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Disclaimer: I own nothing

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there are two tragedies in life
one is to lose your heart's desire
the other is to gain it

( George Bernard Shaw )

Was I dreaming? I didn't want to wake up if I was, but I opened my eyes then and stared at Logan. Ignoring my revelation, I narrowed my eyes at him. "What? You…"

"I love you, Piper. Honestly." He ran a hand along my face. "I always swore I wouldn't dive into this sort of thing, that I'd wait months before I ever said that to someone. But you weren't expected, and I feel like I've known you for months. And I…I love it. I love you."

Sitting up on my side, I leaned closer to him, "You know what you're getting into when you tell me that, right? It's a whole lot of crazy-"

"What were you saying about your brother?" He cut me off. He didn't want my reasons why he shouldn't love me.

"I was saying…" I leaned closer to him and took the hand that was on my face, "That I love you too. I don't really think I've ever been in love before, and I've never felt this way before. But I like it. It's scary, but it's wonderful. How much I care about you and how much I actually…need you in my life. What would I do without you?"

I wasn't a mushy person. This wasn't planned. But there it was, gushing out of me like a floodgate that had just been opened up. He inhaled and rubbed my hand.

"Yeah, that's how I feel."

We kissed then, as you're supposed to once you tell someone you love him or her. But don't tell me that this is a road that's been gone down before, because this time, it was all mine. And I was in love with this man, the one who cared for some reason, when there wasn't any need for him to. When I was all alone, he was there. We deserved this moment. And so we took it.

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My alarm went off again, the same annoying BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP, rapidly going off. I didn't want to move and involuntarily hit the off button. Ok, I knew I was doing it, but I shouldn't have.

Slowly I rolled over, trying to tell myself I could nap after I taught my morning class. When I moved I hit something hard and realized Logan was still here. I tried not to wake him as I got up to get dressed.

Now, here was the debate – do I risk assuming I'm lucky and dress for teaching and have to change if he wakes up and says we have training, or wake him and ask the question anyways?

I stood in front of my closest debating for so long that Logan woke up on his own to answer my question. "Danger room session today." He reminded me, getting up. Great, it was 6:30. So instead of showering before class, now I'd have to train, jump in the shower, and then teach. This morning was going to get dragged out.

"Wait. Can we talk about last night?" Part stall, part hello-important. I turned from the closet and watched him pull his wife beater on. "The whole, my-brother-killed-Asa part?"

I wasn't feeling hung over at all, which was a plus, but part of me wondered if he'd blame my reaction last night to the alcohol. I didn't. It just made it easier to say, but I was by no means drunk.

He sighed and straightened himself out, "So you think you have a brother now? I thought you still had doubts."

"I did. But it fits so perfectly. Who would have known I had a brother? Asa. So she would make the perfect target."

"Right. But even if this were true, why wait all these years?"

"Why anything, Logan? Why does anyone kill when they do?" I turned back to my closest, sifted through my clothes, and then turned back. "I want to talk to Dioxin."

"That kid from the mission? What does he have to do with anything?"

"He did slap me for no reason. And I swear, Logan, when I looked at him…"

"You recognized him?" He asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

"No…but he recognized me. And that makes sense – I don't recognize anyone!"

"Piper, the kid was scared and all he knew was that you were going to take him away. Of course he tried to fight back."

"Can you have a little faith in me, please?" I folded my arms across my chest and did everything in my power to not stamp my foot, making me a complete 6 year old.

He stood up and rubbed my arms, "I do have faith in you, and I'm going to help you with this, but someone has to be the voice of reason."

"Oh yeah, you?"

"No, not always me. But in this scenario – yes. We're not about to fly to Florida because some boy slapped you."

"I…what if I'm right and everything could be solved by going to him?"

"What's everything? I know getting your memory back is important, I agree with all of that. But now we're onto a totally different thing here, saying Asa was murdered? You were there. Did you honestly think that is what happened?"

I clenched my eyes shut, remembering suddenly more than I wanted to. Her throat, slit, the blood pooled around her body. I saw the killer, yes, but I didn't see the act. Anything could have happened. Or maybe I was just going insane with want. Wanting to solve all of this, wanting closure. I'd rather solve this mystery than deal with my memories. Hell, maybe I'd get lucky and they'd actually be connected.

When I opened my eyes again I looked at Logan directly in the eyes and said, "Yes."

