Actually, I just realized I have been working on this fic for two years!

Hi, sorry this ended up taking so long, my post op time hasn't been easy at all after the first few days which went great; and sorry to disappoint, this chapter ended up being shorter than I wanted because the big Dick and Kori reunion is ending up to be too big to include as part of this chapter.

I am working on Chapter 70 and will update ASAP.

Thank you for your patience and for reading me and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Teen Titans but my mother's pregnancy with me was confirmed by a Rabbit Test.

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Double Take

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Chapter 69

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The transatlantic flight went quickly. Bruce's jet was world class, and the speed the craft was able to best commercial airliners. Since British Airways and later Air France stopped flying the Concorde, Bruce found this was not only the most convenient, but also the fastest way to and from Europe.

It helped that the weather cooperated, although it was not quite into the active part of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. Not to say that there wasn't turbulence, but nothing that was too frightening; with this and the knowledge that she might actually make Vic and Karen's wedding with a few hours to spare, Kori was able to sleep through most of the return flight.

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The bridal party had spent the night before the wedding at the Four Season's Hotel and Kori made her way to her room a little after 3 AM. The bridesmaid's were on the Penthouse level, which required a special elevator key, offering additional security, something Bruce had seen to weeks before when Kori's royal status was made public. Vic, Dick, and the groomsmen were on a separate floor and wing of the hotel, keeping with tradition so that Vic and Karen would not see each other before the ceremony.

For this Kori had mixed feelings. As much as she wasn't sure about what would transpire between them, she'd rather she could meet with Richard in private and certainly before the ceremony now that she was back in Washington. And the sooner the better as far as she was concerned. But three AM was not an appropriate hour, especially after all these weeks.

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Dick had a tough night. What made Babs think she was welcome in his hotel room was beyond him. She made the remark that she had assumed that the only reason they hadn't slept together was that he didn't want to share the same bed with her that he had shared with Kori. All he could do was just gape at Babs when she said it. What would she say – or God forbid do – next?

He didn't say a single word to her after that as he drove her to her brownstone. He knew if he did say anything, he'd end up apologizing for something he probably meant anyway or she might, just might, be able to say something to persuade him.

Again he found himself on the precipice and things could go either way, so this was not the time to fall for Babs' antics. He loathed himself for thinking it, but Babs wasn't going anywhere; if he held her off for another few hours, maybe he'd get an indication about what Kori was thinking, and then, well... again, Babs had shown she wasn't going anywhere...

But what was Kori thinking? Had he really blown it with her? Did he want her really, or rather, did he want Kori on her terms? He'd failed her before, and he had nothing to show he was a better man now; if anything, he had proven he was anything but a better man now.

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Kori settled into her hotel bed for a restless few hours of sleep. Not that the bed wasn't luxurious: the mattress was a perfect firmness and the Egyptian cotton was divine against her skin, but at this point she was getting too worked up about Richard to get any actual rest.

What she didn't want to do was to get herself upset; she knew that Richard would never create a scene, and of course she wouldn't dream of it. But Kitten would, Babs might, and Karen and Vic did not deserve any dramatics. It was their big day. In another twenty-four hours or so, she and Richard could start to talk things out and either walk away from each other or see if anything could be salvaged.

She braced herself: nothing had given her any hope that there relationship could be salvaged. But she could make it through the day. She was a princess from a resilient people and she could make it through the day. Kori would be happy for her friends, enjoy being home and being with them, and another day would have to go by before she'd allow herself the luxury of worrying about Richard. She sent letter, left messages; hell, she called only a week before and Kitten answered...

I believe the writing has been placed on the wall... Yes, she steeled herself for the day.

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Later he'd learn when Kori came in for sure, but Dick was up for good after 3:20 AM when Kori arrived at the Hotel. Not that he knew it, but he swore he sensed it. There was no line of sight and he was a good football field away within the complex, so it wasn't as if he could have heard her or seen her.

Unlike Kori, Richard didn't want to wait to talk. He was done waiting. No, there wouldn't be a confrontation, but there had to be some sort of moment between them. There had to be. He was not comfortable with waiting to see her until the ceremony...

The idea tugged his heart: We don't have to wait until the ceremony to see each other, it's not like it's our wedding day... Our wedding day; two months ago the fact that there would be a wedding between Kori and I was a fait accompli...now we haven't spoken for weeks...

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Kori caught up with Karen first in a meeting room that was converted both into an area for last minute fittings and for the bridesmaids to get the hair and make up done as well as a place for the bridesmaid's brunch. It was about 8:05 AM when Kori wandered out and found Karen there.

"Welcome back, Kori!" Karen greeted her with a hug.

"Greetings and happy day of your wedding!" Kori replied finally finding some joy and feeling some optimism that naturally went with the day.

Karen stepped back abruptly after hugging Kori and eyed her up and down. "Well, at least Katie is bringing her sewing machine this morning," Karen said of the seamstress who would do last minute fittings, "Lord Kori, you've lost weight!"

