Hey, I didn't see any submissions for the contest, so I'm just assuming no one wrote a story for me to read and rate. Whatever. If you did write a story for the contest, please say so in your review. Anyways, I am going to write a chapter and after this chapter, there is only one more left. I am trying to make this a long one, so it doesn't make this story seem short. However, there would be a sequel, so I guess this story wouldn't be that short. ANYWAYS, you can ignore my rambling and enjoy reading my chapter. Please?

Chapter Four

As much as I couldn't believe I was saying this, I will say it. I was on a date. I wasn't on a date with just anyone. I was on a date with Tim Drake. I was on a date with Richard's adopted brother. I couldn't believe I said yes when he asked me, but somehow he charmed my heart. As I thought of the night I met him, my heart fluttered and felt light. It was as if the darkness in my soul and eyes had turned light again. I remembered it clearly as mountain water.

"Nice to meet you, Tim. It is a pleasure to meet you." I took my hand out of his and kept it on my lap. I had no intention of being friendly to this man. According to Richard, this man was as horrible as his adoptive father, Bruce Wayne. However, when I met Bruce Wayne, he wasn't as horrible as Rick explained him to be. Using that fact, Tim may not be as bad as Rick explained him to be. He sat on the couch across from me, right beside Toni. I took the time to see clearly what everyone wore.

First of all, our guest wore a very elegant dodger blue dress shirt along with black dress pants, which really complimented his hair and eyes. His hair style was unique; it was short and unkempt. On most guys that would have looked bad; however, on him, it looked quite good.

Karen wore her long black hair in a princess up do. She wore a white baby doll dress with white ribbon sandals. On her neck was a crystal charm necklace with silver strands on her ears, and wore silver bangles. Vic had worn a white dress shirt along with black dress pants. The two of them together was such a cute sight to see.

Toni wore her short black and red streaked hair in a cute and straight fashion with a white silk flower in her hair. She wore a red and black striped dress with red flower high heels. She wore a gem choker with dangling gem earrings. I sighed when I thought of Toni's misfortune. If only Roy would see how nice and beautiful person she really is, everything would be per…well, almost perfect.

We all sat patiently as we waited for Gar and Brad. I was quiet and didn't talk to anyone which allowed me to notice things going on in the room. Vic was busily talking on the phone with someone that seemed like Gar. Karen was in the kitchen making sure dinner was perfect. Toni and Tim were talking and chatting as if they were old friends. As I thought of it, I think they might've been old friends considering the light humour and the touching they used. I didn't know why, but this made me mad. It made me mad to see Toni and Tim laughing and talking as if they were old friends. Who was I mad at? I could never be mad at Toni. Never in a life time would I be mad at her. It was definitely Tim. It was Tim who stole my best friend the minute he stepped foot into this house. I was determined to make this visit for him a very memorable one…

I was about to interrupt their conversation when the doorbell rang. Immediately, I just out of my seat and ran to the door. However, Karen had already beaten me there. At the door was Gar, with his same spiked hair, but blonde, and in a green dress shirt and black dress pants, with who seemed like Brad, holding his hand. His boy was wearing a very cute dress shirt of white color along with small dress pants. His sea green eyes were big with wonder and his platinum blond hair really complimented him. Before long, I was already hugging Gar.

"Oh my god Gar! I can't believe it's really you! You've changed so much!" Right now I was at his nose in height, so when I said he changed so much, I really meant it.

He smiled in response, "You too, Kori. I love what you've done with your hair. Maybe now I can find how you maintain your beautiful hair." I laughed when he said this because this had been an inside joke so many years ago.

I bent down after my embrace and ruffled Brad's hair. I sweet talked, "My you look even more handsome than in the photos. You are an exact copy of your father. You are such a beautiful boy. Wait till you see, Mar'i and Ella would be fighting over you in no time."

Brad had instead just said, "Hello, Auntie Kori. You look very beautiful today. And thank you."

I had to admit; I was impressed at how well Brad talked. I figured Gar had told him what to say just before they came. By this time, everyone was at the door to greet Gar and Brad inside. Once we were fully introduced and acknowledged, Karen had directed us to the way to the dining room for dinner.

We all sat one by one in no specific order: me, Toni, Karen, Vic, Gar, and Tim. Before the dishes were sent to the table, Toni and I went to pick up the little ones. We journeyed our way through the humungous mansion to the playroom. Once we reached there, we found Rosemar'i, Nick, and Eleanor playing with the mini playground built in the room. I smiled faintly when I saw Nick help Mar'i stand up after she fell after going on the slide. If only our life was as carefree as theirs, life would be perfect. I picked up Mar'i and Toni picked up Nick and Ella, and we were on our way back to the dining room.

The children were placed in high chairs right beside their parents. As soon as everything was probably set, we started to eat the magnificent choice of food.

