Another chapter, mostly Kori, more chapters up soon. No, I haven't given up on this story!

Double Take

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Chapter 63

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Dearest Richard,

I have decided to do the baring of my soul. I have written you everyday, but held onto the letters, instead sending you only the one note about your mother's beautiful ring, our preengagement ring.

I still cannot believe that I left it behind. I only remove it when I do the special conditioning of my hair, you know, the mango-kiwi extract that you like? It is so the slippery I worry that the ring will come off so I remove it before I do my hair. I doubt you remember, but I told you once I fear losing the ring so it's the only time I take it off... I am repeating myself. I cannot believe I didn't realize it was off my hand, it is such a part of me, of us. I meant nothing by leaving it behind Richard, I swear it. Oh, X'hal, I do hope you believe me. You know I wouldn't lie about that, about us.

I fear that my respite offers me little solace or perspective at this point. I am so panicked that you will hate me... I am trying to arrange my return to be moved up but I have diplomatic obligations on behalf of Galfore and the Tamaranean Embassy. Otherwise I will be home for Victor and Karen's nuptials.

If you could leave a message on my phone I can retrieve if I leave the island but it may be another fortnight. I will contact you when I return home or en route if you wish it.

I love you with all my heart Robin, that much I am certain of, this trip has allowed me to realize that you are the love of my life.

Love Always, Kori, your Starfire

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Kori did her best to keep her time on Paradise Island productive. She was preoccupied at times, but there was nothing more she could do. She had written and she left a phone message. Because mail was weekly, the daily letters that she continued to write just ended up as part of a journal. Her feeling had vacillated so much in the beginning that she was glad she hadn't sent them all; perhaps someday she would share them with Richard after they patched things up, if they patched things up.

Realizing through her conversations with Donna's mother, Hippolyta, who was a very strong and independent woman, Kori knew she needed to step back and take a look at herself. She had a bit of a peak experience as she was reminded of her independence and her own strength. Kori had leaned on Dick more than she had wanted, certainly more than she had meant to. She was not entirely submissive and dependent, but she had saw herself as part of a couple more and could have lost herself. It was not entirely unreasonable that she did so: there was so much of an emotional roller coaster for them as a couple as well as her individually as they realized their past connection in Tamaran as teenagers, and then that was followed up with their unwanted publicity that she was indeed Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran and all the attention that brought them.

But Kori needed to be her own person again. She was doing some of her own academic work, but needed to reimmerse herself in her career and her calling, which was hospice nursing. She also needed to decide where she fit into the diplomatic world, it was one of the reasons she had come to DC.

Kori knew that she would have more to offer Richard or any man if she were back to her self-sufficient, confident and content self. If she ended up alone, she would be happier that way as well, and in a better state if she ever sought out love or even companionship again.

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The highlight of the following week was to see Diana Prince, Donna's older sister. Donna had always looked up to her sister, especially when she was younger and when Diana would visit Donna at school and as Donna's boarding school roommate, Kori would spend time with Diana as well. To meet such a composed and confident woman made an impression on Kori. Diana was about 10 years older than Donna and Kori, and Kori had always admired Diana and was hardly surprised that she became a diplomat by age 25; she was a natural born leader.

"Koriand'r, it is wonderful to see you again," Diana greeted Kori warmly. Diana had spent most of the day with her mother and sister, and had arranged to meet with Kori alone for tea to catch up. They planned to all have dinner later.

"Diana, I have missed you!" Kori replied. "It means so much to me that you are able to see me privately."

"Donna had suggested that you needed a 'big sister's perspective', and if it isn't too presumpuous-"

"No, Diana, not at all! I am grateful you would even consider being able to give me some advice. I fear I am terribly naïve when it comes to matters of the heart, and I have a few close friends in DC, but all know Richard-"

"And Richard is your boyfriend?"

"Yes; well, I hope he still is." Kori looked down and began to fidget with her napkin.

Diana decided to change the subject rather than press on at the moment. "I hope to see you later this year when I come to Washington."

"You are coming to DC? When?"

"In late September for a Summit on world history and antiquities. It's a combination of government and academic interests looking at promoting the preservation of what's left of many ancient civilizations, everything from buildings to artifacts and texts and even oral history. There is also a big push for private funding of course, so there is a great deal of schmoozing involved. I was hoping to spend time with you to help keep me sane. There is so much of that crowd I can deal with."

