Disclaimer: Refer back to First Chapter, First page.

Chapter 14 ( Changes)

"He's done what?" Asked Cyborg and Robin together in unison.

Raven standing in the kitchen of the Tower a week later was trying to inform Robin and Cyborg why they hadn't seen Beast Boy lately.

"He's been cleaning his room! And now, this morning, I found him reading a book about anatomy."

Both Cyborg and Robin exchanged looks of pure surprise and disbelief. Everyone that had ever visited or lived with Beast Boy, knew his room was always the messiest places to be caught in. They'd even made warning signs joking: "Caution, be aware that if you enter you may be lost for years. Trapped with no means of escape."

But clean?

"Beast Boy never cleans his room?" spoke Cyborg like he was stating a fact of life with no possible way it could ever be changed.

"Well he did, and I have to say it's about time." Answered Raven looking sharply at Cyborg; who was still having a hard time believing her.

Robin just smiled and crossed his arms. "We'll I guess I'm not the only one setting goals and growing up these days."

Cyborg gave one last look of surprise towards the door and then gave a shrug. "Ok" was all he said before heading off to the garage to work on his car.

Robin and Raven watched their friend leave, both giving one small look at each other before splitting up and heading off in different directions to do damage control. Cyborg to the left, Beast Boy to the right.

-BB-

Raven didn't find Beast Boy in his newly cleaned bedroom. Instead to her amazement she "sense" found him in the library. Her mental mind reaching out to find Beast Boy almost overshot the library. Opening her eyes she began walking in the direction. As she strolled down the hallway Raven's thoughts were more disbelieving then here worlds and voice had been while discussing her find to Robin and Cyborg. "I'd never have expected him to be there of all places." Referring to the library; which seemed to be only her own private place within the Tower.

Either Robin's right and it's just him growing up finally or he's really changed since his accident. Raven's suspicion was that Beast Boy was feeling something he'd never thought about. Something his young and small mind was finally trying to figure out a way to cope with it. "Vulnerability"

-C-

Robin found Cyborg in the garage. His face happy, humming to himself; as he worked on the underside of his car; natural and totally normal for while he worked. All of it a lie!

Robin new something was wrong. He'd spent far too much time with the other members of Titans to know one thing about Cyborg. He never gave up on an argument. Only two reasons would make him quit. One he agreed or two: He was upset enough not to know how to express himself anymore.

Cyborg saw Robin enter the garage. He'd figured one of them would fallow him down here. He only wished it had been Raven, but seeing as it wasn't he just kept working and humming to himself. Hoping that if enough time passed, and he ignoring Robin. It might make him go away.

"So….." Cyborg heard Robin's voice. Turning his head he saw that Robin's feet were crossed over his body relaxing on a barrel. Cyborg slid out and looked up. Robin was playing with a wrench; turning it over in his hands examining the many grooves.

"So what?" Asked Cyborg. His voice trying to remain natural and unknowing of what Robin was asking.

Cyborg headed over to the tool bench and acted like he was searching for something. Robin put the wrench down and stood up straighter; sighing as he looked down and then back up to meet Cyborg's eyes.

"What is it? What's been on your mind? I know something's been bothering you ever since you were injured. You didn't want to talk about it, I figured you'd bring it up when you were ready. But now….this, and Beast Boy. Cyborg something's bothering you and it's not just about how things are changing either is it?"

Robin noticed how Cyborg's hand quickly went to his face. Acting like he was itching his nose. Stifling a cough; Cyborg turned around. "It's just everyone's changing! You! Beast Boy, Raven even too, I see it, I've been watching it. And well…..

"What?" Prompted Robin taking a step closer.

"When the team finally goes their own ways where will I go?"

Cyborg's question hadn't really been the words Robin had been expecting. He'd always known they'd someday all separate and go their own ways. Starfire's trip to the future had made all their delusional happily ever after realities shatter. They'd started thinking more about the future after that. What to do? Where to go? But none of them had been thinking about each other, just what each one of them would want to do, to become.