The conversation during dinner had been light except for some questions I had asked both Tim and Gar. "Well, Gar, I see that you work. What do you work as?"

Gar finished stuffing the tofu in his face and replied, "I'm a newspaper reporter and editor. Hey, did you read that article on your latest case? I wrote that."

My eyes widened as I struggled to remember reading it hours before. Now that I remembered it more clearly, it did have Garfield Logan as the writer. "Wow Gar, I'm impressed. I never expected you to be in the media, especially since you despise the media. And to answer your question, yes. I have read the article; it was very accurate and marvellous. I love you even more now." I smiled as I gave him an air kiss.

Gar raked his hand through his hair and said, "I know, I know, babe." Everyone at the table began laughing, even the young ones who didn't understand a word we said, except Tim. Tim, on the other hand, looked as if he was ready to beat the pulp out of Gar. I stopped laughing and was going to ask when Toni beat me to it.

"Are you okay, Tim? You don't look so good all of a sudden." Toni tilted her head in such a cute way, I wanted to eat her because she looked so cute.

Tim calmed down and answered, "Is Kori and Gar an item? They seem to be one because by the looks of it." I stared at him with such huge eyes, I didn't even know if I could outsize Indians' eyes. I looked at Gar who was looking at me. Gar and I then burst out laughing. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Tim looking at me puzzled.

To answer his doubts, I replied, "No, Tim, Gar and I are not an item. He had a wife, and I have daughter. We only talked like that because we always do. It would be so awkward if I dated him; he's like my brother. So, you can stop thinking like that, Tim."

Blushing ferociously, Tim turned around away from me and faced the back of his chair in embarrassment. As I sat by him, I gave him a pat on his back. "Don't worry, Tim, we didn't take it to heart. Right, Gar?" Looking at Gar out of the corner of my way, I saw Gar nod his head eagerly.

"Absolutely right, babe." This time Tim had turned around and unexpectedly burst out laughing. Obviously we thought it was odd, but before we knew it, everyone started laughing.

Once we finished, I moved onto Tim. I was very curious as to who exactly the person beside me was. "Well, Tim, I hear you are Richard's brother. What has he told you about us?"

His eyes widened in surprise at the sound of my question. He stuttered around and mumbled a few words here and there. Finally, he answered, "He told me you all were the best friends he ever had. Before he…died…" He paused up to look at me. I tried not to show emotions, but I couldn't help but leave a tear down. He continued, "He said all he wanted was to see you again, Kori. All he would talk about was you. He kept on saying on how the old times were, and how you both were always there for each other. He kept on saying he couldn't have had a better best friend."

When he said 'best friend', my heart wrenched; did Richard only think of me as a friend? If he did, then why did he…Anyways, I asked him another question, "What do you work as?"

"I am the president of Wayne Enterprises. Bruce gave it to me once he knew Richard died." I smiled sadly, and looked towards Rosemar'i who was giggling happily as she stuffed her food into her mouth. I smiled instantly happier and wiped her mouth with a napkin. I was startled when I heard Tim speak.

"Is that your daughter, Kori? If she is, I must say she is very beautiful." Thanking him gently, I continued on feeding my daughter, this time with more caution and careful.

When everyone was finished, everyone went into the living room but Tim, Toni, and I stayed behind to help out with the dishes, even though Karen insisted we didn't. Rosemar'i and the others went to play in the play room once more. As I had predicted, Mar'i and Ella had fought over Brad while Nick was crying because Mar'i wasn't with him. I sighed thinking that maybe one day, my daughter might have a lover, who might actually take care of her and not abandon her.

The three of us cleaned the dishes in silence until Toni went to gather more dishes from the dining room, which left the two of us. I was quiet until Tim asked me, "Kori, I know that this is sudden, but I would love to know you better, and by how you act now, I think I would love to meet you more. So would you consider a date with me?"

So, here you go. I said yes, of course, charmed unexpectedly by Tim Drake. Now, I was on a very pleasant date with Tim to a restaurant named "The White Rose", and we strolled on the beach. We talked about many things that I never told anyone else, only Richard. I felt as if Tim was someone who I had met before: Richard. He had been so much like Richard; it made me wonder if Tim was really…Tim. However, when he came to drop me off at Vic's house, he said, "Good night, thanks for accepting me, Kori." His eyes twinkled in the moonlight as I smiled.

"Thank you for a pleasant evening, Tim. I hope we can do this often." I replied. I knew that this wasn't the truth because I never lasted with a man until three dates. However, when Tim gave me a kiss on my cheek as to say good night, I knew I could give this one an exception.

Finally done! I guess Kori and Tim are going to be an item. However, that would all end in the next chapter, which is actually the last chapter of the story. I know this story is rushed, but there will be a sequel. So please review if you want the last chapter and the sequel. I will only update if I receive at least 35 reviews.

Until next time!

Forgiveness is the scent that the rose leaves on the heel that crushes it.

-Rosefire