Chapter 4-Spending Time…Without a Shirt

Terry's brother turned out to be quite a handful.

"Are you Terry's new girlfriend?" he asked when Rachel arrived at the McGinnis house on Saturday.

"Charming, isn't he?" Terry asked her from behind his younger brother.

"Just slightly," Rachel answered, smiling.

"I'm going!" yelled a voice Rachel assumed was Terry's mom.

A tall, red haired woman hurried down the stairs, a purse in hand.

"You must be Rachel Grayson," she said, hastily but warmly.

"Guilty as charged."

"I knew your father in middle school, Rachel. How is he?"

"He died a few years back," Rachel said quietly.

"Oh, I'm so sorry, dear. He wasn't very nice to me, but I still know your loss. Excuse me, but I must be going."

Mrs. McGinnis rushed out the door.

"Our dad died, too," Matt said, tugging on Rachel's hand.

"That's very sad," Rachel said sympathetically. "I loved my Daddy very much."

"Alright, Matt. Go get dressed and we'll leave, OK?" Terry said in his older sibling voice.

As soon as Matt was upstairs, Terry rolled his eyes.

"My mother is cruel and unusual," he muttered to Rachel.

"He's not that bad," Rachel said.

"That's what you think," he grumbled.

"He's a little boy, Terry. You're lucky to have someone to talk with. He adores you."

"That's not all it's cracked up to be."

"I suppose if I had a sibling I'd understand that point of view. It was only me and my parents my whole life."

Terry was about to respond but Matt bounded down the stairs, waving an action figure around.

"Hey, you'll put someone's eye out," Rachel teased.

"I like her," Matt said to Terry.

"Me, too," he replied, giving Rachel a tiny smile over his brother's head.

Matt insisted on going to the park.

"It's Saturday. All my friends will be there," he whined.

"Fine. I don't remember Mom saying I had to take you anywhere, but fine."

To Rachel, he hissed, "To the Batmobile!" which made her smile.

When they got there, Matt immediately ran off.

"Ten year olds," Terry muttered.

"Were you born sixteen? Unless I'm mistaken, you were ten once too," Rachel said, smirking.

"Must you be so logical?"

"I get it from my Daddy."

"You two were very close, huh?" Terry asked gently, knowing the subject was sensitive.

"Yeah, we were. He taught me martial arts, you know." Rachel replied quietly.

"I was close to my dad, too. It's kind of my fault he died," Terry said.

"How could it be your fault?" Rachel asked reasonably.

"I was grounded and he let me go and meet Dana for dinner anyway. When I came back he was dead. The Jokers murdered him."

"Terry, I'm so sorry. My Daddy died in a fire, making sure I was OK."

"A true hero," Terry said softly. "Can we talk about something else now? I'm getting depressed."

"What do you want to talk about?"

"You could answer a question I have," Terry responded.

'Maybe he wants to know if I'll go out with him,' Rachel thought hopefully. "OK. What's the question?"

"What was it like growing up surrounded by heroes?" Terry queried.

"Like constantly being grounded," Rachel groaned. "If it wasn't Vic, Karen, Gar or Raven telling me not to use my powers in public, it was my mom and Daddy. I did know better, though. I'm not stupid."

Terry smiled slightly. "I can see where that would be irritating. Do you remember ever messing around with your dad's gadgets?"

"He never got rid of the R-Cycle. I always used to climb on it," Rachel admitted.

"That would be so schway." (A/N I believe that was the way to say cool)

"My mom was afraid I would fall. I knew how to fly ever since I was a baby. I wouldn't get hurt. She was just being a mom."

"Worrying is what mothers do best."

"I also remember Gear being at our house when I was little. I found his supply if zap caps and tied myself to a table leg."

"I could see you doing that," Terry retorted.

"You mock me, McGinnis," Rachel growled.

"Well, you're the one who told me, Rach," he said smugly.

Rachel had a brilliant response, but was interrupted by Matt and a little girl with blond hair.

"Firewing! Now!" Matt yelled to her, running circles around the two teens on the park bench.

"OK, Batman!" she shouted back.

"How cute," Terry grumbled sarcastically.

Rachel hit him playfully. "Let them pretend."

After Matt grew tired of the park, he wanted to go to the zoo.

"The zoo? What is so fascinating about a zoo?" Terry wanted to know.

"I like monkeys. Plus, there's a new reptile exhibit. A scientist in Metropolis crossbred a cobra and a turtle and I want to see what it looks like."

"Ooh, a cobra and a turtle," Terry said mockingly.

"Please?" Matt begged.

"Monkeys my left foot," Terry muttered, which made Rachel laugh. "What is so funny?" he demanded, not getting an answer.

They ended up going to the zoo.

"I HATE monkeys," was all Terry would say the entire time.

Matt tried to get Terry to get him an ice cream, but Terry refused.

