Raven did not expect this to go smoothly; she knew that Robin would probably hit her with million-and-one questions. It was no secret that Robin, aside from winning, loved building stronger connections with his teammates. He included everyone, and when someone was left out, he would seek them out and make sure they were okay.

When Raven had left herself to be used by Trigon, Robin was there to help her through it and remind her of who she was. Their relationship was more along the lines of big brother and little sister than anything else. A lot of fans have tried to "ship" them together, calling their relationship Robrae, or something, but that wasn't how she felt about him. Not to throw shade at anyone for "shipping". It was their opinion and it would be a waste of time and energy to try and sort anything out. If fans wanted to believe she and Robin were an item, then they could, but Raven was happy to be single, and she knew Robin was happy to be with Starfire.

Robin was in the training room, beating up the old boxing bag; it's seams split open with bits of fluffy cotton sticking out from years of abuse. A few crude patches had been sewn in, but even they were beginning to lose their strength against the Boy Wonder.

Robin delivered a series of powerful combo punches, finishing off with a sharp high kick that broke the metal chain and sent the bag to the other side of the room.

Raven saw her moment to speak as her leader went to the bench press to grab his water bottle and guzzle the cool liquid down.

"Robin,"

He stops and grins at her, "Mornin' Raven!"

"Morning. I hope I'm not interrupting your training."

Robin shakes his head, grabbing a towel to wipe his sweaty forehead, "No you're fine. Is something wrong?"

There was a brief moment of hesitation. "I am planning on taking a trip back to Azarath. Ever since we defeated Trigon, I feel his influence has been reversed and I would like to investigate and see if my home has been restored."

Her leader cocks his head, "Oh, I see. Well if that's what you want I'll call Cyborg and ask him to set up the-"

"Actually I want to go alone."

"Alone?"

"Yes."

He studies her for a moment and then throws the towel aside, "Are you sure, Raven. I understand how much your dimension means to you, but you don't need to travel alone."

She nods, "I know, but the monks of Azarath are very solitary and they don't take outsiders very well. Not to mention, I'm not sure if my home has been restored or not. I would prefer to go alone because if it hasn't been restored then at least I know Jump City is still under watchful eyes."

"I understand," Robin explains calmly, his voice low and dripping with concern. It made sense, he was the leader, the parental figure of their group. Robin had every right to be worried and in normal circumstances, Raven would not have been so adamant about traveling alone. However, she could not disclose her true reasons. Not like this. Perhaps, if there is a possibility, she could confide in him with her honesty, no doubt he would appreciate it.

"But are you sure you want to do this alone, Raven. If you're worried we could call in someone else. I don't think it's a good idea for you to journey so far by yourself."

"I'll be fine." She states, her voice dripping with ice. Part of Raven felt bad for lying to him. She can't guarantee anything, and there was a high possibility she might not come back at all. Weakly, with her heart beating thunderously in her chest, Raven adds, "I think you should call in Jinx or someone else who is well versed in magic, just to be safe."

Robin goes rigid, the lense of his small mask stretch round. He reaches out to her cloak, "Raven if something is bothering you, you can talk to me. Whatever you have to say will stay between us. Please, just tell me you're okay."

"I'm not." There is no way she can lie to him. Not when he reads her so well, like a freaking picture book. Raven hugs her cloak closer, "There's something wrong with me and I need to visit my home to get some answers. I'm sorry, Robin, but I rather leave alone."

Slowly he lowers his hand and gives a quiet nod, "I can't say I'm okay with this. As your leader, I should be asking what's going on and how long you're going to be away. But as your friend, I'm worried about you, Raven. Is there anything we can do here, on Earth? I can get in touch with the Justice League. I'm sure Bruce has some connections with other magic users. They can help you, Raven."

Raven shakes her head, "No, it's too dangerous. I rather do this by myself. Please, let me go alone."

He reads her expression. To the untrained eye, Raven's face was as cold and hard as stone, but to her friends-her family- her eyes were windows to her soul. The violet pools flicker with an uncertainty that she could never hide, no matter how many hours she meditates. Her violet eyes shimmer with unshed tears. Only now did it truly set in for Raven, that this could be a permanent goodbye.

