Chapter Eight: Picking Up

Quick Sticky: Special thanks to Cheiro for telling me how tall Starfire was. Thanks for all the reviews. And to marci16 who promised to write "You Rock" 13 times, you better start copy-pasting the words cause here it is! For those who thought the ussage of the words, "my Love" was corny, well I changed it so stop saying I'm corny! You all make me want to eat my shoes! Lol!

Kory Anders sat quietly at a table filling out paperwork for an entrée into the Jump City Police Academy. The questions were very complex and she was deep in thought about them. The questions about her education were very tricky for her. She put that she had gone to Jump City's High School and College in their proper order, but when it came to Birth Date and things of that nature, she had to think.

She sighed, finished filling out the application, she turned it in. The man taking the applications looked at her a bit surprised. "You look awfully young, kid. Are you sure you wanna do this? The Academy is hardly easy."

"I am sure I want to do this, I...I need to do something with my life."

"I see," the man said. "Well, I'll take that application," he stared at her name on the paper, "Ms. Anders, we'll get back to you on your acceptance."

"Thank you," she said quietly, almost to herself. "It's time I moved on with my life."

Sitting in her police car, staring out at the busy traffic of Jump City, Kory Anders, Starfire sighed. She had discovered the identity of her ex husband. Heck, she had been dating her ex and she hadn't even had a clue! She felt frustrated and betrayed. Why hadn't Beast Boy and Raven told her the truth? They were friends; surely they could tell her the secret identity of her ex husband!

Kory had to wonder why they hadn't said a thing. They seemed very happy together. It had been a long, long time since she had been truly happy. The last time she could remember was two days before when she had gone out on a date with…no, no, she shouldn't think about him. He was a liar; he lied to her about who he was. Why should she even give him a second thought?

"Why do I even care?" she asked herself. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. It seemed that her reflection spoke to her, becoming someone else, that someone else was the Starfire side of her.

Starfire's voice whispered softly. It's because you still love him.

"No, no I do not," she protested verbally, trying to ignore the turmoil inside her mind.

If you do not love him, then why did you let him kiss you? The reflection in the mirror seemed puzzled.

"That was a mistake, a mistake I will not make again. That was an accident. He left me alone when I needed him the most."

Now who is the liar? You left him, not vice versa… Her reflection's appearance held and angry countenance.

"It was my only choice!" she screamed to the voice in her head. "It was the only way. It was what I had to do!"

You will always love him. You always have, you always will… Her reflection seemed to change as it once again became the reflection of Kory Anders.

"Leave me alone, I do not want to think about it," she muttered to herself. Suddenly, her police radio sparked to life.

"Attention, a drug bust has gone bad, attention; we need all available officers to head down to Pier 41 to the old warehouses."

"I know right where that is," she said, she drove straight to Pier 41. Climbing out of the car, she approached Dee Bowman who was waiting for her.

"Kory, you made it!" he said. "It's not good."

"What is the situation?" she asked.

"Arnold Nye, one of Billy Simpson's drug buddies has been hiding out. We found him and we've set up a perimeter, but he refuses to come out."

"I see, are we going to storm the building?"

"We're not sure, the Chief told us to wait," he replied.

"Why?" she asked.

"I'm not sure; he said something really odd, 'we won't move until the Stars rain down Fire.'"

"I do not understand," she said, then it hit her, he knew who she was! He wanted her to help, but how did he find out? Did Nightwing…no, no, why was she always thinking about him? "Oh, she muttered, "oh no."

"What is it, Kory?" he asked, "Are you okay?"

"I—I—It is nothing, I am fine." She reassured him. She knew she wasn't in uniform. She had to come up with an excuse to go change. "Listen, I need to...go to the restroom. I will be back shortly."

"You don't act like you need to go, but—ah, never mind, I'll hold down the fort for you," Dee Bowman said as she walked away. She heard him say to himself. "That was the weirdest thing I've ever seen her do."

