Family.

Once Robin had Starfire dried, dressed and carried safely back into the medical bed, ignoring that she was so very weak because it would have made him feel bad and her feel terrible for not being strong, he allowed the other Titans, Alfred and Sarah access to the medical bay.

Dressed in a pale purple top and pants, her pyjamas, and covered in a fluffy pink robe (which had been a gift from Cyborg one Christmas), Robin had to admit she looked (and smelt) much better now she'd showered. More like herself, as though the water could wash away the memories of last night.

He'd helpped to brush her hair (finally realising how much of a struggle she had in an attempt to keep it straight and beautiful, it poofed when wet), and she'd relaxed completely under his hands, crooning and going a little dreamy eyed. He reminded himself to brush her hair for her more often.

Their friends crowded around her instantly, Alfred standing regally beside the door, and Starfire exclaimed such delight at seeing them all. Everyone got hugs and kisses, even Raven.

"Girl, we were worried about you," Cyborg said, his hand on Starfire's shoulder. He gave her a squeeze and a shake.

"My apologies, I did not mean to create a fuss."

"Not your fault, Star," Beast Boy said as he sat on the bed by her knees. "You feeling okay?"

She smiled. "Tired, but I am getting better."

"We caught the dickwads that did this to you," Cyborg said. "And the other girls."

"So I heard," Starfire said.

"Robin went all ninja kung-fu warrior on their asses," Beast Boy said, then did several slashing movements with his hands, complete with sound effects. "And I got to interrogate them."

"You did?"

"Throw a one way window of glass," Raven said dryly. "And it wasn't them, more a packet of cheesy puffs."

Starfire giggled. "Did the packet succumb beneath your mighty interrogation skills?"

"More like his leet eatin' skills," Cyborg said.

"I has mad eating skillz," Beast Boy said proudly.

"Has Beast Boy every interrogated a real criminal?" Sarah asked, curious.

"Oh, hell no," Cyborg exclaimed. "Him?" He pointed for emphasis them placed his hand against his head dramatically. "We'd never be taken seriously again. No offence, Beast Boy."

"None taken," Beast Boy said, rolling his eyes and sticking out his tongue at Cyborg. "We gotta stick to what we're best at. Robin does the interrogating. Me, I just interrogate crisps. Cheesy puffs, one day they'll talk. And it'll be epic."

"What do you think they'd say?" Sarah asked.

"Please don't eat me," Beast Boy said in a tiny high pitched voice, complete with a scrunched up face.

"Considering they don't have mouths," Raven mentioned. "They wouldn't be able to speak at all-"

"Don't hash on my interrogation skills," Beast Boy said. "You know they work on you."

Raven lifted her eyebrow.

Beast Boy's grin was cheeky "Or do you really need me to remind you about the pink fake leather whip-"

"Lalalala," Cyborg chanted. "Dude, c'mon. Sexcapades outside the sick bay please."

"Yes," Robin added. "There's really no need."

"What about a pink leather whip?" Starfire asked, curious.

"You don't need to know," Raven muttered, blushing slightly.

"But it sounds most intriguing. Do you have an outfit to match? Please, where can I purchase-"

"Starfire!" Robin blurted, thoroughly embarrassed.

"I know of a provider who does the most intricate fake leather and real leather outfits," Alfred said. "I shall forward you the details."

"Alfred!" Robin scolded.

"Me too," Raven said. "I wouldn't mind updating my wardrobe."

Beast Boy's eyes went wide. "Who's a lucky boy," he said under his breath, "You are, yes you are."

"Do they do Princess outfits?" Sarah asked, curious.

Robin snorted. "Princess?"

"As in Xena the warrior princess," Sarah said. "Cyborg-"

The part metal man clapped his hand over Sarah's mouth. "Shh!"

Sarah looked put out. "They were discussing it."

"Yeah, but its more funny to watch BB and Robin get embarrassed than be embarrassed myself."

"All three of us should go lingerie shopping," Raven suggested.

"I would like that," Starfire said, flicking her eyes to Robin and smiling. "Indeed, my wardrobe requires an update if-"

Robin's eyes went wide. "Boundaries, Star," he said, hoping to warn her off from divulging private information.

She gave him an innocent smile.

"So, that must have been some party last night, huh Star?" Beast Boy asked.

"Beast Boy," Raven scolded. "She probably doesn't even remember-"

"I do," Starfire said. "I remember everything. It is a little fuzzy, but I recall it all."

