A/N: I don't own the Teen Titans. This universe is separate from the one you'd see in the Second Generation story I wrote. Different pairings result in different events happening, in my theory. Enjoy the story. For those who disagree with these pairings, go read stories with ones you like. This takes place after "Things Change".

The Things That Change Us

Chapter One: Heartbreak

The Teen Titans gathered into the Main Room to hear an announcement Robin wanted to make. Beast Boy, Cyborg, and Starfire sat on the couch as Robin and Raven stood in front of them. The team leader looked at Raven and smiled as he put his arm around her shoulder and turned to their teammates.

"Raven and I are dating now," he announced.

"Congrats, y'all," said Cyborg with a smile.

"Yeah, congrats, dudes," said Beast Boy, also with a smile.

Starfire on the other hand felt her heart ache in a way she had never felt it ache before. She felt like screaming, crying, throwing the couch, running away, and dying at the same time. Raven could tell she was upset and went over to her as the Tamaranian princess tried to slip away quietly.

"Starfire, I-" Raven began as she placed her hand on Starfire's shoulder. To Raven's surprise, Starfire took the empath's hand and held it in her own.

"I know what you are about to say and that is not necessary," said Starfire softly as she choked back tears. "You were able to connect with him in ways I never could. Take care of him for me."

"I will," said Raven solemnly.

Starfire smiled weakly as she picked up Silkie and went to her room.

Over the next several weeks, things went incredibly smoothly for the Titans. Cyborg continued to make delicious waffles and argue with Beast Boy about tofu, Beast Boy made his jokes, and Starfire appeared pleasant and cheerful. Beast Boy's childhood friend Sara Hunter began to visit the Titans regularly and the two began to spend more and more time together. It didn't surprise the Titans when the two began to date. As more Teen Titan teams formed around the world, Starfire volunteered to assist them in any way possible in order to get her mind off being heartbroken by Robin and to give the couples their space.

Beast Boy had no problem showing affection to his new girlfriend in public, but Raven was far more private and for Starfire's sake, didn't do more than hold hands with Robin when around friends. Multiple Titan boys flirted with Starfire seeing as how Robin no longer appeared overly protective of her, and while she didn't mind the attention, she felt empty inside. Starfire would spend her days training, fighting crime, eating, helping Titans around the world, and hanging out with friends, but at night she was alone and she hated it.

Two months passed and the Titans got the alert that Cinderblock had broken out of jail. They told Sara to stay at the Tower until they returned. The Titans found Cinderblock terrorizing citizens and destroying everything in his path near Murakami High School where Beast Boy had seen the Terra-look-alike. Police did their best to keep citizens away from the battle field ready to take Cinderblock back to jail once he was restrained. During the battle, Beast Boy saw the Terra-look-alike and multiple other students watching the fight from the schoolyard and he felt a stronger urge to stop Cinderblock as soon as possible. Suddenly, Cinderblock picked up a car and threw it toward the school. As the rest of the students screamed and ran, the Terra-look-alike just seemed too scared to move.

"Terra!" Beast Boy screamed in fear.

As the Titans leapt into action to stop the car, the ground shook as the girl's eyes and hands glowed yellow and a large chunk of earth rose up and stopped the car. Then the yellow light glowed around Cinderblock as the girl lifted him off the ground and forced him into the police's armored car to take him back to jail. The super powered teens approached her as onlookers watched and whispered.

"Terra?" Beast Boy asked skeptically as the girl nodded her lowered head in reply.

"I do not understand, I thought Beast Boy had told us you did not have memories or powers nor were you the person he claimed you were," said Starfire.

Terra couldn't look at the Titans, too full of regret and shame to try. "I told him I wasn't the girl he remembered because I wanted to forget. After I betrayed you guys, I couldn't face you again. It was just easier to forget and start over."

"It wasn't easy for us, Terra," said Robin, firmly yet softly.

"We missed you tremendously," insisted Starfire.

"We didn't believe BB when he said he saw you again because we had tried to bring you back, but nothing we did worked," said Cyborg.

"I don't know how I was revived, but when I was, I found out how much time had passed and assumed you all had forgotten about me and that I could live a normal life for once. But I was wrong," said Terra.

