Chapter Four

Title: Engaged?

Author: Animefreak03 or Angee

Rating: M (maybe a hint of lime here? Oh lets see)

ATTENTION: just like my previous story Sixteencandles Misao style...i will ask you this...should i delete this story? i've been feeling strange lately and i find myself not liking my stories...I dont want to erase it if people really like it...so if you want it tell me if you dont' then I will take it down. I hope you all like this chapter...This one is meant to be a transiction. the focus of the story will be around Raven and Robin having to pretend to be together...you will have to read in order to understand what i mean. Thank you for your feed back and your support.

The lunch was filled with laughter and sloppy eaters. Raven was amused. Robin was acting like a four year old and in the process of making Zoe laugh he got spaghetti sauce all over his face. She rolled her eyes and searched into her bag bringing out cleaning cloths.

She reached over to Zoe "let me clean that mess up missy" the child squirmed never liking when her face was being cleaned. She loved to be messy and loved to eat her pasta as such. "There precious" Zoe giggled and then kissed her mommy.

The child then turned to Robin "mommy, mr. Rich needs a wipy too" she pouted up at her and Raven rolled her eyes "can you clean him mommy?"

Robin chuckled "it's okay I can get it"

Zoe put her hands across her chest in a defiant way "No. Mommy can do it. I saw my friend's mommy do it to his daddy. So mommy do it to mr. Rich"

Raven looked at her child and then looked at Robin whom was just as stunned as her "Zoe"

"Puweez mommy" Robin sighed and leaned forward.

Raven leaned towards him as well and then very gently wiped his face. Their eyes only locked to one another. Raven felt strange and didn't like the familiar feelings she once had for Gar...she leaned back into her chair with almost a visible blush. Robin smiled at her, he was mesmerized by her eyes and she smelled nice too.

Zoe looked from one to the other and she smiled "now we can eat ice cream...yay"

Robin laughed "how can you handle her?"

"Don't ask me, I'm trying to figure it out myself" they left the restaurant and walked down towards an ice cream place.

As they sat in the park unaware of the time or people, Robin decided to talk about the events in the office "Miss Roth, this may not be my business, but who was that man? He was very rude earlier"

She shook her head "that was Garfield Logan" she looked down at Zoe who was eating her scoop happily and what do you know in a mess "Zoe would you go and play in the swing. Mommy needs to talk big talk with Mr. Richard"

"Okay mommy" she handed her melted sweet and then ran giggling towards the swings where other children were playing. Raven stood and walked over to a trash can deposing the blasted cavity provider. She then sat down again.

"Mr. Richardson, I will tell you this. Only kori, my father and my nana know about this. Gar and I were high school sweethearts. He and I didn't really date until junior year and it seemed like we were the most popular couple. I was invited everywhere he was. He was the best basketball player and I was the antisocial geek. Kori was my friend even though she herself was popular, but then again we had known each other since kindergarten"

She took a breath and resumed "when Gar and I found ourselves in love we didn't care what others thought, so we were the talk of the school for three months people wondering when we would breakup. To their surprise we lasted the junior year and then came senior year. He was eighteen and I was seventeen. My father never really liked Gar he said that he wasn't worthy. I defied my father and continued to see gar. It was senior year and we were doing great. Nothing could stop us. Then we felt we were ready for the next step. I was already looking forward to giving myself to him, I was in love with him. God how I loved that idiot"

Robin nodded "so you ended up pregnant" more of a statement than a question.

Raven brushed some hair away from her face "Yes I ended up pregnant, but when I found out he was already fucking a girl. Kori warned me about the girl and I told her that she was mistaken. Boy was I mistaken" she looked at her daughter laughing and she was so calm.

Robin leaned against the bench and looked at zoe as well "you both broke up and you didn't tell him about Zoe"

"I called him to tell him about Zoe but he didn't care" she looked at her watch "time to go back to work. Mr. Richardson I would like for you to keep that information to yourself. The media is always looking to dig up dirt on me. Thank god for my father"

He nodded and stood up stretching his legs and arms. Obviously Raven had let her mask down for him to see something that few had the chance to see, and oddly enough he wanted to be someone who would be part of that few that got to be close to the dark beauty.

once in the office neither spoke about the event. It was relatively quiet.

