Logan followed Mystique and Helena to her classroom. Peering out from the hallway, he watched Helena close the door cautiously.
"Damn!" he whispered aloud to himself. He wouldn't be able to hear what they had to say to each other. So, he turned around and walked away, knowing his moment would come.
Mystique, or Raven, looked around the room curiously. She chuckled and moved the black hair away from her face, revealing deep blue eyes, "You always said you loved literature back in London; can't imagine you wanting to teach these kids though!"
She leaned on her desk with a light, suspicious smile. Helena kept a grave look and arms crossed, "You're human."
"Yes," she said rather irritated, "A policeman got me a few months back; when I was with Erik."
Helena thought about it, and then realized, "Magneto left you?"
"He said I was of no use to him anymore; without my gift."
Helena replied, "Man, I can't imagine you without your powers. Do you even like the way you look? Like a human?"
Raven cringed when she heard the word 'human', "It's not what I wanted; but I'm trying to make use of myself without my gift. To tie loose ends,"
Helena walked over to the window and looked outside, "Raven, our loose ends are too twisted to even tie up. You and I both know that."
Raven stood up, "Yes, I do," and then she said lower, "But I still stand by your favor; the one I owed you after everything."
Helena turned around, in disbelief, "Are you trying to tell me-"
"Yes," she stared her down with her eyes, "He's in Manhattan's Hospital."
Helena's heart was pounding. She looked up at Raven and asked, "That's why you came?"
She nodded, "I wouldn't have if it was something minor; he doesn't have long."
Helena nodded and they walked out of the classroom together. She walked Raven to the front door, and then stopped her before she left.
"Even though we put each other through some fucked up trials; I still considered you my friend, in the beginning."
Raven smiled a little bit, "You were the best fight I ever had; the only one that's come close is claws."
Helena thought about Logan, and then replied, "He is a challenge."
And with that, they parted. As soon as she was gone, Helena ran back to her room and packed her things. Before anyone knew where she went, she had started up the engine of her mustang and headed for Manhattan.
That night, a man of around sixty lay in his hospital bed, feeling very weak. He looked up at the ceiling and conjured his deepest thoughts of life.
Just then, a young woman of about thirty opened the door and walked in, shutting it behind her.
"You never were one to knock," the old man told her, with a thick British accent.
"You never were one to stop complaining," she replied wittingly.
He chuckled a little, but began to cough when he did.
"Or smoking," she added.
She walked over to his beside. He smiled bittersweet, "Hello Helena."
"Hi Bloom," she looked around and noticed all the flowers, "Did your family bring those?"
"Yes," he told her, "Kate made sure all the kids brought me some; she's stubborn that way."
Helena smiled a little, "I wish I could've met her. Where are they now?"
"Oh, she left a little while ago. I think she said John would be by to take over the next shift soon."
He took her hand and looked up at her face, "My God, you look like you haven't aged a day; I like what you've done with your hair."
Helena couldn't take it any longer, and could barely whisper, "You know why I'm here don't you?"
He nodded, "I figured you'd show up as soon as you got wind of it."
She held back tears frightened, "Then let me fix it. You can go home to Kate; you'll be healthy. I promise I won't bother you after that! Please, let me help you!"
He sighed, and took a picture at his bedside of his family and looked at it, "The doctors said they couldn't help me anymore but only to make me feel comfortable."
The old man took her by the hand and looked at her with pale blue eyes, "This is supposed to happen Hele; I ate cheeseburgers and smoked like a chimney for the good part of my life. It's time for nature to take its course. You always told me I had the choice. Well, I choose to go the way God intended me to."
Finally, a few tears came out from her turquoise eyes. She looked at him, feeling so lost.
He looked at her, and then smiled, "You've met someone."
She looked at him, denying it with her eyes. But he saw right through her, "No, you did meet someone."
"There are more someones than you think," Helena replied.
But he shook his head, "No. You know who I'm talking about. Must be a good guy to put up with you."
Helena looked down, unable to see the sight of the old man, loosing strength. Then, he placed his hand on hers and scratched it lightly, causing her to look up at him, "It won't end up the same way if you don't let it Hele. Not if he loves you the way I think he might."
She wiped her tears and looked at him one last time, "Are you sure?"
He nodded, "It's time. Goodbye Helena; you know that you were the love of my life."
She breathed in a hard sigh and replied, "I know. Goodbye David."
She looked into his soft eyes one last time, and then turned around and left, leaving the door open. She walked down the hallway, tears streaming down.
Back in his room, David Bloom looked at his family one final time, and then closed his eyes.
Helena kept on walking when nurses and a doctor ran past her to Bloom's room. She made it to the elevator, and let it shut behind her.
The next afternoon, David Bloom's funeral took place at a giant graveyard outside in Central Park. His wife Kate, wearing black sat next to his grave with her three sons and one daughter. Many people were gathered around them.
About seventy feet away, Helena stood under an oak tree, wearing a deep blue dress. It had David's favorite color. Her hair was now a dark brown, she had done it that morning.
"Nice hair," a deep voice commented beside her.
