Hi ya! Sunflames is here to give you an update to Feeling Dirty! THis is the chapter that you will all meet... TYLER! in honor of this special occasion, Tyler is here to do the disclaimer.
SF: So Tyler how are you? I see you come as you will appear in later chapters.
Ty: yes. If I were how I was in this chapter then I would be too obvious.
SF: fair enough. So do the disclaimer and we can comence with the storie.
Ty: gladly. Flames of the Sun does not own any of the titans. But she does own me. And Logan. But Logan is a demon in human clothing so I don't think he counts.
SF: very good. ON WITH THE FIC!
Chapter 9 :Welcome Home:
Robin walked through the many stores at the mall. He was walking alone for the first time in a while. He and Starfire had been spending so much time together; it almost seemed strange not to feel the warmth of her body leaned against his.
But Starfire had previous engagements. She was going back to the hospital. Dr. Lory had asked to see her again to make sure that her wrist was healing properly. Robin reached down and took a movie in his hand.
"Wicked Scary IX," he sighed. "Sequels are good but this is ridiculous." he scoffed. Suddenly, Robin felt a vibration in his pocket. Robin fished around and finally pulled out a small yellow communicator. He opened it and was alarmed to see Starfire looking back. Just looking at her he could tell that she had been crying.
"Starfire? What's wrong?" he asked.
"I need a ride, please," she said quietly, almost monotonously. Robin looked closer at her, as if trying to find a solution in her face.
"I thought you were going to meet us back at home." he said. Starfire shook her head.
"I cannot fly right now," she answered. Robin's eyes widened. The only times Starfire couldn't fly was when she was extremely distressed.
"I'll be there in five minutes." he said and quickly snapped the comm. Unit shut.
--
Five minutes later, Robin walked through the hospital doors. He looked around and immediately found Starfire sitting on a small bench. She was staring at the tiles, with a look that Robin swore was anger.
"You ready to go?" Robin asked as he approached her. Starfire looked up and her face softened. Robin would have been happy, except now she looked close to tears. She nodded and walked out of the door. Robin hurried after her and handed her a helmet. Starfire stared at the helmet. Within seconds the tears in her eyes seemed to grow bigger.
Starfire struggled to hold her tears back. This was no place to cry. She just had to hold on. She just had to be strong. With a determined glare she swung her leg over the motorcycle and Robin slid on in front of her.
Starfire slid her arms around Robin, holding softly. Robin was used to this. It was how it worked when she rode with him. Starfire would hold onto him loosely and when he started going faster she would gradually tighten her hold. Robin revved up the bike and started to pull out of the parking lot. As he expected, Starfire's grip on him tightened. He sighed, relieved at something predictable.
Robin and Starfire soon pulled into the garage of their home. Starfire immediately jumped off of the bike, knowing a safe place to cry was just inside. But Robin surprised her. He caught her by the arm and slowly pulled her into him.
"Tell me. Tell me what happened." Robin begged in a caring whisper. Starfire sighed and raked her fingers through her hair. She was about to refuse, but she caught the look in Robin's eyes. He was hurting for her. She hated to see him hurt.
With another sigh Starfire looked down at the floor.
"I went to Dr. Lory today, for my wrist, as you know," she began. "He asked me how I was and I happened to mention that I had started feeling the nausea in the early hours. He– he asked to perform a test and I consented." Robin's eyes were becoming rounder. His heart was beating faster in realization. He knew what was coming.
"I thought he would inform me that I had a virus." Starfire said, finally letting her tears fall. "I just never imagined– I mean, I knew it was possible but I just never thought..." Starfire lapsed into silence, overwhelmed. Robin lifted her face gently. His own eyes stung with tears now but he didn't care. He had to hear this from Starfire's own mouth.
"What? What did he say?" Robin asked, desperately hoping that he was wrong.
"He has informed me that I am– I am 3 weeks pregnant."
--
Starfire sighed as she leaned back in the bleached white bed sheets. It was the second time she had lay in one of these hospital beds, but somehow, even though the events were related, this time the event seemed slightly more joyous.
A tired smile spread itself across her lips as what appeared to be a small bundle of cloth was placed in her arms. But if one were to look even closer they would see a very small round face peeking out from beneath the folds.
Starfire smiled as her son, one-week-old today, giggled up at her. She had been told that he had her eyes, but she was certain that his eyes were much more beautiful. He had inherited the Tamaranian orange tinted skin from his mother, with a fine layer of blond hair being the only feature from his father, though you couldn't see it under the light blue cap.
