Disclaimer: I do not own Teen Titans or any characters from the DC Universe. Time for some familiar faces...review replies at the end, thank you for all of your support as ever! Warning: there is coarse language in this chapter. As mentioned previously this story is not appropriate for children or young people.

Chapter four

One month later

Rachel looked out of the window of the coach as it travelled into the mountains. Gar was next to her, listening to his headphones and bopping his head involuntarily to the beat. She gave him a brief glance, before looking down at her book again absently. The words blurred together on the page as she became lost in thought.

The past month the atmosphere in the house had felt different. They had still interacted and gone through the motions of living together as they always had. But the spark between them had vanished. It was replaced with an unspoken feeling that neither of them wanted to mention. Rachel had seen Garth a few more times at his apartment but hadn't mentioned it to Gar. For some reason there was a guilt associated with her visits to the sixth floor that she couldn't understand. She swallowed, feeling the shame running over her like cold water.

Gar nudged her and pointed out the window. Their stop was approaching, and the two gathered their things together in silence. For some reason, the excitement of seeing everyone for the weekend was marred by her discomfort with her companion. Part of her just wanted to hide away in her room for the whole weekend and not come out. Pulling her rucksack onto her shoulders, Rachel followed the tall blonde man to the end of the coach and disembarked. As the coach drove away, the two of them had a short walk up the road to where their cabin was located. They began to trudge uphill, and Gar turned towards her.

"So, here we are. We made it!"

"We did," agreed the young woman, meekly. "Here we are."

"You seem quiet, Rach. Even for you. Are you okay?"

'Nothing has been okay since that night and you know it, Gar Logan,' a voice in her mind screamed. 'You should tell him how you're really feeling.'

But instead Rachel nodded dumbly and hoisted her bag onto her shoulder, pushing the voice aside. "Yeah, just tired from the journey."

The building came into view, and they fell back into silence as they made their way towards it. Outside the property were some very familiar faces, and Rachel felt her heart lift for a moment.

"FRIENDS!" came a deafening scream from their right-hand side. A flash of red hair and blur of a purple jacket came flying out of nowhere and knocked Rachel backwards so hard she nearly lost her footing. Her bag slid to the floor with a loud thump. As she realised what was happening, she started to laugh.

"Kori," she mouthed, her friends thick red locks stifling her nose. The redhead still smelled exactly the same as she had done at school; of strawberry shampoo. The scent filled her with a strange nostalgia. "It's good to see you."

"Oh, friend Rachel," whispered Kori, her voice wobbling with emotion. "It has been over a year since we last met in the person."

Kori Anders was Rachel's closest female friend. Kori had joined their school late as she had emigrated to Jump City from across the ocean. Her familiar yet distinctively peculiar accent gave Rachel another sense of comfort. Kori released the brunette from her grip and looked into her eyes. "Let me see you, friend. You look not a day older than when we last met. The beautiful as always."

"Come off it, Kor," replied Rachel, self-consciously brushing her dark hair out of her eyes. "We both know who's the beautiful one here."

"Yes, and it is you!" exclaimed Kori, sticking her tongue out at her friend petulantly. She grinned again, widely. "Wonderous to see you. And Garfield! Joyous day!"

Within a moment she had disentangled herself from Rachel and was clinging onto Gar's taller frame, her feet dangling from the floor. Rachel let out a louder laugh at her companion's discomfort. "Say hi to Kori, Garfield."

"Gar," corrected the young man, looking more than a bit flustered at Kori's words. It was rare that anyone used his full name. "Hi Kor. I'm pleased to see you too dude, but I can't breathe!"

Kori released her grip on the man, blowing him a kiss instead. "I am just so excited! I have not been so excited since my day of birth."

"Yeah, she nearly throttled me to death then too," came a deeper voice from behind the two. Rachel turned slowly, but Gar flinched.

"You gotta stop doing that, man!" he protested, rubbing the back of his head. "You and Rachel move like cats, I swear."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Gar. Good to see you both," replied the dark-haired man, his blue eyes filled with mirth as he shook Gar's hand affably. Although subdued, Richard Grayson was a firm friend. He had known Rachel since before the rest of the group, and for the young woman it was like seeing a long-lost brother. She flung her arms around his neck.

"How are you, Richard?"

Richard wrapped his own arms around her with a smile on his face. They released their embrace, and he nodded. "Good. Even better now you're all here."

"Hooray!" exclaimed Kori, bobbing about behind them. "We must go and see the others. They must be itching to see you!"

