The days between Christmas and New Year's Eve flew by. Star had learned to tap into the energy inherent in the earth itself and was no longer a danger to others. After the first of the year, they would be returning to the mansion.


Wolverine wondered how the others would react to his relationship with Star. Despite his best intentions, he had fallen in love with the girl. He sighed, knowing that he would do whatever was best for her, no matter how hard it might be for him. Not for a moment did he realize that she felt the same way.


Star came upon him while he was reflecting on the lost loves of his life. She watched him quietly for a long time before letting him know she was there. She sat down next to him on the porch steps and he placed an arm around her shoulders. She was aware that her presence had only heightened his melancholy and she sadly moved away from him. He caught her hand in his and pulled her gently back down to the step.

"It's all right, girl," he said. "Allow an old man his memories."

"You're not old, Logan."

"Older than you know, darlin'. Older than any man who's lived his life like I have has any right ta be."

"Is age so important, then?"

"Sometimes."

"When?" Wolverine sighed and ground out his cigarette. Sometimes he wondered if she would ever run out of questions.

"Like when that goon grabbed you at the mall and then tried ta blame it on you an' Jubilee. Xavier pulled some strings an' had you listed as seventeen an' in his care."

"But I'm not seventeen."

"I know, darlin'. Hank figures ya ta be in yer early twenties. That was just ta protect ya from a legal system that don't always work." He smile wryly. "Didn't work real well at that, did it?" He glanced at her and frowned at her expression. "What is it, kid?"

"I'm not in my twenties, either."

"Well, just how flamin' old are ya, then?"

"The best I can remember, it's been about six years since I was hatched." Wolverine stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Six years?" Star nodded, flinching away from the turmoil in his mind.

"Yer six years old."

"M..maybe a little older. I..I don't know for certain." He stood up abruptly, moving away from her. His hands were clenched and she cringed, though she sensed that his anger was directed at himself, not at her.


His anger, and his pain, was so intense she couldn't block it out. When the memory of their lovemaking caused him further anguish, she instinctively seized his mind, suppressing the memories of their love as well as their loving. She fought back tears as she directed his body to resume his seat on the porch steps. Then she gently released his mind, leaving him with no memory of her manipulation, or of their love.

"Six, huh? Ain't that a kick." He laughed. "Jubilee's gonna love it. She always hated bein' the youngest X-Man." She smiled at him, then got up and went inside, ruthlessly suppressing her own grief. She would ever be a child to him now.


After dinner, Wolverine turned to her and said,

"They throw a big shindig in town for New Year's Eve, darlin'. Ya wanna go?"

"All right."


The next day was New Year's Eve. When Star emerged from her room, wearing her new dress and with her hair and makeup done according to Maudie's directions, Wolverine whistled at her.

"Ya know, darlin', it'd be real easy ta ferget yer just six."

"I wish you would." He just smiled at her.

"C'mon, girl. Ya don't wanna be late t' yer first party, do ya?" She shook her head. As he helped her with her coat, Wolverine wondered at the air of melancholy which surrounded her. He shruggingly attributed it to her love of the little cabin and the woods around it. They would be leaving day after tomorrow to return to Xavier's mansion and the other X-Men.


The night was clear and cold as they drove down the twisting road to the town below. The snow cast a smooth blanket over everything, reflecting the light of their headlights back at them. Star shivered and Wolverine put an arm about her shoulders, drawing her close to the warmth of his body. Once more, she fought back tears.


By the time they reached the high school gym, the only building large enough for the annual celebration, Star had composed herself again. Wolverine parked at the edge of the parking lot and they walked to the building. The dance was already underway and they entered without being noticed. They hung their coats on a rack near the door and Wolverine drew her onto the dance floor.


He had taught her well and soon the graceful couple had attracted the attention, and often the envy, of everyone in the room, though they seemed to be aware only of each other.


