Ch 4

Raven woke up the next morning to discover she had overslept. 'Well that's weird but maybe has something to do everything that happened yesterday. Lying back down on her bed, she stared at the ceiling. 'I have a whole other family I never knew about all these years. Mother, why didn't you tell me?' She knew she wouldn't get any answers, so she rolled off her bed, got dressed in a fresh uniform, and made her way to the kitchen.

She found her teapot heating on the stove as well as her teacup beside the pot on the counter. The gesture caught her off guard, but she didn't have time to think about it as the teapot whistled. Turning off the stove, she took the teapot and poured the tea into her teacup. Bringing the teacup to her nose, she recognized it wasn't her usual tea. It was Mandarin Orange, and it smelled heavenly to her. It tasted even better. 'Who would do this?'

"Hey Rae, I see you're having the Mandarin Tea?"

"Why did you make this for me?"

"Well I thought you might want to broaden your tea horizons."

"Ok, um thanks for the tea Beast boy. So where is everyone else?"

"You're welcome. Robin and Starfire decided to go on a date while going grocery shopping and Cyborg's at Titans East to see Bumblebee. I'm pretty sure they're dating. So, how was your night? You kind of overslept, and that's kind of my thing."

"I find out I have family. They just happened to be in Jump City, and I went to see them last night."

"Oh my god Rae that's great! So, how did it go?"

"Well they're staying in Jump City. They want to get to know me. I mean at least my uncle and aunt want to. My grandparents seemed a little cold, detached even."

"I'm really happy for you Rae. I'm sure your grandparents will warm up to you eventually just like I've warmed up to you."

"Is that what you trying to get me smile was all about?"

"Face it Rae," he smiled, "you just can't live without my constant jokes and charming personality."

He didn't even know how true that was. "In your dreams Beast boy."

"So it is possible?"

She sighed and rolled her eyes. "You are truly something else."

"Thank you," he smiled as he headed to living room, sat on the couch, and turned on the TV.

Flipping through the channels, he noticed as Raven sat next to him with her teacup cradled in her hands. The news channel caught his eye as it showed two police officers carrying away a man in chains down the steps to a police car. A reporter came up to him and asked, "do you have any last words Mr. Galtry?"

"You were my greatest experiment Garfield. I will never forget you, even in death," he smiled wickedly before he was pushed into the police car. Raven changed the channel after that.

Suddenly Raven felt this rush of pain that caused her to curl into a ball. The feeling was so strong, and it was coming from her green companion, who was curled up into himself as a dog as he whimpered. She looked to her sad and pain ridden friend and came out of her body to do her best to comfort him the best way she could. She scooted closer to him, and the movement caused the green dog to lift its head to look at Raven as she patted her lap. "It's ok Beast boy," she said as the green dog rose from its position, lying its head on her lap while the rest of his body lied on the couch. She listened to him whimper until she decided to stroke his fur to calm him down.

"I hope he rots in hell," said Raven as she looked down at the quite creature. She could sense he was a sleep and at peace for now. She turned off the TV, lied back against the couch, and felt herself drift off to sleep.

The sound of the groceries hitting the kitchen table tops woke Raven up. Looking around, she realized Beast boy was gone. She was worried until she sensed him in his room. Getting up herself, she made her way to the kitchen and helped Robin and Starfire put everything away.

"So Raven, where's-?" Robin asked as he was interrupted.

"Hey all you'll never guess who I ran into today," said Cybrorg.

"Who is it friend Cyborg? I can hardly contain myself," said an excited Starfire.

"It's Raven's aunt and uncle," he said as he let the couple pass him.

"Friend Raven, you have family."

"Yes Starfire, I was going to tell everyone soon but I guess now is a better time then any," Raven said as introduced her aunt and uncle to Robin, Starfire, and Cyborg.

"Hey, where's BB?" asked Cyborg.

The door slid open and Beast boy walked out to see his friends and a couple in the kitchen. Looking closely at the male, his eyes widened. 'Oh no, it can't be him. It's just someone who looks like him. You're ok, it's ok.'

Craven's eyes widened. "Garfield, you're alive," he said in amazement.

'Oh god it is him. What do I do?' His instincts told him to run and so he did. He ran to his room and flew out the window as fast as he could so no one could catch him.

Beast boy found himself trying to catch his breath as he sat on a park bench. 'I think that's the fastest I've flown in a while.' Leaning back on the bench, he looked up to the sky to see what a nice day it was. He sighed. 'Man what am I going to do? Obviously the other Titans will want to know why I ran away. I don't want them to know and hopefully Craven won't spill the beans.'

"Excuse me young man, are you all right?" asked a female voice.

