Ok, here are standard disclaimers. I do not own, nor claim to own any rights to the Teen Titans, or any other borrowed characters. I also make no claims towards any original characters I invent for this story.

Raven walked back into her room, her eyes transfixed on the still slumbering changeling. Her bare feet made no sound on the thick plush carpeting as she approached the bed and she stopped at its side.

She had known Garfield for five years now and had seen him transform from a geeky young boy into the young man he was today. He had matured slowly over the years, both emotionally and physically and had done it so gradually the she hadn't really noticed exactly when it was that he stopped being a boy and became a man.

"Then just marry the boy." Hermother's words echoed in her mind. He wasn't a boy, not anymore and she; she was no longer a girl.

Raven sighed. She was caught in what she knew was a no win scenario. If she didn't marry Garfield her mother would force her to marry some boring man from another Matriarchal family. Raven would not be able to defy her mother as Arella had the law on her side, and the law was enforced by magic. There would be no escaping from the Altar.

The changeling mumbled Raven's name in his sleep as he rolled over, clutching a pillow as he settled down back down. Raven bit her lower lip as she watched him. There was no doubt in her mind, he was the one. But she also knew that it was still too soon, far too soon. They had only formalized their relationship a few weeks before and now Arella was forcing her to ask him for something he was without a doubt not ready to do.

As Raven began to climb onto the bed he opened his eyes and smiled softly at her.

"Why did you get up?" He asked her in somnolent voice.

Raven completed her ascent into the huge bed and curled up next to him, kissing him gently.

"Mother was here."

"She was? Why didn't you wake me up?"

"She wanted to have a mother/daughter chat. Oh, and she invited us to dinner."

He wrapped an arm around her and returned her kiss.

"I could go for some dinner." He replied. He then noticed that Raven looked slightly troubled. "What's the matter Rae? Did you have a fight with her?"

"No, I didn't" She replied distractedly, before refocusing on him.

"Gar, we've known each other for a long time. It's been about 5 years now, right?"

He nodded in reply.

"Gar, I don't think I know I know anyone better than I know you."

"Me too Rae."

Raven paused before continuing.

"Gar, have you thought about the future?"

"The future? You mean ours?"

"Yes … our future, have you or do you?"

"Yeah sure, a lot actually."

"What do you think of it?" She asked apprehensively.

He smiled and looked deep into her eyes.

"I want us to be together forever."

Raven threw her arms around him and gave him a hug worthy of Starfire's mighty arms.

"Thank you."

Beast Boy hugged her back and they remained in silent embrace. He could feel her heart beating as their chests were pressed tightly together.

"You mean you didn't know?"

"I guess I did, it just helps to hear it."

He released her from his embrace and ran his ungloved hand through her scented violet hair.

"What did your mom say Raven? Is it about us?"

The sorceress proceeded to relate her encounter with her mother to him, explaining in detail the situation she was now in. He was unable to hide the shock and surprise he was feeling and Raven's face fell.

"I'm so sorry about this Gar. This is so unfair to you. We shouldn't have come here, it was mistake." She said as she fought back her tears.

"Well, I guess our hand is being forced, but it's OK Rae. You know what though? I think I'm feeling kind of excited now."

"Thanks, I just don't want you to think I'm taking you for granted. "

He gave her a reassuring smile.

"I know you don't Rae."

Raven felt as if the weight of the whole world had been lifted from her shoulders. But one issue remained.

"There is one thing that you need to know Gar. Azarathian marriages, they're different from Earth marriages. They can't be dissolved except through death."

"You mean there's no divorce? Why would I even worry about that?"

She placed her hand on his forearm.

"I know, but you deserve to understand what you are getting into. Also, Azarathian marriages also carry an infidelity curse."

"A curse, really?"

"Yes Gar, if a husband is unfaithful to his wife the curse will kill him. He will be consumed by a horrible disease and die a painful death."

The changeling' eyes grew wide upon hearing the deadly marital safeguard.

"And what about the women?" He asked.

Raven dropped her head in shame.

