Author's Notes: My apologies for the delay! Spring break just started and I'm attempting to pack as much into it as I can :)

Chapter 9: Plus or Minus

Robin finally came back into the common room around half an hour later. The breakfast he had been so eager for just a little while ago no longer appealed to him, walking past the kitchen and sitting on the couch without a word.

"Oh, Robin! There you are." Starfire greeted, giving him her usual sweet smile. She sat on the couch a foot away from him, petting Silkie who lay contently on her lap. "I was planning on going to the mall of shopping a little later, would you wish to accompany me?" She asked hopefully.

Robin didn't answer for a moment, Starfire watching him patiently. I have work to do... but I don't want her to leave the tower alone... and besides, I think I need to talk to her away from the rest of the team.

"Oh... yeah, sure. I'll go with you."

Starfire's face lit up, not expecting him to say yes. "Really!? Oh, thank you! It will be much more fun now!" Robin smiled at her. No matter what was on his mind, her enthusiasm could lift his spirits.

An hour later they took Robin's R-cycle and headed towards the mall downtown. Starfire held his waist tightly, despite the fact that she could easily just fly. She told him she needed various items: a few things for Silkie, some food (primarily mustard), some new clothes, and she wanted to pick out a present for him in gratitude. When he asked what for, she simply said 'for being there.' He knew he'd never find another like her.

"So... Star... you're feeling better now, I presume?" He said, loud enough to be heard over the R-cycle's motor.

"Oh... heh heh... yes I am. I still apologize for this morning... I hope you were able to return to sleep after the movie."

Figures she's more worried about me than herself. "I'm fine, I'm just kinda wondering if you are..." He wanted to blurt out the all important question, but decided against it. He figured he wanted a little more evidence before he approached her about it directly. Plus, he couldn't help but feel strange about the fact that he was the one looking into this and not her, as far as he knew.

"I... do not know what you mean. I only had the sickness, yes?"

Okay, pretty sure she's innocent in all this, Robin concluded as they entered the mall's parking lot.

They walked into the large complex together, easily managing to turn some heads upon their entrance. Everyday people weren't accustomed to seeing their heroes going about their daily chores, though of course, they had to just like everyone else. They went around several centers of the mall - the grocery store, pet store, and a few clothing stores - all the while chatting about anything. The chance for them to spend quality time together was rare, so they enjoyed any chance to just talk, even if they were shopping at the same time. After a couple hours of gathering items, somehow still not called to action by their communicators, they walked towards the food court at the center of the mall, which was one of Starfire's professed favorite places in the city. The smells of many different 'Earth cuisines,' such as pizza and French fries, mingled in the air to produce an inviting aroma.

At least, it was usually inviting. At the moment, Starfire couldn't stand the smell, she felt like it was assaulting her. She ceased talking mid-sentence as they entered the food court, her eyes growing wide and her hand covering her mouth.

Robin looked over at her, quickly realizing what was happening. "Um, Star..."

"I think... I am going to be-" She cut off abruptly, dashing to a restroom nearby. He watched her in surprise as she ran through the door. He tried to get to her, but realized he couldn't go any further when he reached the sign with a stick figure in a dress, prohibiting him from entering. He stood a short distance away, waiting for her to come back out. She emerged a few minutes later, looking rather embarrassed.

"Robin... I am..." She had trouble putting her apology together, faintly wanting to fly off planet.

He silently grabbed her dainty little hand and began to lead her somewhere.

"Robin, where are we going?" She inquired, obediently allowing him to pull her along. He didn't look back at her, but just continued to walk along.

That was the final piece of evidence I needed. I'm asking her and I'm asking her now, he thought as he brought her to a quiet restaurant on the top floor of the mall. He lead her into the relatively small room that was filled with Chinese decor, passing through a doorway of stringed beads to enter.

"Robin! Good to see you again!" A short Asian man greeted when he saw him. The establishment was nearly empty, with just a few people sitting around different corners of the room. Soft Chinese music played in the background, giving the restaurant a very calming atmosphere.

"Hi Xiao Ji. Could we have the back room, please?" Starfire stood behind Robin, watching this transaction curiously.

"Oh, of course, of course. Right this way!" He weaved through the tables towards the other end of the room, Starfire and Robin close behind. They reached another doorway, separated from the main area by a red, ornately detailed curtain. Xiao Ji pushed it aside, revealing an intimate little space with a low table, surrounded by a traditional floor mat. Many candles were lined along the wall, lighting the room dimly and giving it a pleasant glow. "Come find me if you need anything at all! You will be served shortly." He gave them a smile, looking at them both directly to equally distribute his hospitality, and then left them alone.

