I.M:

Tori was sitting at her computer in her little living room logging on to her I.M. for hers and Blake's scheduled chat. He was on the bus to whatever city they were heading to next and she had the entire night free for a change.

…

ThUnDeRbOy19: Hey hot stuff!

SurferGirl20: Don't call me that! ;)'

ThUnDeRbOy19: Alright fine have it your way!

SurferGirl20: So heard you won!

ThUnDeRbOy19: Yeah!

SurferGirl20: Jesse upset!

ThUnDeRbOy19: LOL yes of course he is!

SurferGirl20: Too bad

ThUnDeRbOy19: So Your birthday's next week

SurferGirl20: Yeah

ThUnDeRbOy19: And I talked to Sensei

SurferGirl20: Yeah…

ThUnDeRbOy19: How does a week off, to come visit me in Florida sound?

SurferGirl20: Are you Serious?! 0

ThUnDeRbOy19: Yeah! Please???…I'm begging here!

SurferGirl20: I'd love to come visit you for a week!

ThUnDeRbOy19: Good! Then it's settled…

SurferGirl20: I guess so…so wait when do I leave?

ThUnDeRbOy19: The day of you birthday. Early morning.

SurferGirl20:Ok

ThUnDeRbOy19: So…what are you wearing?

Tori thought that to be an odd question. Blake had never asked her that before. Unless it wasn't Blake.

SurferGirl20: Oh you know a little this a little that…

Tori was pretty certain it was Jesse and he had some of the guys holding Blake back while he took the laptop and typed to Tori.

ThUnDeRbOy19: Like?

SurferGirl20: This and that.

Tori typed teasingly.

ThUnDeRbOy19: That isn't very descriptive.

SurferGirl20: Trust me you don't want me to get descriptive.

ThUnDeRbOy19: Sure I do.

SurferGirl20: Well I had the stomach flu this week and I look all messy and gross in sweats. You still love me right.

There was a long wait for a reply and Tori was certain Jesse didn't know exactly how to reply and was trying to get Blake to cooperate and tell him how to answer back.

ThUnDeRbOy19: Of course I still love you. So what would you be wearing if you felt better?

In all actuality Tori was wearing some short daisy duke sweats in blue and a white tank with a blue lace bra that could be seen through the thin material of her shirt.

SurferGirl20: Jesse let Blake go and give him back the laptop!

Tori rolled her eyes.

ThUnDeRbOy19: But how did you…

SurferGirl20: Blake would never ask me what I was wearing.

ThUnDeRbOy19: Are you sure?

SurferGirl20: Pretty damn positive.

ThUnDeRbOy19: Fine have it your way. Here's Blake!

SurferGirl20: Thanks

ThUnDeRbOy19: Hey Surfer girl!

SurferGirl20: Favorite color?

ThUnDeRbOy19: Blue.

SurferGirl20: Middle name?

ThUnDeRbOy19: Maree

SurferGirl20: Dustin's real name?

ThUnDeRbOy19: Waldo

All of her questions were answer quickly without hesitation and they were all right.

SurferGirl20: Good I was just checking.

ThUnDeRbOy19: Sorry about Jesse.

SurferGirl20: It's fine!

ThUnDeRbOy19: I'm going to have to get going, but your ticket will be there tomorrow, and I can't wait to see you.

SurferGirl20: Love ya Thunder Boy

ThUnDeRbOy19: Love ya Surfer Girl…see you soon.

Tori closed out her I.M. and went off to shower and head for bed after a long day of teaching and extra water blade training with Lee Ann.

With Blake:

Blake was lying in his small bunk in the back of the bus with his laptop waiting for Tori to log on so they could chat and he could tell her his surprise. He was finally going insane thinking about her non-stop and he wanted to see her. So he talked with Sensei Watanabe and he agreed that if Tori said yes he would allow her the vacation time. Blake knew Sensei was sympathetic because he was in love once with a beautiful woman.

Tori was finally logged on and her and Blake chatted and he told her his surprise. For some reason reactions weren't the same over the internet, but it was better then nothing and talking on the phone always seemed to make them sad and they would just sit in silence listening to each other breath.

In a split second Jesse reached in grabbed Blake's laptop and took off to the living room area of the bus. "Jesse!" Blake yelled. He quickly got of his bunk. Two of the other riders pinned him into a chair across from Jesse.

