Chapter 8: The Proposal
Richard turned to face the person who had spoken and his eyes widened at his visitor. "Richard? I-I'm sorry to wake you up, um…are you feeling alright?" Kori stuttered shakily, looking down at her intertwined fingers.
Richard sat up, this time without a struggle. "Wh-what are you doing here?" he asked flabbergasted. "I came because I need your help, Raven has disappeared and it is my entire fault. I've known her long enough to know that when Raven is upset she does not think very clearly." Kori's worried tone shocked Richard fully awake.
"I don't know where she is," Kori continued, "but I thought she might have come to you or she may. You are someone she would least expect me to visit and Garfield has no idea you are…well, you." Richard sat there dumb-founded as Kori explained her reasons for being in his room.
'Raven asked me not to tell anyone where she was for a while, but Star-Kori is so worried how can I not tell her, then again I did make a promise to Raven?' "She's fine." Richard said with a sigh. Kori's head shot up, "she was here?" "Yeah she asked for a place to stay and I gave her one for a while, she didn't tell me why she was in trouble though." Richard explained.
"I need to see her, it is important." Richard looked down, "I promised I wouldn't say anything." "Richard, please! I need to see her, tell her I was wrong!" Kori begged on the verge of tears. Richard couldn't stand to see her cry; he didn't want to be the cause her tears, not again.
Richard sighed in defeat, "She's staying with me, I can take you to her if you want me to."
Kori hesitated, "please."
"That night," he began with a sigh, "something happened before you came into the picture… something that I regret."
Raven's grip on the door knob loosened as her body relaxed slightly. "What are you talking about?" she asked in a whispery voice, looking him straight in the eyes.
Garfield stepped closer to her and smiled slightly when she did not flinch away. "Will you give me a chance to explain, please?" Raven nodded slowly and sat on the edge of her bed. "You have something to say," she said starring at the ground, "so say it."
Garfield inhaled and exhaled deeply as he walked over to her bed and bent down to eye level with her. "Okay…"
Richard pulled the IV and other needles out of his arm as he pulled himself to his feet, as his feet touched the floor his staggered. Suddenly he felt warm, smooth hands on his arm. He looked down slightly to see Kori steadying him. Kori looked up and they stared into each other's eyes until Kori quickly pulled away and turned around. "You shouldn't be out of bed, not in you're condition. I will find her myself. You're home is not hard to find."
"No, its okay just let me change, I'll help you find her, she said she needed to go home first so she might not be there yet." Kori stood their and nodded.
Raven starred straight into his eyes trying to focus on his words. "After everything that happened between Robin and Starfire and then knowing that everything was over, that us as friends…was over…I just, I don't know."
"What did you do?" Raven whispered. "I took something that night before I saw you; I don't know what it was but the next thing I knew I woke up on the living room floor. It was only when Cyborg showed me the video surveillance footage that I knew what I did."
Raven starred ahead wide eyed, and unblinking. "Raven, please say something, anything."
Shooting up to her feet Raven pushed him away, "No, no I don't care if that's true or not! There is no excuse in the world you can use that will make me forgive you!"
Kori turned the key in the ignition as she headed out of the hospital driveway. Richard looked down at his arm in a sling and sigh, slamming his head into the seat. Kori looked at him out of the corner of her eye. "Leave you're arm alone, let it heal."
"Turn left here," Richard stated sitting upright in his seat. "Alright."
Kori pulled into Richard's large driveway. "I do not see her car anywhere."
Kori watched out the window intently until she felt the vibrations of her cell phone in her jacket pocket. "Excuse me a moment." Kori pulled her cell phone out of her pocket
"Hello…I'm a bit busy at the moment…trying to find Raven…Alright I can meet you later tonight…are you okay…well, you just seem a bit nervous, jittery…you're sure nothing's wrong…alright, I'll meet you later…yes, alright, bye Roy…I lo-I love you too."
Richard looked over at Kori, "everything alright?" "Yes, Roy just seemed a bit nervous…he just wants to go out to dinner tonight." Richard turned his head as he narrowed his eyes, 'Don't let her see you angry, it's just dinner, nothing to worry about, no big deal. I'll have time to talk to her soon, just not now.'
The car came to a sudden halt. Kori stepped out of the car, "do you need help?" "No, I got it," Richard said while stepping out of the car.
Together they walked up to the front door, pressing a button on the intercom, Richard was let in by a butler who greeted Kori and immediately went back to work.
"Um, just sit down," he said, pointing to a sitting area across the hall, "Raven should be coming here any minute."
Raven quickly grabbed a duffle bag from under her bed and quickly threw some of her clothes inside it. Zipping the bag she quickly grabbed the suitcase off the floor and ran out of the room and down the stairs.
