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.

Robin sat back in his high back office chair, and surveyed the desktop before him. It was cluttered with all sorts of papers, envelopes, folders and photographs, which wasn't unusual. What was out of the ordinary was the sort of paperwork before him. There were many pieces of paper scattered across his desk and unlike in times past they did not contain scribblings or images regarding clues or investigation results.

They were computer printouts of the list of potential sponsors for the Titans. Some of the names were crossed out as Robin had already approached them and in most cases had struck out. Pledges had yet to break to $100,000 mark and the hope of raising 3 million a year was looking dimmer every day.

Robin wasn't once to give up and he had enlisted some help, which while still in its infancy was showing some promise. Still he kept hoping, if not outright fantasizing, that Raven and Beast Boy would return with something of value from Azarath.

There were also three manila folders sitting on his desk that stood out from the detritus that littered his desktop. Two of them were thinner and were labeled 'Robin' and 'Cyborg'. The third folder was more than twice as thick as the other two combined and was labeled 'Starfire'.

As reached forward to collect the three folders his intercom rang.

"Yes?"

"Yo Robin! Dinner's ready, so get your butt down here before it gets cold."

The Boy Wonder felt a hungry growl in his stomach, and recalled that he had skipped lunch while he worked all day in his office.

"Thanks Cy, I'm on my way."

Robin scooped up the three folders , rushed out the door and briskly walked to the common room. As he made his way there he looked back upon his decision to change fund raising tactics. It had actually been serendipitous. Robin, being the team's leader and spokesman had taken entirely upon himself the duties regarding fundraising and had performed them … poorly. He had once remarked offhandedly at dinner that getting pledges was like pulling teeth and had to explain to Starfire that dentists were not part of the fundraising process.

The potential donors were always very polite and almost always agreed to see him. But getting them to sign a check was another matter. There were always excuses; most of them were related to the poor state of the economy.

Starfire had noticed one morning that her beau was looking even more forlorn and discouraged than usual and offered to accompany him as he canvassed for pledges.

The truth was that Robin had not asked her to come with him before because he feared that she would commit some social faux pas that would be detrimental to his efforts. However, given his lack of success he figured that he had nothing to lose and agreed to have her join him on his quest.

To make a long story short, the day that she went with him was the best fundraising day they ever had as they collected more pledges in that single day than in all of his previous efforts combined. Being the detective that he was Robin immediately figured out why the donors were suddenly opening their wallets: Starfire was eye candy. And contrary to his earlier fears she knew how to turn on the charm. Big time.

The sliding doors to the common room parted open. Starfire was already at the table, serving salads from a large bowl while Cyborg approached from the kitchen. Robin sniffed the air and immediately recognized the wonderful aroma.

And frowned.

"Cyborg, you know we can't afford to eat steak!" He chided the tin man.

The bionic Titan served up the meal, which included some enormous baked potatoes and a bowl of sautéed green beans.

"Don't get your spandex in a knot. My dad sent me some money. These are on me." He said as he plopped a huge porterhouse steak on each of their plates.

"Thank your dad for me then." Robin replied contritely as he put the folders down next to his setting and joined his teammates at the table. Starfire reached for her ever ubiquitous bottle of mustard, which Cyborg intercepted.

"Oh no you don't! I'm not letting you ruin my steaks with mustard! Heck, they're too good for steak sauce."

The princess pouted, after which Cyborg handed the mustard to her.

"Man, I've become a pushover." He moaned as Starfire doused her slab of tender and perfectly prepared beef with the yellow colored sauce.

As they consumed their meal Robin filled them in on the new fundraising strategy. He had handpicked the potential donors he thought would be best suited each one of them. The princess picked up her much larger folder with a smug look of self satisfaction.

"I believe we will be victorious in our task."

"We will if you can turn on the charm like last time Star." He then chuckled. "I guess I'm glad Raven and Beast Boy aren't here. I don't think I'd want either of them doing this."

Cyborg chuckled. "Yeah, nokidding. I love 'em both, but I doubt either would be able to raise a dime. Raven would creep them out and BB would piss them off with his bad jokes."

Starfire was beginning to protest her disagreement when the console signaled an incoming call. Using his built in controller (where else, in his arm) Cyborg patched it through the screen.

It was Slade.

"What have you done with Terra Robin? I demand an answer!"

