One rainy Friday afternoon, Helena was sitting in her classroom, grading papers. She pulled a pen out from her long, blonde, wavy hair and wrote on a student's work. Just then, there was a knock at her door.

"Hey Professor, may I come in?"

Helena looked up and smiled, "Oh hi,"

It was Warren; he walked in and stopped at her desk. He leaned over and kissed her gently and then said, "I have something for you."

Even though his hands were in front of him, he had his way of hiding things. His white wings moved a little, and flipped a bouquet of flowers over his head and into his hands.

"Here, I bought them for you on my way up; I noticed you always look at them in the garden."

They were pink peony flowers. As soon as Helena took hold of them, her eyes closed and she could picture her father's death all over again. The spattered blood on the pink and white peonies; his last struggling breath.

Unaware, she dropped the flowers from her hands and blacked out. Warren's voice became muffled, and then silence.

Opening her eyes, Helena realized she was on the floor of her classroom. How she got there and how long she had been there was beyond her. Looking up, she saw Warren, Storm, and Logan.

She kept her sights on Warren, however. The last time she spoke to Logan was the night they slept together. That was two weeks ago.

"Are you alright?" Warren asked, concerned.

Holding her head, she tried sitting up, "I think so,"

"What happened?" Storm asked.

Helena remembered the flash, and noticed the pink flowers next to her. Clearing her head, she stood up, "It was just hot; that's all. I haven't had anything to drink for a while; just a faint spell."

"Good, we were worried for a minute there," Storm replied, tapping her on the shoulder, "Your kids are gonna break a leg tonight!" and then she left.

Warren picked up the flowers, and led Helena out of the room, "After that episode, I don't think I'll ever let out outta my sight."

And they walked out of the classroom, leaving Logan with a curious face about him. He knew there was more to her fainting spell then she let on. But why she wouldn't tell Warren, her boyfriend, was leading Logan to many questions.

Warren put the flowers in some water back in Helena's room. Helena sat down on the edge of her bed and explained, "I've just been working myself too hard. The play's tonight and I'm edgy; you know me!"

He sat down next to her and held her hands in his. His blue honest eyes marveled at her as he asked, "Are you sure there isn't anything I can do for you before I go?"

"Yes, thank you," she leaned over and kissed him tenderly, "You're coming to the show tonight, right?"

He nodded, "I have a quick meeting and then I'm on my way back. I promise I'll be there."

"Good, or else I'll have to clip your wings and keep you locked up in a cage in my room!"

She grinned at him like she always did, and he kissed her again. Afterwards, they got up and she led him to the door. Almost forgetting, Warren turned around and said, "After the show I'm taking you out for a night on the town!"

"Ooh," she awed, "What's the occasion?"

Brushing her blonde hair away from her face, he told her, "Your success on the play of course; but I don't need a reason to want to spoil you Hely. You're my girl."

He kissed her one last time. In Helena's mind, she felt awful, 'I'm no girl, I'm gonna be fifty!' She hadn't told him about David and her other life yet. But, she wasn't in a rush; she had all the time in the world.

"See you tonight." He smiled and then left.

"Yeah, see ya," she let go of his hand and let him walk away. She smiled, and then looked down. In a state of shock, she went into her room and slammed the door.

She went over to her mirror and turned on the light. Putting on her glasses, she looked very closely at her hand. It wasn't a fast pace, and it would be years still for her to grow into an old woman, but Helena was beginning to have wrinkles on her skin.

Running, Helena tried to catch up with Warren before he left. She was an idiot; why had she kept him in the dark for so long? Even though she would look thirty for a lot longer than most, she knew that eventually Warren could notice the occasional age spot. It was now or never. She had to save their relationship.

She burst through the front doors and ran out into the rain, "WARREN!"

She shouted for him, but he was already long gone. Hele hung her head low, turning back into the school dripping wet. Tonight; she would tell Warren after the play.

That night, the audience was filled with people; some parents and some fellow students and friends. Helena made a quick introduction to her AP class's performance of Much Ado about Nothing. After, she went stage right and watched her students act in one of her most favorite plays.

Peering out into the audience, Helena looked for Warren. However, she couldn't find him anywhere. During intermission, she called his cell phone.

After about eight rings, she got him, "Hey Hely! The meetings still going on; I don't think I'll make the finale," he whispered.

Helena covered the phone and sighed aggravated, and then uncovered it with a chipper voice, "It's alright W. Just meet me in the front parking lot and I'll be out as soon as I talk with the seniors. Okay?"

"Sure; I promise I'll make up for it tonight. We're still going out ya know."

"I know, I'll see you tonight."

"Okay, I love you," he whispered.

And there it was; the L bomb. Helena didn't expect it nor knew what to do or say. So, she gripped her cell phone in her hand and made static noises, and then shut her phone.

"I am the worst girlfriend ever!" she said as she went backstage to help the kids with their makeup.

Finally, the ending scene approached. Helena sat backstage, not really focusing on the play anymore. All she could think about was the fact that Warren wasn't there, and that he told her he loved her. She had no idea how to absorb all of it.

Just then, she was caught off guard by Jeff's booming voice as Benedick, who was on stage with Kitty as Beatrice. It was great; the two first started out like amateurs and now are wondrous in their roles. Helena didn't know why she liked this play so much; the main focus was a loathing couple that despised each other yet they were attracted to each other. How did that work?