Robin realized his mouth was open to answer but nothing was coming out. He closed it and brought his hands up to his face. Thinking and showing Cyborg he really hadn't thought about that before now?

"You know, I don't really know?" Robin's face grinning half with sympathy and half with slight jealous mockery. "I always figured you had it all figured out? Maybe start your own team, join up with Bumble bee, the Titan's East. Maybe try your hand out as a race care driving, or become a mechanic for NASCAR?"

Robin continued talking noticing how Cyborg's eyes were suddenly growing more interested and relaxed. He was thinking about what Robin was saying. Thinking about the fact that he did have options out side of the team. Realization sprouted for each of them.

Robin realized Cyborg had never thought about the future, never seemed to figure he could have one.

Cyborg realizing he had a better chance at having a future then his leader and friend did.

"Better chances for a future and a life then just simply staying a superhero all of it till you die." Continued on Robin. "You know if Slade doesn't get me first, I'll probably end up back in Gothem."

"Become Starfire's Nightwing; and retake up with Batman where I left off. Maybe go to college there someday." Robin's voice was flat, almost wishful, yet flat as if knowing his wishes would not come to pass, but it was nice to hope and imagine anyway.

"I think I might want to be a cop? Not in Gothem of course, but shed off the costume and fight the little fights instead of all the big bad guys. Let someone else handle all the tough choices instead of having to."

Cyborg smiled, "Yah I could see you as a cop."

Robin gave him a grin back, "Yah and I can even see you as a father, and family man."

Both Robin and Cyborg gave short laughs at that and Cyborg offered Robin the tool he was holding in his hand. "Want to help me with this?"

"Sure, but I got to tell you. All I know how to fix are motorcycles and bikes."

Cyborg turned and looked at Robin…"That's a start, the rest I guess I can help fill in as we work."

-St-

Starfire had been dreaming. Her mind taking the time to float and rest as her body did. She'd been dreaming of her life. Childhood memories of her family. Good times with her home back on Tamaran. Playing in the garden, having races with her brothers and sisters. Her good times with her friends here on earth too. Eating cotton candy with Robin. Shopping with Raven. Laughing and joking with Beast Boy. Listening to Cyborg's older and wiser voice; as he tried to explain how things worked to her.

If people on earth relived memories of their life before they died and called it "flashed before your eyes" then Starfire's people would have said that it was reliving all the good times you'd had; before choosing to fight to survive.

After laying in the medical bay for two weeks in a coma. Starfire woke up and sat up. Her muscles ached. It was darkly lit and her first thought was that she'd woke up too early in the morning or middle of the night. Then the medical monitor shut off and the medical bay door opened. Starfire realized where she was and started moving to leave.

Her head felt dizzy her body ached and she was wondering why her fiends weren't here to see she was awake and fine. Perhaps they are sleeping, she thought before realizing from the computer clock that it was 2:45pm.

Starfire wondered the halls looking for her friends. She finally spotted two of them as she neared the library. Surprised to see Beast Boy and not Raven exiting the door of the library Starfire's feet stopped moving. She watched as Beast Boy turned around and then Raven came out too. Both Titan's stopped in mid conversation as their eyes spotted Starfire.

-Rav/BB-

"So I've decided to study up on what happened to my foot. Try and prepare myself for the next time it has to be recast. I figure I'm going to be out of commission of a few weeks after that and I need something to do? I could play video games all the time, but I figured I'll read. Portion out my time and do some things I haven't done before. Thanks for the suggestions, these really sound like scary books to read."

Raven her face not quite smiling but happy that she and Beast Boy had come to an understanding. That his behavior was more easily explainable then she'd thought; didn't sense Starfire's presence, before her eyes saw the young alien standing there in the hallway.

"Starfire!" Beast Boy's cry of delight and quick motion to embrace their teammate; snapped Raven from her shock and thoughts.

"You woke up finally."

