Hey guys so for some reason this had been posted with multiple errors lol BUT it's fixed, now! Happy reading! xD

Dog Days Are Over

"I know what you came here to do." Raven told her half-brothers, as the rest of the world stood still. They were watching her suspiciously, yet, with intrigued eyes. "Are you really willing to cease to exist so that he can be stronger?"

She knew what she had to do. Maybe she didn't love using her father's tricks, but if there was ever a proper time and purpose for them, it was this. All this misplaced loyalty they felt towards Trigon had to go. All this fear needed to be replaced by ambition, so she needed to increase a single Deadly Sin. Greed. She worked on discreetly overtaking James first so he wouldn't fight her when she manipulated the others. Bending his own sin within him was a bit challenging, but she had never been more determined.

"We can't all be the rebel child, Pride." Envy bitterly folded his arms.

"This isn't about me anymore." Raven said in a cold, sure voice. "Aren't you tired of being told what to do? Have you no pride?"

Actually, let's increase that one too. Raven rolled her shoulders back as she felt Greed's will slipping into her grasp and she started filling all of them with higher and higher levels of pride and greed – just not to the point where it blinded logic and made them turn on each other. It was a delicate balance.

Now she needed words. She could be good with words. When she had to be.

"Well, to be fair, that is your specialty." Sloth pointed out.

"Besides, we don't really have a choice." Wrath said.

"Yes, you do." Raven argued in an enticing tone. "You can choose not to follow him."

At this point, they were all unknowingly under her influence, feeling hungrier for power and growingly curious by the minute.

James quirked an eyebrow at her. "What are you thinking, prophecy girl?"

Show time. "Let's absorb him." Raven suggested through a small, mischievous smile. "Let's take his power for ourselves." She could tell they were interested. In fact, they were in the palm of her hand. "You'll be much stronger. And free."

It was a tempting proposition. Greedy grins and intrigued sighs replaced their confusion.

"If that can be done, why haven't you done it?" Gluttony asked.

"I was alone." She brought a cynical hand to her chest and frowned, floating to the center of the circle. "He's stronger than any of us alone, even me. If I tried to absorb him on my own, he would corrupt me and my body would be his." And then her features were taken by a wicked smile as she looked around, making sure each and every one of them felt prideful enough to go along with this. "But together? We'll split him into seven. He won't stand a chance. We are his downfall."

"Are you sure you're not just trying to protect your other family? You know, the one you actually care about?" Envy hissed. Out of all of them, he was the least fond of Raven.

And then something unexpected happened. She managed to access something deeper in them, beneath greed and pride. Her purest form managed to somehow pull their humanity to the surface. "And what if I am? Is protecting what I love not worth fighting for?"

They hesitated to answer as an unusual sense of goodwill invaded them.

"Besides, no matter my reasons, what I promised you is still true." She concluded.

"You're asking us to commit treason here." Lust narrowed his eyes, but he was smiling too. The truth was he was sold; he just wasn't quite sure they could trust her.

Raven raised her voice a notch. "I'm asking you to stand up for yourselves." Raven said pointedly. "We are better than him."

Wrath growled approvingly. He had a soft spot for their sister anyway.

"I thought you didn't like us, two eyes." Envy smirked.

"I don't." The empath said truthfully. "But I don't hate you like I hate him. And more importantly…" She raised an arrogant eyebrow. "We all want him gone, don't we?"

Trigon's sons exchanged meaningful, treacherous looks and smirks with each other and with their only sister in mutual understanding.

"You cannot stop me this time, my dear. Your children will belong to me soon." Trigon threatened, completely oblivious to the conversation that had just happened between his children or the fact that White Raven had so skillfully manipulated time.

And then, Trigon the Terrible was blindsided, because the next few moments couldn't be further from what he'd planned and expected. Instead of joining him, his sons surrounded him under his daughter's command, and instead of allowing him to absorb them, he was the one being absorbed, pulled and strained into seven different directions. He struggled against them, and yet he couldn't help feeling proud of such low, cunning treachery.

There was no time to fight back and an extremely powerful White Raven was making sure none of his efforts paid off. Trigon screamed a deafening, haunting scream that echoed across the entire battlefield. And the last thing he saw before being split into seven weaker, incomplete pieces and pulled into his spawn's bodies, was his daughter's smirk.

As soon as Trigon vanished, all the heroes and villains under his influence immediately snapped out of it and regained control of their own bodies. Absolute silence reigned for several moments as people laid down their weapons, stared awkwardly at each other or cried into tight embraces. Everyone looked around trying to find someone, trying to make sure the people they cared about were still alive.

Trigon had been defeated. For good.

