Author's Notes:

Tayk leaned over the keyboard, talking aloud as she typed so that the others didn't have to read over her shoulder. "Beast Boy picked up the hotdog gingerly and just barely nibbled at the end. He threw it away and – Hey! Naomi, I'm still writing!" Naomi, a co-author, had shoved tayk aside and taken up work at the typist's chair.

"Well, you aren't now, so what's it matter?" Elizabeth rolled her eyes as tayk pounced on Naomi, effectively knocking her off the chair and to the floor. They stared rolling around, using their claws, extremities, and even teeth as they wrestled.

"Am I the only one that can get quality work done around here?" Elizabeth huffed, taking up the job of typing. After a sentence or two, she chanced a glance at her co-authors. Tayk had her elbow in Naomi's eye and looked as though she was trying to rip Naomi's arm off. Naomi was trying to bite off tayk's leg. "Apparently so…"

A Matter of Trust: Chapter 20

THE LAST CHAPTER!

The car finally pulled into Titans' Tower driveway. The Titans climbed out, grateful to be home at last. But a nagging guilt tugged at each of them – they felt like they'd failed Starfire. Cyborg and Robin went to help Star out of the trunk while Beast Boy and Raven continued inside.

She had fallen asleep. Cyborg was just wondering how someone could sleep in the trunk of a car when he noticed Robin. Robin was gazing absently at Star's sleeping profile.

"You ok, man?" Cyborg asked, placing a hand on Robin's shoulder. The masked boy jumped and brushed Cyborg's hand away.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm ok…" he said, though his voice was unsure. He tried to lift Starfire out of the trunk, but the recent fight had greatly sapped his energy and he was too weak. So Cyborg held her under the armpits while Robin supported her legs. Cyborg, being half robot, had been less taxed by the fight and was able to carry Star in by himself – except for the fact that Robin really wanted to help.

Once they had put her in bed, Cyborg rushed back downstairs to make dinner. He kept exclaiming something like "Meat buffet!" which made Beast Boy go greener. Robin, however, lingered by Starfire's door for a moment, watching her sleep and silently apologizing that he had given up. She was part of the team, and he knew that she needed her memory back. He softly closed the door and started downstairs.

"Dude, Robin, isn't it Rae's job to be all sad and junk?" Beast Boy asked, leaning across the table and watching Robin pick at his food. Robin's head was in one hand, fork in the other. Raven scowled, told Beast Boy to sit down, and told Robin to get his elbow off the table. Robin did so, crossing his arm across his lap. His head drooped a little, not held up with confidence like usual. He continued to pick at his food. Beast Boy eyed him before turning to his own plate. He recoiled with disgust – Cyborg had served him a hot dog on a bun and a glass of milk.

"Dude! You know I;m practically lactose-intolerant!" he yelled at Cyborg, wide-eyed with horror. Cyborg grinned slyly.

"Not liking milk and being lactose-intolerant are two completely different things," Cyborg scolded. "And you get none of that icky tofu-junk until you eat everything on your plate. Yes, everything." Beast Boy scowled and turned back to his plate.

Beast Boy picked up the hot dog gingerly and just barely nibbled at one end. Pulling a disgusted face, he set it back down on his plate and chugged his milk without thinking. He threw the paper cup away and, whimpering, wiped off the milk mustache.

"Poor cows…" he moaned.

"Beast Boy," Raven said, exasperation evident in her tone. "Cows get grumpy if they aren't milked. So, by drinking that milk, you were doing the cows a favor." Beast Boy perked considerably, but Robin still looked melancholy. No one knew what to do to cheer him up. After another five minutes of not eating anything, he called a meeting after dinner and retreated to his room.

"So, what're we gonna do about Starfire?" Beast Boy asked an hour later when the meeting had started. Robin, stony-faced, insisted that they go back and get Star's memory.

"Yeah, I feel kinda guilty about giving up on her, y'all…" Cyborg put in. Raven nodded silently.

"That settles it," Robin said. He looked more cheerful. "We're going back. Ummm… Right after we do the laundry…" Raven sighed, and, knowing they were going to force it on her anyways, volunteered for that job.

After three days, nearly 35 loads of laundry, and lots of home cooking, the Titans were ready to go back. Starfire once again volunteered to sit in the trunk, but Robin rejected the offer and took that place himself.

Two hours passed in the cramped, dark position. Robin was extremely thankful when they arrived at the campsite – he'd hit his head a good many times and it ached horribly. They tidied up camp and sat around the fire.

((A/N: I could stop, but it's too short. And it doesn't cover everything. Skipping ahead a few days…))

"Robin," Cyborg said gravely. "Starfire just fainted and we're out of water. We only have orange soda left. I gave some to her, but she hasn't come round."

"Well… if it's the best we can do…" Robin said hopelessly. He didn't want to go home, not yet at least.

"And there's something else…" Cyborg said hesitantly.

"What?" Robin's tone was suspicious.

