Hello! How are you lovely people? xD I must say to those people who reviewed...THANKYOU! *does a little party dance* you may now be blessed by the cookie Gods! but seriously you guys made my night! YOU GUYS ROCK!
Sooo here's another chapter, it's longer than the prologue as we keep going on I may keep increasing them on size. Remember this is only the first chapter so the story is still building ^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans...but I'm secretly planning to kidnap them and run away to the Caribbean...shhhh don't tell anyone! xD
Chapter One.
"And when change is accepted that's when thing go running back to the past."
-Anonymous.
Eight Months later.
It was almost dawn and the stars were fading. Kori was determined to get this baby born before all the stars disappeared completely.
"Richard should be here," Kori muttered as she felt the ominous tightening of her back muscles.
"It's not your fault, Kor," her best friend Rachel a.k.a Raven assured her before calmly talking her through the rhythm of panting breaths that was supposed to ease the pain.
"He...doesn't...know," she gasped out as the agony took her.
"And whose fault is that? He walked out before you could even tell him, refused to take any of your calls and even turned off his communicator for the first time since they've been activated, you did everything humanly possible to notify him," Rachel's voice dimmed as the pain surged through her.
Richard Dick Grayson a.k.a Robin. They made a baby together and he had no idea. Richard with the gorgeous blue eyes and deep, blood-shivering voice. Richard with coal black hair and guarded heart. A man with the loosk and training of a super hero and the heart and soul of a poet. Richard with a hunger to love and be loved that matched her own.
The pain eased off and Kori opened her eyes. Rachel's violet-blue eyes were rimmed with weariness. She had been here since earlier in the afternoon when Kori's water broke.
"You should rest," Kori told her wearily.
"I'm fine," Rachel assured her smoothing back a lock of Kori's sweat-drenched hair.
Kori closed her eyes, hoarding her strength the way she had learned while preparing for this moment.
Rachel was more than a friend. She was the sister Komand'r could never be for Kori. After the Titans had broken up both she and Raven had gone to Cyclops City and with a little help from Kori's uncle Galfore they weren't only able to buy a house to live in but rather a mansion in which Uncle Galfore insisted his princess should have. He also compensated them enough to live happily for the next three years but that didn't mean the girl's weren't going to find jobs after the baby was born. They looked forward to adapting even more normal roles in society.
"X'hal, here comes another one, " she muttered, feeling the pincer-sharp cramp slicing her belly. But instead of easing off after sixty seconds or so, this one escalated, nearly bringing her off the mattress before it eased.
"I think you better page Dr. Mason," she heard Rachel telling someone.
Minutes passed like seconds, yet paradoxically, telescoped into hours. Through it all, Rachel's voice was her lodestar, leading her, encouraging her. But it was the image of Richard's tenderness when he'd held her in his arms that sustained her.
She'd fallen in love with a man who disappeared from her life.
"Push, Kori. Now." It was the doctor's voice and mindlessly she obeyed.
"C'mon little one," the doctor mutter as Rachel urged her to reach for her last reserve of strength, "Yes all right, here it comes."
Her child let out a yell as soon as the nurse suctioned the baby's lungs clear, a loud, indignant protest that had the doctor's eyes crinkling, "It's a boy," she said laughing.
"A boy!" She heard Rachel exclaim.
Kori met Rachel's gaze and realized with a jolt that her friend was crying even as her eyes were soft with emotion. "An adorable little boy," she murmured leaning down to give Kori a hug, "You did great."
Kori fought off the seductive lethargy of sleep and breathed a silent prayer of thanks before rousing herself to open her eyes.
"Can I see him?" she murmured, looking towards the nurses.
"You bet," one of them said grinning.
While the doctor finished, Kori opened her arms to receive her baby, now swaddled in blue with a nubby blue stocking cap covering his perfect little head. He was warm and heavy and sweet. As she cuddled him close tears spilled over her lashes and down her cheeks.
"I'm terrified I'll let him down," she whispered, glancing with brimming eyes at Rachel.
Rachel brushed a finger over a silken cheek of her newborn, "You'll be a marvelous mom." She laughed a little before adding, "And you'll have me right by you side."
Kori smiled at that, but her attention was fixed on the face of her child. Ryan Anthony she thought to herself, the name seemingly perfect for the little bundle of joy. She glanced at his dark, ebony locks, definitely from Richard. As if on cue Ryan opened his eyes to reveal diamond like blue pools of curiosity that fixated on her face.
