Chapter Six

Watchtower Infirmary

December 23, 1035

After the events of the other day, the League had Aster and Mirabella resting in the infirmary. Mirabella had awoken with the happiness of having Stardust to cuddle again and the control of the Reach gone from her system. Beast Boy had been on a mission with his sister and Kid Flash for a few days so no one had notified them of the news yet.

Aster on the other hand, she hadn't woken or even stirred since she fainted. Roy hadn't left her side in the infirmary. He was so worried about his baby sister. And for the first time he really did care about her waking up this time. Last time Aster was in a coma, he really didn't care. All he cared about was if he could kill Luthor or not and which way to do it. But after seeing her break down and blame herself for everything that was happening, he couldn't bare the thought of something really destroying his sister.

"Oh, Aster...Please, wake up." Roy mumbled.

"I don't think talking to her is helping." Even with all the time Roy's spent in that room the past couple of days, he still forgot that Mirabella was in the same room.

"I thought you were asleep." He said, looking over his shoulder as he spoke.

"No. Can't." Mirabella yawned. "I mean I'm tired but I can't fall asleep."

Roy smiled. He remembered how Mirabella stayed curled up with Stardust when Aster was in a coma last time. Roy was glad his sister had good friends, his friends too. Mirabella, Stardust and Roy all turned when a knock echoed through the room.

"I came to see Aster. Is she okay?" It was Barbara.

"She hasn't woken up yet." Roy replied as he gently pushed a loose strand of hair behind Aster's ear. "I'm worried."

"We all are, Roy." Barbara said before walking over to Mirabella. She gently petted Stardust. "So...any urge to kill anyone? Or destroy?"

"No, actually. Whatever Aster did, I even got the memories of me before she disappeared to the future." Mirabella smiled gently, petting Stardust. "I missed Stardust. And I missed Garfield. I can't believe she did that...for me to be good again. Batman said Aster's powers will need to be watched carefully."

"Of course. That sounds like him." Barbara smiled.

Watchtower Command Center

December 23, 1402

"Recognized: Kid Flash B-2-3, Miss Martian B-0-5, Lagoon Boy B-1-8, Beast Boy B-1-9, Tigress B-0-7…" The computer rang through the room, gathering everyone's attention.

Nightwing and Aqualad were waiting with Superboy and Wally. Along with them was Batman, Superman, Aquaman, Black Canary and Green Arrow. The entire squad was enjoying their victory up until they all found the groups' expressions of mixed feelings.

"Is everything okay? What happened?" Tigress asked as she removed her mask.

"It's...uh…" Wally started, but he couldn't get the words with his cousin in the room. "M'Gann...I can't say this…"

"Say what? Wally?"

"M'Gann...it's...it's Aster...and Mirabella." Conner replied.

"Aster's in a coma after using her powers on Mirabella. Mirabella...remembers everything now and has...Stardust back." Aqualad explained.

Even Aqualad was trying to figure out what happened even though it had happened two days ago. After the words fell into the air, Kid Flash and Beast Boy were stunned for a while. But, just as M'Gann went to rest her hand on her brother's shoulder, Beast Boy was off across the room and soon followed by Kid Flash as Wally stepped toward him.

In the next minute, Beast Boy and Kid Flash arrived at the door of the infirmary. Bart's eyes landed on Aster's figure just as Garfield ran over to Mirabella. He pulled her into a hug, an embrace where he thought it was all a dream.

"This is real? You-You're really here? I'm not dreaming?"

"You're not dreaming, Garfield. I'm really here." Mirabella replied in his ear. She felt tears hit her skin as she embraced him back. "It's okay now, Garfield. I'm okay. Aster saved me."

Garfield helped Mirabella up and they left the room, Stardust in pursuit. Out in the hall, Mirabella saw the tears that soaked Garfield's face. She raised a hand to wipe away the tears and Garfield leaned into it.

"You...have no idea...how much I've...missed you." Garfield choked out. "I couldn't stand it, losing you like that."

"Oh, Garfield…" Mirabella started, but then she noticed M'Gann behind Garfield. "M'Gann!" Mirabella ran over and hugged her friend.

"It's true...You're back?" M'Gann questioned, returning the hug.

"I'm back. I'm really back."

"And perfect English?" M'Gann asked.

"I think the Reach taught me, if you know what I mean."

"This is so great. I'm so glad." Mirabella turned back to Garfield, who was wiping a tear away. "Go back. Be with Gar. He needs you right now."

And with that, M'Gann left them to go see the infirmary. Entering the infirmary, M'Gann found Aster laying in the bed, in her deep sleep. Aster's brother sat next to the bed in a chair while Bart sat on the bed. Bart gently moved Aster's hair from her face.

"Roy, can I talk to you in the hallway?" M'Gann asked. She knew he would be hesitate to go but he did anyways.

Entering the now empty hallway, Roy watched the doorway while they talked, "What's up?"

"Worried about your sister, huh?"

"Yeah. I was never there for her before but now I want to be and…" Roy couldn't finish his sentence.

"Why all of the sudden do you want to be there for her?"

Roy turned to M'Gann, pulling out a tape recorder, "Because of this." Roy rewound the tape and pressed play. It started playing Aster singing When She Used to Love Me. (Back a couple of chapters). When it was over, "Barbara gave it to me. She said I would want to hear it."

"She...Aster's sad about you?"

"Barbara said Aster said it was about me and Bart. Forgotten love." Roy hit his head with the side of his fist. "I've been so preoccupied with getting my revenge on Luthor, I never really thought about reconnecting with my family. The family I have left, my sister."

