Hi - I am finished with promising chapters and disappointing people. being partially down through me off and I reworked this again and again. I am probably belaboring points again, but bear with me. These characters have a lot of depth. Only Kori and Richard in this chapter though, with a non-speaking cameo by Galfore. Things are really taking off soon, although I have pushed back some key aspects of the story (like a connected past and when Babs' attack) a chapter or two.

Thank you to everyone who is following this story and a HUGE thank you to my reviewers!

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Chapter 27

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You are Asking Me What Now?

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The overnight in the ER ended without much more happening of note, it was just a regular shift. Other than having to complete the "Incident Report" about the dealings with the overdose victim, Kori didn't even think about getting punched by the patient. She just felt that it was the kind of thing comes with the territory in the ER and was thankful that her jaw wasn't really bothering her. Dick watched her closely and was very impressed with how she took it in stride. Her first night back and she seemed perfectly fine, although somewhat bruised. She really is amazing...

Kori was however tired. Because she was called in so close to the start of the shift, she hadn't prepared to work that night and so as the end of the shift came at 7 AM, she had been up for nearly 24 hours.

As Dick walked her out to her car, Kori stifled a yawn.

"I can take you home if you need me to," Richard said to her quietly. "We can pick up your car later."

"You are sweet to offer," she replied with a sleepy smile, "but you should enjoy your Saturday morning ritual of breakfast at Denny's with our friends."

"Are you sure?" he couldn't help but be concerned about her, especially now – now that he realized he loved her. Also, he wanted to drive her home. He wanted to spend as much time with her as possible.

"I am certain, Richard. Have fun. I believe I will get myself home as quickly as possible and get some rest. I have a hot date tonight." With that she gave him her not-so-innocent smile.

"You do, huh?"

"Yes I do."

"Lucky guy," he said with a smirk.

"and I'm crazy about him," Kori replied with a wink and gave Dick a quick kiss on the lips as she got into her car.

That exchange made him feel very positive about the evening. It should prove interesting. He was awaiting a call back from Galfore but was certain things were going to be fine. He knew how he felt about Kori and she seemed to feel pretty strongly about him as well. Things had progressed very quickly between them and he couldn't have been happier about it.

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At 6 PM, Richard picked Kori up at the embassy for their dinner date. Galfore had greeted Dick warmly when he came to the door but they were on their way quickly.

"I missed you today," Dick said to Kori as he opened her car door and kissed her on the lips.

"Weren't you sleeping?" she teased, staying close.

"Yeah but I still missed you," he replied with a smile.

A little bit during the drive home from the hospital, Kori caught herself thinking it would have been nice to have slept together after their shift, just to sleep. Well maybe not. After she woke from said sleep she thought about it again, imagining sleeping in Richard's strong arms. Her own thoughts scared her a bit, and even now that she was with him, she really couldn't get the idea out of her mind. She wasn't sure if she was upset or relieved she didn't have her own apartment. She wondered if she should tell him.

Dick stopped at a park along the Potomac prior to their reservation. He hadn't really given much of an explanation about why they were stopping. They got out of the SUV and walked holding hands, their fingers laced. Kori thought Richard was holding on to her tighter than usual.

"Kori," Richard almost squeaked out, his throat having gotten drier and drier over the 15 minutes, nervous about Kori's reaction to his question.

"Yes, Richard?" His nervousness was not lost on her and Kori became a little unsettled.

"There was something I wanted to ask you,"

"Yes?"

"I was hoping that you would accompany me to the Devon Horse Show this year,"

"Certainly, Richard - "

"for the week."

Kori took a slight misstep and thankfully Richard's grip on her hand kept her vertical. Her head was spinning a bit. She knew that the show was held in a suburb of Philadelphia and apparently it was a long show. He's asking me to go away with him?

"I already spoke to Galfore," Richard added quickly, realizing she might be getting the wrong idea, "and he gave me permission to ask you. We will be going with Bruce and Selina, and you can either stay in the corporate apartments with the three of us or in your own suite at the Devon Hotel. Its up to you..."

"Richard – I, uh I am just surprised." She stared at her shoes as her brain went into overdrive. She needed some clarification, "Galfore agreed to this?"

