Ch 6

Her words had done something to him. He thought about them as he lied awake in his bed. At the time he had accepted his fate. He accepted his death as inevitable. There was no way he was supposed to survive the death of his parents and the poachers, who were constantly hunting him, ready to sell him to the highest bidder. What kind of life was that for a child anyway? She had given him his life back for him to only live out the rest of his days being chased, caught, beaten, used, and experimented on until he met the Doom Patrol and then the Titans. 'I couldn't tell her that. I wonder how she would feel? Not too good I would imagine.'

He thought about how strange she had been acting today. It was so un-Raven like that it caught him off guard. He could hear the emotion in her voice and see it in her eyes, and it made him feel warm and dizzy. 'This has to stop. I can't let her get close. I can't let anyone get close to me,' he sighed, 'I need to get out of here,' he thought as he made his way out the door and down the dark hallway.

In the living room he decided to play video games on silent mode until he fell asleep, but it wasn't happening. He sighed to the empty, dark room as he lied his head back on the couch. Before he could figure out what to do next, he heard footsteps walk in and looked up to see Azar, who had spotted.

"Hello Beast boy."

"Hi Azar, I guess you couldn't sleep either," he said as Azar sat down on the couch with him.

"Haven hasn't contacted me, and I'm afraid he'll never get over the grief of Arella. I miss her everyday, but he can't hold a grudge forever. We won't be around forever, and I want him to get to know his granddaughter."

"Boy is he really missing out," said BB. "I feel like I'm lucky to know her," he smiled.

"I believe she feels the same way about you."

"Does she talk to you about me?"

"She talks to me and Violet about all her friends, but I notice you get the most attention."

BB blushed. "So, what are you going to do about Haven?"

"Well I want to stay in Jump City along with Violet and Craven, but I'm afraid my husband will want to leave. I'll have to make a decision on whether to stay here or leave with my husband."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. I don't think I could bear leaving my granddaughter, but I love my husband."

"We have to make him stay," said BB.

"How?"

"Raven."

"What?"

"AH!" they both yelled before they turned to see Raven coming into the room.

"I was about to get some tea and then I heard voices in here. What can I possibly do to make Haven stay?"

"Do you know any spells or-?" asked BB.

"Sure, that's the honest way. Force him to stay with a spell," said Raven.

"Is there anyway you could contact your mom so Haven can talk to her? Maybe your mom can clear some things up so Haven can see you more clearly."

"I can't believe I'm about to say this, but that's not a bad idea," said Raven.

"You can do this Raven?" asked Azar.

"Yes, maybe Violet and Craven can join us if that's all right," said Raven as Azar held her tight.

"Oh thank you Raven, you don't know how much this will mean to your grandpa, aunt, uncle, and me."

"I think I have a good understanding of how much this means to all of you," Raven said as Azar let go of her. Raven faced BB. "I would like if you joined us to Beast boy." She blushed.

"It wouldn't feel right Rae. This is more of a family affair. I would feel like I'm intruding."

"No, you wouldn't. I want you to meet my mother."

"All right Rae if you insist," he smiled.

A knock came to the door of Haven's hotel room. Opening the door, he saw his wife, daughter, son-in-law, Raven, and Beast boy. "What's going on here?" asked Haven.

"Let us in Haven and I will explain," said his wife as he stood aside, letting everyone in.

"You can explain on our way back home Azar. We're on the next plane tonight."

"Raven knows a spell, so we can talk to Arella. Maybe she can give you a reason to stay for a while," said Azar.

"Why would you do this?" asked Haven to Raven.

"It's obvious how much you were effected by my mother's loss. I can tell how much you love her," said Raven. "She was important to me, but she is still very much important to you."

"Very well," said Haven.

Everyone stood back as Raven organized her ingredients, putting everything in its rightful place to perform the spell. She sat down on the bed, took a deep breath in and then uttered the spell. When she was done, a white robed figure with long blue hair appeared to them.

"Arella," said Haven. "Is that really you?"

"Yes father, it is good to see all of you," she said as her father held her.

"Why did you have to die?" asked Haven.

"To protect my child. It is not fair of you to blame Raven. This was my choice and mine alone. I know what damage Trigon has done to our world father, but he is gone forever. It is time to let go and get to know your granddaughter. I'll always love you."

"I love you to Arella," he said as he stepped back so his family could talk to her.

"Mother, you look well," said Arella.

"It's good to see you sweetheart. It's been such a long time. I love you, and I'm sorry you had to face that monster all alone."

"There's nothing to be sorry for. I was protecting my family from him. I didn't want anyone involved," said Arella.

"Sister, brother-in-law you two look so happy," said Arella as Violet hugged her sister. "You take care of her."

"I always do Arella," Craven smiled.

"Why didn't you let us know about Raven? You know we could have taken care of her," said Violet.

"I knew she would have a hard time keeping her emotions in check. If she were to feel love, joy, or any emotion for that matter, your lives would have been in danger. She needed time to keep her emotions under control, and I knew it would take a long time. I knew you would all meet when the time was right."

"I guess that makes sense," said Violet.

