Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to the Teen Titans or any characters in the DC Universe.

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Beast Boy's mouth felt dry as he woke up. At first his vision was blurry as he attempted to gather his bearings. He felt a little dizzy, which didn't help with the task. As he moaned he felt the oxygen mask on his face and he instinctively reached for it with his right hand. As he did he felt a bolt of pain shoot up from his back and he groaned in pain.

"He's awake." He heard a voice, which sounded distant, almost with an echo effect while his hand was gently pulled down to his side.

Slowly the cobwebs disappeared and the world slowly came into focus. The first thing he saw was a figure at the foot of his bed. He squinted to see better and saw that it was Terra, who was beaming at him. He looked left and saw Raven, her hood was down and she was holding hands with his non-green counterpart. A confused look smothered his face.

"I'm over here Gar." Raven's voice called from his right.

He turned and saw Raven, her face shrouded behind her raised hood.

"How are you feeling BB?" Terra asked.

"Thirsty."

Raven placed a paper cup of water with a straw in front of him as she removed his oxygen mask. He gratefully accepted the drink and within moments had drained the cup of its contents.

"Thanks Rae." He whispered as he closed his eyes. "I take it that we won."

"We did, thanks to you." Terra replied. "Except that your Brotherhood of Evil escaped back to your universe."

Beast Boy nodded while turning to Raptor and his near twin.

"So you guys made up?" He asked in a fading voice.

Raptor nodded as Gar wrapped an arm around her. "We're back together."

"That's good." He whispered again. "I'm tired..."

Beast Boy lost consciousness before even noticing that Starfire was in the room. Terra gently tapped Raptor on the shoulder and the two females along with Gar left the room. Starfire approached Raven and pulling a chair up next to the bed she sat with her. She noticed that Raven had a troubled expression on her face.

"He will recover Raven. Your beloved is very strong. You have nothing to worry about."

Raven looked at Starfire in the eyes. The princess could see something she rarely saw on her friend's face: pain.

"What is wrong Raven? You may confide in me, we are true friends, right?"

Raven nodded. Starfire, while at times overwhelming with her never ending energy and cheerfulness was the friend she never had as a child. Raven understood the real meaning of the word 'friend' and while North Americans often abused the word she knew that Starfire was being genuine in her use of the term. Raven loved the Tamaranian, as the sister she never had. She knew she could confide in her and while she was loathe to share the burden that was oppressing her she also knew that she needed to share it with someone or it would end up crushing her spirit.

"Something happened to me, during the battle…"

Raven paused.

"Yes friend?"

Raven surprised Starfire as she took her hand and squeezed it.

"This is very hard for me to share Starfire. But I trust you to keep this in confidence."

Starfire nodded as she took Raven's hand with both of her hands.

Raven swallowed before beginning.

"When Gar was hurt I asked Raptor to help me. She didn't know how to use her powers to heal. So I established a telepathic link between us so I could share that knowledge with her."

Raven paused again. Starfire patiently kept silent while waiting for her to resume.

"I accomplished this by sharing memories with her. She was able to see my memories and I was able to see hers as well."

Starfire tensed up, intuitively knowing where this was going.

In a choked up voice the sorceress continued.

"One of the memories I saw was when she and Gar made love for the first time."

Starfire saw tears dripping out of Raven's eyes.

"I thought I had put that behind me Starfire. I understand why it happened, but … but the pain won't go away."

Starfire released her hand and gently wrapped her arms around Raven, drawing her into an embrace as the demoness began to sob.

"I wanted to be his first, on our wedding night. I know it sounds silly and old fashioned, but it was important to me."

"If it is important to you then it is not silly, Raven."

The grey girl sighed before continuing.

"The worst thing of all is that now her memory is in my mind as well."

Starfire released her from her embrace.

"All of it?" She asked with trepidation.

"All of it. It's like I lost my virginity without ever having done the deed. It's especially bad as our bodies are identical. It actually feels like it was my own memory."

Starfire wiped away a tear.

"I wish there was something I could do to help you Raven."

She shook her head.

"Nothing can be done about it Starfire. I'm going to have to deal with this for the rest of my life."

"Memories can fade Raven, especially if they are crowded out by newer and happier memories. It could be worse my friend; your beloved is alive and resting in this bed."

Raven briefly hugged the Tamaranian.

"Thank you Starfire. I know I'll make it through this. I'm fortunate to have a friend like you."

The princess placed a hand on Raven's shoulder.

"And I thank you for trusting and confiding in me. And since you are my friend I wish to confide in you as well."

Raven's eyes widened. What was Starfire about to tell her?

