The next few days passed by at a painfully slow rate for Dick who remained at Kori's bedside day and night, waiting for her to show signs of life.
The doctors had informed them that she was in a stable condition and that they simply had to wait for her to wake up. However, the longer she stayed asleep, the less hopeful Dick became about the doctor's words.
He sighed as he held Kori's cold hand in his own. He brushed his thumb over her soft skin and smiled. She always seemed to have emerald green nail polish on and being in a minor coma seemingly didn't change that as Dick noticed the chipped polish over her fingernails.
Kori had missed out on a lot of news whilst she recovered from her fatal wound. However, there was one thing that he didn't want to tell her as he knew it would leave them both miserable.
Suddenly, Kori's limp fingers twitched beneath his touch. Dick sat up straight and stared at her face, hoping there was more activity to come from the unconscious Princess. Sure enough, her eyes began to flutter ever so slightly and her chest rose considerably as she inhaled the air around her.
"Kori?" Dick whispered, hoping for any kind of response,
Kori carefully opened her eyes and glanced over at Dick who was biting his lip in anticipation,
"Richard..." She croaked, her voice hoarse from not talking over a number of days.
"Hey there, sleeping beauty," He said, offering her a gentle smile.
Kori cracked a big smile for him and slowly moved so that she was sitting up in the hospital bed.
"I'm so glad that you're okay..." He murmured, kissing her hand,
Kori nodded, "How long was I unconscious for?"
"About 3 days,"
"What happened?" She paused, "All I remember is you telling me to do the holding on,"
"Heh... At least you remember it. Well... A lot has happened..."
Kori squeezed his hand, signalling that he could continue,
"Alright... I'll start with the good news... Ryan killed Prince Da'akaar and King J'akhan after you got hurt. It was like something ignited within him..."
"Hm... I believe it was his brotherly instincts..."
"Well... They've also crowned Ryan as King of Tamaran. They said that he is the next in line because of being the next male heir to the throne?"
"That is correct. Usually, daughters will be chosen for the throne last... I suppose one could say it is sexist but such a thing does not bother me."
"Well following all that... The war is over, Kor and Tamaran won." Dick grinned as he explained that part to her,
Kori sighed in relief and smiled. She rested her fingertips against her lips as she rejoiced in the news of their victory.
"My father would have been so proud..." She hummed, earning a sincere nod from Dick, "I am so happy that it is finally over. Hopefully, the people of Tamaran can live in peace from now on,"
Dick nodded slowly; his mind being elsewhere as he thought about the bad news.
"Richard?" Kori prompted,
"Uh... Yeah, Kor?" He stuttered,
"Please, what is the bad news?"
"Well... Now that the war is over... Your planet no longer needs our help which means... I'll be going back to Earth soon."
Kori's expression dropped and she released his hand. They both looked downwards as sadness spread through them.
"When?" Kori asked, quietly,
Dick looked up at her and sighed, "Tonight,"
Kori's eyes widened for a moment, "Tonight!? But... But that is too soon..." She paused, "I do not want you to go..."
"I don't want to go either."
"Then do not go... Stay here... With me,"
Dick's shoulders slumped, "I can't stay here... I have people in Gotham that need me."
Kori allowed a tear to escape her eye. Dick scooted closer to her and brushed the tear away, "I'm sorry, Kori," He whispered,
"This is not fair..." She whimpered,
"I wish you could come back to Earth with me."
"You know I cannot do that... My duty is to my planet and my people..."
Dick sadly nodded as he brushed a piece of auburn hair behind her ear. Kori sniffled as her emotions began to get the best of her. She covered her eyes as she began to lose control over her despair. Dick watched her and knew she was crying as her shoulders shook ever so slightly.
He sighed and sat upon the bed with her. Dick pulled Kori against him and kissed her forehead,
"Don't cry, Kor... You'll end up making me cry and I'm not supposed to cry, remember?" He half laughed, "I'm the strong guy, y'know?"
Kori just continued to cry against his chest, grabbing a fistful of material as her emotions flowed fluently. Dick kept the depressed expression upon his face as he attempted to console Kori. He rubbed her back and swayed her gently and even ran his fingers through her long gorgeous hair.
