A/N: Thank you for all your waiting. I've just been so busy trying to get my life straight and organized. School has decided to become harder but I'm doing my best to manage school and writing. XxStephanieDivaxX, thanks for the inspiration for this and future chapters. I hope this doesn't seem too rushed and I feel as though Starfire is a bit OOC?

Disclaimer: Teen Titans and Iris (Goo Goo Dolls) don't belong to me but the plot and the new furry friend does xD

Chapter 4

(In Jericho's dreams. Jericho's POV)

"Come now, Jericho. Why won't you come back? This is what you've wanted your whole life!" The male's voice was calm and patient.

I shook my head. "It's different now. Finally I have a real family who won't judge me. Who won't value me as worthless like you did," I growled. I shoved the happier memories as far back as I could. If I thought about them then I might succumb to his words. The words I wanted to believe.

"Things'll be different now. Back then, times were harder. Now daddy will…"

"How would you know? You weren't even there. No. You weren't even BORN!" I cut in sharply. This was beginning to disgust me. How could she continue spewing lies? "Just leave me alone! See if I care if you two have this perfect family," I cried derisively as I cupped my hands over my ears. I couldn't stand this anymore.

Then it happened again. My heart started to race like at my birthday party a few days ago. I ignored it thinking I was just nervous.

"That's disappointing." The man did sound genuinely crestfallen which almost made me pity him. "Perhaps in time you'll change your mind?"

For some reason I felt like that wasn't a question. "As if," I retorted and defiantly crossed my arms. I had to get out of here fast.

"Well, we'll have more time to chat later," he chuckled and dissolved.

-.-.-.-

Absent-mindedly I picked the strings of my guitar and it somehow formed a familiar tune. Quietly I sang along.

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming
Or the moment of truth in your lies
When everything feels like the movies
Yeah you bleed just to know you're alive

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I felt so beaten. My life was going to be ruined one way or another be it by Slade or Robin.

And I don't want the world to see me
'Cause I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's meant to be broken
I just want you to know who I am

I stopped and rested my head on the body of my guitar. There had to be some way to get out of this situation. Pain filled my heart. There had to be a way. But how could I avoid Slade? I was certain that Slade would come out from hiding sooner rather than later and my father would exploit me. Perhaps he would tell Robin directly and ruin my life. Would it be better for Slade to just reveal it then or should I just live with the guilt of not being truthful with the Titans? What am I thinking! I don't have to disclose that kind of information to Robin. Heck, he's probably keeping secrets from us! I tried to justify my thinking.

My mind kept wandering back to when Raven and I had shared a raw, intimate moment in my own mind. Raven explained her daddy problems. Even after I told everyone my father was Trigon the Terrible, the team still protected me. They looked past it. They didn't blame me for my father's mistakes but did their best to work around it. Sure, her dad was Trigon the Terrible but MINE was Slade! The more I tried to justify that my dad was worse the stupider I felt. Okay, so Slade didn't want to rule all worlds, maybe just Jump City at most. And my dad was never always evil. He was kind and wanted to best for his family but… I sighed in defeat and picked at the string of my guitar forming a random lugubrious melody to reflect my mood. Again I found myself engrossed in my songwriting that the outside world disappeared and I did not hear a certain titan walk onto the roof.

She tiptoed quietly before she sat behind me and closed her large green eyes to enjoy my practice.

I picked at a few more strings before I terminated my playing.

"Why do you stop?" she inquired as she revealed her bright orbs to me. Startled, I jumped an inch before whipping around to meet an alien in rather revealing, purple clothing. "Op," she covered her mouth but giggled at her mistake.

In exasperation I placed my hand over my heart and replied, "It's okay." Nervously I combed a hand through my mat of blonde curls before answering her first question with, "I don't know. I guess I was thinking."

"About what?" she replied with curiosity and scooted a bit closer to me.

Like some idiot compelled by kindness I almost said Slade and blurted everything out about my family. Why couldn't I? Would she tell Robin or would she remain silent like Raven? Yes, I thought highly of Starfire but that trust just couldn't extend to telling her everything about my life. Let alone my father.

"Just my family and how we used to be happy," I signed remorsefully.

"Used to?" she repeated like she was just checking but really knew the answer.

"They're all dead .I've been alone for many years." It wasn't entirely a lie. Grant was dead and Slade may as well have been dead to me. Adeline. I couldn't remember if she was dead or alive. "The Titans are the only family I have now, Starfire."

Starfire sat in silence, digesting the news that filled her with newfound dread. She understood what it was like to not have a family anymore but my news hit her like one of her Heimlich maneuvers. "That is horrible Jericho," tears filled her eyes as she replied.

I plucked a lower cord to fill the awkwardness with fitting music. I nodded my head in agreement and our conversation ended on that note.

Starfire was at a loss for words and stared at the ground in awkward silence. She racked her brain to think of something comforting to say but there was nothing that hadn't already been said in the past.

Slowly she opened her mouth. "If you do not mind, would you accompany me to the mall of shopping?"

