Chapter 36 - Long Awaited Reunion
I recently read a fanfic in which Kori cheated on Dick, and it's sad to say how upset it made me, but then again that's how the author wants you to feel. It's amazing how I hate Kori in that story, but she's my third favorite character in this one, behind only Wally and the Joker. As I promised, the review cap is off... but reviews would give me more motivation to write. Wink wink. On with the story. Prepare for the warm and fuzzes!
1. Important author's note at the bottom. Make sure you read it.
2. The story has four chapters left, and then I'm doing the 'what if?' story, which is 3 to 5 chapters.
3. Why are there barely any good highschool AU stories out there? Someone please right one. I'm desperate.
4. Next chapter will be another time skip filler chapter, so send in your ideas.
Warning: This chapter contains a lemon, but it's nothing that should make anyone uncomfortable, and if it does skip it.
Sunday, August 24th 2:30 AM - Kori's apartment
Normal POV
Kori laid asleep in her bed, Silkie snuggled into her stomach. She was dreaming of what she usually did. Her time with Richard before he lost his memory, it was by far the happiest time in her life after all. This particular night she was watching the day they met play out before her eyes. It did somewhat embarrass her that she blushed so much in front of him back then, and now one year later she would do all sorts of odd things in front of him without a second thought.
Kori's slumber was only interrupted when a frantic knocking sound entered her ears. Her head shot up from her pillow and she glanced at her alarm clock to find that it wasn't even three in the morning yet. Who could be knocking at her door at this time of the night? Rolling out of bed carefully, so not to wake up Silkie, she scampered out of her room to the front door. Taking note that she was only in a tank-top and a thong she opened the door just enough to see who it was, but when she found a smiling Richard standing there , she opened it fully.
She rubbed her eyes before looking him over, seeing that he was in pajama pants and a white t-shirt, like he came here straight from his bed. "Richard, what are you doing here? It is very late, and I have to be at work early tomorrow."
His smile grew just a little wider, knowing she wouldn't be showing up for work. "August twenty-fourth," he said simply and she cocked her head to the side, not understanding.
"One year ago today, I met you at a lunch table on the far left side of the lunch room. You were wearing a green shirt with a pink heart on it. The school was serving chillie that day, but you were only picking at your food when I came over to your table and sat down. We got talking and I found out you were being bullied so I begged you to come sit with us. After telling you my friends were going to beat me up if I left without you, you finally agreed." A warm smile crossed his face. "We spent nearly everyday of the next ten months together."
Kori's eyes became impossibly wide and suddenly she could actually hear her heart pounding like a boom box in her chest. Could it really be? "You... you remember?," she asked breathlessly.
"Everything," he responded looking directly into her wide green eyes. "Every moment since I saw you from across the room in Coach Garret's class, and every word since hello. I remember absolutely everything," he said slowly.
Kori's breath quickened dramatically as tears began to fall from her eyes. Letting out a squeal she leaped into his arms and cried so hard that her body was shaking.
Richard ran his hand through her hair as held her tightly. "Shhh baby. I love you."
No response came. She just buried herself further into him, literally squeezing the life out of him, and he couldn't have been happier. She was crying out all the pain that she had felt for the last two and a half months and he was going to let her cry as long as she needed to, despite the fact his white t-shirt was getting wet.
After pouring her heart out for a solid ten minutes, Richard finally pushed her way just enough to where he could enter the house and shut the door before once again pulling her back into him. He ran his hand in circular motions on her back, his eyes closed. In this moment he had never felt more in love with her, and he was about to show it. "Kori?," he questioned after a moment.
"Yes?" she answered, her voice weak and muffled by his chest.
"I didn't do this the right way last time, and I want to make sure I do this time," he replied in a soft tone.
She scooted back enough so she could see his face. "What do you mean?"
He reached into his pocket and grabbed her former engagement/promise ring before taking her hand and dropping to one knee. "Kori, I've put you through hell over the last year. I have done some really stupid things, and I have made you cry far to many times. I don't deserve you, and I never will, but all I want is for you to give me the rest of your life, so that I can try. My life has a lot of uncertainty and tomorrow is never a sure thing, but the one thing that I know with out any doubt, is that I love you. So, Koriand'r of Tameran, will you make this hard-headed, stubborn, egotistical human the happiest man in the world and marry him?"
