#galfore

She blinked in the harsh beams beginning to slant their way across their bed. Her head lifted. Her gaze fell across the young man in bed with her.

Her eyes almost welled up with tears, seeing him so peacefully asleep next to her, unmasked eyes closed, breathing softly, his hair falling everywhere in gentle clumps without the normal gel holding it up.

She shifted, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.

He stirred, murmuring, and it was so cute that she had to wrap arms around him again, his bare skin cool against hers. Robin hummed appreciatively as she snuggled into him.

For several minutes there was just gentle stroking and contented breathing, little sighs drifting up and the rustle of sheets. Hands drifted up and down, trailing down backs, scratching into hair.

His sleepy eyes blinked open, bright little spots of blue in the lovely amber glow of the room.

"Morning," he said quietly.

"Good morning," she greeted, voice low and soft. "How are you today, my husband?"

A low purr rumbled through him. "Mmm, I could stand to hear you call me that again," he said. He draped his arm around her midsection and tugged her body close to his. He began to pepper kisses all down her jawline and neck.

Giggling, Starfire extricated herself from the affection. "Should we not rise and begin the day?" she asked, glancing up slightly anxiously at the timepiece on the wall, ticking away the hours with slow steadiness.

"Five more minutes..." Robin mumbled, pressing himself even closer to her, petulantly, tightening his grip on her like he thought she might slip away.

****

Five minutes turned into fifteen, and then a quick little session with him panting beneath her as she rode him. They cuddled some more as they came down from the high, catching their breath, settling down, and then finally they pulled themselves from the bed.

Starfire plunged herself into the huge basin tub and lathered herself with every soap she had, wanting to smell absolutely divine before they went downstairs to greet their friends.

They were quickly dressed, hair brushed, many little kisses and touches exchanged, each one feeling electric and fresh, like they were doing it for the first time, and then they locked hands and wandered downstairs.

Raven was already up, seated at the great banquet table with a small cup of something hot and steaming in her hands. Starfire did not ask how the empath had managed to find tea in the palace kitchens. In fact she rather suspected that Raven had brought her own. However she had come by it, Raven set it aside immediately when they entered, an uncharacteristically big smile plastered on her face.

"Sleep well?" she quipped, enjoying the way Robin turned bright red.

As her husband blustered something about making sure his mental shields were better next time, Starfire soon found her seat and her plate and piled up the food. Sputliks and g'norfkin sausage and several juicy slices of her favorite native fruits, which she wolfed down with vigor.

Titans and other heroes and palace staff filtered into the hall as they ate, anyone who had stayed the night after the ceremony. The number included most of the Titans network and several prominent Justice League members—she could see J'onn conversing with Galfore off in the corner.

Batman surprised her by sitting down next to her, in full cape and cowl.

"Pass me some of that green stuff, please," he asked.

A little confused, Starfire nonetheless picked up the heavy bowl and placed it down in front of him. "You do not mind the taste?" she asked. "Robin always told me he found them too salty."

A faint smile upturned the normally stern mouth. "Robin and I have different palates and that's okay." He ladled spoonfuls of the drufbar cream onto his plate, next to the pakt'ey pastries already there, as if he was putting mashed potatoes next to pancakes.

"What are your plans after this?" he asked, casually munching spoonfuls of drufbar as he spoke with her.

Starfire brightened up a bit. "Well, the rest of Titans West will be returning to Earth. And Robin and I..." She flushed a little pink, not particularly wanting to openly discuss their bedroom activities in front of her husband's father figure.

"We were thinking of taking two weeks off to relax and just explore Tamaran," Robin put in, quickly rescuing her from that embarrassing conversation.

"Take two months," Batman said.

Both of them blinked, certain they had misheard.

"Two... months?" Starfire repeated. She glanced at Robin, but he looked just as bewildered and surprised as she was. "But the city—"

"Don't even worry about Jump City, y'all," Cyborg broke in, as he arrived and pulled out a chair, plopping himself down with a flair. "The Titans network has got it all covered. I've got everyone on a rotating schedule and some of the Leaguers have even volunteered to check in," he told them producing the schedule on a screen from somewhere in his body, and several paper charts to boot.