Beast boy came from his thoughts to see an older woman with blue hair. "Oh um yeah, I'm fine."

"Who are you trying to fool?" she said.

He sighed. "Everyone I care about."

"Why?"

"Azar!" said a male voice. "What are you doing?"

"That's my husband Haven," she said as Beast boy stood up.

"You know you two look like someone I know," said BB. "You're name is Azar, right?" The woman nodded. "You must be Raven's grandparents.

"And you are?" asked Haven.

"Beast boy. I'm a friend of Raven's. We're a part of a crime fighting team called the Teen Titans."

"Raven's a hero?" asked Azar.

"Yes, she's the strongest person I know."

Azar sat down on the bench. "Tell me more about my granddaughter."

BB sat down beside her. "I met her and the other Titans in this city. She was cold at first and liked to be left alone. She was a mystery to everyone on the team, but we all became friends and eventually family when we got to know each other. She's come such a long way from where she started. She's made the most transformation. She's a hero and would gladly lay her life on the line for her friends. You only know her as Trigon's daughter, but that's not who she is. You can't choose your parents, but you can choose the way you live your life. Don't shut her out. If you care about your daughter at all, you'll get to know you're granddaughter. You'll understand why she's so special."

"Thank you Beast boy," said Azar. She then looked to her husband and stood up. "I think it's time to put your anger behind you Haven. We may have not gotten the rest of our lives to spend with our daughter, but we have a second chance with Raven. We may never get this chance again."

"I can't Azar. I can't forgive what that monster did to our child. I can't just love something that is a part of that monster," said Haven.

"Raven's not a thing. She's a person and was innocent in this whole situation," said BB.

"She is far from innocent if she's half demon. His blood runs through her veins," said Haven.

"She's human to, and your daughter's blood runs through Raven as well. How can you just abandon family like that?" asked BB.

"I want to see her and apologize," said Azar. "I want her to know that I love her no matter what."

BB smiled. "I'm sure she'll really appreciate that."

"You're making a mistake Azar," said Haven as he walked away from them.

"No, I think you're the one making the mistake. I'll see you later Haven," she said as she looked to BB. "So, how do we get to the tower?"

"Well, I can transform into any animal so I'll just fly us there. Make sure you hold on tight," he said before he transformed into a pterodactyl.

"How impressive," she said as he grabbed her by the claws of flew them over the water towards Titans Tower.

Landing on the roof, BB opened the door to and they walked down into the living room to see a pissed off leader and his girlfriend, who was trying to calm him down.

"H-hey Robin, Starfire, where is everyone?" asked BB.

"Friend Raven is showing her aunt and uncle around the tower and friend Cyborg is video chatting with friend Bumblebee."

"Why did you run away Beast boy?" asked Robin as he got up from the couch. "Why are you keeping things from the team? When we all decided to tell each other our pasts, we all promised to be honest."

"I was. I just left out some things," he said and then looked to Azar. "Oh well this is Azar, Raven's grandmother."

"I will take her to see friend Raven," said Starfire as Azar followed the alien princess.

"Beast boy, what you did was wrong. We were all honest. How could you-?"

"I'm not going to go there with anyone Robin. All you would do is look at me in pity. I don't want that. I'm fine with the way things are. It hasn't effected me in battles so why does it matter?"

"How does this team know they can trust you of we don't know anything about you?"

"You all know the important things Robin. Nothing else matters. I've never given you any reason not to trust me."

"The Beast."

"You know, I though we got past that. I know how to control that part of me with all the training I've done."

"That isn't the point Beast boy."

"Then what is it Robin? Because-" They were interrupted by the doorbell. "I'll get it," he said as he answered the door to see the Doom Patrol and he stood aside to let them in. "What are you doing here?" asked BB.

"We wanted to say goodbye Garfield," said Rita. "The trial is over, and justice has been done."

"Oh," Beast boy said. It was hard for him every time he had to say goodbye to the first family he had ever truly known. He felt a hand on his shoulder before Rita brought him into a hug. "It's all right. We understand. You weren't ready. Maybe someday..."

"I'll miss you grass stain," said Robot man.

"Me to Cliff."

"Don't get into to much trouble," said Negative man.

"Oh you know I will," BB laughed.

"There's a man inside of you Beast boy and when you face who you really are and accept it, you'll be one of the best men I know. Take care of yourself Garfield," said Mento.

"Thanks Steve, that means a lot to me. Take care of your family."

"You'll always be family to us Beast boy. Don't forget that."

"I won't," BB smiled.

BB watched the ship take off into the sky, smiled briefly, and came back into the living room but walked past his leader and into the hall. He knew Robin was upset, but he didn't care. All he wanted to do was go back to the ways things were and on some level he knew he would never be the same again.