Disclaimer: eye twitches. No. eye twitches again. I don't own it.
AN: Well, that went better than I thought it would! I understand that we all have opinions, and you can share them with me, but just not in a naggy, nasty, bratty way. Apart from that, I LOVE YOU GUYS, usual caramel hugs and chocolate kisses
To all my other dearly beloved readers: Thank you so much for taking the time to review, I love reading them and I hope you guys like this chapter!
This chapter is dedicated to: Lady of Storms! Go girl!
Cookie Dough-Chapter 2: Russian RouletteCyborg smiled at Starfire as she drank her mustard surprise the next morning. "I gotta say it, it's good seeing you again Star. I mean, I thought…" He trailed off and she looked down at the mahogany table.
Raven and Robin were married. Beast Boy had tried to make her see why it had happened, but she barely remembered a word of his coaxing. For the first time she regretted ever coming to Earth.
"BB told me he told ya what had happened," Cy said, careful not to look at her downcast face. "Don't go thinking that he didn't care, Star, he did. But it almost killed him. He spent years away from us, even though most of the time he was in the next room. Dark Girl helped him, they grew closer… and it just happened"
Starfire pulled away from the table sharply, the chair she was sitting on making a loud squeaking sound in protest. "Please, I, I wish not to hear this"
Not backing down, Cyborg faced her entirely. "But ya gotta, Star. You gotta hear it so you can understand. He spent years hurtin', then when Rae opened up to him, he began healing. He still loves ya, I mean, who wouldn't? You're still in his heart. But now you're gonna have to share it with Rae"
Getting up, Star went over to the cabinet by the window, and looked down at the photos. Most of them were of Cy and his wife with their son Abe, but there were a few of Beast Boy and Terra with their two kids. One picture though, caught her eye. Picking it up, Starfire stared at the little pale face looking up at her with startling blue eyes and feathery indigo hair. "Who is this?" She asked in a tight whisper.
Cyborg crossed over to her, glancing at the photo then out the window. "That's Treeflower. She's…"
"She is Robin's child. And Raven's" Despite how much she wanted to hate the girl for existing, for being proof of her parents relationship, Starfire couldn't bring herself to think evil thoughts about the delicate looking child. Inside, a part of her felt like hunting Raven down and subjecting her to the terrors of a Snorlak's Krump for taking away what could have been hers, but she ignored it. "How… how old is she?"
Smiling, her mechanical friend said, "Two"
Starfire nodded, and placed the photo back carefully.
"Uh, Star… did you want to see them? I know Rob would be dyin' to know that you're… ok"
Hesitantly, she murmured, "I do not think…"
Cyborg placed a firm hand on her shoulder. "Star, I know that they'd want to see you. How would it look if you hid from them? It'd make things much more difficult for all of ya. Be the brave girl I knew and take it by the chin"
His green-eyed friend looked at him blankly. "I do not wish to take anything by the chin. It sounds like a most painful grip"
Laughing, Cyborg thumped her on the back lightly. "It's good to have you back, Kiddo"
TTT
"Mrs. Grayson, Treeflower's condition is not improving" The doctor before her shuffled his papers, frowning down at them. When he had first decided that he wanted to study medicine, he had no idea what kind of emotional stress it would cause. There had been warnings, of course, textbook examples. But nothing like this, nothing as… heartbreaking as this.
Raven only watched coldly, her attitude to this ordeal making the young practitioner sweat slightly. "I'm afraid that there is nothing we can do"
Violet eyes narrowing dangerously, Raven's grip tightened on her tiny daughter, who remained still, feeling her mother's anger. "What do you mean, 'nothing you can do'? You are a doctor, are you not?"
He nodded solemnly, afraid of making any sudden movements.
"Then, as a doctor, have you not been trained in different medical procedures?"
Another slow nod.
"I have read about Treeflower's condition, Dr. Walsh. I have also read about certain operations that can be performed. Are you telling me that you are unable to execute any one of these?"
Scott's eyes widened in surprise, but he said calmly, "Contrary to what you may have read, Mrs. Grayson, any operation of that difficulty on a patient so young could be disastrous. Older under-goers that have taken it have barely survived. As your doctor, I cannot allow you to take such risks with your child's life"
"But you're willing to let her die?" Raven flamed angrily, Treeflower crying out at the sudden surge of fury running through her mother. Stilling her emotions, Raven stroked the little girl's soft hair with a shaky hand in an effort to calm both of them.
"I understand your situation," Dr. Walsh murmured quietly, his eyes showing his sympathy. "But if you want your child to have a chance of growing, no matter how difficult it would be for her, I'd advice you not to persist with the operation. There is no guarantee that it will help, and there is a greater chance of her dying during the long hours it would take"
He looked at the small girl, who was now trying to pull off her tiny buckled shoes. "If I was a father, that would be one chance I would not accept"
Raven's own gaze rested on her daughter. The tot peeped up at her mother quizzically, blue eyes innocently blinking up at her. Could she risk the life of her daughter? "Treeflower will never recover full use of her lungs though, will she?"
