Hey, all. I know I took my sweet time with this story but so much has happened over the year for me. I'm sorry for that. And thanks to all who motivated me to get off my rear and continue it. I hope everyone keeps on enjoying and reading this story. Oh, and yeah…feedback, please! Love you all, and thanks again.

Disclaimer: I do not own any part of Teen Titans.

…Terra…

"Mom! Mom!"

A young boy, no more than ten years of age, sprinted straightaway through the door of his family home in so much of a frenzy that he failed to close it behind him.

"Mom, come quick!" he shouted, making a full circle throughout the house. Yet, no sign of his mother. He figured he was alone until he heard the squeak, mainly from the rusty hinges of the door, then a stern click indicating someone had just closed it.

"Mo-" he ran back to the living room but stopped once he observed his father just before the door.

"Hello, Joey."

The young boy's body began to quiver with panic. "Dad. Where's Mom?"

"She's gone to do some shopping. She shouldn't be back for awhile."

"Where's Grant?"

"She's taken Grant along with her. Don't worry, son. It's only you and I."

Joey found himself carefully stepping away with every nearing pace his father took.

"Joey, I'm in no mood to play games with you now, so I'll be frank. You saw me," he pointed to his son. "The problem is…how much did you see?"

Fresh images of the little red-haired girl's struggle with his father played in his mind. "I didn't see any…thing," the young boy softened at his scowl.

"You're becoming quite the liar, Joey."

"Dad, I didn't mean to follow you," he confessed. "I wanted, I-I just wanted to know why you and Mom had been arguing so much. That's all."

"And following me today, that was your best solution?" Joey shrugged and remained silent knowing he didn't have an answer that his father would consider truthful. "I believed I asked you a question."

"No, sir." He stared sullenly to the floor but gazed at his father once more. "But that girl. Who was she? Why did you take try to take her?"

"My choices are my own and aren't of any importance to you. You," he directed a finger to his son, "need not speak a word of this to anyone."

"But sh-she was only a little girl, Dad! Don't you care?! You were going to kidnap-" Joseph suddenly pulled Joey by the collar of his shirt and led him into the nearest room, quieting him.

"Son, we're all human. I suppose you're still too young to understand what I'm talking about…but soon. Soon you'll know all too well. Until then," he shut the door tightly to the den before locking it, "…I'll need some form of guarantee that you won't be able to breathe a word of this."

It was the last thing Joey recalled before dozing off in Terra's car yesterday night.

But now he woke to a bright morning, the sunshine beaming past the glass windows and through ecru laced curtains, interrupting his sleep as he slumped uncomfortably in a firm wicker chair.

Rubbing the wake in his eyes, he received a clear view of an unmade bed that lay before him and not to mention a scattered array of what seemed like shirts, skirts and jeans all piled along the carpeted floor.

In a panic, Joey's head canvassed the room around him, too worried to deal with the stiff neck he felt quickly after.

Definitely not my room, so where am I?

The hum of the bedroom door opening made him shoot out of his chair. He stared intently at it, waiting to see whose face would pop through.

It was her. She appeared into the bedroom carrying a steaming lilac-tinted mug.

"Hey, sleepyhead," she said with a quick smile as he met her gaze. "I was wondering when you would wake up. You must've been really tired last night, huh?"

His eyes softened at her smile and he simply nodded.

"I brought you some coffee. You do drink coffee, don't you?"

He nodded again.

She blew soft puffs into the mug trying to deter the small steam that rose before handing it over to him. "Here."

'Thanks' he signed. Terra, not exactly sure what he had just gestured, simply disregarded it.

"You're probably wondering what you're doing in my room, huh?"

Only a mere shrug was answer enough and she continued. "Well, you fell asleep before you had a chance to show me where you lived. After coming to the conclusion that you're not some homicidal maniac who's out to get me, I guess it was safe enough to bring you here to sleep it off."

Terra traveled over to her bed and laid down, automatically resting her hands behind her head as he took small sips of his dark java. "But this is where it ends, got that?"

Joey refused to answer but did choose to take a mini-tour of her room. She eyed his every move form her position. Her beige bedroom walls were adorned with senseless boy bands, photos of friends stuck to her vanity mirror and on every other table lay a half-finished soft drink bottle. She found herself struggling to stifle a laugh every time he almost tripped from an article of clothing that lay gathering dust on the floor.

But for Joey, it was a picture that rested on her computer desk, consisting of a young Terra and her parents taken at what he could only assume was a zoo, that quickly caught his attention and he grabbed it. Instantly, he pointed to her mother.

"What? My mom?" she asked, resting now on her side, looking straight at him.

He put down the picture and, again, began writing in an unneeded notebook he found nearby, which she only ever used to jot down notes for her Government Economics class.

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

"I don't know. She's barely at home anymore. She goes her way and…I go mine. Since my dad left, things haven't been the same between us." He sensed bitterness in her tone but could see the sadness in her eyes.

WHY? He didn't wish to press the issue but it intrigued him.

"I don't know," she responded, sounding more harsh than she intended. "I think maybe she blames me for him abandoning us or something." And for a moment he simply stood there and she realized she had perhaps revealed a little too much information.

"Look, I don't like talking about my personal life so can we not talk about it?"

I'M SORRY. He felt guilty and looked everywhere else but at her.

"Don't be. Anyways, why are you so concerned with my mother?"

Again, he continued scripting. I SEE HIM WITH HER ALL THE TIME.

"Care to be a little bit more specific. I mean, seeing as she's become quite popular among the men population. Him could be anyone."

MY FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER.

Then it struck her, his previous claims about his father and such. "Oh, your perverted father who's after me," she added with a sarcastic roll of her eyes. "How could I forget?"

Joey shook his head, agitation running through his fingers as he wrote. I REALLY WISH YOU WOULDN'T BE SO CONDESCNEDING TO ME. I'M TELLING YOU THE TRUTH.

At this point, Terra was a tad shocked at his words. "Joey, if you're telling me the truth, which by the way I highly doubt…then why hasn't this Joseph guy done anything yet?"

He slumped his shoulders weakly and walked over to her bed and she moved her legs away, allowing him to plop down beside her. He sighed loudly because he honestly didn't know what his father's next move was or when it would happen and that troubled him.

Seeing his solemn expression, a part of Terra actually started feeling guilty and she sympathized with him. "Let's say for the sake of argument, I believed you," she began again. "You say that you see your father and my mother together all the time, right?"

He nodded.

"And you said before that I had dinner with him, right?"

Again he nodded unenthusiastically, not seeing a clear direction where this conversation was going.

"But the only guy I've had dinner with is my mom's boyfriend…J.S."

At the mention of the name, Joey jumped violently whilst pointing wildly at her.

Without warning, she sat up. Terrified that he'd began having some sort of convulsion, she freaked. "What? What's wrong?"

He ran back to her computer desk, grabbing at the notebook and turned to a fresh sheet. J.S. !!

"I don't get it. What about J.S.?"

He continued to move about like a madman as he practically shoved the notebook which included the name in bold letters to her face.

"Wait a minute…" she shoved the notebook away, standing not more than a foot away from his face. "Are you saying J.S. is the big baddie?" She considered it but then ultimately rejected the notion. "No," she ridiculed.

Joey could feel his head pulsate. Are you really this blind? He thumbed through the pages of the notebook, taking out his frustrations on the poor pages with every loud crinkle.

All the while, she took a conspicuous look at Joey as he wrote and with J.S.'s visage still fresh in her mind, she quickly saw a striking resemblance between the two. A resemblance she couldn't deny. Though she still didn't want to believe any accuracy in his plausible theory.

JOSEPH SLADE WILSON!! THINK ABOUT IT! IT'S HIM!

"No," she denied, shaking her head in disbelief to which Joey countered by nodding his head. "Don't you think I would've realized…"

At that moment, she fixed her eyes on her palms, the faint marks of Joseph's prickly rose still evident. Thinking back, the ominous look in his eyes along with his sinister smile achieved in sending another shiver down her spine.

"--it," she said, her voice slightly higher than a whisper. "Wait. J. S. is Joseph, isn't he? Your dad." She questioned but didn't need to look at Joey to know the answer.

No longer believing his words were utter lies, her mind drifted off to all the chilling possibilities that might have occurred had Joey not presented himself to her and her eyes began to water.

Overcome with anxiety, she sat back down on her bed. Joey kneeled before her and offered a consoling hand to her shoulder. "Wh-What does he want with me?"

Slowly, he retrieved the notebook and took his time to answer. I TOLD YOU WHAT HE WANTS. The thoughts of his father and his perversions made him tense up.

Her breath became caught in her throat. "This can't be happening. Not to me."

TELL YOUR MOTHER ALL ABOUT HIM. SHE HAS TO STOP HIM.

"Oh, right," she said, her voice breaking only for a quick cynical laugh. "Like that's going to do much help. She's practically in love with him. She thinks he's a saint. Like he can do no wrong. She'll never believe me."

SHE CARES MORE ABOUT BEING LOVED THAN HER OWN DAUGHTER?

