Raven looked up from her book as Cara in her pyjamas was standing in the door.

"What's wrong?"

"Mama, I'm bored."

"You're suppose to be in bed, asleep."

Cara ran over and jumped up on the sofa next to her, when Raven moved the book Cara crawled on her lap. Snuggling against her mothers chest she started to breath calmer and more steady. Raven couldn't help smiling as she got to her feet with the now sleeping child in her arms. The bookshelf snapped and all the books fell to the floor. Cara woke up and started to cry.

"I'm sorry Cara. Don't cry, I'm here. Mama's sorry she broke the stupid bookshelf."

Raven walked back and fourth with the crying child in her arms and it took a good half an hour before Cara had stopped crying and another fifteen minutes until she was asleep again. Raven walked into her bedroom and placed Cara in her bed. She knew Cara was suppose to sleep in her own room, but Raven needed the company. Raven's room, unlike Cara's was much more minimalistik. A few pictures of the titans and Cara. The furniture was simple, black and only the essentials. Raven didn't spend so much time there anyway. She changed and slipped under the covers with Cara. As she did her eyes fell on the wedding picture of Richard and Kori. Victor had told her about their engagement and all she had wanted was to congratulate them. She had talked to Kori and somehow ended up as the maid of honer. Garfield had flipped out, and Richard had yelled at him. Probably not the best thing for their already strained relationship. To them Richard had been her overprotective older brother and when Raven had left... she doubted Richard had fully forgiven Garfield for that.

--

Three weeks later and Cara looked up at her with a huge grin. They had just come home from the park where they had celebrated the birthday to one in her kindergarten. The girl was high from the cake and candy and was running around with her hands out to her side. Raven couldn't help giving out a small laugh and continued while answering her phone.

"Raven?"

She stopped laughing.

"Victor? What's wrong?"

"It's Kori. She's locked herself in the bathroom and won't come out. She's crying."

"What do you want me to do?"

Cara ran into her legs and Raven grabbed her arm to make her stand still.

"Can't you talk to her."

"I need to take Cara with me, is that a problem.?

"I think by now Dick would give you anything to get Kori to come out."

That wasn't who Raven was hinting of, but she didn't push it. She hung up, picked Cara up and phased into the common room.

"Victor?"

He popped in to the common room.

"Thank god."

Raven followed her to the bathroom where Richard and Garfield were standing. Richard knocked on the door.

"Kori, Rae's here."

"Leave me alone."

Garfield was leaning against the wall and just gave Raven a dark look. Richard looked at her with pleading eyes. Raven had never seen him pleading before. Cara started to fidget and Raven put her down.

"Don't wonder off."

The girl nodded before running up and down the hall. Raven walked over to the bathroom door and knocked.

"Go away."

"Kori, it's me Raven. Can you let me in?"

A faint click and Kori opened the door. Her face was swollen and her makeup smeared. She moved and let Raven in. Raven closed the door, but didn't lock it.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm going to be a terrible mother for my bumgorf."

Kori sank to the floor and Raven sat down beside her.

"Your not going to be a terrible mother Kori."

"But..."

"I'm not saying it will be easy, and you will make mistakes. All parents make them. But you won't be a terrible mother."

Raven could sense and see that Kori didn't believe her.

"When I first got pregnant with Cara I was terrified. I didn't know anything about children, and I've pretty much scared most children that I've had contact with. But the reason I was afraid was also because I loved her more than I've ever loved anyone in my entier life. And I think that when you love someone as much as you love you child, you will always be afraid that they will get hurt."

Kori seemed to feel a little better, but not much.

"And I know you will be a wonderful mother Kori because I know you. You have that mothering instinct for practically everyone. Everyone likes you Kori, not because your pretty, but because you're nice. And there is no way that you will be terrible to your own child when you've never been terrible to anyone in your life. Even thou they deserve it."

Kori hugged her and cried into her shoulder, and Raven let her. After a few minutes Kori got to her feet, freshed up and walked out. Raven followed her. Kori locked arms with Richard and they started to walk down the hall like nothing had happened. Raven couldn't help a small smile when she saw them.

"Wow, what did you do?"

"Pree-birth anxiety. I just told her she wouldn't be a terrible mom."

"Go figure."

Raven looked down on the floor as the thing in her chest started to grow. She needed to leave before something happened.

"Where's Cara? It's almost her bedtime."

"She got hungry so Gar volunteered to make her some food."

"Gar volunteered?"

It grew.

They walked to the common room and opened the door. Cara was sitting on Garfield shoulders as he ran around with his arms out, flapping them like a bird. Raven couldn't breath. Cara's laugh pierced her mothers ears until one of the walls suddenly exploded.

"Cara."

It was only a whisper as a boulder came flying and hit her in the shoulder, knocking her backwards.

"Raven."

"Rae."

"Mama."

Cara started to cry as Garfield and Victor ran to her aid. Again Raven's pride took control. Despite the intense pain she got to her feet and picked her crying child off Garfield shoulder.

"Mama's sorry Cara. She didn't mean to scare you."

"Are you okay Rae?"

Raven couldn't look at Garfield so she just gave Cara all her attention. Even after she stopped crying.

"I have to go. I'm sorry about the wall."

Then she teleported home.

"Gar's funny."

"Is he?"

Cara didn't stop talking about Garfield as her mother washed her, dressed her and got her to bed. The little girl knew it pained her, but she could also feel something wonderful at the mentioning of the strange green man, and that was why she continued.

"Now go to sleep Cara."

Raven walked over to the door.

"Mama."

"Yes Cara."

"Don't be so sad. When the bad man comes."

Raven smiled.

"Go to sleep."

Then she turned off the lights.

--

The cell gave an echo through the dark, cold room. Raven made a mark where she was and picked it up.

"Raven Roth."

"It's me friend Raven, Kori. I hope you are not too upset, but friend Victor gave me your telephone number so I could call you."

"Yeah, I figured, what do you want?"

"I wanted to invite you to dinner."

The lump in her chest welled up and made it almost impossible to breath normal. The lights blinked, but thankfully didn't go out.

"Dinner?"

"Yes, you know where people who care about one another gather around and share a meal consisting of food."

"I know what dinner is Kori."

"Then you'll come?"

Raven looked down on the dark brown table, following the lines.

"I don't know Kori. I don't want to impose."

"You will not. We want you to come. All of us. And Cara too. Oh please come. We miss you."

She opened her mouth to say no. She couldn't. It wouldn't be fair to Gar, and it would be too hard to leave.

"I'll come."

"Oh goodie. Please arrive at seven."

"Okay."

Kori hung up, and the silence echoed in the small room.

"What have I done?"

She looked down at her work, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't concentrate.

--

She looked up at the door as she knocked. It felt odd, knocking on that door. This was a mistake. Cara was uncommonly calm as she was holding her mother's hand. The door opened, and Raven was surprised, saddened and overjoyed that Garfield was standing on the other side.

"Kori invited me."

"I know."

He smiled as they walked in. They had gone a few feet when the doorbell rang again.

"That has to be Jenny."