5 months ago

Arella squinted and covered her face with her hands as the sun was shining directly into her eyes. Wait, was she alive? She gasped as she sat up as fast as her aching body allowed. She looked around and realized she wasn't the only one scratching her head in confusion. Children, elders…Azar? Arella slowly stood to her feet. She needed to find Azar. But…how? Arella continued to look around. No buildings were standing. None. Everything was in ruins. How…she was so confused. She put a hand to her pounding head. She needed to find water. She needed to find Azar. Then, she needed to think.\

Present

Four hours later, Alfred pulled up to the front of the manor. Jason and Tim were out front working on their motorcycles. They both looked up as Alfred exited the car. "Jason," Alfred said, "go get Master Bruce."

"Why can't Tim?" Jason asked.

"Now," Alfred all but growled.

"Okay, okay," Jason said running inside. Dick walked over to Tim and said, "I need you to stay at the tower for the summer."

"No," Tim said, "absolutely not. No way. Beast Boy is – "

"Donna will be there," Dick interrupted.

"I'll leave within the hour," Tim said automatically. He turned and sprinted into the manor to pack some clothes. Richard turned to Raven with a smirk and mouthed, Told ya. Raven rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's antics.

Bruce slowly followed Jason. "I'm coming," Bruce groaned as he followed Jason outside. Tim rushed by him without a word. Odd, Bruce thought as he watched the older teen sprint into the manor. "Alfred," Bruce said, approaching the town car. "Jason said you wanted to see me."

"Yes, Master Bruce," Alfred said. "There is someone her who I'd like you to meet." Bruce looked up to see Richard and Raven. "Alfred, I already know Rav – " he stopped. It couldn't be. "Angela?" he whispered uncertainly.

"Actually, I go by Arella now," she replied.

"You know her?" Jason asked.

"Alfred hit her with the car when she was pregnant," Bruce said, not taking his eyes off of Arella.

"You hit a pregnant chick with a car!" Jason exclaimed in horror.

"I am not explaining myself anymore," Alfred said, walking past them briskly. Bruce gathered Arella into his arms. "I was so worried about you," he whispered into her hair reverently, inhaling Arella's scent. Dick stood next to Raven and muttered, "I didn't hear the entire story. How does Bruce know your mom?"

"Bruce stayed with me and protected me while I was in the hospital," Arella answered her daughter's boyfriend.

"Come inside. Come inside," Bruce said not even trying to hide his excitement.

Raven unpacked her bag as Arella sat on the bed watching her. "You know, you can probably fit my clothes," Raven said. Arella looked down at the white robes she was still wearing. She had been so eager to see her daughter, she hadn't thought twice about what she was wearing and drawing attention to herself. "I can't believe you're here right now," Raven admitted, sitting a foot or so away from her mother. "I never, ever, thought I would see you again. It almost doesn't feel real," she finished, looking down at her hands.

"I know," Arella said softly. She reached for her daughter's hands and said, "I never thought I would live long enough to see you born, actually..." Arella paused, "I thought you would be a boy. Everyone told me to expect a boy."

"Even Azar?" Raven asked, feeling a lot more comfortable with her mother.

"Even Azar," Arella said with a small laugh. "You surprised us all," Arella said, scooting closer to her daughter. "You should have seen the looks on the elders' faces when the healers announced you were a girl." Raven didn't bother to hide her smile. "I never thought I would live long enough to see you born." This time, Arella was the one looking down at her hands. "Mom," Raven said softly. Arella looked up at ther daughter. "I keep replaying what happened that day..."

"Raven, no," Arella said as she placed her arms comfortingly around her daughter. "Don't go there."

"If I hadn't been fooling around that day," Raven continued as tears came to her eyes.

"No," Arella shook her head. "It was inevitable. You couldn't have known."

"But-"

"The important thing is I'm here; you're here. We're safe. And he's dead." Arella hugged her daughter, something she never thought would ever be possible. "Now," Arella said, "I believe Alfred said something about food, and I am starving." Raven nodded with a smile. "I haven't eaten since...I don't remember when I last ate," Arella admitted as she and Raven walked out the room. "And I'm pretty sure this place is bigger than our home on Azarath."

"Oh, it is," Raven agreed as she and her mother navigated the hallways. "It's a labyrinth."