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 4

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"Oh come on you two," Roy called out to Dick and Kori. He was the inevitable one to be the first, not that his girlfriend Jade hadn't come to meet the transport, not that those two weren't going to actually make a scene.

Richard and Kori's kiss was passionate, but again, not out of place. They were in love and even though Kori wasn't aware of it, Richard had just been on a mission that was very dangerous. His show of affection, his emotion was unusual for him. But he had an excuse. And he almost didn't get the chance to even have this kiss - he also barely made the transport flight.

Richard pulled back and looked at Kori, touching her face, wiping her tears. "I can't believe I'm holding you, kissing you, touching you."

"I too am having the trouble believing it."

A large hand clasped on Richard's shoulder, "So this is the little lady-"

Vic was pulled away by his girl, Karen. "And I'm yours."

"There you are! Like I would ever forget my, Bee."

"Come on Vic, leave our fearless leader be until a more appropriate time for us to pick on him," Wally added walking away briskly, scanning the crowd, looking for his girl.

Joe looked on quietly but gave the couple a smile and a thumbs up. A man of little words anyway, it only took a few minutes for Colleen to find him.

The attention of Richard's closest friends left him with a mixture of irritated and yet oddly proud, while Kori blushed and tucked her head into his chest as he pulled her into a hug.

"Let's get out of here now then. Don't worry, you'll meet everyone soon. We'll grab transport back to the hotel."

"Whatever is the protocol. I am just so happy to see you."

"I know what you mean, m'love."

Kori beamed at Richard's endearment, initiating another kiss before they left to the line of jeeps off the side of the tarmac. Richard kept an arm around her and he gave her a reassuring squeeze every now and then, whispering into her ear how happy he was to see her, how much he couldn't wait to spend time with her, how happy he was that he was that she was in his life.

Kori could only return the sentiment, giving Richard plenty of happy smiles and more than a few joyous tears.

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Richard carried his rucksack over his shoulder and held onto Kori's hand as the walked up to the hotel. Once in the hotel, they were becoming more subdued, each with their own reason. Other than idle chatter, little was said. Kori used the key card, letting them into the suite, and then went over to the desk in the small sitting room, retrieving Richard's key for him.

"Here you go, your very own key," Kori said playfully, hiding her sudden nerves. They were finally alone. Together. In a hotel.

Like before, but so very different.

Richard set his bag down and clasped her arms at the shoulders and said huskily, "Let me look at you, sweetheart."

Kori flushed at he stepped back, allowing his hands to trace down her arms and fall off her fingertips. He gazed at her. "Sorry to stare, I've just waited so long, you are just so beautiful Kori, as lovely as I remembered."

"Richard-"

He closed the distance between them and kissed her. He took his time, feeling oddly melancholy as well as joyous to kiss her. The reunion would be short. "I couldn't say anything before, and I hate to do this but I have to return to the base for an hour or so. I was just on a short mission, and I still need to be debriefed by the brass, I mean my superiors about everything that happened. I'll be back as fast as I can or perhaps we can meet somewhere for a late lunch."

Kori was trying not to show any disappointment and wasn't sure how much to ask about the mission. Certainly he would tell her what he could. And as far as the delay, any time they had together during his deployment was a gift. "I will be fine, Richard, but I would prefer to wait here."

"I'm so sorry I have to do this, I'm can't believe we couldn't just start our time together."

"I understand your duty. I shall be fine, I have some reading for the upcoming semester-"

He chuckled and pulled her into to him. "You are a dedicated student."

"I cannot take any chances that I will not graduate in December."

"There's no doubt is there?"

"I certainly have great motivation."

"And what would that be?"

"Moving across the country to be with my beloved and to find a job teaching music."

"Sounds like a plan."

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Dick wasn't really surprised it dragged on, he just had wished that the brass had been more motivated to make the debriefing move along more quickly. The mission had more implications than he realized, but at least his part of it was over with. Plus, as he was tiring, his answers were becoming less conciese but he had to get the information out. At least the Navy SEALS would take it from this point.

And then the discussion of recommendation to Lietenent Commander, while an honor, did it really have to occur right then and there?

"I'm sorry that took so long sweetheart." It was over two-and-a-half hours since he'd left and fatigue, jet lag, hunger and his annoyance with red tape was reaching a perfect storm. On any other day Richard would be beyond irritated. But on the ride back he centered himself, so coming back to Kori he had tamped back his anger, leaving him only very tired, hungry but content just to have her near.