"Are you sure?" Robin asks, sensing the same thing. He hated goodbyes, has always hated them. Since he was a kid and had to bid farewell to his parents, murdered in front of his eyes as they descended to their deaths without a net to catch them.

Goodbye to Alfred and Barbra, when Robin felt he was ready to leave Batman's heavy shadow.

Goodbye to Gotham, a city corrupted and broken, but still holding a special place in his heart.

Goodbye to his father, the man who took in a sad child and molded him into a man.

Robin swallows a thick lump in his throat. Goodbyes are the worst. However, a tiny spark of hope, little and naive, whispered in the back of his mind that Raven will return. His sister will return and the Titans can return as a family once more.

Raven's features soften, becoming more pliable like quick-dry clay. She could feel Robin's emotions, similar to wet earth after heavy showers, alongside it came a faint feeling of hope, the first sliver of sunlight that peeks cautiously over the horizon, like a shy but curious child. No matter the situation; Robin always held on to hope, possibly more so than Starfire did. It seemed that when Starfire felt the world was at its head, the rest of the team: Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Raven, herself; felt it too. Then, miraculously, Robin would show up, somehow rising out of the ashes of yesterday like a phoenix and their hope would be restored.

It happened when High Five attacked their tower. It happened when Terra took all of them down one by one, and it happened when Raven had given up and became the portal for Trigon.

"We're going to miss you," Robin says, his gentle tone breaking the silent room. He steps in for a hug, and for once Raven wasn't upset by the physical contact. She sighs quietly, returning his embrace, fighting back her own tears, and praying to Azar that nothing ends up breaking because of her emotions.

Robin squeezes a little tighter, resting his chin on her shoulder, "Promise you'll do everything you can to return safely."

Raven nods, mutely. "I'll do my best."

"Then we won't be disappointed." The Boy Wonder pulls away and smiles at her, "Stay safe, Raven. I'll let everyone know you had to leave for important business regarding your dimension; nothing more."

"Thank you."

It did not take long for Raven to pack her things. She knew she could not carry all of her belongings back to Azarath, so she opted to only take the barest of essentials. After taking a moment to gaze her room, making note that nothing was out of place or disorganized, she pulls her hood over her head, her eyes glowing white. She reaches into the deepest part of her heart and whispers her mantra: "Azarath Metrion Zinthos."

No matter how many times she does this, though this would be her second trip back home, it was always exhausting. Her body become jelly-like, causing her to collapse on the outskirts of her former home. The last time she had been here had been bittersweet, a reunion with her mother, and the realization that Trigon had ravaged the once peaceful city, tearing it down and burning the rest to ash. Raven keeps her head low, afraid of what she might see. Her body trembled a little, a spark of hot fire shoots down her spine, igniting a deep ache in her lower belly, causing her to wince in discomfort. No doubt her time was running short to rid herself of this monstrosity once and for all.

Was it possible though?

How can someone born a hybrid separate itself and hope to become whole again? Raven used to wonder that as well when she was a child but never bothered to ask any of the monks or her mother. It felt silly given the prophecy and the circumstances of her birth. She was meant to be half-demon, not a full demon like her father, or a full human-like her mother. Could she really get rid of her inner demon so easily? What if she can't?

Raven bites her lip continuing to stare at the ground. If she can't then... What can she do?

Something shiny winks at her. It's Beast Boy's penny. It must have fallen out of her hand. Carefully she picks it up, noting how heavy it now feels in the palm of her hand.

'See a penny pick it up -something, something, something-Goodluck!' Her friend had sung rather badly, before giving it to her as a sign of hope.

Raven draws a deep breath in, "There's always hope." And she rises off the ground. She thinks back to an old story from Greek literature involving a young girl named Pandora who was gifted with a mysterious box by the gods. The story changes from telling to telling, sometimes Pandora is the first woman who was sent by Zeus to torment men, and sometimes she was an innocent girl. Regardless, the story plays out mostly the same with Pandora opening the box, releasing all the evils in the world, and then the very last thing to follow behind all the chaos and mayhem was a tiny sprite named Hope. Showing that mankind will always have hope. Whether that hope takes the form of a sprite or someone from the Teen Titans, there will always be hope.