Kori grabbed Gar's hand and dragged him off towards the group. Rachel let out a low chuckle and turned to retrieve her bag. Richard bent down and picked up the straps, handing them to her gently. "How's life treating you, Rach?"

"You know...as life does," shrugged Rachel, taking the bag with a small, amused smile. "Unexpected twists and turns, and a whole heap of crap."

"Oh, ever that optimist I've come to know and love," laughed Richard, wrapping his arm around her amicably as they walked towards the rest of the group. "Are you finding it okay bunking down with Gar?"

Rachel paused. This was the moment she had been dreading. She knew the question had come from a place of innocence and curiosity. But as it was mentioned, it felt like someone poking a wound. She swallowed nervously, as Richard looked at her sidelong. He was examining her in that way he always did when he was trying to work something out. She knew she needed to answer quickly. "It's fine."

Richard stopped walking, his arm dropping away from her shoulder. Rachel stopped in surprise, turning to look at him. "What?"

"Don't give me that shit, Rachel," he chided, placing hand on her shoulder. "Did something happen?"

Rachel bit her lip, her eyes faltering to the floor. "It's complicated, Richard."

"What? How? I thought you guys had become the best of friends since that whole fireworks incident ten years ago."

Rachel felt her heart sting and she blinked rapidly. "We were. We are. I don't know, Rich. It's all been a bit weird lately."

Richard's blue eyes narrowed, concern lining his face. "In what way?"

"It's hard to explain. Hell, I don't even have it straight in my own mind yet. Maybe we can talk about this later?" she added, quickly. Her eyes had turned towards the group who were a few feet away. There were a few inquisitive looks being shot their way at the raised voices and she didn't want to arouse suspicion. She looked back towards Richard hastily and muttered under her breath. "It's not common knowledge."

"I'm just worried about you," countered Richard in a lower tone, despite being in full big brother mode. Rachel smiled and met his eye. She placed her hand on his arm gently.

"I know you are, but I don't know what else to say. We haven't argued. We haven't really even fallen out. There was just a weird moment about a month ago and things have been a bit tense at home since. You know what we're like; it'll sort itself out."

Richard nodded, maintaining his serious expression. "Okay. Look, I know we don't see each other so much these days, Rachel. But you know I'm always here for you, okay? Kori too. You're always welcome to come and stay with us if you ever need a break."

Kori and Richard had been high school sweethearts and inseparable ever since. They lived out at a place called Bludhaven, in a small apartment close to where Richard worked. He was a police detective there, whilst Kori kept herself busy as a foreign languages' teacher.

"I do, and I appreciate it," smiled Rachel, returning a brief nod. "I promise I'll let you know, but I'm sure it's just a passing phase."

They turned and resumed their walk towards the rest of their fellow 'Titans'. Rachel felt the need to move the conversation away from herself. "How are you and Kori doing anyway?"

"Actually, we're really good," admitted Richard, awkwardly. He wasn't brilliant with emotional conversation, especially when it was about his own sentiments. Rachel smiled, feeling genuinely pleased that it was the case. He continued to speak. "In fact, I wanted to tell you something about this trip. I—"

"There's my lil' sis!" shouted another familiar voice, and suddenly Rachel was scooped up from the ground, her backpack clattering to the floor for the second time that day. She screamed as she saw the sky coming closer and the earth moving further away. Turning her head, she noticed the laughing face of her largest friend and gave him a light smack on the shoulder.

"VICTOR STONE!"

"Hey, she still remembers me," joked Vic, planting a kiss on her forehead then dropping her back down to the ground. She gave him a dark look, but she couldn't maintain it without a small smile. Victor ruffled her hair affectionately, knowing he had gotten away with his actions. "How are you, Rachey?"

"Good, I think. Nauseous but good."

Victor chortled at her sarcastic comment, his expression brimming with nostalgia. "I've missed you so much, girl. Is the G-man treating you right?"

"He's behaved so far," replied Rachel, bending to pick her bag up again. She smiled, trying to push away the conversation with Richard. Deflection was key. "How's my famous big brother getting on?"

"Oh, you know I'm good!" exclaimed Vic, striking a pose and producing a football from seemingly nowhere. "It's a big year for me; I'm being bought by another team and my coach is so mad. They keep arguin' over me and it's great. My pay packet just keeps on gettin' higher and higher. Booyah, baby!"

"Wow, you need to let me know what that's like," replied Rachel, dryly. Victor laughed lightly, then a serious look came over him.

