Disclaimer, reiterated: I do not own DC Comics nor Warner Brothers, the Teen Titans, or the characters this AU (alternate universe) fic is based on. I do not own Mary Poppins or Dick Van Dyke but we do have a chimney that needs to be swept and was used in spite of this fact because we had no frickin' heat for 30+ hours this weekend!

I do, however, own the plot. The material presented is my own, and anything resembling it is purely coincidental and any of the content cannot be duplicated in any manner without my permission.

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You've Got Mail

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Chapter 38

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"Kori?"

"Hello Richard."

"How are you tonight?"

"I am doing well, and you?"

"I'm fine, but missing you."

"I am doing the missing of you as well although the kids are not leaving me alone. They wish for the details."

"The details?"

"I believe they are doing the suspecting that we did the getting close this weekend."

"I think they'd be correct there."

"Yes and I am very glad."

"So am I."

Kori found herself blushing as she had been all evening. "I have avoided saying anything, but..."

"They can tell?"

"I do believe so, as you know, I do blush quite easily and we were away..."

"Are you okay with that?" He considered briefly that she couldn't possibly concerned about such a thing at her age, but immediately remembered how sensitive she was and how she had been hurt. Now that they were home, was she having regrets?

"I do not wish to disclose anything because we have not discussed it."

That gave Dick pause: she was concerned about his privacy. "I really love you," was his immediate response. "Kori, I am fine with people knowing we are intimate. I'm not saying anything to my friends, especially not Roy."

"Thank you Richard, I think that would be for the best."

"Did I mention I miss you?"

"I believe you did. Did I mention I wish you were here?"

"Actually, you haven't nor have I mentioned that I wish I were there with you."

"You did say this would happen, that we would miss each other."

"You said it would happen anyway Kori, that we would miss each other and want to be together every night, or really all the time whether or not we became lovers." His voice dropped an octave. "I'm so glad we're together in every way now."

Kori felt herself flush. "So am I."

"I better let you get some work done."

"Yes, I must get more done tonight. I did not ask about your day or what you have tomorrow."

"Nothing special really, I'd rather just talk to you about us."

"I like us."

"I love us."

"I love us too Richard."

"I love you Kori. How does Friday look?"

"I will be sure I am free all weekend Richard, no matter what."

"Don't overdo it."

"I will do the pacing of myself, Richard, I promise. I love you."

"Good night, m'love, talk to you tomorrow."

"Good night, Richard."

TtTtTtTtTt

Richard was 'nose to the grindstone' all day and swore that the harder he pushed himself, the harder Bruce pushed him. He was not going to let Bruce see him sweat though, Dick being sure to keep a pleasant look on his face and a bit of his spring in his step. He worked through lunch to be sure his productivity matched his outward appearance of comfort.

Dick's phone rang. "Dick, you free in five?" Bruce asked.

Dick blinked. He never got anything but a 'Dick, now.' "Sure Bruce."

Dick rolled down his shirtsleeves and straightened his tie and then shrugged on his suit jacket. He timed things precisely, pleased to have the courtesy of the five minute warning and was going to handle it properly. Maybe he was finally getting some respect from Bruce...

Lucius was there along with three executives from Aerospace Divisions from the Great Valley location, the Nevada location and the Florida location of Wayne Enterprises. Introductions were made all around.

"Dick, we've decided to have you do the preliminary negotiations with two firms in the UK for some Aerospace technologies. With the Shuttle program completed and the Space Program at a lull, Wayne Enterprises wants to scoop up some technology. We have to put together a solid team but we have some guidelines of things for you to procure before the Russians do.

"So we are going to have you start to get these in negotiations, and we'll all come up with a game plan."

Dick tried not to appear as thrown as he was. He was going to Western Europe? "How long do I have to prep for my trip?"

"The weekend, or rather the flight over, given you have your weekend booked. You fly out Sunday."

"Thank you for the opportunity, Bruce."

Crap, crap, crap. When the hell am I going to tell Bruce about grad school?

TtTtTtTtTt

Kori's day was jam-packed with classes, studying and making up time in her lab. She wouldn't hear of not making up her hours missed and soon it was 9 PM. Grabbing a sweet sausage with extra mustard and sour kraut, she was back at the dorm to prep for her nine AM section that she TA'd for.

She wasn't surprised she hadn't heard from Richard, but wished he had called at some point. He must be as busy as she was, she figured. After eating her sandwich and finding some fruit, she finished getting ready for the next day.

Dick pulled into the manor about 11:30 exhilarated and frustrated. What a great opportunity, but why now? What was he going to tell Bruce? What was he going to tell Kori? Shouldn't it be how is he going to tell each of them?