"Enough is enough," he said firmly.

Instead, he had Matt play basketball and Terry and Rachel sat down and watched him.

"He's a pretty good kid," Rachel said quietly. "He really is."

"Sometimes he's so annoying I can't concentrate on anything."

"At least he's not evil."

Terry looked confused.

"My mom had an evil sister. She once tried to make my mom marry a mutated dessert."

"Interesting family you have, Rachel."

"I prefer eccentric."

"True. You are Bruce's granddaughter, and you know what they say about people who dress up as bats."

"Look who's talking," Rachel shot back.

"Hey, I wear my underwear inside my pants."

"Good point. So, what about this Sadie Hawkins dance I'm hearing so much about?"

"It's a stupid tradition that the preps uphold. It gives them an excuse to judge you on who you get to say yes to you."

"I meant have you had any offers," Rachel said, hoping desperately he hadn't. She doubted she could restrain from killing anyone he said yes to, with the exception of herself. (A/N not that she'd have the nerve to ask him, but you get it)

"No. I wouldn't accept any unless it was from this one girl…"

"Who?" Rachel demanded.

"It's a secret," Terry replied, standing. "Come on, Matt, Mom will be back soon."

And with that, he walked away, leaving Rachel to wonder whose offer he would accept.

Terry ended up being sick the night of the Sadie Hawkins dance.

Mrs. McGinnis had already made plans with friends and Terry wouldn't let her break them. Matt had gone to a friend's house, leaving Terry by himself, wearing only pajama bottoms. (A/N Score!)

Rachel, however, had a different idea.

"What are you doing here?" he asked as he answered the door. 'Oh crud…I'm not wearing a shirt,' he thought, mortified.

"I'm here to keep you company," Rachel announced. "Put a shirt on; you won't get any better if you go around half-dressed."

"OK, Mom," he retorted, remembering at the very last minute their tradition of being sarcastic towards one another.

"That's Mrs. Mom to you," she replied.

Terry wearily trudged up the stairs.

Rachel, in the meant time, turned on the TV to an old episode of Smallville and settled herself down, watching intently.

"Happy now?" Terry asked, reentering the living room. He was now wearing a light blue t-shirt with his black sweats.

"It's a start."

"Alright, Rachel, tell me what you're really doing here."

"What kind of friend would I be if I let you stay home alone, sick, with no chance of even talking to another person in your age group because they're all at a stupid dance?" Rachel inquired innocently.

"You'd be Max," he joked.

"Hello, I'm Rachel remember? Do you like soup?"

"Not particularly-"

"Too bad, you're sick and you need soup," Rachel said firmly.

Terry rolled his eyes and flopped down on the couch.

"Why is there a TV show about Superman as a teenager and not Batman? Hello…what is wrong with people from that era?"

"Superman isn't human, and girls think it's sexy or something," Rachel replied from the kitchen. "At least, that's why boys thought my mom was so alluring."

"I see."

"My mom was beautiful. I miss her," Rachel said wistfully.

"I'm sorry, Rach. I know you miss her."

Rachel brought Terry his soup and settled down next to him.

"When are you leaving?"

"That's pretty rude-" Rachel began.

"I was just wondering how long I have to deal with you and your crazy soup-making antics," Terry said defensively.

"I believe that one," Rachel said, rummaging through her backpack. She found what she was looking for: her very battered copy of Eragon.

"Who goes to someone else's house and reads?" Terry inquired, staring at her. 'Why do I get the insane friend, huh?'

"Hush."

Both Terry and Rachel fell asleep. Her head ended up on his shoulder and he wrapped an arm around her.

Rachel woke up rather suddenly. She felt his arm around her waist and wondered if she'd ever wake up to that again.

'I'd better wake him up,' she thought. "Terry," she hissed.

"I married a moose," he mumbled into the couch.

Rachel stifled her giggles and pried his arm off of her. She stood, observing her sleeping friend, the one she had experienced so many things with in so short a time, including new feelings. Rachel took a blanket from the back of the couch and spread it over him.

"I want chocolate, not strawberry."

'Some dream he's having.'

Rachel fondly remembered the time he'd called her his Batgirl and smiled slightly. She leaned down and kissed him on the cheek.

As Rachel got comfortable in her bed, Belle settled herself down on the pillow, purring contentedly.

April 8

I kept Terry company tonight because he was sick. I could have gone to the Sadie Hawkins dance, like Max wanted me to, but I chose to spend more time with Terry. When I first got there, he wasn't wearing a shirt. This was an enjoyable sight, let me tell you. His stomach muscles are very well defined. ;) We fell asleep on the couch and his arm was around me when I woke up. I felt safe and even loved, I really did. Max is convinced he had feelings for me, but I doubt it. To him, I'm just his Batgirl.

Rachel