She fluttered her eyelashes until she finally opened her eyes properly. She had hoped that her wedding day would be sunny and glorious. However, todays weather was familiar and not in a good way.
Outside her window, dark clouds loomed overhead. She grimaced at how cold it looked outside as well as shivering slightly. She groaned and pulled the covers over her head.
Just then, she heard the door creak open a little, "Raven?" She asked, from underneath her covers.
Raven smiled a little and walked over carefully to the side of the bed and sat upon the floor with a tray full of pancakes with syrup and 2 glasses of orange juice. She carefully peeled part of the covers away from Starfire and laughed, "Morning. I brought you some breakfast." Raven said, eyeing the pancakes.
Starfire beamed, "Oh Raven, you are the good friend,"
Although Starfires reaction had been positive, she remained in the exact same spot. Raven cocked her head and raised an eyebrow, knowingly, "Starfire."
"Yes?"
"You haven't moved."
Showing a sign of sarcasm, Starfire let her arm flop out, "I believe that is classified as moving." She grinned,
Raven moved the tray away from the bed for a moment and stood up, hands on hips.
"Raven, what are you-AH!" She was interrupted as her whole mattress was encased in magic and flipped over. After a moment passed, Starfire slowly got to her feet, "You know...that was an awful way to get someone away from their slumber." Starfire sighed, crossing her arms.
Raven pointed to the tray, "Oh well, you're up now so go and eat. You have a big day ahead of you." Raven explained,
Starfire grumbled but soon finished the pancakes and her glass of orange. After, she sat upon her bed and looked slightly more refreshed than she had done, "Ok. I believe I am certainly awake now. What shall I do?" She asked, awaiting instructions. Raven soon stepped in and thought for a moment, "Ok. You go for a shower and while you're doing that, I'll sort out the dresses and stuff." She replied,
"Ok." Starfire answered, getting up and heading for the bathroom.
Starfire quickly removed her clothing and hurried into the shower. She let the warm water gently trickle over her trembling body. She didn't know if that was the guilt from previous doings or if she was simply nervous about the wedding.
She glanced down at her toes which she wiggled on cue. She started to wonder whether she was even ready for marriage. She was still very young indeed and she in herself felt immature at the best of times. She still felt like a little girl but then again, maybe she liked that. Maybe she wanted to stay that way for a little longer. She sighed and realised she was now done and proceeded to get out of the shower. She wrapped a towel around herself and around her hair. She looked at herself carefully in the mirror, "Hm. I definitely do not look like a bride..." She whispered, running a hand across her cheek, "Nor do I act like a loyal bride either."
She sighed and looked away and walked back up to her room. When she walked in, Raven stood in her maid of honour dress. Starfire gasped. Raven turned at the sound, "Oh...uh, hey Starfire." Raven tried to say calmly, hoping to avoid dress talk.
"Raven, you look...astounding!" She said, smiling happily.
Raven stood in a long sweetheart neckline dress that was gathered around the cleavage area and complimented with a small diamond; the dress was also the perfect shade of emerald green which amazingly suited Raven, "Thanks..." Raven replied, blushing, "So. Do you want to do your hair and makeup first, yeah? So then it wont ruin the dress?"
"If you believe that to be best then, yes please." Starfire replied, faking a happy smile once again.
So, Raven sat Starfire down at her vanity and chose out a light natural type of eyeshadow and applied it along with eyeliner and mascara. She also applied appropriate foundation and blusher to make her look like a million bucks.
She stood back from the princess and told her to look in the mirror. Starfire acted as if she was going to cry, "Oh Raven...You have done a most wonderful job!" She applauded,
Raven flashed a small smile and lifted the big dress up in front of Starfire, "Now, you gotta slip into this ball of girly fluff. Oh it makes me feel ill." Raven choked,
Starfire giggled and threw down her robe and changed into the dress carefully. She got raven to get the back of the dress for her and she puffed the large princess style bottom out as much as she could. She decided not to look at her whole self until she arrived.
Raven stood back and smiled briefly, "Starfire...the dress is honestly amazing on you." She complimented.
"Thank you Raven..." She said softly, leaning close and hugging the empath,
"Okay. Now, lets finish you up by finishing your hair." Raven appointed.
Raven performed a very simply yet elegant style upon Starfires hair. She let it all waver at the bottom and brought both sides in like a some up some down style. She completed the over all look with a small yet pretty white flower in just above her ear.
Starfire slipped on her white heels and sighed.
"Ready?" Raven asked,
"As much as a bride can be, I believe." She replied, shakily.