Kori thought about all the people she had come across with Richard, the rich and snooty and their various causes. Even that first time they went to Denny's after a shift, he was being pursued by a woman named Maddie for the sake of her cause... and she had been after more from Richard than his money and support of her campaign for open space. And then there were the people at the Devon horse show...

"Kori, are you okay?" Diana touched Kori's arm as she spoke, bringing Kori out of her thoughts

"Oh, my apologies Diana."

"Did I say something wrong? You look so sad."

"Oh, to be the truthful, my boyfr... Richard and his father are wealthy and have their own foundation and are dedicated to many causes. What you just said simply reminded me of Richard and it made me do the missing of him."

"Do you want to talk about it more?"

"Perhaps. But first I would like to find out more about what is going on with you."

The women got caught up with Diana's life and finally back to Diana's diplomatic work. That brought them back to when Diana was returning to DC.

"So Kori, can I count on you for some of the fund raisers when I am DC?"

"Certainly. Oh, and I do hope you would be my guest and stay with me either at the embassy or-" Kori blushed. Where in the world had she gotten the impression that she and Richard would be in Wayne Manor by then? Even if they reconciled, would she and Richard really be married in two or three months? Kori wanted to beat herself up for thinking so childishly; she also felt as though she looked foolish.

"Or where?" Diana asked.

"Oh, never mind. I was going to say at Richard's father's home, where I was staying after the press got wind of my royal status, but I have no right to offer. I doubt I will be there."

"To stay at the Tamaranean Embassy would be lovely. By the way, who is Richard's father? Should we include him on the guest list?"

"His name is Bruce Wayne."

Diana's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "You mean the Bruce Wayne, as in Wayne Enterprises, the Wayne Foundation?"

"Yes."

"And Richard is..."

"His son."

"Your boyfriend is Dick Grayson?"

"Yes."

"Well, huh. This is interesting. Kori, I'm friends with Bruce and he is one of our most generous benefactors. And as far as Richard goes, I did hear from Bruce recently that he had met a wonderful woman and was finally happy. I can only assume that he was talking about you."

Kori blushed. "I would think so. Richard had the reputation of badness, quite the womanizer from what I understand, and he has admitted that to me. He has generally not like that with me."

"Generally?"

"There were a few incidences in which his behavior was not acceptible, including time spent with another woman. Richard told me that he did not know why he did those things and that he did not deserve me and asked for time apart. I did not agree at first but under reconsideration, I came here to Paradise Island to think things over."

"Do you know what you are going to do?"

"I know that I love him and that I would like to do the working of it out. There is a long story behind all of this and some detail which I think can help explain my decision, would you like to hear it?"

Diana gave her a kind smile. Having heard that Kori had turned Dick's world around and knowing that Kori wanted it to work, Diana wanted to support the couple. Of course if Dick was doing anything heinous, Diana would set Kori straight.

"I would love to hear about you and Dick Grayson and we've got until dinner time for me to hear all about it."

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Dick walked calmly out of the guest room that Kori had been occupying only days before. He had already destroyed his room and nearly destroyed his body as he let his rage consume him when she was first gone. But that was before, before when it was all his fault that Kori had left.

Now that she had left his mother's ring behind without a word – even some sort of sick sarcastically written thank you note would have given him something – his attitude had changed.

"Alfred!" He called out from Kori's room, not too loud. It never had to be; Alfred was always present when needed.

"Yes, Master Dick?"

"Please pack up Ms. Anders' things and ship them to the embassy, including the bracelet and necklace. My mother's ring goes back in the main safe where it was. After Ms. Anders' things are shipped, please change the room up a bit, new colors, bedding and curtains."

"Sir?" Alfred couldn't contain his surprise. This was a turn of events. No one had been allowed to touch Kori's room and although the room wasn't designed for her, it was chosen for her because Richard had felt she would like it the best of all the guest rooms.

"Alfred," Dick said patiently, as if Alfred were 8 years old, "One: pack up the Tamaranean woman's things and have them sent to her embassy. Two: lock up my mother's ring in the main vault. Three: redecorate this room with new colors and bedding and curtains and whatever else it needs."

Alfred gave a sharp nod. "Very good, sir." Over the next few days, Alfred did as he was asked and also snooped around and never came across a note from Kori about the ring. Certain that there was an oversight and Dick was overreacting, Alfred decided that he had to assist the young couple, a decision he grew more and more comfortable with having made with the darker Dick became as each day went by.

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To be continued...

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