The air was bitter when Raven stepped out of the truck. The Canadian winter had descended upon the northern part of the planet with a fury. Though there was no snow on the ground yet, the grass crunched and the air bit at her face like a hungry wolf.

The girl had decided to forgo her usual cloak and leotard because of the anticipated cold, and she did not want to give Jinx any reason to try to warm her back up. Instead, Raven had been provided a dark fur cloak that covered her completely but still had the hood which concealed most of her face. The hood was trimmed in a gray fur that kept her face warm. Jinx had gone out of her way to create a winter version of Raven's own outfit. Underneath, she wore heavy material and pants, but it still had her belt and the pin that kept her cloak together. The mountain boots crunched the grass as she walked towards the camp that had been set up.

Jinx and Blackfire had taken up positions beside her, self-appointed bodyguards while Mammoth carried the luggage and the case containing the obsidian key. Being in the middle of nowhere meant they had to bring everything with them and the creator of the camp had done just that. He was a man dressed as warmly as Raven was, but his eyes were beady, and there was a look of danger in him.

"This is Mister Leonard Snart, Mistress," Komand'r said nodding to him. "He is in charge of the northern arm of Midnight."

"My lady," he responded with a sarcastic laugh in his voice. If a bow could be irreverent, his definitely was. Raven heard a growl from deep inside Jinx's throat, but one look told the pinkette to stay where she was.

"I prefer to go by Captain Cold if you don't mind."

"Of course not, Captain," Raven answered trying to sound indifferent. She might be the all-powerful mistress of Midnight, but she was scared they'd see the frightened teenager underneath it all. "Any issues getting here?"

"Not a single sign of the capes or any of those people working for them. I think they believe you'll be popping up somewhere else."

"Then keep it that way. Others will be joining shortly. Make sure they are seen to."

"I'm not your lackey-"

Raven had turned on her heel before he could finish and moved on deeper until they arrived at a more substantial tent where Bullet man and Godiva were planted around the campfire near it. They seemed, and the sorceress ducked her head and entered the tent.

It took her eyes a few moments to adjust to the low light. The moon had been full and bright making the cold world around feel like daytime, but the tent had an electric lamp hanging from the support pole casting its yellow light all over.

A cot with a few comfy blankets was in the center of a card table and a few trunks acting as barriers to the canvas walls. Jinx set the items she was carrying down while Blackfire spoke with the two others outside. Their voices murmured in the darkness.

"Will you sleep, mistress?" Jinx asked, her pink eyes studying her carefully. She wore a black trenchcoat with black fur lining and a matching scarf wrapped around her head to protect her pink hair.

"Sometimes."

Jinx bowed slightly and stepped out leaving Raven to collapse on the cot with a sigh. The anxiety was ripping through her, and she had struggled to meditate. The pressure in her head had grown the closer they had gotten to the focal point. Sovereign had gotten quieter, and she guessed it was to keep her brain from exploding from the interdimensional noise rattling around her head.

"Azerath metrion zinthos," she muttered under her breath trying to her mind calm. It was a chirp that broke her concentration, and she growled as she reached into her pocket and pulled out her Titan communicator.

Instantly she froze as she saw the round device in her hand with the subdued T on the cover. It chirped again. How the hell did this get into her possession and why was it ringing? She could only remember one time she had taken off her coat, and that was at the diner a few miles away. Who was calling her?

As it chirped, Raven debated answering it. She knew that they would have a struggle pinpointing it unless she picked up and it was easy just to destroy it. The problem was Raven was curious.

Taking in a deep breath, she flipped open the panel making sure the video communication was off.

"What?"

"Raven? It's me."

Robin. It was Robin. Happiness, anger, and elatedness rushed through her like a flood. She remembered the looks of anger, the threat to hurt her, how mad he was when he discovered the truth. Raven also remembered the times he had saved her life, kept her from even herself.

"Hi, Robin." What else was there to say?

"We're in a field four miles due east of your encampment," Robin continued his voice tense but trying to remain reassuring. "We were hoping you'd come and sit with us for a few moments before the morning."

Was this a trap? Had Iris decided to use them as bait to draw her away from her guards.

"Whose we?"

"Just the Titans, Raven. We told nobody else we were coming."

The tone of truth was in his voice. Raven had been with him long enough to recognize that, and the happiness that he was being honest tried to force a tear to her eye. If it was so simple, to sit with her friend before things changed again. They were reaching out to her.

"I don't know," Raven wavered. "A lot has happened, Robin, and...and I don't know if I can trust you."
"I know," he responded with kindness. "Do...do you have someone over there you can trust?"

Well, she had someone who wanted desperately to be her sex slave. Jinx's insatiable desire to belong and be meaningful almost choked Raven at times. The HIVE must have had been rough on her to create such longing to the point of giving up her own will.

'I guess when you click, you click.' Raven thought. She was supposed to be evil now, right? Was she to have her minions and people to abuse? Why did she not feel like the villain?

"I do. We'll be there."

"Thank you, Raven. We love you."

The channel cleared at those words and Raven choked then let the tears fall. She wanted her friends back.

Raven understood what Robin wanted, but she was not going to allow her own idle fantasies get in the way. The Archon of Sovereign had immediately informed Blackfire and Jinx of the proposed meeting and placed Blackfire in charge in case she did not return by morning.

Jinx had been told that she was not to make any move unless ordered explicitly to and to make sure it was not going to be forgotten, Raven had grabbed the pinkette by the neck, pulled her close, and explained what sadistic things she would do to her if she disobeyed. The terrified head bobbed in understanding.