"I... apologize-"

"Don't apologize, but, are you okay? I mean, you look good – you got some sun and rest I'd assume, but it still must have been stressful being so far away after what happened..."

Kori bit her lip and then waved her hand dismissively. "I am the fine. I believe I was getting the 'chubby' anyway with all the eating in the restaurants that Ri-, that Dick and I were doing be- before..." She shook her head to refocus on her friend. "It is the day of your wedding Karen, we must celebrate!"

Karen was not buying Kori's act, but it wasn't time to argue and Karen wasn't feeling too well herself.

"Pardon me, Kori," Karen choked out as she walked briskly in the direction of her room. Kori wondered about prewedding jitters, which seemed insane considering the years that Karen and Vic had been together. Perhaps it was the idea of such a large wedding.

Karen returned looking flushed but much less green, and making a beeline for the breads and pastries that the hotel staff was setting up for the brunch. Kori could hear that Karen was mumbling something about 'if only the rabbit hadn't have died it would have been the perfect day', but couldn't make out everything; she wasn't speaking to Kori anyway.

Kori felt one of those thankfully less frequent moments in her life when she wasn't sure if people were speaking 'about shovels' and she felt awkward and wished she had never gone away. She had thought there was an expression about the 'rabbit dying' in English, but she couldn't purchase on its meaning...

A young plump red haired woman about their age came in quickly pulling a dolly. She wasn't more than five feet tall and hurried along and shouted out to Karen when she saw her, "Let's git yer dress on 'n see how it fits today." She spoke in a tone that was perhaps exasperated or teasing, a touch of Irish accent noticeable.

Karen rolled her eyes, "Katie, give me a break! Let me get something in my stomach. I've already been sick twice this morning and once at 4 AM! I do not want to throw up on my wedding dress! Plus, Kori's dress will need taken in – do hers first!"

"Very well. I've got somethin' for you. It's a lemon heather sachet I made from plants I dried out from me garden. See if they'll help."

"I don't know-"

"Now Karen, that's not all I have. How about Fennel, or cloves or..."

Well Kori did not know always when people were speaking about shovels, but she did recognize that Karen must have morning sickness. A slight flair in her friend's nostrils was another tip, not that there hadn't been enough clues, but the Rabbit Test, now she remembered it was the old way they'd test for pregnancy before a much easier (and humane, poor bunnies) test was developed in the 1970's.

Watching her friend turn a few different shades of green due to either Katie's herbs or the food being brought in for their brunch, she walked over to her friend and said, "May I try acupressure? It's universal, bilateral inner wrist – works the same as Sea-Bands do..."

Karen held out her hand and nodded gratefully, a tear falling out her right eye. "Hello, Katie, I am Kori, and we have not met for I have been in Europe. I do believe I will need some adjustment in my dress but let us get Karen settled," having fallen into clinical mode Kori smiled at Karen, who was much more relaxed and then looked over at Katie.

Within a few minutes, Karen's stomach was behaving and the women shared a comfortable silence as Kori concentrated on Karen and allowed her own emotions to rebalance. There were questions poised on Kori's lips but she wouldn't ask. There was no mention of Karen being pregnant before she left.

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Soon, Rachael arrived and took over for Kori with the acupressure and the looks shared indicated that Karen's condition was not disclosed to Rachael either. Rachael had studied Eastern as well as Western medicine, and began some meditation techniques with Karen. It was going to be a long day for the bride and mother-to-be but she would get through it with her friends.

In the mean time, as the other bridesmaids came in, Kori ducked away from the others to got her dress fitted. It was just as well. The hugs and sypathetic looks were overwhelming all at once from her friends.

Once in her gown, Katie took a handful of fabric at each side seam of the dress to bring it back taught to Kori's waist. "We did git yer measurements right now, Kori? You've lost this much weight?"

Kori had wanted to be strong; not defiant, but it was what it was. Still, she felt weak and she hated to feel weak and fought the urge to cry. "I apologize-"

"Now Kori, none of that. It was just a question. We can fix this, 'at's why I'm here."

"I do believe I did lose that much weight. I did not realize... Thank you, Katie."

Kori barely noticed Katie pinning the seams and the gown was off and Katie had gone away only to return with the sides basted in. Quickly zipped into the aqua colored gown and Kori could finally appreciate why Karen was so excited about the bridesmaid's gowns and she was so relieved to wear it.

Not unlike Karen's bridal gown, the bridesmaid's would be wearing a bit of a mermaid silhouette, but nothing overly fitted beyond the mid thigh, just a nice coke bottle taper with a trumpet skirt to the floor. There was ruching at the scoop neck and it was mirrored in a ruched yoke at the waist.

Kori loved the gown, but for the first time in her life she wasn't quite filling out the top due to the weight loss. Katie must have had the same thought. "Do you need that bra after today?"

Katie asked.

"I believe I'll need ones that fit properly," Kori replied absently. Soon Katie was off with the dress and bra Kori was left alone in the changing area scrutinizing her smaller figure, trying at get over the shock of the change. She recalled the pages of "Gone with The Wind" when a post-War Scarlet dealt with changes in her figure and Kori muttered bemused, "as God as my witness I'll never go hungry again."

