Here's another chapter. A little short and a bit of a bridge chapter before Dick and Kory head out to Donna and Terry's wedding.
For people following this story, it will not go on (and on) like 'Double Take' and the story line will end the day after the wedding. I love writing these guys, so if there is interest, I would definitely consider a sequel. The end is written and I imagine it will have about 4 or 5 more chapters (but I have been known to underestimate the number of chapters in the past, no matter how faithful I am to my outlines...)
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Where Have You Been All My life?
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AU Dick and Kory
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Together since college, Kory Ander's heart was broken when she found out her fiancé was cheating on her the day of her wedding. Kory takes the two weeks that should have been her honeymoon to do some soul searching and rethink her life. Will an encounter with a gorgeous former playboy by the name of Dick Grayson change both of their lives?
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Chapter 14
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What a wonderful turn of events! Less than a week after meeting, Dick and I had just professed our love for each other and were moving on to plans for the weekend we'd spend together at Donna's and Terry's wedding.
It hit me that I had a lot to do. We were leaving the next day. The next day. I had originally planned to stay in the cabin until Sunday but now would be heading out with Dick tomorrow (Friday) to stay in Wilmington until Sunday afternoon. After that, I guess I had to go home. I really didn't want to think about that yet... so I didn't for the moment.
During cleaning up after our 'celebratory breakfast' – we were in love, after all, why not celebrate? - it came up and I guess I began to fret about how to get my car home.
Fret? An understatement. Man, it really hit me. I wasn't allowed to drive for 4 weeks. I had forgotten. I mean, I didn't really forget that after my surgery and the anesthesia I wasn't going to be allowed to drive for a few weeks, I just hadn't considered the logistics of it. Or the reality of it.
"How am I going to get my car home?" I finally said, although knowing Dick, he had already read my mind.
He gave me a reassuring, "Let me handle it" with a twinkle in his eyes. Again, he was taking care of me, not in a way that was patronizing, not that made me feel that I owed him. I guess this is what love is supposed to be like.
Dick set me up on the sofa with my leg elevated so I could 'rest up' for our travel to Wilmington the following afternoon which would take roughly 2 ½ hours. He left the cabin to go talk to Dr. Hall, the retired local family doctor who had owned the cabins for decades to see if we could leave my SUV for a few weeks until I was allowed to drive again and we could make it back to pick it up.
He came back into the cabin with a big smile on his face and in a playful tone said, "I hope you don't already have plans for Labor Day weekend."
I loved his smile. And that playful tone. "As a matter of fact, I do not."
"Well, would you like to spend the weekend with me?" A slight bit of anxiousness came into his voice, which surprised me a bit.
Did he really think I wouldn't want to? Maybe I'm not sending the crystal clear signals I thought I was. But the answer was very simple, "I would love to."
"Wonderful!" He sounded relieved, maybe he was as nervous about us as I was. No, he was much more sure of himself in general, but slightly vulnerable, neither of which was a bad thing at all. "I hope it's alright that we have this cabin for the Labor Day weekend. We'll be able to pick up your car by then so you can get it back home."
It was a perfectly acceptable solution, but that would be then and this was now, and there were a few weeks in between...
"Kory, I'll make sure you can get around," Dick said, yet again reading my thoughts.
I didn't ask for a further explanation about what he was going to do about it. Not that I didn't want to know, I just didn't want to face any disappointment. Not that he had disappointed me yet.
It was obvious he was scrambling to read my reaction. Perhaps the fact that I hadn't said anything was working against us.
"We can go somewhere more upscale if you'd rather though." he offered.
I could not let the thought of being grounded affect my mood or any other part of our day. I found my smile again, "No, coming back here will be perfect."
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We were pretty wrapped up in each other that day but when we were, for lack of a better term, canoodling, we kept it to kisses and longing looks. Maybe it was the daylight. Maybe it was nerves.
We made plans for our (one week) anniversary date, an evening at the bar where we had meet the previous Thursday. As usual, I found myself getting wound up but as I said, there was a lot to do before we left the next day.
"I have to pick up a few things for the weekend. I really don't want to face my house, I have no idea if Karras is still there, so I need to get some more clothes," I tried to not let my voice reflect the fear that I had thinking about Karras.
"To the Mall!" he said in a way that reminded me of Adam West. Or was that Mermaid Man. No matter, it was so cute, I had to laugh.
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We went to the mall as planned and I set out to buy a gift for the couple, a cocktail dress for the rehearsal dinner, something for the Bride's mother's brunch on Sunday, some make-up, plenty of new underwear and of course a few sexy nightgowns. Dick played the dutiful boyfriend perfectly, carrying my bags and disappearing when I was buying things that were meant as a surprise for him.
