Disclaimer: Sigh… Everyday, I wake up, look in the mirror and think-ONE DAY, I WILL OWN THEM! Oh, and the rest of the world, too.

Cookie Dough-Chapter 4: Music Box Love

"Babysitting has to be the best thing invented since fast food chains" Terra sighed, dropping her shopping bags at the table they had chosen. "I haven't been able to spend like that since I got married to Garfield!"

Lola nodded in agreement, her dark, tight curls bobbing about her face. "The boys are a nightmare to take shopping" She confided, reaching into her handbag and pulling out her lipstick. Replying the bright colour, she looked over at Raven and sighed, dark eyes sympathetic. The other woman was just staring off into the crowds, the slight crinkle in her forehead indicating that she was deep in thought.

Things had not gone well at the Grayson's the other night. Raven was obviously still worrying about Treeflower (who had gone with her dad and the boys to the funpark), and now that the woman Starfire was back, Lola could see that her friend was deep in concern for her marriage.

Unable to contain her curiosity, the dark woman asked, "What's the deal between you and Starfire anyway?"

Terra's head snapped up from the menu, and she tried signaling to Lola to drop the subject, but that only fueled her determination. Crossly she said, "Victor hasn't told me much; the useless bugger just keeps changing the subject. Did she try to take Robin from you in the past?"

To both of her friends' surprise, Raven gave a hollow chuckle, facing them. "Hardly" She muttered darkly. Not even looking at the menu she motioned to the waiter. "I'll have one of your 'tropical' teas and a slice of your chocolate cherry dream, thanks"

The waiter, a boy who looked to be in his early twenties jotted down the order, then smiled at the other women. "And what will you ladies be having?"

Terra gave him the menu and took a deep breath, "Alright, you ready Junior? One large plate of curly fries, a garden salad, the Beef Supreme Burger with one of your potato jackets, and a glass of your strongest wine" Blinking for a moment, the waiter shook his head and began to write furiously, while Lola and Raven just stared at their rock-moving friend. "What?" The blonde asked, sculling down her glass of water. "I'm hungry-all Gar keeps in the house is that revolting tofu stuff"

Finishing, the boy looked to Lola who just sighed again and said, "One roast chicken roll, and a Shirley Temple please"

Completing the orders, the waiter gathered the menus, and left saying that their orders would be ready soon.

"Well?" Lola asked, turning back to Raven and focusing all her attention on her. "What happened?"

Terra gave the Afro-American a dirty look, but leaned in anyway, a part of her wanting to know how it happened from the Goth's view.

Straightening the white tablecloth with slim fingers, Raven frowned, and started talking.

FLASHBACK

Watching as Cyborg kicked an empty oilcan out of his way, Raven folded her arms. "We have to do somethin'" The cybotic man muttered, going to his working bench and leaning on it, his back to his Gothic friend. "We can't let him stay in there and rot"

It had been eighteen months since their happy, cheerful alien member had been reported dead, and Robin had been steadily going down hill. The former leader of the Titans just stayed in his room, not responding to any of their attempts to coax him out, or to any of the city's cries for help. If it hadn't been for the support of their honorary Titans, the four that Robin had left behind would have spilt long ago.

"We can't force him to do anything" Raven reasoned. "He has to grieve. He has to let go of Starfire in his own way, in his own time. Any interference on our part would only serve to push him back further"

"He's been grieving for over a year" Cyborg mumbled, fists tightening. "The Mayor has been talking about sending Robin away-he's not doing his job any more. We don't even have a leader!"

Silence fell between them, then Raven said, "Leave Robin to me. I'll try to do what I can"

TTT

Sitting in the darkness of his room, Robin looked down at the photo book in his hands. Titled with curly writing, it said, 'My Memories of Earth'. Feeling a fresh wave of pain, the former Boy Wonder dropped it, the thick volume making a muffled thump as it hit the ground.

How long had it been? Weeks? Months? He hadn't bothered with keeping the date-everyday seemed the same, empty and cold. Would this be how it would be for the rest of his life?

