But For the Grace of God

Summary: With her father gone and her powers under control Raven believes that maybe now she can find some peace. But when she sees Beast Boy come home from church every Sunday she feels like something's missing. But can God care about a demon?

(A/N: I'd like to dedicate this fiction to my former Pastor Warner. He is a great teacher and a wonderful man. Also I'd like to mention Pastor Wiles. His sermon gave me the inspiration for this fic

. Raven's Shadow Of Light)

---------

Raven sighed in content as she breathed in the sweet, salty air that came off the bay below her. Waves lapped against the Tower island creating a lulling sound. Raven could have fallen asleep or even meditated but she was waiting for someone. Normally she wouldn't be doing this but she wanted to talk with him.

Ever since the incident with Trigon about two months ago, Beast Boy had been disappearing every Sunday morning from around nine to twelve. When Robin confronted him about it he admitted to have been going to a church in the city. Robin had only asked that he made sure to take his Titans communicator and left it at that. But Raven had felt something. She was curious.

But she couldn't go to the church of course. She was part demon. Demons were abominations and everyone thought of them as evil. Of course no one but the Titans knew Raven was a demon but it still felt wrong going to a church.

So here she was sitting on a rock in the sun waiting for Beast Boy to come back. She leaned back on her hands and lifted her face to the sun. It felt nice on her pale skin.

Suddenly a familiar aurora entered her field of insight. Finally! He was back! Raven sat up and looked around. Above her she spotted a green bird of some kind circling. It dived down and landed beside her and started hopping back and forth as if it was nervous. Raven patted its head gently and it turned into a boy.

Beast Boy looked at Raven carefully and decided she wasn't mad at him for interrupting whatever she had been doing. So he swung his legs over the side of the boulder

"What're you doing out here Raven?" he asked. Raven glanced at him then looked back out over the water. He was dressed in a pair of nice jeans and a collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up (I think that looks so hot… cough anyway. On with the story!)

"Waiting for you to get back." the dark girl replied

"Aw I didn't know you cared Rae." he said pretending to be touched. Raven feigned a smiled

"It's a once in a lifetime thing, don't make me ruin it by slapping you."

Beast Boy chuckled and looked at the girl sideways. Ever since her father had been sealed away and purified from her mind she had been much freer with her emotions. Of course she still used her monotone and her merciless sarcasm but everyone knew it was all in play

"Any particular reason?" he asked probing gently.

Raven twirled a strand of violet hair around one finger trying to find words to express her feelings. None came

"Well yes. But you have to promise not to think I'm depressed on something when I tell you." Beast Boy gave her an odd look but nodded

"Okay, I promise." he pulled his legs up underneath him and smiled "So what's on your mind?" Raven copied his position before responding

"I was wondering if… maybe… you could… think about me when you go to church." Raven blurted out. Her whole face turned red and she turned away. Beast Boy touched her shoulder

"Raven, if you wanted to come you could've just asked me." Raven shook her head frantically

"I can't go Beast Boy, I'm half demon."

"So? I'm a green elf who can turn into animals. God doesn't care." hesitantly he touched the place where Raven's heart was "He cares about what's in here. And frankly I think you're overreacting. I mean you've always tried to do the right thing. The only really bad thing I can think of is when you throw me out of the Tower." Raven shook her head

"I just feel like there's nothing I can do to escape this. My soul is tainted from Trigon's sins. There's nothing I can do about that. No one can love a demon."

To her surprise Beast Boy turned slightly red and looked away a little nervously. Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her off the rock

"Come on." he said pulling her towards the water

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." Raven lifted into the air and followed the green bird across the bay and over the city.

Soon Beast Boy came to a stop and flew down to the street and waited as Raven touched down softly. She looked around and her eyes found a sign: CHURCH OF CHRIST. ALL WELCOME

"Come on, I want you to meet someone." Beast Boy said grabbing her hand jerking her out of her thoughts and towed her inside the building.

It wasn't the classic stain glass church like she thought. Instead it had a small but spacious sanctuary and adjacent to that a small room for the teenagers. Beast Boy hurried through the church at a brisk walk then stopped at a thick door. He knocked and stood there rocking back and forth on his heels.

