[Chapter 7]
[Titan Tower – Later that afternoon]

Edward insisted that Terra take a break from her storytelling as his instincts were flaring in a big way. He, along with Raven, picked up that Beast Boy was on the edge emotionally speaking. The team was at the point where Terra had left the team, convinced that Beast Boy had ratted her out.

Edward allowed Cyborg to cook his "Famous Three Meat Spaghetti" for dinner as he needed time to think about the flaring emotions from Beast Boy and to prepare the guy for what Terra had to say.

"Beast Boy," Edward said, "I think we need to talk, privately."

His ears drooped and Edward said, "Relax. You're not in trouble, all right?"

They got up and headed for Edward's office/spare room.

After they arrived and sat down, Edward said, "Garfield, Rae and I have picked up a major emotional surge coming from you not that Terra's in the point of her story where she's left the team. It's obvious that you're having issues with it."

"Well," Beast Boy said, "she's only told me a few things, and, one was that she slept with that bastard."

Edward nodded, "I surmised that she at least told you that."

"You knew?" Beast Boy asked.

Edward nodded, "Yes. As she already told you about it, I won't lie to you and say otherwise. After she discovered that Slade was alive and calming down, her and I had a long talk and she did tell me that she slept with him.

"You have to remember that he was playing her like a fine violin and part of that was getting her to willingly have sex with him. She felt that she owed him something of importance other than betraying the team, and she opted to let him into her body. However, she wasn't thinking about him when he was having sex with her. She was thinking of someone else."

"Yeah," he said bitterly, "Probably me and not in a good way."

"Not really," Edward said, "Some women prefer to think of another wanted partner in that particular dance not as revenge, but, to fantasize what it would be like with them instead of the guy getting his stones off.

"Forgive me for asking this and feel free to decline to answer if you want: Since Terra's return to the land of the living, have you been intimate?"

Beast Boy snarled, "That's none of your business, Edward! How dare you ask me that? I don't ask you if you screwed Raven because I know that until you get married, you won't touch her in that way! I've been a perfect gentleman."

"Hey," Edward said, "I'm on your side, remember? No need to bite my head off. So, you haven't been that intimate with Terra. I respect that in you, Garfield. My own personal preference is pretty old fashioned and traditional and I am pleased that you're not jumping into the sack with her except in a platonic way.

"I know that you do share the same bed, technically. It might be bunk beds, but, to me, it still counts as a single bed."

"Well," Beast Boy said, "There are many nights we snuggle and fall asleep next to each other. She knows that I don't want to go all the way until we're married."

"You've been thinking about it?" Edward said with a smile. Beast Boy nodded, "I've known for a long time that she's the one. Nothing against Raven, but, as you said before, I had to relegate Rae to the sister role. I didn't expect you and her to hook up so fast, though."

Edward looked thoughtful and replied, "Neither did I. I don't think Raven was expecting it, either. The mental link between her and I probably wouldn't exist if it hadn't been for having to delve into Terra's mind. It gives us an advantage, as you've seen. But, there's the equal disadvantages of being in each other's heads."

"Like what?" Beast Boy asked.

"I'm not a telepath or empath by nature. That's developed in the last couple centuries. The family I helped in the 18th Century was highly telepathic and that transferred to me over time. I had to learn how to shield my thoughts during that time lest I make some embarrassing thought get to the others. Raven's more of a true empath, though. She easily picks up on emotions from others, especially mine now. When we're both in a good mood, the link is a joy to have. When one of us is having a bad day, the other picks up on the frustration very easily. When one of us is injured in a fight, the other feels it.

"Like when she was attacked in Nevermore, I felt it. When Trigon severed the link, it felt like Raven had died."

Beast Boy whistled, "That's something I don't want to experience again. When you were abducted, Raven had thought you were actually killed. She allowed me to console her first."

Edward sighed, "I should never have gone into that situation without backup. Raven was badly affected by that and you saw what Trigon did to Timid."

"Do I ever!" Beast Boy said, "Bruised her arm and probably tossed her about. You were quite upset after seeing that. I don't blame you."

"I was lucky that Timid even let me help her. She was so scared," Edward said before sighing, "Trigon got what he deserved."

"No question there," Beast Boy said, remembering how a completely enraged Dragon shattered Raven's soul-self before tearing Trigon's throat out, destroying the final remnant of that demon and freeing Raven once and for all.

"We all had an idea what might happen should you snap," Beast Boy said, "But, seeing that shook me to the core. We thought we had lost you to your anger."

