Prolog:
Dark black skies were filled with equally dark clouds as thunder shook the sky. There was a slight chill in the late evening air. The storm had blown in a welcomed cold front during the early June day.
The lights of a bustling city illuminated the ocean bay not far off as the clouds rolled over the cityscape. The dull roar of traffic and night life drowned out the low rumble of thunder above.
The city's night life was indeed alive with great fervor. Night clubs, bars, even the local college's resident frat houses all seemed to be having parties. It was almost like there was a huge party on every corner. All of the city's young adult and even older teenaged citizens seemed to be out and about, enjoying themselves.
There was one nightclub in particular where a "private" party was being held. At this party there was a particular young woman who seemed to be increasingly annoyed.
She stood at a table on the second floor on an overlooking balcony of sorts, just over the dance floor where dozens of people were doing various degrees of "dancing". The lights were bright and the music was loud, and there were people everywhere. None of this seemed to bother this young woman, as she appeared to be looking for a specific person.
Now, many people would admit that this young woman was beautiful, gorgeous even. Some would even go so far as to call her an exotic beauty. She stood at a decent 5'11 and looked to be about 120 to 130 pounds. She had muscle on her, but not so much that she looked like a body builder or anything. Her figure, while thin, was hardly considered to be a stick. Her skin was darkly tanned, and her complexion was clear. Her limbs were long, her legs in particular, seemed to go on forever. Her face was round, and her features were soft. She had high cheekbones, and a small button nose. Her eyes were large, round and dark green like emeralds. Her hair was long, flowing down past her rear, and was a dark red, so dark that most considered it to be auburn.
Her outfit consisted of denim shorts, a hot pink sleeveless shirt that flowed instead of hugging her figure. She wore heeled sandals, choosing to be both comfortable and cute. Her makeup was light, and her hair was down. Many a young male eyed her, and even made several lucrative comments both to and about her in passing, but she paid them no mind. She stood there, with a drink, waiting on someone.
She sighed as she nervously played with a small ring on her right hand. It was so small that most people wouldn't ever notice it unless they were to thoroughly examine her person. However, she noticed it. Not nearly as much as she had once, when she had been younger, but it was still noticeable when she put it on and took it off.
Lost in thought, she didn't notice the young man approaching her from behind.
Now, most people would consider him to be extremely good looking, however for her, he was merely easy on the eyes. He was tall, roughly 6' or so, and had about 200 to 250 pounds worth of muscle on him. Although it was very noticeable when he was wearing a jacket or coat of any kind. He was more towards the slender side, had an angular face, sharp jaw and nose and firm chin. His eyes were a dark blue and he had blonde hair that was always neatly combed and was never out of place. His smile was what always gave her pause. It was...cold. Calculating. As were his eyes. There was something there that she couldn't put her fingers on, but it always gave her goosebumps, and in the wrong way.
This evening he was wearing jeans, boots, a black muscle t shirt and a sports jacket.
He placed his hand on her back as he came up to her and planted a small kiss on her cheek. "Hey gorgeous." He whispered in her ear.
She gave a slight jump when she felt a hand on her back, but relaxed a bit when she realized who it was. She allowed a small smile to grace her delicate lips on the outside, but couldn't help but to notice the chided that went down her spine when he whispered in her ear.
She turned to face him, pretending to be annoyed.
"And where have you been? It's almost 11:30." She lightly reprimanded.
He chuckled as that cold smile came across his face. "I know, I said to meet up at 11:30." He knew the jig was up when she raised an eyebrow at him.
"No, you distinctly said 11. I remember. I even wrote it down." She said shaking her head.
He playfully rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright. You got me. I got caught up with some business in the back, but now I'm here and I'm ready to have some fun."
She gave him a skeptical look, but agreed by taking his hand.
They spent the next hour drinking, mingling, dancing and talking. They were having a good time. The lights, the music, the people, the alcohol. At one point the young woman realized that she was feeling a little buzzed, so she began to sip slowly and request water instead of alcohol. She had learned to never drink so much that you can't tell where you are or what you were doing consciously.
Around 12:30ish, one of the bouncers came up to the young mad and whispered something in his ear. When the bouncer had finished speaking, the youn mans smile was long gone, and a very serious look had replaced it.
He immediately stood from the table where they were sitting, and made apologies to the rest of the group of young people they were with. After a quick peck on the cheek, and a mumbled "I'll be right back" he rushed off with the bouncer.
Time passes, and he still didn't show.
The conversation ended and their friends all left one by one. Still no sign.
The lights seemed to slow, as the music began to lessen in volume. No show.
The crowd numbers began to dwindle, the bouncers escorting imparted customers to taxis as the wait staff began to clean. Still no sign.
She was sitting at the bar stirring her water absently when she looked at her phone for the tome. 2:30. She sighed. He always did this. It always happened. He would take off with no explanation and be gone for hours on end. One time it had been days before she even heard from him again.
