Chapter 48. Consequences.

"Robin!" said Starfire enthusiastically and Robin wasted no time and run to her side. Cyborg made a double take as now there were two Robins.

'Star!… are you ok? I'm sorry I wasn't here earlier. Are you hurt?" asked Robin, as he was hugging the alien, knelt down next to her on the ground as she was still weak from the device Slade had put on her. Starfire shook her head and only basked in the moment of having Robin back.

Raven walked closer to Slade and knelt down to look closer at his bite wounds. Each one had started to swell and reddish, purple shadows surrounded them indicating the venom making its effect. She extended her right hand above his chest and moved it slowly from side to side and tried to sense what had happened. Slade was in shock and barely breathing, His mask had also fallen when he was slammed against the wall a second time by the Beast. His eye was dilated and his skin ashen.

"Robin? How did you know how to stop him from healing?" asked Raven sensing the weak struggle Slade was trying to make.

Robin approached her and the villain, trying to choose his words carefully. As there were certain parts of his plan he was sure she was not gong to like.

"Batman asked Zatanna for a way to stop him from healing the moment they realized what was going on. Coming to the conclusion that he was somehow still under Trigon's influence, Zatanna left immediately to find a way to counteract it but, it took her longer than what she expected to find the right spell."

Raven nodded her understanding so far but then, she looked at the bracelet Robin had put on the villain's wrist. It had symbols very similar to the ones she once saw appear on her skin before. They were carved roughly over the pieces of the stone it was made of , but also, she found purple strands, wrapped tightly around in between each piece.

"Robin, where did you get this? How…" she asked without looking up. Robin tensed up. He knew he was going to have to give an explanation sooner or later.

"She needed something that had come in direct contact with Trigon, like the rocks from the cave where he used you as the portal…" Robin said cautiously.

"And this?…" she asked with an arched brow, pointing at the hair strands. Robin winced under his mask.

"She also needed a lock of your hair for better results as you're his direct descendant. Your essence was the key to activate the amulet"

"Right. Then do you mind telling me how did you get the hair sample?" there was certain edge, anger and annoyance in her tone.

"Actually… Michael got it for me two days ago" Robin said. Raven narrowed her eyes at him then, realization sat in and sharply turned to the thief who was glaring at Robin from a few feet away from them, finally back in his black spandex suit and skull like mask.

"You!" said Raven now dangerously glaring at him while her eyes glowed white under the hood of her cloak, but when he tried to move, a tendril of her dark energy entrapped him and slammed him against the wall. "That's what you were doing in my room. You weren't waiting for me, I just caught you before you had a chance to escape" Raven accused.

"What can I say. You kids have a knack for busting my plans anytime I set out to acquire anything but I promise you Raven, everything I said was true at the time"

"Not true enough. You're still here" she said and the dark tentacle pressed him harder against the wall. Michael was starting to struggle for air.

"That was before certain …circumstances got my attention"

"Raven…" Robin tried to intervene but another tentacle grabbed Robin and also slammed him against the wall next to his clone.

"And you have a lot of explaining to do… Robin"

"Rae… Raven, calm down…" said Garfield and attempted to place his hand on her shoulder but she moved away before he ever made contact.

"No. I need you to tell me what was that? And don't pretend like you don't know what I'm talking about Garfield. Why did the Beast backed away from Meliah like a beaten up dog the moment he was close to her?"

Garfield was at a loss of words for a moment. He tried to open his mouth but no sound came out. He sighed as he closed his eyes and furrowed his brow and whispered "I think… no, I know she's pregnant… and… there is a possibility that… that baby is mine"

Raven gasped silently. She had thought about it. The possibility had crossed her mind but deep down she hoped for another outcome. Hoped for another reason for Meliah's powers to falter other than a pregnancy. Which, in a way was true. But, the reality was cruel. Even more than what she thought possible. She wasn't looking at Garfield anymore, her complexion seemed paler by the second. So lost in her own shock she was that lost concentration and Robin and Michael fell to the grown without warning but no one said a word.

"Raven please talk to me…" Garfield whispered with desperation.

"You said there is a possibility that its yours. Does that mean there is another prospect?" she asked, brows furrowed and eyes cast down, not able to look at him in the eye.

