And Yet…

A/N: Hello again! Though I only got three reviews, I am sorry for the delayed response in updating. I have been busy preparing for a foreign exchange student (from Germany) that I am going to host. She will be here in exactly seven days. It's super cool! I'm so excited! Anyway, my updates are going to be sporadic for a bit, so as a present, I'm going to give you two chapters at once. I would still love it if you review too though…

Tell you what. If you are one of the first five people to update (that's besides the ones I already have, so that would make it first 8 reviews) I will do anything you ask, but you must ask it in the review. I'm so review deprived! Have you seen how many reviews I have for other stories? By the way, I would like to personally thank tiffany, candy clouds (yeah, I shortened you name…it's really long!), and Kremlin (Your name makes me think of a Sesame Street spoof where Big Bird calls Kermit 'Kremit'. Thanks for making my day!) for updating. You all get a favor, as long as you tell me in your next review, no matter when you review! (Though it has to be under this story).

Onto the story!

Chapter Two: My Princess

"Starfire?" came a familiar voice. My eyes fluttered opened and I saw Raven's violet orbs staring back at me, slight anxiety evident in their depths. The three male Titans stood behind her, and relief washed over all of their tense bodies. I could feel my head throbbing and put a hand to it slowly. All four pairs of eyes watched me with concern, but it was the green skinned boy...well man, as were all in our late teens now, that was the first to speak.

"Are you okay Star?" he asked worriedly. I let the hand on my head trail down to my damaged side, where there was a large bandage around my entire stomach.

"I...do not know. I am not sure of the last thing I remember. My head and my side pain me at the moment."

"You...don't remember the last thing that happened? Are you sure?" asked Robin, his eyes intent on mine. Raven looked at him sharply and Beast Boy elbowed him in the side. Cyborg was the only one who frowned at me.

"What is the last thing you remember?" he asked me. I hesitated before saying,

"We had received a message regarding Slade and we were going to battle him. Were we victorious?" I asked hopefully, my mind clouded on the outcome of our battle.

"Yeah, Star, we were..." came Beast Boy's cheerful voice, though it was a false cheerfulness. A shadow crossed Robin's face and I blinked in confusion. Cyborg looked away now and Raven looked at me carefully.

"What is wrong friends?" I asked nervously. I had the intense feeling that I was missing something very important.

"You killed Slade," stated Raven bluntly. I felt as if a cold chunk of ice had fallen into my stomach.

"I did no such thing." I said, a bit desperately. Because as I said this, the memory of what I had done was resurfacing. Beast Boy looked at me, smiling with falseness again.

"Hey, Star, it's cool. You killed Slade! Now we don't have to worry about him anymore!" I knew he was lying, as everyone's faces and Beast Boy's eyes told me. The memory flashed in my mind.

"I do not understand why I killed him..."

"Well, he stabbed you, then tossed you aside, and he was about to jump away when you flew at him and-"

"No friend Beast Boy, I know what happened, I do not understand why I killed him...I remember an incredible feeling of anger that surrounded me. I felt as if I was not really me..." I looked around, trying to make them understand. It was Raven's face that showed sympathy and I focused in on her. "Perhaps it was because of my injury and that I wished to punish him. Or that I did not wish for him to get away." She nodded slightly but no one else responded. I felt confused about what I had done. And very much alone.

The atmosphere around the tower was very cold and stale after I had awakened. I sometimes wandered up to the roof at night, so that I could view the stars, but not encounter any other member of my team. I was up there one such night, two days after killing Slade, gazing at the stars, when I was interrupted.

"Hey Starfire..." I turned to see Robin walking towards me. He took a seat next to me and stared up at the sky. "Nice night huh?"

"Yes." I answered slowly, adjusting my position slightly so I could watch him. I would have like to have my knees drawn and my head resting on them, but with my injury to my side, this was not possible.

"Look, Star...I..." He stopped, glancing at me, as if I could fill in what he was trying to say with so few words.

"I am sorry that I took your chance away to destroy your most hated enemy." I mumbled, looking away quickly. I was sorry. I had not wished to kill Slade. If anyone was to kill him, it was to be Robin. We all knew this. I knew this. I did not understand why I had not left Slade alone.

"Oh hell, Star. I know you are. I know you were caught up in the moment. He..." The masked eyes traveled down to my bandaged side and I nodded to him. "But...Star, I didn't think you were the...killing type. To be honest."

"I did not think so either." I paused before continuing. "You were going to let him get away..." I had a flash of me screaming, 'I made no such promise!' and whispered, "You made a promise not to harm him."