Two days later a court date was set for an meeting. It would be a month away. Raven crumbled the piece of paper and growled. So Gar wanted to go on with the trial so be it. Raven stood from her office like a raging dog and walked out of her office to tell Robin to send a letter to Gar.

Once outside she spotted her assistant talking to the same woman. Amber was it? Ah Amber, the one that gave Raven the glare...time for payback.

Amber and Robin were flirting non stop and Amber giggled like a little high school girl. It disgusted Raven. She cleared her throat and neither payed attention.

Oh was she mad now...

"Ahem" she made a stomping sound with her heel and then they turned to her. Amber hurried to get off of Robin's desk and Robin straightened his tie.

"Miss Roth..."

She glared at them both "you get back to work and stop flirting with my assistant. There are times for that. If I cath you again I will fire your ass out of here"

Amber narrowed her eyes and was about to protest "NOW" the other people stopped and watched their boss get that look of hers. Uh oh. Amber was either a goner or was soon going to be.

Robin sighed and turned to amber. In the short days that he has been working with Raven he had learned to interpret her moods. Something must have triggered her off "Amber just go"

She nodded and left.

Raven turned to him and he could have sworn the temperature dropped. Without taking her eyes off of him she directed her next thing to the people still looking at her "DO YOU ALL WANT TO GET FIRED?" with that they all rushed away to do what they wanted.

Robin straightened himself. It would not be wise to seem like a wimp, he wasn't one "Miss Roth is there anything that I can help you with"

Raven smirked and started looking at her nails "why yes Mr. Richardson, perhaps over a candle lit diner and some romantic music"

"Huh?"

"Next time you want to flirt and stop working do it on your personal time. When you are here working for me I expect you to actually work. Do I make myself clear Mr. Richardson or should I twirl for you and giggle?"

Robin was an inch away from telling her to go to hell, he really was, then again he would risk losing his job and the pay was too great to lose "My apologies miss Roth, it will not happen again"

She felt weird. It wasn't that she didn't mind him flirting. It just...she felt like why with that woman? Why not with her. She almost slapped herself for thinking like that. This man was just another man...nothing especial about him..right? Right...

Except that Zoe talks about him non-stop, wants him to come over to play tea with her oh and lets not forget that she even mentioned how great of a dad he would be. Other than that he is a normal man...fucking asshole I hate him.

"Miss Roth, Miss Roth are you alright?" Raven snapped out of her trance and then turned to her office.

"I need for you to be ready to go over to the list of socialites that agreed for the interview. We will be going to each one starting tomorrow" with that she left a very nervous Robin.

Oh crap... he looked over the list and realized that his father had agreed to it and that his interview was set for friday...good that only left him oh two days to think of something to do. What would Victor do, was the only thing that came up.

Once home Robin threw himself on the couch. Not happy with the news of knowing that soon he would be face to face with his father...he groaned and turned onto his stomach. But something nice came out of the day...he wasn't blind nor stupid. He saw the brief moment of jealousy his boss had. Raven was jealous and of amber.

He found himself smiling despite knowing that his charade would come to an end soon enough. But would she fire him once she learned that he was Richard Wayne? Well come to think of it that wouldn't be a problem.

Victor walked into the room and just watched as Robin's face went from amused to angry to sulking...what was wrong with the man? He went through more mood swings than a pregnant woman. He laughed and sat down waiting for Robin to acknowledge him.

and waited...

Waited...

Waited...okay there was enough waiting for one day. Victor raised his hand and was about to strike Robin when he caught it in his grip "What that?"

"And what were you going to do Victor?" victor took his hand back and scratched his head.

He stood up "nothing man wanted to know what was wrong. One minute you seem happy and the next you're scowling like someone stole your chick"

Robin also stood and crossed the room towards the window "well I was amused by the fact that my boss was jealous"

Victor whistled "you don't say. So does that mean the little lady has it in for you?"

