DISCLAIMER:
As you should know, I do not own the X-Men. They are the sole property of Marvel Comics Group. However, I do claim assorted OC's and will generally share if asked politely.

Lost, Then Found
by Dizi

Chapter 6

Following Morgan's directions, the five X-Men were again struck by the house's size incongruities. The kitchen was too big to fit in the limited space seen from outside. They didn't make an issue of it during the meal of hardy beef stew and fresh baked bread Dayne had waiting for them. Too many other things were on their minds. Such as a little girl being 'with' Logan for the last three years without his knowledge and a newfound respect for the anger of a sorceress.

The kitchen, like the rest of the house, was very homey. It appeared well used with old-fashioned kitchen utensils hanging from hooks on the walls. Those utensils in other households would have been replaced with small appliances. There was no sign of modern conveniences such as a microwave, but the stove and refrigerator looked to be electric. No one thought to check for sure.

After eating his normal amount, which was more then he really wanted since food was the last thing on his mind, Logan said impatiently, "Wonder how long she'll take fer those 'preparations'."

Saying more than he had throughout the meal, Dayne replied calmly, "Morgan will be as long as she requires and not a moment longer. If you notice, she is not having lunch."

There was no more said that could possibly be considered complaints after that, and very little conversation at all.

From an ordinary teapot and an old percolator which Emma thought belonged in a museum, Dayne kept their cups filled while they waited.

Various cats came and went through a large petdoor in a back entrance. Several were recognized as having been guides. To Kurt and Scott's amusement - Logan was too busy with his own thoughts to notice - all the felines seemed to take as much pleasure in Ororo's petting as in rubbing themselves against any part of Emma they could reach, one going so far as to flick it's tail very close to her nose.

Twenty minutes passed in this manner while they waited following the meal before Morgan came in. A very small book about three inches long rested in one palm from which she was reading and an earthenware mug was in the other hand. She seemed to take no notice of the people sitting around the long wood table as she set the cup down, sat in the nearest empty chair, and continued reading.

When Dayne placed a small plate filled with warm bread and a cup of tea in front of her, Morgan said absently, "I don't have time, I will eat when I am finished."

"The girl is dead," he said bluntly in a placid tone. "It will not hurt her for you to take a few minutes for bread and butter."

The X-Men held their breath as eyes met and clashed.

Finally, Morgan closed the book and picked up a piece of bread. "I am no longer a child to be told when to eat. But as Keara has not yet completed her task, I will do as you ask." Taking a bite, she addressed her visitors. "It shouldn't take long and when she comes in we will begin. You four," Morgan excluded Logan from her gesture, "will observe only. From the moment we go outside, you are not to speak. If you see anything, which I doubt will be the case, you are not to comment. Not even telepathically, as it is unknown on how many levels Melody can hear. Do you understand?"

Since Morgan was looking mainly at Emma, it was she who responded, "Clearly."

"Good." She drank half the tea in one gulp and continued her instructions, this time addressing Logan. "Before we go, you are to drink the mixture in the cup. No complaints about taste as it will be bitter. Do not leave a drop."

"If yer thinkin' ta use some kinda drug, I gotta warn ya that it won't last long," Logan told her seriously. "Got me a healin' factor an' it don't tolerate that sorta thing."

A small smile twisted her lips. "It isn't exactly a drug, though I suppose some of the ingredients would be the same."

Feeling foolish for not realizing it was probably a spell of some kind, Logan pulled the earthen vessel closer to him.

The backdoor opened by an unseen hand. The large panther-sized cat strolled in closely followed by the orange tabby. The latter did not appear happy.

"Thank you," Morgan murmured to Keara before tsking to the smaller perturbed cat, saying placatingly, "Now, Muffin, you brought them and will take them home. You can only do so much, this task must be for others. You can watch..." She tried to pet him but he presented his back to her and she sighed. "Maybe later you'll remember how to be a sweet kitty."

Standing, she went to the backdoor and placed her hand on the door knob. But she made no move to turn it, simply looking at Logan meaningfully.

"Bottom's up," he said, picking up the mug. He downed the contents with a grimace, thinking she was right about the taste.

Leaving Dayne behind, they filed outside to an almost flipped version of the front yard, only the porch was smaller and there was no swinging bench. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"What now?" Logan asked, watching Morgan sit in the grass a few feet away from the porch.

"Hmm? Oh," Morgan gestured widely. "Sit down, relax. Wherever you feel comfortable. Remove your boots, if you feel like it."

