Raven stormed into her room, the door sliding shut behind her. She charged into her bathroom and opened the sliding door to the shower, only to find that her bathing supplies were missing. She frowned, knowing well who had taken them, and opened a cabinet, which fortunately contained all the extra supplies she needed: shampoo, body wash, deodorant, razor, etc. She flipped the showers valve open and disrobed, throwing her hospital gown into the trash. As she waited for the hot water she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She could tell that she lost weight, no doubt a side effect of the hibernation process.

The thought that Slade had used her made her feel sick in her stomach. Slade stole everything that was unique about her: her physique, her memories, even her emotions and feelings, and used them to make a replica of her, a replica that was so perfect that her friends, the four closest people in the world to her, couldn't tell the difference.

The bathroom mirror began to fog up and Raven stepped into the stall, eager to wash away the foul smell that the chemicals used in the cryonic freezing process left behind. She poured a dollop of shampoo on her scalp and began to lather her violet locks, when she realized something. It wasn't true … he could tell the difference. He probably thought at first that she had merely changed, but now he knew the truth … and he liked the clone better. Suddenly, Terra's mocking words echoed in her mind:

Come on Raven. What stings the most? That I tricked you? That I nearly wiped out your team?

"Stop!" Raven moaned.

That everyone liked me better than you?

"NOOO!"

The shower doors and the bathroom mirror shattered in a loud explosion. Raven fell to her knees, oblivious to everything around her.

"No. it's not true. I'm the real Raven … she's the impostor. I'm their friend, not her!"

She stood up and surveyed the damage. Her powers had returned, and with a flick of a wrist she repaired the broken glass … no one would ever know.

She dried herself off and quickly dressed. She felt agitated, completely out of sorts.

I need to meditate.

Her room suddenly felt tainted, and she knew why … Rachel had profaned it with her presence … she could feel her residual aura, an aura that was so much like her own that it was almost indistinguishable … but there were differences, subtle as they might be … Rachel was not Raven. It didn't matter that she looked, sounded and even smelled like her … their auras were different.

Raven would have to cleanse her room, exorcising it of Rachel's mental stench. But there was another residual aura in the room … Garfield. The cleansing would have to wait, she desperately needed to meditate, but she couldn't do it here in her room.

She swirled her cape around herself and vanished into the floor.

-( scene break )-

It was late in the afternoon and Starfire was on the Tower's roof, recharging herself with the sun's rays. The princess was named Starfire and though she was named that way by her parents for other reasons, it was an apt name, her fiery power came from the sun, which was a star. The girl was a living battery.

She moaned softly as she absorbed the late afternoon rays. In addition to its utilitarian function absorbing the sun's energy was also pleasurable. She was stripped down to some very skimpy Tamaranian undergarments that left little to the imagination and would have remained standing, with her arms extended, until the sun had set, that is until she heard the signature hum of Raven's dark energy. She turned to face her friend.

"Raven, you were discharged from the infirmary?"

"I discharged myself."

"Is that prudent, shouldn't Cyborg have discharged you?"

"I'm fine, Starfire. And since you mentioned prudence, haven't we already discussed why you shouldn't prance around naked on the Tower roof?"

The princess giggled.

"You earthlings are strange. The body is an object of beauty, and I am not naked, though I see nothing wrong with being naked."

Raven snorted.

"Look, I know you sleep with Robin, so he's seen you in the buff, but what if Cyborg or Beast Boy came up here while you … sun bathe?"

Starfire smiled. "Actually, that has happened once, friend Beast Boy was very embarrassed and did the blushing. But I do not understand why."

Raven heaved an exasperated sigh.

"Starfire, I have explained this to you more than once. On Earth, especially in North America, nudity is associated with sexuality."

"Yes, you have explained that before. I still do not understand …"

Raven face palmed. "Remember when you became jealous of Kitten?"

"But that is different; Kitten was trying to steal Robin's heart. I do not care if he sees her naked, but I do care if she steals Robin's love and affection."

"YES! But how do you think human women attract human males?"

"Through the expression of their innermost feelings?"

Raven frowned at her friend.

"No, Starfire, they use sex to attract men. They tease men with it. It's a forbidden fruit."

"They use sex? Would that not be the shallow? And besides, on Tamaran we share it freely with anyone we love."

"It is … but it works … I should know. And sharing it with anyone, that makes you a slut, at least it does here."

