Finally!

I finished this chapter, I've been trying to only focus on this fic but it's so hard cuz so many other people want me to update "Torn" and "Losing Control" I'll get around to it people, someday. And I hate this chapter so bad but it's better than nothing I guess.

Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to Pink Rules The Earth for the great quote you sent me ;)

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Maybe it was a good idea that she had chosen to run away both times, at least now she was in her room with her own clothes and things. Her heart was still beating like crazy and the feeling he gave her between her legs was still there. She forced herself into bed and tears of frustration and anger drained her face. Why was she feeling this? She didn't want it, she didn't. Her heart belonged to only Speedy and Richard was just another man who hurt her, he was the enemy and she would never forgive him for doing this. Never.

There was a knock at the door after she only got a couple of hours of sleep.

"It's time to go." He said through the door and left.

It was so soon, how could he do things like this? Once she was dressed and ready she was nervous to see him again. She was embarrassed about last night mainly, had he seen through her? She covered her face with the hood as she made her way down the hallway and looked down while walking then she saw his boots and was forced to look up to him.

He stared back at her and said. "You ready?"

That's it? He wasn't going to say anything? Anything about what had happened last night? In a way it was better she wouldn't be able to go through such embarrassment without turning as red as a cherry. She nodded her head while looking away and then followed him.

Once outside, they waited for the escort to come back from the bathroom and Richard reached a hand toward her face, she couldn't help but wince and jump a little from his touch but he only pulled a strand of hair and put it behind her ear. She felt like an idiot and went inside the carriage to wait without Richard.

He stood there for a minute, the way she reacted. It made him so sad that she was so scared of him, he felt like a royal imbecile. He had to do something about it, but what? He couldn't just apologize, she was going to run away on the wedding, right after they were married! How could she even think about that! It was stupid and he wasn't going to fall for her guilt tricks. He forgot about the situation and went along into the carriage like nothing.

Richard was a stubborn man, soon Starfire would know it and he would also know he finally met his match.

The ride was awkward for her, how much farther were they going? It was frustrating not knowing where you going, especially when you're with the person who you feel the least open around. She also wasn't a very good traveler, she could only hold in her sickness for so long.

Why was she being like this? He looked across and saw her staring out the open window, what was she thinking? Was it about him? Or that other guy? He wasn't going to be able to go on like this, he needed to know what she was thinking, he wanted to know what she thought of him.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Richard's leg shaking incontrollably, he was staring into space. Obviously thinking about something hard enough to not notice she was staring at him. She looked back outside and saw the trees fly by, it was beautiful weather for her oddly gloomy mood.

He folded his arms across his chest, he wouldn't be able to take this silence for long. Why didn't she understand that all he wanted to do was love her. What was it going to take for her to forgive him?

Suddenly, she jumped out of her seat and pointed out the window "A squirrel!" She yelled excitedly.

He couldn't help but break out in a smile and chuckle a little.

Oh God, how could she be so childish. She pulled the cloak over her face again, silently thanking her friend Rachel for giving it to her as a wedding gift.

There she goes again, hiding what she really is. He wished so badly that she'd be more comfortable around him, they were going to spend a lot of time next to each other for a while. She might as well get used to it. Why did she have to be so nice, and so shy. So everything that's good and perfect?

Starfire cleared her throat, she didn't dare to even look and see if he was looking or not. She felt her hot cheeks burning and would rather be caught dead than staring at him again if he noticed.

Okay, he was going to do it. He was going to apologize, straight and fast, than maybe she would think he was really sorry and start to be the real her. The way he wanted her to be, he just wanted everything to be okay between them.

Minutes passed in silence as Richard thought of the right words to say.

"I want you to know that I love you and that I'm sorry I hit you." He blurted what he really felt and thought.

Across from him, Starfire stared at him, this time not caring if he was looking because she was no longer embarrassed.

At first she wasn't going to say anything but she didn't like the fact of him feeling better by apologizing "It'll take more than that." She responded.

"What do you mean?" Richard asked.

"A simple apology won't make me hate you less."

"Hate!" Richard choked out. "Are you saying you hate me?" He hadn't known his actions had gotten to her so deeply. He was only doing what he thought would be right in the end.

"Yes." She stated simply.

Silence filled the air around them until Richard broke it.

"I'm sorry you feel that way." He said sincerely, she looked at him and he had a sad distant look to him but she looked away fast so he wouldn't notice. She didn't care what he thought of her anymore, with his broken promise he had broken every possibility of them being happy together.

With every hour that passed, the hot sun was practically burning them alive inside the carriage. The beautiful scenary had turned into nothing but a few houses they passed and brownish red dust following the wheels they rested on. She wondered if they were at least close, and then as if the road read her mind, they stopped. Richard got off first and reached his hand inside, she would have refused except she didn't know what was out there.

Her wide dress got caught in the dorrway and she pushed it through the limited doorway, she landed safely and before she even looked up, she heard running and then a piercing screech.

