Disclaimer:I don't own the Teen Titans

Chapter 9: If You Could Stay A While

"Um, so where are the girls?" His mouth was stuffed with eggs and meat. Real meat. Unlike Beast Boy, who was swallowing just about everything tofu in his way. Watch out, tofu. Cyborg shrugged, too busy with his share of nutrition. Sighing happily, the leader of the Titans grinned and placed another spoonful of yolk into his mouth.

I can't believe I'm back. I'm alive again.


"Damn you Raven! Come on…!" Terra swore viciously, fiddling with cords, doing her best to cope with the updated technology Cyborg had just installed.

Damn these cords. Damn the MedLab. Damn Raven. Why the hell did she have to go and play heroine?

But her heart was speaking a different language. It was one of loss, thankfulness, and sorrow. It hurt. She felt as though it was she who traded Raven in for Robin.

Maybe if I hadn't said those things to her…

She sighed in frustration and glanced worriedly at the gothic girl, who placed her left hand over her bleeding mouth, and another over her pain-filled abdomen.

Damn you Raven. Damn you.


"Friend Raven…please be well…!" Starfire repeatedly blinked her eyes, doing her best to dry the tears away while wiping all the blood away. It made her sick. She remembered the night Robin died, she was willing to give up everything for his life. Now that her best friend was the one being traded, did she feel the same?

I love friend Robin. Yet to switch the lives of friend Raven and Robin is not what I wanted. I just wanted Robin to be back with us; with friends. But friend Raven had to pay the price of his death.

She bit her bottom lip, which was quivering lightly. What do you do, when your best friend is dying and you can't do anything about it?


"Starfire…Terra…" The suffering girl on the cot croaked, choking on her own sweet blood.

I'm dying. Damn you Robin. Why can't you just reach full strength already? Let me die, damn you! Let me die!

Her friends. They were crying. She weakly lifted her hand towards them both, who had gathered beside her.

"Please…please don't cry over me…I'm not worth it…I never was…" And with those words her head slumped against the white pillow and fell deep into darkness; or in other words, sleep.

Just a week…maybe less…

Her thoughts roamed before she fell away.


"No Raven." Terra spoke after a few moments. She stared at the unconscious girl and her voice was raspy with an unswallowed lump. Shaking her head, crystal clear rivers ran down her tan cheeks.

"No Rae…you are so worth it…it shouldn't have been you…not you…" She planted her face on Starfire's tunic and cried all the tears she pent up over the last couple of days. Robin's death, his revival, Raven's condition, Raven's insecurities, Raven's self-hatred… Starfire was shaking as she stroked the blonde's hair. Then she broke down, too. It was much too hard for the happy-go-lucky girl to be the strong one. She needed someone, too. So the routine changed. This time Terra comforted the sobbing Tamaranian.

"Shh…Star…it's okay. We'll find a way to help her…we have to find a way…" And they mourned together as best friends, but as they cried, they felt something missing: the usual comforting words they received from a specific monotonous voice, which never had quivered or broken down in tears. The warm smile only their other best friend could give them. Only Raven, who knew everything about them, and they, in return, knew nothing of her.


School's over, so I can update as quickly as I usually do. Here's the next chapter, I hope you all enjoyed it. Review!

Sarah Shima – Yay! It's so good to see you again! I'm glad you liked. Enjoy this one!

Elizabeth Quagmire – Thanks! Glad the last chapter was still okay for you!

Alena-chan – Haha. Well, here's the ASAP update! Enjoy and review!

THEJAYMAN – Yay! I'm so glad you enjoyed! I love to see your reviews.

Chica De Los Ojos Café – One of my favorite and loyal reviewers! You weren't disappointed? Good! Enjoy this one!

Thanks all of you. I love you…in my own, little way. Please review! Enjoy! Have a great summer, by the way. School's officially over.

Lost1n7heDark