I do not own claim to any of the X-Men or their universe (just my girl Mimik) and I make no money from this. Enjoy!
Logan, Beast, and the Professor all enter the room after discussing the recent events.
The first to notice Kim was Logan, stopping and sniffing the air. Confused by what his senses were telling him.
Beast is the second to spot her, "Oh my stars and garters."
The little girl in Kim's bed giggles and drops to the ground, her bare feet slapping against the steel as she runs up and hugs Logan.
He raises his arms and looks at her at a loss for words.
"Hi Daddy!"
She stares up at him with big green cat's eyes, her black furry tail waving merrily under her white dress.
Xavier was the first to regain his composure, "And who might you be, my dear?"
The little girl peeks around Logan's legs and smiles at him, "My name is Kim! Kimberley Elizabeth Howlett!"
Logan gently peels the girl away from him and stares at her. He drops to his knees and pulls the girl to him, shaking as tears roll down his face.
She hugs him tightly, "I missed you daddy."
Eventually Logan pulls back and stares at his child, moving her long black hair back out of her face.
Xavier waits patiently for the two to finish and as Logan begins to regain his composure he asks the child, "May I ask where the older Kimberley went?"
She pouts, "I'm here now; she went away."
He stares at her intently, "Where did she go exactly?"
Beast and Logan look at the Professor, confused.
She crosses her arms, "She went away! I'm here now! She wouldn't listen to me, so I made her go away."
Logan looks back and forth at Kim and Xavier, "What's going on Chuck? This is Kim; this is my kid, isn't it?"
Xavier nods, "Yes, but this isn't the same Kim who was just here a few minutes ago. I can read her mind now and it would seem that the alter ego that was plaguing her earlier has now taken full control."
She stomps her little feet, "She wouldn't take us to see mommy! But you will, right Daddy?"
Logan quickly stands up, "I didn't believe her…"
Xavier nods understandingly, "Kim's mental barriers were repaired and so I could not see what had happened. I seem to have been the catalyst that brought her alter-ego into existence, when I tried to help her pain yesterday afternoon."
Logan runs a hand through his hair, "Shit, Chuck; she never catches a break."
He looks down at the little girl that's looking up at him lovingly, "What's the matter Daddy?"
Xavier rolls forward a bit, "We need you to return Kimberley back to her previous state."
She shakes her head, "I'm in charge now. I asked her nicely and then I used the shocky thing the bad man used and she still wouldn't listen. I just wanna go home and help mommy. We left her and she needs help."
Logan balls up his hands and growls, but Xavier holds up a hand, stopping him from saying or doing anything.
"Kim has already explained to you that your mother has passed away and-"
She shakes her head, "Liar! Mommy is just hurt and she needs our help."
She looks up at Logan, "Why aren't you helping mommy? She tried to help you and you wouldn't wake up. Bad men hurt mommy and me and you wouldn't wake up. Uncle Vic got angry but they hurt him too."
Logan's anger leaves him in a deep sigh as he sits down on one of the chairs Beast has scattered throughout the lab.
Xavier watches Logan sadly and then turns his attention back to the small child in front of him.
"If we take you to your mother, would you agree to let our Kim regain control?"
Her face lights up, "You're gunna take me to see mommy?"
Logan was about to argue, but a knowing look from Xavier stops him.
"Only if you agree to that condition."
She jumps up and down and says, "Anything to see mommy!"
Xavier looks at Logan who's completely lost, "Now if you would take your daughter back upstairs to her room, I'll have Kurt bring you both some dinner. Once she's asleep you can come speak with me."
Logan looks between Xavier and the child, at a loss for words.
Beast leans down and smiles at the child, "Is that all right with you dear?"
She steps away from him, uncomfortable with his appearance and whispers, "I want to stay with Daddy…"
Beast seeing her reaction smiles again and stands up, subtly taking a few steps back, "That's the plan, you're Daddy is gunna take care of you until it's bed time."
She walks over and grabs Logan's hand, "Come on Daddy let's go."