"Richard!" It screamed and jumped into his arms. He let go of Starfire's hand to catch the girl and Starfire stumbled a little. The girl was a red head like Starfire but with brown eyes, she was pretty but her hair was wavier in comparison to Starfire's straight hair.

She heard Richard laugh as he twirled the girl around in a hug. Starfire stared in awe, who was this girl? And why was she all over Richard like that? Didn't she know Richard was her husband?

Richard set her down "Calm down Babs I was here two days ago." He laughed.

"But I missed you!" She said putting her arms around his neck.

What kind of name is Babs? Starfire wondered.

"Oh, Babs." Richard remembered Starfire was there. "This is Starfire, my wife." He said the end with uncertaintly.

Babs reached her hand out and Starfire took it. Does she want me to kiss it or what? She kept talking to herself, she didn't know why.

"So this is her?" Babs wondered aloud, she walked around her in circles, analyzing.

Starfire didn't know what she was doing but somehow she was seeking Babs' approval, she wanted to impress her in some way.

"Richard!" A male voice called. Starfire looked and saw that this time it was from an African American man, a lot taller than Richard himself and waving for him to come on over.

"Victor!" Richard ran over to him, leaving Babs and Starfire to themselves.

At that instant Babs took off her mask, "Let's get one thing straight." She glared at Starfire. "Richard has always been mine and that's the way it'll stay, got it?"

Starfire stared at her with a mouth wide open "What?" She couldn't believe she was saying this to her. "You do not tell me what to do." Starfire was now glaring too.

"I just did, how old are you anyway? 17? 18?"

"I'm 19!" Starfire yelled, something about Babs made her angry.

"Well Richard's 22 and a man." Her tone sounded like she knew what she was talking about.

"And how old are you?" Starfire asked offensively.

"I'm 28, Richard needs a woman, not a girl."

"Shouldn't you be married?"

"I don't get out much, it's hard to leave this place. Nothing's around here, we're in the middle of nowhere. Nothing but ranches and cows for miles." She rambled on and Starfire lost more hope.

"Well there's more out there than just Richard, you can have him."

"Are you serious?" Babs didn't know it would be this easy.

"Yes, I don't want him. I don't even want to be here."

"You don't deserve to be loved by Richard, I don't get him."

"Just leave me alone Babs." Starfire walked off.

"The name's Barbara" She heard her mumble.

Her dress got dirty at the bottom as she walked but she kept going it would probably always be like this. She walked around the house, still a little afraid of going inside. Who knows? Maybe once she was in Richard might lock her up and never let her come out, looking around she saw so many faces, all peasants and servants. Running off hurriedly always having somewhere to be.

They looked at her and she could offer them a blank face but when they smiled or waved she smiled and waved back. She saw cattle and geese being led by other ranchmen, she wondered where they were going. They were headed out of the big entrance where she and Richard had passed through but she didn't dare follow.

"Hey." A voice cam from behind.

Starfire turned and saw Richard standing before her.

"Sorry I left you alone, Victor had a few things to catch me up on."

She didn't say anything.

"Come." He pulled her hand "I'll show you the inside."

Leading her through the people she once passed they made their way out of the hot sun and inside where it was a little cooler. The house was enormous, right when they entered she saw a stairway to the left, leading upstairs where the bedrooms rested but on the first floor, where they were now, you could either go left to the kitchen or right, into a parlor. The floors were made of a dark and light brown marble, having different designs. The room they were in now was more considered a hallway, having only a small table in the middle of the room and a few family portraits hung on the walls. It basically connected the rooms.

He took her first into the parlor, it was like a living room. It had a fireplace and was decorated with lots furniture, a place for many to gather. There was a bar where glass containers sat on top of the counter for one to choose. The kitchen was hot and had several ovens built into the walls where black leftover wood remained to be used over and over again until gone. It was colored a bright orange and there was a door that led back outside but they didn't go through it, Richard only turned her around and led her upstairs.

Once upstairs, there was a long rug that covered the whole hallway to the end. They passed several empty bedrooms until they got to the end, they turned back around and they got to the third door on the right.

"This is your room." Richard said and opened a door slightly.

She entered first and it was a fairly big room, a gold theme. The sheets were gold, the curtains, the rugs. It was beautiful, she couldn't help but smile and feel happy about it. There was a door to the left, she opened it and it was the bathroom. She closed it and there was a couple of other doors in front of her, curiosity drove her to open it. She opened each side with one hand on each handle.

She gasped when she saw that it was a balcony, it wasn't big. Enough for two or three people but it had the most enchanting view. She could see everything and the setting sun seemed closer than ever. It was like she was in the very front of the ranch, she saw everyone under her scrambling around and they seemed to not notice her at all. She turned and saw Richard still standing in the doorway.

"I'm right across the hall if you need me." And he left, closing the door after him.

A little sadness filled her but in the end she guessed it was better than having anger for him. She let herself relax on the bed, it was so soft and she let the mattress consume her shape. She grabbed a pillow and hugged it, taking in it's smell she jumped. It smelled..like him, like Richard. Why had he given her his room? She got up from the bed and opened the door, preparing to leave the room but she was met by people bringing in her suitcases. They placed them on the floor without a word and left. When she was about to close the door a couple of servants brought in buckets of hot and cold water.

