Over the next couple of months, after seeing the miserable state that both Will and Warren were in, Layla started to reconsider. If she had a choice between losing Will to Warren, or losing him to that bitch, Warren would be her choice. What made her feel really bad was that she knew her reaction when Will had told her about his relationship with Warren was part of why he was with that bitch now. She had tried to mask her surprise at her suspicions being affirmed; it was final that Will wasn't in love with her. He had interpreted this as disgusted surprise and had promptly accepted Gwen's invitation as his homecoming date.

She realized that either way she would lose, but if Will were with Warren they could still be friends, and she wouldn't lose him completely. She started coming up with a new plan. After all, as Will's best and oldest friend it was her duty to make sure he was happy. She hastily put on her shoes, gave a quick good-bye to her Mom, and headed towards the paper lantern.

Will was shocked and horrified. He had thought that Gwen had cared, that he could trust her. But her obvious deceit made it clear that he had been wrong. She didn't care that he would take the heat for the mess all of her guest would make. She did seem pretty shocked that he had dumped her though. After all, it was the night before homecoming.

He had left himself without a date, without a back-up plan, and without friends. What the hell was he supposed to do now? He should have realized that Gwen was leading him on, using him. He should have realized that she didn't care, that she wasn't who he wanted her to be. She wasn't Warren Peace.

She didn't kiss him the same way, she didn't look at him the same way, and she hadn't made him feel anywhere near as good. Not to mention, he wasn't nearly as upset about breaking up with her as he had been when it was Warren.

Meanwhile, walking briskly down the sidewalk towards her own home, Gwen Grayson was fuming. She had been dumped the night before homecoming, by a complete dork. She was starting to like him, but had ditched those feelings to accomplish her plan. Even worse; she had been dumped for a hippie. She was going to get her revenge, because the recent events had put her ultimate plan on the edge of a knife.

It was with a sickening lurch that Will realized that the pacifier was missing. Then he put it together, Gwen looked like Sue Tenny because she was Sue Tenny's daughter. Sue Tenny disappeared after high school because she became Royal Pain. Royal Pain's Pacifier was gone because Gwen was taking it to homecoming.

If Gwen still had a grudge against her parents, and she had the pacifier, his parents were in trouble. His friends were in trouble. Warren was in trouble. Will rushed for the phone, Ron Wilson's card in hand. He didn't have a plan, but he knew he didn't have time to think one through.

"Flower Child, don't kiss my boyfriend." I said as she got even closer to Will.

What can I say? It was a happy moment! Will had apologized, Layla had actually said she was cool with us, Magenta was starting to not be cruelly sarcastic to Zach; I thought that was the last needed touch. Will started blushing, and we shared a short kiss.

Our friends, loveably annoying as they were, didn't need to know what I had been wanting to do to him for the last few months. No need to clue them in either. We separated after a few seconds, but I held his gaze for a few more, before we had to go fight separate villains. I hoped that he understood my eyes; if he didn't come back in one piece, that bitch was going to die.

As soon as I saw Will going through the window, I powered up. Layla took a step back from me as I rushed Royal Pain. I tackled her, and pinned her to the ground easily enough. I had my right fist dragged far enough back to break through her helmet and more than likely her skull, but I didn't hit her. I heard a sound like wind, except that I knew the school was too high up to experience wind. I looked up, and saw Will floating between two gray clouds.

I rolled off Royal Pain, allowing him to knock her out. I allowed Layla the first hug, but I held his gaze while she took it. It wasn't a huge loss, I would undoubtedly have a more personal reunion than her. Then the school started to drop. I didn't want Will to fly out again, I was too worried about all the different ways that the school could crush him.

But as soon as the school stopped moving, and I felt us go up a bit, I knew he was fine. He had saved us.

After the music started, Will Stronghold and Warren Peace found themselves on the school roof. At first, they just sat next to each other, staring out at the sky. Neither could find the courage to break the silence. Warren was the first to move however; he wrapped his arm around Will's waist, pulling him a little closer. Will was surprised, but he didn't pull away. Instead, he blushed and looked down at the roof he was sitting on. After a few minutes like this, Warren put his face in Will's hair, and brought his lips near to his ear.

"You know, I kind of missed you Stronghold."

"Yeah, I missed you too."

There was more silence, but Will was the one who broke it this time.

"Warren?'

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry."

Warren pulled back a bit, so that he could get a better look at Will's face. He was blushing, but his eyes looked sad.

"For what?"

"For cheating on you, with Gwen."

"It's okay; I was a dick to you. Besides, you broke up with that hag."

"Yeah but-" Will began to protest, but his words were smothered by Warren's mouth.

It took a few seconds for everything to register, for the all of the loose ends to tie together. Once that happened, Will's brain started functioning again, and he started kissing back. Warren brought his left hand up and behind Will's head, deepening the kiss. Will, whose limbs had long ago stopped obeying his brain and had turned loyal to his hormones, wrapped themselves around warren's neck.

Warren, on a whim, decided to wrap his remaining hand around Will's waist, to give him enough leverage. Then he pulled Will over towards him, to land on top of him. As the kiss deepened further, their lungs ached for air; they were forced to break apart.

