~*~ You guys are SO NICE! YAY! If I had the money I'd give you all a dollar, but alas, I have a mere 52 cents to my name..hehe jk. But really, thank you so much for the reviews, you have no idea how wonderful they make me feel. Good news! You get this chapter early! YAY! I just got back from 5 hours of volleyball (yes, 5 hours) and I'm so much pain right now, I just want to relax and write, so lucky you! Oh well, hope you like this! ~*~

Later that night, Starfire awaited the arrival of Robin in the lounge with the other Titans. Beast Boy and Cyborg were, yet again, locked in a battle on their game console. Raven skulked about in a destitute corner of the room, secretly watching the activities going on. Cyborg yelped in happiness when his racecar pulled in the lead, leaving Beast Boy to sulk and groan. Without realizing it, Raven raised a finger and watched it slowly glow a grey-black. Suddenly, Cyborg's car reered off to the side of the track and skidded into the wall, igniting on fire. A faint, electronic 'Taps' played in the background and the ghost of the driver floated out of the wreckage. "Aw man, I just DIED! And that isn't even programmed into the game!" Cyborg whined as Beast Boy crossed the finish line. He dropped the control and tossed his arms in the air, flailing them wildly. "I AM THE GREATEST MAN ALIVE!!!!!!" he declared, and hopped up to shimmy to celebrate his victory. Raven slightly smiled to herself and blew over the tip of her finger, much like a person would blow over a pistol that was just fired. Her eyes suddenly widened as she stared in shock at her work, and her lips parted a little, stunned. "What did I do THAT for?"

Robin appeared from another corridor, saw Starfire resting on the couch, and smoothed over his black locks. He stopped abruptly and shook his head scornfully at himself. "That was the dorkiest thing ever." he thought, and continued into the room. Starfire watched as he strolled up to her, seemingly careless, and she rose to greet him. They both smiled. "Hi." she breathed. "Hi." he replied. There was a long silence as they stood there, merely looking at each other and beaming, before Beast Boy cleared his throat loudly, snapping them out of their trance. They both blushed and fidgeted around in place. "So..uh...you wanna go?" Robin asked ineptly. Starfire nodded, and the 2 trotted off into the darkness. Cyborg hit the reset button and a new game begun between the robot and the shape shifter.

"So, Cy, what did you talk about with Robin today? And since when do we have a skylight?" he asked, quickly glancing up at the enormous hole in the ceiling. "Oh yeah, sorry about that." Cyborg apologized, his eyes never lifted from the screen. Raven looked up and growled. "That's coming out of your paycheck." she said, pulling down her hood and shaking out her short, violet hair. "What are you talking about? We don't get paid!" Cyborg exclaimed. Raven gritted her teeth and could feel her patience running thin. "Then we're going to city counsel and we're demanding we get paid for our efforts and THEN it's coming out of your paycheck!" she nearly shouted her last choice words. "We don't get paid? Then how the heck do we pay for ALL THIS STUFF?!" Beast Boy raised his arms to indicate all the expensive items that the Titans used everyday. The second his hand left the control, he spun furiously before skidding to a stop and watched as Cyborg passed the finish line first with ease. "So, you didn't tell us, what were you and Robin talking about this morning?" Beast Boy inquired before Cyborg could open his mouth. He didn't care if they had been discussing freeze- dried beets, anything to stop him from gloating was a Godsend. "Oh yeah, Robin and Starfire spent the night together, he's madly in love with her." Cyborg said simply as he rose to turn off the system. "Pff, no surprise there." Beast Boy replied, reclining into the couch. Raven looked over at them with a raised eyebrow. "Should you really be shooting your mouth off like that? Aren't you supposed to be Robin's FRIEND?" she asked callously. Cyborg shrugged. "What? It's not like this is new! They've liked each other since, well, since the Titans were formed! You know it, I know it, the American people know it! Well, except for them, ever notice that when you like somebody, the only person who doesn't notice you have feelings is that one person?" "You have no idea." Beast Boy muttered, stealing a glance of Raven from the corner of his eye.

