No, I'm Not Afraid, At Least Not To Die. I'm Afraid To Live And Not Remember Why.

Epilogue

Raven stood in front of the massive crowd behind a podium. There were reporters at the forefront. She knew she had to word her next statement carefully, or her life on Earth would end.

"Who were you seen with on top of Titan's Tower?"

"Where were you when the invasion started?"

"Who was the girl that looked strikingly like you?"

"Where did the hoards of demons come from?"

"Is it true you are the daughter of the evil entity known as Trigon the Terrible?"

Raven closed her eyes and inhaled.

"Earth was subjected to a very brutal attack three days ago. An undeserving, unprovoked attack. And its people are mad. And they want someone to blame. I understand that. Three days ago I was contacted by the leaders of my world. They told me Azarath, my birthplace, had been destroyed. I fled to my previous home, and found they were correct. I also learned they were responsible. I returned to find them still in Titan's Tower. They kidnapped Robin. I had no choice but to follow, as I was the only one capable of saving him. I had no idea of the coming slaughter. The invasion started when I was several dimensions away.

"The man who helped me restore the planet was the only remaining Azrathian other than myself. He is currently in Azarath, and will be scouring dimensions for refugees in need.

"The demon girl with black hair that resembled me was just another demon. One made in my image. I destroyed her and any trace of Trigon the Terrible. What has happened is behind us. I am sorry for those who lost loved ones. They were the only things we could not bring back.

"Now, I will ask you, people of Earth, if you wish me to stay. I will always defend this planet as if it were my own, and with all my heart. Earth has been my home for several years, and I love it. But, if you are scared my presence here will bring on another attack, I will leave. It is up to you," silence followed her speech. There was a slight rustling in the crowd. The other four Titans came onto the stage and stood behind her.

"Asking her to leave is asking all of us to leave," Robin declared. Raven turned to him.

"No, Robin. You have to stay here and protect the city," she whispered.

"The Hell I do," he whispered back. Suddenly the Titan's East made their way through the crowd and onto the stage as well. Raven was stunned. Bumble Bee smiled and winked at her.

There was a gasp and a member of the audience pointed up yelling, "Look!"

The Titans looked up to see the Justice League descending from the sky. Before anyone knew it, all the worlds' heroes were assembled behind the small in comparison empath. She blushed and then turned back to the crowd. Slowly at first people started to clap, but then very rapidly it turned into screams and cheers. Raven smiled, tears welling up in her eyes.

A Week Later

Raven looked at her reflection in the mirror as she attempted to adjust the black dress she was wearing. An almost silent knock came from the door.

"Raven?" she walked over to the door. It slid open at her approach. "Are you ready?" Robin asked.

"Yes. Let's go," they made their way down to the garage where an all black car was awaiting them. Raven's brows drew together in confusion. "We had to be discreet," he informed her.

"Ah," was all she said. He opened the passenger door for her and she slid in. He walked around to the driver's seat and started the car. "The others aren't riding with us?" she asked.

"No. Starfire and Cyborg are driving a different car, and Beast Boy flew there."

"He's not coming home tonight is he?" Raven asked.

"Probably not," Raven frowned, but said nothing. They wouldn't stop him. He'd come home when he was ready. They rode in silence to the cemetery, hands intertwined. Robin sighed when they arrived. Raven mistook the sigh. They made their way to the open grave and ornate coffin. The city had provided everything. They closed off the cemetery for the day, provided the coffin, and even offered them a preacher to do the services, but the Titan's refused. Private, friends only. They had tried to hunt down any family Terra may have had, but found no one. Robin and Raven stood near the open grave, waiting for their friends. Beast Boy had left before them but she didn't see him. She then realized he wouldn't be human. She looked in the surrounding trees and noticed a green falcon.

"Gar…" she said quietly. The bird looked at her, and flew down from its perch. It landed next to her. She could feel the agony radiating off the bird. He then morphed back into human form, the level of sorrow increasing significantly. She understood now why he would most likely be in an animal form for a while.

Beast Boy was dressed for the occasion. It was the first time Raven had ever seen him in a tux. The sound of tires on pavement drifted towards them as Starfire and Cyborg arrived. They turned to see the cybernetic man in a tuxedo also, with Starfire by his side, in a simple black dress. She hadn't understood the mechanics of Earth funerals. She still really didn't. But this was something she felt she shouldn't impose upon and just go with it.

