Chapter Five: Timeless Love — Winter's ball

Summary: AU. Set During the early 1800s. Richard Grayson is the eldest child of Bruce Wayne, a wealthy American man. Kori Anders is the middle child of the Anders family. Their paths cross during a winter ball.

Kori was standing next to her younger brother Ryan, who would really rather be anywhere else. She unlike her brother, had been looking forward to the ball even if she was keeping to herself. She always enjoyed how lively balls could be especially during the winter season.

As she looked around the room she spotted her older sister who was entertaining a couple of young men, dazzling them with her perfect smile. Kori smiled at the sight. Her sister loved getting the attention and it seemed that men had no trouble giving her what she wanted.

Following her sister's gaze, Ryan chuckled. "Do you think she will finally agree to marry one of them or will she simply keep stringing them along?"

Kori couldn't help the smile that came to her lips at her brother's words. "You should not say that… but I do hope she finds someone who makes her happy."

"We both know that mother has been trying to get her to finally choose someone and once she does, her attention will turn to you, dear sister," he said, grabbing two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. "Perhaps you should start looking for your own beau," he handed her one of the glasses as he spoke.

"Oh, don't be absurd, Ryan," she accepted the glass, a soft blush covered her cheeks knowing that his brother's words were true.

Ryan shrugged before taking a sip from his glass. "Well, I shall leave you now, sweet sister. I have to mingle otherwise I will never hear the end of it from mother," he chuckled, causing Kori to smile. "And perhaps your admirer will finally stop looking at you and come talk to you."

"What?" Kori was confused. She hadn't been aware that she had an admirer.

"Blue eyes over there," her brother replied, discreetly pointing to a dashing young man just a couple of feet from them. "He's been looking at you since you arrived."

Not being as discreet as her younger brother, Kori turned to look at the young man in question only to find him looking at her. Both of them quickly averting their gaze elsewhere once they noticed the other was looking.

Ryan smiled as he saw his sister's cheeks darken. She was smitten and all it took was one look. "I shall take my leave now."

Kori sighed as she watched her brother go, passing the young man as he went and she quickly averted her gaze deciding to get some fresh air in hopes to clear her head, leaving her glass of champagne behind. Stepping into an empty balcony, Kori leaned against the railing as she watched the night sky. Ever since she was a little girl the night sky had intrigued her. It was such a vast and beautiful place.

Enthralled by the beautiful sight before her, she failed to notice that someone had come to stand next to her until he spoke, startling her for a moment. "Beautiful night, is it not?"

Turning to look at the stranger standing beside her, she realized it was the young man her brother had pointed out earlier and blushed softly, glad for the cover the night provided. "Yes. It is a beautiful night," she said, smiling politely as she spoke.

He looked at the sky one last time before turning his attention to her. "I don't believe we have been introduced before," he said, a charming smile on his lips. "Richard Grayson."

"Kori Anders," she answered as he took her hand in his, placing a kiss on the back of it, making her blush deepen.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Anders."

"Likewise, Mister Grayson."

Richard smiled, pleased with himself and glad that he had decided to come speak with her. Her ruby red hair and emerald eyes had immediately caught his attention and from the moment had first laid eyes on her, he had been captivated by her beauty.

After a moment of silence between them, Richard spoke once again. "Do you mind if I ask why you left the party?"

Kori smiled. "I simply wanted a moment for myself," she answered his question, her eyes glancing up at him for a moment before her gaze moved back to her hands, resting against the railing once more.

"I hope I didn't interrupt that moment."

"Of course not."

"Well, if I may be so bold, may I ask to have the next dance, Miss Anders?" he asked and he sincerely hoped she would agree to his request though he remained cool and collected as he spoke.

A bright smile played on her lips as he eyes shinned in delight before nodding. "Yes, of course you may."

With a smile matching her own, Richard offered his arm for her to take which she gladly did and led herself be led back into the ballroom.

As the pair stood waiting for the next dance to begin, Richard kept Kori entertained with stories about the many times he along with his younger brothers got in trouble as they grew up. Kori found herself laughing at the stories, enjoying herself more than she had expected when the ball had begun.