The three Titans stared at the screen dumbfounded.

"Excuse me?" Robin finally replied.

Slade's single eye narrowed in anger.

"Don't play coy with me, my former apprentice. Where is she?"

The three Titans became indignant.

"How are we supposed to know? She's your partner, not ours." Cyborg snarled. "We don't do foul play, that's your style, not ours. Why are you looking for her anyway? Doesn't she work you?"

Slade appeared to calm himself before replying in his signature monotone.

"Terra has been missing for almost 24 hours."

"Maybe she wised up and dumped you." Robin taunted Slade as Starfire giggled.

"This is no laughing matter prin-cess." Slade hissed. "Terra does not go missing."

"Maybe she doesn't Slade, but we no idea where she is. Now if you don't mind, we're eating dinner, so good night." Robin replied as Cyborg severed the link with Slade.

Robin looked at his teammates, who shrugged at him.

"I'd say that I'm heartbroken that Slade is having problems with Terra, but I really don't care." Robin said with a hint of glee in his voice.

Just then the console signaled another incoming call.

"He doesn't give up, does he?" Robin asked in an irritated voice.

"It ain't Slade Rob; this call is coming through the Titans network.

The large TV screen came back to life and displayed two worried faces that belonged to Kole and Jericho.

"Robin, I have some bad news."

She paused.

"The Herald is in trouble."

The purple haired Matriarch sat back down in her chair at the head of the dining room table as her servants began to serve the meal. The mood was tense as the other Matriarchs shifted uncomfortably in their chairs, clearly unable to enjoy the exquisite dinner that was prepared for them. The first course served was a thick and creamy soup which the women consumed quietly until Mayra broke the silence.

"You never told us that Raven was a mono Arella." She sneered. "I guess I can forget about her marrying my Herob."

"Or my Gowron." Another Matriarch complained.

Xanathia was the head of the Matriarchal council, the Crone Mother whose primacy was more than merely honorary in nature. And it was an authority she wasn't afraid of wielding.

"Arella, Raven has to take a second before the end of the month. You do understand the importance of this. If word gets out that she's a mono the movement will be emboldened. We won't be able to contain them."

"Who cares what the masses think?" Arella snapped back. "We have the power! As long as we provide the unwashed masses with jobs and husbands they'll stay in check."

"We have the power?" Yet another Matriarch interrupted. "In case you have forgotten Arella you are insolvent, bankrupt. You need us my dear, your house of cards is about to collapse!"

"The only reason we're thinking of bailing you out through clan marriage is because Raven is a hero." Mayra added. "She was going to legitimize the Council of Matriarchs and in the process hammer a nail into coffin of the heresy of monoism. But now she's on the verge of becoming their poster child, their hero."

"Look, we understand why you let her marry the green boy. You tossed her a bone. But dammit Arella, you're Raven's mother! Act like it if you want to save the House of Roth!" Xanathia chided her. "It's been 3000 years since a Matriarchal house has collapsed under bankruptcy and this is not the time for that to happen again, but before we can help your House you must get your daughter under control!"

Arella sighed. She had grown up on Earth and was the only human on the Council. She understood what her daughter was going through, the feelings she had for the boy. The women around her, they could never understand, even though they were supposedly Azarath's crème de la crème. How ironic it was that ordinary laborers who lived and toiled in the city had a better grasp on what made Azarath's most favored daughter tick than any of the snobby blue bloods that were gathered around her table.

"I will speak with Raven tomorrow. You do know that I have no legal recourse against her. She has taken her first; I can no longer force her hand…"

"Arella." Xanathia interrupted. "Tell her she need not consummate with her other husbands. We all know it would be pointless as our physicians have told us repeatedly that humans and Azarathians cannot procreate. Your own failure to produce offspring with your Azarathian husbands removes any doubt of that. And we know that you and Melvar have not failed due to a lack of trying, isn't that right Arella?"

Xanathia paused as she watched the human Matriarch frown.

"Arella, you've never told us who sired Raven, have you?" She continued.

"My personal life is none of your …" Arella snapped at her.

"Forgive me Arella." Xanathia interrupted. "I was out of line." The crone smiled slyly as the servants brought the main course to the table. "You will inform us before the celebration tomorrow that Raven as agreed to take Mayra's son Herob as her second. Have I made myself understood?"

