Finally a Past
Part Four
By Alicia Campbell

"Where should I start? Should you start? There's so much to say!" Crystal clasped her hands in excitement. "I should call Mom! She'll be so thrilled."

"Hold on, girlie. Tell me more first." He took note of everything about her. Her height was a slight 5'2" as his was only 5'4". She had delicate features, but also a toughness and stubbornness surrounding her face. Her eyes were shaped as smooth ovals, and they were dark blue. They had a spark in them now that showed her emotion, as he never did. Her nose was shaped nicely, and her mouth was a pretty, dark red bow. Her accent suggested somewhere around Vancouver perhaps. It was Canadian though. Her form was extremely fragile-looking, but something told him it was tougher than it looked. Her arms and legs belayed grace and agility. Her frame was just as compact as his was, but in a different way. His was tight and muscular, where hers was flexible and supple. But it was still an intriguing match.

"Well, eight years after you were born and stolen, our parents decided to try again. When they had me, they hired a private nurse to come into their home and deliver me. They trusted no one to care for me. All my life they hovered over protectively around me. They were very paranoid. And guilty. My mother always felt guilty for what happened to you. But it wasn't her fault! Please don't blame her. Blame me before you blame her. She loved you with all her heart. And she still does. She would love to get to know you, to know your life. I would too. Father prayed for you every night before he went to sleep. So did I. Are you a mutant? What has your life been like? Why do you live here? Who are all these people? Did you ever try to find us? Please, tell me about yourself."

Her eager and earnest pleas tugged at his heart. However, he carefully chose which questions to answer. "This is Charles Xavier's mansion. He is our leader. We are the X-Men. We are a group of mutants who have banded together to try and help mutants and humans coexist peacefully. I am a mutant. I have the power of healing incredibly quickly. I also have heightened senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste. I also have these..." With a snikt his claws popped out. "They are made of adamantium steel. My bones are also bonded with adamantium."

He smiled at the size her eyes widened at the sight of his claws. He had always enjoyed the look on people's faces when they first saw his claws. The fear, and respect, as well as the awe that the looks held. It was also sort of sad though. He pushed that thought away.

"Wow. So how do you 'help mutants and humans coexist'?" she inquired.

Wolverine let out a gruff laugh. "Often through fighting for our ideas. We also attend public awareness conventions, and help young mutants learn about their powers and their future." He sighed. "The hand life has dealt to mutants is a harsh one, but we have to deal with it." He inwardly smiled, thinking that his Cajun friend would like his pun.

"Oh. Sorry. I do realize mutants have a rough life. It's not that bad back home. It's a smaller town there and everyone knows it already, so it's not such a big deal. Could I call Mom? She'd love to hear the news. You'll come meet her, won't you? You have to!" The girl was practically begging him.

Wolverine shook his head. "I'll show you the phone." He quickly took her downstairs and to the phone. Then he headed back up to his room, before everyone could start questioning him. He definitely did NOT want to talk about this right now. Not yet anyway. He started pacing. Oh how he hated pacing. It just made him more upset. However, it was a habit and he couldn't seem to stop it.

< What if the girl is telling the truth? What would that mean? That I have the answers I've looked so long for? Right? Why does it seem too easy then? But it isn't. I've waited all my life to learn this,> he argued with himself. He sighed again.

A gentle knock on the door brought him from his reprieve. "Leave me alone," Wolverine snapped with all the anger he could force into his voice.

"Could we please talk? It is Ororo." Like he didn't know her voice or something.

"Storm, please, I need time to think. Alone."

"If that is what you think is best. But I disagree with you." He heard Storm slowly walk away. He considered for a second calling her back, but quickly pushed the thought away. That would be.. well, not something he was going to do. That would be needing someone.