More or less irrelevant A/N: I won't lie, I never thought I'd log into this account again. However after extensive therapy and distance from the reason I stopped writing, I decided to dig up my old notes and drafts. One could reasonably consider this fanfiction of fanfiction, but I already gave myself a headache thinking that one in circles. There's a very good chance that I'll revisit This is My Life fairly soon, as I have quite a few notes left for that story as well. This story may have another chapter before it's completed, who knows. Definitely not me.

"If you're such a master, you do it!"

"Okay," Jade held out her hand, "Touch me."

I grabbed her hand without hesitation, which I quickly realized was a mistake. I pulled away only a half second later as the burning sensation shot through my fingers. I shook my hand to try to get the burn to stop and glared at her, "That's just not fair."

She reached out for my hand faster than I could react and the pain immediately went away, "You asked for it."

I groaned in annoyance and stood up to get some water from the kitchen. Jade had been at my house for an hour and a half attempting to teach me how to control my body temperature, but it seemed the more I tried, the less it worked. She had the patience of a saint, but I was the exact opposite.

A month after we came to a compromise, things weren't working out quite the way we expected. Jade had a little more control than she thought she did, which made us both happy. The flip side was that I had way less control than either of us thought. This was made abundantly clear after she nearly went back on her own promise to wait, only to be brought back to reality when I nearly caught her shirt on fire.

Needless to say, we didn't end up going very far that night.

After two months, we were able to progress to a little bit of over-the-clothes action without any significant fire hazards.

Barring the singed pages of my English notebook, but we chose to ignore that one.

Month three was when I earned myself a night in the doghouse after I accidentally burnt the first and last several pages of Hamlet. My error was, of course, ranting and raving about how ridiculous my book report assignment was while holding said book.

We were currently in month four and I was still struggling to figure out how to control, well, any of it.

I took a sip of my water and immediately spit it out into the sink, "Dammit!"

Jade was by my side in a heartbeat, her hand on my neck offering welcomed respite from the excruciating burn. I put the, now unbearably hot, glass down on the counter and watched as the water boiled. I sighed and looked at her in disbelief, "Only when I don't want to!"

She smiled softly at me, "It's hard to get used to."

"This is ridiculous," I replied, exasperated. I dumped the water back into the sink and ran my fingers through my hair.

She was silent for a few seconds, and then said far too casually, "Maybe sex just isn't a good idea."

My eyes widened and I whipped my head around to stare at her, "No!" I shook my head and forced myself to relax and be rational. We'd been working at it so much, and every time she kissed me I could've sworn she wanted it just as much as I did, and the thought of…

I didn't entertain the thought any further.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I had to be strong for her. I was not going to force her into anything. If I couldn't control myself, I wouldn't make her suffer for it. She had a point. Maybe it wasn't a good idea.

"Maybe you're right. The last thing I want is to hurt you."

I finally opened my eyes as I felt calm again, but the smile on her face surprised me. She looked...smug. My brows furrowed.

Before I could ask what the hell she was thinking, she held out her hand to me, her eyes betraying a look of hopefulness, "Warm me up, but don't burn me."

I frowned and reached out. Her hand was ice cold, and I fought the urge to jerk back. I took a deep breath and stared into her eyes as if they held the answers. I felt the heat rising in my body and tried to focus on her hand.

She smiled as her hand slowly matched the temperature of my own, "Okay, lower the temperature again. Remember how?"

I nodded and closed my eyes. I filled my head with images of ice and snow, the feel of biting into ice cream, the chill of an early winter morning. When I opened my eyes again she looked amused, "Don't give me frostbite, sweetheart."

My heart fluttered, though I ignored it in favor of trying to warm her up again. I thought I'd finally gotten it, until her hand fell away from mine and a single column of smoke drifted from her fingertips. I looked at the palm of my hand as a small fire flickered out into another plume of smoke.

"It's progress?" I offered sheepishly.

She laughed and easily picked me up and sat me on the counter top, "It's progress."

By month five, she'd already made a habit of spending the night with me. I got used to the comfort of her body next to mine, even though she rarely slept, but the routine stopped just as suddenly as she had appeared all those months ago. She was there, in my bed, just the same as always. Teasing me, kissing me, laying with me. I left to use the bathroom, and then she was gone. I waited for hours, but she didn't come back. I went to sleep alone.