"He did, after some reassurance from Bruce, but of course it is your decision,"

"of course..." Kori still trying to get her mind around the idea. She really liked the thought of spending a few days with Richard, but wasn't it too soon?

Dick was panicking a bit. Did I go about this wrong? Did I blow it with Kori? Did she think I was expecting us to stay together?

"I'm sorry I asked Galfore first, but I believed it was appropriate. I spoke with him about it on Thursday when he invited me in for a brandy and then earlier this evening, after he spoke with Bruce. I'm sorry Kori, I didn't mean to upset you, I just, uh, I really wanted to spend more time with you and its something I wanted to share it with you..."

Dick realized that Kori didn't seem to be hearing what he was saying, "Kori?" She didn't look up, "Kori? Are you okay?"

"Oh, I am sorry, but yes I think I am fine, Richard. I am surprised that is all," Kori's mind was whirling, she was thrilled and excited and a bit terrified, but she knew her answer, "but I would love to go with you... very much."

Richard was so relieved he pulled her into the kind of bone crushing hugs he was used to getting from her. He kissed the top of her head.

"Bruce and I usually spend most of the week if not the entire week up there. I didn't mean to spring anything on you its just that I wanted to share that part of my life with you," he pulled out of the hug so he could look her in the eye, "and I really didn't want to be apart from you that long."

"I imagine I would not enjoy being away from you for that long either," Kori said with a blush.

"There are a few functions I'll need to attend, hopefully with you as my date, and I'd like to see our horses compete, but really you can do whatever you'd like. You certainly don't have to be up there the entire time. Its not far from Penn and I know you have plenty of friends you'd like to visit. Of course, I hope you'd want to spent a little bit of the time with me..." he added in a teasing tone.

"Perhaps," she matched his tone.

"Are you alright with it then?"

"Yes I am."

"I figure you would be most comfortable in your own suite, so you'll have one in the Devon Hotel and I will stay at the our corporate apartment that is not far from there."

It flashed in Kori's head that she would really have some privacy with Dick if they wanted it. Well, if she wanted it, she had figured Dick wanted to spend the night with her from pretty much the beginning. She could not believe how tempted she was. She had been fantasizing about it and within a matter of days it could come true. She had so much to think about.

"Kori?"

"Sorry Richard, lost in thought," she said with a blush. Again she wondered if she should tell him what she was thinking about.

"Everything okay?"

"Well, I guess it means there will be a change in our relationship," she said in a questioning tone that confused him a bit.

"Why would there be?"

Kori realized that Dick must not consider that her living arrangements affected their relationship. Did it? She wanted a more physical relationship with Dick, but it was so early. Was he really willing to wait for her?

She felt bad – perhaps she was selling Dick short. She had made the assumption that he was biding his time, but he was actually being true to his word, that they would do things right. He had said he was willing to wait, why hadn't she believed him.

"I am sorry, I just assumed..."

Dick realized what she was thinking, but wanted to clarify. "Assumed what?"

"That you would want to, uh, that you would want us to stay together."

"Kori, I told you I was willing to wait, I wanted to do things right. Don't you believe me?"

"I, well, wasn't sure."

Ugh. My past is affecting her. She doesn't trust me.

"Kori, I am sincere. I know my past and my track record would indicate otherwise but I would never hurt you, I would never ask you to do anything you aren't ready for."

"You have behaved as a perfect gentleman so far. I just figured that you would want to..."

"Kori, I do have very strong feelings for you, stronger than I could have ever thought I'd have for anyone I've only known for such a short time. I am very, very attracted to you and I would love to act on my feelings toward you. But I would never, ever push us, because it is us and the timing has to be right for both of us." He had had plenty of lustful intentions toward her from the very beginning. He wasn't going to deny it.

"But Richard, I have never... I am a..." Kori didn't want to say it. She wasn't sure why. "I am saving myself," she finally said quietly. Should she clarify that she had been saving herself for marriage? Did she still even feel that way?

"Kori, I was not certain, but I am not surprised. I admire you for it."

"You do?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Well, I mean, what if you want to and I don't..."

"Then we wait," he replied firmly.

"Truly?"

"Of course."

