Thank you very, very, very, very much for all the reviews. I was honestly amazed and delighted how much you guys like the story. I'm happy about that… so happy.
Kudos to Cherry Jade for beta-ing this chapter… all my other stories... so, thank yooooouuuuuuuuu!
This chapter is dedicated to everyone who reviewed and especially
To Cherry JadeBecause she is a wonderful person, a great authoress - go read her story "Beauty Within Us"… it´s fantastic - and the best beta a person can ask for… thanks for all the support and help and everything you did for me…
To sekai no yakusoku One of the best and most brilliant authoress… you have to read her Teen Titans stories, they are beautiful… thanks for all the reviews and your support, that all means a lot to me
To Mol: Because his wonderful mails and friendship mean so much to me… thank you so much for the reviews and all the mails you wrote me… I´m more than grateful and happy that you decided to send me a mail… and don´t worry you´ll get a mail from me on Friday, I was just totally busy and a bit ill the past days, but I missed writing you…
To Tecna: Because this girl just
rocks… thank you very, very, very much for all of your reviews and
your support and I really hope you won´t delete your story,
because I love it… oh, I hope you´ll be feeling better soon and I´ll write a mail tomorrow...
Ok, so… enjoy the story…
Disclaimer: I don´t own the Teen Titan
Chapter one:
Home, sweet home…
"Home, sweet home…" Raven muttered as she placed her suitcase on the ground and looked up at the huge and old Manson.
It wasn't meant to be sarcastic – not really – but for an outsider it could easily sound like that.
Raven loved her family – more than anything else. She was grateful to have her mother and her father, because better than anybody else she knew that there were people who weren't fortunate enough to have parents… Rich-
'No Raven, stop thinking about him…' She admonished herself as her mind once again wandered to the one person she didn't want to think about.
No, it was not her family that made her sound so… sarcastic and bitter. It was the way her mother and her father chose to live.
Yes, they were rich – they always have been… but Raven had realized at an early age that the world of the rich and beautiful wasn't made for her.
Country clubs, private schools, balls, and parties… all that was not what Raven wanted, but what her mother wanted. Maybe that was why she had been so happy to live away from the high-society life of her parents.
Ironically, Raven who knew she was never really made for this life – not with her "unusual" appearance. Violet hairs, amethyst eyes and grayish-pale skin wasn't the kind of appearance a rich and beautiful high-society girl should have… paired with her sarcastic and cold behavior, it was clear that Raven Roth would never be able to live in a world of money.
But here she was again… in front of the Manson of her parents and for the hundredth time Raven asked herself if she really did the right thing.
Was it really the best to leave her friends… to leave Richard behind?
Was it really better when she returned to her family and the world she had desperately tried to escape?
Would she be able to be happy… here…?
"Okay Raven, stop all the thinking and ring the bell already!" Raven whispered to herself and she reached out for the bell.
She prepared herself for the surprised face of her mother, because Raven knew that she'll be definitely surprised… the decision to leave Jump City was made so fast and abrupt that she hadn't told her mother or father that she'll come or that she want to stay in Steel City for a longer time. But Raven knew that her mother be delighted to hear that she decided to stay here. Her mother always wanted her to come with them to Steel City. In her mother's opinion Jump City wasn't good enough for her standards…
Raven jerked out of her thoughts when she heard footsteps reaching the door and in a swift motion the door opened and Raven looked into the dark blue eyes of her mother… or not… because everything Raven saw was a muscular chest clad in a dark-green shirt.
Ok, that was definitely not her mother or her father.
Raven's eyes wandered higher…
… a long and slender neck…
… and higher…
… a strong and define jaw…
… higher…
… velvet lips, which were curved into a cocky, yet warm smile…
… and higher…
… a small, yet strong nose…
… higher…
… they met two icy-blue eyes – so blue they could break your heart…
…and higher…
… until they caught sight of messy and spiked orange hair…
Suddenly, the image in front of her blurred and blend together with an image burnt deeply in her heart…
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"Would you please stop smiling at me like that!" Raven said to Richard as they sat on a blanket at the beach.
Richard looked at her, smiling widely, his blue eyes sparkling and his hair tousled from the wind.
"But I'm so happy…" Richard protested and grabbed the book from her small hands.
"Richard, I hope you know that you're treading on dangerous ground!" She warned her friend and Richard asked himself if she knew that she just looked cute and adorable with her pinched eyes.
Instead of answering her, Richard sprung to his feet and waved her book in front of her eyes. "You have to catch me first if you want your book back…" And with one last cocky smile, Richard began to run.
"Wait… Richard…" Raven yelled after him and with a sigh and a small smile she began to chase him…
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The memory faded away and Raven was left staring into blue eyes. "Richard…?" Raven spoke before her mind registered what she had said and how absurd it was.
