It had been a few weeks since her near-death experience. Fall had begun, and the luscious green landscape had transformed into bright orange.
Raven was telekinetically moving about amenities that had arrived, including mats, furniture and the like, all around a field. She was seeing to the layout of her meditation grounds.
There then came a whirring sound. She looked up at the sky in search of the source, narrowing a direction.
Squinting at the Sun, she noticed a metallic sphere, gray and purple in color, no larger than a tennis ball, flying towards her.
Fists engulfed in her energy, she stood ready. She braced for impact.
Raven jumped back, tripping and landing flat on the grass as a result.
She caught a glimpse of the sphere emitting a light. She was about to unleash her telekinetic energy at it but Gar got in her way.
"Wait! That's the D.P. distress ball!"
Raven furrowed her eyebrows. She recognized it now. "Really? Distress ball?"
Gar shrugged. "I dunno what it's called. It's a ball. It's ominous. Distress ball!"
A conical light protruded from within the ball, displaying a holographic video message evidently from Elasti-Girl and Mento. Raven had not seen them since her abrupt exit from Gar's funeral.
"Raven, it's Rita. If this message has reached you, then Garfield's... erm... methods... are going according to plan... whatever that plan is."
Raven got up and watched Rita and Mento, or Steve, on the holographic transmission.
"He's always had a thing for puns and really went out of his way to execute this one," he said. "You'll never guess how we got this enveloped letter addressed by him.
"By Pony Express."
Raven, Rita, and Gar stifled smiles or chuckles before Rita continued.
"We thought you'd like to see this letter of his in person, so we thought it'd be a neat idea for us to visit your new place - if you're open to invitations, of course."
Mento stared at Rita. She sighed.
"Okay, Garfield told us in this letter about your new place... It was also his suggestion to invite ourselves to your barbecue with the Titans."
"Again, if you're open," Mento added. "He didn't suggest that, but for formality sake we decided to leave the ultimatum to you. We understand the toll his loss has been for you, and we didn't know how long to wait to reach out."
"Just... let us know, okay?" Rita said. "This is so, so weird, these circumstances and getting a letter from our Beast Boy. But I can tell by the handwriting that it is really him."
Raven found Rita's utter shock to be somewhat humorous.
"Oh, they have no idea the wringer I've put you through," Gar snickered. Raven snickered back.
Mento added, "Not to mention his try-hard jokes. 'From your trusted stud, Beast Boy'? He's something but I miss the guy... And we know you miss him too."
Raven watched Rita lean forward to press something, and a two-choice poll appeared on the hologram.
"Let us know what you want to do with this information, please," Rita explained. "One more thing..."
Rita revealed a second envelope. This one had remained sealed.
"The pony came with a second envelope, but it's addressed to... How do you say this name? Arella?"
Rita showed the address label on the screen. Raven had to squint to read it.
"That definitely says your mother's name," imaginary Gar said. "Sweet! I've written something for your mom, too!"
Mento continued, "We don't know who this person is, and there's no address, so the only way we figured to find out is through you. Gives it more of an incentive that we come to your BBQ, I guess."
"But it's still your choice," Rita said. "Take care, Raven. Hope to see you."
The footage of the Doom Patrol couple went blank, leaving Raven with just a simple choice to make.
Raven turned her head to look at Gar.
"What?"
She raised an eyebrow at him. "You want me to bring the Doom Patrol and my mother, people who I have not personally been in contact with in a long time, to a barbecue party that I didn't even know I should be organising? Did I miss a memo?"
Gar shrugged cheekily.
"Psh, you'll do great! Look what you've already accomplished with your sanctuary!"
Gar spread his arms open, as if to showcase the area Raven had made home.
It was true. What used to be a simple, untouched plot of land was still mainly untouched, with the exceptions of a hut functioning as her private living quarters, a larger sheltered area for indoor activities, and pebble trails leading from one landmark to another.
In her mind, she began to devise a way to transform another section in order to accommodate for barbecuing.
A few weeks later, and Raven was finalising preparations for the barbecue gathering. Starfire, Robin, and Cyborg had arrived early that morning to help out.