Nightwing and Batgirl hugged in relief. Rose and Damian had been close, gravitating protectively around each other – in a similar way to Garfield and Raven – the whole time and panted for about five seconds before running into an urgent, deep, cinematographic kiss. They pulled away as Batman rushed to his sons' side. And then Selina found Bruce. Wally and Barry hugged before Kid Flash hurried towards Jinx. Harley Quinn found Poison Ivy. Cyborg pulled Karen into his arms and immediately started tending to her wounds. The Doom Patrol crowded around Gar's Beast.

It was happening everywhere, across the entire length of the battle. But they all also glanced up at her. Raven was up in the sky, her body involved in a layer of pure ethereal light as she made the dark clouds dissipate so sunlight could touch their faces again. From the few remaining clouds, rain poured down, putting out the fire and washing dirt and blood away. She was glowing so brightly one couldn't look directly at her for too long. It was a rather distracting, mesmerizing sight until she slowly descended to the ground, right next to the mighty Werebeast, gently caressing his fur as the glow finally died down and her hair and eyes became violet again.

"Are they okay?" Raven asked him urgently. "And is the other half of you alive?"

"Yes." The green Beast answered. "Our friends, too. And our pets. We're all safe, love. What happened?"

Civilians paced around, confused and tired, but alive. Raven's brothers came up behind her with smug grins on their faces.

"We absorbed him, that's what happened." James' grin widened as he bragged.

The other Titans – except for Starfire, M'gann and Terra, who were receiving a full report from Gar's other Werebeast along with Clark and J'onn J'onzz – ran over to them.

Raven frowned at all the blood staining the Beast's fur, more evident as the rain washed it away. "You're hurt…"

"I'm okay." He assured her. "Did you really absorb him?"

Their friends had found their way to them – along with several other curious heroes – and gasped in surprise at the revelation.

"We did." Raven nodded, smiling slightly. "It was a team effort."

"So do we get to meet our niece and nephew?" Envy asked mischievously.

The empath turned her neck to narrow her eyes at them at once. Not today. "Not a chance. And I'll keep an eye on you. Don't make me come for you."

They either rolled their eyes or faked outrage, but took a few steps back anyway. Except for Jared, who stepped closer to her. Raven gave him an exclusive, nearly warm look. It meant they would see each other again, just not with the others around. More likely, not with Greed and Envy around. He relaxed.

"C'mon, let's go." Sloth shrugged. "Maybe she'll soften up by Thanksgiving."

And just like that, the Sons of Trigon disappeared into thin air.

"Raven, are you…okay?" Ravager questioned cautiously.

The empath turned to them and smiled easily. "Better than ever."

"What happened?" Nightwing asked, everyone crowding round them in eager curiosity.

"I may have convinced my dear brothers to betray our father." She smirked. "I mean, I can be persuasive. There may have been a liiittle manipulation."

Her friends' dirty, bruised faces were taken by enormous and amused grins. And Raven felt amazing, because it was nice to know this particular power of hers could do some good and serve a higher purpose for a change.

"So a part of him is within you?" The Werebeast asked in concern.

"Oh, it was only a seventh of him. I obliterated it."

"You mean…" Cyborg narrowed his eyes.

"I'm free." Raven announced breezily. "I'm free from him."

Smiles grew bigger and relieved laughter took over as the rain stopped and the sky cleared so they were all bathed in warmth. And at that exact moment, the others came in on a giant rock Terra guided. Raven immediately floated over to them with tears in her eyes and cradled her children, who calmed down the instant she held them. Gar became whole again and turned human, rolling his shoulders back and sighing in relief. Conner pulled M'gann into a caring embrace while Nightwing and Starfire kissed passionately.

"Damn, this cloning thing is kinda uncomfort- Mmph…" The Changeling was interrupted by Raven's lips pressed against his and melted into the kiss, gratefully wrapping his arms around her and smiling. "So you're free? No more Trigon?"

"No more Trigon. All that's left is my own demonic side." She said in a quieter, but peaceful voice, pulling away from him and glancing over at where Starfire and Wonder Girl were now holding the twins. "But…lately that's been easy to handle."

Gar chuckled happily, with joyful tears in his eyes, as she reached up to gently heal a wound on the side of his head. "That…that's amazing, Rae."

He felt a little overwhelmed with so much bliss at once after months of anticipation, but she just continued healing him without even flinching, watching him with a fond smile on her face. And his heart was full of love to the point if felt like it would rip out his chest, because no one deserved freedom as much as her.

"You saved the world, love." The shapeshifter chuckled. "Again."

"We saved the world again." She corrected, turning to the others and clearing her throat, tucking her hair behind her ears and composing herself, because they all had amused grins on their faces. "I…I will heal everyone who needs-"

"Wait." Gar said, touching her arm and making her look at him again. He quickly shot the others a look. No one seemed to be dying, so they could wait a little while to be healed. "I need to tell you…"

Raven's eyes widened. She'd nearly forgotten what they were discussing before Trigon attacked. "Oh…right." She took in intake of breath and held it in. "I'm listening."

