Three years later …
Raven was sitting at her desk, brushing her now shoulder length hair. A small picture frame with Garfield's smiling face was on her always tidy desk. She looked at it wistfully and she continued to brush. A knock on her door interrupted her brushing.
"It's open." She called out.
The door slid open and the Graysons entered her abode. Starfire had a pronounced baby bump in her midsection and Nightwing was looking more muscular than ever. Raven turned around in her chair and gave them one of her signature blank looks.
"That was an exceptional performance today at the bank robbery. You had the robbers subdued before I could even adopt a fighting stance." He congratulated her.
She shrugged. "They were just ordinary bank robbers, we would have left them to the police had we not already been close to the bank."
"Still, you captured them without breaking a sweat."
A tiny sigh escaped her lips. "OK, what's this all about?"
Starfire smiled at her friend. "Raven, it is not the exaggeration that you have been truly exceptional as a crime fighter and protector of our city …"
"Just doing my job." She replied in her deadpan.
"And you've done it so well that it hasn't gone unnoticed." Nightwing interjected as he grinned.
"If the Mayor wants to give me another medal I don't really need nor want one."
"No, dear friend, not the mayor … it is the Justice League that has noticed you."
She was unable to conceal her surprise.
"The Justice League? That is certainly unexpected. In case you forgot, I approached them before meeting you, and they turned me away … because Zatanna said that because I was a demoness I couldn't be trusted."
"Well, they've changed their mind."
Raven shrugged and resumed brushing her hair. "That's nice, too bad I'm not interested."
Nightwing put a hand on her shoulder. "Actually, I think you should accept."
She gave him a glare. "Are you saying you want me to leave?"
He raised his hands in an apologetic gesture. "Of course not, it would be a temporary assignment, just a few months. And before you ask why, I've been trying to build a working relationship with them for years, but they've always blown us off, until now. In fact, they made the first move and requested you."
She rolled her eyes. "Really, they want introverted and sarcastic Raven to be some sort of goodwill ambassador? There have to be dozens of Titans and Honorary Titans who would be better choices."
"They respect you, and coming from the League that's a really big deal. But ..."
"But what?"
"I want you to go because I think it will be good for you … a change of scenery … meet new people."
She face palmed. "You're hoping I'll hook up, or whatever you call it, with someone in the League."
"Not really, but if that happened that would be great … Raven, we just want you to come out of your shell."
Raven stood up and looked her fearless leader in the eyes.
"There's only ever been one person who could make me do that, and he made me complete and before you say that Malchior got me out of my shell let me point out that he used lies and subterfuge to do that … please, respect who I am, I don't ask for much, but please accept what I am."
Nightwing looked slightly dejected.
"Raven, if you won't do it for yourself, do it for us. Just three months, it's all I ask."
She sat back down in her chair.
"I see you won't take no for an answer. Fine, I'll do it, but only if you promise to not try to set me up on dates anymore … and that especially goes for you too, Starfire. And I have to be back before your child is born."
Grayson smiled.
"You drive a hard bargain, but OK I won't ever again try to set you up on a date … Star?"
The Princess frowned. "It is with great reluctance that I also make that promise."
Raven slowly nodded. "OK then, we're in agreement. So when do I leave?"
"As soon as tomorrow. I'd suggest packing your bags right away."
"I will. Before I go I want to speak with Victor."
"He's in the garage, working on the car, and he knows we came to speak with you about this."
-(-)-
"Oh yeah, baby, once I get these new headers installed, you'll be the fastest car in town."
"Isn't the T-Car already the fastest test car in town?" A gravelly voice replied unexpectedly.
Cyborg, who was hunched over the car's engine bay, was surprised by the voice and jerked into an upright position, bumping his head on the underside of the car's hood.
"Oww! Hey, when did you walk in here? And for the record, it could still be faster."
"I just walked in now. Vic, I need to talk with you."
He slammed the car's hood shut. "You mean about the Justice League?"
She shook her head. "No, I've already agreed to go for three months. What I want to talk about with you is of a more personal nature."
"Personal? What kind of personal?" He asked as he put his tools away.
"I want to have a baby."
The Tin Man blushed a crimson red and began to sweat drop.
"I'd love to help you out with that, but, you know; you're my little sister."
A tiny laugh escaped from her gray lips. "Not with you, doofus."
He visibly relaxed upon hearing her rebuke.
"Phew! Don't scare me like that … so ...you want to become a mama, huh? So, who's the lucky guy? It wouldn't be the dashing Atlantean?" He grinned mischievously.
"Of course not, contrary to what everyone thinks, Garth and I are just friends."
"OK then, so who is the lucky guy?"
She shook her head in disbelief at his question. "Who else? Gar."
Cyborg's human almost popped out of its socket.
"Say what?"
Raven sat down on a stool and crossed her arms.
"The year before he died, he had his sperm frozen and I had some of my eggs frozen as well. And no, we didn't do it in case one of us died. We did it because our genomes are incompatible and we were afraid that we'd become infertile before a solution could be found."
"Whoa! So, what do you want me to do?"
"I want you to find a way to make our stuff, fertility, biology to work together. The longer it's frozen, the harder it is to successfully thaw them out. You know that."
"So, what you're saying is you want me to play mad scientist and make you a test tube baby."
She frowned at him.
"While I wouldn't describe it that crassly, yes, that's what I want you to do. I would like to return from my field trip with the Justice League and have our baby implanted in my uterus."
The Tin Man's demeanor became very somber.
"Are you serious about this? I mean, I don't know how hard it will be to solve. I can enlist help from STAR labs, but I can't promise you anything, other than to try my best."
"It's all I ask. And yes, I am serious. Even though we never spoke about this with any of you, having a child was one of our greatest hopes, and ..."
She paused. Cyborg stared at her. He saw a tear forming in her left eye.
"... if I could bear his child, it would be … a great comfort to me."
"I fully understand, Raven, and I promise to leave no stone unturned."
Raven rose from her seat and wrapped her small arms around his huge torso.
"Thank you, big brother. And don't tell anyone, not until I'm pregnant."
"You, got it."
-(-)-
The Next Morning …
The Titans stood on the Tower's roof. It was a chilly day and Raven wore her gala costume with leggings. She had a single suitcase next to her. Cyborg pointed up at the sky.
"It's coming."
Raven looked up and saw one of the Justice League's famed Javelins emerge from the clouds and approach the Tower. It deftly touched down on the landing pad and lowered its ramp. Three figures emerged and came down the ramp: Shining Knight, Vigilante and the female version of Dove.
Cyborg frowned. "That's who they sent to pick her up? Those guys aren't even B list." He grumbled.
Raven placed her hand on his forearm. "It doesn't matter. They're Justice League."
Shining Knight presented his sword to Raven. She examined it and returned it to him and he bowed. Vigilante tipped his Cowboy hat. Dove greeted Raven with a handshake.
"We have come to collect the Lady Raven." Shining Knight announced in a gallant voice.
Good byes were quickly exchanged and before she knew it she was strapped into her seat in the Javelin and they were on their way to the Watchtower.