"It wasn't easy to forgive you, but we managed to," said Raven solemnly.

"And we'd still like you to be a Teen Titan if you want to be," said Robin.

Terra finally looked up at the Titans. "Really? You guys want me to come back?"

"Oh yes, friend, we have missed you so!" exclaimed Starfire as she hugged Terra, unable to control herself.

Terra coughed as she was pulled into the crushing hug and smiled sheepishly. "I guess it's never too late, huh?" She suddenly noticed her two school friends out of the corner of her eye. As Starfire let go of her, she turned to them. "Look, I-"

"It's okay, we understand," smiled the red-head.

"You'll keep in touch, right?" asked the pony-tailed girl.

"Totally," said Terra with a smile.

Citizens cheered and applauded as the Titans returned to the Tower with Terra in toll. Once they got up to the main room, Sara greeted them. "Hope you guys are okay," she said with a worried smile.

"We're great!" exclaimed Beast Boy. "Sara, this is Terra, a former Teen Titan that just rejoined the team. Terra, this is Sara Hunter, my childhood friend and girlfriend."

Terra felt the world stop spinning. "Wait, what?"

"She's my girlfriend," Beast Boy repeated.

The geomancer felt her heart race. "When did this...?" she trailed off.

Beast Boy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "After you told me you weren't Terra, Sara and I reconnected and spent a lot of time together. Before we knew it, we started dating."

Starfire and Raven saw the devastation in Terra's eyes. Here Terra had thought she could get back with Beast Boy only to find out he took her words to heart and truly moved on. "T-That's great," Terra stammered, trying to act calm. "I-I'm going to go to my room. Probably got a lot of dust collecting in there." She turned away and once the doors to the Main Room closed behind her, she ran to her room, tears running down her face.

The Tamaranian and half-demon looked at each other. They knew Terra was upset and feared the worst. "I shall go assist her," said Starfire. She quickly flew to Terra's room where she could hear the faint sound of Terra's sobs. "Terra, it is I, Starfire. May I come in?"

A few minutes later, the door to Terra's room slid open as Terra wiped her eyes with her arm. "H-hey, Star. There's just... a lot of dust in here. It got in my eyes," said Terra with a fake smile.

"You do not need to pretend, friend, I know you are upset," said Starfire softly.

Terra couldn't it back anymore as she broke down and cried in Starfire's arms. The alien princess wrapped her arms around her friend and gently ran a hand over her hair. As good as it felt to be around Terra again, it pained Starfire to see her friend so upset, especially since she too had felt this pain and longed to be comforted like this.

"I told him to forget about me," Terra sobbed. "I told him to move on even though I still liked him. I'm so stupid!"

"Shh, you are not stupid, friend," said Starfire calmly. "You merely wanted what was best for him even if it hurt you in return."

"What do I do, Star?" Terra sniffed. "I don't think I can be here seeing him with her."

"I know how you feel," said Starfire.

Terra looked up, confused. "You do?"

Starfire nodded sadly. "Robin chose Raven as his love instead of me. Like you, I was heartbroken and wished to go far away and never feel such pain again. But Robin and Raven are still my friends and I must support them even though it hurts. In time I hope to find a new love, a better love."

"You think there's such a thing?" Terra asked.

"I know there is," replied Starfire. "And please, do not be angry with Robin or Raven. Or even Beast Boy or Sara. They did not do this to hurt us, but because their hearts told them they were right."

"I'll try, Star," Terra sniffed again.

With Terra a Teen Titan again, the team trained to help Terra improve with her powers. She continued to visit her high school friends and even had them visit the Tower a few times. Her friends were angry that Beast Boy had broken Terra's heart, but she insisted, like Starfire had said, something better was to come. Like Starfire, she didn't want to be around her former love and his new girlfriend, so she began to accompany Starfire on her trips to visit other Titan Teams in order to get away from Beast Boy and Sara and meet the other Titans. Terra didn't mind that none of the boys flirted with her like they did Starfire, she enjoyed getting to know everyone and have new friends to talk to and visit.

