"Eat well my little small things!" Starfire chirped, placing a plate before each of the children. They all exchanged hesitant looks. For all they knew the food could have been lethal or perhaps simply spoiled. In the short time they had known Satrfire they had learnt never to put anything past her.

"You wanna go ahead and say a prayer, R.J?" B.J asked, swallowing hard.

"I think we'll need a bit more than prayer…" He responded, running the fork through the semi-liquid substance that sat on his plate. Perhaps it wouldn't have been so bad if they were actually able to decipher what the hell it was. One thing was certain; it would never get past their throats. How could it?

"None of you are leaving this table until the nutritious meal has gone into your growing stomachs." Starfire cheered, pulling up a chair next to them and sitting with a smile. It was as if she was trying to torture them. Maybe she was annoyed by the statement Brightfire had said earlier and was only now taking revenge for that. That must have been it. Why else would she have put them infront of a plate of filth and asked them to eat it. They began to protest.

"Oh come on this isn't fair!"

"How do you expect us to eat this?"

"It simply can't be done!"

A puzzled look suddenly Starfire's face. "Why not? R.A has already finished her nutritious meal…"

The three flashed around instantly and saw R.A get up from the table, leaving behind an empty plate. They could feel their stomachs turning. How had she managed to get it all down…?

R.A hopped off the chair and made her way out of the room. She couldn't stay in there any longer listening to tem talking about the perfect existence that she would never have. She would disappear without knowing what it was like to ever be loved and they would remain with their parents in a life that was inevitably going to be filled with bliss. It wasn't that she liked feeling sorry for herself but this was one time when she had to. If she didn't then no one would… that was the reality no matter how much she wanted to change it and no matter how much she wanted to changed her mother.

Raven walked into the room and caught everyone staring at her.

"What?" She asked, trying to convey that their stares were annoying her. They had no right to be staring at her as if she had done something wrong. Who were they to judge?

"It is nothing…" Starfire said hesitantly, "and do not take this the wrong way but your little R.A seems alittle down this morning, perhaps you might know what vexes her."

"No, I don't." She answered sharply, now taking a seat in the corner and pulling out her book. Why would she know what was wrong with the child? It wasn't any of her business to find out. Besides that there was nothing she would have been able to do to make her feel better…everyone knew she had just the opposite effect on people. For all she knew R.A was torn by the fact that she had such a mother. R.A might have preferred having Starfire or even Terra, anyone but her…anyone but the girl who couldn't love.

"Oh, well okay…" Stafire sounded disheartened by the answer but only because she was. She couldn't see why Raven couldn't love her child as she loved her children. To her affection came easily and spending time with them was a treat so to watch Raven avoid R.A like the plague upset her more than she could understand. As far as she was concerned love came once you let it. All she had to do was choose to love then the relationship would get better. She sighed then turned to look at her children who were now running their forks through the meal again. She couldn't imagine not loving them, not caring when they were happy or sad, not caring whether they were hurt or safe…they were hers and she loved them. "Maybe you could try finding out…" Starfire mumbled, not willing to let it rest just yet.

"What did you just say?" Raven asked, looking up at her and raising her eyebrow questioningly.

Star's eyes went wide; she didn't know she had heard her and she wasn't prepared to answer under the dark glare of Raven's eyes. Robin saw the need for an intervention on Starfire's behalf before things got ugly.

"Um I think she was giving a suggestion, that's all Rae, no need to get mad…"

Raven's cold eyes now fell on him. What did they know? To them love came easily. Sure they could make suggestion—but only for themselves because such things obviously didn't pertain to her.

"We do not mean to upset you friend." Satrfire quickly put in before Raven could get very angry at him as well. "It is just that the little one is sad and I happen to think that she could be happier… if you would give her…" by now Raven's glare had darkened significantly, making her terrified of completing her statement, but she had to, "a hug…"

"If I blew your head off then gave you a hug would you feel any better?" Raven's voice held no trace of humour or patience as she spoke. They were annoying her.

"Well actually I would—it would have made me a lot better you see—"

"No Star…" Robin said stopping her before she could make Raven any angrier.

"Leave it be, Star, she never learnt how to love anything but herself." Terra scoffed from where she sat.

At that instant the look on Raven's face told BeastBoy that Terra had hit a very raw nerve. The fury in her eyes blazed. Unadulterated rage consumed her. This had officially gone bad but he could also see that Terra didn't care; it was as if she had wanted to piss her off. Knowing her that really was what she as trying to do.

Starfire took shifted in her seat and pulled her children to her.