Meanwhile, Robin and Starfire wandered aimlessly on the rooftop high above the city. The sun was settling in for bed, casting its long rosy fingers out to the horizon, as if to grab something in the far off distance. The discussed a few random topics briefly before resting on the side of their pool, which, appropriately, was in the shape of a large T. The dying sun made the crystal water shimmer, luring whoever was too get close enough to behold it. Robin looked out longingly out at the water, and caught a glimpse of Starfire doing the same. "You wanna jump in?" he asked without thinking. Starfire shifted her gaze to him and tilted her head in curiosity. "But Robin, we do not have our bathing suits." she stated. But Robin had already removed his shoes, socks, gloves, cape, and utility belt and was bounced quite high on the diving board. Starfire, seeing what Robin had meant, did the same, taking off her shoes, socks, and arm protectors. Robin perfectly dove in and resurfaced after a few seconds, squirting a tiny stream of water out from his mouth. "C'mon, Star, the water's great!" he called to her, waving her in as he treaded. Starfire squatted on the side and gently dipped her fingers in the cool aqua, squinting, undecided. "I do not know, Robin, it seems too cold." she whimpered, but left her fingers to dangle in the water.

Robin swam over to her at the side of the pool. "Aw, it's fine Star! Best it's been all year!" he persuaded, but she remained in her cogitated position. "I do not know.." It was then Robin noticed her hand floating limply in the water, and he swam in dangerously closer to her. Starfire observed this and looked up at him, slightly frightened, when she realized what he planned to do. "Robin, do not even think of it!" she warned, but he drew in closer, a devious look on his face. "Robin, do not do it!" she cried, nearly smiling. The normal thing to do at a time like this would be to remove your hand from the water, rise, and walk to the opposite end of the pool, and Starfire knew that. But a colossal chunk of her WANTED to go in that pool, to be in there with Robin, alone, together. This is the reason she stayed in her position. He did exactly as she had expected; he snatched her wrist and with a giant tug yanked her head-first into the pool.

She rose, sputtering, a large section of her ruby hair plastered over her head onto her face. At first, Robin feared he had angered her and she would leave, making it near impossible to get near her for a little while. But, to his disbelief, she started laughing. She popped under the water for a moment and rose with her face upward, sending all her hair back neatly and out of her face. "You will pay for that." she grinned and splashed a tiny wave in Robin's direction. He smiled as well, relieved she thought it was funny too, and sprayed her back. It went on like that for a while, each exchanging laughs and water blasts. At one point, Starfire slipped unbeknownst to Robin beneath the surface and snuck around him to his legs, and, when she felt ready, ripped him downward under the water. She rose first, giggling, and he emerged a few second later, smiling as well. "NOT funny." he said. She covered her mouth with her hand, feeling her chuckles creep out too many at a time. "Then why are you smiling?" she asked. He did not reply, but dunked her under once again.

A few minutes later, Robin and Starfire rested at the shallow end of the pool, both of their arms hung on the edge of the cement. Starfire scanned the water with her eyes, then turned back to Robin with a clever smirk. "Would you like to race, Robin?" she asked. Starfire knew Robin could NEVER turn down a challenge, no matter what it was. Robin glanced up at her and grinned, his confidence seeming to take over his body once again. "Okaaaaaaaay, but I've gotta warn ya, I'm pretty fast!" he said, positioning himself along the edge. Starfire did the same. "To the deep end, first one there wins!" she explained. Robin readied himself as Starfire counted down. "On your mark....get set.....GO!" They both shot off the wall with a burst of speed and rapidly paddled to the other side.

Robin, thinking perhaps his freestyle stroke was a little rusty, dove under and swam along the bottom of the pool, thinking he would be able to go faster once he was down there. Starfire didn't notice, she continued pumping her arms and legs as quickly as possible. Robin skimmed the bottom of the pool swiftly, like an eel slithering along the ocean bottom. He knew he was making record time, and nimbly passed Starfire's swimming figure 10 feet above. He mentally chuckled, knowing he was going to win. Out of nowhere, he felt something drag him backwards. At first, he thought Starfire may have caught onto his plan and had dove under to slow him down. Then he realized, nothing was holding onto him. He whipped his body around to see an open vent, sucking him inside. The hole had to be no larger than a foot, but it was powerful, and pulled Robin back, until his entire foot was lodged inside. He screamed and writhed about viciously, twisting and contorting in all possible positions to save himself. Try as he may, he couldn't remove it, it was stuck deep inside. He gave up his struggle and screamed for help, only causing many large bubbles to spill from his mouth. "Blahrblifre!!!" he cried, but the emerald eyed beauty had long since passed over him and was too wrapped up in competition to notice his absence. He began to panic, ripping at his foot and digging his nails in his leg in a possible way to aid him, but with no prevail. He fought tremendously; he was born a fighter and would not leave the Earth without a fight. Robin knew it was hopeless, he couldn't hold his breath for much longer. He could feel the water slowly filling his lungs, screaming for air. He saw various stages of his life flash before his eyes, but in an instant, they were gone. Robin never envisioned dying this young, when he realized he hadn't lived nearly as much as he wanted to. He wanted air so badly, never before did he desperately need something, and had a sudden thought; with his dying breath, or lack there of, which is what was killing him, he craved the one thing he couldn't have. Only Robin would be able to find irony in death. He felt dizzy, and his aqua surroundings began to blur before his eyes. He was going, he could feel his spirit passing through his body, and as the world was tainted black over his eyes, he could only think of one, final thing;