The man in front of her just smiled and shook his head. "No, not Richard… but Roy – Roy Harper…"
"I… sorry… you just look like someone I know… I'm sorry…" Raven stammered and asked herself why she was so nervous.
'Pull yourself together!' She chastised herself and looked up at the stranger. "I am-"
"Raven." Roy answered for her and her eyebrows rose questioningly.
He laughed and somehow the laugh seemed awfully familiar and she immediately felt warm and comfortable. "Your mother and father talk about you all the time. I think I know you better than I know myself…" He explained as Raven entered the Manson.
Roy Harper glanced at Raven and a small smile formed on his lips as he saw rose-kissed blushes forming on her cheeks, but as fast the blushes had appeared as fast they vanished from her face.
"So, you know who I am, but what I want to know is who you are?" Raven asked Roy and her voice sounded as if she were bored to death.
"I'm-" Roy proceeded to answer as a middle-aged woman with black hair and dark blue eyes in a flowery calf-length skirt and a white blouse entered the salon.
"Raven…" The woman said and it was more than clear that she was surprised to see her daughter.
"Mum…" Raven allowed herself to be kissed on both of her cheeks, before her mother took her in her arms.
"Why didn't you tell us that you were coming?" Her mother asked as she pulled at her daughters blue sweater. "And can you tell me why you wear this ridiculous piece of clothing."
Raven rolled her eyes "It's a sweater mum and it keeps me warm," She explained, but inwardly smiled. That was her mum – always complaining about her clothes and her…
"And why didn't you let your hair grew longer? You look so much lovelier with long hair…"
… and her hair.
It was good to be back.
"Oh," her mother stopped in her complaint and looked at her daughter and then at Roy Harper. "Did you both become acquainted with each other?"
Raven nodded, but her mother didn´t really listen to her. "This is Roy Harper," She explained her daughter. "He's the new CCO (Chief Customer Officer) of your fathers company and he just turned 20, isn´t that amazing?" Raven´s mother talked and Raven glanced at Roy and to her satisfaction, she saw him blushing and looking nervously from left to right.
"Oh yes, it´s more than amazing," Raven said and watched as Roy turned a deeper shade of red.
"Mrs. Roth, it´s really not that amazing… I…" Roy tried to say, but Raven´s mother cut her off.
"Arella," She corrected him. "And it is amazing, to achieve such a thing at such a young age. My husband is lucky to have such a employee like you and…"
While her mother contiued praising Roy Harper´s talents, Raven pondered if she should help him and for a moment Raven was tempted to let her mother contiue… it was better her mother talked about Roy than about her, but as she him getting more and more nervous and embarrassed, Raven decided to help him.
"Mum, where is dad… I would love to see him," she interrupted her mother and from the corner of her eyes, she saw Roy Harper mouthing a thank you, which she replied with a nod. "You said he was ill…" Raven trailled off as her mother turned somber in a instant.
"Mum…" Raven repeated and looked alarmed from her mother to Roy who – as well – looked sorowfully at the ground.
"Mum…" Raven urged and her chest began to tighten and awfull feeling rumbled through her stomach.
"It´s time to eat," Arella announced and looked away from her daughter. "Roy, it would you like to diner with us?" She turned to Roy.
Roy glanced at Raven and with a smile he answered. "I´d love that, yes…"
"Raven," Her mother said. "Your father will be delighted to see you. He talked about you all the time the last few days. It was always 'Raven here' and 'Raven there'…"
"Mum… what…"
"He will be happy to see you…" Arella spoke softly and hurried towards the dinning-room, leaving a bewildred and worried Raven behind.
"Don´t worry, it´ll be ok… I promise…" Roy said and placed his hand on her shoulder.
Looking up at him, her eyes winded another voice breazed through her mind…
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Don't worry, we will find a way… I promise!"
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Richard…" She whispered softly… gently…
"What…?"
Shaking her head, Raven said. "Nothing… nothing… and thank you… thank you very much…" She smiled and touched his hand on her shoulder.
And as she followed Roy Harper to the dinning-room, Raven asked herself why she felt so comfortable with this stranger…
Round house…
punch, kick…
Again and again his fists flew to the wildly swaying bag.
Uppercut…
right hook…
Harder and harder he hit the stuffed leather and his knuckles were cracking.
drop kick…
sweep…
Another hit and another and another and another…
and many, many more moves he could think…
Richard Grayson looked like a wild and crazy animal as he hit and punched and kicked the leather. With one last strike, the punching bag flew into the wall and he bent over with his hands on his knees, his lungs rattling.