"That's all I needed to hear. We'll look into all of this, ok? I'm not saying give up. But I am saying we should look into Dioxins story a little more before we fly south, ok?"

I nodded, thinking that was fair and kicked him out so I could dress for training.

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It was an interesting rest of the week. Interesting as in, I was a crap creative writing teacher. Most of the time, we just had discussions, which was fine and dandy but I felt like it wasn't really challenging enough. So, on Friday I assigned a three-page paper to them. 'If I could bring anyone fictional to life, it would be…' and why, due on Tuesday.

Liking this theme, I spent the rest of the day thinking of similar topics, and journal assignments for them. Other than that though, training was a pain in the butt – literally, leaving me sore every day, whether it was one on one with Logan or danger room sessions with everyone else. As far as the memory and Asa drama went, things were quiet. Logan asked Xavier for information on Dioxin but he said he had to contact his school for his history and that they'd fax it over once all the forms were filled out. Everything was a process. But yeah, besides that, nothing too crazy happened.

I got a new phone though! That was exciting. I got a Palm Pre, which was a decent phone. And so I spent my free time relaxing and playing with that. Logan and I had taken to going on walks in the afternoon to the lake because we could be alone there without the kids interrupting us.

Then, before we new it, Friday night was upon us and it was time to meet Tony. I picked out a black dress along with these fuzzy red high heels, semi-hard to walk it, but really tied together the outfit. Made it POP, y'know? (Not FEATHERY, ok? Fuzzy. Like. Fake velvet? Hmm…)

Storm told us we were going some fancy place – Tony's treat – and to dress nice. Logan needed help, hating fancy dinners. I helped him pick out a black button down and black pants; very Johnny Cash-ish. It worked for him.

Just as I was finishing putting my gold hoops in my ears, Logan knocked on the door. "Well, don't you just look dashing?" I said, kissing him on the cheek. He walked in and sat on my bed.

"Wow." I saw his reflection in the mirror, looking at me, "I've never seen you dressed up before. You look beautiful, darlin'."

I blushed and turned to face him, "Thanks." We stared at each other a bit more, and I grabbed my phone to put in the gold beaded purse I had. "So, you know how you're gonna behave right? As in, you're gonna behave, right?"

"Nag, nag, nag, nag, nag." He teased, "If you weren't so good looking, we'd have serious issues."

I just laughed, "Logan, you know what I mean. You have to treat Tony like…like an equal." I shrugged, not sure I even believed that.

"I get what you mean, and I'll do my best. Putting all assumptions and prejudgments aside." Ah, he was repeating my exact words to him from our conversation earlier.

"Yeah, yeah, mock me all you want, but we both know how you feel about Storm dating a nonmutant."

'Yes, and we'll keep it between us." He looked at his watch, the one he only wore sometimes, "Let's get this over with. We're already late…hmm…is it eyeliner or the jewelry that I should blame?"

I rolled my eyes and pulled him by the arm, "Let's just go!"

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The restaurant was swanky, that was for sure. There was a man playing piano and when we walked in two guys in suits opened the doors for us. I didn't have a problem with fancy meals, but usually they were boring. I was hoping tonight would be different, but I doubted it. What would we talk about? Basically, it was going to be boring.

Before the Maître'd could ask us if we had reservations Storm spotted us from the bar. She waved and whispered something to the man sitting next to her. They both stood up as we walked towards them. The piano player had just started the beginning of 'Moon River' and suddenly I felt like the night would be, at least musically, entertaining of sorts.

Storm was wearing a tight red wrap-around dress with back gladiator shoes and her hair was flipped out to the side. Then her date, this Tony guy, came into view. He was tall, blonde, and had the most remarkable blue/green eyes. I didn't really know what to think of him – just that he didn't seem Storms type. I pictured her with a brunette who was her size. This wasn't the Tony I was seeing.

"Tony, these are my friends. This is Logan," They shook hands, both smiling politely – Tony's seeming more genuine than Logan's, just saying. "And this is Piper."

Tony turned to me and the smile slipped from his face. "Piper?" He asked, startled.

Uhm, did I have something on my face? "It's nice to meet you." I extended my hand, hoping to make the moment pass unnoticed.

It did just the opposite.

"It can't be." He whispered. He stared at me a little long, the moment going unnoticed by none at this point.

"Yes?" I asked, softly, confused.

"You're alive!"

What?

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Err…that's the end of that chapter! Hope you liked it…please Reviewwww! Thanks!