The Changeling grabbed her hands and looked into her eyes. "So maybe, for completely unfair reasons, you can't get into Heaven. But there's another plane outside of time and space, one that's nice and where we can be together. One I have free access to."

Raven frowned, engines turning in her head. Oh…OH. Her mouth hung open.

"You mean…"

"We can inhabit the Red." The shapeshifter nodded with watery, hopeful eyes. "We can be together and in peace and…heck, we can even help some poor soul in need of guidance or protect some Universe so we don't get bored." He chuckled softly.

There was a round of amazed, soft gasps around them.

Raven's heart was dangerously daring to hope. "Is…is that possible? How…"

"Hey, I'm its champion, right?" He shot her a smug, playful grin. When she rolled her eyes sweetly, he chuckled again. "No, but really. My connection to it and to you are equally strong. You've already accessed it through me. I told you, I waited until I knew for sure before I told you. Even if you die before me, I can guide your soul there, if I just join you later. I can guide them, too." He tilted his head towards the twins, watching Raven's eyes well up. "They share my connection to it and your magic. We can all be together."

Raven wasn't the only one getting emotional. All their friends had hopeful, happy tears in their eyes and gradually bigger smiles.

In spite of all that, a concerned frown appeared on the empath's forehead. "That…but…" She spoke quietly so her voice wouldn't crack. "Gar, you'd have to give up on Heaven…I…I can't ask you to do that."

"You're not." He said softly. "Rae, spending eternity in the source of all animal life is Heaven to me. Especially if you're there. Honestly, how much better can it get?"

"But…but you wouldn't be with everyone else…" Her face contorted with pain. "And…and your parents…"

"They'll understand." Gar stated surely as he took one step forward and stared deeply into her eyes. "My place is with you."

Raven bit her lip. Truthfully, this plan did sound heavenly to her. They loved the Red. It was peaceful, with just the right amount of chaos. They always felt overtaken with love and life when they were there and to have such noble purpose in the afterlife was definitely appealing to her. It would be like ascending, but only after they had lived full mortal lives.

It would secure her children's fate. And she could be with him. With all of them. But she didn't want him to give up on any of his fair share of bliss for her. He sounded so certain and happy and she knew she should accept it, but it was still a bit bittersweet to her.

"Trust me, love. I want to do it. There's nothing I want more."

Raven smiled sadly and gently rubbed his cheek with her thumb. He closed his eyes and enjoyed her touch and she smiled wider.

"Perhaps I can help."

Everyone was suddenly overwhelmed by a pure, utterly good presence. The firm, kind voice and celestial light brought their attention to the source of that warm, wonderful feeling. It was Radiant. She was standing there, smiling fondly at Raven and Garfield.

"I cannot change the fact that you can't enter Heaven, child. If I made you human as you died, you wouldn't quite be you anymore, and your demonic side would live on, soulless and unable to die, deprived of your humanity."

"I don't want that." Raven whispered quickly.

"I know. I've always known. However, after all you've both done, we can grant you a gift. Join the Red with your family in the afterlife, Raven." Radiant's smile grew a little as she addressed both of them. "Your spirits will be protectors of life through the Multiverse, the highest of purposes. And in return, we will keep a window open. Your loved ones, if they are in Heaven, will be able to reach you at will. You shall have peace."

The Titans instantly grinned enormously and shed tears of joy, because learning they wouldn't even have to miss them was more than any of them had expected. The Justice League watched them with proud smiles. Raven's already watery eyes couldn't hold all the tears in anymore and they silently rolled down her cheeks as she gratefully stared at the Spirit of Mercy. "I…thank you."

Radiant's smile became amused as she wondered whether to tell them the next part. "I have seen many worlds, and you two seem to be consistently drawn to each other. Like the one where you, Raven, are the Angel of Balance. An appropriate title, I must say." She watched the empath's cheeks blush and turned to Garfield. "And you, Keeper of Beasts, you are her guardian. She has yet to face Trigon there. And there are other worlds, worlds where you have yet to find your way to each other, but what I can tell you is, wherever and whenever you do…odds are constantly defied. The Presence is pleased with you."

Gar's heart was full. In fact, it was fuller than ever before. He didn't need this, but he appreciated it so much. Apart from telling him he and Raven were essentially Multiverse endgame, the fact that he would be able to see his parents and all his friends – and they would be able to see her as well, and their children wouldn't have to miss whoever they came to love – was the best possible gift God could have given him.

He shot Radiant a teary grin and turned to Raven, holding her face and tenderly wiping away her tears. The empath averted her gaze to him and he could see it in her eyes: relief, bliss, hope, love, all of it. The beautiful, ethereal, dancing beam of light that her powers had manifested when he sang to her on the roof came back, mesmerizing everyone.

