Taken aback by her proclamation, Robin sat at the breakfast table staring at the spot where she had just been.

Feeling guilty, cleared the table & then headed toward the beach. Walking on the path he thought of everything Star had said during breakfast: "Yes & I believe you think so to or you would not be lying to me right now. Well I am your best friend, I should know when you're lying, especially to me, should know it hurts when you do that, lie to me."

She's right, Robin thought sullenly, I should have told her how I feel a long time ago, but I was afraid. Robin stopped where the path & sand met; silently his eyes scanned the beach for the ruby haired girl. There she sat on some rocks her back to him; he walked toward her but stopped when he saw the tears sliding silently down her angelic face. Gathering his courage & he sat down beside her, she stiffened.

"Yes," she asked him, her voice raw & scratchy.

"Star you're right."

"About what?"

"When you said I was lying about us being just friends."

"But why? Why would you lie to me?"

"I didn't want our…relationship to be awkward because it's really important to me."

"I do not understand, why does it mean so much to you?"

"Because I I…I love you."

"Robin, I love you to." Hesitantly Robin wrapped his arms around Starfire & she let her head rest on his chest.

"Robin the reason I wanted to come here was because I wanted to tell you some stuff about me," Star whispered a bit scared.

"Ok," Robin replied, " but can I ask why?"

"Yes, because if there is going to be any kind of relationship I do not want to have secrets that could tear us apart."

"Ok."

"When I was 7 years old I was sent to my Aunt Liland'r & Uncle Troy 's court on the planet Lyandus. Upon my arrival I noticed their chief advisor, Midas, staring at me with a strange look in his eye. What I did not know was that Midas was from Centurion, a planet that had tried to take over Tameran & had failed miserably. The war made their planet one of the poorest in the galaxy, therefore Midas saw a way to take revenge upon Tameran: torture & kill the crown princess. I had always felt hostility from Midas but brushed it aside as paranoia. The day I was to leave I was captured & taken off the ship, for the next 6 days I was to be tortured by the horrible man; until my Aunt Liland'r rescued me & ordered Midas to be executed. On the first two days I was left alone & starved. The third day he used The Claws," Starfire shuddered.

"Star, what are The Claws," Robin asked when he noticed her shudder.

"They are the worst of all torture devices used on prisoners. It is so horrible it is used only on prisoners sent to death, because eventually it would bring it," Star's voice cracked & she began to sob. Robin just held her, silently comforting her.

Finding her voice she talked between sobs, "They hurt so bad Robin, I…I do not know how I survived it, but the only thing I thought of the whole time was the peace of death."

"It's ok Star its ok." Starfire turned, facing Robin & clutched him fiercely.

"No! I…I need you to understand. I did not hope for death…I yearned for its embrace…I wanted it so bad I tried to strangle myself with my chains, but he caught me."

"Star, look at me. I know what that is like I've been there but I didn't let go because there was someone I wanted to be with. You," he said quietly searching her eyes. Star's sobs quieted, she became still & took a breath; to continue her tale.

"After Liland'r rescued me, I was taken home immediately & treated for all my wounds," star whispered, "all traces of my imprisonment vanished except in my mind & one scar."

She took off her shirt to reveal a bikini underneath, slowly turning her back to Robin; she lifted her hair. And sure enough there was a dark red gash below the base of her neck, between her shoulder blades. Hesitantly Robin ran his finger against it, careful not to press against it.

"Does it hurt," he whispered.

"Not really sometimes it stings," she whispered back. Robin put his hand on Starfire's cheek & searched her eyes.

He sighed, "Star? Do you…uh remember when I was Slade's…apprentice?"

"Yes, it was a sad time in the tower."

"Well, Slade he…enjoyed my pain or something…I don't know he was a sick man. Anyways he decided to take up whipping me. So after I would do whatever…job he sent me on he would beat me into a bloody piece of crap every night, Star, every frickin' night." Robin's voice cracked.

"Robin," Star said alarmed, "you can stop if you want…"

"No I'm okay. He would usually beat me till I was unconscious or he got bored I don't know. Those days were the worst of my life except for maybe when you almost married that green blob for your planet.

"Well it not like I wanted to marry the skleerch, my sister deceived me. I am most you grateful you crashed the wedding or I would not be here with you."

"Star the only thing that kept me fighting was you. I knew if I continued to fight back I'd get to see you …eventually. Uh so after two weeks of Slade's treatment I escaped & fled."

"Wait but you were gone for 4 weeks. Where did you go?"

"I… came here & stayed with…Lady Elise." Star stiffened, pulled away from Robin & slapped him.

"Why Robin? Why would you not come home to us, your family…to me?" Robin was silent for a moment, his face stinging.

"Because I… didn't want you to see me like that, & there was no way I was going to take a chance with our friendship because I was hurt."

"Robin don't you ever think that again & never do that to me again. When you were Slade's apprentice & you stole, I at least knew you weren't…dead. But when you stopped showing up, I thought Slade had finally done it…killed you. For two weeks I couldn't live with it I almost…killed myself. It was so hard, but Raven stopped me, she was there for me when…you weren't." Star shifted her gaze to the ocean

"Star I'm sorry, you're right. I should have looked at it from your point of view. I know it's a lame excuse & all but I never thought you would…assume that. Honest." Robin placed both hands on her face & shifted her so she faced him, but her eyes focused elsewhere.

"Star look at me…please," he asked. Slowly her eyes focused on his face.

"I'm sorry I put you through that, I didn't mean to. I promise from now on I will always be with you even when I'm not physically next to you."

"I believe you."

"Thank you."Robin caught in the moment kissed Star on the lips softly.

"I want to give you this to you so you know I mean it." Robin pulled out a silver chain necklace, it had a silver heart pendant & encased in the heart was a jade green gem & a blue gem. Starfire was speechless.

"Uh…I was going to give it to you at the day but gizmo attacked. The green gem is for the color of your eyes & a blue gem that's the color of my eyes," he said a bit nervous.

"Oh Robin, its perfect," she exclaimed, "It will remind me always of you."