Hey guys. This is going to be the final (that's right, final) chapter of In the End. -readers pick up rocks to throw at my head- Hey, hey, hey, before you do that, just let me tell you that a sequel is more than likely, because of reviews from people. So don't hate me, okay? I love you. -smiles-

WARNING: This chapter will probably contain inordinate amounts of fluff, inasmuch as it is the last one and therefore must be thoroughly romantic.

The raindrops were so big, they had taken on the quality of hail, smacking against the paned glass like dulled bullets. Raven Roth, newly emancipated from her father's grasp, sat quietly by the window, face concealed by the shadow of a pure white hood. The sound of the water just on her other side pulled her out of a half-meditative state and forced her into focusing her eyes on the blurry landscape. She shook her head, becoming all the way awake. A shadow had fallen, darkening the already dim premises. She looked up, just as he sat down. "Hi."

"You look tired," he told her, running a gloved finger just under her left eye. She shrugged. "Everything all right?"

"Yeah." The empath slipped her arms around him and buried her pale face in his neck. He felt her smile and looked down, his mouth turned slightly up at the corner. Her hair was falling into her face; he brushed back the violet locks and kissed her cheekbone. "Robin," she said, tracing the contours of his jaw with a delicate hand. "What do your eyes look like?" He was silent for a moment, before catching her lips in a soft kiss. "I'm just curious. It's not like you have to show me." The boy wonder smiled vaguely, remembering how her tiny fingers had pulled lightly at the mask, wanting to know what lay underneath. Now, he moved his thumb over the same fingers, his grip firm but gentle.

"I'll show you someday," he murmured. She nodded, satisfied with that answer. There was a brief pause. Robin glanced up at the alarm, which had been silent as of late. He was glad; they needed a break from crime. Even Jump City's fnest weren't invincible. They had lives too.

All of a sudden, Raven was giggling. "What?" he asked, rather amused.

"Do you remember that day on the hall, when I asked if you closed your eyes when you kiss?" He sighed. It was, in fact, something he recalled clearly.

"So?" The query came out somewhat defensively, prompting her to laugh harder. "Do you?" She stopped, surprised.

"Do I what?"

"Close your eyes," he said, with an obvious tone.

"Um...yes." She was watching him like he was insane.

"What? It's not as if I'm looking." The point was taken.

"...I still can't believe I asked you that." He flashed a grin.

"Neither can I. I didn't know how to answer." The demoness gazed at him dryly.

"So if I asked you again, what would you do?" Robin pondered the question. Then he looked her straight in the eye.

"This." He reached over and pulled her into a warm, slow kiss. When they eased apart, he was grinning again. "And then I'd ask if you still wanted an answer." She sat back, toying with a piece of her hair.

"You're so clever." The reply was almost brutally sardonic, but it didn't faze him in the least. He just kept smiling.

"I know." She made a dismissive sound. "You just can't handle it, Raven."

"Oh, because I so can't handle you."

"Can you?" he wanted to know. The enchantress eyed him.

"You are so perverted." He laughed.

"But you like it."

"Who says?"

"Me." His implication was that this verdict was final.

"Just because you say so doesn't mean it's right, boy blunder." He made a pretense of hurt.

"Your words cut deep."

"I'm sure they do. Deep beneath those washboard abs." Another smirk. "I should not have said that." Before he could answer, the resident changeling poked his head into the room.

"Guys? Cyborg wants to go mud-wrestling with Raven."

"What?" both Titans demanded. "WHAT?"

"BEAST," Cy bellowed, from somewhere inside the tower. "What'd you tell them?"

"That you...like lime Jell-O," BB responded. Echoing footsteps were heard, and Cyborg's massive bot form towered over the green teenager.

"You told them what, now?" he asked again, threateningly. Beast Boy smiled angelically.

"Absolutely nothing," he promised, then dashed for the door. The humanoid scowled after him. "Little grass stain," he muttered. Turning to his other two friends, his usual confident expression took over. "We're going to the movies. Wanna come?" he offered. Robin and Raven exchanged a glance.

"Sure," the masked boy said, a bit cautiously.

"Whatever that kid told you, we ain't doin' it," Cy reassured him. "Don't worry." He winked at Raven. "And no Wicked Scary II."

"Ha ha," she retorted. Robin slipped an arm around her, but she knew that those hidden eyes were secretly twinkling. Maybe that's why he kept them covered; so she wouldn't know when they were laughing at her.

There it is. The end. Please review and let me know how it was, both this chapter and the story in general. There will be a sequel...if enough people review and tell me they want one. Once again, thank you to all who gave me their support and reviews. It is much appreciated.

Padfoot