So…iluvrobbie is back! #thunder clap# Rachel and Terry will be going through many changes in this story, the first coming in this chapter. On to the story!

Oh #blush# I forgot to dedicate this! This is dedicated to PrincessStarryFire cuz she's an awesome reviewer!

Without further interruptions from my small brain, on to the story!

Life As We Know It

Prologue- Forever Fades Away

Rachel Grayson and Terry McGinnis were sitting in their American history class while their professor droned on about the fact that one of her ancestors had been in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

"Now, for your midterms, you will write a report on any of the topics we've covered so far. Let me see…twenty-five pages minimum. But as this is your freshman year in college, I'll make it easier by assigning partners. Miss Grayson shall work with Mr. Waters-" Rachel's friend Max's boyfriend turned and smiled at her, "Miss Gibson shall work with Mr. Sullivan-" Max groaned; Alex Sullivan was an obnoxious idiot.

Professor Burke assigned the rest of the pairs as Kevin began talking about the Boston Tea Party.

"Did I miss anyone?" Burke asked.

Terry and Dana Tan, his ex-girlfriend, simultaneously raised their hands.

"Miss Tan and Mr. McGinnis will be partners, then. Class dismissed.

"Hey, baby," Dana cooed, walking up to Terry.

"Don't call me baby," Terry snapped.

"I was thinking…we should totally do our report on Paul Revere," Dana continued, acting as if Terry hadn't even spoken.

"If you insist."

"Meet me in the library at three. Bye baby."

Rachel approached her boyfriend cautiously, knowing how Dana aggravated him.

"Terry?"

"I hate her."

"I know." She stood on her tiptoes to kiss him gently. "The sooner you meet her, the sooner the project will be over."

Terry was forced to smile at her. "Where are you headed next?"

"My dorm. I have French and English exams to study for."

"I'll help you with English," Terry offered. "You know I suck at French."

"You don't suck," Rachel said firmly. "Five-thirty sound good to you?"

"Perfect," Terry said. He gave her a quick kiss. "Love you."

"So you're happy with her?" Dana asked for the fiftieth time.

"Yes, I am. Look, Dana, if we have to work together, let's drop all the personal questions. I am completely in love with Rachel."

"If I kissed you right now you wouldn't care?" Dana asked in what would accurately be described as a shocked tone of voice. "You have no feelings for me whatsoever?"

"I don't love you! But I would care if you kissed me. I have a girlfriend. And you cheated on me."

"You kept playing games with me. I wanted to teach you a lesson. But I still love you. Besides, baby, you know you want me."

The way she said it was seductive, and Terry found himself leaning across the table, rapidly closing the distance between their lips.

The next thing Terry knew was he was rubbing the back of his head in pain. He looked around and then noticed something sparkling on the ground. The promise ring he'd given Rachel. She'd seen everything.

'I had an angel and now I've broken her. God I'm an idiot.'

Rachel hurried across the campus to the dorm she shared with Max.

Max was stretched across her bed, reading. She looked up as Rachel entered.

"Hey, what's up? Rach, what's wrong?" Max asked, wrapping am arm around Rachel's shoulders.

"I'm going home."

"Why?"

"T-T-Terry," Rachel stuttered.

Max's eyes narrowed. "Dana got her claws in him again?"

Rachel nodded. "Y-Yeah. I'm gonna go home. I can't be here now."

"I'll lend you my notes," Max promised.

"Thanks."

Rachel threw pajamas and a change of clothes in her duffel bag. She got her toothbrush from the bathroom and tossed it in as well.

"Bye," she mumbled to Max, who hugged her.

Then Rachel went across campus once more and got into her car. She went home…to Wayne Manor.

She let herself in quietly, but as she stood by the front entrance, Bruce came from upstairs, Ace at his heels.

"Rachel," Bruce regarded warmly. (A/N about as warm as Bruce can be) "Leave something here?"
"N-No. I just n-n-needed to come home."

"Would you like some tea?" he asked kindly. (A/N again, as kind as Bruce can be)

"No, thanks. I'm just going to s-sleep, if t-that's alright."

"Of course. Belle is in your room. She hardly leaves it, you know."

"She always was a bit strange."

Rachel started up the stairs.

"Oh, and Rachel?"

"Yes?"

"You'll be fine."

Rachel found that Belle was indeed in her room, curled up on the pillow. Rachel's eyes filled with tears again. Terry had given Belle to her. Rachel carefully removed the cat from the pillow and flung herself on the bed. Belle got on the bed again and mewed sympathetically. Rachel cried herself to sleep.

Hours later, Rachel woke up again. Hey cat was still lying next to her, asleep.

'Why?' Rachel wondered. 'He promised. He promised me forever.'

She swung her legs off the bed and ventured onto her balcony.

The sky had darkened and a pale sliver of moon dimly lit the city.

Rachel gazed at the tall skyscrapers almost affectionately. She was a city girl at heart; whether Jump or Gotham, she liked to be surrounded by tall buildings.

A little bird swooped from the sky, landing on the tiny wall enclosing Rachel's balcony. The bird hopped over to Rachel, obviously unafraid.

She recognized the type almost immediately. "You're a robin, just like my Daddy. Maybe he sent you to me."

The robin lightly pecked her hand, which was resting on the wall.

"Daddy," she whispered. She them proceeded to tell the robin what had happened.

It pecked her hand again and flew off.

"Rachel?"

Terry. How could he show up like that?

"What?" Rachel snapped coldly.

"I'm sorry."

"I don't believe you," she said flatly.

"Rachel…I hate her. You know that."

Terry moved closer, trying to put an arm around her.

"You looked pretty chummy to me," she replied.

"That was-"

"A mistake," Rachel finished. "You hate her; she hurt you. But you still kissed her. I can't forgive you for that."

"Maybe not now. Hate me or love me, we have a responsibility to Gotham."

Rachel slapped him across his face. "I quit," she seethed.

"B-"

"Get out."

"Rach-"

"Get out."

He left, dejected.

"Now you can be happy," she whispered.

"You're crazy," Max insisted.

"I'm going to Metropolis. That doesn't mean I'm crazy."

"Gotham needs Firewing," Max said quietly.

"Dana can be his Firewing," Rachel snapped.

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too, Max. You're like a sister to me. I'll visit, I promise."

"I'll give him a bad reputation if it makes you feel better."

Rachel smiled. "Thanks." Placing one last pair of jeans in her suitcase, she shut it with a small click.

She'd collected the few things she'd had at Bruce's and put them in her car already. She got into her car and headed to Kansas.

#Gasps# OMG! They broke up! #Panics until reminded she already knew this# R&R!

-iluvrobbie