Prologue
This story is the sequel to "A leap of faith'.
This chapter catches up with what has happened since the first story ended and sets up the background of the new story.
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Chapter 1 – Time flies
It had been ten months since the Jedi had left and things had slowly gone back to normal at Titans Tower.
Garfield kept his promise to Terra. He found a good lawyer who managed to get a Judge to annul her previous marriage to Slade (on the grounds that Slade was mentally imbalanced when they wed). He then got her in touch with the Wayne Foundation for her college scholarship. After interviewing her, Bruce was so impressed that he approved a full four year scholarship at Gotham University for her. Terra matriculated the following semester, majoring in Geology and made the Dean's list. Gar was very pleased with himself.
Terra's new collegiate life had also inspired Raven to begin her own higher education. Jump City College had one of the best online programs in the country. Raven had taken over two dozen AP tests over the past couple of years and was able to start at JCC as a Junior. Her major was English and she chose History as her minor. After a little ear twisting she was able to talk Gar into matriculating as well, his chosen major being Biology with a concentration on Zoology, which surprised no one.
Crime in Jump City amazingly had settled down. The Titans mostly had to deal with minor villains like Mumbo or Control Freak. The only time Gar ever used his lightsaber was when he sliced up some of Control Freak's remote control created monsters. Since he couldn't carry or use his lightsaber when in most of his animal forms Raven began to carry it for him. Gar did enjoy using the Force to increase the effectiveness of his animal forms. Once in elephant form he jumped high in the air and performed a triple somersault before landing on a dumbfounded Adonis, knocking him out cold. But most of the time he kept his new Jedi powers to himself and only used them to surprise villains.
Blackfire was relishing her role as a Titan. She was definitely the most gung ho member of the team now. She was always the first at the scene and in the case of a minor crime like a bank robbery she usually had the perps in custody by the time the others arrived.
But the year had its life changing event. Elizabeth Marie Grayson was born just two months ago. She had dark hair and blue eyes like her father and her mother's skin tone and digestive system. Starfire was concerned, no she was frantic, that little Elizabeth had not begun to fly, for which the other Titans were most grateful. Raven had the worst luck with her, as the first time she held Lizzie the infant threw up on her almost immediately. What is it with kids throwing up on me? She wondered at the time, recalling all the times that Teether barfed on her when she was protecting the children from the Brotherhood of Evil. Also, little Lizzie was a colicky baby, and while the Logans couldn't hear her at night Raven did feel her raw baby emotions on those occasions which kept her awake many nights, and if Raven couldn't sleep then neither could Garfield. And last night had been such a night.
Nightwing called a 7AM staff meeting to discuss new training and patrol schedules for the week. Everyone had assembled except for the Logans. At five after the hour Nightwing sent Blackfire to get them. She returned a few minutes later with the couple, who were bleary eyed and still in their pajamas.
"Did Elizabeth keep you up again friends?" Starfire asked. Gar grunted something that vaguely sounded like a 'yes' as the couple sat down at the conference table.
"I am so sorry friends." Starfire apologized "But I have good news! Today my knorfka Galfore is arriving with several of my childhood friends to meet little Elizabeth.
Great, a tower full of Starfires. It will be like a Hello Kitty convention. Raven thought.
For a moment Raven looked like she was going to have aneurysm, but she regained her composure, at least on the outside. Then Gar spoke up.
"Nightwing, Raven and I need to leave for a few days." He said.
"So where are you lovebirds going?" Blackfire teased them.
"Anywhere that has soft beds, quiet rooms and no babies." Raven replied in her monotone. "And room service."
"Oh." Starfire responded despondently "I guess that would be OK, yes Richard?"
"Oh, I guess so." Nightwing almost moaned. It's not like I'm getting any sleep either. He complained in his mind.
Yeah, but she's your kid! Raven shot back through their shared telepathic link, which she hadn't opened in a long time.
"Good" Raven said out loud. "It's settled then. We leave this afternoon. Cyborg would you mind making us reservations at the Jump City Hilton? And make sure it's a quiet room, please." The Logans then rose from the table and headed out of the conference room.
"Where are you guys going?" Cyborg asked as the meeting was just getting stated.
"Back to bed!" they said in one voice. They slept in until noon.
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Raven and Gar finished packing for their escapade just as the Tamaranians arrived. They lugged their bags to the common room and greeted the guests as they arrived.
Galfore was his usual booming self.
"So Koriand'r, I still cannot persuade you to give your daughter a proper Tamaranian name?" He begged Starfire.
"She was born on Earth and is half human, so we decided to give her a human name." she replied.
