A shrill scream pierced the air. Starfire jerked up in bed, her heart pounding. The screams continued, and it took a brief moment for her to realize that it was Christian. Scrambling out of bed, Star rushed to the next room where his crib lay. She tripped over countless toys and cursed in Tameran each time. Finally, pounding feet and all, she made it to his crib.

He lay on his back, screaming, his face scrunched with pain. Reaching over the bars, she scooped him up in her arms, laying his head on his shoulder. His cry's were murderer on her eardrums, but she was too worried about Mallory's little boy to care. She heard someone fumbling with the front door, and realized with a groan that Robin still had a key.

Unsure of what to do, Starfire rubbed the little boy's back, rocking him back a forth. Mallory had told her earlier that he had bouts of stomach aches and she would just have to wait it out.

"Starfire, what's—" Robin ran into the room, his eyes worried and his clothes and hair tousled.

"Nothing is wrong." Christian grabbed a curl and yank hard. Starfire grimaced.

"Is there anything I can—"

"No." She turned her back to him, still rocking back and forth.

Robin bit his lip, shoving his hands into his sweats. "Maybe if you rock him in the rocking chair, he'll go back to sleep."

Saying nothing, Starfire breezed past him, grabbing Christian's soft baby blanket on the way. Christian was still crying, his sobs pitiful and hoarse. Her heart broke at the child's pain.

Starfire sat down quickly, adjusting Christian she his head was cradled against her shoulder. His tears soaked through her large gray T-shirt.

Robin stood beside the chair uncomfortably. "There's a heating pad in his diaper bag. Would you mind getting it for me?" Starfire asked, using her foot to rock the chair. The child's sobs had not lessened, and if anything, the pain had gotten worse.

As Robin plug the blanket up, Starfire wracked her brain for a solution. Wait. When she was younger and sick, her nanny had sung to her. Usually, it had worked.

Softly, Starfire started to hum. Robin glanced up from the heating pad as Starfire hummed a beautiful, haunting tune. Though Christian's sobs continued, they were easing slowly. Starfire kept rocking, leaning her head against the chair.

Forgetting Robin was there, Starfire started to sing softly to the little boy. Her words were in Tameranian. Robin paused just to listen. It was unlike all the boisterous music he had heard from her. This was beautiful, her voice soft and light. Shaking out of his revere, Robin pressed his palm against the heating pad. Finding it hot, Robin carefully slid it under the boy's stomach. His finger's brushed against her and her startled eyes lifted to meet his. Thankful that she didn't flinch, Robin offered a small smile. She glanced away from him, rubbing the little boy's back soothingly.

His sobs quieted slowly. His breath would hitch once in awhile, but soon, he was sound asleep. Robin stood there, silently, unsure if he should stay or go.

Robin watched as she slowly levitated off the chair, so not to wake the sleeping child. Starfire tried to lay him back down in his crib, but the minute his back touched his mattress, he screamed. Quickly, Starfire picked him. He stopped crying.

Starfire groaned. She was so tired, yet there was no way he would sleep in his crib. Maybe, if she was careful, he could sleep in her bed. Starfire bit her lip as she floated to her room. She was aware that Robin followed, but tried her hardest to ignore him.

Starfire crawled onto her bed, still holding the child. At first, she didn't know how to lower him without waking him. She bit her lip again. Suddenly, Robin was there, helping her lower the child. Unfortunately, when Robin pulled his hand from under the little boy's head, he screamed. Robin quickly slid his hand back under the boy, and Christian quieted. Both teenagers groaned.

Slowly, both of them moved their hand. When Christian made no sound, they let out a breath. Then, Christian wailed. Panicked, they each laid a hand on the boy's stomach. He was silent.

"Great," Robin muttered under his breath, using his free hand to shove his hair out of his eyes.

"What do we do," Starfire asked, running her tongue along her bottom lip. His eyes on her mouth, Robin answered, "I have no idea."

Starfire sighed. "We could…lie down…" Starfire watched the unease wash across his handsome face and answered quickly, "I do not wish to do it either, but I cannot stand here all night. I happen to be very tired."

Contemplating the situation, Robin ruffled his already unruly hair. "I guess that's all we can do."

Starfire swallowed hard as she lay next to Christian. There was no way she would be able to sleep with Robin lying not inches from her. Calm down, Starfire. Remember that he feels nothing for you. You are not important to him. That calmed her heartbeat immediately. Christian yawned loudly, and flipped his little body until his head rested against Robin's stomach and the rest of his body lay against Starfire. It brought the two uncomfortable teens' closer together. Now, there was no way they could move now.

