Author's Note: Happy Birthday to me! Today I'm 18! I can't finish this rhyme scheme… But who cares, I'm 18! Wait, that actually rhymed! Woo! Anyway, since today marks my 18th year of existence in this life, I've decided to give you all a present. A new chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter 7

I called my parents and told them what happened to Vic and that my friends and I were probably going to stick together for the night. They understood and offered their condolences. What I didn't tell them is that Vic's parents asked us all to leave at around 1 am and now I was in Richard's car heading to Wayne manor. He didn't want to be alone tonight and neither did I. Oh well. What my parents don't know won't kill them.

Richard looked very somber when he parked his car and I hugged him. I hear him sigh and turn to look me in the eyes.

"Kori… After everything that happened tonight, I realized just how short life can be. So I have to say this now, while I still have the time. Koriand'r, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. You're smart and funny and strong and one of the bravest people I've ever met. It doesn't matter to me that you're an alien because… Kori… I love you. I'm sorry if you think it's too soon to say that, but I know it's true. And I hope that you feel the same way about me too."

By the end of Richard's spiel, I was in tears.

"Oh, Richard… I love you too. You're kind and brave and dedicated on top of being handsome. And I love that you accept me for who I am."

Richard kissed me with sweet passion and I knew I was in paradise. He held me by my waist and I wrapped my arms around his neck, playing with the loose tendrils of hair at the nape of his neck. It wasn't until I felt him fumbling with the zipper of my dress that I snapped back to reality.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to take things that far. I don't want our first time to be tainted by tragedy… Or the fact that we're still in your car."

He looked around, confused by his surroundings.

"Right, right... In that case, let's head up to my room? And just talk, I completely respect your wishes if you're not ready for anything to happen."

I smiled brightly.

"You're such a gentleman."

He shrugs before helping me out of the car and leading me through the manor to his room.

"You know, I just realized, you've told me things about your past that you don't even understand and I've told you next to nothing about mine."

"Oh, Richard, you don't have to tell me anything you don't want to talk about."

"No. I want to talk about it. You're my girlfriend and more than that, you're my teammate. You trusted me with your past; I should trust you with mine."

I felt myself start to tear up again, but contained my tears. Unable to sleep, the two of us cuddled on his bed all night and I listened to Richard talk about his past. About his life as a circus acrobat, the story behind choosing Robin for his alter ego, his parents and their death and his life with Bruce Wayne and being Batman's apprentice. I was completely enthralled by his story; time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. When he was done, the sun was peeking through the curtains.

"Well, that's it. That's my whole life story from before I came to Jump. I'm pretty sure you know the rest. Well, since it's officially morning, want some coffee?"

I make a face and shake my head.

"I don't really like coffee."

"How about hot chocolate then? There's a little caffeine in hot chocolate, right?"

"Sounds great, I'd love some."

We get up and head to the kitchen. As we pass the front door, we hear someone knocking.

"Who the hell-?"

I shrug and Richard goes to open the front door. Our jaws drop when we see Bee standing there, a determined look on her tearstained face.

"I know your secret. And I want in. I want to be a Teen Titan."

Richard and I regain our composure, then Richard steps in, taking the leader role as usual.

"For starters, how did you figure it out?"

"Please, sweet little Kori can wrench open a smashed up car door? Once I stepped back and thought about it, the only thing that made sense was Kori is Starfire."

I almost kicked myself right then and there.

"Right… Well, do you have any powers?"

"I hardly see how that matters, Boy Wonder, but if you must know…"

Before our eyes Bee shrinks to the size of an actually Bee and flies to our faces, then grows back to human sized.

"Good enough for ya?"

"Almost. I just gotta know one thing. Why are you so determined to be a Titan?"

"I don't care what any police report says; Vic's death was NOT an accident. I think you guys know who… Or what caused him to wreck his car. And I want revenge."

"We don't know for sure who caused the wreck. All we have is assumptions."

"That's more than I've got. And besides… Vic wouldn't want me to mope around. He'd want me to fight for what's right. To do the right thing."

Richard smiles slightly.

"You're right. Do you have an alias in mind?"

"Bumblebee."

"Welcome to the Titans, Bumblebee."

And then there were five! IT'S SO FLUFFY, I'M GONNA DIE!(Dispicable Me, anyone?) Sorry if fluff sickens you, but I needed to write something fluffy to recover from all the tragedy yesterday! Plus, it's my birthday, I deserve to write about romance I don't have! Mini rant about my love life over. Anyway, as I mentioned in earlier chapters, I'm a busy high school senior so the next chapter will be up when it's up. Until then, R&R! Seriously, I love reading your reviews; they make me happy and motivate me to keep writing! So reviewing is the best present you can give me! Thank you in advance! -Starprincess