Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans.

Chapter 7

Nightwing wanted, more than anything, to punch the nearest wall. He knew his wife would no longer discuss it with him. To go with her fiery red hair, she had a fiery temper, and was more stubborn than any of Earth's red-heads put together. There would be no changing her mind and if he even attempted to bring it up again, she would let him have it. Instead, his fists remained clenched.

He soon relaxed his fists, realizing the pain his wife was still in. "Star...?"

Starfire shook her head at him and forced herself up from the couch. She had acknowledged, for the longest time now, that she was to blame for everything that her family and friends had gone through in the past fifteen or so years. She would argue that if she hadn't gone quickly to assist her once sweet baby brother, they wouldn't be at this point. However, she knew that all of this started when she initially came to Earth. If she hadn't attempted to escape the Gordanians, they would all be carefree and oblivious to the dangers of outerspace.

"Words cannot even begin to express the sorrow wallowing in even the deepest of corners of my heart, Richard." She stumbled over to a silver pad near the kitchen that would transport her to the lair underneath her home.

Nightwing and the other Titans remained dumbfounded in their spots. Finally, Nightwing turned to the others, "I guess that means we should prepare our defenses."

He didn't rush after his wife this time; he knew she wanted some time to herself. Richard had no idea how alone Kori really was, though.

Kori, as soon as she got home, began packing a small, pink knapsack. She wasn't sure why she would need to bring her belongings with her, but the action somehow eased her mind. She had just lied through her teeth to her husband, and he fell for it. Perhaps it was because he was distracted by her distinguishable pain or perhaps she had truly become a better liar over the years. Perhaps it was merely because he was ticked off to no end. She would never know for certain.

She knew that Richard would grow to accept the conditions that she had set forth, as it would give the Titans time to create weapons and defenses. The truth was, it wasn't the only option, but Richard would never accept the other option, the safest option.

Kori shook her head in revelation; she had spent nearly her entire life running away. She ran away from the Gordanians, and she attempted to run away after Blackfire caught the attention and affection of her teammates... She ran away when she was going through her transformation, out of embarrassment and insecurities that could only belong to a teenage girl. She was planning on running away when she found out that she was betrothed, a feat that only failed because of the vast amount of difficulty it took to even attempt to conceal moving all of her belongings out of her room. She ran away to look for Ryan. She ran away when her brother asked her for help. She was running away now.

She focused her attention the the beloved child that was so minimally protected in her womb. She wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach, as she had done many times before whenever she sensed danger coming for him. She felt that this was truly the only option.

She would sacrifice herself to her brother. It was the only way to keep a majority of her friends and family safe; it was the only way that Ryan would leave Earth alone. She sighed sadly, wishing that she didn't have to sacrifice her only son in the process. She knew that it would be better for her to die alongside her son than for all of the Titans, Mari, Michael and Luke to die as well. It was inevitable.

Because she was pregnant, she would be completely unarmed upon returning to Tamaran. Her brother would recognize that her only ability would be flying and have the guards leave her alone. It would be quick and simple.

She slid the backpack underneath the bed when she heard Richard's car pull up in the driveway. This would all be over soon.

"So you were going to leave without saying goodbye?" Richard asked, stepping onto the cold concrete of the tower's roof. Kori stopped dead in her tracks, she had been ten feet off the tower's roof when he interrupted her, again. She flew back down to the ground and looked pathetically at the ground, as if she were going to be scolded.

"Richard, I know what you're going to-"

"Kori, if you didn't want to marry me, you could have just said so." Richard interrupted, holding up the small engagement ring. "You don't have to run away."

Kori blushed, realizing how her actions could have been mistaken for that. When she had heard the news, she slipped the ring off of her finger and left it on her pillow. Her intentions were to come back after her brother was found.

Richard had proposed earlier that night and she had joyously accepted. That was before she had heard the news about Galfore and his sudden death. It seemed as if it were from natural causes, but there was still some debate. Either way, Princess Koriand'r was called home immediately to take temporary control of Tamaran.