Robin's biggest regret was that he had never even told her, never even said those three little words. He'd never even held her like he wanted, never even had the courage to kiss her… Who cared if she wouldn't have understood what he was trying to say in his clumsy, human way? Deep down Robin knew that Starfire would have known that he had loved her.

A knock at his door made him look up from the floor, startled. Then frowning, he waited for whoever it was to give up and go away. Instead, the knocker stopped, then a low, female voice ordered, "Robin, open this door before I break it down"

At first he was surprised. Was that Raven? She seemed to have changed, her voice was stronger, and it had more authority. Then Robin grew angry. Who was she to order him around?

"Go away!" He yelled, standing up from his bed and walking over to his desk leafing through various papers that had been scattered across it.

There was a stubborn silence from the other side of the door and suddenly it was ripped off its hinges, covered with Raven's black magic.

Flinging his door down into the hallway, Raven's powers died down, and she faced him with a calm face. "You either listen to me," She said, her violet eyes showing no emotion, "Or you follow your door"

Gritting his teeth, Robin spat, "I'm fine. Go away"

Raven's powers flared up dangerously, making her cloak twirl and her hair spin. "You are not" She accused, staying just outside the entry. "You've shut yourself in this room ever since Starfire died. You've neglected your duties as Leader, abandoned the City that you swore to protect and have completely ignored your friends. You are far from fine"

"What would you know?" Robin flamed, coming up close to her. "You haven't lost her the way I have! You didn't love her the way I did!"

Stepping back, Raven surveyed the boy in the lights of the hallway. The former Boy Wonder was paler, thinner, the black hair that had once been styled up in spikes, now lank and falling to his shoulders. He looked unclean, unhealthy, and tired, with shadows underneath his masked eyes.

Feeling something stir inside her, Raven resolved to help him-she owed Starfire that much.

"Robin," She said in a firm voice. "No matter how you look at it, we lost her too. I know it hurts, and I'm not asking you to forget about her, but I need you to put Starfire aside for now, and let us help you"

Robin scowled, and retreated back into the gloom of his room. "I don't need your help"

Knowing that she wasn't going to get anything else accomplished by talking, the Goth whispered her chant, wrapping him up with her power.

"Raven!" He yelled, struggling. "Raven, let me go!"

Scowling back just as hard, she flung him through the doors joining to his personal bathroom, and dropped him into the tub. "If anything else" She called from his door-less doorway, "At least tidy yourself up"

Then making sure that the bathroom door was locked she left, calling, "I'll be back in a hour"

Fuming, Robin picked up a fresh bar of soap that lay unwrapped by the clean towels and the new bottle of shampoo. About to throw it at the mirror, he stopped, his pale reflection making him pause. Touching his greasy hair, Robin frowned, thinking.

With a sigh, his uniform came off and his taps were turned on.

TTT

Raven smiled grimly, noting Robin's freshly-if roughly-cut hair and soapy fragrance. "That's a bit better" She mocked, letting him know that she could play the game harder than he could.

Giving her a dark look, Robin's mouth set into a hard line, his jaw jutting out stubbornly. "What do you want now?"

Right now, Robin needed sleep. Holding out the cup of calamine tea she had brought him, Raven asked, "Have you been sleeping lately, or doesn't it matter anymore?"

Not taking the offered cup, Robin stalked back to his bed, sitting down on it. "Why do you care?" he snarled.

Undaunted, the Goth surprised him by coming and sitting down near him, not quite close enough to make him feel suffocated. Gazing at him with her calm, purple eyes, she said, "Don't do this to yourself. Starfire's memory deserves more than this" Then getting up and placing the cup on his bedside cabinet, she left.

Staring at the tea, Robin found himself picking it up and sniffing it. Didn't seem so bad. Taking a tentative swing, Robin wrinkled his nose, but continued drinking it. It wasn't long before he found himself laying back against the pillows, sleep seeming like a very good idea. "I'm going to have to talk to Raven" He murmured, slowly closing his eyes.

Things… didn't… seem… so…

Then he was snoring.

TTT

A month later, and Robin stepped out of the Titan tower for the first time in a year and a half. Raven, ahead of him, turned and asked, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

He nodded, and she gave a slight nod back, levitating into the air and ready to lead the way.

