Family Ties (BBRae Oneshot)

Man. Look at them, mine and Rachel’s twins, Jacob and Sari. Our two perfect angels. I can’t believe that we were able to make these two beautiful, and hopefully, future Titans. I often wonder how their powers will turn out when they grow up. I guess I could ask Rachel if she could do a quick check. Either way, I couldn’t help but feel extremely proud. As I shut the door, I felt myself smile as I walked down the hallway to the Ops Center. Once there, my eyes went straight to the couch, to see Rachel sitting on the couch, waiting for him. “The twins our finally asleep.” I said to her. She looked over to me, a smile growing on her face as I walked over to her.

“Come,” she said, opening her arms. “Sit.” I stared at Rachel and just shook my head. Without a second thought, I picked her up. “WHOA!!!” She shouted as she laughed. “GARFIELD!!!” Laughing, I sat down and placed her down on my lap. She snuggled down into my chest, as we stared out of the window. “It’s been a while since we did anything like this.”

“I know, right?” I replied as I kissed her on the head. After a few moments of silence, I finally spoke up. “So, what’s the status on Kori?”

“Well,” Rachel replied, “according to what Dick said, she has all the doctors and nurses scared. I guess her labor was a lot scarier than mine, and I had twins.” I couldn’t help but laugh at what she said. Then again, Rachel’s pregnancy was scary. All throughout the whole thing, her powers went out of control all because of her mood swings. After the birth, I had to nurse a broken hand for three weeks because of how hard she was squeezing my hand. As I thought of what happened, I seriously began to worry for Dick. After all, Kori was ten times stronger than Rachel. “He said that he stayed out in the waiting room during the whole thing. He not only heard Kori crying out in pain, but he thinks that the male nurse that was stupid enough to hold her hand.” We both gave a small laugh. Just then, the elevator door opened up, revealing Victor carrying in a drunken Karen.

“What the hell happened?” I asked, looking back at them.

“Let’s just say,” Vic replied, “Karen got a little carried away. So, I’m just gonna take her to our room.” Rachel looked at me as they left. After a few minutes, Vic returned and plopped down onto the couch. “So,” he asked, “how’s Dick and Kori?”

“Good,” Rachel replied, “though we might need to find out the name of the nurse that held Kori’s hand.”

“Yeah?” Vic looked at her. “How come?”

“Because we might need to make him a replacement hand.” I answered, to which Vic began to chuckle. There was an awkward silence between us, so I decided to figure out what’s wrong. “So, what’s up with Karen?”

“Huh?” Vic asked. “What do you mean?”

“Come on, Vic,” Rachel explained, “Karen hardly ever comes home drunk. And when she does, there has to be something bugging her.” Vic ran his hand over his head and looked down in defeat.

“Okay,” he replied, “you got a point. It’s just that… With you two having twins, and Kori getting pregnant, she just, you know, kinda feels left out.”

“Uh, dude,” I said with a confused tone, “are you saying that she wants to be like Rachel and Kori?”

“It’s not that,” Vic continued, “it’s the fact that she wants kids. You know, start a family with me. She’s just so depressed because I can’t do that for her. I mean, granted, I still am 50% organic. But that part of me ain’t.”

“Wow,” Rachel said in her usual level tone, “too much information.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “But seriously, have you guys thought about adoption?” As she said that, Vic looked away from her.

“I asked her, it’s just…” His voice began to break. As I was wondering why he stopped, Rachel tugged on my shirt, telling me to wait. “She wants to have a kid with the man she loves. But I can’t give her that.” He put his head in his hands. “I want her to make her happy, but what can I do?” Rachel was about to answer him, when her cellphone, which was on the coffee table, rang. She reached out to grab it, but I was too quick. I picked up the phone and answered it.

“Hello?” I asked.

“I’m sorry,” a male voice replied. “I was looking for Rachel Roth.”

“Well, there ain’t no Rachel Roth here,” I replied jokingly, though I had a little anger in my voice. “But there is a Rachel Logan.”

“Oh, right,” the voice replied, “she got married. Anyway, is she there?”

“Can I ask who you are and why you want to talk to her?” I kept my voice leveled as I could.

“Just tell her it’s her half-brother, Rylos.” I looked down to Rae.

“Who is it?” She asked.

“Some guy,” I replied, “claiming to be your half-brother.” Rachel’s took the phone out of my hand and hung up on the guy. “Okay. What was that all about?”

“I don’t want to talk to Rylos.” She replied shortly. Shaking herself out of my arms, she got up. “I’m going to bed. Don’t stay up to long, okay?”

“Okay, Rae,” I replied. “I love you.”

“Love you too,” she said as she left the room. I looked towards Vic, who, even though his one human eye was red, looked at me and shrugged.


The next morning, Rachel and I were in the kitchen cooking breakfast for our kids. “Come on Rae,” I said, trying to pester her into talking about Rylos, “you have to at least be happy that your brother wants to get in contact with you.”