"Joey, you don't understand my mother. She's been desperate for someone to love her since my father left. She's felt this…void in her life for awhile," she sputtered. "And since she's met Joseph," she paused. "Well let's just say she saw something in him. Now if he leaves, it's going to be like my father all over again. He'll be gone and somehow she'll blame me for it."

THE POLICE THEN.

"And tell them what? We have no proof of anything. Just some dumb blonde with an overactive imagination. And you, they'll just say you're a vindictive son who's got some major father issues. They'd sooner send us to a psychiatrist before helping us, Joey."

Joey stared blankly at the wall in front of him and kept his thoughts to himself. The silence was deafening that even Terra swallowed the lump of nervousness that surged in her throat. The pressure began to build on him. She might not have said it, though he knew she was looking to him for answers. He gave her the best advice he could.

DON'T WORRY.

"Don't worry? What is that supposed to mean?"

YOU WON'T BE ALONE. I MIGHT NOT BE MUCH BUT AS LONG AS I'M HERE HE WON'T COME NEAR YOU. I'M SURE OF IT.

"How do you know that? How can you be so sure?"

HE'S MY FATHER. WHO BETTER TO KNOW HIM IF NOT ME.

"And what? You'll just be watching my every step? Making sure he doesn't come after me? My personal protector? Is that your brilliant plan?"

IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES. YES. I PROMISE YOU.

"Right," she bit back. "If there's one thing I've learned about-" she stopped abruptly, noticing the deep blue in his eyes widen. "Look, just don't promise me anything, all right."

She made a move to stand up but Joey quickly stopped her and gently led her back down to sit onto the bed. He wrote but kept his gaze on her as he had no need to look down at the paper. His fingers automatically placed each inked letter correctly and intact on the sheet.

DO YOU NOT TRUST ME TARA? He held it up for her to see.

Ignoring the misspelling of her name, she looked at his concerned eyes and for the first time realized just how beautiful and innocent he appeared as the sunlight radiated off him, giving him an almost angelic glow.

"But I don't even know you. Anything about you." They stared at each other for a good couple of seconds until…

"Terra!"

Both snapped out of their dreamlike musings and sprung a nervous look to the door after hearing the familiar shout.

"She's home!" she panicked, pushing past Joey. "We need to get you out of here," she squealed searching around her room to find the best place in which to hide him. "If she finds out you slept here last night-"

Outside the bedroom, her mother's impending footsteps drumming against the stairs could be heard.

"Terra! I'm calling you! Do you hear me!"

She turned to see Joey simply standing there with a confused expression plastered on his face which made her scrunch her nose with frustration. "Why are you just standing there?!" she shrieked as quietly as she could.

With a soft whisper, "Hurry. Hide in the there." She hurried, pushing him deep within the confinements of her messy closet. "Stay!" she ordered before shutting it close.

Almost immediately, the doorknob to her bedroom began to turn. "Terra!" a voice summoned from the other side.

She hurdled to the door, disallowing her mother from opening it any further. "Mom! Do you mind?! A little privacy please," she demanded, only her head peeking through the barely open door.

"Why didn't you answer me when I called you?"

"I didn't hear you."

"Terra, people in Ecuador could've heard me."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I honestly didn't hear you calling me." Terra gazed at her mother while still trying to ignore the expression of doubt visible on her face. Mrs. Markov took full notice and looked even more suspiciously at the girl.

"Why are you acting so strange?"

"I'm not."

"Really?" she questioned, looking her daughter up and down and whatever glimpse she could through the small opening of the door.

This was it. Terra knew she had to think fast before her mother-

"Then I guess you won't mind if I come in, now will you?"

She sighed sorely and stepped aside begrudgingly, allowing her mother entry. "Be my guest."

"Thank you," she stated sharply and walked past her. Her mother looked about the bedroom and not a second was wasted before she badgered the blonde girl to it's condition. "Damn it, Terra. How many times have I told you to clean up this mess. I'm not your private maid."

She watched as her mother picked up clothes off the floor and sorted them onto her bed.

"Mom, will you stop. I like my room this way." She highlighted her point by throwing her clothes back onto the floor where they would remain for the rest of the day. "It lacks…structure."

"It lacks a good cleaning," she retorted to her daughter. She did several checks under the bed, almost expecting to find something new and unexpected at every turn. But it was when she saw her mother walk over to her closet that Terra shut her eyes, anticipating the worst.

She opened the door to the closet in a clichéd, gotcha-like motion, the very closet that was supposed to be keeping a soundless Joey well hidden.

Oh baby, I'm screwed. Terra moved forward, "Mom, let me just-"

"Well I'll be," her mother interrupted just as her daughter was about to burst into a full confession. "I guess you were right."

"Huh?" She strutted over to see what had happened with Joey. Her eyes broadened as she observed an over-cluttered closet, sans a blonde-haired young man. He was nowhere to be found.

Terra quickly put an arm around her mother's shoulder and gently spun her around, gladly leading her back to the door and eager to find out where Joey could've disappeared to.

"So you see. Nothing weird is going on here. Just relax, Mom."

Mrs. Markov blew a sigh of relief. "I'm sorry, honey. I guess I'm just a little off today," she laughed softly until she took sight of the dirty kitchenware that had been left around her room. "Get rid of these dishes, will you? It's starting to look like a landfill in here."

"Ok."

Her mother began heading for the door, "Oh, and wash those clothes…now," she warned but stopped once again after noticing the steaming mug of coffee that had been placed atop the nightstand. Terra followed her gaze back to the mug and held her baffled expression.

"Now what?"

"Coffee?" Mrs. Markov questioned, her blue eyes not moving away from the steaming mug. "You don't drink coffee. You hate coffee," she reported to her young daughter.

"No I don't. I like it."

"Since when?"

"Since two weeks ago when the girls and I went to that new coffee shop that opened up on Berber Square," she lied expertly. "But I guess you'd know that if you actually spent some time at home once in awhile."

"Here we go with this again. I swear, Terra. If there was ever a morning where you didn't start with me…"

Her mother walked out the room and down the stairs, leaving behind the echo of her voice to fade in the distance. Terra chuckled at the ease of annoying her mother but paused and looked strangely at her closet.

All right now, where the heck are you?

Nothing but clothes and junk cluttered the closet and she found herself digging around the mess for the strange teen.

"Joey," she whispered. "Where the heck are you? I'm not kidding." No doubt, he couldn't have disappeared but his whereabouts remained a mystery until-

A flimsy clearing of his throat and Terra looked above to where the sound originated. There she saw Joey, hanging on for dear life, pressing his hands and legs against the perimeters of the walls with a winning smile gracing his lips.

She grinned in return, "Get down from there before you get hurt."

Joey nodded, drawing in a deep breath and slowly climbed down.

…Kory & Bee…

Kory sighed with difficulty, thus deciding that continuing this act of childishness wasn't the best way to go in dealing with "the ex from Hell".

"Can I call times here for a sec? Let's not play these reindeer games anymore, alright. I think we can both agree that Dick is important to both of us. So for once, let's try to act civil with each other. If not for us, then for his sake."

"You…civil? You must be deranged," Babs retorted quietly with disgust, not wishing to waken the sleeping gentleman beside her.

Kory held her tongue back. Babs wasn't going to make this mint armistice easy for her.

"Look…you had your chance with Dick, I'm with him now. If you can't…" but abruptly stopped speaking at the sound of the dial tone.

"Hello? Ba…"

She perked a speechless ruby eyebrow, her mouth fell open, fairly stunned. "The icebox hung up on me!"

**************

Bursts of laughter ensued inside her Mustang and for a moment Kory found herself regretting accompanying Bee over to Terra's house. Had it not been for Bee's lack of transportation and having the responsibility of picking up her parents from the airport later that morning, Kory would have more than likely slept in.

After an explanation of the previous night's phone conversation with Babs, she turned and glared at her friend.

"Stop laughing, Bee. It's not funny."

"The hell it ain't!"

With Bee's amusement abating after reading her friend's expression of discontent, she moved about in the passenger seat, ignoring her sour puss frown. "So what'd you tell the prude after that?"

"She hung up on me. Couldn't tell her much after that, now could I?"

Bee shrugged. "Guess not," and pulled down on the passenger visor before rummaging through her purse, searching for that certain lip gloss.

Kory watched her for a second then darted her eyes forward, focusing most of her attention to the road, thinking for the most part. "But that's not important. What I'd like to know is why she was still there so late?"

Bee scoffed. "Do you really need it spelt out for you?"

"Zip ittt, Beee…" she warned, rolling her eyes.

"So is it safe to assume we at least know why he was too busy to call you last night?" she continued her taunts.

Kory groaned and without realizing it, gripped her fingers around the steering wheel snuggly. Bee, however, did see the tension her words had brought.

"Oh, please. Don't tell me the thought hasn't crossed your mind yet? Dick is a man after all."

Kory heaved a sigh. "Maybe with the majority of the men you date. I'm choosing to trust mine."

"You see, that's the problem. There's just too much trust on your part."

