As always, thanks so much to the reviewers!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans

Kori grabbed a towel out of her suitcase, wrapping it around her swimsuit-clad body. There wasn't a cloud in the sky outside, and it was well over eighty degrees. Going to the beach would be a blast. Or at least, it might have been, if Richard hadn't...She rid herself of the thought. Of course Richard had broken up with her to be with Babs again. She'd known it before he broke up with her. But that didn't mean it hurt any less to see them together.

"Hey Kori, you ready?" asked Karen. Kori was still a bit annoyed that Karen hadn't wanted to tell her about Richard and Babs's relationship at all, but didn't show it. The last thing she needed was to alienate herself from another person.

"Yeah. What about Rachel?"

"She's almost ready. Still a little mad about the bikini thing." Kori forced a laugh. Take your time, Rachel. I'm in no hurry. She was not looking forward to an entire day of pretending to be happy while Richard and Babs were making out on a blanket right in front of her.

When they got down there, Steven, Angelina, Nicole, Jenny, Wally, Roy, and Alan were already splashing around in the waves. Donna, Harry, Hot Spot, and a girl Kori assumed was Sarah were there as well. Karen glared as Vic came, not even greeting her boyfriend and walking to Harry and Hot Spot instead. Kori said nothing, not knowing whose side to pick. Rachel covered herself up in a towel and sat on the beach chair, pulling out a book to read.

"Kori!" cried Steven. "Over here!" Kori tested the waters, decided they were okay, and waded out to where Steven was. "How are you? Hey, it's Babs...and Dick?"

Kori didn't even look. "So it is."

"Kori, I think you should take a look, he's--"

"Doesn't matter, Steven, do you want to play Marco Polo?"

"Kori--"

"Ignore them!" That shut Steven up. He looked so confused, Kori would have laughed, if she could have. She very nearly used her fingers to turn the corners of her mouth up in a placid smile, because they did not seem to want to move on their own. "Now. You guys want to play Marco Polo?"

Gar had disappeared somewhere, Rachel wasn't going anywhere without her towel, and it was an unspoken decision that Richard and Babs weren't allowed, but everyone else was up for it, childish game though it was. Jenny was 'it' first, closing her eyes and spinning three times in the water. "Marco!"

"Polo!"

She stood still for a moment, then dove to the right, catching Roy. He groaned. "You got salt water in my hair!"

Wally smirked. "Yeah, man. If you're swimming in the ocean, it's probably going to happen." Roy huffed, closing his eyes and spinning as well.

"Marco!"

"Polo!"

"Cheater," Donna said in amusement. "He's peeking."

"How else am I supposed to check you out?" Roy replied.

Donna rolled her eyes. "Flirt."

He grinned. "That's right." Catching her off guard, he jumped and tagged her. "You're it!"

And so it went on. Alan was the only one who was never picked, due to his amazing swimming ability. Kori was one of the last, tagged by Karen. She spun and stopped, her sense of direction lost completely. "Marco?"

"Polo!"

"Hey Kori...I'm over here..." came Alan's taunt. Kori's arm whipped out to the right, meeting only with air. "Nope, I'm over here now." She made a grab right in front of her, but he was gone. "Back here, Kori." She huffed in frustration, spinning around only to lose her balance and splash under the waves.

One muscular arm hooked under her neck, and the other under her knees, bringing her back up to the surface. She held on to her rescuer for dear life, choking out the salt water and trying to breathe at the same time. Once she had managed to do so, she let go. "Thanks, Steven."

"No problem, Kori. You okay? That's a lot of seawater you just swallowed."

She waved it off. "I'll be fine. Leave it to Alan to turn Marco Polo into a death trap. You're supposed to be the nicest one of the guys."

"Not in the water. You better watch out." Roy hummed the Jaw's theme as Alan dove under, grabbing Angelina unexpectedly. She shrieked, plugging her nose before Alan tugged her beneath the waves.

"That didn't look rehearsed at all," Wally snickered. "Hey, look, they're making out down there!"

A synchronized, "We'd rather not," echoed across the water. A new sound joined it.

"You never participate in anything! What's your problem? You always have some stupid emo book with you and you're the worst ref ever!" It was Gar, and he did not sound happy. Richard and Babs were currently engaged, so there was only one person he could be yelling at.

"Oh no," Kori muttered before wading towards the shore. Karen followed her in.

"I don't see why you care," Rachel commented calmly. That was worse news. She was going to save it and blow up at Gar in the end, and the guy might end up anywhere. "Why don't you go ask Terra to join you, I'm sure she'll be more than happy to." Rachel picked up her book again, but Gar pulled it out of her hands and threw it. Coincidentally, it hit Richard in the head.

"Yeah, I guess she would be, too. But I'm not asking her, am I? You think it's so cool to be completely emotionless, that everyone respects you? Yeah, they do, only because they're afraid of you! Maybe if you'd stop pushing everyone who cared about you away so much, you wouldn't be so suspicious all the time! I'm sure I could've had a perfect relationship with Terra if I wanted, but I chose you. But if you don't want help, then who am I to try?" Gar stormed away before Kori could reach there. Rachel never lost her cool. She was about to get up and go into the hotel, too, but Kori grabbed her arm.

