Hi everyone, welcome back to the story. Sorry for the slow update, computer issues, life being busy... now on with our story:

Double Take

Chapter 40

Regrets

Babs was trying to enjoy the party at Bruce's apartment but she just couldn't relax. In the middle of an apartment full of Bruce's friends, she was deep in thought, She had a lot on her mind including awaiting any fallout from the tidbit she had given to the local photographer about Kori being Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran.

Also on her mind was that Xavier was not turning out to be the best boyfriend. She wasn't going to stop seeing him for the time being, however. There were a few reasons for that. One was that they were away together at the show, although Red had commuted back to DC for a couple days for work. He was certainly fun to be with and very nice to look at. Even with the attraction, she wasn't even sure if there was really any chemistry between them; it often felt like they were just going through the motions.

It was obvious to Babs that Red was a big flirt but she knew that going in. She had also known that he was a colleague of Dick's. In fact, Dick had told her about Dr. Red when she was looking to get her nose fixed. As a gymnast in high school, Babs had taken a ghastly fall off the balance beam in a practice session and had broken her nose badly. The original repair wasn't satisfactory and a subsequent repair left her feeling that her nose appeared as though it had been done, so she wanted to consult with a plastic surgeon to see if there was anything that could be done to make it look natural.

Dick had been upfront about his feeling about Xavier personally with Babs but he knew professionally that Xavier's work was outstanding. Of course, Dick wouldn't have thought that Babs would end up dating her physician so he didn't give any more detail than necessary.

When Babs came to Red, she liked him immediately, but it wasn't until a number weeks after her surgery when she ran into him at a regatta that she thought much about him romantically. At that point, they started dating casually. But since seeing Dick and Kori together at the Polo match – which coincidentally Xavier and Babs were both at although they weren't there together – did she really pursue a relationship with him.

Babs wondered if one of the reasons Xavier wanted to go up to Devon was the fact that Kori was going to be there with Dick. She knew he had an interest in her. He didn't even try to hide it. Thinking about this, she let out a sigh. Again I'm competing with Kori...

It had occurred to her that perhaps together, she and Xavier can obtain a common goal – breaking Dick and Kori up. Not that she was going to tell Xavier or anyone else for that matter that she had spoken to the photographer Amy, but perhaps there was something else they could do... It seemed like a perfect scenario – Dick and Kori would break up, Dick could go back to Babs, and Xavier could have his shot at Kori...

Her mind moved on to the other big reason she was not fast tracking a break-up with Xavier - the fact that he had a DEA number. She knew he wasn't going to write prescriptions for pain meds for her much longer but maybe he would at least one more time if she approached it correctly. She only had a few pills left and she knew from experience that she was about to become desperate, that once she stopped taking the pills, the physical affects of withdrawal would kick in within hours.

And, for whatever the reason, it was right then when she made the realization that even if she had an access to more Percocet, she was going to have to come off someday, best sooner rather than later. For that, she would need help and support. Dick had already offered to help and made reference to the treatment options including outpatient ones which wouldn't interrupt the rest of her life. Dick had been so sweet with Babs about it, showing genuine concern. He made it very clear however that Kori was the one who pointed it out to him initially and she was quite aware of the situation and concerned as well. Dick hadn't been overly persistent with Babs about it but had let her know that he was quite concerned ever since the polo match. She knew she couldn't continue taking the drugs much longer.

Great Babs, she thought to herself with a terrible feeling of dread, so the two people who have shown you the most concern and have offered to help are the same two people I just outed to TMZ? What have I done?

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In spite of Richard's reassurances, Kori was getting very worked up about the situation. Her mind was racing as she paced the room, there were so many unanswered questions: How did this happen? Why? Why were we kissing like that in public? What will Galfore say? Will we truly be filmed by the paparazzi in the future? Will we have trouble with their privacy after this? And the one that was bothering her the most: Why is Richard defending Barbara?

For the first time in their relationship, Kori wanted some time alone. The irony was not lost on her – it was Richard who had a tendency to run, to work things out on his own, whereas she enjoyed the support and counsel of others. Of course if only he hadn't defended Barbara, she had a feeling things would be quite different for her.

"Please Kori," Richard pleaded, "settle down. This isn't doing you any good. It'll be fine, you'll see."

"Settle down?! I cannot do the settling down!" she retorted, as she briefly halted her pacing.

"Alright, then sit, please Kori. Talk to me and-"

"Talk to you?! So you can defend Barbara again?!"

"Uh..."

Kori turned and walked away, resuming her pacing in the sitting area of the hotel room. Richard got up and followed her, then fell in step next to her, earning himself a glare.