One such friend was Jericho, son of Slade and part of Herald's team in Colorado. The day they met, he tapped her on the shoulder and had a piece of paper in his hand. It read 'Hello, my name is Jericho. Welcome!'

"Thanks, I'm Terra," she replied. "Um, may I ask why you wrote that on a piece of paper?"

Jericho smiled sheepishly and wrote on the paper again. 'Yes, I am mute. I use Sign Language to speak, but only a handful of Titans know it. Want me to teach you?'

"Um, sure. Okay," said Terra with a shrug and a smile.

The two sat at the table where he wrote a word out on paper and made the sign for it. As he taught her words, he continued to write on the paper to communicate. 'My power is possession, but I don't do it to other Titans because it's really rude. What are your powers?'

"I control earth," replied Terra.

'That's very cool! I hate to ask you this, but did you know a man by the name of Slade?'

Terra froze. She had to assume all the other Titans had been told about her apprenticeship with Slade to keep an eye on her should she return. "I did."

'I am his son.'

Terra felt her heart race and began to panic. She was afraid Jericho was a spy and was keeping an eye out on her for Slade. "Please, don't tell him where I am," she pleaded.

Jericho's eyes widened in shock and he quickly wrote his reply. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you! I wanted to tell you now so you wouldn't find out later and be mad at me. It wasn't easy for me to tell the Titans I'm his son especially after everything he's done to you and your friends. I'm so sorry.'

"It's okay," said Terra as she gave him a reassuring smile. Jericho smiled in reply.

As time went on, Starfire and Terra found more and more ways to occupy themselves aside spending their time in each other's company. Terra practiced Sign Language and guitar and found meditation helpful in controlling her powers. Starfire learned to cook and kept an eye out for her evil sister Blackfire. One night, however, something unexpected happened.

Starfire stood on a rooftop as she overlooked the city and became lost in her thoughts. All of a sudden, she heard an all too familiar voice from behind her.

"What are you doing out here all by yourself, cutie?" Red X asked.

The Tamaranian princess spun around and glared at Red X, starbolts aimed and ready. "If you attack me, it will be your deepest regret," Starfire growled angrily.

"Woah, woah, sugar, I'm not here to fight," said Red X as he held his hands up in self-defense.

"Then what are you here for?" Starfire demanded. "To steal?"

Red X shrugged casually. "Business has been a little slow lately." He cautiously walked toward her as he looked around. "So, where's the Boy Wonder?"

Starfire's eyes, once filled with anger and distrust, were now filled with sadness and loneliness. She lowered her hands as her starbolts faded away. "He is... with his love," she replied hesitantly.

Red X saw the sadness in her eyes and felt genuinely sorry for her. While he wasn't one to chase just one girl around, he did have a fondness for Starfire. He couldn't decide if this fondness was because she was beautiful and so different from other women, or because she belonged to the Boy Wonder. The thief decided to put the mystery to rest.

"He's an idiot, choosing another girl over you," said Red X, his voice full of spite for Robin.

"He is with my best friend," Starfire admitted, though regretted being so honest with their enemy. "She makes him happy and I do not wish to interfere."

Red X shrugged. "You're too good for him anyway," he said as he walked closer.

Starfire glared at Red X. He was being disrespectful about the boy she admired and respected, though she had to admit Red X was sympathizing with her and it made her feel good. "Others have told me that as well," she admitted.

"Other suitors?" Red X asked as he raised an eyebrow under his mask.

Starfire shrugged, though she didn't know why. "I suppose."

"I want to show you something," said Red X.

Starfire became defensive again. "Do not mistake me for being weak, Red X. It will be the biggest and last mistake of your life."

Red X took a step back. "I never said you were weak," he insisted. "There's just this really nice view of the city I think you should see."

Starfire hesitated. She had no reason to trust Red X even in her vulnerable state. Many a time she felt ready to give in to another Titan boy's woos and offers, but she always said no, feeling deep down they were not right for her. What she hated the most was she wanted to go with Red X. She wanted to trust him and wanted to forget that he was a criminal and often their enemy, but something inside her pined to know more about Red X so that she could trust him and could make things right for him and the Titans. In the end, she nodded and smiled slightly.