"I have missed you, but it is fine. I offer apology, but I ordered some lunch. I was unclear as to your preference, so I ordered a variety. I fear I did eat a good deal of it, but there is plenty of the breads, cheeses and meats left."

Richard chuckled as he looked at what must have been a serving for four of breads, sausages, meats, fruits and cheeses, some salad and slaw, and that it was at least three fourths consumed. There was some Riesling and Pilner and Wheat beer as well, along with some pastries. He had not forgotten Kori's appetite. He kissed her temple.

"I got some work done and I have started reading a new book."

Richard inspected the volume. "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph Ellis. That's a good read but not what I'd call light summer reading."

"Well, I fear that my American History is the lacking and I would like a deeper appreciation for your culture."

He paused as it sunk in. "My culture? You aren't a citizen?" He hadn't ever considered it.

Kori dropped her head and twisted her fingers. "I am on a student visa and have applied for Citizenship of the US from my first day in America. I have a sponsorship family and 'the connections'." She didn't elaborate.

"Oh, I didn't realize. I guess it never came up." Richard grappled at the idea of Kori having to leave after her visa was up. He knew that wasn't going to happen. He heard her mention connections, and well, he had connections of his own. He knew without even considering it for a moment that her intentions had never been to get him to marry her to get her green card. Not that he'd be opposed to the idea of marrying her. "Are you still a citizen of Tamaran?"

Kori nodded. "Yes. But I would gladly give up my citizenship to become a Naturalized American."

Richard smiled slightly and then looked at her sadly. "You really don't intend on returning."

She shook her head. "No. My sister and I are not close and my life is here now."

"With me." It wasn't a question.

"Indeed."

He pulled her into a hug and tried to stifle a yawn.

"Kori, I can't believe this, but as much as I want to spend the day with you seeing the sights and just being together, this mission I was just on well, I got very little sleep and I just feel like if I could just lay down for a few hours, we can salvage the evening."

"I was about to ask, you seem quite tired. I completely understand."

Richard proceeded to eat a bit and felt much better and Kori joined him as she sipped some Riesling and devoured some sort of fruit tart. It was gone before he could ask about it.

"Oh, I brought what you asked for." Kori got up and went back to the other room, returning with a small shopping bag. "Here you go." Kori handed Richard the pajamas that he had asked her to pick up. He hadn't exactly brought the silk he preferred to sleep in with him to Afghanistan. "I will let you-"

"Kori-"

"Yes-"

He leaned in to give her a kiss. "Don't go. If you could just stay in the room with me, reading, watching TV, maybe even napping, I'd appreciate that more than you know."

"I would not be disturbing you?"

"On the contrary, I think, I mean, I would rest better."

Kori was secretly thrilled. She was worried that the two bedrooms meant limited contact but at least they would snuggle up while he napped. He surprised her by changing by simply turning his back. She quickly turned when she realized he was doing so.

Richard was so tired he was barely awake when he stripped and pulled on the new pajama pants. He glanced back at Kori, who had turned away. "You can turn around, I'm decent."

Not surprisingly, Kori was blushing when she turned around.

"I, um-"

"C'mere." Richard beckoned her.

She walked over, a bit in a trance.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

"Nothing is going to happen until we are both ready. I'd just like you close."

"I wish to be close to you as well."

"We have a lot of catching up to do, but we don't have to do it all now. I'll be home at Christmas and then no more of this war for me, no more time apart."

Kori smiled. "Yes, I realize. I do not understand the nerves. I did not have them prior to your arrival."

"I'm nervous too, Kori. We have a wonderful bond between us, and I don't want to push us into anything that could ruin that."

"Nor do I but-"

"Oh, I know all the arguments in the opposite direction," Richard said with a wink. "But right now I can barely stand, so why don't I take a nap and you keep me company, and then in a few hours we can really start spending some time together."

"And catching up?"

"And catching up."

"That sounds glorious."

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To be continued...

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Thank you for reading and reviews always appreciated.

A/N: I am sure I am missing a lot of proper protocols that go into coming into base and yes I usually research these details with friends or on the internet. Didn't this time, didn't want to hold up the post. Let's just go with the flow...