I had lost this and other chapters when my computer crashed, so this is a redo – can't believe it's been so long between updates. Sorry. Short chapter alert, but more to come. It was a really good stopping point.

Oh, what happen here, don't worry, this isn't necessarily a bad thing for Richard and Kori...

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Double Take

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Chapter 88

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There are just those watershed moments in life when pivotal decisions have to be made. The tough ones that hurt, that are so painful that you have to go deep inside yourself to find the strength to push through the pain. It doesn't matter if the pain is physical, emotional, or even spiritual. The particular event is so daunting that all of one's efforts are required.

And in this case, both Richard and Kori had to each summon the strength. On the one hand they had each other to support in the decision they were making. It was on the other hand, seeing the pain that the other party faced, which made it doubly hard.

Alfred had done his best to keep his face impassive as Dick crossed through the kitchen from the garage, carrying the precious cargo of Kori's letters. There was enough sadness in the older gentleman's eyes to confirm Dick's suspicions that things were about to change.

Seeing Kori in a fresh dress, her face puffy, convinced him. The several small suitcases that were packed but tucked behind the door to avoid immediate detection was immaterial at that point.

"Barbara had the letters," he began, his eyes full of tears.

"I am so relieved. You will be able to understand my thoughts while I was away."

They stood silently for a while, Kori's tears fell, Richard's eyes for the most part retained his.

"I shall be staying at the Embassy." Kori pulled out of the hug and searched Richard's eyes. She didn't want to apologize. It was the only way.

So for Kori, she needed the strength to pack up and actually leave.

"I understand."

And for Richard, he used his strength for not doing anything to make her stay.

"It will be a new beginning for us."

"Whatever it takes. We have to fix this." He didn't say anything about Barbara; it was immaterial.

She bit her lip. "This is difficult."

"Of course it is. I do want to stop you, but you asked if we are broken, and we both know there is a lot wrong here and there shouldn't be. We both want to be together, think we should be together. We need to rebuild our relationship, we need for both of us to, well, rebuild our trust in me."

"Yes, I imagine both of us do."

"I have to know I won't hurt you, Kori. You accept my flaws, forgive me easily, but when I make mistakes, I think I punish myself by making more."

Kori considered this. "That is a valid assessment. I wish for you to work on that."

"I will. I promise. All of this won't be easy."

"Most things in life are not. And nearly all the important things in life are not the easy. We must work hard, but I believe we are most worth it." Finally she offered him a smile.

"I could not agree more."

"I do love you Richard, with all my heart."

"And I love you, Kori."

"I am glad we are making this step. I wish it did not hurt so much. I fear I will do the missing of you a great deal."

"My life will feel empty without you around, but we have to rebuild things, and being together all the time, well, it makes things too easy. Back at the horse show, well, that was our choice to spend the night. We need the freedom to, well..." Richard considered the best way to say it.

"Simply do the dating again, take our relationship slowly?"

"Precisely. But maybe not slowly, okay? I already love you and I know where I want this to head. I don't want to push you or myself, well, no expectations, but..."

Kori was a bit surprised he was talking long term again, but didn't question it."Do not do too much of the thinking or analyzing, Richard. Things will work out as they should. We will find our way again."

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Even though things had gone better than he had expected with Kori – well after the initial shock that she was actually leaving that day – the look on Bruce's face made Dick feel like he was 17 years old again and had taken the Lamborghini without asking. No, worse. If he hadn't have been at Kori's side, holding her hand and talking about upcoming plans, Dick knew the look from Bruce would have been darker and accompanies by a harsher words.

The Ambassador's face immediately changed when he turned to Kori. "I just got off the phone with Ambassador Galfore and we have all the security in place for you, Koriand'r. I was very sorry and certainly disappointed when I heard that you would be leaving us. I will miss you greatly around here."

"Thank you for your hospitality, Ambassador Wayne, but it is time for me to return to my own home and start to follow my old routine."

"And we will be seeing you, won't we?" Richard asked, more timid than he meant.

"Of course, I look forward to it."

"Koriand'r, know that you are always welcome here. Always," Bruce said pointedly at Dick.

"And your physical therapy?" Richard asked. He hated for anything to set back her progress. She was still so weak.

"My PT will continue," she said, smiling. "I promise to take good care of myself, Richard. And you are welcome to check in on my progress." Kori wanted to make sure that Bruce was aware that Kori and Richard were still a part of each others lives.

"I look forward to seeing you."

Bruce cleared his throat. "Are you ready to go? Are you coming Richard?"

Richard set his jaw. Kori answered for both of them. "Richard has offered to drive me-"

"No, I will see you to the Embassy. Richard may accompany us if he likes."

"Of course I will be going." Richard's tone was tight. "I haven't had a chance to speak with Ambassador Galfore and will take the opportunity to do so."

Bruce raised an eyebrow, and Dick continued undaunted, "I'd like to think that you of all people are backing us, Bruce. Kori and I are staying together, we have decided that it is best that she return to the embassy. Remember, this was supposed to be a courtship based on the Tamaranian way, and things got off track-"

Bruce snorted. "I'll say."

"We don't actually have to explain ourselves to you-"

"Well as a matter of fact, I assured Galfore that you would-"

"Enough!" Kori said. "No more mean talking! This is my decision as well, and Richard and I are grown adults in our thirties working on our relationship in our own way. I appreciate that you are looking out for me, Ambassador Wayne, but I love Richard and we have our own ideas of what will work for us. It was my decision to move to the embassy. I have wanted to for some time, in fact I never wanted to be here after the horse show. I appreciate all that you have done, the security, arranging for my trip to Greece and above all the kindness and hospitality, and so much more, but I never intended or desired to live with Richard before marriage. Nor would I with any man prior to matrimony. I am simply put finally in a position to do the thing that I have wished to do for weeks and weeks now."

"I never realized, my apologies. Your Uncle and I did arrange everything without asking you and that wasn't right."

"I was not forthcoming with the information and it was an unusual situation. I had no choice. You and my uncle saw my safety as paramount and it truly was in the beginning."

Richard was silent as well. Kori had hinted, or had she? No she had more than hinted, he just pushed it aside. She was often happy about needing to be at Wayne Manor because of the privacy and security after it was leaked to the press that she was Tamaran's lost princess, but she was also at times unhappy. He thought that she felt trapped in general. They also had their nights together that were for the most off special... Then again, she had mentioned being forced to live with him but he thought that she had her own room, her own space...

He considered how unaware he was of her feelings while he was so attuned to Barbara's all those weeks.

At least it made him feel better about this decision. At least by being apart, he could learn to appreciate her more.

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To be continued...

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I will update soon, just a good stopping point... don't get discouraged either, again, this isn't necessarily a bad thing for Richard and Kori's relationship.