1A/N: And here we are my loyal readers and even more loyal reviewers. Another chapter, some action, and well, things just keep on moving along. I give this chapter a 7 1/2. Its kinda funny this story was originally only going to be about 8 chapters and now, it just keeps going and I think getting better but what the heck do I know. A great many thanks to those that reviewed...Cherry Jade ( I can't exactly start looking at you weird because I kind of already did jk), Cherished18 (another name I see. I like it), ravenslair, evilsangel, Stars lil girl, and Teen Titans Obsessor. Reviews keep me motivated when I get off track so you all kind of are responsible for this update. Thanks.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans, but hey, I think we all knew that already

Trying To Do the Right Thing

Chapter 17

By: Finalitylife

Robin P.O.V:

Shock then disbelief coupled with denial. Next came the unfounded guilt along with the unfocused anger. Finally came a total feeling of sadness and emptiness and underlying the entire situation was complete and utter devastation. Every single Titan reacted in exactly the same way upon finding out that Raven had left us...abandoned us and it was I who had to break the news to each of them. Now as I look at them, I can see them returning to a particular reaction to the news, the one most suited to their personalities. Starfire was the most distraught, the one who could not stop crying, the one whose boundless joy had been extinguished. Cyborg was angry, lashing out at anything he could think of, knowing no other way to deal with loss. Beast Boy refused to accept the reality of the situation, refused to believe he had lost another person he cared about because he would never be able to handle losing another person he was so close to. Finally there was me, the leader the one who did his best to comfort the sobbing Starfire, did his best to calm down a rampaging Cyborg, and did his best to ease Beast Boy back into the truth that we all now dealt with. However, I could feel myself dying on the inside through all of this, every moment feeling more and more like something was missing and something was missing. Raven was gone, never to return.

It had not been very long ago that me and her had stood quietly on the roof together simply gazing out at the sky and then as quickly as she was there with me, she was gone, never once saying good bye, never even telling her other friends about her decision to leave. It had only been a few hours, a minuscule amount of time in the grand scheme of things, yet it felt like an eternity to me, felt like years since I had seen her beautiful face, and many of the feelings I was having were confusing me greatly. Everything about this situation bothered me to no end but I couldn't seem to make myself climb out of the deep, dark hole I feel myself sinking in to.

Starfire sits on the couch, Silkie tightly in her arms, an object of immense comfort for the devastated young woman. I am slightly worried because if she squeezes any harder, she is going to crush her beloved Silkie and that was the last thing anyone needed to deal with right now. Cyborg had stormed out of the room a few minutes ago though he seemed to be storming out of the room constantly, coming and going with his deep voice bellowing about something. Beast Boy sat on another couch away from Starfire, a video game controller in hand though the T.V. wasn't even on. I watched as he continued to mouth a single phrase over and over to himself...'She'll be home any minute now.'

One never realizes truly what is important to them until it is no longer with them and the complete collapse of my team in a matter of hours proves just how much we have all grown to care about each other, truly like a family and now we were one member short.

I stare out into the bay from the window, not really seeing anything but missing nothing. I keep telling myself that I'll suddenly see a dark speck on the even darker background coming closer and that it will be Raven, flying home but I have not seen her, and I doubt I ever will again. I know it is getting late as the sun set quite awhile ago but for some reason, I doubt any of the Titans will be getting any rest tonight, or tomorrow, or the next day...

Only one Titan did any sleeping through the night and that was Starfire, which was only possible because of extreme exhaustion from the amount of crying she had done. She was currently slumbering on the couch, Silkie curled up next to her, a blankest placed on her by me. Cyborg was in the garage, the blow torch never once stopping from what I could tell, throwing himself into his work. Beast Boy was still in the same spot, only the T.V. was now on, some random show on, the volume very low so not to disturb Starfire. He seems to be in a complete daze though I am sure I am too. I had beaten on a punching bag all through out the night, accomplishing nothing at all. Now however I am back in the main room, right back where I was before, staring out, awaiting the black dot to appear, signaling Raven coming home. When I actually saw something, I found myself blinking a few times under my mask, testing to see if it was real. As it got closer, I realized it or rather who was very real. It was Slade and he was flying on a collision course right for us, that strange mark burning bright, signaling our doom.

