AN: Nope, no ownership yet… deal with it

The Roths

Raven felt very nervous as she stood outside of the small house. She was going to have dinner with her newly found grandparents for the first time. It had been three days since they had discovered that they were her relatives. And, luckily, she wasn't alone today. Beast Boy had volunteered to go with her so she didn't feel too uncomfortable.

"I hope they like me," said Raven as they walked up the steps to the house, stepping on all of the fallen autumn leaves the crunched beneath their feet.

"They'll love you," said Beast Boy reassuring her.

"Maybe this isn't a good idea," said Raven.

"Raven, they're your grandparents," Beast Boy laughed. "You have to at least spend one evening with them. And I'm here incase things start going down hill."

"And just what are you going to do if the night turns out to be a disaster?" asked Raven curiously.

"I'll whisk you out of there before anything happens," he said with a smile and pushed the doorbell.

The door opened and revealed Peter Roth with a large smile. "Welcome, I'm so glad you came," he said as he took Raven into his arms. Raven, who was still a little uncomfortable with this man, stiffened up slightly. "And you, young man, I've yet to get your name."

"Uh, it's Beast Boy," he said, shaking the man's hand.

"Beast Boy?" said Peter. "That's not a proper name at all."

"Well, that's my professional name," said Beast Boy.

"Well I want to know your real name, son," said Peter.

"Uh, okay, it's Garfield Logan," said Beast Boy.

"Wonderful, well come on in," said Peter as he ushered the two inside and closed the door.

Raven and Beast Boy couldn't believe what the house looked like. It was as if they had stepped into a time machine and had come out in the 1950's. And there were religious emblems hanging all over; crosses, pictures of Jesus and The Virgin Mary. Raven felt a little odd walking into such an environment, given who her father was. Right on cue a woman with graying hair appeared out of the kitchen wearing an apron.

"Oh! I didn't realize you were here," she said and quickly took her apron off. She threw it into the kitchen and came to meet them in the parlor.

"Raven, this is your grandmother," said Peter.

"It's nice to meet you," said Raven who tried to shake her hand, but was met with another powerful hug.

"And it's wonderful to meet you at last," said Mary. "You do look just like your mother. How is she?"

Raven tensed up again and Beast Boy could see this.

"Uh, maybe we should talk about that later," he suggested. "Hi, I'm Garfield."

"Oh, it's nice to meet you Garfield," said Mary shaking Beast Boy's hand. "And you're right, we'll talk after dinner. Which I'm almost done preparing." She smiled and quickly scurried back off into the kitchen.

"Why don't we go sit down in the dining room?" asked Peter. He led the two to the dining room where they sat down. Peter sat down at the head of the table and Raven and Beast Boy sat to his left. Mary quickly appeared again, with her apron on once more.

"May I get you two something to drink?" she asked with a smile.

"Just water will be fine," said Raven, who was too nervous to even think about eating.

"Yeah, same here," said Beast Boy.

She came back a minute later with two waters for them and a glass of ginger ale for Peter. She then went back into the kitchen and came out with a bowl of steamed vegetables. Beast Boy was happy because he knew he could eat at least one thing. She also brought out hot rolls, mashed potatoes, and then a perfectly cooked pot roast.

"This looks wonderful," said Peter with a smile.

"Thank you, dear," said Mary as she sat down to his right.

"Now, let's give thanks," he said and took his wife's hand and then reached over and grabbed Ravens as well. She was quite shocked by this, but Beast Boy was even more shocked when Mary reached across the table to take his hand. He gave it to her and the two bowed their heads. Raven and Beast Boy looked at each other, then joined their hands and bowed their heads as well. "For health and food and love of old and new friends, for everything the good Lord sends. Father, we thank thee. Amen."

"Amen," said Mary.

"Amen," said Beast Boy and Raven after a moment.

Then they released their hands and Peter began to serve himself. Raven just sat very still as the others served them selves. Beast Boy had noticed that she had barely eaten those past few days because she had been so nervous about tonight, so he decided to make her eat. After serving himself some vegetables and bread he served Raven a little of everything.

"Eat," he said quietly to her. She picked up her fork and slowly began to pick at the food and took a bite when she realized that Beast Boy wouldn't look away until she did.

"Garfield, do you not like pot roast?" asked Mary.

"To be honest, I'm not sure," said Beast Boy. "I'm a vegetarian."

"Oh, how terrible," said Mary.

"Excuse me?" asked Beast Boy, taken back.

"Well, you're allergic to meat, correct?" asked Mary.

"Uh, no, I just choose not to eat it," said Beast Boy.

"You choose not to eat meat?" said Peter. "God gave you canines for a reason, young man."

"Well, for me, they help keep predators away," he said with a smile, but they weren't exactly impressed. He quickly quieted down and took a bite of his roll.

"So, Raven, how old are you?" asked Peter.

"Twenty-one," said Raven.

"Really? Angela left us twenty-two years ago," said Peter. "Maybe she left because she was pregnant, Mary."

"No, she wasn't pregnant with me when she left," said Raven. "It happened shortly after, though."

"And what are you doing now? School? Work?" asked Mary.