"The curse only applies to husbands, not the wives. I'm sorry Gar, there is no way around the curse, and once the Priestess performs the ceremony it will be there for the rest of your life. If you don't want to go through with this, I'll understand." She replied in a whisper as she turned away from him.

Raven no longer expected or hoped that he would join her in the one sided Azarathian marital bond, and she didn't blame him. For him to accept such a humiliating and demeaning offer was more than she could expect from him. If the roles were reversed she didn't know what she would do, but there was no doubt she would be hesitant to accept an offer to enter into such a lopsided relationship. She braced herself as she waited to hear his rejection and began to wonder what sort of man would her mother select for her.

Beast Boy then did something that caught her completely off guard. He hopped off the bed and stood. He then took her hands and pulled her up so that she was seated on the edge of the bed.

"I want to do this right." He said as he dropped down onto his right knee.

Raven's eyes bulged.

"Wait!" She shouted as she hopped off the bed, also dropping onto her own right knee. He smiled bashfully as she took his hands into her own. She gently caressed them before raising his hands to her lips and kissing his palms.

"This is it huh?" He asked her with a hint of nervousness.

"Yeah, this is it."

The both knelt silently and until they broke it together.

"Will you …" They began simultaneously and stopped mid sentence. They both stopped breathing as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Yes!" They answered in unison and hugged each other.

"I love you." She whispered into his ear. "And I want to show you just how much I do love you."

Terra rang the doorbell and waited. She had never been to Slade's penthouse, even though it was located in the tower next to the one where her own apartment was located. Her arms were crossed and she impatiently drummed her fingers on her own biceps as the impatience began to well up in her. Just as she reached a second time for the ornate bell ringer, which was done up in an exaggerated baroque style, the door slowly opened.

"The master is waiting for you." An old man greeted her.

Terra followed Slade's valet into the apartment. He was the old man that had served Slade as his butler since the days when the Titans were still wearing diapers. His appearance was decrepit and Terra thought that he looked almost as gray as Raven. He led her into the ample living room, in which artifacts almost as bizarre as those found in Raven's abode were on display. She had to fight her inner instincts to not recoil at the sight of a stuffed, four eyed bird. A black bird.

A raven.

"Dinner will be served in 15 minutes Miss Markov. The master will join you shortly. May I offer you some refreshment?"

"A scotch and soda." She deadpanned.

"Excellent choice. I will prepare it for you immediately. Please make yourself comfortable." The majordomo replied as he left the room.

The geomancer began to wander around the room, perusing through Slade's collection of the weird and the macabre.

This is a side of Slade I never saw before.

Terra heard footfalls approach and turned around, expecting the butler with her drink. She guessed wrong, as it was Slade who entered the room. She raised an eyebrow in undisguised curiosity as Slade wasn't wearing his usual mask. Instead he was wearing a half mask which covered only the upper portion of his face, exposing his mouth. She had never seen any part of his face before and she could see that the right side of his face had once incurred some serious damage as his exposed skin was scarred and discolored.

"I didn't know you had a special dinner mask Slade." She greeted her partner in business and crime.

Slade chucked as he approached her.

'It can be challenging to eat dinner while wearing my regular mask."

She sat down on one of the Italian leather couches. Another new facet of Deathstroke the Terminator. Since when did Slade have such exquisite taste, she wondered to herself.

"I always wondered why Trigon didn't restore you so wouldn't have the scars."

"It wasn't part of the deal we made." He deadpanned. "A deal he didn't keep."

"I see." She replied as Slade sat down opposite her. The butler returned with Terra's drink, which she consumed in a single gulp before returningthe glass to the tray in the butler's hands, indicating that she wanted another one.

"So did you find what you were looking for at our Tower?" Slade asked.

"No I didn't. Raven and Beast Boy were both gone."

"That is a shame, your trip there was in vain."

Terra leaned back, putting her hands behind her head.

"They're not going to accept our offer Slade. They aren't going to work for us."

"That much was obvious from the beginning Terra." He deadpanned in his signature monotone.

Terra stood up and began to pace around the room.

"Slade, you never told me what you did for Trigon. What kind of deal did you make with him?"

The one eyed villain carefully studied Terra before replying.