Come morning, I sat next to an empty chair all day. I slept alone again.

"So...do you know what happened?"

She shoved the last book in her locker and slammed it shut. Andre had his hands in his pockets and looked...broken. She could relate.

"No."

"I mean, we were fine just last week. We were really happy," Andre continued even though Tori isn't looking at him. "I don't get what went wrong."

"It's not like Jade said anything either!" She snapped at him before she had a chance to remember who she's talking to.

He doesn't react. She doesn't apologize.

"I feel empty," he says quietly.

"I know."

Jade and Cat had been gone for over a week. Not a single hint was left to suggest where they'd gone. Their friends quickly gave up on getting any answers out of them. Beck and Robbie kept their distance, while Tori and Andre stayed close together. They never felt any better, but misery loves company.

Two weeks passed with no word from their soulmates, and the two sat in silence on the couch at Tori's house. Their books lay forgotten on the table; their project untouched.

Tori's so lost in her own mind that it doesn't occur to her that there's a stranger in her living room. Andre doesn't notice either. She isn't sure how he got there, or even when. He doesn't speak as he walks over to them and takes their hands. In the back of her mind, she knows this should be terrifying, but she can't feel anything. He pulled them each to their feet, then walked off, and that's when she realizes she isn't in her home anymore.

"I told you to check on them more often!"

"I know, love, I should have listened to you."

Tori turned her head to the side, in the direction of the voices. She's standing in a living room, just not her own. The furniture is modern, but the decorations are ancient. Antonio and Lucia stand side-by-side. The stranger from her house is gone.

Lucia approached her hesitantly and reached out to stroke her cheek, her brows furrowed, "It's been over a fortnight."

Antonio mutters something under her breath that she vaguely registers as a curse in Spanish. His eyes soften and he crosses his arms, "I am so sorry, Victoria, Andre." Beside her, Andre finally looks up from the hardwood floors at the sound of his name. "We will fix this; I promise you."

"Love," Lucia turned away from where she had been studying Andre closely to address her mate, "We haven't any time to waste. The bond is already breaking. I feel it."

Antonio was gone, and Lucia lead the two to sit on a couch as she waited for her mate to return. She wished the two were conscious enough to understand her apology, to understand she would change it all if she could.

Antonio soon reappeared with another man. Tall, with neatly groomed blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and an expensive looking suit. He studied the two closely and nodded, "I see they've returned."

"I was regrettably caught up in dealing with a band of renegades. I'm afraid it's been a fortnight," Antonio informed the man.

William nodded and helped the two to their feet. "Any longer and the damage would have been permanent. Come – it's time to face the Caldwells."

Lucia looked at him, "Are you certain? We haven't any-"

"No need to worry. They'll collect witnesses once we arrive," William says firmly.

Antonio gestured toward the two friends, "We can't do anything with them in this state. There has to be a way to give them a piece of their strength back?"

"Perhaps..." William hummed in thought, then looked toward Antonio and Lucia, "You could give them some of your strength."

Lucia clutched her mate's arm as he spoke, "What would that mean for us?"

"Your bond weakens, depending on how much you choose to give them. In this state, it's unlikely they'll hold a case against the Caldwells. If they refuse to release the bonds, then all that's left in these two is all we have."

"What are our options?" Lucia asked.

William studied the two, then responded, "One of you could give half, or each of you could give a fourth."

Antonio held his mate closer "Is it permanent?"

"Yes, but it will right itself quickly."

Lucia looked up at him, "We have to."

He nodded, "What do we have to do?"

"What would you like to give?"

"A fourth each."

"Be still," William said as he pressed his palm against Antonio's chest, over his heart. A few moments later he does the same to Lucia, then Tori and Andre.

Antonio is silent for a few moments before telling William, "I don't feel any differently."

He shook his head, "You wouldn't. I didn't take half of your bond, I only took what half of what theirs would have been. A small amount for you."

While Antonio felt nothing different, Tori and Andre both suddenly felt as if they'd woken from a coma.

"What's going on?" Tori muttered as she rubbed her temples.

"Victoria, Andre," William addressed the two thoroughly confused friends and offered his hands, "Now that you're with us again, it's time you know the truth."

Flashback

"I'm sorry, it's required that-"

"I don't care!" Cat spat angrily back at him, "Obligations be damned! You can't do this to me!"

