Jen: Welcome to…Chapter eleven! Wow, this thing is getting long. Anyway, where was I…?

Oh yeah. Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans. ROBIN AND STARFIRE AND BEAST BOY AND RAVEN FOREVER!

Home Again and Off to Hollywood

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Beast Boy shook his head. He needed something to keep his mind off of the Raven situation for a while. Anything remotely distracting would work like…like…oh God, did he still have to wear those red pants?…Red pants? Perfect!

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Robin blushed. As soon as they had said bye to Raven, Star had thrown her arms around him again, pressing him to her bosom. Not that Richard minded, but Robin…Robin seemed be out at the moment, but he would be pleased to take your call as soon as he was free from Star's spell. Beeeeeep.

"…the happiest moment when I awoke and Alyssa said you were here!" Star finished, finally taking a breath.

"Mmm hmm." Robin nodded absentmindedly.

"Robin?"

"Yeah?"

"Did…did you also do the missing of me?" Her voice was small and hesitant.

Richard had the sudden urge to look at her beautiful face, so he pulled up. Her eyes shimmered with hope just as they had when she had asked him about her new image. But this time it would be different. This time he wouldn't blow it.

"I missed you…very much." He said, looking into her emerald orbs. He pulled her into another hug, "So much."

"Robin, I--"

But Richard couldn't control himself anymore. His thoughts were coming out faster than he could stop them, "Don't you ever leave again, okay? Never again. Promise me."

"Rob--"

"Promise." Richard lowered his forehead to her shoulder, "Please?"

Starfire made him face her and, leaning very close to his face, pledged, "I will not leave. I do not ever want to leave you again, Robin. I…I…"

Richard held his breath, "Yes?"

"I believe…um, lately there has been this feeling…I…"

"DUDES! LOOK AT THESE CRAPPY PANTS I STILL HAVE TO WEAR!"

At the sound of Beast Boy's voice, the moment was ruined, the spell was broken, and practical Robin finally returned from his coffee break. He stiffened up considerably, and scowled and the green changeling, who had just burst through the doors.

"I MEAN, LOOK AT THEM!" He wailed.

Robin cocked an eyebrow at him, before returning to Starfire, "Star--"

"Do not mind it, Robin." She suddenly took flight, "It was not of importance."

As she left, Robin glared menacingly at BB.

"What?" Beast Boy said after awhile, "Something on my face?"

"I'm going to kill you, you know."

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As the Titans and assistants disbanded the T-ship onto the roof, Starfire was eager to choke Raven to death in one of her hugs. Raven let her. The goth girl didn't hug her back of course, but everyone could tell she had missed her.

Starfire began talking Raven's ear off as everyone headed inside. Robin stayed back and tapped Alyssa on the shoulder, "I need you to tell me some things."

Alyssa looked at her watch worriedly, but nodded anyway, "I suppose you would like to know of Starfire's experience on the swamp moons?"

"Yeah." Robin said, "But first, I must know something in particular. Was Starfire…uh, did Karras…" He took a deep breath and his features stiffened, as if he was determined to get the sentence out, "Did Karras r-r…ra--r…"

"Did Karras rape Starfire?"

Robin winced and in a defeated voice replied, "Yeah."

"No, Robin, he didn't."

A huge weight was lifted off of the Boy Wonder's shoulders. He released a breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. If Starfire had had to endure something like that, he didn't know what he would've done.

"But be cautioned, Robin." Alyssa adjusted her glasses curtly, "Starfire seems normal now, doesn't she?"

"Yes."

"I do not believe she is. Things…happened with Karras." Alyssa checked her watch again, "She gave me a full account of what happened. I know she's hurting inside. And I think you should talk to her."

Robin sighed, "I don't think I could handle that."

Alyssa's eyes narrowed, "You still think this is about you? Fine. You know what? If that's your attitude, don't talk to her. You don't deserve to talk to her." Alyssa's voice got very, very quiet, "You don't care about her at all."

"What? That's not it!"

Alyssa laughed bitterly, "Yes, it is."

"No!"

"Prove it!" She challenged and stormed off.

Robin stood with his mouth open. Alyssa was wrong. Of course he cared about Starfire! He cared about her so much that it hurt sometimes. He would not let Alyssa believe that he didn't. Robin was going to do exactly as she said.

