"I'm fine," Arella said, gently brushing her daughter's hand away. "It was just a panic attack." Richard appeared with a glass of water in his hand. "Thank you," Arella said as she took it from him. Richard gave her an encouraging smile, making Arella feel more like a child. Not really a comfort.
Raven was stiff as she watched her mother sip water. "I'm fine, Raven." Raven only shook her head. "I didn't even know I…" Arella's voice trailed off. "It's okay."
"It's not okay," Raven said. "None of this is okay," she said before storming out the room, nearly knocking Alfred over as she did.
Arella could only sit helplessly on the bed as her daughter disappeared. She didn't mean to cause her daughter such distress. "Maybe it would be better if I had just stayed dead," Arella muttered. Richard and Alfred immediately protested loudly. "Trust me," Richard said, "Raven is happy you're here. It's just weird for her. She was so certain that you were dead; she had no reason to think otherwise. Also, I saw Azarath. Nothing about that place suggested anyone had survived."
"It's…new," Alfred said. "Miss Raven isn't used to having a doting mother and boyfriend. Things are looking up for her, and she's probably waiting for the other shoe to drop." Richard nodded in agreement.
"She isn't the only one," Arella admitted woefully.
"Just know, her anger and annoyance aren't with you," Richard said.
"I understand," Arella said, "but still."
"Maybe you two just need to learn about each other again," Richard suggested.
"Maybe," Arella frowned, not feeling optimistic. Maybe…maybe she never should have come back to Earth.
Two hours later, Richard stared down from a balcony at his girlfriend sitting on the edge of the pool. Her hair surrounded her face like a curtain as she stared into the water. Richard didn't need a mental or emotional bond with Raven to see how upset she was. He wanted to go down there to comfort her, but at the same time, he understood she needed to be alone.
Alfred approached him. "You aren't going to join her, Master Dick?"
"Not yet," Richard sighed. "I know when to approach, and I know when to give space."
Alfred said nothing. "Can you imagine?" Richard asked.
"Imagine what, Sir?"
"How would you react if Bruce's parents were suddenly brought back to life?"
"Oh," Alfred's eyes widened as he thought about it. "Well, I don't know, Sir. I'd definitely question it."
"Well, yeah," Richard smiled slightly at the butler, "but if you knew without a shadow of a doubt, it was really them, no dark powers at play."
"Well, I'd be elated, and I know Bruce would be, too."
"He'd probably hang up his cowl," Richard muttered.
"Oh, most definitely," Alfred said. "We would see a whole new side of him. He would sleep in. He would probably smile every day."
"He probably wouldn't wear so much black."
"Yes," Alfred agreed. "Bright colors would definitely be introduced into Master Bruce's wardrobe by Master Bruce himself."
"Pink flowers would be everywhere," Richard added.
"So much smiling," Alfred muttered. "The thought is a bit chilling."
"Oh, most definitely," Richard chuckled, "an always smiling Bruce? I wouldn't know what to do with myself." The two men watched the young empath silently. "She must not know what to do with herself," Richard said quietly. Alfred said nothing. "I have tried so many times to put myself in Raven's shoes," Richard continued speaking, "but every time I think I've succeeded, life throws another curveball." Alfred nodded silently. "I just want to help her," Richard added, "but I don't know how."
"Just be there for her," Alfred said.
"I am."
"No, I mean only be there for her. Don't try to fix it." Richard stared at the old man incredulously. "What do you mean, don't try to fix it?" Richard asked in confusion. "Shouldn't I try to fix it to make her happy?"
"Most definitely not," Alfred said. "Despite all of your best intentions, you will only make things worse."
"So, I just…sit next to her and not talk about it?"
"Yes," Alfred nodded firmly. "Follow her lead."
"But-"
"Master Dick, I have given up hope of Bruce ever settling down. Tim's too shy to do anything, and Jason is too much of a firecracker. I am expecting grandchildren from you. If you want to keep that beautiful young lady, you will not do anything. You will just listen. Only offer advice if she asks."
"But-"
"You have not been through what they have. Trust me when I say, nothing you can say will help."
"But I don't like doing nothing," Richard almost whined.
"Please, Sir," Alfred said, "I am begging you." Richard stared at the old man. "Fine," Richard relented, "I will go down there and not fix it." Richard turned to walk away but paused. He turned back to Alfred and said, "But what if I-"
"Do nothing!" Alfred raised his voice.
"Okay, fine. Yeesh," Richard walked away, muttering in Romanian.
Alfred smiled triumphantly. He was very pleased with himself. Now, all he had to do was talk some sense into the big kid billionaire. A challenge, but one Alfred refused to back down from.
Raven sat on the floor in the corner of the library, staring at the open book on her lap. Her eyes scanned the words on the pages, not at all absorbing the words she was reading. She was mad…at herself. Lashing out at Arell – her mother was a childish thing to do. But could anyone really blame her. Raven was feeling…feelings. Feelings she didn't understand. Her mother was back. She was alive. Raven should be excited, ecstatic. Good things and second chances didn't happen to her often. Her mother was alive.
