DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own Sky High, I just play with it on the internet.

A/N: BIG shout out to Devi no Kaze and AleeraFrostStarkMaximoff for reviewing; and thanks for the favorites and follows this story is still getting. I love hearing from you, lovelies! I love my readers, I am but your humble servant.

Peace & Love,

~CloakedAuthor21

11. Real Talk

"You know how your dad is your hero when you're growing up?" Warren asked quietly. I closed my eyes.

"My dad abused me because I have powers, so no I don't. I know what you mean, though." I muttered.

"My dad wasn't always a villain. He used to work with the League. He was a great dad, and he really loved my mom. Then one day, he just disappeared. Mom was so worried something had happened to him. When he resurfaced he went after the League. A lot of people died when he fought the Commander.

I was so angry at the Commander for putting my dad in prison. I directed my anger at The Commander, and Will caught a lot of that. They didn't deserve the anger that I directed at them. I'm angry that my dad wasn't the hero that I grew up believing in; that I looked up to him. I wanted to be just like my dad growing up, but I don't want to be a villian. I don't want to hurt innocent people, or the woman I love.

There's so much anger that burns in me, but what if I'm no different than him? What if I can't keep you safe because I'm a bigger threat to you than anything you could face out there? What if I hurt you, Arabella?" Warren's voice was thick as he finished. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I moved to him and pulled him into my chest.

"Oh, Warren." I said softly as his arms encircled me, pulling me closer. "As sad as it is to say, I can take a hit. You can't hurt me with your powers, because mine cancel yours out. You're my safe place, Warren. I believe in the good I've always seen in you. I love you."

"I always have." he whispered back.

This display of vulnerability from Warren made my heart break for him. I only hoped he could work through these feelings so he could be the man I know he's capable of being.

xXxXx

As I woke and started getting ready for my first day back to school, I was anxious to get it over. Pulling on a red skater dress and matching converse sneakers, I decided to leave my hair down. Checking my reflection in the mirror presented me with another problem; the hickeys on my neck. A black scarf caught my attention, it was Kat's but it would work. Wrapping the scarf around my neck, I grabbed my bag and met Warren in the hallway.

As we arrived at school, I could see Kat and Alec by the tree. Warren slipped his hand into mine as we made our way over to my friends.

"Nice scarf, Bella." Kat said smiling.

"Thanks, it's yours." I joked back. "Hope you dont mind I borrowed it."

"It looks good on you. Are you ready for your first day back?"

"That depends on what the rumors are saying about why I've been out." I said sitting down against the tree next to Kat.

"Well, some people are saying you've been in witness protection. Others think you've been working undercover with the League and got injured." Alec said from the other side of Kat.

"Someone has been saying that you had a nervous breakdown and you went all Lizzie Borden on your dad." Warren said, making all of us stare at him. "What? That's what Stronghold and the sidekicks told me."

"Well, let's get today over so that maybe the rumors will die down." I said as the bell rang.

Warren held my hand on the way to our Mad Science class, which didn't go unnoticed. There would be new rumors going around by the end of the day, which made me giggle a little. Teenagers really arent that different, whether they have super powers or not.

Ten minutes into Mad Science, Medulla was interrupted by Principal Powers.

"Dr. Medulla, can I please have Miss Hernandez?" Principal Powers said smiling.

I gave Warren a shrug as I picked up my bag and followed Powers to her office.

"How has your recovery been, Miss Hernandez?" Powers asked as we took our seats.

"Not too bad. I was able to keep up with my schoolwork thanks to Warren, Kat, and Alec." I said, unsure what this was about.

"That's good to hear, Miss Hernandez. Your lawyer, Mr. Sullivan, has requested that you be dismissed, because he has important matters to discuss with you. He should be here to pick you up any moment."

"My lawyer knows about Sky High?"

The secretary annouced the arrival of my lawyer, which ended the conversation. As we walked out to meet my lawyer, I texted Warren to let him know what was going on.

xXxXx

"I'm sorry, Dustin, I'm not following what you mean." I said staring at my young lawyer.

"I've been handling your trust fund since the day your mother started one for you. My family have been the trustees for the Waters' trusts for several generations. Now that you're of age, you're eligible to start collecting a monthly allowance of $2000. You won't get full access to your trust fund until you turn 21. However, if you need anything big such as a car, all you have to do is ask. I can handle anything involving your money on your behalf, as trustee, and I'm pretty reasonable about reasonable requests.

I understand that you're staying with a classmate right now, Arabella? Warren Peace and his mother?" my lawyer asked.

"Yes. I'm staying with Mrs. Peace and Warren." I said quietly, still processing the information. "How much is my trust, Dustin?"

"Right now it's right around $4 million, and collecting interest. I set your checking and savings accounts with the bank up. Half of your allowance goes into a savings account each month, as per your mother's instructions. So that you'll be able to afford to live on your own after you graduate from Sky High. Whenever you're ready, I can even find a place for you that's within your means."

