It had been two weeks since Raven had broken her ankle, and Starfire couldn't help but notice that her injured girlfriend had been rather..cranky in the mornings. Grumbling at the breakfast table, not having enough energy to meditate..perhaps something was wrong? Carefully knocking on Raven's door, she flinched when it suddenly opened and Raven floated there, levitating to keep her injured ankle off the ground. "Dearest, I-" She paused, watching Raven's grumpy expression shift into a tired smile. "Hey..Starfire..sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Starfire frowned and examined Raven's expression closely. "You did frighten me slightly, but I am more concerned with your behavior lately." She looked confused, raising an eyebrow. "My behavior? What do you mean, Star?" Starfire sighed and shook her head. "You have been rather grumpy at the food table lately, especially in the mornings." Raven chuckled at Starfire's phrasing, leaning against the door frame. She barely had enough energy to keep levitating. "That is exactly what I mean." Starfire said as she picked Raven up in her arms, flying back to the bed and sitting her down. She made sure she was comfortable and went back to shut the door, carefully sitting down on the bed when she was done. "You are..fatigued, yes?" Starfire frowned and looked at Raven. She looked down at the bed, toying with the soft blanket. "I..yeah, I'm pretty tired. It's not real comfortable, sleeping sitting up like this." Starfire blinked in confusion. "You have been sleeping in a sitting position this whole time?" Raven shrugged. "Yeah. I don't have enough pillows for my back to sleep lying down safely..while still keeping my ankle propped up." She giggled, getting off the bed. "Why did you not say so? I have many pillows in my room. I will be right back!" Starfire had opened the door and flown out before Raven could say another word. Coming back, she had her arms full of dark colored pillows. She knew her girlfriend preferred non-bright colors. "There we are!"

Starfire began arranging the pillows and laying Raven down on them carefully, smiling at her work. "This is most perfect. You look as though you are on a storm cloud!" Raven blushed and rubbed the back of her neck, chuckling a little. "I guess I do. But Star, it's not just being uncomfortable.. I can't sleep-" Starfire frowned, crossing her arms and thinking silently. "Well.." She shut her eyes, letting out a sigh and opening them. "Would you like to hear a story? Perhaps it will help you sleep." Raven raised an eyebrow, watching Starfire move to sit behind her. "Fairy tales, Star? I don't think-" She paused when she felt Starfire gently toying with her hair. Her voice was quiet, and soft as she spoke. "My Dearest, this will not be a tale of fiction. Do you remember a few weeks ago as I drew on your healing bandages, you told me that I do not speak of my life before the team?" Raven gave a gentle nod, not wanting to break Star's concentration. "Then.." Starfire began as she braided a few strands of her beloved's hair together. "..I will tell you the story of my homeworld and parents." Raven frowned, leaning her head back for a moment to watch her. "Are you sure?" Star leaned down and gently kissed her before pulling away and moving her head back to where it had been. "I am. As you know from our past visit to my home, my full name is Princess Koriand'r. My parents.." She paused, shutting her eyes as she gently ran her hands through Raven's hair to calm herself. "Were Myand'r and Luand'r. The Gordanians attacked my home planet five years before I came to earth for the first time. My father and mother had sent my younger brother..Ryand'r.." Starfire sighed, and then continued. "They sent him away to preserve the royal bloodline, in case the planet was devastated, and our people slaughtered." Raven tensed a little, gently rubbing Star's leg in reassurance. "Its okay, you can keep going-but you don't have to." Starfire took her hand and brought it to her mouth, gently kissing it before letting it rest back at Raven's side.

"The only solution toward the end of the five years was to offer a token of the peace. An olive branch." She sighed and stared at Raven's hair while she worked. "But my parents had not planned this token of the peace. My eldest sister conducted a secret treaty in the dark of night with the Gordanians, offering me as a slave to pacify their need for conquest-a trophy of war...they accepted. I am told my parents died of grief upon learning the atrocity my sister had committed. When I came back to my homeworld with the team..as you know..I had to fight my sister, and I was forcibly betrothed-" Raven tilted her head back again, giving Starfire a smile. "Hey..I know you would never want to be married by force." Star looked to the side, a slight blush crossing her face as her voice quieted. "Yes, I suppose I would much rather be betrothed to you-" Raven blinked and a heavy blush filled her cheeks as Starfire mumbled a bit. "What did you say?" She looked as though she'd been caught, laughing it off and rubbing the back of her neck. "Oh, ha-ha! Dearest, are you hearing things again? I have said nothing." Raven grumbled and got comfortable on the bed. "I..guess so?" Starfire sighed in relief and shut her eyes. "You know..I am aware you do not like bright colors too much.." Opening her eyes, she began braiding again, slowly smiling. "But I truly believe you would have loved my planet when it was in its fullest bloom.. a walk with you in the royal garden would've been most wonderful." Raven only made a soft noise of confirmation, shifting again while Star toyed with her hair. "Raven.." Her voice slowly went quiet, and her hands stilled in Raven's hair. "You are..wonderful. I do not think I could be any happier than I am at this moment. I am.." It seemed the English language had escaped her again, and Raven chuckled. "Content?" Starfire frowned. "What does this word mean?" Raven leaned her head back, giving her another smile. "A state of peaceful happiness." Star nodded and chuckled, kissing Raven's forehead. "Then yes, I am content."