"Master Richard ordered a bath for you." One of the women said.

They made their way to the bathroom and dumped in the water. While they did that she looked through her clothes to find a nightgown, it was getting dark outside and she only wanted sleep. She was worn out from the long ride here.

The servants had wanted to help clean her but she insisted on being alone, she had no idea who these women were and wasn't going to let them see her. Soaking in the tub, her mind wandered over everything. Speedy had come back for her, but where was he now? He would probably give up on her now. There was no way he would come all the way here for her, he wouldn't be able to find her. Then she remembered Speedy's last kiss, her hand touched her lips and then she felt something hot on her chest, they were Richard's hot lips. She was remembering last night, when she was lost like a deer in the headlights by his passion.

Her mind snapped, what was she thinking? Speedy and Richard? Right now she had to figure out a way to get out of this place, she didn't care where she would go. As long as it wasn't here or home, she couldn't go back to Blackfire and ask for help. Blackfire would kill her, murder her.

She slipped into her nightgown and went to bed, hoping to get to know more about where she was. But that was for tomorrow, for now she would get to know where things were in this house. It was huge and the tour Richard had given her served her much better for this purpose.

In the morning she woke up early, right when the sun was rising. She wanted to wake up before anyone else, that would give her time to wander this place without interruption or questions. But once downstairs she saw she wasn't the only one awake, more like the last.

She followed her sense of smell to the kitchen, lots of different odors were making their way throughout the rooms. She entered the brightly colored room and was greeted by a young tall African American girl, she was very pretty with her chocloate eyes that matched her skin.

"Good morning." She greeted happily.

"Good morning." Starfire responded with an equal smile.

"Momma!" The girl yelled in a tone Starfire wouldn't have thought she posessed, she had just spoken so politely to her a moment ago. "Come check out the new girl!"

A short African American woman with a big behind and a waddle to her step came from behind a door, which was the door to the pantry.

"Ohh, aren't you a pretty little sweet thing!" The lady walked over to hug Starfire.

"Yeah, she's pretty alright. A lot better than that Babs."

"Babs?" Starfire questioned.

"Oh yeah." She old woman said. "She's been trying to sink her teeth into Master Richard for a while."

"But he don't like her like that." Added the young girl. "Oh by the way, I"m Bee."

"And you can call me Sara. I'm Bee's mother." The lady went behind a counter and started to wash at some fruits, then cutting them and putting them on plates.

Bee ran outside and then came back in with a basket full of sheets, she started to fold them expertly. Starfire stared at their pace, did they do this everyday? she wondered, most likely. They did work at this place maybe they had even been born here, well, not so much the mother but maybe Bee.

"Anyway, back to Babs." Bee tried to start a conversation again. "She's always talking about how in love she is with him."

"No she doesn't." Argued the mother. "She doesn't even need to say it, everyone knows. Except Master Richard of course, he can be so thick headed sometimes."

"Same thing." Mumbled Bee and Starfire giggled at her face.

"She orders everyone like she's the 'lady of the house' that's why I'm glad you're here." Bee pointed at Starfire.

"Me? Why?" Starfire asked.

"Well, you're his wife aren't you!" Sara pointed out while laughing.

"Yeah but-"

"Then all this is yours, besides Babs can be a real-"

From the doorway boomed a voice "Bee, get upstairs and change the sheets to all the beds."

"Yes ma'm." Bee took her leave with the newly folded sheets, soon she would have to unravel them again and put them on the beds.

"You." She pointed to Sara "Is breakfast ready yet?" Sara shook her head and went back to focusing on cooking.

"Starfire you shouldn't be in here." Babs directed herself towards Starfire.

"And why not?" Starfire spat, she hadn't liked the way Babs had just treated the first people she had befriended in this entire house.

"You're not supposed to lower yourself to these people."

"I can talk to whoever I want."

"I'm not saying that, I'm only saying-"

"I do not care what you are trying to say just stay away from me." Starfire took her leave.

Babs followed her out of the kitchen "It's not what you think, if you even show the slightest weakness. They'll walk all over you."

"Have you ever tried being nice." Starfire asked.

Babs looked at her like that wasn't the point "No."

Starfire got back up to her room and slammed the door in Babs' face. So much for the 'getting up early and finding a way out' plan. But it didn't matter she would still try until she succeeded.

The next couple of days passed with her getting to know the servants, her friends. She found out that Bee and Victor had a thing for each other, she thought they would make a good couple. Of course Bee hadn't said anything but she had seen how they look and act around each other. She didn't see much of Richard, he always left early and came back at night. Always tired and wanting to get to bed.

There weren't any secret passages and no way of transportation out of the ranch that didn't deal without having to call an escort and that wouldn't work. She decided she would have to leave in the middle of the night.

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Okay, I found out that Barbara is 7 years older than Richard according to old rules, but according to the new rules she's about 4 or 5 years older, so I went with 6 LoL

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