"What the heck does that mean?" she looked directly at her, noticing a familiar gloss in her hand.

"Please," she jeered, adjusting the angle of the visor. "Men, boys…it's all the same. They can't help if it's built into their genes since birth to be complete morons."

"Oh, really?"

"Think about it," Bee mumbled, using the mirror to apply her gloss. "Why would Dick ask you to leave his house just so he could talk to the prude? Couldn't he have asked you to wait in another room or somethin'? Was it really necessary to have left them alone?"

"Dun-dun-dunn!" Kory sung dramatically, knowing exactly how much her mocking would annoy her best friend.

"Yeah, you joke now but we'll see," Bee forewarned.

"Ok, then. Here's a thought. It's called giving them their privacy."

"Privacy?" she echoed. "Do you not see the red flag wavin' in front of you? He wanted some privacy with the woman he used to share hot times with," she griped, replacing the cap on the gloss. "I call bull-"

"FYI, Babs was pretty shook up about her face being used for a punching bag. I mean, in her situation, who wouldn't be. Even I felt bad for her and you know how much she just loves me."

"Even so, you have to admit that somethin' about the whole thing is whacked."

"Look," she returned. "I may not like Babs or the fact that she's still in the picture but I'll learn to deal with it…my own way."

"Well, you better learn to deal with it," Bee added before licking her lips to get a taste of her gloss, "-because it's obvious Dick and her still have some unresolved issues."

"Issues? What issues?"

"You know, feelings."

"Wait a minute. Are you suggesting that Dick still has feelings for her?"

"You know what?" she said, quickly regretting saying anything in the first place. "Let's just drop the discussion. I'm tired of talkin' about those two," she stressed, beginning to put the tube of gloss away.

"Uh-uh," Kory shook her head softly, turning towards her. "No. I'm really interested to hear what you think."

Bee opened her purse but could see as Kory neared a hand to her.

"By the way," Kory grabbed at the pink gloss before she had a chance to veil it back into her purse. "You little thief! So you're the one who seems to be abducting my makeup!"

"Hey!" Bee fought meekly.

"Hey yourself! I've been looking everywhere for this," she added, tossing it to the back seat, giggling as Bee looked sadly at the lost lip gloss. "Back on topic-"

"What topic?" she snapped, disgruntled. She really did love that gloss.

"I want to know what you think about all of this. So, go on."

"I'm just sayin'." Bee sighed and stared out her window, the houses becoming a blur as the car sped down the road.

"Saying what?"

"That I don't see Dick as being the guy for you. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure he was fun to play with for awhile but now I think it's time you put that toy back on the shelf."

"I told you I'm not doing that." Kory declared, sending a playful push to her shoulder. "He's not just for kicks, Bee. He might be a little different than my norm but-"

"Ok, I still don't get this relationship."

She grinned warmly at her. "It's not that hard to interpret, hun."

"Yeah, thanks. That's not what I'm talkin' about. I'm not a complete idiot."

"Then what don't you get?"

"Well, let's see. First, you were supposed to help get them get back together because he still loved the prude. That was the plan, am I right?"

Kory pressed. "So?"

"So what happened?" Bee waited, eyeing her critically.

Kory kept her eyes fixated on the road ahead of her. It was a simple enough question; not a simple enough answer.

Since she first set her sight on Dick, it wasn't easy.

Granted it was only days, every night when they would part, Kory would feel that faint hint of missing him, hence why she'd need to speak to him every night. She tried her hardest to fight back the feelings that dared to nip at her, to lock them out even.

But he was adorable in that he was so straight-thinking, always with a comforting warmth surrounding him. Albeit down underneath Kory could sense he was lonely. For Babs? For his parents?

"All of a sudden he's over the prude and he's so into you? Just like that?" she persisted, snapping her fingers and Kory back into reality. "You mean to tell me he all of a sudden stopped feelin' for this woman he supposedly loved in a matter of days?"

Before Kory could open her mouth, her breath got caught in her throat. How exactly was she supposed to answer that question?

She thought about it for a moment, "It can happen," she urged. "It's not out of the realm of possibility, you know. His feelings for Babs weren't as strong as he thought. Th-they grew apart," she stuttered.

Kory could feel herself begin to ramble on. "It happens to a lot of couples. Besides, I've already discussed it with him. He doesn't feel that way for her anymore."

"Or maybe he's milkin' ya," Bee interrupted.

"Dick's not that kind of guy. He wouldn't do that…to anyone."

"Darlin', you've known him a week. You don't know what he would or wouldn't do. Then to go and have sex with him-"

At first, a slight blush rose onto her cheeks before settling upon the idea that to Bee, this wasn't the wisest decision.

Kory rolled her eyes. "Do you always have to be so judgmental about every choice I make?"

"I'm a realist, girl. And as a realist I can tell you people don't all of a sudden have a change of heart. I don't trust him. Somethin's not right here and I don't want to see you get hurt...again."

"Aww," she tapped Bee's chin lovingly before laying a slight peck to her cheek.

She pulled away from Kory. "Look at my face," Bee snapped back. "Does this look like the face of a woman who's handin' out jokes? I'm serious."

Kory moved back to her original position, carefully maneuvering the steering wheel.

"I'm sorry. Look," she breathed softly. "I know you're more than serious. And I know that you care. But Bee, I'm going to be fine."

"You really believe that?" Kory couldn't ignore the sincerity in her voice.

"For the last time, yes. Dick is- is someone like I've never met before. He's something like uncharted territory for me," she suggested. "And I want to explore where this can go. Whether it works out or not," she shrugged, "I'm lucky to have found him."

The ebony firecracker elevated a brow. "Don't you mean you're lucky to have wrecked into his car?" she commented while Kory glowered over to her.

"Hey, if this is how you truly feel," Bee hesitated, "I won't have much of a choice except to trust your judgment," she spat the latter.

"Good. You'll have to," the car halted to a stop and the engine turned off, "-because we're here."

Parking right behind Terra's Jetta, which rested by the curb, they looked to the house ahead of them and noticed the absence of her mother's vehicle. Bee unfastened her seatbelt, grinning. "I hope this means we won't have to deal with the terror that is Mrs. Markov this mornin'."

"Don't be so sure," Kory pointed towards the garage. "I'm sure Ms. Medusa parked it in the garage."

The girls continued their small talk as they descended from the car and started up the walk, finally reaching the front door.

Bee brought up her hand to knock but stopped. "Now that I think about it, it's a sick twist of fate, huh?"

"What is?" Kory asked with a smile, eager to hear what answer she'd come up with.

"You and the icebox have both shared the same guys," she laughed.

Immediately, Kory narrowed her eyes. "Oh, haha. How hilarious," she mocked. "Now shut up and knock," she pointed towards the door.

"-'Nother symptom of love, I suppose. The loss of humor."

Just as Bee's knuckle was about to make contact with the door, it opened suddenly and the girls found themselves jolting back a bit when Terra stepped forward in a rush. Behind her was Joey, widened-eyed and just as surprised to find people outside waiting like sentries.

"Umpf!" Terra froze except for the apprehensive chuckle that followed after. "Ladies! Wh-what's going on?" she hesitated, trying to push Joey back inside the house before he could be seen. "Why are you here? -so early?"

If the girls caught sight of Joey, they remained silent for the moment. "What do you think, girl? You haven't been answerin'-"

"Or returning," Kory added to the argument.

"-or returnin' our calls so we headed over here," Bee finished.

"We thought something was wrong," the redhead suggested, almost swearing she saw a hint of something move behind Terra, even as the blonde tried to close the door behind her. "It's not like you to not answer your phone."

Kory could sense something peculiar about Terra's behavior and shifted about, trying to get a good glimpse at what was behind her friend.

"You had us worried," Bee answered, looking over to what Kory was trying to focus on. "So what gives?"

Joey could hear the girls continue to chatter outside the door and he tensed. With what little opening that Terra allowed, he could see ruby hair but little of its owner. He certainly couldn't move further away from the door now that Mrs. Markov remained somewhere in the midst of the house. He needed to remain close by to the only possible exit.

So he waited, unnerved. That was until the door came swooshing open, apparently by someone. He stumbled back a bit and saw now three pretty faces staring back at him.

"Well, heelllooo," Kory mediated the awkward silence with a beam. She completely ignored her friends and focused her attention on the blonde gentleman who now appeared to be caught by surprise.

He, unsure of what to do, moved forward slightly and stared blankly back at them, his face paling noticeably.

Bee, quickly resting her hands on her hip, gave the stranger an interrogating look. "So what's up? Who's this?"

"Who?" Terra asked, playing dumb.

Kory repositioned Terra's head in Joey's direction. "I think she's referring to the blonde fox standing in the middle of the doorway," she whispered into her ear.

"Oh, him," Terra chuckled playfully. "Uh…girls, this-" she thought. What other choice did she have? All the same, she knew her friends wouldn't let up until they received some definite answers.

She gave Joey a heavy tug, bringing him forward for a clear view of her friends. "This is a…a friend of mine. Joey Wilson."

"Joey?" Bee repeated with a suspicion hunch.