They stood next to the open grave for several moments until, finally, Beast Boy started to speak.

"I won't say that I knew her better than any or all of you. It's simply not true. Raven, you've seen the inner workings of her mind. Farther even than I had. Robin, you understood her…misunderstoodness, if that makes sense. Star, she spilled her guts to you. Cy…well, maybe I did know her better than you did," there was the ghost of a smile on Beast Boys face, but it didn't touch his eyes. Cyborg chuckled. "And I won't say I loved her more. She was a great friend to us. She may have been misguided at some point, but in the end, she was a good person. A hero," by the end of his eulogy his voice was cracked and there were tears streaming down his face. Starfire was silently wiping away her tears with the back of her hand. Raven reach out and placed her hand on Beast Boy's shoulder. He turned towards her and hugged her violently, sobbing freely into her shoulder. She was a little shocked a first, but recovered quickly, hugging him back. Raven then felt arms wrap around her and Beast Boy from the opposite side. She looked up and saw that Starfire had joined the hug. Cyborg and Robin followed suit. They stood like that for what seemed to be an eternity.

When the embrace ended there was nothing left to say. They all stepped back from the grave. Raven lifted her hands; the coffin lit up in white flames and lowered into the grave.

"Somnus Iam Atrox," she said while lowering it. She then lifted the mound of dirt next to the pile and placed it over the freshly buried coffin. "Permaneo Hostilis Vadum Evinco Nex," tears slid from her closed eyes. A hand brushed them away and she opened her eyes to see Robin standing in front of her, unmasked. She flung her arms around him, and he returned her fierce embrace with one just as powerful. She felt moister hit the top of her head and realized he was crying too. She pulled away then with enough time to turn around and see Beast Boy take flight as a falcon once again, and take off into the late afternoon sun.

"Me and Star are going to head back to the tower, 'kay?" Cyborg said to Raven.

"Okay, I'll see you both in a little while," she watched as her friends left the cemetery. She looked up, then, at the huge oak trees that dominated the cemetery, their leaves a beautiful gold orange. There was a slightly nippy autumn breeze, and the sky was once again a strikingly clear blue. That reminded her. She turned around, mouth open, ready to say something when she realized she was alone. She closed her mouth, her eyebrows coming together. She hadn't heard Robin leave. She walked through the graveyard, not really knowing where she was going, but followed a strong pulling sensation. After a few minutes she could see a figure in the distance. After several more minutes of walking she came up silently behind Robin.

She looked past him to the tombstones he was standing in front of, already knowing before she read, who they belonged to.

John Grayson Mary Grayson

Born: January 11th, 1969 Born: December 22nd, 1971

Died: July 23rd, 2001 Died: July 23rd, 2001

She wrapped her arms around his waist from behind. He placed his hand on her pale one.

"I figured since I was in the neighborhood…" he trailed off. She said nothing. They stood there for a few moments and then he twisted around in her arms, hugging her back and kissing the top of her head. "Let's go home," she nodded into his chest and they walked hand in hand back to the car.

Several Hours Later

They sat on the edge of the roof. She swung her legs back in forth, like a care free child, while he was thinking very hard on how to word what he wanted to say.

"Raven?"

"Yes, Robin?"

"Back in the nether realm…"

"Oh…"

"Yeah. What were you thinking?!" he asked rhetorically, his unaddressed anger taking over the calm composure he had intended to have during this conversation. The violet headed girl sighed.

"Robin. I thought you all were dead. I had seen your bodies. That was the most painful thing I had ever experienced. All I could think about was ending it. What would you have done?" she faltered his argument. "Listen, Robin, we've had this discussion, we don't need to have it again. It's a moot point, and quite honestly not something I want to talk about now. Or really think about ever again."

"Raven, the only thing I can think about now is you," and he swept her up in a deep kiss.

AN, Well. That was my first Teen Titans fanfic. I feel like a missed something, but I'm probably just being paranoid. Lol. Oh, one more time. Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans or any character mentioned, nor did I make any money from this. Anyways. I hope you all liked it, and like I said, this isn't the last you'll hear from The Messenger. Thank you all so much for reading, and especially all of you who reviewed!

~Raziel's Messenger~