Dick grabbed a suit for the next day, his toiletries, and headed over to campus.

It was 11:45 before she was rounding the halls, saying goodnight to her students. It was that bittersweet time of year, that last part of the semester, she kept thinking that soon her 'kids' would be going home.

TtTtTtTtTt

It was just after Midnight when there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it, please?" Kori asked, having just grabbed a robe. The dorm was very warm and she wanted to cover the baby doll she had put on to sleep in.

"Burglar."

"I am not interested in being burgled at this time, thank you."

"I'm here about the chimney."

"We already had Dick Van Dyke personally sweep the chimney last week."

Dick chuckled. "Did he sing, because I'll sing."

"That he did."

"Landshark."

"No, I am afraid of sharks."

"I won't bite."

"What fun are you then?"

Dick chuckled again, "As much as I love joking with you, please let me in Sweetheart."

Kori opened the door and dragged Richard in. "I could not be the too careful. That is what my boyfriend tells me."

"I better be that boyfriend," Richard growled, picking her up and holding her close. He set her down, still holding her close and sighed heavily.

"Are you all right?"

He looked at her. "I am now, just a tough day."

"I am sorry Richard," Kori responded, her face full of concern. He took a moment to appreciate that it was concern instead of being cooed at or fawned over – she read him right. "No pressure, but if you wish to do the talking..."

Again, she read him correctly.

Richard let her go and started to pace the room, raking a hand through his hair every now and then thinking about what to say. He came to the decision that there was no way he could keep this from her, could keep anything from her... not now.

"Bruce called me into his office, Kori," he started, only afforded her a glance, his incessant pacing continued. "He is having me go to the UK to line up some Aerospace acquisitions on Sunday." He paused and paced and Kori took the few steps to the futon to sit down. "I am excited about the opportunity, and he wants me to come up with a plan to expand our Aerospace division Corporate-wide, and I can't imagine I can do that before mid-August." He paced more. "I don't know if I should tell him my plans for my MBA, or defer my MBA, or wait to see how I feel once I go on this first trip to the UK."

He stopped his pacing and looked over to Kori sitting at the futon patiently who offered only an open expression on her face and Dick realized that all she would offer was support. Still, he wanted to hear it. "Kori, what do you want me to do?"

She stood up and walked over to him. "I wish for you to do what you want to do."

"Kori, don't you have an opinion."

"All I know is that if I influence your decision, you may resent me and I do not wish for that. Your course of study is two years, mine must be completed within seven years. If you defer a year or even two to enroll in the MBA program, I shall be here. If you do not, I shall be here." She gave him a gentle hug and looked at him. "No matter what, I plan to be here. You do not even have to ask," she finished with a bright smile.

"Wow. You never cease to amaze me. I was so worried. I have to trust in you, in our relationship more."

"You are the stressed and no doubt tired, Richard."

"I am."

"Richard?"

"Thank you for not waiting to say anything. It means so much that you did not delay in telling me, you never need to carry such a burden alone."

TtTtTtTtTt

Kori feel asleep almost instantly in Richard's arms; they hadn't made love, they were both tired and it was getting late and they had early mornings. In spite of this, Richard lay awake, wrapping his mind around the day: his business opportunity, his upcoming travel schedule, how it could impact his academic plan... and most of all Kori's reactions. Barbara would have had a fit, most women would have had a fit given the new that his schedule could change. Most women would want to be involved in the decision and want to make sure it was the one best for them.

Not Kori.

He found he was disappointed but then recalled her words: she would be there. As she pointed out, her program was much longer than his. An MBA is two years. A PhD needs to be completed within seven years under most circumstances, and it was unlikely she could complete hers in under four. After that brief lapse, Richard was not disappointed in Kori at all.

TtTtTtTtTt

Throughout the night one or the other would awaken, surprised that they were not spooning and laying apart with perhaps an arm or leg draped over the other as usual, but rather facing each other, full entangled, embracing. Even with these wakeful moments it was a restful night.

Kori woke to the feeling of Richard moving rhythmically against her and she had to wonder if that was why she had awakened. This was the first sexual overture, and Kori opened her eyes in hopes that Richard was awake. Still before dawn, she could see enough to tell that his eyes were closed. She dared a kiss to test the waters. A kiss that was returned.

First light came and the room illuminated slowly. Quickly and quietly clothes fell away and words of affirmation were made. Richard could not help but pour his heart out to Kori about her inner and outer beauty, how much he appreciated her for being so supportive, how much he loved her. Forever was mentioned because he meant it and he was no longer afraid to say it. His eyes never left hers as they made loved and she happily looked back at him echoing her love and telling him again that she would always be there.

TtTtTtTtTt

To be continued...