Despite Bee's skepticism, Kory's interest and friendly nature caused her to brush past them. She instantly took Joey's hand and gave it a mild shake, hoping to find out more about this mystery man that Terra had apparently been keeping a secret.

Kory beamed wholly. "Hey, Joey."

He grinned shyly at her inviting smile.

"Wait," Bee interjected again. "You've never talked about a Joey before. When did ya'll meet again?" She looked straightaway at the man, expecting a quick answer.

"Bee!" The redhead glanced over her shoulder, protesting to her friend. "Give it a rest alright," she muttered, quickly defending the new guy. She met Joey's eyes once more.

"I'm Kory and this is Bee." She pointed to the ebony beauty, who refused to smile, before cupping her mouth to whisper, "Don't mind her. She's an acquired taste if you know what I mean."

"I can hear you, you know," Bee countered to the redhead. Immediately the friends began another amicable spat.

"Uh, Kor." Terra called nervously to deaf ears, as no one was paying any attention, except for maybe the blonde gentleman, who brought a docile hand to her shoulder. "Hey, girls-" she tried again but was drowned out.

Terra peeked inside through the door, hopefully showing no sign of her mother anytime soon. She crossed her arms, annoyed. "Got a sec!"

The shout summoned the quarreling girls silent. They then composed themselves.

"Now as much as Joey would love to get to know you, he really needs to go. Like right now."

"Terra!" Everyone looked inside towards the sound of Mrs. Markov, who now was trekking down the end of the stairs. "Where are you, young lady?!"

She could hear the steps of her mother nearing quickly to the door. This left little time for Terra to suggest a plan. A lump of panic began to form in her throat and she hastily shoved Joey straight into Kory.

Before she knew it, Mrs. Markov pushed herself past the door to where the girls, plus Joey, stood. "Terra, what's with you today? Again, I've been calling you. Do you need your ears checked?"

"I was just talking to the girls," she pointed.

Mrs. Markov soon realized her daughter had guests. "Oh," her mother conveyed stuffily. "Well, it's a little too early in the morning to start having visitors."

"Get a grip, Mom. They weren't staying."

Joey could feel his face redden from the constant stare Mrs. Markov sent his way, mainly to the scar on his neck. "Don't I know you from somewhere? You seem vaguely familiar to me," she questioned.

"No, Mom." Terra ran her fingers through her hair, evidently discomfited. "You've never met him before. This is Kory's cousin," she lied.

Kory tilted her head. "Huh?"

Terra twisted her eyes and quickly jabbed Kory.

"I mean…yeah," she played along, slowly putting a friendly arm around his shoulder. "Joey, your manners," she giggled quietly. "Don't be shy. Say hello to Mrs. Markov, Terra's mother."

"He can't speak, Kory," gritted Terra through clenched teeth. "Remember?"

Kory and Bee both held looks of confusion at her. "I mean, he doesn't speak a word of English," she clarified.

"Uh, that's…right?" She looked to the blonde girl hoping not to sound completely clueless. "That's right," she insisted as Terra nodded. "How could it have slipped my mind. He's from…from Norway-"

"-Russia." Bee added simultaneously, immediately causing Terra to sadly shake her head and shut her eyes. I'm dead…

Apparently with good reason as Mrs. Markov's doubts were easily read on account of her wary eyes wandering to and fro at the girls, mainly Joey, causing Kory to retract her hand from his shoulder.

Kory nervously responded. "You see, he was born in Norway but grew up in Russia. I have family all over the world," she stuttered, mixing an edgy chuckle in between.

Unlike Kory, Bee kept her cool. "We were just showing him around Gotham while he's in town visiting."

Joey nodded.

Mrs. Markov exhaled tiredly. "Ladies, I'm a little beat this morning. Why don't you all come back later." Mrs. Markov slipped inside the front door, with a soft "…when I might actually care what you're babbling about."

Terra had only begun to open her mouth to say something.

"Terra!" called her mother again.

In no mood to argue with her mother this early, she mouthed, I'll call you later, to her friends and shooed them away.

"Inside now!"

"I'm coming!" she yelled before shutting the door. The girls then gazed away from the door to each other.

"Norway?" Bee mocked, forgetting for a brief moment about Joey's presence nearby.

"Give me a break. It was the first thing that popped into my head. You know I'm not good under pressure."

"Ugh." Bee turned and took another look at the closed front door. "I really hate Terra's mom."

"Eh, what's to like?" Kory shrugged off. Currently, she wanted to chat with the new guy. "So Joey, need a ride-" she quieted. He was nowhere to be seen.

Bee looked around. "Yo, Joey? Where you at?"

They scanned their surroundings, then looked towards the street. His whereabouts were as odd as the mystery man was silent.

"Where'd that oddball go?" Bee uttered on the their way back to Kory's car.

…Dick…

He couldn't remember how long he waited there with Babs the night before, nor could he account for the time he drifted off to sleep.

Now morning beckoned and he awoke to find himself alone on the couch, only a small throw to keep him company. He tossed it aside and glimpsed at his watch just in time for the minute hand to strike.

"9:39," he read and sat up sleepily, looking around him for any sign that he wasn't alone. None presented itself.

"Alfred?" He listened behind him expecting to hear the soft footsteps of the elderly butler at any time.

"Hey, Alfred?" Only this time his eyes roamed around the finely decorated walls and parquet floor but still no answer.

He shrunk back into his seat, his head collapsing against the couch. Minutes had passed since he first blinked open his eyes and there he sat, not longing to move. His eyes tiredly began to shut once more until, chaotically, he jerked his head upright.

"Kory!" he breathed, eyes wide, and took another quick look at the time.

"Damn!" he muttered to himself as he ran his hands over his face. "I forgot to call her."

Sighing, he stood and sauntered towards his bedroom, continuing to wipe away at some sleep residue that remained in his eyes. Along the way he made a mental checklist.

Alright…first, find Alfred. Next, a bath. Later, a big lunch with Kory.

He ran a hand through his oily mane. "Wait, scratch that. Bath, first."

No. Maybe I'll call Kory now…"and pray she won't be too mad. No doubt she'll be expecting an explanation." He sighed again. "I can't believe I'm already blowing it with her," he thought out loud.

He walked past the huge den, onwards through the dining room and brushed by the kitchen. The echo of clinging pans and pots could be heard, which he assumed to be Alfred preparing him a late breakfast.

There you are.

"Mornin', Alfred!" he shouted from afar, not bothering to look in through the doorway. "Just let me wash up and I'll be right with you!"

"Dick?" called a voice. "Is that you?"

It alone stopped him dead in his tracks. It wasn't one he expected to hear so early in the morning. Peeking inside the kitchen, he was surprised to see Babs bustling through the pantry, various cabinets and the refrigerator, in nothing else but a simple oversized undershirt. One of his undershirts to be exact.

He stood at the doorway, looking on. She was now in the middle of preparing a pot of coffee.

How long had she been at this? Where the heck was Alfred if his ex-girlfriend was occupying the kitchen this morning? Easily, he knew Alfred must've been gone. She'd never dress so freely around the refined butler's presence.

At the sight of him, "Good morning," she greeted with an elated smile, now beating away at some unspecified batter.

Responding with his own small grin, "Morning." He looked around the kitchen, seeing it was only them two, alone again.

"So how did you sleep last night?" she asked in between her tasks.

"Well, my neck is a little sore," he rubbed at a kink. "Other than that, not bad really."

"Oh," she sounded. "If you want, I can rub out the knot for you," she grinned, more than happy to help.

"No, no," he declined. "That won't be necessary. Thanks."

Babs couldn't help but notice how his cerulean blues stayed locked onto her choice of garment. It was almost comical since he'd seen her in it so many times before when she would sleep over.

"Um…Babs," Dick started again, cautious of his choice of words. "Where's Alfred and," he scratched his head almost afraid to even ask, "…what are you doing?"

"What do you think?" she questioned, almost mockingly. "Preparing breakfast." She swirled the whisk in a clockwise motion, focusing on her batter and looking up only when needed. "I just thought you'd be hungry this morning."

"And Alfred?"

"Um…" she traveled over to the breakfast countertop and retrieved a square notepad. "He left this for you before he left this morning."

Babs watched as Dick skimmed through the hand-written note. It appeared that Alfred had to deliver some vital documents to one of the Wayne Tech advisors at one of Bruce's corporate buildings in downtown Gotham.

"Hmm. I guess this means Bruce will be held up in Germany longer than we thought," Dick considered out loud until the sputtering of the gourmet coffee maker sounded, breaking him of his thoughts.

"He still could've woken me up," he suggested, tearing off the piece of small paper and disposing of it. "I would've preferred it actually. It's not like me to sleep in this late."

"Well," she clicked her tongue. "I suppose that would be my fault."

Dick gave her an odd stare. "Hmm?"

"I told him it would be better to let you sleep in," she admitted, retrieving two mugs from a nearby cupboard. "The way you dozed off to sleep last night, obviously you needed your rest."

"I guess I was a little tired last night."

