Hello dear readers!!! I am SO very sorry this has taken so long, but I have had major writer's block. So here is the next chapter!! Woo-hoo!!

I hope you enjoy it, please review and let me know. I tried and tried for this chapter, but Robin is extremely difficult to write lately and he's irritating me quite a bit. So please do enjoy.

The song is "It's not over" by Chris Daughtry. I love it!! I don't own anything to do with it, not the lyrics, not the music and unfortunately not the royalties.

The Tower stood stark against the black night, no lights illuminating the interior, its inhabitants long since departed. The full moon washed it in silver and gave it an eerie glow, making it seem haunted, it's windows gaping black eyes staring out over the water towards the city it used to guard, but its guardians had abandoned it, and now it simply stood as a silent sentinel, waiting for its time to come again, when another would have use for it, or when time itself would deem that it's duty was over and allow it to be washed beneath the ways, a silent grave for the memories of a group teens who had lived together protecting a city, growing together, bonding, living, loving and losing. Although many interlopers had tried to get within the Tower, looking for souvenirs, they had been denied access, the defence systems still in place, protecting, awaiting the ones who would awaken it once more from its enforced slumber.

Nightwing drifted around the Tower living room, trailing gloved fingers through the dust that had settled onto the furniture. Nobody had thought to remove the furniture, it had seemed unnecessary, or simply too much of a burden for any of them to bear, as if it would make it all permanent in a way that couldn't be undone. It had been at least three years since someone had been in the Tower, the Titans having disbanded shortly after the debacle with Raven. They hadn't stayed long after the resident empath had left, the final fight having severed too many ties, hurt far too many people.

The dust had settled thickly on the couches and other surfaces in the living room and kitchen. Everything had faded to a dull grey from the heavy coating, and the air was stifling, the ventilation systems shut down in an effort to conserve energy. The light shone brightly through the windows, the full moon illuminating the shadows, making it almost seem like daytime. The night was peaceful; the breeze from the open window stirring dust eddies in the air, swirling around him like a cloak. He was surprised by how much the Tower still called to him, especially given how long it had been since he had been within the Tower walls, and how long he had spent in a foreign city, unwilling and unable to face the memories that were rampant in the Tower. In fact the last time he had been here had been that final fight with Raven, when he had… He broke off those thoughts before they lead him down a road he didn't want to visit again, the memories of that fight forever fresh in his mind, the hurtful words, the accusations, the final bleak look in Raven's eyes as she had disappeared into her soul self, fading into the floor and out of their lives.

The team had disbanded and lost touch for awhile, each one going their own way until time could heal some of the wounds, or at least cool some of the anger to bring them back to the point of listening. It had been small steps at first, a tentative outreaching by Beast Boy to each of them to invite them to a party he was part of, the only one of the team members willing and able to reach out to all of them, the only one without the deep seated guilt of what had happened, what had been said…Shaking his head in exasperation Nightwing headed for the door, their silent opening a testament to the skills that had gone into the building of the Tower, a testament to the strength of their foundation.

I was blown away.
What could I say?
It all seemed to make sense.
You've taken away everything,
And I can't deal with that.

Nightwing drifted, lost in memories of a simpler time, a time when he had felt accepted, loved and a part of something bigger than himself. He longed for it, in a way that surprised him, for he had long ago convinced himself that everything that had happened had been for the best, for himself and for the team, but mainly for her. For his Raven.

He found himself in front of her door, no recollection of how he had come to be there, but his feet and heart had seemingly led him to her door, closed and barred even though the dark bird no longer resided within. He could almost hear her voice softly wafting through the door, inviting him in, allowing him into her domain, into her life. It had happened so long ago, but he could remember it like yesterday. He stepped forward silently, triggering the motion sensor, causing the doors to slide silently open. The pitch black of her room was slashed with beams of light from the window, creating patches of silver to light his way into her personal domain.

