Chapter IV: Raven, Morpheus, Daniel and Darien
The sky slowly turned deep purple as the first stars began to emerge over the island. Cyborg led the others back towards the Tower. "I think we need to give our next arrivals a suitable landing area," he said. The elder Titans smiled in faint recognition of what was about to occur. Haley and Aimee looked quizzically at their leader.
"Aimee come here please," Garfield called to his only daughter once they had taken their new places.
"Are you going to tickle me or something," Aimee asked skeptically.
"No," her father replied. "I just think you should be near us when Raven gets here." He and Terra had sly grins on their faces. Aimee hesitated then walked over and took her place between them.
Haley stood with her arms folded across her chest. It was not in her nature to wait for anything. She peeked behind her and noticed her parents were whispering to each other and giggling. "Wonder what silly love games they're up to now," she said to herself in disgust.
A mild roll of thunder erupted from the far side of the island as a porthole opened up and a jet-black horse with burning red eyes and two riders emerged. Haley and Aimee jumped at its sudden appearance while the elder Titans grinned knowing their former colleague was making her grand entrance. The beast slowed to a stop as fiery sparks flew from its hooves and a deep soulful whinny filled the air.
One of the riders slipped off of the beast and helped what appeared to be a young child down from the saddle. The fiery beast bent its head down as the boy stroked its neck several times. The pair turned and began walking towards the others. The steed watched momentarily then turned around and jumped back through the porthole disappearing in a flash as woeful screams and moans drifted through the darkening skies.
Cyborg stepped forward to welcome the new arrivals as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened, "Morpheus and Darien I do believe," he cheerfully greeted them. "Where's Raven?"
"She'll be here shortly," Morpheus replied. "She had to secure another mode of transportation."
A sly smile washed across his goateed face. Morpheus didn't look a bit different than when he met them the first time he abducted Raven and led them on their trip into the underworld. Being an immortal he would always appear the same no matter how much time had passed. He had short cropped dark hair, dark eyes and was dressed in a white muscle shirt, dark jeans and heavy black boots. A small leather necklace hung loosely around his neck with a Raven's silhouette attached to it; a symbol of his union with the former Titan.
The young boy accompanying him looked similar but his dark hair was a bit longer and his features were much more sharply pronounced. His eyes were dark and strangely seductive. He wore a black tunic, dark pants and blood red boots.
"Daniel doesn't like riding Nightmares so Mom decided to try something different," the young boy confidently spoke up.
"Is that so," Cyborg bent over and replied to the young man. "Any hints?"
"Oh I'll tell you" Darien began only to be cut off immediately by his father.
"Now Darien, let the others see for themselves. Its supposed to be a surprise, remember?"
The boy sighed in disappointment, "Yes father."
A white flash appeared near the shore as another porthole opened. A fine white stallion emerged with a single pointed horn on its head. A woman and young boy both clad in white rode the Unicorn onto the beach. The beast gently lowered itself to the ground and the two riders dismounted, stroked the mystical animal's neck then turned and walked towards the others. The unicorn stood up, reversed its path and quickly passed back into the gateway it had emerged from as the sparkling light quickly vanished.
Cyborg smiled; Raven sure knew how to make an entrance. "Well that's not something you see every day," Cyborg proclaimed. "How ya doing Raven, Daniel?"
Raven stepped forward. She was dressed in a softly glowing white robe with gold and purple accents. On her feet she wore purple silk slippers with double-headed eagles embroidered on each foot. A radiate gold crown sat perched on her head and helped keep her long dark hair from falling into her deeply mystical eyes. Around her neck was a simple leather necklace with a piercing opened eye attached to it. She didn't look much older that she did when she had left them nearly thirty years earlier. Cyborg was convinced that immortal blood flowed through her veins.
"I apologize for being late," Raven calmly said with a smile. "I had to make some alternate arraignments."
