Author's Note: Well here you go guys, another chapter as I promised! I actually did it this time, whew. Anyways, enjoy!

Warning: Language

Disclaimer: Sadly nope, characters are in fact not mine... :'(

Kori's POV

Life is, for lack of a better term, pretty shitty.

There are times when it makes perfect sense, and everything seems to work too well. Then suddenly it can shift and everything feels like it's out to get you, like the world is spinning and crashing down around you. There's nothing you can really do to change it either, and right now? Well, right now, I don't even really know what up or down is anymore. I'm so lost...

And hurt, and scared.

Richard does make it better, and Jason does too, but still I can't help but feel like this. I feel like I've been robbed of happiness that I deserve, and it fucking sucks. I feel like I shouldn't be like this because wow I have a boyfriend who happens to be Dick fucking Grayson and I live in Wayne Manor right now and I finally have friends and family... But yet, I still feel sort of empty inside. I feel hollow, just when I was starting to feel full again.

See? Shitty.

It didn't help that this morning I woke up in bed alone. I didn't really mind that much I guess, but I'll admit that I was kinda disappointed. So I got up, stretched, and took a shower. I stood there under the hot water, closing my eyes and enjoying the feeling of it beating on my back. For some reason I started to hum randomly as I began washing my hair with my strawberry shampoo that the boys brought back from my apartment as I let my mind wander.

The smell of my old shampoo calmed my twisted insides because, well, as much as I like the manor I feel like I don't belong here. This is just something familiar, I guess. Once I finished washing myself, I stepped out of the shower grabbing a random towel and drying off. Carefully I patted my face dry and looked at my forehead in the steamy mirror. Yesterday Jason and I found Alfred and he decided that I needed two stitches just to be safe. Yay me. With a sigh I grabbed a bandage and placed it over my stitches before heading out the door to get dressed.

I grabbed my favorite superhero t-shirt and put it on along with a pair of skinny jeans I dug out of one of the boxes of clothes they brought to me. It is January, so it's kinda cold out right now. Oh, wait. Rushing over, I look out the window and see that it's snowing and it makes me grin. I fucking love snow, and I now just realized why the Wayne Manor garden is indoors.

I'm kinda slow.

Hesitantly, after I finish brushing my hair and getting ready, I step into the hallway and try to remember how to get to the lounge. I play with the end of my hair as I make my way down the hall with only colorful, mismatching socks on my feet. After a few minutes I stop in the middle of the hallway. Frowning, I can't seem to find my way there and I can't find anyone either. It's only like 10:30, where is everyone?

"Hey, you lost Firehead?"

Turning around, I smiled and said "Yeah, I'm trying to find Richard."

Jason just smiled at me and it instantly put my nerves at ease as he slung an arm around my shoulder and said "Lucky for you I've lived here long enough to navigate us through this maze."

I laughed and said "Lead the way."

He flashed me a smile before he grabbed my hand and started leading me hopefully towards where my boyfriend was. 'Firehead' was his new nickname for me because of my red hair, and I liked the nickname so it didn't bother me. He was quickly becoming one of my best friends.

"So, fire? Um, you, you didn't tell Dick about..."

"No" I quickly interjected, smiling and hugging him from my side as we walked, "of course I didn't. I'd never do that I promise. You're my friend."

For some reason he seemed surprised at that, and that fact broke my heart. "I'm your friend?"

"Of course you are."

At that he seemed to flush red and he admitted "I've never really had friends, besides Dick really. Most people don't seem to like me."

I scoffed, linking our arms together and replying "Those assholes don't know what they're missing. I've only known you for a little while but already I feel really close to you."

"So do I" he smiled, and I couldn't help but hug him.

"I hope I don't have some competition going on here."

We both looked over and saw Richard walking towards us with a grin on his face. Immediately I blushed but smiled and replied "You're too late, we've already decided that we're going to run away together." Being with these two always seemed to breath new life into me just when I think I'm about to die.