"I hate this, Kor... I wish I didn't have to leave you..." Dick admitted, in a soft voice, "I love you,"
Kori gulped and shut her eyes tightly at the last part of his sentence. She inhaled a deep breath but looked up at him with her puffy eyes,
"I love you too... So much..." She breathed,
Dick swallowed the lump in his throat and gently pressed his lips against Kori's soft cupid bow lips, initiating a lovingly tender kiss between the two of them. Each time they seemed closer to being happy together, a problem always seemed to present itself.
There was a bitter breeze within the night time air as Dick, Superman and Batman prepared for their journey home. It seemed so surreal that they were returning to Earth. Dick felt as though they had been on Tamaran for years when it had actually only been a month and a half. He sighed as he remembered the first day he and Kori met. It was such an amazing memory and yet, life was kicking him whilst he was down.
The royal family emerged from the palace to say their goodbyes to the Earth dwellers. Kori refused to look up from the dirty ground; she couldn't bear to look at Dick, knowing that he would be completely gone from her life in a matter of minutes.
Dick on the other hand was obviously pining for Kori. His bottom lip jutted out ever so slightly as the sadness inside of him began to rule over his whole self. He stared at Kori from the very moment she stepped out to say goodbye.
As Batman and Superman conversed with Ryan and Luand'r, Dick strolled over to Kori and disregarded all responsibility and logic in his head.
He gently cupped Kori's face with his hands and firmly pressed his lips to hers, pouring all of his emotions into the one blissful kiss. Kori was caught off guard at first but she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer. Dick took this as permission to wrap his arms around her petite little waist.
As he kissed her, Dick could feel Kori's wet tears through his uniform. He was finding it unbelievably difficult to keep himself in check. He felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest and stamped on which was just as well because he knew for a fact, that would be his default feeling as long as he lived without Kori.
He released her and rested his forehead against hers, softly nuzzling her nose with his own.
"I'm gonna miss you so much, Kor," He confessed, tightening his grip on her waist,
Kori nodded as she began to struggle to form words due to continuously getting choked up.
Ryan watched the two of them and wandered over. Kori barely turned to look at him whereas Dick flashed him a small smile,
"Hey Ryan..." He mumbled
"Greetings, my friend..." Ryan replied in the same sort of tone.
Kori clung to Dick for as long as she could; not that Dick minded. He loved her being so close to him.
Ryan sighed loudly and softly placed a hand on Kori's shoulder,
"Sister..." He paused, "I know that the brotherly part of me will regret this but..."
Kori stood up straight and glanced at Ryan with a raised eyebrow; confused about what he was saying,
"I think you should go to Earth with Dick." He admitted,
Dick perked up immediately and stared at Ryan with a small, giddy smile on his face,
"What?" Kori gasped,
"You love each other dearly... Besides, you have always wanted to go to Earth and now you also have a reason to stay there." Ryan explained,
"But... I am needed here..."
"The war is over, Kori... I think we will be fine now."
"Ryan..."
"As King of Tamaran, I release you from your duties as the Princess of Tamaran. You are free to leave and come back whenever you wish. You have no more ties with Tamaran, Kori..." He paused, "Please, sister... I want you to live your life with the person who makes you happy."
Dick was practically on the edge of his seat. His heartbeat suddenly increased considerably. He was excitable over the very idea of Kori coming back to Earth with him and staying with him forever; free to be together how they pleased.
Kori had tears in her eyes as she covered her mouth with her hand, "Oh, Ryan... Thank you... So much..." She choked out, throwing her arms around him and hugging him tightly,
"It's okay, Kori... As long as you are happy."
"I have never been happier..."
Dick watched them with a smile upon his face. He could tell that they were finding it hard to deal with the idea of Kori leaving to live on Earth.
"What about mother?" Kori asked,
"Go and speak with her but I am the one who gets the final say so..." Ryan shrugged.
Kori nodded and headed towards Luand'r to talk about her departure.
