A/N: Okay, I guess first thing to say is: long time no see, no? Yes, I know it's been a while since my last time update, but I what can I say? I'm lazy and there have been a few new fanfics that have been taking up my time. I would've had this out yesterday, but I went and saw Spider-Man 2 with a friend and my bro. Okay, off subject, but SM2 was so wicked kick-ass awesome… Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst's acting was sound and they have some chemistry on screen! If you can, go see it. NOW! After you review this chapter, of course!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter Thirty Three- Fire Tears

                        Why am I doing this? Ori wondered as she led Pyro to her room. Why was she opening up old wounds? Why did she feel the need to tell him?

            She looked back at Pyro, into his beautiful eyes, and knew. He had a right to know. He had a right to know about her. About what she hid inside. The Oriana McNeil she kept locked up away from everybody else.

            They walked into her room in silence. Ori's head was lowered and her honey tresses covered her face. She opened the door and they stepped in.

            "Sit down." Ori said softly, motioning to the bed. Pyro sat down, looking confused, and Ori followed suit.

            "Ori-"

            She placed a hand on his lips and said softly, "I didn't meet Sidney until I was sixteen. A lot went on before that. A lot that I didn't tell Sidney - I didn't tell anyone. Do you want to hear it?"

            He could see it was important to her, that she needed to say it, and because he loved her it mattered to him as well. He answered, "Yes."

            Ori looked away, her eyes going soft and they held a faraway look, "I was raised for eight years by my mother. My father… was nothing more then a sperm donor. My mother had suffered and survived and didn't get a happily ever after because of me. She was Italian with old-school Italian parents. My father, from what I was told by my grandparents, had been the golden playboy of the private school she went to. She fell in love with him, as most girls did. But oddly enough, he noticed her. They had a wild, rough love affair and I was brought into the world because of it. When my mother found out she was pregnant she told Golden Boy and he left her high and dry and moved to Hawaii with his other girlfriend.

            "So my mother turned to Grandpapie and Grandmere. They were ashamed. They thought they had taught their daughter better then to get mixed up and have sex and stuff. They couldn't believe it. So they disowned her. Threw her flat on her butt when she was a month pregnant. But my mother was a strong woman and she got herself a job in New York City as a waitress in a middle-class area and would work other odd jobs to support herself and me. She bought a small apartment with what money she had and what she made. Then I was born.

            "My mother never resented me for ruining her life. She never once thought about abortion or adoption. She told me once I was always 'hers'. There had never been any doubt. And despite the fact that we were dirt poor and living in a crummy apartment in not the best part of town, I was the happiest kid alive. I never felt the need to see my grandparents or my father, I had Mommy."

            "Those eight years were the best of my life. It was all sunshine. The land of milk and honey. I can still see her face. She was so beautiful. Exotic, wild. I always wanted to look like her but she said I looked like the Golden Boy. I looked just like my father. For a few days that bothered me, but I was an easy-going kid and forgot about it quick enough.
Then when I was eight and in third grade we were doing this activity on the Declaration of Independence and my mom thought it'd be cool if I could see the Statue of Liberty. So did I. I remember waiting for that day for what seemed like years. I thought it would never come but then the day finally happened. My mother had taken the day off from work and we took our wreck of a car up to the Statue of Liberty. It was the best day of my life. I can remember all the fun and joy and laughing we had. I got a cool bracelet with Liberty on it. It's at my grandparents' house now.

            "Then we had to go home…" she drew in a long sigh and she once again that helpless little girl, "Somehow we got lost. My mother didn't go places often so she wasn't used to driving alone in the dark. We ended up traveling down an empty dirt road. It was so dark… dark for miles, but we didn't seem to care… it was all a big adventure for us. Then it happened. Our car broke down. The engine stalled or something - I never did find out. We got out of the car and opened the hood. You should have seen the smoke coming from the radiator. We laughed it off, saying 'my, what luck!' but now that I think about it, I don't think my mother was laughing it off. I could almost see it in her eyes. There was fear and panic. Something wasn't right and she knew it.

            "You know, I think my mother was a mutant. I think she had precognition abilities and some telepathy 'cause she could find things, things someone lost. She always could sense danger or knew where I had left my things, but she would do it in such a subtle way. Like saying: 'Dear, your shoes are under the couch. Why did you leave them there?' when I was sure I had put them there when she was outside."

            Ori broke off and looked away, "I'm procrastinating." she said wearily.

            Pyro, who had listened to Ori's story with a stomach becoming heavier and heaver, had a very good idea of what was to come next, "Ori, you don't-"

            "I do." Ori snapped, "Are you afraid to hear it?"

