A/N: I've been so freaking excited about getting this chapter out because it's probably the second most pivotal chapter in the story. The next chapter is probably the turning point of the story, and after that, everything just gets INSANE in the MEMBRANE!! And only like one of my reviewers saw this coming. ONE! It's gonna be great. What am I doing holding you all up? GO READ IT!

Disclaimer: No, I do not own Teen Titans or any of its affiliates, jerk.

TT2

Sunday November 1, 2019

Clara was locked up in her room for the rest of the day. Sara had gone to talk to her, and each time came out looking as if she had seen a ghost. "Taku," she had said one time. "You're dead, man." Then proceeded to tell Kimi. He decided to hole himself up in his room as well. Danny had gone on a few occasions to see him and then had gone to tell Kimi. Now everyone knew the full drama going on in the tower except for Kyle, who as always, felt left out again.

"He tricked me into thinking he was you!" Clara exclaimed over the phone.

"What?!" he asked, his phone open in hand as he appeared in Clara's room.

"Jake!" she squealed and jumped off her bed to attack him in a fierce embrace. "I missed you!"

"I missed you too, babe," he breathed into her hair. "Now explain to me what happened."

Clara pulled away and looked seriously up at him.

"I thought he was you! And he knew it was me! I don't understand why he would do that to me if he knew I had you!" Clara complained. "Uh, he makes me so mad sometimes, I just want to-" she stopped and started pacing. "Jake!" she gasped. "I know this is kind-of off topic but I just remembered...a few days ago, when we were talking on the phone...what happened? The line just went dead and I tried calling you back, but-"

"Clara, there's something I need to tell you that you mustn't tell anyone," he started seriously, taking a spot on her bed. "And I mean it. Not even Taku can know."

"Taku, but how is he-?" she began, but was cut off.

"Just listen, ok?" He took a deep breath before beginning. "When I was two years old, I was taken from my family. My parents were two very powerful superheroes. I was an identical triplet, and me and my brother and sister were a threat to the HIVE. They needed to destroy us. But instead of destroying the greatest family of superheroes ever known, they decided to keep one as a souvenir."

"You?" Clara supposed.

He nodded grimly.

"My parents' names were Anna-Maria and Nicholas Turner," he told Clara, his eyes rising up to meet hers.

She gasped, a realization dawning upon her.

"But...no. You're not implying that-?"

"Yea, Clare. My real name is Matthew Turner. And I'm Taku's brother. The HIVE never planned upon any other human beings in that house living. Of course, they never planned for my brother to be resistant to fire, being a rubber man," Jake told her.

Clara nodded in confusion. "But Taku told us he gained his powers when he was fooling around at his uncle's laboratory."

"I know," Jake told me. "But that's just what he thinks. The truth is, the reason the chemical spill didn't kill him was because of his powers. I went online and did a little research when my mom wasn't watching. I'm almost positive Taku didn't know about our parents and therefore didn't realize he had powers like them. I've used Jenna to retrieve some of my memories, and I could only retrieve one pivotal memory of my aunt and uncle. They wanted nothing to do with my family. The thought we were a bunch of freaks. When they came across Taku, they decided to love and cherish him, and hopefully the powers would just go away if they never told him."

Clara looked to the floor, her eyebrows furrowed, still trying to make sense of all this.

"And Maria?"

"I still don't know," Jake started, taking Clara's hands. "I've been trying all I could to see if she really was alive too. If Taku could stay alive, anything's possible. But I promise Clara, I've done all I could to prove myself wrong. It's true; Taku really is my brother."

"No, that's not possible. That's...no, you're lying! You can't be Matthew!" Clara retorted, standing up from her seat on the bed.

"You think?" he asked, pulling up his shirt sleeve. "Michael, Maria, and I were all born with the same birthmark on our right shoulderblade." He turned to show off said mark. "Go to Taku and he'll have the same mark. I've seen it. I know it's there. He's my brother. Do you want a DNA test too?"

"It's just...so weird. How could that have happened. Of all the people, of everyone I know. Identical triplets?" Clara asked.

He nodded.

"But my hair's been dyed and I wear color contacts to make my green eyes look dark gray."

With that, he pulled out each of his contacts and stuffed them in his pocket, excusing that he had plenty more where they came from. He also said that he hadn't dyed in a while, so he would soon look identical to Taku (not that they didn't already look like twins).

"That's so scary," Clara breathed. "You're very well not going to tell me that you're Sean too?"

"No," he started with a chuckle. "I was looking at your photo album. That one was just a freak coincidence. But this one's the real deal."

"You need to tell Taku," Clara insisted. "He'll want to know."

"I know he'll want to know, but I can't tell him. I can't put all three of us in danger, Clare. I'm pushing it by just letting you know." The cell phone still in his hand rung incessantly and he eagerly flipped it open. "Hello?"

There was a silence in the room, except for the slight buzzing of the voice on the other end.

"Yea, I'll be there soon. Sorry, I needed some air. I'm in the park down the street, but I'll be coming home. Ok? Love ya, mom. Ok, bye."

