The SUV pulled into the parking lot outside the student center on the campus. Raven was behind the wheel and she let a small sigh escape from her lips as she parked the car.

"Something wrong?" Her husband asked her.

"Nothing … I'm fine."

"C'mon Rave, what's the matter?"

She pouted before replying. "After all these years you'd think I'd be OK with these events."

"You mean social events?"

"I always feel so awkward … after running Azarathia all these years you'd think that this would be easy … but it's not. I never know what to say to people … I'm still such a misfit."

He gave her a warm smile. "You'll do fine. These people are intellectuals after all, it's not like they'll be talking about the Kardashians."

"I suppose you're right."

"Of course I am." He grinned at her as they walked up the steps into the building and made their way to the ballroom where the reception was being held. "I can't believe they're doing all this in my honor".
He added.

"It's years overdue of you ask me. You are, after all, CSU's most prominent grad."

As they entered the ballroom the crowd turned and noticed them. Most of the faculty were middle aged and older, as were the Logans. The changeling took her hand. "I also have the hottest wife."

"Now you're just being silly." She replied as they were greeted by Dr. Andrea Hollis, the Dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine.

"Dr. Logan! It's wonderful to see you again." She enthused as she shook his hand.

The pleasure is mine, Dr. Hollis; and congratulations on being appointed Dean." He then gestured at Raven. "This is my lovely wife. Dr. Raven Logan."

Dr. Hollis smiled as she shook Raven's hand. "Everyone has been dying to meet you, Dr. Logan."

"Please, just call me Raven, it'll be too confusing if you also call me Dr. Logan."

Hollis smiled back at her. "Sure thing, Raven. And please; call me Andrea." She gushed. "This is so exciting!"

Raven arched an eyebrow. "It is?"

"Of course it is. Not only has the world famous Dr. Garfield Logan come back to visit his alma mater, but his wife, a world famous Teen Titan has come as well."

"That was a long time ago, and before you forget, my husband was also a Teen Titan."

"Of course, Raven, it's just that we don't have any local superheroes around here. Just between you and me, I'm not your only fan … come … let me introduce you to the faculty!"

By this point the crowd had taken notice of them. Much to Raven's chagrin, she saw that more than a few people had autograph books in their hands. Before she knew what had happened she was mobbed by the crowd.

Raven did her best to hide her discomfort. Over the years she envied Starfire. Every time the Titans attended a ball or some other official event the crowds would focus on Starfire, and for that she was grateful. While socializing with crowds always made the gray demoness uncomfortable, the alien princess would always soak it in. She knew how to work a crowd, no doubt because of her royal upbringing on Tamaran. But today Starfire was not present and Raven was the adulated celebrity. She summoned all her willpower to keep her cool and it worked. She saw her husband smirk at her out of the corner of her eyes while he also socialized with the crowd.

Before she knew it she had an autograph book shoved into her hands. It was a new experience for her, as she was accustomed to having the fans chase Robin and Starfire for autographs. Cyborg and the Changeling would also be asked for autographs and to pose with the fans. Being teenage Raven she was foreboding and somewhat unapproachable, and no one ever asked to pose with her for a picture or ask her for an autograph. Yet here were all these middle aged PhDs and DVMs, lining up to see her. A photographer from the local newspaper, The Coloradoan, was snapping away. The head of internal medicine, a Dr. Barbara Quinn, had an ear to ear grin as she posed with the dark Titan.

Raven learned that while Starfire was "average Joe's" favorite Titan, that she was the favorite of the more erudite and brainy kids, who of course were now in charge of college departments across the country. So great was their adulation that she even agreed to demonstrate her levitation powers, which drew countless oohs and ahhs from the crowd. Suddenly, all those years of being the "awkward" Titan were forgotten, and before she knew it Raven was having a great time.

She saw her husband out of the corner of her eye, and he winked at her. She returned one of her tiny Raven smiles.

-( - )-

The SUV pulled into the garage at the cavernous rental house. The snow on the road had been plowed away and the drive home was uneventful. Garfield smiled as he shut off the engine.

"What a great night. We even found a new candidate to join me at the clinic."

"And we'll keep him away from the kids." Raven added as she glided out of the SUV, closing the door behind her with her dark energy."

"Good idea." He replied as he took her hand. "You sure enjoyed all those fan girls and boys."

"I never knew I had any."

"Really?"

"Really, I had no idea that all the smart kids were my fans. I guess it just goes to show how clueless I was."

"Didn't you ever get any fan mail, Rave?"

"I did." She sighed. "But it was usually indecent proposals from weirdos, so I stopped reading it and would just toss it down the incinerator chute unread. I guess I should have been more patient. You know, I was always so jealous of Starfire. All the men in Jump were in love with her, even the hot guys. I just figured that since I was weird and creepy that no one would like me … I mean I didn't really fit in when I was in college."

"Are you sure that you didn't just keep everyone at an arm's length because it was 'safe' to do that?"

She pursed her lips. "In hindsight, I think you're right. I didn't really trust anyone, so I kept everyone at a distance. Remember how we all met for the first time? I was hiding in an alley, watching you guys fight with Starfire. I didn't want to get involved, I was certain that Robin would tell me to butt out and mind my own business."

"But you did get involved."

"Believe me, Gar; no one was more surprised than I was."

"So why did you do it? Why did you come out of the alley that night?"

