------------------------[ Three: Something's Not Right...

The Attic was horrid. The air was filled with a thick cloud of dust in the air, smelling like ashes and dirt. Just about everything was stuffed into small cardboard boxes, chests, and plastic bags with labels scribbled onto them. Those labels made his heart sink. Bearing names like 'Old Flutter Stuff,' 'Flutter Dishes', things about the Flutter marked everywhere. Near the back he could see a few distinct pieces of the old ship propped against the wall. Parts from the hull and engine outlined with black burn marks.

He felt the sudden need to ask her what exactly happened to the Flutter but still held in the question. Instead he'd find himself looking at Roll while she dig through a box of old parts. " You're pretty quiet now, " He noticed that much. Usually she'd be talking until she turned blue in the face, but since they got up here she was silent.

"It's nothing. " Roll's smile was fake at best, which made Megaman wary. " Just ... all these memories getting to me. "

It was then that he sensed it: something was wrong. Her tone of voice was completely wrong, not that of the Roll he remembered from five years ago. Sure 'growing up' did wonders for her body and voice, but her voice itself sounds ... regretful.

Any further thought he'd have on the situation would suddenly be cut off when Roll threw a piece of his armor at him, announcing that she 'Found it.' It was the forearm for his Buster gun arm, but it seemed to be burned to a crisp by some sort of fire. Midnight blue in color with some hints of a deep blue along the joints. He ran his finger across it in an attempt to get the burn marks off, but they looked permanent.

This lead back to his suspicion that something horrible happened five years ago, and he'd use this to test Roll. Piece by piece he'd snap his armor into place right over his black shirt and jeans. He always wore his clothes underneath for extra protection against the drafts underground. Megaman was more of a believer in wearing clothes underneath after that 'incident' with Tron in the Gustaff.

Once he got all the pieces into place he'd stand up in front of Roll with a smile. Part of him was happy that he had his armor at all, even if it was in pretty bad shape. " Surprised I can still fit in this... " Said with a chuckle, he had gotten bigger since the last time he had it on. " How do I look? "

Roll looked up from sitting on the floor. She appeared to be stunned by the question. Scanning for some sort of response in her mind, she'd say more than two minutes later with a meek voice. " Great. Exactly like the old days. "

Hearing that from her would've made Megaman feel great, if it were only true. His darkened armor gave him more of a hard-core appearance than that of his old heroic blue armor. " Roll, my armor didn't look like this five years ago. "

Something in Roll suddenly stirred causing her to sit up a bit. Realization struck in Megaman's mind as well, making him feel sorry that he ever told her that. The woman who seemed so happy about him waking up and coming how now hinted tears in her eyes, followed by a sharp sniffle from a stuffy nose.

"I have to go get my Coffee, " Megaman didn't know exactly what Coffee was, but he could safely assume that it was whatever Roll had in her cup earlier. With that hurried statement Roll brushed Megaman's on the way down the stairs. He didn't need to look down to know what she was doing.

The choked sob that echoed through the stairway was enough of a hit.

Matilda looked up from Data as Roll ran through the swinging door of the kitchen. Roll instantly curled herself around the pot of coffee, pouring herself a cup with shaken hands as she sobbed.

"I assume that Megaman knows, " Matilda put Data on the ground so she could walk over to her daughter. Her arms needed to be free so she could wrap her arms around Roll's shoulders in a loose hug. Data helped hug Roll too, but could only cling around one of her legs.

Roll nodded a bit, shaking tears free from her eyes. " I think so, " The coffee's effect kicked in quick, causing her to yell. " How can we catch up on things when I can't remember what happened !? What if he asks 'Do you remember the time when... ' and I stare at him like an idiot? " Her wails were silenced by Matilda slowly taking 'Mr. Sippy' away from her to put him back on the counter, causing her to whimper like a child.

"I'm sure that Megaman will help you remember the past, " It was Matilda's reassurance since Roll came home from the hospital after the accident. She felt that it was the only thing keeping Roll alive: The hope that things will soon return to the way they used to be. A far off dear at best, but it was something for Roll to work for. " In turn he's counting on you to help him deal with all the changes of the present. " Matilda's thin hand cupped Roll's chin so she could bring her to eye level. " Can you do that for him? "

Two streams of tears flowed from her eyes at the moment, but she still managed to nod. " Yes ma'am " Her voice was that of a scolded child trying to make of up their parents.

Slowly Matilda would help Roll to her feet, giving her one last hug before holding her out at arm's length "There you go, dear. You better clean up before Megaman gets down here. " Her usual smile slowly returned. " I'm sure your boyfriend wouldn't want to see you crying. "

That earned her a playful push from Roll. " He's not my boyfriend! " She couldn't have been taken seriously, her voice was reduced to chuckles.

Roll's soft laughter made Matilda laugh as well while leading Roll by the arm out of the kitchen. She did allow time for Roll to pick up Mr. Sippy before pushing her to the door. " Now get dressed. You have a party to go to! The best party at that, with Karaoke... "

The younger woman would blush, knowing damn well that Matilda can't sing a lick. Still she managed to flash her mother a weak smile while leaving the kitchen. " I'll sing one for you then. "

------------------------[

That's Chapter 3, the last short chapter for a while. Now it's time to respond to the Reviews.

-Lady Blue

I read three Megaman Fics here on Fanfiction.net. The Legends Trilogy, the Return to Kattlelox Series, and some AU fic. The pickings for Legends fisc are slim, especially since Liz handed Rockmandash.com over to some ... person. They did have the best Legends fic I ever read: Alternate ... something. My memory is bad, but the story was centered on a Servbot named Bink and his relationship with the other Servbots and Tron. Bink died actually... *sniffle*

-Moonymonster (Oh boy, here we go)

My grammar is horrible, I know. It's an improvement over the days when I did "The Misadventures of Tron and Denise Bonne" two years ago, but not by much. I'm used to doing stories where people can care less what the character is feeling since it's not that important. Keyboard Style fics, which are unfortunately banned from FF.net now.

The best I can do is try and make the characters move lively, which is terribly hard for someone who has little skill as a writer. I'll try and keep the regular chat lingo to myself. (Bai-Bai, meh, teh... )

-Feldinaut

Life Support isn't it, though it is a good idea.

I just so happened to click on your Author Name since is struck something with me. Just so you'd know, Gylde will be introduced into the story in a few chapters.