He smiles sweetly at her, a sight to remember for anyone who knows the fearsome Wolverine. He stands up and they walk hand in hand out the door, past the handful of people who refused to leave, even after he had snarled at them.
They all watched in complete shock at the strange duo and then started excitedly talking amongst themselves.
Beast straightens his lab coat and says, "So how are we going to fix this Charles? Her mother is deceased…"
Xavier sighs, "I am well aware of that and I think the child is too, but seeing as she is a child she refuses to believe it."
Beast nods, "So how exactly did Kim form this alter-ego?"
"Yesterday when we showed Kimberley the information in her file, she began to form a severe headache due to the fact that her repressed memories and false, implanted memories were at war with one another. So once she discovered that Logan was indeed her father the pain became too unbearable for her and so I entered her mind to alleviate it. That process seemed to separate a chunk of the false memories based around her childhood and produce them in the form you just saw."
Beast frowns at the information, "And so after torturing Kim, the child eventually just took over?"
Xavier nods his head, a sad look crossing his face, "The child knew that Kimberley did not like the pain that the device caused and so she manipulated the nerves around it to cause it to activate."
"I examined the device and it would seem that it had malfunction and that's why it was exponentially worse than the times when Wraith used it on her. As well as the fact that it was in conjunction with holding on to the gate…"
Xavier frowns, putting a hand to his head, "That poor child has been through so much. When I aided her I caught a glimpse of some of the events that happened in her past. Mutant or not, no one, especially a child, should be put through that…"
Beast puts a large hand on Xavier's shoulder, "At least we stopped them."
Xavier shakes his head, "There will be more, it pains me to say it, but there will always be someone else out there willing to use another human being like a slave for their own purposes."
The two men sit there discussing Xavier's plan and the help that they will have to enlist for it to work.
.
The next afternoon Xavier, Logan, Kim, Nightcrawler, and Cyclops are all in the Blackbird; the X-men's private stealth jet.
The adults were all trying to hide their dissatisfaction with the events that were about to play out.
Logan was having an especially hard time trying to hide it, but the thought of losing his child as well as Xavier's plan had him quite upset.
Kim on the other hand was happy as clam, ignoring the adults that told her to sit down and remain the seat belt telling them flat out, "If the plane crashes Daddy and I won't get hurt."
She had grown attached to Jean, but she refused to even look at Nightcrawler. Nightcrawler had demanded to come along, after being explained everything; worried for his friend.
He was the best at hiding his feelings, but they all knew it hurt when she pulled away from him, near tears saying, "Daddy! The monster is trying to get me!"
Nightcrawler had tried to calm her, "But kleine, it is me, Kurt Wagner…"
After that she had completely avoided him and he did not press it further.
Cyclops was the one flying the jet and he was the least happy about being here. He didn't even try to hide his anger towards Kim, even if she was just a child. If it wasn't for Xavier holding him back and Logan threatening to kill him, he would've thrown the girl out the jet while thousands of feet in the air.
Thankfully, for everyone's sake, it was a short trip from their institute in New York and the location of the cabin in Alberta, Canada. Xavier had brought along the files from which he had cross referenced the cabin's location.
The jet eventually lands and Logan has to hold on to the little girl in order to keep her from running down the ramp before everything was ready.
Xavier and Cyclops exit the jet and head through the trees to the run down cabin.
The exterior was still intact but the windows were broken and the roof looked like it was about collapse. They could tell that it had not been touched for a very long time, but evidence that someone had lived here long ago was still present.
A small rusted pink tricycle was lying on its side near the front of the cabin and there were remnants of what looked like a clothes line. And then carved into the wood near the front door was a heart with the initials J.H. + K.M.H. in it and off from that was another smaller heart was linked into it with the initials K.E.H.
It was a sight that Xavier knew would upset Logan and probably revive more of his lost memories that the child half of Kimberley was unknowingly helping him with.
The tall grass and bushes impeded the wheelchair slightly as Cyclops helped roll Xavier to the specified meeting spot.
As they stopped a few figures stepped out of the trees, walking straight for them.
