Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Teen Titans.

Richard's POV

"I told you Dick…I told you."

"Babs I really don't want to hear this right now." Richard looked into the mirror of his bathroom, applying ointment on his injured lip. How fortunate that Bruce wasn't home when he arrived after school.

"Well you need to hear this. I told you from the beginning that she wasn't right for you." she entered his bathroom leaning against the wall watching him. She couldn't help but feel a little elated. At first she believed Kori was a respectable girlfriend for him but after hearing about her midnight visit to her ex-boyfriend's home…well her ascertain was amiss. Richard deserved someone who would understand the validity of his love.

"Look Babs, things are complicated between me and Kori right now but I don't think I want to just let her go."

"I can't believe I'm hearing this! You obviously know she still has feelings for this guy. Why do you think she went to him? Or do you not care?" she pleaded loudly following Richard as he exited the bathroom. "And now you're getting into fights for her..."

"Stop it Babs! I'm sick of talking about this." he interrupted, tired of her effortless commentary about what he should do. He massaged his forehead in a vain attempt for her to remain tightlipped.

"Then get a clue! She doesn't care about you the way you think."

"You're wrong! She does care!" he shouted disquieting her. After seeing her nervous expression, he guiltily softened his composure.

"She cares too much, more than she should. Did you know that she beat the crap out of that girl, the one who keeps bothering me?" Babs stunned eyes widened thinking Kori was not capable of such an action. She walked up behind him grasping his shoulders gently.

"You know she isn't the only one who cares about you. But do really think its going to work out between you two? If she really trusted you, then she'd be here now and not me." Whether it was right or not, she slowly found herself placing her arms around his shoulders, hugging him from behind. She rested her cheek on his broad back shrouding in his warmth and scent.

Richard, clueless to Bab's small signs of affection, was clouded with thoughts of Kori in his obscured mind. "Hell, I don't know shit anymore. All I want right now is to talk to her. I need to know if she's alright. Kori has never been in a…" At the mention of her name, Babs aggressively let go of him.

"You're such an insensitive jerk! Do you know that!" she pushed him softly.

"Whoa. What did I do?"

"All I've been trying to do this whole time, is tell you how much I want you…but you…all you want to do is go to her."

"Babs…"

"Why can't you just forget her!"

"Because…" he whimpered lightly.

"Why Dick…"

"I just can't." his voice becoming more desperate.

"Why!" she egged on.

"Because I love her! There, you want to know why…that's why!" he lashed out at her, in the process shocking himself at his emotional outburst. This was the first time he exposed his devotion for her openly, in front of anyone. And his announcement still loitered in his mind.

"Love her? How can you love her? You're both so different." she shrieked trying to reason with him. "Just admit it. You wouldn't even be with her if she didn't look the way she did!" she confronted in a heated frenzy.

"You know Babs, that just goes to show you…you know nothing of our relationship. I don't care what she looks like, I love her because she makes me feel."

"Feel…feel what?"

"Everything."

Babs was taken aback at his statement and demeanor. She had never seen this side of him before, she didn't even think one existed. His love for Kori was stronger than she had projected and there was nothing she could do to amend his tenacious mind.

"I better go. But for your sake Dick, I hope you're right about Kori." she remained steadfast about Kori's improbable feelings for him. "I'll see you Saturday at Garth's swim meet." she reminded him before leaving his quarters.

Richard was growing gloomier by the minute. First Kori, and now Babs was upset with him. Even with her forewarnings, he knew Kori still cared for him. That was one of the only things he was sure of.

Ryan's POV

Ryan walked through the long hallway of his childhood home. He drove to the mansion after Galfore had phoned and informed him of Kori's earlier brawl. Not that it was much of a brawl, more of a Kitten KO.

He entered the living area where he found some of Kori's friends seated there, though Kori was nowhere in sight. Then he heard her voice…

"Guys I've never seen her like this. First, she punches Kitten out cold and now she's in her room in complete darkness listening to sad music." Terra stated worriedly.

"She's taking it pretty hard, girl. We all know how she felt about him." Bee informed her.

"That's the funny thing about love, it can happen anytime. Even when you least expect it." advised Rachel, who thought back to her relationship with Gar.

"What we have to do now is figure out…Ry!" Kolette shouted leaping out of her seat to go hug Kori's older brother. Ryan quickly took note of how Terra's back stiffened at his name. She slowly turned to see Kolette and Bee talking wildly with him. She and Rachel remained seated on the couch just shrugging at each other.

After getting reacquainted, Ryan and the girls retreated back to the living area. "Hey Terra."

"Hey." she smiled slightly and quickly looked away. He looked just as gorgeous as he ever did. She began to wonder if her feelings for him would ever end.