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With the bra sewn into the dress with padding for the first time in her life, Kori tried on the dress one more time and was free to join the others.

"Oh good, Kori's finished getting fitted," Karen said as she beckoned her over, "grab breakfast and sit down."

"Not yet!" Tara protested, running to Kori's side for a hug. "I missed you."

"I missed you as well," Kori managed, trying not to get too choked up.

Soon Kori had greeted her friends and everyone's questions were unanswered – Kori was dying to ask about Richard and they were dying to ask Kori about her. And everyone was interested in Karen's news which she wasn't going to be able to hide much longer.

"Awright, now that everybody has their food and before my stomach decides not to cooperate, I thought I'd share some wonderful news that I know everyone's figured out by now: Vic and I are expecting a baby!"

"Now Karen, how did that happen? I mean I know how it happened, but couldn't you wait another couple of months?"

"Awright Tara – and everyone, before you start treating me like I don't know where babies come from, this little miracle was planned, but yeah, we just 'accidentally' got caught up in the moment, and well I guess I got pregnant at the first opportunity..." she let out a sigh. "You know that I am older than Vic, right? And I am going to be 35, right? And with that whole 'Advanced Maternal Age' and the nature of our stressful jobs, I decided to get a jump on baby planning and so I threw out my pill pack so I could get my cycles straight and start counting dates and then well, there was this one night and well we didn't use a back up method as planned and well, again, here we are."

Rachael looked at her carefully, "But you are happy, right?"

"Extactic! I just wish I'd known it was this easy. I was worried sick I'd have trouble getting pregnant. You know, we see so much, here so much and it always seems like so many of our colleagues have fertility trouble..."

"So, inquiring minds want to know Karen," Tara asked with a gleam in her eye, "what romantic night was it that put the 'best laid plans' – as it were – go awry?"

"Best laid plans-" Karen started and then the smile dropped from her face. It was intense that night, not at all romantic, and she wondered how Kori would take the news that Vic and Karen's baby was conceived on the night that Kori caught Dick cheating on Kori with Babs? A night that Karen and Vic were so drained emotionally they needed to comfort each other.

"Are you the o. and the k. Karen?" Kori asked.

"I'm fine Kori, just a little queasy," which certainly wasn't a lie. She looked at her friend and placed a hand on Kori's clasped ones. "Actually, to be honest this baby was conceived right after you left."

Kori gasped.

Her friends descended on her, reassuring her. "Kori, I didn't mean to blurt all this out like that. I have baby brain... already."

Kori smiled at her friends, trying to process what was said. "No need to apologize. It was an upsetting evening for all of us..." She knew she wasn't the only one affected.

"Kori, it was a terrible night, for you more than anyone, but now there's something wonderful that happened because of it."

Kori nodded weakly. "I am glad."

"And I am more than you know. Just wish I wasn't morning sick. Or tired. And I'm hoping for a girl. Then I can name her Kori. If it's a boy, we'll have to go with R.A."

"R.A.? But Richard's middle name is John."

"If we're naming the baby after Richard that day, his name'll be Rat's Ass."

To that everyone had to laugh, even Kori who was oddly comforted by the fact that their was some levity concerning that night. This was a joyous day and soon the women returned to their meal and the rest of the preparations for the day.

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To be continued...

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Review please, oh please – it helps! I'm not sure if the ending to the chapter is how I want it, but I tried...

I will update again soon – Kori and Richard will see each other soon!

In the novel Gone with the Wind (by Margaret Mitchell, 1939), there is a much more detail discussion reflecting Scarlet's body image after going hungry during the Civil War. The scenes in the movie are spectacular, but in the novel it talks about how she must make and remake her clothes for her less shapely figure.

The rabbit test was developed in 1927 and widely used in 1949 until roughly 1970. A health female rabbit was injected with the urine of a woman who suspects that she is pregnant. When a rabbit's ovary's develop bulging masses, the woman is pregnant. "The Rabbit died" as an expression meaning "I'm/She's pregnant" isn't true – the doe always dies, or she's euthanized and her ovaries are inspected in necropsy (animal autopsy) because it's cheaper than doing an oophorectomy (ovary removal) on a rabbit. (Perhaps people remember the episode of MASH when Hot Lips thinks she's pregnant and Radar's rabbit has to go through surgery to determine if Margaret is... YouTube it you youngin's – now that was good television!)

The conversations the Karen, Tara, Rachael and Kori are having – well, my friends do talk about getting pregnant that way and these characters are nurses and doctors; and when you get near age 35 you start to go crazy. You're AMA: Advanced Maternal Age and your chances of getting pregnant drop by the month. Your regular OB/GYN wants you to see a fertility practice right away, especially when you are in a certain socioeconomic class and white – it's not racial, it's just statistics. But then, it's heartbreaking to go through, so people do try right away and I have friends that get pregnant on their honeymoon. I have friends who never can get pregnant or only have one and can't have a second because they waited, but it's the tradeoff of waiting to have children.