The question threw me off at first. Honestly, I didn't feel like standing up let alone walking around a mall. In the end I nodded my head to which Starfire squealed.

"Come! I have found many of the deals!" she gushed as she grabbed my wrist. I barely had enough time to let go of my guitar before my alien friend flew off the roof at top speed to the mall. I hope it doesn't rain.

-.-.-.-

"Eeee! Oh I love this!" Starfire exclaimed before holding up an ankle length purple dress. A few rhinestones glittered as she moved it through the light. "They even have the shoes!"

I nodded in approval and she zipped into the changing room. In a microsecond she was out and dressed like a princess. I held up a finger to signal to her to wait a moment as I made my way to the accessory shelf. After scanning the jewelry and such I picked up two things and headed back to the impatient alien. I presented her with a pair of long white blue gloves and a pale violet flower which I proceeded to pin on her chest. Starfire became obsessed with the glitter on her dress, gloves, and flower.

She smiled, "Jericho, I must find something for you." She flew off and quickly threw things on the floor in her search for my perfect outfit. The cashier was just about the leave her station and give the superhero a piece of her mind before Starfire stilled and held it up. I gulped.

Starfire's eyes glinted and she flew back to me, threw the outfit at me and shoved me in a changing room. "You are not leaving until you try it on!"

I sighed and looked at it with despair. It really wasn't my style but I slipped out of my purple tunic and pants and tried the clothes on.

"Jericho, hurry. I wish to see it!" The impatient alien jumped up and down. I secured the belt on my pants before opening the curtains and walking out.

"It is perfect!" She said. Even the cashier who was close to kicking us out nodded in approval. I turned to allow the two drooling girls to see every angle of me. My shirt was black with a white diamond. There were other shapes in both purple and white splattered everywhere. My jeans were black skinny jeans that had a studded belt attached. I decided to tuck in my shirt to expose the belt.

"Wait, you'll need this," the brunette cashier said before slipping a black and white striped wrist cuff on my right wrist.

"We will purchase all of this," Starfire said as she stuffed her purple dress and a few other clothes into a bag. I didn't change since Starfire didn't give me back my tunic.

The two of us walked past many more shops as we licked our ice cream cones. "We should get back to the tower," I signed. She nodded and swallowed her entire cone whole. "Mhhh. Coffee, mustard, sherbet, and pistachio! My favorite!" A few mall-goers shuddered as they walked past. I licked the last bit of cookie dough ice cream from my bowl and threw it in the trash.

"Okay, let's…." I started to sign before I realized Starfire was not next to me. I turned left and right trying to find the titan. A purple miniskirt caught my eye near a shop window. I jogged over to her only to realize that she was baby talking a small brown and white puppy in the window. "Yes you are my wittle Knorf!" She tapped the window as she spoke. The puppy was clearly enjoying the attention because it jumped up and down and began licking the glass in the attempt to lick her.

"Please? This will be the last store!" She begged before I nodded in defeat. The puppy was REALLY cute. Maybe looking at some animals would lift my spirits?

I had barely nodded before Starfire squealed and zoomed inside. I followed her. When I entered she was immediately coddling the small puppy in the window. I decided to walk down the long isle of caged puppies and kittens; each padded up and made their respective noises to gain my attention. The need to cuddle them all was overwhelming so I stuck my finger in and poke a kitten's tiny pink noise. It fell onto its back and proceeded to bat at my finger with its gray paw and finally succeed to nibble it. I smiled and let it nibble for a few moments more. With my other hand I rubbed it under the chin and it purred, clearly enjoying the attention it received.

The kitten was soon bored of my finger and went back to playing with some string. I stared at the kitten for a few more seconds but continued my journey down the isle. The further I walked the darker it seemed to get. How long was this store anyway? I reached the end and there were a few glass cages lined next to each other. Curiously, I peered inside to find little balls of fluff snuggled next to each other. What are these things?

There was a tiny purple igloo with two blurry little blobs inside; both were sleeping soundly and innocently. There was another ball of yellow fluff behind the igloo that was obviously not welcome inside. Pity filled my heart so I waved the employee over to take the poor animal out. As I waited I read the sign "Guinea Pig". So that's what they were.

The employee casually unlocked the top of the cage and scooped up the tiny guinea pig. Quick as a bullet, it scurried off to avoid the large and very scary hand but soon it was cornered. I waited patiently as the piggie scampered around avoiding capture. Before the pig knew it, it was lifted up into the air and placed into my hands. The tiny animal froze hoping I wouldn't notice it very plainly in front of me. I silently laughed and reassuringly stroked her body gently. She didn't completely relax but she did stop shaking.

Starfire walked up beside me obviously done with her puppy craze. "Ah, what a tiny little creature!" she commented as she lightly stroked its head with her finger. "It has the same color of your hair."

It was true; the tiny piggie was multicolor with honey, brown, and white. There was a white stripe going from her pink nose to her neck, a ring from her neck all the way around her neck, and socks on her two front legs; brown was splotched around her ears and a patch on her back, and finally honey color everywhere else.