At the stroke of midnight Wolverine drew her close and held her in his arms. Chronologically she might be only six, but physically and mentally, she was much, much older. He watched her eyes as he bent to kiss her, ready to back off at the first sign of hesitation. Instead she turned to meet him, her lips parting as they met his. They kissed long and deeply. When they finally separated, he continued to hold her close and, looking into her eyes, he said,

"God, woman. You are so easy to love." To his surprise, she reacted as if he had slapped her. Her eyes filled with tears as she tore herself from his arms and fled across the crowded room and through the door to the outside. He was astounded. He'd had a lot of reactions from the women he'd kissed, but never tears.

"Star, wait!" he called as he hurried after her. By the time he reached the door, she was halfway across the parking lot. He caught up with her in the middle of the street, grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop.

"Star," he said. She refused to face him, keeping her body turned away, her free hand to her face.

"Damn it, girl, look at me!" He turned her toward him, holding her arms. She looked up at him, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"C'mere." He drew her back to the sidewalk, out of the street.

"Now, what's the matter?"

"You said you loved me."

"Yes, I did. An' I do."

"But I'm only six."

"That don't matter, girl."

"It did before."

"What?" Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on her arms.

"You loved me before and it mattered," she sobbed. "It mattered a lot."

"What the hell are you talkin' about?"

"You loved me, Logan. And I love you." His eyes narrowed as she spoke, unaware that his hands were bruisingly tight on her arms. "Then I told you how old I was and you...you...you hated me!" He stared at her unbelievingly. "You hated yourself for loving me. And it hurt. It hurt so badly that I couldn't stand it. So I...I..."

"You what," Wolverine demanded, comprehension dawning in his eyes.

"I...made you...forget," she whispered.

"Ain't I got enough holes in my head without you addin' to it?" he snarled angrily.

"There was so much pain."

"My pain, girl! My memories!" He shook her, emphasizing his words.

"I can give them back," she cried.

"Then do it!" His fury, always so near the surface, was undisguised. She reached into his mind gently and with infinite sadness, for she knew she had lost him again. As she removed the memory blocks she had placed, she felt as though her heart were breaking and she knew she could not live if he hated her.

The memories flooded his mind, nearly overwhelming him. The joy of linked minds. The feel of her body in his arms. The way her smile made his heart swell. Even the despair when he learned her true age. He released her abruptly.

"Now get outta my head, kid," he snarled turning away from her. "It ain't polite." She collapsed to the snow covered sidewalk, her legs drawn up beneath her, her hands covering her face as she cried silently. He stood with his back to her for several minutes, trying to assimilate the conflicting emotions his restored memories had triggered. When he finally turned back to her she had not moved. He fought his anger as he looked down at her. In many ways, she was a woman, but in others she was still a child, even more vulnerable than himself. Abruptly aware of the cold, he took his jacket off and draped it gently around her shoulders. She flinched as if she'd expected a blow. He drew her to her feet, his anger nearly banished by the expression of sorrow she wore.

"Next time ya drop a bombshell, girl, give a man a chance t' adjust." She nodded without lifting her head. He sighed, his anger completely gone. "C'mon," he said. "Let's go home." He put his arm around her, as much to warm her as to reassure her, as they walked back toward the parking lot. They'd only gone a few steps when she stopped suddenly.

"Logan."

"What is it, kid?"

"Where are the children?"

"What?"

"The children. They weren't at the party. Where are they?"

"The local youth center has a sleep in every year." She was frowning. "Why?"

"Something's wrong. I smell...smoke." She looked up at him. "A...a fire. The children are afraid. Logan! It's burning!" Faintly, the smell of smoke drifted to them.

"You go for help, darlin'. I'll go do what I can." He ran in the direction of the youth center. She turned toward the high school, then realized that there was a faster way. She opened her mind, reaching out to touch every adult for miles.

"The children are in danger! Help them! Hurry!" She felt them beginning to respond, so she followed Wolverine. There were thirty or forty children in the street in front of the youth center, most dressed only in pajamas. Several adults were urging them toward a church across the street.

