Chapter 25

"Rae, are you alright?" Beast Boy asked as he ran up, pulling up short of hugging her. Robin blinked as he saw the two of them together, the green changeling obviously knowing that Raven was more upset than she appeared. He shook his head as he felt a pang of jealously as he also realized that she was letting more through her bond with Beast Boy than she was the one with him. He was glad that Cyborg wasn't with him, as the titanium Titan would have made some joking remark, half picking on the two of them and half trying to lighten the mood.

However, that would have been far better, in his eyes, compared to who walked around the corner next. "What are you doing here?"

"Easy, Dick. I heard that there is something wrong with Starfire, and came to see if I could help."

"Like you care. Why the interest, Bruce? An hour ago you would have been very happy to see her return to Tamaran with me staying on Earth."

Robin saw Bruce's eyes narrow slightly behind his cowl. "People can change their minds, Dick."

"People, yes. You no. Not on this." Robin wiped his hand over his face, hoping to wipe away the frustration that plagued him whenever he got into an argument with Bruce. "I only wish that Vern'a had been right and she would have been seyla for twelve hours."

"How would that have made a difference?"

Robin looked over at the Dark Knight, still curious as to his reason for caring. "If she had her powers, she'd have been in a position to take the challenge on Nie'l's behalf. Galfore wouldn't have made the challenge then."

"Didn't he do that after being ordered by the ruling council?"

"They would not have issued that order under those circumstances," Galfore said as he walked up with Komane'r. "We have need to talk with you, Batman."

Robin watched as his former mentor went off with the new Grand Ruler, and the head of the Ca'ri. 'They probably want to talk about either what the League is going to do about Star, or trying to get them to release Blackfire,' he thought. "Raven, can you tell anything. . . ? he asked nodding his head toward the door that Starfire was behind.

"Just that she's sedated, but I'm sure you know that," the dark Titan replied. "I don't want to probe Vern'a's mind while she's operating. It might distract her."

Robin nodded his agreement. One thing he knew was that you didn't distract a surgeon while they were working. Especially if the patient was someone you loved.

"Yo, Robin, she's gonna be alright."

Robin's first response to Beast Boy's comment was a sharp, 'How do you know?' but when he turned toward him and saw the concern on the green face, he couldn't snap at him for trying to console him. "Thanks, Garfield. You're right; she's going to be fine; she's in good hands."

The changeling watched as Robin went over by the door to Starfire's room and started pacing across in front of it. He was glad that the Boy Wonder didn't see the worried look he exchanged with Raven.

As Robin paced, he found himself facing Raven and Beast Boy as he went in one direction. Much as he was worried over Starfire, he found himself feeling happy that the two of them had become closer. Truth be told, he still had some difficulty believing that they had, but who was he to decide who either of them should see? For the first time, he felt a little of what the others must have as he watched them talking quietly to each other, much the way he and Starfire did, even before they told each other about their feelings. He had taken a few steps closer to them when he heard the sound of the door opening.

Vern'a was relieved to see that Raven and the other Titan were with Robin outside the surgery room. She knew that the dark Titan was close to both Robin and Koriand'r, and she knew that he was going to need a friend's support when she told him what had happened.

As she stepped through the door, they all turned toward her. Despite the fact that Robin's eyes were covered by his mask, his concern was easily seen.

"Vern'a, how is she?"

"She is resting, Highness. Although her life was in danger when she was brought here, the surgery required to correct the problem was not complicated." She paused for a moment and Robin could tell that she was reluctant to discuss something with him. "Highness, I know how you value your privacy, but as her healer, there are some things I must ask you."

"Vern'a, if it will help you treat Starfire, I'll answer as best I can."

Vern'a nodded, but was uncertain on how to ask as she knew little of Earth customs. "Has she discussed the starting of a family with you?"

"N. .no," he stammered, caught off guard by the question. "If she had, I would have asked her if it was possible."

Robin didn't miss the flash of surprise on the older woman's face. "She would have told you that yes, it is possible."

Robin staggered back a step. "How . . .?"

"When you were treated for your injuries aboard the VELANCE'R, a DNA compatibility scan was done, at Galfore's request. Even then, he felt that the two of you would take the Oath." She looked back towards Starfire's room, and shook her head. "She did not speak of this to you? She was told of the results."

"No, she didn't," Robin answered. "Vern'a, I'm not sure about Tamaranean customs, but on Earth it's unusual for people as young as we are to be getting married, let alone starting a family. Although I'm fairly certain that as Empress, her producing an heir to the throne would be important."

Vern'a nodded. "Highness, I know that you and Koriand'r have. . . . . .senavana. I also know that it is not a topic usually open for discussion, but I must ask when?"

Robin heard Raven's whispered gasp of "No", and he swallowed nervously. "It was the night she came back to Earth." He watched as Vern'a closed her eyes and sighed sadly. His mind was racing with so many things and he decided to grab onto one the things that would be less emotional for a moment. "Vern'a, the Ca'ri has dissolved her and my Oath of Bonding. Why do you keep calling me Highness?"

Vern'a sighed heavily. "Tamaranean law states that a bonding can not be broken if there is a child resulting from it, even if the child is not brought to full term."

Robin felt as if the room was spinning as he realized the implication of what she had said. "She's. . . . . . .pregnant?"

"No, Highness, not anymore," Vern'a replied softly. "I have removed myself as her healer. I did not recognize the symptoms she told me of before for what they were. I thought that they were from the radiation cure and the veka serum she has been given, not from the need for extra zorka berries."

Robin's eyes narrowed slightly. "You were giving her veka serum?"

"I did not administer it, but I was overseeing it. I am truly sorry, Highness."