Richard's son. The absolute spitting image of him.
"Dear Richard, I wish you were here to see the miracle you contributed to," she whispered her eyes filling with tears.
A part of Richard would always be with her. Let him be happy as I am in this moment, she wished, closing her eyes.
Two years since the Titans broke up.
Kori Anders walked purposefully down the sidewalk, her heels slapping slightly on the ground emitting a small clicking sound. Her fiery red hair billowed behind her as she walked on. She wore black dress pants with a lavender colored tank top under a black jacket. Surprisingly it wasn't long after Ryan was born that the alien princess got her figure back and it was in an even shorter time that she got offered a job at a major modeling agency. She took it gladly, happy to have some form of work while Rachel was employed as a physician's assistant with a well known concierge doctor's agency, using her powers for healing. Between the two of them they had enough money to take care of Ryan, the house, the bills and their personal needs without touching Uncle Galfore's 'gift' that was put away for safe-keeping.
Kori turned and walked through the glass doors of the classy Italian restaurant Belle Magnifico Dolce. She made her way up to the maitre d' and flashed him her trademark smile, he blushed profusely and led her to the table where Rachel was already sitting bouncing a now one year and four months old Ryan.
She smiled as she walked over and scooped up the dark haired child in her arms. Ryan squealed happily and clung to his mother his black hair flopping around his head while his blue eyes shone with child-like wonder. She sat opposite Rachel who had ditched her physician's coat for light brown pants and a dark blue shirt with her gorgeous violet-blue hair piled into a messy pony tail on her head.
"Have you ordered yet?" Kori asked planting a noisy kiss on the Ryan's nose eliciting a peal of child-like giggles, "I'm absolutely starving!" she exclaimed looking over at her friend.
Rachel furrowed her brow, "Didn't you have breakfast with Xavier this morning?" she asked watching both mother and son making babbling noises at each other, "How can you be that hungry already?"
Kori sighed and avoided Rachel's gaze. Xavier Red, Kori's boyfriend of almost twelve months and Cyclops City's most eligible bachelor was beyond amazing to her. He was always patient kind and sweet and accepting of Ryan. Not to mention he possessed the looks of a Greek God.
"Well about that," she paused, "Xavier and I kinda broke up this morning..." she trailed off, looking anywhere other than Rachel's face.
"What!" screeched Rachel, "How did that happen, you two were great just last night!"
She sighed again, "Well he kind of...asked me...to..marry him.." she whispered the last part causing Rachel to lean in more.
Rachel blinked, "I'm sorry," she said, "What did you just say?"
"He asked me to marry him," Kori said puzzled at Rachel's blank face.
"And what did you say?" she asked in the same blank tone.
"No," Kori replied.
"No?"
"No," she nodded.
Rachel shook her head, "Kori, come closer."
Kori leaned her head in slightly, "What the hell is wrong with you!" Rachel yelled smacking the red haired beauty upside her head.
"Ow!," she yelled clasping the side of her head while Ryan giggled, "What was that for?"
"Are you nuts?" Rachel asked incredulously.
"No I am not of the nut sort thank you very much!" huffed Kori.
"Were you drunk then?" Rachel asked loudly, getting a few stares from the other tables, "Why in the world you say no to Xavier!" she said softer now, "He's perfect! He treats you like royalty, loves you with all his heart and the big factor here, he treats Ryan like his own!" she said pointing at the toddler.
Kori blew out a breath, "I know, he's everything I've been looking for."
"So what in God's name possessed you to say no!"
"I-" she stopped as the waiter approached the table.
"Are you ready to order ladies?" he asked smiling at Kori.
"No we're not ready! Can't you see we're talking! Run away before you find these ice cubes down your pants!" Rachel growled at the waiter, irritated by the interruption.
The waiter paled and quickly scrambled from the table.
"Rachel!" Kori said appalled, "That was not very nice."
"I don't care!" she said, " Why did you say no?" she asked again punctuating every word.
"Because," said Kori.
"Because what?"
"Because I don't love him," she said quietly, looking down at Ryan who was too busy blowing bubbles with his own spit to notice them.
Rachel studied her intently for a minute, "It's Dick isn't it?"
Kori's head flew up at the mention of Richard's name, "Richard is no longer in our lives Rachel," she said with steel in her voice, her green eyes glowing slightly with her unused powers.
"Calm down Kor," said Rachel waiting until the glow dimmed from her friend's eyes, "All I meant is that, you're still in love with him."
