Disclaimer: Teen Titans is the Property of DC Comics

Chapter 5

Within the hour Raven finally began to feel better. Her headache subsided and her aches faded away. She was still a bit tired, but that's how she normally felt nowadays. She actually felt well enough to finally get out of bed and see everyone.

"Thanks for letting me borrow these," said Raven as she slipped into a pair of sweatpants and a tee-shirt from Bumblebee.

"No problem," said Bumblebee. "It's nice to see you up."

"I'm not usually bedridden like this," said Raven, tying her long hair into a low ponytail. "It's only when I don't take my medication."

"Oh, Raven, are you certain you are feeling better?" said a worried Starfire. "You do not have to get up if you are still feeling ill."

"No, I'm fine," said Raven. "Besides, I want to get out of here."

"Very well," said Starfire, still not convinced that Raven was alright.

The three made their way to the common room. On their way they bumped into Nightwing as he exited the evidence room. He was surprised to see her up, but happy.

"Wow, you're looking better," he said with a smile.

"Thank you," said Raven. "Still working on old cases, I see."

"Criminals don't rest, Raven," chuckled Nightwing.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," said Raven, brushing him off.

They all made it to the common room where Raven finally got to see the entire Titan family. She couldn't believe how many people there were. To think that it once housed just the five of them.

"Raven!" said Crystal, excitedly leaping off of the couch and running over to her, giving her a big hug. "Are you better now?"

"I'm feeling better," said Raven, smiling down at her. "Are we still going to read together later?"

"Yeah!" said Crystal, jumping up and down.

"Good," said Raven.

Suddenly the room was filled with a blinking red light as well as a siren. The twins began crying, but the other three children looked used to it by now.

"Trouble," said Taye.

"Who's staying with the kids?" asked Cyborg.

"Let's find out who's causing the trouble first," said Nightwing. He turned the television screen into their computer monitor and accessed the information. "Looks like it's Plasmus… and Cinderblock. Damn, we need everyone on this one."

"But one of us must stay with the children," said Starfire.

"I'll stay with them," said Raven. "I'm not going anywhere anyway."

"Yeah, but do you think you're well enough to take care of five kids?" asked Beast Boy. "I mean, two of them are still babies; half alien babies."

Raven frowned at him and said, "How many times do I have to tell you? I'm fine. Now go and take care of this mission. We'll be fine." The Titans looked at each other, unsurely. "Go, I said!" she ordered.

The five jumped at her order and quickly headed off to change into their suits and take care of the disturbance. Within two minutes they were changed and on their way. Raven just prayed they'd all make it back in one piece.

"Do you think Raven will be able to care for the children while we are away?" asked Starfire as they made their way to the part of the city that was under attack.

"We can only hope," said Cyborg.

"Well, she took care of Crystal for like two years without our knowing," said Beast Boy. "And you know how shy Crystal can get when she meets someone new. Raven must be really good with kids for her to be as attached as she is."

"That's true," said Bumblebee. "I'm sure they'll be fine."

"Alright, team," said Nightwing. "Time to focus. Cyborg and Beast Boy, you two go after Cinderblock. Girls, you're with me."

"Got it," they all said.

It took a full three hours for both teams to complete their missions. In the end Robin, Starfire, and Bumblebee were covered with glop from Plasmus and Beast Boy and Cyborg were pretty banged up from Cinderblock. But, the point was, they'd been successful and both criminal creatures were back in lockdown.

As they reentered the tower all five felt rather nervous. They weren't sure what condition Raven, the children, or the tower itself was going to be in. But, when they entered the common room they were all met with a surprising site that even had Nightwing's jaw wide open.

All the children were at the table eating… quietly. The twins were in their highchairs and Raven was feeding each of them their baby food. There was no crying, there was no whining. It was just… quiet. Quiet, but for the talking Raven was doing to the babies as she fed them.

"Mmm, that tastes good I see," she said with a smile as Eric hungrily ate the spoonful of yellow mush. He smacked his lips and let out happy grunts. She chuckled and began feeding Jack.

"Uh… are we in the right tower?" asked Cyborg.

"Hi dad!" said Taye from the table, after he'd swallowed.

"Oh, you're back," said Raven. "And you look… well, alive. You better get changed. I made dinner since it was getting late and you guys weren't back yet."

"And just what the heck did you make that all these kids are eatin without a complaint?" asked Bumblebee, crossing her arms.

"I'm having special mermaid food!" said Crystal.

"Yeah, me too!" Nicole chimed in.

"And I've got ultra pro athlete food," said Taye with smile.

The five adults looked to Raven, who rolled her eyes chuckled. She couldn't believe five parents didn't know the secret behind getting kids to eat. "Like I said, you guys should go freshen up," she said. "Who wants more?"

"Me, please!" said all three, raising their hands.

"Did they just say please without being told to?" asked Beast Boy.

"I'm getting scared," said Cyborg, nervously.

