Raven enjoyed the peace and quiet of walking. She enjoyed being able to let down her guard. Even just a bit. The cool breeze blowing through leaves as she listened to the wildlife grounded her. Few people were out and about so she was not concerned about blocking emotions from others. The sun was warming her face as she slowly made her way down the block. She was running just a little behind schedule but she would make it just in time at this pace so she did not worry about increasing her speed. Instead she took a deep breath and smiled.

Looking back, she blamed her relaxed state for not recognizing the familiar aura that was moving towards her. And for the first time in a long time, Raven was caught off guard. A trash lid jumped a few feet into the air and crashed to the ground. Raven whipped around and came face to face with a set of very familiar laughing blue eyes.

The young man in front of her had obviously been out for a run. He reached up a well muscled arm and wiped sweat from his brow. In the same motion he brushed the red hair back from his eyes. He looked at her as if he were in shock and couldn't believe his eyes. Which made sense, as they had not seen each other in years.

"Rae? Is that you?" His voice was deep as he stared at the young woman before him.

Her shocked expression was quickly covered with a calm mask. In fact, if you had not known Raven, you may not have seen the surprise in her eyes at all. She fell into guarded mode on instinct. However she had a harder time covering the surprise in her voice. "Roy, what are you doing here?"

At that, Roy Harper grinned wider and leaned forward to envelope Raven in a giant hug. On instinct she hugged him back. The man was different from the boy she had last seen years ago. He was a little taller, more filled out. His hair, still the bright red, had grown out. And he had a few more laugh lines, though he still looked young for his age. He still had the same, easy smile she remembered.

Raven didn't immediately pull from the embrace. Partly because of the shock of seeing her old friend, and partly because he had always been a touchy person. She had grown used to his touch over the years. While many of her friends had respected her desire for space, Roy had always pushed her boundaries. They had not been on the same team, so they did not see each other often. But when they were together, he would find ways to touch her. A hug, an arm around her shoulder, brushing her hair from her face. He seemed to take joy in watching her squirm in discomfort. And yet she had grown used to the intrusion and it just became part of their friendship.

Roy, or Speedy as he had been known back then, seemed to seek her out when the Titans West would visit the Titans East. Or vise versa. She grew to expect, and even enjoy the times he would seek her out. They even began to talk more towards the end. Late at night, if she could not sleep because of the different bed, or sounds, or emotions, she would get up to make a cup of tea. And there Speedy would be, enjoying a soda as he watched late night TV.

Raven shook herself out of reminiscing as Speedy pulled back. Hands on her shoulders, his voice grew louder. "I could ask you the same thing! I haven't seen you in years!"

Raven stepped back a bit to look at him. Hi hands slid from her shoulders to hold her hands. His hands were warm and she smiled just a bit. Yes it had been years. And while she had needed to go, she had missed her friends.

With that thought she stiffened and pulled a hand from his grasp. She looked at her watch. Shoot, she was going to be late. And this was not the time or place to have a reunion. He felt her stiffen she should could see his eyes narrow in on her face.

"I'm sorry. I have to go"

His hand tightened on hers holding her in place so she could not rush away. "Whoa whoa whoa. I haven't seen you in forever. Just ran into you in Gotham of all places, and you're gonna run away? No way!"

Raven began to panic just a little. She had to get away, and soon. She forced herself to calm and still. In her soft voice she replied, "I know. And I would love to catch up, really. But I have a" she paused for the brief second, "a meeting. How long are you in town?"

Roy finally dropped her hands. "A few days. There's a couple of us here. You should come by hi. I know they would love to see you."

Raven gave him a small smirk. "I'm sure I can work something out, but I really need to run. Raincheck?"

But Roy was not about to let her go so quickly. "No way. I let you go now and it'll be another four years before I find you again."

Raven felt the irritation rise and she gave him a classic Raven stare to convey this fact. "Look, I really need to g, I'm going to be late."

Just as she was finishing this sentence she heard a woman behind her. Her heart dropped. A dark haired woman was jogging up the sidewalk towards them waving.

"Oh talk God, I thought I was the only late one. Hi Rachel."

Roy turned to see the newcomer. Her hair was falling out of her bun as she moved towards them. She hurriedly wiped them away. She smiled at Raven. At that moment she seemed to realize there was someone with her, "Hello." She looked at Raven with questioning eyes, "And who might you be?"

Raven sent up a small prayer that she could get out of this, but no such luck. With a slight sigh, Raven turned to the two. "Angie, this is an old friend of mine, Roy. Roy, Angie"

Roy smiled and reached out a hand to shake Angie's. His smile turned just a bit devilish and Raven mentally rolled her eyes as Angie brushed a bit. "Hello there. Pleasure to meet you."

