As it turns out, my head wasn't completely healed from the first time RyAnd'r took a crack at me, which is why I went down so easy the second time. I was kind of relieved when Raven told me. She hadn't said anything sooner because she claimed it wouldn't have made a difference. I still would have put myself in the middle of the fight knowing I still had a mild concussion or not. If I'd known, I might have changed up my approach, but I didn't hold it against her. It was thanks to her that I was even able to go into a second round with Starfire's brother. With RyAnd'r in custody there wasn't much of a chance that I'd have to go out again anytime soon and I found myself a comfy spot on the couch with a couple superhero-grade ibuprofen and a nice pillow. Soon I'd find my bed, but the team still hadn't decided what to do about RyAnd'r, so we were meeting in the common room to come to a decision. Beast Boy sat at the other end of the couch with a cold drink in his hand. Raven had mixed an herbal tea for his throat, but he said it tasted bitter, so with a roll of her eyes she'd poured enough sugar in it to qualify it as candy, and ran it through a blender with some ice to turn it into a frozen drink. He seemed to be enjoying it, sipping it through a bright pink straw while Raven sat on the floor in front of him. She had her legs tucked in underneath her, her hood pulled back off her face. There were dark circles under her eyes that were evidence that she needed to meditate and get a few nights of good sleep. When Beast Boy slurped loudly just behind her ear she cringed and folded her arms across her chest with a look of supreme annoyance, but I noticed she didn't move away.

Cyborg stood next to the television with his back facing the room and his head bent in thought. He'd been the one to carry RyAnd'r into the tower and secure him in the gymnasium. Despite the bracers, RyAnd'r was still strong and he put up a good fight, but I think he was intimidated by Cyborg. I don't think he knew what to think of him. When the team had first formed, Starfire had been fascinated by him, telling him that he was a brave warrior to have survived the ordeal that had made him what he was, and insisting that he was 'beautiful.' It might have made me jealous, but I saw the effect that it had on Cyborg and for once maturity reigned. Unfortunately, RyAnd'r didn't have his sister's sunny view of the world and I could see that he held the much more popular opinion that Cyborg was some sort of freak that made him uncomfortable. Cyborg knew it too, which was why he'd made it his job to keep RyAnd'r under control.

"I say we turn him over to the League," said Cyborg abruptly, turning to look at us. "Let them handle it. They'll decide what's fair or not." I propped my head up on a fist and glanced around at the others for their reaction.

"The League will turn him over to Tamaran," said Raven in a low voice. She glanced at Starfire. "Tamaran will be so happy to have another living And'r that they'll overlook his crimes. If anyone should judge him it should be us."

"Don't you mean, Star?" Beast Boy rasped. She leveled a glare at him.

"The more you try to speak the longer it will take for your voice to come back, so by all means keep talking." His ears drooped a little at her unusually sharp tone.

"Starfire, what do you want to do?" I asked. Like Beast Boy I knew this was really her decision. She was Tamaran's Queen, making RyAnd'r her subject to deal with. She flinched at the sound of her name.

"I fear it would be unwise of me to make the decision," she mumbled. "I know in my head what I must do, but my heart disagrees. What do you suggest?"

"Everyone made good points. Perhaps the League would be able to give us more perspective, but Raven is right. If they know that we have him they will be forced to turn him over to Tamaran. If he goes back he will be welcomed like a Prince instead of a traitor. It would only be a matter of time before he raised an army and attempted to overthrow you."

"I fear it would be so," she agreed solemnly.

"What if..." I hesitated, unsure of how she would react to my idea. "What if you gave him the throne?"

Right on cue they all gasped and stared at me like I'd grown a second head. Only Beast Boy's sore throat kept him from literally squawking at me. I held up a hand for silence. Starfire had both her hands under her chin in a look of such trust and hope that I almost wished I hadn't suggested it.

"What if you sent RyAnd'r back to Tamaran to rule in your place? Let your politicians hassle and harass him for a while about getting married and making babies. If you wanted, you could stay on Earth for as long as you liked without feeling like you were turning your back on your people."

"And what, RyAnd'r is just going to turn over a new leaf?" Cyborg asked with a snort. "Everyone here knows he'll spend all his energy on turning the people against Starfire."

"What if we send him with the League. The only reason Tamaran was okay with Starfire marrying me was because they wanted the League's protection against the Psions and Gordanians. They wouldn't dare turn on us if the first thing they do after we're married is return their long lost Prince. And RyAnd'r isn't stupid. He'll realize that he can either go along with it or face the punishment he really deserves."

"So after everything that he's done you're just going to reward him?" Raven growled, levitating off the floors her anger.

"It's not a reward. Every day he'll have to face his own people telling him how great and wonderful Starfire is. He'll owe her his life. He'll have to rule the kingdom in her name."

"Yea, and he'll hate her for it," Cyborg pointed out. He shot an apologetic look toward Star, but she had her head bowed and didn't see it. How would you feel if it was the Joker forcing you to take over after he moves on?" I shuddered. RyAnd'r was scary, but he wasn't Joker.