"That's OK; we haven't been waiting too long. In fact we were just enjoying the scenery when you came," Cyborg replied
She made her way over to her husband standing slightly in front of him. The brothers quickly clasped their right hands around each other's elbows in their customary handshake. Raven's sons were styles in contrast. Daniel's cloths and features clashed violently his brother's. Daniel wore a white baggy tunic shirt with a belt brown belt around his waist, cream-colored pants and leather sandals. White leather gauntlets covered his hands. His golden hair was wavy and fell lightly around his soft pale face. His eyes were a startling ice blue.
Cyborg led the new arrivals towards Garfield, Terra and Aimee. "I think most of you have met, but let's introduce the children to each other. Aimee this is Raven and Morpheus and their sons Daniel and Darien."
Darien stepped forward and offered his hand while his brother stood back at a safe distance. Aimee knelt down to shake it. "Pleased to meet you Darien and Daniel." she said slightly perplexed since she was expecting to meet thirty-year old men not children.
"Likewise," Darien said as he gave her a firm shake. "Are you really a Titan?"
Aimee laughed, and nodded yes. She was still getting used to the idea herself.
"Congratulations," Raven said softly. Aimee was a bit unnerved by Raven's formal appearance. "Your parents must be especially proud of you. It's good to have family back with the Titans once again."
Garfield stepped forward and took Raven in a long embrace. "Oh Garfield it is good to see you again," Raven said to her friend in a slightly sad voice. She had not seen Garfield in over thirty years.
Garfield pulled back and looked into her deep violet eyes understanding how Morpheus had fallen in love with them as he had so long ago. He reluctantly let her go after their short embrace. Raven then went to Terra and warmly hugged her. "My friend, I see you've taken good care of your husband."
Terra smiled, "Yes, and I've managed to keep his sock drawer straight too." They both laughed with each other recalling their last conversation with each other so long ago.
Morpheus shook Garfield's hand and exchanged a small greeting. Raven noticed an immediate air of discomfort between her husband and Garfield's wife. Terra could barely look the immortal in the eye for unbeknownst to the others it was he who had caused her to relent and allow her daughter to join the Titans.
Months before, she and Garfield had been arguing about Aimee's decision to join the Titans. Terra was determined not to allow her only child to choose such a risky profession. After all the pain and hardship they both had endured she couldn't understand why her husband would allow Aimee to go and follow her dangerous desires. At the height of their argument she had burst outside, hopped on the nearest rock and took refuge in the canyons where she hid and cried herself into a deep uneasy sleep beneath the stars.
Morpheus came to her in her restless sleep. In her dream she was standing alone in the dark foreboding canyons surrounding her now empty adobe house. The god descended from the stars and stood in front of her his eyes twinkling in the moonless desert night.
"Morpheus," she said fearfully. "Aimee has joined the Titans. Please tell me that I won't have to bury my only daughter."
Morpheus frowned. Revealing a mortal's future was not something he enjoyed doing. He would always offer the person making the request an opportunity to reconsider; only the very wise recanted.
"Terra, I can reveal your daughter's future. But I must have your solemn oath on one point and an answer to my heart-felt request on another," he said with great foreboding. He paused to ensure that Terra understood him before he continued. "The first is that you not reveal my vision to any living being, and the second is that you withdraw your request immediately."
Terra was filled with frightened anticipation. She had to know the answer regardless of the consequences. "I swear on my life I will not reveal what you tell me to anyone."
Morpheus waited for Terra's response to his plea though he knew it would never come. A pained look crossed his face. His eyes sparkled and swirled as his face drew closer to Terra's. She saw stars in his eyes as he spoke to her in a low sullen voice not his own.
"Terra, I see you burying your daughter in a cold rain," Terra gasped as her eyes filled with tears; she knew this would be her fate from the day Aimee was born. Morpheus continued. "Take heart, dear child, for this shall not happen until well after the passing of your beloved husband, for you are destined to live many years beyond those of your family and friends. They will end with the birth of your great-great grand daughter who will bear your name and your likeness." Morpheus finished his dark prophecy as dread filled Terra's heart. Now she knew why Morpheus had asked her to reconsider.