Without thinking about it, he did just that. It struck him how nice it was out here. Peaceful. He was even feeling a little drowsy and thought it would be a good place for a nap, though he didn't actually feel sleepy. A part of him felt open and free...

Logan laid back in the grass, looking at the sky, and didn't even notice when he was surrounded by several cats. One jumped up on his chest and began to purr. Another curled up by his head. He started petting a third which had wiggled it's way under his hand.

"Isn't it lovely out here?" Morgan crossed her legs, wiggling her toes, while stroking Keara's head from where she was lying beside her. "So calm, so peaceful."

"I like it here," Melody agreed. She was kneeling beside Logan, one hand hovering over a cat near his hip. "It's pretty."

"Yes, that's why I keep my house here so much of the time." Morgan's hand never paused it's stroking of Keara.

Melody gave her a funny look. "You move your house?"

"I like other places too," Morgan explained reasonably. "If my house didn't go with me, where would I live? The cats don't like strange places. Much better to move the house."

"Suppose, that makes sense," Logan murmured.

"Yeah, it's funny though." Melody looked around. "I like your cats too. You sure have a lot."

Morgan gave a low laugh. "They come and go, most of them. But thank you."

Melody's brow furrowed. "How come you can see me when no one else can?"

"Because I wanted to talk to you."

"That's nice too. He told me to talk to the teachers," Melody frowned at Logan as though frustrated, "and I tried and tried, but no one would listen. They wouldn't help me."

"We're tryin', sweetheart," Logan protested.

"He didn't know they couldn't see or hear you, but Logan came to me so I could help." Morgan smiled reassuringly. "And see? I can see and hear you. Why did you pretend to be a student?"

"I wasn't pretending, I did what he told me to. He said to stay with the other kids, so I did what they did." Melody looked at her innocently. "Was that wrong?"

"Oh no, you did just fine. Do you mind if I ask some more questions?"

"I guess that's okay."

Morgan thought for a moment, obviously choosing her words carefully. "Logan tells me you miss your mother because she doesn't talk to you. When did you stop hearing her?"

"A couple weeks before I told him about it. She talked to me all the time and then she just stopped." The circles under Melody's eyes seemed to become deeper and a sadness filled the air. "Mommy told me everything, all about her day and how much she loved me, but not anymore."

Keara shifted restlessly as Morgan's eyes glazed over. "Could you see her?"

"No, I could just hear her. I slept a lot then." Melody gasped in pleasure as the white cat with a black tip on it's tail moved closer to her. She tried to pet it but her hand went through its head. It purred anyway just as though she really were petting it.

"Okay." Morgan's fingers twitched as though to write something. "Do you remember when you first met Logan?"

"That was when he told me to stay with the other kids." She thought about it and added, "Before then he was just there."

Logan flinched at the reminder that she'd been there and he hadn't known.

"Interesting," Morgan said under her breath.

The backdoor opened and Dayne came out with an earthen bowl filled with water. It was a foot wide but only four inches deep. After placing it on the ground near Logan's head, he went back inside the house.

A pure black cat with blue eyes moved to sit beside it.

"How about before he spoke to you? Before you were with him all the time," Morgan clarified. "Do you remember then?"

"It's all fuzzy." Melody's voice was apologetic.

"Just concentrate. I need to know so I can help you." Morgan looked not at the bowl but the cat beside it.

Melody's eyes closed. "My Daddy was there and he wasn't supposed to be. Mommy said he was bad and couldn't be with us anymore. We were in a car and I kept crying because I wanted my Mommy. A stranger was there too. Something hurt me, there was a monster that kept growling, but I wasn't scared of it. Then he was there just before I went to sleep." Her eyes opened, a wide smile spread across her face. "I did it! I remembered!"

"Yes, you did," Morgan congratulated.

"Is that how ya died then?" Logan asked.

Melody's eyes went wide, filled with hurt. "Dead? I'm not dead! I'm lost! I need to find my Mommy! I thought you were going to help me!"

"Melody..." Morgan began.

"I'm not dead! I'm not! I'm lost!" Melody was so upset she stood and ran towards the forest, the cat who had been so interested in her following.

"Wait!" Morgan called, getting quickly to her feet. "Melody! Come back!"

Logan too sat up, dislodging the cats in the process. As he did, Melody faded away.

Sighing, Morgan bent to pick up the bowl of water. "Well, that's all we're going to get. I hope it's enough. Let's go back to the conservatory and see what we've got."

to be continued.

note: Okay, from that little bit, did you figure it out? If not, don't feel bad because I tried real hard to make it a little vague while still giving hints. Only two chapters left, can ya stand it?

Thanks for reading and the support,
Dizi