"Komand'r" he turned to Blackfire "Might you talk some sense into your sister?" he seemed almost desperate.
"Sorry, Galfore, but you know how my little sister can be." She smirked.
"But the child is also a Princess of Tamaran." This time he turned to Nightwing "Won't she listen to you?"
"I'm afraid she has made up her mind. Even I know when to back off." He replied.
Galfore harrumphed as Starfire presented Elizabeth to her 7 childhood friends, all of whom were ecstatic over the child.
"Man, they're all talking in Tamaranian!" Cyborg complained "I don't even think any of them speak any English at all."
"I thought you learned Tamaranian once." Gar teased him.
"I did, but forgot it when you guys took my Maxx-7 chip out."
"I guess you're gonna have to pucker up then, Tin Man." Raven joked.
Cyborg looked at the pretty Tamaranian girls that huddled around Starfire and Elizabeth. "That doesn't sound so bad when you think about it." He said with a grin.
Raven formed a dark disc on the ground. Using the Force, Gar tossed their luggage on it, and then hopped on himself. As Raven stepped onto the circle she said "So can we expect you to have a girlfriend when we get back?" she taunted him.
"BB's right, you are mean!" he shouted at her as they flew out the window standing on the flying disk.
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Later that day after all the commotion had winded down, Starfire and Richard retired to their room with their daughter while Cyborg and Blackfire showed the guests to their rooms. Fortunately for Cyborg the Tamaranians brought their own food. He figured that he and Nightwing could survive off delivery pizza for the next few days.
Back in the Grayson's suite Starfire was nursing their daughter, while Nightwing kept her company.
"Star, how are you feeling about being a mother?" he asked her.
"It is hard to describe." She began "I now feel more complete than ever. Every time I gaze upon her tiny face I am reminded that we have been joined forever in her. It also brings out a part of me I did not know before, that I am a life giver and a nurturer. When we first met I was a warrior. Now, I am so much more, and yet…."
"What is it Star?"
"I miss being a protector of our city. It has been almost a year since I have been on a mission, and I miss it so much. But how can I? Who will care for Elizabeth while I am away on a mission?"
"Uh, we could place her in daycare?"
"Richard, do not even joke about that." She replied crossly.
"OK, how about a nanny?" he asked more carefully.
"You mean a knorfka? I could ask Galfore to help us find one."
"I was thinking more of a human nanny, since we live on Earth. But I suppose that we should ask him first so that he won't be offended." he replied. After knowing Starfire so many years he was beginning to understand the Tamaranian way of thinking and seeing things.
"Yes, that would be wise." She smiled. Her husband was finally beginning to 'get it'.
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It was now dinnertime in the tower. Starfire's friends had set up shop in the kitchen and were preparing a traditional Tamaranian dinner, or at least that's what Cyborg thought it was. And I thought Star's concoctions were disgusting. The girls were setting the table just as the pizzas Cyborg ordered earlier arrived. They all sat down to partake of their meal.
Cyborg was surprised that Blackfire did not eat any Tamaranian food and ate only pizza, especially since none of their guests appeared to like pizza. "It's an acquired taste." Starfire explained to her friends. At least that's what Blackfire translated for him. It must have been hard for her to get used to what we eat, yet she never complained. She's always been a trooper.
After dinner Elizabeth woke up in a foul mood and wouldn't stop crying, despite the best efforts made by the Tamaranian contingent. Blackfire turned to Cyborg. She looked frazzled.
"I can't take it anymore. Let's get out of here." She said.
"What do you wanna do, little lady?" he asked.
"How about a movie?"
"There's nothing good playing now."
"Then how about we go dancing?"
"Sounds like a date." He replied enthusiastically. They told Nightwing that they were stepping out for a while and left quietly.
-(-)-
Later that evening Nightwing asked Galfore to join him and Starfire in his office. Galfore showed up, punctual as usual.
"Galfore, we have a problem and were wondering if you might be able to help us."
"Yes?" he replied.
"Well you see, Starfire hasn't been able to join us on a mission for a year now. At first it was because of her pregnancy, but now she needs to care for Elizabeth. I would share that duty with her, but I am the team leader."
"I see"
"Anyway, we were wondering if you might be able to provide us with a knorfka for Elizabeth, or at least a reference."
Galfore frowned. "I do not believe that I can."
"Why?" they both asked.
"Forgive me Princess, for I have kept a secret from you…..the truth is that back home there is much resentment that you married not only an outsider, but a commoner as well. I do not believe I could find anyone qualified who would accept being your daughter's knorfka."
