Chapter 35 - Simply Amazing

Best chapter I have ever written. If you hit 600 reviews the review cap is off. Also, I am thinking about writing a short 'what if?' story about what would happen if Kori was the one who lost her memory instead of Richard. Tell me if you would be interested in reading that.

Tuesday, July 8th 6:00 PM - Kori's apartment

Kori's POV

A month. That is how long it has been since Richard and I did the breaking up and I moved out. A lot has changed during this time. Gar and Raven moved in together, and Vic did the proposing to Bee. I was very happy for all of them, even though my relationship with Richard is at a stand still.

Though I see Nightwing quite frequently, I have not seen or spoken to Richard in over three weeks, that is not to say that I do not keep track of him. My friends still do the hanging out with him quite often. Vic says he has been very quite lately, and has not seen him with any girls, but I am not naïve enough to believe that Richard has went a month without having sex. He is the man whore after all.

Even when I see Nightwing it is just long enough to complete our task, and then we separate. He does not try to do the small talk, and neither do I. It is just easier that way, but I would be lying if I said I did not wish he would talk me about something far deeper than just a given order or a practical question. I still love him after all... or at least I love apart of him.

The media is aware of our split. I guess when you are not seen in public together for a large amount of time it becomes rather obvious. One thing I still have, and am holding onto, is hope. I hope my Richard will return to me, but as time passes that is seeming less and less likely. Hope is the only thing that is fueling my flight because I have no joy. Without flight I would be useless to the Titans and therefore would never get to see Nightwing, which is really the only thing that I ever look forward to anymore.

Sighing, I lay back on my couch, but raise up just as quirky when I hear my communicator go off. I hurriedly reach for it on the table in front of me. My heart speeds up when I see that it is Nightwing. Calming myself with a deep breath, I answer. "Starfire reporting."

"Nightwing to Starfire. Requesting your assistance immediately. We have a fourteen year old girl who has shut herself in her room downtown. She has a gun to her head and is saying if anyone trys to enter, she will kill herself."

That does not sound good. "Very well, I shall be in route shortly."

"Good, I'm sending the address to your communicator. See you in a minute."

My communicator clicks off and with haste, I changed into my uniform before flying out the back window of my apartment. It does not take me long to reach the location that Nightwing sent me, and by the time I arrive I can the N-cycle already parked in the front of the apartment and Nightwing standing by a man who I know only as Officer Peterson. I drop down beside Nightwing, earning only a glance from him before he turns back to the officer.

That does not hurt me because he was that way when he was in uniform even before the accident.

Officer Peterson greets me. "Nice to see you Starfire. We been trying to get in the room for hours. Wings here suggested that you and him could probably get through to her."

I look over at Nightwing with a surprised expression on my face. "Why me?"

He motions for me to follow him. "You'll see."

I walk behind him, the whole time watching the muscles in his back work as his arms swing. It is insane how much I miss this man, and I know it, but I cannot help it. I simply love him, or rather I love who he was. Most people fall in love with someone for their looks, and I almost wish I had, but I didn't. I love my Richard's heart. He was the nicest, most caring, lovable man I know. Completely different from this douche of bags man in front of me.

Once inside in the apartment, Richard stops in front of the door and hands me a small binocular like device. I am familiar with it, having used it before. It allows one to see through solid objects, and assuming he wished for me to look inside the room, I raise the object up to my eyes and turn toward the door. Inside I can see a girl just a few years younger than myself, sitting in the middle of her room and she indeed has a gun to her head.

Swallowing, I remove the device from over my eyes and hand it back to Nightwing. "What are we going to do?," I ask.

"I spent twenty minutes talking to her parents before you arrived. Her names Sarah Tyler. They said she had been getting bullied really bad in school before summer got out, and it continued on social media sites. Apparently another little girl posted a bunch or really hurtful things about her, and it appears as if she's tired of it. I figured you could talk to her since you said you were bullied pretty bad, right?"

A feeling a dejection comes over me. A very selfish part of me hoped he had called me here because he wanted to spend time alone with me, but of course that is not the case. Pushing those thoughts aside in favor of dealing with the current situation, I look back up at him. "How are we to get in?"

"Knock," he answers simply and then does so, lightly pounding the door with his fist three times.

"Go away!," the girl shouts from within the room.

"We can't do that Sarah. It's Nightwing and Starfire from the Titans. Please let us come in, we're here to help you," Nightwing says in very comforting voice that reminds me of my Richard... then again just about everything does.

"I don't need help," she screams. "I know what I have to do."

"No, you don't have to do it. Trust me, it would be a mistake, and even worse than that, it would be your last mistake."