His cell phone was deposited into his coat pocket. She realized he was not wearing his Black Baron uniform, but a pair of loose jeans and a black band tee-shirt, with a black coat.

"I have to get back to my-er-temporary home. I'll see you later Clare, and I hope things go back to normal."

He had been standing for a while and stood there for a few more seconds, with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Clara stepped forward and kissed him gently. Who knows when she would see him again? She wanted to make this last moment as memorable as possible (although learning he was Taku's twin was mighty memorable in itself...).

"Bye," she said in a quiet voice.

He disappeared within seconds. Clara kept her lips pursed as she sprinted towards her bedside desk and yanked the first drawer open. Inside was a concealed Q-tip and a small glass vial. She swabbed her tongue where she had deliberately tried to save some of the kiss.

"Yea, Jake," she started to herself. "I do need a DNA test to believe this."

TT2

Richard was up way before Kori that morning. He jogged his way downstairs and at the very end kicked his heels together. Today was the start of a new, beautiful, happy day. The sun was shining and birds were chirping. Kids were soaking up the last warm rays of sun before the cold November air set in. It was nearing twelve in the afternoon, but Richard and Kori had a good reason for sleeping late.

And since this is actually a T-Rated story, they can't explain why. We'll call it "taxes".

Richard started a grand brunch for three. Raven had stayed the night again, although she was getting better and better with sleeping at her own home. Just after he finished, two pairs of feet came padding down the stairs and through the entry. Two very sleepy faces appeared at the doorway.

"Morning sunshine," he greeted to one. "Sleep well, Rae-Rae?" he asked the other.

"Great, thanks," she responded, taking a seat at the table.

Kori walked over to where her fiancee was standing and placed a very tender kiss on his lips. Much too tired to show any grander affection, she took his hand and led him to the table. With light chatter and laughs adorning the air, they plowed through their brunch.

"Raven, you believe two Saturdays from yesterday is good time to have our wedding?" Kori asked jubilantly. "Keep it small instead of going large like planned. Close friends and family, maybe twenty total."

"I think it's a great idea," Raven told them, looking sadly at her own diamond engagement ring. She missed Gar so damn much.

Raven continued to stab at her bacon, until a sickness swept over her.

"Oh Lord," she mumbled. "I'm going to be sick!"

She only had time to make it to the sink before she began to throw up her breakfast. Richard and Kori both rushed over, Kori combing back her hair and Richard rubbing her back. If Garfield wasn't going to be here to help, they sure would be good enough.

"Thanks," she mumbled, turning on the hot water.

"No problem. Are you ok now?"

"Fine," she responded groggily.

"If you are not up to it, I can have Kimi go to pick up all the dresses with me," Kori insisted. "Really, I do not mind. You should not be out and about in such a condition."

"Really, Kor? I feel bad," she groaned.

"It is fine. You need your rest. Please, go to sleep and I will call up Kimi."

"Thanks Kor."

Raven looked up and her face was even paler than usual. Her hand was on her stomach, and Richard was still rubbing her back.

"Will you be ok alone? I have to go with Vic to pick up the tuxes," Richard told her. "But it can wait, I promise."

"It's just a little morning sickness," Raven informed them. "I'll be fine. Go ahead. Won't be long anyways. I'll just go lay down with my best friend, Mr. Trashcan."

"Who is this Mr. Trashcan? Does Garfield know of him?" Kori joked.

Raven rolled her eyes, but with a weak smile. Kori would never change, and that's just the way she liked it.

TT2

Sara kicked her foot in tune to the music blaring from Kyle's computer speakers. She was flipping idly through a Prom version of her favorite magazine, which was now a few months old. Kyle was sitting at his computer, his feet on his desk, checking his personal E-mail for word from his friends back in Gotham.

"Going to a dance any time soon?" he asked, never looking back to her.

"I was thinking of seeing if I could attend Jump City High homecoming. I know I don't go there anymore, but I'm basically like a veteran of that school. I'm sure they'd let me go," she reasoned. "If I do go, though, I'll need a hot date to make all the other girls jealous. You up to it?"

He smirked.

"Sounds good," he returned in a vague tone. "When is it?"

"Some time in October. It's early this year. I might not even go if we're really busy around the time it's held," she told him. "Just keep it as a little side-note."

There was no more noise except for a song Sara knew was by The Fray. Kyle let out a laugh a little while later and you could hear feverous typing as he responded to what he was laughing at. Sara 'ooh'ed as she spotted a dress she very much liked. It was gold and strapless with sparkling gold tulle. But she was afraid she'd look a little bit like a beach in it.

"Anything good?" he asked when he was done with his e-mail.

Kyle shut off his music and slid up next to Sara. She turned another page and found a silky purple dress with a large skirt that looked rather stunning.

"Not really. I like this dress, but I'd look like a plum," she commented sourly.

"A very blonde plum," he remarked innocently.