"Next time he throws a fit, I'll make sure I stay in my apartment."

Starfire felt a sensation she rarely ever felt: anger. "Is it so hard to be around me?"

"I didn't say that—"

"It's the way you act, Robin. I might not have been on earth for long, but I know when you want to leave. Go ahead. I can take care of him myself. I do not need you."

"You want me to go? Fine." Carefully, Robin sat up. Starfire followed him. Christian was sprawled against their laps, but still sleeping soundly.

"You are the one who wishes to leave."

"Yeah, for a good reason."

"Aha! See? You do not wish to be around me."

"Yeah, because I'm still attracted to you and I'm afraid I might do something I'll regret." Starfire opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came. She let out a surprised breath and closed her mouth. What were you to stay about that?

"I can't just get over my attraction to you in a couple of days, Starfire."

She took a deep breath. "Oh…you are attracted to me…?"

Robin sighed, rubbing his hands over his face. "I thought you knew that?"

Adjusting Christian, Starfire laid back down on the bed. "I thought that you only saw me as a friend."

"I do."

"Oh." She gave a sad sigh. "So…who was that bim—blonde girl?"

Robin glanced over his shoulder with a grin. "You were going to say 'bimbo' weren't you?"

"No," she said quickly. Robin chuckled. "Alright. But she's…really…she's just…"

"A bed buddy?" Starfire offered innocently.

Robin turned to glare at her. "Where did you learn that?"

Starfire stretched, actually comfortable around him. Yes, she still hurt, badly at that, but at least she still had him. It might not be the way she wanted, but it was better than not having him at all.

"Beast Boy said it when Cyborg was talking about Bumblebee. I later asked Raven what she meant, and she said that a 'bed buddy' was—"

"Yeah, okay, I get the point." Starfire rested her elbows against the bed and leaned her head against her palm. She gave him a soft smile. Robin's heart lurched in his chest. Damn, this girl has some serious power over me…hell, she always has. Probably always will.

With a sigh, Robin's mimicked her position, facing her. The movement woke Christian up. He glanced at them with sleepy gray eyes, crawled to them, and plopped down between them.

Starfire glanced down at the little boy with a smile. Without thinking, she mumbled, "I wonder if I shall ever be a good mother."

Her eyes widened suddenly as her gaze flew to Robin. He looked a little taken aback, but other than that, he was calm. "With the way you baby the rest of us, I'd say you'll be one helluva mother."

"Maybe." Weird. The pain in her heart seemed to have increased twofold at her little outburst. Maybe it was because she knew that Robin would never be the father of her children, that some other man would. It was distressing, knowing that another man would have to touch her to create a child. Would it be possible for her to do? She had only thought of Robin in years, but could another man actually take his place? He would have to, Starfire thought gloomily. If I ever plan on becoming a mother, I'll have to love the man that will help create them. I cannot have a child out of wedlock. It is immoral on my planet, and though I no longer reside there, the law still applies down here. Why am I perturbing over this now? I am still young. I do not need to worry myself over the future when I am still living in the present. Yes, one day I will let another man touch me, but now, I shall live a life a chastity. Thank goodness my life does not revolve around the opposite sex.

Christian mewled softly, his little fist clenching in Starfire's shirt. He scooted closer to her warmth, burrowing his little head in her chest. Starfire chuckled softly.

"He must be cold," Robin said softly, and slowly stood up. Christian didn't notice. Robin placed a large blanket over them that he found in her closet and smiled softly.

"I guess I should head on back to my apartment since he doesn't noticed I'm gone."

Starfire nodded. "Alright. Goodnight." Robin leaned over Christian to kiss her softly. It was meant as a friendly kiss, but to it felt more like a lover's kiss to both teens. Robin groaned softly as he pulled back from her. "Things won't be the same between us, will it?"

Starfire swallowed unexpected tears. "No. I do not think it will."


Raven was aware of two things when she woke the next morning: first, the pounding on her front door and two, the rock hard body she was sprawled across. It didn't take her long to remember about the conversation she had last night and when her mind lost the fuzziness of sleep, she bolted up, her face heated with humiliation. Had she actually asked…if Beast Boy would want to make love to her? Raven groaned, throwing off the covers. Beside her, Beast Boy slept soundly.

Finger-combing her hair, Raven padded to her door, her emotion's in serious turmoil. The pounding continued. "Jesus Christ, I'm coming. If you'd just hold you're horses, I won't have to sucker-punch you when I finally get to the door!"