"I'm sort of a superhero," said Raven, for some reason feeling ashamed. She had never felt ashamed of saving the world before, but suddenly in front of these people she felt like she should be. "I keep Jump City safe."

"Jump City?" said Peter. "You're from Jump City? That's across the country."

"Yeah, it's a long ride here," Beast Boy chuckled.

"Oh, you two work together, then?" asked Mary.

"Yes, we're apart of a five member team," said Raven.

"But that's just in Jump City," Beast Boy added. "See, we're called the Titans and we've got members all over the world, protecting it."

"Isn't that dangerous?" asked Mary.

"It can be, but so far I've come through unscathed," said Raven.

"Oh, I don't like the thought of you fighting criminals," said Peter, shaking his head. "Please tell me you've never killed anyone."

"No, I haven't," said Raven.

"Good," said Peter. "That is a horrible sin to commit. And I hope you go to church."

"Oh, well, not exactly," said Raven. "I've never really been involved with the church.

Peter and Mary gasped and looked at her wide eyed, which didn't help how awkward Raven was feeling. Beast Boy didn't like where any of this was going.

"Please tell us that you've at least been baptized," said Peter, taking Ravens hand.

"Well, yes, I have, actually," said Raven.

"Oh, thank goodness," said Mary.

"You should really start going to church," said Peter. "God will keep you safe when you go off and save the world, though I don't support that at all. Please promise me you'll try to go every week."

Raven was quiet for a moment and then said, "Alright, I'll try my best."

"Good," said Peter in an approving tone.

"Excuse me, but isn't 'Roth' a Jewish last name?" asked Beast Boy. "I mean, all the celebrities I've heard of with that last name of Roth have been Jewish."

"My great-grandparents were Jewish," said Peter. "But my grandfather converted to Christianity."

"Oh," said Beast Boy, thinking. "Then why not change your last name to something more Christian-ee?"

"Because I'm proud of my last name and my heritage," said Peter. "I have no reason to change my last name, or any of my names for that matter."

"Garfield," said Mary with a smile. "How do you know Raven?"

"We've been teammates and friends for years," said Beast Boy.

"Just friends, I hope," said Peter.

"Yes, we're just friends," said Raven.

"Yup, two superhero friends who live in a giant T shaped tower," Beast Boy chuckled.

"You live together?" asked Mary, shocked.

"Yes, but we're just roommates," said Raven quickly. "I live with four people."

"Raven, do you have a lock on your door?" asked Peter, concerned.

"Yes," said Raven.

"Good," said Peter. "I don't like the thought of you living alone without any protection from… your teammates." He looked over at Beast Boy.

"I hope you don't think I would ever do anything… ungentlemanly to her," said Beast Boy, doing his best to talk in a sort of proper way.

"Are you involved with anyone, dear?" asked Mary to Raven, ignoring Beast Boy.

"No," said Raven.

"Oh, I'm sure we can find you a nice boy," said Mary.

"Excuse me, but I think Raven can find her own nice boy," said Beast Boy, getting a little upset with these people and their views on Ravens life.

"You know, I bet that nice young man in my prayer group would like to meet her," said Peter, talking to Mary.

"That's very kind of you, but I'm not really looking for a relationship with anyone right now," said Raven.

"Dear, you're twenty-one!" said Mary. "You can't wait forever, you know. I was married when I was twenty."

"Well, things are different nowadays," said Beast Boy.

"Yes, the world is certainly going downhill," Peter sighed. "That's why it's better that you at least keep some morals about you."

"Raven has plenty of morals!" said Beast Boy.

Raven grabbed his hand, without her grandparents seeing of course, and told him telepathically to calm down.

"I agree, the world is getting a bit uncivilized lately," said Raven.

"Good, I'm very glad we agree," said Peter with a smile.

After dinner they all went into the living room for coffee and dessert. Beast Boy wasn't in the best of moods at this point and kept very close to Raven. He could tell that her grandparents didn't like him and he didn't like them.

"So, when are you going back to Jump City?" asked Peter.

"Tomorrow," said Raven.

"Oh, you must give us your address and your phone number," said Mary. "We have to keep in contact. The holidays will be coming soon."

"Of course, you'll come for Thanksgiving and Christmas, right?" asked Peter.

"I… I guess," said Raven. "I've never spent a holiday with family before."

"Oh, and what are we?" asked Beast Boy hotly.

"I mean, blood relatives," she said.

"And you should spend these sacred holidays with your family," said Peter. "We can go to mass together. I'm sure our church will welcome you with open arms."

Raven gave him a small smile, but it was clear that this was all too much too fast. She was never so happy than when the evening came to an end and they could head back to the mansion.

"It was great to meet you, Raven," said Mary, hugging her tightly. "You make sure to call."

"I will," said Raven.

"And go to church," said Peter in a fatherly tone.

"Yes, sir," said Raven in a way she had never heard herself speak.

"And Garfield… it was nice to meet you," said Mary.

"Like ways," said Garfield, though it was clear he was relieved to get out of there.

"God bless," the two said as Raven and Beast Boy exited. They waved and then walked out to the waiting car and Alfred. Once again, Raven was very quiet. Beast Boy went over the evening again and again in his mind and selected a few choice things her grandparents had said that he was going to bring up later.