"Star, I had to. I couldn't let him..." He heaved a sigh and looked at me, his eyes clouded with emotion. "We- The Titans have been through so much. We...have to remain a team." He suddenly shook his head violently. "That was stupid. I'm sorry Star. What I meant was...I couldn't stand the thought of him hurting you any more. It was all you. Truthfully...I wouldn't have hesitated so much with any other Titan." There was silence and I searched his eyes, trying to see if he was telling the truth. "But I would not want to put any Titan in danger of course." He quickly tried to correct himself.

"I know." I whispered.

"Star...After you shot at Slade and he died, then you fainted and I thought you had died too. Raven said you lost a lot of blood. I had never been so scared in my life." He moved closer to me, his eyes locked on mine. "I can't lose you Star..." His voice was soft and low. I felt a jolt go through me, tingling down my spine and I smiled slightly.

"I am glad you feel that way...I would not wish to lose you also. We are friends Robin." His eyes suddenly darkened savagely and he leaned forward sharply, pushing me to the ground, his arms on either side. I gasped.

"Dammit! That's the problem Starfire. I can't just be your friend anymore." His eyes remained on mine. I trembled under his heated gaze.

"Robin-"

"Star, do you know what I was thinking that night when I thought you had died for a moment? I was thinking, 'I didn't get a chance you tell her. I didn't get to tell her that-'" He stopped and closed his eyes a moment. "I wanted to resurrect Slade and kill him again slowly and painfully for hurting you, for killing you." He said between clenched teeth. "I wanted to yell at every one of the Titans, asking them why they hadn't tried to save you. I wanted to yell at myself for not trying to save you, for just standing there stupidly and saying that I wouldn't touch Slade." He sighed again, eyes still closed. "I'm the leader of the Teen Titans. I'm supposed to know what to do in every situation. I made that stupid promise as the leader of the Titans..." He eyes suddenly snapped open, staring at me fervently and I sucked in my breath. They were so pained. I wanted to just...take it all away. To apologize profusely for causing him so much anguish. "Never so much did I want to be your knight in shinning armor. I just wanted to...slay the dragon and save the princess." He reached out to touch my face tenderly. "My princess."

"Robin..." I said, my voice choked with tears. He bent forward gradually, covering my lips with his own. I relaxed slightly and kissed back, my eyes flickering shut. The waves of happiness that rolled through me were almost unbearable. I was unsure as to why. After all, was this not what I had wanted for a long time? He deepened the kiss and I acquiesced, shifting to give him easier access. A stab of pain went through me and I whimpered. Robin pulled back, looking at me with worry.

"Star?" he asked. I could feel a couple tears falling down my face and I winced as I tried to sit up, but failed. Robin looked me over quickly and froze when he saw my side. "Oh Star...we reopened your stab wound." He sighed for the third time that night and sat up. I liked how he said 'we', even though it was my fault, not his at all. He stood suddenly, and I thought he was going to leave me when he reached down and lifted me into his arms carefully, starting inside. "I have to bring you to Raven now. She'll be pretty unhappy with me." He winked at me and I smiled faintly.

"I am sorry Robin. I am getting blood on your clothes..." He laughed roughly and I looked at him with puzzlement.

"It doesn't matter Star. It's okay." He kissed me quickly on the forehead before heading downstairs to find our resident healing goth.

"Oh great Robin. Now I have to sew it up again. How am I supposed to heal Starfire's wound if keeps getting mysteriously reopened?" The demonic member of the Titans glared at Robin and he smiled sheepishly.

"I didn't try to reopen them. I promise Raven. She'll be okay, right?"

"Yes yes, as long as you refrained from 'rough housing', or whatever it was you were doing." she replied darkly, her glowering eyes hinting at the fact that she might already know what Robin and I were doing. I flinched as she started to remove the bandage. "Okay, Star. You'll want some anesthetic, right? Sewing this up will be painful, and you aren't unconscious this time." Robin looked at her, stricken.

"You didn't give her anesthetic the first time?" He frowned "She could have woken up during the procedure." Raven actually smirked at him.

"Nah, that wouldn't have happened while I was here." She glanced back at me. "So, anesthetic? Or does Miss Alien want to bear the pain and look strong in her Slade killing mightiness?" My eyes widened as Robin turned away sharply.

"I'll be outside." He mumbled, and left quickly. I sighed and nodded slightly to Raven.

"Yes please..." I whispered and closed my eyes, replaying what happened on the roof in my head. I vaguely remembered Raven putting something over my mouth and asking me something about counting backwards from ten. I do not know if I did so, but I know that the last thing I remember hearing is what Robin called me on the rooftop.

"My princess."

(Lil' quick author's note here. Um, I know that the Titans probably wouldn't have anesthetic and stuff, but first of all, it works for the plot, and second of all, understand that they're around the ages of 17-18-19 (depending on whose the oldest and stuff) so just…bear with me. Lets say Raven got really interested in healing, doctoring, and stuff…um…yeah. Back to the story!)