"Yes, Xanathia." Arella replied meekly.

The dining room once again fell silent as the women continued eating their meal.

Raven stretched slowly as she woke up. The local sun, its name was Seraph, was rising above the horizon, warming the city in its morning amber glow. The bed was comfortable and she felt a fuzzy sense of contentment as she rolled over and draped an arm over her green husband, who continued to sleep soundly while emitting a soft but steady snore.

The only word that came to her mind to describe her wedding night was 'exquisite'. It didn't seem to make sense but it eclipsed the pleasure she experienced with him earlier the afternoon before, but there was an explanation.

Raven nuzzled her face into his neck and savored his powerful scent, which was mixed with his sweat. They had showered together the afternoon before their first lovemaking session and while that had been a sensual experience in its own right it had an unintended consequence: it had diluted his scent to the point where she couldn't smell it.

Later that day, after they were wed and Beast Boy had carried her through the threshold they didn't bother with a shower and quickly got down to their carnal business. That time he smelled like he usually did.

Back in the present Raven inhaled his scent deeply and repeatedly while he continued to sleep and she could literally feel her body temperature begin to rise.

The changeling had no idea the effect his scent had on Raven as she had masterfully concealed it over the years. It had been the real reason she had always kept him at an arm's length during the early days of their friendship. From the very beginning the mere act of smelling his natural musky aroma would send her over the edge. She could literally feel the carnal desire course through her veins as if her own blood was on fire. It was the main reason she had to meditate so much back then and it was the real threat to controlling her own powers. It was why she insulted him constantly in the vain hope that he would stay away from her.

But now he was hers, he was her man, band aids and excuses were no longer required. She now had a legitimate outlet for the lust he fueled in her and she no longer had to fear the consequences of expressing it.

She buried her face in his scalp and breathed deeply, savoring the aroma and the animalistic desire that it fed and which resonated throughout her whole body which virtually vibrated in anticipation. As she went into her supernatural heat she began to lose her own sense of self identity while her eyes glowed red and a guttural demonic growl resonated deep within her chest. Unconsciously she dug her fingernails deep into her mate's flesh. She wanted him, and she wanted him right there and then.

Suddenly she found herself staring into her lover's green eyes, which twinkled with delight.

"I don't know what you're doing Rae, but it's hot! Please don't stop." He moaned to to her.

"I don't intend to stop." She replied in her deep otherworldly voice. "Come to me my mate, let us join our flesh and become as one …"

The magic was shattered by a loud rap on their bedroom door. Raven's eyes quickly reverted back to their default amethyst color. Before either of them could respond Arella barged in, carrying some clothes on hangers.

"I brought you your outfits for today…"

"MOTHER!" Raven shrieked as she pulled a sheet to cover hers and Beast Boy's disrobed figures. "Can't I have any privacy with my husband?"

Arella dismissed Raven's protest with a hand wave.

"If you want privacy, then mate with him in his room, that's what it's for. Anyway, I am your mother, what are you concerned about anyway?"

The couple had completely retreated under the sheets, like a pair of turtles. Both were blushing profusely. Finally Beast Boy mustered the courage to speak.

"You're not my mother Arella."

The purple haired Matriarch gave him a sly smile. Beast Boy's face fell.

"Oh crap! Raven please tell me that …"

Raven planted her face in her palm.

"I'm sorry Gar, I should have told you. When we married you became a member of the House of Roth, leaving your own house behind. My mother is now legally your mother as well."

Beast Boy became indignant and sat up defiantly in the bed, pushing the sheets aside, unconcerned with his own nakedness.

"My mother is Marie Logan!" He snarled. "And no one can take her place, not my foster mother and certainly not you!"

Arella sat down in a large overstuffed chair.

"Relax Garfield; I'm not here to replace your biological mother. But since my daughter has married you, you are now my son, and are now my responsibility as the head of this clan."

Beast Boy relaxed upon hearing her words. Raven pulled a sheet over him again to cover his exposed body.

"Thanks, that's better. But you don't have to worry about us, Raven and I can take care of ourselves."

Arella chuckled.

"Yes, I know, you are both mighty super heroes on Earth …"

"We're super heroes in Azarath too mother. Or have you forgotten that Gar, our friends and I destroyed Trigon?"