Like the living room, everything was covered with a layer of dust, but the memories from this room crowded quickly into his mind, overwhelming his senses as he stared at the bed, convinced he could still smell her perfume, feel her beneath his hands, and taste her on his lips. He was transfixed as colour flooded the room, Raven's bric-a-brac filling the shelves and tables, her satin purple sheets laid perfectly on her bed as she floated above it in the lotus position, her cloak abandoned on a chair, her hair sweeping her hips in the breeze from her open window. Her form was wrapped in her white leotard, her choice in clothing since the destruction of her father. It hugged her curves in a way that made him want to hug her to him…He watched as a younger version of himself, dressed as a walking street-light crept silently towards her bed, spellbound at the vision of his dark goddess. He could feel the peace that had settled over that Robin, watched as his younger self settled into a chair to watch Raven meditate, matching his breathing to hers, deliberately relaxing his body to match hers.

Nightwing couldn't tear his gaze away as Raven slowly drifted back down to the bed, choosing to end her meditation as his presence washed over her, his younger self staying seated until she had come to rest on the mattress and opened her eyes, her smile lighting her face with a glow from within before moving towards her, crossing the floor silently before he settled on the bed at her side.

"How are you feeling today? Any troubles?" He brushed her hair off her forehead, brushing the bandages wrapped around her head. It was merely a formality, as her healing abilities didn't require bandages to be effective, but Cyborg had needed to do something by way of aid, and the bandages had made him feel better about it.

Raven smiled gently at him, a slight up titling of the lips which would have seemed insignificant on anyone else, but on her was the same as an ear to ear grin on someone else. She reached up and grabbed his hand, entwining her fingers through his and bringing them to rest lightly on her leg.

"I'm fine, the head wound is the last to heal and it only causes me minor discomfort now. I'll be back to normal by tomorrow, no need to worry about me." Her thumb gently caressed the back of his hand as her words washed over him, caressing the last of the tension from his body. He leaned forward until his forehead rested gently against hers, their eyes still locked together.

"I was so worried about you, when I saw that hit, I was so scared that you wouldn't make it, and I couldn't come to you, I couldn't…" His voice trailed off as the memory flashed behind his eyes again, the sound of her hitting the building, her shields giving way as she fell to the ground, unmoving, the ground beneath her flowing red with her blood, the sounds of the fight falling silent, his own yell the only thing he could hear….he suddenly surged up, his lips claiming hers with a desperation as he tried to drown out the scenes in his mind with the reality of her being so close, her smell surrounding him, the feel of her beneath his hands, the softness of her lips pressed against his.

He pulled back to gasp in air, shifting until they were laying side by side on her bed, his arms wrapped tightly around her, pulling her in close to rest against him, his breath heaving in his chest as he fought down the panic.

"I thought I'd lost you Raven, and I couldn't get to you, I was so scared, I…" He cut off as her fingers pressed against his lips.

"Shhhh Robin, I'm fine. We're both fine." She pushed herself up until she was resting against his chest looking down at him, her hair a curtain around them, closing out the rest of the world. "We're here together and everything will be fine." She pressed her lips against his softly, a gentle kiss of reassurance before he took it over and turned it into passion, his hands drifting down her back, before coming back up and pushing at the shoulders of her leotard to push it from her body…

I try to see the good in life,
But good things in life are hard to find.
We'll blow it away, blow it away.
Can we make this something good?
Well, I'll try to do it right this time around.

Nightwing sucked in a breath as the light was seemingly sucked from the room dispelling the images and he was returned to the mundane reality of shadows and grey, the colour leeching from the room along with the smell of her perfume and the feel of satiny skin.

His feet carried him over to the bed and before he knew it he stood before it, looking down on the mattress bare of its silken sheets that had always clothed it in all his past visits. He ran his hand over the mattress, imagining the feel of silk beneath his fingers. He sat on the side of the bed and stared towards the head of it, picturing his Raven sleeping there, her hair spread out like a fan, her face composed and restful in slumber. He reached towards the image and it shimmered like a mirage, fading before his eyes. His hand clenched into a fist and pushed into the mattress until he could feel the springs pushing into his hand. He hated the feelings rushing through him, bringing his agony to the surface again, bringing feelings he had long thought suppressed back into the light, back to the forefront of his mind so that he had to deal with them, face them, acknowledge that they had never gone away.