She shoved his lightly, but he played it off dramatically. With a roll he had fallen off the bed and was whining of a broken heart. Apparently Sara had just that much strength. At this thought, she rolled her eyes.

"You are such a baby. Get up."

Sara liked this. Being casual friends with Kyle. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe she didn't want a relationship right now. She was clearly content with having someone to be intimate with, but in a different way; in a passionate and friendly way.

He got up and slid next to her again, regarding the dresses in the magazine just like a girl would.

"That one is fantastic," he said in a very "vogue" tone of voice. Sara didn't exactly appreciate it, but she couldn't stifle her giggles.

"It would make me look like a canary," she retorted, speaking of the dress's many feathers.

He flipped the page. "What bird would this one make you look like?" he asked.

"A Peacock," she replied without giving it any thought.

"Oh yeah?" he asked, rearing his head towards her.

"Yeah," she retorted.

Sara nodded to herself and looked away.

"You are such a loser."

I hate to say it, for how cliche it is, but this last line led to a fierce tickle fight.

TT2

Clara had fallen asleep somewhere whilst running away with her mind, the vial still in her hand. She woke up re-energized and ready to confront some skeletons with Taku. She still didn't really feel like facing him, but knew it was better to be the bigger person. With a great push she slid off her bed and rested her feet on the warm carpet. A few rays of sun were still sliding through the window.

Clara soon enough found herself at Taku's door, taking a deep breath, depositing the small glass container and another empty one into her pocket.

"Taku?" she asked, knocking fervently on his door.

"Clara?"

"Yea, it's me."

"What do you want?" he asked warily. "My face has taken enough today, I really don't want to stand here while you use me as your personal punching bag."

"No, nothing like that," she told him gently, feeling truly sorry for what she had said.

But still, he had tricked her...

"Can I come in please?"

The door slid open and Clara saw nothing at first. Then her eyes readjusted to the darkness. Incense was burning somewhere in the room and the only light came from a very tiny bedside lamp. He was laying on his side, under the covers, his eyes still very tired and melancholy.

"I'm sorry, Clare," he started. "I don't know what came over me, but I just couldn't help myself. It made me feel wanted for a little bit."

"It's ok, I understand," even though she really didn't.

Clara moved to sit next to his hip on the bed, looking down at his weary face. He smiled politely and scooted over to allow her room.

"That's all I really wanted to say. I didn't want some stupid fight to come between us. It's in the past now, and it'll never happen again," she urged him.

"Oh trust me, no it won't," he started. "I just...I don't get it. Out of all the guys in Jump City, why did it have to be our worst enemy?"

"You don't understand, Taku," she told him gently.

He sat up, shirtless, letting the covers slide off of him. "Then tell me, Clara. I want to know. I want to understand you."

"Trust me, in due time, you'll understand. He's just...he's not what he seems."

"Well, way to be cryptic," he congratulated drily.

Clara gave him a stern look and he apologized instantly.

"Can we just hug now and say sorry?" Clara asked quickly.

Taku smiled. "Sorry."

They met in an embrace. Clara peered unto his shoulder and found the same birthmark that Jake had been speaking of. It could have been a freak coincidence, she assumed, but her heart was racing nonetheless. With a bit of silent magic she shredded off the tips of his hair and let them fall into the free-floating vial. It corked itself and returned to her pocket.

"Can I go back to sleep now?"

Clara stood and flattened her ensemble. "Yea. Have fun with that."

With no more and no less she left the room, with a level of cryptic that only Clara Walters could produce.

TT2

Clara high-tailed it up to the crime lab to get these two pieces of DNA analyzed right away. With the technology available in the year 2019, it would be done sooner that she'd be able to snap. Actually, considering she can't snap, that's not really a great phrase, but you understand what I'm trying to convey.

The door flung open as if expecting her and she cantered inside. With a great amount of urgency she approached the large computer-like device that would help her compare the DNA. She dropped each vial into a separate slot and heard the computer buzz its familiar melody.

There was a ding! and the computer screen fizzled on. It showed pictures of two boys, who looked very much alike. On the left, you could tell, was Taku, because his face was much happier and child-like. On the right you could tell was Jake because he looked slightly disgruntled.

One was labeled Michael Turner. Another was labeled Matthew Turner. The one labeled Matthew Turner was also clearly labeled 'deceased'. Clara watched for a moment to see if any other connections to the DNA would pop up, but it appeared that Jake Jinks didn't even exist.

She typed fervently on the keyboard to find out if the DNA was indeed connected, although she already knew the inevitable from the previous information.

"DNA match confirmed," a monotone female voice confirmed. "Michael Bradley Turner and Matthew Joseph Turner, now deceased, are chromosomal relatives and confirmed by base pair matches in the nucleotides of DNA they are identical twins."

Clara fell back into the seat behind her, staring up at the pictures of the two boys she had come to know. She never thought it could be true, what Jake was trying to tell her. She just figured he was trying to alienate her from her friends or something of the like; maybe a plan of the HIVE. But machines don't lie, and this one sure was telling the truth.

TT2