"Raven, during the months when we searched for this universe Robin and I discussed our future. To make a long story short Robin and I decided to marry after we had recovered Beast Boy…"

Raven smiled as she interrupted.

"That's wonderful news Starfire, congratulations."

"Thank you Raven, but there is more to share. Robin and I also face a challenge of our own."

Raven's smile disappeared.

"You can't have children, right?"

Starfire shook her head.

"No, that is not it. The scientists at STAR Labs have determined that they can splice Robin's genes with my own and produce offspring. The problem is of a different nature..."

Raven became alarmed as she had a good idea of where this was going.

"Oh Starfire, don't tell me that it's…."

"It is. Tamaranian reproductive physiology is incompatible with human physiology."

Raven became even paler than she normally was.

"You and Robin … you can't … have intercourse?"

Starfire nodded sadly.

"I lack 'the plumbing' as you humans would say."

Raven felt a wave of guilt overwhelm her. Compared to this her problem was trivial.

"Starfire, I … I … I don't know what to say. What will you do?"

Starfire put on a brave face.

"Robin and I have discussed this. We will 'improvise' and find ways to share physical intimacy and pleasure with each other. I suppose I could ask Blackfire what she and Nightwing do."

Raven gave her friend a smile.

"You're a wise woman Starfire, and I have much to learn from you."

She turned to Beast Boy and picked up his hand, holding it gently.

"Maybe I also need to improvise Starfire."

The princess smiled and gave her a curious look.

"What do you have in mind Raven?"

Raven sighed. Having an idea was one thing, implementing it was something else altogether.

"Raptor and I, we're the same person, just different facets."

"And?"

"This might sound strange, but what if I embrace the memory and make it my own?"

Starfire smiled.

"That might work Raven, that just might work."

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After a few days Beast Boy was discharged from the infirmary. He was still weak from the aftermath of his gunshot wound but was in good spirits. The Tower was crowded at the time and there were no spare rooms left in the landmark building. Cyborg had offered to bunk with his green buddy but found out that he and Raven were going to share her guest room and said no more. In any case there was a bigger matter to discuss: what to do with the Hive-5.

The three teams met in the Common Room around a large circular table that had been set up. Robin went to collect his team from their rooms, stopping last at Raven's room. She and Beast Boy emerged together. By this point he looked fully recovered from his wound and was almost back to his high spirited, goofy self while Raven as usual was quiet and expressionless. The team made its way to the common room, still put off by the minor differences in the tower's layout. As they passed the door labeled 'Raven' it slid open revealing Raptor and her changeling's figures. Raven peered into to room, recognizing most of its contents. It unnerved her how much alike she and Raptor were and was beginning to accept that their differences, while visibly outstanding, were actually subtle. What did catch Raven by surprise was Raptor's attire: she was once again wearing her old slave girl outfit. Raven noticed that Beast Boy had to struggle to not stare at her doppelganger. Raven tried to imagine herself dressed like that, but quickly dismissed the thought.

"Nice outfit." Raven said in her monotone.

"If you want one I have one I could let you have, you know, as a souvenir."

"I'll pass." Raven replied as she unconsciously drew closer to Beast Boy.

"Come on Raven; show your boy toy some affection." Raptor teased her. "At least hold his hand."

"Gar is not my toy or plaything." She replied in a monotone. "And how I show him my love and affection is my own business, not yours."

"Have it your way sister." Raptor giggled.

Raven stopped in her tracks.

"What is it Rae?" Beast Boy asked nervously.

"I suppose that you are the closest thing I'll ever have to a sister." Raven droned to her twin.

Raptor opened her arms with a crafty smile on her face.

"You mean you love me, Raven?" She asked.

Raven ignored her invitation to hug and resumed walking,

"Don't flatter yourself, Raptor."

Soon they reached the common room doors, which slid open. Robin's team gasped at what they saw. Terra's team was already seated at the round table, along with the rest of the Hive. What they were not expecting to see was a red headed woman dressed in Tamaranian battle armor who was wearing an 'M' shaped crown on her face. She was flanked by several Tamaranian warriors who dropped down onto a knee when Starfire entered the room.

The two women stared at each other and the room was so quiet a pin drop could have been heard. Finally the armored woman broke the silence.

"Greetings Princess Starfire, I have been wanting to meet you for some time."

Starfire replied immediately.

"And I greet you, Empress Starfire. How is knorfka Galfore?"

"He is well Princess, and might I ask how is your knorfka?"

"He is well. He is the Emperor as I abdicated in his favor."

"Then your Tamaran is in good hands."

Terra cleared her throat.