“Look, Gar,” Rachel said, “you don’t understand. What happens in my family is none of your business.”

“Actually, Rae,” I continued, “it has become my business the moment you said I do.” I walked up to her and took her hands in mine. “Listen, Rae. I want to help you with this, but you have to be honest with me. Why don’t you want to talk to Rylos?”

“It’s because of what he is.” Rachel replied in a small voice. It took a while before she continued. “Listen, you want to know the truth. The only reason Rylos and I are related is through our father.” The moment she said this, my eyes shot open.

“Rylos is a demon?” Rachel just gave a small nod. “Why does he want to talk to you?”

“I don’t know,” she replied, “he just started calling me five months ago, and he had been calling once a week.”

“Sounds like he really wants to talk to you.” I said, turning back to the breakfast.

“I guess.” The moment Rachel said that, the door to the elevator opened, letting Dick and Kori, who was carrying a small bundle of cloth, through.

“I am fine, Richard,” Kori said with a laugh, “I and Sophie do not need any more aid. So please, do not worry any longer.”

“I’m sorry, Kori,” Dick replied, “it’s just that I want to make sure my girls are alright.” He looked at me and Rachel with a smile. “So, where’s Karen and Vic?”

“Probably nursing Karen’s hangover.” I replied.

“Friend Karen got drunk?” Kori asked. “Strange. She doesn’t usually drink that much.”

“Yeah, you guys might want to sit down for this.” Rachel explained what had happened last night. As she finished her story, Kori wiped a tear from her eyes.

“Wow,” Dick said, “that’s gotta be rough.”

“Indeed,” Kori replied. It was at that moment, Rachel’s phone rang again. She picked up her phone, and just stared at the number.

“Look,” I said to her, “you need to find out what he wants.”

“But what if he wants me to open the portal again.” Rachel asked, fear edging her voice.

“Who are you guys talking about?” Dick asked.

“Apparently,” I explained, “Rachel has a demonic half-brother named Rylos.”

“What does he want?” Kori asked.

“We don’t know.” Rachel said as the ringing died. She just looked at the phone as it began to ring again.

“Look,” Dick walked around the counter and placed a hand on her shoulder, “we need to find out what he wants. Garfield,” he looks to me, “go with her just to keep her safe. Understand?” I gave a swift nod.


“So,” I said as Rachel and I stood in an abandoned warehouse, “this is where your brother wanted to meet?”

“It seems that way,” Rachel replied with a little edge to her voice. I could tell that she didn’t want to be here, and I couldn’t blame her. This was the kind of place that would only bring about trouble. Yet something seemed off about this place. Something that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and not in a good way. I began to look around, shifting from one foot to another. “Gar?” She asked me when she noticed how I was acting. “What’s wrong?”

“Wow,” a voice said from behind us, “I thought I only had that effect on dogs.” We turned around to see a man with white hair and black and red eyes. His clothes were dark, yet held a modern punk theme. He looked at Rachel with a sly smile. “Hello, Rachel.”

“What do you want, Rylos?” She asked coldly

“Straight to the point,” Rylos said with a smile, “usual Rachel.” He gave a small laugh before going quiet. I began to wonder what was going through his head. “I wanted to start over,” he said as he looked at her. “No tricks this time.”

“What do you mean?” As a response to her question, Rylos lifted his shirt and showed a bunch of week-old bruises and scars that covered his body. “Oh my Azar,” she lifted her hand to her mouth.

“After you sent Pops back to the Demon World,” Rylos explained, “he was really angry, and guess who he took his anger out on.” He lowers his shirt. “If you ask me, the bastard got what was coming to him.” He begins to step closer. “As I said, I want to start over. And I’m willing to do anything to prove it.” He looked away from us. “Even if it means stripping myself of my powers.”

“Are you serious?” I asked. “Would you really give up your powers get right with Rachel?” He just gave a small nod. “Why?”

“Because I want my sister back.” He replied. “I know I can’t take her from you. So, can I at least be there when she needs me?” He looked at Rachel, pleadingly. Rachel looked as if she was fighting some inner turmoil. It was like she wanted to believe him, yet I could tell that years of being surrounded by people who said loved her, only to use her in the end. This was the first time, besides myself, that someone was actually willing to prove it first before asking for forgiveness. “Please, Rachel,” he said in a small voice.

“I don’t know,” Rachel replied. I reached for her hand and gently squeezed it.

“Look,” I said, “if you really want to make things right. I think I might have an idea as to how you can start.”

"What's that?" Rylos said with some hope. I looked at Rachel, and she gave me a small nod.

"Two of our friends want to have kids with each other." I replied looking back towards him. "If you can help them, no tricks, then you might actually get your forgiveness." Rylos shook his head ans smiled.

"If that's it," he said with a smile, "then I can't wait to get started."