Chapter Two

The hooded figure laughed at the men.

"I'd at least have expected you, Nightwing, to anticipate my arrival!"

Nightwing sighed, smiling. "No offense Raven, but you still have an air of creepiness about you."

The mystic scoffed, mockingly. "Fifteen years ago, I might have cuffed you across the mouth. But now, I've accepted my creepiness. By the way, how about my invitation to the battle?"

"Depends on whose side you're on." Changeling said, smiling.

"Considering you're outnumbered, I think I'll go with you, Garfield."

"Considering your emotional nature Raven, I think I'll resign." Cyborg said.

Again, Raven laughed.

The mystic had long since gained such a mastery over her emotional connection with her powers that she could now show feelings without having her energies lash out.

Her facial features were more or less the same when she was younger. Of all the Titans, Raven seemed to have aged the most gracefully. She was, of course, taller, just a few inches shorter than Nightwing (who was over six foot). She had allowed her hair to grow out; it was nearly shoulder length.

Most noticeable in Raven's changes was that she now wore a white cloak. Yet, she still retained a black outfit underneath, along with the customary belt and other ornaments.

The only difference was that rather than wearing just a leotard that left her legs exposed, she now had on an ankle length skirt, split at the sides. It gave her somewhat more of a flowing and mysterious appearance.

"So," Raven began. "What were we talking about?"

"Nothing important." Changeling said. "Just personal issues that I really don't want to share."

Raven nodded. "I hear you on that one. I still have issues that I don't wish to share."

"Like your current occupation?" Cyborg asked.

"What do you mean?" Raven replied.

"You haven't told us what you've been up to all these years."

"Oh, that. I've just been...keeping busy, that's all."

"Nothing to write home about?" Nightwing asked.

"Let's just say it's a surprise and leave it at that." Raven explained.

"Okay then." Nightwing sighed. "Well then, anything else that we can talk about?"

"How about old times?" said Cyborg. "That always seems to work."

The friends agreed, and so engaged in a light hearted conversation about past events in the worlds, the changing climate, and various, otherwise mundane things.

Twenty minutes into their talk, Cyborg noted the time on his internal chronometer.

"Seems like Starfire is running late." he said.

"She'll be here." said Nightwing. "She promised."

"Did she tell you herself that she was coming?" Raven asked.

"Yes, she sent an interstellar email to me." Nightwing answered. "She's just probably caught in space traffic or with political dealings of some kind."

Changeling nodded. "Well, if you two don't mind, I'd like to have a private conversation with Raven." he said.

"What for?" she asked.

"Its private." he insisted.

"No problem, Gar." said Nightwing as he and Cyborg left the two friends alone.

When they were out of earshot, Raven faced Changeling.

"I trust you have something you want to tell me?" she asked.

Changeling nodded. "Yes. I want to talk about us."

"Us?"

"Yeah, us. That's what's been bothering me."

"I don't quite follow you."

"How could you forget? I certainly haven't!"

"Enlighten me, please."

"You know the day I risked my life to save you from the Dalek? And then the feelings we shared later?"

"Yeah, what about it?"

"That was the start of something special for me. We almost had something together!"

Raven sighed. "I hoped to avoid this conversation."

"Is that why you feign ignorance?"

"Sort of, yeah."

"Well, I don't forget a relationship so easy, Raven. You ought to know that from me and Terra."

"Yeah, I know."

The mystic sighed.

"It's just that...things in my life have changed greatly since I left the Titans to begin my own life. I went out to fulfill a dream of mine."

Changeling was intrigued. "Not one like where you cause the end of the world, is it?"

"Of course not." she scoffed. "It's what's kept me secluded from the rest of you. It's what I kept secret, because I wanted it to be a surprise."

"Is this secret what's kept you and I from having a real relationship?" Changeling asked anxiously.

Raven nodded, sadly. "I have obligations that I'm taking care of. Obligations to myself. I can't ignore them!"

"What is it?" Changeling insisted. "What is so important that you can't spare time for a relationship for all these years?"

"I can't tell you." she said, sadly.

"Why not? Is keeping a secret worth so much to you that you have to hurt your friends? Hurt me?"

Raven was near tears. "Why bring this up now?" she asked, crying.

"Because it's rather ridiculous to have waited fifteen years for you to finish whatever is it you're doing to be together! Besides, I'd rather not wait another five years to find an answer."

Raven scoffed. "Funny you should say that. In eighteen months, I should be finished with my task."

"Please, tell me what it is?" he asked. "You owe me at least that for the pain you've caused by leaving me."

"Promise to keep it a secret?"

"Cross my heart, hope to die, and all that junk."

Raven took a deep breath. "For these last fifteen years, I've been rebuilding Azarath."