Kori just dropped to her knees in front of him and kissed him passionately, smiling lightly as she did. Despite the fact that she almost sure she was dreaming, she never wanted to wake up from this if it indeed was just a dream. She had been praying to X'hal for the last two and half months that he would show up at her door in the middle of the night and tell her he remembered everything and that he loved her, but now that it happened... it was just hard to believe.
The kiss finally broke when both ran out of air. It truthfully had felt like their very first kiss, an emotional bomb going off in both of them.
Richard had almost goofy smile on his face. "Is that a yes?"
Her response was to giggle before taking the ring from him and slipping it on her finger where it belonged. "I love you, Richard."
"I love you too, N'leane."
She smiled lovingly at him. This was definitely her Richard, only he knew the meaning of that word. Her forehead leaned against his and for what felt like all of eternity, they just stared into each other eyes, time no longer having any meaning to either.
"Are you happy?," he asked quietly, breaking the long silence.
"Unless I wake up and find that this was a dream, I cannot remember being more happy than I am right now," she replied, smiling at him as she caressed the back of his hand with her thumb.
"I promise you this isn't a dream," he assured, slowly leaning in a kissing her.
"Richard," she mummered against his lips.
"Hmm?"
"I missed you so much."
"You don't have to miss me anymore, and I'm not going anywhere," he replied as he finally broke the kiss. "Now, how about you take me to my son, huh?"
Kori beamed the first kori like smile he had seen in a long time before standing with him and leading him into her a bed room, where Silkie laid asleep on his back.
Richard released Kori's hand and bent down to pick up Silkie, careful not to wake him. "You know, it feels really weird. I know I've seen him recently, but I feel like it's been a lifetime."
Kori smiled, but her eyes widened as she remembered something. "Richard... On your phone there is that video we watched about umm... us having children. Are you ready for that?"
He studied her a moment before a smile spread across his face. "I am if you are... but it really depends what's going on the next time you torture me... I mean come in heat," he joked, earning a playful slap on the arm from Kori.
"I cannot help that I get rough and humans are fragile," she defended herself, fighting not to giggle.
"You know I really dread when our kids want to wrestle with me. How am I supposed to explain getting beat up by a four-year old to the guys?"
She giggled and wrapped her arms around him from behind, floating slightly off the ground, so she could nuzzle into his neck. "I shall protect you," she whispered before beginning to kiss and nibble on his neck.
Richard closed his eyes and smiled slightly. "You better be careful Mrs. Anders, Silkie is still in the room, and you're gonna get me to the point of no return if you keep doing that."
"What? This?," she asked in her best innocent voice as she began to trail her tongue up and down his neck. She felt him stiffen, and a satisfied smirk crossed her lips. She really missed teasing him. Floating around to the front of him, she gently took Silkie from him before floating toward the door.
"Where are you going?," he asked in a hushed tone.
"I am going to put Silkie in his cradle. We have lost time to make up for, and I do not wish for our bumgorf to see either one of us naked," she replied as she quickly flew from the room, returning in just seconds.
She slowly approached him, now walking, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Now where were we?," she cooed, seduction in her eyes.
Richard grinned before leaning down to kiss her, but paused halfway. "Are sure about this? I mean we just got back together, and I don't want to rush you into anything, especially since I was a huge jerk to you at times. If you want to wait..." He paused when she covered his mouth her finger.
"Do the shutting up and kiss me," she grinned. She loved him, he loved her, and they were not only back together, but it seemed their wedding was still on schedule for exactly one year from today, she saw no reason why waiting was necessary. She had been waiting two and a half months. That was enough.
Giving in, he leaned down and took her lips in his own, kissing her softly, as she ran her hands through his hair. Very slowly the Kissing began to become heated ant the two found themselves laying on the bed, Richard laying on top of Kori.
He sucked and bit on her neck lightly causing soft moans of pleasure to escape her mouth. "I love you," she said breathlessly
Richard bit down on her neck a little harder. "I love you too." He leaned up just enough to remove his shirt before tossing it aside and running his hands up her sides, lifting her shirt off her as she did, leaving her upper torso completely naked. He kissed her lips before making his way down her collarbone to her breasts.
