A/N: It's the next chapter… yeah… the next chapter, that's great, isn't it…? (Ducks all the flying objects)… okay, okay, I took a long time to update… but I had writer's block and then I lost the last part of the chapter... and everything was so hectic and chaotic… yeah… but here is it and I hope you will like this chapter…
Thanks and kudos and praise and much, much love to my fabulous beta Cherrie-chan a.k.a. Cherry Jade… she is the best…
Dedicated to Cherry Jade, Mind Shadow, Raven-Angel-of-Darkness, Mol, Daybreak25 and sekai no yakusoku and Tecna….
Disclaimer: Still not mine…!
Chapter ten:
Remember Me Part II
Flashback
"Bruce, can't you hold this meeting?" An irritated Richard spoke into his mobile phone as she paced through his office. "I'm not really feeling well… I just had a confusing conversation with Raven and…"
"Richard," A deep voice droned from the other end of the phone, "Stop whining! You just have to talk with him for a minute. I'll be there soon. You have to learn to do such things on your own. You-"
"Please, Bruce – don't… just don't! I don't want to listen to your lectures, okay…?" Richard told his as his hand through his messy, dark hair. "By the way, who is the one I have to meet? And why is he so late?"
"You will be happy to hear that, it's the new CEO of Raven's father's company… is…" Bruce was cut short as Richard glared at the door of his office where a tall red-haired man in a black suite stood.
"… Roy Harper…" Richard finished angrily and closed his mobile phone without even saying good-bye to Bruce.
Roy seemed unfazed and walked closer into the office.
Richard just stared at him clenching and unclenching his fists every two seconds. 'Control your anger… find your centre… and take a deep breathe…' His mind repeated and repeated and he didn't found it strange that it was Raven's voice that filled his mind.
"You're late," Richard growled out between clenched teeth. "You should know how unprofessional it is to come late to a meeting."
All Roy did was smiling cockily at him, "I had something to do… something more important." He said and then added as an after thought, "I had to help a friend… a very good and dear friend."
Roy knew that he was driving Richard crazy and that he was barely able to contain his anger and usually he wasn't one to provoke anyone, but he just couldn't stand watching Richard hurt Raven anymore than he already had.
It was funny how much he felt for that woman… although he only knew her for a couple of days, but it seemed to him as if he had known her all his life. Funny, how much he wished to make her smile… to make her happy…
He didn't like this man… Richard just couldn't stand him… couldn't stand Roy Harper and his smirking face. '… A very good and dear friend…' He had no right to call her his friend… he had no right to call Raven his friend.
Raven… somehow just thinking about her hurt and he couldn't understand why… it shouldn't hurt… she was the one who loved him… he had hurt her… he…
"You have no right to call yourself her friend!" Richard spat out without really think about what he was saying and doing. Unconsciously, Richard had walked closer to the man and they met in the middle of the spacious office.
And it was Roy who was seeing red now, "I was more a friend to her than you in all those years… I'm not the one who is hurting her!"
And with a speed of a panther, Richard lashed out and his fist connected with Roy's perfect face, "It's your fault… everything is your fault!" Richard screamed as Roy's nose began to bleed, but the dark man's surprise Roy didn't back way nor did he waver.
"It wasn't me who treated her like trash, it wasn't me who let her down to fuck around with your little, perfect girl-friend… It wasn't me who was too stupid to see how much she loved you!" Roy spoke calmly and Richard almost wished he would scream… he wanted to him to scream and trash and hit him…
"We… she was happy…!" Richard choked out before he found himself lying on the floor with an instantly swollen eye thanks to Roy's fist.
"She wasn't happy… Raven wasn't happy, not with you… not happy with how you treated her!" If Roy was calm earlier, he was now yelling at the man who was trying to get off the floor.
"Neither is she with you!"
"Why do you care so much? Why do you care if she is happy with me?" He didn't really expect an answer from Richard… or maybe he just didn't want an answer, but somehow Roy Harper got his answer.