"Well done, all of you. I must go now." Radiant spoke calmly, filling everyone's hearts with peace and forgiveness for a moment as she disappeared in ethereal glow, shooting Raven and Garfield one more soft smile while they watched her leave with grateful, hopeful grins.

Those who hadn't met her yet gasped in shock as soon as she was gone. Conversations about who and what that was began circling around. The fight was over. Trigon was beaten. The war was won. And apparently Heaven was real. There was a lot to discuss.

The Titans, however, just crowded around Raven and Gar and pulled them both into a caring, emotional, relieved group hug. They stayed like that for several seconds before Raven, Rose and Damian finally said they should stop because it was getting too mushy. And then the empath pulled Gar aside for a proper healing session. She sat on his lap and let her magic soothe him while she looked into his eyes and he twirled a lock of purple hair in his fingers. As usual, the others gave them some privacy.

She healed the most severe wounds for everyone else in a much less intimate manner later, and after the heroes had gotten a bit of rest, they teleported to the Hall of Justice – because it was mostly still standing, unlike Titan Tower, which had been in the epicenter of the battle and would definitely need reconstructing – for the biggest party it had ever seen, because they had saved the world again and it seemed like this time, it would stay saved for quite some time.

Gar was talking to Kid Flash and Nightwing while Raven put the twins to sleep and soundproofed the bedroom they were in. They didn't really need baby monitors, because she could sense her children's distress from miles away. So, she would come enjoy the party soon – as she should, because she was sort of the guest of honor.

"So did you really clone yourself, man?" Static Shock came in and addressed Gar.

The Changeling smiled smugly. "I really did."

"That is SO cool!"

"Don't tell him." Nightwing said playfully. "He'll get insufferably cocky."

They chuckled light-heartedly and Garfield opened his mouth to speak again, but then he sniffed lavender and his heart soared. Only a second later, before he even turned around, he saw his friends' mouths hang open as they incredulously stared at something.

"Broke down, thought that I would drown…"

The Changeling turned around at once. Raven was entering the room, and for once it wasn't discreet. She wasn't drunk. She was just happy. She was breezy. She was peaceful. And she was clearly having fun. In fact, she was practically dancing, smoothly rocking her body to the music while she shot everyone friendly smiles and sang along to the lyrics of the song, meaning every single word. Reaper (Sia) was playing when she strolled into the room and something just came over her.

"Don't come for me today…I'm feeling good…"

Gar beamed at his fiancée as she playfully made her way through the party, confidently owning the room as she sang and danced to the chorus. Except instead of singing so close I was to Heaven's gates, she sang to Hell's gates. Everyone was smiling back at her and clapping along, but no grin was as wide, grateful or relieved as his own. His heart was beating faster too, because she was being really charming and sexy in this whole bit of hers. And then as she started singing verses again, she looked directly at him and her playful expression instantly switched to an affectionate one.

Raven floated to him, wrapped her arms around his neck and changed the lyrics from men to hold to a man to hold. It was subtle, but he noticed. His cheeks turned pink and his grin became impossibly larger, so she continued softly singing while looking into his eyes and moving her body along with his. "I got good things to feel in my life…"

She doesn't have a care in the world right now. Finally. Gar held onto her waist and felt his eyes fill with blissful tears as he chuckled happily to her cheeky smile and playful tone, especially when she threw her head back to whole-heartedly sing the final chorus. I love her I love her I love her.

Raven straightened her neck, bringing her head back to look into his eyes again. He was fighting tears of joy, beaming and nearly choking up. I love him I love him I love him. She lovingly cupped his face in her hands. "…followed me like the darkest cloud…but no baby, no baby, not today…"

He tightened his grip around her waist, immediately pulling her closer and into a tender, but extremely passionate kiss. She gladly kissed him back, eagerly wrapping her arms around his neck and running lazy fingers through his hair. They could hear cheering in the background, but right now they didn't really care. Right now all they saw, heard, smelled and felt was each other. Things were perfect. At last.

The night went on in light-hearted fun and slightly drunken euphoria. Raven joined Starfire, Terra, Ravager, Bumblebee, Miss Martian, Jinx, Wonder Girl, Batgirl and Supergirl on the dancefloor, having the time of her life – so much that she didn't even notice when Barry, Wally and Garfield set up the karaoke machine. The heroes started butchering gradually sillier songs and she grimaced and wrinkled her nose, making her other friends laugh, but she kept smiling because even people's lack of talent couldn't ruin her mood tonight. Salem was riding around on Krypto's back and Silkie was asleep on the couch, somehow.

She just didn't know things would get even better.