She walked to the nearby gas station and hurried to the Woman's Restroom. She quickly changed into her Titans uniform and flew out the front door, taking the long way back, so it would seem it'd taken her awhile to get to the warehouse.

"Hey, look! It's Starfire!" one of the officers shouted.

"How'd you get here so fast?" Dee Bowman asked. "And how did you know what was going on?"

"A little birdy told me," she said. "I am going in there."

"You can't go in there alone!" Dee protested, "It's too dangerous!"

"I shall be all right, do not worry about me," she said, flying close to the door, she kicked it down and made her way inside. Using a Starbolt to give her light in the darkened warehouse she began to search for the drug dealer. She didn't say anything because she didn't want him to know she was there.

She thought she hard voices behind a door. She pressed her ear against it and listened.

"Listen Arnold, the cops got Billy, now they've got us. What are we gonna do?" a man's voice asked.

"We'll wait it out, they'll give up," Arnold said confidently.

"But what about the Titans?" the other man asked.

"The Titans?" Arnold scoffed, "those pathetic excuses for superheroes? They're too busy trying to save the City from big names like Slade and Brother Blood to worry about little old drug dealers like me." He laughed loudly.

Starfire kicked down the door and flew in. "Is that so? Then why am I here?" The two men jumped. She readied a Starbolt. "Surrender! I do not wish to fight you."

"Starfire!" Arnold seemed startled, but only for a moment. "You really think you can stop me?" he laughed. "Well, try and stop this!" he raised his gun and fired. She fired off her Starbolt and the same moment, obliterating the bullet into dust.

Arnold growled in frustration. He began firing shots over and over again. Starfire dodged or blasted them as she flew towards the two men. She slammed her fists into the other man, knocking him off his feet. He flew back into the wall but scrambled to his feet.

Arnold grave up trying to shoot her and was struggling with her. The other man grabbed a board and smashed her from behind while she wasn't looking. Stunned, she lost her concentration as Arnold Nye kicked her in the stomach. Staggering back, she hit the wall and the other man grabbed her from behind, pinning her hands.

"Now who's gonna stop me?" Arnold sneered. His leering gaze startled her. No, this wasn't happening. She wasn't going to let him do this to her. She struggled hard but the other man had her in an iron grip. Arnold Nye saw something come into her eyes he hadn't seen from her: fear.

"Yeah, you're afraid aren't you, babe." He laughed, "A hot chick like you likes it when boys like me play rough. Too bad the cops don't have any way to communicate with you." He removed the walkie-talkie that Kory realized was still on her belt, and smashed it to bits.

She literally began to shake with terror. Nothing like this had ever happened to her before. She struggled harder, the man holding her just laughed. Arnold suddenly grabbed her and kissed her roughly. One of his hands began moving across her body. Kory kept struggling until he pulled away.

"Wow, you're hot," he leered. She spat in his face. He glared at her.

"Let go of me!"

"Oh please, like I'm going to do that," he sneered. "You look nice in that low cut outfit. You'd make any man act like an animal." His gaze was filled with lust and Starfire knew it. This made her so angry that she used the Starbolts from her eyes to blast him, knocking him off his feet. He jumped up and backhanded her once, twice, three times until she had blood leaking out her nose.

"I'm gonna make you pay for that you sleazy, little—" A loud crash through the ceiling interrupted him.

Nightwing charged into the drug dealer with a battle cry that startled Starfire. He smashed his Bo Staff into the drug dealer's midsection, sending him across the room. The man who was holding Starfire was suddenly grabbed by his hair and thrown into Arnold from where he stood. "You touch her again, and I'll beat you so bad your own mother won't recognize you!"

"I'd like to see you try!" Arnold growled. Nightwing simply twirled his Bo Staff.

"Bring it on," Nightwing growled. "I'm gonna make you pay!"

