Chapter 8

"I've already called ahead and told Doctor Benson and Doctor Beckthold to be waiting for us," Cyborg said as he maneuvered through traffic.

"Thank you," Starfire said, then went back to watching Robin working to save their daughter's life.

Raven saw the bewildered, almost confused look Starfire was giving Robin as he worked. She reached out with her powers and found that the redhead was surprised at Robin's determination to save Liand'r's life. She leaned over so she could whisper in to Starfire's ear. "It shouldn't surprise you, Starfire. You're the only one who's been insisting he doesn't love or want her."

Starfire looked over at Raven, her lack of understanding clearly visible on her face. "But he chose. . ." she began, but trailed off when she saw the glare Raven was giving her.

"Yes, Starfire, he made a choice," she said tersely. "One he knew was going to cost him dearly no matter which way he chose." She looked past Starfire at Robin. She knew he was focused on what he was doing, but she also knew that he couldn't help but overhear the conversation. "Starfire, he made the choice he did out of no lack of love for either of you."

"Then why. . .?"

"Because he had to, Starfire," Raven said, cutting her off. "Doctor Benson knew that things might not go well while you were on the operating table, and that she might have to take steps that would save only one of you. As your husband, and Liand'r's father, Robin was the one who had to make that choice, as to which one to save." She closed her eyes as she remembered the conversation she had with him in the emergency room. "He knew that you would feel that if he chose to save Liand'r, that you would think that he no longer loved you, and that if he chose to save you, that you would think that he did not want Liand'r." Raven lowered her eyes, unable to hold Starfire's gaze. "I tried to convince him that you would know that he loved you, and that he was looking forward to Liand'r's birth, and becoming a father. Starfire, do you remember when your crystal was broken and we thought you had died?"

"Yes."

"When we received the message from Galfore about the destruction of the VITHURI'L, Robin turned over command of the Titans to Cyborg," Raven told her, and saw her surprised look. "What none of the others know is that he was seriously considering quitting," she added, then went on ignoring the glare that Robin shot her way. "I don't mean that he was only thinking of quitting the Titans, but crime fighting entirely. It was Shel'b that convinced him otherwise, although she probably doesn't know it."

"How?"

"Right before Galfore's shuttle landed, he met her in the common room of the Tower, and he made some comment about her not being in her dress armor to honor you. She told him that she was honoring you by remaining a Titan and continuing the fight that you had begun, taking your place. He realized that his giving up wouldn't be what you would want." Raven paused for a moment, her powers reaching out and finding the life force that she knew was Liand'r's. She was relieved to know that her heart was still beating, and that her brain was still functioning, but she could find no reason for her not breathing. She opened her eyes and looked at Starfire. "He's been telling you the truth, Starfire. He didn't choose for Liand'r to die, but for you to live. It was the only choice he could make, because he knew how it felt to lose you once. He wasn't sure if he could go through that again."

"But that is then proof that if we were threatened, he would not protect Liand'r as well as he could."

Raven gave a small growl of frustration. "You know better than that, Starfire. The decision he had to make was something he would have little control over. Azar forbid someone should endanger either or both of you. As long as he could draw breath, he would do everything in his power to protect you. Shalay'fa, I know he isn't letting himself pick up your feelings and such through your bond, but I also know he's not blocking you. What are you feeling from him?"

"I have not. . ." Starfire began, but trailed off at the 'why not' look that Raven was giving her. She closed her eyes for a moment, then mentally reached for her sense of Robin's mind for the first time in almost a month. She was dimly aware of Raven's satisfied smirk when she gasped at what she felt. As usual, she was impressed by the enforced calm and focus he maintained in times of crisis. What surprised her was that under that was his near panic that Liand'r might die. A panic that was only barely being controlled by his training, not only from Batman, but from his medical training as well. Drawn by her own curiosity, she looked deeper, and felt how much his alienating him from both their daughter and herself had hurt him. "X'Hal, what have I been thinking and doing?" she said softly.