The door opened revealing a man in his late forties with dark brown hair and smiling blue eyes. He looked down at the two teens in surprise. Raven had drawn her hood over her head and was trying not to look embarrassed. Beast Boy stood there and smiled at the man

"Hello Gar, what brings you here?" the man asked. Raven cocked a brow

"Gar?" Beast Boy chuckled nervously and flushed a little bit

"Don't tell Cyborg. I'll never hear the end of it."

"I saw you at the service Gar but you hurried away before I could talk to you." he peered at Raven who was feeling more uncomfortable by the second

"And this must be Raven. It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Pastor Barns" Raven shook his hand lightly "Gar talks about you with my own son quite a lot." Raven threw a look at the changeling who waved his hands in front of him innocently

"No! Not about… that."

"Well Gar, since you're here after all the services is it safe to assume that you need something from me?" Beast Boy nodded and the pastor waved them into his office

"So, what can I help you two with?" Gar rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Then he looked at Raven who was staring at the cross figurine on the wall

"Well… this is kinda hard to explain. Raven do you think I could tell him?" at the sound of her name Raven turned to him and blinked a few times to register what he had said

"Uh…" she looked at the floor then nodded "I suppose. There's no other way to explain it." she whispered. Gar patted her shoulder in comfort then turned to Pastor Barns

"Well, Raven's father is the eight devil. So she's part demon. That's where she got her powers. And about two months ago she was supposed to open this portal so Trigon, that's her dad, could come to Earth. She didn't want to but she did because it was her destiny. Anyway we fought Trigon and Raven sealed him away. But now she feels like… what was it you said?"

"My soul is tainted from the sins of Trigon. There is nothing I can do to escape that." she sighed then lifted her chin slightly "But it's a burden I must carry."

Pastor Barns was staring at the two with an open mouth. Then he shook his head and stood up from his desk

"Well Raven, I've never heard a tale like that before. I do not doubt that it isn't true. But would you please come with me for a second?"

Raven got up from the chair and she and Beast Boy followed the Pastor. They went through the back hallways of the church then stopped. Pastor Barns turned to Raven

"Raven do you sense any thing strange in this room?" Raven closed her eyes for a few seconds then nodded

"Yes. Remains of a lesser demon. Not very powerful but still dangerous to mortals." she opened her eyes and looked at the man "Why?"

"When I founded this church someone told me that the building had been used as a church of people who worshiped demons. I had the church blessed by a priest but when ever I came back here to prepare for my sermon I felt an evil presence. It frightened me greatly. So I came in here and ordered whatever spirit resided here to leave in the name of the one true God. The moment I said that all the furniture shook violently and several light bulbs shattered. But after that I felt at peace here."

"What does that have to do with me?" the Pastor smiled slightly

"It is true that demons are enemies of God. But you are half demon. And from what Gar has said about you, you try very hard to prove that you're not evil like your father. And God loves everyone. Even if they've killed people, he hates that but he still gives the person a chance to get to heaven. Can you think of any other religion that does that?"

"No." Raven whispered softly. The pastor smiled and rested a hand on her shoulder

"Raven, you're young. You can still turn your life around. Garfield has accepted God's Son into his heart. He knows he will go to heaven someday. With such a dangerous job like yours I would advise that you think about this and ask me or Gar if you have any questions about it. Now I must get home to my family." he nodded at Beast Boy then left quickly.

Raven was silent the whole way home. Beast Boy circled around her as she flew slowly through the air.

When they landed on the roof of the Tower she looked at Beast Boy and fought to keep her tears at bay. The changeling pulled her into a hug and stroked her hair as she cried

"It's okay Raven."

"I just can't believe that someone could really love a demon. I mean, I almost brought around the end of the world."

"But you didn't." Beast Boy pointed out "And you were saved. I think God has bigger and better plans for you."

"It's just so unbelievable. He can just forget about whatever I did in the past and make me pure again." Beast Boy smiled and hugged the girl tightly

"But you gotta believe. You gotta have faith." Raven looked up at him with tiny tears filling her eyes

"Believing and faith. I think I can do that." Beast Boy smiled and gathering his courage kissed the girl on the cheek

"Good." he turned to leave the roof then looked back at the girl "And Raven, He's not the only one who can love a demon."

Raven smiled and flew at him; she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on the mouth before sinking through the floor.

Beast Boy stood there in shock for a long moment before turning and running down the stairs to where he knew Raven would be waiting with questions.

So that's the story. How God cared about a half demon enough to forgive her of her father's sins and give her a new love