They took their seats across from each other at the little square table. Starfire still watched Robin intently, waiting for him to explain why they had come here. He seemed distracted at first though, looking as if he were very interested in the table's woodworking. A few minutes later, he finally started to say what was on his mind.

"Starfire... how long have you had these symptoms?"

She studied his expression - he still had his head down, looking at the table. "Do you refer to my stomach illness?" He nodded. "Perhaps a... week?"

He finally looked up at her, realizing this had been going on for longer than he thought. "And anything else strange?"

She pondered this, deciding he meant physically strange, not mentally; or more specifically, in her dreams. "Well, only my problematic sleep patterns... otherwise, I do not believe so."

Robin sighed, building up the valor to ask her the question. "Do you think you could be... well... pregnant?" The word escaped his lips reluctantly, bouncing off the walls of the tiny room. Starfire stared at him with large eyes, unable to process that word correctly. As if on cue, a waitress appeared, breaking the heavy silence.

"Hello, Titans! Are you ready to order?" She asked cheerily with a Mandarin accent.

Robin cleared his throat to dig his voice back out of his chest. "Uh, ehem, no... come back in maybe... ten minutes."

The waitress looked a little confused, but obliged, leaving them alone again. Starfire still hadn't moved, her eyes wide.

"Star?" Robin prompted.

She finally woke up, shaking her head a little. "Um, Robin... I do not know... could I..." She asked herself more than him. Why had I not even thought of this, she asked in her mind, Is it true that I am pregnant with Robin's child?

"Well... we sort of, you know... that one night." Robin stated shyly, but matter-of-factly.

"Yes... yes, that is accurate."

"And you keep getting sick to your stomach."

"That is true also."

"And having cravings."

"Cravings? No, I do not..." She paused, remembering her overly vicious consumption of her Tamaranean foods, "Okay, perhaps."

"And not sleeping well."

She just nodded this time, seeing where he was going with this.

"But Star, please tell me, because I'm clueless... how does a, um... Tamaranean pregnancy work?"

"Ah... well, we are quite similar to humans... except that the normal gestation period for a Tamaranean fetus is six months, not nine." This knocked the breath out of Robin a bit, realizing that if she was pregnant, he would become a father all that much quicker.

Robin sat there quietly for a little while, only finding his voice to order his meal, which was quite small due to his currently nervous stomach. Starfire said she would share with him, not exactly trusting herself with food yet.

Once the waitress retreated to the kitchen, Starfire sniffled, her eyes tearing up. Robin saw this, asking, "Starfire?"

"If... If I am with child..." She paused, a tear escaping from her eyes, "Would you mind?"

Robin took her hands into his, looking her in the eyes, wanting her to do the same as she avoided his gaze. "Not at all, Star. In fact, I'm... kind of excited about it." And he wasn't lying. Though he logically couldn't have a child, he couldn't help but love the idea. She looked up at him, smiling lightly.

"Then... I will determine if it is true."

That night, after everyone had gone to bed early after a busy day, except Robin who was far too anxious to sleep, Starfire retrieved the three pregnancy tests she had purchased at the mall after her conversation with Robin. She discreetly brought them into the bathroom and took them all at once, then sat on the side of the bathtub as she waited for them to process the results.

She walked timidly into Robin's room shortly thereafter, her head hung low. Robin turned around from the work on his desk, unable to read her disposition. "Star?"

"It is... negative, Robin. I am not pregnant." She was relieved, but sad at the same time, displaying this emotion much more prominently.

He rose from his chair, pulling her into a gentle hug. "Hey... it's alright. We will have plenty more chances."

She looked up at his face happily. "So you really do want...?"

"Star, it would be my greatest honor to have a child with you. You are the only person I would ever have one with. I love you." He said, gripping her tighter.

"I love you too, Robin." She felt another tear cross her face, but this time out of joy. They walked back to their bedroom together, crawling under the covers like two peas in a pod.

Of course, that still left the question of why Starfire was sick periodically, but he decided to let this mystery go for now. There were numerous viable explanations for that. For now, he just wanted to hold her in his arms, lay peacefully in their bed, and let their minds wander.

Author's Notes: Hmmmm, perhaps I am not quite as predictable as I previously thought. *rubs chin thoughtfully*