Chapter Seven

Standing in the foyer of the Xavier Institute dressed in an old sweat suit Scott didn't mind him cutting a tail-hole into, Kurt Wagner dug through a stack of dusty old records. After a few moments, he found what he was looking for. With a soft cry of triumph, Kurt carefully slid his prize from its protective cover, holding the small, vinyl record like the precious, irreplaceable treasure that it was.

It wasn't that he was much of a Buddy Holly fan, or even the fact that this single-in perfect, mint condition as it was-was worth a small fortune to collectors. The surge of emotion that caused his fingertips to tremble as he gently eased the record into place on the Professor's ancient turntable was caused by something far more personal. As the sensitive needle crackled its way into the groove, Kurt found himself being swept away on the tide of nostalgic memory to the gentle melody of 'True Love Ways'.


Kurt had laughed the first time he heard the song, ignorant nineteen year old that he was. The rather high-pitched, nasal timbre of the singer's voice had just been begging to be mocked. He and Bobby had romped around the foyer doing bad impressions of Buddy Holly's singing until suddenly, and completely inexplicably, the new girl had risen from where she had been lying on the rug behind the sofa, hidden from the boys' view, and run crying from the room.

Stunned and guilty, Kurt had teleported after her, desperate to know what had upset her so. Finding she had locked herself in her room, he had tried every trick he knew to charm her out, but nothing had worked. Finally, just as he was about to give up and leave her to her sulking, the door had opened and Alice Dhoraji* had stepped out into the hallway...

"I'll have you know, that was my father's favorite song you ruined," the slight seventeen year old said angrily, her dark, almond-shaped eyes cold. "He used to sing it at night, to put me to sleep." Her gaze hardened, her delicate features drawn with angry pain. "That was before he died."

Kurt took a step back, his eyes wide.

"I-I'm sorry," he stammered, deeply shamed by his ignorant insensitivity and at a loss as to what to say. "But we really didn't know that you were there. If there's any way I can make it up to you, please tell me."

Alice fixed him with an appraising glance, her expression softening somewhat as she sighed. When she looked back up at him, her glittering eyes were filled with challenge.

"If you are serious about wanting to make it up to me, I can think of only one way."

"How?" Kurt asked, eager to be of service.

"I've heard you're pretty good with swords," the girl said with a toss of her silky, black hair. "That you used them sometimes in your circus act, back before you came to the Institute."

"Yeah," Kurt acknowledged carefully, wondering if she was headed where he thought she was and starting to feel slightly on the spot. "Well, I know a little. I haven't practiced in years, though. What of it?"

"I was the captain of the fencing club at my old school," Alice informed him, her posture straight and confident. "And I challenge you to a match."

"A match?"

Kurt had left the circus before he had the chance to learn much more than the basics of fencing. The carefully choreographed fights had looked good to an audience, especially when combined with a complicated acrobatic routine, but in reality they were little more than beginner exercises. Kurt had always wanted to lean more-it was a not-so-secret dream of his to become an expert swordsman like his childhood hero, Errol Flynn-but the busy life of a full time student who also happened to be an X-Man often kept that dream from surfacing. As it was, he hadn't even picked up a sword since he was fifteen. If she was as good as she implied, it was certain that she would clobber him without even breaking a sweat.

Even so, Alice's challenge intrigued him. Since her arrival two weeks ago, he and the others had tried to make her feel welcome, but she had seemed so distant and cold. No one even knew what her powers were. Now, she was opening up to him, and for some reason that touched him. Slowly, a broad grin crept over his narrow features.

"Sure!" he said brightly. Then softer, "I'd like that."

To his surprise, Alice blushed furiously and turned away.

"I'll see you in the Danger Room at noon, then," she said briskly. "I'll bring the swords. Don't be late."

With that, the young English girl vanished back into her room, closing the door behind her.

Kurt was still grinning as he teleported back to the foyer and gingerly turned off the record player, being extra careful so his thick fingers wouldn't jolt the needle and scratch the record. Then, he chuckled. He was about to embarrass himself in front of a beautiful lady and, for once, that didn't bother him at all.