"Slade's attacking." Robin's eyes widened. He grabbed his bo staff and sprang into battle. Slade blocked his every move easily, and Robin's bombs, too.

"Careful, Robin, for it is not me you should be worrying about. Where's your girlfriend?"

"She's NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!" Robin bellowed, redoubling his attack. Slade grabbed Robin's bo staff and smacked him across the face. Robin's head turned and he found himself looking behind him – just in time to see Star walking down a forest path. Immideatly, he let go of the metal rod and followed her at a sprint. He didn't even think what ill consequences might occur now that Slade had his best weapon.

"Starfire! Starfire!" Robin yelled as he ran. A purring voice greeted him from just around that bend.

"What about me, Robby-poo?" It was Kitten. Robin stopped, glowering, and stormed around the bend. Starfire was laying on the path, unconscious, and Kitten was standing over her with an evil smile.

"I'm not your Robby-poo," he spat. "What'd you do to Starfire?"

"I'm not tellin'," Kitten taunted. She pulled out a small vile of orange liquid. "But I've got the antidote right here. Do the right thing, and I might give it to you." Robin scowled again. But, as he looked at his poor team mate, he knew he had no choice.

"Fine. You win. What do you want?" Kitten grinned evilly.

"Dump Starfire." Robin's heart went cold. His eyes widened. One eye had a twitch.

"What!"

"You heard me, Robby-poo. I want you to dump Starfire!"

"Fine, but give me the antidote first!"

"No, I have to see that you're really trustworthy!"

Robin groaned. Knowing that this was going to hurt her, her picked up Starfire. One of his arms supported her back, the other supported her legs. Then, with his face back to expressionless, he dropped her.

"There. I dumped her. Now give me that vile!"

"Catch!" Kitten said exsatically. She tossed the vile over Robin's head. His eyes behind the mask grew wide and he ran backwards, hands outstretched, trying to catch it… He did, if only just. It slipped through his hands and, though he caught it in his fingertips, he felt sweat beading his forehead. That had been close.

He smirked at Kitten (who looked enraged) and walked back to Starfire. But before he'd even opened the vile, her eyelids began to flutter. As he watched, amazed, she awoke and sat up, rubbing her head. She looked around and smiled when she saw Robin. Then, Starfire spotted Kitten, with her arms crossed, looking put out. Starfire turned back to Robin.

"Robin, why is it that you are in the company of the blinthorg, Kitten?" she asked calmly. Robin sighed and started to explain. But before he'd finished, Starfire cut him off and stood up. She stalked over to Kitten, who had been edging away, removing her glove as she did so. Robin knew what was coming. He turned away, but could hear Kitten getting the worst beating in the history of the world. Robin was glad that Starfire was on his side, and vowed never to make her angry.

"So, I take it your memory is back?" Robin asked tentatively.

"No, Robin, I am still forgetful under the influence of Slade and Kitten," Starfire said. Robin raised an eyebrow – he hadn't known it was possible for Starfire to have a sarcastic tone of voice. She giggled. "Yes, my memory has returned to normal."

"Great! Let's go back to camp – the other Titans will want to hear this!" He started walking down the path, Starfire beside him. He had to smile.

"Dude, Robin, what took so – " Beast Boy started. He cut off, sniggering. Robin raised an eyebrow, then realized that Starfire's hand was in his. Blushing scarlet, he withdrew his hand.

"Ahem," Robin said, trying desperately to regain his composure. He explained briefly what had happened in the woods and suggested that the Titans, since Starfire's memory was completely returned, go home. There was quite a bit of cheering.

Less than an hour later, the Titans were trundling along the road. Beast Boy had been trying to make Raven laugh again, but it hadn't worked. As always. Suddenly, Cyborg spoke up: "I don't know 'bout the rest of y'all, but that's the last time I'll be camping for a long time!" He put the emphasis on 'long'. The others readily agreed.

A/N: I hope you've enjoyed the last chapter to AMOT! I know that I (tayk) enjoyed writing it. There were a few scenes that I WANTED to put in, but certain people named Naomi would've killed me if I had… So, with my est interests in mind, I decided not to.

Anyways. As you may or may not be aware of, today is May 27. Exactly one year ago, I posted the first ever chapter of my first ever story. Yup, that's right, today is the first anniversary of A Matter Of Trust. But, even though this is the last in this story, many more chapters in the AMO quartet are to come! How 'bout a sneak preview of AMOH (Hope)?

"Bill for Robin, bill for Robin, bill for Robin, fashion magazine for Star, bill for Robin, bill for Robin - sheez, man, how many bills do you have! - Mechanic Monthly for me... Bill for Robin - " I started to walk away. I never had mail, anyways. Who in their right mind would write to me? But Robin called me back.

"Hold on, Rae, there's on more - Cyborg, what's wrong?" Cyborg was gaping at the front of the last letter. I saw his eyes dart to me, then back to the letter.

"And ... a letter for Raven!"

Review, please! The next story I will ever post will be the long-awaited, much-missed Time Travlers!