Helena didn't need to look over to notice it was Logan, "You followed me here?"
"It wasn't hard; your scent was all over me," he replied.
Helena scratched her head causing her wavy hair to go wild, "What do you want?"
"I want answers, about you."
She chuckled and began to walk away, "Answers about me? Wow, I figured you wanted some more of the other night; you seemed to really enjoy that. Like you hadn't done it in years!"
He walked beside her, not replying. She stopped and looked at him finally. She asked, "Years?"
"Not since I've been at the school," he replied in a soft mutter, walking again.
Helena shook her head, "No wonder you're so wound up! Man, I don't know why-"
Aggravated, he took her in his arms and held tightly, "Would you shut that mouth of yours and listen to me? You are going to play nice and tell me why Mystique came to see you yesterday? And who the Hell is this David Bloom guy? And why did you have sex with me?"
Helena was not at all scared or surprised. Sighing, she said, "Okay; we need to sit down."
On a bench a little further down, she explained to him, "I met Mystique in London when I went to Oxford. We were roommates."
"Roommates?" Logan couldn't believe it.
"Yes; we quickly figured out each other was a mutant. She had a hard life and wasn't very placed with the society around us; but for some reason wanted to go to London to study Psychology. Anyways, she was in disguise of a normal looking girl; so no one would suspect who she really was. And then, we met David.
"David Bloom was at the school getting a Masters degree in Science and Technology. Anyways, she and I quickly fell for him. However, he didn't trust Raven, and had deep affection for me. After college, we got married. Mystique was enraged and tried to kill him many times, and me as well. But then, she met a man named Erik Lehnsherr, AKA Magneto. Enough said there.
"Then, my thirtieth birthday rolled around. David and I were still living happily in London. And then, my thirty-first birthday came, and my thirty-second. I knew the moment after my thirtieth birthday passed that I wasn't getting any older, but David didn't figure it out for two years. Apparently, I was at my prime at the age of thirty, and time has slowed down for me. To this day, I haven't aged. I can feel it.
"David was so upset that we got a divorce. He said he could love a mutant (he was human) but wanted someone to grow old with. We both knew I couldn't give him that. That was almost twenty years ago. He was ten years older than me Logan."
He looked at her in shock, "Are you trying to tell me you're-"
"Fifty years old, next May," she looked up at the red and yellow trees.
"So, you were able to go to Oxford, Julliard, and Yale over a long period of time because-"
"That's all I had, and have; time," she looked at him finally, "I also met the Professor at Oxford. He was teaching there with Erik before they formed the school. He told me the plans for it, and I looked up to him and respected him greatly. We always kept in touch. And one day, I called. He told me about a mutant that was now at the school. A mutant that had healing powers and could be older than he was. I never knew until we fought that he meant you."
Then, she took him by the collar of his leather jacket and whispered threateningly, "Never tell anyone about this; they can't know how old I am. Not yet,"
"What? Is it because of fly-boy?" he mocked.
Her eyes narrowed, "I'm serious Logan; you above all people should know how hard it can be; living life alone. Knowing you'll die after all your friends are long gone."
He looked at her, and thought about it deeply. He did know what it was like; he never imagined someone else being in the same situation he was in.
Before he could speak, Helena got up, "I have to get back to the school; there's another rehearsal tonight with the kids. You got a way back?"
He held out the keys to Scott's former bike and said, "I'm covered."
"Alright," she said a little awkwardly, "Later."
She walked away from him, as though she never even slept with him.
Driving back, Logan still couldn't believe she was fifty (49) years old. She sure didn't look like it, or act like it. He couldn't believe she was friends with Mystique as well, who was also older than he thought. But that didn't matter; none of that affected him in any way. At least he figured out she wasn't evil, or was she?
A few days later, Warren came back from his trip. Helena was so glad to see him; but felt just a bit awkward after having sex with him. It was great, but, she couldn't help but think about Logan.
The following week, the school held a 'fall ball' for the students. It was held in the garden at night with stringed lights over the dance floor. Logan, in black slacks and a dark brown suit shirt, noticed almost everyone was there; almost.
Then, she walked down the stairs. Helena wore a forest green cocktail dress with her dark brown hair held up by a red rose. He was about to go over and talk to her for the first time since Central Park, but someone came by her side.
Warren wore a full black suit, much more expensive than Logan's, and kissed her on the back on the neck. She smiled and looked back, only to receive a kiss. Logan looked away with disgust; they always had to go for the pretty boys didn't they?
Logan went over to the bartender and said, "I'll have a bud."
"Sorry sir, no alcohol; but here," he handed him a coke bottle.
Logan took it, feeling almost insulted. He walked over to Storm, who was also dressed up and with a date.
"Logan, let me introduce you to Bryan, my date for the evening."
Logan shook the tall, dark handsome man's hand, "Hey."
"Hello, I-"
"Oh, I love this song, dance with me?" Storm asked him.
Bryan said no more and took her onto the dance floor. Logan was a little annoyed, but handled it coolly. Then, he saw Rogue and Bobby over talking with Warren and Helena. They were laughing and having a generally good time.
