I woke up curled against Wolverine. He opened his eyes when I stirred and I looked into them. There was love and understanding in them, but also bitterness and hate for his enemies. There was the faintest hint of a shadow in them that told me that he was a feral. Sabretooth had the same shadow-eyes. I had the shadow-eyes.

I gently sat up and looked around. The room looked vaguely familiar....

"Who...." I took a deep breath and faced him. "Who lives here?"

"I'll show ya downstairs. O.K.?"

I nodded. Since this gown thing was basically the only piece of clothing I had that I was allowed to wear at the moment, I kept it on and left the room to let Wolverine change. I stood outside in the hallway and waited.

People passed by, but they just looked fearfully at me and hurried past. I glared at all of them. They should be afraid. I thought to myself.

Finally, Wolverine stepped out of the room. He took me downstairs to the kitchen and pointed everyone out, except the students, of course. He also said something about not touching Rogue's skin, which confused me until he explained why.

When I had finally learned the names of all the X-Men, which apparently included a group of younger kids referred to as "my team", he set me in a chair and slid a plate over to me.

"Come on, chere. De food here is bien. You like it, you see." Remy said from across the table. I remembered that his codename was Gambit.

"Don't call me that." I snapped automatically, then immediately felt sorry. "Please. Not right now." I added.

I sniffed suspiciously at the food and took a bite. I had to admit, it was good, but I still ate cautiously. No need for them to think that they could control me with food or whatever. I finally finished off the plate, but refused any more.

"You're thinner than Slim over there." Wolverine... Logan tried to convince me to eat, but I refused.

"You're lucky I ate that one plate." I pointed out and he gave in. I got up and walked out of the kitchen, listening for any footsteps of someone following me. There were none, so I sat down on the couch closest to the kitchen and relaxed a little. I closed my eyes...

… and immediately opened them again. Someone was approaching. I sniffed the air. Hank?

"Hello there." Hank walked into the room with a smile. I nodded cautiously at him and he sat down in a chair. "Now, Luna, I regret to tell you this but... I'm afraid if you do not start eating better than you have, I will have to resort to giving you an IV. Is that clear?"

I nodded slowly, then with a sigh, I followed him back to the kitchen. I looked at the plate of food and ate everything on it that I could. My stomach wasn't used to eating this much, so I couldn't finish it all. I pushed it away when I had had enough.

I stood up, feeling stronger already, and wandered around until I finally found the weight room. I ran as much as I could, working off the nervous energy. I only made about two laps, however, before I collapsed on my knees from exhaustion. The room spun and I stood up, shaking off the dizzy spell.

I walked out of the weight room, down the hall and finally figured out my way downstairs. I ended up back in the kitchen. Again, everyone stared at me. The boy with the golden sunglasses (Sam?) stood up and walked slowly over to me. He put his arm around me and I stiffened. He pulled me into a hug. "I thought I lost you." he whispered in my ear.

I could feel tears in my eyes at the statement. The simple, loving statement. This boy loved me. Did I love him? I didn't know...

I hugged him back, realizing that he was no threat. I decided right then and there that these people genuinely wanted to help me. I wanted my memory back. I wanted to know who these people were. "Who am I?" I whispered. "And what am I?"

He looked me in the eyes. "Your name is Luna Elvira Night. Do you remember that?"

I shook my head, then nodded. I did remember something like that. I closed my eyes.

Soldiers were shooting at me. I was small, barely two. My first memory.

I smiled sadly as I opened my eyes."I remember being lost... And... And shooting. I was small, maybe two..."

Sam nodded. "That was when... When your mother left. What else do you remember?" he asked urgently.

I closed my eyes again and thought hard. I shook my head. "Nothing..."

"Just think. You're an X-Man. Remember Professor Xavier? Remember when I came here? Anything?"

I shook my head again. "No. I don't... All I remember is what Creed taught me... I don't want those memories Sam..." I shuddered and fell silent, lost in the memory of all the beatings I had to endure.

He held me close. "I know, Luna. I know. We'll get your memory back, Luna. I promise."