Ryan turned to Dick with a knowing grin, "There you go, Dick..." He paused, "Now you can have any future you want with my sister."
Dick chuckled, "I'm still aiming for the wife and child picture, Ryan,"
"Good. I am glad that she met you. She has become so happy since she did..."
"Believe me... I wouldn't trade meeting her for anything else in the world."
Ryan smiled but Dick noticed as he swallowed a lump in his throat. Ryan's expression saddened slightly, "Please... Take good care of my sister, Dick..."
"I will Ryan... I won't let anyone or anything hurt her."
The King nodded and kept a brave face plastered on as he shook Dick's hand. Ryan exhaled and turned towards Luand'r and Kori. He left Dick for the moment to go and join the family conversation.
Dick gulped as Batman and Superman marched over to him.
"I hear that Kori is wanting to live on Earth with you," Batman stated,
"Yeah... That's okay, isn't it?" Dick checked,
Batman nodded, "As long as her family are all in agreement to it. You are both adults after all."
Dick considered that and smirked, "So... Do you still think I shouldn't have gotten involved with the Princess, Clark?"
"Alright, alright... So it didn't blow up in your face. Just count yourself lucky that it didn't, kid." Superman replied,
"Wait... You knew about their relationship and you didn't tell me?" Batman interrogated,
Superman sheepishly rubbed his neck, "Well... Uh..."
Dick chuckled as he watched the two of them. He was ecstatic; everything was falling into place. The love of his life was coming back to Earth with him to remain forever, Tamaran had won the war and the majority of their people had survived to tell the tale.
The former boy wonder grinned at his girlfriend as she cheerfully floated into his outstretched arms, "It is all agreed... I can... I can stay with you on Earth..." Kori informed him, excitedly. Suddenly, she turned shy,
"If... If you still want me to come back with you that is..." She mumbled,
He stared into her eyes and chuckled, "Kor, are you kidding? I love you and I want you to stay on Earth with me, more than anything else in the world."
Kori blushed and nodded, softly kissing his cheek in the process.
Batman called out to the two young heroes, telling them that the Batplane was ready to depart.
Dick smirked as he watched a guard place Kori's small wolf, Silkie into the Batplane; she didn't have a lot of things but the fluffy wolf was a definite keep.
After a heartfelt goodbye between Kori and her mother, the Princess turned to her brother.
"Well... This is it..." Ryan stated,
"Indeed..." Kori replied,
She felt tears roll down her cheeks as she stared at her dearest family member. Ryan had not only been her brother but he had been her best friend for so many years. It was hard to just let go of all of that and leave.
Kori stepped forward and the two siblings embraced each other lovingly. Kori buried her face in Ryan's shoulder and sighed unevenly, "You are... The best brother that I could have ever asked for, Ryand'r." She murmured,
"And you are the most wonderful sister that X'hal could have ever blessed me with Koriand'r." Ryan said in a hushed tone, "I hope you continue to grow in happiness on Earth with Dick."
Kori nodded, "I love you, brother."
"I love you more, sister."
With a final squeeze, Kori released Ryan and took a step back from him.
Dick waited patiently for Kori to return to his side and when she did; he gently took her hand in his and led her up to the Batplane,
"Wait til we get to Earth. There are so many things that I need to teach you about." He paused and smirked, "However, the first thing I have to do is get a giant cheeseburger,"
Kori wrinkled her nose, "What is a... Cheese-burger?" She asked, testing out the word,
"I'll tell you about it on the way home... I imagine you'll like mustard on it."
"Mus-tard?"
Dick chuckled and wrapped his arms around the Princess, "You're gonna love Earth."
"I believe I will love it even more with you by my side," She whispered,
"And you better believe me when I say that I'm never leaving your side."
Dick gently kissed the tip of her nose and helped her up the steps of the Batplane.
He couldn't get over the fact that he had fallen so deeply in love with this girl that he had met less than two months ago but truthfully, he wouldn't change it for anything in the whole world. When he thought about it now, he was glad that he had volunteered to go on the mission with Superman and Batman because it had changed his life completely...