"Kori, look, will you please stop and talk to me?

"So will you now explain why you would defend Barbara? Can you not at least entertain the possibility that she is the one that told the photographer or the TMZ?"

"Uh..."

"It appears that the grishnik has got your tongue."

"Look, Kori, I don't think you understand. I didn't mean to defend her, but we don't know who did this yet and this is a time to lean on our friends rather than accuse them without proof."

That earned him another glare. "I believe the expression is 'with friends like that...'"

Richard paused, having to control the urge to defend Babs again. "Let's say you're right..."

"I know I am."

"and Babs told someone. We will confront her, I promise, but we can't let this break us up-"

"You think this is breaking us up?! You want to break up?" Kori's voice began to break and her tears began to fall again.

Great job, Dick.

"No, Kori, that's the last thing I want to do." He took her hand and brought it up to his lips and kissed it, his eyes locked on hers, as his cursed himself for bringing her so much pain. "It's absolutely the last thing I'd ever want to do."

His gentleness and sincerity were real, she believed that. The glare already gone, Kori expression softened, and relief washed over him.

"I love you Kori. Please, if someone meant this maliciously, we can't let them win, but more importantly, we shouldn't fight. We can't break up. I... I don't want to split up."

"Nor do I."

"Please Kori, lets try to forget about this. There's nothing we can do about it tonight and it's getting late. We need to get some sleep. Unfortunately, I'm pretty sure that no matter what there will be fallout from this, but it should just be some unwanted publicity."

Right then Richard's cell phone rang. It was Bruce.

"Tell me something good," Richard said as his greeting when he picked up the phone.

"The picture is down. TMZ is calling off their dogs."

"Thank God"

"But Dick, that doesn't mean this is going to go away."

"I know."

"The photographers will be around, I can guarantee that much. Harvey suggested going through a PR firm and releasing some information about Kori and about your relationship so we can spin the story the best we can for us. I know the right people to contact and I will be in touch with someone in the morning."

"Alright, that sounds reasonable."

"How's Kori holding up?"

"Just great," he replied sarcastically, "just peachy."

"Things will work out, reassure her as best you can, try to enjoy your time together."

"I guess its the last chance for that for a while."

"I'm sure that's how Galfore will want it."

"That's one conversation I don't want to have..."

"Look Dick, its getting really late. Thank heaven this happened during the weekend. I'll call in the morning. Plan that we will try to release something to the press by mid-afternoon. And also plan on going to the show no matter what. Nightwatch will be getting that championship and it will look bad if you aren't there and Kori should be with you. But like I said before, for now stay put, both of you, until I can make arrangements to get you out of there without drawing too much attention."

"Thank you, Bruce."

"One more thing, Kori will probably be asked about her sister Komand'r. You'll need to think about how you want to handle that one and I can help you with that." Bruce could offer help there as a diplomat, he'd know how to handle that with the press.

"Another conversation I don't want to have..." Dick muttered, mostly to himself. He had never asked Kori about her sister who had joined the coup attempt and might have even been involved with the bombing that killed Kori's parents and brother.

"We'll get through this," Bruce reassured him.

"Yeah, I hope so. Thanks again for all your help. Good night, Dad," Dick rarely called his adoptive father 'Dad' anymore, but this seemed like an appropriate time to.

"Good night Dick and send my best to Kori."

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Still upset and a bundle of nerves, Kori had already changed into pajamas. Dick was disappointed but hardly surprised.

"Star?"

Hearing that name made her smile in spite of everything.

"Yes Robin?"

Now it was his turn to smile. She hadn't been calling him by his childhood nickname and it was nice to hear, reminding him of their history together, reminding him that they had found each other again.

"Before Bruce called, do you remember what we were talking about?"

How could she forget? It wasn't a marriage proposal, but with what was said Richard clearly indicated that he wanted them to stay together. He asked her directly if she would be willing to marry an American rather than a Tamaranian, the implication being that Kori would be willing to marry Richard. They both confirmed that they saw each other together in the future.

"Of course."

"I love you so much, nothing could change that."

"I love you too," she replied softly, a smile beginning playing on her lips. Nothing would make her happier than a future with Richard, even with some complications. She just wished that she could be as sure as he seemed to be that nothing would affect their future.

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So Babs isn't a monster.... Kori isn't a push over...

DEA number - a unique number assigned to physicians from the Federal Drug Encforcement Agency allowing them to write prescriptions for 'controlled substances', i.e. Percocet and other opioids

Sorry for the short and delayed chapter. I'll try to update soon. Anyone notice the adapted dialog from 'Stranded'?

Thank you for reading and please review!!!