I stayed in his warm embrace for another minute, then shifted uncomfortably. I wasn't used to being held by anyone. He released me and I sat in a chair, suddenly unable to stand. My back twinged painfully. I squeezed my eyes shut against the pain, letting just a few tears leak out. I felt warm hands on my shoulders and saw a little girl... Tildy. That was her name.

"Luna, are you alright?" she asked in her small voice.

I gritted my teeth and nodded. "Just a little... hurt is all." I choked out through the pain.

She nodded. "We missed you Luna." she said.

I nodded. I dug my fingernails into my scalp, trying not to yell out from the blinding pain.

"Dr. Hank? Can't you give her anything to help?" Tildy asked.

"I'm afraid not, my dear. This is a battle Luna has to fight on her own." he said.

I slid off the chair and fell to the ground. I curled up into a ball, unable to stand it any longer. I couldn't stop my claws from springing out, but I could stop myself from using them. I fought myself in my mind. I finally talked me out of it. The pain continued for two agonizing minutes.

It finally subsided and I could stand. I weakly pushed myself to my feet, then collapsed in the chair as my knees buckled. I looked up at the X-Men and they looked back at me. "Luna... What happened?" the girl everyone called Ty asked.

"It just hurts every now and then..." I said. I stood and Ty pushed me gently down again. "Don't stand." she said. "Luke can help." She nodded at Luke and he lifted a hand.

My eyes flashed as I realized what he was doing. I reacted instinctively, springing towards him, claws unsheathed. I held them to his throat, breathing hard. He squirmed nervously in my grasp and I pushed him away, stumbling out of the kitchen. I barely made it to the couch before I collapsed. I laid there on my side, not moving, barely breathing.

I covered my face with my hands when I realized what I had almost done. I had almost killed Luke. I was so close to just ripping his head off....

But you didn't. That small, annoying voice in the back of my head chose that moment to speak.

I couldn't move, my back was spasming again. It hurt so bad. All I wanted to do was die. I wanted to just lie there on the nice couch and die, but that would be quitting. And I'm no quitter. I laid there silently, waiting for the pain to stop, or at least to pass out from the pain. It felt as if someone had poured molten lava all over my raw back. It burned and hurt. It was all I could do to keep from crying.

Finally, after another agonizing two minutes, it stopped and I could stand. I walked to the entrance of the kitchen and peeked in. Everyone looked curiously at me.

"I'm sorry." I said, the words strange in my mouth. Creed had told me that apologies were weak...

But this time I knew better. These people were trying to help and I would do everything I could to cooperate.

"It's alright Luna." Luke said, stepping forward. I cringed slightly, taking an unconscious step back. He looked a little hurt, but he stopped advancing forward. "I shouldn't have tried that. I was trying to help."

"It's O.K.. It's just... That's what Lorna did every time she... punished me." I said, dropping my eyes to the floor. I couldn't meet their eyes.

"Luna." Sam was speaking. "Luna, look at me." I lifted my head a little and looked at where I thought his eyes should be. "You're safe here. No one's going to hurt you. You just have to trust us. Magneto's not here. Lorna's not here. Sabertooth sure as hell ain't here. It's just us and the annoying students of Mutant High."

I nodded. "O.K.." I said with a small smile. My nose twitched slightly as I smelled an unfamiliar scent. "What's that?" I asked, frowning. "It's almost familiar..."

"Frost." Wolverine growled.

"Frost is here? Wolvie, I thought you said that tomorrow she'd be here!" Jubilee whined. "I was gonna be gone tomorrow...." She grinned.

"Who's 'Frost' and why is she here?" I asked.

"Emma Frost is the Wicked Witch, Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters, and Cruella DeVil times two." Kitty answered. "And she's a telepath."

"In other words, bad news if she's here." Jubilee said.

Wolverine nodded.

"Well, let's go meet the Devil." Sam sighed and we left the room.

The Professor was talking to Emma in the foyer/Entrance Hall place. I almost stopped when I saw what the woman was wearing, or rather not wearing!