Richard took off the mask that had hidden his eyes for so long and looked at the room with unshielded eyes, unable to hide the truth from himself any longer; without the mask of Nightwing to hide behind. He had told himself he had come here to find the truths he had left behind, to face the final moments that had separated them, and to reaffirm that he had made the right decision in letting her go, in fact, forcing her to leave him. His heart told him that he had come looking for a reason to go to her, looking for a reason to try to get back what they had shared. He had hurt Kori because of his inability to let go of Raven, to let go of a relationship that he had driven apart by his fear.

Let's start over.
I'll try to do it right this time around.
It's not over.
'Cause a part of me is dead and in the ground.
This love is killing me,
But you're the only one.
It's not over.

He couldn't bear to sit on her bed any longer and remember the time he had spent with her there; the wonder he had felt when she had finally let him into her life, and then into her bed. It had been a long time coming, but when they had finally consummated their relationship it had been a turning point in his life, their connection had been more than physical, they had cemented their mental bond until the feeling of pleasure had been overwhelming; he had been unable to determine where she started and he ended. It had been the most amazing feeling of his life, and he had driven her away because of it, because of his fear that she would leave him, or be taken from him by one of the many monsters that haunted their city.

Richard stood and stalked around the room running his fingers over the shelves and walls, feeling her in the room, her ghost haunting him with everything he had had, and everything that he'd lost. His mask lay abandoned behind him on the bed, Nightwing left behind as Richard drowned in the memories of Raven. He stopped abruptly, and rested his forehead against the wall, his clenched hands punching the wall in agitation. He hadn't felt this helpless since the death of his parents, not since Raven had been in the grasp of Slade and her father. He sighed and turned, resting his head back against the wall, his head leaning back, eyes closing. He didn't miss the fact that he grouped Raven with his parents, with his family. The Titans had been his family for so long that it was natural that he felt that way, but with Raven it was always so much more. She was, as Kori had said, the mate of his soul. He had felt lost and adrift before he had met her and when they had separated, the cold had seeped back into his soul, unable to find the hope he had spent his life searching for and had found in a sarcastic half demon from Azarath.

Taken all I could take,
And I cannot wait.
We're wasting too much time
Being strong, holding on.
Can't let it bring us down.

With an abrupt move he shoved himself off the wall, his hands clenching through his hair as he signed deeply and stared at the floor, torn about what it was he should be doing. He noticed a glint of what appeared to be silver on the floor, and stooping down, picked up necklace that had apparently be forgotten in Raven's haste to leave the Tower. Or else had been left there because she couldn't stand to have the reminder of who had given it to her, or perhaps why. He stood slowly, fingering the delicate chain. He remembered shopping for it; it was for her birthday, a one year celebration for the destruction of her father. He had spent hours looking for the perfect gift before he had found the locket staring out at him from an antiques shop. The old style decoration and inscription had screamed to him that it should belong to Raven. It was a simple design, elegant and flowing like Raven in flight. On the back he had had Forever our Hope inscribed with the year, not that he believed that Raven would ever forget the date, but because it had been the year they turned 19, they were no longer the Teen Titans, they had become the Titans instead. There were changes around every corner of the Tower, growth in both physical and mental abilities, changes in uniform, team dynamics and love. Love was blossoming within the Tower and Robin had admitted to himself that he was a guilty party in that. The changes Raven had undergone, not only the physical although she was absolutely gorgeous with the changes to her uniform and the uncut violet hair, but the small showing of emotions, it was intoxicating to watch the expressions that flitted across her face, and seeing her realize that things weren't blowing up when she dared to show emotion. It was when she had laughed uninhibited that he realized just what it was that was flowing through him when he was with her. It had been love, probably had been for years, but he had been too blind and too scared to admit it. But when she had been set free…it was as if the proverbial light bulb had gone on for him, and he had finally allowed him to see his feelings in a new light.