"We are all present now. There are now some announcements to be made. Would you like to begin Starfire?"

The Empress nodded and stood up. Raven watched her keenly as she noticed the many subtle differences between this woman and the female she had shared the Tower with for over 5 years now. The Empress was a somber looking woman, one who carried an air of no-nonsense seriousness about her. Raven could only imagine what the burden of being the Empress was like and silently thanked Azar that her Starfire had chosen to relinquish the crown to Galfore. She also noticed that the Empress did not smile and had several scars on her face. But what stood out most of all was her body language. It wasn't just that she wasn't self conscious like her friend or exuded authority. There was something more. As Raven reached out with her empathy she found it. The Empress was a sad and unhappy woman. There was not a spark of the unbridled joy that was always present in her friend.

"Thank you Terra. I have come to Earth to announce a general pardon to my sister. Blackfire, your title of Princess of Tamaran is reinstated and you are welcome to return to our world. If you wish you may bring Nightwing as your consort."

Blackfire and Nightwing bowed to the Empress.

"We accept your offer sister."

"Too bad it isn't that easy to get rid of the Hive back home." Beast Boy whispered to Raven.

"True." She replied. "But I can't think of anyone who would take them."

Beast Boy chuckled. "Aw, we'd be bored if that happened anyway."

Terra cleared her throat.

"Well, that certainly is good news. And by the way, the president has pardoned all former members of the Hive. Your slates are clean." She said as she turned to the Hive's Cyborg. "I believe you have news for us as well."

'Evil' Cyborg stood up.

"I'm going back to Metropolis to work with my dad. When he heard that I helped beat the Brotherhood of Evil he asked me to come home." Beast Boy thought he saw a tear form in the bionic man's human eye. "He was really happy. He even quoted the Bible. He said that his son who was dead is now alive."

The Titan's Cyborg grinned approvingly at the news.

Terra continued. "The only unresolved issue that remains is what happens with Raptor and Garfield."

The couple in question looked at each other and nodded. Garfield cleared his throat.

"Raptor and I want to join the Titans." He announced.

The entire room emitted a collective gasp.

"Are you sure about this?" Robin asked.

"Absoluteley!" Raptor replied. "And we have some other news."

"We're getting hitched!" Garfield announced.

Raven and Raptor locked eyes and Raptor almost laughed at Raven's expression of disbelief.

"Sometimes you just have to go for it Raven." Raptor told her twin.

Terra cleared her throat.

"Titans, all in favor of letting them join the team?"

A chorus of 'ayes' was heard from Terra's team. The geomancer turned to Robin's team.

"What do you guys think?"

Cyborg and Starfire quickly agreed. Robin paused before saying "Everyone deserves a second chance."

All eyes were on Raven and Beast Boy. Raven finally spoke up.

"Garfield showed bravery and nobility when we fought the Brotherhood. Raptor … well, she needs to lose the slave girl outfit…"

"Can't I wear it on casual Fridays?" Raptor joked.

"… otherwise I think she does show some potential. And congratulations on your engagement to both of you."

"I was kinda out of action during the battle, so I'll go with what Raven said." Beast Boy added.

Terra beamed.

"It's settled then. Raptor …"

"Please." Raptor interrupted. "Just call me Raven."

Terra smiled.

"Raven and Garfield Logan are now Titans. Congratulations!"

The room erupted in raucous applause. Once it died down Terra's expression turned to sadness.

"And finally I'm sorry to announce that Robin's team will be heading home tonight, now that BB has recovered. I just want to take this opportunity to thank you guys for helping us capture the Brotherhood of Evil and I want to say that I'm gonna miss you all of you." She said as she fought back the tears.

Cyborg piped up.

"Actually, Gizmo and I came up with a way to keep in touch with each other."

"That's right." The bald genius announced. "Using sub-quantum structures we can keep a microscopic connection opened between the two universes. It'll have enough bandwidth to send streaming data back and forth so we can have a video link."

"That's fantastic!" Terra cheered.

"And you are all invited to come visit us sometime." Robin added.

Beast Boy took in all the commotion around him. They were all together because of that accident that had happened months ago. It had been an experience he would never forget. As he reminisced he looked over and saw Raven standing with a stoic expression on her face. She had never given up on finding him and in spite of all that had happened between him and Raptor she had stayed with him.

He was ready to go home and turning to Raven he took her hand. She accepted his gesture and reciprocated with a mild squeeze.

"Raven?"

"Yes Gar."

"I love you."

Raven paused, as if processing the simple yet powerful set of words.

"I love you too Gar."

"So what do we do now?"

Again she paused.

"I don't know. We'll have to figure that out when we get home."