"It was never my intention to hurt you Violet," said Arella.

"I know. I love you."

"I love you to Violet."

The sisters hugged once more before Arella made her way over to Raven and Beast boy. BB couldn't help but feel nervous. This was Raven's mother and yet he couldn't sense anything from her. He had always been able to sense things in other people, even Raven because of his animal abilities, but this woman was a closed book.

"Raven."

"Mother."

"It's good to see you're doing well. I'm so happy you've finally met your family."

"I wanted to make sure they saw you one last time. They love you so much."

"I'm sorry I couldn't lo-"

"There's nothing that can be done now. You had your reasons, and I understand."

The cold exchange between mother and daughter did not go unnoticed by everyone. Beast boy was stunned to say the least, but he didn't know their history. He wanted to know. He had never see Raven this cold before, even when she joined the Titans.

"You know why I did what I did Raven. I had no choice," said Arella. "Expressing your emotions at that time was dangerous."

"If you cared about me at all, you would have found a way to stay with me. I was just a little girl! I needed-"

"I could never give you what you wanted Raven. Can you understand that? I accepted you because you were my child, but every time I looked at you I saw that monster. I couldn't bare it at times. You will always be a part of me, but I could never accept you fully. I know that makes me a horrible person, and I'm sorry."

"It's time for you to go. You'll disappear soon so say your goodbyes and get out of my face," said Raven as she turned away from her mother and family to see the compassion in Beast boy's eyes. She wanted to hug him and cry until her voice gave out but all she could do is turn away from his and walk out the door.

Raven leaned her head against the wall of the empty hallway as she breathed in and then out. She was losing control of her emotions as tears ran down her cheeks. She had to get out of the building before her powers destroyed it, so she created a portal to a deserted area and step into it, not realizing the green changeling had followed her.

Nothing but desert greeted Beast boy's eyes until he spotted Raven, releasing some of her power. Realizing what was about to happen, Beast boy turned into a small animal and dug his way under the sand for protection. He felt the ground shake, but he held on, but it wasn't the only thing he felt. Sadness and anger hit his senses. It was so overwhelming but as soon as it came, it was over as Beast boy crawled out of the sand and changed back to his human form to see Raven siting on the sand, meditating.

"Why did you follow me?" she asked with her eyes still closed as she floated above the sand.

"I was concerned Raven. I saw what happened in there," he said as he stood beside the floating empath.

"I lost control. It won't happen again.

"That's not what I'm talking about, and you know it. I just want to help."

"You can't help. There's nothing to be fixed. My relationship with Arella has been somewhat nonexistent."

"I can't believe she wouldn't love you. There's so many things about to you to love. It's her loss really."

The warmth returned to her body, and she blushed. She couldn't believe how blown away she was by him. He knew what to say to get to he heart, and there was no deception behind his words. Every word was pure from his lips.

Raven smiled. "Thank you Beast boy." She sighed. "In the end I could never love her. Since she didn't show it to me, I had never experienced this feeling until I came to earth. The first time I felt it I-never mind. I've been lucky to have such great friends."

"And we've been lucky to have you to Rae."

"So, we should probably head back. I have enough energy," she said as she opened a portal. Raven and Beast boy appeared in the hotel room.

"Hey, I think we're going to head back to Titans Tower," said BB.

"I'm sorry about my sister," said Violet. "I can't believe she would say those things about you Raven."

"She's right about some things," said Raven. "I would have loved to form a connection with her, but it wasn't meant to be. I'll accept it and move on with my life."

"That's very mature of you Raven," said Azar.

"I can see where Arella's coming from," said Haven.

"Ok, this is not about taking sides," said BB. "This is all about love. We all love Raven right?"

"Right," said Azar, Violet and Craven as they looked to Haven.

"I'll stay, but I have to get to know her before I can say such a thing," said Haven.

"I guess that's fair," said BB as Azar, Violet, and Craven hugged Raven before they left the hotel. Raven was feeling a little bit better but gravity of her mother's words still hurt her deeply. She felt Beast boy's hand on her shoulder, and the warmth from his hand warmed her body. "I know this couldn't have been easy for you."

"I'll survive Beast boy. I always do."

"Don't feel like you have to be alone in this Raven.I know it hurts but think about the people who do love you. The other Titans, the Titan kids, your grandma, aunt, and uncle. It's only a matter of time before Haven loves you."

"And what about you?"

"What about me Rae?"

"Do you love me?"

Beast boy was shocked, but he got a hold of himself to answer her. "As a friend or something more?" he asked. 'Oh shit why did I just ask that. Am I looking to be sent to another dimension?'

It was Raven's turn to be shocked. 'Did he just say what I think he's saying? No, it can't be.' Raven blushed but let out the breath she had been holding in. "Just be honest with me Beast boy."

"I'm in love with you, but I know you don't love me, which is just as well because you're so much better than me. You deserve someone who isn't so screwed up like me."

"I don't need you to tell me what I deserve. I'll make up my own mind about my feelings. I think we should go now," said Raven as she took off into the sky with a green raven flying right beside her.