Thanks for the reviews… Hope you'll like this chapter.
And sorry for the late update, again… Really sorry.
Footsteps Of An Angel
"Death Leaves a Heartache No One Can Heal, Love Leaves A Memory No One Can Steal"
Ch:8 – Imposter In The Family
The next day was sunny and fresh after the rain. The sunlight lit up Richard's bedroom in a golden mellow. Everything seemed so calm as Richard's eyes fluttered open.
In the past three years never did he wake up feeling so light hearted and… simply happy. He smiled to himself as he looked down at the woman in his arms, sleeping peacefully.
She slept with her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs tangled in his. Her naked body felt warm and silky against his bare skin, he tucked her hair behind her ear and softly kissed her lips.
"Kory" he whispered, letting his hand caress her waist, down her hips and up her back.
She shifted slightly, making the sheets slide down her body and giving him better access. Richard pressed his lips to her chest, just below her collar bone before kissing his way to her shoulder. He felt her hands in hair and messaging the back of his neck.
He backed away and saw her smiling back at him, "Hey"
"Hey" he kissed her lips, "How'd you sleep?"
"Just great"
He smirked, "How was your night?"
"Magical" she kissed him, deeply.
Barbra was just starting breakfast when Richard walked down, all dressed up for the day… And smiling.
"Good morning" he greeted Alfred and shifted his gaze to his fiancé, "Babs… What are you doing here?"
"Um, I practically live here Dick" she rolled her eyes before getting up and pecking his cheek.
"Er, look" he gently pushed her back and guided her towards the chair, "There is something you really need to know"
"Oookay?" she looked puzzled.
"Vanessa… Vanessa Cole… My P.A. is Kory" he said.
"What do you mean?" she exclaimed, exparated after a while.
"Kory isn't dead she was hiding all this time with Emily, Gar's girlfriend" he started, "And I'm Trevor's father"
"WHAT THE FUCK?" she cried standing up as he followed the suit, "You mean to say your long dead girlfriend a.k.a. the long dead criminal… Was living happily raising that kid and now she's back claiming her life back?"
"No, wait… Just listen me out"
"Oh, and what more?" she poked him in the chest, "She is the mother of your child? Now when the fuck did that happen? And what about all the crimes that she did? She should be in jail!"
"Babs!" he practically yelled and grabbed her hands, "."
He started telling her everything, to which she gapped at. He was just finishing when Kory entered, wearing her clothes from last night.
"Am I interrupting something?" she asked.
"Oh my god" Barbra looked at her and went forward, "I'm so sorry, Kory" she threw her arms around the surprised Kory and hugged her tight.
"Did I miss something?" she asked the chuckling Richard.
"No, its just that I was so wrong about you… And Dick just told me everything and I am so sorry, please forgive me" Babs replied for him, drawing back.
"Its not your fault Barbra… Babs…" Kory, "And of course I forgive you"
"Thank you, and call me whatever you want when we're alone… 'Bitchy Babs' is a part of my cover up personality" Barbra smiled, going back to her eggs and toast.
"Cover up personality?" Kory echoed in confusion as Richard took her arm and guided her to the dining table.
"Being super heroes and undercover FBI agents we need to be completely sure nobody suspects us… So we have cover up personalities… Bruce, me and X are hard to get playboys and Babs is my bitchy girlfriend" Richard explained as Alfred served them coffee, "Thanks Al"
"Oh" was all she said before digging into the breakfast.
"And by the way I'm Batgirl" Barbra winked at Kory.
"Huh, cool" Kory replied, dazed by the news, "And Redd X is Xavier?"
"That's me sister" Xavier grinned entering with Rachel by his side, "Sorry we're late everyone"
"You knew?" Richard looked at his brother as he and Rachel took their seats.
"Yeah, she just told me a day ago" he replied, "Though I am wondering why you blew your cover?" he asked Kory.
Richard's eyes narrowed, "Trevor's gone, X"
"What?" he yelled, "But wh-"
"He must have known that told I told you everything Xavier" Kory sighed, "I should've known better, he probably has spy cams all over Emily's place"
"We have to track him down fast… Where's Bruce?" Richard said.