Raven pursed her lips. Her mother was alive, and it angered her. How backwards was that? Her mother was alive, and Raven couldn't find it in her to be even the least bit thrilled. "Hey," a voice interrupted Raven from her beginning existential crisis. She looked up to see Richard leaning on a bookshelf, gazing at her lovingly. "What are you reading?" he asked.
"I have no clue," Raven answered honestly, "I grabbed the first book I saw." Richard stood over her, peering at the book curiously. "Raven," he said lightly, "that's a guide to antique collecting."
"Oh," Raven said, studying the pages closely. "It's not really a stimulating read." Richard smiled. "What are you doing in here?" Raven asked, getting the sense that he probably wanted to talk. She stood to her feet, mentally and emotionally preparing herself for the conversation at hand. "You want to go to the aquarium?" Richard asked. Raven nearly stumbled. That was unexpected. She stared at Richard curiously. He blinked his blue eyes at her as he returned her stare. He was serious. "You want to go to an aquarium?" Raven asked skeptically.
"Or a petting zoo," Richard shrugged.
"Richard, you don't like aquariums; and you detest petting zoos even more."
"That's not entirely true," Richard gently took the book on antiques from Raven. "I don't like going with Beast Boy and Starfire. He always riles the animals up and jumps in the tanks with the fish, and Starfire encourages him. A two hour visit always turns into an 8-hour field trip with those two." Raven couldn't disagree. "Still," Raven said, "it's almost 5 p.m. Won't it be crowded."
"Actually, families with young children are usually leaving around this time. We'll probably see mostly couples."
"Oh," Raven said. "Okay."
Thirty minutes later, Raven and Richard sat under almost 1 million gallons of water, watching tiger shark and stingray pups, and various fish, swim around. "We should come on a Saturday," Richard mentioned.
"Why?" Raven asked, staring at the sea life. Richard had been right about the lack of children at this hour. Mostly older couples and quiet teens were all that were in attendance. It made for a quiet, relaxing atmosphere. "Mermaids swim in this tank," Richard said.
"With the sharks?" Raven asked.
"They're baby tiger sharks," Richard flashed her a smile. "They're harmless."
"I'll take your word for it."
"You watch too much Shark Week," Richard nudged her playfully.
"We live in the middle of an ocean," Raven said, "it's good to be informed."
"Pfft! It's not the middle of the ocean," Richard mussed up her hair with his hand. Raven swatted at him. "Even so," Raven continued, "I'd rather not watch a mermaid get attacked by tiger shark pups."
"That's never happened."
"There's a first time for everything, and I don't want to be around when it happens."
"Look at it," Richard motioned to a pup that was leisurely swimming by, "that thing is tiny. It can't hurt anybody."
"If you're so confident, why don't you jump in there and swim with them?"
"Don't tempt me," Richard said, enjoying himself. "I'll do it. I've done it." Raven quickly looked at him. "You've done it?" she asked.
"Yeah," Richard nodded seriously.
"You jumped into a tank with sharks?"
"I jumped into this tank," he smiled.
"What?"
"Yeah," Richard said, "it was a dare with Roy a few years ago." Raven studied him, trying to figure out whether he was lying. "You're serious," she said.
"Yes," Richard chuckled, "ask him. He even took photos."
"Were you drunk?"
"No. We were stone-cold sober."
"And he dared you to jump into this tank…and you did?"
"Yeah. It was great. I mean, it was stupid of us; and we both got into major trouble the next day and had community service for a month or two. But, it was great."
"Two months of community for service for trespassing? That's it?"
"Well, I was a ward of Bruce Wayne, so… yeah." Raven shook her head. "Come on," Richard said, "I'm sure even you did stupid things when you were younger."
"Like, accidentally summoning my dad? I guess that's like trespassing," Raven shrugged.
"Right," Richard flinched. An awkward silence quickly covered the two. "I'm sorry," Raven said, "I shouldn't have-"
"Raven, no," Richard faced her, "don't apologize."
"I feel like I ruin the mood every time-"
"Raven," Richard said forcefully. Raven refused to meet Richard's eye, instead opting to study a stingray that was creeping its way up the glass as she let her hair cover her face. "Raven," Richard whispered her name, leaning his forehead against her temple as he gently held her hand, intertwining their fingers. "You never have to be ashamed of your past. Not with anyone, and not with me. And you don't ruin moods."
"I'm pretty sure I do," Raven whispered.
"No," Richard replied softly, "belching while we're making out would be a mood killer." Raven chuckled. "Talking about your life…that's different." Disconnecting their hands, Richard snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her closer to him. Raven gasped as he nearly pulled her onto his lap. She always forgot just how easily he could lift her. "Don't be ashamed or scared to talk about your life on Azarath."
"It's not fun."
"Maybe not," he replied, "but it's a part of you." He nuzzled her neck. "And I love things that are part of you."
