"That's what I thought," Beast Boy continued, "but she looks exactly like Raven…if Raven was taller...and slightly older. They could be sisters. You really have to see her."

"It's probably a hoax. Tell her to go away."

"Well…" Beast Boy said playing with his fingers nervously.

"You let her in?" Richard sprung from Raven's bed. "Beast Boy!" he exclaimed.

"She was really convincing." Richard closed his eyes, regulating his breathing. "Just…go, I'll tell Raven once she gets out of the shower, and hopefully she won't castrate you." Beast Boy scurried away. A second later the, shower turned off. Great, Richard thought. What a way to start summer.

Raven exited the bathroom, dressed and ready to go. She just had to find her shoes. She looked at her boyfriend. He looked…troubled, to say the least. "Dick?" she asked as he stared at her. "What's wrong?"

"Beast Boy let someone into the Tower."

"Another fangirl?" Raven smirked as she walked to her closet to find shoes.

"No," Richard slowly walked over to her and cupped her face. He stared deep into her violet eyes. "This woman is claiming to be your mother."


Arella sat calmly on the couch. She had just learned the green kid went by Beast Boy. And the female alien with the flowing hair who was blatantly staring at her was called Starfire. Arella gave her a small smile. Do aliens not blink? she wondered as the female alien continued to smile brightly at her. This girl was definitely weird. Arella then heard the door open and close. "She's here," Arella heard Beast Boy say. She stood from the couch and turned to see a young, tall male with dark sunglasses and black hair staring at her. He froze mid-step. "Dick, what is it?" she heard a girl say from behind him. The girl stepped from around 'Dick' and turned to face her. Arella put her hands to her mouth and gasped. This was her. This was her daughter, her Raven. Tears began to pool in her eyes. She took a step towards her, but Raven took a step back. Confusion was evident on her face. "Who are you?" Raven demanded.

"It's me, Raven, your mother," Arella said.

"No," Raven said shaking her head, "my mother died years ago. It happened right in front of me. Now who are you!" she demanded her eyes glowing white.

"Wait," Arella said, throwing her hands up, taking a step back, "read my mind. Sense my emotions. I'm telling the truth."

"How do you know she can do that?" Beast Boy questioned.

"I agree," the tall male said folding his arms, "her abilities are not exactly advertised."

"Because I'm her mother," Arella said as tears fell from her eyes. "I gave birth to you at 16. On Azarath. You remember Azar and Tabitah and Terry?" Arella was all but begging.

"How do you know – who are you?" Raven asked.

"Your mother," Arella pled.

"Maybe she's from a different Earth or dimension," Beast Boy guessed.

"No, I'm not," Arella shook her head forcefully. "Please," she took another step forward. All she wanted to do was hug her little girl. "I'm telling the truth. Read my mind. If I'm lying, you can open up a portal to anywhere in the universe and send me there," Arella said in desperation. "Please." A few seconds later, Raven relented, muttering about how this was a bad idea. Raven's eyes glowed white as she placed her hands on both sides of Arella's head. "Let's get this over with," she growled as she closed her eyes and began to chant.

Raven entered into this woman's mind, fully convinced this lady was an imposter. She was not expecting this. This…really was her mother! She wasn't an imposter. Raven saw herself through her mother's eyes. She couldn't believe it. This was her mom! Her mom was alive! Raven returned to her body, stumbling a bit but catching herself. "Arella," she whispered. "Mom," she said louder as her voice broke. Arella pulled Raven into a big hug as the rest of the Titans watched in confusion. "How did you -" Raven began. "But I saw you – "

"It was Azar," Arella explained wiping tears from her daughter's eyes. "I don't really understand, but before Trigon destroyed me, Azar did something. She spread her powers out, and I absorbed them. The powers wrapped me in some sort of cocoon."

"But I saw everyone…the ruins…people made of stone," Raven gasped.

"Bodies were turned to stone, but their souls were suspended in between realities. Instead of dying, many of us were stuck between life and death. Once Trigon was gone…Azarath was restored. And we're rebuilding." Raven just buried herself in her mom's embrace. "You look the same age, though," Raven said.

"We were suspended in time or something. No one seemed to age a day," Arella explained.

"Mom," she cried.

"My word," a British voice interrupted the scene. "What is going on here?"

"Alfred," Richard exclaimed. "I didn't even hear you enter? How were you able to get into the tower?"

"Batman gave me the code years ago," Alfred said casually.

"Dude," Beast Boy muttered, "that guy really is everywhere."

"Alfred?" Arella said softly, her eyes meeting the butler's.

"Angela?" Alfred asked in confusion.

"It's Arella now, but yes, it's me." She slowly stepped forward. "You two know each other?" Dick asked.

"He hit me with his car when I was pregnant with Raven," Arella explained.

"Wait…what!" Dick exclaimed.

"You hit my mom with your car?" Raven asked, completely horrified.

"Alfred," Richard groaned the butler's name in disappointment.

"What kind of person hits a teenager with his car? What kind of person hits a pregnant person with his car?" Raven asked.

"Dude, that's messed up," Beast Boy said folding his arms. Starfire just stood there with her mouth agape in horror.

"It was an accident," Alfred explained. "But come here," he said opening his arms to her. "Master Bruce was completely beside himself when you disappeared from the hospital."

"Bruce?" Arella said. "How is he?" she asked pulling away from him.

"Was Bruce there when Alfred hit you with the car?" Richard asked.

"Yes, but I also went to high school with him. He was two years older than me, but we were in the same grade," Arella answered.

"Bruce would love to see you," Alfred said. "Where are you staying?"

"I was going to stay with my daughter, if it's okay," Arella looked back at Raven.

"Oh, I…" Raven looked between Richard and her mother.

"It's okay, Raven," Richard said. "You can visit me another time."

"I'm sorry," Arella said, "I didn't mean to intrude."

"No, mother, you didn't," Raven gripped her mother's hands tightly. "You didn't."

"Or you could both stay at the manor," Alfred offered.

"Really?" Raven asked.

"Alfred, we wouldn't want to encroach," Arella said.

"Nonsense, my dear. And as I said before, Master Bruce would love to see you." Arella nodded shyly.


After giving Starfire and Beast Boy strict rules to follow, Dick and company were finally on their way to Gotham. He sat in the front with Alfred while Raven sat in the back with her mother. He listened as they talked animatedly in a language he did not know. He couldn't help but smile while listening to his girlfriend She sounded so ecstatic, and he felt himself fall even more in love with her. Alfred glanced at him with a knowing look. "What?" Richard asked. Alfred just smiled and said nothing.


Starfire and Beast Boy sat where they were and stared. "I have never seen Raven so happy," Beast Boy said.

"Yes," Starfire agreed. "It was...disturbing?"

"She was smiling...a lot," Beast Boy said.

"It was a bit unnerving," Starfire said. "And disconcerting." Beast Boy nodded in agreement. "I did not like it all," Starfire continued.

"I know I tell her to smile, but I mean it jokingly," Beast Boy said. He turned to Starfire with wide eyes filled with horror. "I never want to see Raven like that again. It was horrifying." Starfire nodded in agreement. "I too like the stoic Raven better than the happy Raven," Starfire said. Both Titans continued to stare blankly ahead. "Want to try to break into Dick's room?" Beast Boy asked.

"Let's," Starfire said joyfully. "And we can once again take pictures in all of his outfits," she said as she and Beast Boy flew out the Common Room, thoughts of Raven and her mother far from their minds.