Startled by the scream, the changeling sat up in the bed. The first thing he noticed was that Raven wasn't next to him anymore. His animal senses were tingling, warning him that something was wrong, very wrong.

"Raven!" He shouted as he hopped out of the bed.

He immediately found her, hidden in a corner, curled up into a fetal position. His eyes were adapted to the relative darkness in the room and he could see her face. Her eyes were wide open, like windows into the nightmare that he could tell was raging within her. He ran to her side and cupping her face in his hands he tried to soothe her.

"Raven … it's OK … you probably just had a nightmare."

Trembling, she finally noticed his presence. "Gar? Is that you?"

"It's OK, babe, I'm here, you're alright, just relax and …"

A shield of black energy appeared and pushed him away.

"Stay away from me!" She shrieked as a black bubble formed around her.

"Rave, what's the matter? Don't you recognize me?"

She looked away from him. "I know who you are, Gar."

"Ok … good … no how about you drop your shield and let me …"

"NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME!" She roared at him.

"B-but why? Don't you trust me?"

The clone turned away from him, kneeling as she now faced the corner.

"Gar, I know who you are and I trust you."

Beast Boy summoned all of his patience and addressed her in a loving voice.

"Raven, why are you doing this?"

She began to cry and her entire body shook from her sobs.

"I'm … I'm not who you think I am."

"Raven … you've just been through a lot, you need to …"

"Don't call me that! That's not my name!"

The changeling looked overwhelmed.

"Raven, what are you talking about?"

The clone turned around. Her eyes were bloodshot from her crying.

"I'm a fraud, Gar, a fake, a phony."

"Raven, what you're saying, it doesn't make any sense."

She began to sob again. "Gar, I'm not Raven … I'm a clone Slade created in his lab."

Beast Boy staggered back upon hearing the revelation.

"No way! Raven, listen! This is some garbage Slade planted in your head, to mess with you."

The clone was sitting on the floor and pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms around her legs, resting her forehead against her knees. Her dark bubble vanished. Beast Boy approached her.

"Gar, please don't touch me."

"Raven, you're not a clone."

"You're wrong, Gar. I went into Nevermore and I found that Rage was missing. There is only one explanation for that. When Slade created me, he transferred all of her memories into my mind. But he couldn't transfer Rage. Rage isn't a memory Gar, she's part of Raven's soul. I don't have a Rage inside me because Trigon isn't my father … I'm not Raven."

"Raven, are you sure about this?"

"Gar, please, I'm begging you, don't call me by her name. I don't deserve it. I'm just a cheap knock off, a bad copy. I'm a fake, a usurper … nothing about me is real … everything I remember, she did it, not me."

Beast Boy gulped.

"OK, for argument's sake, let's assume that what you're saying is true, what should I call you?"

"I don't know." She whimpered. "My real name is probably on the test tube where I was created. Maybe it's 'Specimen 47'."

"Don't say that. You aren't a specimen, even if you are a clone, which I still don't believe."

"Believe it, Gar. I'm just a facsimile, created for the sole purpose of destroying you and your friends. I'm nothing more than a weapon."

"You aren't a weapon. You're a girl; you're my girl, Raven."

The clone actually laughed, though it wasn't a nice laugh.

"That's rich; I guess I add a whole new meaning to the term 'mail order bride', huh? The real Raven rejected you, so now the 2.0 version, without her flaws shows up on your doorstep. I guess I can't blame you for liking me ..."

She broke down and began to cry. "Gar, hold me, please."

He wrapped his arms around her. "Rae, I'm going to take you to the infirmary and have Cy run some tests."

"And what will you do if he says I am a clone?"

He locked eyes with her. Gently placing his hand behind her head, he drew her in to a kiss. At first she resisted, but melted into his lips, tears dripping down her face.

"Oh Gar, I love you, I really do."

"So do I, even if you are a clone."

-( scene break )-

The Titans were gathered in the infirmary. Beast Boy summoned everyone there and he explained to them what had happened. Robin immediately agreed with him that it had to be some trick Slade left behind, one which the Martian had not detected. He was about to call J'onzz before Raven dissuaded him, asking him to instead have Cyborg test her first.

The test was a long one. Cyborg took a DNA sample from Raven. He first tested it against the record he had on the Titans mainframe. As expected it was a 100% match. That didn't tell them much, so it was on to the next step of the test, one which would take an hour to complete. This test would search for chemical markers which would be the telltale sign if the gray girl sitting on the couch was Raven or a clone.

The analysis was automatic and didn't require any human intervention. It was still slow and Cyborg suggested that they leave and return later, but no one did. "Raven" and the changeling sat on a small couch in a far corner of the room, holding hands. Starfire would go back and forth between them and Robin, her unease was very clear, despite her constantly proclaiming the words "My friend Raven is not a clone."