It had been so easy to enter into a relationship with her, their trust and friendship had blossomed in the year following the destruction of her father, and only one person had been surprised when the announcement came that they were dating. Well, announcement might have been the wrong word. He grinned slightly to himself as he fingered the locket and remembered how Cyborg had found the two birds in the training room, Robin having told the team that he was going to teach Raven some further hand to hand combat and sword play, but that plan had swiftly changed once Robin had knocked Raven to the floor and her retaliation of tripping him had him sprawled half on top of her, and shortly thereafter engaged in a different kind of training, something much more enjoyable for both, something that involved emotions, and lips. To say Cyborg had been surprised would be an understatement. His bellow had roused the other Titans who had rushed to the room battle-ready and had stopped in shock at Cyborg yelling at the top of his lungs at Robin, demanding to know why he had dared to have his hands all over his baby sister and how he was going to rip his limbs off. Raven stood there, a little shocked by his vehemence while Robin tried to explain to Cyborg that it wasn't what it looked like, and that he should calm down, before he started to get angry himself, telling Cyborg it was none of his business and that he loved Raven so he was damn well entitled to kiss her. That had silenced all of them, including Raven who was as shocked as the rest at his statement. His smile dimmed as he remembered the elation that had flitted over her face when he confirmed it to her and their friends. It had made it real for her in a way she never knew she needed, the move from the shadows into the light had made her heart soar as their friends had congratulated them. That had been their night of passion, their first night together as couple and he had never felt another like it, the awe and wonder in her eyes as they had peaked together, the feeling of laying with her wrapped in his arms after their shared bliss, the feel of her satin skin against his, her hair covering them like a cloak, the room gone silent and still around them, the world stopping for just them. He had never forgotten the feeling, had simply pushed it into the back of his mind in the hopes of leaving her in his past, and moving forward with his future.

My life with you means everything,
So I won't give up that easily.
I'll blow it away, blow it away.
Can we make this something good?
'Cause it's all misunderstood.
Well, I'll try to do it right this time around.

Pushing the past away had never been something he was good at. He had never been able to let the death of his parents go, had never learned how to move on from the emotional baggage. Batman had not been the best of teachers in that area, but even his emotionally repressed mentor had moved on from the past, had in fact found a love of his own in the raven haired Amazon Princess. Watching Batman and Diana had been difficult, as he had been unable to hide behind his own fears while the Bat and the Princess had moved past his hang-ups and were currently working at starting a future together. Watching someone who had never been good at forming relationships of any kind, fall in love had been an eye opener for him, but he had pushed it away, had told himself that he was different, that he was fine, that the relationship with Kori was all he needed, even if it wasn't as deep as he may want, even if it wasn't what he had dreamed of for years, it was good, it was solid. She cared about him, she loved him with everything that she was and would do anything for him. It was everything a man could hope for…except she didn't challenge him, didn't make him crazy with a quirk of her eyebrow, didn't make his heart beat faster with just the smell of her hair and didn't make him want to drop to his knees and worship her like the goddess she is.

He smirked at these thoughts, his thoughts circling like they had so many times before, since that phone call that had changed his entire perception of how he was living his life, the phone call which had shaken his belief in his choices, had smacked his fear in the face and told it to shut the hell up. He had been so afraid of losing Raven, of making a mistake and having her leave him, that he had driven her away, had taken the steps to sever himself from her before she could do it to him, his fears that everyone who loved him had left him, everyone who meant something to him had been stolen from him, so he had closed himself off from her, especially when she had told him that she was pregnant.

It had scared him to the core that he could become a father. What kind of would he be, when his example was a cold hearted hero who had kept himself closed himself off from the world around him, including his adopted son. Alfred had always been kind to Dick, but he was the butler, and kept himself at a distance from the child, leaving Dick to fend for himself, and eventually to follow his "Dad" into the family business of crime fighting. His lessons had taught him to keep himself closed off to other people, to not allow anyone to get to close to him, for anyone that was close to him could be hurt, could be used against him, and now the woman he had foolishly allowed himself to fall in love with was pregnant with his child. He had been at a loss as to what to do about it, had taken over a week to even come to grips with the idea. During that time he had been closed off from Raven had left her to deal with all of the issues that had arisen, all the questions the team had by herself. It had taken them some to time to come to an understanding as a Team and as a couple. There had been many adjustments to make, and Raven's training had been shortened as none of them knew what physical demands would be made on her body with this child. They had taken care of her, Starfire buying more toys that the baby could possibly play with, Cyborg ramping up protection and the T-car because nothing was going to touch his nephew while he had any say in the matter, Beast Boy offering to teach their child all about video games when he was old enough. It had been amazing how the team had banded together, and Raven had flourished thrilled with the child growing in her womb. They had moved in together and had planned their lives together.

