Yes, it's a sequel, inspired by Through the Rain. I wasn't going to bother but the story just sort of formed itself in my head and before I knew it, it was screaming "SEQUEL", so I guess I complied. Anyways hope you like it. It would be nice to get reviews, lots and lots of reviews. So please review for me, thanks.

Note: In Through the Rain I made a bit of a mistake, I said they reunited after 10 years when it should be something like 8, so it's going to be after 8 years in this story.

PREY OF THE STORM

Richard Grayson – 19 yrs

Kori Anders – 18 yrs

Barbara Gordon – 20 yrs

Bruce Wayne – will look 25 but isn't, still gorgeous though

Alfred – about to kick the bucket

There'll be more characters along the way.

Richard had just discovered Kori after years of separation. They had been best friends in Grade School but she and her dad moved and didn't tell Richard. (You have to read Through the Rain to get the gist of this story). So anyway, this story is taking place after Richard finds Kori and he's bringing her back to Wayne Manor.

Chapter 1 – Reunited

The place hadn't changed much; it was still the large house that would take your breath away. Kori eyed the mansion curiously, was it still as wondrous inside as she had thought all those years ago? Did that chandelier still sparkle like you were looking at drops of rain on the tips of flower petals and leaves? She still remembered her time being a child when her and Richard would spend hours playing or just talking, just the two of them. Now returning back to Wayne Manor sparked all those memories again.

Richard helped her off his bike and was leading her through the doors of Wayne Manor. Kori stepped inside and gazed around at her surroundings, it truly was as beautiful as she remembered. She was admiring everything her eyes fell upon with wide eyes, until she felt Richard pull her hand further through the doorway. A tall gray butler had made an appearance and formally approached the two.

"Ah, Master Dick. I see you have returned." Then turning to Kori with a pleasant smile he said, "Miss Kori Anders, may I say it is a pleasure to be seeing you after all these years. I must admit you have certainly matured into a more charming young lady."

Kori blushed and returned the smile, hers being a lot wider at seeing the one who she considered as an old friend. "Dear Alfred," she said hugging him, "I have missed you dearly."

Alfred gently hugged back and walked them to the living room, but not before telling them that he would return with drinks and perhaps something to eat for Kori.

"Oh Alfred, do not fuss over me. I am just glad to be back to see you and Richard…" her eyes wandered the room. "By the way where is Bruce?"

"Ah yes, Master Bruce. He's in a meeting but he should be back in an hour I expect. In the meantime Miss Anders, you may make yourself at home, you will need to get used to it after all."

"Get used to it?" Kori turned to Richard with a confused expression after Alfred was out of sight and questioned his statement. "What did he mean by that?"

Richard smiled at her and took her by the hand leading her up the huge staircase. "You see Kori, you got me so worried when I was trying to find you that I had already decided, I wasn't going to let you go as soon as I did. So I made certain…arrangements."

"Arrangements?"

"Yeah. It was something I planned for you once I found you. I just hope you won't be mad at me when you see this."

Kori smiled and held his hand tighter while leaning in on his shoulder as they continued along the hallway. "Oh Richard, I couldn't imagine being mad at you."

Richard smiled to himself but was still a little nervous, was he even thinking when he decided this? Well, it was too late to turn back now, because they had come to a stop at a door. Richard slowly turned the knob to open it and had allowed Kori to walk inside first. What met with her eyes astonished her; a bedroom that was decorated in mostly purple, with a four poster queen size bed and with the prettiest lilac colored sheets over them. The walls were painted with a scenery of a garden so elegant one could feel they were actually there. The lace curtains added a nice subtle touch making the room more inviting to anyone who happened to walk in. Opposite the bed was a huge built in flat screen TV that seemed to merge in with the wall, and a few feet off to the side was a nice stereo surround sound system with a few CDs neatly stacked close by.

"Welcome to your room."

Kori gasped at the words that came from Richard. "Y-you did all this…for me? This is going to be my room? Everything in here is mine?"