Dr. Walsh hesitated, and shook his head. "No, she would not"
"She'd never be able to play like a normal child, live a normal life, would she?"
"No… but even with the operation, there would be no guarantee that she would anyway"
"But there's still a chance"
Sighing, Dr. Walsh placed both hands on the table, gripping them together tightly. "Mrs. Grayson, any one of the treatments we are offering here at Jump Public would have the same effect as the operation. We just don't have the equipment, or the expertise to handle it in the way that it should be"
Irritated, Raven stood up, slinging Treeflower onto her hip. Picking up her bag, she said curtly, "It was less than helpful talking to you, Dr. Walsh. We will see you next week for Treeflower's appointment" And ignoring his gaping mouth, she turned heel and left the room.
"Mamee, juice?" Treeflower's breathy voice broke Raven out of the rage she had fallen into after leaving Dr. Walsh's room. Veering off into the nearest elevator, she savagely punched the ground floor button then opened the bag on her free side, pulling out a bottle of apple juice.
Watching her, Treeflower asked again, "Mamee? Juice?"
Handing her daughter the bottle, Raven rearranged herself and her baggage, making sure to be careful of the small girl in her arms. "Everything will be fine," Raven said, not sure who she was trying to assure. "Everything will be fine"
The door closed, and they started going down. Pulling her bottle away from her mouth, Treeflower frowned. "Where papaw?"
Raven's eyes flickered with realization, and she looked into the concerned blue ones beside her. "Papaw gone? Where papaw?" All through her appointment, Treeflower had said nothing. But now they were going home, she wanted to know where her daddy was. The little girl didn't understand much, but she knew that her daddy had promised he would be there.
The elevator stopping at their floor, Raven said, "He's probably been held up at work, Flower. We'll see him tonight"
Though, she thought as they walked out of the hospital and into the car park. Robin said he would be there.
What could have kept him from his daughter?
A sly thought crept into her mind and Raven gritted her teeth, though she couldn't ignore it.
Who could have kept him?
TTT
Robin grinned up at Bruce's new protegee, Terry something, as the boy stumbled through a rushed explanation. "Ah… Bruce, I mean, Mr. Wayne wanted to know how you were going to sort out the Russio-Asian problem. He… er…. He wants a… hang on, Um…"
"It's alright Terry," Laughing, Robin made a dismissing motion with his hand. "I already know. Bruce phoned me this morning"
Terry breathed out, relieved. Working for Bruce as a personal assistant was bad enough-having to travel to Jump City everyday for "work experience" as a message boy on the other hand... "I'll go back to the staffroom, then"
Smiling, Robin watched as the tall boy went on with his work, wondering what Bruce had gotten himself into with this one.
It had been fifteen years since the Boy Wonder began working for the old Batman at one of his many global strongholds. And it had been five since he had been promoted to President of the Jump City branch.
There was a beep from his phone, and his sectary's voice called, "Mr. Grayson, sir, there's a call on line two for you. Victor Stone"
"Thanks Moll" Picking up the ear piece and pressing the button, He waited five seconds before Cyborg's voice boomed, "Yo, Rob!"
"Hey Cy," Robin greeted, swinging around on his chair and looking down at the City below. "What's up?"
He could almost hear the louder man grinning. "I got some great news for ya. You are never gonna get this"
"Try me"
There were a few moments of silence, followed by talking and then the phone went quiet.
"Cyborg?" Robin asked, glancing at his watch. One Mississippi, Two Mississippi…
"Robin?" Came a soft, timid voice that he only heard in his dreams.
Pulling the voice from his ear like it was about to explode, Robin stared at it blankly. No, it couldn't be. Cyborg wouldn't do this to him, not now.
But there was no mistaking that voice. "Starfire?" He asked in disbelief.
There was a sigh like relief, and slightly happier, she replied, "Yes, it is I! I am over-joyed that we are communicating at last!"
"Me too," He managed to squeeze out after a stunned moment. "Me too"
"Cyborg wants to know if it would be… be alright to dine at your residence tonight. He… wishes us all to… to have a reunion" He could hear the hesitation in her voice, and felt his heart tighten. Cyborg must have told her what had happened. Clearing his throat after a long pause, Robin began, "Star, I-"
Almost immediately, she rushed, "Cyborg wishes to talk to you, I will see you tonight… Robin"
Before he could say anything, Cyborg's friendly tone was ringing in his ear. "So are we set for tonight, Richo?"
Robin blinked. "Yeah…"
Cyborg gave a frustrated sigh at Robin's misty tone and muttered, "Rob man, I thought you had put that all behind ya"
About to reply, he paused when a photo of him and Raven together with Treeflower caught his eye.
