AN: I am going to hopefully update this story at least once a week, if we're lucky maybe more. This chapter is really kind of setting up what is happening right now and leading into the main plot of the story, so I apologize in advance if it seems short or kinda boring. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoy!

And he knew what she was feeling as he saw her face, because it was an expression he had only seen her wear once before, when she received news of Galfore's death. Well, it wasn't an expression so much as a lack of one. Starfire wore her emotions on her sleeve, always expressing her happiness with a smile that never left her face and her sadness with tears. So when she showed nothing, just poised and stoic, he knew there was no erasing what he had done. That night, after telling his unfortunate friend to leave, Robin cried for the first time since his parents death.

Two Years Later

Starfire hummed to herself as she looked out along the ocean from her spot atop a large sand dune. The water lapped rhythmically against the shore and the moon shone in a bright streak across the water and into the far horizon. She envied the moon, she thought, because even though it looked so alone it didn't know that. It was just a planet after all, and she was a living being and when she was alone she felt it, so sometimes all she wanted was to join the moon in its solitary dance in the sky and not have to feel anymore. She sighed. It was peaceful here, but experiencing the world alone was not the same as it would be doing so with those she loved.

She had returned to Earth from Tamaran six months ago, but she did not return to the Titans. Instead she took it upon herself travel the second home that she really only knew a small part of. Amongst her time as a superhero on Earth she never got a chance to really see it. She didn't make any plans, she just moved along from place to place using the money she had saved from her time as a Titan, although most of the time she did not stay in hotels, but chose to find place to stay outside. After her return she became increasing lonely. She debated going back to Tamaran, but even there she knew she would feel the same.

She had not cut off contact with the Titans since she took her leave. A few weeks after she left she decided to return home to Tamaran, and every month she would make a video call to her friends to keep in touch and to let them know that she was okay. That was until a few months before her return to Earth when things became rather uncertain on Tamaran. That was a while ago now, and she did not like to think about those circumstances anyways.

Despite feeling alone, Starfire would not say that she was unhappy. She felt at peace with herself, more so than she had in a long time. She missed being a Titan, but she also knew that leaving was exactly what she needed to keep from going insane.

A male voice interrupted her from her train of thought.

"You can't keep running forever."

Starfire turned and met the eyes of the speaker.

"I have told the others many times, I do not wish to join-"

"That's fine, Starfire, I am not here to try and convince you otherwise," Superman said, sitting down in the sand next to her.

"Then why are you here?" She looked to him curiously.

"How are you?"

It did not go unnoticed by Starfire that he didn't actually give an answer to her question.

"I am quite excellent really, I have been quite enjoying the different parts of Earth," she said.

"That's not what I am talking about."

"If you are here to talk about Tor'as's death then surely you will be disappointed because I have nothing to say on the matter." The words came quickly and sharply.

"Starfire you must know that some members of the league fear having you roaming Earth with no clear alliance after what happened on Tamaran. I know you are not a danger, I have told them myself, but some still want to hear your side, and the only one who can give them that is you."

Her voice was quiet now, just above a whisper. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone. But they killed her," she looked away and blinked at the tears that involuntarily began to appear. "And I was so angry that I just fought. It was over before it even began."

"So they say. Starfire, you took out a rebellion of 500 men, with very little help. That is no small feat, and it did not go unnoticed. Which is why I must insist you come with me. There are not trying to capture you or keep you under a tether, the Justice League and the Green Lantern Corps. want to know what happened, that's all. Then you will be free to go. Just explain to them what you've told me."

"I fought for years with the Teen Titans! How can they question my loyalty to Earth? I pose no threat here."

"I know, but that was two years ago, and they are aware you didn't leave very… amiably. I know how you are feeling, but many reacted the same way when the true extent of my powers became apparent. And with you consistently denying the request for you to join the League they want to make sure there are no dangers with you here,"

Starfire played with the sand by her side for a moment before coming responding. She had debated the thought of joining the Justice League many times since her return and their sudden interest in her, but if she was being honest with herself one of her main reasons was to avoid seeing… one certain hero.

"I will come," she said, looking up.