"I haven't a choice, you know that," Antonio pleaded with her, his hands quickly batted away as he reached out.

Cat turned her back to him and shook her head, "You're giving up on us."

He stepped closer to her, "Of course not, love. I've postponed it as long as I could, but the Caldwells-"

"Forget the damn Caldwells!" Jade snarled as she finally rejoined the two in the parlor, Lucia trailing helplessly behind, "You haven't the right to just hand us off like that!"

"He tried, Jade, he did. You know they won't stop until they get what they want," Lucia cut in.

"What happened to the right to choose?" Cat crossed her arms, part in defiance, part to keep herself together.

Antonio deflated, "It only lasts so long, Catarina."

Lucia stepped between the two infuriated sisters and Antonio. She raised her hands to rest on their cheeks, "I am so, so sorry. We tried our best, you know we did."

They stood silently for several moments before Cat sighed deeply and let her arms fall to her sides, "I know."

"There has to be something else. There must be another option?" Jade's voice lowered as she too let the anger dissipate from her body.

"You know there's only one way out of it," Antonio reminded her softly.

They felt like pieces of meat, the way the men looked at them. They stood close together, feeling helpless and scared, but refusing to show it.

"Are the terms satisfactory?"

"Yes, Mr. Caldwell. Thank you for your time. A pleasure, as always," the man bowed his head before leaving the great room.

The Caldwell patriarch was a pillar, in more ways than one. The tall, well-built man retained himself around his fifties, his brown hair streaked with grey as the only indication of his years. His power and influence had helped him rise through the ranks of the Council and given him more than enough influence to secure any partner his heirs could ever want. His light blue eyes were cold and heartless, yet he never failed to carry himself with an aura of irresistible charisma.

His two eldest sons stood by his sides, their eyes shining as if presented with their cut of the meal from a hunt. They'd already chosen their mates, and kept their attention trained on them. Jade knew the dark haired one to his right hand was hers. There was never any doubt he, as the first born, would lay claim to her if given the opportunity. His eyes were a deep brown, almost black, and held the same coldness as his father's. The blonde to his left took a distinct interest in Cat, despite her status. His father offered several, more powerful mates for him, but he refused them all for his "fiery princess."

"Phillip," the attention of everyone in the room was turned toward the doorway, as his mate and the only person in existence who dared use Mr. Caldwell's first name entered, "Dear, Mr. and Mrs. Baresi have arrived."

"Excellent," he responded with a tinge of annoyance. As the two entered, they each greeted him with a respectful bow. He didn't offer them the same courtesy. "As their guardian, it is essential that you permit these unions. I trust there won't be any further complications."

Antonio offered one last apologetic look to his daughters before he bowed his head, "Of course, Mr. Caldwell. All of the arrangements have been made."

"Good, good," he turned toward another man off to the side, who took his cue to retrieve two rings from a box to present to Antonio. "In these trying times, I'm sure you understand the need to ensure a bond between my sons and your daughters. I offer you to do the honors as a gesture of good faith."

It was easy for them to see through his lie. Jade and Cat knew it was all for show. An extra layer of insurance against any appeal from the Council.

Antonio fought the urge to show any emotion as he was quietly forced to do Mr. Caldwell's bidding. He took Alexander's ring to give to Jade, and Joseph's ring to give to Cat. He kissed their hands gently, "I love you both."

Jade and Cat were finally pulled apart as the two younger Caldwells retrieved their mates.

End of Flashback

Andre was the first to find his voice after some silence, "They're...engaged?"

Antonio nodded solemnly, "I'm afraid so. They begged for a way out, and that was when we discovered their soulmates. I would have done anything for them, so at their request, I wiped their memories of the Caldwells and told them where to find you."

"So none of this has been real," Tori concluded, her arms crossed. She didn't want to show how broken that revelation made her, but there was nothing she could do to hide it from the three gifted individuals.

Lucia quickly shook her head and approached her, "No, no, you have it all wrong, love. I wasn't being false with you when I said all of these choices were yours to make. Before their memories were taken, yes, their only intention was to come find you so they'd have a way out. Their choices to fall in love with you were theirs alone."

"Please, don't misunderstand," Antonio added, "They had no knowledge of the consequences had you not reciprocated their affection."

"Where are they?" Andre asked.

