AN: Sorry it took so long to get this chapter up. I wrote it when I could but I had to get a second job. So I work like 50hrs a week and go to school full time. Talk about your headaches. But here it is the end of the story! Thanks for all my faithful reviewers! I'm gonna finish up my other stories and then start a new one i'm working on. It'll be awesome so make sure you stay tuned to what's coming next. :)
I felt myself awake yet refused to open my eyes. It was as if I hadn't slept in weeks and only caught a few spare minutes… my body was exhausted and my eyelids had never seemed heavier. My bed has never seemed softer and my blanket warmer. I was prepared to let my dreams take hold of me again as I thought of an excuse Beastboy has used once.
"I couldn't respond to the alert! I tried I really did!" Beastboy pleaded with me and Cyborg as we glared at him.
"Grass stain there had better be a good reason, after what happened to Raven and St" Cyborg was interrupted as he folded his arms across his chest.
"There is!" Beastboy interrupted as he nervously shifted from one foot to the other. I refused to talk as I kept my icy glare. Cyborg and I were blocking his exit so he was stuck facing us with an answer.
"What happened to them?" Beastboy asked.
"It's better if we make the girls inform you of that and dude I do not want to be in your shoes when they do."
"Who was the alert for?" Beastboy asked now more curious then nervous. Cyborg and I's shocked expressions quickly turned into annoyance.
"You didn't even bother to check what the alert was?" Cyborg grumbled.
"Enough," I snapped as Beastboy opened his mouth to defend himself. "No more excuses, answer…now." I snapped.
"Well… you see… it's not my fault. It's my bed. It becomes very possessive of me in the mornings. It wouldn't let me out." He sheepishly replied as he began studying his shoes. Cyborg and I were to shocked at his poor excuse that our jaws hung open as we glared at him in response.
"You slept in while we had to deal with Plasma?" Raven's monotone voice was dry as she walked into the common room smelling of rotten sewage.
"No amount of the excuses shall excuse you from the out of working Robin is expected to put you through" a familiar voice came into the room as the memory continued on. Her hair was caked and mounted up in sewage and rotting gunk. She smelled and looks five times worse than Raven as it dripped from her arms and legs.
"Starfire?" Beastboy asked in nervously awaiting her furry.
"STARFIRE!" I shouted as my eyes bolted open and I found myself in my bedroom carefully tucked under my blankets. I flew out of my bed and threw open the door as I ran down the hall towards the infirmary, every ounce of weariness in my body now replaced with utter fear and dread. I ran with all my strength and agility towards the infirmary praying to find Starfire lying in there on the bed from her room and surrounded by the things of her room but my stomach dropped and my heart stopped when I saw the empty white room of the infirmary with the cot and machines and the plain white curtain closed so no light could get in. The smell of a freshly cleaned bleached room filled my nostrils as I grabbed the door post feeling as If the wind had been knocked out of me.
It couldn't be. How long had I been out? It couldn't have been that long. But no one was in here, all her stuff… gone. We must not have made it in time… I let her down. I let her go to her doom and didn't reach her in time. How could she have di….di…died? The word itself hurt to think. Like a hole in my chest had just blown through me.
"You shouldn't be up," Raven's voice almost made me jump out of my skin but I realized I couldn't move. I realized I hadn't even turned. I was still dizzily staring at the empty room clutching to the door post like I would fall without it.
"S…sh…she…" I tried to get the words to come out of my mouth but it felt like it had been stuffed full of cotton. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it was going to burst. Raven hadn't said anything as I clung to that door post not bothering to even look at her.
"Azarath…Meterion…Zinthos…" she chanted and suddenly darkness shrouded around me and I felt myself being pulled into her raven but not for long as I was thrown out and into the living room on my face. I hadn't even bothered to try and catch myself and I hit the carpeted floor.
"Dude, you should be sleeping." I heard Beastboy's voice sound surprised.
"His emotions were making me sick; I just brought him here instead." Raven's dry voice sounded as if I had bothered or annoyed her.
"Made his way back to the infirmary?" Cyborg asked.
"We figured he would sooner or later," Diana laughed.
"He is not yet at full strength, his energy levels are still low." Jon stated.
"Robin, get up. Pull yourself together." Batman's fatherly voice demanded.
"Give the kid a break," Superman chided.
