Xavier had sent everyone to his or her rooms before the sun had reached its highest position to signify the afternoon. The X-Men understood that this ordeal would be far more complicated than anything that they had ever tried to prevent before. Executing an all-powerful entity that could never really die? And they thought the government was difficult...

But as he lied in his own bed, John Allerdyce thought about not only the predicament at hand, but things that had plagued him since he had left the safety and shelter of the mansion more than three months ago.

He thought about Jubilee. He wondered how she was and if she ever thought about him; of course he didn't expect her to, but it would be nice to know that she did. In fact, he hadn't truly spoken to her since he'd been back. Fretfully, he considered the question until the answer finally revealed itself to him. Like a misleading, treacherous beacon of false hope, it found him and showed its ugly face.

Mystique.

Mystique was the reason that John hadn't visited his old girlfriend. The male mutant had been so wrapped up in his new obsession that he had forgot completely about the girl who had cried for him when he left the manor, who had cared for him even through his tough times with Raven...

But that was Mystique's name, too. Raven. John hoped that it was only coincidence. If Mystique was always the Raven that he had been in lust with, it would drive him positively insane. He would actually need to be confined in an insane asylum.

Then he comforted himself by telling his worried mind that Mystique would never impersonate someone like that for too long. Wolverine would have had her skewered in no time, surely. With his keen sense of smell, he could decipher anyone and anything. And then Pyro's mind dwelled on the woman that he had just finished thinking about.

Raven.

Mystique had never completely told him what had happened to her.

What if she was killed when the shape shifter decided to steal her body? It was a thought, but an unbearable one at that. He desperately wanted to know what happened to Raven Thomas. He couldn't deny that he had thought about her almost every day since he had found out that Mystique had been in disguise. When he had...

All of a sudden, John couldn't bring himself to think about that night... that night when...

Pyro stumbled in his thoughts. His eyes threatened to fill with tears. The images that he cursed to have ever obtained finally burst through his memory and bombarded him with things that he could not and would never forget.

He had thought that she was Raven. He had thought that it was just a meaningless occurrence that he would get over. Having sex with a girl that he lusted after was something to be proud of and to gloat about, but nothing that should leave a permanent scar. But it had.

It had troubled him more than anything ever had. Thinking that it was meaningless was nothing close to what it actually pertained to. How could he have known then that he would become this close to the seductive Brotherhood member? It was true that he now had feelings for Mystique, but did their one night of intercourse mean anything after he had found out her true identity? After all, he had thought that it was Raven Thomas, not Mystique.

Did it mean anything now?

When he found out that it wasn't Raven, Pyro didn't know what to feel. His entire body felt numb and used; the shape shifter had claimed another victim. But he had spent time with her, gotten to know her. But she is a master of deceit; who could possibly know what she truly felt?

Pyro made up his mind. He would visit Jubilee that very second and then confront Mystique about his questions. After all, what was the harm in finally knowing the truth?

Quickly, John made his way down the hall and turned into the girls' dormitory hall. Walking down the corridor, he finally spotted Jubilee's door; willing himself to be as normal as possible, he raised his fist and quietly knocked.

Scurrying could be heard inside of the room; Pyro found himself laughing internally as he heard a loud thump and the familiar voice of Jubilee a little lower than it should have been. In another moment, the door was thrust open and there stood Jubilation Lee.

She was taller than he remembered. Her dark hair was tied in a high ponytail with a bright yellow band; her trademark hoop earrings dangled from her ears. He smirked as he noted her eye-catching yellow outfit. Grinning seductively, he licked his lips.

"How ya doin', sweet thing?"

The reaction was immediate and he was pulled into the dorm.

"John it's so great to see you! How have you been? I've barely seen you around at all!"

Her hysterics made him smirk and chuckle shortly. It was good to be back in her cheery company. He remembered that she always had a short temper, but when she wasn't angry, Jubilee was one of the nicest people that he had ever known.

"I'm great, and you?" She didn't answer but pulled him into a lung-crushing hug. He had to admit that he did miss those.

After another few moments, Jubilee released him and stood with her hands still on his shoulders. The small wisps of stray hair framed her face beautifully and John felt like there was no other welcome home present that he could ever want more. This was his Jubilee.

Before he could think any further, he was thrown in another direction and collided onto her bed. Laughing, he watched as she took a place beside him and gave him a smile as bright as her clothing.

"Okay," she said, "I want you to tell me everything. And I mean everything, young man!" She gave him a playful smack and he smiled. But then he felt some lurking thought in the back of his mind. Something was not right...

"Jubes, is there someone else in here?" He asked tentatively.

Jubilee only continued to smile. Her voice never wavered in its utter joy.

"Rogue's not in right now, she went to the bathroom or somethin'. Why, Py? Somethin' wrong?"

Hastily, John shook his head and returned her seemingly painted-on smile. His mouth was beginning to hurt, but it was nice to see her again. Somewhat reluctantly, he told her what he had been "up to" lately, omitting the parts about the helicopter, Toad's informative stories, and Mystique being in the manor as they spoke.

After he was finished, her smile had faded slightly and her eyes appeared more intent and serious. She spoke and made John's insides quiver.

"It sounds like that Mystique's been messing with your mind, Pyro."

He grimaced as if vinegar had been forced into his refusing mouth. Mystique wasn't messing with his mind! Mystique was helping him and no one understood...

"John? Are you sure that you're okay, sweetheart? I think something's wrong..."

Absently, he looked into her eyes. He felt so lost about everything; he needed to confide in someone, but was Jubilee the right person? They both sat there for countless moments until Jubilee finally spoke:

"I missed you when you were away, John. I never wanted you to leave."

Tears started to form in her eyes and several fell down her cheeks and sloped underneath her chin. John couldn't bear to see her like this.

"John, please tell me what's wrong. Can't you tell me?"

She put a slightly trembling hand on his face; he closed his eyes and it occurred to him why he had gone out with Jubilee in the first place. It wasn't for looks, or brains, or just because he was a pompous jerk. It was because she cared for him. Because she cared about what he did and who he was with...

Unthinking, he leaned in closer and she followed suit. In seconds they were inches apart, until they finally came together.

No thoughts crossed his mind. Pyro didn't think about whom he was kissing. All he knew, was it was soft and caring, passionate and tender. Slowly, he made the kiss deeper, wishing that it would never end. And then a soft gasp behind Jubilee made him jump.

The two broke from their kiss- Pyro staring straight ahead and Jubilee twisted around.

Rogue was standing there, her gloved hands still clutching the brass knob. And beside her was another girl whom Pyro had recognized all to well. She stared at him for a moment, unblinking until she finally spun around and fled down the corridor.

The last thing he saw were her eyes flickering in a deep, golden hue.