(A/N): Woo! I made a new chapter and I am much happier with it. I hope you all are too! Sorry im posting this so late in the day but its better than nothing ;p Well I hope you guys enjoy this and thanks for giving me a chance to fix that chapter. As always please leave a review so I know what needs to be improved! -Darkrubie
"What do you mean no?" Richard exclaimed.
"I was unaware that there are multiple meanings to the word no." Kori simply replied.
"Don't be a smart ass! I meant why are you saying no? Is it because you're still hung up on Xavier?" Richard asked again, his voice dripping with disdain when Xavier's name passed through his lips.
"That is why! Right there! I had hoped that after all this time you would have believed me about that night and that this baby is yours but I guess not. This dinner was a mistake." Kori said as she stood up.
"Wait, where are you going?" Richard asked.
"Home." She replied turning her back on him.
Richard felt like everything was crashing down around him.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this! She was supposed to say yes, and they would be happy together. Why is this not working and why are you just letting her walk away?" Richard's brain shouted. He snapped his head up at Kori's retreating form and chased after her. He called her name which caused her to walk a little faster. Luckily for Richard, he was able to catch up with her right when she reached the door and he turned her around so she was facing him. He now saw why she was trying to get away from him; she had tears glistening her eyes. As much as Kori showed her heart on her sleeve, she hated when people saw her cry.
"Just please, let me go home. Go back to Gothem where I'm sure there are droves of women waiting for you. You don't want me." Kori said between sobs.
Richard put his finger over her lips to momentarily silence her.
"I know exactly who I want and that's you but if you're not willing to accept that than so be it. Now let's get you back home and we will talk another time. I'm sure the stress is doing a lot to you and your baby." He said in a soothing voice.
Hearing Richard call their baby, "her" baby tore Kori up inside. She didn't have anymore fight left in her and the nights emotions left her exhausted. Richard walked her to the limo and helped her in but didn't get in himself.
He told the driver to take her home and when the driver asked if Richard was going too, Richard said "No I need to clear my head and think."
The driver nodded and pulled away when the back door was shut. In some way she was relieved because that meant she wouldn't have to worry about how awkward it would be or a potential fight with more heartbreaking things said. Kori was numb the whole drive home, she could stop replaying the moments of that evening in her head. She didn't even notice that they were at her house until she saw the hand of the driver in her face.
"Would you like some help out of the vehicle Miss Anders?" She looked up at the kind man and felt the urge to fly to Gothem and hug Alfred.
"Yes thank you very much; you seem like such a nice man." She said, trying her hardest to attempt a smile.
He gave her a genuine smile and said "Of course miss, it would make this job miserable if I were in a sour mood all the time. I like to think that my good disposition can help improve others moods."
Kori's smile got a little stronger "Well I think you are right and your kindness has helped a lot."
The driver smiled wider and said "Well I'm glad, you seem like a sweet girl yourself and I would hate to see a nice girl crying. A word of advice, things may seem bad now, but they always get better and have a way of working out." With that he gave her hand a tight squeeze.
"Thank you, I will have to keep that in mind when I feel like things are becoming hopeless. Good night good sir." Kori said with a hug.
"Thank you Miss Anders, take care now!" The driver said as he got into the limo. Kori walked up the steps, her legs feeling like they could give out from under her at any minute. The stress of the day was finally really hitting her body.
"Ugh I need a hot shower and some tea." Kori groaned out loud.
She quickly opened the front door and walked inside, excited at the prospect of getting to take a shower. She closed the door and right as she was about to take the first step up to her bedroom a crippling pain shot across her stomach. Kori gasped and slumped over. She put her hands over her stomach and was sickened when it felt rock hard. Another wave of pain shot though her which made Kori cry out. She could find the strength to stand so she sat in a crumpled heap on the first step. Kori suddenly had an idea. She searched for her phone and finally saw it lying on the floor over by the front door. Kori cried out as she felt another stab of pain but this time she also felt a wetness seeping out from between her legs. She looked down and saw little droplets of blood on the floor. Kori felt like she was going to be sick but the importance of her mission kept her going. She started pulling herself across the floor, her adrenaline already waning but she chocked out a triumphant cry when she finally reached the phone. Kori quickly dialed the first person on her speed dial but panicked when it rang and went to voicemail. She could feel the darkness creeping over her but fought it as she tried one last time. Kori didn't have a chance to figure out if the person answered because she slipped in unconsciousness.