"Because I lo-"
End Flashback
Richard Grayson had never known he could be so happy and feel so alive… but he could… kissing Raven… tasting her sweet, delicious lips was like heaven.
He could feel her soft fingers tracing his jaw while her other fingers were weaved into his hair. Richard let go off her lips only to place soft kissed on her cheek trailing down her neck.
A soft moan escaped Raven's parted lips and Richard asked himself why he had never realized how wonderful and sweet Raven's voice was.
Again, his lips found hers in a sensual way and he wished that this moment would last forever… that he could kiss her forever… hold her forever… lov-
"Dick…?"
But as always, happiness wasn't meant for Richard… or Raven…
Raven's eyes opened abruptly at hearing the sweet, melodic voice of Kori and with wide eyes she pushed Richard away from her.
Her amethyst eyes met his dark blue orbs… and what she found there was too much o bear…
"What have you done…?" The dark woman whispered as she backed away from him.
"Rae… ven… please…" Richard said as he realized how much the distance she put between them hurt.
"Why…? Why do you keep hurting me…? Why… Richard… why…?" Raven wasn't sure if she wanted to hear his answer… or maybe she was just too desperate to hear it.
Richard smiled up at her painfully closing the distance between them, "Because I lov-"
"Dick! There you are! I brought you the ointment for your eye… you-" Kori walked into the room and stopped as she saw Richard and Raven… together… and it was funny how perfect they looked together… and it was funnier that she wasn't bothered to see them together like that. Kori knew that it should bother her and that she should feel jealous, but… somehow… just somehow, she couldn't bring herself to feel any ill feelings.
"Raven! You are here as well!" Kori continued with a genuine smile on her lips. "I'm delighted to see you!" And with that said the beautiful red-head rushed towards her friend and enveloped her in a gentle hug.
She loved her… like a sister… even more than her own sister…
Yes, Kori loved Raven dearly and she wanted to see her happy and ever smiling.
"Kori…" Raven greeted her, but she suspected that it came choked and suppressed.
"I… I… have to go… I… am sorry… so sorry…" She looked at Richard and then her eyes darted at Kori, but she refused to let the tears that were forming in the corner of her eyes fall.
Hurriedly, Raven ran out without looking back at the two confused figure she was leaving behind.
Richard looked sadly after Raven and he just wanted to follow her and take away all her pain… the pain he had inflicted on her… but…
"Did I say something wrong? Have I hurt her?" Kori's confused and worried voice pierced through his troubled mind.
The dark-haired man turned his head towards his girlfriend, "No, you didn't hurt her…"
Kori frowned, "Did you hurt her…?"
The question was unexpected and Richard wasn't sure if he heard right, but just looking into Kori´s bright emerald eyes confirmed her question.
"I… I… don't know…? I think…" Richard was lost and unable to bring out the words… the words that were burning in his heart.
"I want you to be happy… you and Raven… I want you both to be happy; you know that, don't you?" Kori spoke softly.
"Kori, I know… I-" She cut him off with a wave of her slender hand.
"Are you happy, Dick…? Are you happy with me…?"
"Kori, I am ha-"Again, Kori didn't let him finish.
"Are you really happy? Or is it just contentment?"
Surprised, Richard looked at her and it was then he began to realize…
Flashback
A five year
old Richard snuggled deeper under the covers. "Mama, what is a
soul mate?"
Sitting on a chair next to his bed Richard's mother looked at her son in surprise. She had carol hair… just like her son and bright blue eyes.
"Soul
mate? Where did you hear that term Richard?"
Blinking
his sleepy blue eyes in confusion, Richard replied, "Papa was
reading me an old story and he called the prince and princess who
fell in love were soul mates. Is that a bad thing mama? I don't want
to get papa in trouble. I asked him to read me that story so it's my
fault."