The two other pigs ran out of their igloo to see what all the commotion was about only to find a friend missing. Both of them ran around their small cage making strange noises in attempt to find their missing friend.

"'Guinea pigs are very social animals which prefer living in large herds'," Starfire read from the sign. "'They also use a wide variety of noises to communicate.' This one does not make a sound," she tilted her head in confusion at the guinea pig I was holding.

She was right, the pig in my arms made not attempt to reassure her friends that she was fine. In fact, she buried herself deeper and vibrated like she was scared but made a strange motor noise.

"I think she likes you," the employee commented with a nod. I stared at the adorable ball of honey colored fluff and she stared back up at me. I stroked her again and she purred loudly. I nodded in approval. "We will purchase this tiny creature," Starfire voiced for me.

"Good thing too 'cause we're having a sale on small pets. Everything is half off!" Here, let me help you with all your needs," the employee said passionately and went into high gear to show off accessories and food.

-.-.-.-

"She is so cute," Starfire proclaimed as she and I walked down the streets of Jump City to reach the T Tower. I simply nodded since my hands were full of boxes.

We reached my room and began assembling her cage which consisted of black wire shelving and a cardboard like material called coroplast. I chose green coroplast. After a few hours of cutting coroplast, placing the shelves, and the bedding called fleece, the cage was complete! Starfire was just about to place the guinea pig inside when I held up a finger and ran out of my room. I returned a few minutes later with an orange, cylinder object: a carrot. Starfire placed the new guinea pig, again, in the cage wherein I presented the delicious treat to her. She sniffed it momentarily but quickly yanked it out of my fingers to gobble it down.

"Jericho, what shall we name her?" Starfire inquired. "She does not speak just as you do not, she loves carrots, and she is yellow." Starfire thought a moment before a light bulb dinged over her head. "Mustard!" she exclaimed happily and clapped her hands together quickly.

I pondered this but shook my head. "What about Squeaks?" I signed.

Starfire tilted her head in confusion. "But she does not. Why would you name this creature something she does not do?"

"It's just something people on Earth do," was the only way I could explain. "Like when people name their big guard dogs Tiny. It's just funny."

After my explanation her face lit up again. "Squeaks it is! Hello there Squeaks. My name is Starfire!" She began talking to the small animal like it was a child.

Squeaks scampered all over her new cage exploring every corner in hope to discover another tasty treat. As she did so I took the liberty of opening her bag of hay and pellet and serve her some. Squeaks squeaked with delight and plowed her way through the hay and began to nibble on the closest piece of hay to her.

Starfire and I watched Squeaks enjoy her first meal in her new home. Squeaks, for the moment, kept my mind occupied with her instead of a certain someone. I hoped that would last for a long time but I kept getting a strange feeling that it wouldn't at all.

-.-.-.-

Slade became impatient. He knew he could only wait but he felt helpless. But most of all he was restless. Typically he'd be plotting something to get Robin's feathers in a knot but today there was nothing to do but wait. His least favorite thing. He felt he'd go insane so he peeled his eyes from the screen of his favorite apprentice and headed for his room. Maybe there he could go over his next plan and not feel so useless.

Concrete walls and a barren bed greeted him when he arrived. Maybe he should consider redecorating for later? He pushed that into the back of his mind and reviewed his plan for the umpteenth time. It should all go according to plan as long as Professor Chang did his part correctly.

"Cheshire." The black haired female was again instantly at his feet awaiting his command. "I've decided for you to wait on that errand. Deliver it after he knows."

She nodded her head with a smooth jerk and exited the room in a hurry.

A mop of white hair entered Slade's room. Her eyes were full of concern as she headed towards the masked man. "Daddy?" her eyes were shimmering with tears. Was she crying?

As if Slade switched personalities completely, he stretched his arms out and invited her into them.

She sniffed softly before answering, "When will I get to meet him? I've been fantasizing about our first encounter ever since you mentioned I had an older brother. I'm just really excited to see him."

"Soon, dear," Slade replied as he stroked her hair.

"Yay! Thank you daddy! I love you so much!" the small child exclaimed and scurried out of the room.

"Soon, dear Rose. Maybe as soon as… tomorrow?" He let the last word hang in the air for a moment before he chuckled and exited his room.

A/N: To guestperson: Thanks for your insight as it's duly noted. I guess I feel that Jericho is physically strong and mentally, but he's also more sensitive. But actually there is a reason why he seems wimpy. But yes, I will try to make him stronger.

XxStephanieDivaxX: Thanks for all the support and ideas! I love it!

AnonymousNinjaGirl: I hope you didn't alarm the neighbors! xD Thank you so much. You review made my day!

musicHuntress: I will continue as long as I can till either I run out of ideas or I finish.

weasleygirl1999: Hope you continue to read and review!

Everyone else, thanks for reading and I hope you continue. For references of Squeaks look on my DA. I based her off my guinea pig Honey. If all goes to plan, Squeaks will be important later. Yay for guinea pigs! Thanks for reading. R&R, critiquing is welcome