Deciding not to cause chaos, Raven decided to just flash Starfire and herself over to the church. Just as they arrived outside, the rain began to pour down.
Raven winced and rushed Starfire inside. Across the street, Starfire suddenly noticed a figure standing next to a motorcycle. Nightwing.
She locked gazes with him but he mouthed to her, 'Congratulations, Starfire.'
However he looked none the happy. Starfire tried to word something back but Raven had already pushed her inside.
Away from all the guests bustling into the church, Starfire and Raven talked in one of the back rooms, "Okay Star..." Raven said, pulling a cloth off of a full length mirror, "You can look."
Starfire opened her eyes and glanced at her reflection, "I believe I look...nice." She said quietly. It was all she could say. She didn't want to be here, looking like this for him. She wanted to be with Nightwing at the precise moment.
"You really do, Star." Raven concurred, "Look, I am going to see if they're ready in there for you. Be back in a little while, promise."
"Okay friend..." She waved her on and glanced straight back at her reflection.
She wasn't smiling at her reflection anymore. In fact, she had a very glum and upset expression glued upon her features. She sighed and closed her eyes.
"Beautiful." She heard a voice,
She turned, "Shane!?" She blurted and then covered her outburst with a fake laugh, "Is it not the bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?"
"Starfire...We gotta talk, baby." He replied, seriously.
She turned fully around now. He got closer to her and held her hands within his own, "Please, what troubles you?" She asked,
"Starfire...I-I cant marry you." He said,
"You...cannot?"
"No. I know you love Nightwing. I know you wanna be with him. I also know about you and him...the other night."
"How? I...I am so sorry Shane. Truly, I am. I never meant to hurt you. My mind and my heart have both been in a complete state of confusion... I-"
"Hey, hey. Its alright. Im not angry at you in the slightest. Starfire. He is your childhood love and always will be no matter who else comes along. I want you to be with him instead. It's what you really want and what you deserve."
"Shane...I-"
"It's ok..."
"What about you...?"
"I'll be okay. I'd rather you be happier than myself. Now. You lost him once. You cant lose him again. Go on..." He paused, "Go after him."
"I- I am sorry...and I also thank you...so much." She began to cry slightly.
"I'll miss you...and Starfire?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
"I love you too. Goodbye Shane..." She said, releasing her hands from him and placing a light kiss upon him cold cheek. He held his head as she ran from the room.
She had to get to Nightwing. By the looks of it, he was planning on going somewhere; was he leaving?
She panted as she began to speed up. She continued to run through all of the guests who curiously stood and watched her run past them. She heard many people gasp and call her name. She only had one thing on her mind however. She had to get to him in time.
She reached the doors and threw them open. She picked up her dress and stepped down the large stairs quickly. She stood in the pouring rain and tried looking around but everything was oh so blurry due to the rain. She rubbed her eyes furiously as rain and tears filled them. She panted more as she was in despair at the whereabouts of Nightwing.
Suddenly, she caught sight of a familiar bike and she was literally so close to him. He was putting his helmet on and was beginning to set up on his bike, "No." She whispered, breathlessly.
"Nightwing!" She yelled,
No response.
"Nightwing!" She yelled, louder this time.
He slightly moved his head to the side and before he could shake the sound off, Starfire gave all her might into one last scream, "NIGHTWING!" She cried out.
Suddenly, Nightwing stood and removed his helmet. He couldn't believe the vision in which he was seeing. She looked magnificent. But...If she wasn't in the church then...
"Starfire!?" He yelled back over the rain and thunder.
"Please. I lost you once before when we were the younger." She cried, tears freely streaming.
He simply stared at her in absolute amazement.
"Nightwing...It is you! It has always...been you!" She let her voice finally crack because of her tears at last. She saw his shoulders slump and a relieved type of smile come over his lips.
She let her own shoulders slump and began running into the rain and ran into the road to get to her love quicker. After a 1 minute run which seemed to last for eternity, she finally reached him and he took no time in picking the girl up and kissing her passionately as if he hadn't seen her or been this close to her in millenniums. She held his face and continued crying as she carried on kissing him as much as she could, "I love you Star. I love you so much." He breathed out as he held her up some more in his arms,
"I love you also, I truly do." She cried more, hugging him so closely that nothing could ever break them apart.
Raven, Beastboy and Cyborg soon rushed out to see what was happening. When they arrived on the scene, they all smiled at what met them, "Way to go, guys." Cyborg whispered to himself.
Like that, the pair of them stayed in each others arms for a very long time that night. They never ever wanted to be apart as long as they lived.
No matter how far away someone is, if love is meant to be, it will always find its way of coming back...