M'Gann rested a hand on Roy's shoulder before hugging him.

"I'm really glad that you're taking the time now. Your sister needs someone and there's no one better than her brother." M'Gann released the hug. "So go ahead and be with her. I have to go check on someone."

"Thanks, M'Gann." Roy said before disappearing into the room again.

M'Gann left the infirmary area without another word.

Watchtower Gardens

Lavender sat under a tree, relaxing to the music playing. Her head was back against the tree trunk with her eyes closed. She listened to the silence filled with nothing but music. Although, Lavender jumped when she finally opened her eyes and found Jaime sitting next to her.

Falling backward, Lavender shouted, "What in the wide universe are you doing here?"

Jaime stood up and went to help Lavender up when she tugged her arm away and he remembered he couldn't touch her. Shaking his head, "I-I'm sorry. Are you hurt?"

"No, I'm fine." Lavender huffed as she stood up. "You didn't answer my question."

"Uh...right. I came to see how you were doing. I mean, with everything going on."

"I guess...I'm okay." Lavender pushed her hair out of face. "What about you? You actually remember these people...Remember me, I guess? How's it going for you and...uh...Khaji?"

"How did you-"

"I overheard you talking to it. You called it Khaji I believe." Lavender shifted in her place as she talked.

"You heard me?"

"Heard it too. You can talk to only Blue Beetle, right Khaji? That's why you whisper."

"You can hear what I say?"

"Yeah. I don't know why, but it's weird."

"That's great!" Jaime shouted, scaring Lavender a little. "Sorry. I-It's just...No has ever been able to Khaji before. You heard it before too and...I guess this is just good news."

"Yeah. Sure. Or it's just another part of the curse."

"Curse? You mean your powers. Lavender, I'm sure the League can find something out to help you."

"Yeah, just like all the other doctors say they'll keep working until they find something." Lavender bent down and picked up a rock, standing back up. She held open her hand and showed the rock being destroyed by her pure touch. "This is what I'm cursed with. There is no cure." Lavender dropped the rock and turned away. "Curse is cure with an added S."

"What?"

"It's something my dad used to tell me. A curse is a cure with an added S." Lavender looked up. "Maybe he was right? I'm nothing but death waiting."

"No!" Jaime shouted. "Lavender, listen, you are not death. You are caring, kind...You are also powerful."

"Thanks, Blue Beetle, but-"

"Jaime."

"Sorry?"

"Jaime. Call me Jaime, please."

"Right, sorry. Look, you don't me. You don't know what it's like to have powers you can't control. Powers that can kill anyone it wants." Lavender winced as she talked.

Jaime took a step forward, he was now directly in front of her. "Lavender, look at me…" Hesitantly, Lavender obeyed. She was drawn in by Jaime's dark brown eyes. "Listen, you're wrong. I do know what it's like to have something inside that you can't control."

Lavender's eyes filled with tears at the edge. They slid down her cheeks as she spoke. "How?" She sobbed, covering her eyes with her fists. "How could you ever know what it's like to never hug your mother?! Or never play with your siblings? Or never make friends because you can't touch anyone?!" Lavender shouted through her sobs.

Lavender fell to her knees, continuing to cry. Jaime fell with her, trying to think of something to make her feel better. Of course he knew what it was like to have an uncontrollable power, his scarab took him over and made him evil. But it was only temporary as he could hold his family still. He just didn't know what to do.

Lavender continued crying, uncontrollable cries escaped her body as she bent over, trying to hold herself from the pain she hid inside.

After a little while, Lavender felt something wrapped around her. Looking up, Jaime had his armor on and was hugging her.

"J-Jaime?"

"I wanted to see if my armor would work. I think it is."

"Only for a short period of time can you hold Lavender." Khaji replied.

"It's not a cure." Lavender started to cry a little.

Blue lifted her face to met with his. "It might not be, but it's a start."

"The armor also protects your lips, Jaime Reyes."

"Good." Jaime said before kissing Lavender.

She wanted to push away but she couldn't find herself to do so. Something was keeping Lavender there with Jaime. Kissing him felt so right to her, felt so familiar. A moment later, Jaime pulled away gently.

He gave her a smile, resting his hand on her cheek and gently rubbing his thumb back and forth. "Guess it worked."

"Yeah." Lavender replied as she stared into his eyes again.

Then she leaned forward to kiss him again. How she wanted that feeling again so soon. Jaime was going to kiss Lavender again, as he had waited a long time to kiss her again. Just as their lips were about to touch again, Khaji used two arms to push Lavender away.

"Khaji, what are you doing?!" Jaime shouted as he tried to help Lavender up. But Khaji used its arms to push off the ground in front of Jaime and send him flying backward. "What are you thinking?" Jaime shouted as he sat up.

"I told you the armor has a limit to the amount of poison it is exposed to. That kiss was this scarab's limit. I am sorry, Jaime Reyes."

"It's okay, Khaji." Lavender said, walking over and kneeling in front of Jaime.

"Are you hurt?" Jaime asked as his armor folded away.

"No. I was pushed only a little."

"Good. I'm glad." Jaime replied, smiling again.

Lavender smiled back, she felt safe with him. It was so familiar to her, she couldn't figure out why through. Lavender pondered it quietly but stayed there to talk with Jaime a little more as they sat under the tree together. Jaime, of course, was careful with his touch as he didn't want to scare her or make Khaji push away again.