From across the room, Ryan watched his sister glad that she was having a good time. He was also glad for the fact that he had been right about the young man's interest in his sister.

"Who's the handsome one speaking with our sister," his eldest sister, Koma asked as she seemed to appear out of nowhere.

Ryan shrugged in response. "I don't know. Never met him."

"He is utterly handsome," she smiled, her eyes roaming his figure and liking what she was seeing. Those dashing blue eyes of his quickly being the center of her attention. "I think I will go say hello."

Before she could take a step in the pair's direction, Ryan grabbed his sister's arm keeping her at his side. "Don't ruin this for her," he warned and even though he was the youngest child in the family he wasn't naive. Ryan was aware of how his eldest sister couldn't stand watching others do better than her, especially not Kori. Kori on the other hand was always worrying over her siblings, making sure they were happy often forgetting about her own happiness.

"Don't be dramatic, little brother," she smiled, patting his cheek with more force than was necessary. "I'm simply saying hello," she said, pulling herself out of his grasp before making her way to the couple.

Ryan sighed before he followed her.

"My sweet sister," Koma said as she came to stand next to her little sister. "I see you have found yourself some company," she added, taking a better look at Richard now that he was less than two feet away from her. "Aren't you going to introduce me?"

"Us," Ryan corrected, standing between his two sisters, hands behind his back. "But that can wait a moment since our sister owes me a dance," he smiled, not exactly pleased with himself as he pulled Koma to the dancefloor as a new dance began.

Watching her siblings for a moment, Kori smiled at their antics. "Those were my siblings," she said turning to look at Richard after Ryan and Koma had left. "They can be peculiar at times…" she added, not entirely sure as to how to describe her siblings' actions.

"I understand," Richard was quick to reassure her. he knew firsthand how siblings could be. He had three younger brothers after all. "Now, I do believe you owe me a dance as well," he said pulling the redheaded beauty to the dance floor.

As the night went on, Kori found herself spending most of her time with Richard even meeting one of his younger brothers who had been just as charming as his brother. Kori had tried to find her own siblings at one point but she had failed to do so, thanks to Ryan who was keeping Koma away from the pair. He didn't want anything ruining her sister's night.

"I've had the most wonderful time tonight," Richard took both of her hand in his as he spoke. They had returned to the balcony were they had first spoken since the party didn't seemed to be dying down despite the late hour.

Kori smiled brightly. "I had a delightful time as well."

"I am glad my father made us come to this ball," he told her, moving a stray curl from her eyes and tucking it behind her ear. "I wouldn't have met you if he hadn't insisted as much as he did."

"I'm glad he did," she blushed due to her own words. "I am truly glad I met you."

Richard was about to say something else when the pair were interrupted by Kori's brother. "Sorry," he was quick to apologize, knowing he was intruding and he really had not want to do so. "Father says it is time to go, Kori."

Glancing at her brother, she asked for him to give a moment and he was quick to agree, stepping back inside and leaving Kori with her new friend.

"I shouldn't keep them waiting," she said, her eyes focused on his hands which still held hers. "I hope we shall see each other again."

"I hope the same," Richard smiled, bringing on of her hands upwards so he could place a kiss on the back of it. "I could write to you… with your permission, of course."

Feeling as if her heart had skipped a beat, Kori nodded. "I would like that very much."

"Then it is settled," he said and Kori smiled before leaning up to place a kiss on Richard's cheek.

"Goodbye, Mister Grayson," she said before going back inside leaving a stunned Richard behind.

Watching the redheaded beauty walked away, Richard smiled. The night had gone better than he had expeted and it was all beacsuse of one girl. A girl he would make sire to see again.

Authors note: Hi there! Thanks for reading this chapter. I really hope you guys enjoyed it. Thank you as always for all your reviews and support.

I'm continuing the story from chapter one and two in another book and I will be posting it soon, so keep an eye out for that if you are interested in following that story. Also, if you guys have any request for this story and scenarios that you would like to see, let me know.

FireShifter: Thank you so much for reading! Also, I might start posting new chapter every Sunday or Monday from now on.

Miss geek: Thanks for reading! I'm glad you liked that concept. I will be posting the next chapter soon in a different book.

KickingAnders: Thank you so much for reading!