Chapter 10

Author: Animefreak03

Title: Home

A/N well sorry for a long a** wait. I am not really doing much writing these days unless they pertain to my thesis or research studies. Yep, people I am back in school finishing up my Masters and then onto my Phd Concentration, plus working 3 jobs leaves little time to myself. I have not properly gone to an outing much less had time to write. So forgive me, I have not given up on any of my stories. Thanks!

A field of sunflowers, the wind blowing softly caressing the skin. A bright sun light shinning down on the young man's face. Slowly, as if in a dream, he reached a hand towards the sky and tried to cover the sun with his palm. Peace, that's all he could feel at this moment.

Alan...Alan...where are you?

Groaning the young man turned his head to the side searching for the voice. Who was it? How did they know his name?

Honey, where are you? Alan it's time to go home.

Home? Was this not home? He tried to sit up but his body was too heavy to lift on its own. Sighing, he continued to lay there looking up at the blue sky. A moment later an obscured face was in the way. A woman. A long haired woman whose aura was calming, soothing, motherly. He smiled up at this figure, because it felt like home. That was home.

A hand reached down and caressed his cheek lovingly.

"Honey, it's time to go back. You can't stay here any longer."

Frowning, the young man took the hand in his, "Why not? It is safe, it is home."

The woman hmmed and squeezed the smaller hand in hers, "it is not your home little one. It is time you went back. They are waiting for you."

He shook his head, "no one wants me. Let me stay, let me die. It will be much better for everyone."

She sat next to him and looked up at the sky, "They want you. That's why I can't let you stay here. They really want you after all Alan. I was afraid that you would not be wanted, but they are doing everything they can to keep you. It's time you took your place, it is time you reclaimed your family. Go on little one, it is time you protected everything and everyone."

Alan sat up and looked into the woman's bright eyes. She was calming, she was safety, but she truly wasn't home.

"Grandma will you sing to me one last time? Will you let me sleep a little bit more? I promise I will return to her, I will return to home, but can you just sing to me?"

Beautiful blue eyes pleaded with the older woman. She smiled and hugged him tightly, "I will love. I will sing to you until you return home."

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee,
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loved ones' watch am keeping,
All through the night

Slowly as she sang, Alan's eyes began to close. Farewell my sweet little boy, return to your home where you belong. Raven, protect him.

Richard dropped down to his knees. His child, his little boy was suspended in the air by tentacle like branches that held him in place. The little boy's head drooped to one side and a small trickle of blood ran down his lips. Willing himself to stand, Richard reached out his hand to try and pry the child from the tree that held him. The closer he got, the higher the branches took his child. Frustrated and tired from all of the searching, he began to pull and pull at any branch that was near him.

As if sensing danger, the branches began to grow thorns which cut Richard's hands, but he continued to pull with his bare hands.

"Daddy?"

Looking up, Richard was greeted with the bluest eyes he had ever seen. His little boy who dangled in the air trapped like an animal smiled down at him, "you came daddy."

Feeling relief, Richard sighed and smiled, "I came sweetheart. I came and I will take you with me." The branches began to squeeze the child and he screamed in agony. A cry that tore at Richard's heart and made him pull harder.

"Let my son go. Fucking stupid shit, let him go."

Robin arrived at a cave-like room while Beast boy trailed behind him. He could faintly hear a cry and knew that it was Alan. He ran as fast as he could and came upon Richard trying to pull Alan free from some strange looking branches. The more the man pulled, the more the branches seem to grow out of nowhere. Alan's cry grew in intensity and there was a strange pull on his heart. Hearing such a cry made Robin want to crawl into a small hole, but he needed to save him and he needed to move now.

Together with Beast boy who transformed into a large T-Rex, they began to help Richard but to no avail.

"This isn't working Robin. Should we try a different approach?"

"Beast boy I know, but what can we do? It does not seem to stop growing."

Richard stood back, "step away, it seems that if we try to take him, they will try to harm him more. Lets just step away."