Garfield ran down the stairs, "Raven, c'mon wait!" he yelled jumping down the last three stairs. Raven pulled the door open and shoved her bags into her car. "I don't know how you thought of that one! You have some nerve!"
Raven yanked open her car door and placed the key in the ignition, slamming on the breaks she back out of the driveway heading towards Richard's mansion.
Kori sat at the edge of the black leather sofa looking down at the finished hard wood floor and fiddling with her fingers. Richard sat down next her careful to sit a distance away. "Um…Kori?" he asked clearing his throat.
"Yes?" she looked up and rested her hands on her lap. Richard looked down at his arm in a sling and sigh once again. Looking up at Kori again he rested his left hand on her shoulder. "I-"
Feeling his touch on her shoulder Kori quickly shot up from her seat, "don't touch me" she whispered in a quick, panicked voice. The words were spoken so fast that they sounded as one. She looked down at the ground hugging her arms as if she were cold. She inhaled and exhaled deeply.
"I-I'm sorry…you wish to ask me something?" She asked meekly, her eyes still on the floor. Richard starred at her in shock. 'What happened? Why is she acting this way? I can't talk to her about our baby now; it's not the right time.'
"Nothing, never mind its nothing," Richard rubbed the back of his neck and looked toward the foyer at the doorway.
Hearing the lock begin to turn Richard stood up and turned to Kori, "she's here, let me get her inside first. I know Raven and she'll most likely run if she knows that you're here. Wait in here and as soon as the door is closed and she's a little more relaxed come into the dining room…okay?"
"Sure, that is probably a good idea." Richard nodded and turned around. "Richard?" "Yeah?" "Did Raven tell you anything regarding this situation?" "No, all I know is that she is upset and this may make it worse."
Raven turned the key and stepped inside. 'I don't think he followed me, I hope not.' Raven picked up her bags and set them down next to the door.
"May I take you're bags Miss. Roth?" Raven turned around in surprise, "Um…sure, but how did you-" "Master Richard informed me that you would be arriving." "He called?" "No, he is in the dinning hall," the woman turned around carrying the bags up the stairs. Stopping mid-stair the woman turned around, "oh and Master Richard asked me to inform you that he wanted you to meet him in the dining hall as soon as you arrived."
"Alright, where is-" "Down the hall to the right Miss" "Thanks" Raven replied before heading down the hall.
Raven walked into the enormous dining hall and saw Richard sitting at the center of the large oak table. The huge diamond chandelier lit up the room shining against the light blue-gray walls.
"Richard what are you doing out of the hospital?" "Raven I'm fine, don't worry about it, but I did want to talk to you." Raven pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. "Okay?"
"What's going on? What happened, you said you needed to get away from some people, I think I deserve an explanation."
"Okay, you're right," Raven sigh and looked down at the table. Richard starred at her intently, "are you mad at Kori?"
Raven looked at Richard anger evident on her face, "that backstabbing bitch, I never want to see her as long as I live." "Why?"
"She lied to me; she's been lying to me for years!" "She told me that she understood. She wouldn't let him anywhere near me, she promised. Kori told me to my face that she would she help me…and I would help her. I kept my promise, I didn't lie."
"Who is he?" "Beast Boy, Garfield Logan." Richard looked her in the eyes, "what did he do to you Raven?" She looked down again fighting back tears, "he-he almost killed me."
Raven looked up and wiped her eyes. She exhaled and began from the beginning.
"…and then he tells me some ridiculous story about how it was the side affect of some medicines he wasn't supposed to take. Do you believe that?" Richard was speechless, starring wide eyed at Raven from across the table.
"That story he told you is true." Raven's head shot around as she starred at the source of the voice. "Kori?" "Raven, please just let me expla-" "Explain, just let you explain? You have no right to explain. What you did to me is so low, so awful that I don't think you even deserve to breathe."
"I know Raven, what I did was wrong I broke my promise, I've been lying to you for years and there is no excuse for it. But please, he's not as bad as you think he is. Do not take the anger you have for me out on him. Please give him a chance to explain. He is telling the truth."
"I can't believe you; you have got to be the biggest hypocrite I have ever seen. After yelling at me for bringing him into your life again," she screamed pointing at Richard. "How dare you think that you can tell me to forgive that bastard. Why don't you go over and forgive him! How dare you defend that monster! Well you know what you can just drop dead!"
"Raven please I-" Kori begged. "Just…leave me alone." Kori stepped back down the hallway and towards the door. Gripping the door know she stifled a sob.
