A/N: I wanted to take a step into Richard and Kori's lives as they settled down into marriage, with their daughter Mari. I hope y'all enjoy. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans.

Safe & Sound

"Look, Daddy! I'm a princess!" The little three year old twirled around on her tip-toes. She was wearing a light pink dress and her favorite pair of sparkly, silver shoes. Father and daughter were in the backyard of their suburban household, just outside of Jump City, California. The leaves were vibrant green and there were many bright flowers painting their backyard. It was springtime.

Richard Grayson chuckled heartily, "That you are, Twinkle-Toes... Hey, you know what happens to very pretty princesses?"

"What, daddy?" The girl stopped twirling, giving her father a wicked smile.

"They get tickled by the tickle monster!" His hands went toward the little girl and she screamed in delight, trying to force his hands off of her.

"Daddy, stop it, stop it!" The small, black-haired girl shrieked.

"What's the magic word?"

"Please, daddy, please!" Richard stopped, picked the girl up and spun her around in his arms. The girl flung her arms around his neck as the disguised hero pressed his lips on her cheek. From the door, her mother, Kori Grayson watched. Her hands were placed protectively over her bulging stomach.

"I love you Mari Ann Grayson."

"I love you too, daddy!"

Noticing his wife's eyes on him, Richard glanced up. His smile grew wider at the sight of his blushing beauty. He thought of all the heartache, pain, love, and sacrifice that got them to this point in their lives. He remembered the events that took place before their wedding, Kori's brother who had gone down a very wicked path, and the near death of his wife.

Looking at her now, "as big as a flarnop," as she would often describe herself, it was difficult to think of a time where they were near a breaking point. Looking at the love they had produced, looking at their daughter Mari, he was even more thankful for the turn of events that led them to this point in their lives.

"Richard, Mari," Kori called, "it's time for dinner."

Richard nodded and carried the girl to the back door. He sat her down and said, "Go wash your hands, honey." Then, turning to his wife, he asked, "Any word from Rachel and Garfield yet?"

The smile left Kori's face as she shook her head, "I will check my communicator soon after dinner." Before he could open his mouth to respond she said, "And I haven't heard from Victor yet, either, so don't get your hopes up." A teasing smile adorned her face now and Richard embraced her.

"And how's our little man doing tonight, huh?" He was now talking to Kori's belly, rubbing it and kissing it.

Kori giggled, her hand covering her mouth, "How do you know it is a boy? Our child could very well be a daughter."

"Kori, Kori, Kori!" Responded Richard admonishingly, "I knew we'd have a daughter the first time around. It's a dad thing. Our second is going to be a boy."

Kori rolled her eyes and walked toward the circular table that stood under a hanging, emerald stained-glass lamp. She sat down and Richard took his place next to her at the table. "Mari!" Kori called, "Are you done washing your hands yet?"

The little girl came bursting down the hallway and into the kitchen. "All clean, mommy!" She held her hands to her mother, "See?"

"Yes, I do see!" Kori clapped her hands, "Very good, my little bumgorf!"

"Mommy, why do you call me that?" Mari questioned. Her mother had been calling her that for as long as she could remember but as she began going to pre-school, she realized that other kids weren't called that by their parents.

"It's another word for one who needs a parent, from where I come from." Kori responded, taking a napkin and putting it in her daughter's lap as the little girl sat down.

"Oh," was the response and Richard laughed.

The family began eating their dinner together, after saying a prayer thanking God for their daily bread. Richard and Kori ate roast beef with mashed potatoes and green beans. Mari was eating fish sticks and green beans, with mustard on the side.

After a few minutes of eating, Mari pouted, "Mommy, I'm full."

Kori gave a knowing look to her husband who smiled as he sipped his drink, "But Mari, you have not yet finished your fish sticks, nor even taken a bite of your green beans!"

"But mommy, I'm full!"

Sensing a whiny temper tantrum on the verge of beginning, Richard sat his cup down and said, "Now, Mari, your mother worked very hard to make your delicious dinner. Now, I want you to take a few bites of your green beans and eat your last fish stick."

"But daddy!"

"No buts," Richard warned.

The three year old grumbled and soaked the rest of her food in mustard. Richard shook his head in amazement and then looked at his wife. He realized how absolutely grateful he was that she finally learned how to cook normal Earth foods. Then, he laughed silently as he thought of how much she adored mustard when they were teenagers.

"What?" Kori asked, noticing her husband's laughter.

"Like mother, like daughter." Richard managed to get out, taking another sip of water.

A/N: Short start. I didn't even intend for this to be a chapter story, but I like that idea better, so I'm going with it. :) Please review, leave your thoughts and criticisms!

God bless,
Rose