The Tamaranian looked puzzled.

"You speak of the Rachel?"

"You mean it isn't obvious?"

Starfire sighed.

"Raven, I am afraid that you are most mistaken about our new friend."

"Mistaken? I'm gone for three weeks and when I returned I find that Beast Boy is sleeping with her."

"I do not understand why this bothers you, even by your Earthly standards … you said yourself that there would never be a romantic relationship between you and Beast Boy."

Raven felt the biting sting of having her words tossed back into her face.

"Yes, I know I said that."

"Then how can you be upset with Beast Boy and Rachel, when they are in the love?"

Raven exploded upon hearing those words.

"No they aren't! Is everyone here utterly clueless? I'm surrounded by idiots! She's just a proxy for me!"

"A proxy? You mean someone who represents you during an absence? If that is what you believe then you are mistaken. Yes, at first when we all believed that Rachel was you. Beast Boy was happy when he thought that you had reconsidered and began the relationship with him. But when we learned the truth Rachel attempted to end the relationship, but Beast Boy would not accept, because he understood that he really was in love with Rachel."

Raven crossed her arms and glared at her friend.

"That's nonsense. If she wasn't my clone he would never have fallen for her! He's in love with her because she is exactly like me."

Starfire crossed her arms and turned away from Raven.

"No my friend, she is not exactly like you. And the differences, they are not trivial."

"What do mean by that?"

"She does not have the Rage … Raven … she is like you in so many ways: she is intelligent, strong, and loyal. She has your dry wit and sarcasm but she is also …"

"What you're trying to say is that she's nicer than me."

Starfire turned back to face her friend.

"Raven, you are … complicated. Rachel … is less complicated."

"You mean she puts out."

"No, what I mean is that, unlike you, she is able to express her feelings. Yes, I am aware that they are the physically intimate, but that is not why they are together. They are the intimate because they are together … and Raven … I know you love him very much … but you must let him go."

"Let him, go? What kind of friend are you to give me that sort of advice?"

Starfire's expression looked hurt. The accusation stung. Starfire recalled a Mark Twain quote:

'The proper office of a friend is to side with you when you are in the wrong. Nearly anybody will side with you when you are in the right'.

But Starfire knew that she could not side with Raven on this.

"I am an honest friend, one who will tell you what you need to hear as opposed to what you wish to hear. Raven, you are my dear friend, but I must tell you the truth, no matter how painful it is."

Raven glared at her, but said nothing.

"Raven, you know that it cannot be. Yes, you became close with Beast Boy; you would go out on the dates with him, even though you denied they were dates. But … you are unable to express your feelings to him. I know you have them, Raven; but if you cannot demonstrate them to him, how can there be a relationship?"

Raven raised her hands in an apologetic gesture.

"OK, I'll admit it, I was afraid of moving further, but I had good reasons at the time. And yes, I took him for granted, I was … satisfied with where our relationship was … and maybe I was too scared to go any further because of who I am. I realize that was selfish of me … but … I can change. I can be who he needs me to be."

Starfire shook her head.

"No, Raven, you must be true to yourself. You cannot be someone who you are not … and you are not … Rachel."

Raven stared off into the distance, as if she had not heard Starfire's words.

"I need to talk with him."

"Raven, please, do not …"

Again, Raven appeared to not hear her. Instead, her black hemisphere appeared and sank into the ground, taking her with it. Starfire crossed her arms and slouched, while a tear dripped down her face.

-( scene break )-

Things were quiet in the room with the door labeled "BEAST BOY". The changeling was napping on the lower bunk, snoring peacefully, his right arm hanging over the edge of the bed, his hand resting on the floor.

Rachel was sitting on a plush easy chair, her left leg dangling over the armrest, reading a thick book she had just received via mail order from an obscure bookstore in Bagdad. The gray clone looked up from her book, saw the green Titan snoring. She sighed contentedly as she turned back to her book. The turmoil from earlier in the infirmary was all but forgotten. At the moment everything was perfect.

Until there was a knock on the door.

"It's unlocked, come in." Rachel called out.

The door slid open, and Raven walked in.

"Oh, it's you. Listen …"

Raven raised her hand, shushing the clone.

"I didn't come to see you."

"He's asleep."

"They I'll wake him up."

Raven strolled over to the beds and sat down on the lower bunk, next to the changeling. She cupped his face in her palm.