            "Maybe." Pyro admitted, "Maybe."

            "My mother decided that we should walk and find some help for our car. She grabbed my hand, as if she was afraid I'd disappear, and we began to walk. We didn't get far. After only about ten minutes of walking a car pulled up on our side. It was then that I first felt my mother panic. Her palms were sweating and she pushed me behind her. One of them, (and they were drunk - even at eight I knew about that) asked if we needed help and my mother said no, that we were going up to her brother's house on the hill around here. I could tell from their ugly, ugly smiles that they didn't believe her. They stepped out of the car and we started to run…"

            "One of those men grabbed my mother and ripped her blouse. The blouse that she had been so excited to wear for the first time. Even as one of the men pushed her to the ground she screamed at me to run, but I couldn't move my legs. I just started at the two men in horror. They smiled at me and each patted me on my head while the other raped my mother. It didn't register that this was really happening. Not when I heard her begging me to run or when I heard her fighting them. It didn't click until I heard her first scream of pain. Then it was all too real."

            "I got so angry then. No eight-year-old should feel the anger, the hatred, I did as I watched them. Something in me just snapped and I was consumed in a fiery rage. I didn't even realize my hands had caught on fire, my fire. When I heard my mother scream the second time, I lunged without thought and I rammed my fists into one of the men's face. I remember the skin peeling away from his face and the scream of horror. His accomplice turned then and saw what I had done. He was so freaked out, he grabbed his friend and they drove away. Leaving us to die."

            "I rushed over there to my mother. I can't remember her face; I don't want to remember… it was beaten so badly. There was blood everywhere and she was shivering. I begged her to get up but she couldn't. She couldn't do anything. She was unconscious."

Golden tears pooled in her eyes but they didn't fall. Not even as she remembered the fear and panic she had felt. Pyro's hands clenched into fists and he wished he could go back to that night, to that road, and use them, forcefully.

            "I finally started to run," Ori continued, "I ran and ran and ran. I scraped my legs and knees on rocks and I ruined my new dress. I didn't realize then but the skin on my hands was peeling from using my powers because I couldn't control them. Finally, I came to a house miles away from my mother. An old man answered it and I told him that my mother needed help and I told him where she was. Then I collapsed.

            "When I woke up, I was in the hospital for treatments for my wounds. I found out that by the time the ambulance had found my mother she was already gone. It was then I first felt alone and I began to cry. That was my first mistake."

            She lifted a hand and touched the skin right below her eyes, "When I cry did you know I cry my fire? That's why I have to be careful. I can't cry or I'll scold myself. When I was little I didn't have control over it and I scarred myself." Pyro leaned in and saw it. The tiny white marks, barely noticeable, right under her eyes. He wanted to hug her but she looked so fragile… and yet so strong.

            "After I was released I was sent to live with Grandpapie and Grandmere. I wasn't a good kid, Pyro. I was horrible and even at eight I acted out. I stayed out past curfew, made friends with the wrong people, and did everything I could to hurt my grandparents. Inside I felt guilty over my mother's death and my grandparents were too guilty that they had ignored their only child to see what was really wrong with me. On top of that I began to experiment with my powers. I knew I was special, knew that I was different, and I liked it. One year I set the whole cafeteria aflame and they could never prove it was me because I was on the opposite side to where the flames started. And I was so unhappy."

            "Then I turned fifteen and discovered a new way to relieve my guilt. Men. I slept around, even when I was that young. I didn't care who you were or what you did as long as you'd give me a night of passion. My grandparents found out and they were horrified, thinking I was the extreme version of their daughter. It didn't matter to them that I was on birth control and was always careful. They decided I needed to get away from New York, so they made me pack my bags and we moved to Maine when I was sixteen years of age. My life changed."

            "The first person I ever met out there was Father Tucker. My grandparents made me go to catholic school. He recognized me for who I was. He knew I was a mutant and knew I was going through hard times. He brought me to his office and told me that he was a medium, someone who talks with ghosts, and that he knew I was a mutant. He offered to show me how to use my powers properly. At first I refused to, but Father Tucker kept on pestering me and I finally agreed. That was when I was introduced to Sidney who was a social outcast. We clicked."

            "Father Tucker taught me how to control my powers so I didn't hurt myself. He also gave me morals. I learned not to hurt anyone either. Understanding my powers helped me get a sense of me and because I knew from being with Sidney that people, when they died went to a better place, I learned to forgive myself for not saving my mother. But I never could tell anyone about that night. Until now."