As if that was the magic word, the branches topped suffocating the little boy and Alan in turn stopped his crying. Sniffing, the little boy looked at the three men in the room, "daddy please take me down."

Richard shook his head, "Alan, you have to do it yourself. I am sorry but you are going to have to do it."

The little boy looked lost, "how? I want to go home daddy, where is mommy?"

Good question. Richard looked at Robin and BB and shook his head conveying his need for them not to say anything about Raven. Robin nodded and walked a few steps towards Alan, "Alan look at me. Listen, this is your world nothing here can harm you unless you allow it. You have to fight this thing and free yourself. I promise we will stay here till you do, but you must hurry because mommy is waiting. Can you do that for us? Can you fight this thing and get free?"

He sniffled again and then nodded his head towards Robin, "okay I'll try. But you promise to take me home? I can't seem to find home anywhere so you promise?"

"Yes, I promise to take you home when you get free."

"Alright. I will try and you and daddy can take me home."

Daddy, I am daddy too. Mentally pouted the boy wonder. But this wasn't time for him to get jealous over such a trivial matter. He was Alan's father anyways.

The little boy began to frantically look around the room, "how do I do it mister? How do I get free?"

Richard walked over to Robin, "Alan you have to concentrate and you have to wish it away. Do you know what dreams are Alan? Well you can do anything in your dreams."

As if finally understanding, Alan closed his eyes.

Raven continued her fight against the monster that was Trigon. Every time she got closer to getting a hit, he was able to deflect it. It was getting frustrating and annoying not being able to get a hit on that thing, but if Richard and the others could get to Alan this would all be over soon.

Older Raven stood back to watch as her younger self worked on getting rid of Trigon. She knew she should be helping her, but something was telling her that this fight was better fought by her younger self. Maybe it was due to her still young powers, or maybe it had to do with how much more composed she seemed to have been before growing up. Either way, getting into the fight would more than likely end up in her getting hurt and her younger self not accomplishing anything.

When the time comes, you shall be able to help. Do not worry.

She looked around looking for the voice. A shadow figure near what appeared to be a tall dark tree poked its head out and caught her interest. Who are you?

The child is safe you will know in time what you must do. For now just watch.

The shadow figure moved to hide again, the wind making what appeared to be a cape fly around the figure. The presence was calming, welcoming and most of all strong.

In a matter of minutes, you shall have your total revenge.

Star fire looked at the destruction all around her. She could not believe that just the few hours ago that she had left Earth, it was completely and utterly unlivable. When Slade had attacked and Robin tried to leave with her, Star fire had felt a sense of wrongness. Robin may have been the man she had fallen in love with, but he wasn't the man destined to be her beloved. That much was clear now that she had returned to Earth. Funny how life has a way of surprising you.

"A penny for your thoughts, princess?"

Star fire whirled around to look into the eyes of a man who resembled her best friend Raven. His gentle childish smile warmed her being completely, "I can not believe how much Earth has changed in just a matter of hours."

He walked closer to the young woman, whose body now had gone through its transformation and no longer looked like a little girl. "Time has been affected by the events Richard has caused. It is time." He took out a sword which had been sheathed behind his back, his long braided hair swishing in the air as he made his way out of the ship towards a shadowed figure, a figure Kori/star fire had failed to see.

"Welcome home master Kyoshi (1). Raven has been expecting you." Home. I will set things right for you sister.

"Yes!" Screamed Beast boy as the branches gave way and Richard quickly caught his child. The little boy giggled as he was squeezed in the arms of his father.

Robin although happy to have seen Alan finally free, was also seething with anger as the father and son shared a moment. He wanted to be part of that moment.

"Daddy, it's time"

Richard looked into his child's eyes wondering what he meant, "time for what Alan?"

Alan hugged Richard, "time for us to go home daddy. All of the stars and in play."

All hell broke loose.

A/N forgive me for any grammar mistakes and the likes. Also, (1) you will note that Kyoshi is from Royal Slave...Whoo hooo the hottie is back. Again, enjoy this my loves.