"Yep" Jason stated, grinning and winking at me before he picked me up bridal style and began running away, "she's mine now!"

"Hey!" I heard Richard call from behind us as I giggled and squealed as he chased after us.

It was a few hours later, and currently I'm curled up at Richard's side under a blanket as we talk with his brothers in the lounge. The lounge is one of my favorite rooms. It's red with golden accents and dark brown maple floors and furniture, it oozes luxury. Various red sofas and chairs form a circle around a fireplace in the center of the room that's lit right now.

It's very cozy.

After Richard managed to steal me away from Jason, we ate some early lunch that Alfred prepared for us before we cuddled up on a couch and eventually Tim and Damian joined us. Tim was actually kind of quiet, only jumping in on the conversation to correct someone or when we seemed to talk about something that interested him. While Damian seemed to like to pick fights and share his um, strong, opinions.

Even then, I was starting to love them all and enjoy their company.

"Anders, do you like animals?" Damian suddenly asked me, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I smiled and sat up a little straighter, replying "Well of course I do, cats are my favorite."

For like the first time I saw him smile as he took off crying "Hold on!"

Shaking my head, I waited for the fifteen year old to come back as Richard said "He's going to get his cat."

I couldn't help but get a little excited since I love kitties. After a few minutes he came walking in with a black and white cat cradled in his arms. I couldn't help but let out an "Aww" as I scratched it's ears, "What's it's name?"

"His name is Alfred."

At that I grinned, and Alfred who was standing in the corner winked at me. Looking back at Damian, I asked "Can I hold Alfred, the cat?"

He seemed to debate the idea over in his head before handing him to me and saying "He doesn't usually like to be held by strangers."

Smiling, I put Alfred the cat in my lap and he began purring as he laid down and I pet him. Everyone seemed to be shocked and I looked at them, asking "What?"

Richard grinned at me, saying "The only people that that cat let's hold him is Damian and Selina. Guess you have the magic touch."

At that I blushed and smiled, and Damian watched me closely as he sat down next to me. Apparently I won him over, and at that I smiled at Richard who returned it. For a little while longer we sat around talking as I pet Alfred the cat who never left my lap.

Around one I was surprised when my boyfriend stood up, saying "Kori, I wanna show you something outside."

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that as I handed Alfred back to Damian before accepting Richard's outstretched hand. Waving goodbye to the boys, I couldn't help but feel excited that I was going outside in the snow. I slipped on a jacket and a pair of snow boots before wrapping a purple and green scarf around my neck as he did the same.

"I love you" he said before pressing a gentle kiss to my lips that warmed me up even more as I smiled.

"I love you too."

With that he grabbed my hand and led me outside, and as we walked I took in all the beauty around me. Snowflakes were lazily floating down around us and glittered in the air as the white powder crunched beneath our boots. Beautiful, glimmering white covered the ground as far as I could see and covered the bare branches of the forest we were walking towards.

I was filled with curiosity as to where we were going, but I simply held his hand and kept my questions to myself. After about fifteen minutes he smiled as he put his scarf around my eyes, and led me to what I could tell was a clearing in the trees. Excitedly I took off the blindfold when I was given the go ahead only to hear "Surprise!"

Actually I was very surprised and taken a back as I saw Rachel, Karen, Jenny, Victor, Gar, and Wally all standing by a frozen over pond. I could also see a gazebo with chairs inside and a fire pit to keep warm with and snacks were littering one of the tables. All I could do was smile and put a hand over my mouth. I'm shocked.

Richard kissed my hand and said "We wanted to help you feel better."

Unbidden tears came to my eyes as I kissed him on the cheek and tackled him in a hug before I grabbed the rest of his, or our, friends and hugged them as well. Rachel I hugged the longest besides Richard and she smiled at me saying lightly "I hope you like ice skating."

Excitedly I watched as most of the group began skating across the frozen water. I looked over at my friend, saying "I've never been."

She smiled, replying "Lucky for you Dick is a good ice skater."

