"Forge?" Kitty perked up when he entered the room. "Ummm.."

He smiled. "What's shakin'?"

"Ummm…"

"You said that part already."

She blushed and smiled. "Yeah… about … I think I've seen a ghost." She said. "Here in the lighthouse. And he's … seen me."

Forge looked curiously at her. "You've interacted with a ghost, here?"

She swallowed and her mouth went dry. "Well… When I've phased through the walls… I've seen this man .. twice now."

Forge leaned back and considered. "You know… My people say that stones can record everything they've seen. And this is a high energy environment too, so odd things are more likely to happen naturally here than at other places."

She was listening very intently.

"It might not be a ghost. It might be a memory of this place that you're interacting with." He considered. "If it only happens when you're phased then I bet it's something more like that. You're existing in the same space as the memory and when you phase you're just that much closer to it – and able to interact."

She looked away and then back. "But… why? I mean… if I phase in to the bathroom am I likely to find this guy … showering or… worse?"

Forge laughed hard.

"I'm serious!"

"I know." Forge said. "I'm sorry." He swallowed. "Have you talked to him?"

He asked.

"Not... really..."

Forge shrugged. "Try it. Ask who he is and if you can help him. Maybe it'll all make sense eventually."

Kitty blinked and cocked her head for a moment. "Yeah… okay…" And she seemed to find some resolve. "I think I will. Thanks Forge." She smiled and walked out.

Forge smiled after her. Wow… This could really blow up in my face. He thought with a laugh. "Good luck!" He called after her. Play nice!

He sighed contentedly. It's been a long time since I did this much with my life… He was tired and it felt good.

Lucy slipped past his room.

"Lucy!" He called out and she stopped and leaned back. "Where are you going?"

"Out for a walk."

"Can I come?" He asked.

"Sure." She smiled. Wow

He jumped up and slipped out in to the hall after her, following her outside.

She sniffed the air.

He looked at her.

She smiled. "I thought I'd backtrack X12." She said. "Find out why no ones mentioned a line of bodies leading to the lighthouse tonight."

Forge knitted his brow for a moment. "That's a real good question." He said at last.

Lucy smiled shyly. "I guess you heard and… saw."

Forge laughed. "Yeah. That was pretty impressive."

"I'm saving the head you know. They let me keep it." She smiled at him.

"What?" He looked shocked.

"Sure. I'm gonna get it stuffed and mounted like a trophy for the wall." She smiled again.

He looked sickened. "You mean…"

And she kept a strait face.

He broke in to wide grin. "You're kidding me, aren't you?"

She laughed at him and nodded.

He shook his head in relief. "I kept picturing it over the windows in the large common room upstairs."

She laughed. "Yeah, but you'd need a whole line of them to make it look right."

"Ewww!" He laughed. "You're right. You would."

"Too much work." She decided.

He nodded. "Lots of dry cleaning." He added.

"Yeah. He totally ruined some of my clothes. I'll need to get more soon." She shook her head.

"If we ever get paid you could do just that." Forge smiled.

"Oh, I've got English money." She told him casually.

"Where did you get English money? You've only been here a little longer than I have, right?"

She smiled. "I umm… shook down a woman on the boat." She laughed.

"Are you kidding again?" He asked.

She shook her head. "The captain paid her to get me off the ship without any trouble – and I took half."

He looked curious. "Really?" He raised an eyebrow. "And why did the captain …"

"I.. uh…" She smiled. "I swatted a mans hand off my butt." She said, crossing her arms. "And a claw popped out… Because he was reaching for me with his other hand."

Forge looked at her. "What happened?"

She shrugged. "I cut off his finger. They saved it. Maybe they can put it back on. I don't know."

Forge leaned back and looked at her butt very quickly.

She laughed and blushed.

"That's a little extreme, isn't it?" He asked.

"Yes." She admitted. "And no… I mean… I wouldn't do it again. But…"

"But he should have kept his hands to himself." Forge finished.

"It's not hard." She said. "I do it all the time. People I could hit or hurt but I don't."

He nodded. "I know."

She swallowed. "And…" Her voice dropped slightly. "There's been worse stuff than that."

Forge nodded. "I thought there might be." He admitted.

She looked at him, registering that maybe he knew something.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked her.

She got nervous. "I … guess so."

"Were you ever in the woods behind Bayville?" He asked.

Her eyes opened and her jaw dropped as she stopped walking. "That's where I hid and talked to Logan before he sent me here."

She shivered. "You… remind me…"

He swallowed.

"Of a…"

"Dream?" He asked.

She nodded. "Before I knew you… but it was you!"

He nodded. "Me too. I remember it."

"I… don't." She said. "I'm just…"

"Aware of it." He said.

She nodded. "What's it mean?"

He shook his head. "I don't know… yet."

She dropped her eyes and they resumed walking. It had been a very intense and personal dream.

Forge felt bad for making her uncomfortable.

"I…" She whispered. "I've never even held hands with anyone…" She said softly. "Ever."

He shrugged softly and whispered. "That's okay."

She sniffed and they changed direction.

"It's not normal." She said softly.

"It is for you." He added.

"Not by choice."

He stopped again and cocked his head to one side.

She stopped too and looked at him without really looking up.

He reached out slowly, a questioning look on his face, and took her hand in his, threading their fingers together slowly.

Her hand was thick but smooth.

His hand was firm and warm.

She swallowed and squeezed experimentally.

He smiled back. "Which way?" He asked.

She still stared at his hand in her, for a long moment, adjusting her grip comfortably and getting used to the feel of his skin against hers.

Finally she looked up at met his eyes. She had a look of extreme focus on her face and she looked him over carefully.

"That way." She motioned with her head then took his hand in both of hers for just a moment and rubbing both hesitantly yet affectionately.

He smiled softly and they continued on – out in to the woods.