Kori walked toward her fiance and placed her right hand on his left cheek. She smiled sweetly at him, "It is not a refusal to your proposal of marriage."

"Then what is it, Star?"

"There is some business I need to attend to at Tamaran." Kori responded, "Galfore has passed away and it has been requested that I take temporary control, until a suitable replacement is found. I have demanded that they conduct a search for my brother, Ryan. Until he is found, if he is found, I must go and assist my people."

Richard frowned, understanding. He embraced his sweetheart tightly, "Stay safe. Come back to me soon."

Kori hugged him just as sweetly, "I will. No worries, my love."

It was well past two in the morning when Kori rose. She was sure Richard was in a deep slumber at this point. She slipped silently out of bed and changed into a long, white dress. Since she was pregnant, the dress ended at her knees. She pulled her bag underneath the bed then thought against it. She would more than likely be vanquished if her mission was successful. She would not need any of her looked at the rings on her left hand that symbolized her marriage to Richard. She took a deep breath then took them off. She placed them on her pillow but made no attempt to leave her husband an explanation of some kind. He would wake up and understand that she left on her own accord. That was all she wanted.

She began walking down the hallway but stopped at Mari's door first. She opened the door slightly and peeked at the sleeping princess. There was a night-light next to Mari's bed, so Kori could see the peace etched into Mari's face. Kori was about to turn around when Mari woke up.

"Mommy?"

Kori's eyes widened, "Yes, Mari?"

Mari began rubbing the sleep from her eyes, "What are you doing?"

Kori paused before responding, "Mommy's going on a trip, Mari."

"Why?"

Kori sighed, "Don't worry about it, my bumgorf. Just close your eyes. I'm going to ensure that you and daddy are going to be safe and sound."

Mari didn't seem to understand what her mother was implying, but was too exhausted to ask again. Instead, she mumbled something unintelligable and fell back asleep.

Kori turned around but didn't get too far before the hallway lights turned on. Once again her eyes widened in fear. She met her husband's cross glare from down the hallway. "You were just going to leave without talking to me about it first?"

Kori bit her lip, "Richard, you and I both know very well that you would have said no."

"I don't care, Koriand'r!" Richard hissed, "You're my wife. We're married. That means that we discuss our problems and come to a compromise if we don't quite agree."

"Richard, it is not something that can be merely fixed by a compromise!" Kori cried out, silently begging that Mari would not wake to them fighting. "It is better for me to go ahead and do this than for you to be killed along with us!"

"Damn, Kori! Why do you have to be so damned brave?" Richard threw his fist into the wall. Kori winced at the impact. If Mari had woken up, she didn't make her presence known to them.

Kori didn't want to waste precious time arguing with her husband. She ran down the hallway, into their kitchen. Richard ran after her, surprised that she sprinted off so quickly. He found her in the kitchen, pan in her hands combatively.

"Kori, you can't seriously... He's my son, too!"

Kori looked at her unconventional weapon and then lowered it. "You're right," she whispered, stepping closer to him.

He embraced his wife carefully, "We will figure out a way to do this without anyone having to die. I promise."

Kori almost felt herself falling for his sweet action. She knew he was one hundred percent genuine with his statement; she knew he probably would find a way to do just that, but she didn't have time to revel on possibilities. She needed action, now. "I'm sorry, my love." Before Richard could react, a loud WHACK! echoed throughout the house.

Kori stepped away from Richard's unconscious body, "All of my love is yours, but I must go. I'm so sorry." Tears began to pour out of her eyes as she left through the lair. She had to make a stop at Titan's Tower before she left for good.

A/N: Comments, questions, concerns? Then click the review button!

Has anyone noticed that the TT's go against what the world has to say about women in the kitchen? Both Starfire and Raven are said not to be able to cook well at all in the show. Seems funny to me. :D

God bless,
Rose