Fifteen minutes later, they arrived at the City's gardens, Raven landing lightly on the ground and motioning for Robin to follow her as she navigated the way through the various paths. It didn't take long until they reached the middle of the vast gardens, the small courtyard the Titans had prepared for their friend bringing a lump back to the dark girl's throat. Looking around at the bunches of flowers that laid by the garden's centerpiece, brought back painful memories.

Robin stopped when he saw the white, smiling face of Starfire, unprepared for it.

"It's beautiful" He whispered.

Making sure that she gave him the space that he needed, Raven said softly, "Terra carved it herself… from one of her old photos"

The former Boy Wonder nodded, and sat down on a bench, overwhelmed.

Silently, Raven turned to leave when Robin croaked, "Stay"

Not really sure of what to do, the Gothic hesitated. "Please" His voice a low plea, Robin looked at her, mouth tight. "I don't know what I'll do if I stay here by myself"

That settled it. Sitting by the peonies, Raven watched her friend carefully, then, when comfortable that he wouldn't do anything, she closed her eyes and began to meditate.

Things followed the same pattern for the next few months. Each day, the pair would venture out to the 'Garden of Star' as it had been dubbed, Raven meditating, and Robin remembering the better times. Sometimes the others would join them, like Beast Boy and Terra, bringing a Frisbee and running around like complete maniacs, or Cyborg, with his stories and jokes. It'd almost be like old times.

Two years of the same routine, and Robin got up from the bench, standing in front of the statue silently, looking up at it with determined eyes. "I love you Star" He whispered, his hand lingering over smooth marble. There, he had said it.

Turning to his Gothic friend-whom he found hated being classed as a 'Gothic' like she was some sort of "card carrying member"-he asked, "Hey Raven, do you want to go for a ride?"

Cracking a violet eye open, Raven looked at him, before opening both and sighing. "Alright… But we have to be back before tea, and make sure that Beast Boy doesn't try to cook his Tofu Surprise again"

FLASHBACK ENDS

"-He left a year after that, became Nightwing, and Cyborg led the group for a few more months before we all decided to break up" Raven took her second cup of tea off the waiter and looked back at Lola, who was enrapt with the story.

"What happened after that?" The dark skinned woman asked, picking up her fork but not eating.

"The group stayed in contact, but most of us had moved on with our normal lives. I couldn't really adjust to being a civilian, so I stayed on with the Justice League, then gave that up to stay with Batman." Giving a half smile at her memories, Raven continued. "A few months after the group had separated, I met Richard again, we talked about old times, stayed in touch with the team, then five years later I moved back with him to Jump City. Things happened, and then we were married" Here she gave a half shrug. "The rest you know"

Lola sighed, and played with her lunch while Terra made a face, saying, "The point is, Starfire was Robin's first girl. Now that's she's here and alive, Raven feels like all hope is lost and is more than willing to give him back"

Ignoring the said woman's steely look, Terra gasped, getting an idea. "I know! Raven, you have to spice up your marriage! Get naughty, make Robin want you! You can't go cold turkey-guys hate that, and you're in the sexual prime of your life!"

The blonde closed her mouth when her glass began to rattle, and she sniffed. "Geez, Raven, I was only trying to give you some pointers"

Her glass settled and Raven's nose crinkled with distaste. "I do not need 'pointers' from someone who makes their husband squeal"

TTT

Picking up Treeflower and resting her on his lap, Robin smiled at Starfire, who was looking around the park in wide-eye-wonder.

Jump City had expanded in many ways since the alien princess had left, and the amusement park had been no exception. The rides had gotten bigger, the fairy-floss had gotten sweeter, and the prices had gotten dearer. Still, it was just the taste of Earth Starfire needed to get her mind off… recent events.

"Booya!" Crowed Cyborg, carrying a large stuffed unicorn in one hand and a bag of popcorn in other. Heading straight for the pair, he paused, turning to a sulking Beast Boy behind him. "I told ya I'd win" He scolded, shaking his head. "I told ya, but did you listen? No-oo, I'm just the one with the built in statistics bar"

"You cheated" Mumbled the changeling. Shooting him a warning glance, Cyborg brightened, turning back to his two friends who were sitting on a bench overlooking the beach. "Here you go Princess," The big man said, holding out the unicorn doll he had won to Robin's little girl.

