All story here and set up. I'll post soon, but try not to be disappointed.

Please note, this chapter is not in letter format because there aren't letters being exchanged at this point in time...

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Disclaimer: If I owned the Teen Titans, I would not have retconned much of Dick and Kory's history away...

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EQUINOX

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"But Kori, how am I going to take care of you now?"

"As I recall, you promised to take care of me Richard, yes, but did you ever expect for us to have anything less than a partnership?"

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Chapter 3

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With nine days left to go before they were to report to Germany, an assignment came through, one that made Dick nervous. Not because his furlough and seeing Kori might be delayed – it would disappoint him but he did have a job to do – it was that they were following up on a lead on a kidnapped American contractor. It just wasn't really the Afghany's style... but there were no real rules of engagement when it came to any war, let alone this one.

Dick had handled these types of things plenty of times in Iraq where kidnappings were common place. On the surface, it was intelligence at the very basic level: Go in, get the information, relay it to command, wait for confirmation that a lead was reasonable and unless there was more digging that was needed, get your ass out alive.

Such missions were most often small parties or even solo missions, and this one was a solo mission. With Dick's abilities with language, his negotiating skills and an uncanny way of reading people of all walks of life, he was the obvious choice from his unit.

The unit would always rally around the person or persons assigned to such missions, this was no different. Dick got plenty of support and a 'go get'em Tiger' – Roy, a Yalie, always loved that Princeton reference – but there was more of a somber tone than usual, more concern.

It didn't feel right.

Again, it was an unusual occurrence in the region, especially now that the Taliban was out, most of them having fled years ago now to Pakistan, but whoever was behind it and the why wasn't important: the kidnapped contractor need to be located.

Although remotely the men in the unit would work on it as well, from the ground Dick would also need to see if he could get a feel that such events were going to occur in the region again, if there should even be more security for foreign contractors as the war was wrapping up and what he thought of as Nation Building was occurring.

Not above requesting for Divine Intervention, Dick prayed to God – One he was turning to more and more – that it would work out all right and the information would be easily obtained and reliable. And if at all possible, if He would see it through to not delay Dick's trip.

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Dick stripped of his uniform and into garb consistent with the local tribes before o-five hundred, planning to enter the village by the first morning Call to Prayer. He put in dark brown contacts to camouflage his blue eyes and met with their local interpreter from a nearby village, Ajani. While it was impossible for Dick to pass as an Arab, Afghanistan was a nation of many tribes and many peoples, and with dark eyes, black hair and his desert tan, he would not stick out as much as he could have.

Once in the village, Dick wandered about the open market, with Ajani, gathering a feel for the community and its people. He watched people go by, and was careful to note how they observed him. Dick would not enter a Mosque as a non-Muslim, it is forbidden, but the interpreter Ajani could and was a huge help there. As is often the case, the men – there are no women allowed – congregate at the back of the mosque, and it was in that situation that Ajani might be able to verify what little information Dick was already given.

With a lucky tip from a cousin of a friend of Ajani, Dick did get some good information on who to talk to first about what happened to the American contractor. He was comforted that it may be something solid to go by, pleased it started so smoothly.

The next five days proved frustrating, however, and Dick was faced with dead end after another. He had gotten into a couple of scuffles, nothing life threatening, but he was tired and concerned. Dick pressed on, tamping down his emotions and pushing through the exhaustion.

He just needed more information on the who and the where of the contractor's captors were, if at all possible a why as to the reason of the kidnapping. But a solid lead for command was illusive.

Once the information was in hand, the next part – and all the glory, not that Dick cared – the actual rescuing of the kidnapped American, well, that was up to the SEALS. Dick could handle himself in combat, but his main job was intelligence.

Just something solid to go by and Dick could get out. And get out alive.

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Kori chose to be amused by - rather than feeling any other way - by Richard's over-protectiveness when she had told him about her plans to visit Austria for a few days prior to their rendezvous in Germany. She had to try her best not to be put off by him being 'the macho', - as she had once put it in a letter - a letter that was quickly followed up with another apologizing for it.

She had time to reflect on it, and the truth was Dick had simply met her at her most vulnerable, that snowy day before Christmas. Kori was completely out of her element, frightened, panicked... but as harrowing as that drive had been, getting caught in that storm and meeting Richard at the Bed and Breakfast was pretty much the best thing that ever happened to her.

Although she understood Dick's concern, in the years since her parents and brother died in the Tsunami, she had been on her own. Kori did her best to reassure him, explaining that she traveled alone frequently and was perfectly comfortable. She had to also laugh at herself: she knew she was placating him a bit by saying she was quite careful and always checking in with Donna and friends that she might be meeting up with. She was all and all happy for his concern.

Kori wasn't certain, but she sensed that he was also questioning her ability to take care of herself alone in the world. She knew that she needed to address that at some point. He didn't really think she was that weak? No, he wouldn't have been attracted to her if he thought she was, would he?

Kori hoped that this 'hero complex', as Donna had described it to her, would not affect Richard's feelings when he really knew Kori's strength. Kori's veins contained royal blood and her people were most resilent; She had lived a difficult life and was a survivor.

In short, Kori Anders was stronger than she looked.

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Richard concentrated, remaining focused that the task at hand as the day of the trip to Germany loomed. He had more than a nagging concern that as good as the two weeks away from the front would be and as incredible, to say the least, that it would be to see Kori, that there was no way that a two week report to Ramstein Air Force Base for some 'meetings and updates' along with some R&R was anywhere near the real story.

Dick pushed the intrusive thoughts away; it didn't matter, just as long as he got to spend time with Kori.