"Help is coming!" she told them. "Are all the children out?"

"No! I've got at least three missing! Maybe four! Steve 'n Mr. Logan went back in looking for 'em!" Star turned her attention toward the burning building. She found Wolverine and the man named Steve immediately. She searched for a moment and found the three missing children. Two were together on the first floor, the third had run up the stairs, away from the flames.

"Logan, I can hear the children. Two are in front of you, to your left. The third is upstairs." She felt Wolverine move in response to her directions. He quickly found the two youngsters, cowering in a closet. He tore the door from its hinges and snatched them out, handing one to Steve, then guiding the man back to the front door. He handed him the second child and returned to the building.

"Where, darlin'?" She heard him ask.

"Up. Hurry, Logan. The flames are above her now." She struggled to hold the flames back for him, to provide him safe passage to the frightened child.

"Higher," she told him. "Now to your right. She's under something." The smoke was blinding, burning his lungs. He finally located the little girl in an office, hiding under a desk. She was barely conscious as he picked her up. He turned at an ominous creaking. He held the little girl close, protecting her with his body as the ceiling collapsed, burning beams pinning them both.

"No!" Star screamed. Suddenly she was in the burning room with Wolverine and the child. She shifted the burning beams with her mind then put her arms around the unconscious man and the child he had protected. The rest of the floor above collapsed, but the room was empty.

"Please," she called. "We need help." The ambulance attendant turned,

"Where the hell did you come from?" he demanded, turning to her with his first aid kit. "Jesus," he muttered under his breath as he examined Wolverine and the child. "Jim! I've got smoke inhalation and third degree burns here! Gimme a hand!" A second attendant approached at a run. He took the little girl and placed an oxygen mask over her face. He handed a second bottle and mask to the first attendant who fitted it to Wolverine. Wolverine didn't respond.


Maudie found Star as they were loading Wolverine into the ambulance.

"C'mon, honey. Harry and I'll drive you to the hospital." Star shook her head.

"What's the matter? Did you two have a fight?"

"Something like that." Star felt the tears start again. "I...don't think it would be...appropriate for him to see me when he wakes up."

"Are you sure, Star?" She just nodded, watching the ambulance pull away. "Well, all right. But you will stay at our place tonight."

"No, please. I just...want to go home."


Sabretooth grinned as he kicked open the back door of the little cabin. When he'd taken this job, he hadn't known Logan was involved. A simple, although well paying, snatch might turn out interesting after all. And more satisfying as well. He might be required to deliver the frail alive, but the same could not be said of her bodyguard. He snarled as the human entered the cabin behind him.

"Is the Mutie bitch here?"

"Shut up, you moron. Of course she's not here." He sniffed. "But she has been, and I'm willing to bet she'll be back." He grinned again, causing the human to step back. Sabretooth barely noticed. "They'll both be back." Despite the darkness, he spotted the statuette Star had given Wolverine. He picked it up and examined it.

"Looks like the runt's gettin' soft. Might not be much of a fight after all." He put the carving back on the table.

"You got that collar ready? If this frail is a telepath, we gotta take her out first. Then I'll deal with Logan."

"Is this thing gonna work?" The human asked dubiously, fingering the dull gray ring of metal.

"You'd better hope so. If she is a telepath, she's been trainin' with the runt and his X pals, and she won't be a push over." He cocked his head at a sudden noise from outside. He moved quickly to the window and peered out. He watched as a car pulled up to the cabin and a tiny woman climbed out. She stopped and spoke to someone in the car. Then she turned and walked toward the cabin. The car backed down the drive and pulled away.

"Get that damn thing turned on," Sabretooth snarled, thumbing a switch on the metallic belt he wore. "Somethin's wrong. The runt ain't with her." He moved silently away from the window. "Take out the frail. I'm gonna look for the runt." The big mutant glided through the cabin and out the back door. He circled the cabin looking for any sign of Wolverine.


