Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans or Sleeping Beauty.

This story is dedicated to SocialButterfli; without you, this story wouldn't have existed. Thanks, amiga!

Chapter One

"…The Prince laid his eyes upon the beautiful girl, sound asleep under witch's spell. He was shocked, for he had never seen so beautiful a girl before. The Prince knelt down beside her, and ever-so-gently touched his lips to hers…"

"Starfire."

Starfire stopped reading from the book she held. "Yes, Raven?"

"Stop it. You're going to make me sick." Raven turned back to her own book.

"Oh, but it is such a wonderful story!" Starfire almost pouted. "And it is the most wonderful part of this wonderful story where the prince kisses the Sleeping Beauty and proclaims his love for her…"

"I know, Star. You've read it to me twice already. Every last word. I didn't particularly enjoy it the first time."

Starfire and Raven sat alone in the living room of Titans Tower. It was relatively late, and the other Titans had all retired for the night, save for the two girls. Starfire had only recently discovered the hall of books, which Robin told her was called a 'library,' and had by chance discovered one titled "Sleeping Beauty." Ever since, Starfire had been utterly enraptured by the tale, and read it in every spare moment she had, over and over and over again until she knew it by heart.

"But Raven, it is a most compelling story of magic and romance! It is the most wonderful tale I have ever heard!" Starfire argued.

"It's a children's book," Raven retorted. "A juvenile, simple-minded fantasy. Star, I hate to burst your bubble, but the real world doesn't work like that. Handsome princes don't just come along every day to sweep women off their feet and away to some magical happily ever after."

Without even meaning to, her mind immediately flew to Robin, and she almost shot back, yes they do! before biting back her tongue. Though she and Raven were close – well, as close as anyone could be with Raven – and though Starfire was naturally very open and honest, she just couldn't bring herself to speak her mind about Robin. Those feelings she kept locked up inside her, hidden from everyone, even from as close a friend as Raven, and certainly from Robin himself.

Starfire felt quite privileged to care for someone as strongly as she did. On her home planet, true love was quite rare, at least among the royal blood to which she belonged. The royalty of her people usually would marry for the purpose of producing an heir, or for cementing ties with a new ally, or perhaps to establish peace with a long-standing enemy. Sometimes the couple would be meeting for the very first time in their lives when they walked down the aisle together. But rarely, if ever, were they married for love. It was something that was most intriguing and wonderful to Starfire, to come to Earth and discover that love was so much more common, so much simpler to find than what she was used to. It made her feel truly special to find someone she felt she loved so soon after coming to Earth, for she had been quite taken with Robin the Boy Wonder since the moment they'd met, those many months ago when the Teen Titans had first formed. The mere thought of him made her heart flutter with joy, and she never felt more comfortable and safe than when she was around him, even in the heat of a dangerous battle. Of course she'd never admit it to him…she shuddered to think what would happen if she poured her heart and soul out to the one she loved, if he did not feel the same in return.

"Star? Are you okay?"

Starfire snapped back to reality. "Forgive me, friend. I was…lost in my thoughts."

"Uh-huh…" Raven said, raising one eyebrow in curiosity. "Look, I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, but…"

"No, it is most all right," Starfire said quickly. "You are…entitled to your own opinions, of course. I will go and read in my room if you do not wish to hear any more." And without waiting for a response, Starfire rose from the couch and headed for her room. Raven watched Starfire curiously for a moment, but decided not to pursue the subject, and sank back into her own story; one considerably less pleasant than "Sleeping Beauty," that was for sure.

Starfire closed the door to her room and sat on the bed, opening up her book to where she left off, when the Prince kissed Sleeping Beauty. There was a picture on this page of the two of them, their lips mere inches apart, and again, almost subconsciously, her thoughts turned to Robin. She wondered if he had ever read this story, if he liked it as much as she did. All of a sudden it was not a picture of Sleeping Beauty and the Prince she was looking at, but one of her and Robin. She saw herself lying perfectly still, waiting for the handsome Prince Robin to awaken her with his tender kiss. The two of them were dressed in the same clothes they'd worn during the strange ritual Robin had called 'prom;' her in a sparkling pink dress, him in his best tuxedo. He looked so handsome in it. Starfire giggled and blushed, imagining the scene in her mind as Robin drew closer…his eyes were hidden in shadow, for she had never seen him without his mask, but it didn't matter, he was perfect anyway…his lips were so close to hers…she closed her eyes, trying to imagine just what it would feel like to kiss him for the first time…

The sudden wailing of an alarm jerked her out of her happy fantasy. It was the Titan Alarm. The city needed its heroes once again.

Reluctantly, Starfire set the book down on her bed, then hurried out the door.