"Let me in, Ms. Moody."

Raven froze when she recognized the voice. "Twain? What the hell are you doing here at," Raven glanced at the clock hanging in the living room and groaned, "at seven-thirty in the morning?"

"I would explain it if you would let me in. This is important business and I don't have time for your childish games."

"Childish," Raven snapped as she jerked open the door. "I was trying to get here, thank you very much. The only on childish here is you, with you constant knocking—Harley? What are you doing here?" Harley stood at her front door, balancing on crutches. She looked pale, but other than that, she was fine. Well, if you didn't count the bruise on her cheek, or the bandage under her chin, or the cast that covered her leg from foot to thigh.

"Uh, hi." It didn't take a genius to tell the girl was confused. Hell, Raven was baffled. "Er, I think I missed something here."

Twain breezed past her like he owned the place. "Raven, I'm sure you know who Ms. Harley Waylin is."

"Yeah," Raven said slowly, studding Colt and Captain Waylin helping Harley into her apartment.

"Who's Raven?" Harley asked innocently, only to be shushed by her father.

"Also, from past occurrences, I'm sure you witnessed her attack."

"Er, yeah, I was going to tell you about it later, but—"

Twain ignored her. "It seems that the White Rose killer—"

"Knows who she is, yes, I know that. But why is she here?"

Twain glared at her. Raven noticed the black smudges under his eyes. Obviously, the tough detective had not gotten much sleep in the past week or so.

"If you would allow me to explain, Ms. Raven. Since you are undercover and no one has any idea that you are a titan, Ms. Waylin will stay with you."

"Whoa, did you just say that she was a titan? As in the Teen Titans? The titans that fight crime and cover my brother's wall. That titans?" Harley was beyond incredulous.

"Harley," Waylin snapped. She flinched as her father glared at her. Colt helped her into a chair, leaning her crutches against the wall, and sitting down beside her. Without thinking, he laid a hand against her knee.

"Dude, what going on? Can't a guy get any rest around here?" Much to Raven's horror, Beast Boy walked out of her room, all rumbled and sexy, his pajama bottoms handing low on his hips.

Twain glanced at Raven, then at Beast Boy, then back to Raven. Raven couldn't help it. She whimpered in humiliation.

"Oh. Guess I interrupted something." Beast Boy blushed deeply, running a hand through his hair.

"Personally," Twain muttered, "I don't want to know." Shaking his head as if trying to rid unwanted images, Twain continued, "As I said, because the White Rose Killer knows who Harley is and you are both Teen Titans, Harley will be under your protection. She will live with you, Raven, and it will be your responsibility to make sure she is safe. She will be moving in later this evening, so I suggest you find an available room. She will stay with you until we have to White Rose in custody. Understand?"

"Yes," Raven mumbled, still humiliated that everyone had seen Beast Boy walk out of her room. Now, everyone would think that they were lovers. Hell, we will be one of these days. Raven's heart lurched in her chest.

"So, Harley will be back at Five o'clock sharp. I suggest you get this place cleaned up." Raven glared at Twain's retreating back before her gaze landed on Harley. The girl was staring at Raven scrupulously. "So…you're Raven from the Teen Titans?"

Raven nodded slowly. "So," Harley motioned to Beast Boy with her head, "I'm guessing that would be Beast Boy."

"Yep," Beast Boy said. "The one and only."

Colt was staring at nothing in particular. He was obviously shocked. "I'm guessing Robin and Starfire are also undercover."

"Yeah, they are." Raven shrugged a shoulder.

Harley shook her head. "I knew you had always seemed familiar, but I didn't know who out reminded me of. Guess I know now."

Raven nodded. "Look, I'm sorry about all this. I didn't know they were just going to throw me on you like this. I promise I won't be a burden."

Raven tried to smile. "It's fine."

They watched Harley leave. Raven was about to shut the door when Cyborg burst in, his breathing heavy.

"Damn, Cyborg. What's your problem." Before Raven could utter a single word, Cyborg lifted her up by her arms and brought her face close to his.

"I have a serious problem."

Anger building at him tossing her around like a doll, Raven bit out, "What?"

Cyborg's human eye was filled with fear. "I just asked Bumblebee to marry me."


Again, not much action, but, like, who cares? Lol, just kidding. Well, I don't have much of anything to ramble on about, so…Tootles! Dude, I can't believe summer is here! So totally cool.