The match had gone on for nearly three hours. Kurt had been surprised at how much he remembered. Just touching a foil again brought the memories of his early lessons flooding back to him.

Far from the superior attitude he had expected Alice to display once she realized how rusty he was and how little he actually knew, Kurt had been surprised to find her encouraging him, even stopping the fight now and then to eagerly teach him some new skill or trick he could use against her. Before long, Kurt actually found himself winning a few bouts, and it certainly wasn't because Alice let him. They laughed as they fought, telling each other amusing stories about people they'd met and places they'd been. By the time Logan burst in to kick them out, Kurt and Alice felt as though they had known each other all their lives.

As Kurt walked Alice back to her room, she grinned at him, a wicked gleam shining in her dark eyes.

"What is it?" he asked with a smile of his own.

"I won," she stated with a toss of her sweat-dampened hair. "Forty-two out of fifty-four. That means I get to claim a prize."

"Anything, Liebling," Kurt laughed, grinning down at her. "Name it, and it shall be yours."

Alice bit her lip, fidgeting slightly as she struggled against a rising blush. However, when she spoke, it was with the same confident, teasing tone she had used to challenge him.

"Very well, then," she said. "For my prize, I want you to take me out to the fanciest restaurant in Bayville- your treat, of course. The winner never pays for her own victory dinner."

Kurt raised his eyebrows in astonishment, a slightly goofy grin spreading over his fuzzy features.

"If I didn't know any better, Liebling" he said with some amazement, "I'd say that sounded more like a date than a victory dinner."

Alice winked, and pushed her door open.

"If that's what it sounds like, Liebling," she shot back with a mischievous grin, "maybe that's what it is. I'll be ready at seven-thirty. See you then, yes?"

Kurt nodded, still grinning.

"Sure! OK, yes!"

Alice looked like she was going to say something, but she turned away instead. Kurt was left to stare at her door as Alice once again vanished into the recesses of her room. Just as he was about to leave, totally confused by her odd behavior, he heard what sounded like a scream. Before he could teleport to her aid, however, he was stunned to hear the screech dissolve into masses of girlish giggles.

Pressing a pointed ear to the door, Kurt slowly turned the handle and peered into her room.

Alice was out on her balcony, twirling like a madwoman, her arms spread out to the afternoon sun in ecstasy.

"He said yes!" she was giggling to herself, her face flushed and her eyes shining with joyous incredulity. "I'm going on a date with Kurt Wagner! And he said YES!"

Closing the door as silently as he could, Kurt leaned against the wall, dumbfounded by what he had just seen. Not since Amanda had a girl approached him first, and even she had never reacted in such a way...at least, he didn't think she had.

Kurt stumbled down the corridor in a daze, struck by the sudden realization that he was looking forward to their date as much as she was. Alice Dhoraji was beautiful and funny, intelligent and strong, and she knew everything there was to know about the art of fencing. And, impossibly, she had somehow developed a crush on him!

"Inconceivable," he laughed to himself, quoting from one of his favorite movies, 'The Princess Bride'.

His heart swelling with a joyous incredulity that mirrored Alice's own, Kurt flipped and tumbled his way towards the stairs, leaping high into the air before teleporting straight to the telephone to make their reservations-taking the initiative to add a special request. He was going to make sure this night would be perfect, for both of them.


And it had been...

Kurt sighed happily at the memory as he watched the record turn, recalling how stunning Alice had looked in her elegant blue dress when he had escorted her grandly down the staircase-to the good-natured whistles and ribbing of his friends. Alice had taken the teasing in stride, responding with a witty humor he found charming. Their first date together had been filled with laughter as they danced the night away on the restaurant's crowded dance floor, just like in the movies.