His primary concern wasn't to make the plane. Over the final hours looking for information on the contractor there had been leads, but Dick wanted there to be more information. There had been near misses, as well as some fist fights, but there was a job to be done. As much as he wanted to make the trip to Germany with the rest of his unit, he would never leave a mission unfinished, even bucking his superiors in the past as he persisted when he had been commanded to leave.

It was less than seven hours before their departure time when Dick finally got a lead on Ted Kord that was solid enough to go with. After confirming the information with local sources, he radioed in to command, and after Dick got the go ahead, he was able to return to his unit.

One less than six hours sleep over the previous 72 hours, it was time to leave the village and slip back to the base of operations.

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Kori had arrived two days ahead of Richard and checked into the hotel in Kaiserslauten, Germany where they would be staying. She thought back at this also with amusement: how does one discuss sleeping arrangements by extra slow snail mail given their situation?

Richard had insisted on a two bedroom suite, but Kori would have been happy with tighter quarters, not that she pressed. She didn't want to take a misstep and Richard must have his reasons. She did consider that it was one thing to insist on renting her own apartment when moving across the country after knowing each other for such a short time, but as far hotel accommodations – well, it seemed that was something that wasn't a big deal. If they really didn't end up getting along, she wouldn't need a different hotel room, she'd might as well just go back to California. But the entire idea seemed so improbable. She knew things would go well.

So while the discussion was awkward, the arrangements were, well, concerning at the very least their sleeping arrangement But intimacy? That subject had not been broached.

Kori wondered about how Richard really felt about her lack of experience. Although he had told her at the Bed and Breakfast that it was the time apart that would follow that was a major factor limited their closeness, she knew that he was aware that she was a virgin and seemed to limit their closeness because of it. She knew he hadn't wanted to hurt her physically or emotionally.

Kori, on the other hand, knew that although she was almost completely inexperienced, she had thought a lot about growing closer to Richard, and was not interested in wasting too much time.

Having come over from Giengen, where Kori enjoyed herself immensely, she checked into the hotel. Set herself up in the smaller bedroom and once settled in that first afternoon she figured out what to do next.

Full of energy as she generally was, she soon headed out to enjoy the many interesting parts of Kaiserslauten. She discovered that a place that she could rein herself in, to really calm down, relax and pull her thoughts and emotions together was the Japanese Gardens. She would spend much of the next 48 hours or so there until she would be seeing Richard again.

On her mind was a number of things Kori hoped to discuss with Richard and hoped they'd have time. She wondered if he would be surprised about any of her thoughts and ideas about things. It seemed likely. It wasn't imperative if they didn't get a chance to talk about everything - they'd still write and there were those rare talks on the phone, and Christmas was only four months away...

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Richard boarded the C100 transport with the rest of the troops and officers who were due to report and soon the huge plane was airborne and heading NNE.

He knew that the time in Germany would give him chance to get to know Kori but also a chance to make sure she really understood what she meant to him. She changed his worldview; she changed his life for the better. All the darkness, all the cynicism he'd been raised with was gone because of her, and he was never going to let her go.

And the fact that that change was made during war time really said something.

There were so many things he wanted to get cleared up face to face. He'd made a bit of a misstep with asking her - well, to be honest, expecting her - to stay with him at his father's home, Wayne Manor. He wasn't clear if it was because of the impropriety, the need to be on her own with her first job out of college and as an adult, or if she was much more of a strong and independent woman than he had realized, or perhaps some combination thereof.

It didn't especially matter to him, he was curious mostly and wanting to get to know each other as best they could. No matter what his mind was clear: he viewed them in it for the long haul and knew they would grow together and their dynamic would change over the years.

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Kori waited with the other officers' wives and girlfriends, along with a few other family members behind the red velvet rope that cordoned the visitors off so the military personnel could deplane without being mobbed.

Just like at the movie theater. Actually the whole thing seems like a movie.

Richard knew he was lucky: his current tour had only been about eight months and for some of the others it had been much longer. He was anxious of course, but waited his turn. Then he got more butterflies: could Kori's feelings have changed? Was the man she was writing to the man he was? He had meant every word of each letter...

His buddies were ribbing him, still not getting over that Dick hadn't even met Kori when they left San Diego and by the time they met up in Norfolk to ship out, his got a girl. They had never even heard him talk about girls for the most part; well, Gar, Roy and Vic had known him since Annapolis, and Garth and Joe from his OCS days, so they had at least seen him date, but nothing serious, nothing permanent, nothing like this. But Dick's normal reaction - 'drop-and-give-me-twenty', assigning KP duty - had been replaced with a bit of a dreamy smile.

Today was the day.

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When their eyes met, Dick way bowled over: Kori had changed a bit, but for the better. She looked happy, relaxed, tan, a bit curvier... the sun dress was very appreciated... she was gorgeous and - oh no - sexy as hell.

Things were going to both be incredible to have time together as well as difficult. Richard had missed her, and through her letters had gotten to know her and really love her. He'd never forget first seeing Kori. She was stunning and he had been attracted to her immediately and then that attraction grew. And now...

Kori smiled and suppressed a fangirl squeal. Richard was really there, standing in front of her, only yards away! As the moments moved in slow motion, the personnel waited patiently until they were finally allowed to greet their loved ones.

Kori started crying as Dick pulled her in for a deep kiss, not unusual for the setting. His words might have seemed formal, but were said with such intimacy, such love, Kori had shivers down her spine:

"It's good to see you again."

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To be continued...

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Thank you for reading and reviews always appreciated.