Raven chuckled lightly. "To be honest, to this day I don't know. The only thing I can say is that I felt moved to do so. There was no rational reason. I didn't think it through and conclude it was the right thing to do. I just did it."

He gave her a tender kiss as they entered the living room. "Well, I'm glad you did it."

"Did what?" Coraline's voice interrupted.

"Your father is saying that he's glad that I became a Teen Titan."

It was then that the Logans noticed that all of their kids and Steve were in the living room. Mark rose to his feet.

"Mom, Dad; I'm going to join the Titans when I turn 18. Grandpa said he'll train me so I'm ready."

"Me too!" Coraline piped up. "When I turn 16." She added meekly.

"Same here!" Arella and Marie said in unison.

Raven sighed, then noticed that her second son had not spoken up.

"What about you?" She asked Dylan.

"Me, a Titan? Do I look stupid? I'm gonna be a rock star, not a super hero. I'm just here to watch you shoot them all down." He replied with a grin on his gray face.

"Actually, your father and I have been discussing this. Mark, next summer you can go stay with your grandparents and train with them. As for the rest of you … you'll have to earn that privilege."

"No fair!" Arella blurted.

Dylan burst out laughing. "Crash and burn!" He chortled.

"And if you DON'T get your act together; you will have to go train." His father thundered at him.

"What? Why? I don't want to be a Titan! I already said so."

Raven gave him a mild glare. "You heard your father, unless you finish the school year with a B average, it's off to Grandpa Mento's boot camp for you!"

Dylan stared in horror at his mother. "Mom! That's not fair!"

"Getting a B average should be easy for you." His grandfather reprimanded him. "Of course, if you prefer to get up at 4AM every day to train, I can oblige."

"Four in the morning?" Coraline, Arella and Marie shrieked in a single voice. "You gotta be kidding!"

"Being a superhero takes dedication and self discipline." Mento replied. "I'm not joking. Ask your father."

They turned to their dad. "He's telling the truth kids. Why do you think I quit the Doom Patrol? Robin used to let us sleep in if there were no missions."

"This blows … I'm gonna have to study now." Dylan complained as he blew a stray strand of violet hair out of his face.

"You know, Dylan; it wouldn't hurt you to train … you do have powers. I could teach you to control them."

"Unless you can teach me to be a rock star, I'll pass."

Mark had so far been silent. "What about you? You haven't said a word." His mother inquired.

The green lad stood up. "I'm ready to start now."

-( - )-

The next morning …

It was now December 22nd and it was snowing again outside. The changeling woke up and noticed that his mate was missing as he clumsily fumbled, searching for her. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"Rave?"

The sound of a toilet flushing came through the closed bathroom door, which opened moments later, revealing an unhappy looking Raven. She was still dressed in the slinky nightgown she had worn the night before. She said nothing as she approached the bed and sat on it.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

A frown appeared on her face. "I'm fat."

"No you're not."

She glared at him. "I've gained three pounds since we arrived here."

He gave her a puzzled look. "But you never gain weight. You weigh the same as you did when you were a teen."

She lifted her nightgown, exposing her midsection. "Look at me! Tell me what you see."

The changeling looked at her flat stomach. "Uh … my hot wife?"

"Don't patronize me, Gar."

An exasperated look appeared on his face. "Come on Rave, you look fine, it has to be the scale; it's out of whack. Besides, demons can't get fat."

"I'm only half demon. I'm also half human. I can get fat … I am fat."

Gar rolled his eyes, then he smiled. "So what part of you is human? Your hips or your butt?"

Raven gave him her signature four eyed glare before looking at her backside in a mirror.

"Azar, you're right … my ass is huge!"

"Will you knock it off!?" He shouted. "Dammit, Rave; you're almost 40 years old and you still have your teenage figure … which I might add makes me very happy … Rave, what's going on? Tell me."

Raven sat back down on the bed. "My babies are growing up."

"Tell me about it." He sighed. "You know, Rave; I'm getting older too, and unlike you I have to work my butt off to not gain weight … and yeah … I know … Mark is going to be moving into the Tower before we know it. He'll be fine Rave, he has both your powers and mine, and he's smart too."

"Coraline will be following in his steps and before we know it Arella and Marie will be Titans too." She murmured.

"Hey, at least we're stuck with Dylan." He smiled.

Again, she gave him a mild glare

"You're worried?"

"Of course I am. We saw what almost happened at the mall. Arella was almost shot in the back. She could have died. The kids are only one quarter demon, they aren't as strong as me and the twins don't have my empathic powers, otherwise she would have sensed that thug was going to shoot her."

"Which is why Mento is going to train them."

"They're still vulnerable."

"All super heroes have their Achilles Heel, Rave. But we can't stop them."

"You think I don't know that. Gar, they're my babies. How can I not worry?"

"I know, they're mine too and I also worry."

Raven buried her face in his bare chest. He felt her hot tears on his green skin. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the crown of her head.

"We have to have faith, in them, in us and in whoever is watching over us, and I know someone is. We survived being Titans, I don't know how; but we did."

"Melvin didn't."

He continued kissing her head. "I know, Rave; I know … by the way; Tommy and Teether are arriving today."

"I know, I haven't forgotten … Gar; I know I have to let them go; let them choose the lives they want to live. But knowing doesn't make it easy."

"I don't think it's supposed to be easy … let's go have some breakfast. I'll even make it."

She raised her face and looked him in the eyes. "I want real eggs, not those horrible tofu 'eggs' you eat."

"You got it, babe."