Chapter 50! Whoa. So much for my 25 chapter story...
Sorry again for the wait guys. This was actually supposed to come out 3/6/10 (not that I hadn't hoped for earlier), but my son has picked up a particularly bad strain of bronchitis and I have it too. Yay, motherhood! At least I can be home with him.
Kori's 30th birthday party continues and Vic bakes his 'famous eight layer cake with three types of frosting', and Babs and Xavier decide on trying a unified front to break up Richard and Kori. Before that can occur, Richard and Kori will continue to get closer.
Thank you for staying with this story everyone!
.
Double Take
.
Chapter 50
Kori's Party, Part 3
.
Character List:
Richard Grayson (Robin/Nightwing) - ER doc/playboy
Kori Anders (Starfire) - Nurse practitioner/working temporarily as an ER nurse
Victor Stone (Cyborg) - ER doctor/Chief of Emergency Medicine
Karen Beecher (Bumble Bee) - ER Nurse/Victor's Fiancée
Tara Markov (Terra) - ER Nurse
Rachael Roth (Raven) - ER doctor
Gar Logan (Beast Boy) - ER Nurse
Wally West (Kid Flash) - Paramedic/ER Nurse
Roy Harper (Speedy) - ER Nurse
Jade Nguyen – Roy's pregnant girlfriend
Katrina "Kitten" Moth (Kitten) - Registration Clerk
Jennifer McAllen (Jinx) - Nursing Student, Wally's girlfriend
Xavier Red (Red X) - Plastic Surgeon, Babs' boyfriend
Barbara 'Babs' Gordon (Batgirl) – Socialite, Richard's ex-girlfriend now dating Xavier
Taryia Kalapatt (Taryia) – Tamaranian friend of Kori's, married to Karras, Professor
Karras Kalapatt (Karras) – Tamaranian former fiance of Kori's, married to Taryia, Pilot
Ambassador Galfore (Galfore) – Kori's uncle and the Tamaranian ambassador to the US
Selina Kyle (Catwoman) – Bruce's girlfriend
Chase Meridian (Dr. Chase Meridian) – Psychiatrist, former girlfriend of Bruce Wayne
Bruce Wayne (Batman) – Richard's adoptive father, former US Ambassador to Tamaran.
Alfred Pennyworth (Alfred Pennyworth) – Bruce and Richard's butler and friend and confidant
Jim Gordon (Commissioner Gordon) – Babs' father, the DC Police Commissioner
Brion Markov (Geoforce) – Tara's brother, Geology professor
Rex Mason (Metamorpho) - Archeology professor
Sapphire Stagg-Mason – wife of Rex Mason
Jefferson Pierce (Black Lightning) – Statistics professor
Lynn Stewart-Pierce – wife of Jefferson Pierce, Statistics professor
Tatsu Yamashiro (Katana) – Geology professor
Jenniy-Lynn Hayden (Jade) – Professor in Arts
Helena Bertinelli (Huntress) – Economics Professor
.
"There you are my eh'hun," Richard said as he approached Kori who had just left Tara and Brion to find him. She nearly tackled him as she hugged him hearing the endearment that essentially meant beloved. Lost in the moment, she initiated a searing kiss.
"Wow," Richard said. He had been expecting a smile or a peck on the lips at the endearment, not quite that much of a reaction. Not that he minded.
"Yes, that kiss was the wow," Kori replied.
"Awright you two, save it for the honeymoon," Vic said with a grin. He had checked that they were alone before he said it, but Dick scowled and Kori looked shocked.
Vic gave a shrug, "It's time for the cake." He was passing by them in the butler's pantry, rolling a cart with a large three tiered cake, "Kori, I baked for you my famous eight-layer cake with three kinds of frosting."
"Thank you Victor, it looks glorious!" Kori enthused and hugged Victor. It was decorated with mauve and pink flowers made from icing, and Happy 30th Birthday Kori written in mauve frosting.
"Vic, that's great," Dick said, "Kori, you have no idea what an honor it is for Victor to bake this cake for you. I've his best friend for over 25 years and he made it for me twice, and at least the first time was long before he perfected his technique. He baked it for Karen only once, and only after they were engaged. You are definitely special." Richard leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips.
"Let's go back outside and I'll get this bad boy served," Vic said.
"Give us a minute and get everyone assembled, we'll be right out," Dick told his friend as he hung back with Kori.
TtTtTtTtTt
"Are you okay?" Dick asked Kori, his arm around her as he yet again pulled her close. She instinctively clutched the fabric of his shirt.
"I am now," Kori replied as she looked up into Richard's eyes.
"You weren't before? Oh, about Babs?" Richard replied, looking concerned.