"I'll get him a glass of water," Hawkgirl's voice said as I heard her footsteps echo away from me.
"He doesn't look too well…" Flash sound concerned.
"Robin come on, just look up." Green Lantern stated. But I couldn't feel the will to get up until I felt a soft hand slip on top of mine.
"I had them put you to bed; you looked exhausted." Her voice reached my ears. I jerked my head up to find her kneeling down next to me staring into my masked eyes.
"You're… here? You're awake?" I asked as I was still frozen in place.
"Tamaraneanians heal quickly, or had you forgotten that while I've been away?" She smiled softly a hint of laughter behind her words.
"And you're you?!" I exclaimed happily.
"Mostly," her smile fell slightly.
"Red-X had injected her with that serum. It's out of her system now but the programming is still engraved in her mind. She knows who she is but Stephanie has still left an imprint. It will fade over the course of the next few weeks." Jon explained as I saw Starfire try to give me a better smile.
"I'm just glad you're okay." I replied as I slid my hand over hers. We hadn't broken eye contact as we continued to smile stupidly at each other both on our knees staring at the other. I knew the whole room was watching but I didn't care. She was here and she was safe. That's all that mattered.
"Star," I spoke through the smile stuck on my face.
"Are you guys gonna just stare at each other all day or can we order some pizza?" Beastboy whined.
"How can you always think of nothing but your stomach? We have to get Starfire's powers to that tribe. Thank you again Starfire for allowing us to take what was left from Red-X's torture to those people. You have given them much and with this they can get back their lives. Thank you Starfire," Wonderwoman praised as we both turned to look at the Justice League standing near the doors.
"We should get going, call us if you need us anytime." Superman stated.
"Yeah you guys are a strong team. I'd like you on my side any day." Flash added zipping over to hug Starfire before rejoining the League.
"If things turn contact us, Starfire." Jon caringly informed Starfire who nodded in appreciation.
"See you guys later," Green Lantern shook his head.
"Stay out of trouble," Hawkgirl added handing me a glass of water as Batman simply nodded as I nodded back. We both knew I would take care of her and make sure she recovered just fine and with that the Justice League let the door close behind them and a few minutes later we could hear their jet firing up on the top of our tower.
"You were out for only a few hours Rob, you should probably go back to bed." Cyborg stated as Starfire helped me to stand.
"He is a little pale, maybe you should eat a little something before going back to bed." Raven suggested as she agreed with Cyborg.
"Pizza!" Beastboy shouted as he threw his arm over Starfire and my shoulders. "Are you hungry Starfire? Please? Robin won't be able to say no if you want pizza too." Beastboy tried tugging on heart strings as he tuned into a small puppy and made large sad 'puppy dog eyes at her.
"Beastboy…really?" I rolled my eyes as I wrapped my hand around Starfire's bent elbow.
"Well I'm not cooking," Raven dryly stated as she sat on the couch behind us.
"Beastboy is not ordering! I'm not eating any tofu…fruit…veggie…nasty pizza!" Cyborg glared at the small green dog still begging Starfire.
"Robin," Starfire began as she looked up at me.
"ENOUGH! Just order it. I don't care." I shook my head as Beastboy and Cyborg began excitedly calling the pizza delivery and Starfire smiled at me.
"Please Robin, do sit down. You have the lack of color as Raven has said and" Starfire paused and looked at me funny, "I'm worried about you kind warrior." She finished sounding very much like Stephanie. Everyone froze at once as she shook her head again and looked at me apologetic.
"Sorry, I am not confused any longer. I just…" her voice trailed off.
"While you were asleep Robin, Jon explained to us that she still has two lives in her head. Two separate lives of which she carries memories from both. Stephanie's will wear off as the two weeks go by but with the serum out of her it no longer can command and present Starfire with two personalities." Raven explained. "We just need to watch that she doesn't continue with Stephanie's memories very much as time continues or else it might be blending who Starfire really is."
"I am fine friends, merely an accident." She sheepishly replied as I felt her gently squeeze my arm. "Please Robin, do sit." She asked again. I nodded as I followed her to the couch, next to Raven as the boys began ordering again in the back ground.
"Just… don't leave me again. I'll help you through this." I smiled at her as Starfire closed her eyes and leaned against me. I saw the corner of Raven's mouth twitch as she used her powers to bring her book to her and begin reading.