He was going to prove her wrong.

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"Oui, oui." Emily spoke into the phone. Everyone in the Tower had been surprised to learn that she spoke impeccable French, "Elles aussi vouloir nulle fanatique aux le hotel chambre. Oui…Nulle…Nulle service de chambre. Elles aux consommer sur place le restau. Oui, merci monsieur. Au revoir." She set the phone down daintily.

"Well?" Alyssa said.

"The reservations are made." Emily smiled, "I told them we want this to be kept very hush-hush. No fans, that sort of thing."

"Good, good…"

"The Titans'll be staying at le Luxe for five days. Oh, Alyssa, think about it! Hollywood! I've always dreamed of going there!" Emily squealed, "The stars, the boardwalk…"

"…the hot babes, the models, the porn sta--OW!" Mike rubbed his cheek as Alyssa's hand returned to her side, "What was that for?"

Alyssa gave an indignant "humph!"

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The Titans all prepared themselves for the worst when Alyssa called them into the main room, but were pleasantly surprised that her intentions had nothing horribly embarrassing involved. In fact, Beast Boy and Cyborg were rather excited about the thought of Hollywood.

The packing began immediately, with Robin's okay of course, and Starfire was all jittery as Alyssa explained the purpose for going to Hollywood at all.

The assistants planned to release the New Teen Titans to the public eye. Make them celebrities. Make them stars.

"Mail's here!" Mike called, interrupting vivacious chatter coming from the main room, "Sorted and ready to go." He held up a bag that was half full, "Cyborg." The half machine mentioned collected his mail, "Raven." She took the sack with her powers and began to read, "Beast Boy." He let out a happy cry and grabbed his bag, "Robin." Mike tossed Robin his full sack. Mike smirked, "And for the lovely Starfire." He handed the remaining two overflowing bags to her.

Starfire blushed, "You are sure that all of the letters that are not of the alphabet are for me?"

"Every last one." Mike said, "You sure got a lot of fans, Sweetheart." Mike looked at Alyssa, "This came from Jump Prison." He threw the envelope Frisbee style, "They decided to move Blackfire to a Centari Moon jail. Couldn't handle her. Said she beat Johnny Rancid to a bloody pulp when he touched her a--"

"THEY'RE DEPORTING SPUNKY?" Bambi cried, "Like, no! They can't just, like, send her away!"

"Calm yourself, Bambi. It's for the best." Alyssa said, scanning the letter, "Robin, they want your signature as permission to move Blackfire. Sign."

Robin did so with the pen Alyssa handed him.

"Hey, hey! Check it out!" Beast Boy held a picture of something up for Cyborg to see, "Pretty sweet, huh?"

"Yeah!" Cy grabbed the photo and whistled, "Shoot, she's got a nice figure. I bet she'd go out with you if you sent her a picture of yourself."

The piece of paper was engulfed in black energy torn in half until it resembled confetti. Raven narrowed her eyes, "You two are already way too hormonally influenced to be looking at pictures like that."

"MICHEL!" Alyssa yelled, "I THOUGHT YOU SAID THESE LETTERS WERE SORTED!"

Mike shrugged, "Sorted enough."

"I can't believe you." Alyssa threw her arms up in exasperation, "Can I not trust you with the smallest amount of responsibility?"

"Sure you can." Mike said with a grin, "I'm completely responsible for kissing you."

Alyssa's cheeks turned crimson, "Well you--"

"She left her phone number!" Beast Boy squealed.

Raven stood up and snatched the letter from his green fingers.

Beast Boy,

YOU ARE SO CUTE! I love the ears and green's my favorite color. I hear you're really funny. That's cool! I don't like serious guys. Anyway, I just wanted to say that I LOVE YOU!

Love love love love,

Jamie

P.S. My number is…

At this point Raven crumpled the piece of paper before stepping on it several times.

"Like, Raven, what's your, like, problem?" Bambi asked while lugging her Cyborg-sized suitcase into the room.

Raven grumbled and sat down.

Beast Boy crossed his arms and was about to say something when Robin interrupted.

"We don't usually get this much fan mail, Alyssa. What did you do?"

Alyssa smiled and pointed at Emily who pulled back the giant curtains, which had for some reason been closed, revealing where Jump City met the shore. Jutting out above all the buildings and trees was an enormous billboard. The Teen Titans were all posed in crime fighting positions on it.