"In the Bat Cave Master Richard" Alfred replied, "And he needs to see you as soon as you finish up"
"Great I'm done" he stood up, "Anyone coming?"
Babs stood up along with Kory, "I'll come Dick"
"Hey, Dick" Xavier called after them, "Kory and I have a hunch"
"Yeah?"
"We have a suspect, Astrid Seacrest" he said as Rachel suddenly started choking.
"Astrid Seacrest?" she spoke for the first time, "How can you say that?"
"She was Roy's date on my birthday party Rachel… Don't you remember?" Kory asked, "She kept wearing a mask throughout and when you asked her to take it off she panicked and refused to do so"
"Um…" Rachel looked overcome, "I really don't remember"
"Well in any case" Xavier started, "I did some inquiries and well there are two Astrids in Gotham… Astrid Lively and Astrid Blake Johansson… I got their address too"
"Good… At least we have something to work on" Richard said.
"They remember an Astrid and they're gonna track her down Roy" the woman spoke into her cell.
"Just what I was afraid of" he replied, "Well no worries, you just finish up your work as soon as possible and we'll be done"
Astrid sighed, "I don't know… Its kinda risky" she said, "I think I should come back"
"No!" he exclaimed angrily, "I will not allow you to ruin my plans at this point… We have Grayson's little bastard and Redd's wife to be… And you know close I am to my aim"
"You know what's next Astrid… Don't mess up"
"Yes, Roy"
"So even at this point we practically nothing to work on" Babs sighed in frustration, "That is one clever dude"
"No finger prints, no patterns, no clues" Xavier went through their data once again.
"There must be something" Babs added, "Something we're missing"
"I think we should check out their old head quarters in the Wilson Corporations basement" Batman stood up, "Meet me there"
As the dark knight disappeared Xavier stood up, "Okay so here's the thing, Richard and I go with Bruce… Babs you stay here and keep contact with us, inform us if you find something"
"What about me?" Kory inquired, hands on her hips.
"I think you stay with Babs, help her and all" Rachel suggested.
"No way, this is my son we're talking about" she protested.
"Hey, he's my son too" Richard put a hand on her shoulder, "And I think Roy'll want to get you next. You should stay here"
"But…"
"No buts Kor… He's right" Xavier smiled, "Besides we'll be back in a few hours, you'll hardly miss us"
Richard's car skidded to a stop in front of Emily's house and Kory unbuckled her belt.
"Okay so I just have to grab my things and I'll be right back" she said getting out.
"Sure… Be quick" Richard replied, turning off the engine.
She ran up to the front door, unlocking it and getting inside the empty house. Ignoring the chills she crossed the main room to the stairs and climbed up the flight of stairs. Going into her room she took out a bag and dumped two pairs of jeans and some tees along with her under garments, "That ought to do it" she muttered, closing the zip.
As she went past Trevor's room she thought she heard some movement in there. Stopping she debated on what to do next.
Taking quiet steps she went inside, finding nothing.
Kory stood in the middle of the small room, looking out of the window she saw Richard taking to someone on his cell.
Shaking her head at her foolishness she turned around when the door creaked itself close and she saw Roy's face lit from the moonlight.
"Hello Kory" he smiled.
"Where is he?" she narrowed her eyes.
"Who?" he frowned, his eyes glinting.
"Stop acting Roy, tell me where's my son or I'll scream and wake up the whole neighborhood"
"And just exactly what good will that do?"
"What have you done to him?" she hissed.
"Nothing… Yet" he smirked.
"What do you want?" she asked.
"You, Kory" he replied, "I want you"
"No" she backed away as he slowly gained on her.
"I want you to join me. Or I would kill Trevor"
"You won't" her chin quivered slightly. She silently hoped Richard would come looking for her.
"You know I would" he went behind her and put his hands on her shoulders.
"No, please…" to her horror she found herself begging desperately.
"I gave you my condition…" Roy's hands were on her hips, his lips kissing her neck.
She tried to struggle but he tightened his grip, "Shhh…" he murmured.
"Why?" she whimpered as he ran his tongue on her skin, "Why can't you just leave me alone?"
