A/N: Thank you for all the wonderful review, each one meant a lot to me. I hope everyone has a blissful winter this year. Drink lots of hot cocoa and eat tons of cookies. I hope you guys enjoy this new chapter!

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Wednesday, December 14

-w/Kori-

Kori wanted to do something different today. Instead of taking Raven's car, she decided to walk. Kori pulled her flaming red hair into a ponytail. She wore a black pea coat that went up to her waist with black gloves. Her dark blue jeans were halfway covered with black leg warmers. On her on her feet were comfortable black Pumas. Kori grabbed her purse and locked the door.

After wrong turns and dead ends, she eventually found her way to downtown with her map. Gotham was beautiful from it's skyscrapers to the busy streets. She buried her head in her jacket, shivering slightly from the cold. Lattes filled up her mind. Her eyes gleamed as they saw Pete's Coffee.

It took a while, but she got her soy latte. Kori had no idea where she was going, but she proceeded anyways. Finally, she stopped and entered Gotham's Westfield Mall. She pulled the heavy golden doors for a family before entering herself.

As she entered, she couldn't help but marvel at the site before her. In the middle of the mall was a 15 feet Christmas tree adorned with ornaments. Santa Clause sat on his giant red and gold chair with a child on his lap. Artificial snow was placed underneath it all. Each shop had its own way of matching the winter theme.

Five hours later, she was carrying six giant bags. Her Puma's didn't seem to be helping her sore feet much. She couldn't help but slightly tumble with every step she took. There was still two-third of the mall she didn't explore, but she wanted to go home.

"Kori!" She turned her head around at the sound of her name. Before her was Richard Grayson. He wore a black and white dress shirt with slightly loose jeans. The same sunglasses covered his eyes. In his hand was a tiny black bag with gold letters engraved "Zale's Jewelry". Kori looked up at the sign from the store he had just exited. "Zale's Jewelry," she read to herself. She wondered who he was buying it for but quickly diminished her thoughts.

Richard's eye grew wide as he saw her bags. "Do you need help with those," he offered. Even though she stubbornly said no to his offer, he grabbed four of them. "Do you need a ride back to Rachel's?" he asked. She shook her head and replied, "No, that would be too much of a hassle." He gave her an evil smirk. "Too bad, I have you're bags."

Kori couldn't help but giggle as she followed him. He gestured her into a limo parked outside of the mall. He gave her a confused look as she started bouncing up and down on her seat. She gave him a shy smile, "I have never been in a limo before."

"Rachel's place, Alfred," he instructed to his driver. During the whole ride, they talked about their hometown to their current jobs. To both of their dismay, the ride took only 20 minutes. "We're here," Alfred announced. Kory thanked both of them as she gathered her things. Richard stopped her before she grabbed the last one. "I'll help you," he said. He took three of the bags this time and accompanied her to the apartment.

When they got there, she surprised him with a bone-crushing hug. "Thank you." It took him a while, but he regained his composure. He straightened himself out, and choked out a "wait". She watched as he dug out a wrinkled envelope from the pocket of his jeans. Richard smiled sheepishly as he handed it to Kory. "I'm having a Christmas party, and you are invited." He left before she had a chance to thank him.

Kori gave a huge grin as she looked at the card. Without one moment to spare, she rushed into her room and searched for an outfit.

-w/Raven-

"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos," she chanted. Raven never looked more intriguing. Candles surrounded her as she sat meditated position. Her inner emotions made her seem like she was floating

She had a soft expression, but inside her mind, everything was haywire. Her eyebrows furrowed. Even miles apart, she still couldn't stop thinking about him. She gave a silent laugh. Who was she to think that he can be erased that easily? Malchior was the one to show her the world. But he was also the one to take it away from her.

"Azerath, Metrion, Zinthos," she chanted again. It took her a few hours before her mind was finally set into a meditation mood.

It didn't last long though. A loud banging noise interrupted her calm state. Her eyes shot open and then suddenly narrowed. She mumbled cuss words as she blew out her candles. With one jerk, the wooden doors opened. Raven seemed undisturbed by the wind that blew in fiercely. There stood in the cold was the last person she wanted to see.

He gave her a large smile and invited himself into the cabin. She slammed the door shut. He kept his large smile even though she was clearly aggravated. "What are you doing here?" He plopped his whole body onto the coach while playing with Silkie. "Like I said, I would be checking up on you," he said, "just in case you were lying."

She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes. "Gar...field, is it?" she asked. He grinned and nodded, "hi Raven."

"Okay, now that you have established the truth. Goodbye," she said. He ignored her comment and stayed on the coach. His face beamed and he reached into his windbreaker pocket. She gave him a questioning glance as he dug frantically the other pockets. Finally he pulled out a ticket. "You should come to my show Raven!" He quickly ran to her side and jumped enthusiastically. "Come! Come! Come!" he pleaded with an attempted pout. He gave her a wink and pretended to slick his hair back. "You know you dig me."

It was difficult but she restrained herself from slapping him. "Please, please, please," he begged on his knee. "If I put it under consideration, would you shut up?" Garfield nodded repeatedly. She snatched it from him and stuffed it into her jacket. "Fine."

He leaped into the air and with a blink of eye, he was out the cabin. "See you there!" a distant voice called. Raven stared down at the gold and green ticket. Come enjoy the magic of the amazing Garfield Logan! "How cliché."

