After her classes, Tori waited for Max as usual outside the entrance, but he was late… Max was never late.
Her heart began to race suddenly and she wondered why she got this sudden feeling of unease. The sounds of a car coming down the road eased the feeling a little, but she instantly got the feeling back when she saw it wasn't the same black SUV that Max usually drove.
A blue Mustang Convertible came slowly down the road and Tori saw that Max was definitely in the driver's seat. The car pulled to a stop and Max got out of the car, dressed, as always, in his black suit.
"Max? What is this?" she asked as he walked her over to the driver's seat.
"Happy Birthday Miss Victoria," he simply said. Tori looked at him strangely. "From your Uncle."
That stopped Tori from getting into the car. She had a brief flashback from when she was ten.
She was sitting at the bottom of the grand staircase and overheard her Uncle and another man talking about Ellie's accident, and how it was anything but.
"Tori?" Max asked. "Don't you like it?"
Tori looked at the car. It was gorgeous and obviously top of the line. It had cream-colored interior and was fully loaded.
"It's great Max… but you said John gave this to me as my gift?" Max nodded his head.
"Tori, I can assure you that I did a full check and there's nothing wrong with it."
Tori looked at him and saw that there was truth in his eyes, but it was still hard for her to trust. But he had driven it here and nothing happened…
Max opened the driver's side door for her to her surprise. "It's yours and you should drive it."
Tori smiled and got in. As they drove down the streets Max gave her directions and Tori didn't question him.
"I got you something too," he said as Tori saw signs coming up for the airport.
"Let me guess, a one way ticket out of here?" she said smiling a little.
Max grinned. "No, but something I think you will enjoy." They pulled into the airport and walked towards one of the gates.
"Max, I don't understand what's going on," she said.
"You'll see," he said.
Tori looked at him skeptically and turned around when she saw people unloading from the plane.
Her heart literally stopped in her chest for a moment… coming off the ramp was the one person she had feared she would never see again. She turned to Max who was only smiling and then back to the figure walking towards her with a huge smile on his face.
"Oh, my… gosh!" she said excitedly as she ran towards him.
Blake dropped his bag and caught Tori as she jumped into his arms.
Max stood away from them and gave them their space…also to make sure no one was there looking.
Blake held onto her as if she would disappear at any moment. He had dreamed of this moment ever since he had left all those months ago.
Tori had tears in her eyes and pulled away slightly, only so she could kiss him.
Their lips met and held for what seemed like eternity.
"I missed you so much," she said as Blake placed her on the ground and kissed him again.
"I missed you too," he said.
"How did you get here? I thought-"
Blake pointed over to Max and Tori understood…
"This is amazing," she said as he grabbed his bag and they made their way over to Max. "Thank you," she said to him. Max just smiled in his quiet way and led them out of the airport.
"I don't agree with what he's doing to you Tori. I was hired to guard you no matter what, and I can't stand to see you miserable. Especially not on your birthday," he said as they found the car.
He opened the door for her again and she and Blake got in. "Aren't you coming?" she asked when he made no move to get in. Max shook his head.
"Not tonight, Tori," he said. "I have the other car here. My gift to you is what you've wanted ever since I came back in your life…freedom." Tori got out and hugged him.
"Thank you so much!" She kissed his cheek. "But what about John?"
"Mr. McCall is out of town until tomorrow afternoon… just be sure to be back at the Manor before then."
She smiled again and got into the car.
"Thank you Max," Blake said. "This really means a lot." Max smiled and sent them on their way.
As they drove, Tori couldn't stop smiling. Blake's hand never left hers and they felt like they had been separated forever.
Blake smiled when he saw her right wrist. "I see the guys gave you our gift." He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was coming, but when Max called me-"
"Wait, Max CALLED you?"
"Yeah. He thought it would be a nice surprise."
"Well it's a good thing you guys kept it secret or else John might have found out." They drove for a little longer, just happy to be in each other's company. "So…where exactly are we going?"
Blake smiled. He had a little more up his sleeve. "I was thinking of a nice little spot on the beach." Tori smirked and thought of the one place he could have been thinking about. She pulled into the beach entrance and they got out.
The sun was setting now and Blake took her over a few dunes until they reached the spot where she had tried to teach him to surf. What surprised her though was that there was a small picnic set up for them.
"How in the world-" she began.
"Hunter knew I was coming back and helped me out," he said as they sat on the blanket.
"I saw him today and he didn't saw anything! When I get my hands on him-" But her thoughts flew away when he grabbed her in a passionate kiss. Tori surrendered to his touch and felt his tongue ask for passage and she granted it.
The feeling of being together was more than they could have hoped for.
Tori's hands massaged his back while he kept one hand on her cheek and the other around her waist.
Tori felt herself being lowered down to the sand and stopped. "Blake," she began.
"I'm sorry," he apologized immediately.
"No, it's not that. I just think that we should, um, wait a little longer… Max did say John was out of town tonight…"
Blake smiled and kissed her lightly. "Then I think I can wait then." They both smiled then and ate their food as the sun set fully.
When they were through, Tori sat in between his legs with his head resting on his shoulder.
"I love you," he whispered in her ear. Tori smiled and sank into his arms.
"I love you, too," she replied as she moved her head a little and met his sweet lips once again. "I think we should head back… to, um, my apartment?" she said kind of hesitantly. Blake smiled and began to gather everything up…
A few towns over, John McCall sat in a hotel room, papers splayed out in front of him. The only way to get Tori taken care of, was to cause another accident…
