Disclaimer: No. I don't. I don't own anything.

When Starfire woke up on the couch in the living room the first thing she noticed was that the power was back; the overhead lights and the lights coming from the kitchen blinded her, and she clamped her eyes back shut before slowly opening them again. The second thing she noticed, after she groggily sat up, was that his mask was back on. Back before she had passed out, she had for a split second noticed he wasn't wearing it, but had taken no notice of the shape or color of his eyes. Now the mask was back in place, staring intently at her as she looked from his face to the floor.

"Hey," he called out. When she didn't respond Robin chuckled a little, trying to lighten the moment. "We've got to stop meeting like this."

Still Star said nothing, clasping and unclasping her hands nervously.

"Star? What's wrong? Other than the obvious, of course." She found herself unable to think of something to say. So many things were going through her head that she found she couldn't pick one. So she picked something that she didn't particularly care about the answer, as long as it bought her a moment to think. "Have you seen the others?"

Robin nodded. "Yeah. After I came inside I went and saw them. They were… Well, you know. It's weird."

"It is very weird."

Robin cocked his head to one side. "Starfire, really. I can explain, as least as much as I remember. I'm sorry I scared you. I didn't really know what to do. I thought it would be better to knock than come inside. I didn't want to give anyone a heart attack."

Starfire looked up at him. "What did happen?"

"It's like last time. I'm fighting some criminal with a hostage and all the sudden I wake up someplace with stitches on my chest. There were two bullet wounds," As if to explain further he held up two fingers and pointed at were they had pierced his skin. "I walk around, trying to find somebody to tell me what's going on, but the place is deserted. I find a TV and switch on the news to see if there was some big catastrophe and the big story is that Robin, leader of the Teen Titans, has died from a bullet to the heart. Then I get nervous that someone is going to find me before I can escape, so I come back here." He took a deep breath.

Starfire shook her head slowly. "I thought you were gone again."

"I know. I'm sorry." She smiled slightly at his words, identical to those that he had spoken the previous year after his first encounter with death. For some reason, thinking about that, she began to cry again, and put her face in her hands, letting the tears seep through her fingers.

"Starfire, don't cry. I'm back. Things are going to be okay. Things are going to be normal again." She felt him wrap his arms around her and she rested her head on his shoulder. But in her mind, the persistent question was, What is normal anymore?

She let the tears dry on her cheeks and then stood up, turning to face him. For the second time, she was talking with someone she had never expected to talk with again, looking at someone she never thought she'd lay eyes on again. She should have felt relief to know he was back with her, but for some reason, it felt odd. Each time he left her she felt a little piece of her leaving with him, and when he came back she felt whole again. But how long could this go on for? If you break a plate you can glue the pieces back together, but the more times it breaks, the harder it will be to find all the pieces, until there is nothing left but dust.

"Robin, we need to talk. But not here," Starfire said, motioning to the hallway. He stood up and led her down the hallway, to his bedroom. She sat down on the bed and he sat on the chair next to the desk. Opening her mouth to say something, Starfire found she didn't know what she wanted to say.

"Starfire, what's wrong?" Robin asked, looking concerned.

"I am… surprised." She struggled to find words, and found she didn't have a vocabulary big enough, in either English or Tamaranian, to convey her thoughts.

Robin smiled. "Me, too."

"But I am also feeling guilty."

"Guilty? Why?"

"Because," Starfire stood up and walked over to the window, looking out at the dark sky and the pelting rain. "Because…" She trailed off, looking for a different choice of words. "I never expected to see you again. And I am not strong enough. I cannot keep never expecting to see you again." She glanced over at him before continuing. "One time is too many. Two times… I cannot keep losing you, Robin." She was whispering now, afraid of what she was saying.

Robin was silent for a minute, before responding, "I don't know what to say."

She shook her head. "Neither do I."

"I'm not doing this on purpose," he said quietly. "I don't want this to keep happening. But I don't know what to do." He paused before repeating, "I don't know what to do."

"What if it happens again? What if I lose you again? I don't know what I would do." Star wasn't looking at him, but she could hear him sigh.

"I guess… just assume it isn't real. Assume I'm not really gone."

Now Starfire turned around quickly. "How can I do that? How can I assume you are still alive? What if years pass and I still believe you are alive. And then… What if you are still alive? What if I have to lose you and find you all over again?"

Robin stood up and walked over to her. "Starfire, what do you want me to do?"

In response she shook her head.

Almost five minutes passed before another word was spoken. The two Titans stood side by side next to the window, watching the raindrops fall from the sky. They stood so close to each other that they could feel each other's body heat, and Robin longed to put his arms around her and tell her it would be okay. But he knew that things would never be okay again.

Standing there in silence, Robin realized he should have told her he loved her after he had come back to life the first time. But that was a long time ago. There was no going back now.

"I can't lose you again." She spoke so quietly he almost missed her words. Her voice melded in with the sound of the rain outside. He swallowed. Because he knew what she was saying. She was telling him that in order to never lose him again, she would have to never see him again. His breathing quickened and he tried to think of something to say, but found his mouth was too dry to say anything. Silently, he slipped his arms around her and held her against himself, knowing he would soon be gone from her life forever. A minute later she pulled herself away, her eyes deep with sadness and regret.

"I need to go," she whispered as she walked towards the door. She stopped just before the door, not looking back, but unable to go further. His words were quiet, almost inaudible, but she heard each one as if it was being amplified a hundred times.

"I'll always love you, you know."

"I know." And with that, she turned and left the room, tears spilling from her eyes, her heart breaking into thousands of pieces.

T-B-H-S

He left the next day, before she was up. It was barely five in the morning when he called the rest of the team to the living room, where a single bag lay by the door. The rain hadn't stopped, but he had no umbrella, whether it was because he had forgotten to pack one or because he didn't want to shield himself from the rain no one knew.

He told them he was leaving, and when they asked when he would be back, he said never. He was leaving, he told them, because he wanted to be out on his own. He had come up with a new idea for an identity, and would be in touch with them. When they asked if he had told Starfire, he answered that it had been her idea. Someone was about to go get her so they could say goodbye, but he stopped them, saying they had said goodbye last night and he didn't want to wake her. Then he told Cyborg he was officially in charge of the team.

They were so shocked to hear that he was leaving that they were unable to say much of anything. When Robin stood to leave they all stood too, and finally they found their voices. Cyborg and Beast Boy pleaded with him to stay, saying it wasn't his fault that his death had been faked again. Only Raven was silent, able to sense his true feelings and reasons for leaving. Finally, after promising to stay in touch, Robin grabbed his bag and opened the door, not looking back at them.

"Take care of her," he whispered, and then, he was gone.

Alright, I'm seriously depressing myself. This chapter and the next chapter were actually the scenes I had in mind when creating the story, so I think they're the best ones. Only one chapter left! Also, I want to write another chapter fic, preferably a longer one, but I don't have any ideas. Any suggestions? Please review and I will be eternally grateful- thanks!