Disclaimer: Storm and all other Marvel characters mentioned here are the property of Marvel Comics Group. Emily and all other characters are mine. Please don't use them without my permission.

Little Girl Lost
(starring Storm)
Chapter 2
By Corina "Mako" Borsuk

Walking along the lake shore, Ororo was deep in thought. No matter how hard she tried, her mind continued to drift back to thoughts of Emily.

She just did not understand. The child was safe, back where she belonged. So, why did she continue to dwell on her? Ororo's mind would not admit what her heart already knew. Emily had captured her soul. Through one of those tricks of fate, the child had endeared herself to the wind-rider in the short time they had been together. When Sarah Johnson had told Ororo about the horrible life Emily had before she came to the orphanage, she had almost broken down in tears.

Ororo wondered in disgust how a parent could do such unspeakable things to a child. It sickened her to know that someone would rape their own daughter. And worse yet, to do so for profit. The thought made her want to retch, but it also made her want to reach out to Emily. She wanted, no needed, to hold the girl in her arms and assure her that no one would ever harm her in such a way again.

She had not felt this way about a child since losing her Kitten. She had loved the girl as she would her own daughter, and many times she had wished that Kitty could have been hers. For a time, that was how they were, mother and daughter. Not by blood, but in their hearts and souls, she was Ororo's child and the wind-rider her mother. But, all of that changed, partly because Ororo changed, but also because neither of them could live the lie any longer. Ororo knew that, no matter how they might drift apart, she and Kitty would always have a special bond, but the bond they once had of parent and child was gone. Although she had never admitted it, that fact had left a hollow place in Ororo's heart, a place that Emily's presence had begun to fill.

With that realization, Ororo decided on a course of action. Turning around, the leader of the X-Men walked back toward the mansion, determined to get the information she needed.

**********

It had not been difficult to obtain the address of the orphanage where Emily lived. After a few key strokes on the X-Men's computer, Ororo had the location, along with directions.

Now that she was standing across from the old brick building, Storm realized the difficult part still lay ahead. She did not know if Miss Johnson would allow her to see Emily. She was not even sure Emily would want to see her. After all, it had been two days since the incident. Emily might not even remember her.

Taking a deep breath to banish her fears, Ororo approached the door and knocked. Almost immediately the door was opened by Sarah Johnson. The woman greeted Ororo with a smile and a questioning glance.

"Miss Monroe, isn't it? What brings you here?"

"I was hoping that I might speak with Emily."

Sarah waved her in, leading her towards the tattered couch against the left wall. "She's been asking for you. I mean, actually asking." This brought a wide grin to Sarah's face before she continued. "I don't know why you came here, but I'm glad you did. The other kids and I were thrilled when Emily started talking, but I was afraid she'd clam-up again if she didn't see you soon."

"She has truly been asking for me?" Storm asked with a bit of hope in her voice.

"Heck Miss Monroe, you're all she talks about. The thing is, she keeps calling you Storm. I'm afraid she doesn't know your name."

"She knows my true name, but it is quite alright if she wishes to call me Storm. It is a nickname, and I am honored to have Emily call me that."

Suddenly, a squeal of joy came from the other side of the room. "Storm! You're here!" Emily shouted as she raced into Ororo's arms. For a moment all Ororo could do was hold the child tightly, soaking in the child's love and joy, making it a part of her.

Finally, Ororo relaxed her hold and looked down into Emily's eyes. In a stern voice she said, "So Emily, Miss Johnson tells me you have been talking her ear off. Is this true?"

Emily only nodded in response, sad that she had made Storm angry. Before the poor girl burst into tears, Ororo smiled and laughed. "Well, good. It is about time you expressed yourself. You cannot be quiet forever."

Realizing that Storm was only teasing her, Emily broke into a wide grin of her own and gave the Storm another big hug.

"I think I'll leave you two alone," Sarah said as she slipped out of the room. Ororo and Emily barely noticed.

"I'm so glad you came back. I was afraid you'd forgotten all about me."

"Never child. You are in my heart forever."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Does that mean you want to adopt me?"

The wind-rider did not know how to respond to that. Even after such a short time she loved the girl as her own. But, she was not a proper mother. The life she led would only endanger this girl as it did Kitty. Storm could not bear to lose her like that, to know that she was responsible. And, after all she had suffered, she deserved to grow up safe. Emily deserved better than she could ever provide for her.

When Storm did not answer Emily immediately, the girl assumed the worst. "I guess I understand. Someone as pretty and special as you wouldn't want me for a daughter."

"Oh, Emily no. You must not think that way. You are very special, and I love you very much. How could I not love such a sweet, intelligent and strong child like yourself?"

"I . . . I guess I'm sweet. I never really thought about it. I'm not really smart though. I just listen a lot, and I learn lots of stuff that way. I'm not strong. Chad beats me up all the time. Well, not really beats me up, but he picks on me a lot."

"Well, we will have to see about this Chad. That, however, is not what I meant. You have strength of spirit child, not necessarily body. That is a rare quality indeed."

"If I'm so special, why don't you want to adopt me?"

"It is not a matter of want. I cannot adopt you or anyone else. My life does not allow me the luxury of a true family. I would be honored if I could simply be your friend."