"Lead the way," she said.

Red X turned on his heel and began to leap from building to building as Starfire flew over him and kept a watchful eye on his every move. She had to stay alert in case this was a trap and she had to be ready in case of an attack. At last Red X came to a hill that overlooked the city, the lights twinkling like stars and even some stars in the night sky were visible. Starfire was surprised that she had never seen this view before, mostly because she was usually protecting the city rather than viewing it and admiring its beauty. There was some silence as the two teens admired the view, but that silence was broken when Starfire turned to the masked thief.

"Why did you steal the suit? Why do you steal?" Starfire asked.

"I do what I want, honey," said Red X casually.

"No, there is a reason. Robin says there's a reason for everything. Why did you steal the suit?"

"I'm not out to play the hero, sweetie," said Red X.

Starfire's hands balled up into fists. "Stop lying! Stop hiding behind your mask and tricks! I am tired of the people who hide behind their masks! Why do you do what you do?!"

Red X took a step back, surprised by her sudden anger. He didn't want to admit why he did what he did, but he figured if he had to tell anyone, it might as well be her. "Life isn't as easy as you'd like to think it is, doll-face," he said. "People don't always treat you kindly and life often hits you where it hurts most."

Starfire was satisfied to finally get some real answers out of Red X, no matter how sad his story might be. "Please, tell me more," she said softly.

Red X began to pour out his life story to the Tamaranian princess. He had grown up in the rough neighborhood of Gotham and hated Batman and Robin for putting his father in jail. Red X joined the rough crowd to learn self defense and to survive. When he heard Robin had moved to Jump City, he decided he would make Robin's life difficult the way he and the Capped Crusader had made his life difficult. He found out about the suit and saw it as his only way to become wealthy and survive in a cold, unfeeling world. To help the Titans didn't hurt him, and actually made him feel good, but Robin was a constant reminder that not everyone gets the easy life. When he was finished with his story, Starfire looked at him with determined eyes.

"Take off your mask," she ordered.

"I don't do that in public," Red X insisted.

Starfire stared at him firmly which aroused him and scared him at the same time. "I said take off the mask," she repeated.

Red X sighed and removed his mask. He had dark brown, almost black hair and shining blue eyes. Starfire stared at his face until he quickly slipped the mask on again. "Well, it's been fun, but I have to go," Red X said hastily, not wanting to stay a minute longer.

"You could help the Titans, be an ally," Starfire insisted.

"I don't play the hero. I already told you that," said Red X.

"We would not put you in the light of spot, you could help in secret," she said. "Help us catch the bigger fish as they say. Steal items others have stolen and return them to their rightful owners and make things right with Robin and yourself."

Red X thought about the idea of helping the Titans. He saw no gain from the notion. The thief turned to Starfire. "What do I get out of it? It doesn't sound like a profitable task."

"Robin says heroes and even villains often have secret identities where they have jobs and normal lives," said Starfire.

"Tried that. It didn't work," said Red X, frustration in his voice.

Starfire floated to him, her face inches from his. Now she was playing his game. "I could assist you," she said softly.

Red X smirked for he liked this side of Stafire. "Okay, I'll do it on one condition: You join me. You help me catch the criminals that steal and return the items with me."

Starfire hesitated again. All she had known for the past five years was life as a Titan. To join a thief and leave her friends behind, even her former love, sounded like betrayal and she couldn't dream of such a thing. "I will do it on one condition," she insisted. "I make peace with my life as a Titan. I do not wish to leave and have them think I have joined villainy out of anger or spite. And I will need some assistance from the Titans to help you start your other life."

Red X smiled and extended his hand to her. "Deal." Starfire hesitantly accepted the handshake, for fear it was a trap, but it was just a simple handshake. "So, I'll see you tomorrow, cutie?"

Starfire smiled cheerfully. "Yes, you shall."

To Be Continued...

A/N: This universe was inspired by couples that are secondary favorites of mine and my desire to write it out. Special thanks to Brother Bludgeon for beta-reading this story. I love you so much! Hope you all enjoyed the story, stay tuned for more!