Chapter Five-The Truth is Discovered

"We're telling them together, right?" Rachel asked nervously as they walked across the parking lot to their cars.

"Yes, Rach. We've only discussed this fifty times today."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," he replied, and kissed her on the cheek. "It's a stressful situation. It's going to be fine. I promise."

"The reservation is for seven, right? Max said she'd watch Matt."

"Yes and yes."

"I'll see you then."

"Bruce. Rachel," Terry said as he and his mother entered the restaurant that the four had agreed to meet at.

"McGinnis. McGinnis' mother."

"Hi Terry. Mary."

"Yes, Rachel we all know each other. Let's get this over with," Mrs. McGinnis snapped.

The group sat down. There was silly chatter as they waited to have their orders taken.

"Have you been doing well in school, Rachel?" Mary asked politely.

"She has a 4.0," Bruce snarled.

Silence.

"You two wanted to tell us something?" Mrs. McGinnis inquired.

"Yes…" Rachel's voice trailed off.

"We wanted to tell you we can make our own decisions," Terry said.

"Where is this going?" Bruce asked pointedly.

"Mom, Bruce, Rachel and I love each other. It's not fair to keep us apart. We belong together." Seeing the slightly shocked face of his mother and the angry face of Bruce, he added boldly, "That's final. Nothing will keep us apart."

"You are both seventeen. Teenagers. Babies. Love is this huge feeling that no one really knows the meaning of, let alone two teenagers," Mrs. McGinnis said in what she thought was a kind voice.

"My parents weren't even twenty years old when they got married. My mother was my age when my dad told her he loved her," Rachel said quietly.

"You aren't your mother, Rachel. And Terry isn't your father. The two of you are different people," Bruce said.

"Oh, so it's OK for them but not for us?" Rachel shot angrily.

"For once, Rachel, stop comparing yourself to your father. You aren't him."

Terry, who had been quiet for several minutes, spoke up.

"What makes the two of you so set against us?"

"Because Mr. Grayson and his friends were the type of people who were cruel to the ones who weren't 'cool'. They played tricks on my Warren and I. It was humiliating."

"I can assure you that Richard Grayson had no part in those pranks. He knew better."

"I doubt that. His daughter must be the same as he was: rude, self-centered, vain…"

"Dick was not like that!"

"Oh? Explain then, Mr. Wayne."

"Come on," Terry hissed. "Let's get out of here."

He out his arm around Rachel's shoulders as they walked out of the restaurant.

"That was a disaster."

"I thought it went rather well," Terry said brightly. "I'm sorry about what she said about your dad."

"It's OK. She would have thought differently if she had known his secret."

"So, what do you thin they'll do to us?"

"Maybe they'll lock us in our rooms. I wouldn't put it past Bruce," Rachel muttered.

"I hope not. That would be horrible."

"It would be. But they could be more creative than that. I hate this."

"Me, too," Terry said.

"I don't get why they don't want us together. Yeah we're only seventeen but I can think for myself. I know how I feel about you and I want to be with you."

"I want to be with you, too. But maybe they have a point. They're trying to protect us."

"I don't need to be protected!" Rachel shouted. "Other than by you."

"Neither do I," Terry said gently.

"Bruce thinks I'm better than you. I have honestly never looked down on someone else," Rachel said, frustrated.

"Bruce and I have had our differences but we've always pretty much gotten along."

"I really wonder what my parents would think of you. My mom would probably adore you as long as she saw you were treating me right. My dad…well I'm not so sure."

"My dad would like you," Terry said firmly. "My mom thinks you're gonna pull a Dana on me."

"Like I'm that shallow."

"Can we run away? It might be best for us. You know, as a couple."

"What about Max and Kevin? What about Matt? It would be easy enough to leave them, I suppose, but what about Gotham? We swore to protect the city," Rachel pointed out.

"We'll get someone else to do it."

"Terry," Rachel sighed.

"OK, OK, dumb idea. Let's go see a movie or something."

"How about the park?" Rachel asked softly.

"Perfect."

"It'll be OK," Terry said again as they walked through the park.

"Eventually."

He stopped and hugged her, noticing the moonlight shine on something. "You're wearing your bracelet."

"It's my favorite. The charms are all so perfect. The bird is a robin for my dad, the star is for my mom, the kitty is for Belle, the tiara is because I was called Titan's Princess, and the heart is to remind me of your love."

"You analyzed everything."

"Yeah," Rachel admitted, blushing.

"I don't know what to do anymore. We're out in the open, but they still don't approve of us. I know I've suggested running away, but we can't. Besides, if we did, we'd have no chance of supporting ourselves without high school diplomas. And being heroes pretty much binds us to Gotham."

"I think we should go home. You and your mom could work something out and so could Bruce and I. Even if we have to see less of each other, that'll have to work. I want to be honest," Rachel said thoughtfully.

"Alright."

When Terry dropped her off, Rachel was half expecting Bruce to yell at her. He didn't.

"I know you left to be alone with Terry. Mrs. McGinnis and I talked about it, and we've come up with the only arrangement we'll be happy with. You and Terry may see each other socially two weekends a month. There can be three phone calls a week. Agreed?"

"OK."

"Good.

November 3

Terry and I told the truth tonight. Bruce and Mrs. McGinnis argued with us for a while and Mary called my dad shallow. Bruce stuck up for him and Terry and I left. When we came back, they had reached an agreement so Terry and I can officially see each other again.

Rachel

Two chaps in two days! Go me! Chapter 6 will be up by Friday, I promise! And the last Rachel story (Life As We Know It) will be posted by Sunday at the latest, though probably before.

Catgirl R and S fan-Yes, I did write a story about Robin and Star admitting how they feel, getting married and having a child named Rachel. (Something to Be Pt One, Something to Be Pt Two, Now That We're Together, Happily Ever After: Almost, Something to Be Pt Three) Sorry about taking so long to answer the question; I meant to, but was so eager to get the chapter up I forgot to mention it.

-iluvrobbie