Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. It's sole rights belong to DC Comics, Warner Bros., and Cartoon Network. Any songs that I do use in this story, I do not own either. I credit the ones I believe who wrote them.

Author's Note: I want to thank you for reading my past two chapters and I just want to note that I am still introducing the characters and their back-stories. It'll get better as it goes along. And as always I thank you again for reading and I hope that you all will review. I appreciate every word.

Dilemmas

Chapter 3

-Trials and Tribulations-

"Vic, all we have to do is get in, get the damn records and get out." A boy with dark chocolate hair said. "That's all we got go do." Tilting his head back, he looked up to his 'best bud' irritably, getting annoyed with the fact that all Victor Stone was doing was postponing the inevitable. They were both standing outside of the towering sky-scraper in the middle of downtown New York City, the wind chill making both of the teen shake ever so often.

"I don't know man; the first time was bad enough. Why the hell are you so keen about wanting to get those records? What's so important about 'em?" Vic Stone replied, his defenses rapidly increasing, as flash-backs of the previous time Ron and he had broken in, the first time was for retrieving something that Victor never saw. Ron Evers had always attempted to get Victor Stone into trouble with the law.

"Vic." Using the shortened nickname for Victor, Ron was getting very frustrated and Victor could see that.

"No man. I'm done. I don't to have any part of the fucked-up plans about you and trying to create some terrorism. I'm done." Vic now clipped back to him. With both boys now furious with each other, they stared each other down and Vic had a plus what with him standing at six foot three, almost practically half the size of Ron. With a shake of his head, Victor walked away from his former 'best bud'. There was only reason why Victor got mixed up with Ron Evers and that was before his, Victor's, parent's had died they had used him basically like a lab rat. He had used many things to get on his parents nerves. Trying out for the local middle school foot-ball team and it worked. Well for the time being, just shortly after he had played his first home game of the season, his parents died. Things never really were the same; sure he hated his parents for the fact that they were work-alcoholic but they were still his parents and on some level he did love them. He just didn't show it that much, he resented the fact that they pulled long hours at S.T.A.R. Labs. They didn't spend any time with their child. And that was why Victor did what he did.

"Come on, you slow poke." A short blonde girl turned to look at the boy behind her.

"Bett, why don't you slow down? I don't want to go back there anyway, all he does is watch me and it's getting creepy." About the same height as the girl, a young boy finally caught up to her, his short blonde hair sticking in all directions from the wind. "Why can't I just stay at your place with your aunt?" He questioned, he so didn't want to go to the home where his guardian watched him.

"You know why, Gar." She bit on her lip as she remembered the many times when Gar arrived home late and each and every time Mr. Galtry, his guardian, glared at him. She even remembered the incident when Mr. Galtry had injured Gar's first girlfriend, Jillian, though she always preferred everyone to call her Jill. Shivering, Bette's mind flash back to the day when she saw the girl in the hospital, bruises were forming on her neck and on her fore-arms. After that had happened, Jill didn't want anything to do with Garfield. And that was when Bette and him had become close friends. With something tugging on her hand she was brought back to reality. She looked to her friend concerned about possible outcomes for another absence from Gar. "Gar, hurry up and go," her voice raised as she could see the clock tower, it was almost 4.

Garfield Logan looked up to the town clock tower and winced. He really didn't want to go that empty house that he didn't want to call home. Not really wanting to let go of his friend's hand, regrettably letting his hand fall to his side, he ran as fast as could to the brown two-story house that resided about another block away.

Panting, he clambered up the stairs and opened the door and tried not to slam the door close. He looked around the darkened room and nervously made his way under the archway to the kitchen. He fumbled with the light switch before it illuminated the musty kitchen. Opening the fridge made more light fill the room. He reached in for the small pitcher that contained a light green concoction. Without thinking of getting a cup, he gulped down the liquid from the container. After replacing the pitcher in the refrigerator, he took another look around the empty house.

"Nicholas? Are you home?" His voice squeaked as he twirled around. He's supposed to be here, isn't he? Garfield thought to himself. His guardian was always here, he didn't work; he didn't do anything. Not used to the house actually being empty he ran up the stairs and peeped his head into his guardian's bedroom. Where'd he go? Garfield thought as his hand started to rattle the doorknob. Jerking his hand away from the doorknob, his left hand clamped around his right. Letting out a breath, he tried calming himself down. It work for the first ten minutes while everything was silent, but when his ears picked up sound coming from downstairs, he tried listening more closely. Thick heavy footfalls drew closer to the staircase, and they definitely didn't sound like his guardians. Not able to move, Garfield stood there frozen. We're getting robbed. That's it. Trying to ingrain the thought into his head, he didn't even realize it when thick meaty fingers grabbed him around his neck. Gar gasped as he tried to get the fingers off of him. Again without realizing it, he let out a pitiful scream. His legs dangled in the air as he was lifted and taken back down the stairs. Trying to get another scream out, one of the captor's hand had let go of his neck and covered the teen's mouth. Smelling terrible B.O. and sweat, Garfield tried to lift his legs and kick away the guy. His eyes widened as he heard something crash through the front door. And somewhere before his eyes rolled back into his head, he heard a voice.