"You, I've never met before. Hi." he smiled at Rachel. Being the timid person she was, she merely grinned. Apparently physical attractiveness ran rampage in this family.

"Rachel, this is Ryan. He is Kori's older half brother." Terra introduced the two. Ryan couldn't help but detect her emphasis on her word.

"Speaking of Kori, where is she? I need to see what's going on with her."

"What's going on with her? What do you expect, Ryan. She just broke up with the guy that she loved. Let her deal with it her own way."

"Getting into a fight with some girl isn't dealing with it Terra." he countered.

"Well I'm sorry but I guess not everyone can get over their love as easily as you can Ryan." After seeing his visible cringe, Terra stood up to leave out of the room until a familiar voice gained everyone's attention.

"What's everyone doing here?" Kori, who was in the middle of the stairs, questioned.

"Kori!" her friends shouted running towards her. Since getting home, after her suspension from school, she'd changed into some comfy matching sleep shorts and tank top. Her fiery mane was done into braids with her bangs almost covering her bloodshot eyes.

"Ryan, you're here too?"

"Well after getting a call about my sister trying out for the UFC, I'd thought you could give me a few pointers." he lowered at her.

Kori rolled her eyes at his acerbic comment. The last thing she needed was any criticism from anyone. "Ryan please Ok. I'm not in the mood."

"So why did you do it?"

"Guys maybe we should leave them alone." Bee volunteered staring at the siblings. They headed into the kitchen while Rachel informed them she had to leave. She had acquired a part-time job at a local bookstore and was due at work in thirty minutes.

"So? Are you going to answer me?"

"She had it coming to her."

"Kori beating people up isn't going to make the problem go away."

"Don't you think I know that?"

"Look if Richard is too dense to see that you love him, then screw him."

"That's pretty funny coming from you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I mean you and Terra." she whispered pointing towards the blonde's location. His surprised eyes seemed to narrow a bit.

"Sh…she told you?" he stuttered with disbelief. Kori, on the other hand, chose not to answer him and simply raised a brow.

"Well what do you know about me and Terra? Nothing…that's what."

"Ryan you don't know what you did to her. She loves you and she's hurting. I know exactly what's she's going through."

"Whatever happened between you and Richard is nothing like what happened between us."

"No you're right. The only difference is I was the idiot who didn't trust him. And you're the one who didn't trust yourself." Her glare eased up after seeing his sorrowful appearance. She sighed heavily regretting her words.

"Look I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I'm just mad at myself right now." After the resonance of her voice breaking lightly, Ryan went to embrace his sister caringly.

"Don't be. You're right. I am scared of hurting her, because I do love her." he admitted still clinging onto his sister.

"Ryan if you don't do something soon, you're going to lose her."

"Yeah, well…maybe you should take your own advice kiddo." he joked placing a kiss atop her head paternally.

Xavier's POV

After the fight in school, Mr. Cerebrum agreed the boys would remain free from a great deal of punishment. The last thing the academy needed were two angry prominent fathers on their backs. Unfortunately for X, his father was to receive word on his behavior today.

Xavier sat at the edge of his bed after his father ordered him to his room. But he knew his reprimand was far from over. In his father's eyes, Xavier had disgraced his family once again. But the fact that X was somewhat defeated during his fight, was an even bigger indignity. He stared to the floor of his room contemplating what today's punishment would be. Suddenly his door opened widely to reveal an incensed Cambridge. Xavier rose from his bed and stood at attention like a noble warrior as his father loomed in closer to him.

"Now tell me again why you choose to go out of your way to humiliate me." he condescended.

X looked directly to his father and opted to remain silent. It was coming and he knew it. He'd become accustomed to his manner of disicpline by now.

"So Mr. Big Shot isn't going to say anything now, is he?" Cambridge now began circling around Xavier while he spoke, his vulgarity increasing with every step.

"You think I will allow this kind of shame…degradation in my home." Still X said nothing, only looked ahead to the inevitable.

"Say it. I want to hear you say it. I'm a failure, father. I apologize for disgracing you, father." he demeaned now directly in his face, focusing on his son's black eye and the cuts he received, signs of weakness. Xavier slowly shook his head negatively.

Cambridge nodded his head in recognition of his son's refusal, knowing he could be stubborn sometimes. He formed his hand into a tight fist and sent a blow straight into the pit of Xavier's stomach. Still sore from his earlier fight with Richard, he dropped to the ground trying his best to extinguish the pain.

"Get up!" Cambridge yelled out. He grabbed him by the collar of his shirt lifting him up. "Say it! Now!" Bowed down grasping his stomach, X looked up to him and shook his head once again. This only infuriated his father more and he sent a flying kick to his chest causing X to slam onto the floor. After hearing his son's grunts of pain, Cambridge lowered himself to the ground and whispered into his ear. "Say it boy."