Friday, December 16

-w/Kori-

She giggled and twirled around the full length mirror. Today was the day of Richard's Christmas Party. Ever since he invited her, she couldn't stop thinking about it. It took her a while, but she got her complete attire after browsing all of Gotham's finest. Although her dress was fairly simple, something about Kori made it stand out. It was a dark red strapless dress that went to her knees. The bottom of her dress swirled graciously with her twirls. Her wrist was adorned with three thin gold bangles; each of them was engraved with a French word in cursive. Cute gold heels were placed on her petite feet. A clear nail polish coated all her nails. Her hair was loosely tied to the side. She had curled it and left her side bangs the same. Her face shimmered from the gold make-up she added and light red lip gloss.

A gasp was let out when she saw the time. She hurriedly snatched Raven's car keys and rushed out the door. When she closed the doors, she realized that she left the keys to the apartment on the kitchen counter. The automatic lock prevented her from entering the apartment again. She sighed in frustration after trying everything to get back in. She gave up and slumped onto the wall. Suddenly she jotted up at the remembrance of Richard's spare keys. She made a mental note to remind him later. With no time wasted, she sped to Raven's BMW in the lower parking lot.

Kori arrived thirty minutes late to the party. She was relieved to know that she wasn't the only one who was 'fashionable late'. Hundreds of cars were parking into the spacious lot. She parked her car and nearly tumbled out of car at her haste. Kori was more than excited. She had never been to a major party quite like Richard's. Back in Brampton, sleepovers were considered the biggest parties. Never had she seen anything like this. Thousands of sleek and black cars were parked. Guests were adorned with the most expensive jewelry, watches, suits, and dresses. Everyone was walking with a proper posture. She pulled her shoulders back and raised her head. It was much harder than she thought. Her attempt failed after a few seconds.

At the moment she entered the enormous mansion, she didn't feel welcomed. Kori mentally slapped herself. She had completely forgotten that she didn't know anybody besides Richard. She bit her lip and thanked X'hal when she saw a bar. "Ice water please," she asked. She brought the edge of the cold glass to her lips. Couples from their early 20s to late 70s were dancing happily on the dance floor. She hummed and swayed with the melody from the musicians on the stage.

There was a tap on her shoulder. She turned around only to be faced with Richard Grayson. He wore an Armani suit with a dark red dress shirt underneath. A black and red tie was wrapped around his neck. Sunglasses were placed on his face, just like every time she saw him. He gave her a lopsided smile, "it's not seeing you again Kori. You look beautiful, as always." Her cheeks burned as red as her hair. Richard gestured to someone next to him. "Roy, Kori." "Kori, Roy" She finally took notice of the orange hair friend next to him. Roy reached his hand out and she shook it. "Pleasure meeting you gorgeous," he said with a wink. Her cheeks were probably bright red by now.

A pair of slim arms wrapped Richard from behind. The red headed stranger placed her lips on his neck. "Miss me babe?"

"Kori, this is…," he started. "Barbara, his girlfriend," she finished. Barbara released her embrace from Richard and shook Kori's hand. Barabra grabbed Richard's tie and pulled him in for a kiss. "Aren't you going to ask your girlfriend to dance," she whispered. He coughed and loosened the grip on his tie. "Would you dance with me Babs?" he asked. She dragged him to the dance floor before he got to finish his goodbye.

"Of course he has a girlfriend," she thought inwardly. "A gorgeous one too. How silly of myself to have wishful thinking."Kori stared down on the floor lost in her own pool of thoughts. "Would you like to dance with me," Roy interrupted. She suddenly remembered Roy and broke out of her trance. With a smile, she replied. "Sure."

Roy turned out to be a real gentleman. They talked throughout their whole dance. Within five songs, they formed a silent friendship. Apparently he was into archery, knew Richard since kindergarten, and was the same age as her. Roy led her to the bar to take a break. Her face flushed at the sight of Richard and his girlfriend ordering drinks. Feeling the same thoughts coming back to her, she thought of excuses to leave. "Richard, my man!" Roy shouted. At the sound of his name, Richard turned around and smiled. "Too late for that." She honestly didn't feel like smiling, but placed a fake one anyways. She wandered her eyes towards the floor once again.

Barbara turned around and so did the couple talking to her. "Roy, you remember Xavier don't you." Kori's eyes widen. "It couldn't be… could it?" Her head slowly rose up to meet a pair of deep maroon eyes Those eyes seemed so familiar to her, yet she refused to acknowledge it. She looked at the woman next to him. Probably another one night slut he picked up from a club. She wondered if she was hallucinating. But there he stood in front of her, with his high ego and a cocky smirk to match it.

"How have you been cutie?" His deep voice confirmed her fears. Her heart stopped at the moment their eyes locked once again. At that moment, she knew. The man that stood before her was no doubt Xavier Redd. The same Xavier Redd who she desperately tried to run away from. Kori did what she needed to do. Everything became a blur as she dashed out of the mansion, including Richard's frantic calls.

By now her high heels were in her hands while she ran through the cold pavement. Loud sobs echoed throughout the empty parking lot. She jerked opened the doors of the car and clutched onto the steering wheel. She drove back home when her tears eventually died down.

It wasn't until she reached her floor that she realized the keys she forgot to ask from Richard. She leaned on the wall and slid down. Her body shook violently. She wasn't sure whether it was from the freezing temperature or events from the night. She rolled into a ball on the ground. Both her heart and body was too numb to bother crying out her agony.

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A/N: It's 2 oh clock at night, but I really want to update a.s.a.p. for everyone :D There wasn't much Gar and Raven in this chapter this time but they'll be back. This chapter was a bit depressing, but I think that's what makes the story the best. I hope everyone's having a great Martin Luther King holiday! Keep dreaming and believing.

Please review and tell me what you think :D