"Titans trouble!" I screamed it out, louder than I had ever done before. Beast Boy's attention snapped over to me and a startled Starfire jumped up just as a blast of fire obliterated a good section of our wall, allowing Slade to float in, him landing softly on the ground. At this moment Cyborg walked in, his voice filled with anger.

"What the hell is going on he..." He locked his attention on Slade who stood arrogantly.

"Hello Titans. I figured it was about time I made a house call."

Raven quietly floated over Jump City as another day started. She had spent many hours meditating in the forest, all through the night, trying to clear her head and her heart to no avail. Eventually she just got up and left the spot that was supposed to take her away from ever, finding that she slowly was drifting back toward the city...back toward them. However, she could not make herself take the last few steps and actually return to her home, the one place she wasn't supposed to ever go back to. She had left to escape her destiny, to ensure that those dearest to her would not have to suffer the absolute destruction she was born to bring, yet now, because of Slade, she had to return or they would surely parish all because of her. She watched as life began moving in the city. People opening their shops, husbands kissing their wives good bye, heading out to another day of work, and even a few children walking to school, smiles on their face due to the beautiful day. Thousands of people in the city, hundreds more cities like it around the world, and hundreds more planets just like this one within this dimension and all would be destroyed because of her and her weakness.

She felt a deep ache in her heart, a pain that had been with her for a ver long time, since the realization of what she was meant to do was revealed to her. In the end, the only ones who had ever made it bearable to live with that pain were her mentor, her mother, and her new family...most especially Robin. His presence always seemed to sooth her battered spirit, always found a way to comfort her even when life was each day becoming more and more unbearable. His warm touch and calming presence had even allowed her to forget, for a time, what a monster she truly was but now...

Raven's gaze settled back on the Tower sitting silently on an island out in the bay. She needed to go back in order to protect her friends from Slade's wrath but in doing so, she would have to face her destiny and with it, the end of all things. She could try to run, even if she couldn't escape this dimension she could escape this planet, go to the farthest edge of this dimension and hide for as long as she could, but in doing so, she would sentence her friend's to death, a painful, scorching death at the hands of a man they had all thought dead, the one who served the greatest darkness existence had ever known.

Raven closed her eyes as a gentle breeze rolled by. What choice did she have? What choice did she ever have? She never chose to be a harbinger of darkness, never chose to be a demon born only for malevolent purposes. She never chose to love her friends beyond description and never chose to fall hopelessly and completely in love with Robin. These things simply were and there was nothing she could do about it. The peaceful morning was suddenly rocked by a fiery explosion that seemed to echo all around the city, those awake on the street immediately turning in the direction from whence it had come...Titan's Tower. Raven felt her blood turn cold at the sight and the sound. Only a few seconds later, a large black raven was seen zooming through the sky toward the tower.

Robin P.O.V:

I flipped over a blast of fire, throwing a birdarang at Slade only for it to be incinerated inches before making any contact with him. I silently cursed to myself as more waves of fire came in my direction, managing to singe me slightly. I watched with a small bit of satisfaction as Starfire landed an enraged fist into the face of Slade, sending him flying through the air, crashing into a wall. He immediately rose to his feet, cracking his neck loudly, confidence radiating off of him and for good reason. The titans were doing better than the last time they had fought Slade though I got the feeling he was only toying with us and still he was beating us badly. Beast Boy charged in as a bull only for Slade to flip over him effortlessly throwing a huge blast of fire at Starfire as he did so, making direct contact. The blast knocked her out of the air, her body crashing painfully to the ground. A sonic blast came threw but Slade ducked and another blast of fire slammed into Cyborg, destroying his cannon, causing sparks to uncontrollably shoot from the stump.

