Finding a new happiness part one..............

Raven sat outside in the garden reading one of her newest books and enjoying the beautiful weather. She had to admit that this Richard fellow had a nice place and worked wonders in relieving her stress. The tree she sat under supplied enough shade from the sun and the cool grass beneath her tickled her bare feet and legs.

"Oh I didn't know you were out here Ms. Roth" Raven peered over the edge of her book to see the smiling face of Richard. She then lowered her gaze back to her book.

"Do you mind of I join you?" Raven kept her concentration on her book. "I guess I'll take that as a no" he sat down next to her on the grass and leaned against the tree. "Today is so nice don't you think?" he looked at her from the corner of his eye and could see a small smile on her face. "Amari is already sleeping, I guess that surprise took a lot out of her"

"How can a stuffed bear make you tired?" Raven never realized she spoke out loud, and now she was regretting it because that was an invitation for a conversation.

"Well there's the fact that she began to play with the bear, Tea party, House, hide and seek....so on..." Richard smiled remembering the ton of makeup she had on her face and all the clothing on the floor in her room.

"Don't you remember when you were little and you played pretend with all of your stuffed animals?" Raven closed her book and placed it on her lap, she looked over at a flower bush

"No, I don't remember" He looked over at her but she was once again reading her book.

"Hey what are you reading?" Without her knowing Richard knelt in front of her and took the book to examine it.

"Give that back" Richard instead began to flip through the pages reading one line here and one line there.

"I didn't know that you were into romance novels" Raven took her book back and held it against her chest.

"It's not a romance novel thank you very much" she looked away hating the fact that he violated her space.

"Oh I guess I was reading it wrong, so what type of books do you like?"

"None of your concern" Richard smirked and ran a hand through his hair.

"Maybe my library has some books that you would enjoy reading, do you know where it is at?" Raven opened her book once again and ignored him.

"I guess you don't know, do you want me to show you where it is?" Raven kept silent in hopes that he would just go away. But Richard could play this game too, he waited patiently for her response he knew that if he walked away he wouldn't be able to find out anything about her or have a connection.

" Tell me something am I that bad to talk to?" once again he did not receive an answer. "I guess I am....but I'm only trying to make conversation here"

"Has it ever occurred to you that maybe I don't want to have a conversation?" Richard grinned and lowered her book with his finger.

"Well I think that maybe you do want to have a conversation with someone" Raven raised an eyebrow finding this amusing.

"And maybe you want this someone to understand you"

"And maybe I want this someone to go away" Richard smirked and leaned closer

"So I am that someone?" Just as Raven was going to protest Richard laid on his back with his arms under his head "Hey can I ask you something?"

"Why even ask for permission if you are just going to ask anyways?"

"True, I don't mean to be rude or anything" Raven rolled her eyes, this guy was so oblivious to everything he did or said.

"well why is your hair that color?" Raven at first was taken aback, no one ever asked her they just always made snide remarks. And here was this arrogant buffoon asking her as if it were a normal thing to ask someone.

"why is your hair that color?" she asked Richard lifted his head to look at her but she had blocked his view with her book.

"I was born with it"

"Exactly"

"So you didn't dye it?"

"No"

"And your eyes?"

"What do you think?"

Richard quickly sat up causing Raven to jump a little and drop her book."That they are very beautiful" His face was so close that Raven could feel his warm breath tickle her skin, she felt her mouth go dry and her face flush. Minutes passed and all that she could think was about this idiot in front of her and how he could make her feel so many different things at the same time. He had the nerve of invading her space and now he was here complementing her....but was it that bad? Had she really forgotten what it was like to have a male so near, she wanted to say something and yet she couldn't bring herself to reply.

"Ms. Roth I think we should be heading inside now" Raven came out of her trance and blinked twice

"Huh?" Richard stood up and extended his hand out for her to take

"It looks like there is going to be a storm" Without realizing her actions Raven took his hand and he lifted her to her feet.

"Yes..." the sky was darkening quickly and thunder could be heard from afar. "I guess we should go back" They began their long walk through the giant garden towards the mansion silently, neither one daring to say anything to the other. Only short glances were giving and smirks from yours truly Richard.

Raven stopped causing Richard to stop "My book"

"Your book?" Raven turned around and began to head back to her favorite spot in the garden.

"Hey wait a second it's dangerous to be out here" Richard began to follow her.

"I don't care I need my book it's brand new" The sky boomed with thunder and down came the rain.

Raven made it to the tree and began to look around she spotted the book wedged between two roots "Finally" she pulled the book out and stood up "Look I found it" turning around Richard smirked

"Yeah but haven't they ever told you not to stand under a tree when there is a thunder on let's head inside now" he took her hand and began to make a run for it

"Hey I can walk on my own let go" Raven tried pulling her hand back when she finally found her strength to do so she fell onto her back. "Ugh" Richard turned around and knelt down to help her up

"Wait...my ankle" Richard raised an eyebrow

"Your ankle? What about it does it hurt?" Raven looked away of course she would never admit she was in pain at least not to a guy....especially him

"Hey come on I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong" Richard trailed his gaze down her body trying to ignore the fact that her dress clung to every inch of her body...he made it to her ankles and examined both. "I see.... I think you twisted your left ankle" Richard applied a little bit of pressure to her ankle, Raven winced and grabbed his hands.

"Well there is no way you can walk on this, so I'm going to have to carry you home"

"Oh no that's okay I can walk" Raven tried to stand up but almost fell back. She would have bruised her bottom ( bottom haha...bottom hahaha sorry needed to get that out of the way) again if it weren't for Richard's hold on her waist. And there was that damned smirk again...

"Really?" with a swift move Raven was being carried bridal style and Richard quickly made his way towards the mansion.

"You know this wouldn't have happened if you had let me walk on my own" Richard quickened his pace causing Raven to wrap her arms around his neck and close her eyes tightly.

"Well if you would have just let me hold your hand and take you home then this wouldn't have happened" Raven mumbled something under her breath and Richard chuckled.

Once they made it inside the mansion he shook his head to get rid of the water

"Watch it" Richard looked down at Raven's annoyed face "I don't need to get even more wet than I already am"

"Okay"

"Master Dick what happened to Miss. Roth?"

"She twisted her ankle trying to retrieve her book"

"Speaking of which it's still outside getting drenched in the rain because it's all your fault"

"Fine I'll go get it, Alfred do you think you can handle this?"

"Yes I'm sure I can attend to Miss. Roth"

"Good here you go" Richard handed Raven over to Alfred as if she were a package that needed to be dropped off. With that done he Ran out the door.

"Alfred put me down you don't need to carry me"

"It's quite alright Miss. Roth you are light as a feather" Raven smiled at his humor "Now off to the infirmary"

"Infirmary?"

"Yes on the second floor, I am guessing that Master Dick did not give you a tour of our home?"

"You guessed right" Alfred chuckled and carried Raven away.

Later on...

Richard looked over the drenched book in his hand...most of the words were unreadable and the pages were easily falling apart "She's not going to like this...not one bit" He opened the door to the infirmary not looking where he was going

"Uh Ms. Roth I've got your book but I'm not sure-" Richard let the book drop onto the floor and had his lips parted. There before him was Raven who apparently was trying to change her shirt but was caught in the act by none other than Richard himself. She grabbed the bed sheets and covered herself.

" What are you doing standing there get out!" Richard spun around and rushed out of the room closing the door behind him.

"Well I was expecting that to happen" he leaned against the wall hearing her yell out profanities at him. Richard only chuckled and treasured the sight in his mind. "I guess today was a good day for me"

end......