"I gotta say, Raven, you've sorted out really well," Cyborg commented while carrying sacks of the foods.
"It's great that you're all helping," Raven thanked. "Of course, Robin and Starfire did become no-shows at the Titans East Gala, so I guess that evens it out."
Raven stared pointedly - though not completely seriously - at the Titans couple. Robin and Starfire were on far opposite ends of the barbecue pit, individually tittering, and somehow avoiding eye contact with each other. Raven's empath powers were never honed much to begin with, even before the numbing spell, but a part of her did sense something off between the two.
Robin was helping set up the equipment. "When are you going to open up the venue? And who's able to join?"
Raven was hovering in the air, keeping an eye out in the distance. A hawk Gar was hovering next to her.
"Soon," she answered her former leader. "I've already reached out to some members of the Titans, new and old. I could use some reliable feedback from those who I've got some grasp of their powers and general mindsets."
Starfire proceeded to blast the barbecue pit they'd made, lighting it up.
"The pit is now fit for barbe-ing the cue!"
"They're here!" Gar chirped, resuming human form and landing on the grass, jumping and pointing at the sky.
The Titans heard the loud rumble of the Doom Patrol ship landing and emerged the heroes known as Mento, Elasti-Girl, Negative Man, and Robot Man.
"We better take the scenic route home!" Robot Man told Mento as he marched towards the Titans.
Starfire sped to greet them. "Friends! How wonderful to reunite on this glorious day!"
"Why, hello again," Negative Man greeted cheerlessly as he waved at Cyborg and Robin.
Raven landed and approached Rita and Steve.
"Thank you, Rita, Steve, for reaching out," she said.
"Nonsense, Raven," Steve replied. "Thank you for allowing us to."
"If anything, we wanted to reach out sooner," Rita added, looking around. "You have a lovely place. Pretty big, too."
"Pretty big? It's humongous!" Robot Man exclaimed as Starfire led him and Negative Man to explore.
Raven shrugged humbly. "Gar's idea. So I take it that you have no idea how he managed to get the rights to all this? There weren't any life savings I wasn't aware of?"
Rita chuckled. "I wish there were! No, we know nothing of his fortune."
Robin appeared beside Raven and greeted the two Doom Patrol members.
"We're all set up," Robin said. "Cyborg's on to the cooking."
There then came a swoosh as a circle of light bursted in front of a tall oak tree. A vortex opened, and entered Arella in the Azarathian cloak.
Starfire gasped, followed by zooming to greet Raven's mother. Arella looked up, and saw Raven, locking eyes with her as Raven approached, tentatively.
"Arella, excited to finally meet your acquaintance!" Starfire greeted gleefully, Arella's straight hair waving as Starfire grabbed her hands for a shake. Starfire looked back at Raven, and whispered, "This is your mother, yes?"
Everyone else gathered around.
"With that bright entrance, I thought I was a goner," muttered Negative Man.
Arella blushed, embarrassed. "Oh, I apologize."
"Oh, don't mind Larry!" Robot Man assured. "He was being his usual sarcastic self!"
"Hi, mother..." Raven greeted.
"Daughter..." Arella let out a small smile, though the shimmer in her eyes gave away that she was much happier to see Raven than she let on.
Raven, however, seemed to not reciprocate the sentiment as much.
Robin watched the held-back tension on the faces of the two Azarathians. They obviously hadn't kept in touch.
"We're glad you could make it, Arella," Robin said. Raven glanced at him, and he gave a reassuring nod. "Gar wanted you to join us today. I believe introductions are in order. When Raven asked me to invite you, I originally didn't even know how to. We should get barbecuing."
Imaginary Gar pumped his fists proudly. "Boy Wonder coming in clutch!"
"Well, then what are we waiting for? The call of the wild?" joked Cyborg. "Let's get cookin'!"
The next couple of hours were spent introducing one another, catching up, barbecuing, and encouraging Raven on her current endeavors.
Raven, however, had been intentionally avoiding her mother, who in response reluctantly did the same.
Rita, who was talking to Arella, had noticed the distant disposition.