"…Michael" Garfield answered quietly.

"I see… excuse me" Raven said just as quietly and disappeared thru a portal on the ground.

…

…

Meliah was still in the same place where the Beast had cornered her. Part of her was in shock, in panic. The one thing she never wanted to be public, was now more than obvious when the Beast simply knew with a sniff, that she was with child. Now everyone knew. Michael, Garfield…Raven. Raven who was now obviously seething with anger, her tone and actions said as much while her face still hidden under the hood. Taking it out of Robin and Michael over a petty issue as going into her room. But she had seen Garfield's face when he answered her about the Beast. She had seen his guilt over hurting her, his shame, his pain even though he was not at fault. It was too much.

She didn't think of it twice and while everyone was distracted, she transformed into a white cat and tried to make her way out of the chamber, but, a green cheetah was suddenly blocking her way. The white cat hissed, bared its teeth and claws then turned into a tiger and roared in defiance but the cheetah made a low, sad growl and turned back to his human form.

"You don't have to go anywhere M… I'm not going to let you go, not ever. Specially at a time like this." he said. He was crouching in front of the feline when she turned back human.

"Why Garfield… because I'm pregnant? " she asked bitterly. He shook his head.

"No M. regardless of that . I wasn't going to let you go… not after all we've been thru… not after I thought you were dead… I'm not going to loose you again"

"Don't be ridiculous Garfield but most of all, don't be naïve. Do you think Raven is going to be ok with that? Do you think I wanted any of this to happen? Or that it would get this far?… no Garfield. Has it occurred to you that perhaps I wasn't meant to live this long?" she almost yelled but her words made him angry. How could she think of being dead.

"Has it occurred to you that perhaps you are? Meliah, everything happens for a reason. Tell me something… what did father Dawa show you that upset you so. I know he showed you other paintings of a future perhaps not too far from now… tell me… what did he show you."

"That is irrelevant…" Meliah said, glaring and baring her fangs.

"Why..?"

"Because it cant happen and it wont happen" she barked.

"Why do you say that?" he yelled back.

"Because the damage in my system is severe, because there is no guarantee that the baby will survive inside me longer than three months and even if it does, I will die as soon as its born because it will no longer maintain the balance that might keep me alive by then" she yelled. Everyone was watching them in silence. Even father Dawa was awake with a shocked, stricken expression.

Garfield was no different, he had fallen silent after her rant and now with wide open eyes, was trying to remember how to breath.

"First things first" said Starfire, landing in front of the two arguing changelings "Friend Meliah, you must not engage in exhausting and pointless arguments. They will not help one bit and they will not improve your health"

"Starfire? I'm not some fragile thing. I can take care of myself" said Meliah with barely contained anger, trying not to snap at the friendly alien. But Starfire wasn't affected by Meliah's tone and smiled at the girl. "I know you are very capable of that, but a child changes things. You might not feel like you deserve to live but tell me… does an innocent, unborn child deserves to die?"

"Starfire, regardless of whether I want it or not, there is no guarantee that it would live long enough inside me"

"As there is no guarantee that it would die. There is hope Meliah. didn't Slade say he had a cure to bargain with?"

"And you believe that madman?. The one that has tried to hurt all of you more than once since I met you… do you really expect me to believe him?"

"Meliah, Slade is many things, but a liar he is not. If he says he found a cure then there is a cure. If Slade was able to find it, then Cyborg will be able to as well."

"Starfire is right Meliah, Slade is a criminal but also a master mind. But Cyborg is no less of a genius himself, I'm sure he will be able to find the same formula that Slade found" said Robin. Putting a hand on Garfield's shoulder to show him his support.

"You have friends now Meliah and we're not going to leave you alone" said Garfield.

"But Gar, what about Raven?" asked Meliah more calmly.

"First we take care of your health, we'll worry about everything else later" said Cyborg coming form the hallway and joining the group. "C'mon y'all, let the patient breath…" Meliah frown at this but Cyborg's smile never faltered "C'mon little lady, come with me"

"What about Slade?" asked Meliah but noticed Slade was no longer on the ground.