"My whole life's a mistake... I'm a mistake."

"No you're not. You can't help that certain people don't like you. It's their problem, not yours."

Once again I see shades of my Richard.

"In fact, Starfire was bullied very badly for a long time. Let us in and let her talk to you. I promise we can help you, especially her," he continues.

There was a pause, and me and Nightwing glanced at each other. "Fine,... you can come in."

Nightwing flashes me that smile that I have come to be so fond of before slowly opening the door and walking in.

Once inside he gets within three feet of the girl before slowly dropping to his knees in front of her. He tought me that it is important to be on eye level with people in these situations because it comforts them and eases their mind.

I slowly do as he did, and drop to my knees beside him before smiling at the girl the entire time. "Greetings."

She seems to study me for a moment before saying anything. "You were bullied?," she questions, sounding like she does not believe me.

I nod. "Yes, from a very young age. When I was little, my sister did the picking on me, and when I came here from my planet people were very mean to me because I was so different." I glance over at Nightwing to see he is listening just as closely as she is. "It was not until I met Nightwing and the rest of the Titans that I was truly accepted here."

Nightwing smiles at me before turning back to Sarah. "What she is saying is that sometimes in life it storms, but that's okay, because when the sun finally comes out, there's gonna be a rainbow in the sky... Whatever problems you are facing right now are just temporary, but if you pull that trigger you're going to be solving temporary problems with a perminate solution, and trust me, it isn't worth it."

I feel as if I am an in awe of him. How can this man and the douche of bags known as Dick Grayson even be the same person? They are polar opposites in my opinion.

"We've all thought about taking the easy way out at times, even me, but I assure you that if you do you're gonna be giving up so many amazing moments that are to come. Just because the sun isn't shining today doesn't mean it want be tomorrow." He looks over at me. "Right, Starfire?"

I smile at the girl and nod. "Yes, just because today is not good, does not tomorrow will not be great. You will not know until you experience it."

"Yeah, it's kinda like turning off a movie before it ends. You'll never know what happens next unless you finish watching it," he adds.

As I watch the now teary eyed girl drop the gun and leap into his waiting arms, I realize one thing. This man, who I love and at the same time I hate because I love him, is simply and utterly amazing. This right here is the very reason I fell in love with him. This is my Richard's heart.

After we take care of the girl and take her and the gun to the police, Richard and I walk off to where the N-cycle is parked, his hand brushing against mine on the way, but I made no attempt to move. Why? I do not know.

"You did great in there," he comments as we reach his bike, causing me to blush.

"I thank you. You were amazing as well."

He pauses, looking down at the N-cycle for a moment before meeting my eyes once more. "You wanna go for a ride with me?"

My mouth falls somewhat agape. We have not done anything outside of our duty as heroes in a month, so of course it surprises me that he wishes to do something. "Umm, I do not know. Are you not busy?" I am sure he has some girl he wishes to manipulate into meaningless sex.

"My slate is clean. Why are you?," he asks."

Why can I not resist this man? "No." I glance down at the bike then back up at him. With a sigh, I wordlessly get on.

He smiles that gorgeous smile of his and sits down in front of me. "Have you ever rode with me before?"

"No, I have always flown everywhere."

I see him smirk as the bikes engine begins to roar. "Then hang on."

I do as instructed, ignoring the sensation that I feel, when my hands feel his abdominal muscles. Suddenly the bike jolt as it takes off causing me to squeal and hold on to him tighter. After about five minutes of me screaming, I begin to laugh and realize that I am enjoying myself for the first time in weeks. I find it exhilarating to weave in and out of the city's traffic at the high speeds we are going.

"Having fun?" I hear him call.

"Yes," I squeal as he speeds up even more. This is why I love this man. Even if my love for him were not eternal I still believe that I would love him. He makes it impossible not to.

After about thirty or so minutes I spot a "Leaving Jump City" sign, which confuses. "Richard, where are we going?," I question into his ear over the roar of the passing wind.

His smirk returns. "Don't worry Kor, you'll see in a second."

Smiling lightly at him calling me Kor, I lay my head on his shoulder and close my eyes, just enjoying the feeling of being so close to him even if it is all just a lie that my mind wishes for me to believe. Oh, how I wish it were not a lie, and were truthfully together.

When I feel the bike come to a stop, I open my eyes to see the that we are on a hill just outside the city, and I am able to see the faintly glowing lights of Jump just below us. "It is beautiful up here," I comment as look from the dark purple sky above to the city lights below.

Richard gets of the bike and turns to face me. He removes his mask, and for the first time in what feels like a lifetime, I see his beautiful electric blue eyes.
His gaze alone is enough to make me blush, but when he smiles and says "Your the most beautiful thing up here," I flush completely, although my mind is already contemplating rather he means it or is he just doing the flirting.