"Let the kid go."

With her door locked, and no interruptions from her mother or her sister, Kori sat cross-legged on her pink comforter. Thinking about what had happened between her and Dick down at her front door made Kori let out an exasperated breath. He so didn't need to know about her and the only two people she felt like she could go to when there was any trouble. She looked to her beside table where her antique alarm clock sat. The minute hand almost reached the twelve, it was almost four o'clock and it was the time when she was able to call her friend. Her hand reached out the small cellular phone that she had gotten last Christmas. Flipping the phone open she looked at the small digital clock. With a small smile, she searched through her contacts and practically sneered when she saw Kate Moth's number. Quickly passing it by her smile re-formed when she reached Karen's number. Punching the talk button she lifted the phone to her ear as she waited for her friend to pick up. Hearing Karen's voice made her even happier.

"Hello Karen, how are you?" She talked through the receiver. Nodding her head, she listened as her friend ranted about her parents. Adding her two cents every so often, Kori relaxed back into her pillows.

Bolting up, Kori ranted back to her about her mother and then told her friend the story about what happened when Richard had come by. She just needed her friends opinion on what to do, now was the chance. Nibbling on her lower lip, she pieced together her friends words.

"I don't know, Karen.. it's Dick we're talking about and the both of us know that Kate flings herself onto him. I-I can't…" Kori stammered. "No, Karen… it's simply because I can't… … Yes, I do like him, but I-I, no. I just… no." Letting out a sigh she slowly closed the phone.

Not sure about what to do, Kori flipped her phone back open and searched through the contacts again, but this time calling Rachel. Just to check in with her. Kori knew about some of the stuff that Rachel had been going through and once again bringing the phone to her ear she waited till her friend answered her house phone.

Upon hearing the phone, Rachel bolted to her feet and ran over it and looking at the number, she fumbled with the corded phone. At first it fell to the floor and then the cord had somehow tangled around Rachel's arm. Finally putting the phone up to her ear, she started rapidly speaking to her friend.

"Kor… my mom, she-she's not waking up. I-I don't know what to do. … Ju-Just please come over." Rachel listened to her friends reply and then listened to the line disconnect. Untangling herself from the phone, she hung up the phone and made her way back over to her mother's side. "Mom, Kori's coming over. Wake up." Tapping her mother's cheek lightly, she watched as her mother's head rolled over to other side. Rachel slowly calmed herself down. Near hysterics was not a good thing to be with her mother on the ground. Grateful that she was still breathing, Rachel brought her mother's head into her lap and waited for her friend to get to her.

Her head looked up when she watched the doorknob twist and not bothering about getting up, she watched her friend walk into the darkened room.

"Rachel… ar-are you okay?" Kori voiced her concern over to her friend as she kneeled down beside her. "We need to take your mom to the hospital. It's the best thing right now."

"No… if we take her to the hospital, they'll notice the bruises." Rachel lifted her head and her dyed violet hair fell back behind her shoulder.

"But, Rachel. It's what we should do."

"I won't."

"Rachel, come on. Please." Kori rested her hand on her friends shoulder.

"No, Kori." Rachel stood her ground; she would not let her friend change her mind.

Richard Grayson sat in front of the grand piano. Toying around with the ivory keys, Richard pressed random notes. Well, I practically ruined everything. Why did I even go there in the first place? He questioned himself but he couldn't think of any answers. Today just hadn't been his favorite. Of course like any other day, Kate Moth was always pestering him. And today was especially difficult, what with Xavier appearing in his English class. What's that guy's problem anyway? He didn't have any answers to that either. Yeah, today was definitely not one of one of his best. Pushing down on the middle C on the piano, his hand flew over the piano and pounded out a cord. Looking at the sheet of music in front of him, he groaned. It had been a while since he had played anything. But it came naturally to him, and with his eyes still on the music sheet, he played the piece wonderfully. Applause came through the door way and Richard's head shot up.

"Well done, Master Richard. Wonderful piece you played. Chopin's Waltz in… C sharp, correct?" A elder man with short gray hair in a suit, spoke the young one with a thick English accent.

"Yes, that's right, thank you Alfred. When is Bruce due back?" Richard asked.

"Well, actually he won't be back until later in the week, he's in China negotiating with the head of Yin Corporation." Alfred informed the teenager.

"Thank you, Alfred." Richard brushed his hand through his dark hair and rose from the bench and walked up to the butler.

"Dinner is ready of course." Alfred watched the boy nod his head and walk down the long hall to the dining area to consume the cook's meal.