I nodded, in shock.

"Since your father was put into prison while you were in the hospital, you need to name a medical proxy and a beneficiary. Your mother was very insistant that your father not recieve a dime of your money. Without a medical proxy in place, your father is still your next of kin until you get married. Meaning that he would be responsible for any decisions regarding your medical care if you are unable to make those calls yourself."

"Um, Mrs. Peace is a nurse. Can I have her be my medical proxy?" I asked uncertainly.

"Of course, if that's who you want it to be. Take a week or two and get back to me on the beneficiary-"

"Mrs. Peace and Warren can be my beneficiaries. I can always change it, right?" I interrupted.

"Yes, it can be changed at any time. When you have kids of your own to set up a trust for, I'll be here to help with that."

I didn't comment on that, just continued to sign whatever was put in front of me. Dustin gave me my bank card and the paperwork from the bank regarding my accounts. I used the walk home as time to clear my head. It's not every day a girl finds out she's rich.

xXxXx

"Hey, Mrs. Peace." I called when I walked in the door, seeing her car in the driveway.

"Bella, whenever I hear 'Mrs. Peace', I'm looking over my shoulder for my mother-in-law. You can call me Aimee, dear." the petite woman said as she came out of the kitchen. "You're home early."

Aimee Peace was just over 5 feet tall with long black hair and warm deep green eyes. Warren got his hair and his smile from his mother. And maybe his complexion, too, now that I was thinking about it.

"My lawyer needed to discuss some things and I just didn't want to go back to school after processing all that information. So, I walked back and here I am." I said sitting down at the table.

"I found something that I want you to have." Aimee said leaving the room for a minute. Returning with a couple of old pictures.

I looked at the old pictures of Aimee with a blonde woman who looked a lot like. . .

"You look just like your mother did at your age, Bella." Aimee said quietly. "I didn't meet Hope until college, but you're the spitting image of her."

"I didn't know you two knew each other." I whispered.

"We were roommates freshman year of college. She's the one who introduced me to my husband. They were very good friends when they were at Sky High. I thought you might like them, you were pretty young when she passed."

Tears blurring my vision, I just stood up and hugged this woman who took me in. She was able to give me just a small look at who my mother was, and I had a feeling she had plenty of stories she could tell.

I excused myself for a nap and fell asleep immediately. Only waking when the sound of the doorbell went off. Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I walked out and opened the front door. I was shocked to see not only Kat, but Layla and Magenta as well.

"Hi." I said lamely. "Come in, I guess?" I let them in.

"Hello, girls." Aimee called from the kitchen, pulling a pie out of the oven. "I'm heading out in a little bit, so you girls are welcome to anything in the house. Or you can go visit Warren at work."

"Thanks, Mrs. Peace." the three girls chorused as they followed me to my room.

As we all sat on my bed, I just looked expectantly at them. Layla was the first to break.

"Warren asked us to come check on you. Since you had to go see your lawyer today and he had to work." Layla said looking abashed. I chuckled.

"Of course he did. Everything is fine. Apparently I'm rich now, but yeah." I said laughing at their faces.

"What?!" Layla and Magenta said looking at each other.

Kat took the news only slightly shocked, we both knew my family had money. We just never thought I'd ever be able to have access to any of it.

"Yeah, but it's no big deal. I don't need much, but it might be time to upgrade this crappy flip phone." I said shrugging.

"Oh, crap." Magenta said looking through her purse. "Bella, do you have a tampon I can have?"

"You should switch to a diva cup. It's better for the environment, Maj." Layla chipped in.

"I don't need those things." I said awkwardly as Kat fished a tampon out of her bag for Magenta. "I don't have a period."

"Birth control? Smart move." Magenta said nodding her head, taking the tampon from Kat.

"Uh, no actually. I've never had a period. My ovaries are frozen, because of my powers. I can't have kids." I said looking down and blushing.

Kat put her arm around me, having known this for years. I thought I had accepted the fact that I was sterile, but that was before the last few months. Warren and I hadn't talked about any of this, because I wasn't ready. We would have that conversation when we were ready for it. When the time was right.

"Oh, Bella." Layla said in a sad and quiet voice.

"It's ok, guys. Really." I said forcing a smile. "I don't even think I want to have kids. So, let's change the subject to something that's not my reproductive system."

As I got to know Layla and Magenta, I realized they weren't that bad. Not for freshman. The four of us were laughing like old friends in no time. It was refreshing, being around "save the planet" Layla, and "me against the world" Magenta.

"You really bring out a different side of Warren when you're around, Bella." Magenta said as she and Layla were leaving.

"Maj is right, Bella." Layla said as she pulled me into a hug.

"Thanks?" I questioned.

Alec arrived to pick Kat up at that moment, so I waved as everyone was heading out. I took a shower and climbed into bed, falling asleep before Warren got home. He watched me sleep for a minute, before he took a shower himself.

xXxXx

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