A louder moan escaped her as he took one of her nipples in his mouth and lightly sucked it a moment before kissing his way back up to her lips. Their tongues explored every inch of each other's mouth, both loving every second of it.
"Richard, I am ready," she whispered into his ear. She wanted to feel the pleasure of him inside of her, his hands exploring ever inch of her body, his love coursing through her. She wanted him more in this moment then she had in her entire life, including when she was in heat.
Richard, obliging her request reached for her thong and slowly moved it down her mile long, tan legs. Kori leaned up, supporting her weight on her elbows, and watched as Richard kicked off his black boots and took off his pants and boxers, leaving both completely naked.
He moved back to her, gently pushing her back down before pressing his length against her. With a light thrust he entered her and she let out a breathless moan, arching her back as she did.
Richard could tell she hadn't had sex in quite awhile, due to how tight she was. He pushed forward very slowly, so not to hurt her. Once he was all the way in he laid down on top of her and kissed her collarbone, trailing up to her neck, where he once again began to nibble.
"Richard, please move," she whined as she scooted down in an attempt to pleasure herself.
"Patience," he whispered as he began to nibble on her ear lobe causing her back to arch once more.
"I have been patient for two and half months. Do not make we wait any longer," she complained as her eyes slightly opened.
He smirked as he slowly began to rock back and forth, making more moans escape her and causing her legs to interlock around his waist. He continued at this pace for over ten minutes until she whispered "faster" into his ear. He quickened his pace though barely, but it must have been enough to satisfy her because her moans became louder and more frequent.
Richard only paused when she began to cry, and worry coursed through him. "Kori, what's wrong? Did I hurt you?"
She shook her head and wiped the tears from her eyes. "I just really missed you."
Feeling relieved, he smiled lightly and continued his pace, kissing her senseless as he did. Suddenly his pace quickened drastically and she could feel a feeling of utter euphoria. With a few final rapid thrusts he released inside of her, and she let out a loud moan of pleasure as she climaxed herself.
Both laid in silence for a moment, only the sound of heavy pants of breath filling the room. Richard was the first to recover and rolled off of her onto his side. He pulled her toward him so that they were stomach to stomach, chest to chest, nose to nose. He kissed her softly on her shoulder, then her jaw bone, then neck, and finally her lips. Once he broke away, he looked her into her dimly open eyes. "I love you, Kori," he whispered. "I'm sorry for everything I have done to you, and..."
She kissed him hard to silence him. "You love me and you remember, the rest does not matter to me," she mummered against his lips before leaning her forehead against his.
Richard just smiled and squeezed her to him. For the next hour they whispered sweet words into each others ears. How much he loved her, how amazing he was, how beautiful she was, how much she missed him. Eventually their whispers became mumbles and then nothing, both falling asleep in each others arms, right where they belonged.
Sunday, August 24th 6:30 PM - Kori's apartment
Kori's POV
Beep. Beep. Beep.
I woke up to the sound of my alarm clock going off, signaling it was time for me to go to work, and I responded by not so gently smashing it into pieces before curling myself back into my Richard. Yes, he is truly mine once again, and as Gar would say, 'screw work, I have better things to do.' I adjust my head on Richard's chest, but I believe either the sound of the alarm clock beeping or me smashing said alarm clock, awoke him because I feel him shift under me and begin to play with my messy hair.
I look up at him and smile, seeing he is smiling back at me as well, his blue eyes only barely open. "Morning beautiful."
I almost wish to squeal right now, just because I am so happy. No, happy is not even the word. Euphoric is a much better definition for what I am feeling at the moment, and even that is an understatement. "Good morning, N'laene. Did you sleep well?"
"Better than I have in months... despite the fact you were snoring," he says with a grin.
I slap him on his arm lightly. "I do not snore."
"Alright, if you say so," he says in a very sarcastic way.
"Richard, I feel the need to warn that just because I love you does not mean I will not put you on the couch," I reply, trying to keep a straight face, but finding very difficult not to smile.
He smiles at me. "Does that mean you're gonna move back in with me?"
I playfully tap my lips. "Hmmm, I do not know."
Knowing I am playing, he smirks and shrugs. "Oh well, I guess I'll have to just move one of those many girls you unfairly assumed I was sleeping with."
I frown at him, a bland look in my eyes. "What was I supposed to think? You were doing the flirting with Kara, knowing she is my friend. I must say you were a huge douche of bags before you met me."