"A little? You fell asleep before we could even talk."

"Again, sorry about that." He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, stalled and unsure of what to say next. "Uh…Babs, speaking of last night-"

"Hey, don't worry about it. Now that you're free and clear," a seductive grin formed on her lips, "…we have the time, not to mention an empty house all to ourselves." She leaned up against the counter and gazed back at him.

And yet, for the moment, Dick's mind was anything but clear. She and that come-hither stare. Oh, how he used to adore that stare.

Yes, used to being the operative word.

But her body language was speaking volumes. And he couldn't deny the old feelings he felt for Babs or how they chose to slowly surface and hang around his body whenever she was near.

He kept himself thinking about what had happened to Babs, and what had happened to the person who had done it to her. Why the refusal to speak about it? Dick was beginning to feel more than a little concerned for her, not that the guilt of being absent in her life was helping much.

Randomly, a memory of his favorite redhead rose to the top of his thoughts. Yes, the beautiful bodacious proxy who with one kiss managed to turn his life upside down. One whimsical word was all it took and he was lost of all of his senses. Her smile, her fingers roaming their way across his face. One touch that day at the circus and he knew he would never be the same.

So preoccupied was his mind with Kory, that he failed to see Babs's lips moving.

"Dick?!"

He felt his arm being tugged. Now out of his stupor, he froze and was surprised to see his ex-girlfriend ogling him, questioning him with her eyes.

"Are you even listening to me?" She crossed her arms and scowled back at him.

Apparently not.

Before he could answer, it was then that Dick truly noticed the bruise on Babs's cheek, how it had reduced in size and color.

He pointed to her cheek, etching closer for a better look. "Well, what do you know. Your cheek is improving," he informed, his lips creeping into a smile. "Looks like the swelling has calmed down a lot."

Babs delicately backed away, seemingly embarrassed by his engrossed stare. "Oh, yes," she touched the affected area tenderly. "Alfred gave me a cold compress before he left. It must've done the trick."

"Must've. It's hardly noticeable all that much anymore."

Dick neared her, pressing his shoulder lightly onto hers and Babs could feel a slight burn on her face from the touch. Even without his routine morning bath, he smelled heavenly, she thought.

Unfortunately, he was only reaching for the mug of poured coffee that sat on the counter just behind her. He took a strong whiff, letting the steam hit his face before tasting.

After a couple of more sips, Dick was surprised when Babs suddenly grabbed the mug out of his hand and placed it atop the counter in its original position. Next, she intertwined her arm with his, leading him away from the mess she had created, and to a nearby kitchen table.

"Dick, I just had the best idea," Babs stated. She pulled out a chair and Dick followed suit, sitting across from her. "Why don't we forget about breakfast and take a drive down to the lake?"

"The lake?"

"You know, the one in the country. The one you took me to on our first date," she reminisced, reaching over and placing a hand daintily on his. "What do you say?"

"Isn't that almost an hour away?"

"Oh, come on, Dick," she stomped her foot lightly underneath the table. "It's not that far of a drive. It'll be like old times. I'll pack us a lunch-"

"No," he stopped her. "It's not that. You see, my schedule isn't all that clear today."

Her hopes deflated. "It's not?"

"No." After the quiet rumbling of his stomach, Dick stood and traveled back to the fridge. Examining its contents, he opted for an apple and forcefully held it in his mouth as he nosed around for another quick bite.

"Oh, I see." She drummed her fingers on the table nervously, watching him. "So wh- what exactly did you have planned for today?"

Dick groaned, fretting over the lack of snacks in the fridge before shutting it closed. "I'm taking Kory out for a big lunch this afternoon. Speaking of which," he checked the time on his wristwatch. "…I'm running a bit behind schedule."

He gazed over to the messy kitchen, chewing madly away at the red fruit, a guilty look on his face. "Sorry about breakfast. Some other time, alright."

In a matter of seconds, Dick had left out the doorway of the kitchen and into Bruce's library when he heard the trailing of footsteps right behind. He took a quick glance behind him. Sure enough, Babs was quickening her steps.

"But what are you doing later?"

"It's too early to tell," he munched, still walking to his room.

Babs was losing sight of time. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. Now, for some odd reason, an old conversation with Helena voiced through her thoughts…

"Dick means everything to me, you know that."

"I know he does, dear. I know he does. The only question is are you willing to prove it to him?"

"Yes, more than anything."

"Good. I'm glad you finally came to your senses. Now then, let's finish here."

"Hey, Dick," Babs called after him. Think Babs, think. What would Helena do? "Hold on," she bid, still following closely behind.

He stopped. There was an unusual silence that fell around them but all Dick could really do was stand and carry on with his apple, waiting for her to continue.

"There was actually uh…some- something I needed to ask you. More of a favor really."

"Sure. What is it?"

"I just thought that with Bruce being gone probably for the rest of the week…"

"Uh-huh," he nodded.

"Could I maybe just…stay here with you?"

Dick ceased his chewing, unsure if he heard her correctly. "What?"

"I can't very well, let my father see me this way."

"You're still keeping quiet about what happened? Babs, your dad's the commissioner-"

"Exactly why I can't tell him. Dick, you know him. He would go crazy if he saw me this way."

"I don't know about this. What about Dinah? Or Helena? Wouldn't you be better off staying with them?" he proposed.

"Are you kidding? They'd be the first to tell my father about my condition. I can't let him find out. He'd pressure me into filing charges on hi…"

Dick raised a brow, hoping she'd slip and let her guard down and reveal some bit of information.

"Anyways," she composed herself, "it's pressure that I don't need right now. I just couldn't deal with the embarrassment if anyone found out this happened to me. Why do you think I came to you?"

"I'm not sure," he gulped down the last of his apple. "Why did you?"

"Because I trust you, Dick. You're the only person I know that I can truly count on. You always have been," she pleaded, moving closer to him. "Please."

"What about-"

"I won't be a bother. Just until the bruise is completely gone and I can face the world again. Two…three days, tops. Then I'm gone. I promise."

For a few moments, his unblinking blue eyes stared at the her, knowing that he was eventually going to have to give in to her request. Dick moved about, throwing the remnants of the fruit into a nearby garbage bin. He suddenly wasn't very hungry.

No. I can't bail on her. Not now. He sighed quietly. "Just for the rest of the week, you said?"

"Scouts honor," she gestured, hopeful.

"I guess it's a go," Dick voiced, but his tone was unconvincing.

He saw as her eyes widened and she cracked a smile before she flew to him. After a brief hug, she planted a soft kiss on his cheek, causing his face to redden.

"Ok, ok." Dick smirked, releasing himself from her hold. "What are you going to tell your dad in the meantime?"

"You just leave that to me. I'll tell him," she thought, "I'm going on a trip with Dinah. Don't worry. I'll make up something," she waved off. "He'll never question me," she concluded, disappearing out of the room.

Dick blew out a long breath. He was sure this wasn't the best idea but what other choice did he have?

Even if she did hurt me, it doesn't change the fact that I still care about her.

Nine years later and he could still feel his parent's old wisdom seeping through him. The adventurous little circus boy had definitely grown up but not away from his humble teachings.

Thirty minutes later, Dick descended the stairs that led into the dining room, drying his hair off from his quick bath. Shirtless, he clung the towel around his neck and finished fastening his leather belt on his denim jeans.

"Babs?" he peered into the kitchen. "You here?"

Nope.

Just as he was about to enter the living area, conveniently, the doorbell rang. Reaching the door, he unlocked it and quickly turned the knob.

His eyes had snapped fully awake as his expression switched to utter shock.

"Kory?!" He wanted to believe he was imagining her standing there.

Her bright light eyes widened at the instant sight of Dick, as did her smile. "Hey, gorgeous," she greeted, not wasting any time pulling him into a sweet embrace. "What happened last night? I missed you."

All Dick could do was concentrate on how exactly he was going to explain his new temporary roommate. He knew he would have to tell Kory about her short stay at the manor but was too worried on how she'd take the news.

"Uh-" He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't. Internally, he ordered his heart to slow its pace or soon he'd be suffering through a heart attack.

Kory lightened her hug before pulling away slowly, still waiting for Dick to invite her inside. "Are you baring your chest for another lucky lady or can I come in?"

"No. Y-Yes," he struggled and the look of confusion on his girlfriend's face made it harder for him to answer articulately.

"Ok, what's wrong?" she pressed. "You're worrying me?"

"Sorry," he shook his head. "It's nothing. I wasn't expecting you this early. I thought I was going to be picking you up for lunch."

"I thought I'd surprise you." She moved closer, his aftershave penetrating her senses. She linked her fingers with his, holding them at arm's length, then quickly wrapped her hands around his neck. "And it seems, I've succeeded," she flirted.

His heart sped into overdrive as she neared. Dick moved closer, pushing aside a section of her ruby hair that had fallen to her face. He could suffocate into a sea of that sweet-scented red hair and be the happiest man alive.

He felt the soft touch of her lips and it wasn't long before they entered into a steamy lip lock.