Angie gave a small laugh, "We don't get to meet many of Rachel's of friends, so the pleasure is all mine."

Before Roy could cause even more of a delay, Raven interjected, "It's true. But unfortunately, as Angie said, we are running late. So this will have to wait for another time."

Raven pulled back and turned to go, thanking her lucky stars that Angie had shown up when she did. But it was not meant to b. Angie smiled, "Oh, don't worry about it. You finish here. I'll run ahead and let them know you are on your way. You're never late so they'll understand." She turned to face Roy, "I was nice to meet you. I hope to see you again." And with that, Angie started jogging down the walk.

Raven turned from her departing friend, her brain scrambling for a way to get out of this situation. Roy was looking at her, a small smile on his lips, "She was nice."

Raven tempted down her frustration at the small talk, "She is." Raven did not elaborate.

Roy spoke again, "What are you doing tonight? There's a group of us in town. You should come. See everyone."

"I wouldn't want to intrude." At that he frowned.

"You wouldn't intrude. They're your friends too. ."Raven sighed, "I know. Its just been awhile and it sounds like this has been planned. I don't want to make it about me."

She surprised herself with her honestly. She missed her old friends, but this was not how to go about reconnecting. She still stayed in touch with a handful but she had not seen most of the Titans for awhile. This seemed to give his pause.

After a moment he spoke, "OK, I get that. But can we at least catch up? After the get together or coffee or something tomorrow?" He sensed her hesitation, "I'm not leaving until I have a plan in place with you."

Raven glanced at her watch, she needed to get moving. She could hear the people around her increasing in number and knew she had but a minute or two. Coffee was safe, and it would give her a chance to prepare responses. Looking back at Roy, she gave him a small smile, "ok, coffee tomorrow sounds great."

Roy beamed, "Perfect! Um. Let me get your number. Just tell me when and where." Raven watched as he reached for his back pocket. Only to realize he was in his running clothes. No phone. Raven began to panic just a bit. She needed out of here, now.

"It's ok, I'll get you number and text you. We'll get it planned today a little later." She reached for her phone, only to realize she didn't have it. She blanched, she had left it in the office a few blocks away.

Roy saw her panic and smiled, "no biggie, I'll just walk you to your meeting. I bet they have paper and pencil. I'll write down your number there."

He grabbed her had to move her in the direction Angie had gone. Raven pulled back. He couldn't go there. He couldn't know. There were now full streets of people as they walked home, she couldn't escape. She couldn't let him see where she was going. Raven was going into full panic when she felt two small bodies collide into her. She closed her eyes as she heard two small voices shout, "Mom!" It was too late.

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Roy hated dressing up. He was much more comfortable in jean and a T-shirt than being trussed up like a thanksgiving turkey. Today had been full of suit discussions, trying on different combinations, and fittings. He needed to get away, so as soon as he was able, Roy had changed into running shorts and a tank top and he had taken off.

Running kept him in shape, but it also gave him a chance to just be in his own head for awhile. Turn up the music and just feel his feet hit the pavement in time to the beat. He had just gotten into a rhythm, and was watching the buildings change from massive skyrise offices into small mom and pop stores. Trees started to line the sidewalks and little parks here and there popped up and Roy began to relax.

That's when he saw her. It had been years, but the first thing she noticed was the distinctive deep purple. That hair was unmistakable. It was dark, but as the sun hit it, amethyst hues came out and shone. The woman was a little older than he remembered. Her hair a little longer. But she was still slender, and even from a distance he could see the graceful way she walked. He slowed, thinking he was seeing things. But then he got close and he saw they eyes. Those deep purple eyes and he knew it was her. Instinctively he called her name, "Rae!"

He watched as the young woman jumped and a trash can lid crashed to the ground. He knew, deep down, he had been right! Quietly he exclaimed, "Rae, is that you?"

He watched the surprise clear from her eyes. If he touched her he knew she would disappear as she had all those years ago. Deep purple eyes turned to him, and in that soft familiar voice he heard the words, "Roy, what are you doing here?"

Her voice was slightly strained and he knew that she was just as surprised as he was. He smiled a little at that. She was not one you could surprise often. He felt a small glow in his chest. He had been right. It was her! In him excitement he replied, "I could ask you the same thing. It's been years!"