"Hey, hey, now you know I can't be having my baby sister strugglin'. You need any cash you call me, okay?"

Rachel smiled and nodded, knowing that he meant it. But there was no way she would ever tap Victor Stone for money. He had been very generous to her over the years, and now he was world class American Football Star he was over generous with his money. Especially where his friends were concerned. He'd even insisted on footing the bill for the whole weekend.

But Rachel would never take advantage of him. He'd 'adopted' her as his honorary little sister due to her circumstances at when they were at school. Often the Stone family would have her over for meals or to stay when times were particularly rough. From then on, the moniker had stuck, and he always delighted in teasing her with it.

"So, y'all ready to get some grub? I'm starvin', man."

"What else is new. Hey, where's Sarah?" asked Rachel, leaning around her friend's large frame. He shook his head, a sad smile on his lips.

"She ain't here yet, Rach. She had to work late; you know how her job can be. But she'll be with us later on."

Sarah Simms was Victor's long-term girlfriend. Away from the glitz and glamour of the football league, she did an excellent job of keeping him grounded. Sarah worked in a similar environment to Rachel, except that her specialisation was working with children who had received recent diagnosis of physical disability. Sarah had become a complimentary addition to their group and was valued by everyone. In some ways, it was as though she had always been there.

As the three friends approached the rest of the group, Rachel noticed that there were a few of their wider reaching friends in attendance.

Roy Harper, Karen Beecher and Malcolm Duncan were all chatting away to Gar and Kori. At school they had seemingly branched off into their own group with a few others, never becoming quite as close as Rachel and the other four had. However, she was pleased to see them all together again after all these years. Karen turned, and she spotted the young woman from a distance.

"Girl, I don't believe it!" squealed Karen, elbowing Roy and Malcom out of the way to get to Rachel. She threw her arms around her and bounced up and down. Slightly uncomfortable with the sudden contact, Rachel patted Karen's hair with a bemused smile.

"Hi Karen."

"It's been years, girl. How are you? You're looking so good. Just like I remember, only with longer hair."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" growled Rachel, but Karen didn't hear her. She'd already grabbed the brunette's hand and had dragged her towards the rest of the group. After several moments of reunion, Victor protested his rumbling stomach again, so they all headed inside to the cabin to eat. Rachel hung back for a moment, turning to appreciate the scenery. It was beautiful; an idyllic backdrop with flora and fauna galore. She took in a deep breath of air and smiled, feeling at peace for a moment.

"It's beautiful, right?"

Rachel turned slightly, although she recognised the voice well. Gar was standing next to her, looking out across the mountains. She nodded, her eyes returning to the backdrop. "Yeah, it is."

"I know about this place through work. I've been up here a couple of times to do some habitat surveys. I always thought it was a great spot."

"Well, you're right," admitted Rachel, as a gust of wind blew her hair and clothes back and forth. They were silent for a couple of moments. Gar turned towards her, a serious look in his eyes.

"Hey, Rae?"

"Yeah?"

"I know things have been a bit odd lately. But I was hoping that maybe we would have some time here to repair. Get back to ourselves again."

Rachel gave a small nod. "Sure."

"Cool," smiled Gar, reaching out and touching her on the shoulder gently. His green eyes were twinkling. He always seemed more alive when he was outside, somehow. "I'm going to head in. See you there when you're ready."

Rachel gave another nod and turned back towards the view. She heard his footsteps moving away from her and took a deep breath. The front door of the cabin banged shut, signalling his departure. The sadness hit her in an instant.

'Get back to ourselves again? That's impossible,' she thought, pulling her coat around herself. 'Everything has changed, Gar. When are you going to understand?'

Closing her eyes, she felt a few tears leaking out and blowing away into the breeze. She wiped her cheek with the back of her sleeve and turned to walk into the cabin.

"Pass the salt, G."

"Ugh, so you can season your dead animal?"

"That's the general idea, yeah."

Rachel rolled her eyes and looked around the room as she entered the cabin. She'd missed this. The incessant arguing between Victor and Gar, Kori and Richard snuggled up in the corner whispering and giggling like children, Karen and Roy having a contest to see who could lift the most firewood...

...it was like a long-forgotten memory coming back to her. She smiled and walked into the space, feeling as though she was light as a feather.

"Give me the goddamn salt, G!"

"No, man! Not until you admit you're a murderer!"