A ignition of adoration, warm and alive, generated through him, stimulating every inch of him. It was enough to say he had never been so affected by anyone, not even Babs, to this degree.

He responded by pulling her in tighter. "God…I think," he mumbled, hushed through their tender kiss, "…I…love you."

She could feel the tickling of his lips, but couldn't hear much of what he was trying to say. "What?" she giggled through their occupied lips.

Dick pulled away, grasping Kory's face with a goofy grin pursed on his lips. She lovingly placed her hands over his as he still held on to her.

"I said I think-"

"Dick?" came a voice not far behind, ceasing both lovers to look at the disturbance.

And there by the entryway was Babs, still in that revealing undershirt. "Oh, I'm sorry," his ex said with a hint of smugness. "I didn't know you were in the middle of something."

At first, Kory's appearance was as if someone had sent her a strong blow straight to her stomach, actually a bit more towards her heart. She oscillated her gaze from her boyfriend to the almost bare woman standing there in the entrance.

Kory refocused her eyes to Dick's bare chest. Her mouth rapidly soured into an enraged frown when she figured out what exactly was going on and with whom. It all made perfect sense now, didn't it? Just the thought of what might've occurred last night between the exes had Kory reeling back. Her body began to quiver with anger.

Dick could see the limpid fury in his girlfriend and became pale.

"Funny choice of words." Kory directed her glare to her boyfriend, or perhaps her former. "My apologies. Clearly I'm the one who interrupted the two of you."

Dick could see her begin to move back, "Kory, it's not what you think," he explained. "Tell her Babs."

"Hmm?" she looked to Dick, then to the enraged redhead. "Oh, yes. This is all completely innocent," Babs helped, with not much enthusiasm. She turned back to Dick, ignoring his girlfriend's reaction. "If it's alright, I'm going home to get the rest of my things since I'll be staying with you the rest of the week."

Kory remained open-mouthed. Staying the rest of the week? That's it!

"Babs," he gritted. "Maybe now isn't the best time-"

"Oh, no," Kory mocked, interrupting him. "The timing is just perfect."

With her tone of voice, Dick turned back to her, worried.

"...for me to leave," Kory finished.

"What?" Dick tried to grab her hand, but Kory more than happily pushed him away. She started a march to her car, eager to leave the pair behind.

"Kory! Wait!" he called, dashing after her. She could hear Dick treading faster and she quickened her step.

"Will you please let me explain what's going on here?" he pleaded behind her.

"Dick, can you go away and not talk to me right now."

But he wouldn't hear of it as he rushed past her and confronted her. Blocking her way, he refused to let her pass. "No! I'm not going to anywhere until you listen to what I have to say."

She raised a hand, indicating she'd rather not hear anything he had to say. "You are in no position to ask me for anything. So just leave me alone." She sidestepped past him and continued to walk back to her car.

Again, he followed her. "If you would just let me explain everything-"

"Explain what, Dick?!" This time Kory stopped and turned straight to him, eyes blaring. "Why you have your half-naked ex-girlfriend parading around in your home? Why she's apparently going to be staying with you? Or maybe you want to explain why you were too busy to even call me last night."

No, things definitely didn't look well. He could feel his happiness with Kory slipping away from him. "Well among other things, yeah."

"Don't bother. I can already see why." She made a mad point towards the mansion's front door.

"I swear. It's not what you think happened."

Kory rested a hand on her hip. "Oh, you mean she didn't spend the night with you?" She couldn't wait to hear the answer to that one.

"No! Well, technically…yes she did-"

She shook her head angrily, bringing her hands up, "Unbelievable!"

"But not in the way you're thinking. She came over and after you left, we talked for a bit, then I fell asleep, on the couch, before I could call you last night."

"Stop-"

"Then I wake up this morning to find her in my clothes and making me breakfast. Why? Don't ask because I don't know. But that's all that happened. I swear, that's it."

"Don't!" she shouted. "Don't even try to waste that story on me!" she grumbled.

"But it's the truth."

She groaned and continued back to her car. "I can't believe I actually felt sorry for her. I could slap myself!" she seethed. "And she had the nerve to call me vulgar…"

Her car was coming up a few feet away and Dick had done little to rectify the situation. This day had escalated from bad to worse.

Dick tried again to explain. "Kory, I'm only letting her stay with me until her face clears up. She can't tell her dad the truth right now. It would devastate him."

"Oh, did you two come up with that one together?" she mocked sweetly.

"Damn it, Kory. I wouldn't lie to you."

She didn't know why but Kory found herself slowly stopping a mere foot away from her car. She didn't want to leave him, but she could get herself to stay either.

He took the chance and brushed up just behind her, enclosing his fingers in her long hair. "Listen-" he grabbed her shoulder. "Will you look at me for a second? What I want to tell you is important."

"I can't," she stated, keeping her back towards him. It was a turtle's pace but she made it to her car door.

"Why not?"

But Kory opened the door to her Mustang, hesitant to get inside. "Because I need- I need to get away from you for awhile." She attempted to enter her car until she heard Dick speak again.

"So now you're eager to get away from me?" he swallowed back.

"That's not what I meant."

"Kory?" he whispered desperately. "Look at me."

She turned to face him. If the look in her green eyes alone caused him to feel such regret, the scene of her retreating into her car and closing the door shut must've nearly killed him.

He rushed over to her, pressing his hands against the door. "Please don't go."

"Dick…" she struggled as he crept closer to her, still hanging outside the door. "She's a part of your life and I understand that. I can't make you not want to be with her."

"What are you talking about?"

"I thought I could deal with it but I can't," her voice broke, tears rimming her eyes.

"Kory, what are you saying?" he stammered, his body numb.

"I want a kind of love without boundaries, Dick," she stated. "And someone who cares enough to show it."

He mentally kicked himself, feeling a little taint of hurt tiptoeing inside his heart.

"I don't deserve to be treated this way. Not when…" Kory's tone crumbled. "Not when I feel the way I do about you."

She immediately started the engine to her Mustang.

"Kory!" Dick cried.

Before long, her car pulled out of the long driveway, farther and farther away from Dick.

"What do you think I'm doing out here!" he shouted into the air. Not that it mattered as she was long past the gated entrance. He kicked a foot in the air. "Damn it!"

How had things always managed to work out for everyone else but him? To Dick, it just didn't seem fair.

I can't let this happen.

Unexpectedly, Babs appeared behind him, apprehensive and back in her old clothes.

"Oh, Dick." She insisted on placing a hand on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry. This whole misunderstanding was my fault. I should've known better."

"You didn't do anything," he said, and about now, a little annoyed with everyone.

"If I did anything to cause you two to break up-"

"We didn't break up!" he bit back, surprising even himself at his tone. He winced as Babs stood shaken at his verbal bullet.

"We're fine," he claimed in a more calm composure. He ran a hand through his still damp hair. "Everything's fine." He tried to convince even himself and that scared him. "I just need to give her some time to cool off."

Downfallen, he subtly moved away from Babs grasp and turned to head back into the mansion.

Babs kept her eyes fixed on him, choosing to follow closely behind instead. Once inside, she shut the door and stood there, even as he continued up the staircase to his bedroom.

There was a sad silence in the air. Now she felt guilty. Especially when Dick paused at the middle of the staircase, resting one hand on the banister. He seemed lost, alone.

She walked to the end of the staircase. "If there's anything I can do-"

"Babs," he hesitated. "Just go," he said, averting his eyes away from her.

She remained stunned. After everything that happened, he was kicking her out of his home?

"…Get your things," he finished, resuming his trot to the top of the stairs.

She blew of sigh of relief.

"Dick!" she called to him, though he remained free from view. "I'll be back later, ok!" She waited for a response, any sign that she was heard. No answer.

Babs moved further up the stairs, looking up towards the top. "I'll be here if you need anything, alright!" Hoping to hear an answer this time, she shrugged and walked back down and out the front door.

…Kory & Gar…

"Don't you think you might have overreacted a little?" Gar suggested, walking with his best friend. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his name tag, which he was required to wear for work.

He raised his hand to gaze at the time on his wristwatch as the other was interlaced with Kory's. Only fifteen minutes left before he would be late for work.

"I don't think so, Gar," she replied, looking down towards Silkie, who persisted to tug at his leash until he became distracted by a couple walking past them.

"Can you try and walk a little faster? I'm gonna be late." That wasn't necessarily the only reason for his fast pace today. The odd stares from the nearby pedestrians were also making him uncomfortable. "Why couldn't you have dropped me off instead of parking three blocks away?"

"I told you. Silkie needed his exercise."

"Kory, he weighs less than air. How much exercise could he need? Besides, everyone keeps looking at us. I mean, really…who walks a ferret?"

"So people looking at you strangely is something new to you, Gar?" she joked.

"Cute. What are you? Some sort of a comedian now or something?"

"Sorry," she gazed to the ground. "I'm just still in a bad mood."

"Yeah, I know," he stated, remembering their conversation about her argument with Dick in the car. "I'm telling you, you should've listened to him. Dick probably had a good reason and you just blew him off."