Robin and Cyborg had retreated to a far corner in the infirmary, where they spoke in hushed tones.

"So, Rob, what happens if she is a clone?"

"Then we go find the real Raven."

"And we if we find her and she's OK, what happens with her? Do we let BB keep her?"

Robin scowled at his friend.

"Even if she is a clone, that girl over there is a real person. And she's going through hell right now. I can't even begin to imagine what it will be like for her to come face to face with Raven. What is she supposed to do? She has all of Raven's powers, her memories, her feelings. It's not like she can just say, oh I'm really Jane Smith. She doesn't have an identity of her own, Cyborg, all she's ever known is being Raven. There is nothing for her to go back to. We are the only friends she has."

"So you're saying that if she is a clone, that we're stuck with her?"

"It wouldn't use those words … but yeah … where else could she go? But there is something else to consider."

"That Raven is dead?" Cyborg asked.

Robin sighed.

"It's a possibility we must consider. Slade might have destroyed Raven after successfully cloning her. And if he did that, then that clone over there …"

"If she is a clone." Cyborg interjected.

"Fine, I'm conjecturing … if Raven is dead then all we have left of her and her memories is that clone."

"Noted." Cyborg replied. "So, how do we find Raven if this girl is a clone? Slade has to have her tucked away safely somewhere where we'll never find her."

"I know. I was discussing this with J'onn. He thinks that the clone might have subconscious memories he could access, whether or not they'll be helpful is another matter, but, I think we're getting ahead of ourselves, at least until the test is completed."

As if on cue, a laser printer began to whir as it warmed up its engine.

"And speaking of the devil, the moment of truth has arrived." Cyborg said in deep monotone.

The five congregated around the printer, waiting for it to spit out the results page. After almost a minute the whirring sounds were replaced by a long whine and they all could hear the paper move through the printer, which after a few seconds was ejected into the output bin. Cyborg picked up the sheet and with a frown on his face he studied it. He then dropped his head and announced the verdict.

"She's right, she's a clone."

Everyone fell silent as the confirmation hit them like bucket of ice water. Beast Boy wrapped his arms around the clone and pulled her into a hug.

"This changes nothing." He whispered into her ear. "You're still my Raven."

She gently pushed him away, and looked at the four people who until a few hours ago she believed were all her friends of over five years.

"I'm going to need a new name … and I think I have one. Raven had an alter ego she used when she first arrived on Earth, before you all met each other. She called herself 'Rachel Roth' back when she was living at the YWCA homeless shelter. Roth is her mother's name, her last name. So, for now, until I can think of a better name, I'd like it if you called me Rachel."

Beast Boy took her hand and squeezed it. "Works for me, Rae."

"Thanks, Gar, but I know what you're all thinking, where is the real Raven? I was thinking … I could go back into Nevermore to search for clues. Maybe I heard something when I was still in vitro."

"J'onn will be back this afternoon, maybe you guys can work together on that." Robin suggested. "Rachel, I also want you to know this … even though you aren't Raven, you're still part of our family. You're just as much my sister as Raven is."

Starfire threw her arms around the clone. "Yes, Robin is correct, you are Raven's twin sister, which means that you are my Titan sister as well. You will always have a place with us. We are your family."

Robin patted her on the shoulder. "Let's get that rest we need, so that we're ready when J'onn arrives."

-( scene break )-

Rachel and Garfield stopped in front of Raven's room. They were ready to resume their nap, hopefully this time without distractions. The sorceress paused in front of the door.

"I know every corner in that room, every book on every shelf. There isn't one thing in there that isn't familiar to me and yet if I enter it I'll feel like I'm snooping around her room."

"We could go to my room … it's a little messy, though."

"A little?" She asked with a smirk.

"OK, it's a dump. I can do a quick clean up, if that's OK?"

"I'll help you." She volunteered.

Rachel soon realized that she got more than she bargained for, as the changeling's room was a veritable pigsty. Using her powers, she collected the trash, threw it down the chute, picked up his dirty laundry, stuffing it into a few hampers, while he quickly ran the vacuum cleaner. After that they collected his stray comic books and stacked them in a corner. All in less than five minutes. Once they were done they both sat down on his lower bunk.

"Gar, you said that this changes nothing, but … it changes everything."

"Rachel …"

She gently shushed him, covering his lips with her fingertips.

"Gar, please hear me out. Our relationship, what's going to happen when she comes back? And even if she doesn't … it's going to be complicated. You have to understand, I remember being her. I remember the first time she ever saw you. I remember when she hugged you after the Malchior incident; I remember when she had her 'moment' with you, after you became the Beast for the first time."

