A/N- Wow, thanks for all the reviews! (Hands out cookies—er, biscuits, that is—to reviewers)

Oh, yeah—I was asked why Starfire's a reporter when her English is "quite bad". Well... I figured that after living on Earth for 10 years, her English would have improved a lot. I mean, she's not stupid, she's just... a little slow at picking up foreign languages (like me XD). Also... there are so many Kori-Anders-the-supermodel stories around that I wanted to do something different. Even if it's OOC. The reporter idea actually came up when I was watching Superman Returns (you know, Lois Lane?).

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans, Batman or any quotes included in this fanfic.
Chapter 3

"Better never to have met you in my dream than to wake and reach for hands that are not there."

—Otomo no Yakamochi

The floor-length windows that led out to the balcony had been left slightly open, allowing a chilling midnight breeze to seep slowly into the bedroom. All was quiet outside; no stray dogs barked, no alley cats yowled, no motor vehicle engines roared. Inside the room, everything was awash with a semi-transparent, almost ghostlike, coat of metallic-white watercolour paint.

Kori awoke abruptly and sat up in bed, carelessly throwing aside the bedcovers though the room was icy, even for a November night. Her bare feet pattered silently across the room to the windows, which had not been left ajar when she went to bed earlier. When she went to bed earlier… was she still asleep, now? Was this a dream? A dream of a memory, perhaps, or a memory of a dream? Or was this all real, in a surreal, moonlit world?

A gust of wind hit Kori full in the face as she approached the window, her footsteps silent on the draughty wooden floorboards. But as she saw the full moon that shone outside, she stood, mesmerised by the perfectly-round chrome coin in the inky sky. Kori ventured onto the empty balcony outside and leaned on the carved balustrade, gazing at the shimmering beauty of the Earth's moon. She hugged the thin silk of her nightdress tighter around her slim body, aware now of the winter cold.

Something caught her attention. Out of the corner of her eye, Kori glimpsed a brief movement in the shadows. She turned, and saw a tall shadowy figure emerging out of the velvety darkness.. and into the pallid moonlight, which fell full on his uncommonly handsome face. The face of a tall, well-built young man. The contrast of light accentuated his fine features, though his masked eyes remained obscured by the dark. He stepped closer, and instinctively, Kori recoiled in fright. Who was this mysterious, masked stranger who waited outside her bedroom at night? Was he stalking her? How long had he been watching her, spying on her? How much had he seen... how much did he know...?

As if in answer, again he moved closer. Kori inched backwards, cornered. Her back was already pressed against the cold glass of the floor-length windows. Her hand reached for the door handle, fumbling clumsily in the darkness. The stranger seemed to take no notice of her uneasiness; instead, he stretched out a gloved hand. "Kori?" he asked, uncertainly.

So he knew who she was. But then, so did many people. In fact, most of Jump City recognised her; after all, there was no mistaking the signature emerald glow of her large, beautiful eyes. Yet... Kori was rooted to the spot, the man's voice still echoing in her head. His voice was magical, almost musical. A deep, strong voice that echoed and reverberated with power… and yet at the same time gentle and pleading, laced with kindness. It was a voice that spoke to Kori in her dreams… a voice that she longed to hear so much in reality that it often plagued the hidden crevices of her imagination.

"Who are you?" Kori whispered defiantly, wary of this bold stranger who dared to approach her at night. She could tell that he did not intend to hurt her—he would have ambushed her long before if it had indeed been his goal—yet she did not trust him. At least, not until she learned more about him.

Even in the darkness, Kori thought she saw a pained expression cross his striking face. "Don't you know who I am… Starfire?"

Kori gasped out loud, and her hand automatically flew to her mouth. Her heart gave a hopeful flutter, and she stepped forward more confidently, her emerald eyes fixed on the man's face. "Is it—could it be—is it really you… Robin?"

Though he was taller now, slightly taller than her, he was still unmistakably Robin. The unruly black hair painstakingly gelled into spikes. That was unchanged. The firm line of his mouth and jaw set in grim determination. That was still there. And, of course, those eyes; the eyes that searched her soul even through the protective mask. How could she possibly forget? So he hadn't changed much on the outside at all. But on the inside… Kori wondered if the boy she had once known, and fallen in love with, still lived in the man who stood before her now.

"Don't you trust me, Star?" he asked, hand still outstretched.