She looked at him, her eyes wide in surprise. "What reason could he possibly have for Babs's butt-nakedness?"

"Whoa." Gar shook his head with disbelief and stopped, causing Kory to stop as well. "She was butt-naked? You didn't tell me that," he whispered with a boyish grin.

"Well," she hesitated, "…ok, so not totally naked."

With a roll of this eyes, "Then jump to conclusions, why don't you. Geez," he quipped and they continued on their way.

"Hey, it was enough to make me want to gash my eyes out," she gestured comically. "They don't make mental floss for something like that."

Gar pitched a deafening cackle causing Kory to glance sideways with a subtle smile. "I'm serious."

"No, it isn't that. This reminds me of that time at Lillian's pool party where we all found you on top of her boyfriend. What was his name again? Ted…Todd or something like that?"

"Are you kidding me? The guy almost drowned, Gar! I was giving him mouth-to-mouth."

"Yeah," he agreed. "So you of all people should know how some situations can be completely misconstrued."

"This is different."

"No it's not."

It was a second before he realized Kory had stopped walking. He turned around to see her show off her best 'who's side are you on' stare, resting a hand on her hip.

"Hey, I'm not saying you have to forgive him," he put forth, grabbing her arm and dragging her back. "Just hear him out. If your gonna dump him, at least make sure you've got the whole story."

A blithe little melody from Kory's cell began playing.

"Here. Take the leash, will you?"

Gar reached for the leash tentatively, quickening his strut now that he controlled their pace. "Come on, buddy. Come on." Silkie followed submissively.

Kory retrieved her phone, deciding to look at its ID before answering.

"Who is it?" Gar asked, immediately catching her crestfallen eyes and crooked frown.

After what seemed like an endless song, "Well?" he pressed. Kory gazed at him, unsure of what to do."…aren't you gonna answer it?"

She kept quiet.

He whistled, waving a hand in front of her, capturing her attention. "Yoo-hoo. Kooory…"

"It's him," she whispered, almost as if she thought Dick was near enough to hear her.

"What are you waiting for? Talk to him," he urged.

"I can't. What do I say?"

Then the tune had stopped, indicating the call had ended.

He sighed. "Guess it doesn't matter now. Face it, Kory. You're miserable and I'm sure he's just as miserable too."

"Fine," she snapped. "So what if I am miserable. Call me selfish but I don't like the idea of Dick still having this emotional tie with her. I mean, wouldn't you if you were me?"

"Dude," he extended an arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. "Just because he cares about this girl, doesn't mean there's anything more than that going on. Look at Terra and I. We care about each other a lot. But it's not ever going to go farther than that anymore."

"Because of Rachel?" Kory wondered with a sideways glance.

"Because we don't feel that way about each other. It was young love. But you grow out of it. Just like this Babs chick and Dick. Don't expect him to forget what he and Babs shared together. It wouldn't be right."

"It wouldn't be right," she repeated to herself.

"Do you think Dick would expect you to forget everything you and Xavier shared together?"

Hearing his name again was like an alarm sounding off in her mind. Nothing, or more like no one could ever take away the memories, the experience she lived through when she was with Xavier. "You're right," she admitted with a reminiscent smile.

"Yep."

"I acted so neurotic." She shook her head, her hands covering her eyes.

"Yep."

"I trust him. I do. But-" she reclaimed Silkie's leash as Gar stared off into a familiar store widow. "But Babs doesn't make this easy. You should see her, Gar. She tries-"

Before long, he vanished, leaving her alone in mid sentence. "Gar?" She could see his back as he made his way to the same window that had caught his attention.

"Oh, cool!" she heard him roar as she drew closer. Pressing his fingertips on the edge of the glass, "Kory, check it out!"

It was the moped he had been claiming he'd be getting all summer long. "The Blackhawk STX 150cc," he wooed. Staring at the moped hungrily, he traced little hearts of love on the glass. "The latest and greatest design. Oh, you have it all, don't you? Don't you?" he flirted, pitifully.

"Not again," she sighed, shaking her head, joining him in front of the store window.

Like a little boy looking through the window at an adoptable puppy on display, she grinned. "Gar, every time we pass this place, it's the same thing out of your mouth. Well, that and maybe a little drool."

He ignored her, choosing to sway his full interest on his dream bike.

"Dude! It's on sale! Awesome!"

Kory took a closer look at the display model. "Dude! It's $1200!" she mocked. "Awesome!"

After awhile, she poked his shoulder, hoping for a shot of maybe liberating him from his fantastical stupor. "Come on, Mr. Delusional. Before you're late. And don't forget, I still have my parents to pick up at the airport."

She looked down to Silkie. She could feel his leash agitating through her fingers. Her pet ferret heaved again, only more forceful this time. "Silkie?" she called with much concern. "What's wrong, boy?"

She bent down and picked him up, examining him carefully. "He looks fine to me."

"He is fine," Gar said over his shoulder. "He's lazy and just doesn't want to walk anymore."

"Shut up, Gar." It was then that Silkie shifted about wildly in her hands, trying to escape from her grip. "Something's wrong with him."

Gar turned just in time to see the animal break free and belt away from them, through the tight crowd and nearing the busy crosswalk.

"Silkie!" Kory, in a panic, ran after him. "No! Come back!"

"Ah, man," Gar whined, gazing one last time at the moped. "Always an interruption." Like a house on fire, he followed after the pair.

For Kory, it was a struggle to navigate through the congestion as she politely excused herself to the pedestrians sharing the street, but the sight before her was much worse.

Silkie had made his way into the busy street. "Gar! He ran into the street!"

"Yeah, I get that," he witnessed, sighing with exasperation as he came up behind her. "Silkie, stop!" he ordered.

Like that of an obedient soldier, the little ferret stopped in mid-traffic.

"You crazy ferret! I didn't mean stop in the middle of the road!"

Deep in her chest, Kory could feel a tightness of worry. She had to get her precious friend out of harm's way and back to safety. At the moment, less cars were whooshing by down the street and she decided to take a chance at retrieving him.

"Kory!" Gar grabbed her shoulder, pushing her back. "Are you crazy?! You can't run clear across traffic!"

"But he's going to get hurt."

"Better him than you."

A curious crowd was beginning to form behind them, wondering what the whole hubbub was about.

She turned back to the ferret, who still stood motionless in the middle of the busy street. "Silkie, come back here!"

Gasps were heard as cars kept zooming by him, somehow managing to miss him at every turn. The boisterous horn of a dilapidated dump truck sounded, apparently trying to alert the pesky rodent. It made no sign of stopping for him, either.

"Oh, dude. Not good," Gar mumbled.

The constant sound of the deep horn filled into the air. People around them held in their breaths. "Silkie, move!" he barked one last time.

"Oh, my God," Kory gasped, panic-stricken. She buried her face into Gar's back, shielding her eyes to the impending tragedy that lay ahead. She could hear the dwindling sound of the dump truck as it traveled past them.

"Is he…dead?" she asked softly, eyes shut.

Traveling cars made it almost impossible to see if he managed to make it out alive. It was then that Gar viewed as the ferret, just barely, strutted to other end of the crosswalk, unscathed.

"Look, Kory!"

She straightened up and slowly raised her head, only peeking. He moved aside, pushing her before him for a clear view. "It's alright. He's fine. See," he pointed from behind her.

Suddenly, Kory felt fresh air fill her lungs again and she beamed from ear to ear. The pair of friends waited at the corner of the crosswalk until it was safe enough to pass over.

"Why'd he jump like that?" Gar questioned, waiting for the 'walk' sign to appear.

"I don't know. He's never acted like that before. He's usually very obedient."

Eventually reaching the other side, they were surprised to find Silkie already in the arms of an unknown man.

Without thought, Kory rushed up to him. "Silkie!"

In contrast to his friend's spontaneous behavior, Gar first studied the gentleman with a fast glance.

There he stood, all five feet and eleven inches of him, dressed in simple jeans and a white shirt hidden over a black sweater. He seemed to be a little older than himself, with his fine honey-blonde hair cut to perfection. His physique, he thought enviously as he grazed down to his own frame, was a bit impressive.

"He's fine," he heard him say as he approached them. "Just a little shook up it seems." The gentleman continued to stroke at Silkie's silky coat.

"Thank you so much."

He gazed up when he heard her speak and his steel blue eyes scanned the couple. Kory took the liberty of seizing him out of his hands. Maternally, she snuggled Silkie's face to hers.

"I don't know what I would've done if you'd gotten hurt."

"You might try to be a little more careful with him," he advised her.

"Well, somehow he got loose from the leash," Gar explained, a bit offended. "It's weird behavior for him. Honest. He's usually a calm little guy."

Oddly, Silkie wiggled around in Kory's hands and tried looking toward the gentleman. Gar twisted his eyes over to the him as well.

"Strange. It's almost as if he recognizes you or something."

"Really?" The gentleman stared hard at the small animal. "Now that you mention it, he does seem familiar to me." The man looked up only to see the two staring peculiarly back at him. "I, too, had one just like him when I was younger," he clarified.