"That's not enough. I have lots of friends here. I want someone to love me, to be my mommy. I never had a mommy before, but I want you to be my mommy."

Tears began to form in Ororo's eyes. She tried to keep them back, but to no avail. The salty tears rolled down her face, creating tracks down to her chin. "Emily, you have no idea how happy I am to hear that. I love you so much, but I cannot be your mother."

Emily began to look as if she were about to cry, but before she did, an idea struck her. "If you can't be my mommy, maybe you can still be my family. You could be my Aunt Storm. An aunt would be almost as nice as a mommy."

"Aunt Storm? I like the sound of that. I could come and visit you. Perhaps I could even take you places sometimes. Would you like that?"

"Yes, Aunt Storm," giggled Emily.

"First we must see if this arrangement is acceptable to Miss Johnson."

**********

Ding-dong.

"Oh, hello, Ororo. It's nice to see you again. Please come in. May I ask what's on the agenda for today?"

"Actually, Sarah, I am not sure. I thought we might go to the park for a picnic lunch."

"Sounds wonderful. Emily should be down soon. When you called to say you were coming, she wanted to change into the dress you bought her.

She adores you, you know. Have you reconsidered adopting her. I know being single can pose some problems, but I could put in a good word for you."

"I appreciate the offer Sarah, but I am afraid that I just cannot adopt Emily. It is not only a matter of my being single. I do not believe that it would be in Emily's best interests to live with me. I am grateful for having your permission to visit Emily like this. I would wager that I enjoy these visits even more than she does."

"I doubt that. Emily looks forward to these outings all week long. In fact, I think the other children are becoming a bit jealous."

"I'm ready Storm," came Emily's voice from the bottom of the stairs. The girl was dressed in a pale yellow sun-dress with a sunflower embroidered just below the left strap. Storm had bought the dress for her the last time they were out together, and Emily wanted to show it off.

"Come along then, child. We have much to do and lunch is waiting."

**********

"So what did you want to talk about Aunt Storm?" Emily asked as she finished off the last of the grapes.

"Well, I have something very serious to discuss. I have thought about this quite a lot of late. At first, I was not sure I should tell you this, but you have a right to know." Emily just nodded, her eyes taking on a very serious look.

Ororo continued, "Emily, have you heard of mutants?" Again Emily nodded, not wanting to interrupt. "How do you feel about them?" Ororo prodded.

"Well, people say they're scary and mean, but I don't know. I think it'd be cool to be able to fly or . . . or, I don't know. You know, do other cool stuff like that."

This time it was Ororo who nodded. "I am glad you feel that way Emily, for I have something to tell you. I am a mutant." There, she had said it. Ororo had debated long and hard about telling Emily she was a mutant. Not only was there the risk that Emily would tell the other children at the orphanage or Sarah, thereby revealing her secret and possibly the X-Men's, which could cause untold problems, the least of which might include Sarah forbidding Ororo from seeing Emily again, but the child herself might not want anything to do with mutants. Ororo could only pray that Emily would understand.

"You are? That's neat. Can you fly?"

Smiling with relief, Ororo answered, "In a way. I have the ability to sense and control the atmosphere around me." Emily looked slightly puzzled by this, so Ororo tried again. "I control the weather. Let me demonstrate. How would you like a cool breeze?" As Ororo spoke, a light, cool breeze sprang up, bringing with it the scent of roses from a nearby garden. "I can also create a stronger wind on which I can glide. It is much like flying."

"Oh, take me Storm. Please! I'd love to fly with you."

"Shhh," Storm cautioned, concerned that anyone walking nearby might hear the child's excited shouts. "Perhaps sometime, but not just now. It is not safe for me to announce that I am a mutant. I am quite sure someone would notice if we began to fly.

"Besides, that is not why I have told you this. I did so because I wanted you to understand why I cannot adopt you. It would be far too dangerous for you. There are too many anti-mutant organizations that would wish me harm and in turn you as well."

"I don't care. I love you anyway. And, you could protect me, couldn't you? I know you would. So see, it doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does, child. It matters very much. I would never forgive myself if you came to harm because of me. Do you understand?"

"No, I don't! It isn't fair! It shouldn't matter!"

Gathering the small girl up in her arms, Ororo whispered, "No, it should not, but it does. I wish that things could be different. I wish that my being a mutant did not matter to the world. But, it does. I and my friends are trying to change that, so perhaps one day it will not matter. But, today it does." Lifting Emily slightly so the two were eye to eye, Storm continued, "Do you think you can be patient and wait for that day to come, the day it does not matter?"

A few stray tears fell from Emily's eyes, but the girl who had suffered so much in her young life and survived screwed her face in determination and said, "I'll try my best. I promise."

"That is all I can ask of you," Ororo replied fondly before placing a kiss on Emily's forehead. "You must also promise me one more thing," she continued. "You must not tell anyone that I am a mutant, not even your friends at the orphanage or Miss Johnson. I know you trust them, but it could be dangerous for you and for me. Do you promise?"

"I promise! I'd never do anything to hurt you. I love you Aunt Storm." With those words, Emily flung herself at Storm and hugged her for all she was worth.

to be continued