, I shake my head.
"Dick wants to wait to tell her until she gets her powers if she gets any. I told him that would be hard on her but you know Dick" I say Jason nods looking out at them both playing.
"I don't think Gar would have hated it...as much as she put him through in the end of her life he still loved her. He loved Rae too...until the end of his" He says, talking about Gar saddens me. Makes me feel guilty for not being around when he went on that mission. I didn't know he wouldn't have come back. Now she lives with Dick and Kori with their daughter Mar'i.
"Do you regret getting snipped?" I ask he shakes his head.
"Do you want kids all of a sudden?" He asks I shake my head
"No, I just see how happy our nieces make you. How much you love them. I can't help but be curious" I tell him, he smiles and takes a waffle out of the iron.
"I can give them back at some point. Plus I don't need anything else. I have you...and Grim...and Ace. I am..happy" He tells me, I smile and look down at the counter and then around at the life we have built.
"Me too"
Wow...thank you guys so much for all the support. It is kind of weird ending this series right now. I have spent two years on this series and have grown to find comfort in writing these two. Using this series as my own therapy for my trauma really helped and even though I would vanish for a bit you all stuck around and I love that and appreciate it so much. I hope if I make another story I can rely on you guys to read it and show it the support. If you have any ideas or story lines you want to see these two go through but dont want to write it yourself please let me know and I will write it up for you.
That's it...thank you. Victoria out. 3