An older man with gray hair dressed in a classy black suit and a woman with indigo skin and vibrant red hair who was wearing nothing at all both walk up to Xavier and Cyclops.
Xavier smiles at the other man and holds out a hand, "Erik, thank you for coming today. I know you have a prior engagement you need to get to and when you do please extend my apologies to Wanda and Pietro for interrupting their celebration."
Erik takes the offered hand, "It isn't a problem Charles and to be honest I came here more out of curiosity than anything. I am interested in meeting this mutant that you rescued from that abominable institute. From what my children and my associate have told me about her she could be a valuable addition to the Brotherhood."
"Now Erik, we don't plan on letting her leave the school until see has fully recovered from all her trauma and I highly doubt she would join you seeing as her father is with us."
Erik chuckles, "I'll humor you for now Charles. Now what is it you need Mystique for exactly?"
"Well it would seem that Kimberley's repressed memories developed an alter ego that has now taken over her body as a small child. She has been demanding to see her mother and only then will she release Kimberley's main personality. I have tried everything to pry control from her, but she refuses to budge."
Erik raises an eyebrow at that, "She was able to hold her own against your abilities?"
Xavier nods and puts the tip of his fingers together before continuing, "This is where we require Mystique's assistance, we need a highly skilled shape shifter who would be able to become her mother and act like her for a short time until she agrees to relinquish control back to Kimberley."
Mystiques smiles, "Simple enough, just give me an image of her and maybe some things to say to make it believable. How old is she, I mean the child ego?"
Xavier hands her a photograph from one of the files he help on his lap, "Four we believe and from Logan has been able to remember they used to cal her Kitten as a nickname."
Mystique studies the picture and nods, "This should do, I'll go sit on the steps of the shack and you go get the kid."
She eyes the rotting cabin with disdain and walks over to it; her skin flowing and rippling down her body as she shifts into the woman in the photo.
Cyclops rolls the professor back to the Blackbird and Xavier psychically informs Logan that everything is set.
.
I growl and stand up, keeping a firm hold on Kim's hand.
She just wanted to bolt and go find her mother herself, but luckily I convinced her that the Professor needed to speak with her first.
She whined but she listened, turning to playing with her little claws, still confused as to why they looked different.
I don't like this one bit, having to ask metal head and his blue bitch to help us out.
I almost don't even want to fix Kim... It's fucked up but I KNOW this version of her, that moment in the lab brought some of those memories rushing back.
I run my free hand through my hair and say, "Come on, Kitten, let's go see your mom. I'm sure she's worried about us."
She pauses and looks up worried at me, "You don't think she'll be mad that we left her when she was hurt, do you?"
I shake my head and she grins and then starts to pull me down the ramp. It feels like I've swallowed my heart because she's running to see a woman who's been dead for over a decade. My wife…
When we step into the familiar woods she squirms free and bolts towards our old cabin.
I trudge behind, kicking at the dead leaves, waiting for a scream of fear of squeal of delight.
As I step into the clearing I frown at crumbling building that I had built forever ago and then look around at the vegetation that had reclaimed the area.
The smell of sadness reaches my nose and I quickly walk towards the cabin looking for Kim.
On the porch steps I find her in an embrace with an exact mirror of Kat. I dig my fingernails into my palm to stop the damn tears that seem to be free flowing since I saw my Kitten…
Mystique looks down at my little girl and smiles sadly at her, "Hello, Kitten."
I growl at that and watch as Kim smiles up at her, "Sorry, we've been gone so long mommy. The bad men came and then no one would help you, but I told them we had to come back."
Mystique pats her on the head, "And I'm glad you did, Kitten. Now let's go talk to your friend Mr. Xavier."
Kim pulls away and frowns, "Can't we play a little first mommy?"
She runs around Mystique to the door of the cabin and struggles with it before she notices a rusty old padlock on it.
"Why did you lock up the house, mommy?"
Mystique glances at me a hint of annoyance in her face, I shrug. "Come on Kitten; let's do as your… mother says."