"Well, you should be proud of yourself for changing me," he says with a smirk before his face turns serious. "But, I really should apologize to Kara."
I nod in agreement. "Yes, you should. She was most upset with you, and if she wished to do the punching out of your lights, I would not have stopped her. Truthfully I was thinking about it myself."
Richard frowned up at me. "Love you too," he mutters in a sarcastic tone that could rival Raven's. He then waves his hand is a dismissive way at me. "I'm sure we'll see them at some point today. I'll do it then."
Suddenly I realize something very important. My eyes widen and I quickly get off Richard as I scramble over to my nightstand to get my phone.
"What are you doing?," he asks me.
"I must call our friends and tell them the glorious news," I exclaim happily.
He takes my phone away from me, holding just out of reach. When I give him a questioning look he elaborates. "Let's show them rather than tell them."
"How are we to show them? I suppose we could take a picture and send it to each of them, but I do not believe they wish to see us naked," I reason in a very logical tone, but frown when he begins to laugh at me.
"That's not what I meant. I was thinking more along the lines of having a grill out at the park, and just act no different then we would when were dating before. You know, let them figure out on their own," he explains.
I just smile and nod in response. I cannot wait to see their faces when they find out.
Sunday, August 24th 12:00 PM - Jump City Park
Normal POV
Vic whistled to himself as he flipped the last of the reaming uncooked burgers on the grill, while Bee, Rave, Gar, and Kara sat at the pick nick table behind him.
"You know," Bee began, "if Kori was going to invite us to a grill out she should at least show up on time."
Raven internally smiled to herself, already being pretty aware of what was going on, but just for the fun of it she decided to play along. "She's on her way now."
"You dudes think Dick's coming?," Gar asked.
Vic shrugged from where he stood. "Probably not. He hasn't been the most social since... you know." It was a unspoken agreement that no one talked about the accident, especially around Kori, otherwise a break down was sure to happen.
Kara was about to add her opinion on the matter when she was tapped on the shoulder by someone. She turned her head to see a widely grinning Wally standing there.
"Wally? what are you doing here?," she asked with a delighted smile. Ever since that day at the beach, her and Wally began talking... well, she talked and Wally flirted, but she didn't mind in the least. Though Wally was strikingly handsome, he was no Dick Grayson, but she didn't care. He had a personality that forced you to like him, it was impossible not to. People were just naturally drawn to him, and it was easy to understand why.
"Yeah dude, what's up?," Gar added.
"Kori called me like an hour ago and said you guys were having a grill out at Jump City Park, so I hung up the phone and ran straight here," he explained as he took a seat in between Kara and Gar.
"You ran here?," Bee exclaimed. "Did anyone see you?"
Wally waved his hand dismissively, before throwing it over Kara's shoulders, who made no attempt to move it. "I can run around the world in less then five minutes, of course no one saw me." He then looked around the table. "Where's Dick and Kori?"
"Kori's on her way, and it will snow in hell if Dick show's up," Bee replied.
Wally frowned. "Dick still brooding?"
"Well, not brooding, but he spends a lot more time as Nightwing now. I guess he has nothing better to do," Gar answered.
"What? This city has some of the hottest girls I've ever seen." He turned to Kara and winked, causing her to blush.
Raven shook her head. "Dick still loves Kori. Just because his mind doesn't remember her, they still have an emotional connection that I can't explain fully."
Before anyone could reply an all to familiar black Ferrari pulled into the park's parking lot and not only Richard, but Kori as well got out of the car. Normally this would be odd, but since they had became friends again, no one thought anything of it, the only real surprise being that Richard showed up.
"It's snowing in hell," Gar commented. "I hope your dad has a jacket, Rae," he continued, earning a slap on the back of the head by his girlfriend.
As they approached, both Kori and Richard fought not to hold hands. After so long apart all they really wanted to do was cling to each other and never let go, but they restrained themselves, continuing their charade.
Wally grinned at the sight of his best friend. "Well, do my eyes deceive me or did Mr. Anti-social decide to come out in public," he joked as Richard and Kori neared the table.
Richard smirked as he took a seat on the far end of the bench, leaving room for Kori to set down beside him, and leaving room for Vic on the other end. "Kori made me come," he lied.