"You guys almost did," Edward said, "When my draconic nature fully asserts itself, not many can get me to calm down again. Had Raven not fought back and then fought to calm me down, I might have ejected everyone from her mind and then killed her from the inside."

"You told us that is you're in Nevermore and Raven dies…" Beast Boy started to say.

"I would also be lost," Edward finished the thought, "That's very true, Garfield. I would be killing myself and no way back if that happens.

"And, yes, if Raven still had the threat of Trigon taking her would force me to lay down my life, without hesitation I would do so. I would do that for any of the Titans, though. I know that there may be a day when something happens that I cannot recover from as immortality for me actually has limits. I know I cannot regenerate limbs, for example. That's not part of my base DNA."

Beast Boy said, "You can form other lizards that regenerate though. Have you ever checked into if you have the abilities of those lizards?"

"You mean like if I formed a lizard and shed my tail if threatened just to see if it regenerated?" Edward said.

"Precisely," Beast Boy said.

"Not really something I want to try," Edward said, "It would suck if I shed my tail in that form to discover that it didn't regenerate."

"Why?" Beast Boy asked.

Raven rolled her eyes, "He would not be able to fly, silly."

"Got that right, dear," Edward said, "Come on, Garfield, you form all sorts of birds and they all require their tails. Same with me. It provides stability in flight. In a pinch, it helps me make tighter turns than I could usually make.

"Also, it's a vital weapon for defense and offense. For example, Back in 1790, my friend had just passed on and a mutual enemy tried to take advantage. He found out the hard way just how powerful I am. My friend's counterpart from an alternate universe arrived and the enemy was thrown my way. I hit the moron with my tail and, as they say today, it was a Grand Slam. He survived due to an evil force protecting him, but, I think when he landed, he was battered and bruised badly."

Edward sighed before continuing, "After Terra left the team the first time, she did something that to this day, she's not proud of."

"I know," Beast Boy said, "She broke down and told me a couple of months ago. She slept with the bastard. I already told you that!"

Edward raised an eyebrow, "I'm glad she did, Gar. After her initial panic finding he was alive, as you know, she came to see me in my office. She had to get a lot of things off her chest and she admitted to me what you just said. I'm not breaking any promises here because she's already told you. But, how did you feel at the time?"

"Hurt," Beast Boy admitted, "I guess I am still hurt at that. How could she give herself to that rat?"

"She felt that she owed him something for helping her control her runaway powers," Edward replied, "In my life, I've seen young women who are willing to sacrifice everything to stay in the good graces of her mentor, thinking that it's best to give the mentor what he wants in exchange for something. Yes, Terra promised to destroy the team, but, she wanted to give him something more personal. After we revived her, she had wished to get some revenge against him. When Robin, Terra and I fought Slade, even with his formidable skill, he couldn't handle an angry Dragon and an even angrier Terra.

"Yes, she was the angriest I've seen her. She got her revenge, in spades. Remember when I told the guys that she smashed him in the jewels?"

Garfield covered his own "man berries" at the memory.

"I will take that as a 'yes,'" Edward continued with a chuckle, "What I didn't tell the team was that before that 25 pound rock hit him in the testicles, she leaned towards him and snarled 'This is for my virginity.' The rock flew, propelled by her rage, and the sound it made followed by his scream almost flooded my senses. When I am in contact with someone and they are in pain, I feel it. Well, I was blocking as much as I could, but, no man can ignore the feeling of crushed walnuts. You see when Yannick Bertrand took that ski gate to the groin? WHAP WHAP WHAP! Same feeling, only magnified by 10, I dare say."

Beast Boy paled visibly, "Damn." He didn't have to say more. He had actually seen that footage and the guy took a nasty triple slapshot when he missed his turn by the barest fraction of a second and he straddled the flexible gate, which whipped him in a way no woman would. The announcer squealed like a little girl in sympathy pain as well.

"I can't say I feel sorry for Slade, then," Beast Boy said, "He got what was coming."

Both Edward and Rae cringed at the bad pun.

"Will you be all right when Terra tells the rest of the team?" Raven asked.

"I will be," Beast Boy said, "But, I wish that she didn't have to tell the others, even if they need to know."

"It has to be done, though," Edward said, "If she is to get the sort of closure she still needs, she needs to be open and honest about this. When we were fighting in Raven's mind recently, I sensed her guilt coming to the surface. That was when she faltered a bit."

"I remember you reaching over to help," Beast Boy said, "Thanks for doing that."

