A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my good friend Anita King, happy birthday buddy, you're another year older and that means it's time to party! Well, I personally like this chapter, so I hope you do too. READ, ENJOY, AND IF YOU HAVE THE TIME REVIEW!

Disclaimer: Yeah, I still don't own the Teen Titans, get off my back!

Chapter Four: Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
Why had she asked to go back? Why must she dwell in the past? Nothing could be changed now, she would just be bringing up old memories. Why couldn't Slasher have said no to her proposal of visiting them? This was a bad idea, but there was no point in turning around now.

Raven hesitantly raised a finger and pressed the small button for the Titans' door bell. It had been so long and the tower was no longer her home, Raven didn't feel comfortable just walking in anymore.

"Finally, I ordered that Chinese food over an hour ago. I'm starving," said a man from the other side of the huge doors. "What took you so..." Cyborg fell silent once he saw who had rang the door bell, his mouth hung open in astonishment. Raven had her hood up and her cloak was wrapped around her.

"Sorry, but I forgot to bring any food," Raven said emotionlessly.

Without saying another word Cyborg lunged at Raven and held her in a tight hug in his big metal arms. Raven weakly wrapped her arms around his huge steel shoulders. "I missed you so much, Rae," Cyborg told as he continued to hug her.

"I've missed you too," said Raven monotonously. Raven's voice sounded different to Cyborg, it sounded colder or father away to him, but he shrugged it off, he was just happy she was here.

Finally, after several moments, Cyborg released Raven. He waved for her to follow him into the tower. Immediately when Raven stepped inside memories flooded back to her, some were good and some were bad, but she had no regrets from her time with the Titans.

"I really don't know what to say," Cyborg said after walking in silence through the tower for a while. "I still can't believe it's you. I'm not dreaming, am I?"

"Unless, we're both dreaming," Raven replied. "It's been a very long time."

"Too long," Cyborg agreed. "I have so many questions ask you, we have so much catching up to do. I don't even know where to start."

"You can start anywhere, but it would be easier if you asked once the others are around too, so I don't have to repeat myself." Raven answered. Cyborg nodded in agreement and continued to walk. Finally, they reached the door to the main room. Cyborg walked right through the hydraulic doors, but he didn't see Raven stop behind him and hesitate a moment before following him.

Robin and Starfire were cuddling on the couch watching the television. "Did you get the food?" Robin asked without turning around.

"No, it was just an old friend," Cyborg replied coolly.

"Yeah? Anyone we might know?" Robin asked, although he was more focused on the movie he was watching than his conversation with Cyborg.

"Maybe," Raven answered. "Although, it has been a long time since you've seen her."

Robin and Starfire knew that voice wasn't Cyborg's, but it seemed so familiar. The couple looked over their shoulders at the same time, and both were amazed at what they saw.

"No way," Robin whispered.

"Friend, you have returned!" Starfire yelled, she was the happiest anyone had ever seen her. Flying off of the couch, Starfire flew to Raven and trapped her in one of her infamous death grip hugs. Although Raven was being suffocated by Starfire she didn't really mind for once.

"It's good to see you too, Starfire," Raven choked, it was hard to speak while her lungs were being crushed. After a few agonizing seconds Starfire let go. "We are all overjoyed to see you!" Starfire said, she couldn't find the words to describe how she felt now, glorious wasn't a strong enough word right now.

"It's good to see you," Robin agreed coolly, he couldn't let them see how happy he really was. "There for a while we thought you might have died."

"Well, as far as I know I didn't die," Raven responded. 'Although I sometimes wish I did,' Raven continued in her mind. "Where's Beast Boy?" Raven asked as she looked around the room.

"I think he's in his room," Robin answered.

"I'll go get him," Cyborg volunteered.

"No, that isn't necessary," Robin replied as he walked over to the computer below the television screen and pressed a red button on it. The alarm began to sound and the red lights flashed in the tower. Within a few seconds Beast Boy ran through the doors. Robin stopped the sirens when he saw Beast Boy enter.