            Pyro leaned forward and hugged Ori to him. She melted in his arms and he grasped her hair, "Ori, you're so brave… I'm so sorry. No one should ever have to go through that…"

            Ori sighed and said, "I know and I don't like reliving that night, but for you I had to." She looked up at him softly, smiling slightly.

            "I love you no matter what, Ori. This doesn't change I think. Now, I just feel closer to you." He said, stroking her hair.

            They sat like that for a few moments. Ori wrapped up in Pyro's arms, taking in his scent and feeling content. But the lust was coming back now, full force. She could feel it twining in her stomach and from the way Pyro had stiffened,  he felt it too.

            "Ori?" When she mumbled something illegible against his chest, he went on, "I'm not leaving tonight."

            Ori raised her head and this time there was a smile on her lips, a full one. "I know," she said softly and dragged his mouth back down to her.

            And, oh no, he didn't leave that night.

----------

                        Ori and Pyro laid in the tangled mess called their bed. Ori was curled up against Pyro, who had an arm around her waist, and their bodies still shone with their lovemaking. Pyro looked down at Ori. There was a satisfied look on his face and in his eyes that one could only get from sex. But at the same time, love shone in those green depths. Ori raised her head weakly and smiled at him.

            "I don't think I'll ever be able to walk the same way again." Ori mumbled.

            Pyro shook his head and tried to clear his vision of the black dots, "I'll never see straight either. But I guess there has to be sacrifices made for such good sex."

            "Great sex." Ori corrected.

            "Fantastic sex." Pyro added.

            Ori smiled and twined her fingers through his hair and said, "You up for another round, baby?" and smiled at him.

            Pyro shrugged and answered, "Give me a few more minutes to regain my strength and then we can see what other body functions of mine you can destroy, luv."

            "Sounds good." Ori muttered and her eyes fluttered closed, "Sleepy…"

            "That can happen after mind blowing sex." Pyro agreed, yawning and curled his legs around her, making a protective cocoon.

            "Cold." Ori said, half-asleep, and shivered. She sighed as Pyro wrapped a big blanket around them both. She wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head on his chest.

            As she started to slip into sleep, she whispered, "Love you."

            "Love you, too," was the last thing she heard.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        A/N: Okay, chapter thirty two done and done! Actually, this chapter was going to be a lemon, but I didn't want to raise the rating ;. In the next chapter we get towards the end of the romance part of this fic. Only about two more chapters left. Next couple up: Lance and Kitty! Yay! I've been waiting for this chapter, have you? I wish I could say this would be out sooner but… don't wanna promise something I don't know if I can keep. I wanted to get this finished by the end of the summer, but I don't know if it'll happen. Hey, we're getting near this fic's first anniversary (it's in the beginning of September). I dunno, maybe if it's not finished by then I'll post a bonus chapter? Maybe a lemon of your choice? Who knows [shrug].

                        Hellmouth 2: you should give yourself more credit! Anyway, I'd be more then happy to recommend some stories for you to read. Only problem is, I don't know what you like, well other then the stuff you've reviewed for me. But okay, here's some really good reads (in my opinion anyway).

            Waiting Between Memories by Ryee- it's FFX-2 so I don't know if you've ever played but most people do. Also, check out her other story (that one's about Tidus and Yuna). She's an amazing woman.

            Harry Potter and the Great Dane by ???- ah, it's in the Buffy Crossover section. Don't know the author's name, but I know it's great!

            The Draco Series- can't find that on unfortunately. Go over to It's by a woman named Cassandra Claire in the Schnoogle section. They are the best HP fanficion you'll ever read! All these should keep you busy until I can get more for you to read! If you wanna read some old stuff check out the stories in my favourites section in my profile.

                        Gemini-Elf-2204: [beams] thanks! And no, I wouldn't abandon my fic. Not when we're this far in. Sometimes my fic pans out and I lose interest in it (happened several times) but once I get far into the story you can tell it's gonna be finished!

                        Jaina: No, no, he's not. You're confusing Jake with Jack. Two different people. One evil, one not. Sorry if it confused you!

                        Wllw979: I'm glad you like the O/P pairing. See, whenever I make OCs I worry that they'll be Mary-Sues. I have nothing against Mary Sues, nothing of the sort, it's just that everyone else does and then they get angry and they're all think 'your character is such a Mary Sue' and at first I didn't know what it was and not that I do it's kinda insulting…

"You're gonna spend the rest of your life… dead!" –Red Dead Revolver

-Lizzy Rebel