Smiling
indulgently, Richard's mother playfully ruffled his head. "My
little robin, always protecting others. No, it is not a bad thing to
be soul mates... quite the opposite darling. A soul mate is the other
half of you. They complete you. Until you meet them, you are but half
a soul. Your soul mate knows you more than you know yourself. They
can understand your every dream, feeling and wish. They often know
what you are thinking even before you think it. A soul mate comforts
you when you are sad and rejoices when you are happy."
Richard
yawned. "Sounds wonderful mama. Do I have a soul mate?" His
mother peered seriously into her young son's eyes.
"Of
course my little robin. Everyone has a soul mate, including you. But
many people don't realize that they have found their soul mate
until it is too late. Do not make the same mistake, Richard. When you
find your soul mate, protect her, cherish her and love her. Only
then, can you be happy."
Turning down
the lamp by the bed, she stood up to leave.
"Mama,"
Richard said, sleepily.
"Yes?"
"Don't
worry mama. I will be a good boy and find my soul mate. And when I
do, I will protect her like you said."
Smiling,
Richard's mother gave her now sleeping son a kiss on the forehead.
"I
certainly hope so, Richard, my little robin."
End Flashback
Richard blinked away some at the memory of his mother at her words… and suddenly everything was clear… or maybe it was clear all along.
"Kori, I'm so sorry... I..." He trailed off as he realized that he didn't know what he should tell her… how he should tell her that he lov-
"It's alright, Dick… its okay… I understand…" The red-haired woman assured him as she smiled up at him sadly. "I… I understand…"
Yes, she understood, because Kori Anders loved Richard Grayson… and she wanted to see him happy. He deserved all the happiness in the world…
She understood, because Kori loved Raven… dearly… and she wanted to see her friend happy… even if that means letting go of Richard.
Because, Kori loved them both…
A/N: How did you like it? I hope it was good and you enjoyed this chapter… review and tell me… okay…?
Two more chapters - I think - and then the story will come to an end… so, stay tuned for the grand final…
I wanted to thank you all for the wonderful reviews… 55 reviews for the last chapter… that's amazing and wonderful and I just wanted to tell you how happy you made me with each review… and every mail you send me and all the dedications… I'm more than happy and I can't tell you enough how grateful I am and how much that all means to me… so…
thank you… Thank you… Thank you… THANK YOU… THANK YOU… THANK YOU VERY. VERY, VERY MUCH!
So, I just wanted to remind you all of my challenge… there are already some wonderful stories for the challenge and I encourage you to read them…
'Silence' by Reya Wicked
'Curiosity' by UnspokenFaith
'And Her Scent Was Like The Scent Of Life' by Richard Grayson
'Snow kissed' by The Grim reaper and her little voices
Go read them and then review their wonderful stories… I'm sure you will love them…
And now for everyone who want to enter my challenge:
I want you guys to write a RaeRob or RaeSpeedy or RaeCy or TerraRob – one shot, but you have to use one of the following lines:
'Love is like chocolate, you can't get enough of it!'
'A hero doesn't cry!'
'Will you be here for all eternity?'
'And his/her scent was like the scent of life.'
'Silence is safe. That much he/she knew.'
So, one of these lines have to appear in your story (Of course, you can also use more than one line in your story)… and the pairing has to be one of the ones mentioned above… okay…?
The first price will be a story written by me… just for you. You can choose if you want me to write a one-shot or a chaptered story… you tell it, I'll do it…
The date when the challenge will end is at the end of January… I think…
So, I want at least five entries for the challenge… please… c'mon, you know, you want to…
If one of you decided to take part in the challenge then mention that you wrote your story for my challenge in your summary and send me a message or a mail telling me about your story…
Ok, I hope that many of you will take part in my challenge and I want to read many, many, many stories…
Yeah, that was it from me… for now…
Until next chapter…
Alena
P.S. I wish everybody a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza and happy, wonderful and relaxing holidays…
P.P.S Check out my forum and leave a comment… it would make really happy to read something from you on my forum…
Love you all…
Alena