"Can you teach me to dance like that, Star?" Beast Boy asked. "If I throw in some funky chicken and the robot, it'd be sweet."

Starfire's head reared back. "Dance? Like... huh? I do not understand."

Robin ran his hand through his hair. "Some idiot had a recording us dancing," he said sheepish. "It was on the internet for a while, but I have a worm hunting down all copies to erase. It's mostly gone now."

"A recording?" Starfire asked, wide eyed.

Robin nodded.

"X'hal... may I see?"

Robin hesitated, then nodded. "I'll get it out later."

"Okay."

"It was sweet," Beast Boy said, then dodge Raven's hand as she reached out to smack him.

Robin smiled to himself, winked at Starfire, then slipped out of the room.

The Tamaranian 'Stew of Wellbeing' was quite an easy meal to prepare. Very similar to chicken soup, the chicken substituted with neterfowl, a flightless desert bird on Tamaran, the various vegetables substituted for the Tamaranian vegetables and instead of water, they used the juice of a byttyr tree. It was unfortunate that humans couldn't eat it, it tended it make them sicker, so she didn't often get cause to make it. Or eat it, since she couldn't cook when she was feeling ill herself, and Starfire being sick was a very rare occurrence.

He gathered all the ingredients and the pot for making stew, chopped the Tamranian vegetables while some of Starfire's frozen neterfowl thawed in the microwave.

"Do your require some assistance, Master Dick?"

Robin looked up from his chopping briefly. "Nah, I got this."

"May I ask what you are preparing?"

"Something for Star. It'll help her sleep better."

"Ahh."

"Tamaranian Stew of Wellbeing. They have all sorts of foods for different moods. Don't take her pudding of sadness if she ever offers it to you."

"Noted." Alfred subtly shifted his weight.

"What?"

"I cleaned your room."

Robin didn't pause in his chopping. Using his knife and his hand, he scooped the diced vegetables up and plonked them into the pot. "You didn't have to. I am capable of cleaning my own room."

"I didn't think you would wish to worry about that while Princess Starfire was indisposed. There was blood on your sheets, it seemed most prudent to clean that before it set."

Robin blinked, then looked up. "On the sheets?"

Alfred inclined his head in a single nod.

"Oh." Blood on the sheets, why would there be... oh... drat. Robin's eyes flicked toward the medical bay as he made a mental note to ask her about that.

Alfred, being the astute butler he was, caught the quick glance. "I was most surprised to see very little of Starfire's personality in your room."

The microwave beeped and Robin went to turn the neterfowl. It was mostly thawed, so he carted it back to pot to add the meat. "There wouldn't be. She doesn't sleep there normally."

"Then are you sharing her room?"

"No."

"I see."

"What do you see, Al?" Robin asked mildly, knowing exactly what he saw.

"It is not my place-"

"Don't pull the 'I'm just a butler' crap on me, Al. Doesn't work."

"I had hoped you would be able to overcome your inhibitions."

Robin sighed. "Bruce was what... twenty three? when I came to live with him?"

Alfred nodded.

"He wasn't ready to include a ten year old boy into his life. He didn't make concessions. Expected me to slot in and be happy. The things I saw... Any sane man wouldn't have let a ten year old follow him into battle. He should've firmly said 'no' and booted my ass home, instead of training me."

"He saw potential in you and you wouldn't have taken no for an answer."

"I would have if he'd paid any attention to me at home. If being a hero wasn't a way of proving myself worthy enough to stay in his life. C'mon, I was scared shitless he'd shaft me back to the nearest home if I didn't prove myself. And it wasn't just the superhero side of thing. You remember what twenty three year old Bruce was like. Height of his social career. Parties. Galas. Girls. I shouldn't have been exposed to that. I was ten, just lost my parents, I shouldn't have had to be the responsible adult."

"Master Dick-"

"Why do you have to push this every time we see each other?" Robin asked, carting the pot over to the stove. "You know him better than anyone. He listens to you. Super power of your very own. You raised him and you practically raised me. Would it really have been so hard to smack him upside the head every once in a while? Tell him to get his head out of his ass and notice I was a kid, not a soldier?"

"I did as much as I could."

"I turned out alright," Robin said. "All things considered. And it has a lot to do with that woman in there being pampered by her friends and my life here in the Titans. So I'm more reserved and cautious when it comes to certain aspects of my life. I don't blame him for that. Not anymore."