"Actually, I just missed you," she gifted him a smile that really got to him, and his face relaxed and then softened, "I am not really upset about you helping Babs so much. She needs to get better. You, well really we, have promised to help her. The sooner she is in recovery, the sooner she can move on to living her own life and just go back to being your, and hopefully my friend too, again."
"You're too wonderful Kori," Dick said as he gave her another rather searing kiss.
A bit off guard, Kori was left breathless, "I believe Victor said something about cake."
"Oh that's right, I should know better than to stand between my eh'hun and her cake," he teased.
Kori punch him playfully on the arm in mock protest and then took his offered arm and then walked out to the terrace to join the others.
TtTtTtTtTt
"There she is, here comes the birthday girl!" Bruce Wayne said, in rarely seen enthusiasm. Dick shot him a questioning look.
There were a few comments and shout outs from the crowd, until Victor lead everyone into the birthday song. Thankfully, no one uttered the word 'princess', although it was likely that had been as directed by Dick and/or Bruce. Kori blushed but at the end of the song clapped and blew out all the candles, refusing to share her wish, even with Richard.
TtTtTtTtTt
Babs stood by a deserted self-serve bar, away from the other guests, watching the party at a close distance, watching in particular a happy couple.
"How are you holding up, Babs?" Xavier asked, placing a hand on the small of her back. They had finally been honest with each other and it was the reason that they were late to the party. Well that and the break up sex that followed the discussion. So, it was over between them, they were just keeping up appearances for the time being.
"There is Alfred's most amazing homemade sour mix that would make an outstanding Vodka Collins but I have to stay away from alcohol during these first few weeks," Babs replied slightly bitter, "oh, and look at these Chardonneys." Babs picked up and inspected a couple of the labels of the California wines.
"Babs, in actuality, Suboxone and alcohol are never supposed to be mixed," Xavier clarified.
"Oh, you're such a goodie-two shoes, just like Dick," Babs said with a pout.
"Hardly and hardly," Xavier replied with a dark chuckle.
"You aren't anything like him are you?"
"Nope."
"Then, why do you two like the same women?"
"Coincidence. Love of redheads. Good taste."
"Thanks, I think," Babs replied, the pout only lessening a bit.
"It was a compliment. You are attractive, desirable and fun, Babs. We've had a great time. We'll continue to have fun, but I'm just not in it for the long haul. I hope you aren't disappointed."
"No, not really. So are you going to try to make our little birthday girl your little princess," Babs said, gazing down as Dick and Kori, arm and arm continued to chat with friends from the ER.
"Oh, I have no intention of making her Mrs. Red, but I do wish for her to be my conquest," he replied, eyeing his would be quarry.
"Well, on the other hand, I do wish to become Mrs. Grayson," Babs replied firmly.
"Let's work on that, shall we?"
"I have always respected how your mind works Dr. Red."
TtTtTtTtTt
Xavier had not lost sight of Kori. She was finally alone and he could move in. Persistence pays off, experience had taught him that. And he always did his homework. He had a feeling that with Dick so busy, and Kori so distracted, that maybe, just maybe something would happen that they'd miss.
He'd struck gold. He hadn't even told Babs. He didn't want her in the loop for this one. He was going to let this one simmer under the surface: Dr. Red was going to prove that he was keeping tabs on Kori's career, better than Dick had been, better than even Kori had been able to in her current state and situation.
Google was a beautiful thing indeed.
"Kori, I saw you're Op Ed in the Post on the Hospice Care as part of the Health Care Bill as well your article in the Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing."
Kori I hadn't realized either were published, but before her mind was formulating the question about why he was reading a nursing journal, Xavier continued, "Well done on both accounts. I've started reading the JHPCN because of all the breast and other cancer reconstruction surgeries I do, and unfortunately down the road there are sometimes recurrences. But again, really, really nicely written, insightful."
"Th-thank you," Kori stammered, her eyebrows knitted slightly, how did I miss my own publications, because I was here and not home at the Embassy....
"Kori, weren't you aware that either of these were published?"
"Actually, no," Kori said softly still with her eyebrows knitted slightly.
"Well I guess I'm glad I was able telling you. Isn't Dick keeping an eye out for things... oh never, mind, he's so busy. But for you not to know, perhaps because you are held up here, practically cloistered-"
"Cloistered, that's an odd if not incorrect of the term." Kori said frowning slightly. She heard what he was saying, but it all in its entirety had not been processed yet.
"Perhaps I meant he is keeping him to himself, untouched."
"Xavier, I do not appreciate that-" Kori set her jaw and her look shocked Xavier at first. He would later realize it made her even more attracted to her.
"Sorry, that isn't really what I meant," Xavier said, with the sincerest, kindest smile he could muster or more likely fake. "If that were the case, he'd hardly throw you this marvelous party."