Beast Boy came up behind Slade as a gorilla, locking his arms around the villian's body, one around his chest, the other around his neck and began to squeeze in anger. Slade barely took notice and with strength he should have never possessed, flipped the giant gorilla over him, slamming him into the ground in front of him creating a small crater. The green gorilla turned back into Beast Boy who was doing his best to struggle against Slade who now had Beast Boy's right arm in his grasp. I screamed out charging forward but was too late to stop Slade as a loud snapping noise was heard, Beast Boy letting out a scream born of pure pain as his arm was snapped in half. Slade stood up facing my charging form but not before giving the now curled up Beast Boy a good kick in the side for good measure.

I swung my bo staff down on him and he dodged to the side. I reacted quickly, swinging again, this time making contact with the fiend's head, the sound of metal meeting metal heard loudly. However, as before, he barely seemed to feel it and caught my bo staff in his hand on my next swing.

"You really never learn do you Robin." I dodged a punch aimed directly at my head, having to let go of my staff to dodge it but couldn't move fast enough to avoid my own staff slamming into my side. The impact took my breathe away and I struggled to regain it, only succeeding in leaving myself open for another attack and a knee slammed into my face, causing me to see nothing but black for a few seconds before my hazy vision returned, finding myself on my back. Slade stood triumphantly above me, dropping my staff to the ground. I still was having trouble getting my lungs working again but it was a futile attempt as I found Slade's foot soon pressing on my throat cutting off my air. I tried to force his foot off of me but I couldn't find the strength, couldn't seem to make it budge.

"It truly is disheartening for it to all end this way. I never wanted to have to kill you Robin but in the end, there was simply no other option. Raven leaving forced my hand but such is the way of things. Good bye my apprentice. Maybe I'll see you in Hell one day." The pressure on my throat increased as I found myself slowing fading into darkness. As the shadows closed in on all sides of me, the only thing I could hear was Slade's dark laughter. I found myself unable to struggle anymore, my arms falling limply to my side. I found an image of a violet-haired beauty flashing in my mind and all I could do was wish she was here. Somehow, she heard me.

"Get away from him now!" The voice was full of unadulterated rage and was slightly distorted sounding but even in my near death state I knew that voice...a voice I never thought I'd hear again...Raven. The pressure did not immediately leave but when it finally did, it was in an instant for the simple fact that Slade was now outlined with black energy, slamming repeatedly into the wall, each slam emphasized by a scream from Raven.

"Never Touch My Friends Again!" I slowly found oxygen returning to my body and slowly dragged myself to my knees. A quick glance of the room showed me all the other Titans slowly starting to move and then there was Raven...eyes glowing red, unseen wind swirling around her, her cloak and hair billowing out. I felt just the slightest bit of fear. Slade was slowly getting to his feet, the first time since his return I had seen him appear injured. His body cracked as he rose and he didn't seem to be standing as straight as he once was.

"Temper Temper Raven. You really should try to show a little more restraint." Slade unleashed a huge stream of fire at Raven, it only meeting a wall of black energy and I was shocked when a deep growl emanated from Raven's form.

"You pathetic fool. Let me show you true power." Again Slade's body was outlined in black energy, lifting him off the ground. Raven drew him forward until he was only a foot in front of her, eye level with the hovering girl.

"You should have never tried to threaten me Slade. You should have never tried to hurt my friends and now you will suffer." Raven's words caused me to shiver. They were so cold, so evil sounding, everything Raven truly wasn't. I stared right into Slade's one eye and could see the immense pain he was in. Popping sounds started coming from all over his body and it was then I realized what Raven was doing...Raven was pulling him apart. She was using her power to pull all of his limps and his head from his body...a gruesome and brutal death. She truly was trying to kill him. More cracks erupted from Slade and I somehow knew he was resisting the urge to scream, refusing to be weak in front of me. I finally found my voice and called out to Raven, intent on stopping her from committing this atrocity despite the fact of all people, Slade probably deserved it. However, this wasn't about Slade right now, this was about stopping Raven from making a mistake I knew she would regret always just as she did for me on a beach trip not that long ago. Raven was not a murderer and I wouldn't allow her to become one. Of course I realized from what I had seen, that there was a good chance Slade couldn't even be killed but in the end this needed to be stopped.