Arnold launched himself at Nightwing, but he easily stepped aside and attacked the other man, kicking him in his midsection. Starfire grabbed the other man as he flew across the room and slammed him into a wall. Nightwing watched as the drug dealer grabbed another gun and fired at him. Nightwing easily dodged with a summersault, and charged forward, smashing a gloved fist into the man's face and midsection. He hurled the man onto the ground. He viciously pounded Arnold Nye until his face was red with his own blood. The other man Starfire quickly subdued, tying him up. She ran over to Nightwing.

Nightwing continued to pound the man incessantly with his Bo Staff. "Nightwing! Nightwing stop!" Starfire placed a hand on her ex husband's shoulder. He paused only for a moment, looking up at her.

"Are you alight?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"I am fine," she replied, still shaken. "Let us get them to where they belong." The two superheroes dragged the two men out to the police.

"Take him, and make sure they prosecute him for attempted rape too," Nightwing informed Dee Bowman. "I wanna make sure he's behind bars for a long time." Dee nodded and led the cuffed drug dealer to the squad car. He walked back to ask Nightwing some more questions.

Kory felt lightheaded and dizzy; she realized that she hadn't been getting enough sleep and her night activities were cuasing her fatigue. The fact that she was so exhausted from lack of sleep, along with being traumatized by Arnold Nye's attempted rape that she passed out. Nightwing saw her eyes roll up into the back of her head; he caught her as she fell. He quietly cradled her in his arms.

"Kory…" He whispered softly, "Please be alright." Dee Bowman stared in shock. He gripped Nightwing's shoulder.

"What did you say her name was?" he whispered in disbelief.

Nightwing didn't even appear to hear him. He gently rocked his ex wife's limp body, whispering her name. "Kory, hang on, you'll be alright."

"Kory…? Like Kory Anders?" he asked in a quiet, awed voice. "I don't believe it! But why doesn't she like to talk about you?" the question was one that puzzled many on the police force. He wanted to know the truth.

"Because…" Nightwing replied. "She's my ex."

"No way…!" Dee was shocked. Now he knew why she seemed so sad when the subject of Nightwing came up. He thought that she just didn't like the vigilante, but this was unbelievable. A Titan on the force…it was just incredible. His mind spun.

"Don't tell anyone," he ordered sternly. Dee nodded.

"Where are you taking her?" he asked as Nightwing picked her up and placed her on the back of his Night Cycle.

"Somewhere she can recover safely. Thank you officer, you've been a big help." He took off as Dee watched him go.

"Who'd have thought…" he said shaking his head. Life was full of surprises.

"Are you awake?" a voice asked softly in her ears. Groaning she opened her eyes, trying to adjust to her new surroundings. She was lying on a couch wrapped in a blanket. Kory looked around, she was in a very vast room of some sort. She turned her head to where the voice came from and saw Nightwing sitting on a chair beside her.

"Nightwing?"

"It's alright. Just rest now." He had a cold cloth in his hand. He dabbed it on her face, wiping dried blood off her nose.

"Where am I?" she asked.

"You're at my house," he replied.

"How did you know where I was?" she asked.

"I tapped your communicator." She looked at him surprised. "I'm sorry, I was worried about you."

"I am glad of it," she replied.

"I wasn't too late was I?" Nightwing asked softly. "He didn't rape you did he?"

"No, no I am fine. I am just a little nervous, that is all." Starfire said.

"Good, I would never let anyone hurt you," Nightwing said softly. She looked down as he took her hand in his.

"If that is true, then why did you lie to me?" she asked, anger coming into her voice. "You lied to me, Dick Grayson! I know who you are! And you lied to me!"

Nightwing took off his mask, proving that he was indeed Dick Grayson. His sky blue eyes were filled with anger. "I didn't lie to you, Kory! It's the truth, I am Dick Grayson."

"If this is true then why did you not bother to inform me of this when we were married?" she asked.