"Trust me," an accented Kiwi drawl put in. Starfire glanced up—Argent and Hot Spot had joined the conversation. The short heroine smiled as she squeezed Hot Spot's hand, their own simple wedding bands glinting on their fingers. "You're gonna feel like two weeks isn't nearly enough. Wish we 'ad spent longer on ours, we didn't even get to see th' temples in Kyoto!" she bemoaned.

Hot Spot rolled his eyes. "I'll take you next summer, I promise."

"O-okay, well..." Starfire's mind reeled a bit. In contrast to the meticulous planning and organizing they'd done for their two wedding ceremonies—one on Earth in Robin's backyard and one here on Tamaran—they had left the honeymoon a big blank to be filled in as they went. She'd had the vague idea that they'd just lounge around the palace and make occasional day trips out to specific places in the Tamaranian countryside.

Suddenly facing a lot more extra time to fill had her spinning.

Another concern reared up in her head. The war with the Citadel had only officially ended recently. Many of the places she had been thinking to see, Galfore had told her, were still scarred by battle damage. Even here at the capitol, just looking outside the window at the barren purple plains reminded her that her planet was very much still healing.

It would be beautiful again someday, but for a honeymoon vacation it would be rather depressing.

And she had kind of already had her fill of her former subjects continuing to fawn over her as though she still ruled Tamaran.

Her eyes plied Robin for input. He was biting his lip, clearing having similar concerns as her.

"I love seeing where you grew up, don't get me wrong," he said privately to her. "But two whole months of it might be a bit much."

She didn't disagree. But Cyborg interrupted any reply she might have had, casually reaching across the table for a sputlik.

"I wouldn't worry about that either," he said cryptically, popping the sputlik in his mouth and leaning back in his chair with a cheese-eating grin, arms behind his head and feet propped on the table.

She wondered for a moment about his words, but just then Galfore's heavy hand dropped on her shoulder. The man bent his great head down towards both of the newlyweds' ears.

"I have a surprise for you, little one," the man told her, eyes twinkling with a grandfatherly joy.

Her heartbeat fluttered with anticipatory excitement.

****

"Oh!" she gasped, clutching both hands to her heart at the sight of the sleek silver spacecraft parked on the landing platform. Her eyes were wide and shimmering. "It is beautiful!"

Robin whistled low, impressed by the swooping lines and polished finish. Neat Tamaranian letters wrote out the ship's name across the side. Compact thrusters were mounted on the back. It looked for all the world like the spaceship equivalent of a luxury supercar.

"Is this ours?" he asked, incredulous.

Galfore beamed as he lay a hand on both their backs. "Consider it a wedding present, for the new bride and groom," he confirmed. Kneeling down, he turned specifically to Starfire, tremulous warmth in his expression. "Go see the galaxy, my bumgorf, like you had always wanted to do," he told her quietly.

Starfire blinked back a sniffle before she could cry, flinging arms around her old bodyguard and caretaker, a silent thank you for giving her the world.

Cyborg stepped up behind them. "She's already all fueled up, packed with your things, and stocked with enough supplies to take you halfway to the next quadrant," he said. "And I did the pre-flight checklist myself. All you have to do is turn her on."

"Cyborg..." Robin said, breathless with gratitude.

Their friend grinned. Behind him, Raven and Beast Boy were also there to see them off, along with Batman.

"Go enjoy yourselves," Cyborg encouraged, handing them a folder full of paperwork—star charts and tech specs for the ship it looked like.

"Oh we will!" Starfire promised, so full of happiness her feet left the ground.

Goodbyes and 'take care's were exchanged, Starfire insisted upon hugging everyone on the platform before departing, she waited a few moments for Robin to finish being given his safety lecture from Batman before grabbing his hand in excitement and pulling him towards the open loading ramp.

He waved back over his shoulder, grinning like a loon along with her as they spilled the star charts and vacation flyers out onto a little table inside the ship's living area. She was already rambling, talking about all the exotic locations she had wanted to visit as a child, but couldn't because of the war, babbling through newly forming plans and routes as the hatch slipped closed behind them.

Within moments, the engines were revving.

Definitely new blood. “Only the best!” Cyborg answered back. “We come bearing gifts.”

The crackle of a second T-ship radio heralded Changeling hopping in. “Tell them about the chocolate! They love it when we bring fresh chocolate.”