Starfire's happy and smiling face answered Raven's comment. She was trying to answer as she fought off Beast Boy's overly anxious hugs and comments. ( your alright, you look fine, did you know you had that many stomachs, why didn't you tell me, dose that mean you can double belch, why don't you eat more often?)

"Yes I just only woke up moments ago." I was looking for Robin or one of you, when I stopped here near the library."

"Starfire!" Beast Boy's shout was echoed as Robin and Cyborg rounded the corner. "Sally, told us you had waken up but when we got to the medical bay, and you weren't there we got worried and came to get Raven and Beast Boy to go look for you.

"Seems you have all found me and we are all, ok." Answered Starfire hugging each of her fiends in turn.

-BB-

Days later the tower was back to it's normal feel. Everyone was pitching in looking through the newspaper files, the computer search results, and anything else they could think to find in regards to Slade's challenge. They had come up with several ideas but each was vague, unrealistic, and would take Slade far too much effort, resources or time to accomplish.

Robin kept insisting that Slade would not need to take his time, he would find ways much faster, convenient, and challenging than the idea's they'd formed.

So by nights end; as all the Titans gathered in the garage. Their days struggle with Slade's challenge gave way to their energizing support and strength to Beast Boy. Tonight it had been decided would be the night his leg would be reset and cast for the last time. He'd insisted that he was ok and didn't need his friends by his side but Raven had insisted that she be there to help ease his pain. So the other Titans; now waiting in the doctors lobby of the medical building down town. Each trying to be patient, yet anxious in their own way.

Starfire sitting with her eyes hazy in thought continued to stare at a picture of a young child in the arms of it's mother. The sign read: "Today's youth are tomorrow's future."

Cyborg sat ruffling through magazines; after tossing aside his sixth he picked up the first one he'd started with and retraced the pattern over again.

Robin tried to sit quietly but kept having to get up and pace. The looks from the nurses and other patients kept forcing him to return to his seat, but anxious thoughts finally made him stand up again all over and continue pacing.

It was an hour later, that Raven came out from the long hallway. The office secured door; clicking locked, behind her. All three Titans rose and just stared at her. Raven looked exhausted. She gave then a half nod before sitting down on a chair across from them.

Raven ran her hands over her face and gave a soft "humph" laugh. "He's fine," her voice cold and filled with exhaustion. "I think I made myself a wreck worrying about how he was going to handle it, but you know what?"

Raven's eyes met each of theirs. They could see a sort of pride in them. Raven showing emotion was rare and this was totally not like her at all. "He handled it better then anyone of use would have, honestly, I think Gar's turning into a very courageous and brave; defiantly strong young man."

The other Titan's faces were mixed with surprise, pride, acceptance, and relief. It was a turning point for the team; looked back upon later, with a sort of longing and loss all in one.

-R-

Sunset over Jump City. Like any other city. It's quick and colorful, leading the charge into the night. Jump City was no exception for color array; those spectacular reds and violet purples mixed with sunny yellow and orange had no matches to the colors of the world. Sneakily like a thief and quick as a file drawer closing. The transition from color brightness to dull blues and gray was something unmatched even for Gothem city.

Robin stood looking over the city as the sun went down. The cool breeze coming off the sea behind him made his little arm hairs and neck give off small electric tingles. He took in a deep lung full of cleansing air and stood feeling forgetful; removed. From the salty smell alone and the subtle degree drop in temperature he could tell it was rolling over. Night was taking over for Day. His eyes scanned the horizon watching as the first little paintbrush spreads of gray and blue entered the canvas sky.

The sky would melt from here. Grow smaller somehow, allowing darkness to creep into the world. Evil many called it, some just the way life was, for Robin the night meant freedom, meant silent escape. He used to roam free back in Gothem at night, his mind charting routs, creating mazes from the city building and challenging his body to keep pace with what it could see clearly of mental map ways.

Jump City was different, smaller, requiring his mind to only tell his body where it needed to go. No challenge at night awaited him here in Jump City. Even Slade rarely ventured out at night. Choosing to lay low, plan his moves and in some small sporting way; Robin knew he was giving him a chance to rest and regroup.

