Disclaimer: I do not own and am making no money from the X-Men. Vixen belongs to her creator Corrinth. Blaze is mine. That is all.

A/N: Hiya folks! Here we go again. This is episode 1 of season 3 of my X-Men Evolution fanfics. I try to keep these fics short and sweet, so when complete they can be read in about 20 minutes. I'm not trying to win any awards; I'm just exercising the writing demons that live in my head. (And yes, I do mean exercising not exorcising.) Cheerio, Lamby.

Scene One

Previously, on X-Men Evolution…

The convertible's driver was a lithe and thoughtful blonde, long hair pulled back into a ponytail. There was an aura of tenseness about her, her lips parted in a silent snarl as she wondered again about the wisdom of finally coming home to Bayville. Besides her, the car's passenger stood in her seat. Her chin rested on hands that in turn rested on the windshield of the sports car. Red hair in untameable curls floated around her. Rosebud lips were pursed as she soaked up the last ounces of heat from the day. Her accent was English, and her tone excitable like fire near dry tinder.

"You know I could quote back at you any one of a thousand of your infamous wolf philosophies to get you out of this poignant mood, but how about a Blaze original for a change? Something along the lines of 'Let tomorrow's worries worry you tomorrow.'"

"You're probably right Blaze," Vixen sighed, relaxing her grip on the wheel.

"You know I am," Blaze laughed heartily, "and anyway I know you won't let me paint your home town red without you!"

"Personally I'd be more worried about you burning the house down…"

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In the X-Mansion's new gym, Kitty, Rogue and Tabitha were on the exercise bikes. Out of nowhere, all three were abruptly confronted with a Jamie each. Multiple grinned and said something. All three girls removed an earphone and asked "What?" at the same time.

"I said," Jamie repeated, "how come when this room has a built in sound system, you three all have MP3 players on instead?"

"We, like totally couldn't agree what to play," explained Kitty.

"Yeah," Tabitha agreed, "no way am I listening to Rogue's taste in music. My eardrums would explode!"

"Ya can't talk," Rogue argued, "I know what you're listening to Tabby…"

"Like I said," Kitty glowered at her friends. "We just couldn't agree."

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"Do you think you'll be gone long?"

"You gonna miss me?" Gambit sounded pleasantly surprised, grinning cheekily. Blaze rolled her eyes and refused to answer, so Remy continued, "I try an' be back for Halloween Cherie, if you gonna have a treat for ole Gambit?"

"Actually," Blaze said seriously, "I was going to egg your bedroom window and let the air out of your bike tyres, but if you're not back then I'll have to find another victim." Gambit chuckled, shaking his head. He went to leave. Blaze's eyes followed him across the room, blatantly checking him out. Some of the other X-girls were thoroughly unimpressed.

"Sheesh Blaze," moaned Rogue melodramatically, "stop droolin' will ya, you're makin' a puddle." Blaze instantly looked away as Gambit glanced back to see what Rogue thought Blaze was drooling at.

"Honestly," exclaimed Kitty, "it's like Scott and Jean never packed up and left for college. I totally thought if we lived through that once we'd never, like, have to suffer it again..."

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Alone in the sanctity of her own room at the Xavier Institute, Blaze tried hard to cry. She sat on her window ledge with her feet drawn up, hugging her knees with her arms. Dejected and rejected, violated and misunderstood, still the tears would not come. Instead she pondered a hot fury, brooding and licking her wounds.

Angel had dumped her, which was no surprise really after what Lucas had shown him of Blaze's mind. It was the way that Warren had broken up with her that was humiliating. The coward had sent Kitty to break the news to Blaze instead. Shadowcat had stood in Blaze's room, digging into the thick red-brown carpet with the point of her shoe, looking sheepish.

"Look, um, Blaze? Warren's asked me to tell you that… that he thinks you both need some space right now. You gotta both, like totally work out what it is that you want, y'know?"

"He's with Rogue," Blaze said flatly, "Isn't he?"

"Um, yeah," Kitty divulged. "I… I think they went down to Diego's to play pool."

"I hope she puts him in a coma," the fire elemental decided vehemently.

(Roll titles…………………………………………….)