Here's the next chapter. Its an okay length and its pivotal to the story. I like it – hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teen Titans but I do own the storyline and often have Dogfish Head Ale in the fridge.

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Chapter 28

Down at the Farm

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They were nearing Dark Night Farm and both Dick and Kori still deep in thought. They had barely said anything to each other, but it was certainly not an uncomfortable silence.

Dick still was deliberating over whether or not to tell Kori that he loved her right out and right away. It was true, why not let her know? Maybe it would make things easier for her, she seemed so ill at ease with him. Plus she needed reassurance. He had always known she was something special, that they could be something special.

Kori was in a battle with her self esteem. Dick had given her no reason to think he wasn't sincere about her, why did she think she wasn't good enough. His past had its implications to their relationship but it was her past that was really effecting them. Just because other guys had not respected her decision, didn't mean Richard wouldn't. Perhaps it was something even bigger. Maybe she wasn't supposed to fall in love like this until now.

And it was right then when she did realize that she loved Richard Grayson, and probably had for a while. She began to wonder when she should fill him in on that little insight.

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They pulled into the long tree lined entrance way to Dark Night Farm. Although it was on the same property as Wayne Manor, it was a very separate place. It was a relatively small operation, only 15 horses when all of them were there at home. The barn itself, the indoor arena, three outdoor arenas, a round pen, paddocks and fields occupied only about 30 acres of Bruce Wayne's estate with plenty of room to expand. It addition to the barn itself, there were three small cottages. Only one of them was currently in year round use and that was where the barn manager Manny lived.

"The barn is beautiful Richard," Kori said as they pulled up to it.

"Would you like to see the Manor as well?" Dick asked. He admonished himself – now that just sounded pretentious.

"I would love to see your home," Kori said sincerely, "but I would not wish to impose. Perhaps another time when Alfred and your father can be prepared for my visit?"

"Of course you're right. But you are welcome any time Kori." He didn't want to push it. They would have privacy at the farm and there was less temptation there for either of them to act on their feelings. "Plus I believe we have a lot to discuss."

"I believe we do," she replied with a coy smile, more confident now, but nervous about his reaction to what she was going to say.

The barn itself was exquisite of course and Manny made sure it was immaculate. It was shaped essentially in an "L" shape and all the stalls had a window and two dutch doors, one that lead into a wide aisle and the other facing outside so there was plenty of circulation. There was also two wash stalls where the horses could be groomed and bathed along with a large tack room where all the saddles, bridles and equipment were neatly kept. Finally there was, for lack of a better term, a lounge.

It was in the lounge where Dick thought he and Kori should have their talk. He knew there was a comfortable table and chairs where they could eat. Unfortunately, or so he thought, he had not paid that much attention and had forgotten the two large couches in the corner where there was also a TV. He had a slight feeling of dread that Kori might have thought that he planned it that way. The couches were generally not used except for naps or the nights when one of the horses needed to be watched. There was a closed circuit TV for when a mare was about to foal or if a horse was colicking or otherwise ill.

Fortunately, Dick had originally planned a casual evening so they were both dressed casually in jeans. They were supposed to go to a crab place where the eating was essentially communal and could get fairly messy. It had sounded like fun, and Kori insisted that they should go there soon, certainly before the next 'date night'. Of course what was originally going to be "date night" for them on Saturdays had already turned into a nearly daily occurrence.

The decision was made to have pizza delivered. For some reason Kori wanted mustard on the side, so Dick had ordered it that way. She sure is full of surprises, he thought with a smile.

Awaiting the pizza, Dick gave Kori only a quick tour. They decided to spend more time after they ate with the horses. Dick gave Manny a quick call to tell him they would hay the horses later on in the evening and check on all of them before things were shut down for the night. A few minutes later he saw Manny's car go down the drive. It was nice Manny would be enjoying a night off.

The pizza came within 45 minutes and Dick tipped the young man delivering it very well. It was a bit of a drive for him. Along with Coke, Diet Coke and the pizza, Dick had ordered a six pack of Dogfish Head Ale, a beer from a microbrewery in Delaware that he particularly enjoyed. He opened a bottle and was a bit surprised that Kori accepted it when he offered it. He wasn't sure if she was a beer drinker but was glad she was. She was so much more down to earth than so many of the women he dated. Place a check mark in the plus column for Kori.

It was unspoken, but the conversation during the meal stayed away from the subject at hand. Instead, lighter topics were discussed, including about the beer and how Kori gotten the idea that mustard would be good on pizza ("it really is good on most things, I'd drink it if I could...").

Dick had stopped after two beers considering he was driving. Kori had her third and was eyeing the last one. She was relaxed if not a bit tipsy, but certainly did not want to get drunk, no matter how bad her nerves were getting.

"Lets get the horses settled in for the night, and then we'll talk," Dick said. The horses had already been brought in for the night and fed their dinner so all that they needed was some hay and for the barn to be locked up for the night.

"Great! Please tell me what to do!" Kori said cheerfully.

After seeing him do it, Kori repeated his actions and took two flakes of hay to each stall. She certainly doesn't mind getting her hands dirty. Another check in the plus column for Kori.

Dick ducked into each stall and eyeballed each horse for anything wrong. He grabbed a muck bucket and pitchfork and picked manure out of each stall as well. When Kori finished with the hay she looked over to see Dick in one of the stalls petting a large black horse. There was something about what she was seeing, something that looked so familiar... there was a flash in her mind of a boy she knew as a child who visited her father's barn when she was little who would pet the horse like that...

The image was in and out of her mind quickly. Was it even something that really happened? She had blocked out a lot of her childhood with everything that had happened in the last few years before she left Tamaran.

"Kori?"

