A/N Thank you all so much for the reviews! Seriously. I didn't expect to get 30...that means a lot. :D Ok, this is probably the last chapter. There's going to be an epilogue though...I can't believe this is almost done. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer

Me: Robin, would you do the honors?

Robin: Uh, sure, I guess. Aiva doesn't own Teen Titans...or me. Even though she wants to.

~Aiva

The team woke to the amazing smell of sizzling bacon, frying eggs, and cooking waffles. As they hurried down the stairs, varying levels of enthusiasm, curiosity, and confusion were clear on each of their faces. Beast Boy gasped as he stepped into the kitchen area, eyes growing wide in awe. "I. Am. In. Heaven," he announced cheerfully as he noticed the tofu bacon and eggs. Cyborg frowned. "Not all of this is that tofu junk, right?" he asked seriously.

Raven stared into the kitchen, frowning slightly herself. "Robin? Why are you cooking breakfast?" Robin placed the waffles on a plate as the popped out of the toaster, shrugging. "Why not?" he responded simply. Maybe Robin really was feeling better after all; he was certainly happier. Why else would he be cooking the team food so early in the morning? Beast Boy immediately dug in to his meat and egg substitutes, sucking up the food like a green vacuum cleaner. Cyborg, after examining a piece of bacon critically, deemed this one meaty enough, and placed it, along with a few other non-tofu pieces, on his plate.

Soon the whole team was finishing up the food, or leaning back in their chairs, groaning slightly at their overfull stomachs. Beast Boy let out a huge belch, which made Raven give him the death-glare. No one stood up to Raven's death-glare for very long, and the rather proud look on Beast Boy's face faded as he shrunk into his chair, seeking to escape the wrath of Raven.

"So what do you guys want to do next?" Robin asked, leaning against the counter behind him. A chorus of suggestions filled the air, involving parks, movies, thrill rides, and junk food. Robin gave a small smile. "Let's go, then," he said, leading the team out of the room. Raven frowned as she lagged behind slightly. Something was off. There was something Robin wasn't telling them, and Raven was determined to find out what. The last time she had acted like this, after all, her father had nearly destroyed the world. And while she doubted that Robin's father was an all-powerful demon aiming to take over the world, something bad was still going to happen. She could sense it.

Raven was never wrong about these sorts of things.

Starfire gave a small, happy sigh as she let herself fall onto her bed. It had been a good day. Even though Beast Boy had wound up throwing up after eating three corndogs, cotton candy, some funnel cakes, and then riding one of those spinning things, it had still been fun for all of them. But the day was over, night already darkening the sky outside, the city beginning to light up in order to combat the encroaching darkness. Starfire frowned as she felt something crinkle underneath her.

Sitting up, she saw a note with her name written on it in familiar, hurried handwriting. A mixture of curiosity and fear rising within her, Starfire opened the small envelope, pulling out a sheet of paper. Unfolding it, her eyes quickly scanned the message, opening wider in sudden fear.

Starfire,

Sorry to leave so suddenly. I know you said nothing would happen to you, but I know Slade. He won't stop trying. Ever. I have to go out and stop him, before he hurts anyone else. I have to end this. Please understand.

I can't let you fall too.

-Dick Grayson

The note fluttered from her numb fingers as Starfire froze. No…Robin couldn't be thinking about going to confront Slade so soon after he had just been injured again! He couldn't be thinking of confronting Slade ever, really. "Please understand. I can't let you fall too." Robin's words echoed dimly in her head. She understood; but that didn't mean she'd agree with it. Without bothering to even contact the rest of the team, Starfire thrust her window open, rushing through the air to go find Robin.

Robin waited, metal stick held loosely in his hand, hiding the fact that he was as taut as a drawn bowstring. He knew Slade would come; it was only a matter of time, perhaps a matter of minutes. As if on cue, Robin heard the familiar footsteps behind him. Fighting the panic that threatened to rise up within him, he didn't bother turning around, acting calm. "Slade," he said coolly.