"You guys are forgetting. He's Tamaranean. Whatever he's feeling is going to consume him. He was loyal to Blackfire. He's loyal to Tamaran. The only reason he hates Starfire is because he thinks she took something from Blackfire that was never hers to begin with. He doesn't want the throne for himself, he wanted it for her. If he gets it without her to guide him then maybe he'll see that things aren't exactly the way she made them out to be."

No one was really on board with my plan. Even Starfire looked skeptical.

"It is a good sentiment, Robin, and as much as I wish to do the rekindling of our relationship, I can never trust him now. Tamaraneans are not capable of hiding what they feel. He could not go back and hide all that he has done and why he did it."

"I'm not asking him to pretend it never happened. I want him to see you through the eyes of your people, to hear the way they speak of you, to know your side of the story. Maybe it will make things better." I wanted her to save him so badly I was kidding myself. Despite the nonsense spouting from my mouth I knew as well as the rest of them that it was crazy to expect anything less than more treachery from RyAnd'r. Starfire sighed and walked to the bay windows.

"I believe I am ready to do the sentencing of him now. Cyborg, would you bring him please?"

We had locked him in the gymnasium. It was the only place in the tower with the capabilities to contain a fully-powered Tamaranean. We'd attached his handcuffs to one of Starfire's specially designed weights. Fourteen tons anchored him to the floor. He'd still been unconscious when they'd carried him downstairs. Starfire suspected that he had entered a healing sleep and would be difficult to wake. Cyborg went off by himself. i didn't worry that he'd have any trouble. I'd noticed that RyAnd'r wasn't as strong as Starfire. I'm not sure if that's because he was younger or because he wasn't as experienced, but Cyborg's above average strength would be enough.

By the time they returned, Beast Boy, Raven, and I had gotten to our feet, assuming positions of authority around the room. Starfire remained at the window, carefully avoiding looking in his direction. She seemed smaller.

"This thing tells me I am to be sentenced. There is something I wish to say before you speak, sister."

"Your words will not sway my decision," said Starfire, staring outside at the Jump City Bay. He nodded.

"You have earned the right to rule Tamaran. You have defeated both KomAnd'r and myself in battle, and there are no others to challenge your claim. While I can never forgive or forget that it was you who killed our sister, I acknowledge that you are my rightful queen and I accept whatever sentence you decree for me."

This little speech stunned everyone, but me probably the least. As strange as it seemed, I got RyAnd'r. He was like Bruce and me, orphaned and abandoned in a cruel world at a young age. In Bruce's case, he'd single-handedly forged himself into the weapon known as Batman. Me, I'd been fortunate enough to have Bruce guiding me down a path of justice and honor. But instead of Batman coming to his aid in his darkest hour, for RyAnd'r it had been Blackfire, and i couldn't blame him for turning into what he was with her as a mentor. I think reluctantly he was starting to realize that his oldest sister wasn't the person he had imagined her to be. That couldn't be easy. I can't imagine how I would take it if I realized that Batman was one of the bad guys after years of thinking what he was teaching me was the right way. He had a lot to take in, and Tamaraneans were extremely proud. There was nothing they hated more than appearing weak, and I think for RyAnd'r, admitting that he had been wrong was along the same lines.

"You will accept whatever sentence I give without complaint or plans for revenge?" asked Starfire sharply.

"I will."

"Then I sentence you to return to Tamaran," she said, drawing herself up tall. "I will instate you as a member of my counsel where you will be treated as a true member of the And'r line, but subject to constant scrutiny and little privacy. You will be my liaison while I reside here on Earth, and should I see fit I will burden you with possession of the crown until I return to claim it. You will return on a vessel belonging to Earth's Justice League, and they will inform Tamaran of your status. Am I understood?"

It was his turn to be dumbfounded.

"You're letting me go back?"

"No. I am condemning you to return to a life of protocol and responsibility. Your first allegiance will now and always be to the people of Tamaran. We are blood kin, and I do not wish to see you destroyed. I believe, given time, we may even come to know each other as family. But I respect that you blame me for KomAnd'r's death. Perhaps in time you will teach me about the sister I never knew, and you will come to understand her through my eyes."

"I..." For the first time, he looked lost and young. Despite already being six-foot tall, he was only fourteen or fifteen by Earth's standards. That he'd single-handedly created such a far-reaching plan was impressive, if I was honest with myself. I hoped Starfire and I were right in returning him to his rightful place.

Cyborg pursed his lips but didn't argue. The 'thing' comment had ruffled his feathers. Truth be told, I'd lost a little of my sympathy for him over that one too, but Starfire had made her decision. There was nothing more that needed to be said.

"Guys, see that he gets handed over to the League. I'm going to my room." Contacting the League should have been my job, but I didn't have the energy for a confrontation with Batman or Superman about what had been going on in Jump. Just this once they could handle it without me.

"Robin, wait. I will accompany you," called Starfire, gliding quickly over to my side. A little shock went through me, remembering that she and I had shared a room last night. An anxious lump formed in the back of my throat, and it didn't help that Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg and even RyAnd'r stopped what they were doing to watch us.

"Uh...ok, Star."