"Dinner's ready, I had it catered, nothing from Cyborg's cookbook, so it should be vegetarian friendly for you guys. And after we eat, we have to talk about what happened. Robin out."

Rachel sighed upon hearing the words. She was dreading facing what had happened.

"He's going to blame me for the brawl."

They approached the elevator doors on the rooftop. The changeling pressed the button, summoning the lift.

"Raven threw the first punch." He replied.

"But I provoked her."

"No you didn't. In our room, she begged me to dump you and I refused. When I confirmed that we're engaged … she lost it … there's no way Robbie can blame you."

"You mean like how he's gonna be impartial the way he was when you first became the Beast? They all thought you were trying to hurt Raven when in fact you saved her from Adonis. I remember when Raven woke up in that med station and Starfire told her she was safe. And I did provoke her."

The elevator doors opened and they entered. Beasty Boy pressed the button for the level where the common room was. The doors closed and the Spartan lift closed its doors and began its descent.

"Yeah, but in the end everything was set straight." He added.

"Gar, they aren't going to rule in my favor."

The changeling put a hand on her shoulder.

"Rach, it isn't a trial. Robin said that we would talk about what happened, that's all."

Before Rachel could rebut him the elevator stopped. The level indicator above the door said "Habitat level". The doors opened and revealed Raven's solemn figure, which looked slightly startled upon seeing the lift's passengers.

"I-I'll take the stairs." She stammered.

Beast Boy hopped off the lift and grabbed her wrist.

"You don't have to do that." He said as he gently led her into the elevator.

Raven tensed up and slightly resisted, but in the end she submitted to his request. As the doors closed the two sorceresses exchanged furtive glances.

"So, we're gonna have a catered vegetarian dinner. Sweet, huh?" The changeling attempted to break the ice.

"Yes, that's what Robin said." Raven replied hesitantly.

Rachel bit her lower lip, mustering up the courage to speak.

"Raven … I'm sorry about what I said … I'm … I'm not a better Raven than you are."

Raven closed her eyes as processed what she heard.

"And … and calling you Trigon spawn … that was uncalled for … I'm sorry I said that."

Without opening her eyes, Raven replied.

"And I'm sorry about the things I said about you, calling you a lab specimen … I still can't explain how I stooped so low to say something like that."

"We both know why we said what we said, but you're right, it's not like us to behave like that." Rachel replied.

Raven relaxed slightly.

"Well, it's not like I haven't behaved like that before. I really enjoyed fighting with Terra … I kicked her in the face once …"

"She had it coming … that was sweet." Rachel replied with a hint of a smile on her face. "I'll bet she had that footprint on her face for days."

"Yeah … it was … therapeutic." Raven remarked. "Even though I lost that fight."

"I wonder whatever happened to Terra. She disappeared less than a week after Gar found her at that school."

"She probably ran off with Slade."

"And became his mistress." Rachel remarked.

"That would be so Terra." Raven agreed.

There was a pregnant pause as the elevator approached the common room level. In a surprise move, Rachel pressed the "Stop" button, halting the lift between levels.

"Raven … so … what happens now?"

"I don't know, I guess Robin will chew us out for fighting and wrecking the Tower."

Rachel shook her head. "That's not what I meant."

Raven crossed her arms and leaned back against one of the walls. She had a slight frown on her face.

"There's nothing to discuss. You won, he's yours, it's over."

"Hey, in case you ladies forgot, I'm here."

Raven turned to him.

"I'm sorry if it sounds like we're talking about you like a prize. But in a way you are. You're our most treasured possession, the problem is only one of us can have you."

"How about we share him?" Rachel suggested. Gar wasn't sure if she was joking or not.

Raven smiled sinisterly. "That's an interesting idea, what do you think, Gar?"

Beast Boy's jaw almost hit the ground as his mind raced, pondering the implications of the suggestion.

"Well?" Raven pried him for an answer.

He gulped.

"Is there an answer that won't get me into trouble?"

"Probably not." Rachel replied.

He gulped again. "Then I'm not gonna answer that question."

The two women laughed.

"Don't worry, Gar, I'm not interested in a time share arrangement, as generous as Rachel's offer is, which I doubt was serious."

The clone looked at her twin.

"So, you've really given up on him, Raven?"'

Raven sighed.

"Given up? I never wil. I will always harbor a hope that I can win him back … but … I have to be realistic … I know he'll be happier with you … let's face it … I don't think I could handle having sex, not where I am now … what kind of wife would I be if asked Gar to join me in a celibate marriage?"

Rachel looked startled. Raven had just conceded the battle … if not the entire war.

"I suppose that if I can't have him, then I would want you to have him … because … as long as he's with you … he'll remember me."