She might as well just be in her undergarments! I thought to myself. Jean had already told me that I was more or less impervious to telepathic abilities due to my shields. I increased them, just in case.

"So as I was saying, Charles, I've gotten word that one of your lost students, Lucy or Lulu or something, has finally returned. I was sent to check on her condition."

"Emma is the headmistress of the Massachusetts Academy, a rival school of Xavier's." Tildy whispered to me. I nodded. She sounded... well, she sounded like a bitch.

"Yes, Luna. She had gone missing for quite some time, but she returned just yesterday. How did you know of this?" the Professor asked politely.

Emma snorted. I swear! That's what she did! Then she laughed daintily. "Charles, you are not the only telepath in this school. One of your students visited and was thinking too loudly. It wasn't hard to find out at all."

She turned around suddenly. "This is her, is it not?" she asked, pointing to me. I tensed slightly and she noticed. "I'm not going to hurt you, child." she said in what I guess was supposed to be a soothing tone. It reminded me of that snake from The Jungle Book. She beckoned me forward.

I stepped up to her hesitantly. She raised her hand and I hissed, leaped backwards, and drew my claws. I waited for her to make the next move.

"You'll have to forgive her, Emma. She's... not been herself lately I'm afraid." the Professor sighed.

I sheathed my claws again and stood up straighter. I looked Emma right in the eyes and said "Don't touch me."

She laughed. "What gave you the idea that I was going to touch you?" she asked.

'Uh, because I'm not stupid and you raised your hand to my face." I hissed. The cuts from Sabretooth were still there.

"I was just examining those cuts and bruises on your face, child. Now come here." she snapped.

I growled and flicked my tail, but stood in front of her once more. I tensed when she put a hand to my face, but didn't move. "These are... remarkable..." she said. "Where did you get these? I was under the impression that you possessed a healing factor much like Mr. Logan over there."

I nodded. "It's a little busy at the moment." I said, turning around to show her my back.

She... gasped I guess. Then the stupid woman had the nerve to touch it. I freaked! I screamed in pain, my claws sprang out and I held them to her throat, knocking her to the ground.

"I said don't touch me!" I screamed, my claws touching her throat. I was breathing hard and I blinked, then got off her, sheathing my claws. I stood beside Wolverine and refused to go near her again. My back was throbbing.

She climbed to her feet, staring at me. "Luna, where have you been? You never acted like this..." She frowned. "And you left your team without a proper leader."

Luke looked angry at that, but I spoke before he could open his mouth. "I'm so sorry. I was busy getting kidnapped, held prisoner in the home that was supposedly mine, and tortured by a maniac. Excuse me if I left my team without a proper leader." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms over my chest. I so wish I could lean against a wall.

"You didn't answer my question, Luna. I said where have you been?" Emma said crossly, impatiently. She tapped her foot.

"Are you stupid?" The words were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I walked towards her. "Where the hell does it look like I've been? Out to a picnic? I've been with Sabretooth, since you must know Miss Frost, and he don't exactly play nice. I've been beaten, whipped, and God knows what else, killed I don't know how many times, and now that I'm finally home, apparently, Tweedle-Idiot walks in here and touches my obviously hurt back. And now I have to suffer needlessly for your stupidity." I was right up close to her at this point. "I can't tell you how much pain you have now put me through. Thank you, Miss Frost." I spun around and walked over to the nearby couch where I laid down on my stomach and curled up into a ball, fighting off the pain that that stupid woman had brought when she decided to stab me.

Everyone stood in stunned silence, watching my silent battle. Then Tildy walked over to me and knelt beside the couch. "We're here Luna. Don't worry." she whispered.

"It just hurts so much." I said softly, twitching slightly. I was in too much pain to go to sleep, but it wouldn't show me mercy by knocking me out. It spasmed violently again and I buried my face into a pillow and screamed.

"Well, I really must be going. I'll be back tomorrow, Charles." Emma said, then she walked out the door, leaving me alone with the X-Men once more.

They hurried to my side. My face was buried in the pillow and I was screaming and crying into it. Just the slightest touch set it off again and I had to endure it. It was finally over. Five long, agonizing, torturous minutes had gone by.

