(A/N): Yay! Final chapter, I must admit, I am bummed that it is over but I guess that just means I can work on other stories. I have made a twitter account so if you want to contact me you can reach me at LadyDarkrubie. I have an awesome new story that I have already begun working on so watch out for that. I want to thank you all for the support you have given me and this story and for sticking around for the times that I was unable to publish. I hope you enjoy this last chapter! -Darkrubie
It was now 2:00 in the morning and Kori was still awake on the couch. Rachel and Karen had long fell asleep and Mar'i was bouncing back and forth between sleeping and just lying there silently observing. Kori sighed as she thought over the events that took place yesterday.
"You should try to sleep Kori." Rachel said from her end of the couch causing Kori to jump.
"I am trying Rachel but I find that my mind is going a million miles a minute." Rachel sighed and told Kori to join her in the kitchen.
"I know you are hurt but I can also feel that you still love him." Kori sighed and put her head down on the island counter.
"Oh Rachel, I am completely in love with him but I don't know if I can forgive him. He was cruel and doesn't trust me."
"Those are valid points" Rachel conceded, she took Kori's hand in hers "You know me, I'm not one to do this sort of thing but I do know that he loves you as well."
Kori snatched her hand back
"Well he has a funny way of showing it." She growled.
"You're right, he is an asshole, his name suits him but are you going to just sit by and take it or are you going to show him that you aren't going anywhere and he needs to shape up?"
Kori sat and thought over it. The more she thought, the more Rachel made sense and she began to work out a plan. She would need the help of those closest to her to, to get her life back on track and to get the dummy she was hopelessly in love with, to see that they were meant to be together. Kori jumped up and ran over to give Rachel a hug and was happily surprised when Rachel finally hugged her back. Kori then began to go into detail about her plan. Operation "Get Richard to pull his head out of his ass" was a go!
The car squealed to a stop outside RIchard's office.
"Mr. Grayson, I was not expecting you to be in today sir.. Is there something I can get you?" Dick's secretary stuttered.
"I want the security tapes from the night of the Wayne Ball please." He ground out.
"Now please!" He shouted when she was just standing there staring at him.
She quickly jumped up and ran towards security. Richard continued to his office. His secretary quickly returned with a disk that had all of the footage front the night of the Ball.
"Is there anything else I can get you sir?"
"Some coffee would be nice and thank you very much." She went off and Dick began viewing the footage.
He smiled when he saw Kori walk in and then chuckled at the look on his face when the Richard on the screen finally saw Kori walk in. He missed her so much and as he watched them dance he began to get an ache in his chest. The coffee that was placed on his desk made him jump.
"So much for being aware of my surroundings." Dick mumbled to himself.
"Thank you." he said louder so that his secretary could hear him.
She smiled and walked out, shutting his office door behind her. Dick grimaced at his overly sweetened coffee
"Kori would have made this perfectly." He sourly thought as he turned back to the security tapes.
He pushed fast forward until he got to the moment where Kori left. He switched cameras to the one that was right by the door to the women's restroom and caught her just as she walked in. A minute later he growled when he saw Xavier slip in to the restroom. He was on the edge of his seat as he waited for her to come out and a few moments later he saw her streak out of the bathroom with tears pouring down her beautiful face and it make his heart constrict. As he watched himself hugging her and trying to figure out what was wrong he almost missed Kitten emerge with Xavier's arm around her shoulder and cupping himself like someone took a baseball bat to his family jewels. Dick leapt to his feet and threw his door open, scaring his secretary in the process.
"I want Xavier Reds address now!" He shouted.
"He..he is a actually in the building right now, he should be in his office." She stuttered; clearly a little frightened by the wild look in Richards eyes.
Dick stomped down the hallway and opened Xavier's door with such force that the doorknob left a hole in the wall.
"What did you do to Kori?!" He shouted.
"Don't you knock!?" Xavier yelled back.
"It's my building and I will do whatever I want! Now, answer my question!" Richard growled.
Xavier smirked at him and said "Nothing she didn't want."
Richard lost it, he dove over the desk and started driving his fists into Xavier. Xavier didn't miss a beat and began fighting back. He swung his fist but it was caught by Richard who in turn gave a well placed kick to the chest that sent Xavier flying out into the hallway and crashing into the wall. Xavier jumped up and was just about to throw himself at Dick when they heard a bloodcurdling screech.
"You leave my Richie-poo alone!" Kitten yelled.
"He attacked me!" Xavier shouted in disbelief.
"Well, I'm sure he had a good reason then." She said as she tried to hug Dick to her. He pushed her off and glared at her.
"You have got to be kidding me! I am done with this bullshit! I'm not playing this game anymore. She told me to do that to Kori, She wanted you to herself and told me to do whatever it took to get rid of Kori. I figured if I slept with her than maybe she would get over you and move on to me. In the end it was all Katherine's idea." Xavier explained.
"Richie-poo! Don't listen to him, he's lying!" Kitten screeched.
"I don't want to hear it! You have ruined my life! Why would I ever want you!? Kori is a million times better than you ever will be. Get. It. Through. Your. Head! I don't want you!" Richard yelled in her face.
Kitten screamed and in rage. "You would have wanted me if Xavier would have just done his job and got rid of her! I didn't even care how he did it! He could have killed her for all I care and in fact I even asked him to!"
Someone cleared their throat behind them which caused kitten to whirl around. "Miss Katherine Moth and Xavier red, I am Jim Gordon from the GCPD and you are under arrest for attempted rape and conspiracy to commit murder."
