Still don't own Teen Titans, or its characters, DC Comics, or Cartoon Network. I should hope it is obvious that the follow story is fanfiction.

Are We Still an "Us?" A Teen Titan Fanfiction by Lar Lindor

Chapter 13: Epilogue

The next day Raven was released from the Georgetown Hospital. The doctors understood little about the magical girl's abilities, so the diagnosis was "Acute Exhaustion." They recommended rest, and suggested she not utilize her powers for another week.

"Gar?" she called, as Vic took her to his van in a wheelchair. She was still exhausted, but was anxious to be home.

"Yeah, Raven?" he called, quickening his pace to walk beside her. He was still using the cane, and limped rather badly.

"I notice you never mentioned the fact that you walk with a cane, now," she observed wryly.

"Didn't I?" he smirked. "It must've slipped my mind."

"What's wrong with your legs?" she pushed. "I should've asked before, I guess."

"Bullet lodged against the femur," he shrugged. "They'll try to remove it again later."

"I can heal you," she insisted.

"Not until you're much better," he insisted in return.

"Fine," she grumped, "I hope it hurts, then."

"No problem," he grinned. "I assure you it hurts."

Raven was hungry for non-hospital food. The group found a nice restaurant, and ordered food. Vic called Rich, and invited the missing two friends to join them.

"So, T'lena," Raven said, shaking her head at Gar's stubbornness. "What are Starfire's plans?"

"She's staying on earth for a while at least," the young woman informed her.

"She's staying with us for now," Vic shared. "We'll find room for her."

"You four barely have any room as it is," Raven argued. "She should stay with me instead."

"I agree," Gar acknowledged. "I'm returning to Alaska, you know."

"You're leaving, Grass Stain?" Vic asked, surprised. "I thought you and Rae…"

"Oh, I'm not leaving forever," Gar insisted. "However, I do have a life, a job, my research, a house, and at least one employee there."

Raven's eyes were downcast. It was hard not to cry. She had to ask a question.

"Where does that leave you and me?" she sniffed. "Are we still as 'us'?"

"We are still a couple, unless you've changed your mind, Raven," he pledged.

"When will you be coming back to me?" she begged.

"You could come to Alaska, and move in with me," he offered.

"Gar, the FBI needs someone like me," she insisted.

"Raven, I can't live in D.C. I'm more than just a man who changes into animals. I'm part-animal, I figured that out some time ago," he remarked. "I'd die in the city."

"Then we're at an impasse," she acknowledged.

"I don't understand," piped in Starfire, who had finally joined the group. Rich came in behind her, after parking his car. "You lived in the City of Jumping before."

"I guess I've changed some over the years, gang," he shrugged. "After Canada, and now Alaska I can't imagine living in a city again.

"Move to the mountains," Vic suggested. "It's less than an hour from the Shenandoah Mountains to D.C.

"It is a long commute to my office, still," Raven groused.

"Did you forget you can fly, girl?" T'lena asked, "Or teleport?"

"That would work," Gar observed. "What do you think, Raven?"

"I'm game," Raven sighed in relief, "but what about you, Kory? Where will you stay?"

"She's now my next-door neighbor," Rich supplied.

"When did you two decide this, Rich?" Gar asked.

"Star…, I mean Kory, and I have decided to try dating again. For now, she's moving in to the same building I live in. We figured if you two (here he pointed at Gar and Raven) can start over, then so can we."

"What'll she do for money?" Raven asked.

"Tamaran's mountains are rich with gold," he explained. "She brought enough to earth to live for quite a while. Money's no concern for her."

"How long will you stay in Alaska, Gar?" T-lena asked.

"It's almost May now," Gar pondered. "I should be back by July 1, at the latest. I need to put my cabin up for sale, anyway."

"I'll miss you," Raven realized, "but it sounds good. I'll contact a realtor immediately. I'll sell the condo so we can buy a house in the mountains."

"One suggestion first," Gar smiled. "Why don't you all take vacation and see Denali before I leave. It has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth."

"It is lovely, and I'm sure Terry would approve vacation for me," Raven grinned.

"I'm my own boss, so vacation is easy," Vic acknowledged. "Maybe your sister could baby-sit, babe."

"I'd love to see Alaska," T'lena agreed. "I'll call K.K. now. I know she'll do it."

"Rich?" Gar turned to their old leader pointedly.

"I've got a case or two going," the man called Nightwing paused. "However…oh, hell. I'm in, and …"

"I'm not letting you out of my sight, Richard Grayson," the alien girl smiled. "I would also like to see where friend Beast Boy lives."

Gar winced at the name. "Please, Kory, call me Gar now. ' Beast Boy' is a name I'd like to forget."

"I'll have my boss' assistant make flying arrangements for all of us," Raven rejoiced. "As for hotels…"

"I'll take care of that," Gar promised. "I'm also paying for it. Don't protest- I have an unconscionable amount of money in the bank from TV and my books. Raven, you, however, are staying with me."

"You only have one bed, Gar." she smiled. "Sally gave me the tour."

"We'll figure out something," he winked. She blushed, and nodded.

"I'm game," she returned the wink.

It happened that way. The former Teen Titans (plus T'lena) visited Denali National Park three weeks later. All were fascinated, and overwhelmed by the experience. The mountain and the park are a spiritual experience.

[That part is my opinion. I've part Native American, and was overwhelmed by my visit to Denali. I felt connected to the land there, spiritually.

Gar and Raven figured something out about the one bed problem. It's good to have the ability to improvise, sometimes. They thoroughly enjoyed improvising, in fact. I'd say more, but this is a "T" rated story. Use your own imaginations.

Sure enough, by the end of summer Gar and Raven moved into a log cabin nestled deep in the Shenandoah's. It was beautiful there, and quiet enough for the former Beast Boy to write his book on Caribou migration. I'm afraid it wasn't a Best Seller, but he was pleased by it anyway.

The other couple, Rich and Kory, had their struggles. Both young adults had their own emotional baggage. The man, however, had become a little less tense and unyielding. Kory had changed, too. Governing her people had made her worldlier and less naïve. They'd both grown up in their years apart.

Both couples fought some. That's not so bad though, if you don't hurt each other, and you learn from it. It also leads to something fun called "making up."

That's all, folks. I don't like to write the "and they lived happily ever after" endings. Besides, I may wish to write a sequel someday. I don't have any ideas for Teen Titan stories right now. Therefore, I'll probably work on my stories in the Fantasy genre for the rest of the year. Fanfiction short stories are possible, however.

Enjoy your holidays (however you chose to do so).

Best wishes,

Lar