"Let's see what SurferGirl20 is wearing." He grinned at Blake.

Blake laughed at him. "She won't tell you anything." He said struggling against his friends to get to his laptop, but having no luck.

"Is she always this evasive?" Jesse asked. "And what the hell does a little of this a little of that, mean?" He asked Blake.

Blake shrugged somewhat. Jesse went back to typing. Jesse turned the laptop around so Blake could see what he was typing. He instantly started laughing. "Oh man…" He laughed.

"What do I type back Blake? Would you still love her if she looked like a grossly sick person?" Jesse asked.

Blake thought it best to tell him so he wouldn't piss Tori off. "Of course I still love you." Blake said for him. Jesse typed that in.

"Wait how did she know it was me?" Jesse asked out loud.

Blake rolled his eyes. "I would never…"

"Ask what she is wearing. Yeah she said the same thing. And she said she's pretty damn positive." Jesse laughed.

Blake grinned. "That's my girl." He said brightly. "Now give me back my damn laptop." The guys let him go since their cover was blown and Blake took his laptop back to his bunk. He was amused at Tori's questions and answered them all the same so that she knew she was talking to him.

In all honesty Blake knew Tori wasn't sick, she had just been fooling with Jesse. Blake just imagined her in normal clothes in his head as they said goodnight and signed off. Damn he really missed her, but he would get to see her soon.

Arriving in Florida:

Tori stepped off the airplane her small suitcase in hand ready to find Blake and spend some time with him. Tori made her way to baggage claim. She didn't see Blake so she waited. "Tori?" Tori turned around knowing that wasn't Blake. "Jesse remember me?"

Tori smiled softly and nodded. "Where's Blake?"

"That is where I am suppose to take you." Jesse said. He held out his hand and took Tori's suitcase.

"Jesse I don't like surprises, what's going on?" Tori asked skeptically. Jesse led her over to a cab and they climbed in together.

Jesse looked to her and smiled. "I can't tell you."

Tori bit her lip nervously. "Can you tell me if I'll like it?"

"I don't know you that well so I really don't know if you will or not." Jesse answered truthfully.

Tori nodded. "Good point."

Thirty minutes passed and they pulled up in front of this amazing building. "Roger sprung for Trump this trip." Jesse joked seeing Tori's eyes go wide.

"Why?"

"Cause we've been living in a bus, five guys in one bus isn't the best idea." Jesse joked.

Tori nodded her head in understanding as the cab driver opened the door and they stepped out of the cab and went into the lobby. Jesse led her to the elevators and as they went in Tori heard snickers. "I hear she's had work done." Tori heard some girl whispered. As she turned to face the elevator doors two blonde scantily clad dressed girls walked by looking evilly at her.

"Ok what did I do to them?" Tori asked Jesse.

Jesse shook his head. "Nothing. Don't mind them they like to hang all over Blake. He didn't use to care, he just ignored them, but now that he's with you…" Jesse trailed off know she got the hint.

That thought made Tori smile. "So he's been good?" She asked jokingly.

Jesse chuckled. "Why you gonna give him a treat if he has?" He remarked teasingly looking her up and down.

Tori's smile faded. "Uh Jesse could we not go there?"

Jesse nodded seeing her uncomfortable demeanor. "Sure. You ok?" Tori nodded and remained silent as the elevator doors opened. Jesse stepped off with her handing her a card key. "Ok go straight down last room on the right of this wall."

Tori's eyes went wide again. "Wait you mean…"

Jesse shrugged. "Like I said Blake's wants it to be a surprise." Tori kissed Jesse's cheek and then took her suitcase and herself down to the room as instructed. She used the card key and went into the hotel room.

Tori's jaw practically dropped to the floor. There were light blue carnations laid out on the floor like arrows leading to the open balcony where a candle light setting for two was. Tori let go of her suitcase and it fell over on the floor as her hands went over her mouth. Tori wasn't normally one for the girlie romantic thing but this was very sweet.

"Happy birthday Surfer Girl!" Tori heard as to arms wrapped around her waist from behind. Tori felt her heart pound rapidly against her ribcage as her hands went form her mouth to her clavicle still in shock.

"I…it's…" Tori stuttered practically squeaking.

Blake chuckled softly and leaned forward planting a soft kiss on her cheek. "Well I figured I get you for your birthday I might as well make it a special one."

