A/N: So, I wasn't sure about doing a second chapter, but I was given a very nice review by Zaacna and I decided that a part two to this story is probably needed. This will probably only be a two shot unless a spark of inspiration hits, but that doesn't mean I'm taking another five year hiatus. I've got some other pieces in the works, mostly one and two shots, as you may have guessed if you've read any of my other work. That being said, I am so glad to be writing again and I love hearing your feedback. That is all for now, on to the story!

Raven knew she shouldn't answer her phone. She wasn't sure what compelled her to answer in the middle of the night, maybe it was that she hadn't spoken to her best friend in six months, but she did. Her heart raced as she put the phone to her ear. "Hello?"

"Raven," he breathed. Her breath hitched at his voice. She had been prepared to never see him again, though she knew how unlikely that was. She had managed to avoid him at big team functions, she had even moved to Star City to avoid being where he might be. She had considered Gotham, but knew how often he would visit his old mentor.

"Richard," she muttered. "I thought we agreed…"

"You decided, I didn't agree," he shot back. Raven didn't respond, her voice caught in her throat. This was exactly what she was avoiding. She couldn't handle it and hadn't wanted to. She bit her lower lip, waiting for him to say his peace so she could end this. "I haven't gotten over you. I don't know if I ever will, Rae."

"You're married, Richard," she snapped, her usual monotone voice marred with harsh, clipped words. "And I'm not going to do this."

"But…"

"No but. Go back to Kori. I'm going to live my life, I suggest you do the same."

She pulled the phone away from her ear, hesitated just a second, long enough to hear Richard call for her to wait before she disconnected the call. She breathed out a harsh sigh, burying her face in her hands and letting a few tears come to the surface. She sat at the table in her small apartment, a mug of tea sat before her. She pushed it away from her, and rested her head down on the table.

She felt a hand on her shoulder, jolting her from her wallowing. She lifted her head, wiping the tears from her cheeks. She was met with warm, concerned blue eyes. She gave a weak smile at him. "Roy," she breathed out. She couldn't hold in the small sobs that bubbled from her chest. She leaned into him, her forehead resting on his stomach. He rested hands on her shoulders, rubbing his thumbs in comforting circles on her collar bones.

"Rae, are you ok?" he asked the top of her head. She didn't answer beyond a slightly louder sob and wrapping her arms around his middle. He let her work it out, just being there for comfort. When her sobs did subside, he ran a hand softly over her hair. "It was Dick, wasn't it?" he asked.

Raven leaned away from her, extracting herself from his arms and standing herself. Her eyes were red and slightly puffy, but she hadn't lost control yet. It had taken a lot of work to keep complete control, but she had managed to continue to work on it until she had been able to begin allowing her emotions out. This, however, was truly a test of her control.

She nodded at Roy, her eyes downcast and ashamed at her outburst. Roy sighed in response, a gentle hand cupping her face. "Are you ok?" he asked.

This was a response she wasn't expecting. She had expected anger, jealousy, anything, but complete and unquestioning understanding was not it. "I-I think so. I told him that this couldn't be a discussion anymore."

Roy nodded. He struggled over his next words, hemming and hawing on how to approach this topic. "Is that truly what you want?"

Raven's eyes flared for a moment. He wasn't sure what emotion had flared enough to break her control, but the white flash of her eyes and the crashing of her mug against the wall, sending ceramic and tea on the nearby wall and floor. "What are you asking me?" Roy remained silent, his eyes now darting away in shame. "Are you asking me if I've been dating you while holding out hope that Richard would leave Kori and come to me? Because if that's what you think, I have some news for you…"

Roy's hands went up in surrender. "I'm sorry, Rae. I'm sorry," he said, reaching out for her. "That is absolutely not what I meant." He took her upper arms lightly, moving his face to make eye contact with the slightly shorter hero. "I am not doing this right at all. I…" He paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts before he began again. "I understand that you and Richard have a deep connection, with the Trigon thing and all. I know that kind of connection runs deep. And it's not easy to fall out of love, even when you think you should." Cheshire flashed into his mind for a just a moment. "I don't think you're using me to get over Boy Wonder. I just understand how difficult of a position this is."