Kurt had been so impatient for the band to call the last number of the evening that it was a real struggle to keep his tail, which he had wrapped around his waist, hidden behind his hologram. However, Alice's small, delighted gasp and the knowing, grateful look she had given him just before she moved in close to rest her head on his shoulder, swaying gently to the music, was more than worth the agony of waiting. From that night onwards, 'True Love Ways' was their song, and that small record became their special treasure. Years later, Kurt had played it as he proposed, becoming the first of the X-Men to get engaged. And even after the founding of the peace-keeping International X-Men Organization and the establishment of Excalibur, the record remained close to their hearts.

Kurt smiled softly as he remembered how devastated Alice had been when they came home after a long mission to find three year old Suzie had accidentally run into their old record player, knocking the record to the floor and shattering it beyond hope of repair. Since then, whenever Suzie had burst in on them in a rage, complaining that Edmund did this or said that, they always reminded her that if she hadn't broken Mummy and Daddy's favorite record, she wouldn't have a little brother to torture her. It didn't always work, but it was often enough to cool her down long enough for Edmund to get a word in edgewise.

By the time the song ended, Kurt was blinking back tears. Carefully, he replaced the precious record in its cardboard cover and slipped it back among the dusty pile of neglected records that sat on the shelf below the turntable. It had a destiny to fulfill. It had to wait for the day it would be found by a very young, very homesick Alice Dhoraji.

Absently twisting the wedding band on his finger, Kurt wandered over to the large window by the front door, his troubled mind filled with thoughts of home.


Ororo Munroe was troubled, and it wasn't only because of the terrifying threat posed by Magneto. Ororo was troubled because no matter how hard she tried, she could not compose her mind enough for meditation.

She was supposed to be the untouchable Storm; calm, reserved, and always in control of her emotions. Due to the nature of her powers, such constant control was necessary. If she should happen to lose her temper, or even cry, her turbulent emotions could wreak havoc on the local weather patterns, and that was a risk she was only willing to take during the most dire emergencies.

Strangely, ever since her nephew, Evan, had joined the X-Men, Ororo had been finding it increasingly difficult to find her center. And now, her unexpected reaction to this adult Kurt Wagner had nearly caused her to lose it completely.

She had always been fond of Kurt. He was such a sweet boy, despite all he'd suffered in his life due to his appearance. Even so, his constant joking, his grating slang, and his rambunctious hyperactivity often got on Ororo's nerves.

The man she had seen in the Professor's office, however, had been entirely different. He was tall, confident, and strong, though to look into his deep, golden eyes it seemed as though the weight of the world was resting heavily on his shoulders. Ororo found herself wanting to reach out to him, to ease his painful anxiety. She had seen him twisting his ring, and she knew it was more than just an ornament. Although he hadn't actually said anything, it was abundantly clear that he was a very married man. Even so, she couldn't seem to banish these confusing emotions from her heart.

Storm shook her head, a small shudder running down her spine. This was a disturbing, overwhelming feeling, and Ororo Munroe did not like it. It was only now that she was beginning to realize what it was. Sitting in her greenhouse sanctuary, forever aloof and apart from the other inhabitants of the Institute, it was starting to seem that the untouchable Storm was lonely.

Quickly, Ororo rose to her feet. She'd had quite enough of that line of thought. Checking her watch, she straightened her shoulders and strode briskly from the fragrant, humid greenhouse. It was almost time for her to see the children off to the dance.


Ororo stopped short when she reached the foyer, struck dumb by the sight that met her eyes. Kurt Wagner was leaning against the windowsill, looking out at the sunset with his back turned to her and his tail curled about his leg. With the golden nimbus of light surrounding his slender profile, it seemed to Ororo almost as though his soul was shining through his shadowy form. It was a strange, ethereal sight, a sight that caused Ororo to gasp out loud.

Kurt jumped, startled from his thoughts, and turned to her, ruining the effect completely.

"Ach, Fräulein Storm!" he said with a friendly smile. "I'm afraid I didn't hear you come in." His golden eyes narrowed as he caught her expression. "Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.

Storm nodded quickly.

"Yes. Yes, I am fine, Kurt. It seems we startled each other, that is all."

Kurt's smile widened briefly, then he crossed gracefully over to her, walking as always on the balls of his feet.

