Kori Anders woke to the sounds of a loud, blaring alarm clock. She groaned and shut it off, trying her hardest not to fall out of bed in the process. She found her pillow wet again. There were tearstains on her cheeks again, too. She had been dreaming of the good old days—again—her subconscious not willing to believe they were over, even five years later. Kori struggled out of bed and tried to forget her dream.

It was 7:00 a.m. As a musician, Kori never understood how she had to wake so early. All of her performances and lessons were in the evening. Speaking of which, she had an audition tonight with a real orchestra. But who needed to practice from seven in the morning to six in the evening for an audition?

Kori looked at herself in the mirror and sighed—again. Gone was her beautiful red hair and sparkling emerald eyes. In an effort to disguise herself from anyone who might trigger another memory, she had dyed her hair black, but couldn't bear to cut it. She had always hated scissors. She also wore customized contacts to whiten the whites of her eyes and turn her irises blue. She couldn't help but think of a boy she used to know who looked very much like she did now…

Kori shook her head. Enough. Those days were long over. Kori had made a promise to herself that she would never smile or laugh again until she truly forgot…him.

Kori Anders could very easily have been a model. Her body was perfect, her hair had been perfect, and if her alien beauty hadn't been model material, she didn't know what was. However, she preferred to operate far away from her old life, and modeling was something she had considered as a teen. Instead, she had turned to the soft, non-operatic, as un-Tameranian-like-as-possible music of the flute.

As it turned out, she was perfect for the flute. She did not need oxygen, so she could blow longer than any human ever could. Of course, she had to conceal this for fear of someone putting two and two together and figuring out who she really was. At every rest, she took a short, fake breath. However, she was still a legend as a flute player. She was the best around Gotham; there was no point in denying it.

Tonight she had an audition with one of the most famous orchestras in town. They were all amazing players at their instruments, but their best-known piece was actually somewhat of a joke. They decided to provide the city's crime fighter, the Batman, with theme music. The conductor took the jest in stride, naming his orchestra after the famous superhero.

Kori honestly had no idea what to do about this audition. Even the name of the orchestra brought back painful memories of Batman's ex-sidekick. However, she could really use the money. Her one-bedroom apartment was cozy enough, but nothing like she had had at Titan's Tower…Stop!

She figured she would go ahead with the audition. If she made it, she made it. If she didn't, she'd get over it and it probably would be a relief anyway. The way she looked at it, it was a win-win situation for her.

So, all day, she practiced. The piece of her choice was simple, just a three minute Beethoven flute solo. She wanted something that would blow them away, but was easy enough that she could sight-read it. The Beethoven was perfect.

Six o' clock rolled around and Kori packed up her flute and started the thirty minute walk down to the Batman Auditorium. Kori would never trust a car again, after all the T-car had been through. She always kept her face turned away from the street, so she wouldn't see if a motorcycle decided to come whizzing by, especially one with a couple on it.

At exactly six thirty she arrived, giving her enough time for her to get out her flute and do a couple of scales before she was called up to audition before the rehearsal started. She was so nervous, she almost jumped out of her shoes when a man tapped her on the shoulder. She let out a shriek and turned around. The man gave her a tiny smile.

"I was going to ask you if you were here to audition, but I don't really need to anymore, I guess," he said. Kori blushed but tried to appear dignified.

"I'm sorry, I'm just kind of…"

"Nervous? Yeah, I can tell."

Kori examined the guy, who was looking at her with an expression of pity. She hated pity, but what she realized next drove that thought completely out of her mind. Black hair, sunglass-covered eyes, and a lopsided grin. It was too much. She wanted to run away and never look back. This guy was an exact copy of Robin.

"Richard Grayson," he said, thrusting out his hand. Kori swallowed her doubts. That is absurd. Robin is gone. He has not been cloned.

"Kori Anders," she answered as steadily as she could. Richard held out a hand towards the bustling musicians in the concert hall they were in.

"Do you want me to give you the grand tour?" he asked her. She looked at where he was motioning and nodded.

Kori found herself being led through many rooms with people of only a certain type of instrument in them. There was a huge room for the violins and a smaller one for percussion. Everyone she met along the way was in rather formal clothing. All of the men were wearing tuxes and the women were wearing some kind of dresses. These people must be filthy rich. She felt so plain in the peasant skirt and blouse she had decided to wear in an effort to look good. The tour ended back at the concert hall.

Along the way, Kori met Bruce Wayne, Richard's adopted father, all the brass players, and Barbara Gordon, who, from what Kori had seen in the five minutes that she had spent near her, was apparently determined to have Richard, but sneaky enough to know the right time to act. She reminded Kori of a very smart Kitten…shut up! (A/N I hate Barbara, in case you can't tell.)

Richard looked rather embarrassed after the run-in with Barbara, but presented the concert hall in a manner worthy of a king. "And this is where we mess up so bad every night that people just can't wait to hear us play again," he finished. Kori almost smiled at his joke, but caught herself just in time. She looked at her watch.

"Oh, no! I did not even practice that much…Richard, I must go. Thank you for showing me around here, and I hope I shall need it."

Richard gave her a smile. "You'll do fine, Kori, I know you'll make it!"

Yeah, thought Kori, thoroughly depressed, I know I will, too.

She didn't want Richard to be here. He was Robin, inside and out. How could she play in the same room as him? Maybe she should purposely mess up and not get the part.

But then Richard would be so disappointed, she thought, but shook her head. The way things were going now, she would probably start—dare she think it?—liking him. As in Kori's definition of liking, which would be a whole lot more to Starfire.

Stop. Just get the part, and I'll work it out from there, she thought, calming herself. Then, she began to play.

Kori had memorized the music, so she looked up to see the conductor's face from time to time. He was mesmerized by the sound. She kept on playing.

Her piece ended, and before he could stop himself, the conductor burst into applause. "Wonderful, Ms. Anders! You have a guaranteed spot in my orchestra!"

Kori wasn't sure if she should be relieved or anxious. However, she thanked him politely and left the stage.

Richard was waiting on stage left behind the curtains. "Did you make it?" he asked her as they walked off the stage. Kori nodded. Richard grinned at her. "That's great! Well, I just wanted to know. I'll be in the pianists' room if you need me."

Richard squeezed her shoulder lightly and walked off, leaving Kori wondering why she suddenly had a tingling sensation running up and down her arm.