Chapter VI: Wedding

Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans, or the lyrics to "Chapel of Love".

Six Titans awoke in Titans Tower on the day of Robin and Starfire's wedding. Beast Boy took a long shower and hung up his suit, so the at least one item in his wardrobe wasn't wrinkled. Cyborg made breakfast, being the only one who didn't need to get dressed up. Terra pulled out her pink bridesmaid dress, and hung it on her door for after the spa and salon trip. Terra herself put on a pair of jeans and a white long-sleeved shirt.

Starfire woke up in her old room, because seeing the groom 24 hours before the wedding was bad luck for the marriage. She tried on her veil again, staring at her mirror. As she prepared for the day, she sang. "Gee, I really love you and we're gonna get married. . . Going to the Chapel of Love!" The alien princess smiled and put on a pink top and darker pink miniskirt.

When Raven woke up, at first she didn't have the heart to get herself out of bed. Today Robin was going to marry Starfire, and there was nothing she could do about it. She threw on a dark jeans and a blue shirt with a black sweater. Before she left, she was forced to actually put on some make-up so Terra and Starfire wouldn't ask why she had been crying.

When Robin woke up, he stumbled to the bathroom and threw up. This was it. The big time. He was going to get married, and nothing could stop it at this point. He was getting married to Starfire, even though he was still in love with Raven, a love that hadn't waned over time but had steadfastly grown. And he couldn't deny that something was there, but every time Raven pushed him away. Even when they were both crying and in pain, she pushed him away. Even though he told her he loved her.

Funnily enough, he wasn't sure if he'd ever said that to Starfire.

The boy wonder took a long shower, protesting getting out. Every step he took would take him closer to a doomed marriage. Every move he made was about Starfire. Sweet, loving Starfire, who would've never thought he was going to stab her in the back like this. After he got out of the shower, he spent most of the time crying, something he seemed to be doing a lot of lately.

In the main room, Starfire dragged the eager Terra and the listless Raven behind her as they set out for a day of beauty and pampering as they got ready for the afternoon wedding. It was a beautiful June day, and it seemed nothing could've made it more perfect for a wedding.

After Cyborg gave Terra the manual about the care and keeping of the T-car (it was the size of a phone book), the three girls were off. Terra and Starfire sat in the front, talking about the wedding and Raven was in the back reading The Iliad in the original Greek.

"Raven, do you think I should wear this shade of eye shadow or this one?" Starfire asked, holding up to cartridges of identical pink eye shadow. Raven did not even look up.

"The one on the left."

"You didn't even look!"

"And?"

Starfire sighed and turned back, trying to pick. What was Raven so lobstery about anyway? She sighed and flipped open the mirror, holding up the two eye shadows. Blush pink or lily pink? How to choose?

Aw, we feel your pain Starfire!

The three girls pulled up to Progressions spa, salon and beauty store, and after a shaky parking job they proceeded into the enormous luxury salon.

"Titans," was all Terra had to say to get the three girls rushed into a private room in the back where the workers immediately began to wash and work on their hair. Starfire and Terra quickly fit in, enjoying the treatments immensely, but Raven was not so satisfied.

The first stupid girl got shampoo in her eyes and took forever and a day to get it off. The second girl nearly burnt her scalp with too hot water, and the third was hardly paying attention and scrubbed too hard as she whispered to her boyfriend in way that sounded like what she really wanted to do was shout.

When she finally made it to the chair, the girl seemed to do a lot of poking and prodding and fairly little cutting or styling of any sort. Finally, fed up, Raven dismantled herself from the chair and marched over to Terra.

"What?" the blonde asked, looking at the livid Raven. The mage crossed her arms. Terra sighed and put her magazine down. "What?"

"I'm going home,"

"You can't do that!"

"Why not?"

"It's Starfire's wedding,"

"I can do my own nails and hair, thankyouverymuch and these stupid girls keep attacking my head. My brain has to live there, you know!" Raven snarled angrily. Terra winced.

"Do you need the car?" she asked. Raven shook her head.

"I can fly, I'll be fine," she reassured her friend. Terra nodded and went back to her reading, and then winced as a wall was blown out of the waxing station.

Okay, maybe the bikini wax was a bad idea. . .

Raven didn't say anything to the boys as she marched past them and locked herself in her bedroom. Once there, she took a shower, used telekinesis to paint her nails in a quarter of the time, and began to dress.

Her dress was black, with off-the-shoulder sleeves and made from velvet. It had a full skirt that swished and swung when she moved and a low waistline. In came down to right above her knees. She threw a red silk pashmina over her shoulders, and looked in the mirror. The girl staring back at her looked nice enough, she supposed. Reluctantly, she put on as little make-up as she would be allowed to get away with, and then sat down in the main room to read and wait. Her red velvet heels waited beside her.

When Robin walked in, Raven's beauty truly took his breath away. The tight dress flattered her curves, and showed off her tiny, tiny waist. Beast Boy and Cyborg stopped when they saw too. But, as two of three were attached, this didn't last long and they all hurried into the room. Raven glanced up at them with curious eyes, but soon turned back to her book.

"So, the limo arrives in half an hour, and then it's wedding bells!" Beast Boy teased Robin. Robin smiled weakly. Raven felt her heart tightened in her chest. She glanced up briefly, and felt bad. Poor Robin looked like he was going to throw up. She pitied him.

The minutes crept along, but at last it was time for the wedding. The boys and Raven loaded themselves into the car to head to the chapel where Terra and Starfire were put on a few last minute layers of makeup, and then it would be time. Robin and Raven swallowed hard.

