A/N: Yay, I'm back… with another chapter… yup, I know I'm good… ok, I will make it short…

Thanks to everyone who had reviewed for the first chapter and to everyone who put this story to her or his Favourites/Alerts List… you guys are the best and I LOVE YOU… he, he, he... you know what I mean...

This chapter is dedicated to Cherry Jade, Lain the Fluff-Master, Mol, Tecna and Raven of the Night676

Disclaimer: I don't own them!

Ok, enjoy the chapter!


2. One simple question

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Maybe it was the fact that Raven was throwing daggers at Richard from her eyes or that Josh seemed to worship Richard, but the dinner was not what you'd call a "success"...

At least not for Raven.

Richard couldn't help but mess with her; she had been steamed when she saw that he was
there.

"Why did you invite him?" she had asked angrily as she sat down. It didn't matter for her that she was impolite. He had quickly taken the seat across from her much to her dismay.

Now here they were all quietly eating the beautifully prepared meal.

Ok, only Raven was quietly eating her meal. Everybody else seemed to be engrossed in a conversation with the wonderful Richard Grayson. Her mother was charmed by him and was constantly laughing and even Mira had smiled at him.

"A beautiful flower for a beautiful girl," he had said and handed Mira a simple, white daisy and to Raven's utter surprise Mira had taken it and had smiled at him. Mira, who usually was alienated by strangers, had smiled at this arrogant, smug jerk.

And as much as she disliked him she was more than happy to see that Mira had come out a bit of her apathetic state. So she had suppressed the urge to throw up at his cheesy line and dismissed the wink he had given her.

Most annoying for Raven was that Josh seemed to adore him. He hung on his lips like he was a hero or something like that. It was just ridiculous. They were now talking about sports.

"But do you know what I really want to do?" Josh asked and took a sip from his water. "I would really like to try material arts."

Raven raised an eyebrow. "Material arts?" She said disbelievingly. Raven hated sports, especially team-sports. She was more for meditating. Meditating helped you to calm down; meditating helped you to suppress unnecessary emotions where sport brought out emotions.

"Yes, material arts," Josh repeated and returned his attention to Richard who seemed thoughtful. "I wish I could learn it!"

"You can!" Richard said and for a moment Raven thought he had given her a look. "I know material arts and if you want to I can teach you. It's not that difficult. I have a combat room in my house, so…"

"That would be great. No, that would be fantastic. I …" Josh beamed.

"No, that's a stupid idea." Raven said and everybody looked at her surprised. And to say the truth she was not less surprised about her words. She didn't want to sap it out loud but somehow she didn't like the idea of this jerk teaching Josh.

Josh glared at her angrily. "And why should that be a stupid idea?" he asked me.

"Because…" she began. She desperately searched for an answer. Her mind was wheeling and turning. She had to say something. Anything so that she wouldn't stand like a fool in front of this jerk.

"Because it's dangerous!" she finally said and mentally cursed herself for this lame answer. And it didn't make it better to hear Richard laughing.

"What's so funny about that?" Raven snapped at him.

"Nothing," he answered and looked bemused and Raven wished she could smack off his stupid smile from his face. "But you know I won't kill him. I will just show him some moves. Nothing dramatic. You can come too, if you want. I think I could teach you a lot."

Now Raven was seething and everybody could either see it or could feel it. "You arrogant son of -"

"Raven!" Arella said in a threatening tone. She knew her daughter and the outburst which would come and it would be everything but nice.

"It's really nice that you worry about your brother but I don't see a reason why he shouldn't try it. And I think Mr. Grayson will be careful. So you can drop it!" her tone softened but you could hear that it had still an edgy and dangerous undertone.

Josh smiled triumphantly at Raven and from the corner of her eyes she could see Richard grinning bemused.

Raven screamed mentally and stood up from the dinning-table. "I think I will go and wash the dishes." She said with a fake sugar-sweet voice and left the room for the kitchen.

Raven knew she was acting childish but this guy was driving her insane and not in a good way. She didn't know why but Richard made her feel so … so … She couldn't describe it. It was bad enough that he made her feel at all.

Raven was getting her anger out of the dishes and thinking about as many different ways as she could come up with killing this ass as she heard the kitchen door being opened.

"Mum, you don't need to help me. You should better be with our wonderful guest and care about him!"

"The guest doesn't need to be cared for." She heard a voice which was definitely not her mother's answering.

She prayed that it wasn't him. Although it was clear that it was him. She turned her head towards the kitchen door and of course she saw Richard leaning at the frame and grinning slyly.

For a moment she thought about putting one of her killing-thoughts into practice but she dismissed the thought for the fact that her mother wouldn't like seeing her daughter torture their neighbour. She couldn't ruin her life because of such an idiot.

So she decided to just ignore him and continuing her work.

"I just wanted to help you with the dishes," he said after a while and came closer to her until he was standing next to her.

She looked at him for a moment and then handed him the dishcloth.

"You dry," Raven commanded.

Richard starred at her surprised. "What?" Raven asked and waved the fabric in front of him. "Did you thought I would politely dismiss you offer and tell you that you don't have to do it? No, if you want to help you will. That's the least you can do, anyway."

He laughed and reached out his hand for the dishcloth taking it from her.

He began to dry the dishes she handed him.

"What do you think about conversing while we do the dishes?" he asked.

"Not much." Raven deadpanned.

"Why?"

"Because conversations are pointless and meaningless. It would just hinder us and everything would take us longer than it had to." Raven replied getting slightly annoyed by his questions.

"Maybe, but wouldn't it more amusing to talk while doing the work?" he said and looked at her.

"I don't think so!"

"But-" he began but was cut short by Raven.

"I would advise you to shut up and dry the dishes." She said between clenched teeth.

He chuckled. "You are not a patient or conversable person, are you?"

"Wow, how sharp from you to notice this. I am amazed." Raven sarcastically said. "And would you now please be quiet."

"I think …"

"You can think? Wonders never cease."

"I think that you wouldn't be so frustrated and impolite if you had a good conversation for once." Richard mused without minding her sarcastic insults.

Raven shot him a death-glare and ignored this.

"Answer me one simple question and I will be quiet." Richard suddenly said with a mysterious glint in his eyes.

"Why should I?" Raven asked crossly.

"Because if you don't I will talk the whole time and now I know how much you hate pointless and meaningless conversations," he answered her with a smug grin.

Raven just glared at him. She had practically played in his hands. She was indeed a fool.

But it wouldn't kill her answering one of his stupid questions, would it? And how she judged him his question would be something like 'What is your favourite color' or 'Do you have a boyfriend'. Stupid, little question everybody wants to know. And she could live with answering those kinds of questions.

At least he would stop babbling and going on her nerves. So why not.

"Ok, I will answer you one question and then you will shut up!" she said.

She turned her face to his and waited for his question. To her surprise he didn't smile. There was no smile, no arrogant grin on his face.

It was strangely pensive and … soft. His stormy blue orbs were locked in her amethyst as they were searching for something. She felt a shiver creeping through her spine and she wanted to tell him that she couldn't wait all night long as he opened his mouth.

And with the softest and gentlest voice she had ever heard he asked her the one, simple question she wasn't able to answer.

"Why don't you ever smile?"


A/N: So, what do you think? Good? Bad? Tell me and review… now… if you have time and want to…

Kudos to Cherry Jade for beta-ing this chapter…

To answer Daughter Of Life And Death question: I didn't change this story… at least not much… it's still the same as before. I just add some things that I think would be better, but the concept of the story is the same as before… that's also why updates will come fast…most of the chapters are already written. I hope that answers you question.

Ok, that was it…

Until next chapter…

Alena