"Gar, wake up."

The changeling stirred, but continued to sleep. Raven gently shook his shoulder.

"Wake up, sleepyhead."

Beast Boy opened his eyes and turned, smiling when he saw who it was. She returned his smile.

"Hey Rach, is it time for dinner?"

The changeling's face fell when the gray girl's smile turned into a frown.

"What did you call me?"

Beast Boy blinked several times, until he heard Rachel call out "I'm over here, Gar."

He turned and saw she was still sitting on the chair, reading the book, exactly where she was before he fell asleep. He turned back to the other gray woman, who was still frowning.

"Uh … hi Rave?" He asked in a worried tone. "Uh … wassup?"

"We need to talk."

Beast Boy quickly sat up in his bed.

"Uh, sure … what do you wanna talk about?"

Raven turned to Rachel. "This is a private conversation. Get out."

Rachel snorted.

"Excuse me, this is my room."

"Your room is a Petri dish, now get out. This conversation doesn't involve you."

Rachel glared. "Whatever you have to say to my fiancé, you can say in front of me."

"Your fiancé? Don't make me laugh."

Rachel was now snarling. "I don't intend to make you laugh; I intend to make you cry."

Both women began to crackle with dark energy, which danced on their bodies like black flames. Beast Boy, who was beginning to panic leaped out of his bed and ran to Rachel.

"It's OK, Rach; I'll talk with her, it'll be fine."

"I don't know, Gar. I have a bad feeling about this."

"Trust me." He reassured her. She responded by kissing him. She then turned towards Raven.

"I understand where you're coming from, but I want you to understand one thing, I won't tolerate any disrespect from you. Another wisecrack about me being a clone, and …"

"And you'll what?" Raven interrupted.

Beast Boy defused the situation, by taking Rachel by the hand and leading her out the room.

"Just wait for me here, we can go out for dinner once I'm done talking to her."

Rachel reluctantly agreed and stepped out of the room, the door sliding shut behind her. He turned around and saw that Raven was seated on the lower bunk. She patted the spot next to her, inviting him to join her. He accepted her invitation and sat down.

"So … what do you wanna talk about?"

"I want to talk about us."

"Us, what do you mean?"

Raven's body language changed. Her shoulders slouched and she looked contrite.

"Gar, I know what I said at that restaurant. Doing that to you, in front of our friends … that had to be humiliating … I'm sorry."

"Hey, forget it ever happened."

She smiled hopefully. "Really? You forgive me?"

He smiled back at her. "Of course I do."

Raven wiped a tear away.

"Then … we can start over."

"Uh … what do you mean?"

"Gar, isn't it obvious? We can be together … I know I've been a bitch and a half to you, but that's over …"

"Raven."

" … things will be different now …"

"Raven."

"You do know that I love you, right? I always have, but I was so messed up that I couldn't tell you."

"Raven, please …"

"But now I can. I'm ready to be your girlfriend, Gar."

The changeling froze. This wasn't supposed to be happening. Raven's eyes betrayed the anxiety she was feeling.

"Raven … I don't know what to say."

She frowned. "You could say yes."

He gulped. "No, I can't … I'm sorry, I really am."

Her jaw trembled for a moment.

"Why? You can't be serious that you prefer … that thing … over me."

"Don't talk about her like that … Raven … I know what you're thinking, that I latched onto her as a substitute, especially after you rejected me in front of Rob and Star. But that's not what happened."

She glared at him. "You're picking her over me because she had sex with you."

"No, of course not."

"Then why in Azar's name are you so cozy with a clone that hasn't been awake for a month?"

He glared back at her. "Do you really want to know why? Are you sure you can handle the truth?"

"You know me better than that to even ask that question."

He crossed his arms and turned away from her.

"Are you gonna tell me or not?" She growled.

He turned back to face her.

"I know what you're thinking, that I'm with her because she's just like you, but without Rage, but that's not it, you see … I love Rachel even though she is so much like you … Raven … I'd love her even if she was nothing like you at all. And in many ways she is nothing like you. She's sweet, uninhibited, and expressive of her feelings … when she first woke up, she thought she was you. Slade tortured her to fool her, before allowing her to escape. When she came back, the first thing she told me that she changed her mind about us, because she was afraid of losing me."

"Gar, what do you think I've been telling you now?"