"Excuse me? Hello? Can everybody chill for a minute? I have something important to say!"

It was Gar's voice, so she exchanged a confused look with her friends and turned around. He had the karaoke microphone in his hand and was looking directly at her. She tilted her head to the side and watched him quizzically.

"Hey, um…love?" The Changeling said while pointing at her, suddenly feeling slightly nervous, but refusing to let that ruin his plans. "You're a living, breathing miracle."

It was rather public, especially since many of their friends were light-headed and now there was whistling and cheering all around, but she didn't mind that tonight. In fact, she barely noticed. She just folded her arms and rolled her eyes sweetly.

"And me?" He brought the hand that was pointing at her to his chest, palm over his heart. "I'm the luckiest person in the world!"

Raven narrowed her eyes, suddenly a little suspicious about where he was going with this.

"So here's my song tonight." The shapeshifter stated, grinning widely, while Kid Flash giggled and pressed a button on the karaoke machine. The first few chords of Check Yes, Juliet (We The Kings) filled the room.

Raven didn't immediately recognize the melody, but she was quite sure she knew what this was by now and it was making her heart accelerate wildly already.

"Check yes Juliet, are you with me?"

Her breath caught in her throat as he sang the first verses, because she hadn't expected it to be this cute. He was blissfully, charmingly serenading her and everyone clapped along in support again, grinning widely and enjoying his performance – though some people were already gasping and widening their eyes, realizing this was more than just a regular serenade. The lyrics were sweet, endearing and playful and it felt absolutely perfect for them. He sounded amazing and the way he was moving around and shooting her passionate looks made her already accelerated heart skip a beat every now and then.

"…they'll tear us apart if you give them the chance…"

Garfield's eyes were more intense and serious as he sang the chorus to her, at which point the whispers got louder as people glanced over at Raven, who was blushing and chuckling, hiding her face in her hand but still looking at him between her fingers so she wouldn't miss a thing, and people started catching up to the fact that they were witnessing a proposal.

"…I'll be waiting, wishing, wanting, yours for the taking…"

Raven took an intake of breath and held it in, because every word was as sincere as it was cheesy and every move he made was as sexy as it was goofy, and that was his specialty, and it made her want to jump on him and kiss him senseless.

"Run, baby, run, don't ever look back…"

Most heroes understood what was happening by the second chorus and were beaming at them and singing along, especially after taking one look at her reaction. Raven had given up on trying to fight that smile off her face. She was grinning at him. A wide, toothy grin, full of endearment, care and desire was plastered across her features. And that made Gar dance around more breezily and confidently, and it was one of the loveliest sights anyone there had ever come across. The shapeshifter twirled around her at the bridge of the song.

"…with you by my side…"

And then he sang the final choruses right in front of her, with truthful, soulful green eyes piercing through her violet orbs, and Raven's grin became a tender, small smile as she stepped closer and brought her hands to his face. She lovingly caressed his hair, his cheeks, his neck, anything to ease the urge to touch him and let him know how she felt. He blushed under her touch and it made her giggle softly.

"…forever will be, you and me…"

Gar swiftly kissed her hand as he wrapped it up and got down on one knee, blissfully looking up at her as he pulled a small, black box from his pocket.

Raven shook her head incredulously, thoroughly amused, because none of this was necessary. He knew her answer. "You have a question for me?"

At this point, Batman smiled as he discreetly slipped the ring he was going to give Selina back into his pocket, because there was no way he was following this.

Beast Boy's signature gigantic grin took over his face and he opened the small box to reveal an engagement ring. "Will you maybe consider perhaps being my wife, Rae?"

Raven let out a quiet, surprised gasp, because she hadn't expected that ring. It was a mesmerizing, beautifully designed, delicate white-gold ring with small diamonds and two bigger gemstones – an emerald and an amethyst – swirling around each other in a way that resembled a Yin Yang symbol. It was perfect for them. "I-I…"

Garfield swallowed and bit his lip, painfully aware of everyone holding their breaths, because she was taking a while. "Um…love? Did you change your mind? Because I-"

"NO!" Raven snapped out of her trance and shook her head to clear her mind, smiling at him again. "Sorry, I…the ring caught me off guard."

"Oh." He grinned proudly. "Cause you like it?"

Raven rolled her eyes in the cutest possible way. "Not really."

Gar tilted his head in slight confusion. "Oh. Oh, well, I can-"

"Because I love it. It's perfect."

Oh, I should have seen that coming. The Changeling's enormous, proud grin immediately came back. "Awesome."

"Aren't you going to put it on my finger?"

"I mean, is that a yes?" He chuckled breezily.

Raven suddenly realized she hadn't officially given her answer yet. No wonder everyone else is so nervous and anxious. She bit her lip apologetically. "Oh, right. Sorry." The empath cleared her throat and smiled affectionately. "Yes, of course I'll marry you, Gar."