The forest was thick but not too much to push through. After a few, the two forms reached the edge of the woods and in the unplowed field saw a glowing campfire and forms huddled about it. As they grew closer, she recognized the shapes of her long-lost comrades. They turned to see her. They held a mixture of relief, happiness, and apprehension as she walked into the light of the fire. They especially seemed uncomfortable with Jinx standing there behind her, her handmaiden ready to strike. Raven had made sure to put on her first cloak so she would be easily recognizable to her friends, even if it were cold.

"Oh, Raven!" Starfire squealed and leaped up from her spot and threw her arms around her. The sweet fragrance of her Tamarian friend impaled her nostrils while the crushing bear hug made her cough. To her credit, Jinx did not move, her purple eyes darting back and forth looking for the threat.

"Come sit by the fire, friend Raven! We have a lot of talk about."

Just like the old days, Raven found herself being drug to the log they had set up and being forced to sit. Starfire immediately leaned in on her shoulder and purred.

"Robin," Raven said with a small nod.

"It's good to see you, Raven."

Raven watched his eyes, and they still told the truth.

"Does your friend want to sit also?" Beast Boy asked motioning to the still girl in the shadows.
"I doubt it," Raven said. "She doesn't trust you all, and I don't blame her."

"Is...is that Jinx?" Beast Boy asked in surprise.

"Yes."

The rest of Beast Boy's thought never made it out of his mouth as he went back to rummaging in his bag.

"Come on, Beastie," Cyborg said. "I want to roast, and we don't have long."

"Marshmallows?" Raven asked surprised.

"Yeah," Robin said. "We wanted to be as informal as we could with you. I understand the situation you are in."

"And what did you want of me?"

"I was hoping we could talk to you about coming back and giving up the Archon Ring," Starfire said still snuggled into Raven's cloak.

"I can't," Raven responded with a shake of her head. "The world needs to be fixed."

"I know," Robin answered. "And we have not been good at doing it. We've been fighting the symptoms and not the problem."

Robin handed her a handheld computer, and it began to display data.

"This is the blueprints for a new team. Our working title is the Titan's Sword. It's a team that's primary focus it finding and planning methods of taking out the problem. I want to submit this to the Justice League, and I want you to be in charge of it."

"Me?" Raven said shocked as she scrolled through the plans. It even had the layout of a tower that could be built wherever the leader wanted.

"Why me?"

"You said it yourself. We haven't been doing this right, and I think you'd be perfect in making sure it's done in a way that protects civilians but stops the problem before the symptoms arise."

Raven's heart began to beat faster at the plans and the thought. This was a way, a way for her to save the people she wanted to save.

"But...but...I've done things-" Raven said hanging her head.

"You've made a fool of the Justice League," Robin started.

"Which they deserve I might add," Cyborg interjected.

"But I know I can convince them this is the best choice. The thing is, you have to be willing to trust me and give me the Archon ring."

The ring. That was still the goal, and she felt immediately the possessive thoughts of keeping it and the authority it gave her. Raven touched the cold metal band assuring herself it was still there. There was a sharp intake of breath and Raven looked at Jinx who had panic in her eyes.

"And I get to choose my own team?" Raven added. "Jinx stays with me. She gets the same deal I do."

"The team is yours," Robin added. "I would think it was a poor choice, but it's not my team."

Raven looked down at the plans again, but her ears caught the sound of crunching grass coming from the opposite direction she came. Jinx had moved closer to her, and her form showed she was ready to cast magic and drag Raven away.

The red, white, and blue dressed man appeared; his shield was on his back and his hands empty of weapons.

"Captain America!" Robin said as the Titans shot up out of their seat.

"Sorry about that, Mister Robin," Cap said with an apologetic nod. "but I had a feeling you would try something like this. He didn't know we were coming, Ma'am."

The last part was addressed to Raven who had forced on her imperious attitude.

"Who came with you?"

"Bucky and Wanda Maxmova," Captain American said simply. "They're holding perimeter, but the rest of the forces will be here soon."

Raven's lips pressed into a firm line as she clutched the plans in her hands under her cloak. Her mind raced with options and thoughts.

"I don't want to rush you, Ma'am," Cap continued. "But I heard was Robin said, and I would fully endorse the team with him. I think you would be a great leader for a team."

There was a buzz, and Raven keenly watched him press his hand to his ear, making sure she was aware he was communicating with his team.

"Thanks, Bucky," he responded. "Dropships are landing 12 miles from here, Raven. They'll be here by morning."

Raven nodded, and her body went limp. She could not keep this up anymore, fighting her friends, risking everything to let an unknown creature in, Raven looked up at Robin and smiled.

"Okay, you can have the ring,"

Robin broke into a broad smile and stepped forward, but what happened next was a blur. She reached up to pull the ring off as Sovereign promised she could, but it was the crack of a shot that caused her to jerk. Had she been struck by the bullet? She looked down and found Beast Boy crumpled in front of her. The realization in the screaming cacophony hit her so hard she almost threw up. The growing red on Garfield's chest told the truth. Someone had taken a shot at her, and he threw himself in the way.:

'No. No. no. No. noo. NOOOOOO!'

The scream that tried to force its way out never reached her lips. She fell to her knees in front of her fallen friend and felt his chest. No breathing, she could not feel a heartbeat.

Beast Boy was dead.

A/N: Before anyone sends me any hate mail, nothing is permanent until the story is over. :) That is all.