Decisions and Regrets

Chapter 1

Saint Mary's hospital. Located at the very center of Jump City, the citizens of the city sought succor from their illnesses and injuries inside its imposing structure. Seeking either the skilled mind of a doctor or the gifted hands of a surgeon. The staff of nurses and orderlies were all veterans in their trade, used to the various ways that the human body could be injured. Hardened by occurrences in the city before the Titans showed up and drastically reduced the crime rate. Fortunately, for them, it was a quiet day, medically speaking, in the city. It gave them the rare opportunity to leave their assigned posts, if only for a few moments, to look on at the three costumed heroes gathered nervously outside the treatment area of the emergency room. They had seen them on the news often enough that they could identify each of the Titans on sight. The current topic of discussion among the staff was the noticeable absence of Starfire and Robin from the group.

The ER staff was working over their normal shift, busy with their charge, so it was impossible to determine which of the two was the patient. The shift had changed since whichever of them had been brought in, so none of the current staff had seen if it was the gallant leader of the Titans, or his wife that had been injured. Being the professionals that they were they kept their distance from the teens, respecting their privacy, but they would sometimes get close enough so that the Titans would know that they had their support and best wishes.

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Two hours ago

"I thank you for accompanying me to the mall of shopping, Raven," Starfire said as they walked along. Outside it was a typically beautiful day in Jump City, warm and sunny. Inside the mall it was nicely air conditioned.

"You're welcome," the dark Titan said. "I'm surprised that Robin didn't insist on the whole team coming along." Raven glanced at her friend, and smiled softly when she saw that Starfire was indeed walking instead of floating. "I see that you're taking Doctor Benson's advice, and are actually walking."

"Yes, I find the exercise strangely comforting, and she stays quieter when I walk than she does when I fly." As she spoke, Starfire's hand rested gently on her swollen stomach. "That is also why I sit on the ground now when we meditate. This morning she was so active that I thought she had somehow learned some of Robin's fighting moves."

The two girls shared a chuckle over that, then Starfire groaned softly. "You okay?" Raven asked.

Starfire sighed softly, as she wished, again, that her friends wouldn't worry so much about her. She realized that human pregnancies lasted nine months, while Tamaranean ones lasted a year. She was comfortable with the fact that she was eight and a half months along, while her friends grew more protective and concerned over her.

"Enjoy it while you can," Doctor Linda Benson had advised when she had her last checkup, "and after the delivery let them do as much as they want to to help. Trust me, you'll be wanting it."

Raven's repeating her question brought Starfire back to the present. "Yes, I am fine," she replied. "It is just that Leeann, I believe, is practicing again."

"Maybe you should sit down for a few minutes," Raven suggested. "You've been on your feet for almost two hours now."

Starfire nodded and they went over to a bench. Raven was wearing her usual outfit, while Starfire was wearing an outfit that was more comfortable with her condition. A lavender, over-sized t-shirt, pink harem pants, and white sneakers.

"Starfire? You sure you're okay?" Raven asked when Starfire grimaced slightly a moment later. Instead of answering, the redhead took her friends hand and placed it flat on her stomach. A moment later, Raven practically jerked her hand back and her eyes opened wide in amazement. "Whoa! She's really moving around in there."

"Thank you for stating the obvious," Starfire said testily, then sighed. "I am sorry, Raven. I am being a little like the crab today."

"It's alright, Starfire," Raven assured her friend. "If she's been that active, I doubt that you've been getting much sleep."

"That and my worrying over all of you when the alarm goes off," the redhead added. She saw her friend getting ready to speak, and cut the lecture off. "I know why Robin does not allow me to go on missions, and that it is only partly because of how far into my pregnancy I am."

"Good," Raven said with a small sigh of relief. "It was bad enough when word about your being married got out. I was surprised when Robin announced that you were pregnant."

"That was only because I told him that if he did not, he would have to find some way to confine me to the Tower." She looked down at her stomach, "At this point the announcement would have been unnecessary."

"True," Raven agreed. "But, even you have to admit that you haven't been able to put up much of a fight lately."

The redhead shot her friend an angry glare for a moment, then smiled softly as she stood. "Just because I know you are correct does not mean that I have to like it," she said, then smiled even more as she felt the baby move again. "However, the cause is more than enough to make up for the inconvenience."

The two had chosen the middle of a week day to do their shopping and, predictably, the mall was almost empty. The few people they did meet simply smiled and waved.

"Mommy, it's Starfire!" a young voice cried, and they turned to see a toddler heading in their direction with her mother trying to catch up.

Raven was surprised at the slightly annoyed sigh that Starfire gave as she dropped to one knee to reach the level of the approaching girl.

"Now, Lisa, we mustn't bother her."

"It is alright, and no bother," Starfire assured Lisa's mother, then looked at the youngster before her. "Greetings, young one. I hope you are well today."

"Uh-huh," Lisa answered, her big blue eyes peering around Starfire. "Is that Raven?"

Starfire smiled as she looked back over her shoulder. "Yes, and you must not be afraid of her."

"Oh, I'm not," Lisa said solemnly. "It's just so cool meeting both of you. What's wrong? Does your tummy hurt?" she asked when Starfire grimaced as she felt the baby kick again.

"Baby raising a ruckus?" Lisa's mother asked, and Starfire nodded as she stood. "Come on, Lisa, we've got things to do. Remember, you wanted to ride the horsey while we were here."

Starfire smiled as she watched the two walk away. Well, at least the mother was walking. Lisa was going almost as fast as her legs could carry her.

"We'd better get going, Starfire," Raven said, smiling softly as she followed her friend's gaze.

"Yes, it would not do to have Robin either send or come with the others in search of us because we were out later than he thought we should be."