A sudden excited clamoring sounded from Tamaran’s end of the conversation. Cyborg laughed, giving up the last vestiges of official formality, and glanced back toward Changeling’s pod. “I think they heard you just fine, string bean.”

It wasn’t long before all official identifications had been made and clearances were sent through, and the Titans started flying through Tamaran’s skies to their final destination.

That was a treat in itself, really. Cyborg still remembered when the Titans had made their first trip to Tamaran, and Starfire had gushed over the seemingly desolate wasteland of rocky desert that surrounded her home city. He recalled that he and the others had been too overwhelmed by the recent attack on their ship and the idea that they were there for an arranged marriage to look past the barren landscape.

By now, though, the subtle, stark beauty of the Gikha desert had started to grow on him. He watched the delicate blend of oranges and tans pass below with an affectionate smile on his face, and let the twisting, precarious rock spires serve as landmarks. It was starting to become a home away from home for him. He suspected that was part of what drew Starfire’s awe as well – the feeling of home.

Then the other spires gave way to one that dwarfed them all, a lone mountain built out into a shining fortress and testament to Tamaran’s resilience and national pride. The capital city – its name something Cyborg had firmly given up on being able to pronounce – beckoned to the visiting Titans like a beacon.

“Home sweet home,” Raven said over the radio, a note of her own brand of wry affection in her voice.

Soon after, the T-ship docked on one of the landing pads in the 0-0-1 zone, just outside the palace and reserved for those associated with royalty and the court. (It had long ago occurred to Cyborg that, had he known what that designation meant on his first trip to Tamaran, Starfire’s own royal status would have been less of a shock.) He opened up his pod and stepped out to take a good stretch, before looking back to check on the rest of his team.

“Whew, looks like we made it y’all. Anyone need anything?”

Changeling had already taken to the air in eagle morph to stretch his wings with a few laps around their landing space, and he chirruped what sounded like a response in the negative.

Jinx shook her head and replied, “Nah, I’m good.” She’d just popped the ship’s compact trunk with a well-placed hex, and now watched in amusement as Flash and Raven made short work of removing everyone’s luggage and host gifts.

That was about when the great doors into the palace opened. The smile that had hardly left Cyborg’s face since they broke atmosphere broadened into a grin as he turned around to face the entryway.

“Friends!” Starfire chirped, flying forward. Any sense of queenly – empressly? – decorum she might have had was lost as she scooped up the Titans one by one in tight embraces. Nightwing followed close behind with Galfore and a scattering of royal guards. By the look on his face, Cyborg suspected that the only thing keeping Nightwing from hugging everyone too was the wriggling toddler in his arms.

“Well look at you, little lady,” Cyborg cooed as soon as Starfire detached herself from him to welcome her next visitor. He leaned down until he was eye level with the little princess. “You’ve sure grown since the last time I saw you. You remember your uncle Cyborg, right?”

The little girl stared wide-eyed at him for a moment. Then, when Changeling returned to human form to accept his mandatory Starfire hug, her eyes suddenly lit up.

“Uncle Beasty!” she cried out, launching out of her father’s grip to hug Changeling as well.

Nightwing let out a guilty little chuckle at Cyborg’s betrayed look. “Sorry,” he said. “Junand’r is going through both a shy phase and an animal phase right now. I guess the animal phase is just winning.”

“Hey, for the record, the princess is the one who touched me!” Changeling called out to the guards. “So you’re not allowed to get me in trouble.”

“That joke stopped being funny after the first two times,” Raven said dryly.

Changeling stuck his tongue out at her, still holding on to Junand’r. “You’re just jealous because I’m Junebug’s favorite.”

Cyborg chuckled and took a moment to survey the scene. It had been about three and a half years now since Starfire had taken the mantle of Grand Ruler, returning permanently to Tamaran with Nightwing by her side. They seemed to be doing well: Starfire laughing as brightly as ever while she coaxed her daughter into giving the rest of the Titans a proper greeting, Nightwing looking very much at home as he made his own rounds and accepted the chocolate box for his family that Flash had shoved into his hands. Even Galfore seemed a bit steadier on his feet than he’d been the last time the Titans visited.

While the royal family was busy with the others, Galfore walked up to Cyborg. “They make a fine picture, do they not?” he asked in a low voice, his broad face wrinkling with warmth as he leaned on his cane.