"So, how is a lovely lady like you planning to spend this fine evening?" he asked with a small chuckle. "I must admit, I always did wonder what you, Logan, and Charles did while we children were away. Planning to have a party of your own?"

Ororo smiled at his mischievous grin, then shook her snowy head.

"Afraid not," she said. "To tell you the truth, we usually just sit around and enjoy the silence, or maybe take the opportunity to use the television for a change."

Kurt laughed.

"Ach, believe me, meine Dame, I understand completely. Watching over a group of rowdy kids is certainly not easy. If I had a choice, I would make a huge batch of buttery popcorn, load the player with DVDs, and just stretch out on the sofa." He gave a dramatic sigh, causing Ororo to crack a smile. "Unfortunately, though, I cannot disappoint young Kätzchen."

Ororo's eyes twinkled as she realized that despite his jesting tone, he was telling the truth. She'd never thought she would see the day when Kurt Wagner would pass up a chance to party in favor of a quiet evening at home. Her smile broadened.

"Of course you can't," she said, her ears pricking as she heard the distant thumps and door slams that signaled the coming of the children. Turning to the stairs, she observed, "And here she comes now."

As she turned back to him, Kurt took her completely by surprise by taking her hand in his and raising it to his lips.

"It has been a true pleasure to see you smile, meine Freundin," he told her sincerely, kissing her hand gently. "You really should do it more often. It would not hurt you or anyone else if you allowed yourself to have some fun once in a while."

He smiled slightly, leaning in closer as though to tell her a secret.

"Your control is better than you think," he said.

Before she could recover enough to respond, Kurt had already straightened and was moving across the room.

"Enjoyable as our little chat has been, Fräulein, I'm afraid my duty calls me," he announced, grinning broadly as he caught sight of Kitty at the top of the stairs. Ororo watched as he gallantly held out his arm to her, complimenting her violet skirt as they followed the others out the door. Kurt favored her with one last wave before catching hold of the door handle with his tail and pulling it shut behind him.

Still slightly dazed, Ororo rushed to the window, watching as the party-goers piled into Scott's red convertible. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized that Jean must have already left.

"So, what do you think of him?" Logan's rough voice startled Ororo from her thoughts. She turned to him, calm and aloof as always.

"This Kurt is quite different from the young man we know," she observed. "He is so secure, so comfortable with himself and with others. He is a flirt, but no longer a show-off, and he has cultivated an easy charm that is enhanced by his open sincerity. Also, his speech is completely devoid of that atrocious slang all the children use."

Logan snorted with laughter, then his face grew serious.

"Guy smelled like cryin' when I first saw him this afternoon," he rumbled. "Despite everything, he's a lot like our own 'Crawler, keepin' everything bottled up under a circus mask of smiles."

Ororo nodded, and the two watched in silence as the glowing lights from Scott's car vanished into the distance.

"'Ro," Logan said at last, "you ever wonder what it'll be like once the kids are all grown up?"

"Sometimes," Ororo admitted.

Logan nodded with a small grunt.

"It's somethin' that's always bothered me, ever since Charlie first got me to sign up for this gig. But seein' the 'Crawler like that...it's got me thinkin'."

He turned to Ororo, his flinty eyes troubled.

"I'm gonna watch these kids grow up, and I'll watch 'em grow old. I'll be around to attend each and every one of their funerals, including yours and Charlie's." He sighed deeply, gruffly shaking his head. "I often think it'd be better if I just hopped on my bike and left this place. I'm gettin' too attached to these darn kids, and that's dangerous."

Ororo regarded him through cool, blue eyes, though her heart was aching in sympathy.

"But you won't," she stated simply, knowing as surely as he did that she was speaking the truth.

Without a word, Logan stepped forward and put a blunt, hairy hand on Ororo's narrow shoulder. For once, Ororo didn't move away.

It seemed she wasn't the only one whose powers kept her alone.

To Be Continued...


*Dhoraji is the name of an ancient Indus Valley settlement. Alice is English, from Northumberland, but her grandfather was from India.