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After making their purchases and arranging to have them delivered to the Tower, Starfire and Raven headed for the exit. As they left the mall, they found themselves on the edge of a large crowd.

"Great, the lunchtime mob," Raven said looking at a clock tower and seeing it was just past noon. "We'll never get through this."

"Then I suggest we go over," Starfire said. "Leeann Mar'i will just have to get over the fact that I am flying."

No sooner had the girls taken to the air when Starfire looked off to her right. "Huh?"

"I see it, Starfire," Raven said referring to the 18 wheeler that was careening down the street. Fortunately, there was no other traffic in front of it, since it had lumbered through the last intersection. It was the squeal of brakes and the honking of horns that had caught Starfire's attention.

"Something has happened to the driver," Starfire said as they flew closer to the vehicle. They could see the driver slumped over the wheel.

"Azarath, metrion, zinthos," Raven chanted and a beam of black energy surged from her outstretched hands to connect with the front of the truck.

It took only a moment for Starfire to realize that things were not going well, as Raven groaned under the strain and the truck didn't seem to slow down at all.

"It must be fully loaded," Raven gasped as she released her power. "It's too heavy, and going to fast for me to stop."

"Then we must alert the crowd so they can get out of the way."

"There's no time for that," Raven said as she held her hands together in front of her and chanted. There were some surprised yells from the crowd as they were enveloped in Raven's power. The dark Titan spread her hands, and like the Red Sea parting, the crowd was split into two halves and pushed to the sides, leaving a clear track for the truck to go through.

The two girls touched down, satisfied that the runaway truck would run into a series of barricades and come to a safe stop.

"Tanya,no!" a woman shouted. "My baby! Someone save her!"

"Raven," Starfire said as she saw the toddler running toward a teddy bear that was laying in the middle of the path.

But Raven was already moving, gauging her speed and that of the approaching truck. She knew she would have to stop to pick the child up, as it was too likely that she'd hurt the girl with a flying grab. She concentrated, focusing on the girl. It was going to be close, very very close, with no room for error.

"Fozzy!" Raven heard Tanya cry happily as she snatched the toy from the ground and hugged it. In the back of Raven's mind, she noticed that the stuffed animal did indeed resemble the Muppet.

Raven touched down and quickly gathered the child into her arms and prepared to take off again. "Okay, kid let's get you back to your. . .ooffff," she began but cut off as she was knocked to the ground. She landed on her back, Tanya still held in her arms, shielded from the impact. She looked over and saw the truck approaching and saw it was too close. She didn't have enough time to get clear.

"Raven! Shield!" A voice shouted, and Raven reflexively raised a protective bubble around herself and Tanya. She watched the truck closing rapidly, and knew that her shield would not withstand the impact that was coming.

Raven grunted as she slammed into the side of the bubble. She looked over her shoulder and saw that Starfire was pushing them along. She was surprised at the acceleration, that was keeping her pinned against the bubble wall. Again, she gauged speed and distance and came to one result. She and Tanya would get clear, Starfire would not.

"Starfire, this isn't going to work. You can't go fast enough."

"Yes. I. Can," Starfire insisted through gritted teeth, and Raven was surprised to feel an increase of their speed. She didn't hear Starfire mutter under her breath. "I think."

'By Azar's mercy, I think we're gonna make it,' Raven thought, then was shaken from her thoughts as she heard Starfire groan with the strain. "Starfire, no!" she shouted when she saw the green glow forming at her friends hands.

Hheeerrraaahhhh!" Starfire shouted as she fired a powerful star bolt against the bubble.

As Raven knew it would, the added impact threw her and Tanya clear, but Raven knew that the force of the impact would have the opposite reaction to Starfire, causing her to slow slightly. She watched, helplessly, as the truck came into view, striking Starfire's legs just below the knees. Judging by the size of the dent that Starfire's head left in the door of the truck, Raven hoped she was unconscious as she spun out of control alongside it. She realized a moment later that Starfire wasn't as the redhead pulled herself into a protective ball and struggled to regain control of her flight.

"Mommy!" Tanya cried, pulling herself from Raven's arms.

"Tanya! Thank God you're safe," Tanya's mother cried wrapping her daughter in a hug.

Instead of watching the reunion, Raven watched as Starfire's flight was abruptly stopped by a light post. She blinked when her view was cut off as the big rig's trailer jackknifed, the back end of it swinging around to end up perpendicular with the cab on the driver's side. "Starfire!" she cried as she quickly flew over to where she last saw her.

Raven looked around but couldn't see where Starfire was. "Starfire, can you hear me?" she called over the sound of approaching sirens. She noticed that several people from the crowd had gathered and were carefully shifting some of the debris. She paused to calm herself, her mind reaching out for the bright emerald aura that was Starfire. Opening her eyes, she stretched out her hand at a pile of crumbled cement and twisted steel that had made up the light post she had seen Starfire collide with. A slight movement of her hand and the debris moved to the side, uncovering where Starfire lay on her side.

"Sweet Azar, Starfire," Raven gasped as she knelt beside her fallen friend. Knowing Starfire's life could depend on it, she calmed her mind and reached out with her powers to see how badly Starfire was hurt. "No concussion, neck, or back injury," she muttered as she slowly ran her hand down the length of Starfire's body. "Broken left leg, and shoulder, some broken ribs and some internal injuries."

She looked around and saw more people moving through the debris, some wearing the helmets and coats of firemen.

"Raven!" one called to her, and she saw he had a white hat with BAT CHF in large red letters on it. When he turned to call to some other firemen she saw 'Battalion Chief' was written across his back. "We've got things covered here; you get her to a hospital," he said when he turned back to her.

Raven nodded, then, fearing what she might find, she placed her hand over where the baby was. "Thank Azar," she sighed, as she almost slumped with relief as she felt the child's life force. She took a centering breath, then they vanished from the scene.