Roy watched as Raven took control of all emotion and facial expression. She pulled into herself. At this eyes narrowed. He knew something was up. Raven did this when she was hiding something. He had gotten to know her more in the later years as Titans. Not like her own team, but he liked to think they had become friends. And he had learned to pick up on a few of her tells, as subtle as they were.

With her quiet, guarded voice she announced matter of factly, "I have to go."

And with that, Roy knew if he didn't act, he would lose this opportunity. Raven had always been he quiet Titan, the introvert that no one seemed to get to know. Her main team always treated her with hands off, let her be, but he had always been drawn to the quiet Titan.

There was something about her that drew him in. Roy had always been a flirt, an touchy, but something about this person made him feel like she needed touch more than he did. Even if she didn't admit it.

He always felt more grounded when he connected with people. He loved to touch people. It made him feel connected to them. The first day he threw an are around Raven's shoulders, he felt her entire body retract. And that's when he started watching.

He knew he was seen as the playboy, they one who never made a real connection. But Roy was more observant than people gave him credit for. Often they compared him to Dick, formerly known as Robin. And that used to irk him. Yes, Dick was smart and observant. But he didn't always read people. And that's where Roy excelled.

And he had seen something in this quiet girl. She was so alone in so many ways. And her team respected that need for space. But hey respected it to the point that they never pushed Her out of her comfort zone. It had taken awhile. Since the two teams weren't in contact much. She was the first he would hug, or pull into conversation. As quiet as she was, something in her seemed to need that contact. And He had no issues being the one to push her buttons. In fact, she was cute when she was irritated. But these interactions were few and far between.

After awhile, the teams started to hang out just as friends. West and East would take turns hosting so they got to know each other better. It helped that two team members were dating. Bumblebee and Cyborg made a cute couple, and they brought the two teams together more and more often.

He still remembered that first night she started to open up. Even just a little. He had always been a night owl. So while other members had gone to bed, he took that as his time. He would play whatever he wanted on the TV and just relaxed a bit. On a night that the Titans West were visiting, he was up watching some action movies, when she came out of her room. He could see she was tired, but couldn't sleep. He never felt the need to talk with her. She invited comfortable silence, so he just let her be.

He watched out of the corner of his eye as she made chamomile tea and sat at the island quietly sipping. He softened his voice and told her she was welcome to join him watching. To his surprise, she joined him. They made small talk but just watched the TV for a bit until sleep began to take over and she quietly excused herself to bed.

After that, they seemed to have a routine. It got to the point that he could anticipate the time she would come out of her room. So he would start her water for her tea just a few minutes before. And she started to open up. They were becoming true friends with a connection, and then one day she just left. Titans West announced that Raven was going to be leaving. No real explanation. But that wasn't surprising because an explanation would push her and her team didn't push her the way he did. And he had never had the chance to push her for that. So he sure has hell wasn't going to let her get away again.

He needed to keep this connection. He grabbed her hands "Whoa whoa whoa. I haven't seen you in forever. Just ran into you in Gotham of all places, and you're gonna run away? No way!" He watched her eyes as they went into calculating mode. He knew she was hiding something.

"I know. And I would love to catch up, really. But I have a meeting. How long are you in town?" He heard her pause at the word meeting and his eyes narrowed again. He was not letting his friend get away that easily.

He felt her relax slightly so he let her hands go. He thought about the group he had just left. "A few days. There's a couple of us here. You should come by hi. I know they would love to see you."

Her lips curved into a classic Raven smirk and his heart warmed. "I'm sure I can work something out, but I really need to run. Raincheck?"

But Roy was not taking that as an answer. He knew if she got away he knew he would lose her again and something in his gut made his scramble. He just couldn't lose her again. "No way. I let you go now and it'll be another four years before I find you again."

He watched as she scrambled for an answer to that. "Look, I really need to go, I'm going to be late."

He watched her expression change as a voice rang out behind them. "Oh talk God, I thought I was the only late one. Hi Rachel."

He turned. A woman around their age was jogging up the sidewalk. She was the pretty sort. Brown hair and brown eyes glued to Raven.

Hair flew around her face from the og down the street. She finally noticed him and her soft brown eyes took in the scene or he and Raven standing so close together. She stared at Raven with a little smile and then she glanced at Roy. "Hello. And who might you be?"

Raven quickly responded "Angie, this is an old friend of mine, Roy. Roy, Angie"

He turned on his famous charm and smiled fully at the young woman, taking her hand. A all blush crossed her cheeks. "Hello there. Pleasure to meet you."

Angie gave a small laugh, "We don't get to meet many of Rachel's of friends, so the pleasure is all mine."