Robin was in the front, his blue uniform on, in a fighting stance. Starfire was by his side, also in her new uniform, with her starbolts charged. Cyborg was to the right with his sonic cannon pointed in said direction. Beast Boy was behind and to the left of Starfire, his hands above his head like he was about to claw something. Raven stood by Cyborg, hooded, her cape falling over her. The look in her eyes could have said "Go away" or "Come hither" depending on if you were Robin or Mike.

"Whoa…" All the Titans, save Raven, said.

"Dude!" Beast Boy continued, "I am one good looking' fella'!"

"Get over yourself." Raven muttered.

'Yeah, get over yourself so I can fall head-over-heels for you.' That same voice in Raven's head taunted. Damn, she thought she had gotten rid of that.

"Mike?" Starfire said, rereading the piece of paper in her hands, "You are familiar with most Earth terms, yes?"

Mike shot Robin a smirk before answering, "Yeah."

"Please…what is the meaning of this word?"

Robin's mask widened. Why didn't Starfire ask him what the word meant? He was, after all, her unofficial question-answerer person. Wasn't he?

"'Making out'?" Mike said after reading, "Robin still hasn't explained that to you? Well, if you really want to know, we can step into my room and I can show you--"

Robin was ready to stab Mike, but it was Alyssa who intervened, "You do not need to show her anything, Michel."

Mike gave a fake sigh, "Jealous again, Alyssa?"

Alyssa scowled, "I'll have you know that I am a dignified, respectable--"

"OH MY GOSH!" Emily screeched, "Alyssa, look at your watch!"

Alyssa did so and her eyes nearly popped out of her head, "We should have left a half hour ago!" She looked up, "Everyone, gather your things. Let's move!"

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Finally, after Alyssa nearly killed everybody because they were almost late, the Titans and assistants arrived at the Jump City airport. Robin was mobbed by fan girls on the escalators, Raven was stared at by a big group of Goths while they were checking in their luggage, Cyborg was attacked by women and poked at by nerds on the way to their private gate, and Beast Boy had been rejected by every blonde bimbo he had tried to flirt with. Though, a bunch of suspiciously feminine looking dogs chased him until they reached the private jet.

"And the jet came from where?" Robin asked while Alyssa shoved him up the steps.

"Jump City funds. Mr. Hearting let us get it as soon as I told him that Batman didn't have one. You know how he is about Jump being better than Gotham." She said.

The inside of the jet wasn't like all the private jets the Titans were used to seeing in movies. It looked like a normal plane. There were three rows of two seats each with an ugly pinstripe pattern on them. Alyssa explained that this was temporary until tax season rolled around and Jump City actually had enough funds to buy a personalized jet for the team.

Once everyone was in their seats, buckled in, and they had gone over emergency procedures, the plane took off.

It was to be a six hour flight and little did Robin know that his life would change forever right as they were flying over Nevada.

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"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No."

"Are we there yet?"

"No, Beast Boy we are not there yet." Raven said, "And we will not be there for another four hours."

"Oh."

Pause.

"Are we there yet?"

"Errrgghh…"

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"Like, ohmigod! Look at that!" Bambi squealed, "No, like, look at that!" She pressed her face against the window.

"Booohooo!" Emily wailed beside her, "Boooo hooo hoooo!" She blew her nose on a tissue she had pulled out of nowhere, "The plane is going to craaaash! We're all going to…t-to dieeeee! Waaaaa!"

"Look at, like, those people! They look like, like, tiny ants or something."

"Ants we'll squash when this plane craaaaashes!"

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Cyborg turned to face Boris, "Do you think this plane has a nuclear powered engine and thermonuclear filled wings or a gas powered engine with non-hydrological wings?"

Boris smiled, "Wanna ask the pilot and find out?"

They nodded simultaneously and scrambled to the front of the jet.

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"I do hope you realize that I am absolutely not enjoying myself." Alyssa stated, turning away from Mike.

"I'm not the one who put us together." He scowled crossing his arms, "'Let Robin and Starfire sit with each other, Michel. Robin needs this chance, Michel.'" He grinned and continued his impression. "'Oh, Mike, you're so big and strong! I'm so jealous of Starfire. The truth is: I want to sit with you. Then, we no one's looking, we'll sneak into the lavatory and--'"

"I said no such thing!"