Alfred regarded him.

"Long time ago you told me to loosen up. I did. I have. Things are about to change again for both Star and me. And I'm okay with that."

"She is an amazing woman."

Robin turned around and offered Alfred a smile. "And I know you were checking her out."

Alfred inclined his head. "Her form is exquisite."

"But you were only looking to do up her gown."

"Of course."

Robin chuckled. "Cup of tea?" he asked, glancing at the boiling pot before he headed to the kettle.

"Do you need that stirred?" Alfred asked.

"Don't touch it," Robin warned, extending his hand to stall Alfred from opening the lid. "Sorry, it's... well.. acidic. That's how it's already bubbling."

Alfred dropped his hand away from the pot lid. "Interesting."

"It'll be ready soon," Robin said. "Tamaranians don't like to waste time cooking. Tea?"

"Tea would be lovely."

Several cups of teas later, one chocolate soy milkshake and Starfire's soup, Robin and Alfred carried their trays into the medical bay to hand out their offering of food. Robin was unsurprised to see Beast Boy curled on Starfire's lap (in cat form of course) or Cybrog squeezed onto the bed with her, or even Raven sitting demurely on her chair, absently scratching kitty Beast Boy, while Sarah was flush against Cyborg, giggling as he wrapped his arm around her waist.

They were all talking and laughing and Starfire beamed at him when he walked in.

"Where'd you run off too?" Raven asked.

"Stew of wellbeing," Robin replied, lifting the tray a little to illustrate.

Starfire smiled. "You did not have to."

"'Course he did," Raven said as she picked up Beast Boy to make room for the tray of Starfire's soup. "Make him pamper you for a change."

"Reap the benefits," Cyborg said, getting off the bed so Starfire had more room. "Foot rubs and stuff like that."

Sarah lifted an eyebrow. "I don't recall getting foot rubs when I was sick."

"Do you want a foot rub, babe?" Cyborg asked.

Raven snorted. "Now you've put the idea in her head, of course she does. Speaking of rubs-"

Beast Boy meowed at her.

"You promised," she reminded him.

"Promised what?" Starfire asked.

"Back rub and bubble bath without interruptions."

"And rubber duck," Robin pointed out.

Beast Boy meowed again.

"Guys," Robin said, his hand on Starfire's shoulder. "I hate to ask you to leave, but Star needs her rest."

"She can sleep in her own bed," Cyborg said and Robin nodded, noting that Cyborg had already removed the line in her wrist. "She'll be fine."

"After she eats, I'll move her there."

Once all kisses and well wishes for a good night's sleep were received and the others filed out, Robin sat down on the chair beside Starfire to watch her eat.

"There was a video?" Starfire asked, taking a spoonful of stew.

Robin scratched his next. "Yeah... pretty embarrassing, really."

"May I see?"

"After you've eaten. Or tomorrow. Tomorrow would be better. You look half asleep there."

"This is most delicious," Starfire mentioned.

Robin smiled. "Glad you like it."

"It is a shame you cannot enjoy it like I can."

"I like my stomach unmelted, thank you every much."

Starfire giggled.

Robin waited until she was finished, then took the bowl to clean it. Cyborg and Beast Boy were playing games on the console while Sarah and Raven chatted over a cup of tea. Returning to Starfire, he asked, "Are you ready for bed?"

Starfire nodded, looking tired.

"Your bed or mine?"

"I am sorry?"

"I don't want to leave you alone tonight, so I'm activating the boyfriend clause."

Starfire tilted her head. "The boyfriend clause?"

Robin grinned and hooked his arm under her knee and her other hand behind her shoulder and lifted her up, waiting until she had a good grip on his neck. "Yup. Haven't I explained that?"

"No, you have not."

"Well, one of the clauses states that in the event a girlfriend is sick, the boyfriend gets to sleep in her bed to make sure she's alright."

"You do not need to activate a clause to sleep in the same bed as me."

Robin grinned. "Good to know. Which bed?"

"I would prefer mine."

"Okay," Robin said, then turned, heading for the door.

Starfire rested her head on his neck. She smiled and waved goodnight to all their friends and Alfred as he carted her through the common room toward the hallway which contained the bedrooms.

Exiting the common room, he almost ran straight into Batman.

Starfire beamed. "Greetings," she said, her voice sounding happy and exhausted at once. "Thank you for coming."

"You're welcome," Batman said with a nod. "How are you feeling?"