"We've been wondering that ourselves," Raven said, then glanced over at Robin again. "He claims that he understands, thanks to some things that Blackfire has told him, but of the four of us, he's the only one that does. In case you haven't noticed, except for me that one time, we haven't been bothering you about letting him see Liand'r and yourself."

Starfire thought for a moment, conscious of the sound of Robin breathing for their child. "I did not notice it before, but now that you bring it to my attention, I realize that you did not."

"That's because of him. He told us not to pressure you about it. He said that he would wait until you came around on your own."

Their conversation was cut short as Robin raised his head from giving Liand'r a breath. The infant gave a small cough then started crying. . . . .loudly.

"I am not normally pleased to hear her cry, but that is almost the sweetest sound I have ever heard," Starfire said.

"I agree, Star," Robin said, a little breathlessly. "As long as she's crying, she's getting air," he added with a smile.

The tension in the T-car dropped dramatically, and it dropped further still when Cyborg pulled up in front of the entrance to the emergency room.

Robin was surprised when Starfire didn't object when he got out of the car, Liand'r still cradled in his arms. "Athani, Liand'r, ca naf zinara. Easy, Liand'r, don't cry," he soothed, both in Tamaranean and English. He smiled softly as she stopped crying and looked up at the sound of his voice.

"Over here, Robin!" Linda Benson's voice called as they entered the admissions area of the ER.

"She started breathing on her own a short time ago," Robin said as he gently lay Liand'r in the layette that was waiting. He watched as Doctor Beckthold, Liand'r's pediatrician, used her stethoscope and listened to Liand'r's breathing and heartbeat.

"Has she been coughing, or making wheezing noises?" she asked.

"No," Starfire replied. "She appeared to be healthy. You only saw her two days ago."

Lyta sighed as she draped her stethoscope around her neck as she straightened up. "Okay. Lisa, draw blood for a full work up and keep a close eye on her. . . ." she began but cut off as she and the others realized that Liand'r had stopped breathing again. "Respiratory arrest!" she snapped, quickly putting her stethoscope to use.

Even before Lyta finished speaking, Lisa opened a cabinet beneath the layette and pulled out a plastic bag which she tore open. She quickly fitted a small plastic mask over Liand'r's mouth and nose and gently squeezed the attached bag, forcing air into her lungs.

"Let's get her back to a treatment room and get her hooked up to the monitors," Lyta ordered and the wheeled the layette toward the double doors that led to the treatment area of the ER. "I need a room!"

"Treatment five is open," the nurse at the admitting desk called back.

"Jennifer, get an isolette to treatment five stat."

"Yes, Doctor," Jennifer said, and trotted off.

Robin hadn't realized that he had moved until he found himself, and Starfire, enveloped in Raven's energy.

"Robin, you know better," the dark sorceress said softly.

"Raven, why do you keep us from our daughter's side?" Starfire asked. "We are her parents. We should be with her."

"Because the doctor needs time and room to work on her, Star," Robin answered. "We'd only be in the way and a distraction to her."

"But she is not well; she needs us."

Robin put his hands on her shoulders and turned her so she was facing him. "Right now she needs the doctor more," he said softly. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat when he saw the fear in her eyes. He saw her normally bright eyes brighten even more as they filled with tears and her bottom lip quivered. He pulled her into a comforting embrace, and he could feel her trembling.

"I do not wish to lose her," she said tearfully.

"Hey, don't be thinking like that, Star," Robin said as he held her. "She's our daughter, remember? She's got your strength, and my stubbornness, and thanks to both of us, she's a fighter."

Starfire pulled back and wiped at her eyes. "Yes, you are correct. She will not go without a fight," she said, then Robin noticed and almost playful gleam in her eye. "Although I would say that it is determination, not stubbornness, that she inherited from you." She brushed Robin's cheek with her fingertips. "I wish to apologize for my behavior of late. I have been most unkind to you, and depriving Liand'r of her father."

Robin gave a small sigh of relief. This was the Starfire he was used to. "It's okay, Star. From what I've been told, you've been acting like a normal Tamaranean mother."