I sat up slowly, drying my eyes. My fur had caught most of my tears. I looked up at the X-Men with pleading eyes. "Help me." I whispered. "Make it stop." I was no longer the tough little soldier that Sabretooth wanted me to be. Not at the moment, anyways. I was a scared, hurt little girl who just needed some help.

"I'm sorry, Luna. But we cannot give you the necessary dosage of sedatives to completely null the pain." Hank tried to explain. I shook my head.

"Then make some of it stop. You can't imagine how much this hurts." I said, clenching my teeth and eyes shut when my back brushed the back of the couch. I sat up rigidly, focused on protecting my back.

"I am truly sorry, Luna, but I am afraid that if we give you any anesthetics that it would compromise your healing factor." Hank tried to reason with me.

I nodded. "O.K.." I said softly. I didn't move, even when Jean knelt by me.

She put a soft hand to my face. I flinched, but didn't move away. "Luna, you have to try to stop using your claws. You're just hurting yourself more."

I nodded. My fingers were again bleeding. I studied them, then dropped them to my sides. I stood up and looked at the team. Hank excused himself, saying he had business in the lab and some of the others wandered off on their own as well. I was left alone with Sam and Logan.

"O.K., so how exactly do you plan on getting my memory back?" I asked.

Sam spoke up. "Well.... We don't exactly know just yet." he admitted.

I nodded and turned around, intent on getting out of there. I felt a hand on my arm. "Darlin'?" I turned around and Logan was watching me.

I nodded. "I like when you call me that." I said softly. "It makes me feel... safe." I turned around again and left them standing there.

I set out to find my room. It was barely past two in the afternoon at this time, so the sun was bright and it kinda hurt my eyes. I needed darkness, not complete, but not the brightness of this hallway. I wandered around the unfamiliar mansion, now thoroughly lost. I spotted a staircase and decided that going up couldn't hurt.

I was wrong. It was agonizing trying to climb those stairs. I climbed two whole flights, so I was on the third floor when I finally decided to stop. By the time I finally reached the top, I felt like I was on fire. I lay gasping at the top, then I was finally able to stand. I was stubborn, and I wanted to explore. Not a great combination if your back was.... well, like mine.

I had just made it to the edge of the hallway and was about to turn the corner when I saw two eyes suddenly peer out at me. I shrieked and jumped back, tripping and falling, guess what, flat on my back. I screamed when the pain shot through my system, startling who or whatever had scared me. I was crying and screaming, desperately curling up, trying to escape the pain. I howled and a young teenage boy heard me, ran around the corner, saw me screaming like a maniac, and immediately lit out of there, yelling for the Professor and Dr. Hank.

Fifteen minutes snailed by and I was still in pain. This wasn't your ordinary fall down, get hurt kind of pain. No, I'm talking crap, you just got nuked and survived. It burned and hurt and I screamed again as the fire turned up. I writhed around on the floor, irritating my back even more. I couldn't stop, my claws had already sprung out and I was cutting myself before I could register it. Blood was all over the floor, on my face, hands, arms, and legs. I think I even cut my stomach too. I'm not sure. All I knew was that I was in hell, and nobody would come to my rescue. I screamed as another wave of pain smashed into me.

Then, there were soft, warm arms picking me up. I was still thrashing around, but they gently restrained me. I could tell by the scent that it was Sam, and I was grateful. I was still helplessly cutting myself, and he restrained my claws, but not before I clipped him. My claws scraped against his arm and he yelled once in pain, nearly dropping me. He didn't though. He set me down gently and started to softly sing, gently pinning my arms so I couldn't hurt myself anymore.

"Come, stop your crying, it will be all right. Just take my hand, hold it tight. I will protect you from all around you. I will be here, don't you cry.
For one so small, you seem so strong. My arms will hold you, keep you safe and warm. This bond between us, can't be broken. I will be here, don't you cry.
'Cause you'll be in my heart. Yes, you'll be in my heart. From this day on, now and forever more.
You'll be in my heart. No matter what they say. You'll be here in my heart, always."

