Chapter Six: Dreams of Tomorrow

Thanksgiving passed, a very quiet one. As December progressed, the weather in Gotham turned colder. It snowed heavily one night when Terry and Rachel were out on patrol.

"It's so cold out here," Rachel said, shivering.

"Here," Terry said, pulling her into a hug.

"Can I stay here for about ten minutes?" Rachel joked.

Then a store alarm went off.

"Let's go."

It was Deathstroke, of course.

"You two really are busybodies, you know," he sneered.

Rachel was tired of being insulted and, remembering what he had done to her father, she attacked.

Terry stood there for a minute, not quite knowing what to do. Deathstroke was no match for Rachel, and both knew it; and anyway, he was more Rachel's enemy than his. In the end, though, he decided to help his Rachel.

"Firewing, catch!" He threw her a container of knockout gas.

Rachel, in turn, threw it at Deathstroke, making it stronger with a starbolt.

Deathstroke fell into the gutter. He groaned, then was silent.

"Is he dead?"

"No," Terry answered. "Let's get the police."

"What do you want for Christmas? Other than me of course."

"I don't need anything," Rachel replied, feeling awkward.

"It's not Christmas if you don't get a whole bunch of stuff," Terry said childishly.

"Sure it is. Don't be greedy."

"I'm just kidding. But seriously, what do you want?"

"I don't want or need anything," Rachel insisted.

Her bedroom phone rang.

"Raven."

"Rachel…we've missed you so much. How are you doing? I can't believe you're seventeen years old already. I feel old."

"I'm fine. You're not old."

"Yeah, you're right, Bruce is."

Then Raven noticed Terry. "Why is there a boy in your room?"

"This is Terry. Say hi Terry."

"Hi, Terry," said Terry.

"Anyway…we heard about you catching Deathstroke. Here in Jump City you're regarded as the finest young heroes since the Titans."

"Thanks Raven. How's everyone else?" Rachel replied.

"We're fine. We miss out Titan's Princess, though. Karen wanted me to tell you she's sending your Christmas present."

"She didn't have to-"

"Here, talk to her."

"Hi, Karen!" Rachel squealed.

"Hi yourself, Miss-I'm-Seventeen-and-a-Big-Time-Superhero-Just-Like-My-Daddy."

"I missed you, too."

"Why is there a boy in your room?"

"He's my boyfriend. In the even I talk to Gar or Vic, tell them beforehand. That's the second time I've answered that question tonight."

"Grumpy much? Tell that boy to go home."

"Why is there a boy in her room?" Rachel heard Vic demand. "You tell her-"

"I'm going to hang up now," Raven interjected, pushing her friends away.

Her end of the phone was severed and Rachel turned hers off as well.

"So, I'm that boy now?" Terry teased.

"If it makes you feel better, I love you."

"I love you, too." He kissed her gently. "But you still haven't told me what you want."

Realizing he was going to keep asking, Rachel just said, "Surprise me."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Christmas approached steadily. Max kept gushing about the Christmas present she'd gotten Kevin, which, needless to say, was very annoying to Rachel.

"Would you please shut up about the cell phone with the holographic thingy?"

"Sorry." After a moment's pause, she asked, "What did you get for Terry?"

"Something," Rachel said shortly.

"Tell me," Max persisted.

"No."

"Tell her what?" Terry asked, coming up behind Rachel.

"Nothing."

Max rolled her eyes and walked away.

It was Christmas Eve. Terry and Rachel walked through the park, gloved hand in gloved hand. Suddenly, Terry stopped.

"Something wrong?"

"No. Not at all."

"Then why did you stop?"

"I want to talk."

"OK."

Silence.

"You gonna say something?" Rachel teased.

"Sweetheart, I know we're always supposed to be together," Terry began.

"Where is this going?" Rachel asked, suddenly fearing Terry had met someone better.

"I just want to promise something."

Rachel relaxed a little bit.

"But can you promise the same thing?"

"Depends on what it is," Rachel replied.

"I promise that whatever happens we'll end up together. It doesn't matter who approves or who doesn't, we will have each other."

"Oh, Terry," Rachel said, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him. "I promise too," she whispered breathlessly.

"Merry Christmas," Terry murmured, pulling out a box opened to reveal a silver ring.

The ring was set with a heart shaped diamond.

"Just to remind us."

Rachel took off her glove, allowing Terry to slide the ring on her finger.

"I love you," he said, pulling her close and holding her as the snow fell around them.

"I love you, too."

So…last chapter of the second Rachel story. There will be one more, summary of which is below.

Life As We Know It

Rachel and Terry are freshmen in college at Gotham U. After a messy breakup, Rachel moves to Metropolis. Three years later, she comes back to help care for the elderly Bruce. When she arrives, Terry is in for a big surprise…

-iluvrobbie