Ch 37

The screams filled her mind and try as she might, she couldn't stop them as she covered her ears. 'No. No!. NO!" She woke to feel a warm, comforting hand rubbing her back. It was then that she realized she was sleeping on top of Gar as her eyes stared at his bare green chest.

"Raven?" said Gar softly. "It must have been some nightmare."

"It wasn't a nightmare Gar. It was a memory," she said as she tried not to cry but the tears came anyway and ran down Gar's skin. She felt his arms hold her tighter and his hands running through her hair.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that. I know nothing I can say can help, but I'll always be here for you if you need to talk. I love you."

"How can you love such a horrible person?" she asked and suddenly she felt her body below his so she could look into his beautiful green forest eyes.

"You're not a horrible person Rae. Something happened to you that day, it changed who you were. You weren't in your right mind. You would be a horrible person if you didn't feel anything at all about what you did, but I can see in your eyes the pain and the suffering. I know right now you'll never be able to forgive yourself, but I'm here to do whatever I can to ease your pain."

Her arms reached out to him as he came down towards her, careful not to crush her body, but he was in for a surprise as her arms brought him right on top of her, their naked bodies pressed together. "I love you so much Gar. I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out Rae," he smiled as his head rested on her chest and her finger ran through his hair. "Are you sure I'm not crushing you?" he asked, his chest resting her stomach.

"No," she smiled, "your warm body feels good against mine," she said as she looked around the hut with her eyes. The atmosphere was peaceful and as her eyes met the window, the jungle came into to site. It reminded her of the man that lied with her, and she smiled. He was wild, mysterious, and dangerous at times, but he was also beautifully exotic like the jungle.

"You're quiet."

Raven chuckled. "I usually am Gar," she said as her hands move towards his back, moving her hand back and forth against his skin, hearing him pur.

"Ah that feels so good Rae," he said as he felt his eyes trying to stay open. "I could fall back to sleep."

"Why don't you?" she asked and then she heard his stomach. "I see," she smiled.

He shifted his body to see her face, and he leaned in and kissed her before getting up, grabbing his boxers from the floor, and rustling them up some breakfast. She stayed in bed for a while, the covers over her body even though they weren't needed, they were warm like Gar's body. Before she could drift off, she felt herself wrapped up in the blanket and carried off the bed. Moving the blanket away from her face, she saw she was in the arms of Gar, who placed her at the where breakfast lie. He smiled at her. "I just didn't want to eat alone, and you have to eat some time Rae."

"I think some fresh air is all you needed Rae. You look happier," Gar said as they wondered the jungle.

"It's just so beautiful here. I feel relaxed," she said as she felt him squeeze her hand.

"There aren't a lot of people here. That must be a bonus," he smiled.

"You know me so well," she smiled back at him. "You must miss being around people."

"Not as much as you may think. When I was younger, I craved attention from others."

"You don't say," she smirked.

"Hey I love you. I'm always going to want your attention, but I think I craved it so much because my parents were too busy in their work to pay attention to me. Well that's until I became green. They paid attention to me for all the wrong reasons."

She squeezed his hand back. "I know it was painful for you," she said and leaned her head on him.

Gar wrapped his arm around her body as they continued to explore the jungle for a while. She let him go for a while to transform into any animal to look around the area but keeping her within his sites. She smiled, feeing his happiness surround her and it brought a comfort to her that no one else in the world could. She felt like she could stay here forever but somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew this wouldn't be.

Suddenly a feeling came over her, she wasn't safe and as she turned around, her eyes widened at the figure before her. "Slade," she said as Gar wound up beside her in his human form. "What are you doing here?"

"Why I've come to bring you both home," said Slade.

"We're not going anywhere with you Slade!" yelled Gar.

"I don't think you have a choice. Your friends are in danger," he said as Raven's powers held him against a tree.

"What did you do to them?" asked Raven.

"It's not what I did to them. It's what Trigon will do to them if you don't come back. He heard about you taking over his realm, and he wasn't happy. Come to find out you destroyed it and now he's livid."

"I guess you're his lap dog once again," smirked Gar, "but how did he get back? I thought he was dead."

"I'm as surprised as you are. That demon has more lives then a cat."

"How can we trust that you're telling us the truth?" asked Gar.

"I can sense him Gar. He's in Jump City. We have to go," she said opening a portal.

Slade grabbed onto her shoulder while Gar held onto her waist. Raven blushed by the gesture as she stepped into the portal with them, disappearing from Africa.

They arrived in an abandoned warehouse. As soon as they let go of one another, Gar turned into a bloodhound and led the way with Raven right behind him and Slade bringing up the rear. He didn't like this, but there was nothing they could do until they could be sure their friends were all right.

A door came into their sights, and Gar changed back into his human form as Raven used her powers to break down the door. Walking inside, there were jail cells on both sides of the room. Raven broke all the jail doors and saw Starfire holding onto an unconscious Nightwing while Cyborg followed behind the couple.

"Friend Raven, friend Changeling you are here!" Starfire exclaimed happily.

"What happened to Nightwing?" asked Changeling.

"That monster Trigon knocked him out. We were fighting him when he sent Slade on some errand. I guess it was to bring you two here," said Cyborg.

"Are you ok Starfire?" asked Raven. "In your condition—

"I am protecting myself Raven. You need not worry," she smiled.

"We need to get out of here," said Cyborg.

"Where's Trigon?" asked Changeling. "Is he even here?"