She couldn't take it anymore, she was done. She was tired, board and wanted nothing more than a hot shower and her own bed. She looked at her phone again. 2:45. She huffed. She was 20 years old, grown, had an apartment and a job of her own, but if she didn't call or text soon the guys would worry and send out a search party.
She sat up straight and looked around. The place was empty, the regular lights on, and the staff cleaning up, the last customer having left ages ago. The bartender came around to her side of the bar and began to clean glasses. She looked at him and made up her mind.
"Where's Howie?" She asked him. He looked at her with reluctance.
"How long has it been this time?" He said carefully.
"Two hours." The guy has enough decency to wince.
"He's in the back...," she immediately got up and started walking towards the back of the club where the offices and storage rooms were. "But I really don't think you want to go back there!" He called after her. His warning fell of deaf ears.
She made her way down the long, dark, smoke filled hall, looking for his office. 'This is it,' she thought. 'I'm leaving and going home no matter WHAT he says...'
She heard voices coming from the room on her right just ahead. As she got close she heard Howie's voice and it didn't sound pleased. For half a second she thought about knocking, but then she heard shouting from inside and just opened the door. As soon as she did she wished to X'hal that she hadn't.
There, on Howie's desk sat two open cases. One was filled with millions of dollars. The other, weapons. It didn't take a genius to figure out that she had just walked in on an arms deal.
She stood there, wide eyed and frozen. And for a minute, everyone else was too. Besides Howie, there was the bouncer from earlier, an Asian man and a person whom she assumed was the Asian man's bodyguard.
For a second, nobody moved. Then Howie started shaking his head at the floor. "Damn it Kori..." he said softly. The three other men began to shuffle their feet and avoiding looking at her, seeming very uncomfortable.
Still eyeing the cases on the desk, she turned to Howie, decision made.
"I was coming back here to tell you that I'm going home, however now I'm telling you that we're through." She turned to leave and added, "and I'm going home." She quickly left, slamming the door behind her.
She couldn't get out of that building fast enough. Rain was in the air as she began her hike back to the tower. She could have flown, but there was simply no joy in her body to draw on. In hindsight she should have told Vic that she needed a ride, or that she was leaving at least. But noooooo, she just had to walk.
She sniffled away the tears as she tried to fight the lightheaded dizziness. 'I didn't drink that much did I...?' She thought as she stumbled down the now abandoned street.
She never saw him coming. He grabbed her from behind a dragged her into an alley off the street. She was so surprised and so dizzy that she didn't fight back.
Not when he dragged her farther down the dark alleyway.
Not when he shoved her up against the wall.
Not when he was yelling and growling at her did she push him away.
Nor did she fight when he began to touch her.
Or when she felt his hot breath on her neck and his rough hands bruising her arms.
Only when she felt her shorts slip did she fight her dizziness and begin to push him away.
He pushed back. And harder.
She told him no. He got closer.
She hit him. He got back. And harder.
She yelled no. He strangled her.
Her vision began to darken as she felt him pull her shorts down...
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Pain. That was all she felt. Pain, soreness, stiffness. She moaned as she tried to get her bearings. She was in an alley, she knew that. She also knew what had happened to her. She remembered the whole thing. Every single, nightmarish detail.
She slowly lifted her head. It was still dark. She closed her eyes. She couldn't feel anything anymore. She didn't want to move. But she couldn't stay. She rolled over onto her side and slowly sat up, wincing as she did.
While she couldn't see much, she could feel the blood and bruises that covered her body. Her underwear were laying on the ground next to her ankle, and her shorts latex a few feet away. Her top has looked better, so had her hair. Howie, thank X'hal, was long gone.
This was nothing new to her. She couldn't remember how many times this had happened to her when she had been a prisoner to the Gordainians, Pisons, and the Citidel. But no matter how many times it happened, it was still devastating.
She sat there for a moment, gazing at nothing. She then took a deep breath and got up. She reached for her clothes and pulled them on. She didn't want the guys to see her like this. They would pity her and try to help her. They would baby her and coddle her. Then they would hunt down Howie and kill him, moral rules in place or not.
She shook her head. No, it was best if they never knew. If no one ever knew. She resolved that she would stay at her apartment instead and reached for her phone.
There were 3 new messages. Two from Vic and one from Gar.
Vic: you coming home anytime soon?
Vic: kori, if you're not home soon I'm sendin out the search party
Gar: when are you comin home? At least text us, Vic's this close to blowin a fuse or somethin. At least tell us you're ok.
She sighed.
Guys, I'm fine. Staying at the apartment. Nothing wrong, just need some alone time.
Message sent, she began walking.
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She huffed, blowing a strand of a stray red hair out of her face. She began to examine herself in the mirror.
It had been nearly three weeks since the incident, and she had managed to hide it. Using makeup and wearing long sleeves and long pants had done the trick.