The months following Starfire's departure had taken a hard toll on the remaining Titans. At first, Cyborg, Beastboy, and Raven all turned cold shoulders towards Robin, except in necessary times of battle. Eventually, though, their grudge against their leader began to wear off, especially with encouragement from Starfire over their brief video calls. She wanted the team to be happy again, she told them. She did not want her absence to cause them to fall apart, or what happened between her and Robin to cause the others to mistrust their leader. They all began to make an effort again to rebuild their trust amongst the team, especially with Robin. What began to bug the other Titans, though, was Robin's complete avoidance to anything dealing with the subject of Starfire. It was as if he wanted to erase the fact that she had ever been there at all.

That was until a few months ago when Robin decided that they would be adding another member to their team. It had been over a year and half since she left and he had decided it was time to move their number up to five again.

3 months prior

Robin walked into the common room. The other three Titans were in their usual spots, Raven in the corner reading and the other two side by side on the couch playing video games.

"Ahem."

Raven looked up from her book to Robin's face. That was a very passive way of trying to get their attention and it drew her interest. Cyborg and Beastboy were too busy immersed in their game to notice.

"Guys,"

It work this time and the two turned around on the couch to see Robin.

Seeing how he now had everyone's attention Robin bluntly stated, " We are getting a new teammate."

The others stared at him blankly.

"Why do we need a new teammate? We've been doing just fine," Beastboy hedged.

"BB is right," said Cyborg. "We've been doin' pretty dang good since Star left, I don't see the need to add someone new to the mix."

Raven stayed silent, choosing to observe rather than add her opinion just yet.

"We could use the extra hands in a fight. Besides, she's an archer and long distance fighting is something we lack."

"She?" Cyborg and Beastboy said in unison.

"Her name is Artemis. No special abilities but she can shoot a bow just as good as anyone I've seen."

"You can't replace her, Robin," Cyborg said quietly.

Robin continued as if he hadn't heard him. "Plus, it'll give Raven another girl around so she doesn't feel so outnumbered." He gave a half hearted smile to Raven, hoping to tempt her to his side with the weak joke.

"Where is she supposed to stay, anyways?" Beastboy asked.

"In the open room," Robin said, avoiding their eyes.

"That's Starfire's room," Raven stated.

No one said anything for a few moments, they all just waited for their leader's response.

"Well no one is staying in there now so she can use it, there-"

"She can't stay in that room, if Starfire comes back she'll need to use it," Beastboy interjected.

"It's not being used, there is no sense-"

"You can't keep ignoring her, man. We loved her and whatever happened between you two doesn't mean we're just going to forget about her like you did-" began Cyborg.

"I know okay? I know I screwed up, I know she's gone, I know she's not coming back. But don't for one second say I forgot about her. I think about her every single day. I think about her in the empty space between Beastboy's jokes where her laughter used to fill. I think about her when I look at the empty chair at the table every meal where she used to sing her crazy Tamaranian songs. I think about her on the roof, where we watched the sunrise before everyone else was up. Sometimes I wish I would forget because it hurts too much to remember." He spoke softer now. "I know I can't replace her, I'm not trying too."

Robin turned and left the room, the other three Titans sitting quietly behind, each of them now thinking about the things they remember from their absent friend.

Artemis moved in three days later, with no more complaints heard from the other team members.

That was three months ago, and Artemis seemed to mesh with the other Titans just fine.

During that period, Robin had also decided to make the switch to Nightwing. They had been working with the Justice League more often in the past few years and with the new Robin being around more he said it was just easier. Plus, it sounded pretty cool.

Raven and Beastboy had also begun officially dating. It happened about a year after Starfire left, while Beastboy was sick with some unknown illness and Raven took it upon herself to take care of him. They tried to keep it hidden for a while, but Cyborg and Robin eventually caught on.

Life, for the moment, was pretty normal for the Titans.

AN: So I will be referreing to Robin as Nightwing from now on. You'll also learn more about the whole Starfire situation in upcoming chapters, so sorry if it was kinda vague. Suggestions and reviews are always welcome, thanks for reading!