Raven stepped up to the astonished changeling. She pulled him into a deep kiss, rubbing her body against his in a clearly erotic gesture as she French kissed him. Rachel stared wide eyed but said nothing. The changeling responded in kind, and the couple moaned during their impromptu make out session. Finally, after a minute they separated. Gar stifled a gasp as Raven's face was adorned by four crimson red demonic eyes. She raised her hood and turned away, facing one of the corners in the elevator.

"We'd better get going, the food will get cold and they're waiting for us." Raven said in a deep guttural voice.

"Raven?" Rachel inquired. "Are you OK?"

"I'll be back to normal in a moment … let's get going."

Beast Boy hesitated, but eventually he pressed the "Stop" button, which popped back out, and the elevator resumed its journey.

-( scene break )-

As the trio emerged from the elevator, they saw that there were two unexpected guests seated at the table. Karen Beecher, the leader of Titans East, better known as Bumblebee, sat next to Robin, who himself sat at the end of the table. Across from her was Pantha, the giant Hispanic female super wrestler. Cyborg and Starfire were also seated and the entire group's attention turned to the elevator, which chimed as its doors opened.

The three elevator riders saw the surprised looks on the diners' faces, but pretended to not notice as the emerged. They quietly took their places at the table, with the changeling sitting between the two gray women. Robin stared at the two sorceresses, and looked mildly frustrated. The woman seated to Beast Boy's left cleared her throat.

"In case you're wondering … I'm Raven."

The teen wonder coughed nervously.

"Right … ok … let's eat before it gets cold."

As the platters of food were passed around, Robin stared nervously at the two gray women, who appeared to be very civil with each other.

"You guys … looks like you buried that hatchet?" He asked in an uncertain voice.

"Robin, we're sorry about the brawl." Rachel remarked.

"It won't happen again." Raven added.

"I see … that's … good …"

Bumblebee eyed the two women carefully, studying them like they were a map.

"But you haven't "buried the hatchet", am I right?" She announced.

"Of course they have!" Beast Boy interjected as he sweat dropped. "Right?"

"Nope." Raven replied.

"We're still rivals. We just promised to not trash the Tower." Rachel added.

"But, Raven, in the elevator … you said …"

"That I had not given up on you … I will respect your choosing Rachel over me, but I haven't given up on you … I'll never give up … I'll always be there if you change your mind."

"Ya'll could share him." Cyborg remarked with a hint of mischief in his voice.

Raven glared at the tin man. "If anyone else even suggests that …"

"Ok, bad idea, let's just pretend I never said that." He added nervously.

Robin poked listlessly at his food with a fork.

"So, in other words, there has been no real progress." The teen wonder remarked. "I was afraid that this would happen."

He put his fork down, his appetite was clearly gone.

"Look, I appreciate that you've apologized for fighting and have made a commitment to not let this happen again. I know that you promised to accept Beast Boy's decision, Raven, but in the same breath you said that you still want him … I'm sorry … but that's not good enough."

Raven leaped to her feet. "What do you expect me to do? Flip a switch and stop loving him?"

"Raven, I'm not saying anything like that at all."

"Then what are you saying?"

Robin hesitated, looking somewhat nervous.

"I'm saying that Rachel has to leave."

Rachel nearly exploded. "I see, so you're sending me off to Titans East, without even asking me how I feel about that! But why would you? I'm just a clone, after all. Sure, send the clone away so that Rae-Rae can keep her boy toy!"

Robin shook his head while Bumblebee raised her hand.

"Oh honey, you aren't coming to my team."

Rachel frowned and looked at Pantha.

"So it's even worse than that … you're demoting me to being an honorary Titan. I suppose I should be grateful, at least I get to keep my communicator." She snarled as she tossed her communicator on the table.

Again, Robin shook his head.

"It's not like that at all."

"Then what is it?"

Robin tugged nervously at his collar.

"Bumblebee and I have been talking about something for a long time, for almost a year now in fact … we're considering building a third Tower, in San Antonio, Texas to be precise. We've been in discussions with the Texas Governor and the Mayor of San Antonio for over a year, discussing issues like responsibilities, jurisdiction, funding, etc. In the end we agreed that Titans South would be an independent branch of the Texas Rangers, with full independence but legal law enforcement status throughout the state. We've also discussed jurisdiction south of the border with the Mexican government and that's also been resolved. Pantha has volunteered to join Titans south. Mas y Menos have also expressed interest in …"

"Nuh uh, they're mine, we've discussed this Robin, they're staying with Titans East." Karen interrupted.

"Yes, Bumblebee, I know. But this is a problem for us. We need experienced Titans to lead the new team, but until now we haven't been able to pull the trigger on this as neither Karen nor I are willing to let anyone go … that is, until now."

