A/N - Trying to post a little quicker. Thank you all as always for readin' an' reviewin'!

~*~Hello, Logan and Ororo~*~

Logan and Ororo were both startled at what they heard and saw. A hauntingly beautiful voice, quite childlike, seemed almost to sing within their minds and before them on a chaise laid a small beautiful being. Luminously pale with hair just as pale--an albino child and yet not a child. She was covered in blankets and only her head and hands could be seen.

~*~Be at ease~*~

Ororo and Logan looked at each other as they heard the voice in their heads again.

~*~You have many questions~*~

The small being sat up on the chaise and long soft white hair fell about her shoulders.

~*~I am Serena. I am like you. Different. Special. Yet I am not like you. I can not walk or talk. I can not be in the world like others. I can not feel the heat of the sun or feel the cold hard rain fall on my skin~*~

The figure seemed to beckon to them with a thin pale hand and they felt themselves moving closer to her.

~*~I am the daughter of Sera, granddaughter of Seraph~*~

Logan and Ororo looked at her in astonishment.

"You read minds---yer a mutant," Logan blurted out.

~*~Mutated human, an anomaly. Yes. As is Sera, as are you both, Logan and Ororo~*~

"You are . . . . safe here?" Ororo asked.

~*~Yes. I am safe. I am protected. I have sanctuary here~*~

"Are you . . . . happy?" Ororo asked.

Bubbling laughter that sounded like the tinkling of a tiny bell filled their minds.

~*~How beautiful and kind you are, Wind-Rider. I too fly through the sky but in my mind. And I travel as you do through your friend and mine, Gateway~*~

"Gateway's a teleporter not a telepath," Logan said.

"But he always knows, Logan! He must have some form of telepathic ability. Serena, how do you know Gateway?"

~*~I know him well. He is much like me. Some would say trapped, a prisoner but he can feel the sun and rain. Through him I can feel the joy of heat on his skin as I can sometimes feel the joy of wind on your own skin, Ororo. He is forever loyal to you both~*~

"We'll tell 'im you said hi."

They could each feel her smile in their minds. Her smile was sad and joyful and beautiful all at once.

~*~You have the heart of a warrior, Logan. Your many mysteries are all clear to me. I see your childhood, your flight. I see the torture you suffered, your heartbreaks. So much pain and yet you never gave in~*~

"You know---wait a minute! How do we know yer tellin' the truth?"

~*~You, Wolverine . . . . know. And you, Wind-Rider---you know as well. I do not---cannot lie. I have seen too much, lived so much~*~

"In this room? As a prisoner?" Ororo asked.

~*~I am no more prisoner in this room than you are in your desolate wilderness in Australia. Are you happy, Ororo? When you hide in the outback and your loved one's mourn you?~*~

"I have known much happiness of late," Ororo said, her voice so soft her words were mere whispers.

~*~You have the heart of a goddess. You have great power and great responsibilities. You love deeply, perhaps more than you realize. I wish I could see your future. I feel you will do many great and wonderful things as will you Logan. I tell you both this, live now and be happy. Be as one~*~

"You didn't answer Ro's question earlier," Logan said

~*~Yes. I am happy. I can fly in the wind with you, Ororo and laugh in the face of flames and chaos with you, Logan and I need never move or leave this room. I see the smiles of many and feel their love and sorrows. There are many such as Gateway that I can communicate with and through them I have companionship and acceptance. In this room, my room of mirrors, I am never lonely. I reign. I am a goddess here, as you once were, Ororo. I fear no one, not even he who lurks in the shadows of the mind. He who is your mentor, Charles Xavier's enemy of long ago and your enemy as well, Ororo. You must not forget to beware of the Shadow King, Ororo~*~

"Nothin's gonna happen to 'Ro as long as I'm with her," Logan growled.

~*~You do not know the power of a telepath. Some wield powers that twist and consume them. Other's, like Charles, are vigilant and good only seeking to help. Some, like myself, can only watch and protect ourselves and sometimes assist our loved ones~*~

"So Charlie an' you are ol' pals then?" Logan asked.

~*~I have touched his mind only a few times. He is aware of many like myself but I mean no one harm and I can not aid his cause~*~

"What about Sera? Why does she keep ya locked up like this?"

~*~I am protected here. Safe. No harm will come to me here. I am at peace, never bothered. She knows I am happy here~*~

"Do you know what Foo's trying to get from your mother, Serena?" Ororo asked.

