As always I own none of the X-Men characters/places. The character of Jessica Gion/Blaze is my own creation. The rest of the places and characters of X-Men belong to the creator of the X-Men comics and the creators of the X-Men films.

I'm terribly sorry that I've just now gotten chapters 7 & 8 up. I haven't had a computer for a bit so it's been tough to get things up and running. Now that I finally have I hope you are enjoying the latest installments of Come on Baby Light My FIre. As always R & R.

They continued their meal in silence. Jessica hadn't even taken a bite of her food. She sat there staring out the window picking absently at her red painted fingernails. John tried to keep his eyes on his plate so he wouldn't see the pain in her face. He gulped down another swallow of his food and tossed money on the table to pay for their meals. Jessica exited the booth after him like a robot on stiff limbs. She didn't even remember walking out into the parking lot with him or even getting on the back of the motorcycle. As they rode Jessica's arms hung limply around Pyro's waist. He couldn't feel her heat anymore and it made his heart sink. Jessica sat on the back of the bike the wind spreading the hot tears coming out of her eyes fiercely down her cheeks. She told herself that she would not let him see her cry. In her eyes crying was a weakness and it was one she rarely if ever showed to anyone. By the time they reached the mansion she had regained her composure.

She got off the bike first, pushing his offered outstretched hand away. She pulled off the helmet and launched it at him. It hit him square in the chest knocking him back a bit. She didn't even wait for him to speak she just took off jogging into the building. Pyro watched as the last little bit of that crimson hair fluttered through the closing set of doors.

"Dammit," he said kicking the ground with his sneakered foot.

Pyro walked dreadfully slow into the building and up the stairs. He was oblivious to the sights and sounds that surrounded him. His mind only focused on one thing. He knew he had made her cry even if she didn't show it, and he hated himself for it. But, he had known even before the invitation was offered that he would go back. Magneto had filled the role of surrogate father and Pyro felt he could not abandon him.

Pyro walked into their room the smell of her vanilla scented perfume still billowing in the air. She wasn't there. He hadn't expected her to be. He had hurt her like so many others in her life but it burned her because she loved him. He had made unbridled love to her and he was leaving her with a heart full of feelings. He had finally found a woman he could honestly see himself loving, but something inside him still didn't want to get too attached. Pyro's feelings for her were growing every time he saw her face and if he didn't get out of there now he would not go at all. If he made a decision John was the kind of man that went through with it. Pyro went over to the closet and grabbed a back pack from the top shelf. He began opening his dresser drawers throwing the clothes into the bag. Then as he was shoving things into the pockets of the pack he heard a tiny tink of metal. John reached his fingers down into the little pocket and gripped his fingers around smooth cool metal. He pulled his fingers out and beheld an old keepsake. The shark lighter he had used for years until he had gotten the igniter lay in the palm of his hand. He flipped it open and struck it, the smell of old lighter fluid filling his nostrils. The lighter flickered to life and Pyro watched as the flame danced in front of his face. He smiled and put the lighter in his pocket. Being without some form of flame for the day had made him uncomfortable.

After he had gotten everything out of the drawers John made his way across the room and was about to walk out the door. As he was exiting he bumped into someone.

"Oh, sorry," he said.

Then he realized who he'd bumped into. Jessica stood there her hair in a stringy mess on her head. Her eyes were red and mascara and eyeliner stains lined her cheeks like an abstract painting.

"Jess I," Pyro started.

"You'd better get going," was all she said.

She had completely shut down on him. Her face showed no emotion and her eyes had lost their spark. Pyro knew he shouldn't say anything. Instead he pulled the strap of the back pack up on his shoulder and gave her a nod. He walked out the door and down the hallway catching her still standing there out of the corner of his eye as he rounded the corner. He walked back down to the garage holding back the bile that was trying to rise in his throat. He got on his motorcycle and roared away into the coming night. Jessica stood at the window of what had been "their" room and watched as the man she loved sped away out the gates of the school. Pyro was going back to a man who could never love him as she did.

I know that this was a short chapter but I felt it should have been so. I hope it doesn't take away from the story for anyone.