A/N: Hey guys! Thaks for all of your amazing reviews! They inspire me to keep writing so keep it up!
So...some of you told me that I might be taking too long to update and I realized that's true so I'll try to speed up my updates if you guys promise to keep reviewing! Another commented that my chapters are too short, so I've tried to make this one longer, hope it's okay now!
WARNING: This chapter is sad. It includes Starlight's funeral so...well, you've been warned.
Read! Review!
Cheers,
Franshes
DISCLAIMER: (*weeps*) I do not own any of the Teen Titans. I own only their children- and grandchildren in Daniel's case.
Raven woke up before anyone the next morning. She carefully and quietly got out of her husband's embrace so as to not wake him up and then tiptoed out their room.
Because it was 4:30 a.m the tower was dark and silent. Raven made herself a cup of herbal tea and sat on the sofa, remembering earlier times with the Titans- back to when she'd been a teenager.
'It's strange'Raven realized 'How my priorities have changed so repeatedly over the years. Before, when I thought the end of the world would come on my birthday, my priority was my friends- and saving them at all costs, as well as being a heroine to convince myself and others that I wasn't pure evil. Then, when Beast Boy and I started going out, he became my world- his safety being my top priority. Net came our children, who are STILL and will always be my top priority from now on-who would have believed this? 18 years ago if anybody had told me I'd live and marry the guy of my dreams and form a family I would've believed them to be crazy. Now...now, I can't imagine life without them- God I hope Jake is alright. I can't bear to loose another child. Starlight's death is already too much-wow, I can't even begin to imagine how Jinx must be feeling now- has she witnessed the death of any more of her children? I hope not...God what do I do? What SHOULD I do?'
Raven was startled out of her thoughts by Nightwing, who entered the kitchen at that moment.
"Hey Raven," he told her, offering her a small smile "How are you doing?"
"As well as can be expected I suppose," she said, managing a weak smile "Considering everything that's happened..."
"I'm sorry Raven," Nightwing told her.
"What for?" Raven asked him.
"For failing you." Nightwing said with a sigh "I'm your leader. I'm supposed to be watchful of every possible danger and still...I didn't see the bomb in your Manor coming, I couldn't prevent all of you guys getting hurt, I couldn't prevent Starlight's d-death and now Jake's gone missing and I've been unable to do anything about that too. You've sacrificed everything for me Raven, and in return. I've failed to protect you and have put you in more danger than ever."
"You must not blame yourself, Nightwing." Raven told him quietly "These things happen. They're practically inevitable if you're a hero.I know you're doing everything in your power to find Jake and I appreciate it. I kow you've never been particularly fond of him but still, you're trying to keep him safe and that means a lot to me."
Nightwing seemed surprised at Raven's words.
"ow where'd you get that I don't care for the boy?" he asked Raven.
"Y-you...you do?" Raven said, surprised herself.
"Of course I do, Raven." Nightwing said "I owe that boy my Ravenie's life in more ways than one. I know what a great hero he is- even now when he's barely a teen. He's got a great heart and he's intelligent. He's already a part of my family- believe me when I say that."
"I'm glad Nightwing that you think like that..." Raven said, uncertain of where this had come from.
"We'll find him Rae, we will don't worry." Nightwing reassured her.
"You sound even more keen than I do, hoping that he's still alive." Raen said, looking at him strangely "Why?"
Nightwing sighed.
"For my daughter," he said "He must be alive, he MUST. It would destroy her if he wasn't and- besides- the kid'll need his father."
Raven nearly choked on her herbal tea when he said this. Gasping, she asked
"You know?"
Nightwing smiled weakly.
"You're asking if I know my daughter is pregnant with your son's child? Of course I do." he said.
"But-how?" Raven asked "And most importantly- wy aren't you freaking out?"
Nightwing chuckled.
"It's kindda hard to miss." he said "She's throwing up a lot in the mornings, she's all weepy, Starfire's constantly at her side comforting her, both of them well away from me so that I don't hear what they're talking about and to top it off my daughter's gained weight- it doesn't take a genius to put two and two together."
Raven remained speechless, unsure of what to say.
Nightwing continued
"As to your other question...why should I be freaking out? I guess I'd known it all along- Star and I were parents at 18- you and Beast Boy were parents at 16, Jinx and Kid Flash were parents at 15, Lise got pregnant at 16- what else could I expect from our kids? Besides, she's just having a baby- it's not the end of the world. I'm mad at her for not waiting- that's for sure, and for forgetting to protect herself as well but what else can I do other than support her? I can't turn her out on the streets, she's my daughter and I love her, Kid Flash made that mistake with Lise and look where that got him..."
"Wow," Raven said "You really aren't mad are you?"
"Mad-no." Nightwing said "Disappointed-yes, and a lot but that's it."
"You don't seem very shocked about it." Raven said, suspicious once again "You knew about this-before me?"
"I guess so, I suspected it at least." Nightwing said with a shrug "I was a teenager myself Raven. I know all the old tricks and believe me, I recognize them immediately. Did you know Ravenie and Jake have had sex-here- in the tower?"
"Seriously?" Raven asked "How do you know?"
Nightwing shrugged.
"I saw them- or- heard them, really." he said.
"When?" Raven asked.
