****Thanks to all for the nice reviews! It's funny.when I first started this story I came up with the last half first, and now I am trying to figure out how to start it :P. To answer some, yes, my favorite fuzzy elf is trying to become a priest in the comics. Although I have never been to church and don't find myself particularly religious, I respect faith and hope to do Kurt justice. I am a fan-girl though, so I hope I don't ruffle too many feathers by adding in some romance. ;) - Syreene ****

Kurt teleports back to his quarters and dons his priest robes again before tending to the still unconscious woman. He sits beside her on the bed and takes a moment to get a good look at the woman that someone would hire thugs to capture. Her long red hair, though wet and matted, has started to curl in wisps around her face, and Kurt brushes them gently away with his long fingers as she stirs slightly and turns into his hand. "Don't leave me again," she mumbles. The gentle plea tugs at Kurt's heart as she clings to his hand like a lifeline.

"Fraulien," Kurt says gently as he tries to wake her up. "I need to know who you are and why people are after you. I don't want any more harm to come to the church." -Or her, Kurt. You joined the church to help people, but they treat you like the proverbial Quasimodo and try to keep you away from the parishioners. Now a beautiful woman has been dropped in your lap needing help, and you're ready to leap at the chance-The woman begins to stir awake and Kurt realizes with a start that he doesn't have his image inducer with him! -Shieste! Just what she needs to wake up to.-- he quickly pulls the hood of his robe over his face as best he can as he sees her eyelids flutter open to show startlingly bright green eyes. -Mein Gott.now I know why-

"Wh-where am I?" she mutters as she blinks rapidly and starts to look around. When she sees the hooded figure sitting at the foot of her bed she jolts upright and backs up quickly to the other edge of the bed. A pained look crosses her face as she pleads, "Why can't you just leave me alone? Haven't you done enough?"

"Fraulien, it is all right. No one is going to hurt you. I found you on the steps of our church." Kurt explains softly. "I am glad to see that you are well."

"The church.then I made it," she says to herself as she looks around more slowly, taking in the sparse surroundings with a plain cross hanging on the wall. Before Kurt can stop her, she moves across the bed and grabs him in a big hug, her head resting on his shoulder. "Thank you, father, for helping me. I didn't want to cause the church any trouble, but I didn't know where else to go."

Not knowing what to do lest she discover his appearance, Kurt gently hugs her back and consoles her. "It is more than all right, fraulien.we are always here to help, but I am afraid I am not a Father. I am still a student of the faith, and have yet to complete my teachings. I am Brother Wagner. May I ask your name?"

"Brother?" she whispers in surprise before she sits back and smiles. "I apologize. My name is Romana Verone." She holds out her hand and tilts her head slightly as she tries to peer into the darkness of Kurt's hood. With a resigned sigh, Kurt closes his eyes and lightly clasps her hand within his larger blue furred one and waits for the screams that always come. "My pleasure, Romana." After a few tense moments Kurt realizes that there isn't any screaming, and she's still holding his hand. He opens his eyes to see Romana looking at his hand and gently rubbing the fur on the back of his hand with her thumb. "Wow.I had no idea you were furry," she says to herself.

"Excuse me?" Kurt says in surprise, not expecting this kind of reaction from someone who first sees his mutation. "Goodness," Romana says with a start as she drops his hand and looks up with a smile. "My manners have just flown out the window, haven't they? Afraid I haven't had much reason to use them, lately." She reaches up with a sheepish grin to touch his hood. "You don't need to hide your face, Brother Wagner. I've seen you before in the church late at night, tending the candles. I was just surprised because I didn't know you had fur."

"No need to apologize, Romana," Kurt says with a smile, trying not to think about how good it felt when she was stroking his hand. He reaches up to pull his hood down and his hand brushes hers. "You just caught me by surprise as well. I usually get a much different reaction." Noticing the sad look in her eyes, Kurt quickly changes the subject. "If you are feeling better, would you like to accompany me on my rounds and tell me why strange men would want to shoot you with darts?" Kurt stands and offers his hand.

"I would love to accompany you, Brother Wagner, but you may not believe me as to why you found me on your doorstep." She says as she takes his hand and stands beside him.

"Take a look at me, Romana," Kurt says with a bow and swish of his tail as he shows her the way to the main hall," and tell me that I don't look like someone who might believe the impossible."

With a laugh that echoes down the brick hall, Romana concedes, "You have a point, Brother Wagner."

"I have more than just one," Kurt says with a grin, "and please, you can call me Kurt."