"He's here," said Raven, "but why didn't he come after us the instant we got here?"

"He's not at full power," said Slade. "He's resting I assume."

"Where's Bumblebee?" asked Changeling.

"She's safe at the tower with the kids," said Cyborg. "Now let's get out of here before Trigon figures out—

The building began to shake as the Titans and Slade ran out of the jail cell into the warehouse and outside before the building could cave in on them. Once they were outside, they came face to face with Trigon.

"Daughter."

"Trigon, what do you want now?" asked Raven. "I thought I got rid of you for good."

"You only banished me Raven. It took a while, but I found my way back. Now you will pay for taking over and destroying my realm. I was surprised when I heard you lost your humanity, killed some villains, and destroyed New Azarath. Although I am impressed, I can see that you have returned to your previous state, pathetic. You could have ruled by my side daughter but yet again you chose to turn towards the light."

"You didn't need to bring my friends into this. You could have searched me out. Why?"

"I plan to destroy your friends as you watch and then it will be your time."

"I think you forgot one thing Trigon. I'm whole and much more powerful then I was the last time we faced off. I'm afraid your plan will never come to fruition.

"That may be so but I will still defeat you dear daughter. Your deeds will not go unpunished."

"Then start with me," challenged Raven. "Leave my friends out of this Trigon."

"I will start with you Raven, then your friends, and then I will take over earth."

"Kick his butt Raven," said Cyborg.

"Yes, show Trigon who is the boss," said Starfire.

"You can do it Rae," said Changeling.

"How touching," said Slade as the rest of the Titans looked at him, "but it will do you no good."

"I've have enough of this. You're going down Slade," said Cyborg, his sonic cannon pointed at the villain.

"Yes, I believe you need to be dealt with as well Slade," said Starfire as her eyes turned green as Changeling changed into a t-rex, ready to strike at any moment.

"Are you sure you can fight without your dear leader out of commission?" asked Slade.

"I—I can fight," said Nightwing, who was still be held up by his wife.

"Husband," said Starfire. "You must sit this one out. You are in no condition."

"Our friends need us Star."

"They need you to be alive Nightwing," said Cyborg as Starfire set him down on the ground. "If at some point you think you can help without getting yourself killed, you knock yourself out but right now you can encourage us from the sidelines."

Nightwing sighed. "Fine," he said as he looked at his wife, "be careful Star."

"I will husband."

Nightwing sat back and watched his friends and wife take on Slade and Trigon. So far his team were holding their own against Slade. He was proud of them. His team had grown and become better heroes, better fighters. Looking towards Raven and Trigon, he could see she was holding her own, 'but for how long?' he wondered.

Slade was unconscious and held in specialized cuffs Cyborg had made to keep the villain powerless and paralyzed, so he wouldn't get away or escape his cuffs. Nightwing looked to his team, who were watching Raven battling her father.

"Should we not help her?" asked Starfire.

"I think this is something she needs to do on her own," said Nightwing.

"I just wish I didn't feel so helpless," said Cyborg.

"We'll step in if she really needs us Cy, until then we can only watch and support her from here," said Changeling. 'Come on Rae,' he smiled. 'I know you can do this,' he thought as all his energy went into supporting his girlfriend.

Raven was becoming exhausted. She could see she was weakening him, but it wasn't enough. Watching Trigon get back up from where he was thrown, she knew the only thing she could do to defeat him was to kill but the question was, could she? She had destroyed so many lives recently when she had become full demon. The feeling had left her devastated.

"You can't kill me, can you daughter?"

"How did you—?"

"I can read your mind Raven. I know everything you're afraid of. You're afraid to become like me daughter, but you all ready have. Just because you are whole, it doesn't make up for everything you've done."

"Wait a minute, it was you, you were inside my head. I can't believe I didn't figure it out before."

"I tried to turn you to the darkness, but you still couldn't be swayed. That green changeling foiled my plans for you and now we are here."

"I know what I must do," said Raven. "You're too dangerous to be kept alive."

"Can you live with yourself Raven?"

"Time will tell," said Raven as she summoned her power. "Azarath Metrion Zinthos!" she said as her power clashed with Trigon's.

"I'm too strong daughter, give up now!"

"Never!" said Raven as she struggled but she thought about all she would lose if Trigon defeated her and it only grew her power.

"NO!" Trigon screamed as he felt himself ripped to pieces.

When the smoke disappeared, there was nothing left of Trigon. Raven was left on the ground breathing heavily. Relief flowed through her, and she knew it wasn't her own as she saw her friends and Changeling come towards her. "You did it Rae," Changeling smiled as he lifted the tired empath in his arms and held her close. He watched as she made herself comfortable in his embrace before she shut her eyes.

"She ok?" asked Cyborg.

"Yeah, she's just exhausted," said Changeling.

"Can you take Raven and Nightwing back to the tower in the T-car? asked Cyborg. "Star and I need to bring Slade to the authorities."

"Sure thing Cy," he smiled as he help Changeling get the two injured Titans in the car.

"See you at the tower," said Cy as he watched Changeling start up the car and head out.

On his way back to the tower, Changeling smiled. It was good to see everyone again even if it was under crime fighting circumstances but a frown began to form on his face. He missed his friends, his family. He wanted to be close enough to visit them and their growing families. He wanted him and Raven to settle down, go back to school, and start their careers like they wanted, but he couldn't change the way things were.