Chapter 8: When You Look at Me

Robin gulped hard as he set eyes on his future in-laws for the first time. Starfire was beyond excited, but he wasn't quite sure what to say. The filial resemblance between parent and offspring was amazing. Starfire had their red hair, their stature, and their naturally infectious joy for life. At least her mother did. Robin noted that Starfire's father was a remarkably proud-looking man. He hoped he could live up to the expectations that he had in mind for the proper care of his daughter. Robin straightened up, cleared his throat, and took a few steps toward Starfire as she and her parents touched the ground.

"My parents, I present to you, Robin, my betrothed!" Starfire cried, fairly bursting with pride. Robin extended his hand.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, sir, ma'am. Starfire's told us all so many good things about you," Robin said, giving a very good appearance of confidence. Inside he was quaking from head to toe.

"It is a pleasure to meet you as well, Robin. Starfire writes about you often in her transmissions," Luand'r replied. Every inch as emotionally generous as her daughter, Luand'r reached out to and embraced her soon to be son-in-law, a smile gracing her gentle features. Next, Robin found himself under the scrutiny of Myand'r. Myand'r clapped Robin on the back and grinned.

"Come, boy, allow me to review with you what is expected of a Tamaranian husband," Myand'r announced, escorting Robin inside.

"What he means is, 'let me tell you how you will treat my precious little princess...or else," joked Beast Boy, leaning close to his friends' ears.

"From what I hear, BB, Raven's father is no picnic, either," Torque shot back good naturedly. Beast Boy felt a drop of sweat trickle down from his hairline.

"Just be grateful he's locked away in another dimension," Raven murmured, soothing his fears for the moment.

Upstairs in the tower, Luand'r was perched on the bed in her daughter's room, listening with rapt attention to the fantastic stories she told.

"We have been through so much together that I cannot imagine being with anyone else," Starfire said, her eyes shining with excitement.

"I am glad for you, my daughter. As we speak, a grand feast is being planned for you and your new mate on Tamaran," Her mother replied.

"A feast? But, we would not be here should we be needed!" Starfire cried. Seconds later, Myand'r and Robin arrived.

"With two extra teammates around, I don't think it will be a problem for us to be gone for a few days," Robin said when they told him about the feast. "Besides, we have a honeymoon to think about too." Robin's smile broadened.

"A what?" Starfire asked. Luand'r leaned over to her daughter and whispered something in her ear. Starfire's face grew hot seconds later and she ducked her head. Her mother smiled calmly and patted Starfire's shoulder.

That night, after Robin and Starfire had exchanged simple vows and exchanged rings, the rest of the team saw them off in a ship that had come for them from Tamaran. Once the ship left earth orbit, Starfire rose from her seat and went to another room in the expansive ship. When she returned, Robin was beside himself. She had been more beautiful in her wedding gown than he had ever seen her before, but now she looked like royalty. She was dressed from head to toe in dark, royal purple trimmed in gold and dripping with glittering ornaments. There were gold clips holding up her bright red hair and a necklace graced her swan-like neck.

"Mother and Father took the liberty of bringing a set for you as well. Please try them on," Starfire said. She was calm, but still seemed to exude the happiness that Robin was accustomed to seeing in her. It seemed right now that she was walking the line between her world and his. Robin went into the room she indicated and located his robes. They were constructed of the softest material Robin had ever felt, and were colored the same dark green as his uniform. The accents were gold, to match Starfire's, and when Robin put them on, he felt like a king. He was looking at his reflection in the mirror when there was a soft knock at the door.

"May I enter?" asked Starfire.

"Sure. Come on in," Robin said. Starfire gasped softly when she saw him. She joined him near the mirror and smiled.

"You look wonderful, husband," Starfire said reverently. Robin looked at her with a peaceful smile.

"What is it?" she asked. Robin caressed her face and pulled her close.

"You called me your husband. I guess I wasn't ready for how that would make me feel," Robin said gently.

"How does that make you feel?" Starfire asked, resting her arms around his shoulders.

"It makes me feel like I can do anything with you beside me," Robin said, kissing Starfire soundly. Starfire smiled as they broke the kiss, but still seemed quieter than Robin was used to. He expected her to be bubbling over with excitement tonight. She had not been back to Tamaran in at least two years.

"Is something bothering you, Star?" Robin asked, gesturing for her to sit down with him on a couch nearby. "You've been awfully quiet ever since your parents told us about the feast."

"It is not the feast, Robin. I am very happy about the feast," Starfire replied, still less enthused than she should be.

"Then what is it?" Robin asked, wrapping his arms around her shoulders.

"I am...worried...About the Obsequium," Starfire murmured. Robin raised an eyebrow.

"The what? Wait a minute. I get it. You're worried about tonight. Our wedding night," Robin reasoned. Starfire let her head fall forward into her hands. Robin had had no idea that she was so concerned about it.

"Starfire, I love you," Robin said, lifting her chin with his finger. "I don't want you to be worried about this. I would never hurt you, Star."

"It is just, my sister, Blackfire, she told me once that it was terrible and painful and..."

Starfire never got to finish her sentence. Robin lowered his face to hers and kissed her. It was so tender, so passionate and gentle that Starfire nearly lost her breath.

"It won't be terrible, Star, and from what I hear, it's the farthest thing from painful," Robin replied, his thumb brushing over her cheek. Before Starfire could reply, the pilot announced that they were approaching Tamaran and the newlyweds returned to their seats in the main area of the ship. This time, Starfire's smile seemed much more genuine, and with this, Robin smiled as well.


Beast Boy and Raven were not a really 'lovey-dovey' couple. To all appearances, the two did very little cuddling, kissing, and things of that sort. Beast Boy held her hand occasionally, whether in the Tower or out on the town, and she indulged his pet names for her. It was only on rare occasions that any of the other Teen Titans witnessed a kiss between them. The others were certain that there was a logical explanation for this, and they were also certain that it had to do primarily with Raven. Being of a particularly stoic personality, the lack of displays of affection made perfect sense. What the others couldn't figure out, was how Beast Boy learned to be so patient.

"I'd of thought the guy would be a shriveled former shell of himself by now, starved of the affection that he knows she can dish out," Cyborg commented one night as he, Jinx and Torque spent the remainder of the evening sitting in the living area near the top of Titans Tower.

"Or maybe they're holding out to make their wedding night sweeter," Torque smiled, remembering the lacy, short, dark blue silk nightgown that Raven had bought when she thought the others weren't looking. The kids chuckled as they sat in amiable quiet in the living room area. It was getting late and the three remaining Titans were getting sleepier as the minutes ticked by. They were waiting for Raven and Beast Boy to come back inside from their walk so that Cyborg could lock down the Tower for the night.

Torque's eyes were drooping shut when Beast Boy's voice was heard over the communicators.

"We're back, Cy. Go ahead and lock up," Beast Boy said. Cy went to stand and found that both Jinx and Torque had fallen asleep. Cyborg had been lying down on the couch and Jinx was cuddled between him and the couch cushions. Torque was curled like a cat at the other end, her head propped on one arm. Cyborg smiled, lifted Jinx with him as he stood, and went to lock down the Tower. Once this was done, he returned to the couch and lifted Torque into his free hand and carried both of them to their rooms before retiring himself. Before shutting down, Cyborg stared out his bedroom window at the stars.

"Goodnight, Rob and Star, wherever you guys are," he murmured, plugging himself in and falling asleep.