Raven could not allow herself to lose hope. Not when she is possibly close to finding a solution. And if there is none, instead of wallowing in self-pity, she would do what she could not have done as a child, what the monks could not do. If Raven can not rid herself of her inner demon, she will need to take the initiative and end her life. This was more than just her demon-summoning a booty-call, this was her demon setting out to attack, subdue, and mate with a friend. She will not live with herself for hurting Beast Boy, or anyone who is unfortunate enough to stumble in Red's path.

She finally turns her attention to the city and nearly cries on the spot. What had once been an apocalyptic wasteland, full of fire and decay, had been restored to its pristine glory. The towers stood proudly, sunlight reflecting off their beautiful faces, winking back at the skies now bright and beautiful. Raven cannot remember ever seeing Azarath's skies looking so serein and lovely before. She suspects it's because Trigon is finally gone and peace had been restored thanks to his demise.

A single tear slips down Raven's ashen cheek. She can hardly bring herself to fly, and when she does fly she feels absolutely weightless and happy. This must be how Starfire feels when she flies, bringing in positive, upbeat emotions into herself and gliding through the skies without a care in the world. Raven smiles bitterly at the memory of her friend. Ironically enough, the time she and Starfire had switched bodies because of the Puppet King was one of Raven's most cherished memories. She felt so much closer to Starfire, learning how her friend also used her emotions to fight.

Raven took a slow descend to the highest tower of Azarath, it stood like a guard in the center of the city with a proud portrait of a golden dove, it's wings arched high, a symbol of peace to all who enter. She did not falter, but more tears did arise to her eyes, blurring Raven's vision momentarily until she remembered how to use her wrists to wipe them away. She came to the balcony, standing there stroking the back of a dove, was Arella Roth. Raven's mother. And the current spiritual leader of her people.

Arella did not appear to have changed much. She was still very much a quiet person, slow and precise. When their eyes met, it was as though Raven had seen a ghost. Her mother was still the same. She was still the same person, through and through. "You have returned, my child." She speaks calmly, and there is a hint of a small on her light face. "You did the impossible."

"With the help of friends," Raven explains, landing peacefully on the balcony. She pulls down her hood and takes a moment to drink in the city around her. The people, all kind and content, did not seem fazed by Raven's return. They went about their business as per usual. Returning her attention to her mother, Raven adds on "I couldn't have done it without them."

"I know." Arella releases the dove, watching it flap its wings excitedly. She regards Raven with a curious expression, "And I see you are not here just to visit family."

"I wish that was the case, and I'm sorry for not coming by sooner." Truth be told she didn't think she would be welcomed back. With her birth and Trigon's attack, Raven felt she was just another outsider to her own people, even her mother. "I didn't want to come back without a good reason."

"You have always had the love of your people, Raven." Her mother says, "Nothing would change their feelings towards you. I am sure they are happy that you have not forgotten your birthplace."

Raven smiles weakly, "How can I forget it?"

Her mother smiles in return and opens her arms. Raven's eyes grew misty and without any encouragement she falls into her mother's embrace, melting into Arella's arms happily, a sob working its way through her throat. Raven could not remember any time her mother had ever embraced her. In the past, any form of contact was heavily observed, the monks of Azarath were always frightened of Raven's power and so she was normally kept away from Arella and only allowed to view her from afar. Now, it was like an invisible wall had been broken, and finally, after so long, the two embraces as mother and daughter.

Arella shushes Raven gently, stroking her short violet locks lovingly, hugging her daughter tightly, afraid that if she loosens her hold even an inch her precious child would slip from her grasp again, just as she had been moments after Raven was born.

The moment stretched for several minutes, with neither woman wanting to let go. Sadly, Raven knew time was of the essence. Pulling away reluctantly, she forces herself to look to her mother's matching dark eyes that mirrored Raven's. "I'm sorry, Mother. I wish this was different, but there is something I need to speak to you about, involving me."