Walking swiftly towards the table, she lifted the salt and handed it to Victor without a word. Gar glared at her, obviously put out. She ruffled his hair and then made her way past them all and up the stairs. There were several rooms, many of them having already been claimed. At the end of the corridor was a lone room, slightly smaller and darker than the rest, but it had the best view. Rachel smiled, pulling the door shut behind her and heaving her bag onto the bed.

"Perfect."

There was a shout from downstairs, disrupting her thoughts. Even through the heavy door there was no mistaking the sound of her friends calling her back.

"Rachel, come down here."

"Rachey, don't you shut that door!"

"Come on down, Rae-Rae!"

"Friend, please do return to us!"

"Rach, we're coming up to getcha if you don't get your butt down here in the next two seconds!"

She shook her head at their audacity. They remembered that she was often inclined to spend her time alone in her room with her head in a book. She shrugged, turning on her heel and heading downstairs. "If you can't beat 'em..."

As Rachel's heavy footsteps began to descend the wooden stairs there were whoops of excitement and joy. As she rounded the corner into view, everyone turned towards her, both jeering and cheering in equal measure. Rolling her eyes, she gave a small bow before walking back into the room. As she landed on the couch next to Richard, she fixed them all with a friendly glare.

"You guys are idiots."

"You've missed us, admit it," grinned Victor, plonking himself next to her. She felt herself raise off the couch as he landed. Rachel elbowed him, sarcastically smiling.

"Right. I've really missed being peer pressured into being sociable. That's what my life has been lacking this past year. Fun company."

"Hey, what do you mean? You've still got me to be sociable with!" exclaimed Gar, indignantly.

Rachel raised her eyebrow and folded her arms. "I rest my case."

Everyone burst into laughter, including Garfield himself. There was a warmth in the room that Rachel hadn't experienced in some time. Richard slapped his hands down onto his lap and stood up.

"So, what's the plan for this weekend guys?"

"What is it with you and plans, pointy head?" remarked Victor, a nickname that harked back to Richard's over use of gel as a boy. "Why do we need to plan it all out?"

"I just want us to make the most of our time together. It's not like this happens every day," countered Richard, ignoring the jibe and shrugging. "Hey, I'm happy to just relax. I've been busy all week with criminals and lunatics, so you'll hear no complaint from me."

"I agree with Rich," said Karen suddenly, dusting off the woodchips from her earlier contest with Roy. "We should do something together. Make some memories."

"Gar, didn't you say that you worked up this way?" said Roy, folding his legs beneath him from his perch on the floor. "What is there to do round here?"

Garfield was silent for a moment. He scratched his chin in thought, tongue sticking out in that familiar way. Rachel shook her head, looking down at her hands patiently. She hoped that he wouldn't come up with something too wacky. She wasn't sure she could take it right now.

"Well, there's a place nearby that do canoeing in the lakes around the mountain. There's some horse-riding ranch further up the track. Or there's a pretty awesome hike to the summit of this mountain."

"Ooh, yes friends! A hike sounds joyous!" exclaimed Kori, wriggling about in excitement. "We could take a picnic if there is a spot to sojourn at?"

"There's a really nice waterfall up there," added Gar, nodding at the redhead. "We could stop there."

Vic became suddenly excited. "Oh, hell yeah! Swimmin' in the waterfall, baby!"

"Might be a bit cold for that," replied Richard, chuckling. "But it sounds good to me. You all agree then, guys?"

Everyone else also muttered to the affirmative, including Rachel. It didn't sound so bad; the young woman quite liked the outdoors, and she could even take a book with her to read near the waterfall when they stopped.

"So, it sounds like a plan," smiled Richard, putting his hands in his pockets. "But what are we going to do tonight?"

"I vote a cookout in the backyard! I saw a firepit back there," stated Victor, gesturing towards the grounds behind the cabin. Everyone stood to their feet and went to have a look. There were mutters and comments made, but eventually everyone seemed to be in agreement that they could make it work.

Rachel hung back as they all rushed outside and started to set up the yard for the evening. She leaned on the doorframe and watched the five men arguing over what was the best way to arrange the fire. Kori appeared at her side, bubbly as ever.

"Is it not wondrous, friend? We are all together again!"

"It's pretty great, Kor," stated the brunette, nodding her head. She turned from the doorway and walked towards the kitchen. "I'm going to make some tea."

"Tell me, how have the new living arrangements been functioning?" asked Kori, following her friend into the kitchen area as she filled the kettle with water. "Is it to your satisfaction living with friend Gar?"