Arella blanched upon hearing the vanquished demon's name. Beast Boy was able to see the pain on her face and could only imagine the memories his mother-in-law harbored, memories that without a doubt she wished she could eradicate, erase so that their sting and shame would no longer haunt her.

Arella looked at Beast Boy and felt a wave of gratitude flow through her soul. The boy had been his daughter's first friend and was loyal and faithful as few friends could be. Now he had gone a step further he had taken her as his mate, not because he coveted her wealth or power, but for the purest and most powerful reason of all: because he loved her.

"No, my daughter and son, I have not forgotten." She replied in a weak voice. "I will leave you now. Please forgive me for interrupting you." She said as she walked quietly to the door and stopped.

"Raven, once you are ready, please come see me by yourself, there are some issues I need to discuss with you."

With that Arella walked out the bedroom and the door slid shut behind her.

Beast Boy sighed.

"Wow, that was a mood killer, wasn't it Rae?"

She nodded her agreement.

"I don't suppose there's anything I could do, you know, to get us back into … you know …"

Without saying a word Raven approached him from behind, climbing up his back while wrapping her arms around his. She buried her face in his thick green hair.

And began to inhale deeply and repeatedly.

The construction workers, all female, were busy assembling the massive grandstand that began to tower over the parade route. Terra had been strolling around Azarath for the past few hours.

One of the first things the blond geomancer noticed when she arrived the night before was that the locals had unusual hair colors, not unlike those found in Japanese Anime shows. No one had black, brown or blonde hair and Terra realized that she stood out like a sore thumb with her yellow locks and her North American clothes. This of course was unacceptable and would have to be remedied immediately.

The first thing she did that night was find an unoccupied apartment, which she broke into. She had a small disguise kit she had brought along with her, and to her relief it contained a small bottle of blue hair dye which she applied immediately.

Once her hair was ready she ventured out into the apartment building's hallway. At this point serendipity smiled at her as she saw a young female of about her own size depart from her own apartment. She waited for the women to leave in the elevator before making her move.

She approached the door and using an eavesdropping device, another toy from Slade's arsenal, to check if anyone was inside. Upon confirming that it was vacant she used a high frequency oscillator to confuse the computerized door lock to open it.

She entered carefully, so as not to leave a clue that anyone had been there, and made her way to the apartment's bedroom, where she found a closet full of what appeared to be local female attire. Terra grabbed a couple of outfits and after carefully closing the closet door with her latex gloved hands she prepared to make her getaway, which was successful. After returning to her apartment she decided that rest was in order and was soon asleep.

Back in the present Terra stared at the grandstand, and in particular at the luxury box that was in its middle. She carefully studied the grandstands structure and the foundations it was built upon.

"May I help you?" A stern voice asked her.

Terra turned around and saw what appeared to be a policewoman.

"Uh yeah, what's the grandstand for?" Terra asked in a fake Azarathian accent.

"Haven't you heard?" The policewoman asked.

"I've been out if town all week and just got back last night. I barely beat the curfew."

"I see." The police woman replied. "Well, just so you know there's going to be a parade this afternoon in honor of Raven Roth."

"Raven Roth?"

"Yes, Raven Roth, Matriarch Arella's daughter. She returned yesterday from a place called Earth. She brought a green boy with her."

"Ooh! That Raven!" Terra replied in an attempt to conceal her cluelessness. "I heard she was some kind of superhero over there on Earth."

"That's the one." The policewoman replied. "Originally this was just to celebrate her return, but you won't believe this: she took her first and married the green boy last night."

Terra stifled a gasp.

"Well, that's … certainly worth celebrating." Terra commented. "So she should be sitting in that luxury box, right? If I want to see her is that where I should look?" Terra's fake accent faltered.

"Yes, right up there. She'll be seated with all the Matriarchs and the Mayor. Xanathia, the Crone Matriarch will be sitting right next to her." The policewoman replied as she pointed at the grandstand with Terra behind her.

"I see, you've been very helpful." Terra remarked, her fake accent completely gone.

"Are you Azarathian Miss? Your accent is strange." The police woman asked as she turned around towards Terra. "May I see your identity card?"

The police woman found that Terra was no longer behind her, she looked around the area but there was no trace of the bluenette. She shrugged it off and continued to proceed with her regular patrol.