All at once, Logan felt the way he always did; like a loner. Later on, Warren and Helena were on the balcony next to the stairwell leading down to the party. They had been talking all evening.
"My dad really respects me; he feels that I'll be ready to take over for him very soon."
"That's great Warren, who would've thought a mutant will soon be in charge of the 'cure' and its company?" she said jokingly.
Warren smiled a little, but not too pleased with the remark. Just then, his cell phone rang. Helena waited patiently for him to get off. Suddenly, the dj played 'Your Song' by Elton John.
When Warren got off the phone, Helena asked, "Hey, would you da-"
"Sorry sweetie, I've got to get to the office. A lawsuit just came up and my dad says it's big; I've got to go!"
He began to walk to the other end of the balcony, but Helena tried to stop him, "Could you at least dance with me for a minute? Just a minute; it won't take a lot of your time!"
He spread out his wings and looked back at her, "I'm sorry, but like my father says, 'Time is money'. Don't wait up; I'll be late and will probably just go back to my place. It's in the city anyways. I love you, have a good night."
He kissed her, and then flew off. Helena watched him go, and sighed, "'Time is money'? Than I must've have millions in my bank account!"
She walked back to the railing of the balcony, disappointed. David was wrong; he wasn't 'the good guy putting up with her'. He wasn't even there.
"I guess since you grew up in the seventies, you really like Elton huh?" Logan looked over at her, grinning roughly.
She grinned back, "I'm a Stones' fan at heart; but this is 'my song'."
A few moments later, they were dancing in the crowd. Logan stared her down with his hazel eyes, and she did nothing else to stare back.
"Is it alright if I tell you that you look good?" he asked.
She smiled, "Sure, thanks. And hey, you clean up well yourself."
Nearby, Rogue and Bobby danced. Rogue watched the two curiously as they danced a few more songs.
Later that night, Logan walked Helena back to her room. They looked at each other awkwardly, and Helena was about to go in when he said, "I need to tell you something, can I come in?"
Confused, she opened the door and walked in, waiting for him to join her. When she shut the door, she walked over to her mirror and took out her rose, letting her hair fall down.
"Shoot," she remarked, waiting on him to speak.
She took of her shoes when he started, "I uh, wanted to apologize about before."
Helena began taking off her earrings and asked, "About what?"
"About accusing you for being evil. And, for calling you a whore."
She turned around and looked at him. Moving towards him, she said, "Logan, wait you-"
"No I need to say it. It was wrong for me to accuse you because you sold yourself to make a buck. I did the same thing."
Surprised, she asked, "You were a stripper?"
He grinned a little, "No, not a stripper. For a while I fought in a cage at a bar; any man could go up against me and try to take me out. I never lost of course, but it was a way to get by; make ends meet. Anyways, I was fast to judge you the way I did. I just wanted to tell you that I made a mistake."
Breathing in a hard, deep breath, she told him, "You know, you and I are not so different. Isn't that a little scary?"
"Yeah," he replied.
She turned and opened her door to her balcony, "What's even scarier is Warren. God, I don't know how the Hell I'm gonna tell him I'm almost fifty. People have a hard time understanding that."
Surprised to find Logan right behind her, she got goosebumps when he touched her bare shoulder, "I understand you."
She turned around with a grin, "But you have a slight advantage; having the same problem I have."
"Problem? I see no problem with you Hele."
She grinned at him. He asked her, "What?"
Chuckling, she replied, "You've never called me that before, 'Hele'."
"Yeah, well don't get used to it. I'm not into the whole nick names for women; or pet names either."
Narrowing her eyes, she asked, "Oh, but what about the other way around? What if I started to call you oh let's see, ah, Wolfie! How'd you like that?"
"I wouldn't." he remained stone faced.
"Oh no, say the kids were in the hallways and I shouted across to you 'Wolfie! Oh Wolfie! Come here!' I bet you'd love that."
"If you did; I'd kill you!" he moved closer to her.
She moved closer to him, "Really? And how would you do that? Seeing how it's near impossible!"
He glared at her devilishly, "Oh, I'd find a way."
"Yeah, but you'd have to fight me harder than last week. A lot harder."
He slid his hands behind her head, running through her thick wavy hair. He leaned close to her and breathed in her scent, "I have to admit, you're scent is intoxicating."
Closing her eyes, she replied, "Good; I made it myself; I call it 'intoxicating'!"
"You never stop running that mouth of yours, do you?" he asked, kissing her neck.
"No; no one's ever had the strength to keep me quiet," she replied, breathing heavy.
Looking into her teal eyes, he told her, "I don't think you have that problem anymore."
He pulled her to him hungrily. They kissed each other intensely; feeling each other's strength. They moved over to the bed, and Helena pushed him back. Very sexy, she leaned back and pulled herself onto the bed, not taking her eyes off him.
Then, she gave him an evil smile, and he crawled up to her lips, grabbing her with his strapping arms. Helena held onto him tight, never finding the strength to let go.