Her mother cocks her head, waiting patiently.

Raven explains quietly, with a heavy blush on her ashen cheeks, about her dreams, her feelings for Beast Boy, and Red's lust for the green changeling. As she did, Raven watched Arella's expression, watched for anything sign of shock or fear that could appear on her mother's calm face, but nothing showed. Her mother, much like Raven, had learned to control her emotions, meditating for hours, even days at a time, to better herself as Azarath's spiritual leader.

When Raven finished she felt strangely lighter, like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her and washed away her fears and uncertainty. She looks at her mother, pleading with her eyes, "Is there a way to undo this?"

Her hopes collapsed when Arella shakes her head, "No, my child. You were born half-demon. To separate yourself from yourself is not possible."

Raven could not bring herself to accept this, "You said the same thing about my destiny. Mother, if I could defeat Trigon and save the Earth, then maybe I can do this too. Please, there has to be away."

Arella considers her words for a moment and then gestures with her hand, "Follow me." She turns swiftly and enters her bed chambers. Raven follows quietly.

The two venture out of the room, down some tightly wound spiral stairs, and finally stop in front of a large wooden door. Raven remembers this is is the door to the library; it had been one of her favorite places to be in: Quiet, peaceful, lonely... She had no friends and would always find comfort in the characters of the millions of stories, some still told on Earth and some forgotten over time.

"Raven, did you know that the monks of Azarath were once humans on Earth?" Her mother asks, before opening the door easily. Despite its heavy appearance, the grand door opened quietly without more force.

Raven glances at her mother before entering the library. It was a huge three leveled room, packed to the brim with books, many of which were worn down from overuse, with their spines stitched back together with white fibers. Raven lightly scans the room, remembering all the times she had come here to learn and grow as a person. She does not recall ever missing day. Then her mother's words struck her. "They were from Earth?"

"They were," her mother explains, "A very long time ago, eons before you and I were born. Azar convinced several men and women to abandon human life and embrace peace. She guided and taught them the ways of peace for more than two centuries before they build this amazing city and developed their mystic society. Ages ago, these Azarathians decided to purge their bodies of all evil. They used an ancient incantation to exorcised their darker passions from their souls and cast them into Limbo. However, that evil did not go away permanently as they had hoped. These dark passions, of hate, lust, and power traveled throughout the dimensions beyond the Great Door and soon took on a form."

Arella paused for a brief second, allowing her words to set into Raven's mind.

"It took on the form of Trigon."

All the air in Raven's lungs escapes in a gasp. Nearby a small, innocent table, broke in half.

Arella focuses her attention on Raven. "I never wanted to tell you this story, my child, but I feel that now is the best time in order to do so. Trigon was made from evil and while you may have overcome his influence, that does not mean he is fully gone. To get rid of his effects on you could lead to your own demise, just as humans trying to rid themselves of their own inner demons can lead to their destruction."

She still has her failsafe. Raven still has her failsafe. But can she go through with it?

Arella steps closer to Raven. "I tell you this story, not to discourage you, but to warn you, my child. Destroying something that has always been apart of you may not be what you hope."

Raven shakes her head, thinking about her knife. She needs a third option. She desperately wants a third option. Please, give her a third option. "There has to be something else, Mother. Anything else. I can't do this to him. I love him too much!"

Arella sighs, "I fear for your safety, Raven. But if you insist then that is your choice. Check over there," she points to opposite side of the library, "There is a small area we call the 'Forbidden' section. We keep it in case we must know its knowledge. There is a book that holds the same incantation used by the monks to rid themselves of evil. If you wish to use it, do so at your own risk. But," she grabs Raven's shoulders and looks down at her desperately, "I beg you to rethink this. I don't want to lose you again."

"Mother, I don't want to hurt my friends."

"And what about yourself? Surely you know that there will be consequences to your actions."

She still has the knife. "I'll accept my responsibilities."

Her mother whimpers, tears slip down her beautiful face, before she pulls Raven into another hug. "Please be careful, my sweet. I love you more than I can ever say."

"I know."