Now she looked at herself in the mirror of her apartment bathroom, without makeup on. There was still remnants of a black eye, and minor discolorments everywhere else. Even with her advanced healing, it had taken a while for the bruising to begin to heal. Now, you could barely tell that there had ever been any strange bruises in the first place.
She sighed and looked down. The day after the incident she had sent in anonymous tips to both the police and the Titans about Howie. She had then proceeded to take a long bath, then cover any evidence of the previous night with makeup and clothing.
After being satisfied that no one would notice, she went back to the tower, where she was met with long, overprotective brother conversations about Howie from both Gar and Vic due to an anonymous tip that they had received earlier that morning. After convincing them that she had already ended things with him, they began their search.
The first week she had been sore, but mostly functional.
The second week she had been less sore and more tired, but was still functional.
The beginning of the third week she felt nauseous, but dismissed it as nervous.
The night she threw up three times for no reason and no fever, she marched down to the drug store and bought a box of tests.
She didn't actually take one until she had caught a glimpse at a calander and did some quick period math.
And here she was.
She looked at the timer on her phone and then on he instructions on the box. 'One minute my foot...longest minute of my life...' she thought anxiously.
Her timer went off.
She grabbed the stick.
The she grabbed her phone.
Opening up her contacts, she found the number she was looking for and hit the button.
After three and a half rings a gravelly voice answered on the other end.
"Hello?"
"Hey, it's me."
"...Kori?"
"Yeah."
"What's wrong?"
She sighed.
"I need your help."
"Kori I what happened?"
"Raven, I'm pregnant."
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Month 1
She looked at the room with mixed feelings. She was glad that she would be safe and that she would be with her friend again. But she was also sad that she wouldn't see her other friends for awhile.
But no one could know. Ever.
"I hope you like it." Raven stood in the doorway gauging her friends reaction to the room. She also made a mental note of the lack of floating.
"It is most glorious, Raven. I shall be very happy here."
Raven sofented.
"Kori, you don't have to be happy. You just have to be safe and comfortable."
Kori let out a sigh. "But I wish to be happy. I have had so many chances so many times, and yet they all manage to slip away. I want one to come and remain."
Raven nodded in understanding. "I know Kori, I do. And if anyone deserves to be happy, it's you. Believe me when I say that motherhood will be the best thing to ever happen to you. No matter how it came to you."
Kori seemed to brighten a little at this. Raven smiled.
"Good, now, the kids are anxious to play with their Aunt Kori..." she trailed off as she walked out of the room.
Kori smilied.
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Month 2
Kori flushed the toilet. For the fifth time that day. She leaned back against the opposite wall, tired of being sick.
She looked down at her stomach.
"You better be worth it."
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Month 2
"Breathe."
"I-I'm t-trying"
"Kori"
Kori clutched a couch pillow rocking back and forth. Raven stood in front of her with an 18 month old on her hip.
"I-I need to..."
"You're not calling him."
"But..."
Raven sighed. She sat down next to kori and pulled her into a loving embrace.
"The only thing calling him will do is make things harder on everyone, you especially."
"But...my powers..."
"Kori, you'll be ok, I promise. We knew this was going to happen. We just need to get used to it. You're going to be fine."
Kori nodded. Losing her powers wasn't a big deal...was it?
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Month 4
"No."
"But, friend Raven..."
"No Kori."
"Please?!??"
"I said no, stop doing The Eyes. You know it doesn't work on me."
"But..."
"Mint frosting does NOT go on barbecue Kori."
"Finnnnneeee...what about mustard?"
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Month 5
"Raven!!!!!!"
Raven nearly broke something running into the room so fast.
"What? What's wrong?" She panted.
Kori smiles so big Raven was surprised that it didn't break her face.
"Look."
Kori stood in front of a mirror in leggings and a tank top. She gestured to her abdomen. Sure enough, there was a small baby bump.
Raven smiled.
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Month 6
Wailing*
Screaming*
Righteous Fury*
Insessent Crying*
Jouys Cries*
Azar, Raven hated mood swings.
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Month 8
She was waddleing. Violet said she looked like a penguin.
"Penguin!"
Apparently John agreed.
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Month 9
"RAVEN!!!!!!!"
"What?!?"
"My water broke."
It was time.
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Ta-da
47 hours, lots of screaming, crying and meditating later, a new life was brought into the world.
Kori sat in the bed holding her new daughter looking at her with more admiration, awe, and love than she could ever imagine possible for one person.
Raven looked on with a knowing smilie. She looked at her new niece with content and amazement. It was baffling how something so small, innocent and sweet could come from something so evil. She shuddered. Whatever happened now, this amazing new life would have a village of people who would love and take care of her.
"So what are you gonna name her?" Raven asked quietly so as to not wake the baby.
Kori looked at her daughter thoughtfully before answering.
"Airen. Airen Michelle Anders."