Treeflower squealed, and held out her hands, curling her fingers in a 'take-me' gesture. Laughing, Robin handed her over to a grinning Cyborg, who scooped her up and kissed her nose, making her squeal all over again.

"Where are the kids?" He asked, watching as Cyborg started to twirl Treeflower around.

Motioning behind him to the giant, fun-tastic castle built especially for imprisoning unwanted children in a pool of colourful balls, the robotic man said, "BB dumped them in there, but knowing Abe and Joan, they're all probably sneaking onto the Hurler again"

Robin grimaced. "Remember last time? God, I can't even believe that idiot let Hannah on! She was so small, she was slipping out of the safety harness!"

Looking from Cyborg, who was now letting the child Treeflower poke his mechanical eye, to Beast Boy, who was off to the side grumbling about built in losers, then to Robin, who was smiling and laughing, Starfire felt her own grin grow, happy that she was with her true friends.

Ding dong, crud brain! Your phone's ringing!

Startled, Starfire watched as Cyborg sighed, somehow managing to answer his cell phone while balance a small girl, a gigantic toy, and a big bag of unhealthy snackage food.

"'Ello?"

"Victor!" Lola cried, turning away from her friends as they flicked through Victoria's Secret's latest range. It had taken them ages to coax Raven into the score, since Terra was sure that the only thing blocking the Empath from true martial bliss was her lack of lingerie, and now all Raven was doing was standing by the door, giving the nervous sales assistant the evil eye.

"Hey hon. What 'cha doin'?"

"Well… can you tell Richard that we're going to be looking after Treeflower tonight? He and Raven really need some… alone time" There was a sound like Lola giving a muffled squeak, then, "Please? Rae's not too happy, but she and Richard really need this… Ow, Raven, that hurt!"

Cyborg grinned. "Yeah, of course honey. Anything else?"

Giving her dark friend an evil glare, Lola moved away, opting to stand near a rack full of lacey bras. "Can you pick up some French dressing on your way home, I'm making a salad… how are the kids?"

"Uh… they're fine. They're having lots of fun"

Not noticing his careful tone, Lola giggled, then said, "That's good. We wouldn't want them going on that awful ride again, would we?"

Cyborg chuckled nervously. "Yeah…" Lola would never forgive him if she found out they had just shoved the kids into a fun house and left them there.

Motioning that he was going to go round up the monsters, Beast Boy bolted off towards the "castle", leaving Robin and Starfire to watch their robotic friend sweat it out.

"Ok," Giving the thumps up to Terra, who was holding a red and black corset and was motioning to the scowling Gothic, Lola rushed, "Well honey, I have to go help Terra bully Raven into this really cute Valentine piece… talk to you later and don't forget the dressing!"

Blinking as the 'end call' dial sounded (Call's over, you snot munching loser!), Cyborg just shrugged and flipped it close. "Hey, Rob," He called out, surprising his dark-haired friend. Shifting so that Treeflower was now cradled in his arms, Cyborg continued, "Lola says we're taking the Princess tonight, so you can sort things out and… stuff" Grinning awkwardly, he started to back away. "I've gotta go and get Abe, Lola's making one of her salads and it takes me ages to find the dressings… Want me to drop Treeflower off in the morning?"

Frowning, Robin stood, mouth puckered hesitantly. Behind him, Starfire watched with a growing sense of excitement. Did this mean Robin would be spending more time with her? "I don't know…" He started, hands going to his jean pockets. "Treeflower has an appointment with her doctor tomorrow. Raven tried getting her in today, but Dr. Walsh wasn't there"

"Come on, man" Cyborg murmured in a low voice, careful to make sure Starfire couldn't hear. "You need this. You need to put it all behind you. You need to tell her that you've moved on"

Robin sighed, but picked Treeflower up and gave her a kiss. "Bye baby. Be good for Uncle Cy and Aunty Lo" Treeflower looked up at him with blue reflections of his eyes, lip trembling. "Papaw?" She quivered.