"Dick Grayson was dead! I didn't need him! I was only Nightwing then, I didn't need an alter ego." He sighed in frustration. "Don't you see Kory? I didn't tell you because I didn't need to."

"Or is it that you do not trust me?" she demanded.

"No, no, I trust you more than anyone. Like I said, I'd never let anyone hurt you," he seemed calm for a moment.

"Then why did you leave me?" she asked. His eyes flared with simmering anger.

"That's not the truth Starfire, and you know it! You left me; remember?" he practically snarled. "I'm not the one with the problem!"

"Oh yes you are!" she roared back. "You were obsessed with that clorbag Slade and we all knew it except you! You wouldn't stop badgering us until you took him down! You drove us insane with your obsession!"

"Is that a crime, Kory? I wanted to keep you safe! I had to stop him!" Nightwing jumped up from his seat and stalked over to a corner of the room.

"When I needed you the most, where were you? Obsessing over Slade, that was where you were, and I needed you!"

"Can we stop this conversation?" he asked with an aggravated sigh.

"No, no we can't…" her voice trailed off. "You do not understand, Dick…when I needed you most, you were not there…And it broke my heart." Starfire tried unsuccessfully to choke back a sob. "I was so alone, I—I could not take—" She dissolved into stifled sobs.

All anger left Dick Grayson's countenance as he watched his ex wife weep. He moved from stood to the couch where his wife sat. He quietly wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened at first; she pushed his hands away, but only lightly. "Don't cry, Starfire. Shh…it's okay, it's okay." He quietly held her. "I'm here now."

She just continued to cry softly, the tears slipping down her cheeks. "Don't cry, you'll break my heart," he pulled her into a hug. "I never left you, Starfire. I never wanted you to leave." He gently wiped the tears away with his fingers.

"Oh Richard!" She threw her arms around him. "I am sorry!"

"No, no, I should be sorry, my obsession made me blind to what I really had, you. I never knew how bad my obsession with Slade was until you left. Will you forgive me?"

"You must forgive me, I was being selfish I—" Dick Grayson placed a finger over her lips.

"You are never selfish, Kory. Don't ever say that." He leaned in and kissed her. She let her eyes fall shut, forgetting the argument they had had before. She just felt whole, complete, needed, and wanted. She felt his arms wrap around her waist and his hand caressing her face. It was as if there was never a divorce, it was as if they had never been apart.

She quietly ran her fingers through his hair. They pulled away when their lungs screamed for air. "Are you still angry with me, Kory Anders?" he asked.

"I—I do not know. I am so confused," she blushed red a little, her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink. He smiled tenderly.

"There's no need to blush," he whispered softly. They kissed again, he brushed his tongue along her lower lip; they kissed deeply until they pulled away. She rested her head on his shoulder; he felt the soft rise and fall of her chest as she breathed softly.

"You do not know how many nights I have cried myself to sleep because I missed you," she whispered.

"There's no need to cry yourself to sleep anymore," he soothed. "I never left you, and I never will. I promise. Maybe it's time that we start over," he whispered.

"I would like that," she whispered

"Just rest now, rest." Dick Grayson whispered. "Sleep…Sleep well my Starfire..."

Kory Anders slept in her ex husband's arms, forgetting her troubles and the rest of the world. She was complete again. She was whole for the first time in five years.

Quick Sticky: I don't know how I pulled off writing a romantic mushy chapter, but I pulled off romantic mushy! Must be God given because I don't like romance movies! In order for me to update this fic, I request that I have at least 10 to 15 reviews for my new story The Man in the Iron Mask.This fic is specifically for the Robin lovers and I think if you like Robin you'll enjoy it. If I don't have at least 10 reviews on my other story, then don't expect me to update soon. Besides, I have to daydream about this fic before I get inspired to write anyway. Please review this and The Man in the Iron Mask. Until next time, God bless! I hope you enjoyed this new chapter!