Author's Note: I owed you some fluff after the last story.

-=oOo=-

On the Roof

He followed her scent as it guided him to the roof of the Tower. She was sitting on the ledge, wearing only her panties and one of his T-shirts against the cool ocean breeze. She probably just grabbed whatever was at hand before she left the room to climb up here. He couldn't avoid smiling; it was his fault. After all, he was the one that talked her into sleeping in her birthday suit, not that she needed much convincing.

He also made sure to put on his boxers before he went searching for her. Even if it was the middle of the night, there was no sense in risking running into Starfire in the hallway. Not that Star would even notice anything was wrong; he did it more for his own peace of mind.

At least the night was warm. He walked over silently but quickly, sitting down beside her and studying her with a twinge of concern. She remained silent, her gaze fixed on the horizon.

Even after years of being together, his girlfriend was still in some ways a mystery to him. But he did know that right now she would not welcome a conversation. He forced himself to sit quietly and wait patiently, his feet dangling over the ledge and his hands clasped between his knees. His eyes roamed over the multicolored sparkle of the city across the bay, reflected in a myriad broken rainbows off the ruffled surface of the water.

He lost himself in the fascinating sight, his gaze soon climbing up the black velvet vault studded with glitterdust. The fat, silvery crescent blade of the moon drizzled its scant, pale light on them, leeching the night of its colors and turning the world into a carving in mother-of-pearl.

He felt her fingers on his thigh; a cool, feathery caress both apologetic and shyly needful. He covered her hand with his own and allowed her to weave her fingers through his. He remained silent, waiting for her to speak first.

A tiny smile crossed her face, both happy and pained. "It's a lovely night," she murmured.

He nodded. "Beautiful."

They sat silent for a few minutes more. She finally turned her head and looked at him. "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I was cold," he grinned. "My comforter was gone." She rolled her eyes, but couldn't hide a smile.

"I'm used to you by my side," he told her affectionately. "It just doesn't feel right when you're not there."

She looked away. "I know," she apologized. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he shrugged. "I could live with it. But I smelled unease on your pillow. Something's bothering you."

Her eyebrow arched. "I see I can't hide anything from you. It hardly seems fair."

He grinned at her again. "Is that Miss Empath that's talking about unfair advantages?"

She chuckled. "I suppose you're right. I'm just…" her voice trailed off.

He gave her a minute to see if she would speak. "Wanna tell me about it?"

"No," she stated simply. "But I have to."

"You don't 'have to' anything, Rae. If you –"

"Gar," her fingers squeezed gently his own. "If there's one thing you've earned through all these years of love and tenderness, it's for me to be honest with you."

His heartbeat picked up and his throat felt dry. He swallowed. She sensed his apprehension and smiled.

"I should be angry at you for even thinking what you're thinking, Gar!" she chided him gently. "I'm not seeing anyone else. I'm not interested in anyone else. I don't need anyone else."

"Then what –" he began and immediately clamped his mouth shut. She looked at the horizon again. A silent minute trickled by.

"I'm afraid," she whispered and a tremor went through her at the confession.

"Of what?" it burst out of him as he felt his hackles rise in an instinctive response. "Is it your father?"

"No," she sighed. "He's… not the problem." Her eyes closed and her grip on his hand tightened. "It's me. It's us."

His other hand rose to caress her cheek. "Rae…" he whispered hoarsely. "I'd rather die than hurt you. You know that."

She leaned into his touch, her eyes still closed. "I do. That's the problem."

He let out a frustrated breath. "I don't get it…"

Her eyes opened and she looked at him. "All my life…" she began, then choked. Her jaw clenched and she inhaled deeply. "Since I was born, everyone shunned me. Everyone knew I was going to be the bringer of Armageddon, the instrument of destruction, the spark that ignites the all-consuming fire."

"But you weren't –"

"Hush. I know. Let me finish." She gripped his hand desperately, her eyes dewing. "I came here to Earth and I found friends, I found… a family." Her voice got hoarse. "I defeated and banished my father. I was free of his taint, free of the guilt, free to live my own life."

She swallowed and looked down. "I never expected I'd be able to do it. I never thought I'd live through it. And yet…" she looked at him again. Clear, hot drops slid down her cheeks. "And yet I did, and I dared to hope, to wish for happiness, to look for… love."

Her shoulders shook. Without thinking, he bent and scooped her onto his lap and curled his arms around her.

She shivered and pressed her face into him. "I'm a demon, Gar! I don't deserve it!" her voice shook. "I'm not worthy of love and kindness. I'm… I'm afraid that something will happen and take it all away from me, because I'm… I'm not… I shouldn't –" her voice broke finally and she sobbed, clutching desperately at him.

He wanted to shout angrily to snap her out of it. He wanted to speak gentle, comforting words to soothe her pain. He wanted to caress her anguish and kiss her fear away. But somehow he knew that none of those were the right thing to do.

He waited until her sobs calmed down, holding her tight and letting her slowly recover.

"I've been thinking about something for a while now," he whispered softly as he nuzzled her. "I was hoping to prepare for it a bit better, but I guess now is as good a time as any. Can I ask you a question?"

She just nodded, her face still buried in his chest, seeking comfort and reassurance.

"Will you marry me?"

Her head slowly lifted up, a look of absolute bewilderment in her deep, violet eyes. Her mouth opened, then closed. She gasped and sniffled and gulped and finally managed to croak out a disbelieving jumble of barely connected words.

"Gar… field… I… I'm… I'm not…"

"You are," he assured her gently.

"B-But what if –"

He shook his head. "You won't."

"I-I don't know if I can –"

He shrugged. "Then we'll adopt."

She stared at him for a long while and then lowered her head on his shoulder, her gaze lost in the distance.

He shifted, a bit uncomfortable. "Um… Rae? What do you, uh, think?"

She tried to speak, choked, swallowed and tried again.

"I… think it would be very nice," she said in a tiny voice.

"Good." He bent his head and landed a small, tender kiss on her lips. He slid an arm under her knees and rose up to carry her, dazed and unresisting, back to their room.