About 30 years later …

The infirmary was silent, save for the soft metronome like beeping of the electrocardiograph. Cyborg, who at the ripe age of 104 was still very lucid and active thanks in large part to his ever enhanced prosthetics, grimly checked the display on the machine. The waveform it displayed was not good, as it showed a very flawed heartbeat, one that grew weaker and weaker.

Also present was Minerva, the current Abbess of Azarathia. She too looked grim at the scene before her. The infirmary's door slid open and Mark and Marie entered. Minerva approached them and whispered "She is deteriorating … quickly."

Mark walked to bedside and took his mother's hand. While Raven never looked overtly muscular, not even in her prime, the truth was that she was very strong most of her life, and when she shook hands with people they were amazed at the rock hard handshake they received from the small woman. But the hand Mark held in his own now felt soft and frail. He gently kissed her hand, and she opened her eyes. She looked around the room. There were several faces she didn't recognize, though they were the current active Titans.

"Where's Dick?" She rasped. Mark didn't have the heart to remind her that Grayson died seven years ago. While it was painful for Mark to feel the weakness in her hand, it hurt even more to see his mother's brilliant mind ravaged by dementia. He overcame his reluctance and told her the truth.

"He died, a long time ago."

"Oh, yes … of course … I remember now."

Arella, who never married, had followed her grandmother's footsteps and joined the Abbey, was already at her side. Raven looked at her granddaughter and smiled. Arella caressed her face. Raven suddenly spoke.

"Everyone has a last day … I had two. Don't be sad for me."

"Are you ready to go be with Dad?" Mark asked.

"I am."

The electrocardiograph stopped beeping and its alarm whined, warning that she was now in cardiac arrest. Years before, she made it clear that if that happened that she did not want to be resuscitated. Everyone in the room looked at each other, looking both mortified and relieved at the same time. Mark squeezed her hand even harder.

Raven heard the alarm and looked at her loved ones, seeing the grimness on their faces. Her vision was clear at first, but then the tunnel vision began. Their hushed voices sounded farther and farther away, until she could no longer hear them. The tunnel began to narrow, until darkness took her. Before losing consciousness she felt as if a massive weight was removed from her, and she felt light as a feather.

-(-)-

"Hey, sleepy head, wakie, wakie." A familiar voice jarred her out of her slumber. She felt a gentle pat on her left cheek and slowly opened her eyes. She was resting on a delicate looking bed and Garfield was sitting on the edge. He had his happy, goofy smile plastered on his face and he appeared to literally glow, as if he were phosphorescent.

"Hi." He greeted her.

She quickly sat up. The first thing she noticed was that her body no longer ached nor felt weak. In fact, she couldn't remember ever feeling this good.

"Gar, is it really you?"

He laughed. "Of course it's me. Who else would I be?"

She lunged and hugged him. She released him and with her hands on his shoulders, she carefully inspected him.

"You look like an angel." She replied in a stunned voice. "You didn't look like this last time."

"Well, yeah, last time we were in the in between place, but not now. This place is the real deal."

Raven lifted her hands and looked at them.

"I'm young again, I'm a teen." She looked back up at him, then lunged and wrapped her arms around him a second time.

"See, I told you it wouldn't be long."

A laugh escaped her lips. "Gar, it felt like forever. It was almost 80 years since you died."

"You're right, I guess time does go by quickly here. I mean, it feels like I just got here myself."

He took her hands and gently pulled her onto her feet. She cupped his face with her hands and kissed him.

"I feel so light, like I could just float away."

"Well yeah, you see, everything that was bad about us got washed away. Only the good stuff is here."

Her eyes widened. "Yes … it's gone … my father's evil, it's gone. And I suppose that my powers are also gone."

"Gone forever. But you won't need them here."

She kissed him repeatedly. "I was so worried I'd never see you again."

"You always worried too much."

"How could I not? Gar, you died a horrible death."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Now that I think about it, it did hurt, or at least I think it did, I'm not sure anymore, I can't really remember that anymore."

She looked at the surroundings. It looked like a surreal forest, completely serene and perfectly lush, as if not a single leaf was out of place.

"It's so beautiful here. It's like Earth, but better … or should I say perfect?"

"This is just the outskirts, wait until we get further in, your little blue boots are gonna get blown off."

She noticed that she was wearing her old Titans costume. "Further in?"

"It's way cool. You'll see. And check out who's come to see us."

Raven almost laughed as she saw the teenage versions of Dick and Starfire, who were dressed in their old Titans outfits, suddenly appear. Starfire look ecstatic and Robin winked at her. Starfire gave her one of her signature bone crushing hugs, which curiously no longer seemed to hurt. After Starfire released the gray girl Raven pulled back, looked at the Tamaranian and smirked.

"So, no afterlife, no Heaven?"

The princess smiled sweetly. "I was the wrong. And there are more who wish to see you."

"Your daughter turned out well, Arella. You must be very pleased with her." A voice from behind her spoke. She whirled around and gasped.

"Mother! Azar!"

Raven wrapped her arms around her mother as tears of joy slid down her face, which she buried in her mother's shoulder.

"What? I don't get a hug as well?"

Arella released her daughter and gestured to Azar. Raven stood before her old mentor, who beamed at her.

"You did well, child. You resisted your father's evil and defeated him. You have much to be proud of. Now where is my hug?"

"But, you taught me to suppress my feelings."

"Those days are over, child. We are no longer in the shadow lands." Azar said as she spread her arms.

Raven hugged Azar, feeling as if she would burst with joy.

"Well, look who's finally here!" Another voice from the past interrupted. Raven released her mentor and gasped when she saw who it was.

"Jinx?"

The pink haired girl smiled. She was accompanied by the rest of her old team.

"Surprised to see us here?" The former hextress teased her.

"Actually, I'm surprised that I'm here … after what I did to all of you."

"Don't worry about it. We forgave you a long time ago." Gizmo chimed in.

"And you need to forgive yourself." Billy added.

Raven still looked stunned. She walked up to Jinx and stared at her.

"You really forgive me? After what I did to you?"

"Of course we do. What good does it do to hold a grudge?" See-More grinned.

"All of you look so beautiful … you're glowing."

"Look at your hands." Jinx snickered.

Raven raised her hands and saw that she too was glowing.

"This glowing thing is going to take some getting used to. So what's next?"

"Well, I'm supposed to take you to meet the Big Guy." Gar replied

"You mean ..."

"Yeah, Him. He wants to see you."

"Me? He wants to see me? Trigon's daughter?"

She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and saw Starfire's happy face.

"You have nothing to fear, dear friend."

"But, I was the Gem … I did terrible things."

"And it's all forgiven." Robin said in a happy tone.

"So, you're going to take me before the Almighty Himself?"

"Don't worry, He's been waiting for you. Come on, let's go." Gar winked at her.

Raven took his hand and they walked away together. Their friends faded away and they were alone again. She squeezed his hand and had a worried look on her face.

"Gar, I'm overwhelmed."

"Told you your blue boots would get blown off."

They continued to walk.

"So, what do we do now that I'm here? Eternity is a long time."

He stopped walking and kissed her.

"We live happily ever after."

The End