"Raven!" She seems not to hear me and I call out again, loud as I can. Her burning red gaze shift to my now standing form. She does not say anything but only seems to be staring into my rather than at me. It is one of the strangest feelings I've ever had.

"Raven you need to stop! You're killing him!" She grins at me.

"Yes I am Robin. But I will ensure he suffered terribly before I send him into oblivion." Her smile is not her, it is malicious, something I would imagine graces the face of Slade at all possible times

"It doesn't matter Raven. You need to stop now. You've won...you saved all of us. There is no need to kill him." Her smile fades and her eyes burn brighter.

"You pathetic, weak mortal. You know you are enjoying watching him suffer after everything he has done to us...to you." I stare at the scene in front of me, Slade helpless, suffering, and I find no satisfaction in it all. How many times had I dreamed of something like this, how many times had I tried to bring it into existence, and now...only regret and shame at the dark murderous thoughts that had plagued my mind for a very long time. I hated Slade with every fiber of my being but to truly kill him, I knew I could never do that and I knew the true Raven wouldn't be able to it either.

"No Raven, I find no enjoyment in this and I know deep inside, you dont't either. The Raven I know is a kind hero, not a ruthless killer. Please, stop this before it goes to far." She continues to stare at me and I notice her eyes dimming, her form becoming a little less menacing, and her power dissipating. I see her eyes flash to their normal color for a few seconds then back to red. I take a step forward.

"Raven! Come back to us, come back to us now." I watch as she lets out a terrible scream that seems like it was born from hell and with one last motion of her hand, Slade is thrown straight out the window, eventually slamming into the salty sea water, disappearing below the waves. I somehow knew he would be just find despite all of this. Raven is now simply standing there, her head down, her hair covering her face. She is not quite back to normal because the Raven in front of me looks far too small and far too weak to be the Raven that I know. I take a few steps forward, making a small bit of noise and Raven's head snaps up as if she had forgotten I was there. I see raw terror in her eyes, fear that is almost tangible from the young woman.

"Raven..." My voice is gentle as possible and I take another tentative step forward. I see her flinch at my step

"Please Robin stay back, just stay away." Her voice is broken and I truly, truly hate hearing that voice from her, more than I even hate Slade. I watch as her eyes start moving side to side quickly and somehow the fear in her eyes increases.

"Please...please don't look at me like that...please...I'm sorry...please..." Her pleads are heartbreaking and I realize she isn't talking to me and I look behind me to find the other Titans. Starfire is holding Beast Boy on his feet, his arm clearly badly broken. Cyborg is also holding his useless arm with his other hand, some random sparks still appearing. However, I soon realize what Raven had meant. Each one has the same look on their faces, in theirs, mirroring that which lies in Raven's eyes. Fear, absolute fear and it is being directed right at Raven. They must have seen what happened between Slade and Raven and Raven had frightened all of them, hell she scared me too. I stare at the other Titans and the looks do not fade. I turn back to Raven who now has her arms wrapped around herself, muttering quietly to herself.

"A monster, nothing but a monster, nothing but feared, nothing but hated. I'm sorry...I'm so very sorry." I take a few more steps forward and Raven quickly locks eyes with me and I see what she is going to do. She tries to run off, run away from all of us again and only thanks to my quickness and reflexes, I am able to grab her by the wrist before she can move. She immediately tried to pull away but I have a strong grip. Realizing she is caught, her head turns back and there is still terror etched on her face along with a incredible desire to get away. I won't let her. I pull her forward and wrap my arms around her in the tightest embrace I can give her, the closest hug I can provide.

"Please don't leave us Raven...please don't leave me." My words are incredible soft, below a whisper, but I know she hear's me because at that moment she melts into me as a few tears start to fall.