Richard didn't know what to do anymore. He thought this would be the answer to everything. Richard would have Kori and her child would have a whole family. That was always so important to Richard ever since he lost his parents. He thought that would be important to Kori as well since she lost hers as well. He just needed to get her to see that Xavier would never be a parent to her child and that he was the best choice.
"How am I going to do that?" He thought to himself. "Maybe she just needs some space, I'll let her come to me than."
Richard mulled that over a little bit and decided it was a very bad idea. In fact he would do the exact opposite, Richards plan began forming in his head. He suddenly knew what he needed to do and with that he whipped his phone out to call the one person whom he actually wanted to talk to for once in a long time.
"Hello Dick?" Bruce's gruff voice sounded.
"Hey Bruce, you have a minute?" Richard asked.
"Not really, I am in the middle of something so ill have to call you back la-" Bruce's voice was cut off with Richard saying
"Well ill make this fast then. I'm taking a vacation. If you need me ill be in Jump for an indefinite period of time."
Bruce stuttered "What why?" He finally got out.
"Kori is pregnant and I intend to be here for her." Richard replied.
Bruce's voice turned harsh "You got your secretary pregnant? I thought I taught you better than that. You should know about how women get knocked up by now!"
Richard waited for Bruce's rant to end before he finally said "It's not my child but I fully intend to be there for her and support her."
Bruce was silent for a long time.
"Why do you care? It's not your kid. Do you know what kind of scandal this could cause?" Bruce ranted again.
Richard sighed and said "Look I don't expect you to understand but I am moving to jump to be with Kori so you'll just have to accept it."
He heard his phone beep in his ear and frowned when he saw a number he didn't recognize appear on the caller ID. He would just have to get back to them later.
"Look Bruce, you said you were in the middle of something so ill let you get back to it. I'll talk to you again soon." Richard said.
"Don't be rash! Let's talk this out like ad-" Bruce's voice was cut off with another beep.
The unknown number was calling again.
"Look Bruce someone is calling so I'll have to get back to you later." Richard said and quickly hung up so he wouldn't miss the call.
He answered and felt a chill run down his back when he heard Kori cry out in pain.
"Kori? Are you there?" Richard began to panic when he didn't hear anything else.
He began running towards the direction of Kori's house.
"Kori answer me! Please!" He pleaded.
His brain finally worked for a split second and he knew he would need a cab to get to Kori's house. He quickly hailed one and got in, never hanging up in hopes that he would hear her magical voice again. He begged for the cabbie to speed up because it was an emergency.
The cabbie told him "Look man, I'm sorry I can't break any laws."
Richard tossed a couple hundreds in the front seat and shouted "I will let you keep it all if you get me to my destination in the next 3 minutes!"
That got the cab drivers attention and he quickly accelerated. Richard's heart was pounding with fear as he watched the streets blur by. He silently prayed to every god in the known universe that Kori was ok. The cab finally skidded to a stop and Richard ran to the front door only to find it locked. He pounded on the door but heard nothing from inside. Richard finally had enough waiting and kicked the door in. It narrowly missed whatever it was that was on the floor in front of the door. He silently cursed Kori for not turning the lights on. After Richard flipped the light switch and nearly collapsed when he saw Kori on the floor with a small pool of blood under her. He hurried over to her and pulled her close to him and checked her pulse. It was there but just barely so he quickly called for an ambulance. Richard pulled her into his lap and put her head on his chest.
"Come on Kori, I know you can pull through this and when you do, I vow to spend and eternity convincing you of just how much I love you. You are tough and strong! You can pull through this." He said with a tear sliding down his cheek.
Richard stat there rocking back and forth with her pulled close to him, his hands running through her hair and whispering sweet encouraging words. When the ambulance finally arrived it took a lot of convince for them to get Richard to let go of her. He wanted to lay on the stretcher with her but they wouldn't allow that so he simply held her hand in the ambulance the whole way to the hospital. He tried to hold on to it as they rushed down the ER hallway but a nurse stopped him as her gurney passes through some doors.
"I'm sorry sir but you can't go any farther. Is there someone you can call for her?"
Richard finally found his voice and said "No I'm her husband so you can bring any information to me."
The nurse nodded and jogged through the doors where Kori was. Richard made his legs move him towards the chairs near him and he finally collapsed and let the tears flow.
Next chapter: Kori's fate