A memory flashed briefly across Kori's mind, a déjà vu. When the Titans had journeyed to Tamaran for her to wed that horrible alien creature, he'd tried to talk her out of it, climbing the vertical walls of the palace to find her. He had given her the chance to escape, to go home. That last time, she had declined, opting to make a decision that was right for Tamaran. But this time…

This time, circumstances were different. No longer was she betrothed to a multi-armed puddle of goo; no longer was she under the control of her ambitious, evil older sister. Kori was free now, free to make her own decisions. Free to choose her own path in life. Free to challenge her destiny. She would choose what she felt was right in her heart, just as she had chosen to abdicate the Tamaranian throne and remain on Earth, where she felt that she really belonged. But was it really her home? If home is where the heart is… then she belonged with Robin, whom she had given her heart to, ten years ago.

Kori placed her hand in Robin's, her fingers firmly gripping his. He grinned, and pulled her into a tight embrace, an embrace that would have to make up for nine years of missing embraces. She buried her crimson head in his shoulder, and he breathed in the soft, sweet scent of her silky hair. "I've missed you so much…" he murmured, his breath warm on her ear. Kori smiled to herself quietly, arms wound tightly around his strong body. Though the icy breeze still whistled in the trees in the gardens below, she felt warm, safe and protected from the cold as he held her close in a secure embrace.

After a few moments, they drew apart, and from a hidden pocket, Robin produced a delicate white flower: a flawless, milky-white rose. A rare bloom at this time of year, it was fresh and perfect—crystalline dewdrops still clung onto the fragile petals. He pinned it onto her hair where it gleamed in the moonlight, an opaque gem on Kori's long, scarlet tresses.

Still holding her hand in one of his, Robin placed his other hand on Kori's waist. On impulse, her other hand settled gently on his chest, moving slowly up to his shoulder. Slowly, they began a moonlight waltz, dancing to a tune that was present only in their own minds, a song known only to lovers. They knew the dance steps from memory, even though they had never danced like this before…

Song after imaginary song played in their heads; they danced until dawn, when the final stars faded into the pale colours of the morning sky, and the sun became an indistinct smudge on the eastern horizon. Then, and only then, did they halt their dancing. Kori rested her head on Robin's shoulder, savouring the small piece of Paradise that she had found… and which she would soon lose. Everything had seemed so wonder, so... so magical. There was simply no other word to describe it. Somehow, she could not help feeling as if he was some figment of her imagination, some pleasant apparition that would disappear as soon as the sun rose…

Reaching beneath her chin, Robin gently tilted Kori's head up until their eyes were level. She gazed intensely into his masked eyes, trying to see what secrets lay hidden beneath the blank veil of white. Kori asked desperately, her voice barely audible, "Can I not go with you?"

He hesitated, a strange, unreadable expression on his face. "No... not yet, my love." If Kori had not been so sleepy, she would have heard him add quietly, "But you will soon."

"Then... will I see you again, Robin?"

He held her close, so that she could feel his warm body against hers, his skin sweat-soaked and all too real to be a mere vision. "Oh, I'll be around," he breathed in her ear. "You'll see me every day, I promise." And then he swept her into his arms, carrying her effortlessly. Kori wrapped her arms tightly around his neck, and allowed him to carry her back to bed like a little child. She closed her eyes, drowning in sleep's sweet embrace, swept along by the ceaseless tide of dreams…

DRRRRRRRING! DRRRRRRRING! The harsh, shrill cry of the alarm clock rudely interrupted Kori's dream. Well... if it all was a dream. She opened her eyes a crack, groaning at the bright flash of early morning sunlight that greeted her. Uttering a few Tamaranian curses at the offending alarm clock, she sat up grumpily in bed. The first thing that came to mind was the appointment that she had with Richard Grayson. It simply would not do to be late… and, X'hal, it was already 8:48, much later than she usually slept on a working Saturday morning. It simply wasn't in Kori's nature to sleep late, but… she felt exhausted all over, as if she really had been dancing all night... as if her dream had been real...

Kori clambered rather ungracefully out of bed, tossing the covers aside carelessly and donning a dressing gown. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and opened them fully, adjusting to the bright light… the 24-year-old stopped short in her tracks. Jade eyes widened in shock.

On the dressing table, next to the snow globe and glass music box, lay a single, delicate pearly-white rose.

A/N- Um... yeah, I know that chapter was kind of pointless, but please review anyway! The next chapter will probably have some more plot development in it. Probably.