Alfred stands at the foot of Dick's bed. For the past few years, Alfred normally let Dick wake up whenever he wanted to. Dick looks at the clock. 11:00 A.M. Damn, he would have preferred after noon. He lets out an exasperated groan, processing what Alfred just told him.
"A party? You've got to be kidding me."
"Master Dick, I agree with your friends. In throwing Miss Starfire a surprise party, she can see all of her old friends again, and the Justice League will be made aware of her being alive. Two birds, one stone, I must say."
"Not my friends," says Dick.
"You only think that because you upset them all. Now set it right and participate."
Dick sighs. He knows that Alfred is right. Sure, they haven't talked in three years, but he still considers them his friends. His family. And it's his own fault that they haven't spoken. He shut them out.
"Fine," he says, throwing the covers off and swinging his legs onto the floor. Alfred only smiles at him before leaving him alone once again.
Pink and purple streamers encased in black magic string up along the ceiling, criss-crossing though the middle to meet with the chandelier. Raven has spent the past few hours decorating the large ballroom hall in Wayne Manor. She's set up tables with pink and purple confetti and table cloths, put together floral arrangements, and set up a DJ area for Cyborg. Gar and Cyborg have been working with Alfred to create a feast. They've been on the move since after breakfast, and now it's about 4:30. Guest will be arriving at 6:00.
It was easy to set up without Starfire knowing. After she ate breakfast, finishing before Alfred went to wake Dick, she evacuated the mansion. Raven's been keeping tabs on her, but the others have no idea where she is. And she can tell that it's driving Dick crazy. But hey, he has a girlfriend. And Starfire isn't about to let him give her up. But personally, Raven thinks Starfire should kick Babs' ass. And Dick's, for that matter.
But she knows that Starfire is too kind and sweet. She actually believes that Dick should be with Babs, Raven can feel it. But Raven could also feel that Babs would willingly step away from Dick if that's what he wanted. Starfire keeps pushing him away, so Dick won't give up Babs. Raven knows why. If Dick leaves Babs and Starfire still doesn't want him, Dick will be right back where he started. He needed Babs to get through his loss. Which he still hasn't really gotten through.
At five, Raven finishes up with the party area. After grabbing on of Cyborg's holorings, she sets out into the city to track down Starfire and drag her back to the mansion. She hones in on her signal in her mind and finds her in the Gotham mall food court. She catches sight of a girl with similar features as Starfire, but just a little more human. Raven can't help but chuckle at the tan, red-headed girl surrounded by several mini packets of mustard.
"Hey," she says as she takes a seat across from Starfire.
"Hello, friend Rachel."
"You ready to come back?"
Starfire frowns. "Must I?"
"Kori, where else will you go?"
"Back to your apartment, of course."
"We're not going back yet. We wanted to 'reconnect with Dick' as Victor once said."
"Rachel, you have been most angry with Richard. Why do you want to stay?"
"He was like my brother," says Raven. "I missed him a lot. I was hoping that since you were back, we could mend what was broken. Besides, I think you need to stay to spend some time with him. If you left now, you would regret it days later. You really missed him."
Starfire sighs. "But it hurts so much to even be in the same place as him."
"It was your choice not to take him back, Kori. Now do you want to lose his friendship as well?" Starfire shakes her head. "Then you need to start over. This could be your new beginning if you act on it."
Starfire considers this. A new beginning. She could go back to the way she was with Richard before they started dating. They were best friends; having movie nights, going to the park, playing video games. And if she just stayed friends with Richard, she could keep her friendship with Barbara. Yes, she would do this. She would stay.
"I shall return with you, Rachel."
"One way or another, I was going to get you back to that mansion."
The two fly back to Wayne Manor, Raven teleporting them into her room so Starfire couldn't stumble across the decorations and food. Raven had already brought Starfire's suitcases into her room so Starfire wouldn't have to go out into the hall. It was almost 5:30, and guests would be teleporting in soon.
They lose the holorings, and after a few minutes of bickering, Raven finally coaxes Starfire into a cute outfit and convinces her to do something more with her hair. After transforming her straight hair into long waves, Starfire looks at Raven expectantly.
"You look nice, Raven. Now tell me, where are we going?" Raven finishes tying up her navy blue halter top. Her legs, clothed in dark denim, look long despite her true height. Her short black heeled boots also working to accentuate her legs.
"Do you not trust me? You will know soon enough."
"Okay. Well I believe I am ready." She adjusts her dress; the top is a billowy light pink racer-back, meeting at her hips with a tight, hip-hugging sequin material. Her pink wedges make her legs look even better than they usually do. Dick will probably drop dead, thinks Raven.
"You look it." Raven looks at the clock. 6:05. Heroes are known to be punctual. But she should stall for a few more minutes.