Then, Helena heard Jeff's voice:

Jeff (Benedick): Do not you love me?

Kitty (Beatrice): Why no; no more than reason. Do not you love me?

J: Troth, no; 'no more than reason!'

K: Why, then my cousin Margaret and Ursula
Are much deceived; for they did swear you did.

J: They swore that you were almost sick for me.

K: They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me.

J: 'Tis no such matter. Then you do not love me?

K: No, truly, but in friendly recompense.

Then, Rogue and Bobby came up, each holding a letter.

Bobby: I'll be sworn upon't that he loves her;
For here's a paper written in his hand,
A halting sonnet of his own pure brain,
Fashion'd to Beatrice.

Rogue: And here's another
Writ in my cousin's hand, stolen from her pocket,
Containing her affection unto Benedick.

Kitty and Jeff read the love letters, and Helena watched them closely.

J: A miracle! Here's our own hands against our hearts.
Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take
thee for pity.

K: I would not deny you; but, by this good day, I yield
upon great persuasion; and partly to save your life,
for I was told you were in a consumption.

J: Peace! I will stop your mouth.

Then, Jeff placed his hands on Kitty and kissed her. Helena didn't know why, but she couldn't stop thinking about her and Logan. She peered out into the audience and quickly found him at the back of the theater, leaning by the door. He watched the scene with the same look on his face as Helena's.

Finally, the curtain fell and everyone took their bows. Later, Helena congratulated the cast and gave them the A's for putting together the play. Then, she smoothed out her violet strapless cocktail dress and walked up the aisle and out the theater doors. She put on her black shawl and headed towards the front entrance where Warren would be waiting.

However, just as she turned the hallway, Logan stopped her, "Can I talk to you a second?"

"Can it wait until tomorrow?" she replied and tried to get around him.

However, he held her shoulders and stated, "The last time you said that we didn't talk for two weeks."

Sighing, she nodded, "Shoot."

"Why are you with Warren?" Logan wasted no time.

"What? What do you mean 'why am I with-"

"You know damn well what I meant! Now answer me."

Still off guard, she replied, "I'm with him because he's sweet; he's always supported me and he takes care of me. He's a charming guy."

Logan processed it for a moment, and then replied, "He's a charming guy? Okay, if he's so charming, why did you sleep with me?"

Helena couldn't believe it, "I can't believe this! I made a mistake Logan; I slept with you and it was a mistake. It shouldn't have happened!"

"Well 'it' happened more than one time. I thought an intelligent woman like you would learn from her 'mistakes'. Not repeat them!"

She moved around him, "I have to go."

But he pulled her back, "Oh no you don't; you're just running from the truth. Just like the last time I wanted the truth; you ran!"

She rolled her eyes, "Fine! What do you want from me?"

After a few moments, he spoke, "I want you to say it."

"Say what Logan?" she asked irritated.

"Tell me you're in love with him. Do that, and I'll leave you alone forever."

"What? This is ridiculous! Yes, he told me he loved me on the phone. There, satisfied?"

"No I didn't ask if he loves you; that's a given. But do you love him?"

She folded her arms and thought, annoyed, "Wha- well I don't know!"

He held up his hands, "There you have it!"

"That doesn't prove anything! Love is a hard thing to grasp Logan; I don't think you even know what love is, you've never been in love!"

He didn't speak, he only stared at her. Completely hysterical, she confirmed, "Right?"

Without a word, he walked her to Storm's office. There was a photo album she had. Logan pulled it out and flipped to a page with Jean and Scott outside in the garden.

In awe, Helena asked, "You were in love with the Phoenix?"

He shook his head, "That was her duel personality; hidden away because it was too powerful. The news story you're referring to was when she was last alive. The phoenix had complete control of her then. She almost destroyed millions."

Remembering the attack, Helena said, "But she was stopped at the last minute; no one knows who but someone killed her. They stopped her."

But then, Helena met Logan's hazel eyes. She knew, "You killed her; you killed her to save everyone, and herself."

He looked at her picture somberly, "I loved Jean; but it wasn't until that night that she knew."

Looking at the picture, Helena asked, "Who's the guy?"

"The one she chose. I remember her saying, 'Girls flirt with the dangerous guy. They pick the good guy; the one that sticks around.'"

Helena watched Logan shut the book gravely, "I thought I could be the good guy; but he was already there."

"I'm sorry Logan; I had no idea,"

"It's not your fault," he replied, looking up at her finally, "Listen, loving Jean was hard enough not being able to be with her. I don't know if I can bear it again; but if you truly have feelings for fly-boy, then be with him."

Helena couldn't believe what he was saying. He placed his hand on her cheek, "Be with the one you love; it's your choice."

"Why is it my choice?" Helena asked him.

"Well, for one thing, this is America. We have the freedom of choice,"

Helena laughed a little, "My sarcasm is rubbing off on you."

He continued, "The other reason is that two men-two men,"

He tried to say it; Helena could see that it was hard for him to. Apparently he wasn't good with the 'L' bomb.

"Two men love you. You have to decide who you're in love with. Or, if you're in love at all."

Logan wouldn't stop staring at her. Helena tried to watch him with her turquoise eyes, but couldn't bear it, "I have to go. Warren is waiting."

Then, she turned away from him, letting his hand fall. She quickly left his sight.