"Of course it's yours, I had it designed myself. Bruce was fine with it so you won't have to worry about him. I know purple is your favorite color…"

"You still remembered that…what my favorite color was?"

Richard blushed. "Yeah, well, best friends are supposed to remember these kinds of things. I just hope it still is your favorite."

"Oh indeed it is, but I still can't believe you went to all the trouble…"

Richard didn't let her finish, he was too excited to show her the rest of her room.

"Come here, I want you to see this." He strode to a huge closet made of oak wood that stood in the corner and opened it up as Kori came behind him. She gasped for the second time in those two minutes.

"I thought with your new room you might need a new wardrobe, so I picked up a few dresses for you. And before you say it, yes I do know you're going to need a lot more than just dresses, so I was thinking we could go shop for some more clothes whenever you're ready. I wasn't sure of your size so I guessed when I bought the dresses, but don't worry, I made sure we could exchange them if these here don't fit."

Kori skimmed through each dress and was amazed at the different colors, styles, and quality of each one, mouth still hung open as if she had no control.

"Richard, these must've cost…."

"Nothing…nothing is too much for you." The last thing he wanted was her attention to stray away from the moment.

Kori couldn't believe any of it. The room, the clothes, her best friend, it was all suddenly handed to her on a silver plate. She felt she hadn't done anything to deserve it, any of it. She turned to Richard, tears welling up in her eyes.

"I…I can't believe you would…do all this for me. I don't know what to say."

He took both her hands in his and stared into her emerald eyes. "Say that you'll stay here, with me, always."

She gave him a huge smile before answering, "How can I refuse someone as sweet as you?"

This made Richard so happy he pulled her in for the biggest hug ever, then picking her up he twirled her around while they both laughed happily, only to be interrupted by Alfred clearing his throat.

"I'm sorry to bother you, but your refreshments are ready, and Master Bruce will be home in a few minutes."

"Great, thanks Alfred."

Alfred nodded and gave a sigh of satisfaction to himself as he walked away. Finally, it seems things were looking up for Richard, he had been so lost and needy the past few years, having Kori back in his life seemed only natural.

Bruce Wayne had arrived just as Alfred said, and was greeting Kori for the first time since she came back. He calmly went over to her and gave her a light peck on the cheek before asking her to sit down.

"My, my Kori, you certainly have graced into an enchanting young woman, I may even go as far to say that you have inherited your mother's beauty." Kori blushed innocently while sitting on the soft leather couch, not noticing Richard getting a tad jealous at Bruce's seemingly harmless, but flirtatious comments. Sipping some lemonade from her fine lead crystal glass Kori continued the conversation. Lemonade was always a favorite drink of hers during the times she had visited the manor to see Richard all those years ago, or so Alfred remembered.

"It's good to see you too Bruce, I have missed everyone, especially Richard."

"And Dick here sure missed you, he was hell bent on finding you."

Kori turned to look at Richard and smiled warmly at him, Richard looked down as he was beginning to turn a shade of red.

"I've known that you've been in Gotham for a while because I got your messages when you were trying to contact me, apparently you even came by to the office. I'm sorry I was unable to return your calls, things have been really busy, so I told Dick about you and I guess that's how he found you."

"More ice tea, sir?"

"No thank you, Alfred."

"And anything for you madam?"

Kori giggled, which made Richard's heart flutter, her laugh was so magical to him. "Must you be so formal with me, dear Alfred?"

"I agree," said Bruce, "Kori's part of the family now."

Kori went a little nervous, biting her lip. "I hope it is no trouble me staying here."

"Nonsense. I couldn't send you away even if you wanted to go. Dick here wouldn't allow it." Richard grimaced at the use of his nickname, he knew Bruce was purposely saying it in front of her to annoy him. "And besides, after all the effort he put into getting you back, I'm not so sure he'd be willing to let you slip away this time."