Downstairs, the heroes are arranging themselves for a surprise. They think it's for Nightwing, who was told to stay in his room until someone came up and got him. They are all in for a surprise themselves when they see Starfire's alive.
They all gather close together in the ballroom, shutting off the lights. Cyborg and Beast Boy get everyone prepared, knowing that the girls should be down any moment. Whispers spread amoung the heroes, Kid Flash and Jinx are making out, and Batman stands stoically in the corner away from the rest of them.
Suddenly, two figures enter the open doorway, casting a shadow into the room. Alfred flicks on the lights, signaling for the heroes to jump out.
"SURPRISE!" they all shout. But then they all begin to register the faces they are seeing. That's not Nightwing. That's Starfire. Allegedly dead, Starfire.
Gasps ring throughout the room as several people charge towards her. Starfire is tossed around, enveloped in hugs from just about everyone. Close friends of Starfire's sob, holding her close, hardly believing that she's really there. But the reality is that Starfire is alive. And now, the world can know it.
Beast Boy, who had just gone upstairs, returns with Nightwing at his side. They merge in with the party guests. The conversations are all the same. Yes, Starfire is alive. No, we don't know much about what happened. Yes, it is great to have her back.
Many of the old Titan boys come up and embrace Starfire as well. Aqualad is just as attractive as ever. Kid Flash just as funny. And Speedy is still very much infatuated with Starfire. She spends a lot of time talking with him, even humoring him with a few dances. Starfire can see Nightwing looking at the two of them with a loathing expression. But he stands with Babs at his side, even holding her hand. What was all of that talk with Raven? She would try to be friends with him? Well she'll have to try that later. He's going to ruin her night with Speedy. So she "turns her shoulder cold" and chooses to ignore him, enjoying Speedy's company.
But soon, Starfire has to separate herself from the crowd. She grabs a glass of the "big kid" punch, meant for heroes 21 and up, and heads into the kitchen. Its not that she doesn't appreciate the party. She just felt a little overwhelmed is all. And she can't stand Nightwing's gaze on her back.
"Starfire?" She turns around to see Babs in the doorway. "Can I talk to you?" Starfire nods her head. Babs takes a seat next to her at the counter.
"Please, Barbara, if you are here to tell me to leave Richard alone, I-"
"Starfire, I was just waiting for you to tell me to back off. And when you hadn't, I thought we should talk. I know Dick told you about us."
"He did say that you were doing the dating."
She makes a "pshh" sound. "If you can call it dating. Sure, he lets me call him my boyfriend, but he's never once called me his girlfriend in an entire year."
Starfire laughs. "Richard is very difficult, is he not?"
Babs face falls. "He lets you call him Richard."
"Yes?" Starfire takes on a confused expression. "He said he liked me to call him that."
"I figured as much." Babs sighs. "He never lets anyone call him Richard. No one but you."
"Why me?"
"Do you really not see? He still loves you, Starfire. Even I can admit it."
Starfire shrugs, ignoring the subject. "I do not understand why you do not wish to battle me for rights to Richard. That is what would happen if we were on Tamaran."
"Well, I'm no Tamaranean warrior, and I know you could kick my ass." She laughs. "But I'm not mad at you, Starfire. How could I be? It's not like you broke up with him and left the planet. It may have been easier for him to move on then. But you disappeared. We thought you were dead. He's been holding onto your memory for years."
"But I wasn't here, Barbara. If I had stayed away, he may have eventually moved on. With you."
Babs smiles sadly. "He'd never actually move on. I can see that he's happy with me sometimes, but then other times, he gets this hazy look in his eyes. He's looking at me, kissing me, but he doesn't actually see me. I can tell he's thinking of you. Hell, he's been holding my hand all night but his eyes have been glued to you."
"Maybe in a few more years-"
"No, Starfire! I'm telling you, as his fucking girlfriend, that he is never getting over you. Now I'm not going to break up with him. But I'm also not going to hold anything against you if you come to your senses. I really like him, but I know he'll still be one of my best friends when this is all over."
"When?" asks Starfire.
"You'll figure it out someday, that you're meant to be with him. He already knows it." And with that, Babs gets up from her seat with one last smile at Starfire before leaving her alone once again. Conflicting emotions! Here is Babs, Richards girlfriend, telling her that she should be with him. And then there's Speedy, who is actually turning out to be a good friend tonight. She'd always known he had a little crush on her, but she always had eyes for Richard. Now that she's pushing him away, she can see that Speedy's kinda cute.
Oh X'hal. She feels guilty thinking of another guy. Or at least trying to think of another guy. The strongest girl on earth still isn't strong enough to give up on her Richard Grayson.
So she'll just have to try harder.
AN: What's the new plan for these ex-Titans? Up next... should they stay or should they go?