"You were looking rather pale. I thought you needed to get out of the house more," she retorted.
He glanced down at his skin. Man he really did look pale, but the again that's what you get when you lock yourself up in the Nightwatch all day. "Yeah, I guess."
"So, what took guys so long to get here?," Gar asked. "I'm freaking starving."
Kori put on her best innocent face. "We had to go by Richard's and get him a change of clothes." she decided to leave out the part about how she undressed him and the activities that took place after.
"Oh... wait what? Why did you have to go by your house? Where were you before that?," Bee questioned.
"At Kori's," Richard answered casually.
Bee's eyes widened and she was about to continue to press before her boyfriend came over and laid the plastic container full of burgers and weenies on the table. "Good to see you here, Dick," he smiled at his friend before proclaiming, "lets eat!"
Everyone made them a plate, but it didn't go unnoticed by anyone when Kori made Richard's plate for him. Was something was up between them? After everyone had their food prepared they all took a seat, and Dick being the leader of the group, said a quick prayer before raising his head and taking a bite of his burger, everyone following suit besides Gar, who was more than happy to stick with his salad.
Halfway through with his burger, Richard looked over at Kori to see that she had a little mustard on her lips and an idea crossed his mind. It was time for the big reveal. He smirked. "Hey Kor, you got some mustard on your lips," he informed sending her a look that communicated what he was thinking perfectly.
Understanding, she smiled up at him. "Please remove it for me."
"Gladly," he replied softly with a grin on his face before leaning in and kissing her passionately, making sure to lick the mustard off her lips.
She let out a soft moan and everyone's eyes widened. Wally hurridly looked from his lip locked friends over to Kara. "You have some mustard on your lips."
She looked at him blandly, but she couldn't stop herself from smiling. "I don't have any mustard on my burger."
"Well, you have something!," he exclaimed before trying to kiss her, and to her surprise she let him. It wasn't like Richard and Kori's heated kiss, but it was still a kiss and Wally couldn't be more happy about it. He pulled back from the heavily blushing girl with a grin. "I got it."
They rest of the group, ignored their embrace, completely focused on the Richard and Kori make out session happening before their eyes. Kori peeked one eye open and caught a glimpse of their bewildered faces, and couldn't stop herself from laughing.
Richard grinned before giving her one more peck and pulling away.
"Dude...," Gar breathed his eyes wide. He hadn't seen a Dick and Kori make out session in almost three months, and strangely enough he almost missed it.
"You guys are back together?," Vic motioned between them.
Kori giggled and discreetly took her ring from her pocket and slipped it onto her finger. She held her hand up, so everyone could see. "Better, the wedding is on as scheduled."
"But... what?," Bee asked. In all her conversations with Kori about the situation, she always said that her and Richard wouldn't get back together until he remembered everything because it wasn't fair to either of them, so what was going on? "Oh my God!," she exclaimed before her head darted over to Richard, who was smirking to himself as everyone put the pieces together. "You..."
"Got his memory back," Raven interjected.
Everyone looked at Richard, who just nodded in conformation, and the next thing he knew, both he and Kori were swarmed by hugs and endless streams of squeals and congratulations.
"Okay, relax," Richard pleaded, pushing Wally off of him.
"Relax? You two break up for almost three months, and you want us to relax? No, tonight we party!," Bee proclaimed.
"No, tonight we move Kori's stuff back to my... our house," he corrected himself, earning a beaming smile from Kori.
"Or that," Bee muttered, deflating dramatically as she retook her seat.
"So, you two are still getting married?," Vic questioned.
Kori nodded with a huge smile. "Mmm-hmm, August twenty-fourth of next year, just like we planned." She looked over at her boyfriend. "Correct Richard?"
He smiled and wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to him. "Yup, better get started on the planning."
She looked over at him. "You are going to help, yes?"
All the guys just laughed in response.
"Don't worry about them, we can do it ourselves." Bee commented surely. "They would only ruin it anyway."
"She's right I suggest you keep us a hundred yards away from anything wedding related at all times," Gar added, earning nods of agreement from Vic, Richard, and Wally.
Kori crossed her arms over her chest, a pouting look on her face. "Fine, but when everything is pink, green, and purple I do not want to hear the complaining out of you."