"Rachel?"

The Gothic girl smirked. "Who knew Gar could say three intelligent sentences in one paragraph, or in any paragraph for that matter? Although, I suppose they would have been more profound had he been wearing something other than those ducky swim trunks."

Karen's face fell. "Rachel, that's probably not the approach you should take to this..." Rachel was already walking back to the hotel. "Okay, then, just don't listen." Hot Spot came up behind her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"It's okay, Karen. Things can't work out all the time." Behind them, Kori could see Vic practically spitting fire. Karen turned around to glare at him.

"No, I guess they can't."

No one really felt like staying at the beach anymore, so most people went back to the hotel to shower and change. Rachel wasn't back at their room, but Kori was too miserable otherwise to be worried. She decided to head outside, since it was still a beautiful day. It would be a shame to waste it.

Kori was walking aaround the park when a familiar figure appeared. Xavier. "Hey, cutie. I heard you and Grayson broke up," he greeted, grinning wickedly. Kori took a step back, wondering why there was no one else out here.

"So?"

"So..." Xavier grabbed her arms and pinned her to a tree. "...There's no one here to protect you, now is there?"

For a minute, Kori actually considered screaming for Richard, but stopped. I have to handle this on my own. She kicked him right where it hurts, trying to run while he crumpled to the ground. He grabbed her ankle and she fell hard. Twisting around, she flailed her legs, catching him in the jaw. Xavier wasn't about to give up. He reached up and grabbed a bundle of Kori's hair, pulling on it hard enough to rip a few strands out. Kori shrieked involuntarily, clawing at his face. Suddenly, two very familiar muscular arms grabbed Xavier's shoulders and pulled him off of Kori. "What were you thinking!?" Steven yelled. Kori relaxed. She was safe. Steven was here.

"Get away from me!" Xavier yelled back, struggling to escape his cousin's grasp. Struggling was futile, almost comical to watch, and eventually, Xavier stopped, panting. Steven let him go, angrier than Kori had ever seen him. Apparently, he was angrier than Xavier had ever seen him, as well, since the younger Redd was nearly trembling.

"Never touch Kori again, do you hear me? If I ever again see you within ten yards of her, I will not hold back." Steven shoved his cousin away, and Xavier gladly disappeared. He helped Kori up, gently wiping away some of the dirt on her face. "Are you okay?"

Kori nodded, swallowing. "Yeah. Thank you." He shrugged, smiling slightly.

"Helps to know someone who's army-worthy, doesn't it?" Kori laughed weakly.

"I guess." She tried walking, but limped a little on the leg Xavier had grabbed.

"Walk it off, Kori. It'll go away in a little bit." Steven wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she leaned into his embrace as she hobbled along. "Should I call Dick?"

"No," Kori said, a little more forcefully than she had intended.

They walked along slowly, neither willing to bring up the subject of Richard and Babs. Finally, Steven broke the silence. "Why, Kori?" She was startled by his assumption.

"He broke up with me."

"You're kidding." Kori was about to say 'I wish I was,' but stopped herself. No one, not even Steven, could know how she still felt about Richard. They'd hate him more, and Kori was already feeling guilty enough with the amount of hate they were giving him now. Silence stole over them again, but far more comfortable, now that the main reason of worry was gone. Steven let go of her, and she found she could walk on her own now. Still, they went on. "I'm leaving tonight," Steven murmured.

"What? Where?" Kori couldn't help panicking. Steven couldn't leave now. He was one of the only lifelines she had left.

"Set up my dorm. I'm going to college, remember? School starts in August." That meant Nicole was leaving too...Kori stopped, biting her lip. Two of her friends gone. Great. Steven stopped as well, cupping her chin. "You know I'm only a call away."

She nodded, sadness threatening to overtake her. "I know." Steven smiled, resting his forehead against hers.

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you more," Kori choked. Before she knew what she was doing, she kissed him lightly.

Steven returned it, pulling away after a little while. "You know we could never be together, Kori. You'll always love Dick." Kori couldn't say anything, she knew he was right. There hadn't been anything in that kiss, not even a little spark. Steven smiled sadly at her resignation, hugging her once more before leaving.

I'm a hopeless case, Kori concluded.

When Richard and Babs walked down to the pool, no one paid any attention to them. He hadn't expected them to. He'd said he hated his friends yesterday, and he'd meant it. The only reason he'd come down to the beach at all was for Babs, because a couple of her friends were there.

Richard spread out a beach towel, inviting his girlfriend over to sit on it. Babs happily obliged, 'missing' the towel and landing on his lap instead. Oomph! She's heavy...well, Kori was lighter than a feather. Guess I'm just out of shape. "Whoops," she mumbled coyly, kissing him.

After a while of this, Richard started to feel more sick than he usually did about having the wrong girl here. He sat side by side on the towel with Babs and they talked for a little, until he'd calmed down enough not to feel like he was going to throw up all over her. He heard a scream and glanced over to where everyone else was playing Marco Polo. Kori was flailing, nearly drowning, and he was about to get up and run to save her when Steven swept her out of the water. Richard's throat clogged up as he saw him holding Kori. Like they were a couple or something.