"It's not really new, we've been there for two years now," shrugged Rachel, feeling frustrated that this topic was coming up again. She pushed the button down on and heard the familiar whirr of the appliance warming up. "It's a nice block to live on. I've even made friends with our male neighbour downstairs."

"Ah, do tell all!" exclaimed Kori, excitedly. Rachel rolled her eyes and folded her arms, leaning her weight on the countertop. It was as though they were fifteen again, sharing stories about cute guys in the playground.

"There isn't a lot to say, really. His name is Garth. He's a marine biologist that moved across the country. He didn't have many friends in the area, and we got to chatting...well the rest is history really. He's friendly and funny."

'And pretty cute,' said a voice in her mind. Rachel ignored it, focusing instead on the steam pouring from the kettle. Kori clapped her hands together with glee.

"It is fabulous that you and Gar are making new friends."

"Oh, well actually...Gar has never been down to Garth's place."

"He...has not?" replied Kori, looking a little perplexed. Then another thought dawned on her. "Ah, so you mean you and this Garth are doing 'the dating'?"

"What? No! We're not dating."

"I am confused," shrugged Kori, shaking her head. "Perhaps I have missed something?"

"Gar and I aren't tied at the hip, Kor," shot back Rachel, a little firmer than she intended. She softened, as she saw her friend wince. "What I mean is, we are allowed to have different friends, you know."

"Of course you are! It is just that...oh, it is of little importance."

"What?" asked Rachel, turning to pour the hot water onto her teabag. Kori hesitated, biting her rosy lip. Rachel turned to look at her, her eyebrow quirked in confusion. "What's wrong?"

"I would not wish to anger you," admitted Kori, shyly. "We have not seen each other for so long and I do miss you so. I wished for it to be a glorious weekend. Not to be full of past matters which do not—"

"You're rambling, Kori."

"I apologise, friend."

"Look, you can talk to me," reassured Rachel, sitting down opposite her friend at the breakfast bar with her tea in her hand. "I'm not a child anymore. Whatever you need to say, just say it."

"Very well," agreed Kori, resting her arms on the table and drumming her fingers. "I just merely wondered if you were wanting to make friend Gar jealous."

Rachel nearly spat her tea across the countertop. She looked at the redhead incredulously. "You wondered if I what?"

"I did not mean to shock or offend. It is merely that I thought perhaps the reason you have not included Gar is because you were trying to create jealousy."

"Why the hell would I want to do that?" asked Rachel, her eyes like saucers. Sometimes she couldn't follow Kori's logic. It was as though she was from a completely different solar system.

"Well because of how you used to view friend Gar."

"How I used to..."

Rachel petered off, her mind ravaged with memories and pain. She closed her eyes firmly, feeling the emotion welling up behind them. Swallowing, she sipped her tea and pushed the memories down. "I see."

"You are not mad?"

"I'm not mad, Kori. I'd just forgotten."

"You had forgotten about your feelings for him?"

"Look, what happened when we were fifteen was a long time ago. I'm twenty-five years old, Kori. I don't have those kinds of silly crushes anymore," began Rachel, glancing towards the door to ensure no one had re-entered the cabin. The others seemed engrossed in their tasks, sounds of the chaos emanating through the open doors. She sighed. "When Gar and I first met he drove me crazy. But yes...for a while I thought maybe there might have been something there. You know why I made the decision that I only wanted to be friends and nothing more. And for the past ten years that's how it has been."

"But feelings...they do not simply vanish, friend," argued Kori, reasonably. "Now he is no longer a silly boy but a man."

"Yes, he is," nodded Rachel, taking another sip of her tea. "And I do still love him. My feelings for him have just changed to being friendship rather than anything more."

Kori paused, biting her lower lip again. Reaching out she touched her friend's hand. "I am aware that you were hurt. That it was men that hurt you."

"Kori—"

"No, you said that I was to be honest. Here I am being honest. Firstly, your father treated you so badly. And so, you protected yourself. You were frightened to confess your feelings. You buried them. You cut yourself off and kept yourself safe. Then, there was creature you called 'Mal'."

The redhead's green eyes were filled with a rage at the mention of Rachel's ex-boyfriend. It was as though they were lit with fire. She took a deep breath to steady herself, then continued.

"Mal came along and you opened your doors for him. You trusted for the first time ever and you were burned by the flames of his betrayal. Then you closed your doors forever."

"I guess that's a fair representation. If not a little poetic," interjected Rachel, shaking her head. "Mal was the only person I had ever trusted in that way."