"Yeah, let's get outa here," Beast Boy agreed and the two men exited in a hurry, with the other three right behind them.

The five Titans cleaned themselves up and changed out of their uniforms. By the time they returned the kids were done eating, their dirty dishes were in the dishwasher, and they were all sitting on the couch watching television. Even the twins were cleaned up and sitting in their roll-around chairs. The table had been reset and dinner was being served by Raven.

"I hope you're all hungry," said Raven. "I think I might have made too much, but I did my best to calculate how much to make for all of you." They just stood there in shock for a moment. "Well, are you going to eat or not?"

"Raven, this is…" started Starfire.

"How the hell did you do all this with five kids?!" said Bumblebee, who's mind was spinning.

"They helped, of course," said Raven. "Now sit down and eat before it gets cold. I promised I'd go read to the kids so you guys could eat in peace." And just like that she left the kitchen and went into the living room section. She sat down and all the kids crowded around her as she began to read, Crystal, of course, sitting in her lap.

"Goddamn!" said Cyborg. "Those pills sure put life back into her!"

"No kidding," said Nightwing.

"She's like a Stepford wife or something," said Bumblebee, shaking her head.

"Well, let us not just stand here," said Starfire. "We must eat the meal she has made us."

They all took a seat at the table and finally got to see what it was their children had eaten without a single complaint. They saw a bowl of salad, a bowl of shell pasta, a plate of chicken, and a smaller plate of tofu chicken bits. They served themselves and began to eat; surprised that none of it was burned or inedible. As they eat they all kept an eye on Raven and spoke quietly so she couldn't hear.

"She's like a different person," said Nightwing.

"Since when has she been so good with kids?" asked Cyborg.

"Since when can she cook?" asked Beast Boy.

"She's like some sort of purple haired Mary Poppins," said Bumblebee.

"Yes, she has changed very much," said Starfire. "I am so very happy she is feeling better."

"Whatever those doctors prescribed her it's sure working," said Bumblebee.

They looked over again and saw Raven smiling and the children laughing. She was still as reserved as ever, but she seemed to glow now. It did look like her energy had been returned to her. No one would've guessed she was at that very moment slowly dying.

After they were done with dinner they sent the children to play, in the playroom they'd made specially for such an occasion, and the twins were put to bed so they could talk. They couldn't believe how well behaved and good the other three were. Usually when they were sent to the playroom Nicole would throw a fit, Taye would whine, and Crystal would complain that she didn't want to play alone if the other two didn't go. But they happily went off, practically skipping down the hall.

"Alright, spill," said Beast Boy.

"Spill what?" asked Raven.

"How'd you get them to be so… good?" asked Cyborg.

"I didn't," said Raven. "What, are they usually bad?"

"Well, not really bad," said Nightwing. "But not as well behaved as they've been with you."

"I guess I'm just really good with kids," she shrugged.

They'd all noticed that as soon as the children had left the room the light that had been around her had disappeared. She looked a little weaker now and she had to take a seat. Her temper was also shorter and she looked like she could snap at any of them at any moment.

"The children certainly like you very much," said Starfire.

"I like them, too," said Raven.

"I bet you wish you'd been here when they were born," said Beast Boy. "You coulda been with them all this time."

Raven frowned and crossed her arms. "I'm going to stand by my decision to leave until the very end," she said.

"Speaking of which," said Nightwing. "I hate to bring it up, but do you have any idea about… how much time you have?"

"Not really," said Raven. "I'm surprised I've lasted this long. I could live another six years or my body could shut down tomorrow."

"Oh, do not speak like that," said Starfire, tearing up.

"It's only the truth," said Raven plainly. "As horrible as it may be."

"Well, since tomorrow could be your last day," said Bumblebee. "We're all thinking that maybe you'd consider staying here. You know, not being forced to, but actually living here again."

Raven sighed and went into deep thought. They could all see that she was really thinking this over. Even if she said no, they could see that she was actually entertaining the idea for a little while, and they could work with that.

She finally sighed and looked down to the floor, slightly shaking her head. "Alright," she muttered in defeat. "I'll come back." They all let out a sigh of relief and sat back in their chairs.

"Thank God," said Cyborg.

"Tomorrow I'll take you to my apartment so we can move some of it here," said Raven. "But, right now, I need to take my night medications and then I'm going to bed. Beast Boy, where're my prescriptions?"

"I'll get them for you," he said, standing up.

"And I shall make up your bed in your old room so you do not have to sleep in the med bay," said Starfire, getting up as well.

"That's a relief," said Raven, slowly and shakily standing up.

"You need some help?" said Bumblebee, standing up and helping to support her before she could say yes or no.

"Thanks," she said, humbly.

Now they knew something must have changed with Raven if she was accepting help. Up until now she was denying that she was weak or in any pain at all. But now she allowed Bumblebee to help her stand and slowly make her way out of there. As much as they were relieved to see her finally accept their help, it worried them that perhaps she was growing weaker because her time was running out.