"Kori?" "Richard, just make sure she's okay. I know what I did was wrong, but I-I-I don't know." "It's okay; I'll try to calm her down. You try to relax too, you've been under a lot of stress lately…all of us have."
Kori turned around, nodding her head she sigh, "all right."
Richard walked back into the dinning hall, "Raven I-" "You set me up!"
Kori stepped into the large foyer and looked around. "Roy, Roy R-" suddenly hands wrapped around her waist. Kori jumped in surprise, "hey Kori, ready for tonight." Kori looked down at her clothing. She laughed, "Do I look ready?" "You always look beautiful to me baby." He said kissing the side of her neck.
"Let me just change into something a bit nicer and I will meet you down here in a few minutes." "More like a few days at the rate it takes you to change." Kori turned around hitting Roy playfully in the chest. "Oh stop, I'll be down in 15 minutes, time me if you like."
Kori stood at the top of the stairs in a purple spaghetti strap silk dress. The dress clung to her torso and then fanned out toward her waist ending just below her knees. He purple heels clicked on the floor as she climbed down the wooden stairs.
Roy looked up to the top of the stairs as Kori came down. "Wow, you look amazing." Kori smiled as she walked up to him and grasped his hands. "You don't look so bad yourself." She whispered as she rested her hands on his shoulders pulling him down into a tender kiss.
"Are you ready to go?" "Yes, but will you tell me where we're going?" "It's a surprise, just wait." "Alright." As Kori stepped over the threshold she felt Roy's hot breathe by her ear, "17 minutes and 51 seconds baby." Kori's eyes widened as she exhaled.
Roy opened the passenger door of his car and Kori stepped in slowly. Roy slammed the door closed and got in on the other side shakily placing the key in the ignition. Kori looked down at his jiggling fingers and grabbed his hand to steady it. She looked up at him, "is there something you wish to share with me Roy, you seem nervous for some reason. Is something wrong?" "No, of course not, we better hurry; I booked us a reservation for 7 o'clock."
Roy pulled up to the valet parking, he handed his keys to the young man in a green vest. Walking around to the other side of the car he opened the door and grabbed Kori's hand, "can I open my eyes now Roy?" Roy smirked, "not yet baby, I want this to be a surprise."
Kori sigh, "alright," Roy smiled again as he pulled Kori out of the car and grabbed her other hand. "Don't worry; I won't let anything happen to you…ever." Kori suddenly froze in her spot. "Wh-what did you say?" Roy looked at her, "I said that I'd never let anything happen to you."
Kori's eyes tightened as she fought back the memories,
"Robin I- after today…" she trailed off. He quickly put a gloved finger to her lips. "Don't worry; I won't let anything happen to you…ever." She looked up at him through teary eyes, "do you promise?" "I promise," he said with a reassuring smile.
Kori fought back the hot tears that threatened to fall. 'Don't think about him anymore, what you had with him is over, he doesn't love you. He'd just break your heart again.'
Kori kept telling herself this as she sigh, "I-I'm sorry Roy, let's go, I'd like to open my eyes soon." He laughed slightly, "alright, alright." He said pulling toward large glass doors.
Roy stood behind Kori, "okay, open your eyes." Kori opened her eyes and gasped with delight. "Oh, Roy it's gorgeous!" Kori gushed. The balcony of the elegant Italian Restaurant had only one table set for two. The sun was just beginning to set causing purple and orange to paint the sky. The air was crisp and smelled of vanilla from the two white candles resting at the center of the table.
Kori walked to the edge of the balcony and rested her hands on the white railing. "Roy," she breathed, "how did you, it's beautiful." Roy smiled as he once again placed her hand in his own and brought her to the table. Pulling out the chair Kori brought the back of her dress under her knees and sat down. Roy them pushed her chair in and sat down as well.
The waitress brought out a bottle of red wine and poured each of them a glass. "What can I get you two tonight?" Kori looked up and smiled, "I'll have the baked ziti please." She then turned to Roy, "I'll have the veil parmesan." The waitress smiled, taking the two menus and passed through the glass doors back into the restaurant.
Kori laughed, "Roy, this has been an amazing evening. The food was delicious and this view…" Kori trailed off. Roy looked down at his pocket and cleared his throat.
Kori looked away from the sky and turned to Roy. "Yes, Roy?" Roy stood up and pulled Kori to her feet. "I'd like to ask you a question," "alright."
"Kori," he looked down into her eyes, "I love you so much and I'm so lucky to be with you. I thank God everyday that you're here." Pulling a black velvet box from his pocket, Roy bent down on one knee in front of her.
Roy opened the box to reveal a white gold diamond ring,
"Kori, will you marry me?"
Until Next Time…