Bruce was always considered to be a serious man, but Kori liked the hint of humor in his voice, it made the atmosphere a little less daunting. She continued to beam a smile enjoying the company she was with. "I have to say Bruce, this place is still as wonderful as I remembered it, I would love to look around and see the rest."

"Would you like a tour?" Bruce offered.

"No!"

Both Bruce and Kori, including Alfred turned to look at Richard's strange outburst with a raised eye brow.

Richard stuttered. "W-w-what I meant to say was…No way am I gonna let Bruce get more tired after a hard day's work, he needs his rest…Yeah, hard work. Hard to believe he does that…So I think I'll show her around."

Bruce calmly eyed his young ward, "Well, Dick, you never worried about my health before." He paused and sipped his tea. "I was actually going to suggest that you be the one to take her."

He took this chance to note the now very red and embarrassed expression on Richard's face.

"O-oh okay. That's…good. So…I'll be showing her around then. Is that okay with you Kori?

"Yes, that would be fine." She wanted to laugh at the interaction between the two, but did her best to hold it in.

"While I go and rest, isn't that right Richard?" Richard didn't answer, instead he just took Kori's hand and led her away somewhere else.

'Part of the family', Kori was still hearing those words in her head and it warmed her heart as soon as Bruce had spoken them. For the first time in a long time she felt like she belonged, loved, cared for. Could she really call this place home, was it going to be a dream that she would wake up from only to find herself back with her father, tied up with ropes, bruised and bleeding all over…no, she mustn't think these thoughts anymore. She ran away, she escaped, she took that daring step, and now her troubles seemed to be behind her. Or were they…

After showing Kori the entire mansion Richard took her out for pizza, they had a wonderful time catching up on everything they missed out on in each other's lives. Richard promised her that he would introduce her to his friends the next day, or whenever they were available; he had to admit, sometimes it seemed their schedules were more hectic than Bruce's. Kori was thrilled, she couldn't wait to see more of Richard's world, it was exactly where she wanted to be, and he was just as eager to share it with her.

When they both came home, they were as happy as when they had been all those years ago, it was as if the eight years of separation didn't even happen. Richard had noticed that Kori was looking really tired and took it as his cue of offering to walk her to her room.

"I really enjoyed myself with you today Richard, it was fun."

"Yeah, we should spend more time like this, got eight years to make up for."

They continued up the stairs and along the hallways until they stopped outside Kori's new bedroom.

"Kori?"

"Yes?"

"There's one more thing I wanted to show you before you went to bed."

Kori eyed him curiously. "What is it?"

"Just wait here, I'll be back, okay?"

Kori nodded, still unsure of what was going on, but watched as Richard disappeared inside her room. A few seconds later he emerged and let her inside to see something she found truly amazing. On the ceiling was a hologram configure type scene of an authentic starlit night sky, complete with a realistic moon shining brightly as ever.

"I also happen to remember that you used to love watching the stars at night, sometimes we would both watch them together. I just thought it might be nice to fall asleep under an evening sky….though, I know it's not the real thing..."

"It's glorious…it looks so real. So beautiful." Kori breathed. She was too mesmerized by the sight that spread across the entire ceiling. She finally broke from her trance and turned to Richard to give him a long sweet hug, and he graciously returned it, basking in her glorious scent. He didn't want to let go, her body felt wonderful against his, so warm, so nice, he never wanted it to end, but it did. She truly was tired after that long eventful day, and Richard didn't want to keep her up.

"Well, goodnight Kor, and sweet dreams."

Just as he was leaving Kori stopped him and kissed his cheek, "Goodnight Richard, and thank you."

As dazed as a schoolboy Richard walked dreamily out of her room, and as soon he was outside her door he felt he was melting completely. "Wow," he thought, lightly touching the spot where she'd kissed him. Although he did kiss her when he found her in the park, this still felt like a first kiss, even if it was on the cheek. But he had already decided he wasn't going to rush her after all she'd been through. Right now he just wanted her to know that he was there for her, no matter what, and he will continue to be there for her to the end.