"What's the problem?" Beast Boy asked, he was breathing heavy as if he had just ran there. Before anyone could answer him, he spotted Raven across the room. A grin spread across his face when he saw her. "I knew you would come! And to think, you guys didn't believe me!" Beast Boy said cheerfully. Then, he sprinted across the room and pounced on Raven. She was nearly knocked onto the floor by his flying hug, although her hood fell down off of her head. It was only a hug, but Raven wished it would never end. The hug didn't last long.

Raven hadn't noticed that her hood had fallen down. Almost immediately Beast Boy noticed the four scars on her cheek, the scars were red and slightly swollen. There were a few bruises on Raven's face and she looked rather skinny. Everyone stared at the scars for a moment, Beast Boy was the first to say something.

"What are those scars from?" he asked softly.

"I made a mistake," Raven replied bluntly as she looked down at the ground.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Beast Boy questioned. "Did someone do this to you?"

Raven didn't want to lie to her friends, she decided to tell them all about Slasher, but she might leave out a few details that they didn't need to hear. "Yes, Slasher hit me."

"That's that guy you were talking about earlier, right?" Beast Boy asked.

"Yeah... he's the demon who took me three long years ago," Raven told them.

"What exactly have you been doing for the past three years?" Robin asked, he didn't want to push her, but he still wanted answers.

"I've been following Slasher's orders and helping him with his job." Raven's vague answers were making Robin impatient.

"What's his job?" Cyborg asked.

"He's... he's a hit-man," Raven said as she continued to stare intently at the floor. Th three boys gasped when they heard what Slasher did.

"Please, what is this 'hit-man' of which you speak?" Starfire asked in confusion. Whispering into her ear, Robin told her what a hit-man was, once he was finished Starfire gasped too.

"I've done bad things, things I would never wish on anyone," told Raven.

"But he made you do these things, Raven," Beast Boy tried to comfort her and he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Where is this guy? I'm going to make him pay," Cyborg said angrily.

"Me too," Beast Boy agreed.

"No, I did these things. I am the only one who should be blamed for my actions," Raven responded.

"Why did he cut your face?" Beast Boy asked with curiosity.

"I was stupid enough to yell at him and he hit me," Raven replied still keeping that perfect monotone.

"Are those other bruises from him too?" questioned Beast Boy.

"Some of them are, but not all of them," Raven answered.

"I'm so sorry, Raven. You didn't deserve that," said Beast Boy.

"It's okay." It really wasn't okay, but what was Raven supposed to say: Every day I wish I was dead because that would be less pain than what I go through?

"Oh, I have something to show you," Beast Boy remembered. Grabbing Raven's hand, Beast Boy pulled Raven out of the room and down the hall. They finally stopped outside the door with Raven's name engraved in it. Then, he pulled her into the room. The room looked cleaner than she remembered leaving it. "Don't worry, I didn't touch your stuff, I just cleaned up a bit and dusted it everyday," Beast Boy smiled proudly. "It's exactly how you left it."

Raven looked around and he was right nothing had changed. The old mirror sat on her dresser next to the horrible letter opener Raven remembered.

"It's so good to have you back, Rae. I missed you so much. Not a second goes by when you're not in my thoughts," Beast Boy told her.

"I think about you guys all of the time too, but there's not a lot to do where I am," informed Raven.

Raven's cloak was pushed behind her shoulders now, so her body was exposed. Her leotard was torn and had several holes in it. Beast Boy saw a few cuts on her legs and the rips on in the leotard exposed long, jagged scars that ran along her stomach. Raven's ribs protruded under her flesh and with her pale skin she looked terminally ill, almost as if she could die at any moment.

"I feel so guilty," Beast Boy told her.

"Why? You haven't done anything."

"Exactly, I haven't done anything. I should have helped you, I should have found you. I gave up so easily," Beast Boy answered in shame.

"Even if you had found me you couldn't have done anything. Slasher probably would have just killed you," Raven assured him.

"I could have done something. Look at you, you're not okay, not matter what you might tell me."

"I never said I was okay. I know I'm not okay, I probably never will be okay again," Raven raised her voice slightly, Beast Boy had no idea.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed that. I still feel really guilty, I gave up hope so easily. Can you ever forgive me?" Beast Boy asked as he looked at the ground.

"There's nothing to forgive you for. Don't feel guilty, there was nothing you could have done,"Raven told him.

"Yeah, I'm just so happy to have you back Raven. I still love you so much," Beast Boy said as he reached out and took her hand in his.