His grin somehow got even bigger and there was a loud round of relieved exhales across the room – followed by cheerful, excited applause – as he merrily stood up and placed the gorgeous ring on her dainty, ashen finger before cradling her face in his hands and giving her a sweet, loving peck on the lips.

"I'll kiss you properly when we're alone." The shapeshifter whispered smoothly in her ear.

She shivered slightly and shot him a grateful look as he pulled back. "Deal."

"Oh, the JOY!" Starfire was the first to embrace them both, being careful not to hug them too tightly. Nightwing tried to hold her back because Raven and Gar were still gazing lovingly into each other's eyes, but the Tamaranean felt she had waited enough.

Dick shrugged and moved to also congratulate them when the empath and the shapeshifter relaxed into Kory's arms. He was followed by the rest of his team and the boys – including Damian and Conner – all pulled the Changeling into a rather aggressive group hug while the girls gathered around Raven and she kept her hand stretched out so they could admire the ring, letting out happy squeals and approving humming noises. Starfire actually had her arms merrily wrapped around Raven's shoulders.

"So…do I even need to ask?" Raven whispered to Kory.

The Tamaranean offered her an enormous grin. "I am afraid so, yes."

The empath sighed. "Will you be my maid of honor, Kor?"

Starfire suppressed a high-pitch happy sound, because she was too close to Raven's ear and she knew it would make her friend wince. "It will be my privilege!"

"But keep it simple." Raven quickly stated. "Remember, small and intimate, okay?"

Kory just smiled fondly. "Yes, best friend, I know you."

The empath returned her smile, but at that point the boys finished their celebratory hug and approached her and she put her hands up in the air to address them. "No group hugs for me. I'm still Raven."

They huffed in outrage – except for Damian, who just smirked and gave her a single nod. "Cool. Congrats, Doomsday."

"Thanks."

"No fair!" Cyborg practically whined, gesturing to the alien princess wrapped around the half-demon. "You let Starfire hug you!"

Raven and Kory exchanged a look before staring at the boys again. The empath shrugged. "She's my best friend."

Starfire beamed and giggled, then finally let go of Raven to go to Gar. "BB! That was a most adorable proposal!"

"You know it!" Garfield grinned at her and accepted her hug, which was followed by hugs and cheers from the other girls.

The boys congratulated Raven, placing friendly hands on her shoulders and shaking them lightly, softly rubbing her back, squeezing her hand or simply smiling at her. Richard got permission to gently kiss her forehead. And then it was Cyborg's turn.

Raven rolled her eyes at the half-robot's pout and spread her arms wide. "Fine. Just you."

Victor Stone smiled and gave her a quick, but caring hug, just as the Changeling came back around and the others dispersed, going back to the snacks, the dancefloor or their own make-out and/or flirting sessions.

"So do I have a best man, dude?" Gar asked Cyborg. "You got me, right?"

Victor's smile became emotional and happy tears filled his human eye. "Really?!"

"Yeah, obviously." The shapeshifter shrugged breezily.

"Oh, man!" Cyborg hugged him again. He was just so proud. "See I told you she liked you and you just needed to be patient! Heck yeah I'll be your best man."

Gar grinned at Raven from the half-robot's arms. "Yeah, you were right, dude."

"I'm going to go talk to M'gann and Rose." Raven smiled softly and gave the Changeling a knowing look he immediately understood before she floated away.

"Oh, right!" Gar tapped on Cyborg's arm. "We should go talk to the Robins and ask them to be my groomsmen."

"Right, yes!" Victor finally let go of his green best friend and looked around for Dick and Damian. "Wanna bet they sneaked out to the gym or something?"

Raven approached the other girls and pulled Ravager and Miss Martian aside.

"What's this about, RaeRae?" Rose smirked teasingly, but then she got a chilling sensation running up her spine and giving her goosebumps. "Ugh, what the-"

"Only Gar calls me that." It was Raven's turn to smirk. "Actually, not even Gar."

Ravager shot her an intrigued grin. "That spooky tickle was you? Wicked."

"Thank you."

M'gann giggled.

"So, what is this about, Rae…ven?" Rose folded her arms.

"I was wondering if you two would be my bridesmaids or whatever."

M'gann and Rose exchanged a look.

"Ah…I…really?" Miss Martian asked through emotional eyes.

Raven nodded at her. "You've risked so much to protect me while I was pregnant. I'll never forget that. Besides, you're one of the few people who have never annoyed me."

M'gann's face was taken by an enormous grin. "Oh, I…yes, of course I will!"

"Cool."

Miss Martian gave her a quick hug and left excitedly to go share the news with Conner.

"You want me to be a bridesmaid?" Ravager asked, frowning in confusion.