He turned to face the changeling and his sweetheart.

"Beast Boy, Rachel, I'd like you to take this on. Are you interested?"

The green Titan looked overwhelmed. "You're asking us to leave? Rob, this is our home. You guys are my family."

"I know, Gar; but maybe it's time for you to start a new family."

Raven cleared her throat. "Robin's correct; this is the right thing to do. It won't be easy for me to see you leave, but in the long term, it's the right thing to do."

Beast Boy turned to Rachel.

"Gar, I'd love to do this … but … I don't want you to do this for me. I don't want to take you away from them."

"I'll do it. They can stay here and I'll go to San Antonio." Raven interjected.

"No way! Robin, Cy and Star are just as much you're family as mine. If you go to San Antonio, you'll be alone. At least if Rachel and I go, we'll have each other."

"So, does that mean that you accept?" Bumblebee grilled him.

The changeling froze. All eyes were on him, awaiting his decision. He knew what would happen if he turned it down, Raven would go to San Antonio to head Titans South.

"When would the transfer happen?" He asked.

"Almost immediately, the Texas Rangers will provide a temporary facility to use until the new Tower is built." Robin replied. "You could leave as early as next week."

Beast Boy felt his mouth turn dry.

"How about I give you an answer tomorrow?"

Robin and Bumblebee quickly exchanged glances. She gave him the faintest of nods. He turned back to the changeling.

"OK, Beast Boy, go think about it, but we do need an answer by tomorrow."

The green Titan rose to his feet. His two companions asked him in unison: "Where are you going?"

He stopped in front of the elevator.

"Outside … to think."

The elevators closed, whisking him away.

-( scene break )-

A rock skipped the surface of the calm bay waters. Beast Boy found another rock, a nice flat one, and flung it. It had a perfect spin and it bounced seven times before sinking into the dark brine, which reflected the full moon that hovered above, its reflection distorted by the tiny circular waves the stone left behind in its wake as it hopped along the water's surface.

He was searching for another rock when he heard footsteps approach. They were light as snowflakes, but his sensitive, pointy ears detected them nonetheless. He looked up and confirmed his suspicion.

"You aren't going to San Antonio, Raven,"

Raven picked up a stone and threw it. It skipped five times.

"How did you know it was me?"

He sat down on a nearby boulder.

"You and Rachel smell different."

"And yet, you confused her with me when she escaped from Slade."

He locked eyes with her. There was an atypical sadness in her amethyst orbs. The last time he remembered seeing that look was when Malchior tricked her and broke her heart.

"Your smell changes when you're under stress. Rachel was pretty beat up when she escaped from Slade, so I chalked it up to that. Anyway, your smells are very similar. Say compared to Star … she smells … weird."

"She's an alien."

"I know, I'm surprised Robin hasn't noticed … she smells like rubber."

"Really? I can't say I've ever noticed … Gar … I didn't come here to talk about who smells better."

"I figured as much … Raven … I'm sorry."

"For what? You didn't do anything wrong. You never promised yourself to me."

"I'm sorry … I broke your heart."

"You did no such thing. I'm the fool who dumped you. When I did that, I actually hoped that you'd move on and find someone else."

"I could have gone and looked for Terra." He smiled nervously.

"Don't even joke about that! But I'm serious; I was hoping that you would find a normal girl who didn't have a demon parked in her soul."

"Normal chicks don't dig me."

"I don't know about that, all those Japanese girls were crazy about you, probably because they couldn't understand your bad jokes. But Gar, when I found that you had taken up with … Rachel … I didn't know what to think. I took it personally, that much I do know. Look at it from my perspective, I wake up and you're holding hands with a girl who looks just like me, only to find out that she's a clone Slade created. Gar, that was too much to handle at once. I mean, the message was clear, you liked me so much that you found a copy of me that wasn't broken, and that is how I felt … broken, defective."

"Raven, I didn't mean to …"

"I know you didn't, but I still felt that way. And the truth is, I am broken. You saw what happened when I kissed you."

He nodded.

"Gar, that's why I rejected you and broke your heart, and for that I am so sorry. But Robin is right; Rachel and I need to be separated. And you know what that means, someone has to leave and if you and Rachel decide to stay, then I'll go to San Antonio."

Beast Boy nodded his understanding.

"Raven, this decision, it's so hard to make."

"I know, and I think you and Rachel need to decide this together. Gar, it won't be the end of the world for me if I leave. I'll make new friends in San Antonio, Pantha and I get along OK."

"I dunno, Rae, I think you should stay here."

Raven turned to leave. "Go talk with Rachel, but whatever you decide, do what's right for you."

-( scene break )-

It's late, so no mailbag tonight.