Carefully I watched him skate around from our spot under the gazebo. We were the only ones in here, and my attention was brought back to her after I heard a polite cough. The look on her face was gravely serious with an undertone of danger and anger. She grabbed my hand and held it tightly, asking lowly "How are you?"

I looked at her for a while before replying "I'm starting to feel better."

At that she seemed to calm down, some tension draining from her shoulders. "If you ever need to talk you know I'm here for you, right?"

Touched, I couldn't help but hug her and she held me for a little while and stroked my hair. It seems the more time I spend with these people, the more myself I become, and the happier I get. It's an odd, yet wonderful feeling. "Thank you, Rachel."

"You're welcome."

A little while later Jason, Tim, and Damian joined the group. The younger two decided to throw snowballs at some of the skaters, mainly Wally and Garfield, but Jason came over and sat by us. Rachel and Jason had met before, but I don't think they ever sat down and talked to each other. We talked about whatever came up and I could tell that they liked each other which made me very happy. My first true circle of friends.

However, our conversation was interrupted as Richard walked in. He gave Jason a hug and I could tell the younger was blushing, poor thing. He also gave Rachel a quick hug since she doesn't care for them before he turned his attention to me. "Hey, Star?"

"Yes, Richard?"

He smiled as he questioned "Do you wanna go ice skating with me?'

My unsurity must have shown on my face because he said "Pretty please? It'll be a lot of fun I promise."

"Do it, do it" Rachel and Jason started to chant and I shot them dirty looks.

With a sigh I finally stood up and went "Fine."

The other two cheered and I flipped them off, which they just laughed at and I couldn't help but smile. I waved goodbye as Richard grabbed my hand and lead me away to get ice skates on. He sat me down and helped me put them on before helping me get up and actually walk a few steps to the ice.

My stomach was in knots as I stood there, gripping Richard in a death grip. "Ow, okay, ease up on the grip Kori."

"Sorry" I mumbled, looking down.

He kissed my bandage before making me look at him. "Hey, you're gonna be fine. I'm right here, and even if you do fall, I'll be here to help you get right back up again, okay?"

"Okay."

With that he smiled and I couldn't help but return it as he gave me a kiss before letting go of me. I tried to keep my balance but I fell on my ass, and I pouted as he helped me up. Again and again I kept trying to do more and I kept falling, but Richard just helped me right back up again like he promised. Eventually I was able to skate a little.

I started slowly at first, before gradually I got the hang of it and I was flying around everywhere. A giggle came out of me as I heard cheering and Richard chasing after me. When he did catch me, all he did was kiss me and I returned it. It felt like the world stopped spinning and the only thing that mattered was him, and certainly not the 'ew's coming from behind me.

It felt so right.

For a long time after that we held hands and skated around together, even as the sun began to set. Our friends built a fire to stay warm, but I never even felt cold. He kept complimenting how I seemed to glow, and I couldn't help but feel alive and full of energy at the sheer beauty and kindness that they showed me, at being with Richard like this. It was incredible, and amazing, and...

I love them all, and suddenly life seemed to be getting that much better.

"Hey, Jim?"

Swallowing his mouthful of coffee that he just took, Jim Gordon looked up. "Yes, Bruce?"

Bruce Wayne set his coffe mug down and made sure none of the kids were around or Alfred before replying "I need you to look into something for me."

"Sure, what do you need?"

"Well, actually" Bruce started, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "it's two things; Tamaran, and Kori Anders."

Well that chapter turned out better than I expected! I wanted to seriously say thank you to you all for the wonderful support and your lovely comments. Also thank you for expressing concern about me and my health but I'm fine for the most part. Long story short I have an under-active thyroid so it makes me really tired amd screws up my body, but now I'm on medicine every day so hopefully I'll feel better soon and have more energy to write and stuff. But anywho, what do you think Jim will find? O.o Just wait and see! Anyways I hoped you all liked this chapter, and if you did don't forget to fave, follow, review, or all 3! Please and thank you! ;)

Coming Up: We skip ahead as Kori heals