Galfore saw a look of shock then sadness on both of their faces.
"It could have been worse. I can only imagine the reaction had you fallen in love with and married the green boy."
"Galfore!" now Starfire was angry. "How can you say such things about our dear friend?"
"Now, now, you have to admit that when he was younger he was a bit pathetic. Remember how he squirmed when I yelled at him when you visited?" The two Titans couldn't believe what they were hearing.
"And his eventual choice of mate, the demoness Raven, it says a lot about him, don't you agree?"
At this point Starfire had moved beyond shock. She was livid. "How dare you say such things about my friends! Garfield is a mighty warrior, not some pathetic loser as you imply. He could easily defeat any Tamaranian warrior, including you! And Raven is my dearest friend. She is smart, loyal, brave, sweet and lovely. They are a wonderful couple!"
Too late Galfore had realized his mistake. "I apologize, Princess, I meant no offense."
Starfire glared at him.
"Perhaps it would be best if I took my leave." The huge Tamaranian added.
"Yes, you should return to Tamaran. Do my friends who came to visit feel the same as you?"
"No. I approve of Richard, but they do not."
"I think that you should all leave immediately." Nightwing said in a gruff tone.
Galfore nodded gravely. "I will make it so. Please forgive me, Princess."
Starfire turned away, tears streaming down her cheeks.
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Three days later Raven and Gar returned from their mini-vacation, and when they arrived they were arguing heatedly.
"Gar, you can be such a jerk sometimes!" Raven accused.
"Me a jerk, you're one to talk, you picked everything we did the whole time! You shot down everything I wanted to do!"
"That's because everything you wanted to do was stupid!"
Starfire was nursing Lizzie on the circular couch and was accompanied by her sister and Cyborg.
"Oooh, trouble in paradise" Blackfire whispered "This is juicy."
Cyborg did not share her amusement. He was actually quite alarmed as he had not seen them argue like that since they began dating.
"C'mon ya'll. Knock it off, you're scaring me." He interrupted.
"Shut up, Victor!" they both yelled at him before they resumed arguing.
He turned to Starfire "Star, do something!" he pleaded.
"I do not think so." She replied. "We should allow Raven and Gar to work out their issues on their own without our interference."
Overhearing her remark, Raven and Gar turned to Starfire. "What?!" They both shouted.
"Aren't you going to lecture us about rekmas and dying friendships?" Gar asked.
"Or try to save us from our inevitable divorce, unless we kiss and make up immediately?" Raven added.
"No, I will not." Starfire curtly replied. "You are on your own."
The Logans stood in stunned silence for over a minute. Finally Raven broke the silence.
"I can't even remember how we started fighting." She aid.
"Neither can I. Will you forgive me for being such a jerk, Raven?"
"Only if you forgive me first." She replied. They fell into each other's arms and celebrated their first major reconciliation with a less than chaste kiss.
"Get a room!" Blackfire teased.
"Don't mind if we do." Raven said as she led her husband by the hand out of the common room.
After the doors closed Cyborg turned to Starfire. "What the hell was that?! How did you know that would work?" he asked incredulously.
"You know Victor; I am not just a pretty face." She and her sister shared a big laugh.
Suddenly the doors opened again. Nightwing walked in, followed by the Logans who had to postpone their trip to their suite.
"I have news." Nightwing announced. "We are going to have a summit meeting with the Bat Clan in Gotham to discuss further cooperation with them. I've arranged for some subs for us. We're leaving this Friday."
"This announcement couldn't wait?" Gar protested. He wrapped his arms around Raven's waist. "Shall we pick up where we left off my dear?" He asked as they walked out second time.
"Get a room!" Nightwing yelled "And the hallway is not a room!"
"Sheesh" he said to the others, "It's not like they didn't have the whole weekend to get it on!"
"Who says they did not." Starfire replied, as she headed back to their suite with a still sleeping Elizabeth in her arms. "Richard, are you coming?" It didn't take Nightwing long to put 2+2 together. He quickly dashed after her with a grin on his face.
As the doors shut yet again Cyborg complained "This sucks. Bumblebee won't even return my calls anymore."
He hesitated. "Oh well, I guess I'll install those new brake calipers on the T-Car. I got nothin' else to do."
"I'll join you." Blackfire said.
"Oh did I tell you that Tony Stark sent me some new blue prints for the gauntlets we were thinking about making for you?"
"He did?" she replied.
"Oh yeah, they're way cool. Easy to put on and take off, each one with its own power source. Once I build them you can also lose that stupid thermal blaster…." He continued as they headed to his workshop.
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And we're off to the races again.