"Why?" Gar wondered, earning him a jab from Kory. "I mean, that's cool. Ferrets are cool," he mocked with a thumbs-up.

"They make really good pets, kid."

Kid? I'm not a kid. "The names Gar, by the way," he introduced, stretching his arm out for a handshake.

"Gar." The man only nodded in his direction, not wishing for a handshake. Gar pulled back his hand, self-consciously.

"You said you had," Kory interrupted after hearing Gar's uncomfortable cough. "What happened to your ferret?"

"My father killed it," he stated matter-of-factly, looking at Kory, who after nestling with Silkie, gazed up at him grimly.

Shock exploded in her eyes, "That's completely horrible."

A slight rough silence took over.

"Well, I really should be going," the man stated.

"Alright," Gar insisted, glad for him to be going on his way. "Thanks again, sir."

"…Grant," the man revealed. "And you are?" he asked, looking towards the redheaded beauty and completely chose to ignore Gar.

"Sorry," she sported with a light chuckle, putting Silkie on the ground. "I'm Kory," she smiled, shaking his hand.

Gar sensed a little challenged as to why Grant chose to shake her hand and not his but shrugged the thought and left it to that of pure egotistical, macho behavior. He whistled, catching their attention.

"Not trying to break up your pow-wow but I'm gonna be late for work if we don't get moving," he thumbed to the other side of the street. "So if you don't mind…" he interlaced his arm with Kory's again and began to head in the opposite direction.

"It was nice meeting you," she said as her friend pulled her away, "…Grant."

"Ditto," Grant nodded. "Who knows, it's not that big of a world. Maybe we'll run into each other again soon."

Kory had to force a smile this time. "Sure, maybe," she agreed uncomfortably as Gar continued to lead her away. "See you around."

The two had reached the corner of the crosswalk rather quickly, thanks mostly to Gar who had quickened their pace. But Kory had sensed a problem. "What is wrong?" she uttered.

Gar pressed the button again, waiting impatiently until it was safe to cross. "What was that?"

Kory picked up Silkie off the concrete walk. "What was what?"

"That jerk…Grant. Did you see the way he was scoping you out? I thought he was gonna lose an eye."

Kory turned, seeing Grant's retreating body dissipate into the bustling crowd. "Don't over exaggerate, Gar. He was merely talking to us."

"Um, no. To me, he was talking like a father ready to beat his redheaded stepchild. To you, he was already envisioning what you're kids were gonna to look like years from now."

"Now you're being silly."

"What about the way he refused to shake my hand but he was more than willing to shook yours? Does he think I'm an infectious disease or what?"

"He wasn't thinking clearly."

"Oh, he was thinking alright. He was just thinking with the wrong anatomy."

"Ok, let's not go there," she winced.

"Hey, I'm a guy," he shrugged, "and I know what was going on up here," he illustrated by pointing to his head.

"You know, I'm starting to believe Bee and her theory about the boy mentality." Kory squatted down, securing Silkie's leash. "And that they don't have much of one."

"Hardy har har."

She looked back to the crowd into where Grant had disappeared. Sure, he was rather good looking but definitely not for her. Definitely not the one who plagued her thoughts every night. Definitely not the one who's voice could send her into a fanciful dream. And definitely not the one who continued to pull her heart strings like some sort of puppeteer.

After about eight more minutes of walking and pointless chatter, they managed to reach Gar's workplace. He held open the store door, "So, what'cha gonna do later?"

"Parents…airport," she reminded. "Write it down," she took another look at the time on her watch. "Time of death of my freedom, 11:23."

"Just pray that your dad doesn't find out about your little fender bender with Goldie. Then you'll really have a time to stamp on your death certificate."

"The sad thing is, you're not joking."

"Call me later, will you? I get off around six."

"Will do."

Gar nodded and hurried to open the door again.

"Hey, wait. You never finished telling me what I should do about Dick. So what? Let him explain things? Give him the benefit of the doubt?"

"If you want my honest opinion-"

"I wouldn't be asking for anything else."

"This guy…he might be the real deal. Before you end up doing something you'll regret, give him a call. Listen to him."

Kory's smile brightened as she walked up to him and planted an exaggerated kiss on his cheek.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," he pushed her away like a toddler fearing the cootie monster.

He watched her leave shortly after, not wanting to make him any later. He secured his name tag one last time before walking through the entrance door, its dinging bell signaling the beginning of another boring day at work.


…Helena…

It must've been mid-afternoon as Helena looked out the window from her high-rise apartment. With a glass of wine in one hand, she turned to glimpse at the grand clock that rested on the mantle.

Her male companion was now ten minutes late. If there was one thing Helena Bertinelli did not approve of, was tardiness.

She jumped at the sound of a knock at the door. "About time," she said, incensed. She did a swift makeup check as she passed by her large mirror by the door.

"You know I don't like to be kept waiting," she announced to her guest as they continued to knock.

Opening the door, "Where have-" but stopped once Dinah appeared into view.

"Oh," she frowned. "It's you. Well, come in, come in," she moved aside. "Keep me company for awhile."

Dinah stepped in and looked around. The apartment was filled with the most extravagant furnishings and decors. Of course it was. Helena wouldn't settle for any touch of mediocrity.

She moved over to the mini bar and began refilling her glass. She gestured over to Dinah, "What will you have?"

"Nothing. I'm fine."

She shrugged, uncaring. "Suit yourself," and continued to pour.

"Helena, there's something I need to talk to you about. It's just…well I don't know the best way to say it."

The dark-haired vixen stared at her coldly. "Preferably as fast as you can. I'm expecting company."

"Fine," she gulped heavily. "I know about everything, Helena," she revealed.

Helena couldn't help but snicker. "And what's that, Dinah?"

"I know about what you're doing. You and Babs."

She was surprised to see Helena simply brush off her comment. Perhaps she didn't quite understand what she was talking about. "…With Xavier," Dinah clarified.

"Oh, that," she scoffed. "I suppose this is where you have your long rhetoric about morality and what we're doing is wrong and deceitful."

"No! I only came here to tell you that-" but she stalled, growing nervous.

"What? You want something in return?" she interrupted. "Is that what this is about? Blackmail?"

"Blackmail?" she echoed. "No, Helena. It's one thing if you want to be a despicable human being but now you're dragging Babs into it and I won't let you."

"You won't…let me?" she challenged.

"I know exactly what kind of a person you are and I won't allow you to hurt her or get her into any kind of trouble, which happens to be your specialty."

"That's the difference between you and me," she said, walking closer to Dinah. "You see it as me hurting her when, in fact, I'm trying to help her."

"You're helping the only person you care about…yourself!"

Helena laughed, placing her wine glass aside. "Maybe so," she shrugged. "But there's nothing you can do about it."

"I won't let you have Xavier take the blame for something he didn't do. He's innocent-"

"Oh, save it!" Dinah was stunned at her outburst and found herself keeping quiet.

Helena walked up to her. "Nothing is going to happen to Xavier," she voiced, eerily pushing aside a strand of her blonde hair. "Dick is the only person Barbara is going to mention this to. Nothing else will come of it."

Dinah frowned in disapproval which Helena quickly caught.

"Save the good girl act, Dinah, because it died out a long time ago."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You don't?"

The blonde woman could hardly bring herself to think of the answer. "No. I don't."

"I see," Helena grinned. "Tell me, darling. How is Mayor Queen these days?"

She looked to her left to see Helena's face sneering at her, and Dinah's expression began to tighten with worry. "I-I wouldn't know."

"Right," she taunted near her face, then walked past her. "Word is, you know all too well."

"I don't know where you're getting your vicious gossip from-"

"And isn't he up for re-election soon?"

She followed the manipulator with her eyes. "What does that have to do with me, Helena?"

"I'm sure all of Gotham would be very shocked to know that our beloved mayor has been having a very disturbing affair with a girl old enough to be his daughter."

"Helena, please. Don't."

But her plea went ignored as Helena gazed back at the worried woman. "Not to mention how you two started your affair just when you were fresh out of high school."

"Why are you doing this?"

"I can see the headlines now-"

"Stop it!"

"Let's get one thing straight," she seethed. "You don't ever tell me what to do."

Dinah nodded.

"And as far as you're concerned, you…know…nothing. Do you hear me!" She sent a threatening push against Dinah's chest. "Not one word. If you breathe a thing of this to anyone-"

"I heard you!"

"Good," she nodded, glad they were both on the same page. "Just follow the rules princess and everything will be peachy keen. Stay out of my business and I'll be more than happy to stay out of yours."

Again, Dinah nodded.

Helena gave her a discerning look. "Now leave. You're annoying me."

Dinah proceeded to leave, slowly letting herself out. She opened the door to find an older gentleman, not much older than her own lover, Ollie, in a fine suit and standing out in the hall with a bouquet of roses.

She turned and pierced straight at Helena, who held her own smirk. She directed her gaze back to the older gentleman, "That's some piece of work you've got there."

He looked back, confused as to her words and identity as Dinah approached the elevator.

He headed inside the apartment, "My love-"

"You! Where have you been?!"