"Gar, I remember everything, like I was there. But I wasn't there. Gar, I didn't exist six months ago. Remember when Slade was after her, and the Slade-bot broke her nose? She bled. I remember there was a small puddle of blood left behind. That's what Slade used to make me. He got that blood somehow and used it to make me, in a test tube. He probably made dozens of clones and I was the best one, the one most compatible with her. As I approached maturity, he transferred her memories to me. And then, to complete the deception, he had wake up for the first time in the torture room. I was confused, disoriented so he introduced me to this world by torturing me. Oh Azar, he is clever. I never noticed the transition; I really thought I was her."

"Rach, you are just like her."

"There are differences, Gar. Raven was … I mean she is in love with you. I inherited those feelings from her … but … I was able to act differently upon them, and for that I apologize. Even though it was unintentional, I led you on; I made you think that Raven was ready for you."

"But she never will be ready for me, will she?"

Rachel pursed her lips. "I'm not sure, but to be honest, I don't think that she can, not with the burden."

"You mean Rage?"

"Yes, Rage. She is right, Rage is a great burden, but Gar, you have to understand … she loves you with all her heart. Knowing that she would never be one with you, it was a source of great sorrow for her. She really wanted to give herself to you, to experience your touch, your love, your body and soul."

He nodded his head.

"And what about you? What do you want, Rachel?"

"I want the same. But, Garfield, can't you see? We're strangers; we don't really know each other. I'm not the girl you remember and every memory I have of you belongs to her."

"You're wrong … you told me that you love me … Raven never told me that, never."

"I only said that because she loves you."

He shook his head. "Nuh uh, you said it because you love me."

She turned away. "Garfield, please, don't …"

He gently grabbed her head with his hands and pulled her into a kiss. At first she resisted but after a moment she gave in to her passion and kissed him back without any inhibition. Their tongues played with each other, teasing and caressing each other. She felt herself become lost in him.

"Rachel" He gasped between kisses. "Do you love me?"

"I love you." She replied as she continued to kiss him. "With all my soul."

"Do you trust me?"

"I trust you with my life."

"Will you accept my love?"

"I will, and I will always treasure it." She gasped.

He locked his emerald orbs with her amethyst eyes.

"Then you see, you are real, Rachel. And you're mine. And I'm yours. I don't care if you're six months old or if Slade grew you in a lab. You're my girl and you always will be."

She nodded. "Thank you, Garfield."

He smiled. "Any time. Now let's take that nap while we still have time."

"Nap? Garfield, you just seduced me." She reminded him breathlessly.

He blushed while he rubbed the back of his neck. "Yeah, I know, about that …"

"You aren't going to leave me dangling, are you? Well, Mr. Garfield Logan, I'm ready. So what are you going to do about that?"

The changeling gulped.

Hoo boy! How do I get into these messes?

-( scene break )-

And now we stop, leaving you wondering if Beast Boy is going to consummate his love with Rachel.

And now it's mailbag time!

Dezarulordoftwilight

Force, no, don't make my feels hurt any more than they need to. I was all happy and thinking "hey, maybe force is going to let the shippers have a good sound ship this time with little or no issues." But you made her a clone. Oh well, its a really interesting idea and I think this will be a great story. Keep it up

What fun is a good ship with no issues?

titanfan45

At the beginning of the story when Slade collected a blood sample from Raven, I suspected that Slade would use the sample to create a clone of Raven. I figured he would use the clone as a weapon to defeat the Titans. I never even considered that he would create the clone to believe that she was the real Raven. Looking forward to reading the team's reaction and the realization that the real Raven is either still in Slade's clutches or dead.

And that is the real question. What happened to the real Raven?

New york Mike

Oh boy...you...you AMAZING TRICKSTER!This...I some how expected this lol But still it caught me off this mean real Raven does love Beast Boy?Ill feel bad for both real wait for the next chapter.

Real Raven does love BB, but can't express her love for him because of her problems

MelonLord28

Well gosh darn it, that complicates things doesnt it?

Oh, it's only going to get worse!

discb

Well, time to find out when you write next. ;D

At least I'm updating every day, so I won't keep you waiting.

gabylokita41

Wow i didn't see that coming but now i wanna know whats ganna happen so badly haha this has to be one of the most awesomest awesome stories ive read .

Thanks, this roller coaster ride isn't over yet

GreennaveyblueRaven

Yes I was right happy dance I belive she still alive

Stay tuned.

Teslar

Cliffy. I actually never thought of that

Who would have thought that the clone was better suited for BB than the original?

Red X

Wow... that was a twist. I knew it than her escape and Robins discovery were too easy, but didnt see that coming. When they rescue the real Raven (I hope they do) what will happen with the clone? Will BB date them both? Or the clone will never say the truth and live like the real Raven?

That would be twisted if BB dated both Ravens.