"I thank you," I reply turning my face away from him, so that he does not see my obviously redder complexion.

He just takes my hand and helps me off the bike before leading me a few feet away and taking a seat on the grass, pulling me down with him.

I cannot say I am not enjoying this, but after being around Richard for so long, my mind tends to analyze everything just as his does. "Richard, why have you brought me up here?," I finally ask.

He sighs before looking over at me. "I just wanted to talk with you."

My heart begins to pound and I swallow hard. "Oh um, about what?"

"It's just... I haven't seen you personally in like a month, and... I don't know. I would say that I miss you, but I don't even know you. It's very confusing."

That makes me happier that I have been in a month. "Richard, your mind might not remember me, but that does not mean that your heart has forgot me."

He studys me for a second before looking up into the quickly darkening sky. "I really don't think it has. When you walked away that day at the beach, I felt sad... heartbroken even. Since that day I haven't flirted with another girl."

I scoff bitterly and roll my eyes. "Do not lie to me."

He looks at me, and I can see honesty in his eyes, which means either he is a really good actor or that he is telling the truth. "I'm not lying Kor, you can ask anyone. I really haven't been with any girl since then. I saw how bad it hurt you, and that hurt me strangely enough."

"Then why have you not called me? Or tried to visit?," I question.

"And say what? I'm sorry that I still don't remember you, but please wait on me? I can't do that to you."

I shake my head before leaning it on my knees. "You do not understand."

He raises an eyebrow at me. "Understand what?"

"Tameranian love is not like human love. It is eternal. I will love you no matter what you do or how much it breaks my heart, and I hate every second of it," I say suprising even myself with the last part.
He is silent for a moment before responding. "You don't want to love me?," he inquires, sounding almost hurt by statement.

"No one wishes to love someone who does not return their affection," I retort.

He hangs his head on for long time before saying simply "I'm sorry. I'm trying."

"I know" is my only response. I truly believe that he wishes to remember and that he is trying, but it is not enough to make me happy. Only having my Richard back can truly make me happy.

We sat there in silence for over ten minutes, just watching the city below. I glance it him out of the corner of my eye to see that he is in deep though and on impulse I move closer to him and take his hand. He looks at me, obviously surprised, but I just smile and lay my head on his shoulder. I just cannot help it.

After a minute he lays back on the grass, pulling me with him. I move my head so that it is laying on his chest and we just look up at the stars.I show him where the Vegan System is and he points out the certain constellations and tells me the mythology behind them. To be honest I am just as sad as I am happy at the moment. This just reminds of how things used to be, how I wished they still were. Suddenly an idea crosses my mind and I turn my head, so that I can see his face. "Richard, can I see your phone?"

He raises an eyebrow, but reaches into his belt and hands it to me. "Sure, but you're not gonna find any flirty texts from girls on there."

I giggle a little. "That is not what I am looking for. I wish to show you something." When I press the button that turns he screen on, I am more than surprised to find that his savor of the screen is picture of me and him kissing early in the morning after just waking up. Both of us have the bed head and look terrible, but it is the sweetest picture I have ever seen. It is the same one that was on there a month ago. "You have not changed your picture," I comment.

I see him smile out of the corner of my eye and feel his hand run up and down my back in a very soothing way. "No, I figure if I'm trying to remember seeing you every time I turn on my phone will help."

I just smile and make way to the videos on the phone, but I do notice there is one more than there was last time. I guess we shall watch that one together after I show him the rest of them. "Watch these," I instruct as I hand him the phone and adjust my head on his chest so that I may view them more comfortably. He laughs at the one about me making him take me the tricking or the treating, but his face somers as the videos become more emotional. Somewhere through the process of watching them, tears of sadness and happiness begin to flow from my eyes at the same time.

We reach the end of the fifth video he looks down at me with a very serious look on his face. "I really did love you, huh?"

"My Richard loved me more than anything. We were going to get married soon and have children. He always said that we were going to be that old couple you see at the park who are feeding the ducks, while holding hands. I could not wait to spend my life with him," I say sadly.

"Will I not do?," he questions and I am somewhat caught off guard.

I stare into his eyes before slowly shaking my head. "I love parts of you, I love all of my Richard."

He looks sad for a second before turning his attention back to the screen and clicking on the final video. His face appears on the screen and he seems very tired, an almost goofy look on his face. "Saturday, May thirty-first, recording session number five." He pauses long enough to let out a loud yawn and wipe the sleepiness from his eyes. "So, it's like two in the morning and Silkie woke us up... again! Kori's in his room feeding him. I swear I am about to just cave, and let him sleep in the bed with us. Maybe he would stop waking up in the middle of the night if he knew his momma was beside him. I mean really, we might as well just go ahead and have an army of flying children at this rate."

