Chapter Nine

Robin was making the final preparations on the T-ship, when the other Titans arrived. "What's up, Robin?" Cyborg asked.

"We're leaving together." he said.

"Now that is the plan!" Beast Boy exclaimed.

"Where is Tim?" Starfire asked.

"He's not coming." Robin explained. "I had to convince him to stay."

"I see." Raven said. "Well, good riddance anyway. Next thing you know, I'd probably have to change his diaper!" The Titans laughed, while Robin blushed.

"Let's just get a move on, okay?"

The Titans each got in their individual sections.

"All systems are go!" Cyborg said.

"Engage!" Robin exclaimed.

The engines roared to life, lifting the T-ship in to the air. After clearing the hanger bay, it banked to it's right, achieving level flight.

"All right Robin, it's your show." Cyborg said.

"Okay guys, here's the plan," Robin said. "We're going to fly inside the vortex."

"Inside it!" Beast Boy exclaimed.

"It's the only way, Beast Boy!" Robin told him. "Are we ready?"

"Sure!" Cyborg said.

"Let's do it!" Raven exclaimed.

"I am ready!" added Starfire.

"Beast Boy?" Robin asked.

"Okay, I'll go." he sighed.

"Then make it so!" the Boy wonder said as he pioleted the T-ship straight for the vortex.

There was a violent shuddering as they passed inside the swirling cloud. Next, they saw they were in what looked like a tunnel of a sort, a tunnel made of glowing blue clouds! The shuddering grew more profound.

"She can't take much more of this!" Cyborg exclaimed.

"She can, and she will!" Starfire said, defiantly.

The T-ship now approached a glowing bluish-white light. Robin gritted his teeth at they made their way for it!

"Here was go!" he said, now fighting against mounting G-forces!

The T-ship lurched, and then broke through! The Titans were in the open air, in clear blue skies!

"Did we make it?" Beast Boy asked.

Robin preformed a slow right turn. He turned his head and saw...Titans Tower! "We did it!" he exclaimed. His teammates cheered, grateful for their leader's insight.

As they cirlced, Cyborg noticed something. "The other T-ship is gone!" he said.

"I guess history has been changed." Robin said, guiding the ship into the hanger.

The T-ship landed safely in the its sanctuary. After exiting his cockpit, Robin looked over the catwalk. "The other Robin is gone too." he said.

"Good." said Raven. "One Robin is good enough."

"I would not be so sure." Starfire said. "It would have been fun to receive twice the love!"

Robin blushed again while the Titans laughed. "Let's have some breakfast, shall we?" he said.

After taking the elevator to the upper levels, Raven made her way to the infirmary. There, she began to clean up the items used while Tim made his visit. She stripped the beds they had used and took the linen to a hamper. She would wash them later.

Before she could leave, Starfire entered. "What are you doing here, Star?" she asked.

"I wish to speak to you about something." she said, sitting on one of the beds.

"What about?"

"Did you ever have feelings for Tim?"

"Which Tim?"

"The one that is gone now."

"What makes you think that?"

"I suspected it."

"Really? Why?"

"From how much time you spent with him and how you helped him at dinner that one day."

"I was just being nice. It's my duty as a Titan!"

"Raven, if you had feelings, I would like to know. You can safely tell me!"

"Starfire, it was nothing, okay?" She walked to a window and stared outside, failing to hold back her tears.

"Raven," Starfire said. "I have known you too long to not know when you are not being truthful with me." She stood beside her friend.

"Now, please tell me all?"

Raven heaved a sigh. "I didn't want to say anything about it, because I figured you'd get jealous. I remembered how you were when Kitten tried to put moves on Robin. I didn't want the same experienence."

"Oh, Raven!" Starfire replied, stifling a laugh. "It was not the same!"

"Really?"

"Yes! Well, to me it was not. You see, even though Tim looked and sounded like Robin, he was not Robin. He was not the boy I fell in love with."

"You didn't feel the same way to him as our Robin?"

"Correct! I thought I might, but as I started to know him better, I saw that my feelings were only for one Robin, the Robin who is my true love!" She fluttered her eyes dreamily.

"I see. And what about when he was able to talk and act like our Robin?"

"I still did not feel love for him. He was a stranger to me, despite his appearences."

"I hear you on that one. When he spoke to me, he was obessed with leaving the tower."

"Yes, that is certainly not the Robin we know."

"Of course." Raven wiped the tears off her face.

"There, of course, is something you must know, friend Raven." Starfire said.

"What?" she replied.

"Try to keep your hands off my boy."

Raven blinked, waiting for a laugh. None was forthcoming. "I see your point." she said. "Trust me, Star. Robin will be nothing in my mind other than a brother figure."

"I am pleased to hear that." Starfire had an inspiration. "After breakfast Raven, I wish to take you to the mall of shopping!"

"What for?"

"Why else? To meet some nice boys!"

"Oh, joy." she deadpanned just as Starfire dragged her to breakfast.

In the lounge, Robin stared out the window, looking over the bay. He was troubled by the events in the hanger only an hour ago. Starfire joined him.

"Your thoughts seem distant." she said.

"I was thinking about Tim."

"Do you miss him?"

"Not really. I mean, he was me after all."

"That is true. But in many ways, he was not you."

"I know. It's just...what I had to do to him."

"What did you do to him?"

"I had to knock him out to help end the cycle of events that caused the disaster."

"I see."

"I'm wondering if I killed him, too. If I did, I could say I killed myself."

Starfire put a hand on his shoulder. "Robin, you are here with us now. Tim is just...a reflection of you. He was not you. You should forget about him."

Robin heaved a sigh. "You're right, Star." he said, facing her. "I see now why I love you."

She giggled at him. "I love you too, Robin!"

They hugged each other, for what seemed like forever.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Cyborg called out. "How about coming to eat? Breakfast is getting cold!"

The two Titans laughed as they went to the dining area.

Robin let himself relax at the thought that everything was as it should be, and that everyone was happy, including, for once, himself. He intended to savor this moment.

The End

Author's Notes: Thanks to all that reviewed. Glad I could entertain you and make you think. Special thanks to Ravenrouge19, Ravengem, KGdive, and Savvy. Read on my fans, read on!

And now my little secret: I based this story on an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Who would have guessed such a basis would prove popular as a Teen Titans fan-fic?

To those that reviewed, I have plenty of other stories worthy of review.

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or any Star Trek series. Would be nice if I did...