"The Caldwells have grown tired of waiting, and now that the obligatory courtship period has ended, they're laying claim to Jade and Cat once and for all. The only thing that could possibly stand in the way of that now, is you," William informed them.

Tori raised an eyebrow "So we're here to break them up?"

Antonio shook his head, "They've already married, which means the union is only void if they accept your proposal instead."

"Let's go, then," Andre easily decided.

All eyes turned to Tori as she had to pause. She felt dirty, knowing she was only a pawn. Yet it was true; Jade didn't remember. She stayed because she wanted to. She chose Tori on her own.

"Okay," Tori sighed and nodded, "Okay, I'm in too."

"You're certain?" William held out his hands for them, "This is your last chance to say no."

Andre grabbed his hand without hesitation, and Tori followed, still a little anxious. A moment later, their surroundings again faded and reappeared. William's grip on the two tightened as they felt again what they hadn't realized was missing. It felt like the earth was tilted, and they both fought to stay upright.

Lucia, who stood next to Antonio, her hand in his, answered their unspoken question, "Everything is stronger here. The pull was never this strong on your planet because it's a foreign realm. This is the epicenter of all our magic."

"It's pulling us to them?" Tori asked as she held on tightly.

"It gets easier to handle," Antonio reassured her.

She looked toward the wrought iron gates in front of them, the name Caldwell decorated along the top. Antonio pressed a button on a small box next to the gates and announced their arrival, "Antonio Baresi and William Branson, here to see Mr. Caldwell."

A female, English accented voice came through the box, "Apologies, sir, but Mr. Caldwell isn't accepting visitors."

"I'm afraid he'll have to make time, ma'am," Antonio responded firmly.

The gate swung open without another word, and they made their way up the stone path. Beyond the trees sat one of the biggest houses Tori had ever seen. Staples of Victorian architecture were woven in between more modern designs, as if the house had been remodeled several times. A massive oak door stood at the top of a small stone staircase. Tori ignored the urge to comment how gaudy the two solid gold letter "C" door handles were.

A man in a finely tailored tuxedo and a strange moustache answered the door and addressed William, "How may I be of service, sir?"

"We need to meet with Mr. Caldwell immediately. Please ring the Council as well, we need witnesses."

The man, now looking rather frightened, quickly ushered them inside, down a long corridor, and into the empty great room, before disappearing. Antonio kept his hands folded in front of himself, Lucia still clutching tightly to his right arm. Tori and Andre still stayed close to William in case they lost their balance again. They were left in silence for some time before they heard voices in the hallway.

Several more exquisitely dressed men and women filtered into the hall, conversing amongst themselves. One man stopped to speak to them.

He held his hand out to Antonio, "Good to see you again, my friend. How has Earth been?"

"A strange place, to be sure," Antonio responded with a warm smile and a glance toward Tori and Andre, "With some lovely people."

The man studied the two closely before his eyes lit up, "Ah, so that's why we've been called here. A bold move, challenging the Caldwells."

"Bold, but necessary," Lucia assured him.

He nodded, "Of course. Not even Mr. Caldwell himself could refuse soulmates."

"Laws are there for a reason, Mr. Channing," William spoke as his attention seemed to be elsewhere.

The two dozen or so people gathered in the great room suddenly went quiet. Many stood off to the sides, but William kept a tight hold on the two as six others, including Antonio and Lucia, moved to stand with them. Tori gathered that these people were the most powerful in the room. Or at least, the most relevant to the current situation.

A shadow appeared on the wall at the end of the hall outside the room, before the prominent figure of Mr. Caldwell himself entered.

Everyone in the room, minus Tori and Andre, bowed their heads to the man, who looked positively livid, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Mr. Caldwell," Mr. Channing stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back, "We've been called upon today to appeal the unions of Alexander Caldwell to Jade West, and Joseph Caldwell to Catarina Valentine."

"By what rights?" Mr. Caldwell boomed.

Mr. Channing held his head high, "By right of Soulmate, sir."

His icy blue eyes turned to Tori and Andre, "They haven't a right until Jade and Catarina accept."

He ordered his servant to fetch the couples, and the room waited with baited breath until he returned with the two couples. Both girls immediately turned their attention away from the servant and to their soulmates, their eyes wide.