They can be, you know. Kori's not with you anymore. Richard turned away, unable to erase the image of how happy Kori looked with Steven. They were perfect for each other. Why didn't they just go off and get married right now? It would make all their lives a lot easier. "Dick? You okay?" He shook his head, running his hands through his hair. This was going to be a lot harder than he thought, especially with Steven trying to make his move. "If you want to go back, that's fine, Dick. I don't want you upset from being around your friends."

"It's fine, Babs. Come here."

Richard barely noticed everyone leaving, but managed to follow them into the hotel. He dropped Babs off at her room, giving her a kiss and a promise for a date later, and went to his. "Aw, gross," he muttered to himself. Rachel and Gar were making out on his bed. Obviously, whatever problems Gar had had with her earlier had been solved. Doubling back to Babs's room, he asked if he could take a quick shower.

"I'll be right back," Babs said as he came out. "Xavier has all of our suitcases, I've got to get some of my clothes out of there." Richard, reluctant as he was to let her anywhere near Xavier, followed her out into the hallway. "That's funny. Where's Xavier?" He didn't care at the moment, but urged Babs to hurry up so they could head out on their date.

They hit the movies, looking for a nice action/comedy/horror/drama, if any such genre existed. Across the street was a large park, and Richard could make out two people on the path. One had a waterfall of bright red hair; Kori. The other was taller and muscled, with a flash of orangey hair. Steven. As Richard watched in horror, their faces drew closer than he would have allowed in a million years, had he been dating Kori. Then, she kissed him.

Whatever was left of Richard's heart tore into miniscule pieces, and scattered.

Richard could hardly see straight. He was silent all throughout the movie, just thinking. What was he going to do now? He couldn't face Kori. He was sure he'd break down. This was his worst nightmare, Kori falling for some other guy. Well, not his worst, maybe, but it was up there with Kori and his parents dying.

"That was awesome! What did you think? Dick?" He was startled out of his reverie, only to see that the lights had come back on, and everyone was leaving.

"Amazing," he agreed. He didn't even know what the movie's title was, let alone what it had been about. "Listen, Babs, how about we head back to the hotel? I'm not feeling too well right now." Babs felt his forehead worriedly.

"You don't feel too hot, but okay. I think I ate too much popcorn anyway." She kept talking the entire way back, but Richard wasn't listening. He dreaded opening that door and seeing Kori and Steven together. Maybe he could just bolt right now. Babs would stop him, but she would probably be the only one who would notice he was gone. When he did open the door, however, he saw Nicole beaming at him. She hugged him tightly, much to Babs's distaste, and he noticed her suitcases right behind her.

"You're leaving?"

She nodded. "For college. To set up our dorms and what not. I'm so sorry I haven't been talking to you, Dick, but I've been...kinda busy." She blushed. "Anyway, I'll hopefully see you next year, or during whatever business dinner parties Bruce plans to set up."

"Do you need a ride?"

"No, thank you for offering. Steven's giving me a ride, he's leaving too." Richard's eyebrows flew up.

"He's leaving? Today?" Nicole nodded. "Oh. Um...see you, Nicole. Good luck. I might have to convince Bruce to throw a couple of dinner parties, then, or maybe I'll come visit you." He hurried off, Babs right behind him.

"Dick? Are you okay? You're acting weird," Babs noted.

"Listen, I'll meet you up some place. I'm just gonna go say goodbye to Steven." Babs nodded reluctantly, heading to her room. Richard turned the other way. He knew he didn't have the right, but he had to find out what was going on between Steven and Kori, if anything. Why would he kiss her, then, and just leave? Or maybe they had been dating since the day he'd broken up with her...that would explain it. He found Steven in the hallway, closing his door. "Hello."

Steven frowned at him. "Did you need something?"

"No. Just came to say goodbye." The redhead shrugged, slinging a laptop bag over his shoulder and pulling out the handles of the two suitcases. He walked by Richard without a word, leaving him even more suspicious.

Before he got to the elevator, though, Steven stopped and turned around. "You promised me you'd take care of her, Dick." The disappointment was evident, and it hurt. Richard recoiled, about to say something, but Steven had waved in farewell just as the elevator doors closed.

I am! Richard thought furiously. She's happier without me, don't you see?

Too bad Steven wasn't telepathic.

I think the chapter should have been longer, considering all that happened, but...at least Kori's Xavier troubles are over, right? I know, it was a bad way to end them, but I couldn't think of anything else.

Steven's gone for good, I believe. I was kinda annoyed with him, but I didn't really feel like killing him off, so I sent him to college...wow that sounded weird. And in that case, Nicole (whoever she was, I'm not exactly sure which Titan's character I based her off of) is gone as well. And if you want more info on how Rae and Gar made up, let me know, and I'll put it in some other chapter. If you want this to be a purely RobStar story, and are satisfied with the BBRae as it is, then I won't. Either way, it doesn't matter to me.

Special thanks to nearly everyone for joining the I Hate Richard Grayson club! Lol.