Cyborg moved on to introduce her children to Robin and Starfire's daughter oblivious to the lack of greetings between Terra and Morpheus.
"OK boys, I'd like to introduce you to the toughest Titan this side of Hades," Cyborg said. He was proud of the way Haley had taken on the leadership role of the group. He really had no doubt that it would happen since the first time he met Robin's daughter.
"Haley, meet Darien and Daniel." Haley paused for a moment then knelt down to face the young children.
"What's the rabbit all about," Darien asked unexpectedly. Raven cringed upon hearing her son's question. Haley frowned. "I mean how can you be tough when you've got a bunny on your chest?" Darien continued. An awkward silence followed.
"Nobody knows what it means," Robin gleefully interrupted. "She won't even tell her old man."
Haley gazed into Darien's dark eyes. Without really trying she could usually scare a child by just by looking at them. But Darien refused to back down, glaring at her with a hint of defiance that unnerved her.
"You've got a lot of spunk to ask that question kid," Haley calmly said as the two remained locked in a powerful stare.
"I'm not a kid; I'm thirty years old. That's eleven years older than you," Darien calmly corrected her. He loved a fight, even if it was only a verbal one.
"Well you look eight if you're a day," Haley replied.
"I'm afraid my brother is correct," Daniel softly interrupted. "I know this for a fact since I was born seven minutes before him."
This comment caused Darien to break eye contact with Haley. "You always have to bring that up, don't you?" he said spitefully.
"I only bring it up because it is true," Daniel said in a soft relaxed voice as he stepped forward and calmly offered his hand for Haley to shake.
Haley paused then took the young boy's gloved hand and shook it. She found this brother much more polite and to her liking. Haley released her grip and stood back up.
"Please forgive my son," Raven said. "He has heard a lot about you from Cyborg. Again it is good to have a friend's daughter leading the group."
Raven knew Darien would do something like this. It was in his nature to find the strongest member of a group and challenge them. She hoped that Daniel had interrupted them before Haley took a disliking to her troublesome son.
"Hey Morpheus, how's it going?" Robin suddenly spoke up.
"Pretty well," Morpheus replied. "How's the only mortal to give a god a bloody nose?"
"Can't complain," Robin said with a genuine smile as he leaned towards his wife and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek to emphasize his point.
"And how's your Amazon warrior of a wife?" Morpheus continued.
"Gloriously happy!" Starfire gleefully proclaimed.
"Hey Raven, don't I get a hug?" Robin said with a giggle.
"Absolutely," she said as she stepped forward and gently cradled him in her arms. Raven hugged her dear friend tightly desperately trying to suppress the urge to sob in his arms. She had come so close to losing both of her friends.
Raven had hesitated returning to the world of mortals after Robin's accident knowing he would not want to live the rest of his life as a cripple. But she also knew that Starfire's heart would surely break with his passing. She drifted in her dilemma for days before appearing before her one friend then reluctantly healing the other. For two long years she bore her friends' dual curse. One for making him live, the other for making her suffer. It was a burden she bore with a heavy heart.
She pulled back and looked sadly into Robin's smiling face. Starfire approached and gently took Raven's left arm in her hand as she reached out to her husband with her other. Robin held Raven's right hand forming a rough triangle between the three of them. A tear fell down Raven's cheek. While she had not quite forgiven herself for their ordeal, her friends had forgiven her long ago.
"Friend Raven," Starfire said to her smiling. "It is all right now, everything is all right."
"I'm sorry," Raven replied with a slight sniffle. "I promised myself I wouldn't cry."
"Man I thought I'd never see the day I'd make a woman cry over me other than my wife," Robin said half jokingly.
Raven laughed for a moment as another tear ran down her cheek. "Cut it out you big softy, or I'll have Morpheus keep you up all night dreaming about your daughter dating guys with fast motorcycles, tattoos and multiple piercings."
"All right you three," Cyborg gently interrupted. "How about we go up to the Tower and have us a nice dinner. I'm sure everyone's good and hungry after their trip."
"And how," Darien cried out enthusiastically.