Emilie smiled to herself as she tugged her jacket closer to ward off the October chill

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Emilie smiled to herself as she tugged her jacket closer to her to ward off the October chill. She and Warren were together (figuratively, but also literally as often as possible), and Maxville had been having that perfect fall weather for a week now. And Emilie was currently walking to meet Warren and everyone else at the Sky High bus stop, for the purpose of going to study with them at Will's house. Happy Columbus Day to me, she thought happily, almost skipping down the rest of the block.

Warren got off the bus to see Emilie just few steps away. When she reached him, he gave her a quick kiss before she snuggled into his chest, basking in his unnatural warmth.

"Mmm, my little blast furnace." Emilie sighed, drawing laughs from Will, Layla, Ethan, Magenta and Zach. Warren glared half-heartedly at them, most of his focus on the redhead in his arms.

"You're going to pay for that little nickname, you know," he said in mock threat.

Emilie pulled away so she could grab his hand, and smirked back at him, "Yeah, yeah."

"So," she smiled at the rest of the group. "Who is up for a little studying?"

Zach and Magenta groaned in unison.

"Will, are you sure it's alright with your parents that I come over?" Emilie asked, she didn't want to have the Stronghold's surprised when they found out she was powerless.

"Yeah, it's cool. Come on." Will picked Layla's books out of her hands so he could clasp one of them and led the way.

Josie Stronghold welcomed them all in when they reached Will's house, and Emilie knew she liked her right away. She seemed so June Cleaver. She'd set out snacks on the coffee table in the living room and greeted everyone individually.

"And you must be Emilie," she said. "It's so nice to meet you, I'm Josie." Emilie freed her hand from Warren's to shake Josie's outstretched one.

"Hi, it's nice to meet you too. Thanks for having me over." Josie smiled back in response, and ushered them all into the living room before telling Will she had houses to show and that she'd be home later.

Emilie watched contentedly as her friends settled in and reveled in the scent of homemade cookies. Ethan took the place of high honor during homework and sat in the overstuffed chair in the middle of the room. Layla and Will opted for the floor, and moved some of the snacks off of the coffee table to make room for their textbooks. Emilie nudged Warren in the side and nodded toward Zach and Magenta, who were trying to sit as close as humanly possible on the love seat. Grinning back at her, Warren pulled over to the empty couch. Everybody groaned as Ethan began reading out the first problem.

Emilie felt inexcusably giddy; she felt gloriously thankful for everything. She pulled off her jacket, since sitting practically on top of Warren caused her temperature to escalate, and put her French book and notepad in her lap, intending to study but satisfied with listening to everyone argue about the answers to their work.

However, after laughing through Zach's twenty minute debate about how his ability to glow would help him take down their Coach Boomer, Emilie decided to start in on her own work. She flipped through her notepad until she found the part of today's notes she'd written down when she wasn't daydreaming. She saw the doodle at the top of the page the same time Warren did, and quickly covered it with her hands.

"Wait, what did that say?" he looked back at her, teasing.

"Nothing," Emilie answered quickly, turning beet red, and pushing her hands down on the page even harder.

"Oh, no, I think that definitely said something." Warren reached for her hands laughing at her.

"No! Warren, stop! It doesn't say anything I swear." Emilie squealed trying to hold the notebook out of his grasp, but keeping her hands covering the scribbles. She was leaning halfway over the arm of the couch, notepad stretched far away from Warren who was reaching behind her, shaking with laughter.

The rest of the group watched them now, smiling to see Emilie so embarrassed and enjoying seeing one of Warren's rarer happy moments, but moments that seemed to have increased in frequency since having met Emilie.

Emilie reached a little farther and tore the page out of the spiral, then barreled out of Warren's grasp and dashed behind Ethan's chair. She was blushing and laughing as she held out a hand to signal Warren to stop, for he'd jumped up to catch her.

"Will, quick! Where is your trashcan? Or a match? Quick!" Emilie yelled. But while her attention was distracted, Warren had closed in on her. In a quick second, he had her pinned to him with one arm and was trying to pull the now wadded slip of paper out of Emilie's hand, but she'd be damned if Warren ever got his hands on such incriminating evidence.

"Layla! Magenta! Help!" Emilie yelped, struggling to escape. Unfortunately, her female cohorts were similarly detained by their male counterparts when they tried to come to her rescue. Ethan just laughed at rolled his eyes at the three couples' roughhousing.