Tori turned in his arms and gave him a soft kiss. "Thank you." She whispered quietly.

"This isn't even the best part." Blake said as he walked over to the room service cart and showed her a small cake perfect for two or three people. It was shaped and decorated like Tori's surfboard.

Tori giggled. "Aw Thunderboy…" Tori said softly.

"That isn't the best part either." Blake said laughing lightly. Tori giggled.

"Well when are we gonna get to the best part?" She asked in playful impatience. Blake walked her over to the relatively small closet covering her eyes.

"Close your eyes." He insisted. Tori closed her eyes tight and Blake moved his hands away. "Are they closed?" He asked.

Tori bit her lip and nodded. "Yeah." Blake opened the closet and pulled out Tori's present.

"Ok open!" He said eagerly. Tori paused for a moment and then opened her eyes to see Blake standing with a brand new surfboard.

"Oh my god…" She gasped not moving from her spot.

Blake grinned. "You like it?" He asked.

Tori stared at him in a daze for a moment. "You got me a new surf board?" She asked threw pools of water that were forming in her beautiful blue eyes. Blake nodded. "Blake it's wonderful!" Tori said happily as her tears spilled over her tear ducts. Blake rested the board up against the wall and wrapped Tori in a tight hug.

"Don't cry. "He said worriedly.

Tori giggled. "I promise they're happy tears." She said. Blake pulled away gently. "How on earth did you do all this?"

"Well this stuff…" He gestured to the room." Was sheer luck because of Roger." That just made Tori laugh lightly. "And the board I had shipped from Hawaii. I told the guy what you were like, the color schemes you like and my own personal touch." Blake turned the board around and Tori saw that down the seam of the board it read, 'My Surfer Girl.'

Tori smiled vigorously and wasn't exactly certain when she was going to stop, but she knew her jaw was already starting to hurt. "Blake this is very sweet and thoughtful thank you." Tori said as she wrapped her arms around him and gave him the most passionate loved filled kiss she could muster.

"Come on. "Blake said gently as he broke away smiling on her slightly swollen and tender pink lips. "Let's eat lunch."

Tori nodded and gave him one last soft kiss before they got food and sat at the small table set for two on the balcony. "Blake this is really…wow." Tori said.

Blake smiled. "I'm glad you like it." He said happily. Then he seemed to grow semi nervous. "You don't mind sharing the room with me?" He asked. Tori looked from the sky to Blake who wore a slightly timid expression.

Tori smiled. "No I don't mind. I've been meaning to talk to you about that."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Sensei and I tried everything to meditate away those stupid fears, but in the end it didn't work." Tori said shrugging.

Blake sighed softly. "Oh." He said casually.

"So we've come up with another way. It's a little more you involved, but I'm hoping it'll work." Tori said. Blake looked at her intently as he set his fork down on his plate in front of him.

"What do I have to do?" He asked willing to do anything to help her move on from that horrible experience in life. Also to help her move on in their relationship, he knew it upset her they could do what normal couples did. If they fell asleep together Tori was rested next to him in his arms. When they made out Blake made sir to take special care not to let his emotions take over and do what he did the first time they saw these problems come out.

Tori looked at him and bit her lip. "You remember why I freaked out the first time?"

"You said you felt trapped and you couldn't breath." Blake said.

Tori nodded. "I need you to do the same thing and if I freak out, don't stop just give me a little TLC."

"TLC?" Blake asked confused.

Tori smiled shyly. "Tender love and care. Sensei thinks I need to work through the fears instead of trying to meditate them away. He says if I just work through them I can learn to ignore them all together."

Blake didn't even know how to respond to any of that. Tori was talking about freaking out and him not stopping just letting her hurt. It Tor him in half to see her cry and he didn't want that. "I don't know Tor."

"About?" Tori asked seeing some skepticism in his dark brown eyes,

Blake sighed. "I can barely see you cry. I can't pin you down and force you to do something if you're freaking out."

"I thought you might say something like that, but Blake I don't know any other way to work through this stuff." Tori said sadly.

Blake was caught in a conundrum either way he chose Tori would be sad. He could either watch her cry and help her through the fears or never get close to her like he knew she wanted but just couldn't. Either way he was screwed. But he promised he'd help her through it, and he was willing to do anything at this point if it would help her past her fear so they could be close like they wanted for so long.