He kissed her cheek. "I won't say a word." His face then turned serious as he remembered something. "Oh, and I think I owe everyone an apology for the way I have been acting for the last couple of months, especially you, Kara," he said, looking over at the girl who was snuggled into Wally's side.
She smiled and waved him off. "Don't worry about it. I know you would never cheat on Kori if you had remembered her."
"So, were all family again?"
Vic smiled. "Never stopped."
Sunday, August 24th 3:00 PM - Kori's apartment
Normal POV
"Why do you have so many clothes?!," Richard exclaimed as he packed up a sixth box of shirts, pants, jackets, and shorts.
"A girl must have options," Kori replied with a giggle as she folded her blankets and put it away in a larger box.
"Well, the next charity event we have to go to, we're donating at least half of these. I swear to God, you cloth all of Africa with all this stuff."
"Stop your fussing," she waved him of with a laugh.
Richard just grumbled something under his breath as he reached for another box. Kori smiled lovingly at him. Today couldn't have gone any better. She had her boyfriend back, he remembered everything, the wedding was happening as scheduled, the idea of children was starting to be discussed, and she was moving back to where she belonged. Her fairytale ending looked to be just around the corner.
She was brought out of her thoughts when she heard something break, coming from the kitchen.
"Kori," she heard Gar call. "Wally made me drop your plates."
"Dude, it was so not my fault. You're the one who tried to juggle them," Wally defended himself.
"Well, you said I couldn't," Gar retorted.
"And I was right."
This started an all out argument between the two boys, causing Kori to pinch the bridge of her nose and sigh.
"I must go do the dealing with the children. Please, finish packing these boxes and take them to the car," Kori instructed as she made her way out of the room.
"Oh, and call your father," she called from the hallway.
"Oh, shit," Richard exclaimed a he scrambled for his phone. He hadn't yet told Bruce the news.
"And stop saying the words of badness," he heard his girlfriend call again, causing him to roll his eyes.
"Yes, mom." Richard dialed his father's the number and the phone rung twice before being answered.
"Hello, Dick," Bruce answered in an almost questioning tone, and it was understandable why. Over the last two and half months, Bruce had always been the one to have call, because Richard certainly wasn't going to do it.
"What's up, dad?," Richard asked with a smirk.
A pause. "What? Did you just call me dad?"
"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"
"Because..." He paused when realization began to make itself known in Bruce's mind. "Wait... you remember?"
Richard laughed at his fathers breathless tone. "Yeah, I was just laying in bed last night, and suddenly I could just see everything playing out in front of me."
Another pause. "I'll be there in eight hours."
"Dad relax, that's not necessary," Richard assured. "I figured me and Kori would come visit in a few weeks anyway."
"You two are back together?," he questioned.
"Yup, weddings still on. The girls have been talking about it for hours."
"Well... that's good. I'm glad your happy. Ummm.." he puased for a moment and Richard could tell he was trying to say something. "You know that that I umm... It's good to have you back, son."
Richard smiled. "Love you too, dad."
What? No cliffhanger? No, just a warm and fuzzy chapter. Anyway, we need to discuss something. My next story.
1. Option one, a sequel to this story.
2. A story called Starfire problems. the prompt to this story is 'Starfire has many problems, such as adjusting to Earth's culture, being head over heals in love with her best friend, not knowing if said best friend returns her feelings, struggling with Robin's change to Nightwing... oh, and Batgirl is staying two weeks at the tower, and Starfire is not a happy camper (whole Story in Starfire's POV)
3. A high school AU because there just isn't enough good ones as I said, and I think I could write a drama well. Prompt in Kori's POV: Dick Grayson moved to our school just last week, and all the girls went wild over him... except me. Don't get me wrong, the guy is obviously gorgeous, but this guy dates models. There's no way he would be interested in any of these girls here, so then why does he keep hanging out with me?
4. This story called Do You Love Me? After eight years together, Richard broke-up with Starfire, saying he no longer loved. Unable to take the pain of being on the same planet as him, she flees to Tameran. Five years later she returns, and runs to into the ex-Titans. What has changed since she has be gone, and more importantly does Richard love her?
Your choice. A sequel to LFS, Starfire problems, a high school AU, or Do You Love Me?... Tell me in the review. The story with the most support will be written next, but I plan to write all four at some point. Review and tell me, this is important!