With Or Without You (fourth in Destiny Series)

8) Hope and a Penny

Nightwing sat by his wife's side not moving. The anger coursed through his veins. Starfire's engagement ring glimmered slightly in the light.

Nightwing ran his fingers over the stone on her finger. "Come back to me Star," he leaned down and kissed her tenderly on the lips. "I need you."

She stirred and opened her eyes. Nightwing was overjoyed, kissing her fiercely. "Hi," he smiled down at her.

"Hi," she smiled back up at him. The doors of the hospital wing flew open and Cyborg came barreling in with Bumble Bee.

"Hey Star!" Cyborg beamed. "How're you feeling?"

"I shall be right as rain soon enough," the alien replied, sitting up. Then her lovely face crumpled into a frown. "Where is Garfield?"

"Here," the rest of the Titans turned in surprise to see Changeling in the doorway. He was breathing heavily.

"So where did you go anyway?" Cyborg demanded.

"Doesn't matter," Changeling panted. He certainly wasn't going to tell them what he discovered about the curse. Hell, he didn't even tell them about its existence in the first place.

"What matters is who I found," he continued. The Titans looked at him blankly. Then there was a blur of yellow and red and Kid Flash was standing next to him with Jinx in his arms.

"What has happened to Jinx?" Starfire asked.

"I figured you wouldn't believe me if I told you," Changeling collected himself. "So, I brought Jinx to tell you herself."

"Tell us what?" Bumble Bee spoke up.

"That I resurrected Raven," Jinx murmured. The Titans stared at her. "I really didn't want to, but Slade was threatening to hurt Wally."

She paused for a moment, gathering her strength. "It was a spell. It took most of my energy and transferred it into Raven. According to the spell, her memory will remain locked away."

"See," Changeling addressed Nightwing. "I told you that Raven would never knowingly attack us."

"What will it take for Raven to regain her memory?" Nightwing asked, ignoring Changeling.

"I honestly don't know," Jinx lowered her eyes. "I don't have much knowledge on the topic in question, no one does."

"Try, please try to remember," begged Changeling.

Jinx furrowed her pink brows.

"I do remember something along the lines of: the magics of love and life shall end all strife. So, someone she loves and someone who brings life. That's confusing and impossible."

"Not impossible!" Changeling waved his arms. "It's our duty as her friends to remind her of who she is!"

"And in the meantime allow her to destroy the city?" Nightwing asked the shape-shifter. Changeling sighed with exasperation.

"If Jinx is weak," Cyborg changed the topic. "Then we should probably get someone down to Titan's South."

"Good idea," Nightwing agreed. "Slade will probably be after Jinx now so it's important to keep the Titan's West protected. I'll call around and see if I can get anyone to volunteer."