In one quick movement, Warren pulled the piece of paper from Emilie's hand. Holding the trophy high out of Emilie's reach, Warren cleared his throat.

" 'Emilie hearts Warren.' Isn't that cute?" He smiled at her, enjoying every shade of red her face was turning, and mentally resolving to put the scrap of paper in his pocket when he was done tormenting her with it.

"I didn't write it," Emilie said, waving it away, but unable to keep herself from grinning.

"Too bad," Warren sighed, turning back to the couch. "I guess I'm just going to have to find this other Emilie and tell her that I finally got the official okay to take her to Homecoming."

Emilie turned back at him beaming, Yup, life is completely perfect. She sat back down on the couch where Warren was back to playing it cool, but he put his arm around her shoulder pulling her close.

Layla's attention left her struggle with Will, and she cheered, "It is going to be so much fun! Emilie you should see Magenta's dress it's amazing! And I've been helping the decorating committee with some of the decorations, and there are going to be pumpkins everywhere. It's going to be a fantastic Halloween!"

"I can't wait," Emilie smiled catching on to Layla's enthusiasm.

Magenta started saying something, but was interrupted with Josie Stronghold burst through the front door and raced up stairs. "There's been another attack," she shouted down. "This one is at the hospital; too many of the patients aren't capable of getting out of the building themselves. I'll be back." The group only caught a flash of her as Jetstream before she flew out the door.

Will grabbed the remote and turned the TV onto the news station that was broadcasting the siege at the county hospital.

"The attacks are happening more often," Ethan noted. "If they keep happening at this rate, the casualty list is only going to grow." Everyone nodded at his irrefutable logic, and kept their eyes glued to the TV where the reporter was relaying the story from the beginning. According to her sources, it started in a similar manner as all of the other strikes. The Villains swooped in, gave the same message to the civilians about forsaking their Heroes, and then caused the maximum amount of damage possible before dashing off.

"How much longer do you think before the citizens start to question if keeping us around would be in their best interest?" Will asked, worried.

Everyone slowly looked at Emilie.

"I don't know," Emilie defended. "I mean, I know that we wouldn't stand a chance to beat them without you guys here, and I'm sure that most people agree with me, but there will be a few who start to wonder. The attacks are so random that you just don't know if you or someone you know will be in the next one." Emilie paused for a second, and then voiced her question.

"Have you guys found out anymore about them? Is there an end in sight?" Emilie looked back at them hopefully.

Zach looked down dejectedly, "We haven't heard anything; we know as much as everyone else. The Bureau might know more."

"Surely they have leads though. This has been going on for more than a month, the Bureau must know something." Ethan added reassuringly, his complete faith in the powers that be.

"Look," Layla pointed back to the TV. "They've fixed the building. She said they're just working now to get everyone out!"

"Still haven't caught even one of the Villains though," Magenta complained.

Emilie leaned into Warren and said, "I think I should head home. Eric's there alone, and I don't want him to worry or anything." Warren nodded and they both began to pack their stuff. When they stood to leave Emilie smiled at everyone, "We're going to head off, but I'll see you guys on Friday at the Lantern." They said their goodbyes then walked towards Emilie's house, Warren's arm around her shoulder and hers around his waist.

"Never a dull day in Maxville anymore," Emilie commented, having learned that if she waited too long to bring up a darker subject like this, Warren wouldn't talk at all.

"Yeah," he agreed.

"Oh, and I remembered something that Layla mentioned a while ago, and I wanted to ask you about it."

"Shoot."

"You don't have to answer if you don't want to, it's kind of personal. But she said you had a supervillain in your family history, is that true?" Emilie felt Warren's body temperature rise a few degrees, and was quick to retract her question.

"Nevermi-" She was cut-off.

"Yeah, my dad. That's what he's in prison for," Warren explained looking straight ahead.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Emilie comforted and leaned in a little closer to him.

"That's it?" Warren stopped, and looked at her.

"Yeah, should there be more?" Emilie asked confused.

"What about your mom? Don't you want to know if my dad did it? Don't you wonder if I'm going to be a villain too, since my dad was?" He blamed her.

"Warren," Emilie started, completely taken back by this confrontation. "My mom died about six years ago, and this summer you said your dad has been in prison for the past fifteen. So unless you lied about that, which I'm pretty sure you didn't, I know he didn't do it. As for your being a villain, the thought never crossed my mind."