"I'm…a failure." he botched up his words, the aching still not ceasing.

"And…" Cambridge waited…

"I apologize…for dis…gracing…you father." he panted coarsely. All Xavier wanted to do was scrape that huge grin on his father's crude face. X was a skillful combatant but he still couldn't bring himself to hurt the man who was responsible for his upbringing.

"Failure is not an option. Let me down again and next time you wont have it so easy." he threatened quietly as he stood up and turned to leave.

"Clean yourself up." he ordered as he slammed shut his bedroom door.

Kori's POV

After a three day suspension, Kori was able to return to school Friday. Although if it was up to her, she'd still be sulking at home. But after enduring Galfore's parental rebuke, she'd decided she would be safer in the comforts of her school.

She pulled into the parking lot of the academy and reluctantly exited her vehicle. She woke up belated that morning and was already running behind schedule. After being ten minutes late to her first class, she routed herself to the school office to receive a tardy slip. As she traveled to Mr. Wilson's class, her breathing grew rapid. She knew in a few moments she would be seeing Richard soon. She hadn't spoken to him since their breakup and although she missed him excessively, she couldn't help but wonder if he still cared for her.

She drew closer to the door, adjusting her black top before opening it calmly. Immediately all eyes were on the striking beauty.

"So Ms. Anders, you decided to join us after all. I hope you enjoyed your brief vacation." Mr. Wilson stated.

Without answering, she handed him her slip and swiftly seated herself in her chair.

"What took you so long? I thought you were going to be absent today." Terra whispered beside her.

Kori motioned to her hair, which was done in a 'baby doll' style and mouthed the words, 'my hair' to get her point across. Impulsively, she turned to see him. She had to see him…his eyes, his smile, the darkness of his hair…anything. Only when she turned to see him he was smiling widely but not at her. He was engrossed in a conversation with a pretty brunette girl seated beside him, grinning happily. Kori turned quickly not wanting him to catch her emerald eyes staring. Here I am heartbroken and he's taking it pretty well.

"What's wrong Kori?" Bee asked softly.

"Nothing…nothing at all." she said forcibly refusing to look back at Richard. The rest of the class went by rather quickly. She kept by her word and didn't stare at him the entire time. If she had though, she would have noticed his deep blue eyes lingering completely onto her presence, not once straying away.

Richard's POV

Richard put his backpack into his locker and shut it. He looked around to see Rachel and Gar coming up towards him.

"So have you talked to her yet?" questioned Gar.

"No. I think she's avoiding me. She didn't even look at me once in history."

"She's just upset. She's not avoiding you." Rachel told him. "Come on. Lets go to lunch. Maybe you can talk to her there. I mean you guys really need to work this mess out."

"She hates me right now Rachel. I really don't think she wants to talk to me."

They walked into the cafeteria and found the rest already seated at the table. Rachel and Gar had placed themselves down already striking a conversation with the gang. Somehow Richard found the nerve to walk up to her. He didn't sit though, he stood in front of her and placed his hands on the table. Before he uttered a single word…

"Richard, thanks again for your calculus notes. You're a lifesaver." a girl smiled and hugged him excitedly, then handed him several sheets of paper. Kori viewed to see the same girl who was chatting with him during first period. Kori, who fumed within, looked away and continued to pick at her food.

"Sure, anytime." he assured grabbing his notes from her hands. Kori turned her eyes up in time to see the girl give him a subtle wink and a thankful kiss on his cheek before leaving. Richard shook his head in confusion at the girl and then directed his eyes at Kori.

"Hey…I was wondering how you were doing?" Richard asked quietly. He originally planned on rekindling their shattered relationship. But his hopes were thinning slightly with every glower Kori sent him. He knew he would go to great lengths for this girl, he just needed to prove it to her now.

"Fine." Kori said glaring at him and immediately looked back down. As much as she yearned to speak with him, how could he not know that he had hurt her with his actions and words.

"Fine." Richard said lowly nodding his head in an understandable gesticulation. Trying to strike a conversation with her wasn't going to be as easy as he initially thought.

"Fine." Kori simply shrugged away, without a care and stared back down to her food.

"Fine." he asserted, becoming faintly annoyed for her lack of consideration and careless gesture.

"Fine." she stated harshly once more, not liking Richard's intended tone.

"Fine." Richard demanded. This wasn't how things were supposed to go. He wanted to amend his broken bond with her not destroy it further. But his pride got in the way once more and he turned and began walking away, before he'd say something else he'd regret.

"Fine!" Kori yelled at his retreating back. What pang of guilt she had felt was now quickly replaced with exasperation.

"Fine!" Richard retorted back turning to see her one final time. He paused momentarily at a halt and stared at her angered face and quickly decided to exit the cafeteria.