Robin smiled as he watched Starfire and her baby through the small window in the door. He could feel his pride and love and respect for her growing with each thump of his heart. In the past nine months Starfire had made every decision that he was sure a girl of 18 should not have to make, and each choice was made "for the baby."
Starfire had shunted the idea of an abortion, claiming that to kill a child because of the way it was created was horrible and wrong.
She had carefully pondered on the idea of adoption for at least three months, pouring over pamphlets and descriptions of different couples and families. Finally she rejected the idea. "What would happen when the child comes to its parent in tears, asking why his real mother didn't love it?" she had asked, levelly.
She had carefully monitored the crime levels in Jump City over the nine months and even some months before. The Teen Titans had been in Jump City for two long years and the crooks and thieves had quickly found that Jump City was no place to commit a crime. Even the serious villains were either dead or behind bars. There were no criminal masterminds who would think to take advantage of the relationship of two people, which was why Robin and Starfire had bothered to generate a relationship at all. Now the Titans were only called for the occasional robbery.
So Starfire finally made a decision that would change her life forever, but not before she had spoken to the rest of the team and studied every other option. She finally decided to raise her son.
Robin smiled again and pushed the door into her room open. Raven, Cyborg, and Beastboy filed in after him, all talking happily to Starfire and her son.
"So, you and Tyler ready to go?" Robin asked after kissing her cheek. Starfire grinned and nodded.
"Yes. I believe I have been feeling the homesickness. And I am sure Tyler is excited." Starfire replied. As if on cue, Tyler gave an animated giggle. The other's also laughed along with him. Starfire gently placed her son in Raven's arms and gratefully accepted Robin and Cyborg's help into the wheelchair.
The ride home was uneventful with the team telling Starfire what she had missed over the pass week. Robin was excited nonetheless. The Titans had a surprise for her.
--
Starfire sighed in frustration. Robin had had his hands cupped over her eyes ever since they had gotten off of the elevator. Cyborg held both of her hands in his and led her along, making cheesy commentary. Finally Robin pulled them to a stop and turned her to face what she assumed was a wall.
"Ok are you ready?" Beastboy asked. Starfire moved restlessly.
"Yes, yes!" she said impatiently. Finally Robin removed his hands from her eyes and Starfire was face to face with a door.
It was an ordinary gray steel door, just like every other door in the tower, with one exception.
"TYLER" was printed on a steel nameplate attached to the door. Starfire's hand flew to her mouth as her eyes rapidly started to fill with tears. Behind her, her friends tensed with nervousness. In the beginning it had seemed like a great idea, but now they weren't sure how Starfire would take it.
"Go ahead, go inside." Robin said, nudging her shoulder slightly. Starfire raised a shaky hand to the keypad on the side of the door and pushed the "open" button. She cautiously stepped into the room only to be met by more tears.
The room was painted a light blue with a matching crib to one side. Across from the crib there was a large window, with painted suns and moons surrounding the frame. The ceiling was totally black with painted stars, planets, comets other heavenly bodies looking down. Scattered around the room were various baby toys and some equipment.
"We started on it the day after little Ty here was born." Cyborg said as Starfire touched the wall gingerly. "Most of the toys and things are from some citizens. They just started coming in the mail a few days ago. You've got a stroller, a walker, a baby carrier, a car seat, and enough diapers to last for like three years!"
"We even put in a door that leads to your bathroom, so you can check on him in the middle of the night." Rave added, pointing awkwardly since she was holding Tyler still, at the door at the far corner. Starfire looked at the door for the first time and opened it, indeed seeing her bathroom. Starfire closed the door slowly and stood motionless for a moment
"Do you like it?" Robin asked nervously. Starfire finally turned to them. Tears were fall freely down her face and her eyes shone with a joy unmatched by any other.
"You did this," she said tearfully. "All of you. And in six days." She shook her head incredulously. "Like it? Oh, my friends what would I do without you?" She swung herself into the first arms available, which happened to be Robin's.
"Oh I love it!" she squealed joyfully. The rest of the team breathed a sigh of relief and blushed as Starfire hugged each of them sincerely. Somehow she couldn't stop crying, and yet she couldn't stop smiling.
With a lighthearted laugh, Starfire lowered Tyler into his new crib.
"Tyler, welcome to your new home."