Robin shook his head and watched the stars "nope. I don't understand what exactly is going on. It seemed like she was, but then the next minutes she's all bitchy and barking orders. I swear I don't understand women let alone that one"

His friend laughed hard and Robin narrowed his eyes "yeah make fun of my why don't you"

"It's just that this is the first time I see you thinking so much about a woman...well not the first time...lately you've been talking about her and her daughter non stop. Are you sure you're not interested in the little lady?"

Robin spun around and glared at the large man who stopped laughing "she's a total bitch. I'll admit that I'm attracted to her, but I don't think I would enjoy her company. But I know that there is this soft spot to her. I can see it when she's with little Zoe and sometimes when she's alone and thinks no one is watching I can see it"

"Woa robin, sounds to me like you like her a lot"

"Shut up. I don't like her that way. I just feel like I have to be there for her to help her and protect her. I don't know why"

Victor snickered and then put on a serious face "don't fall for the boss Robin, you might end up hurting her or she might end up hurting you"

"I can take care of myself and I'm sure she's not a damsel in distress"

"Just letting you know. Anyways why were you upset then?"

Robin walked back to the couch and sat "on Friday my father and I will be face to face"

"What?"

"Miss Roth is doing the interviews for the books and he agreed to the meeting. I can't back out but I don't want him to know what I'm doing anymore"

The next couple of days were spent with Robin going from here to there. It seemed that the more Raven watched him with Amber the angrier she got. Zoe for her part would stick by him. She didn't want to let her new playmate leave oh no she wouldn't.

Kori had returned from a trip that her job required her to do and was amused to learn that her best friend was firing people here and there. Something was pissing her off. At first she thought it had been the letter from the court, but she realized that somehow it had to do with Richardson.

To test her theory Kori came up with a plan.

Friday morning robin was feeling down. In a matter of hours he would be face to face with the man he hated the most. Raven had noticed his sudden mood swing and decided to lightened up, just a fraction.

Kori who was playing with Zoe smiled. Raven couldn't fool her, she was falling for Robin, but why was she still being mean to him? She cleared her throat and was about to ask her if she liked Richardson or not when Raven stood up frantically and grabbing everything in her way "oh god I'm going to be late to meet with Mr. Wayne. Come kori we have to go" kori stood up and carried Zoe with her.

Once outside Raven asked kori to wait by the lobby and she turned to Richardson "lets go we are going to be late"

"Miss. Roth could I possibly not..." she turned back to him with a glare

"You are going to make us late. Now hurry your ass up" he sighed and gathered his things.

Bruce Wayne was a patient man, but sometimes he didn't have much of it. These people were half hour late and he had taken time from his office to come meet with them. He cursed them in his head and tapped his finger "where are they?" he asked his own assistant.

The woman visibly scared looked at her watch "they are only ten minutes late Mr. Wayne"

"Do me a favor and go find where these people are" before she could leave a child ran into the room and Wayne looked at her "what is a child doing here?"

Zoe smiled at the man "hi mister. My name is Zoe Roth" he chuckled and bent down.

"Well nice to meet you miss roth, may I ask what are you doing here?"

She thought it over and put a finger to her chin "I'm going to help mommy"

He raised and eyebrow "oh, how so?"

"She will help by being a nice little girl and listening to her mother when she calls for her. Isn't that right Zoe Roth?" the little girl frowned and looked back at her mother who was not happy "now come here and stay with Aunt kori" the child walked towards her aunt with a pout on her face.

Raven apologized for being tardy and for Zoe's curious nature. She then began to set things when she noticed that Richardson wasn't in the room "now where did he go?"

Wayne looked at her "who miss Roth?"

"my assistant" who will be so fired in the next minute

Kori walked out of the room and Spotted Richardson pacing. She walked up to him "what's wrong? They're waiting for you"

Robin almost yelped and decided that he would not enter that meeting. He grabbed kori's hand and dragged her away from the room. Finally when they were alone he quickly explained everything. What did he have to lose?