Their silent table remained in awe as they gawked at the conflicted pair before them. The same thing running through there minds…don't leave, don't argue, work this out.

"Kori…what are you doing?" Terra scolded after seeing Richard pass through the cafeteria doors.

"Me! He was flirting with her right in front of me Terra!"

"Woman, no he wasn't. It's called being nice." Vic's prominent voice taking heed.

"Damn girl, you've got it bad for this guy. I mean no man has ever made you this jealous before." Bee laughed not believing what just happened.

"I'm not jealous." she defied. Ok I am...but I'm not going to tell them that.

"Yeah, right." Kole joked and continued to eat her burger.

"Kori I know you're mad at him for breaking it off but he really is trying to mend things with you. He still wants to be with you." the voice of reason within the group, Rachel insisted.

"Really…he does?" Kori looked hopefully at her, aspiration consuming her.

"Well he probably did until you decided to go all Carrie on his ass." teased Miggy. But swiftly shut up after seeing the mean stares directed at him. "Sorry." he uttered.

"Go after him Kori…and apologize." Terra insisted.

"Apolo…" Kori wasn't sure if that was what she needed to do…

"Go!" her friends seated at the table yelled, not wanting her to waste any more time.

Kori sprinted out of the cafeteria and found Richard nowhere in sight. She called out to him but all she received was a deafening silence. She ran to his locker but it still remained untouched since Richard last put his backpack in there. Where are you? I'm sorry. I'm just a jealous idiot. Please don't leave me…

She looked out to the parking lot, to the space where Richard usually always parked his SUV or bike. Her teary eyes remained focused on his parking spot. His luxurious black vehicle was gone…along with her chances of ever getting him back.

Xavier's POV

Xavier sat in the locker room bench grabbing his head in aggravation. Since his last period class, he'd been enduring a minor throbbing pain at the crown of his head. But now the pain had slowly instigated into a major ache coursing its way to the back of his skull. Not to mention after days of wrestling practice, his body had become sensitively sore and physically raw. I thought this shit was supposed to help me not make me feel worse.

"You ok, X?" Fang questioned, startling him out of his position on the bench.

"Yeah I'm fine, man. Don't worry. I'll be out in five." he assured his friend.

"Alright see you out there then."

It had been a half an hour into practice and it wasn't coming along too great. Xavier had been slacking in his training session due to his current state. The last thing he wanted to do was let Coach Honenheim know of his blurred vision and aching head. He heard the sound of his coach blowing his whistle signifying them to stop the match.

"What's going on with you, Redd? We've been over this strategy. You hook then hold. We've done this play a hundred times." his coach directed under a watchful eye.

"Sorry coach. I just lost the game for a sec. I'm cool now." he spoke in an inebriated tone.

"Well come on. We need to get this tuned in time for next week's game. You're going to be our star player. So get this right." he clapped his hands summoning the grapplers to their stances.

After hearing the whistle one again, X lunged to his opponent and garnered him a fast neck hold for a good several seconds. His headache gave way into a distraction and the next thing he knew he was being held in a submission hold against the mat. He tried releasing himself from his grasp but to no avail. Unexpectedly he started losing consciousness while still in his opponent's clutch.

"No…no…no!" Coach Honenheim scolded grabbing at his hair in a frustrated fashion.

The sound of the whistle was heard indicating the practice match was over. The opponent released X, only he didn't move.

"Hey X, get up man." Reeko held out a hand for his teammate. Fear rose in his face after he hadn't awoken.

"Get up X!" Reeko repeated nervously. But after several more seconds…

"Coach, X isn't moving." he warned looking back to the other teammates, where the coach stood. Coach Honenheim quickly ran to the fallen wrestler who stayed put on the floor.

"Redd? What's wrong?" he faintly slapped his face repeatedly trying to awaken him. Yet Xavier hadn't moved. "Get up boy…up to it!" He went to his neck and searched for a pulse and muttered small profanities under his breath. At a speed fast pace…

"Get an ambulance, quick!"

Sorry for the long update. Unfortunately I wasn't too proud of this chapter. It was difficult to write and well… But yeah! I'm almost done. Possibly the next chapter might be the last, if not then the next two should be the end. But just consider this another filler…one that needed to be done. In any case if you don't know what UFC means, it the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Oh and if you're also wondering why Kori was suspended and not Xavier and Richard…lets just say she got in trouble for getting Kitten out of classroom without permission.

Alright as for reviews…I love my loyal ones who keep me writing…thanks! And I had a lot of new ones too: AzNhOnEy702, Star 4 Robin, Stephanie, xostarfireox, Me.. and MissCooties who almost reviewed every chapter…you're all awesome.