Kim looks at me and then pops her little claws and chops off the lock. She pushes the door open and dust flies out at her.
I step forward, curious as to what my old home looks like from the inside now.
Kim squeals with delight and bolts into the cabin.
Mystique sighs, "Alright, Kitten, come on... The house is old and it's not safe to be in there."
After a few moments of silence, she emerges holding something.
She holds up so Mystique can see, it's a dust covered, stuffed tiger.
"Look mommy! I found my tiger that Uncle Vic gave me."
Mystique looks over at me, "Uncle Vic? As in Saber-"
"Unfortunately, yes. He's your brother."
I was pissed when I found out that son of a bitch had been my brother in-law.
She looks at the tiger and suppresses a laugh, finding it amusing that the big bad Sabertooth had once been a big softy.
Kim hugs the tiger and says sadly, "I'll go talk to the Professor now, but first can you and daddy make me fly, like you used to?"
Mystique looks at me questioningly and I nod. I walk over and stand next to them, with Kim in the middle. We both grab one of her little hands and lift her off of the ground and begin to swing her as high as we can without hurting her.
She giggles and squeals and once we put her down I kneel down and ask, "How 'bout a piggy back ride?"
She smiles, her whole face lighting up and jumps up on my back, still gripping her tiger tightly.
I stand and we walk over to where Xavier had agreed to wait.
Smells like the metal head is waiting here too…
We step into the clearing and Kim asked to be put down.
She walks over to Xavier and frowns, "I made a deal, thank you for letting me see my mommy again."
Xavier smiles sadly, "You're are welcome, I'm sorry that this whole situation had to occur."
Kim grins, "I'm not, the other me needed a dose of childhood, she's had to be an adult too much."
I keep forgetting that she's not really a little girl and when she spouts logic like that it's like a cold shock.
She looks over her shoulder at Mystique, still in the form as her mother, "Thank you for pretending."
Mystique's jaw drops, she's completely at a loss for words.
I smile; that's my girl. She suddenly looks up, sniffing towards the trees.
In the distance I can hear a deep man's voice saying, "Make we wait in the damn plane, fuck that shit. I'm bored and I smell the runt. I wanna pay him back for that little swim at the facility."
Sabertooth steps into the clearing, dressed in a nice black Armani, with his hair tied back and stops dead at the sight of us.
Magneto sighs in annoyance, "I do believe I requested that you stay in the plane while Mystique and I conduct business."
Kim runs at him saying "Uncle Vic!"
She hugs his legs and he growls, raising his clawed hands to swipe at her.
I pop my claws and say, "You touch a hair on her head, you'll regret it Creed!"
He laughs and then she shows him the tiger she's been carrying around, "Look Uncle Vic! I still have the tiger you gave me!"
He stops dead, staring at the toy and then down at Kim, a completely different expression on his face.
I retract my claws and look at Xavier, "You didn't plan this one too did you?"
He refuses to look at me and just watches the scene play out before us.
Creed takes the tiger and then looks at Kim, confused, "Kitten?"
Her face lights up again and she hugs him, he looks down at her not sure what to do. Glancing up at us he sees Magneto trying to hide his amusement and Mystique still as Katherine and me, waiting to rip his head off.
He growls and says, "I don't know what the fuck this is, but I don't think this is funny. It's not smart to fuck around with my head."
Kim looks up at him, cocking her head and smiling, "But Uncle Vic, don't you remember? You betrayed us. You got mommy hurt, your own sister."
"What? I didn't do shit to- oh…"
Now the bastard remembers…
Kim nods, "You gave us away to the bad men. Why?"
Creed shakes his head, "You weren't supposed to be taken. They found out about you guys and I made them swear that they would at least let me take you. They were the ones who betrayed me."
He looks up at me and Mystique, "Kat wasn't supposed to get hurt, I mean I expected there to be a fight and I hoped that you might have gotten out of there, but they weren't supposed to hurt you too seriously…"
Kim laughs and her body shifts back to her adult green self and from the look of it, she's furious.