And then the fight had happened, the fight with Slade.

Let's start over.
I'll try to do it right this time around.
It's not over.
'Cause a part of me is dead and in the ground.
This love is killing me,
But you're the only one.
It's not over.

The alarm had gone off in the middle of the night, waking the sleeping Titans and bringing the ever alert Boy Wonder from his haven with his goddess. He had been adamant about her not going, but she had been even more determined to be there for this confrontation as Slade had always been the one that seemed to get away. They had piled into the T-car, Robin on his R-cycle in the lead. The fight had been intense, Slade having brought reinforcements in the form of drones and Cinderblock. Raven had been injured, a blow from Cinderblock throwing her into the wall, her shield collapsing under the hit, her body hitting the pavement with a thud that Robin swore he could hear over the sounds of the fight, and Slade's taunts about the fallen bird. He had flown to her side, scared for her and for their child. Slade had gotten away, Cinderblock taken down in the combined efforts of Cyborg and Starfire. And Raven….Raven had lost the baby.

He could remember the blood and Cyborg's frantic attempts to save their child, Raven's powers barely stabilizing her. It had been the longest night of his life as he spent it pacing in the corridor, Cyborg having kicked him out of the infirmary when his fear had bloomed into panic as Raven flat-lined. He had almost pulled out his hair waiting for news, hope dying in his chest at the look on Cyborg's face as he exited the medical lab. He didn't wait to hear the news before rushing into the room, seeing nothing but Raven. She was floating above the bed in her healing trance. He nearly collapsed with relief before he noticed that she no longer had the slight bump of the early signs of her pregnancy. Their baby had been lost, and his heart fell through his feet and straight through the floor in devastation at that realization. He stayed with Raven for 3 days, his thoughts swirling in a vortex of anger, self-loating, denial, desolation and relief. His vigil at her side didn't end until he saw her awake, her eyes meeting his, a slight smile on her face until she saw the cold look on his. Her hand had brushed over her stomach, an instinctive gesture she had recently started to do while she felt the life of their child growing with her womb. At the contact with her flat stomach she felt the loss of the life within herself, noting for the first time that the heartbeat she had grown accustomed to was missing. Tears filled her eyes and she instinctively reached out the Robin, needing comfort, needing confirmation that this was her reality. He didn't move as her hand stretched towards him, didn't react at all other than to stare at her. She dropped her hand slowly back to her side, eyes shuttering at his refusal to touch her. She pursed her lips as her other hand clenched at her side as she restrained herself from attempting to reach him again. She wet her lips, her throat suddenly parched as fear clenched in her stomach.

"Robin?" Her voice was soft, leached of emotion as she reached for their bond, only now becoming aware of the fact that it was muted, as if he had closed himself off from her, which he hadn't done in months.

Robin stared at the woman before him, unable to think past the hurt and anger clouding his judgment as he lashed out at the empath that had just lost their baby.

"It's your fault! If you hadn't been so thoughtless, if you had just stayed at home as I had asked, my baby would still be alive!! IT'S YOUR FAULT!!!" He had risen by this time, his voice rising as well, until he was shouting at her at the top of his voice, his hands clenched at his sides, almost vibrating with his fury, lashing out at his loved one, just as he had lashed out at his mentor when he found out that Bruce was the Bat and hadn't saved his parents. "You did it!! You couldn't protect her, you let her die so you could be the hero again! How could you?? You killed our baby! I will never forgive you for this!!"