~*~He must meet me. I have called him to me. He must know me so he can free himself of his guilt and self hate. I can help him~*~

"Just how're ya gonna help the dirt bag?" Logan laughed.

~*~He is my father~*~

Neither Logan nor Ororo spoke. They could feel Serena's sadness in their minds.

~*~Sera does not know I am aware that he is my father. He was once a kind and gentle man, not the misguided soul that he is now. He can change. I will change him~*~

"How are you so sure you can change him?" Ororo asked.

"I wouldn't risk tryin'---it's too dangerous," Logan said.

~*~He knows I am here for I have called him to me. It is an easy thing to do. I am not helpless. How do you think you were able to get into this room with out Sera knowing? She comes to see me each night without fail. I could have just as easily steered you away from the safe and the key~*~

"You're controlling her mind?" Ororo asked.

~*~I blur her thoughts as I will blur your thoughts once you leave here~*~

"No one's messin' with our heads, girl!"

~*~It is necessary~*~

"We will not tell your secret for it is not ours to tell, Serena. You have no need to blur our thoughts."

~*~We all have a purpose in life, Wind-Rider. Yours is to live long and help mankind as is yours Wolverine. Mine is to redeem my father and that I shall do. Neither of you will stop me. Know this though, I shall not hurt him~*~

"An' just how're you figgerin' on redeemin' yer ol' man, Serena?"

~*~You will help me~*~

"How can we help?" Ororo asked.

~*~You must bring him to me~*~

"If yer a telepath why can't ya just make him come on his own?"

~*~He has resisted me for many years. His heart is black, his will strong~*~

"So we're gonna bring him to you just like that? That ain't gonna be so easy, darlin'."

~*~He is here even now. Gateway has brought him to me~*~

"You an' Gateway are cohorts then?"

"What do you mean to do to him, Serena?" Ororo asked.

~*~Please, bring him to me, Ororo. Gateway cannot teleport anyone directly into my realm~*~

"'Ro, don't . . . .!" Logan's voice died as he found his mind shutting down despite his attempt to fight it.

"What are you doing to him? By all I hold dear if you harm him you will regret it!" Ororo shouted as Logan slumped to the floor.

~*~I will not harm your beloved nor will I harm you. I will never harm any who's hearts are as pure and noble as the two of yours are~*~

"You mean not to harm Foo then?"

~*~I mean to set things right. No more. Will you help me?~*~

"Don't!" Logan cried out as he tried to stand. "She's controllin' our minds, Ororo!"

"No, Logan, she's not controlling, just dampening somehow. I can feel her pushing me to do what she feels is right but not forcing me to. Logan, I want to help her."

"'Ro, we don't know what she's gonna do to him."

"It will be less than what you threatened him with, my friend," Ororo said.

~*~Thank you, Ororo and Logan. I am happy that I allowed you to know me. I see that you two are as one in spirit as in thought. You may one day open your hearts to be as one completely. I wish you both find the peace and joy you have given me this day~*~

"What do you mean?" Ororo asked.

"Ferget it," Logan growled.

~*~It will be forgotten and I am sorry for that~*~

"I still do not under. . . ."

Logan cut her off and asked, "Ya sure about this, 'Ro?"

Ororo nodded, "It is right, Logan, this I know with all my heart."

~*~Open your eyes and heart, Ororo and Logan. See the truth and try to remember that. Open your eyes and heart~*~

"What truth?" Ororo asked.

"Come on," Logan grabbed Ororo's arm and pulled her out of the room. "She's talkin' crazy just like her mother."

~*~Do not think the truth is crazy, Logan. Open your eyes and heart for I know your thoughts as I know Ororo's. Do not fear love. It is very rare and very precious~*~

Logan and Ororo looked at each other and found themselves looking into the very depths of the others heart. Logan took Ororo's into his arms but Sera gave them no time to admit the truth within their hearts.

~*~You must go now for he is hard to hold and will soon leave. I am not strong enough to continue and I am very tired. Farewell my friends. We shall not meet again~*~

Serena forced the two out the door until they found themselves standing outside in the alley. Foo was just standing there beside the bar as if in a daze. He crouched in fear upon seeing Logan who extended his claws and growled. Logan simply couldn't resist putting a little extra fear in the man's heart.

"Come with me, Foo, there's someone you must meet," Ororo said quietly.

Foo followed wordlessly and Logan followed Foo. The bar was quite dark as their candles had burned low but they moved as if seeing through Serena's eyes. Ororo removed dried wax from her hand and thought how odd she had not felt the hot wax spill out on her hand during their talk with Serena. It was the last thing she remembered.