He laughs. "I can't imagine how much they're going to break with their ability to fly and their strength. It's gonna upset me pretty badly when my son or daughter can out bench me by the time there three... but you know, I thank I'm actually looking forward to starting a family. I love Kori more and more each day, we're better than well off money wise, so why not, right?"

I stare at the screen in shock. Richard had never told me he was ready for kids.

"I know Kori's ready. During the last time she was in heat, she tried everything in the world to get me to take the condom off. It was actually pretty funny, or at least it would have been if I wasn't in so much pain." He laughed once more. "Anyway, I think..." suddenly the sound to the room's door could be heard opening and Richard had hurriedly clicked of the video.

"...Umm, heat?," I hear Richard ask in the cutest way causing a soft giggle to escape me.

"Yes, my people are descended from a feline like creature and we go through a week-long cycle every six months that is similar to an animal in heat. You were always very sore after, and would have to 'ice your junk' as you said."

He just laughed.

We layed there for another thirty minutes or so before I began to yawn. He, seeing how sleepy I was, helped me up from the ground and took me home, but truthfully I was sad to go. I could have easly layed on his chest the rest of the night with no complaints. On the way back to my house I can only think about how perfect today was... well, almost perfect. The way he caresses my hair or looks at me, brings the flys of butter into my stomach. Do I love him? Yes and No. There are shades of my Richard within him, but he is still not him, and he never can be.

By the time we near my building it is late and the streets are empty, so he just pulls into the front of my apartment before walking me up to my door. "Well umm,... it was nice seeing you tonight," he says softly.

"I agree... We could possibly do this again... if you wish?," I ask nervously.

"Umm yeah, I'd like that... a lot."

What happens next surprises even me, even though I am the one who did it. With out a seconds thought, I slowly leaned in and kissed him, but what was even more surprising was when he backed away.

Seeing my hurt expression, he smiled softly and cupped my cheek. "I can hangout with you, we can spend time together, we can be friends, but I can't kiss you. Like you said, I'm not your Richard and you can't love me fully, but I promise you that I will do everything I can to bring him back to you." I see a tear drop from beneath his mask, and that proves to me that on some level he still loves me.

I reach for his hand on my cheek and hold it there for a moment before leaning in and kissing his cheek. "Good night. Oh, and if you talk to my Richard, tell him I am here waiting for him. I always will be" I whisper into his ear before entering my apartment, leaving him smiling softly on my doorstep. I lean back against my shut door and sigh contently. He could have probably taken advantage of my emotional state tonight, but he did not. I can see my Richard's heart returning. All I can do is keep hoping that he will come back to me soon.

Suddenly I hear Silkie crying and I rush off to my apartment's nursery. When I enter, I scamper over to the cradle and lean down to pick up my crying bumgorf. "Shh, it is the okay. Momma is here," I say softly as I rock him back and forth in my arms. Silkie continues to cry, and I am well aware of what is wrong with him. "You miss daddy, do you not?" I whisper to me him. "It is the okay,... I miss him too."

Saturday, August 23rd 9:00 PM - Kori's apartment

Kori's POV

Time. More time has passed. It has been well over two months since we did the breaking up, and he still does not remember. Am I losing hope? I am sad to say that am. Things have gotten a little better. Me and Richard see each other at least twice a week. He has resumed his role as my best friend, but truthfully it only makes me want so much more. The way he smiles and laughs, the looks he sends me when we are alone, the way he talks to me about simple things and explains to me things I do not yet understand, it all brings back memories, some harder to remember than others.

I have been on one date with him, but it was for business purposes only. He had to attend an art galary opening and he is aware of my love to paint, so he asked me to go with him and of course my brain was telling me no, and my hearts was screaming yes, so of course I went. When we do the hanging out, it is often as a group, but sometimes we he will knock on my door very late at night, and me, him, and sometimes Silkie will go to the hill he took me the night we somewhat patched our broken relationship.

I came to find out that he was not lying when he said he had not slep with any girls, much to my relief, and I was surprised to discover that he had been meeting with a brain specialist three times a week. I know he is trying and I am happy for that, but at the end of the day I am still very depressed, although I am hiding quite well.

I wish I could just go back in time and change everything. If I could, I would be cuddled up in his arms on the couch right now, instead of laying in my bed crying into a pillow as I hold silkie to me. Why am I crying? Tomorrow. Tomorrow is the day I met him, the man who at one time thought I was going to spend the rest of my life with, and now all the time we spent together is nothing but blackness to him.