Alexander and Joseph refused to let up their tight holds on their mates until two other men from the group in the middle went over to guide the two women into a more neutral spot.

Mr. Channing spoke again, "Jade West and Catarina Valentine, by right of Soulmate, I hereby grant you immunity to your bond of marriage, and the right to choose."

"This is outrageous!" "They've already chosen!"

Mr. Caldwell quickly silenced his sons with two pointed looks, "Quiet, both of you. This is their right, by law. They know what the right choice is."

Jade and Cat looked away from his venomous glare as the rings were removed from their fingers. Mr. Channing first looked at Cat, "Miss Valentine, as you are freed of obligation, what do you choose? Your partner, Joseph, or your soulmate, Andre?"

Cat took a deep breath, as if finally able after so long, and gave Andre a radiant smile, "I choose my soulmate."

The man holding her immediately let go as she ran over to hug him. He noticed as soon as he touched her that the strength of their bond had returned to the way it was before Joseph came for her. Andre smiled back at her and kissed her.

Tori turned her attention back to Jade, as did the rest of the room. Her blood pumped loudly in her ears and her heart skipped a beat as Jade's eyes met hers.

"Miss West," everyone looked back at Mr. Channing as he repeated the same process, "As you are freed of obligation, what do you choose? Your partner, Alexander, or your soulmate, Victoria?"

Jade glanced back at the Caldwells before calmly announcing, "I choose my soulmate."

Tori released a breath she didn't realize she was holding as Jade eagerly pulled her into a hug. It was only then that she felt like she could breathe again, like the planet wasn't tilted. She leaned into Jade, who leaned into her.

As the Caldwells argued with several people at once, Jade pulled away from the hug, her hands on Tori's face. Her mouth opened slightly as she tried to form words, but her mind couldn't settle on what it wanted to say first. She gave up on saying anything and just kissed her, hoping her thoughts were clear enough.

Mr. Caldwell's cold gaze settled first on Cat and Andre, though neither seemed to notice. His lips briefly contorted in a snarl before he composed himself again. His eyes finally stopped on Jade first, then Tori. He was searching, inspecting each and every link of their armor, looking for the smallest weakness. This time he smiled as he squared his posture. Jade closed her eyes tight, as if she already knew what he would say.

His tone was authoritative and almost gleeful as he announced, "I must bring attention to the illegitimate bond that Victoria has laid claim to."

The quiet conversations amongst the room's occupants ceased as each of them began to emit a faint, colorful light. Tori noticed Lucia's blue aura first as it soon mixed with the green glow surrounding Antonio; a vibrant turquoise haze settled over them both. Around the room, several others mixed to form colors Tori previously couldn't even imagine. She looked to Andre next to her, his aura was a deep indigo before it mixed with the bright red of Cat's.

It was then that Tori noticed her own color, a bright orange, not unlike the several fires she had inadvertently started since she met Jade. Her soulmate was surrounded in brilliant icy blue light, and Jade finally met her gaze. Tori expected their colors to blend together the same as everyone else's had, but they didn't. Instead Jade's light drifted toward the sinister crimson glow of Alexander Caldwell, mingling in a faint purple fog.

Mr. Caldwell and his mate shone a dark purple; his red mixing with her dark blue. He looked around the silent room before setting his attention on Tori, "By right of mated pair, I appeal to the Council to revoke this sinful union."

Quiet conversations started again as the colors dancing around the room faded. Tori looked to Jade for assurance, but found none. Her soulmate's eyes were focused on something, or nothing, far away. Lucia leaned into Antonio as he guided Cat and Andre to stand behind him. Alexander stepped forward from his place at Mr. Caldwell's right hand, his dark eyes on Tori, "I believe you've stolen my mate."

Several voices spoke up, but just as quickly silenced themselves. William stood between Alexander and Jade, while Mr. Channing separated Tori from Jade. Antonio was the first to find his voice, "I must ask for a continuance of a minimum of 24 hours, as per standard. Consummation must occur with consent, unabated by time and obligation."

Mr. Caldwell and his eldest son barely contained their fury, "It's already consummated!"

"Not consensually," Lucia quietly corrected him.

Dozens of eyes settled on Jade as she was scrutinized by each and every person in the room. She didn't speak. She didn't need to.

"Coercion is not consent," William stated firmly, his gaze fixed on Alexander, whose lips contorted into a snarl.