"You were thinking it." Mike said, pointing to her forehead.

She lowered his hand away from her face, "I was not thinking of anything that had to do with that or with you."

"Sure, Alyssa, sure."

"I wasn't!"

"Riiiight." Mike leaned in really close to her face, "So you're telling me that you weren't thinking of doing this with me?"

He kissed her quickly.

Alyssa just sat there for a moment, her mouth agape.

Mike took it as a good sign, closed his eyes, and leaned in for another kiss. He stole two more before she finally spoke.

"Stop doing that!"

"You mean this?"

He pulled her to him and kissed her fiercely.

She pushed him back and slapped him, "Yes, that!" She slapped him again.

"Hey!" He exclaimed, "Stop hitting me."

She slapped him twice more, "That was one for each time you made unnecessary physical contact!"

"You mean each time I kissed you?"

"You could refer to it like that, I suppose." She muttered.

"You liked it." Mike said, "Admit it."

"I most certainly did not like it!"

"Did too."

"I did not!"

"Did to."

"I did not! You-you jerk!"

"Prude."

"Poser!"

"Snob."

"Imbecile!"

"Nerd."

"Jackass!" Alyssa shouted and stomped as far away from Mike as she possibly could.

Mike blinked. Then blinked again. He smiled. She had never used a curse word around anyone else but him.

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Robin had made up his mind. He was going to ask Starfire about her trip to the Swamp Moons and when she told him about it, he was going to be there for her, as all best friends should. There was just a slight problem:

"Oh, Robin." Starfire said, hunched over, "I did not know the flying of a plane could be so hazardous to my stomachs…" She barfed into the bag again.

Robin rubbed her back with his palm in an attempt to console her, "Jeez, Star. If I had known you got airsickness I would never have made you come on the plane."

"But you did not know. I did not know." She said miserably, "Nothing could have been done." More vomit was added to her bag.

Starfire had been throwing up since takeoff.

"I'm just so sorry, Starfire." Robin said, "Do you need anything else?"

Star ralphed again, "Another bag…please."

Robin sighed. So much for his perfect plan.

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Five hours and fifteen minutes into the flight it was 11:45PM Jump City standard time. Cyborg and Boris had returned from their trip to the cockpit and were sleeping. Cyborg had brought a portable charger for the ride.

After Beast Boy's 727th "Are we there yet?", he finally got tired and dozed off into a deep sleep. Raven didn't dare wake him up even though he had started snoring and had fallen over onto her lap. Soon, Raven felt the sandman's effects as her own eyelids began to droop.

Emily had boo hooed herself to sleep and Bambi followed soon after. Their heads were to the side as they leaned on each other for support.

Alyssa had closed her eyes for a few moments after she had returned to her old seat for lack of someone to talk to, and after Mike waved his hand in front of her face several times, he attempted to touch the thin green fabric covering her upper chest. Right before his finger reached them, she had grabbed it, bent it backwards, and warned him that she would break it if he tried to touch her again. Of course, he did and was now holding an ice pack over his swollen finger, drifting in and out of sleep.

Starfire had stopped barfing after four and a half hours. She had apologized to Robin before saying that she wished to get some much needed rest. Robin didn't blame her. And Richard got butterflies in his stomach when she used his shoulder as a pillow.

Richard glanced at the clock.. 11:47PM. They had about forty-five minutes to go. He momentarily looked over Starfire's head to see the digital map that showed how far the plane had gone. They were crossing over Nevada.

Starfire stirred and Richard silently prayed that he wasn't the cause of it. She moved again, "Uhhmm…Robin?" Her head left his shoulder slowly. She rubbed her eyes and yawned, "Have we landed?"

"Not yet." Richard said quietly, "We've got forty-five minutes to go. How are you feeling?"

"Slightly better." She said, smoothing her hair, "I do not believe I will 'up the throw' again." Her stomach growled quite loudly and she blushed, "But I am rather hungry."

Richard chuckled and called a stewardess over and asked for some food for Star.

Richard looked around. Everyone was asleep. He had to talk to Starfire now. It was his only chance.

"Star?"

"Yes?"

He hesitated, "I've been meaning to talk to you about…Karras."

Her relaxed demeanor faltered and she stiffened.