Softening, her father leaned in and rubbed his nose against hers. "I'll be here tomorrow, Flower. But now Daddy has to catch up with his friend" Glancing up at Cyborg, he said, "I'll make sure Starfire gets home" And with that he moved back to the alien princess.

Not really understanding what her daddy was saying, Treeflower just watched silently as Cyborg nodded, called out his good-byes, and started to walk away. Frantically, she wriggled around until she was looking out over the metal man's shoulder, wondering why her daddy was holding the other lady's hand and not cuddling her instead.

TTT

"Hannah, come on!" Disgusted, Joan turned back to his little sister, who was sniveling by the Ball Pit. "We have to get out of here-the Hurler's giving out free barf bags!"

She sniffed, lifting a green hand and rubbing one of her large, green eyes with it. "No. I want to go to Lollipop Lane like you said we could!"

Giving his now growling friend the Look, Abe soothed, "Hannah, how about Joan and I get the barf bags first, then we take you to Lollipop Lane?"

But still sulking, Hannah pouted. "I don't want to go to the Hurler. I want to go to Lollipop Lane!"

"Hannah, we're going on the Hurler whether you like it or not!" Abe just shook his head as his green haired friend pressed himself closer to his little sister and scowled.

Baring her teeth (or the ones she had, anyway), the little girl shrieked, "Lollipop Lane!"

"The Hurler!"

"Lollipop Lane!"

"The Hurler!"

"LOLLIPOP LANE!"

"THE HURLER!"

"LOLL-"

"How about we just go home?" Cut a new-and angry-voice.

"Uh-oh" Muttered Abe, turning to face a fluming Beast Boy. "Uncle Gar-"

Beast Boy just raised his eyebrows. "Abe" He started solemnly. "You wouldn't want me to tell your mum that you were just planning to go on the Hurler again, would you?"

Gray eyes widening, Abe shook his head.

"Good." Facing his own children the Green Man growled, "We're leaving. Now. You have one minute to get to the car-and if you're not there I swear I'll hunt you down and feed you to Mr. Wayne"

"We'll be good, Daddy!" Hannah cried, throwing herself at his feet and looking up at him with wide green eyes, alarmed. Mr. Wayne was really, really, really, really scary and really, really, really, really old. He might give her cooties! "We'll be good!"

Beast Boy sighed, and shook her off his foot. "Hop up, Hannah" He glanced over to Abe and gave him a tired smile. "Your dad was on the phone to your mum, so I guess he'll be looking for you. You better come with us" Abe nodded and with a quick glance at Joan, the two boys left for the door. Looking down at his daughter, who was still hanging on for all she was worth, Beast Boy sighed again. "Come on Hannah, if you hop up now I'll stop over at Ice-cream Castle"

She blinked up at him hopefully. "Lollipop Lane?"

"Ice-cream Castle"

"Lollipop Lane"

"Ice-cream Castle"

"Lollipop Lane"

"Ice-cream Castle"

"LOLLIPOP LANE!"

Beast Boy growled. "That's it, I'm taking you to Tofu Take-Out"

Hannah started screaming.

TTT

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey! You'll never know dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away…

Slowly the little ballerina stopped, and Starfire looked up at Robin with shinning eyes. "Make the little box sing again, Robin!"

Grinning, he turned back the key on the back of the pink and white music box, watching with mixed emotions as his old friend followed the small center piece's movement with rapt attention. After Cyborg had left them to get his son, Robin and Starfire started the long walk down Trinket Valley, the official mall for Jump City. Right now, the pair were in a small toyshop, Robin looking for any small thing he could take home that Treeflower already didn't have, and Starfire looking for… anything. And she had found it with this small music box.

Suddenly, from no where Robin just blurted, "I'm glad you're back, Star"

She regarded him almost shyly before taking the music box and smiling uncertainly. "So am I" She whispered.

You're a idiot and a half, Bird Brain. But why was Robin scolding himself? He hadn't seen Star in twenty years! It was only natural that he'd be this awkward around someone he had-

Idiot. That was TWENTY YEARS ago. You're married. You have a family. You have a life. Besides, how were you meant to know Starfire was still alive?