"Since then you have had such exciting flings with lovely gentlemen. But none of them stay. You do not allow any of them to get close to you. None except for Gar."

Rachel paused. She eyed her drink, questioning whether it was only tea she'd put in her mug. Because for a crazy moment, Kori's words began to make sense in her mind.

"Gar is the only man with whom you allow this closeness. Yet you will not admit to yourself that you still wish to take the step of intimacy. You keep your doors closed. You are afraid. Yet, you are also afraid of losing him, are you not?"

"How can you possibly know that?" whispered Rachel, feeling concerned that perhaps her friend had gained psychic abilities. Kori took hold of her friend's hand once more, a sympathetic smile on her beautiful face.

"Because I know you, Rachel. I understand the way your mind turns. I have witnessed all of the events I have described. I can see the patterns even if you do not."

Rachel swallowed hard. Maybe Kori was right. What if the 'best friends' label had been a way to keep herself safe? Now everything was seeping back through. It was possible that Garth had become a barrier for them, in some twisted way.

As if on cue, her companion continued to speak. "This Garth. Do you find him to be attractive?"

Rachel blushed, colour rushing to her face. She stared at her tea hard. "Yes."

"Yes," repeated Kori, nodding as though she was expecting the brunette's response. "Therefore, he is simply there to keep you tethered to where you want to be. Do you see? He is safe, where Gar is not. He can just be another – what is the phrase – indentation in the bedpost."

"Notch," corrected Rachel, squeezing Kori's hand and then letting go. "A notch on the bedpost."

"Exactly," replied Kori, her voice low. "Tell me friend, am I correct in my assumptions?"

"Maybe," countered Rachel, feeling uncertain of everything. It felt like the meticulous walls she had built over the past ten years had been fractured with a single conversation.

In truth, it wasn't that she had forgotten about her feelings towards Gar. She had repressed them through choice. Now that Kori brought them back into her consciousness she was suddenly hit with new realisations. Things made a little more sense.

So, where did this leave her?

"I'm not sure what to do with this information, Kori."

"Nor am I," shrugged Kori, chewing on her lip again. "Perhaps it would have been best if I had kept silent."

"No," admitted Rachel, flicking her fingers against the mug. "I needed to hear it."

"Then I am glad I took a risk. But I am wanting you to know that I would never say anything to anyone."

"I know you wouldn't, Kor. You're the kindest and most trustworthy person I know," smiled Rachel, her eyes shining with tears. "I know you care. I just don't know what I'm doing anymore."

Kori looked at her with her striking jade eyes, and they began to well up too. The two women looked at each other sadly for a few moments before the noise from outside drew closer.

"They're coming back," sniffed Rachel, wiping her eyes on her sleeves hastily. Kori mimicked her actions before fluffing her hair.

"They are."

"No more now," Rachel stated, her eyes hardening. "This conversation didn't happen. Let's have our weekend."

"Okay," nodded Kori, still playing with her red hair absently. Rachel gripped her mug, feeling her walls rising again. It was easy and familiar. Victor stepped through into the kitchen.

"Hey, that's where you two got to!" he exclaimed, walking over to them. "Uh oh, who died?"

"Just leave it, Vic. What do you need?"

Victor flinched at her comment but did as he was told. "We're after some extra pairs of hands to sort out the seating arrangements. But if you're busy then we can—"

"No," interrupted Rachel, pushing her chair away and standing up. She looked at Kori, who nodded in understanding. "We're all done here."

Review replies:

Azarath Cat: Yay, another familiar face! I hope you're doing okay, and thank you for the compliment :) Hope you enjoy this chapter too.

Golem XIV: I have to torture them...it's in my contract ;) There may be some Tara and definitely some more Garth! I'm glad you're enjoying it, but more torture until the happy ending (probably) like always (usually). I mean I'm not that mean (most likely). :D

Miss Geek: Aw, how kind of you to say! I'm glad you enjoyed it. This is another longer story. I've got a few other BBRae ones in the mix yet, they aren't AUs either so watch this space. Let me know how you found this chapter :)

Sanzojoe: I can neither confirm nor deny your prediction :D Haha, but keep guessing. I hope you spotted some easter eggs in this chapter :)

AngelBornInHell130: Cool name! Thank you, I hope you enjoyed this chapter too :)

Anonymoose: We have to build up the tension, dude...squares, triangles...all kinds of shapes! Haha, I hope you enjoy this chapter and as per my comment to Golem I will try not to torture you too much :D