Jim read them their rights as two officers began to handcuff the pair. Kitten screamed the entire time she was being lead to the squad car.
"This won't be the last time you see me! I will be back for you Richie-poo! You can count on it!"
Richard shook his head in sheer disbelief as the squad cars pulled away. He felt so stupid for believing the lies Kitten said. Kori was one of the few good things in his life and he ruined it. How could he do this to her?
"How am I going to get her back, I don't deserve her." He mused aloud.
"I would have to agree with you on this one Master Dick. Richard whirled around. "What are you doing here Alfred?" He questioned.
"Master Bruce heard about some savage fight that was taking place in his building so we figured it would be best to come down to see how it was being handled and to see if you were well of course. Alfred's piercing gaze fell on Dick. "I take it you found out something that you didn't like?"
Dick looked down in shame. "I can't believe I didn't listen to her. There is no way she will take me back, I don't deserve her."
"I agree."
Dicks head shot up.
"I also think that everything is taken care of here and you should head back home and relax as best as you can." Alfred continued.
Dick nodded his head in agreement and went to his car. He ripped out of the parking lot and sped off towards Wayne Manor. HIs head was filled with so many thoughts that he didn't even realize that he was the Manor until he almost crashed into the front gate. Dick shook his head and put the code in to open the gate. As he pulled into the drive he noticed an unfamiliar car parked in front of him. Dick gave it a questioning glance and shrugged it off as one of Bruce's floozies vehicles. As he walked in the front door he tripped over a pair of flip flops and crashed to the floor.
"Kori! I thought we agreed that you would stop leaving your shoes by the do-" Dick yelled out than realized that Kori wasn't here and now he just sounded like an idiot yelling at nobody.
"I apologize, I know we have discussed it before and it is a habit I am still trying to break." The sweetest voice Dick had ever heard said from behind him and almost caused him to get whiplash from how quickly he turned around.
He rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't seeing things.
"I have to be dreaming." He murmured.
Kori giggled and it stole the breath right out from Dick's lungs.
"Kori I can't believe you are here! Why are you here?" He fired out
"Well I-" Kori was cut off by another string of questions.
"Richard!" She yelled, trying to get his attention.
He finally stilled and looked at her. As she opened her mouth to talk her interrupted her one more time.
"Wait, before you say anything I just want to say how sorry I truly am and I should have believed you. I went to the office to watch the security tapes from that night. I can't believe they would do that to you and I was dumb enough to believe them."
"You were extremely foolish Richard." Kori said behind a blank face.
"I would understand if you left but please don't take Mar'i from me. Losing you is already the hardest thing I will ever have to deal with but I wouldn't survive if I lost you both." Richard pleaded.
"I would never and I am shocked that you think I would do something like that." Kori growled and her face grew hard.
Richards's look of relief was soon replaced with confusion with her next sentence.
"I am shocked that you are giving me up so easily."
"I'm not! But I don't want to cause you anymore pain; it's not fair to you." Richard replied as he turned to look out the window.
"Then start trusting me. You can begin by following me." Kori said.
He turned around and noticed her outstretched hand. He hesitantly took it and followed behind her as she led him to the solarium. In the middle of the room, surrounded by the roses, he saw a table and two chairs all set up for what looked like a date.
"You still owe me a date and I think it would be wise for you to show me why I should give you another chance and let you be in my life."
Richard was shocked. "You did all of this?"
Kori smiled. "Well I had a little bit of help from a few friends."
Richard smiled at his surrogate grandparent who happened to be peeking around the corner by the entrance. Alfred knew he was caught and being a person who doesn't show embarrassment, came out from the hallway and walked towards the table.
"If you will please have a seat, I will begin serving your courses."
Richard gave him a hug.
"Thank you for offering Alfred but I've got it."
Alfred narrowed his eyes in question but conceded and left. Richard directed Kori over to the able and pulled her seat out for her. Kori thanked him as he pushed it in for her as well. He trotted over to his side of the table however despite his usual lithe and coordinated movements, his foot caught on the table cloth and took everything down with him. He crashed to the floor as the gazpacho went flying and landed right on Kori. Richard looked at her in horror.
"There is no way she is going to take me back now!" He thought to himself.
Kori's laugh brought his head up in shock. She was laughing so hard that her face began to turn pink. Kori decided to than wipe the confused look off his face by picking up a handful of goopy vegetables and threw them in Richards face. Richard sputtered as he wiped his face off. He then got a wicked look I his eyes which made Kori squeal and start running away from him. Right as he was about to catch her he slipped on some soup and crashed into her. He was able to turn his body so that he would take the brunt of the fall and she landed on top of him, face to face. Kori looked down at him and her beauty stole his breath away. Even with her face covered in soup and vegetables in her hair, she still looked like one of the most gorgeous things he had ever seen. He pulled her face closer to his and leaned in slowly, giving her a chance to tell him no but her lips crashed into his. All felt right in his world once again and he deepened the kiss oblivious to the person who stood in the hallway with a happy gleam in his eye.
"I see your table cloth trick finally worked." Bruce observed.
"It had to eventually Master Bruce. Someday I am going to get you to settle down."
Bruce just laughed and clapped Alfred on the back before he walked away. Alfred looked in at the loving couple one last time then walked away, knowing that they will be just fine and spend the rest of their lives, showing each other how much they love one another and making each other happy.