He felt Raven's irritation as she responded, "It's true. But unfortunately, as Angie said, we are running late. So this will have to wait for another time."

Roy saw Angie's knowing smile as she responded. "Oh, don't worry about it. You finish here. I'll run ahead and let them know you are on your way. You're never late so they'll understand." She turned to face Roy, "I was nice to meet you. I hope to see you again." And Angie headed off down the walk.

Trying to return to the conversation, Roy commented, "She was nice."

In typical Raven fashion she relied two words "She is."

He needed to get back to the issue at hand. Reconnecting "What are you doing tonight? There's a group of us in town. You should come. See everyone."

"I wouldn't want to intrude." He frowned at that. They were her friends. They would want to see her. Didn't she miss them?

"You wouldn't intrude. They're your friends too. ."He watched her take a breath and in a slightly irritated tone responded "I know. Its just been awhile and it sounds like this has been planned. I don't want to make it about me."

It was the first time during this time that he had seen the Raven he had grown to know and become friends with. She was truthful to a fault when she was comfortable. And her honestly gave him pause.

He needed to respect this move back to their long lost friendship. But he couldn't let her go. Not yet. "OK, I get that. But can we at least catch up? After the get together or coffee or something tomorrow?" He sensed her hesitation, "I'm not leaving until I have a plan in place with you."

After a look at her watch she gave a small smile and he knew he had won a small victory. "ok, coffee tomorrow sounds great."

Roy beamed, "Perfect! Um. Let me get your number. Just tell me when and where." His hand went back to where he kept his phone. His face fell. Shit, he was wearing his running clothes. He didn't carry his phone with him when he ran. He glanced at her and he saw the understanding of the situation in her eyes.

"It's ok, I'll get you number and text you. We'll get it planned today a little later." She reached for her phone, but he watched her eyes widen a bit. He saw she didn't have her phone either. He couldn't let her go. Not after he had just found her. He needed a plan.

He smiled. He'd just walk her to her meeting. Bonus, He'd get some more time. "No biggie, I'll just walk you to your meeting. I bet they have paper and pencil. I'll write down your number there."

He grabbed her hand and moved down the walk the Direction her friend had walked. Raven pulled back. He looked back to get an explanation and watched her eyes widen and her head drop in what seemed like defeat. Just then two little forms ran up yelling "Mom!" and slammed into Raven.

It took him a moment to realize that the rockets that hit Raven were two small children. And they were indeed calling Raven "Mom"

He looked in shock and Raven looked at her friend Angie. She jogging behind with a small dark haired boy in tow. She looked at Raven, "I'm so sorry. It was animal day and they were so excited to tell you all about it. And since I'm on the list and I had just seen you they just signed them out to me." Angie was apologetic, but not worried.

Roy watched Raven rise and look towards her friend. She gave a serene smile. Raven was back in control. "Its ok, Ang. Thanks for grabbing them." He watched Angie smile.

"Ok Rach, Play date this weekend?"

Raven smiled and nodded and Angie herded off her young child. Leaving two dark haired children behind in Ravens care.

She turned her attention back to the small charges in front of her. She got down on their level and he listened in shock as they talked about their day at school. Apparently animals from a local farm got to come in and they got to pet a lamb and a chicken. He watched as Ravens entirety attention went to this conversation. Which was good. He needed time to sort through everything. He had never really thought about Raven as anything but, well Raven. The superhero, the introvert, the quiet grounder of the West team. But now he saw her in a new light. She was enthralled with their conversations. Absolutely on their level. She did not ask childish questions, spoke to them simply but without the tone many took on when talking to children. He took the opportunity to observe. The children looked to be around three or four years old. Both were of a slender build, with the boy just slightly taller than the girl. Both had very dark hair and both had pale skin. They spoke in the animated way of children, and Raven patiently waited for conversations to reach their conclusion.

It was then that the children seemed to notice an adult they didn't recognize was still there. He saw Raven's mood shift and she glanced at him. There was a look in her eyes that he was finding difficult to interpret.

A small little girl asked, "Mama, who's that?"

Raven slowly stood, placed hands on the children's shoulders and faced Roy. "I'd like you to meet and old friend of Mom's. This is Roy Harper. Roy, these are my children. Arabella and Grayson."

Roy looked down to see two small sets of eyes looking up. Both had dark hair and small features. But when he made eye contact he stopped short. The young girl had amethyst eyes just like her mother. But the young boy looked at him with a serious expression. Face to face with the small child, Roy felt his eyes widen. He was staring at an exact copy of a young Richard Grayson.