The empath turned to her. "Well, yes. You were there for me at my worst."

Rose was taken aback by that. In fact, it tugged at her heartstrings a bit. "Oh…I…um, well." She cleared her throat and glanced at Raven's amused face. Get it together. "Yeah, sure. Why not? Could be fun."

Raven smiled slightly and nodded at her. They didn't need to hug. Once Rose left, she noticed someone else watching her, leaning against the wall. "You know, I would have asked you, but…"

Terra shot her a quizzical look. "Are you kidding me? No, I just…am I invited?"

"Of course you're invited." Raven rolled her eyes. "Unless you're planning some romantic gesture to try getting him back at the last minute, then I'll send you to another dimension."

Terra chuckled. "I wouldn't, but if I or anyone else did, it would be futile. You belong together. I just asked because…I know we haven't always gotten along like this."

Raven nodded slowly. "Right. I suppose I was a little jealous of you at one point."

The blonde grinned a little awkwardly. "Ah, right, when BB and I were-"

"No." The empath whispered, surprising the other girl. Then she smiled slightly. "I mean, yes. But that didn't make me a little jealous. That made me extremely jealous. That's not what I was talking about."

"Oh?"

"I meant…before the volcano."

Terra gasped. WHAT? "No way!"

Raven rolled her eyes. "Not because of Gar. I mean, I did resent you because of him, but that wasn't jealousy. I wouldn't even dare to allow myself to imagine…not back then. I just resented you for breaking his heart."

The blonde remorsefully bit her lip. "Ah, yeah…I understand that." She glanced at Raven and wondered if she should continue this conversation. They had never discussed any of this. After she helped her get her memories back, they just sort of automatically resolved their issues. "Would you have done it?" Terra asked quietly. "When you menacingly promised it would be the last thing I did, did you mean it? Would you have killed me?"

The empath slowly turned her head towards the blonde, looking utterly serious for a moment. "If you had killed him? I don't know. Maybe."

Terra nodded, exhaling heavily.

"Probably." Raven admitted in a whisper after a few seconds, shooting her a slightly apologetic look. "I just think it would have sent me over the edge."

The blonde offered her a sad smile. "I know."

"Good thing for all of us you didn't kill him."

"Yeah." Terra smiled wider. "So, anyway, you were kinda jealous? Of what?"

"I just…I don't know, you got to be so open and free and making friends came so naturally and easily for you. All these connections I spent years cultivating, you made them within days. I…" She glanced at the blonde when the shock emanating from her piqued her interest. Terra had her mouth agape and eyes wide. "What?"

"I…it's just that…" Terra shook her head and collected herself, laughing slightly. "Well I was kinda jealous of you!"

Raven raised an eyebrow. "You were?"

"You didn't pick up on that back then?"

"I guess not. Though I never knew what to make of your emotions, you were a bit of a mess. Your feelings were all over the place."

Terra laughed louder. "True. But, yeah, I…" She took a deep breath and spoke seriously again. "But that was just it. I was a mess. I was so lonely, so desperate for approval and afraid of rejection. It's why I left the first time around…I thought you guys would reject me when you learned I couldn't control my powers. I felt out of control most of the time, actually. And there you were, with powers a lot darker and more dangerous than mine, and yet, all cool and collected and in control. It was aggravating."

Raven's frown softened in surprise. "Oh."

Terra smiled and rubbed her arm. "Yeah…but…now I don't feel like a mess anymore."

"And I'm free to feel." The empath smiled back. "I guess we grew up."

"Well, you do have two kids." Terra joked, earning a soft chuckle from Raven. "But anyway, I'll definitely be at your wedding."

Raven's subtle smile instantly became more obvious. "Good." She noticed Terra was about to cry and fighting the urge to give her a hug, so she frowned again. "Now let's go back to the party before you get emotional and make me regret this, okay?"

A few hours later, Damian and Rose were wearing Hawaiian Lei necklaces, Nightwing's mask had been on everyone's face at some point, Aqualad was hitting on Batgirl, Blue Beetle and Static Shock were drunkenly singing – or more accurately, yelling – Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears For Fears) at the karaoke machine and Starfire and Bumblebee were going around the party with the Lasso of Truth, using it on every victim they could find. Right now, that was Garfield.

"Rae and I have been engaged for a while. She proposed to me first, actually. I thought I was being pranked, but I wasn't." He grinned idiotically. "We didn't tell anyone because I wanted to propose properly!"

Right at that moment, Raven came up to them and Starfire narrowed her eyes at her. "You've been engaged for a while?"

"Oh, I've been dying to tell you." The empath guaranteed. "But I thought you'd be too tempted to share it with everyone."

Raven glanced at Garfield, with the Lasso of Truth wrapped around his waist like a belt and a dreamy smile on his face as he unapologetically stared at the engagement ring on her finger. Ugh. So cute.