Raven was his wife. Treeflower was his daughter. He was married. He was happy. But Starfire had…
"Yo, Rob, we on or what?"
Never taking his eyes off the photo, he replied, "It'd be great having you guys there"
TTT
Slade glared at the man before him, his good eye cold. "So, Dr. Walsh, let me get this straight. You, a doctor with several degrees behind him and quite a lot of good recommendations, are telling me that you cannot help one child with a breathing disorder?"
Dr. Walsh hesitated, wondering once again why he was here. "I don't know how you found out about that… but my patient is suffering from a congenital heart and lung defect. Since she's so young, we've been able to help her, but there's doubt that she'll live past her early twenties… even now, there's a big risk with her being over exhausted"
Toying with the wineglass in front of him, Slade asked coldly, "But I was led to believe that there were operations that could be performed"
What was everyone reading? The young doctor thought angrily. "Look, Mr. Wilson, it's not as simple as everyone thinks. First off, Treeflower is far too young to undergo the operation; she's still growing. Secondly, finding a donor who would suit her… unusual blood type is very unlikely and third, the best doctors who could pull it off successfully are in Australia, which, might I add is a very far way from Jump City"
Sitting back into his seat, Scott realized he was panting. Seeing the chilling smirk on Slade's face made him insatly regret his outburst. "Mr. Wilson, I-"
"There is no need to apologize, Scott. I understand the strain of having to deal with an angry parent upset about her child, would not be a light one. So, I wish to make a deal with you"
"Mr. Wilson, it's not orthodox of me to-"
Slade cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Please, let me talk"
Dr. Walsh shut his mouth immediately.
"As I was saying, Scott, the deal I wish to make is simple. You see, this young girl that you are treating-Treeflower, was it not? -is the daughter of a… old friend. I hate seeing my friends suffer, so I'm offering the child and her mother my services"
"I… I don't understand you"
At that the smirk grew. "If I remember correctly, there were other ways this 'defect' can be treated, are there not? I am offering the Grayson's my money, my hospitaly and the best doctors in the field who will be able to help their child"
Looking up at the old man before him and seeing a dangerous glint in the eye that had not been covered, Dr. Walsh asked in a faint voice, "What's the catch?"
The smirk grew wider, just as the dim lighting brightened, and Dr. Walsh saw the sickening sight of an infantry of Slade Bots lined against the walls. "How about we go for a little walk, Scott?"
TTT
Closing the door behind him later that night, Robin called out, "Raven, are you home?"
Not hearing a response, he frowned and threw his coat on the stand beside him. "Raven?" He called again. Still no answer.
Slightly worried, Robin crossed over to the stairs in two long strides and dashed up them, his feet making a heavy thud against the wood. "Raven?"
Coming up to a pink-flowered door, he pushed it open, scanned the dark room, then practically ran for the master bedroom. "Raven? Raven, where are-"
Drawing near to the door and seeing the faint light pouring out onto the hallway, Robin relaxed, his breathing slowing. For one heart-stopping moment he had thought-
Standing by the door unnoticed, he watched as Raven bent over their daughter, who was tucked away in between several pillows and their blankets, murmuring some soothing nonsense. "Raven?" Robin asked softly, smiling.
Starting, Raven turned his way and for the first time, Robin could see the sad shine in her eyes. "Richard, I didn't hear you" She whispered, turning back to the now sleeping Treeflower.
"What's wrong Rae?" Crossing over to the bed, he sat down behind his wife, who stiffened slightly. Noticing it, he frowned. "Rae? Did I-"
"You missed her appointment, Richard" She commented in a low voice. "She was upset for the rest of the day, because her father wasn't there to tell her everything was going to be ok"
She glared at him with cold violet eyes. "Dr. Walsh told me today that Treeflower will probably never recover. There is a very doubtful chance that she'll survive her early twenties" Brutally ignoring his stunned silence, she continued, "Seeing that Starfire is back, I guess that you won't be able to take Flower to her next appointment-"
"Wait a moment," Robin cut, coming out of his shock at Starfire's name. "How did you know that Star was still alive?"
Raven gazed at him evenly, then went back to her daughter. Not facing him, she muttered in a tight voice, "She contacted me yesterday, while you were at work"
He was quiet for a moment, finally understanding why Raven had acted so strange. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked in a hushed voice.
Shoulders tensing, his wife just said, "You were going to find out sooner or later"
Robin looked away, not saying anything. After a minute he spoke up, "The others are coming around for dinner, did you just want to order pizza?"
She nodded, suddenly finding the need to adjust the blankets around Treeflower.
"Alright then, I'll go order" Raven bit her lip as he left, careful not to wake up the baby. What had she done?
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Next chapter: The reunion from HELL!