At the chapel, Cyborg and Beast Boy shuffled Robin into the main room and Raven went, reluctantly, to see Terra and Starfire. She walked into the tiny pink room, and gasped.

Bride and bridesmaid looked lovely. Terra's golden hair was waved and flowing, with a crown of real pink roses on her head. She wore an off-the-shoulder pink dress with an empire waist and white satin ribbon sash. Some glitter was on her face and neck, and her two inch heels had been dyed to match perfectly with her outfit.

Starfire, though, was the true beauty. Her dress looked just as magnificent as it had the first time she had worn it, and her red-gold hair was groomed to perfection. Her makeup had been done so well you couldn't really tell if she was wearing any. In her hands was a bouquet of pink lilies.

"You both look beautiful," Raven congratulated her two friends. Their grins became wider.

"Too bad you're shy, we could've used another bridesmaid," Terra said almost teasingly. Raven shrugged; she wouldn't have been able to bring herself to wear pink or to help Starfire and Robin get married.

"You know what would be really romantic?" Starfire said as she watched herself moving in the mirror. Her companions looked up at her. "If Beast Boy proposed to Terra at the reception!" she squealed. Terra's blue eyes lit up.

"That would be so wonderful," she gushed blissfully. Starfire nodded. "And then we can find a boyfriend for Raven!" Terra added as the two turned to face the gothic girl. Raven made a face.

"Thanks, but I'm good for now," Raven said, knowing that whatever they brought home she wouldn't be interested in. She sighed, and watched as the girls continued to talk amongst themselves. She could hardly believe that Starfire was going to get married. To Robin. This was it.

This was it.

Raven inhaled sharply, feeling a little dizzy. Terra looked over at her, a little concerned.

"You okay?" she asked, placing her hand on Raven's shoulder.

"Fine," Raven reassured Terra. "I'm fine." Terra raised an eyebrow, but said nothing to Raven. Why bother? Starfire was getting married, and it was more important to look after the bride.

Right?

Starfire ran her fingers through her silky hair. Everything was happening so fast, it seemed. She was getting married to Robin, her one true love. A thrill went up her spine as she remembered that tonight would be the first time they slept together in the figurative sense. Robin, the moral upholder that he was, had insisted on waiting until their marriage. It was sweet.

Starfire looked at her two friends, wondering what it would be like in a few years or so when she was attending their weddings. Who would Raven marry? And when was Beast Boy going to propose to Terra? Oh, it was all so very thrilling and exciting!

Raven sighed, sitting in a chair and watching them. Starfire was going to go off and marry the man she was in love with. She couldn't let this happen, but she was at a loss as to what to do about it. She watched Terra as she sprayed the girls' legs with a shower of Static-be-Gone.

Raven decided to leave. She walked out, and noted all the people filing in to see the wedding. All their friends from around the world, people they had saved. Starfire's guardian looked around happily, overjoyed that about the marriage. Raven's heart ached painfully.

The girl worked her way over to the ladies' room, but had the misfortune of running into Robin on her way there. He smiled at her, and she wanted very badly to run away.

"Hey Raven," he said pleasantly. She gave a small nod, and tried to walk away from him.

"Hi Robin," she said tersely.

"I can't believe that Starfire and I are getting married. Came on so fast, didn't it?" he said, following her.

"Mm-hmm," Raven said, trying to shake him. Ah! There it was! An escape! She dashed into the women's bathroom. Robin stared at the doorfor a minute, and then decided to follow her and play like an idiot if someone caught him. However, the only person to be seen was Raven, sobbing over the sink.

"Don't cry," he pleaded, taking her into his arms. "Shh," he hissed, stroking her hair. Raven pulled herself away.

"You shouldn't be here. . . .your wedding is starting. . ." she insisted, trying to force him back out.

"Raven," he said, resisting her. He took her hands in his. "I love you. I have only thought of you for the last two months. Starfire means nothing to me when you're there. I'm not going to marry her. I don't care if you refuse me. I can't do it, not to her, not to me, not to you. I won't marry Starfire, and nothing you say can stop me, because I'm in love with you, Raven! You, and only you." Robin said, panting as he finished his speech. She leaned in and kissed him, taking him in for everything he was and all they were going to be.

"We're going," he declared, pulling away for her for a minute. Raven stared at him, flabbergasted.

"What? But where?" Raven asked him, staring.

"Gotham,"

"Gotham?"

"Yeah, I have. . .relations there. Hurry up, let's go!" He said, dragging her out by her hand. Raven paused a minute, hundreds of questions on her lips. What about Starfire? What if it was nothing but pre-married nerves? But then she looked into his eyes, and she trusted him. It was alright. Somehow, it would be okay. She nodded and then followed him. They snuck through the crowds, and got on his motorcycle. She rested her head on his back, and slipped her arms around his waist.

"This is crazy," she said, laughing.

"This is right," he told her confidently. And she held tight as they took off. This was crazy, but it felt so right . . . she didn't resist.

Starfire gasped as she felt a pang of pain in her stomach. Terra looked up at her with worried eyes.

"Are you okay?" she asked, putting her skinny hand on Starfire's shoulder. The alien looked crest fallen.

"Robin's gone," she whispered, and then, if it was possible, more quietly she said "and he's not coming back." Starfire sat down and began to cry, and nothing Terra said could comfort the abandoned bride.

Robin's gone and he's not coming back for me. . .

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