Raven drew back on the bed in shock before shutting down completely. Her face became her stone mask, not saying anything, not trying to defend herself against his accusations, her voice failed her as his emotions surged through her, shutting down her mind to everything but his fury towards her, his hurt, his grief. What didn't come through was his love, like it always had before. He left her in that moment and so she shut down, unable to get past her own hurt and pain to focus on the fact that he might simply be lashing out from grief, her own grief too overwhelming to deal with his as well. She allowed her soul-self to envelope her, even as the others ran in to see what Robin was shouting about. She gathered her possessions from her room and left the only place she had considered home.

Richard ran his fingers through his hair as the shouting match with the other Titans ran through his mind. It had also been the night he left the Tower, the night that the Titans had disbanded. The next night he became Nightwing, shutting himself down and shutting out the world until Beast Boy had brought them all together again, six months later. He hadn't been able to justify to himself why he had gone, told himself that it was to check up on his teammates, but it had been because he was trying to find his dark bird. But they hadn't all shown up. Raven had been missing. Nobody could find her, not even the Batman with all his resources. She had simply decided to disappear and nobody was better at hiding than the half-demon. The old team kept in touch, Starfire moving to Bludhaven to be with Nightwing, to work at his side again, to be part of something for she could not be by herself for long. He had let her into his city for reasons unknown even to himself, but he thought it could be loneliness and as a sign to himself and Raven that he could live without her.

Six months later Raven had resurfaced, going to college, attempting to earn her degree in business and anthropology. He had been elated, but told himself that he had everything he needed in Starfire, who had moved in with him only two weeks prior. It had been difficult to stay away, and he had eventually caved, telling himself that he was checking up on an old teammate, making sure that she wasn't in any danger. He followed her to her apartment, the one she had purchased and decorated when she had learned that she was going to have a baby. They such grand plans, they had planned to have a place of their own, a place to raise their baby together. Now it was just her there, and he watched her through the balcony doors, keeping the barrier on their bond so that she couldn't feel him from his vantage point, his fear of her anger and rejection stopping him from reaching out to her. He watched as she made herself some dinner, settling down to study for the night when the phone rang. He was glad she had made friends, but he couldn't tamp down the jealously that was threatening to overwhelm him at the idea of someone else making her smile like that, especially if it was a guy. Nightwing had researched it, and found out that not only was it a guy, it was a former comrade in arms, none other than Roy Harper, the red-haired archer of Titans East. They were apparently taking classes together at the university, completely by chance. His jealously ate at him and he eventually found himself back there watching them together as they studied, grew closer and eventually started dating. It had been the end for them in his mind, and he had committed to Kori, convincing himself that she was all he needed, but a part of him had been screaming inside him for the past three years, demanding that he go to her, bond with her again, connect to the other half of his soul again.

We can't let this get away.
Let it out, let it out.
Don't get caught up in yourself.
Let it out.

Here he was again, back in the place where it had all started and ended, at an impasse once again, only this time he didn't have a back-up plan, no Kori to fall back on, no shield to hide behind and cover his feelings with. Standing in her room, he couldn't stop himself from dreaming of their reunion, imagining what it would be like to be with her again, to feel her pressed up against him, to feel the satin of her skin, and the emotions that surged through him at the touch of her lips against his.

Determined to find her and make it right, to fix his mistakes and beg her to take him back, Richard closed his eyes and focused his thoughts on Raven, which wasn't hard to do, as she seemed to monopolize his thoughts most of the time anyway. He focused on his love for her, his trust in her and the complete belief that it wasn't, couldn't be over. He found their bond, lying dormant for years at the back of his mind where he had pushed it in despair and desperation after pushing her away. It flickered like a candle guttering in the wind, and it was faint, but it was still there. He focused on it, and his need for the empath from Azarath, and it flared to life, fueled by his emotions as it had been fueled by her need to help him so many years before. He flowed with it as it flew over the city and into the neighboring towns. It finally led him to a small place he knew well, where the other half of his soul resided. He felt her flicker of surprise and cut off his end swiftly, once he knew he would be able to find her; he didn't want her warned of his coming in case she blocked him and fled so that he wouldn't be able to find her. His smile as his eyes opened was confidant, an echo of a boy who had dressed like a walking traffic light who fell in love with a dark angel.