"Already taken care of. Don't worry about him anymore." said Cyborg and led Meliah out of the chamber. Both walked silently down the hall until they reached another room where he already had other basic medical equipment ready. As soon as Cyborg closed the door, Meliah started to pace aimlessly while he took some samples of the contents of the IV Slade had put on her arm earlier.

"I cant believe it. This is the most ironic and ridiculous situation I have ever gotten myself into. Not mentioning clichéd. Here I am, thinking I was actually different and I'm no more than a typical, reckless teenage girl, pregnant, with no idea who her baby's daddy is. Tell me Cyborg. In what mind, in what world, in what… dimension.. Is this right?" Cyborg only eyed her from his position but said nothing and let her vent as her anger and frustration were obvious.

"Everyone is assuming its Gar's. Even Gar himself, he even feels responsible. I never meant for any of this to happen. Why did he have to find out? Raven …"

"Raven will have to deal with all this eventually. She's upset. Cant blame her for that… just give her time." said Cyborg when he finally caught up with her. Pulled her gently by the arm to the edge of the bed and hook the Iv carefully back in her arm but Meliah was distant, distracted. So much so that she didn't even feel the prick of the needle. At some point, she had no expression of emotion to speak of. As if she had made a silent decision that she had resigned to. Many things crossed her mind and yet, nothing was able to stick long enough to distract her form the bigger issue.

"Hey…" said Cyborg quietly, trying to get her attention. "Look at me" he said but still got no answer and she even closed her eyes. But, he placed a finger under her chin and gently pulled her face up to him. Meliah opened her eyes. They were shining with unshed tears that she was fighting back.

"No one is blaming you, you don't have to be sad…"

"I'm not sad Cyborg, I'm angry! Why does he have to feel responsible… I'm not some clueless, fragile thing that needs protecting"

"I know you're not and I'm sure he does too but that doesn't mean that he wont do just that… protect you…"

"Why… "

"Why? Because that's who he is… do you think the girls in this team need protecting? Star and Raven are more powerful than the three of us combined but that doesn't mean we're just going to sit back and let them handle everything that come their way by themselves and just like Robin and I, Beast Boy will do anything to keep them safe … whether they like it or not"

"yeah, but that's the difference Cyborg. They're his teammates, his friends and one of them is no less than his fiancé now, of course his going to be protective."

"Meliah, just think about this… If he can be that protective of his teammates and friends…how do you think he's going to feel about you when you're like his sister?… the one that he thought dead?"

Meliah sighed in frustration and shook her head "But he's going too far. He's putting me in the middle or rather, before his happiness. Cyborg? Do you remember me telling you that Raven finally said yes to his proposal? Do you even have any idea of what that meant for him?…" Cyborg's eyes went wide open in surprise. He had forgotten about that. Meliah continued without waiting for an answer. "It mean the world. It meant everything. He has finally come to terms with who he is, what he wants and who he loves, but now… thanks to that stubborn feeling of responsibility he's got, he's shattering his hopes and dreams, along with Raven's… because of me and that is the last thing I want."

"I didn't think of that…" Cyborg said quietly.

"Well, now you have and now you can understand why I didn't want him to know…I just hope Raven wont push him away… that would break his heart beyond repair and I'll never be able to live with that"

…

…

Raven appeared at the tallest peak of Mt Everest. Where the cold is several degrees below zero and one can hardly breath due to the height and temperature. Raven let out a battle cry and with all her might, used her powers against the frozen, snowy rocks. She used the tendrils of her magic like whips and destroyed several rocks, the wind muffling the explosive sounds. A battle cry was released with every swing and with every attempt at trying to destroy an unseen enemy seemed to feed her blinding anger. So much so, that she didn't realized the low rumble that started to be louder with each passing moment.

He throat was dry and now, it hurt with every intake of cold air. She long for her tears to run but decided against it and instead, she lowered herself to a small rocky surface when finally the rumble noise caught up with her attention and as she levitated lower, still panting from exertion, the noise grew louder as it approached. She looked up on time to see the moon's light shinning over her new found attacker. But she was too tired and too cold to react faster and as she saw the avalanche just above her, she sighed in resignation and closed her eyes before impact.

And as cold darkness surrounded her, her only thought was Garfield.