"What?" Warren asked flatly, as if he'd never heard that statement before.

"I said you can't be a villain. Anyone who picks up his girlfriend so she doesn't have to walk through puddles and cooks dinner for his mom cannot be a villain. It's just not possible." Emilie smiled back up at him, wanting to avoid any unsavory subjects on what had been an almost perfect day. "Now can we please talk about something more fun, like Homecoming?"

He wrapped his arm around her again and continued walking. "Okay, what is there to talk about?"

Emilie rolled her eyes, "Everything! Should we coordinate our outfits?" She caught Warren's look of complaint and laughed, "Okay okay, we won't match! Then I will find something this week. Do you know what you're going to wear then?"

Warren just looked back at her. "Isn't it enough if I wear a tux?" Emilie laughed and replied, "Ask Layla, but it sounds fine to me. What time do you want to pick me up? 'Cause you know, you have to come in and meet my dad before we leave."

"I'm really not good with dads." Warren warned, but he knew he didn't have choice. "Fine, I'll be there at seven, and then we'll go over to Will's to meet up with everyone else and let Layla get her picture obsession over with, and then finally, get to the dance. Sound good?"

"Perfect," Emilie agreed. Warren half-smiled down at her, and the two continued their walk down the tree-lined suburban street, all thoughts of villains and attacks pushed to the farthest recesses of their minds.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Emilie had spent the last week and a half scouring every boutique she could find for a dress, and as she looked in the mirror now she knew she picked the right one. The dress was a strapless warm cream creation with tiny gold stitches and it fulfilled the one requirement Emilie had had about dresses since she was four: it was a good twirler. She finished the last touches of her makeup, pulled the front sections of her hair back with some pretty combs and let the rest of the curls fall past her shoulders, then stepped back for a final judgment. For the amount of glitter and time it took for me to look like this Warren had better love it.

The doorbell interrupted her thoughts. Emilie scrambled in a mad dash to put on her shoes and beat her father to the door. Skidding the last few feet and passing her dad at the door to his office, Emilie opened the door to see Warren.

Mmmmmm, Emilie thought eyeing him up and down. He was in a tux and his hair fell rakishly to his shoulders. He cleans up well, like a naughty James Bond. Grinning, Emilie stepped back so he could step inside, and spun around. "What do you think?"

His gaze slid down her frame, then came to rest again on her face. If he didn't know any better, he'd swear she'd developed the power to glow.

"Beautiful." Emilie blushed at the praise. Warren's eyes finally saw the man off to the left.

"Hi…sir. I'm Warren." He walked toward him to shake his hand. The man just looked back at him scrutinizing. Warren looked to Emilie for help.

"Dad," Emilie drew out threateningly. He signed and smiled at her.

"I just wanted to see what he'd do under pressure," he shook Warren's hand now. "Carson. So you go to the magnet school, huh? And that's where the dance is? The dance that you will have her home at eleven…" Emilie punched him in the arm, and he smiled at her. "Okay, twelve. The dance that you will have her home at midnight from?"

Warren nodded back at the guy. At least he wasn't the only one Emilie had managed to wrap around her finger. "That's the one."

Carson sighed, "Alright, get out of here. Wait, should I take pictures or something?"

"Do you even know where a camera is?" Emilie asked in surprise.

"No," Carson admitted. "But we could look for one."

Emilie laughed, "Don't worry we're going to go meet up with the rest of the group and take pictures there. Love you." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and led Warren to the door. When they'd left, Carson smiled at how happy his daughter looked, then went to find Eric. He was planning on watching movies with him until she got back.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Warren smiled to himself as he watched Emilie practically bounce to the door of the Sky High gymnasium, his jacket almost swallowing her whole. Who forgets a coat when it's almost November, he thought, shaking his head at her. Emilie stopped and smiled back at him, waiting for him to catch up before she went inside. She's stunning.. Warren felt a surge of pride as he looked at her, glad she was his. He pulled her in for a kiss when he reached her.

Emilie smiled against his lips and stepped back playfully. "We have to go inside; you're such a slow walker that everyone off the bus beat us here. Besides, Mr. Peace, what kind of girl do you take me for?"

"My kind." Emilie laughed and opened the door to the Homecoming Dance.