"Oh, that is true." Kory pondered. "Okay, I shall forgive the lack of sharing this time."

"Thanks, Kor." Raven glanced at the magical rope in her hand and smiled. "May I?"

Starfire giggled and passed the Lasso to her friend, who instantly grabbed it and pulled him close, making him stumble forward, but catching him before he could fall.

"Hi, Gar."

The Changeling lifted his gaze to meet hers, still holding onto her and under the influence of the Lasso around his waist. "You're so pretty. You're so special. You're so smart. You're too good for me."

Raven blushed deeply and cupped his face in her hands. A-do-ra-ble.

"You're so hauntingly beautiful. And HOT. And your heart, your heart is so pure." He went on, completely mesmerized. "Perfection."

The empath's heart pounded in her chest and she leaned in to whisper in his ear. "You're perfect, love. Maybe I'll tie you up in this thing and keep you like that all night."

It was his turn to blush deeply. "I'm very okay with that."

Raven smiled and removed the Lasso from his waist, handing it to a giddy Bumblebee. "Sorry, but he's coming with me now."

"We figured." Karen and Kory giggled merrily.

Raven pushed him against the wall and kissed him passionately as soon as they were alone. The Changeling smiled against her lips and tangled his fingers in her hair, deepening the kiss and feeling his chest burn in the most wonderful way.

"You know…" He whispered in between kisses after several minutes. "I don't mind having that invasive thing on me if this is what it gets me."

Raven chuckled ever so softly into the kiss as they finally slowed their pace. "I just love it when you're vulnerable."

"Oh, good." The shapeshifter said, laughing breezily. "If you didn't at this point, we'd have a problem. Also, right back at you."

She pulled back, smiled and rolled her eyes sweetly.

Gar suddenly got absolutely serious. "What you did today was so amazing."

Raven shrugged nonchalantly and smugly. "It was nothing."

"It was everything. I'm marrying a Goddess. Who happens to be my best friend."

"I know exactly how you feel." She said truthfully.

His serious expression turned into a blissful grin and his cheeks flushed, because he wasn't expecting that answer. When she openly praised him and he wasn't prepared, a small part of him always freaked out because he had no idea what to say. Quick, just make a joke. "I had no idea you thought I was a Goddess."

Garfield chuckled freely as she rolled her eyes intently and walked away from him, because she was clearly amused and trying to fight back a smile.

"You know Freud said humor is a mature coping mechanism, right?"

Raven stared at him quizzically for several moments.

"What? He did!"

"I- no, I know that." The empath shook her head slightly, collecting her thoughts. "I mean, of course I know that. I just, we never read Freud together."

The Changeling shrugged. "I might have picked up a book or two."

She folded her arms and raised an eyebrow. "By Sigmund Freud?"

"What? I have interests."

Raven couldn't keep the incredulous smile off her face anymore, but she still narrowed her eyes at him. "For sure. I just didn't think those included Psychanalysis."

Gar chuckled sheepishly and scratched the back of his head. She's not buying it. "Okay, maybe I was trying to impress you."

Her face immediately softened with care and affection. "Gar, we're engaged and I'm the mother of your children. You can stop trying to impress me."

He walked up to her with a cheeky grin on his face, the playfulness being replaced by intensity as he held onto her hips and slowly pressed her against the wall, breathing into her neck and smiling as he felt her shiver. "Never gonna happen."

Raven giggled softly, running a hand through his hair. "Well, you became the key to saving my soul by becoming the best of you. I'm forever impressed, okay?"

"Yeah?" He muttered peacefully against her collarbone.

"Mhmm. My hero…" She whispered happily as he kissed up her jawline.

Gar captured her lips in a deep kiss.

"So, about the name…" Raven breathed out against his lips.

Gar pulled away slightly to look her in the eyes and chuckled. "Raven, I don't expect you to take my name."

She gave him a loving smile. "It is a bit old-fashioned."

"I know, don't worry about it."

"But I was thinking…"

"Oh?"

"I'll take yours if you take mine."

Gar tilted his head to the side, a hint of a smile forming on his lips.

Azar, he is perfect. Raven cradled his neck. "How do you feel about Roth-Logan?"

A giant grin spread across his green face. "I love it."

Dog Days Are Over (Florence + The Machine)

Radiant's words about alternate Universes are my not-so-subtle nod to L363NDW0LF's beautiful story "Break You Carefully" on AO3 as well as a little tease for future stories to come, hehe.

Sooo, what do you guys wanna see in the final chapter/epilogue? Happy times at the tower? The wedding? Fluff? Smut? An original song?

...well, that is fine, because I did all of it xD

It'll take me a while to edit though because it's over 10k words so I guess I'll see you in like a week?