"You wouldn't leave?"

"No. Do you think I would?"

"I would hope not, but..."

"Has someone broken up with you because you wouldn't?"

"More than once, yes."

"Oh, that must have been horrible." He pulled her into a hug. "I'm sorry that happened to you but I am proud of you, that you were that strong."

"I did not feel strong at the time." She added quietly, "I was scared."

"You were strong," he reiterated.

"I am sorry Richard, I did not mean to sound like I did not trust you it has just been in my experience that most men want just one thing."

"I am not most men."

She pulled away from him to look at him. "No, you certainly are not," she said with a slight smile. "And I have given some thought to spending more time together. I am not ready to, uh, make love, but I have feelings for you I do not really understand and I feel like I want to spend even more time with you than we do." She took a deep breath, "To be honest, I thought about how nice it would have been to spend today sleeping in the same bed." She blushed at her admission. "I know we just started the going out, and have only known each other for about six weeks, but I actually feel that close to you."

"Look, Kori, it looks like we have a lot to talk about. Would you like to skip the restaurant, perhaps do something else, go somewhere where we can talk?"

"Sure, I would like that, I agree we need to talk."

"Why don't we figure out somewhere for take out? I'll cancel the reservation. Do you want to stay here?"

"Its nice here but you know what, I would love to see your farm."

"You want to see the farm?" He cocked an eyebrow at her. He hadn't felt comfortable having her over before, he didn't want to be presumptuous, although the barn wasn't directly connected to the manor.

"Yes, if that is okay. If I am going to see your horses in competition, perhaps I should see them and learn more about them."

"Kori I think that its a great idea."

"And you are alright with taking me home later?"

"Of course, I would be happy to."

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They traveled back in relative silence in the car. Kori was sorting out her feelings about going away together, even if it wasn't 'together together'. She was glad she had admitted that she was having'friendly' thoughts about him. She was also rethinking things with Dick. She knew she cared about him, that she was unbelievably attracted to him, but on some level she had let herself doubt that he would stay. She had wanted to be understanding and she did accept his past and she wanted to believe he would stay true to her. She wanted to let herself love him, to really open up, but she had been disappointed before.

She also just didn't think she was good enough for him. And how could anyone as incredible as Dick Grayson want to be with her for the long haul? She was just a little naive girl from foreign land. Was that really girlfriend, let alone wife material for him?

She also worried about her physical response to him. He was not only incredibly attractive but he made her feel safe and he made her feel special. Kori wanted him like she had never, ever wanted anyone before and her desire for him scared her. She considered that perhaps it is part of the way things are supposed to be, that it was feelings on a level she had not experienced before, that she was supposed to be attracted to a man like that. Maybe that is a part of love she has never known before, the part of love that meant the person was the one. She knew that she was falling in love with Richard, but had been holding back. Thinking it through just then she realized now was the time that she should let herself go.

Dick thought about whether or not to tell Kori that he loved her. He considered that she would think he was just saying it, the timing would appear too convenient. He was thankful that she had saved herself, which he presumed was for marriage but related to this decision, somebody or maybe somebodies had done a number on her self esteem. She had a body that was meant for physical love but her mind and soul was meant for the deepest of connections and he hoped that they would someday connect at that level.

He wondered whether or not he was even worthy of her – would she even want him after the life he has lead? Could he really expect her to live with his past? She had been so forgiving so far. There were certainly no deal breaking surprises that he was aware of such as a child out there somewhere (he had been very careful, one of the pieces of advice Bruce gave him that he took most to heart), but would Kori continue to be so understanding?

And she always said she felt safe with him – how could she? He had let her down twice in the ER and what about her feelings? He had already hurt her with Kitten and Babs.

He knew for sure that he loved her, and that was the most important thing of all, wasn't it?

Yes, they had a lot to talk about indeed.

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A/N: What do you think? Looking over this I realized some people might have thought that Dick might have been asking for Kori's hand – well that would have been anticlimactic!

Sorry for the delay. I lost momentum when the fanfiction web site was messed up for three days and now I am away on vacation, pretty busy with the relaxing and hanging out with the family.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. They are complicated characters. Thanks for reading. Please review!

LJ