"Do..you ever miss your brother?" Starfire sighed at Raven's question, looking at the wall for a moment in thought before she directed her gaze back to her. "Despite being his elder sister, I did not know much about him. The royal children..despite playing together..do not speak to each other often. Though I did enjoy the time we spent together before the war." Starfire watched Raven slowly lift her head back to a resting position. "So yes, I do miss my brother. But I do not miss my eldest sister. I never will. She wronged me, twice." Nodding and sighing a bit, Raven did her best to listen. "You know..my dad is evil, but..I'm sure my mom loved me. I mean, she tried to run and hide me from him..I really think you parents loved you too, Star. They wouldn't have reacted so strongly to you being traded by Blackfire if they didn't love you." Raven shut her eyes for a brief moment and then smiled. "I'm honored that you trust me enough to let me know such a tragic part of your life. But tell me.." She chuckled, shaking her head. "Were all the flowers bright colored?" Star can't help but giggle, removing her hands from Raven's hair and laying back on the bed. "It is hard to remember, but I do know of one that was the color of your cloak. I used to pretend it could talk to me, though I do not remember the name of the flower species. If they would survive here on earth, I would travel back to Tameran and ask my k'norfka Galfore for some of the seeds from his small garden. I am certain the flowers would look lovely in your room, Dearest." Raven frowned. "Galfore? didn't we meet him when Blackfire tried to force you to marry G..Glg...rch-" Starfire laughed, wiping a tear from her eye in amusement as Raven tried to pronounce the creature's name. "Glgrdsklechhh, Raven. That is his name, and yes. That is when you first met my k'norfka." Raven looked to the side, curious. "Why did you say no to the wedding? I know Galfore was protesting pretty hard after you didn't seem happy about it..all it took was a look."

Star felt the heat of a heavy blush creeping into her face, biting her lip as she tried to think of the best way to answer Raven's question. "I.." She sighed a little, watching Raven relax in her lap. "Tamaraneans are..very perceptive toward one another. He was quite vocal about the betrothal after he looked at me because he noticed I'd apparently given my heart to someone else, or wanted to. I thought I had been quite discreet about that.." Raven frowned. "What, you mean he noticed that you and Rob-" She shook her head, toying with a few strands of her beloved's hair. "It..was never Robin." Raven slowly laid her head back to look at Starfire. "Then who?" Star gently cupped her cheek and traced her thumb over it. "It has always been you, Raven. I am unsure of how long I have had feelings for you, but...I am glad we are finally together. I cannot see myself with anyone else, truly." Raven's nose scrunched up and she blushed, narrowing her eyes and looking away. "You keep making me blush, Star." Starfire chuckled and turned Raven's head back to her. "You are quite cute when you are flustered, Dearest. May I perhaps distract you with another story?" Raven pouted. "I guess.." She got comfortable, waiting for Star to start her story. "When I was very small, Galfore had invented quite the game between the two of us. He would pretend to be a large, menacing creature and I would be the brave knight who had come to slay him for the good of the people." She chuckled, shaking her head. "It was quite the show-though mother always feared I'd seriously injure myself." Raven was silent for a moment, taking a breath. "Is that what it's like to have a father figure?" Starfire paused. Had she said the wrong thing? "Raven, I.."

She shook her head and shut her eyes. "No, No I really mean it. You know who my dad is. I never...really had a normal one." Star sighed and tried to think. "He..may have contributed in your creation, but he is not your father. If that makes sense..my grasp of the English language is not the best sometimes." Raven sighed. "He didn't raise me. He only wanted an heir. A vessel for his destruction." Starfire shook her head. "That is all true, but..I am glad you exist. I love you very much, Raven." Raven sleepily chuckled and yawned, laying her head back and shutting her eyes. "I love you too, Starfire. Thanks for staying in the room with me tonight. I think being in here by myself was causing me to go a little crazy." Star leaned down and gently kissed her, laying back down in the bed when she was done. "I will do my best to bring you joy and keep you company, Dearest. Maybe you would like me to sing you a lullaby?" Raven still had her eyes closed, but raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you sing?" Star rubbed the back of her neck. "Mostly by myself, but I would not mind doing so for you." She only nodded, ready for whatever Star wanted to do. She shut her eyes and began to sing, feeling Raven slowly relax on top of her. It was in Starfire's native tongue, so she was sure Raven wouldn't understand it. As the gentle words left her, Star couldn't help but think of Galfore, who had sang this to her as a small child. His voice was much heartier and deeper than hers, but the words and melody were the same. It was a song about a lost princess, who'd had her love torn from her by war and destruction. Who took it upon herself to defend her people-no matter the cost. A verse of the song depicted the princess looking up at the stars one night and crying out for help, but none came. She did this countless nights until a star fell from the skies and had turned into a knight to aid her. Starfire was caught off guard by Raven gently snoring, and she looked down, smiling at her sleeping girlfriend. Getting comfortable in the bed, Star looked at her one more time.

"Perhaps now you will have a good night's sleep, Dearest. Goodnight."