-1Chapter Five

Author's Note: Yay! Last chapter! I hope you guys enjoy it!

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Beastboy met Slade on the roof just as he'd promised. The man turned to him, and stared at him for a long time, as if he had his wings pinned to a board and was dissecting him. The young Titan stared back at him. Slade took a few steps closer, and said bluntly, "You didn't give it to him."

"No," Beastboy agreed, "I didn't."

"Do you care nothing for the little girl?" The villain asked in an icy voice. "She will surely die now, you know that."

The changeling shook his head. He then retrieved the envelope Slade had given to him, tore it open, and released it's contents into the wind. He stared at Slade again. "Deal's off, Slade."

The masked man smirked beneath his mask. "How does it feel? Knowing that you're the cause of someone's destruction...yet again?" He grabbed the boy's arms. "Does it feel like Terra all over again?"

Beastboy kicked him in the shin and jerked his arm back. He stared straight into the man's masked face, this time, without a shred of fear. "Terra's mistake wasn't my fault," he said, "Terra didn't fight. She went to you because she didn't trust us. She didn't want to fight, she wanted a quick-fix to her problem."

Slade didn't say anything for a moment, and then, "Can you really say the same thing about this little girl?"

Beastboy nodded. "Molly's a fighter, and so am I."

Before Slade could say or do anything else, the changeling transformed into a bird and flew away. As the night wind rushed against his face, he thought of his final decision. His decision not to take Slade's cure, if there had even been one at all.

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Molly went through another treatment, but this time, Garfield did not lay by her side afterwards. In fact, the small puppy had not been at home in days. Her parents were constantly bickering about getting another dog, but so far, they had not done so. Molly still whined and cried about her pain, but she also played and smiled when she found the courage.

It was one sunny afternoon when a small green boy, in which many of the sick children recognized, entered the children's ward, bashfully following a nurse. The nurse explained to the children that he was a volunteer, and would be spending time with them. Beastboy grinned sheepishly and waved to them. Molly stared at him for a moment, and then she sat up from her little place on the couch and grinned. For hours, Beastboy played video games, colored, watched television, and talked with the young cancer patients. He did this for days, and then towards the end of the week, he and a few other volunteers took the children to the park. They were all in good shape, for the time being, and many of them raced for the playground. Molly stared up at him from under her big pink sunhat and asked, "Do you want to go on the swings?"

She held out her little hand and Beastboy took it, smiling. "I'd love to."

They traveled to the swings and Molly sat down in the middle one, wrapping her hands tightly around the chains. Beastboy stood behind her, and began pushing her, slowly and letting her the swing of her feet develop the speed. As she laughed and giggled, Beastboy pushed harder, and even gave her an under-duck once or twice. When she finally slowed to a gentle rocking , out of breath from laughing so hard, Molly sighed.

"Remember when I held you in my lap?" She asked, turning around. "We were on the swings in my backyard, remember?"

Beastboy froze. "What? I don't think I've ever been to your house."

Molly grinned and spun herself around so she was facing him. "You're Garfield," She told him in a soft voice.

"That is my name," He shrugged, "but I..."

Molly crossed her arms and pursed her lips. She then smiled again and slid her bottom off of the swing and lifted up her arms for the boy to pick her up. He complied and she rested her head against his chest, stroking the short green hair on the back of his head. "Remember when I picked you up? Remember when I held you?" She whispered.

Beastboy, fighting back tears, hugged the child tightly. "Yah..."

He was holding her. He was holding Molly for the first time, and he felt emotions he had never felt before. Not even when he held Terra, not even when Rita from the Doom Patrol held him. He didn't remember his own parents very well, but he suddenly wondered if the feelings surging through him ever went through a parent. He felt the child kiss his cheek. "You'll still come to the hospital and visit me, right?"

"Of course," Beastboy said, "I promise."

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He did keep his promise, and was soon a regular volunteer at the hospital. Even after Molly's final treatment, he remained visiting the other children, playing with them and simply listening to them when they were grouchy. Of course, he still visited Molly. Her parents confided that his help at the hospital had really given her something to hope for through her treatments, and though her cancer could always return, she was currently free of disease. By the time winter rolled around, her hair was long, past her shoulders even, and her skin glowed with color. The other Titans were proud of Beastboy, and often let him skip missions to go the hospital.

He was surprised one morning close to Christmas when a knock sounded at the tower door. Starfire opened it and greeted, "Oh, hello! Beastboy will be delighted to see you!"

Accompanied by her parents, Molly stood at the door, bundled in a pink coat and holding a large bag. She grinned when Beastboy came to the door.

"I got you a present!" She squealed, thrusting the bag into his arms.

Her mother laughed. "For Christmas, " she explained with a wink.

Beastboy smiled. "Well, gee, uh thanks!" He motioned for them to come inside. "Don't just stand there and freeze! Come in!"

The family entered the cluttered tower and Molly eagerly followed Beastboy to the sofa. She nearly jumped in his lap when he sat down and watched with big, glittering eyes as he opened the bag. It was a wrapped object, poorly wrapped, but Molly was obviously proud of her work. He unwrapped the package and smiled. It was a framed picture of Molly and the other children at the hospital, as well as Beastboy. It had been taken by Molly's mother, the day the children put on a comedy routine, led by Beastboy, of course. On the side of the picture was a hand-written note in crayon:

TO MY BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WORLD, EVEN WHEN I FELT SICK AND COULDN'T BE THE BEST FRIEND BACK.

LOVE, MOLLY

Beastboy pulled the little girl against him and said, "You were an even better best friend than me."

He kissed the top of her head. "Thank you, Molly."

"Would you please remain here and share the hot chocolate with us?" Starfire asked Molly's parents, excitedly.

Molly's father shrugged. "That sounds nice."

Starfire turned to Beastboy. "Might you help me prepare it?"

Beastboy stood up, picking Molly up as he did so, and approached the kitched. Molly giggled and stuck her thumb in her mouth. She then commanded, "Feel my hair!".

Beastboy complied and whistled. "I wish my hair felt that nice and soft."

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"Hi, Terra," it was the first time in months he had gone to visit the statue-less plot. "Molly's a lot better, I kept my promise."

He sat down. "I just wish I could have helped you the way I helped her, but I know you're happy just being a normal girl." He retrieved the framed photo from behind his back and showed it off proudly. "She gave me this for Christmas a few months ago, isn't it great?"

Rain tapped above the surface and the plot made no reply. Beastboy ran his hand over the picture and said, "I'll get another one soon, and bring that one to show you." He stood up, dusting the seat of of his pants off, and said, "But right now I'm late for my volunteer work. See you later, Terra!"

The End...