His steps carried him swiftly back to the base of the Tower where his motorcycle awaited him. While it was no longer the red of his youth it was a powerful machine, befitting of the hero who rode it, and he straddled it quickly, gunning the engine before spinning it and taking off through the tunnel entrance, the security system resetting as he left the Tower behind; it would wait for another chance at life, for perhaps its heroes would come back to it, or perhaps new ones would grace its halls and fill it with life and laughter once more. For now it was content with its memories, the ghosts of five teens who had found life, laughter, tears, sorrow and love within its T shaped structure.

Let's start over.
I'll try to do it right this time around.
It's not over.
'Cause a part of me is dead and in the ground.
This love is killing me,
But you're the only one.
It's not over.

He watched her through the window as she sat in her favourite coffee shop, drinking a chai tea latte while reading a book. Her unbound hair fell down her back, the tips brushing her hips. The rich purple a startling contrast to the black of her jacket hung on the back of her chair. She was dressed in black jeans, with a cowl neck, sleeveless midnight blue cashmere sweater. To his eyes she looked lush and beautiful, and he longed to reach out and run his fingers through her hair again, to stroke his fingers down her cheek, to trace her lips like he had so many times before. He watched as she slowly sipped from her cup, never looking down as she placed the mug back on the table. He finally dragged his eyes away from her and moved swiftly towards the door, holding back his aura as she had taught him so long ago, so that she would be unable to sense him until he wanted her to.

Raven didn't look up at the jingle of the bell, but when she felt his presence wash over her she tensed but refrained from looking up. She had felt him earlier, through the bond, as if he was trying to find her through it. It had been an experience she hadn't felt in over 3 years, and it had shaken her. She had forgotten what it felt like to be connected like that, had reveled in the emotions that had flooded her as she felt him with her for the first time in years. For one glorious second she hadn't felt alone, but then she remembered who they were, what was going on, and what had happened between them, and didn't try to reestablish the connection when it was abruptly severed. She had convinced herself that it had been an aberration on his part; that it meant nothing, but Knowledge had been unable to convince Love and Hope, had in fact been swayed to their side and had aided in the search for that connection again. But it hadn't been there, he had shut down once again, and she was unable to find him, until he had walked into her coffee house; now she was flooded with his emotions and feelings. Now she sat, pretending to be still immersed in her book, sipping her latte as she waited for his next move.

Richard walked towards her table swiftly, scanning the room for any potential dangers, a lifetime of training kicking in as he focused all his senses on the woman in front of him, the woman who had held him since the moment they met, and he felt his stomach clench in both anticipation and fear, for regardless of what she had said to him that night on the phone, it was perhaps too late for them already, perhaps their time had passed and he had messed it up too badly. He knew that she could feel him and the fact that she didn't look up at him as he approached her tightened the knot in his stomach and he could feel his heart trying to climb out his throat. He stopped as he reached the table and stared down at her hear, noticing the fact that her fingers were clenching the book so tightly that her knuckles were white and her breathing was carefully controlled. Richard took a deep breath, inhaling the faint scent of Raven, an intoxicating smell that had lingered in his mind for months after their break-up, but now that he was faced with reality of her presence and that mix of vanilla and lavender, he was starting to feel light-headed, and very uneasy about what he was doing there. She shifted slightly and that broke him out of his stupor as he realized that he was making her extremely uncomfortable for her to move like that. Gathering his courage and saying a silent prayer, he cleared his throat.

"Raven."

The word was soft but there was such emotion behind the word that Raven didn't know how to react, but unable to deny herself the opportunity to see him again, she raised her eyes to his and the world fell away from them as it had a lifetime ago when a pair of super heroes fell in love.

Let's start over.
It's not over, yeah...
This love is killing me,
But you're the only one.
It's not over.

So that's it, I hope you enjoyed it!! Please review, let me know what you think of it. I'm trying to figure out where I want it to go next. Should they get back together? I'm still deciding and have yet to find another song I like for the next chapter.

Aurora Mikayla