"Robin," Slade greeted, a slightly colder edge to his voice. They both stayed still for a moment, as is frozen. Suddenly, Robin whirled around, the small explosive disks slipping easily from his fingers, aimed directly at Slade. Slade dodged them with ease, seemingly amused by Robin's effort. "My, you really have lost your touch," Slade mocked. Robin's eyes narrowed fractionally behind his domino mask as he reminded himself not to give in to the anger. Self-control and a clear mind were vital when it came to fighting Slade.

"Have you finally decided to give up?" Slade asked, blue eyes piercing. "I thought you wanted to 'protect' your friends. We wouldn't want them to end up like this, now would we?" he asked, gesturing to Robin's scarred, wounded arms. Robin's eyes fully narrowed, an angry scowl forming on his face. Oh well; self-control was overrated anyway.

Robin launched himself at Slade, and angry cry rising up within his throat as he brought down the metal stick. Though it didn't cause any lasting harm, the bang it made as it hit still brought Robin immense satisfaction.

The fight continued, each minute feeling like a day, each second feeling like an hour. Time seemed to have no hold over the two rivals as they dodged and lunged, performing complex maneuvers and attacks. But despite all the training he had put himself through, his hopes that maybe he would make it through this somehow, Robin found himself weakening. Deep inside, he resigned himself to the fact that he wouldn't make it. He wouldn't get to see the team again…he wouldn't get to see Starfire again. Slade landed a quick blow, striking Robin in the ribs, and the dark-haired teenager stumbled back, collapsing on the ground.

Panting, he moved to stand, but was stopped by a heavy boot that pressed on his chest, pinning him down. Robin glared up at Slade, a snarl on his face as he struggled. A crashing sound suddenly ripped through the tense air, and Robin's head immediately shifted to glance at whatever had made that sound. His eyes quickly picked out Starfire's form against the shattered window, green energy glowing around her hands as her eyes narrowed into an angry, determined expression. "Leave Robin alone," she said quietly, a threatening edge to her voice that didn't often appear.

Without hesitating, Starfire shot a bolt of energy at him, which made direct contact, thrusting Slade backwards into the wall with a satisfying thud. Robin immediately stood, moving towards Starfire. "Starfire, get out of here!" he shouted, frustration clear in his voice. "I left by myself for a reason!"

"I will not go, Robin," Starfire replied stubbornly. Robin opened his mouth to argue, but quickly shut it as Slade stood. Robin settled into a fighting stance easily, muscles tense as he held his metal stick. Slade gave a patronizing chuckle, a smirk clear in his voice. "Apparently, you don't care enough to protect your friends after all," he said. Robin's eyes narrowed, and he stepped in front of Starfire protectively. "Don't you dare," he growled, sounding much more threatening than Starfire ever thought possible.

Slade took a step forward, and Robin attacked quickly, determined that nothing would happen to Starfire. The thought of her having to deal with even a small amount of what he had to was horribly painful to the point that it made Robin feel sick. He couldn't let that happen. Somehow, he found himself driving Slade back, fueled by sheer determination and rage. Finally, with a little help from Starfire, Slade was finally defeated.

Robin landed the final blow, watching Slade fall to the ground, unconscious, with cold satisfaction on his face. Metal stick still poised over Slade's still body, Robin knew he could end this forever right now. He could kill Slade easily, and wouldn't feel the slightest bit guilty. As if reading his mind, Starfire placed a gentle hand on the tormented teenager's shoulder. "Robin, it is over," she said softly. Robin glanced at her, and something in her green eyes made his staff drop, lowering to a much less lethal position. He took a step back, breathing hard as he stared back at Slade.

Starfire pulled him into her embrace, hugging him tightly. "You won, Robin. It is over," she repeated. "He will not hurt you again."

"He could still come back. Eventually, he will escape from prison," Robin replied.

"If he does, we will be ready," Starfire replied, determination clear on her face. Robin nodded, and allowed himself to think that, maybe, just maybe, he could finally heal after all.

A/N Holy rusted metal! It's...over. I have the epilogue still, but it's...over. This is my longest fanfiction so far; thanks to everyone for sticking with me. Everyone who reviews to this chapter will be mentioned in the epilogue, and I'll respond to each through PMs. :D