"I don't know what the punching bag did to you, Master Richard, I'm sure it's already regretting it," An old man with white hair and a British accent chuckled from the door to the training room.
Richard didn't say anything, nor did he move from the ground.
Alfred Pennyworth just sighed and approached quickly the young man. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" He asked as he helped Richard to stay up.
"Nothing happened," Richard answered briskly and walked slowly towards the bench on the far side of the training-room. "Why do you think that something had happened, Al?" He asked as he sat on the bench and gulped a whole bottle.
At that Alfred smiled. "Because you and Master Bruce are just too predictable…"
Richard didn't really listen to Alfred, but crushed the bottle in his hand and with a dull thud it feel on the floor. "She's gone…" He finally said and looked at his butler who was so much more than just a butler to him.
"Who's gone?"
"Raven…" The name fell from Richard's lips softly and he lowered his head. "Raven… is gone…"
Richard didn't wait for Alfred to say anything, because he knew that Alfred wouldn't say anything.
"She left me… she went away and didn't tell me anything… she just left…" His voice came out hoarse and raw. "She won't come back… that's what Terra said. Raven left me… and she won't come back… she…"
"And why, Master Richard, do you think she left you without telling you anything?" Alfred finally asked.
Richard's head shot up unable to say something for a moment, before his face hardened. "Because, apparently, I was mistaken in thinking that she is my best friend… because… because…" Richard stumbled over his words as he began to remember…
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"Richard, I got a call from my mother today, she-" Raven began to speak, but was cut off as Richard shoved a black and a red shirt in her face.
"That's really interesting, but could you please help me," He said. "Which shirt looks better?"
Raven pointed at the black one and proceeded to continue. "She told me that my father is-"
"Uh Raven, could you please go… I mean, Kori is coming and I want to be alone with her, you know?" Richard looked into Raven's eyes and for a moment he saw something flicker… hurt? "You understand that, don't you?"
Raven nodded – once, twice – "Yes, I understand… I finally begin to understand…" She said as she stood up and left Richard's room…
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"Master Richard…?" Richard heard Alfred's voice and again looked up at him.
"… because she… she… I…"
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"No!" Richard spat out. "You don't know me… not if you don't see how much Kori makes me happy… not if you don't see that my decision is the right one… not-"Richard stopped as she saw Raven's eyes widen in shock and then closing in hurt.
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"… I hurt her…" Richard finally chocked out and his body began to shake with suppressed sobs. "I… it's my fault… I… promised… promised to be there for her… promised to be her best friend forever… but I broke the promise… and now… now she's gone… forever…"
"So, you're just giving up?" Alfred questioned and it wasn't meant accusingly - not at all, but it could easily be interpreted like that and maybe, there was a bit accusation in his questioning, but it was only meant well.
Because if there is something that Alfred had learnt in his long life (after all he is reaching his sixtieth birthday soon) is that there is no such thing as "love at first sight". Before love can develop there has to be friendship – of that Alfred is sure and he knew better than anybody else how easy someone can fall for looks and beauty, but miss the real beauty in a person.
Once, Alfred had watched his Master Bruce making the same mistake as Richard was about to do and he wouldn't allow this to happen a second time.
It was almost ironic, how much Richard resembled Bruce… ironic, yet tragic, because, although Alfred respected and even loved Bruce Wayne, he didn't want Richard to end as lonely and as restless as Bruce. He wished Richard all the happiness in the world and it was clear to him that Richard wouldn't be happy without Raven, but unfortunately Richard hadn't realized that – yet.
Alfred jerked up from his thoughts as Richard began to speak. "I'm not giving up… but what can I do? Traveling after her, begging for forgiveness and demanding that she is coming back with me…" Richard trailed off as he realized what exactly he had said and slowly a smile crept onto his face. With this smile on his face he looked at Alfred who as well wore a smile on his face.
Richard quickly stood up from the bench and made his way to the door. "Master Richard?" Alfred called out.
"No time Al…I have to pack…" He looked over his shoulder to Alfred and grinned wildly. "I'm on a mission…"
Alfred just chuckled at the young man. "I'll inform Master Bruce about your 'mission'." Alfred called after Richard, but he wasn't listing to the old man… all that was on Richard's mind was the question of how he would bring back Raven.
A/N: So, this was the first chapter. It's a bit sappy and sallow, I know, but… yeah… I don't know…
First, I had the idea to set this chapter in the future… that means, I wanted them (Rae & Rob) to not see each other for some years and then they somehow meet each other… but then I changed my mind and this chapter is he result… not sure if it's good, but if you want me to change the chapter and use the first idea I had… tell me in your review and I'll think about it, ok?
So, on your way out leave me a little review and tell me how you liked this chapter…
Until next time,
Alena