Star opened the door of the cabin and stepped inside, then closed the door behind her. She slipped Wolverine's jacket off her shoulders and turned to hang it on the coat rack. She shivered, for it was cooler in the cabin than she had expected. She looked toward the fireplace. The fire had burned down to mere coals. She would need to build it back up. She was moving toward the fireplace when suddenly there was an awful nothingness in front of her. She froze for an instant and that was nearly her undoing. The nothingness engulfed her and she found herself facing Harry Jones. He grinned as he snapped a cold piece of metal about her throat and abruptly she was blind. She was terrified, but her hours in the danger room had been well spent. She struck him twice with the heel of her hand, once in the belly, and once under the chin. She felt the vibration as he struck the floor. She ran for the door of the cabin and threw it open. She was aware of the warmth of another body an instant before she hit it. She didn't recognize his scent, but she knew he was a large man, the top of her head barely reached the middle of his chest. Before she could try to escape, he gripped her arms and lifted her from her feet. She looked up at him, her blind eyes oblivious to his hideous grin.

"Where's yer boyfriend, girlie?" Sabretooth snarled at her. She lashed out at him with both feet. An attack by an opponent of her size was a complete surprise to Sabretooth. He doubled over, releasing her. She ducked past him, through the open door and toward the trees. He slashed at her, barely touching her as she passed, but his claws, capable of rending flesh from bone, tore deep gouges into her back.

Instinctively, Sabretooth knew that if she reached the trees, she would be very difficult to find, psi dampener or no. Straightening, his hand brushed the statuette. He grabbed it and threw it, with unnerving accuracy, at Star's rapidly retreating figure. The base of the statuette caught her in the back of the head, and she dropped like a stone.

The human on the floor behind Sabretooth moaned, but he didn't spare him a glance. Sabretooth had known he was a waste of space from the instant Richardson had insisted that he be taken along on this job. He approached the girl cautiously, but she didn't move. He crouched beside her sprawled body and put his hand against her throat, checking for a pulse. She was still alive. The smell of her blood, flowing from the wounds in her back as well as from a tear in her scalp, was almost enough to send him into a killing frenzy. He fought it down. She was more valuable alive. Logan would come after her and he could indulge his bloodlust then. He tore a strip from the dress she was wearing and bound her wrists behind her back. As an afterthought, he used more material from the dress to bind her wounds, slowing the blood flow. She showed no signs of regaining consciousness.

Harry Jones walked up beside Sabretooth. "What happened? I locked that collar on her and she still decked me."

"Told ya she wouldn't be a push over." Sabretooth stood and looked around, still expecting Wolverine to come to the girl's defense.

"Stinkin' mutant," he heard Jones mutter. He turned toward the human just as he delivered a vicious kick to the prone girl's ribs. Sabretooth backhanded him, knocking him to the snow covered ground.

"Richardson wants her alive," he snarled.

"I got a score ta settle with her," Jones answered, wiping the blood from his mouth with the back of one hand.

"Take it up with Richardson."

"Maybe I got a score to settle with you too, huh?" Sabretooth grinned at him.

"Give it yer best shot, flat scan." Jones didn't move. He'd suddenly realized how isolated it was up here. The mutant could kill him and blame it on the missing bodyguard. No one would be any the wiser. He'd wait for a better time.

"Go get that fur rug from in front of the fireplace. Wouldn't do ta have the merchandise freeze ta death before we deliver." Jones got to his feet, careful to make no sudden moves, then went to the cabin as ordered. He returned a moment later with the rug. He spread it in the snow, then moved the girl to it. He folded it around her, then picked her up. She made an awkward bundle, especially walking through the deep snow, but Jones decided he'd better not give the crazy mutant any excuse. The snow started again, covering their tracks as they walked the short distance through the woods to the vehicle which had brought them here.

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