How much do I miss him? How much do I love him? Words cannot express either. He is just so... perfect, and he even is similar to my Richard now, but without those cherished memories he can never be my Richard, and therefore I can never fully love him. So, tonight I will cry. Cry for the man I loved... For the man I lost.

Sunday, August 24th 1:00 AM - Richard's House

Normal POV

Richard tossed and turned in bed, sleep being just out of reach. Something was wrong, he didn't know what, but he could feel it. He felt as though he were forget something, something important, something was missing that should be here. What was it that was troubling him? The day? What was so special about the day? August 24th, it wasn't a holiday or the day of some special event, so then what?

His tensed as his head began to pulse, sharp bursts of pain shooting through him. Voices could suddenly be heard as clear as day, images could be seen clearly, even though his eyes were tightly shut. He suddenly found himself looking on as a scene began to play out in front of him, one that seemed all to familiar.

He saw himself walk ino the lunch room and walk over to a table where all his friends sat.

"Yo! What up Dick," Vic greeted him.

What... What happened to you?" he heard himself ask Gar after noticing a red mark on his cheek.

He pointed at Raven. "She slapped me," he yelled.

"Don't fall asleep on me and it want happen," she glanced at him from behind her book.

"I...," he began before pausing and looking over at Vic, who was looking off into the distance. "What are you staring at?"

"Dick, isn't that your history partner over there?," he pointed to a table across the room, where a beautiful redheaded green-eyed girl sat all by herself.

Everyone turned back to look at the girl. "Yeah," he heard himself say. "Why is she sitting alone?"

"I don't know, but she looks sad," Bee commented.

Raven's eyes narrowed on the girl as focused. "Not sad. More depressed actually.

"I'm going to talk to her," he said before quickly standing from the table and walking over to where she sat before seating himself directly in front of her.

The girl's head shot up from where she was looking solemnly at the table. She seemed very surprised to see him there, but he ignored it and smiled. "Hey," her heard himself greet.

He saw her swallow. "Greetings."

He extended his hand out to her. "I'm Dick or Richard Grayson, whichever you prefer."

The girl shook his hand lightly, blushing as she did. "I am aware of who you are."

"What's your name?," he asked with a warm smile.

The girl briefly bit her bottom lip and shifted in her seat, her demeanor displaying nervousness. "Ummm, Kori Anders."

"Kori. I really like that name."

She blushed lightly and glanced down at the table before remeeting his eyes. "I thank you,... but may I ask you why you have come to my table?"

"I was just curious why you were sitting alone. If you want me to leave I...," he began before she cut him off.

"No," she said urgently. "...It is just people here do not like me. I am not from here, and I do not understand the slang or the culture." Kori hung her head. "I chose to sit alone, so I can avoid the name calling and the mean words.

Richard felt his heart cringe in his chest, and his anger boil. "Screw them," he replied, anger evident in his voice.

She cocked her head to the side, a confused look on her face. "Screw them?"

"Yeah, it means don't worry about it. It's their problem if they don't understand you, not yours."

She gave him a small smile, but it quickly fell and she hung her head. "It still hurts."

A feeling of guilt came over him. He reached across the table and took her hand in his own. "Come sit with me and my friends."

She appeared surprised, but also reluctant. "I do not know, besides are you not the popular? will it not affect you negatively to be seen with me?"

He heard himself chuckle. "I don't see how being seen with a girl as beautiful as you could affect me negatively."

Her face turned beat red. "You think I am beautiful?," she questioned in disbelief

He nodded with a smile. "I do. Now please come with me. If I go back to my table without you my friends are gonna bet me up. You don't wanna see your history partner gat mauled do you?"

Kori giggled and shook her head. "No, that would not be pleasing."

She nodded in agreement, and both stood from the table, him still holding her hand as he picked up her tray, and lead across the room, all eyes on them.

More scenes played through his head rapid succession. Words, images, whole conversations, converging into one year-long story. Moving Kori in with him, making out with her at the beach, the Britney incident, Asking her out, telling her he was Nightwing, finding out she was an alien, going to Gotham, getting shot by the Joker, waking up with Kori beside him, healing the relationship he had with his father, rescuing his friends from Slade, forming the Titans, the Christmas party, accidentally proposing to Kori, going to Tameran, defeating Karras, returning home, Silkie, and everything in between.

His eyes shot open in realization...

I really do think this is the best chapter I have ever written. I don't even think it's close. Important question: who's comfortable with a light, romantic lemon? Tell me in the review if your good with it. Also, tell me what you think about the 'what if?' chapter. Review.