"What the hell do you know?" Raven shrieked. Her anger was almost visible. Things got worse when they noticed her cloak slowly changing to red. It shouldn't have gotten this far. You can't say anything because you're no better!"

Terra shot up, pleased that she had the upper hand. "How is that?"

"Terra, cool it!" Robin ordered. As team leader he wasn't going to stand by and let something like this happened. Even he knew that the impending fight was more than a physical one and he had to protect them both.

"Why should I? She claims I'm no better but we're nothing alike! Unlike her I actually have someone who loves me and on top of that I know how to love so it's reciprocated. Just look how she went and screwed her life up with that bitter hag-like hatred of hers."

"Terra!" Beastboy warned.

"No! Don't tell me to stop! She brought this on herself now she has to tell me how her miserable life could ever compare to mine. You all need to stop treating her like she's some kind of Queen that everyone treads carefully around because they don't want to offend her and tell her the truth. We owe her that much seeing as how she is unlikeable, the whiny little bitch."

A tear pricked at Raven's eyes and threatened to fall but she wouldn't let it. Tears were reserved for when she was alone in her room in the dead of night, not where the one person who she refused to let see her crying was standing right across the room. She needed a quick come-back something that would make her seem unaffected by all the skeletons she had been piling high in her closet. Her lips parted prior to her mind actually thinking about something to say, it was times like this that you had to fake it until you made it.

"You're a bitch!"

Suddenly they all looked to the entrance and saw R.A standing there, tear stained faced and scruffy looking. Despite the fact that she took several baths she was never given anything new to wear and consequently wore nothing but the blue, cotton dress she had come to the dimension in. The splotches of dirt and other stains significantly. It was no wonder they laughed at her but that didn't matter right now. The fact that her Mommy didn't love her didn't matter either because she knew that despite those things her mommy never deserved to be spoken to. She had come to conclusion after listening ti the faint sounds of her crying until she fell asleep.

"What'd you just say to me?" Terra challenged, anger now burning in her eyes.

"She called you a bitch, do something about it." Raven declared, suddenly regaining her composure and, to some extent, her confidence. Something deep inside her jumped. Someone actually took her side and was steadily defending her despite all she had done. Everyone she'd ever allowed herself to fall in love with had all tired of her the moment they realized she couldn't love them the way they loved her. Yet despite all that this little girl stood arguing on her behalf. The happiness slowly died and gave way to feelings of wretchedness. She didn't deserve to be defended by her; she had done nothing nice for her since she got there. There was no way she could allow her to continue knowing this.

"You need to leave my mommy alone!"

"That's enough!" Raven blurted. She looked over and saw the confusion of R.A's eyes.

"But…-"

"I said that's enough, now shut the hell up."

"Heh, sorry kid, but that's what happens when you try to pick up for someone who's emotionally unintelligent. I'm sure now you see that she doesn't give a crap about you and she doesn't need you."

For a minute a flicker of light radiated from R.A's body but it quickly subsided. R.A gasped, taking a hesitant step back with her eyes glued to her palms. They were the last to stop flickering.

"Hey!" R.J shouted, wiggling out of Starfire's hand running over to R.A He took her hands into his and watched the last lights leave. When they were completely gone he placed his hand on her forehead and looked into her wide, frightened eyes.

Seeing this Brightfire pulled away and ran over to them as well. She placed her hands alongside her brother's on R.A's forehead then turned to Terra, absolutely livid.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Knock it off before you make her disappear!" Shouted a now frantic Brightfire. "I don't care what kind of problems you have with you self-esteem or worth don't take it out on R.A, it's bad enough she's got a worthless bitch for a mother, now you wanna make her disappear early?" Leave it to her to say exactly what was on her mind. The two turned back R.A willing themselves to forget everyone else in the room. "How are you feeling Sweetie?" Brightfire asked, lifting her chin and raising her head.

"I feel weak…" she responded staggering alittle but regaining her balance. "…and cold…"

They both turned and glared at Terra and Raven. "If she disappears we'll kill you both." They threatened in unison.

"What?" Terra retorted. "You two and what army?"

"Terra!" Beastboy exclaimed, this time more than a little annoyed. "Christ, give it a rest!"

She quieted immediately. The sting from his words had cut her deep. Slowly she sunk down into the seat and lowered her head. All she had been trying to do was show him that she was clearly the better choice but that had back fired, now he was annoyed with her…

Raven felt no better about the situation. In a way she had set the little girl up only to let her down—harshly. There was a throbbing pain in her chest as she watched the two walk off with her. Somehow she knew it should have been her leading her away and comforting her but something in her wouldn't let her. If things continued this way the little girl would be gone before anyone even knew it…