Raven took a moment, searching Roy's eyes for any look of jealousy or anger, but still found none. Instead, she found a deep understanding. "You were in love, weren't you?"

"I was…" he said. "Cheshire. She and I… she didn't know who I was, but I knew her. And it was… let's just say it didn't end well for anyone."

Raven nodded, not wanting to push him any further. "I am not going to run to Richard," she said in response, her voice softening with each word spoken to Roy. "I choose you. I choose us."

The archer gave a large smile, the dark mood of the evening moving towards a lighter, happier note. "I'm glad," he said, pulling her into him for a kiss. She wrapped her arms around his chest, kissing him back. He took her hand when they broke apart. "Coming to bed?" he asked with a light squeeze of her slender hand.

"Let me clean up this mess first," she replied, nodding towards the mess her tea had made.

"Leave it for morning?"

Raven hesitated for less than a few seconds before relenting and following him to their bed. She snuggled into his side, his arm resting on her back. Her head was nestled onto his shoulder. She waited until his breathing had slowed almost to the point of sleep before she spoke again. "I think I'm falling in love with you, Roy," she whispered. She was glad he didn't hear her words yet, but she was glad she could admit it.

Raven and Roy walked together down the streets of Star City. Each was in mundane clothes, Raven choosing a white tank top and black cropped jeans for the moderately warm day with Roy choosing his signature red, but in a t-shirt instead of a full costume, and jeans. They held hands as they walked, talking between themselves through multiple topics.

Raven spotted him before Roy did, stopping quickly. The person walking behind her slammed into her back, though Raven hardly noticed. Profanities spilled from the other pedestrian, with Roy glaring them down as they walked around. "Richard," Raven breathed out. Her eyes had met his immediately, the ice blue orbs all too familiar to her.

"Raven, I wanted to see you, I…" His words fell as he saw who she was walking with. His eyes moved to their joint hands and Raven could feel the anger seeping from his very pores. He seethed with just barely controlled rage. "Him?" he forced out the word as though it were poison on his lips.

Roy glared at his former leader, though his emotions were well contained. Raven could feel his own anger bubbling under the surface, but it wasn't the most prevalent emotion she felt from him. It was love.

"Yes," she said, her eyes glued to the side of Roy's face in confusion. She had expected something very different than this, but it was something that made her appreciate the archer even more. "Yes, him. Absolutely him," she said with a light smile touching her lips before turning to Richard.

He looked dumbstruck for a few seconds. "But you said…"

"I know what I said. And I never should have," she replied. Richard had moved closer, though he kept a safe distance away on the sidewalk. People bustled around them, not understanding the electricity that was crackling between the two men. "I have made my choice, Richard, and I'm asking you to respect it. I want you to go back to Kori. You love Kori. Please," she pleaded.

"You didn't tell me about him."

"I shouldn't have to!" Her voice rose for a moment, drawing some attention from passersby before she took a calming breath. "I shouldn't have to tell you I'm seeing someone to get you to understand that I do not want to be with you, Richard. You are my best friend, and I miss that," she told him, barely holding in tears. She took another calming breath, her control being pushed a little further than she was comfortable with. "But I don't want to be with you. I miss what we had, and I'm sorry I have ruined it, but I'm not letting you ruin this for me."

Richard looked dumbfounded at her response. He blinked blankly. "Go home, Richard," she told him with a sad smile, "go to Kori and remind her that you love her."

Richard's heart pulled slightly in his chest. He knew she was right. He could feel it. He didn't want to admit it, and knew he wouldn't, but he also knew that she would see any true changes in his emotions. Maybe she already knew. It was something about their connection that allowed her more access to her emotions that he wished she had, especially right now. He could see the small smile on her lips, it was pitying and slightly sad, but he knew what it meant. She knew.

"Maybe we can all go out to dinner sometime," Roy said, trying to ease more of the tension as it started to wane.

Richard gave a wry laugh. "Maybe," he replied, his face plastered with his usual stoic expression.

Raven pulled Roy's hand, moving to walk by their former leader. Raven put a light hand on Richard's shoulder. "I'll see you around, Richard," she said. It had taken six months and a confrontation she hadn't wanted to happen, but maybe they could be friends the way they were before. It wasn't goodbye this time. It was the beginning.