Raven wanted to tell him so badly, she couldn't stand it. It actually hurt her not to tell him, although she hadn't been able to cry for so long, she found herself holding back tears. Gently she pulled her hand out of his and turned away from him. "I can't stay, Beast Boy," she said softly.

"What? Why not?" Beast Boy panicked.

"I don't have a choice. Slasher controls me now, I have to do what he says," Raven told him, her back still facing him.

"Don't listen to him, leave him," Beast Boy reasoned.

"It's not that easy," Raven sighed. "I'm sorry Beast Boy. I wish I could stay more than anything, but it's impossible."

Beast Boy didn't know what to say, he began to panic. "Bu-but, you can't. Don't leave me, please. I won't let you go," he said as tears began to build up in his eyes.

Raven sighed. "I knew I shouldn't have came back. All I ever do now is cause people pain." Raven walked out her room without saying another word to Beast Boy. She walked into the main room, where the other three Titans were still waiting.

"Raven," Starfire gasped cheerfully. She flew over next to Raven. "It is glorious to have you back. It has been difficult being the only female in the household. Beast Boy is not very good at the 'girl talk,'" Starfire told Raven. Raven almost laughed at the thought of Starfire trying to talk to Beast Boy.

She decided to cut straight to the point and not lead them on at all. "I can't stay," she said bluntly. All of the Titans were speechless, what could they say? "I just wanted to come back so I could give you all a proper goodbye because I never got to say one before."

"Why won't you stay?" Robin asked.

"I don't have choice. I'm with Slasher now, I must serve him," Raven told him.

"Why?" Cyborg asked. "Why can't you just leave him?"

"He'll kill me if I did," Raven said weakly.

"Stay, we can protect you," Robin assured her.

"No, he's stronger than all of you combined," Raven argued.

"We can fight him," Robin insisted.

"I won't put my friend's lives in danger just to save myself. I'll be fine, don't worry about me," Raven lied. "I just wanted to tell you guys that I love you all and you were the only real family I ever had. I'll miss you guys so much and I'm so sorry I can't stay, but please don't try to stop me."

"I can't believe this," Robin said in disbelief.

Tears trickled down Starfire's face. "You are my best friend, Raven. I will miss you more than you know."

"This is you're choice and we can't stop you as much as I would like to. I guess you're all grown up now," Cyborg said with a weak smile. "I'll really miss you, Rae." Cyborg grabbed Raven and gave her another hug, but what no one saw was the microscopic device he put on the back of her cloak. After he let her go Robin spoke up.

"You've been gone for so long, but before it didn't really feel like you were gone. This time it feels different, I guess this is the last time we'll ever see you," Robin said sadly as he looked at the floor. "You were a great hero and an even better friend, I'm really glad I knew you. I wish you could stay, but like Cyborg said, you're old enough to make your own decisions." For the first time in his life Robin gave someone a hug, he felt awkward at first, but then relaxed. "I feel like I'm losing more than just a friend, almost like I'm losing a sister."

Raven let go and looked Robin in the eye. "You're not losing anything, as long as I'm alive I'll still be your guys' friend." Raven looked at them for a moment as she memorized their faces, she never wanted to forget them. "Well, I guess this is good bye... forever."

Tears flowed down Starfire's cheeks and Cyborg stared sadly at Raven as Robin swallowed hard. "Good bye," Robin said for the all of them.

Raven nodded before she turned and walked out of the door towards the entrance to tower. It was a hard, slow walk and Raven considered turning around and running back to her friends, but she quickly cast the thought from her mind.

"Wait!" yelled someone from behind her. She stopped walking and turned to look. It was Beast Boy.

"Please, Beast Boy, don't make this any harder for me," Raven begged.

"I know, I just wanted to give you something," Beast Boy said as unfelled tears blurred his vision. He lifted his trembling hand that was holding a photograph. "I want you to have this, so you never forget."

"I could never forget," Raven said, but she took the picture anyway. The picture was worn and bent from being looked at so much. In the photo was the whole team, but in this particular shot Beast Boy had his arm around Raven's waist. Even Raven was smiling in the picture, she liked it.

"That's my favorite picture of you," Beast Boy told her as a few tears fell from his eyes.