Robin felt someone come up the stairs even before he heard the slight soft footsteps of Starfire. She most of the time flew around. Even flew up stairs, but when she was going to enter the roof of Titan Tower she'd taken on the habit of walking up them. Robin figured it was to give a small warning to whoever would be up there. Most of the time that meant Raven.

She meditated up on the roof a lot. More so in the summer time. Robin however was the sharer of time here. His moments were during sunrise with Starfire. Sunset with himself and about an hour or so still to come. Then it would be Raven's quiet and alone time. (That is if Starfire or Robin did not choose to join her in meditating)

Robin turned around and waited for her to poke her head around the door. As expected Starfire lifted into the air and smiled down at Robin. Making her way over to the Boy Wonder. He gave her a smile and reached out a hand to her.

This time Robin noticed she did not take his hand but fluttered down beside him. Admiring the view and lights of the now dark city. Robin turned around and stared at her. "What's wrong?" His voice concerned and yet annoyed too. He had a slight idea what she was going to say. He'd expected it, after all he'd heard and gotten the same response from each of the other members thus far.

"You are leaving?" Her voice was a question but their was a painful hurting and betrayed hint floating around behind it.

Robin gave a small sigh and his smile faded to a natural and un thoughtful one. Then he turned his head and gazed out over the city again. He noticed that Starfire did not turn to look at him. Her eyes still fixed on the city. She never did see what beauty Robin saw in the look of the dark night. Darkness only brought evil, nightmares and death. She did not know how he could find comfort in the dark of night.

"No, I'm not leaving, for good." Robin saw hope appear in her features quickly and then leave again.

"But you are going?" She asked again, this time her voice challenging.

Robin gave a small grin and folded his arms over his chest. Feeling the cool night air around and listening to the waves crashing below.

"Yes, I'm planning to leave sometime, around the first or second weekend in March. Alfred said that Batman won't be coming back that quickly after all, and I should come up around the 8th of March. He'll be getting back some time after the 11th."

Starfire just nodded her head slightly. Still refusing to look at him.

"I still have a little over two months before I go, and I promised, that I'd only leave if you all were Ok with it." Injected Robin turning to face her; dropping his hands to his sides and trying to get her to look at him.

Starfire slowly turned and faced Robin. The look he saw from her was not what he'd been expecting. She was smiling slightly. Her eyes calculative, weighty. She was thinking something threw. Then she nodded. "I think that a trip home for you would be best."

There it was; plain and straight. Starfire's voice holding nothing back but complete agreement. But why?

"You think so?" Robin's voice was inquiring, his feelings hurt to think that she could feel so uncaring and ready for him to leave.

Starfire's face lit up. Her eyes twinkling, made Robin feel happy again. "Yes, I think you should resolve issues between family. Quickly, and lay aside any future fights that may come your way."

Robin sighed. Reaching out to brush a rouge stand of hair from her eyes. He'd forgotten, or just grown used to Starfire too much to remember how passionate she was about family. Her little insisting about how friends should never fight, her wish she could reconcile with Blackfire even though she had sent her off into the hands of the "Space Police." The times Starfire yearned for home and to have her own family once again. Family was more important to Kori then anything Robin would ever find important in his life. He smiled up at her and gave her a quick hug.

"Thanks"

"Your welcome," she whispered back, hugging him tightly, a bit too tight, he was having trouble breathing. Luckily Cyborg's call from downstairs; that dinner was ready gave release for Robin.

They walked back into the tower. Everything beginning to returning to normal once again for the Teen Titan's. Well not quite everything as they would soon discover, but at least their own friendships and contentment with their lives.

A/N: Short chapter I know, but it's a leading into chapter. I wanted you to gain an understanding of how each character is about to start changing...Get ready! Next weeks chapter is a really explosive one. This is where I'm about to take you all on a roller coaster ride. So strap in gear up and hang on tight. Till next week...dlsky