"She's my mate!" He bit back immediately.

Mr. Channing moved to stand by William, blocking Jade from Alexander's ever increasing fury, "The right to choose takes precedence in this case. I'm sure we can all agree a single day is the very least we can offer such a newly bonded pair."

Tori wasn't even sure where to begin processing the situation. She felt exposed; she knew nearly every person in the room could read her entire life story with a single look. They knew the truth without having to ask. She felt Jade's fingertips on her forearm before their fingers threaded together. Jade's energy seemed to strengthen as she held her soulmate close, her eyes finally focusing first on Tori, then on Mr. Caldwell.

"Clearly," a young woman spoke from her place close to the front wall, "This bond is stronger; consummated or not. I suggest a single week to rectify the union."

At that, several more conversations started up again amongst the strangers lining the walls of the Great room. It didn't take long for a consensus to become clear. Mr. Caldwell finally relented, though just barely, "I propose 24 hours, and not a second longer."

Jade didn't bother looking away from Tori again. She didn't need to answer questions or offer opinions, yet she still didn't move. William spoke first, "I think these terms are agreeable. Antonio?"

He looked up from his mate and toward the furious Caldwells in front of him, "We will meet again in 24 hours to revisit this issue. Until then, I must request my daughter's full independence."

"Very well." Mr. Caldwell sat in his throne, his mate in the seat by his side. "Alexander, you're dismissed."

His eldest son bowed his head, though the anger radiating from him was hard to ignore. A moment later, he was gone.

One by one, the room's occupants disappeared. Some bothered to walk out the door they came in, however most were gone with little ceremony. Mr. Channing bowed to Antonio, "Until we meet again, my friend."

William laid his hands on Tori and Andre's shoulders, but by the time the scenery faded and reappeared, he was gone. Tori and Jade stood in a familiar meadow, a dark scar across the ground reminding Tori of the first time she'd been there. Antonio stood off to the side while Lucia addressed them, "As I'm sure you've gathered by now, certain ceremonies must occur before a bond of souls is etched in stone. We'll come to call upon you in 23 hours."

With that, the two were left alone in the meadow. Jade looked at Tori, her voice quiet, "I'm sorry."

Tori shook her head and pulled Jade into a hug, "I'm just happy you're back. I missed you."

"I don't think I'll make the mistake of allowing my memory to be erased again," Jade chuckled.

"What happened, exactly?" Tori asked, her hands fumbling with the zipper on Jade's jacket, "I mean, I understood some...implications, but not everything."

She sighed and stared off into the forest as she gathered her thoughts, "A year ago Cat and I were promised to those two blockheads because we were without a mate for our entire lives. I think I mentioned that it's common for people like us to marry each other, but what I failed to clarify was that for some people – like me – it's expected. Especially since you're...well, human."

"Why would you be expected to marry some goofball you didn't even like?"

Jade smirked and scratched the back of her neck, "Because someone like me is expected to...um, reproduce."

"Ah," Tori nodded slowly, "I can see how that would be an issue."

"I was hoping they wouldn't just put me to the sword like that, but as I'm sure you noticed, they aren't exactly reasonable people."

Tori looked around and found a tree stump to rest on, "I feel like I got the gist of the situation, but hopefully you can explain a little better what those lights were. Where they mixed and all that?"

Jade sat next to Tori on another tree stump she was certain didn't exist five seconds ago, "Auras. They're always there, even if they're hidden. He just broke the barrier for the entire room to see. Each person has their own color and after they mate, their colors mix."

"And he coerced you into mating with him?"

"It certainly wasn't by choice," she grumbled, "I've never liked him. If you noticed the color around Antonio and Lucia compared to the one between me and that airhead, you might have been able to tell that they were significantly more vibrant than us. That's because they actually like each other and have a strong bond."

"How do...how would we..." Tori sighed and stared up at the clouds, "I give up. You know what I'm trying to say."

She laughed and nodded, "If you still want to be with me, we have 22 hours to become proper mates. Otherwise, I don't know. I'll probably throw him into a volcano or something."

Tori stood up and promptly sat back down in Jade's lap, her hands on either side of her face, "Of course I still want to be with you."

"Okay, then..." Jade paused a moment, "Can I take you out to dinner?"

Tori pulled her into a kiss, "Only if we can go to Nozu's."