Cyborg folded his arms and nodded. “Yeah, that’s Star and Nightwing for you. Keep them together, and they can make just about anything work.” He snorted. “And look good doing it, too.”

Galfore let out a deep, throaty laugh. “Very true. The empress has built quite a lot upon the tasks I began during my brief tenure as Grand Ruler, and I believe the emperor helps in more ways than even he realises. Juksa’akth is finally spreading beyond the mountain’s base again.”

Cyborg grinned up at him, hoping that the irrational nerves he felt at just thinking about trying to say the capital city’s name didn’t show. “Yeah? I thought I saw some buildings down there.”

“Buildings and more! I believe Starfire was hoping to show you some of it today,” Galfore replied.

Then, raising his voice so everyone could hear, he called out, “We may wish to begin travel if we are to see the city this day, Your Majesties.”

Starfire’s expression somehow managed to brighten even further upon hearing that. “Oh, yes!” she replied, scooping her babbling daughter into her arms. “We wanted to show you the orchard tonight.”

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

It took some coaxing – and just a bit of bribery with first dibs on the chocolate that had been brought in for the court and palace staff – to remind the guards that the Titans were all capable warriors more than suited to the task of bodyguarding. Eventually, though, the royals and their visitors managed to descend without escort into a broad swath of purple-leaved trees that the mountain had hidden from Cyborg’s view on his first arrival. Young Jun, her shyness forgotten, floated between Cyborg and Jinx and sucked on a milder piece of chocolate (most Tamaraneans preferred the bitterness in the darker varieties). Starfire and Nightwing led everyone through rows of broad-leafed trees dotted with small knobs of pale pinkish fruit.

“Juksa’akth was designed to be self-sustaining in the event that a conflict or disaster cut our supply lines,” Starfire was saying, “but it is difficult to defend open farmland. Back during the Gordanian invasion, their soldiers targeted the less fortified lowlands first in an effort to starve out the capital. Fortunately, the stored food and subterranean fungus farms allowed it to hold out until the Gordanians were repelled. The farms that dominated this space were wiped out, however.”

Her voice faltered and her face pinched at some painful memory. Nightwing took notice and picked up the thread, placing a comforting hand on her forearm as he did so.

“For a while, recovery efforts from the invasion were focused on regions of Tamaran that had weaker defenses and were hit harder,” he said. “This orchard is the first part of Juksa’akth’s lowlands to have new irrigation systems completed and crops established. Everyone’s pretty excited about it.”

Changeling wandered to a tree with a lower hanging knobby fruit and pulled it over to give it an experimental sniff. “Hey, isn’t this one of those citrusy things you used to share with us back on Earth?” he asked, eyeing it hungrily.

With a knowing smirk, Nightwing replied, “It will be when it’s ripe.”

“Yummy fruit! Akzel!” Jun announced, punctuating the name of the ripening fruit with a wave of her chubby, chocolate stained fists.

Jinx dodged a grubby hand. “Okay, who thought giving chocolate to the baby was a good idea?”

Flash’s face suddenly and deliberately shifted to a look of pure nonchalance at the question.

Starfire clicked her tongue and turned to clear off the young princess’ hands with a wipe. Cyborg wondered if it was at all possible to maintain regal grace while parenting a two-year-old, or if she and Nightwing just didn’t bother with the airs of “regal grace” around their honorary family. If he had to guess, he’d probably say no to both counts.

“We may not have local akzels just yet,” Starfire said when she finished, “but there should be some fresh imported ones available for you tomorrow.”

“Yay!” Jun cried out while Changeling fistpumped.

Raven raised an eyebrow. “Looks like you just won both of the kids over.”

Nightwing smirked. “You forgot Kid Flash.”

“Hey! You know full well that I dropped the “Kid” part, Robin,” Flash countered. “That makes me a proper official adult.”

Starfire shook her head and laughed a little at everyone’s antics. Then, with a deep breath, she took a few steps back and spread her arms to gesture at the trees surrounding them.

“So, what do you think?” she asked. “I believe it provides an extra splash of color to this part of our desert city, and it is doing wonders for morale. Do you agree?”

Cyborg took his own deep breath of the crisp air, moistened by the trees’ recent watering. With complete sincerity, he said, “It’s beautiful, Star. The orchard, the city, the desert, all of it.”