Edward smiled, "No need to thank me, man. We all know that Raven's mind is not for the faint of heart. Then again, no one's mind should be considered a safe place to be. That's why I guard my own mind, save for Raven. Anyone else who tries might get a nasty surprise."

He got up and stretched his legs, "Anyone for a refill?"

Raven said, "Herbal tea?"

"Not a problem," Edward said and put some water in the Keurig as well as one of Raven's special blends and put her favorite mug in the machine and hit the proper button.

"Any more Pepsi?" Beast Boy said.

Edward went to the fridge and got two bottles out as he wanted some as well. One of the benefits of both shapeshifters is that soda wouldn't really harm them much. Heck, Edward could take up smoking and his immortality would prevent the normal cancer or lung damage. But, he didn't care for the taste of cigarettes. He was known to enjoy a fine cigar at times, even Cuban cigars! He would teleport to Canada or Mexico to buy one or two as they were pretty expensive! But, since he joined the team and was about to get hitched, he no longer bought any tobacco products.

He handed Beast Boy his Pepsi and set his down. The mug of tea was ready and before Edward could get it, Raven used her powers to bring it to her.

She took a sip and said, "Perfect!"

They made some other "small talk" for a while, Edward being convinced that Beast Boy would be able to handle what was to come.

[After Dinner]

Terra and the rest of the Titans sat down and she said, "During our first mission together, Slade approached me. He told me some things that caused me to think that my secret had been told. How was I supposed to know that he lied to me to undercut my being here in the first place?

I was so blinded by emotion that I guess I latched onto whatever he told me."

"Slade was a master at the head games," Robin said, "He was good at getting what he wanted as well."

"I'm not sad to see him gone," Terra replied, "I got the measure of revenge I wanted without having to sink to his level, though."

Edward nodded as he recalled what she did to him.

"Terra," he said, "I was very proud of you that day. You could have killed him outright in revenge and the only two witnesses were Robin and myself. I'm glad though, because I know that Robin would have probably arrested you."

"Actually," Robin said, "I wouldn't have done that."

The rest of the team's jaws dropped hearing that! Robin never cut a criminal a break.

"Terra had every right to seek revenge that day," Robin explained, "All the things that Slade made her do in his name, including our initial defeat, and all the abuse he probably put her through just to teach her how to control her powers justified her reaction. Then again, I don't think I could have stood by while she killed Slade."

"I wouldn't have allowed it," Edward said gently, "Terra, please, don't take this the wrong way. Had you tried to take Slade all the way out, I would have teleported him out of your reach. Your path of redemption would have been for nothing. That's why I am proud of you: You stopped before you crossed the line. You took my advice to heart in using only the amount of force needed. Sure, you broke several of his bones and probably popped one of his walnuts and that was ironic justice."

Terra blushed, "You would be surprised, Edward. I wanted so badly to smash his head in, but, deep down, I knew you'd stop me somehow. But, I also knew that if I made an attempt, I would be in jail or worse. Then again, nothing is as bad as being petrified and still aware. That's the worst prison of them all."

[Three days after Terra left the Titans]

"Well, Terra," Slade said, "I see that you've made your decision."

"I have," Terra replied, "Beast Boy told Robin about my control problems. You said you'd help me, right?"

"I will help you, child," Slade replied, "But, there's something I want in return: Your utter loyalty to me. This means that you do exactly what I tell you to do and exactly how I tell you. You will be my apprentice, I will be your master."

"Deal," Terra said without hesitation.

"There's no turning back after this, Terra," Slade warned her, "You're agreeing to be my apprentice has no escape clause. You will be tasked with helping me take over Jump City. And we can't do that with the Teen Titans in the way."

"I understand, Slade," Terra said.

"You will address me as 'Master'," Slade said calmly.

"Yes, Master," Terra said.

"That's better, Terra," Slade said, "We will begin your lessons tomorrow. Until then, you will not use your powers."

"Yes, Master," Terra said.

Slade smiled behind his mask. Had Terra seen it, it was not a smile of happiness, but, one of satisfaction. He was forced to abandon his first attempt to get an apprentice with Robin when he intentionally injected himself with the nanoprobes. Slade couldn't activate them again with out harming Robin and it was obvious that Robin would rather die first.

He had a lot of plans for the naïve terramancer and it all involved not just teaching her to control her powers, but, his total control over her will. It would not be an equal deal. In fact, he was developing an insurance policy or two.