Kori sighed, "It's been two years, I wish I didn't still feel this way about him," she glanced down and brushed a finger down Ryan's face, "I have so much to thank him for," she murmured.
Rachel leaned over and passed her hand over Ryan's dark hair. Much to everyone's surprise, the little dark haired child had wormed his way straight into Rachel's heart the moment she lay eyes on him, she too was grateful to Dick for creating this miserable bundle of happiness in her life.
She placed her hand over Kori's on the table, "You know Kor," she started, "It's okay to still feel that way but you're going to have to get over him someday."
Kori let out a deep breath, "I know Rae, I know," she sighed, "But really for now, I'm quite happy with you and Ryan in my life," she smiled hugging her baby boy to her chest.
Rachel cracked a small smile, "Yeah, the little monster does have a way of making you love him huh?" she said with fondness evident in her voice.
Kori laughed, "Yes, yes he does, now what do ya say we call back that waiter for you to apologize and then order some food, I'm still starving."
Rachel groaned, "I am not apologizing."
"Yes you are! And that's final," Kori said in her sternest motherly voice.
"But-"
"No buts!" she said with finality.
"Fine!" Rachel gave in crossing her arms over her chest, "Since when did you become the adult?"
"Since life forced me to grow up and there was also you to learn from," she smiled at her friend.
Yes, Kori thought, life had definitely forced them to grow up but at least they were able to grow up together.
Blüdhaven
Gotham City
Nightwing crouched low on the thin, stone ledge over Blüdhaven's Port Authority Office. Below in the shadows walked the three Albanian baby smugglers he'd been following. Finally after months of tracking, researching, plotting and waiting he had them. The three men stood tall at over six feet with menacing appearances. The leader of the three stood to the front with a cigar in his mouth which highlighted the jagged scar running down his face.
He turned to his other companions, "Ju idiots!" he growled, "Can't you two ever do something right on your own without screwing it up," he said in a thick accented voice.
"Shupaci!" he spat at them, "C'mon then lets get out of here!" he said and turned to walk away.
This is it, Nightwing thought to himself, you got em, he walked to the very edge of the ledge concentrating to jump.
"You done yet?" a loud voice sounded in his ear, startling him out of his concentration and causing him to fall over.
He grabbed the ledge quickly and pulled himself back up with a grunt. The three men looked up into the shadowy night upon hearing the noise.
"Let's get out of here," the leader said keeping his eyes trained on the shadows while they ran out of sight.
Nightwing growled, "What the hell was that Babs! I almost had them!" he cursed lowly, dragging a hand through his hair.
"Sorry Night but Bruce here needs you home right now," she said into the earpiece.
"Isn't he with the JLA?" Nightwing asked looking for some way to catch up with the criminals.
"I was Dick, but as of right now you need to come home, there is something we must discuss, you shall continue your mission at another time," said a heavy male voice.
Nightwing muttered a string of curse words and made for his motorcycle, "This better be important Bruce," he growled and drove off into the night back to Wayne Manner.
At Wayne Manor he drove straight into the Batcave changed out of his suit and into some jeans and a blue shirt. Strinding into the main living room he saw Bruce Wayne his adoptive father and Alfred standing near the fireplace. He stopped and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Well?" he said heatedly.
"Master Grayson, good evening, is there anything I can get you?" asked Alfred, his silver hair gleaming in the low light.
"I'm fine Al, just very pissed off," he glared at Bruce as he said this, "So what's so important now?"
Bruce turned for a man nearing forty he didn't look a day over thirty. Sighing he turned, "You may want to sit down Dick," he said with a serious voice.
Dick stared at his father closely, "What's going on?" he asked, masking the worry bubbling inside him.
Bruce looked at his son straight in the eye, "Take a seat, you may need it after I tell you about this."
Dick sat on the couch and waited for Bruce to continue.
He cleared his throat, "The JLA has entrusted a mission of highest importance level to you..." he paused, "And the Titans."
Dick's eyes widened as he repeated the words in his heads...The Titans?
So that's all folks! ^_^
BTW... Belle magnifico dolce= Beautiful Magnificent Sweet (This is Italian)
Ju idiots=You idiots (it's Albanian)
Shupaci= Assholes (also Albanian)
Oh for the person who asked, yes that is me in the picture on my profile and the pink scarf I have around my head is called a hijab :)
sooo I hope you guys liked it :D
*dances round with a sign that says...REVIEW...*...you guys saw the sign...REVIEW :D...please? xD
Toodles from Radha ^_^