"Robin, Starfire," Raven called softly. They both looked over at her, then followed her gaze to see doctor Beckthold walking toward them.

"If you'll excuse us, please," she said looking at Raven, Cyborg, and Beast Boy. They started to turn to leave, but Robin, holding up his hand, stopped them.

"It's okay, Doctor. They're like family, and deserve to hear whatever you have to say."

"Yes," Starfire spoke up, agreeing with Robin. "Raven is what you call Liand'r's god-mother, and they all will be helping with raising her."

"As you wish," Lyta said. "I wish I had better news," she began. "To be honest I wish I had any news at all. All I can tell from Liand'r's blood work is that she was slightly oxygen deprived. She's fallen into a pattern where she breathes on her own for a while, then stops. We've placed her into an isolette and hooked her into a respirator that's programmed to operate only if she stops breathing on her own." She turned so she was facing Robin and Starfire directly. "I've taken the liberty of having doctor Benson contact Vern'a. I've been told that she and Galfore will be arriving within the hour. I hope there is something in Verna's experience that will help with this. I can tell you that she's a fighter. Her brain scans when she's stopped breathing indicate a level of agitation that I've never seen before."

"What else is it, Doctor?" Robin asked when she paused.

Lyta took a deep breath, her hazel eyes mirroring the sadness she felt. "She's fighting to stay alive, but I don't know how much longer she can keep up the fight. Each time, her life signs are weaker. There are some drugs I can use to counteract that, but without knowing how her unusual blood chemistry will react, I don't dare."

Robin felt Starfire's hand tighten on his, and he slid his arm around her waist and asked the question he didn't really want the answer to. "Bottom line, Doctor. How long?"

"Providing there is no change in either direction, I don't foresee her lasting longer than a week. I'm terribly sorry."

"No!" Starfire screamed. If it hadn't been for Robin having his arm around she would have crumbled to the floor as she sobbed. "She is just a little baby! How can you speak of her. . .her dying?! She should have her whole life ahead of her!"

"I assure you that we will do everything in our power for her, Starfire, but we have no idea what's wrong with her. Every test we've run says that she's perfectly healthy. We have no clue as to why she stops breathing."

"That is why she contacted me," Verna's voice said as the healer walked up. She seemed to glare at Starfire for a moment, her soft green eyes narrowing slightly. "Highness, Raven, take her to her garden. Do what you can to take her mind off this, as well as your own. I will contact you as soon as I have finished my examination," she ordered. "Your waiting here will only serve to distress yourselves without cause."

Starfire met the older woman's gaze. "I do not wish to be separated from my daughter any more than I must."

Vern'a's expression softened sympathetically. "You can not help her, Korana," she said softly. "You are not a healer. It will not matter if you wait here, or in the surroundings of your garden. Besides, there is another who will need your comfort and strength."

Robin saw the realization wash over Starfire's face, and she nodded. "Yes, I had forgotten."

"We'll catch up to you at the Tower," Cyborg said.

"Azarath, metrion, zinthos," Raven chanted and Robin, Starfire and herself were encased in a bubble of her power that transformed into the shadowy raven form of Raven's soul self and vanished.

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Despite the fact that Lyta had been a practicing pediatrician for the last twelve years, she felt like an intern fresh out of med school again. After the Titans had left, Galfore showed up, and Lyta led him and Vern'a to the room where Liand'r was being treated. Now she watched as the two conversed in their native language, and Vern'a used several instruments to examine the infant. From what she had been told, both were what could be referred to as classic Tamaraneans. Both had red hair and green eyes, like Starfire. Beside Galfore's hulking form, Vern'a appeared to be closer to the human norm in size. Her attention snapped from her appraisal of the two when a word they said sounded familiar.

"Omshe?" Galfore asked, as if offering a suggestion.

Lyta saw Vern'a raise an eyebrow. "Omshe? Wa'che Liand'r vat naf shesa Tamaranean," she said. "Sho vat Tamaranean e Terranahve."

"Excuse me," Lyta said, realizing that they were talking about her patient, and had come up with a possible diagnosis.