He was going to break her spirit on all levels if need be. She would be under his utter control, only, she would not realize it. Terra, he realized, was tired or running and tired of the lack of control over her abilities.

He also was developing a neural interface to "assist" her with control, but, it would be a two way street because that suit would teach him how to control her like a puppet.

Terra would not know what was really in store.

[A Week Later]

Terra had been through increasing tests with her control and was already showing signs of improvement, being able to fire rocks through various targets.

But, Slade was a harsh trainer, not willing to suffer many mistakes after a while.

After a particularly hard training session, Slade said, "Terra, you are not concentrating properly! Get your head in the game! FOCUS!"

"Yes, Master," Terra said.

"Try again," Slade commanded.

Terra focused on the task at hand: sending two 25 pound boulders through a series of moving targets.

Her hands glowed intensely as did her eyes as she focused on the boulders. They lifted into the air and started flying. The task required her to hit the targets enough to punch through the material they were made of.

Both rocks flew through the air, hitting two out of 4 targets. Terra groaned as the rocks fell.

"Not good enough!" Slade barked, "Do it again!" He stormed over to her and said, "At this rate, you will not be ready for any missions I would love to send you on and if I do not see you hitting the targets, you will find yourself sleeping here instead of the hideout!"

"Yes, Master," Terra said, eyes cast downward. She dared not look up at Slade. Something told her that it would not be a good move on her part.

Slade repaired the two targets and set them in motion again. He gathered the rocks Terra was using and set them in front of her.

He moved out of the way and barked, "Go!"

Once more her hands glowed and the rocks raced through the air. There was four resounding cracks and the targets were hit.

"Very good, apprentice," Slade said, "You saved yourself from a very cold night. Keep practicing as I want you to be able to hit those targets much quicker and be able to control their flight."

As time went by, Terra's control improved greatly under his training until Slade was certain Terra was ready for an important mission. She had to return to the Titans and regain their trust and relay everything she knew about them back to Slade.

Slade's plan, though, required him to willingly lose to the Titans and for Terra to help the team defeat him. She had adopted a new uniform as the neural interface wasn't ready. There were some side effects that Slade was actually concerned about. Mainly because if it burned out Terra's nervous system if he was forced to use a failsafe, it could potentially kill the geomancer.

[6 months after Terra joins Slade]

The Teen Titans were enjoying a game of two on two volleyball. Raven had opted to meditate on the roof, repeating her mantra over and over.

Beast Boy opted to morph into a gorilla and slammed the ball. It raced towards Raven and he morphed back and yelled "Head's up, Raven!" The ball was encased in her powers and returned towards Beast Boy at the same speed it headed towards her.

It slammed into Beast Boy, knocking him down. Robin was impressed a bit as Beast Boy got up.

But, he didn't get the hint that Raven was trying to give him and served the ball as a gorilla. This time, Raven merely moves out of the way, allowing the ball to sail over the edge of the building and to the rocks below.

The others yelled in dismay and Beast Boy said, "I'll get it."

But, the team was surprised when the ball came back up and bounced on the rooftop.

They were stunned to see Terra rising over the edge on a boulder, under perfect control.

"So?" she asked with a smirk, "Which team am I on?"

Hi, Everyone!

I'm back, finally! No, I'm not dead. Just taking an extended break to let story ideas flow some before trying to put them online. This story, I think, will have a couple more chapters in it. "Honeymoon in Hawaii" has a way to go, as does "Tiny Titans". I'll be working on those next as well as some that I haven't posted yet: One with a Hulk crossover, and another with Knight Rider (the original series). However, with those stories, I'm not committing them to FF yet, mainly because I have too many stories going at the same time. Once this story is done and others are closer to completion, I'll see if I should pull the trigger on the last two and post them.

Folks, I know it's been a while since I've updated and I am certainly grateful for your patience. However, when the ideas are slower than molasses at either pole, it's not easy to knock these stories out. The lack of reviews does not help much, either.

I know some folks are not happy that I've added an OC to the mix who is not a villain. I'm sorry you may feel that way, but, I have never considered Edward to be a bad guy. Yes, he has his moments of intense anger, as readers already know, however, that is my choice. I've pitted him against Malchoir as well as some of the other major baddies in the TT universe. But, that shouldn't mean that y'all are silent on the whole thing. I do ROUTINELY check my story counts and even when I haven't posted, I'm still getting a lot of hits. But, little feedback.

How am I supposed to know if I'm on the right track or if there's a problem with a storyline if y'all's quieter than people at a funeral?

Please, make use of the review box below...Thanks! :)