"I never told her."

And then he lost all feeling.

Starfire slapped the side of the pool and rose in victory, arms raised above the water. "I am the winner! But it is alright, Robin, perhaps you will win next time!" she cried, beaming. She heard no response and looked around. "Robin?" she asked. Starfire knew it was not likely of Robin to abandon a contest, and she noticed his things were still idle along the side of the pool. She felt a deep sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, and frantically searched for Robin with her eyes. It was then she noticed the still, unmoving red blur lodged at the bottom of the pool. "ROBIN!" she shrieked, and dove back under to rescue him. In an instant, she was at his side, and gingerly managed to twist his ankle out of its prison. She swiftly took hold of him in her arms and soared to the surface, with a boost of speed from her flying abilities. She gently laid his motionless form on his back, and she knelt over him, beginning to hyperventilate. His lips were parted, his skin was starting to prune, and all of his shadowy black hair remained glued about his head. Starfire clutched her head in her hands, wringing out her hair in panic, and lifted one of Robin's arms with simply her index and thumb. She released it and it flopped down back to the cement, as if magnetic. She put her head to his chest, in hopes of feeling a faint breath. She felt nothing, and could sense a lament coming on, when she heard something. "Thump. Thump. Thump." His heart! He still had a heart beat!

Starfire knew she didn't have much time and would have to save him immediately. She looked over the still boy, briefly remembering something Raven once told her about something called 'CPR.' She didn't know what it was or how to perform it, so that was never an option. Flustered, she began pumping his chest, waiting a second or 2, and then delivering another hard blow with both her hands. "Oh please, please, please do not die, Robin." she whispered between pushes. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes, and when her vision of him was distorted with the oncoming teardrops, she squeezed them shut, but felt their hot, wet presence slide down her cheeks. She was praying to any of the heavenly bodies that he would live, to let him breathe, to keep him alive. She choked back a sob. "Robin, please do not die. Please, I beg you, start breathing! Oh God, please Robin! You-you cannot leave me. I-I never got to tell you-I never got to say how much I..I.." It was then Robin started coughing furiously, wheezing for gasps of precious, glorious air in between. When he finally managed to stop, he spat out a long series of squirts of water, and laid back again, gazing up at Starfire's sparkling eyes. He felt woozy, sickly even, like he just swallowed a bag of cement. "Did I win?" he asked dazedly with a crooked smile.