"I love it. Thank you," Raven said as she stared at the old photograph. "Sometimes I really wish I had never met with the Titans, maybe then I wouldn't have cause you so much pain."

"I don't," Beast Boy disagreed. "I love you, Raven, even if you don't love me back, and I'll always feel this way for you, always."

"Beast Boy, I..." Raven hesitated, she had promised she would not say it. "Good bye, Beast Boy." Raven turned and walked towards the huge doors leading out of the tower. The doors slid open and she walked out.

Right before the doors shut behind her, Beast Boy yelled, "No regrets, Raven!" Then, the doors slid shut and she was gone.

A/N: I hope you liked that chapter, I personally thought I did an okay job on it. I was almost crying while I wrote it, LOL. Well, tell me what you think. PLEASE REVIEW NOW!

Shade Spitfire: I'm disappointed with you, you could have came up with a better threat, but I'll still write another chapter for you. Don't worry, you're still cool. :)

Sage Vale: Totally, smoking. Yeah, Beast Boy has always been a bit slow, but even if he did think about it he wouldn't let himself believe she would do it. I think Beast Boy was a little stupid before he fell in love. :)

ravenmasteroftele: OMG! OMG! OMG! This is so unexpected! I thought you would never ask! Of course I'll marry you! I can't wait to tell everyone that we're engaged. I think we should get married on the beach, but it's your choice.

Lilliesofthevalley: LOL. I'm glad you liked it. I hope this chapter gets the same reaction. :)

Shay Bo Bay: Yes! Now I have my very own cheer team, I must be really great. LOL. I can't wait to hear your cheer, hey that kind of rhymed. Maybe Slasher does like Raven, I'm not really sure what he thinks. :)

Blondepunk62442: Go hyperness! Thank you (takes a bow), that chapter was hard to write, but I planned it out way ahead of time. Hey Steve, how's it going?

Hide-because-it's-me: Originally I wasn't going to do that chapter so soon, but I changed my mind. I might make the chapters a little longer, but I think that last one was an exception. Slasher has a soft spot for Raven, I'm not completely sure why or what that might mean later. I totally love the song, I almost began to sing along myself, seriously. Well, tell Rudiger I say heys. I sure do love my orange juice, especially late at night, I think the manufacturers put some cocaine in it or something and that's why it's so addicting. That Easter egg sounds pretty good right about now. Here's the biggest custard filled donut ever, I weighed it and it's about 27 and a half pounds, that's a lot of custard, I hope you like it. Well, I am going to go eat that egg, later. :)

Monitor Supreme: Why must you be so wise? Well, Slasher has a soft spot for Raven and I really don't know why at the moment, but I'll have a reason for doing so eventually. Slasher isn't as bad as he would like everyone to believe, well at least to Raven. :)

WickedWitchoftheSE: My pleasure. I don't think this story will ever have a happy ending, but I haven't planned the ending yet, so I'm not sure. I'm really glad you like how I portray Slasher, I want him to seem believable and evil. Thanks for the review.

Moon's Darkness: I'm glad your excited, that's a good thing! Characters are usually oblivious to the obvious possibilities they have. Although, I may have a few things planned, who knows what's going on in my head right now. :)

Agent of the Divine One: Yeah, I want so badly to make them just be together, but then that would ruin the story. I guess you'll just have to wait to find out if they ever get to be together, or if they all die. :)

x.FAR.cry.x: Hey, anything can happen, although I really don't know where I am going with this, or do I? You'll just have to wait and find out, I'll try my best to not disappoint you.

Anita King: I am glad you like it so far. Happy birthday, I hope this was a good present, but if you didn't like it I may be able to update a new one tomorrow for you. Here's a cake, it's chocolate with chocolate frosting and it has 1000 candles on top for good luck, once they're all lit it looks kind of like the sun. May you have the best freaking day ever!

Moonlit Goddess12: Oh, you're too kind. I'm glad you liked how I did that chapter, I wasn't too sure about it when I wrote it, but you just reassured me. Thanks, you're so cool.

ChocolateSoGood: Eighth grade, I already got the rough draft back and I got 40/40, but my teacher really likes me for some reason. Thanks, and yeah teachers are weird creatures that I don't understand.