"Correct. Although this party was planned before... the media attention. And that is why I am here, if you are unaware. It is much easier for me to be here than the Embassy or another private residence."
"You are going to move out of the Embassy?" Xavier asked.
"It was my hope at one point, but now, well there is no real reason for it."
"Why may I ask?"
Kori realized she had probably said too much, "Oh... the Embassy is a great place for me to be."
"Or are there other plans?"
Kori blushed.
Xavier put a hand on her shoulder and in an almost fatherly tone, "Whatever is right for you, I know you'll do it. It's just that it must be hard at least for right now, especially with Dick off to work, out with Babs so much. I offered to help her, but she said Dick had insisted."
"Whatever it takes, as long as she recovers, is that not correct?" Kori said, more as the party line at the moment, a bit tired of it all.
"Absolutely, although she is having a particularly hard road," Xavier said.
"I'm sorry that is the case, but she is sure to get into recovery."
"I should let you to your other guests Kori. It was nice speaking with you, and if you ever need anything, just ask. You can call anytime, have the hospital operator page me or I can give you my number."
"Thank you Xavier, I will keep that in mind."
"Oh, and Kori, it is too presumptuous for me to ask outright, but if you see me out on the dance floor, perhaps a quick dance?" Xavier again offered a smile that Kori just wasn't sure how to take – kind, yet predatory... how strange...
"We'll see, thank you Xavier."
TtTtTtTtTt
The party continued until roughly Midnight. It was a great deal of fun, with more dancing and the guests just enjoying themselves. Kori stayed away from Xavier, but he had more than acheived his goals for the evening.
The party goers were set to get together about 10:30 or so the following morning for brunch and sports the next morning so people were in no hurray to head to bed. There were some late night hanging out in some of the rooms and Alfred was sure to have additional refreshments available.
Some people, including Galfore, Babs and Jim Gordon, and Xavier did head home. For the guests staying over, in order of when people were ready to go up to bed, Alfred would show them to their rooms. Kori tried to follow up Alfred to make sure everyone was settling in. Taryia and Karras were not surprisingly first, and Kori made sure Taryia had crackers, ginger ale and ice water in her room.
TtTtTtTtTt
Kori knocked and stood at the doorway of Helena Bertinelli's guest room. Alfred had shown her there a few moments before. "Do you have everything you need Helena?"
"Oh yes, Kori! I'm so glad you're here, I haven't gotten to chat with you alone." Helena grabbed Kori's hand and pulled her into the room, shutting the door behind her. "Just one minute, I won't keep you but you have to tell me about you and Dick Grayson."
"What do you want to know?" Kori had a feeling where this was going to lead...
"So are you living here? When are you two setting a date? This place is amazing, you've done well for yourself-"
"Now Helena," Kori interrupted, it wasn't that Helena didn't mean well, but her attitude wasn't always something Kori appreciated. "I am staying here for the time being, yes. I have my own room. I am here until we can secure proper security for the Embassy or the media and public attention dies down. Richard and I are not engaged although we are very close and seeing each other exclusively. Richard's wealth has nothing to do with how I feel about him."
"I wasn't implying-"
"I know, Helena, it's just I am sensitive about it, I'm sure you understand."
"I do, and I'm very, very happy for you," Helena gave Kori a hug and Kori said good night and continued her rounds to some of the other guest's rooms.
TtTtTtTtTt
There were some similar conversations, but mostly they were supportive and empathetic, rather than envious.
Kori got back to here room, which she was 'sharing' with Tara. As Tara was aware, Kori was planning to spend the night with Richard.
"How are you holding up, birthday girl?" Tara asked.
"Actually, things went extremely nicely don't you think? I thought that Taryia might strangle Richard and Babs for dancing together due to her Tamaranian temper and her pregnancy hormones but somehow she was able to stop herself."
"Oh, I missed that," Tara said plopping down on the bed.
"It was when I came out and spoke with you and Brion," Kori replied, joining her on the Queen sized bed.
"Oh, that's right, you were in Taryia's wake, I hadn't really thought about it before now. Well, at least nothing happened."
"Agreed. And Xavier was a bit forward with me but fortunately Richard did not witness it. Richard has told me that he will go "the caveman" on Xavier if he does the coming on to me again."
"Well, I see Richard going caveman on Xavier in his future then. He will continue to pursue you till the day he dies."
"Oh X'Hal, I hope not!"
"Maybe he'll smarten up. Maybe after you guys get engaged," Tara said with a wink.
"Tara, Richard and I have been doing the going out together for a month and have known each other for two months," Kori protested, although she knew it was a weak argument.
"I thought you met 17 year ago," Tara pointed out, the news new to her earlier that day.
"He thought I died, and I basically blocked out the time we had become more than just the friends."
"It's still so romantic. So when are you sneaking over to his room tonight? Does it feel I don't know, naughty?" Tara asked.