Still, why was his heart thumping in the old Star days? Why did he have trouble remembering Raven and their wedding?

Why did he feel like this?

"Did you want to get some ice-cream?" Robin asked suddenly, wanting some sort of distraction.

At the idea of being able to sample the creamy iced treat with mustard, Starfire immediately brightened. "Oh, yes! But first, let me purchase this box of music. It would make a charming addition to my collection of amusing trinkets!"

Robin grinned, and waited by the door as Starfire bought the music box, then taking her hand, they crossed the road to the Ice-cream Castle.

TTT

"Did you want to go to the beach after this, Star?" Robin asked as they lined up. Starfire bit her lip. She knew that somehow, what they were doing would be bordering on wrong, but this was her best friend, her boy. How could it be wrong if all they were doing was acting as friends should? Unlike certain people, Starfire was sure that Robin would always be there for her, and if he wanted to go to the beach then so did she. "Yes Robin. I would love to go to the bank of sand with you" And then she smiled up at him, taking his hand again.

Behind the large, plastic fairy mascot of Ice-cream Castle, Hannah's eyes widened and she turned back into her seat, looking down at her Happy Clown Sundae. "Daddy," She asked in a wavering voice. "Daddy, does Uncle Rick love Aunty Rae?"

Beast Boy frowned at her, his daughter's question bringing back the uneasy feeling he had last night. "Don't ask silly questions Hannah. Of course he does"

Hannah just kept looking down at her melting ice-cream. "Then how come he's holding that other lady's hand?"

Beast Boy's mouth dropped open and he looked around until he saw them. Robin and Starfire. By the counter. Holding hands.

Holding hands.

"That good for nothing slime ball" He spat, throwing down his spoon. "That arrogant, bird brained, fu-"

"Dad!" Joan cried, covering his face with his hands as the table behind them, filled with a whole bunch of girls, giggled. "You're such a retard! Stop muttering to yourself! You're embarrassing me! God, why can't you ever act normal?"

But Beast Boy wasn't listening. All he knew was that one of his friends was going behind the backs of the others. It wouldn't have mattered if it was just them enjoying a couple of scoops of ice-cream, he would have understood. Robin and Starfire needed time, sure, ok, that was that. But they were holding hands. Something that Robin rarely did with Raven, his wife.

Growling, Beast Boy watched as the pair took their desserts and walked out, heading towards the beach.

How could Robin do this?

TTT

The sun was setting by the time Robin even thought about going home. Their ice-creams long gone, he and Starfire had just walked along the beach, talking about the old times. He couldn't remember a more perfect day between them.

"Star," He started, looking over the sea. It was glittering gold, the small breeze that had started making the water ripple and wave. "I know that everything has been… upsetting lately, but I want you to know that… I really missed you. But now that you're here, we can… we can… That is to say that I'm…"

Starfire gently laid a golden hand on his arm to stop him from rambling, and gazing up at him, said simply, "I wish you to know that while I was away, fighting, whenever I thought of Earth, I thought of you. I am glad to be back, and share this life with you, even if it can not be as I thought it would"

Lost for words, Robin just watched how the light from the setting sun played on her golden features, and in that instant, he forgot everything. He forgot about Raven, Treeflower, his job at Wayne Inc. and even about the others. Suddenly he was sixteen again, and the girl of his dreams was by his side.

Starfire closed her eyes as Robin leaned down and kissed her. Somewhere, deep down inside, she knew this was bad, but for that moment, for that day, Robin was hers. Not Raven's, but hers.

Her boy.

She just wished it could have been that way from the start.

TTT

"Aw, Bart, take a look at this" Nodding to the couple that were kissing in the middle of the beach, the old man nudged his friend and wagged his eyebrows. "Remind you of the good old days, don't it?"

His friend grinned, reeling in his fishing line absentmindedly, watching as they pulled apart. He had too admit that the girl was a stunner-tall, with fiery red hair that was whipping in the breeze. The light from the setting sun made her skin look like gold, and for a brief moment he wished he was young again.