"Because you're mine" he whispered, his voice a dangerous hiss, which made her shiver.
"You're sick" she snapped.
"You might think that Kory… But I know that you love me" he grinned, "And you'll realize that one day… And you'll be mine again"
"You're wrong!" she cried, "Just leave me and Trevor alone"
He didn't reply at once, "He should've been mine"
"What?" she said in disbelief.
"Trevor should've been my child… Not Grayson's"
"Roy…" she started, to be stopped by him.
"You'll betray them again Kory… You're gonna come back" he continued, as if in a daze.
"Stop it…" she replied, her eyes narrowing.
"You'll go back and tell them where I am!" he laughed and pushed her away, "You'll bring them to me… And there, in front of everyone, you'll walk straight into my arms"
"No!" she exclaimed, "I'll never do that"
"You will… If you want Trevor"
Kory glared at him silently, not knowing what to do.
"You won't breathe a word" he walked over to the door, "And I'll be seeing you soon… To carry out my plan… and your betrayal"
And then he was gone.
The ride back home was silent, even Richard was deep in thought.
Arriving home she thanked Richard for the lift as she got out and without a word she went back into the house, to her room… Which Richard was sharing with her.
Quickly she picked out a random outfit, draped it over on a chair and got inside the bathroom for a quick shower.
She now stood under the soothing spray wishing that it would wash away her worries. She couldn't decide. She had earned Richard back and she couldn't break his trust, not again in a million years.
But there was Trevor too. She couldn't possibly leave him with Roy… She had to think of something. What if Roy found out that she'd told Richard, he'd never give her back her baby.
And if she went with Roy… No, she couldn't even think about that.
Without having made up her mind she got out, clad in a bath robe. When she exited the bathroom she saw Richard waiting for her.
"Oh, um, dinner's gonna be ready in a few minutes" he explained, there was something in his eyes that she couldn't read.
She nodded, not moving.
"I'll uh, give you time to change" he turned to leave.
"Richard" she called out softly as he stopped, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, why wouldn't it be" he snapped, not turning around.
She walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder, "Something's up… I can tell"
Richard turned around, "So when were you going to tell me?"
"Tell you what?" she frowned as he smiled sarcastically.
"That you're gonna go back to Roy" his words stunned her.
She stared at him, shocked.
"How'd you-?" she stammered.
"I went inside to see what was keeping you… And I heard everything over the baby monitor" he replied, his eyes flashing.
"I'm not going to go back Richard… I can't possibly, I love you… And I want to be with you" she said, putting a hand on his cheek.
"How can I trust you? How can I know you're not gonna leave us again?" he asked, his voice firm but she could sense the desperation.
"I don't know how… But please, just trust me" she whispered, looking up into his eyes.
It was a while before he spoke again, this time much softly.
"I do, I do trust you" he replied, "More than anything but… I don't know… God…"
"Sh… it's okay" she stood up on her toes to kiss him as his arms circled her waist, "I'm sorry"
He took off her robe, letting it pool at her feet as their kiss grew more demanding, "I'm sorry too"
Pulling his shirt over his head Kory started licking and biting at his throat as he picked her up, walking over to the bed.
Dropping her there he took off his remaining clothes and climbed on top of her and kissed her waiting lips.
"Shit" she moaned as he pressed himself down on her and spread her legs with his hands.
Richard was getting dressed for office as his cell rang.
"Hey X" he picked up.
"Dick… Something's up"
"About what?" he opened his closet to pick out a tie.
"Its Rachel"
Choosing a dark blue one he closed the closet and turned to a mirror, "What do you mean? Is she alright?"
"Yeah, yeah… That's not it…" it felt as if he was struggling with how to say it, "She's not herself"
Richard had finished with the tie and now he got the cell out from between his ear and shoulder and shifted it into his hand, "Since the accident"
"You noticed it too?"
"Kinda hard to miss" Richard cleared his throat as he took a place on the bed.
"Its not just that" he started, "Last night I got a call"
"What call?"
"After me and Rachel were asleep, my cell rang when I picked up it was a woman"
"A woman?" Richard asked, frowning, "Who?"