Kori gasped "so you are the wealthy son of mr. Wayne?"

He put his hand to his face "yes. So you see why I don't want to be in there"

Kori sat down on the floor and Robin followed suit "Raven must be doing the work. I can't assure you that she won't fire you, robin why don't you tell her the truth?"

He looked at her "no. I'm not that man anymore, and I don't want anything to do with him either. Miss Anders I can't face him and I wont allow him to know who I am now"

she smiled "alright, then I guess we're going to have to come up with something to tell Raven. Go on leave before she comes out and finds"

He lifted her up and hugged her "thank you I mean this" he rushed out of the place before anyone could see him.

Unfortunately deep purple eyes watched them embrace and then watched as he left. And those eyes narrowed deeply

As usual, Raven's mood was awful. People scurried away from the devil and worked like maniacs. Since the return of their boss and her heated argument with her assistant, people knew not to mention or even look her way.

Raven and Robin where in her office when the argument broke "I thought you were more professional"

"I'm sorry I left"

"Sorry doesn't cut it here Mr. Richardson"

"What do you want me to do then?"

Raven walked up to him "pick up your last check"

His eyes widened "But. Miss Roth I understand that what I did was uncalled for, but I really do need this job"

"You should have thought of that before you left that important interview. You did fine on the others, what was so different about this one?"

Robin took in a deep breath "I wish not to speak of it"

"Of course not, but if I were Amber you wouldn't mind telling me right? Or do I have to be Kori?" Raven spat.

Robin let his eyes widened "this is all about that isn't it?"

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"It all comes down to the fact that you miss roth are jealous"

She laughed "me Jealous? Hardly. Get out and get your fucking check" he instead walked up to her closing their distance. She moved back a little "did you not hear me?"

"Face it Raven...you can't find anyone as efficient as me. Now give me a better reason for me to collect that check" Raven ignored his insolence and walked around to her desk. He didn't let up in his stalking and followed her.

"What do you think you are doing?"

"I will only leave when you admit that you are jealous"

"And like I said I'm not jealous. What is the matter with you?"

"My problem is that you are jealous and wont admit it and because I wasn't able to be present at a stupid interview you took that as an opportunity to fire me. I'll ask you again, were you jealoous of Amber and miss Anderson?" this time he was about five inches away from her.

Raven blushed despite her anger and she tried to move back, but found herself between her desk and Robin. He was grinning and she wanted to smack that smirk off his face, before she could curse him to hell, Robin closed the remaining inches and captured her lips with his.

She at first tried to push him away, but that only increased his grip on her hips. Seconds later they were both giving each other a kiss that poured all their lust into it. Robin smiled within the kiss and before she knew it he had lifted her onto the desk and leaned her down, while he let his hands roam over her.

She moaned and that pleased him greatly.

What am I doing? This is insane. I can't fall for this idiot.

Oh god I knew this was heaven...she's so..ah...mine.

This is not happening. This is...too good.

He left her lips and began trailing kisses down her neck, while her legs wrapped around him, urging him on. His hands worked their way up from her hips to her stomach...higher up until they reached her blouse and the underside of her breast. At feeling his touch there she moaned again and threw her head back. His nimble fingers began undoing the buttons of the blouse and one of her hands worked itself on his hair.

The spell was broken when she felt his lips upon her clothed breast and she knew that this had gone too far. She sobered up and quickly pushed him away from her. He stumbled and then tried to calm down his breathing. Raven laid their looking at the ceiling while her own breathing was too raged. Robin stood up and waited for her. Raven lifted off the table and quickly did the buttons to her blouse and straightened her hair.

"Raven?"

She didn't look at him "you may stay, but this never happened Mr. Richardson"

"what do you mean? Are you insane? One minute you're ready to let me be near you and the next we are back to being strangers?"

This time she looked up and then he noticed the single tear that ran past her cheek "This never happened, understood? Get back to work and I will get back to mine" she pointed at the door and he quickly left.