"Who was giving it to her?" Robin demanded, then the answer came to him. "Never mind, I think I know," he said. "Why?"

Vern'a found that she could not meet his gaze. "Because I could not guarantee that the cure would work, or that she would not suffer a relapse."

"Robin, wait," Raven called, stopping him several steps down the corridor. "Maybe you'd better hear all of it first," she said, then turned to Vern'a. "What happened to Starfire?"

"Veka serum works by changing the way that the neurotransmitters work in the brain. It is not given to pregnant females because it also interferes with the development of the cells of the developing child. This caused a break down of the placenta, which caused the internal bleeding, and the miscarriage."

"Did Starfire know she was pregnant?"

"No, Titan Beast Boy, she did not. She only knew that she was feeling weaker than normal, and some other symptoms caused by the extra need for the nutrients provided by zorka berries. I also fear that she was some how injured during the battles with you that caused a weakness or tear in the. . . ." Vern'a said, then trailed off as Beast Boy ran off.

"Beast Boy!" Robin called, but was ignored. "Raven, did you see . . .?" he asked, referring to a mental imaged he had gotten of when Beast Boy was fighting Starfire, and the blows to her mid section he had landed. He saw her nod. "Find him, and tell him that it wasn't his fault. None of us knew."

"Highness, where are you going?" Vern'a asked as Robin headed down the corridor. It took her only a moment to answer her own question.

A short time later, Shel'b got Chr's's attention, and nodded toward the entrance to the launch bay. "Robin, I can tell that you are upset, but where are you going?" Chr's asked.

"Back to the Watchtower."

Shel'b fell back a step as she thought of the only reason that would make him leave Starfire's side with her ill. "Then Koriand'r is. . . . .gone?"

"No, she's recovering from surgery. I plan on being back here before she wakes up."

Shel'b sighed with relief as she followed Chr's and Robin into the shuttle.

"ROHA'N Control, this is shuttle one three five, three people aboard and request launch clearance and vector to the Watchtower," Chr's said after he powered up the ship.

"Shuttle one three five, clearance granted, vector two seven five, carom two seven for the Watchtower."

Robin closed his eyes, struggling to keep his anger in check as Vern'a's news repeated itself over and over in his head.

"Robin, may I ask what is wrong with the Empress?"

Robin opened his eyes and looked to his left and saw Shel'b's concerned face. "There's nothing wrong with her, Shel'b. She's going to be fine. It's just. . . ." he began, but couldn't say it.

"Robin, I wish to help, but I can not until you tell me what it is that has you so angry and hurt."

"X'Hal, no!" Chr's gasped from his pilot's seat, getting both Robin's and Shel'b's attention. "Highness, they just made the announcement to the fleet."

"Announcement?" Shel'b asked.

"Ne loneva, Koriand'r ve que kinacha."

"With child?" She'b said, then smiled broadly. "Congrat. . . . " she began but trailed off seeing the pained expression on Robin's face.

"No, my love you did not hear me fully," Chr's said. "She was with child," he corrected. "For reasons they are not releasing to the fleet, she lost the baby. I grieve with you, Highness."

Shel'b echoed Chr's's formal expression of grief, and the rest of the flight went in silence.

TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

The door slid open and Robin stalked in. He figured he was doing a good job of keeping his face blank when Superman spoke.

"Robin, we were just going to call you."

The words fell on deaf ears as Robin's attention was focused on the cape and cowl clad person who stepped towards him. Robin saw Bruce open his mouth to say something, but didn't give him the chance. The right jab to his stomach and the spin kick to the side of his head staggered the Dark Knight and he caught the edge of the table to keep himself from falling.

"Stay. Out. Of . My. Life," Robin said, almost quietly, but with an intensity that made it almost a shout.

"Dick, I can explain if you'll. . . . "

"I don't want to hear it, Bruce. I just hope that you're happy."

Batman's eyes narrowed. Robin's tirades were one thing, but in front of the rest of the League, he reached the end of his patience fairly quickly. "Listen, Robin, I'm not concerned that Starfire's being recalled to Tamaran has inconvenienced you, but. . . ." Bruce cut off when he saw Robin start towards him, his face a mask of fury.

Robin suddenly found himself encased from chin to ankles in green energy that was formed into a hand.

"Do you really plan on using that sword?" Green Lantern's voice said softly.

It was then that Robin realized that in his anger he had half drawn his sword as he stepped towards Batman. "No," he replied, then took a deep breath. "I don't. Superman, I apologize to you and the League that you had to see that. What ever your decision is, it doesn't matter anymore. As Bruce said, Starfire's been recalled to Tamaran; she will not be remaining on Earth."

"You seem a little angrier than that would cause," the Flash commented.

"Starfire is currently in the healing section of the ROHA'N, recovering from surgery. A complication caused by veka serum being administered to someone in her condition."

"Veka serum?" Superman asked.

"It's a herbal medicine used to render Tamaraneans powerless," Bruce said. "Under Vern'a's supervision I've been giving it to her until I was satisfied that she wouldn't revert back to what she was like before."

"So it reacted badly with her being given the cure?" Wonder Woman asked.

"No, Diana. It didn't react well with the fact that she was pregnant," Robin said, drawing a gasp from everyone, including Batman. "It caused something to cause internal bleeding and she miscarried." He paused for a moment, then turned toward Superman. "Am I free to go? I've gotten permission to be there when she wakes up."

"Of course, Robin," Superman replied and he watched the young man head for the door. "Just so you know," he added stopping him just short of the door. "The vote was that she could stay, and remain a Titan."

"Thank you," Robin said, then left.