"My apologies, Healer Beckthold," Vern'a said. "Galfore has put forth a possible diagnosis for what ails the princess."

"I wasn't aware he was a healer as well."

"I am not," Galfore said. "However, as a k'norfka I have been trained as to what ailments to be watchful for in an infant."

"And?" Lyta prompted.

"It is possible that Liand'r is suffering from omshe," Vern'a said. "I did not considerate before, as she is not a true Tamaranean, but has Earthling blood in her as well." she looked down at the now sleeping child. "If it is omshe, you are correct in your prognosis. There is nothing that can be done. The princess will have to survive this on her own. . . . .or not." she sighed heavily as she heard the respirator click on and force air into Liand'r's lungs. "Your treatment is correct, and is helping to ease her suffering, but unless she is strong enough to live through this, she will die."

"I see," Lyta said softly as she placed her hand on the top of the clear plastic box that isolated Liand'r from any other infections. "I'd better call them back and give them the news."

"I do not presume to tell you how to do your job, healer," Galfore said. "But I ask that you give them some time. There has been some strain between Koriand'r and her shokala. In one respect, this has been a good thing as it has shown Korana the truth behind her actions of late."

"An hour then," Lyta said and Galfore nodded. "Any longer and they won't be pleased with my holding back.

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A large shadow in the shape of a raven formed in a clearing on Titans Island. It's wings spread, and Starfire and Robin walked out of it. Once they were clear, it resolved itself into Raven.

Starfire looked around, then turned to the dark Titan. "I thank you, Raven," she said. "This is the favorite part of my garden."

As Starfire walked around, Robin stayed at her side, and was slightly surprised when she took his hand. As they walked, he could see why this was her favorite section of her garden. Half of the plants growing here he recognized as being her favorites from Earth, while the other half were from Tamaran or other planets.

"My Lady, Highness, what news do you bring?"

They both looked up at the sound of Kim'r's voice. Robin knew that Chr's and Shel'b were on the island, but with Kim'r here that could only mean. . . .

"Mother!" a young male voice shouted.

Robin watched as Starfire dropped to one knee, her arms open wide as Nie'l flew into them, literally. He smiled softly as they hugged.

"Shoka, it is most pleasurable to see you again," Starfire said.

Nie'l pulled back from the embrace, a sad look on his face. "Yes it is," he agreed, "I only wish it was for a happier reason. As Kim'r asked, what news of Liand'r do you bring?"

"My Lady?" Kim'r asked when she saw Starfire's face sadden. "X'Hal, no. Do not tell me."

"Unfortunately, we don't bring any news," Robin said, easing Kim'r's fears. "Doctor Beckthold contacted Vern'a and Galfore, hoping they might be able to figure out what's wrong with her."

"I knew that they had been contacted," Kim'r said. "That is why Nie'l and I are here." She looked over at Nie'l, then back at Robin and Starfire. "I am curious as to why you are here and not at the hospital?"

"Vern'a saw fit to practically order Robin and Raven to bring me here, saying that there was no point in my remaining at the hospital. I do not agree with her, but she pointed out that I was needed here."

Kim'r looked over to where Robin and Nie'l were talking. "She is correct, my Lady, you are needed here," she said softly enough so that only Starfire could hear her. "Nie'l has been putting up a strong front when anyone else is around, but with the tensions between yourself and Rob'n, this ailment of Liand'r's has upset him greatly."

Starfire looked over at Robin and Nie'l. "He seems normal enough to me."

Kim'r's eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance. "As I have said, my Lady, that is the strong front he is letting us see. Galfore and myself have been approached by Simo'n and Selo'n. It seems his concern about you and now Liand'r has been interfering with his swordsmanship and hand to hand lessons."

"I believe we will see for ourselves," Starfire said, nodding her head in the direction of Robin and Nie'l as they faced each other and took a defensive stance.

"I am not sure this is a good idea, my Lady."

"I have no fear that Robin may injure Nie'l, and I am also confident that he will not allow Nie'l to harm him."