Starfire threw herself over his body, spreading her legs out of her kneeling position, and sobbed into his shoulder. Robin, still not entirely sure what was going on, rested his hand awkwardly on her, patting her back and consoling her, when he noticed she was dripping wet. Then it all flooded back to him. His eyes widened and he pushed her off him, still in shock. He gripped her forearms, holding her above him, but she was still very, very close to his face. "STARFIRE! I JUST....and....you....OH MY GOD!" A wave of dizziness swept over him and his tilted his head back against the cement, releasing her arms from his tight grip. She crouched in slightly closer to him and examines his facial feature, softly touching him as if he would break. "I was so scared...I thought you would...." The word she wanted to say was one of unnatural weight, and she was afraid to say it. "Die? Pff, that can't happen. Star, when are you gonna learn I'm indestructible?" he asked her with a lazy, joking smile. She looked into his shrouded eyes with fear laced into her emeralds. Tears were beginning to flow more fluidly, slipping hastily down her previously soaked cheeks. "That isn't funny, Robin! You weren't breathing!" She dropped onto his chest and coiled her arms around his neck, sobbing quietly into his chest. Robin felt a little guilty; he had a twisted sense of humor that had a tendency to pop out at the worst moments. He placed his arms around her back and gently stroked her hair, hushing her as he held her trembling form. "Hey, hey, shh, it's alright. See? I'm ok. There's no need to be upset." Starfire continued to cry, sniffling a little as she fingered Robin's hair. "I-I-I was s-s-so scared. If you had died, I...I don't know what I would do." she whispered, her eyes squeezed tightly shut. Robin removed his hands from Starfire's form and lifted her face calmly, cupping it with his hands so she would face him. He delicately wiped away a single stray tear of hers with his thumb and smiled warmly at her. "But that's the thing, Star. I didn't, thanks to you. You saved my life, Starfire." Starfire hiccupped, but smiled back at him, comforted that he was alive and well. They remained in that position for quite some time, before they heard a loud cough behind them.

They both turned to find Cyborg standing by the entrance, grinning maliciously. "So SORRY to interrupt!" he cried, and stifled a laugh as he watched both his friends redden. Starfire rolled off Robin and sat next to him, hugging her knees and concealing her mouth with them. It was them Cyborg noticed her eyes were a little puffy. "Star, you alright? It looks like you were crying." Robin sat up, supporting himself with his hands on the ground behind him. "I started DROWNING, Cyborg." Cyborg's eyes widened in horror, and he rushed over to his companion's side to check on him. "Holy CRAP! Are you alright?" he asked, examining various parts of his body. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, thanks to Star." He smiled at her affectionately again in thanks, and she felt herself smile back from behind her legs. Robin then whirled back on Cyborg, looking slightly annoyed. "My foot got caught in the vent YOU were supposed to repair 3 weeks ago! You could have KILLED me!" he shouted, raising his arms in exasperation, but he forgot they were what was holding him up, and his head fell back, hitting the cement with a THUD. "Owwwwwwwwww." he moaned, but sat up again to face Cyborg, obviously angry.

Cyborg bore his hands in innocence and shook his head. "Hey, it's not my fault you felt like swimming! Besides, it was raining, you don't expect me to perform such a complicated task in the rain, do ya?" Robin groaned in frustration. "It rained TWICE in the past 3 weeks, you idiot! And it's not that hard, you go down there, you put the cover on, and YOU SCREW IT IN! I COULD HAVE ASKED A MONKEY WITH HALF A BRAIN TO DO IT AND HE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DONE IT MORE EFFICIENTLY THAN YOU!!" Cyborg chuckled and patted Robin's fuming form on the shoulder. "Glad to see you're ok, buddy." He rose to stand and leave, but halfway up he leaned into Robin's ear and muttered something Starfire was not able to hear. "You didn't seem too mad at me a few minutes ago. Let's see, you and Starfire, holding each other and smiling WHILE she's on top of you, both soaking wet AND wearing spandex? Sounds like a wild sex dream, if you ask me." Cyborg left them laughing, but felt something hard hit him on the back of the head. He realized Robin had just thrown something at him, but he ignored and, chuckling, went downstairs.

"Remind me later to kill him." Robin said as he turned to Starfire. He tried to stand, but his legs wobbled under the weight, and he stumbled. Starfire caught his arm, so he did not land flat on his face, and roped her arm over his shoulders for support. He gripped her with his hand and, together, they walked to the tower door. "Are you sure you are alright?" she asked as she aided him. "Yeah, I'm fine, just, one thing." He turned to her and smiled, bearing his white teeth. "Don't let me go swimming for a while, ok?" Starfire giggled and nodded, and helped him inside the house.

~*~ YAY I DID IT!!! Heh, that was FUN!! Not as much comedy as I had hoped for, but eh? Whaddaya gonna do? Hehe, the next chapter will be better, involving pool (the game, silly! Like Starfire would even let Robin in after all that!!) cards, and a shower. Hehehe, ooh this will be entertaining, just to give you something to dangle by. Oh, and I'm going on vacation for a week, I'm leaving early Saturday, and I will have no access to a computer. I might be able to squeeze the next chapter out in time, but it's not likely. But, I might, so WHOO! Hehe, well, if I don't, I'll se ya in a week!!!~*~