"Kori, is everything okay?"

She looked over to see him and a smile returned to her face.

"Yes, Richard."

"You remember when I was so sore when we were supposed to meet for coffee?"

"Yes," she said wondering where this was going.

"Well this guy here is to blame for my 'injuries'. He kind of bucked me off." He said with a slight blush of embarrassment.

Kori looked at the placid beast who was nuzzling Dick's hands most likely looking for treats. "He looks most dangerous," she said, chuckling.

"No, he's not. Just young. His name is Nightwing, but around here he's known as Buster. He's one of the horses we are taking to Devon."

Kori walked into the stall and reached stood next to Dick. Following his lead, she stroked him on his muscular neck. The horse leaned into their hands. Dick chuckled as he looked down at Kori, seeing her smile broaden. Another check in the plus column.

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Satisfied that the horses were okay for the night, Dick suggested that they better at least start their talk. It really wasn't late, not even 9:00 PM. They washed up as best they could and sat down on one of the sofas in the lounge. Dick opened the last beer and took a swig and handed it to Kori. They sat in silence, his arm loosely around her shoulders, sharing shy glances, and handing the beer back and forth.

When Kori drank the last of the beer, she leaned over and kissed Dick who was more than happy for her boldness. He loved kissing her. Their kisses were unhurried and very sweet.

As much as he was enjoying her kisses, they were there to discuss some important things and Dick reluctantly pulled back from a content Kori, who had a dreamy look in her eyes.

"Kori, as much as I am enjoying this, we came here to talk..."

She blushed and smiled at him sweetly. She took a deep breath to help bolster her confidence. The beer would help her talk, but she needed to say these things with conviction.

"Indeed we are." She took another deep breath. "Richard, I did not mean to make it sound as though I do not trust you."

"I know, and I am sorry I sprung the trip on you without thinking about how you would react. I knew that we would not be staying together as a couple... I mean we are a couple, but that we would not be staying together let alone sleeping together... I guess I didn't think about how you would react. I'm sorry. I saw Galfore as the only obstacle."

"You did nothing wrong Richard. I am only having trouble with this because since I met you... since I met you, I have had the feelings."

"The feelings?"

"The feeling that I want to be close to you, that I should be close to you."

Dick was trying to understand what she meant. He wasn't sure if it was a language issue or if she just didn't know how to express her feelings. She had said the feelings were new to her. But he understood his feelings and it was time to share them with her.

"Kori, when said that I care about you, you know I do, right?"

"Yes"

"I have had feelings for you since we met as well."

"You have?"

"I have had very strong and growing feelings for you. Yes, we have a special connection. Yes, I feel that I've known you for much longer than I have. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves, but to be honest even before we even started dating I had considered whether or not that you might be 'the one'."

Kori gasped audibly and her eyes flashed wide in surprise.

He looked at her deep in her eyes. "Kori, what I do know is that I love you."

She repeated the gasp and eye flash as he pulled her into a hug. One thing he had thought about that he would try to wait to kiss her after saying that. He still worried she would think he was just saying it.

Kori held the tight hug and processed what she was being told. After a short while of holding each other, they separated. Dick searched her face to see what she was thinking, still concerned that she might think he was not being sincere.

"Richard," she started, her face serious, "The strong feelings I have had for you since I met you continue to grow. I agree we are connected. When I said I was crazy about you earlier today what I probably should have said was that I love you."

She smiled slightly but Dick knew from that smile that there must be a caveat.

"There's something wrong, isn't there Kori?" Dick asked and unconsciously held his breath.

"It is just that I am so attracted to you, Richard," she said, beginning to blush, "that I want to get carried away. I want to be with you, I mean physically."

Dick let his breath out, relieved. "Is that bad?" he questioned, trying to make sure he held a serious tone in his voice.

"No, it is not bad," Kori smiled shyly, "it is just new to me."

"I'm very flattered," he gave her a reassuring smile, "and I find myself more attracted to you than I have ever been to anyone."

"Truly?"

"Yes. Why would you question that? You are beautiful and sweet and funny and I love being with you."

"I love being with you."

"But you are scared."

"Not scared of you, just scared."

"No matter what Kori, we are going to take things as slow as we need to." Dick wasn't going to give a firm time frame. "We'll wait until we are both ready. And that just doesn't mean making love, which it would be and nothing short of that, I hope you realize. I mean with the way we kiss, the way we share our bodies, even sharing a bed. It is all important and we will take it at the pace that is best for us."

"What if I still want to wait until after I'm married?" Kori wanted to be sure she wasn't offering him anything she wasn't going to be able to give him.

"Then we wait," he reassured her firmly.

Hearing what he was saying and the sincere look in his eyes, Kori knew he understood. It was such a relief. She tackled him with another tug and began to quietly cry.

"Thank you," she managed quietly as the tears fell, "thank you for understanding."

"I love you, Kori."

"I love you too, Richard."

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They spent the half hour or so just snuggling on the couch, occasionally sharing a gentle kiss, talking a bit about their upcoming trip. It was getting late and Dick had the long drive into DC to the embassy to drop Kori off and then back again, so they locked up the barn. Once in the car, Dick leaned across the front console and kissed Kori. He repeated the action once they had pulled into the embassy. During both times their kisses continued to be sweet and unhurried. Surprisingly, even after having professed their love for each other and although the desire was definitely there, things never got heated that evening. Both of them were beyond thrilled about how things had transpired that evening - maybe this is what true love is all about.

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Good Lord, I hope that wasn't too sappy! Maybe just semi-sappy? Again, I liked it.

Next chapter up soon, probably not before Tuesday, we're traveling in the car the next few days.

Please review. It really makes me happy!

LJ