"No, not at this point, there is no reason to feel 'naughty' as you say. I really enjoy sleeping next to him. I will miss it when I return to the Embassy."
"Then don't. I mean, don't stop spending the night."
"Oh, sure, that will go over great with Uncle Galfore."
"Should I point out to you that tonight was your 30th Birthday celebration, meaning you are 30 now?"
"I am aware, but I will not be do the living with Richard. Perhaps the sleepovers..."
"So you are still waiting?" She understood Kori's reasoning for waiting but it wasn't something that you see a lot of especially in a 30 year old.
"Tara!"
"Well...are you?"
"Yes."
"Good, I have the honeymoon in the new pool."
"You guys are terrible. I am glad you have the honeymoon for you will win. I mean if we get married."
"You and Dick will get married. That is so certain, we're not even bothering running a pool on that one."
"You guys... anyway, can I ask your opinion on what nightgown to wear tonight," Kori pulled out two nightgowns from the shopping trip with Karen from before Devon. One was a white corset top with a micro-mini skirt, the other a light blue baby doll, also very short.
"Oh man, I want to see flannel. I need the pool money, I have my eye on a little Brownstone, and with either of these, I don't know..."
"Stop it! We are doing the waiting!" Kori insisted emphatically, "Which is better?"
"The baby doll is sweeter but still sexy and flirty and the corset is very, very sexy. It's your call. They are both still very dangerous. Are you sure Dick is on board with the whole waiting thing?"
"Absolutely. This is perhaps the over-sharing, but there were moments when I was a bit, well weak, and Richard was the one who made sure that we acted with what was in our hearts and heads, and not with what our bodies... desired," Kori blushed at what she had admitted. She took a look at each of the nightgowns on their hangars, "Well then, I guess I have some thinking to do."
TtTtTtTtTt
Kori had thought ahead a placed her outfit and everything else she needed for Sunday morning is Richard's room – a avoid the whole 'walk of shame' thing. She carefully tucked her nightgown of choice under her skirt so no one could see it and headed over to Richard's room.
The only person she encountered was Alfred, but at that point, even there a matter of days, she was not surprised at all.
"Well it's about time," Richard said in a husky voice. He was on the bed, paging through the Post. "Star, did you know your Op-Ed was published?"
Kori's smile lit up the room. Even if it was accidental, he came across it, but it wasn't accidental. "I remember talking to you about your ideas and that you might write something so I've had a look out. This is really good darling. You can really get your points across." He wasn't going to point out that, like many nonnative speakers, her grasp of the written language was better than her oral one.
"Thank you, Richard. I did get a submission published in the Journal for Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing. I haven't seen it yet, I guess I was notified at the Embassy by mail."
"That's great Kori. Now can you please come to bed so I can let you know how wonderful you are and give you some more birthday girl kisses." She remained out of reach and Richard wasn't sure what to about it. She was still dressed for the party.
"But is is after Midnight and it is no longer my birthday."
"A minor technicality. It is still your birthday in the Mountain and Pacific timezones."
"I will be just one moment, Robin, I must change for bed."
He loved when she used his nickname. "Don't keep me waiting."
"I'll try not to," she replied with a mischeivious smile that could only leave him wondering what she was up to.
TtTtTtTtTt
She had gone with the baby doll. The corset was fun, but too much. It would offer something she wasn't willing to, or at least that was her perception.
The light blue color of the nightgown showed off what seemed to be a permanent tan. The gown was a v neck, opening in the front and closed with buttons to the belly button. It fell to just below her panty line and then was trimmed with about two inches of lace with matching panties underneath.
Part of the allure Richard would realize later was that Kori didn't stop to pose or model her gown for him – instead she came out of the bathroom and when their eyes met, let out a little squeal and giggled as she ran over and hopped into bed.
Yes, she was sexy as can be and Richard was thrilled, but it was playful and sweet and the feeling were not at all primal. There was desire of course, but the mood was light and fun.
"I know I've said it before, and I'm sure I will say it again, Star, but Oh. My. God., you look amazing in this."
"Thank you Richard, I had a feeling you would like this."
"When did you get a chance to get this? Oh, Karen didn't pick this up because Vic'll never let me hear the end of it-"
"No, no, I have had this for a while. Although Karen helped me pick it out before Devon."
"Oh really?" Dick cocked an eye brow.
"Yes," offered a sexy smile.
"Well, I like it very much."
"I'm glad. So you were saying that it was still my birthday somewhere?"
"Yes, in plenty of places. Would you like some more birthday kisses?"
"Very, very much."
TtTtTtTtTt
Thank you for reading and please review!
Next up the brunch and fun after the party.
The Walk of Shame is when one return home the morning after staying over in someone's room wearing the same clothes you had on the evening before.