"I… I don't know. The line was bad maybe because of the rain" Xavier replied, "She sounded like Rachel?"
"What the hell?" he shot a glance at Kory, who shifted in her sleep, "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I don't know… Just listen when I asked who was speaking, she said that she was Rachel… And she was trying to tell me something but I couldn't understand… All that I got was 'Astrid' and 'kidnap'"
Richard was silent for a while, "Do you think that Rachel…"
"I don't know… "
"Where are you now?"
"At the office"
"I'll see you there"
After hanging up, he just sat there for a while, thinking it through. It all seemed too bizarre to be true but he didn't know what to believe.
"Richard?" Kory's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"Oh, hey" he turned around to smile at her, "I see you're awake"
"I see you're still not at the office" she replied, sitting up, the sheets wrapped around her, and yawning.
"How're you feeling?" he got up and went to stand beside her.
"To be honest…" she smiled slightly, "I'm a bit sore"
Richard grinned guiltily, "I guess I'm to blame… Sorry I was a bit too rough"
"I loved it" she took his hand, drawing small circles on his skin with her thumb.
"You sure you're okay?" he asked.
"Yeah…" she murmured, "I just wish Trev was here with us"
"Don't worry I'll bring him back" he assured her, squeezing her hand gently but firmly, "I promise"
She nodded and leaned over to kiss him, "Go on, you'll be late"
He groaned, "I don't wanna leave you"
She giggled, "You had me for the whole night"
"Not fair"
After Richard had gone, Kory decided to go to Rachel. She'd heard everything and she had to agree that something was wrong with her, since the accident to be specific.
After getting coffee and helping Alfred clear up the dishes she went upstairs and knocked gently on Rachel's door.
"Rachel?" she called out, hoping she'd waken up, "It's me"
"What is it?" came Rachel's voice.
"I um, wanted to talk to you" she replied, a bit surprised at the tone of her voice, "But if you want its okay we'll talk later"
"No wait" there was some movement from the other side of the door, "Come on in"
Opening the door she saw Rachel standing by the window, the drapes were still closed and the room was dark.
"What's up?" Rachel asked.
"Um, nothing… I just wanted to talk, you know, like old times" she gave her a smile.
"Old times" Rachel echoed, "Yep, great"
Walking over the bureau she finger and spotted the music box.
The music box that Rachel's parents gifted her, she thought.
"Kory?"
"Yeah? Sorry was just looking at the jewelry box" she looked back and smiled, "It's a beauty, where'd you get it?"
"Oh, um, I found it at Tiffany's…" came her reply, "I'll get you one, if you want"
"Really?" Kory turned around, "I thought it was a music box, the one that your parents had gifted you"
"Couldn't be… I mean-" Rachel was cut off as a lullaby started playing as Kory touched the crystal.
There was silence, as Kory's eyes penetrated Rachel's. She knew it wasn't Rachel, for the music box was one of her most prized possessions.
"What do you want… Astrid" Kory asked.
"So you figured it out" the woman smirked after the pause of a few seconds, "You're a pretty little genius aren't you?"
"It wasn't hard: I knew Mr. Roth had two daughters… twins, identical twins" she replied, "One was supposed to have died during childbirth… I wouldn't be surprised if that was a hoax"
"Hm, impressive" Astrid's expression was unreadable, "How'd you know that?"
"I researched on a handful of people while staying at Emily's" Kory explained.
Astrid smiled, "Then you'd probably have known that Trigon was a bit of a lady's man…"
"Yeah, I know" she frowned.
"He had a fling when he was in London… And that resulted in more child" she said.
"Where are you getting at?"
"Your mother was a wild woman Kory…" Astrid continued, "After figuring out she had you, she immediately married your step father, Mark Anders"
"You… You mean that…"
"Yes, you're Trigon's first child… sister dear" walking over to the bedside, Astrid bent down to open a drawer as Kory pondered over the facts.
"You're lying" she said quietly.
"You know better than that" smirking Astrid turned, pointing a gun, "DNA can prove it… Too bad you won't live long enough"
So… that's it for now. Hopefully the next chapter will be up soon =)
Do tell me what you think and please please please review.