"Ravenie had ust begun her house arrest. Star, the kids and I were going-to the movies I think and Jake came by to try to explain things to her- as you msy recall, things didn't go well, they argued and screamed loud enough for the whole Jump City to hear- I told Star and the kids to go on without me and that I'd catch up with them later, I was afraid Ravenie might hurt Jake so I stayed behind, then Ravenie said something about not loving him anymore and hating him and Jake yelled right back that that was a lie and that if she DID hate him she'd stop him (A/N: For further reference of this fight go back to "Cross My Heart and Hope You Die" ch.35 "A Little Incident")
Next thing I knew, there were kissing sounds coming from Ravenie's room, and then the bed creaked- and it doesn't creak when it's just Ravenie in it, so I assume they were both in it. and soon I began to hear their moans and screams- and it was hard not to know exactly what was going on in my daughter's room, especially when I heard her scream
"Fuck! Jacob- God! Harder!"
So really...I knew all along something like this was bound to happen." Nightwing said.
"Does Ravenie know you listened to her and Jake have sex?" Raven asked with a smile.
"Nope, she'd kill me if she knew I knew. She'll tell me herself when she's ready I guess...until then, I can only pretend I know nothing." Nightwing said "Especially since I don't think I should've listened to THAT time of all times- when they were-finished- Ravenie seemed to realize what she'd just done and she told him, and I quote, to 'get the fuck out of her bed' and she started calling him all sorts of names- she even called him a rapist- anyways, the aftermath was NOT pretty."
"No wonder Jake got back home being such a mess..." Raven said, remembering that time.
"Anyways, let's discuss these matters another time," Nightwing said "The sun is rising and I think that, sadly, we all have a funeral to attend..."
Swallowing the sudden lump that had risen in her thoat, Raven nodded and begn preparing for the day...
Later that day...outside the tower...
The titans were all gathered around a deep, rectangular hole at the edge of the island's cliff. The sun was shining, a warm, gentle breeze tickled each of the titans' faces. The sound of the waves crashing against the island was refreshing and birds were singing. Everything wouldve seemed prefectly divine- had it not been for the expressions of pain and sorrow etched in each of the titan's faces. Particularly the devastated looks of the whole Logan family.
They were all dressed in black to say their last good bye to their beloved Starlight.
For although Starlight had been Changeling and Raven's daughter, she'd won the heart of each and every one of the titans with her calm, sweet attitude.
"She was so young," Raven whispered, tears falling down her cheeks "Barely eleven..." (A/N: Honestly I've got no idea- timelines aren't my thing, I've gone over ALL of "Cross My Heart and Hope You Die" and there hasn't been the slightest mention of Starlight's age. I know only Jake was 17- because he said he had to wait six months until he was 18- when he died so Summer who's one year younger than him has to be 16 and then Jade, who's 1 year and a half younger than Summer must be 14-going-on 15 and then Scott is two years younger than Jade so he's 12- I know, I know, in "Hidden" Starlight was older than Scott but I changed that in the last fic. now Starlight was the youngest so I...guess...she must be 11- I don't know, sorry guys, anyway I'm boring you...)
Yes, Starlight had been only 11 years old when she died. Yet she had changed everyone's lives in such a way as was unforgettable to anyone who knew her.
"She was so sweet...and caring, and respectful, she was an angel..." Cyborg whispered, tears glistening in his eyes. That girl had struggled so much throughout her short life, she had taught him a lesson he would never forget. Anything was possible if you worked hard for it.
"And now she's in heaven..." Nightwing said, a single tear dropping from his eyes which he quickly wiped away, trying his hardest to be strong. That little girl had been sweet, she had softened his heart and from watching her smile every day day, despite all her difficulties, he had learned to enjoy and appreciate what he had, and to not be so strict with his children, who were, after all, his biggest treasure, as Starlight had pointed out to him one day- after he'd yelled at Dash for not cleaning up his bedroom.
"Where she belongs..." Starfire added, crying harder than anyone. Starlight had been a very sweet, patient girl. She had enjoyed learning very much but had not been vain, despite her man talents. In the past, she would often sit with Starfire for hours, correcting her speech and telling her all about the "Earthly" customs as possible without once complaining about it.
"My baby girl...my sweet, sweet, sweet Starlight...my bright baby..." Changeling whispered, tears cascading down his cheeks. Starlight had been beautiful, yet she'd never once made anyone feel bad about their looks and always considered herself to be "okay" looking. She'd taught him to be sure of himself and to not mind his looks so much- that it was his feeling was really mattered.
Her siblings all cried nonstop and, once her angelical body (in a casket) was placed on the hole and Changeling, Cyborg, and Nightwing began to fill the hole with dirt and everyone cried so much that afternoon that their tears made the soil fertile- flowers would grow in the future to adorn the spot where Starlight rested, forever.
After the ceremony was over, after eveyone had said good bye, and after the grave had been filled, everyone went back inside, everyone but the Logans, who stayed behind.
Changeling was hugging his wife, both crying softly. Jade, Starlight, and Scott cried bitterly too.
They were all staring at the tombstone which read
'Here Lies Starlight, an Angel Fallen from the Sky'
"I can't believe she's gone..." Raven said softly.
"None of us can, love." Changeling murmured "None of us can."
They remained there a good half an hour.
They had just begun to go inside when Scott cried
"Mom! Dad! It's Kid Flash in the water! He's running really fast and-Lise and Speranza are with him!"
So they were, crossing the water, running at full speed.
"WALLY!" Both adults cried.
Summer narrowed her eyes and then exclaimed
"And Jinx, Kyle, Valerie and Daniel are at the other side- on land!" she said...
A/N: The end. Wow, this chapter's been long...hope you've liked it.
Plz, remember to review!
Review!Review!Review!
Cheers,
Franshes