"Oh, by the way," she spoke to Arella, "Gar actually has this for you. I don't know why he sent it to us first. But, based on my instincts, it might be because you and your daughter appear to have much needed catching up to do."
Arella thanked her. Read in private, the envelope read.
"I'll be sure to open it," she said. "It was thoughtful of him to include me."
Arella was then met with a bottle of yellow condiment to her face.
"Do they have mustard in Azarath?" asked the bubbly Starfire. "It is a most delectable beverage! Tangy, sometimes spicy, sometimes sweet, and gritty!"
Rita giggled, seeing Arella's unsure smile. She grabbed the mustard from the Tamaranean.
"I love mustard - as a condiment!" Rita commented, pulling Starfire away to converse with her. As she passed by Arella, she whispered, "I don't want to tell a mother how to approach her child, but it may be worth doing so while you're both here."
The two ladies exchanged gentle smiles as they parted ways. Arella turned, and saw Raven talking expressionlessly with none other than the monotonous Negative Man.
Nervous, Arella glanced back at Rita. She gave a subtle thumbs-up of encouragement. And the courage she mustered.
Raven seemed to know she was coming. She bade farewell to Negative Man, and became face-to-face with her mother.
"Long time no see, mom," she said quietly.
Arella gave a soft smile. "I've missed you so much."
She was tentative, wanting to hold her daughter, but felt that Raven was maintaining a distance.
"How's Azarath?" Raven asked.
"Are you worried about how they perceive you?"
Raven stifled an answer.
Arella went on, "Raven, they're eager to see you again. There is no ill will... Well, not enough to want to cut you off. You can come back. Return home."
Arella's hands emerged briefly from within her cloak, wanting to reach out. Raven withdrew hers.
"I don't know, Arella," she replied. "It may be best I don't go back. After all, I was the reason Azarath was annhilated. And, well, you're the reason I came to be in the first place."
"That's not fair -"
"You can always send them my regards."
"But Raven, it is I who need you." Arella's soft smile became a soft frown. "Countless nights since Trigon's downfall, I've longed to reunite."
Arella reached out fully this time, her hand on Raven's shoulder. It was a good thing for Arella that Raven's powers had not fully resurfaced.
She backed away once more.
"Mother, I can't," she insisted. "Do you realise how traumatising it was to see Azarath in ruin?"
"Yes!" Arella held back her volume, looking around. No one but Rita seemed to be keeping quiet tabs on their conversation. She quietened. "I experienced it. Even still, I do wish to see you."
Clang! Clang! Cowbells rang. Raven looked around. She hadn't brought any.
"Come round the fire, y'all!" Cyborg announced. "Mento's got something to share!"
Raven and Arella stared at each other for a moment, before letting go and separating, Arella to Rita and Raven to Cyborg.
Raven looked curiously at Rita, who displayed a knowing expression. Whatever this sharing was, the Doom Patrol was in on it.
Titans and Doom Patrol gathered around the firepit. Raven had initially sat between Rita and Starfire. She noticed Robin looking for a spot and stood to offer hers next to his girlfriend.
She caught the couple glancing standoffishly at each other.
"It's alright," Robin politely declined. "I'll stand."
"That's weird," Gar said as Raven sat back down.
"Where were you when I was talking to Arella?"
Gar shrugged. "I didn't wanna get in the way?"
Raven was caught off guard by Robin's hand waving in front of her face.
"You okay, Raven?" he asked. "Who are you talking to?"
Raven waved him away. "No one. What's up with you and Star?"
"What's Mento got to share?" Robin asked back, diverting attention.
Mento got up and cleared his throat, in his hand another letter.
"Rita's wasn't the only letter we got. Mine says to read this out loud, in front of his best friends and the Doom Patrol."
"Note that 'Doom Patrol' is a separate category from 'best friends', huh," Negative Man uttered monotonously.
"Oh, lighten up, Larry!" joked Robotman.
"How many letters did this guy write?!" asked Cyborg.
Starfire was hopping on her seat with excitement. "Read on! Read on!"
Mento cleared his throat again.