"Better. Thank you."

Robin adjusted his grip on Starfire. "How'd it go?"

Batman's lip curled up. "Hanging out to dry."

"Good."

"Got a couple of solid leads on some others that might be doing the same thing, there's a chance for more evidence against their boss, who I still have to locate. I have a name, may I borrow your network to run a trace?"

Robin liked that he asked. "Of course. Open access."

"Thanks. I'll leave a report on your database. We can coordinate in the morning."

Robin smiled at Batman's offer to work together. Wonders of wonders. "I'd like that."

Batman lifted his hand to squeeze Starfire's shoulder. "Sleep well. I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight Bruce," Starfire said.

"Night Bruce," Robin murmured, stepping aside so Batman could get by him. He briefly felt Batman's hand on his shoulder too before the man slipped into the common room.

"Let's get you to bed," Robin said, continuing down the hallway.

Upon entering Starfire's room, he gently placed her on the bed, helped out out of the robe so she could lie down comfortably.

"Pillow?" he asked.

"Were you planning on sleeping now?" Starfire asked as she scooted into the middle of the bed.

"Yup," Robin answered,

"Then I shall sleep on you. If that is the okay."

"Sure," he replied with a smile. Stripping down to his briefs, he switched off the light and crawled in beside her. He grabbed one of her pillows and lay on his back so Starfire could put her head on his chest and twine her legs with his.

She gave a contented little sigh as she snuggled in close to him. He ran his hand up and down her arm, up to the base of her neck. Giving it a little rub, he tilted his head up so he could kiss her on the top of the head. "G'night, Star."

"Pleasant slorvaks."

"Always will around you." Staring at the roof, he waited for her breathing to even out. His hand stroked up and down her arm, settled on her hip, his face to her hair. A part of his mind told him he really shouldn't be sleeping now, he really should be up and helping Batman with the research to discover who was behind the roofie attacks. The same part of his mind also noted how warm Starfire was and how he could feel the curve of her body (two particular curves) pressed against him and how he didn't want to go anywhere. He wanted to stay right here. With her.

"Not tired?" he asked eventually when she didn't relax toward sleep.

"Hmm?" she asked. "Oh... yes. I am... just listening."

"Oh."

"Your heartbeat is most soothing."

"Glad to be of service."

Starfire shifted and rubbed her hand against his stomach and made a little cooing noise of contentment.

Robin shifted, wondering what kind of noises she might make when she was better if she cooed now just because they were snuggling. And that lead him to think about something else she said earlier.

"Why did your heartbeat just increase?"

Opps. Sprung. "Just thinking."

"What about?" Starfire asked curiously.

"Did you mean it when you said you had to update your wardrobe?"

"Were you serious about taking the next step?" Starfire asked mildly.

"Yes."

"Then, yes, I need a wardrobe upgrade. Do you have a preferred colour?" she continued in that same mild tone.

That question sent his brain into a spin. "Preferred... um... on you?"

"No. I am going to make you wear lingerie. The banana hammock, yes?"

Robin snorted. "God. No."

"Darn," Starfire said, sounding exactly like he did he used that word.

"Really? You want me to wear something sexy?"

Starfire giggled. "No. I am teasing."

"Good."

"So, what colour preference?"

Robin swallowed and subtly wiped his suddenly sweaty palms on the bedsheets. "Green. Definitely green."

Starfire nodded. "Cut? Style?" she asked. She sounded so blasé, like she was ordering a pizza. Robin supposed she really had been waiting for this for a long time.

"Um... surprise me?"

"Very well."

"So, we will?" he asked, wanting to clarify.

Starfire lifted her head, studying him in the darkness for a long moment before she rested her head back down on his chest. "I shall give you a week to consider," she said, her fingers following the line of his ribs. "Then, if you are still certain, you may take me away for the mini holiday you suggested."

Robin grinned. "I'd like that. So," he said, trailing his fingers against her shoulder. "Gonna sleep naked tonight?"

Starfire just giggled.

Author's Note:

Gotta stop. Need to. Before I get smacked by the Action bus. There's a book planned and waiting to be written and I can't do fanfiction anymore. This thing was only supposed to be a few chapters long.

One chapter left. Haven't started. Don't know what it is, I'll let you guys decide as a going away present.

Either their holiday as mentioned in this chapter, an engagement, or a wedding (seeing I haven't don't one of them in quite a while). T rating will be kept.