Yet as they made their way across the sand, Bart frowned. The girl didn't look happy-even here on the wharf he could tell that. She looked upset, biting her lip and looking behind her while her bloke bent down and picked up random things (shells, Bart was betting. If you went on a romantic beach walk you always picked up shells).

What could such a pretty thing like her have to worry about? She and the boy made a good-looking pair. He was willing to bet that the two of them were either married or engaged.

Yet they walked past, and even when his line began to fight, Bart had to wonder if that was truly the case.

TTT

"Are you sure, Raven?" Lola asked her dark friend, watching as she gently placed a sleeping Treeflower into the car. "She's no trouble at all and Richard may still come home early"

Shaking her head, Raven just said in emotionless voice. "I doubt it. It's 9:30, Lola. Richard promised me he'd by home by six. He's better off using this time to catch up with… Starfire" She paused, looking away and then hoped in the car. "Besides, Treeflower has an early appointment tomorrow. It's better this way"

"Dark Girl," Cyborg started, worry stretching his features and making him seem older. Hands resting on Lola's shoulders he looked at Raven with concern. "I'm sure that there's a reasonable excuse for-"

"Cyborg, really, this has nothing to do with them" Even to the Empath her voice sounded false. "I just didn't feel confident leaving Flower tonight. Now, if you don't mind, I have to go home" And before either of her friends could say anything, she had backed the car out and started on her way.

Abe, who had been standing at the door, just rubbed his eyes. "Does this mean Flower isn't staying over, Dad?"

Cyborg just nodded, still frowning worriedly. "Yeah. But maybe next week she'll come over again"

"Go to bed, Abe" Coming up beside her husband as they made their way up to their home, Lola placed her arms around him. As their son trotted off, she asked, "Do you think there's something going on between them? Richard and Starfire?"

Closing the door behind them, Cyborg just shook his head helplessly. "I don't know anymore" How could Robin do this? It couldn't be true. It couldn't.

They stood there in silence until the phone began to ring. "I'll get it" Cyborg offered. "It's probably just BB anyway "

TTT

Walking up the stairs, Raven just scowled. She knew this would happen. Why didn't Starfire just go shopping with them? Retail therapy had obviously never been heard of on Tamaran. Why did she have to stay with the boys?

Oh god, how long had Raven been waiting in that ridiculous "Valentines" piece she had been bullied into buying from that horrible shop? This was so stupid-

She paused once she reached the landing. The light from their bedroom was spilling out onto the carpet but she hadn't seen Robin's car in the driveway. Holding onto a sleeping Treeflower tighter, Raven carefully made her way across to the door. Slowly, she opened it and stepped in. Funny, there was no-one-

"Why, hello Raven. Remember me? We haven't spoken in such a long time"

Heart jumping to her throat, Raven turned her head slightly to see the one man she had thought she'd never see again sitting in her chair.

"Slade" She whispered, clutching Treeflower tighter to her.

The old man smirked, and there was the mechcanical noise of Slade bots filling the room, blocking the door and windows.

"I go by Mr. Wilson now" He corrected, the way he said it making shivers run down her spine. Standing up, Slade crossed the room until he was right up next to her. Lifting a gloved hand he ran it down Treeflower's cheek and Raven jerked her away from him. "Don't touch her" She hissed. "Don't you ever dare touch her"

His smirk grew. "But Raven, is this how you treat an old man looking out for his young friends child? Here I was, offering help for her breathing troubles, and yet you see me as a threat. Tsk, tsk"

"We don't need your help" She spat, moving away even more before a Slade Bot stopped her.

He just frowned. "I think you do, Mrs. Grayson. I think you do. Beside, why would I let my future apprentice suffer such a disability when I have the power to help her?"

Raven's powers flared and Treeflower woke up with a start, crying out. "She'll never be yours!" She snarled.

Slade's grin just grew cold and the room suddenly seemed to grow darker. "She already is, my dear. She already is"

T
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AN: Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. How are the Titans going to get out of this one?

Next Chapter: It's a trip down memory lane! What's the truth behind Starfire's apparent death?