"I returned his daughter to him. He promised to restore my mortal body if I delivered her to him, which I did. He double crossed me however, and paid dearly for that mistake."

Terra looked astonished.

"I never knew that he had a daughter. It must suck to be her." She sniggered as the butler returned with a refill.

"It certainly does. I know that her past haunts Raven to this day."

Terra dropped her glass of Scotch on the floor.

"You're kidding me, right? Raven is Trigon's daughter?"

"It is the truth Terra."

"So Raven's a demon? Well, that sure explains a lot." She said breathlessly.

"Half demon." Slade corrected her. "Raven's mother is a human female who lives in Azarath."

"Azarath? Isn't that the first word in her mantra?" She asked in a puzzled voice. "So is it a place, like an alien planet?"

"Not quite so Terra. It's a place that resides in another dimension. I had the pleasure of visiting it before Trigon destroyed it."

"So Raven has no place to call home now?"

"Actually she does. After defeating Trigon Raven restored both Azarath and Earth from their destruction, and unintentionally freed you from your stony form in the process."

Terra nodded as she processed everything Slade had told her.

"So that's how I was freed."

"Precisely." Slade affirmed as the butler returned.

"Dinner is served Master."

"Excellent!" Slade replied. "I have a full appetite tonight. Come Terra, we still have to discuss what we will do about the Titans, especially the changeling."

Terra rose from her seat and followed Slade into the dining room.

Now how will I get to Azarath if it's in another dimension? She pondered silently.

The elevator chimed as the doors snapped open, revealing a matronly middle aged woman, who happily exited from the lift. She was laden down with several packages and bags which she carried and she hummed happily as she walked down the long hallway, stopping in front of a door. She placed her palm on the hand reader and the display above it flashed her name: 'Gayla'.

The door slid open and Gayla walked in as she continued to hum to herself. She looked around the living areas of the apartment and finding no one there she made her way to the bedrooms. Without announcing herself she entered the main bedroom, the one belonging to the Matriarch.

And stifled a scream.

The chambermaid couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was an affront to Azarathian sensibilities and morality. She dropped the packages she was carrying and stood paralyzed, unable to move or speak as she stared at the horror before her.

And a horror it was, for before her Raven was lying asleep, completely naked, next to an also undressed green male. Her body was draped around his and as to what had transpired earlier, there was no doubt in Gayla's mind. It was an outrage. Raven herself was a Matriarch and somehow she had committed this unspeakable act.

Gayla's limbs began to obey her once again and she bolted from the scene, collecting the packages from the floor that would have given witness to her presence. Before she knew what had happened she was already in the hallway outside of the apartment and was beginning to hyoerventilate. Still in full panic mode she vacillated on what to do next. That was when the elevator chimed and its doors opened once gain. Arella stepped off the lift and stared at the chambermaid.

"Gayla, what is the matter? What has happened?"

By this point Gayla was in tears.

"I cannot tell you Mistress." She sobbed.

"Tell me what?" Arella demanded. "Are we in danger? Tell me Gayla, or will call security."

Gayla composed herself before replying.

"It's so shameful Mistress, I am so sorry!"

"What did you do Gayla?" Arella asked testily.

"I, I, I entered Mistress Raven's room."

"And what is wrong with that …" Arella asked before her face betrayed that she was experiencing a gestalt moment. "… oh, I see." She continued with knowing smile.

"Do not concern yourself with whatever you saw in Raven's room. Whatever it was, it never happened and you never saw it. Do you understand?"

Gayla bowed to Arella repeatedly.

"Thank you Mistress, thank you." Gayla sobbed. "I, I will now return to my housekeeping duties, with your permission My Lady."

Arella smiled.

"Go, and do not concern yourself. You may leave Raven's packages in my apartment before you leave."

"Thank you Mistress." The chambermaid replied before taking off.

Arella slowly walked up to the entrance to Raven's apartment. She raised her palm to the hand reader but stopped before making contact. Instead of opening the door she smiled slyly before turning around and heading off to her own penthouse.

"One down, three to go." She congratulated herself.

No game today (I couldn't think of one).

Thanks for your reviews.