When Will closed his eyes as he tried to catch his breath, Warren seized his opportunity. He quickly shifted his weight and brought the side of his body up, putting himself over Will. Will's eyes were wide open and glued to Warren's face.

Warren gave a predatory grin as he lowered his face to hover inches above Will's. They stayed there a few seconds, before Will, to the surprise of them both, lifted his head to bring their lips together again. He didn't know why, but he knew that he wanted that physical connection. But he realized that the connection went far beyond the realm of the physical, and that that very fact alone may have been why he wanted it. Every time he came into contact with Warren, it seemed as if the touch went through his flesh and into his soul.

Warren, having thoroughly explored Will's mouth, moved down to his Jaw, and lingered for a few seconds over the sensitive flesh beneath his ear, planting kisses in a line down Will's neck. Will, being inexperienced, had a problem holding back his gasps and low moans. Warren casually slipped his middle and pointer finger between his lips to ease the problem. It wasn't that he minded or didn't appreciate the noises, he just wanted to move on to something else.

Every once in a while he needed to add something to the routine, or he would get bored. At least, that was how it had been with all of his other lovers. He always needed something new thrown into the scenario, or he would turn away. However, he hadn't felt any sort of emotional connection with his previous lovers. When it was Will he was kissing, the emotion was almost palpable. It reached into his mind and soul.

A honk of a car horn brought them back to reality, and they hastily separated for fear of being seen. Warren kept his arm around Will's waist, and Will placed his head on Warren's shoulder as they resumed sitting positions. After a few minutes of watching the stars shine above them, their peaceful world was shattered once again.

This time it was Magenta, Ethan, Zack, and Layla. They had come to drag them back to the dance floor for the last song of the night. The two boys exchanged looks, not sure if they should dance together. People might notice. Wait, no, this was High School with Warren Peace and Will Stronghold! People would most definitely notice if they dance together. Warren, always reliable for a rebellion against better judgment, was the first to get up.

When he offered Will his hand, the slighter boy took it without question. The group walked down the maintenance staircase the others had come up by, and made their way to a corner. Magenta and Zack were the first to go off into the crowd, followed by Layla and Lash. Then a girl in their class who could change her skin composition took Ethan to the dance floor. When they were well out of earshot, Warren and Will started snickering.

"They can melt together!" Warren said, doubled over with laughter.

They stayed there a few seconds, not really paying attention to the world around them. Then the song changed. Even though it was sappy as hell, and they were both kicking themselves for doing it, they found themselves inching closer together.

Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart - search your soul
And when you find me there you'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

They laced the fingers of their left hands together, and Will moved slightly in front of Warren, leaning back against his chest.

Look into your heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am - take my life
I would give it all - I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

They shared a quick glance, and Warren wrapped his right arm around Will's shoulders, pulling him back against him.

There's no love - like your love
And no other - could give more love
There's nowhere - unless you're there
All the time - all the way

Oh - you can't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
I can't help it - there's nothin' I want more
I would fight for you - I'd lie for you
Walk the wire for you - ya I'd die for you

They swayed together with the rhythm, dancing in place in way that was more emotional than physical. Warren kissed the back of Will's head, and layed his head in between the other boy's shoulder and neck.

Ya know it's true
Everything I do - I do it for you

Will could distantly hear his parents calling him, ready to go home. He looked up at Warren, apologetically. Warren smirked, and brought his lip closer to Will's ear.

"Love you. I'll see you on Monday." Warren slid his hand from Will's, and went off towards the parking lot. As a member of the board, his mother was present, and had been the one who dropped him off.

They had saved the world, gotten back together, and eliminated the most pressing threats to their relationship in one night. Over all, they thought it had ended well.

When her husband lay asleep beside her in their bed, and her son had already fallen asleep in his own room, Josie Stronghold looked up at the ceiling of her bedroom. She was contemplating everything she had experienced that night, most of it having to do with her son.

She had seen the way he Warren looked at each other, had seen his behavior over the last few weeks diminish in one night, and had seen them flying up to the school roof. She knew what was going on up there, she didn't have to look.

It wasn't a problem by any means. She had known that Will and Layla lacked the proper chemistry, and had noticed Will's lack of interest in girls when he was younger, but it still surprised her to see him with Warren.

It wasn't because of Warren's gender, or even who his father was. What bothered her was that Will hadn't told her. After the disappearance of Will's younger sister, the two had grown very close. Will told her everything. She had expected to be privy to information regarding his sweetheart; that was all.

Now, of course, she knew how her husband would react. Steve always assumed he misheard until he was forced to come to grips with whatever it was that he didn't want to hear. He wouldn't spurn their son for being gay, or for who he was with. He would however, make Warren's life a living hell until he found him worthy of Will.

To be fair, Steve would have done that to any boyfriend of Will's, or of Elizabeth had she still been with them. What set the deck against Warren, was something he had absolutely no control over.

Warren Peace was Baron Battle's only child. Warren was the only living proof of his existence. He looked so remarkably like his father that it was fitting for Warren to be the only child. It would take a while for Steve to warm up to the boy, but it would happen.

Maybe a call to Warren's mother would help.