I was happy with my purchases and felt like finally I could relax and look forward to the weekend.
On the way home, we fell into the easy conversation that I enjoyed. We still needed to discuss the weekend's arrangements so to speak. Again reading my mind, Dick brought up the accommodations.
"We'll be staying at the Hotel Dupont, Kory. The rehearsal dinner on Friday as well as the ceremony and reception are all there. I rented you your own room at the Hotel for Friday and Saturday."
My brows flew to my forehead. "Didn't you want to stay together?" Will I always be this insecure?
"Of course I do," Dick took my hand and gave me a reassuring squeeze, "but I rented the second room right after I asked you. I wasn't going to make any assumptions."
I imagine that even with my self esteem issues, I will grow more secure in my relationship with Richard if he continued to act like this.
"You are so thoughtful and wonderful," I said sincerely, as I leaned across to kiss his cheek, unfortunately rubbing my stitches against the console. They would be in until at least Monday, when I would be seeing my doctor. The following was said in a purr, "but why don't you cancel the second room?"
"Sounds like a plan. We just can't let one of the rooms stand empty. That would be a waste."
We came home and Dick made sure to set me up in the bed for a nap and to elevate my leg. It had been a long day and I was uncomfortable. Not that I was going to let that stop me completely, but I needed to continue to baby my leg if we were going to have a good weekend.
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He crawled into bed with me to wake me up at about 6:45 PM. Our 'date' to the tavern was going to be at precisely 7:30 PM, exactly a week to the hour from when we met. Dick was adorably romantic that way.
After some snuggles, we shared some almost frustratingly languorous kisses that I wasn't 100% sure were real or not. So I let them continue, you know, just to make sure they were the actual happening. After a few minutes and apparently waiting until I was fully awake, Dick asked me the question we had been avoiding, "So Kory, shouldn't we talk about making love?"
I was surprised by his directness, but it was certainly on my mind. "Sure. We should figure out the when and where, type of protection..." My voice was very shy and uncertain. Why, oh why?
I know that grown ups have these discussions. We are grown ups. We are in love. I mean, I have these discussions all the time counseling patients. But this isn't about someone else, its about me. I can't help but to be nervous.
He regarded me with amusement, and, well, lust.
"I'm on the pill," I half blurted out, "and I've tested negative for everything, I've told you that."
He chuckled softly and pulled me closer. "I was tested after the Kitten fiasco. Should we still use condoms?"
I had no personal experience with them. "I don't think its necessary. We plan to be monogamous," I said more tentatively than I meant to.
"Of course we will be," Dick said, his tone making me unsure as to whether he was a bit hurt or maybe a little sick of my needing constant reassurances. I felt like slinking back under the covers.
Dick looked at me as if he were trying to figure me out. This time he hadn't exactly read my mind, but I guess had an idea about what was on my mind.
"Kory, how many people have you been with?"
Busted. Again.
"Um, just one," I said sheepishly. Not that I should be embarrassed about only having had one lover, it has to be a plus really, it was just that it was that particular person who had been the one.
"He was the only one you've ever been with? That changes things a bit," he said with a bit of an edge. I think it was exasperation, but it might have been something else. I really need self esteem boot camp...
I started to panic, didn't he want me now?
Sensing my need for reassurance (not that it was anything new), he leaned in and gave me a kiss that was anything but lazy. "I wanted things to be special, now I have to be sure they're perfect. I'll be right back."
I felt breathless, excited and then crept in a deepening twinge of dread. He saw the look on my face, but this time it was only his kindness that showed, "I want to check on something, Kory." He kissed my lips again and then repeated with emphasis, his index finger to my heart, "Don't worry, I love you. I'll be right back."
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I guess I sat there stunned. In spite of the reassurances, I felt myself tremble. I yet again thought about the fact that I really have to work on my feeling of self worth or he might just change his mind about me.
I could hear his voice from the living room, not that I could overhear the conversation, and I was slightly reassured. If he was making a getaway, I'd be hearing the noises of packing. I admonished myself, why can't I just let go and believe in this guy, believe in us? He certainly had proven himself over and over again...
A few minutes passed and I have to admit I wasn't getting any less anxious. Finally he entered the room with a smile on his face, looking quite pleased with himself. He crossed the room and gently got into bed with me. He pulled me into his arms, giving me another wonderful kiss, "Saturday night, after the wedding, how would that be?"
That did sound romantic. Attending a formal evening wedding, staying at one of the fanciest hotels in the country, making love for the first time with a man I fell head over heels in love with in a manner of days, "Glorious!"
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To Be Continued...
Next Up, the date at the bar where they met and then off to the wedding!
Thank you for reading and please review!!!
LJ