"It's just…" Starfire paused with her eyes closed as she took a deep breath and tried again. "It is simply not easy having two of the memories. I have the difficulties remembering the smaller details than I do the larger ones." She sighed as she nestled into me tighter. I swung my arm around her and held her against my chest.
"You just ask me. I won't mind helping you with the littler memories until you get them all straightened out." I stated as I gently grazed my lips across her temple.
"I am having the issues recalling what I enjoy eating. Do I like the pizza more or a honey glazed salmon sided with freshly steamed asparagus that has been flavored with paprika and lemon juices?" She asked me as she looked up thoughtfully.
"I'm not gonna lie, both sound pretty delicious, but you seem to like pizza. I can't say I've ever seen you eat the salmon dish." I explained.
"Thanks," she sighed as she leaned against me again.
"What's wrong? If that's not the answer you wanted you don't have to eat pizza just because I tell you that you like it. I can call Batman and get some Salmon ordered special." I quickly tried to problem solve wondering if Alfred could make anything close to what Starfire was describing and even faster remembering it was Alfred, he easily could.
"It is not that, the pizza will be most delicious," she sighed.
"Star, what is it?" I asked nervously.
"It is… it is nothing." She decided through closed eyes as well all watched her.
"Star, you've been through far too much for it to be nothing now. It's… it's my entire fault this happened. If I hadn't of let you go and I had acted upon my instincts that something was off… this whole time you thought you were talking to us… we probably lost contact with you the moment we left the school." I beat myself up as I pounded one of my fists into my awaiting palm.
"Robin do not place the blame all upon yourself. There were… instances the Red-X made the mistakes and I did not follow my own feelings. The blame does not reside completely with you. We all had been made of the fools." She replied trying to ease the troubled look on my face which softened the moment I saw her concerned eyes watching me.
"Star… I almost lost you. I'm so sorry." I whispered as I hugged her close into me again.
"I am present and all is well. No harm has come unto any of us. I am thankful to be back." She decided as I watched her carefully chose her words, wondering if she was trying to not use a memory from Stephanie instead.
"Star," I smiled as she looked up at me curiously. "I really missed you. You are staying with me from now on. No matter what, anywhere you go so do I." I decided instantly. Her giggle was better than I had remembered it as she laughed at my statement.
"I do not need the sitting of baby. I shall do fine. You need not worry over me." Her smile sparkled as I didn't want to correct her English, it was beautiful the way she put it.
"You don't have a choice, for a while you are just gonna need to stay near me so I know you're safe. I know you can take care of yourself," I continued before she could protest. "and I know you are a strong warrior. But this almost killed me Star. That I couldn't get to you, to see you so weak on his stupid machine, to lose you every time I got so close. I just… I need to keep you close for a little while, not for you… for me." I finished hoping that it made as much sense out loud as it did in my head.
"For you Robin, I shall. But do not let the fears for me over concern yourself. But I shall do the sticking like glue for your sake." She replied as I hugged her back into me.
"For sure, the first evil dude or dudet we all face as a team are gonna regret the day they messed with us." Beastboy fist pumped into the air as he jumped over the back of the couch and plopped down next to us.
"For sure, we are fully the Teen Titans again! Booyah!" Cyborg announced as he mimicked Beastboy jumping over the back of the couch and plopping next to him as his weight sprung us all up a little into the air before we landed back on the cushion.
"Let's just hope they let us catch a day's worth of a break before causing any trouble," Beastboy replied as the doorbell rang indicating the pizza had arrived. Cyborg and Beastboy jumped up and raced for the elevator before any of us could blink.
"Save some for us!" I shouted after them as it closed behind my words.
"I shall make sure it arrives in once piece." Raven informed us as she disappeared through the floor leaving Starfire and I alone. I didn't even bother to wait for Starfire to look at me I turned her chin with my hand and placed my lips on hers as we melted into the sweetest kiss I could remember.
To my reviewers:
You all have been amazing but this story has come to a close. I am going to wrap up my other two and have started a new one. If there is anything you wanted to see with this story let me know but otherwise it's over. It's a long one lol. I mean I could continue it but it would be just Starfire going through memories and stuff kinda boring. So The End. Review :) Thanks