"I know, Raven, but it's too late. Rachel and I have been discussing our future and we decided that we belong together. We agreed to marry after I turn 18"

Raven stared at him, horrified.

"I know you want there to be an 'us'. Raven, you're a dear friend, and I love you, but … there never was an 'us'. I'm sorry … I need to leave now."

Raven balled her fists.

"You're really choosing her over me!? A clone!? She's not even a real person! You've chosen a doll! Garfield, why are you doing this to me!?"

"I'm sorry, Raven, but this isn't about you. Now, if you'll excuse me …"

Beast Boy walked out the door, where Rachel was waiting.

"How did it go?" She whispered.

Before he could answer, Raven charged out of the room, and faced her rival. She raised her hand and pointed at her angrily.

"You think this over, but it's not."

"Get over it, Raven. You rejected him. You'll never be right for him."

"Says you, clone."

Rachel's jaw trembled.

"I am a clone, your clone, but I'm a better Raven than you ever were. That's why he chose me, because I'm not a psychotic, Trigon spawn like you are!"

Beast Boy face palmed upon hearing those words. He then attempted to defuse the moment.

"Rach, Rave, c'mon, there's no need for …"

Raven shoved him out of the way with her dark energy, and he landed on his butt.

"I'm gonna make you eat those words, you half baked copy!"

"Bring it on, bitch!" Rachel replied.

The changeling stared, mesmerized as Raven lunged at Rachel, tackling her by the waist. The two women were wearing identical outfits, Raven's signature leotard and cape ensemble. They rolled on the floor, throwing punches at each other. Beast Boy was unable to tell them apart.

"Stop fighting!"

"Shut up!" Both women replied in unison, before they resumed their brawl.

Even without using their powers, it was a frightful fight. These were not a pair of high school girls having a cat fight. Robin had trained Raven in the martial arts, and Rachel inherited that knowledge. They wrestled like a pair of jujitsu masters, which is what they were. They were also evenly matched, neither one gained the upper hand as theY continued to fight.

As the changeling watched, one of the gray women kicked the other in the face with a push kick, sending her opponent tumbling. The kicked woman, Garfield had no idea of who was who anymore, leaped back on to her feet and fired a dark energy blast. The other woman quickly retaliated.

"Stoooop!" He yelled, but neither woman listened as they escalated the use of the powers.

-( scene break )-

The scene in the common room was typical for that time of the evening. Robin and Starfire were seated on the couch, watching "World of Fungus" (the things people will do out of love), while Cyborg was in the kitchen, preparing dinner. While still seated on the couch, Robin turned and cocked his head.

"Did you guys hear that?" He asked.

"Now that you mention it, I think I did hear something." Cyborg replied.

At first they heard dull thuds, but those soon were replaced by what sounded like muffled blasts and explosions. Robin leaped to his feet.

"Titans! We're under attack!"

As Robin shouted his warning a loud explosion was heard above the ceiling, which suddenly caved in. The three Titans scurried out of the way of the sudden avalanche of broken concrete and rebar. A huge dust cloud formed where the debris landed, smashing Cyborg's beloved couch in the process.

The three heroes adopted their fighting stances, ready to engage whatever caused the damage. Within moments the dust settled and the trio became bug eyed when they saw the two sorceresses fighting each other, using their powers indiscriminately, further trashing the common room.

"Raven! Rachel! Stop right now! You're going to destroy the Tower!"

Neither woman appeared to even hear Robin's voice. Both had bloodied faces and knuckles. Their faces looked wild and furious. Robin reached for his belt and tossed what appeared to be a handful of marbles at the brawlers, who didn't see them land at their feet. The marbles exploded, emitting a cloud of billowing smoke. Both women coughed and collapsed within seconds. Batman's patented knockout gas never failed to do the trick.

"Cyborg! Get some power cancellation collars on them!"

"I'm on it!" The tin man replied as he retrieved a pair of the collars from a nearby storage closet. As he snapped the collars on, Beast Boy, in the form of a bird, flew down through the hole in the ceiling. He landed next to Robin and resumed his human form. The Teen Wonder gave him a glare worthy of the Dark Knight.

"Hey, I tried to stop them … it wasn't my fault."

-( scene break )-

And we end the chapter with a cat fight. Of course, they were evenly matched, so it was a draw, even though Robin doesn't see it that way.

And thanks for all the reviews. For expediency's sake, I will skip the mail bag today.