Richard noticed this immediately, "No, no. You don't have to talk about it if…i-if, you know, you don't want to."

"Do you…wish to know?"

"I…care about you." Richard was surprised at how naturally his words were beginning to flow, "I want you to be okay."

"We did not consummate our marriage. So, we are not married." Starfire took a deep breath, "On the first day, after you…left, he pressed his mouth to mine many times. On Earth it is called kissing, yes? He did not wish to go any further…and when a service maid came in…h-he ended up going after her."

Starfire seemed more upset with the fact that he went with another girl then him forcing his kisses on her.

"I remained in the suite for many days." She wiped a tear that stubbornly slid down her cheek, "K-Karras did not return for a long lapse of time. I was…lonely. I have not lived alone for over an Earth year. I was…frightened. I honestly did not know if he would come back at all.

"I did not understand. We were wed! Bound to each other for all of eternity and he did not want to…h-he left me…" She put her face in her hands, obviously embarrassed about something, "I did not love Karras, Robin, I am aware of that. But he was all I had…and he abandoned me w-when I needed someone…"

"Starfire…" Richard couldn't believe it. While on the Swamp Moons, had she actually prepared herself to live with that creep? Was she ready to stay with him and treat him like she willingly married to him?

"He knew I was not happy when he finally returned." Starfire continued, "He…did not like it that I was unhappy. H-he said I was ungrateful and that I should show more…gratitude. He performed the kissing on me again. Karras pushed me against the wall." Tears were seeping through the cracks of her fingers, "That is when the door was made sick." She looked up at him with a face so sorrowful that he felt a horrible pain shoot through his stomach, "You came back.

"I…witnessed what injuries you inflicted on him. I have never seen you so angry as you were then." Starfire looked down, "And I feel more horrible than anything because…I am glad that Karras is gone." Her emotions betrayed her as she broke down, quietly sobbing into her hand.

Richard had never seen Starfire so sad. Robin broke through for a moment and his first instinct was to put a hand on her shoulder. All of her troubles would be gone because of that gesture. At least, that's how it had worked before this whole ordeal.

But Richard was much stronger than Robin and he instantly pulled her into a hug, "Starfire…we're all here for you now."

"I have promised not to leave you." She said, her face buried into his shoulder, "Now you must promise not to leave me. I never wish to be alone again."

Then, something in Richard's heart clicked. He realized that Alyssa had been right all along: It wasn't about him. It never had been. It was about Starfire and she was all that mattered.

He felt something he hadn't felt in very long time. As he looked down at her emerald windows, cute nose, fiery tresses, his chest tightened. Richard saw what was beneath the surface. He saw a girl who was terrified of being alone, a girl who had made it a point in her life to surround herself with friends, and a girl who needed those friends more than anything.

She was still thinking about Karras, he could tell. And he was nearly drowned in the overwhelming sensation of wanting to make her forget. Forget about Karras. The Swamp Moons. Her loneliness. He didn't know how he would do it, but he would make her forget. No matter what it took.

He loved her.

The complexity of its simplicity was mind boggling. Richard couldn't understand why it had taken him so long to figure it out. Richard loved Starfire. It would have sounded so stupid to him years ago, but now it made perfect sense.

She wasn't a mere friend anymore. Quite frankly, both Robin and Richard didn't know if they could survive without her.

"I promise." He heard himself say in such a soft tone that Starfire brought her head up again so she could hear him better.

He mustered a half-smile and wiped the tears from her cheeks..

"Robin…" Starfire put a hand to his bangs, letting it travel over his mask and cheeks, stopping at his lips. "I…"

"Here's the food you ordered." A quiet flight attendant interrupted, "A chef salad and a large bottle of," she cringed, "mustard."

Star ripped her eyes away from Robin's mouth and looked at the stewardess, "I thank you." She took the tray and daintily began to eat, picking at her food with uncertainty.

Robin just stared at the alien before sighing and leaning back in his seat. Dear god, they had been close. If Robin still didn't have tingly feeling in his stomach from the way Star had looked at him, he might have yelled at the flight attendant.

With only thirty minutes left of the flight, there was not much to do but watch Starfire eat and pretend nothing happened between them.

But something did happen. He had felt it. And she had felt it, too…hadn't she?

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Jen: And that's the end of this chapter. So…review please. Later!