Chapter Two- Questions

Terry kept is promise and came by after school. He brought Rachel a small teddy bear and-

"Oh, Terry, they're gorgeous. I've always loved red roses."

"Do you feel better? I couldn't concentrate in school. I missed you."

"I missed you too. I could have gone to school, you know. I felt fine last night. But I promised I would stay home and I did."

She sounded preoccupied.

"You want to go after him, don't you?" he asked gently.

"I need to go after him," Rachel answered. "He killed my father. How would you feel?"

"The Jokers killed my father. How do you think I feel when I see them?"

"I'm sorry."

"I know how you feel. The feeling sucks. Want a hug?"

Rachel nodded and Terry pulled her close.

"How do you do it? School, saving Gotham, and yet always managing to be there for me when I need you. You're not Superman, you're Batman."

"I love you. You always come first to me. Saving Gotham is easy compared to school, but I have you to help with both of those."

"You could pass school on your own, Terry."

"Don't ever leave me, Rachel. I don't know what I would do without you."

"Get your butt kicked, that's what you'd do," Rachel said playfully.

"I love you, too," Terry said sarcastically.

Rachel hit him and he hit her back, which escalated to them falling off her bed, Rachel on top of him. She settled her head on his chest.

"Comfy?" Terry asked.

"What do you think you're doing?" Bruce asked, entering Rachel's room.

"It's not what you think-" Terry began.

"Go home McGinnis. Rachel and I need to talk."

Terry kissed her goodbye and whispered that he'd call her later.

"Terry is a good guy Rachel. I don't want you dating him, though. What would your father say?"

"I wouldn't care if he liked Terry or not. I love him, Bruce. That's all that matters. Besides, if you care so much about what my Daddy would say, what would he say about you letting me be a hero? You know he didn't want that for me," Rachel said coolly.

"That may be true, but that's not were talking about. I don't think he deserves you; you could do better, Rachel. That's all I'm trying to say."

"Why don't you like us dating? Terry makes me happy, Bruce. Isn't that what matters? He knows your secret."

"I don't trust him with you. He had a probation officer, Rachel. He's seventeen and he had a probation officer."

"That isn't fair and you know it. You trust him with a secret that could affect at least fifteen people in life changing ways but not with me? You told him you were Batman. Do you know how many people it would affect if he told?"

"What are you talking about?"

"The secret identities of everyone involved. Barbara Gordon, Tim Drake, you, my mom, Vic and Karen, Raven, Gar and Arella, Virgil, Daisy and Robert, Richie, Frieda."

"I had to trust him. He found the Batcave, Rachel. Just like your father."

"I still don't understand why you don't trust him with me."

"Because you're be-"

"You think I'm better than him, don't you? I can't believe you."

"Not exactly-" Bruce began.

"Just go. I need to be alone."

Several hours later, Rachel's bedroom phone rang.

"You're not in trouble, are you?" Terry wanted to know.

Rachel shook her head. "I-I'll tell you what happened later. I'm just going to bed before today gets any worse."

"Sorry about Bruce finding us like that. I love you Rachel."

"I love you, too."

The next day at school, everything seemed odder than it usually was.

Every girl (except Max of course) shot Rachel a dirty look as she walked down the halls with Terry.

"Did I do something wrong by staying home yesterday?"

"They're jealous because you're so much prettier than they are," Terry answered.

"Flattery won't get you anywhere. What did I miss?"

"They want Terry," Max said simply. "But they know they can't have him because you do."

"Yeah, I'm taken," Terry agreed.

Rachel flashed a flirty grin and kissed him.

"You guys are adorable together, but would you please put a lid on the romance bit? Some of us like to keep the contents of our stomachs in our stomachs."

"Sorry, Max," they said together.

"You even speak in unison. How disgusting," Max growled.

Terry winked at Rachel as if to say, "This is fun."

Max groaned and walked away.

Terry's mother, too, was not exactly in favor of he and Rachel's relationship.

"You're devoted to her," Mrs. McGinnis said flatly.

"Is that bad?" Terry asked sarcastically.

"Rachel is a very nice girl, Terry. But the two of you are tied down and no one should be tied down at the age of seventeen. And Rachel, or at least Bruce, thinks she's too good for you. She's toying with you, Terry."

"I love her."

"You're inexperienced and young. This relationship will never last."

"Terry and Rachel sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G," Matt sang loudly.

"NOT HELPING!"

"Matt, go to your room," Mrs. McGinnis said sharply. "Now, Terry, be reasonable. Rachel has money-"

"Bruce has money," Terry interrupted.

"Who do you think is going to get it when he dies?" Mrs. McGinnis inquired calmly. "She may say she loves you, but that doesn't mean she means it. Rachel is the kind of guy that belongs withy some other rich young man who plays tennis and golf at a country club."

"Rachel isn't like that," Terry snapped. "Please say her name if you're going to insult her."

"If you want to get hurt again, go ahead. This is puppy love, not the real thing."

Rachel refused to speak with Bruce. No matter what he said, she either walked away or ignored him and pretended to study her nails. It was a bit hard for her. They had always been pretty close. She just couldn't forgive him for what he'd said.

September 22

I have not acknowledged Bruce's feeble attempts at conversation. I still can't believe he thinks I'm better than Terry. I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. It is scary, really, when you think about hoe clueless old people can be. I still haven't told Terry what Bruce said. He hasn't told me about what happened in the fight he had with his mom. I suspect it was about me. Everything is…tangled.

Rachel

Sorry for the long wait. I've had a ton of stuff going on, mainly studying French because my teacher seems to be going crazy and gives us a quiz everyday. This Chapter seems short to me…

Did anyone else catch the Teen Titans episode Snowblind last night? It isn't supposed to premiere until tonight, Oct. 29. Weird.

-iluvrobbie