I faintly recognized the song, and it calmed me. I stopped thrashing and sheathed my claws, though tears continued to stream down my face, turning my white fur slightly pink from the blood. My back still screamed from being so brutally mistreated, but Sam was here. Everything would be alright. He gently reassured me that Logan and Hank were on the way. He talked in a soft voice and it calmed me further.

Finally, the sounds of footsteps reached my ears. I was still curled into a ball, not willing to be hurt again. I couldn't speak through the pain, so Sam explained what had happened. The boy from earlier had run straight into him, yelling for Dr. Hank and the Professor. Sam had demanded to know what was wrong, so the boy told him. He ran straight to me, bumping into Logan on the way up. The boy had notified Dr. Hank by then. Hank hurried to help me, telling the boy to run straight to the Professor and inform him of what happened.

After one look at my bloody face, legs, and arms, (oh, and stomach!), Wolverine picked me up and we hurried to the MedLab/Infirmary place. I had fainted somewhere along the way, so it was a shock when I woke up strapped on my stomach to some metal bed. I tried to snap the restraints, but they were made of some heavy-duty material. My mind flashed to what Creed had told me of the Weapon X Program, and I panicked. I couldn't get loose, so I sat still, observing what I could. There was an IV in my arm, some machine that went beep, beep, beep, presumably with my heart rate. I looked to my left and saw another machine. I couldn't tell what this one was, so I ignored it. Finally, a door opened.

Sam, Hank, and Logan walked in. I blinked in confusion. Where...

And then I remembered what had happened. I was in the Infirmary. I looked up at them. "Sam, are you O.K.? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..."

Sam smiled. "I'm fine, Luna. It's just a scratch." I noticed that he hid the arm I had cut.

"Bull." I told you, I was stubborn. "I felt it. I did more than just scratch you. How bad is it? I wanna help."

"Luna, you're too tired ta help. Besides, Hank already fixed me up."

I put my head down on the table. "Can't I at least see it?" I asked.

He looked reluctantly at Logan, who shrugged. "She's gonna see it no matter what. Better get it over with." Logan said.

Now I was curious. How bad had I hurt him?

He slowly brought his arm into view and I gasped. It was tightly bandaged, but I could see the fresh blood. I had ripped a huge gash in his right arm, wrist clear down to elbow. Hank noticed the blood and sighed. "Looks like we'll have to re-wrap it." he said.

"I wanna watch." I said as he began to lead Sam away.

Sam looked apprehensive. "I don't think that's a good idea." he said.

"Please?" I turned my pitiful eyes to him. He finally sighed.

"If it'll get you off my case." he grumbled and I nodded.

It's funny how I could kid around with someone who to me was a complete stranger, but I guess that's just me. I naturally felt at ease around the X-Men now that I had talked to them and seen how much they cared for me. I wanted more than ever to remember them...

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Sam as he gently brushed the fur from my eyes. He sat on a table next to mine and Hank slowly unwrapped the bandage.

It was awful. I could see the mangled flesh from when I ripped the gash deep in his arm. I was lucky enough to have missed nerves, veins, and muscles, however. I managed to only rip the skin from his arm, but it was still bleeding pretty bad. I suddenly remembered something...

That boy, Hayden. He was hurt, and I helped him. I had put my hands on his forehead and healed him of his pain. He had grabbed my unprotected hand, and it started to seal up the scars on his palm.

The memory ended and, quick as a flash, I snapped a claw, cut through a restraint, and placed my hand on Sam's arm. I concentrated, shutting my eyes and moving my lips. "Heal, heal, heal..." I muttered quietly.

"NO!" Sam shouted, but it was too late. The violet sparks already danced from my fingers and onto his arm. They sealed up the worst of the cut, then disappeared. Sam grabbed me as I began to fall, exhaustion taking over. "Luna, that was stupid!" he hissed at me, shaking me slightly. He was scared and furious at me, but I smiled.

"But now I know you're safe..." I whispered, smiling slightly as I fell unconscious once more.