Her lips were swollen from the kiss and her pulse was fast. He made her feel things that no man had ever made her feel, and that scared the shit out of her.

They didn't speak of it, neither talked much. All was business for them, while on the inside both were dying to taste each other, both were desperate to hold on to each other.

The day before the trial Raven stayed in her office and had managed to smuggle in a bottle of whiskey. She would drown her sorrows in her liquor the night before the big day at the court. She had told Robin to leave, but he knew that she would need someone. Deciding that he rather have her yell at him for a week than to leave her alone, Robin sat by his desk and waited.

Around twelve midnight Robin walked into her office only to find her weeping by the window. He walked up to her and she turned to him wrapping her arms around his neck "I can't lose my baby"

"It's okay. I will help you anyway I can"

"He deserves no love. I don't want to lose her"

"And you wont. I promise we will do whatever we can"

"Promise?"

"Yes. Lets get you home and give you some coffee. You can't show up to court with a hang over"

She giggled "oh yes I can"

"No. Raven where are you car keys?" no answer. He looked down to find the woman asleep in his arms. He sighed and picked her up. Might as well get a cab.

Raven couldn't understand what the hell possessed her to actually go on with the ridiculous trial. Nevertheless here she was sitting on the left side looking at the judge who was reading the case. Gar and his..whore...ahem lawyer sat on the right side waiting as well. Zoe was not allowed to the court hearing and Raven was glad, not only was her child too young for this sort of affair, but she didn't want her daughter to know who her father was yet.

The judge cleared her throat "well miss Roth I do say you have an impeccable record and you are well equipped with providing your child the necessities she needs. However you must understand that a child needs more than just a mother. A father is something that is very precious"

oh she could feel Gar grinning. It seemed the judge might even grant gar what she feared "Mr. Logan is engaged and he is also capable of providing for your child. Tell me Miss Roth is there someone significant in your life?"

Raven's eyebrow twitched. She was known to be a cold bitch and Gar was enjoying this thinking that Raven was probably man-less to say the least. She didn't want to lose her child, oh no. The doors to the court opened and Richard stepped in. He was told to bring important papers regarding Gar's illegal years and he stalked up to his boss.

He noted with a frown that she looked on the point of tears. That was odd, she was very cold and guarded her feelings well, what did the judge say? Was the case over? No, that couldn't be it...

The judge clear her throat "is there a problem sir?" Robin looked up and smiled sheepishly.

Raven blurted the first thing in her mouth "he's my fiancé" the others gasped and Gar was seething. This man was going to take his Raven away? No he would not allow it.

"Excuse me?" The judge asked. Robin just kept quiet, trying hard to understand this situation that he was suddenly in.

Raven cleared her throat and her lawyer just shook his head, but this would help them win the case "Robin Richardson is my fiancé. He has worked for one of my father's business partner in the past and I hired him after he was not satisfied with his previous employer. We had encountered each other on numerous occasion and then one day we just felt it"

The judge raised an eyebrow "oh, and how long have you been engaged for?" Robin knew that Raven was doing this to win the case, actually he didn't mind helping her. Zoe deserved to be with her mother not a man who was both a stranger to the child and a bastard.

"Raven and I have been engaged for a week now. I just had to ask her to marry me I love her so much, that I was afraid that I might lose her to someone else or to my once fear of commitment"

Raven looked him in the eyes and in someway she thanked him "yes a week, I wanted to surprise my father and my friends"

Kori and her father both shook their heads. So these two were engaged?

Raven sighed and wished all her heart that the judge would accept that answer.

The judge looked at all parties and grinned "Court is in recess. I shall make my decision in two hours. you're all dismissed" with that said everyone stood or walked out. Robin waited for Raven and she gave him a brief smile. But he knew that she was dreading the decision.

And with found knowledge, so was he.

A/N...sooooo what did you all think? do you want it down? i'm sorry to ask of this, but i think i'm going through one of those moods of mine. i happen to be very moody and the fact that i'll be traveling to texas on the 5th of July is killing me. please tell me what you think.