Layla wasn't kidding, this place is amazing, Emilie thought as she tried to take in the sight that greeted her eyes. The gym was a jungle of pumpkins and fall foliage, with twinkling lights draped across the ceiling. This sure beats the streamers and strobe lights of Maxville High's dances. She turned back to see a vague look of approval in Warren's eyes.

Spotting the rest of the group Emilie pulled Warren over to them.

"Layla, it looks unreal. I can't believe you did all of this; it's beautiful." Emilie gushed.

"Oh, thanks, but I hardly did anything at all," Layla said modestly, but Emilie caught Will shaking his head behind her. As the three other couples wandered off to talk to other friends, Warren turned to Emilie.

"Want to go for a walk?"

Emilie grinned back at him. "No dancing?"

"Later," Warren promised intensely, taking Emilie by surprise.

"A walk sounds great. Show me around this crazy school of yours. Where does this door lead to?" Emilie said enthusiastically, pointing to a door on her right. Warren looked at it quizzically.

"I'm not actually sure."

"Then let's find out." Warren smiled at her and led her over by the hand. Opening it and ushering her through first, he shut the creaky door behind them. The hallway was dark and looked as if it could use a good cleaning but Warren spotted another door only twenty feet ahead. The second door however had warped enough to need a rough shove of his shoulder to open.

Emilie laughed at the dust he displaced, and ran through the cloud to get out the door. Warren was right behind her sneezing.

"So Magellan, where are we now?" Emilie gestured to her surroundings.

"We're…um…outside." Warren looked around, trying to figure out just where the hell they'd ended up.

Emilie stuck out her tongue at him. She followed Warren as he took a couple steps away from the building.

"Oh, hunh, we're just off the back corner of the gym. Come on." He took her hand and started walking back towards the action. He stopped after a few yards when he felt Emilie tug on his hand.

"Or," she smiled up at him mischievously. "We could, you know, linger around here." She walked backwards tugging him along, until her back touched the brick wall of the school. Warren raised an eyebrow at her.

"And earlier, you were so worried about your reputation." He smirked, and leaned down to kiss her.

Emilie reveled in the feeling of the cool brick on her back and the warmth of Warren seeping in from the front. The two remained wrapped up in each other and utterly oblivious to everything else.

"Mister Peace!" Mr. Medulla reprimanded. Warren and Emilie sprung apart startled. "The school did not host this dance to give you a place to carry on your lascivious affair. So you and your date can return to the gym immediately." He lectured, taking on a superior stance with his arms folded haughtily over his chest.

Warren rolled his eyes and put his arm around Emilie, then began directing them away.

"Hmph," Warren heard Emilie snort. Confused, he looked down to see a smug expression amidst the blush on her face. She met his gaze a smirked smartly.

"What?" he asked.

"I was just thinking," Emilie said cleverly. "I know you can throw fire, blah, blah, blah, but you know if I had the power to persuade like I wanted, I could have talked Brainy back there into just walking away. Then we could have carried on."

Warren let out a short laugh, "Smart ass."

"You're just jealous that my imaginary power kicks your power's ass." She flipped her hair at him then began to walk away in mock-arrogance. Warren laughed at her, but grabbed her arm to turn her back to him.

"Okay then," he began casually. "Since you're so able to convince anyone of doing anything, what would you have me do?"

"Hmm," Emilie said. She trailed a finger lightly down his chest suggestively. Warren grinned wickedly back at her, and started to slide his hands down her waist.

"Not so fast, mister." Emilie stepped back grinning. "That was just a thought. Then I realized that would hardly take any convincing, and clearly I was right. I don't want to waste my gift, now do I? So…if I were going to bend you to my doing my will, I'd make you take me to meet your mom." She waited for his reaction.

Warren kept his gaze on her, taking it all in. Emilie meeting his mom would be a big step. Maybe it's not such a bad idea. Hell, they'd probably get along great. He cringed as he mentally envisioned the two leaned over his baby pictures. He saw Emilie biting her lip, waiting hopefully for his answer, and he was sold.

"Okay. Dinner." He smiled when he saw that smug look reappear on her features.

"I am so on the hero track."

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This is a happy chapter (mostly), and necessary for the plot. The scene with the notebook paper and the one at the dance were two of the first things that I saw when I first thought of this story. Unfortunately, things won't stay this light. Classes started this week, so my updates might get just a little farther apart. And we get to meet Warren's mom (protector of canon2- thanks for getting me on the ball with ms.peace).

Review please, it means the world to me.