Two months passed by slowly. Night after night Blake would roll over in bed and feel the empty, cold spot where she had once laid. Her ring hung around a chain on his neck...he knew she would take it back...she just had to.

He started racing for Kelly, but after hearing that he and Tori were apart, he was given more flexibility with his schedule. He rolled over again and looked at the clock and knew he wasn't going to sleep tonight.

Tori was in very much the same situation. Her career was slowly taking off and she was enjoying her life...but there was one thing that was missing. She still wore her engagement ring and would often dream of Blake. Almost every night she would curl up with a pillow in her arms, dreaming of him. The sun was beginning to rise and she climbed out of bed to grab her gear.

Blake was heading out to the academy when the phone rang. "Hello?"

"Blake? It's Eric. Is Tori home? I really need to talk to her," Eric said. Taylor was overseas and they really hadn't talked to Eric much, so they had no clue about the fight.

Blake sighed. "No. She's surfing," he said truthfully.

"Shit...listen I need you to tell her something." The line was silent for a minute before he spoke again. "Taylor's plane was shot down...she's okay," he threw in quickly. "But she had to eject from her plane and has some minor injuries."

Blake's eyes were wide. "She's okay? You sure?" he asked.

"I just talked to her a little while ago...she seemed okay. Look I just want Tori to know that she's okay in case she heard something. Can you tell her for me?" Blake took a deep breath.

"Yeah, yeah I'll tell her."

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It was around ten that evening that Tori finally settled in. She had been surfing all day...she had the feeling that something wasn't right, but she couldn't put her finger on it. Lying on her bed she saw a cab pull up to the front of the house, but she couldn't see the passenger. A few moments later a soft tapping was heard on her door. Kaiya, another surfer, poked her head in.

"Uh, Tor? There's so really hot guy downstairs that says he's you husband?" she said. Tori sat up. "You want me to send him up?"

She took a deep breath. Something must have happened. "Yeah- send him up." Kaiya disappeared and Tori suddenly grew nervous and waited until she heard knocking again. Blake stepped into the doorway. She fought every urge in her body as he stood there looking as gorgeous as ever. Blake couldn't speak...she was sitting on her bed in a pair of navy boxer shorts and a ROXY tank top. Her hair was a little longer and it fell over her left shoulder.

"Have a seat," she said motioning to a chair across from her. He shut the door and sat. A few seconds went by before she spoke. "What brings you here at this hour?" she asked.

Blake sighed. "This is the only flight I could get...and I had to tell you this in person." Tori crossed her legs and leaned closer to him, her fear rising. "I got a call from Eric this morning..."

Tori's face paled and tears formed. "Oh my God...Taylor?" she asked as she began to sob. Her eyes closed and she placed her head in her hands. Blake moved over and held her in his arms.

"She's okay Tori...he said that she was taken down in combat, but she ejected before it crashed." He began to rub her back lovingly. He knew he was only trying to comfort her, but she felt so good in his arms...so right.

Tori slowly sank into his arms. "She's okay?" she asked hoarsely. Blake held her to him.

"Yes...he talked to her and said she was fine. I didn't want to tell you over the phone," he said as his lips came dangerously close to her forehead. Tori slowly raised her head to meet his eyes.

"Thank you," she said softly. Blake's hand slowly reached out and touched her face. Tori didn't know what inside of her caused her to react, but she flinched away- thinking about what he had done earlier.

Blake looked at the look of fear in her eyes and felt like he had been stabbed in the heart. He had caused her to be like this. His anger again got the best of him. It was just like his Sensei told him- he always let his emotions get the better of him. "I'm sorry," he whispered as he stood. He turned his back to her and headed for the door.

Tori sat on the bed with her head down. Why did she do that? This was her husband- the man she loved more than anything in the world-the man she had pledged herself to for life. Yes he had gotten angry at her, but after thinking long and hard about it, she realized that she hadn't hhelped the situation.

And after thinking about some more, she knew she would have reacted in a similar fashion- letting her emotions take her over and reacting. Maybe that was what she needed to do now- let her emotions take over.

"Blake," she said softly. "Please, don't leave me," she said as she broke down into tears. The sound of her crying tore him apart. He turned back and sat next to her. Cautiously, he reached his arms out and folded them gently over her back. Tori slowly leaned into him and settled in his arms.

This is what they had been dreaming about. Some unknown force pulled them closer together and their lips met for a soft, tender kiss that ignited their senses. They pulled away slightly, but then went back hungrily.

Their tongues met and rolled over each other fiercely. They slowly lowered down until Blake was leaning over her, kissing her passionately. Their hands slowly roamed, and familiarized themselves with each other's bodies. Blake's shirt was the first article to be removed. Tori trailed kisses along his strong shoulders and chest. He took off her shirt and ran his hands over her breasts, all the while holding their lips together.

Soon the rest of their garments were off and Blake was inside of her. Neither one of them could think about anything but each other. Not their pasts, or futures- just the present. At this moment everything was as it should be. They moved in perfect rhythm as their bodies melted together.

Tori felt herself release and soon felt Blake's body go limp on top of her. He rolled off and kissed her gently as he held her to his chest. They were both panting and sweating as they came back to earth. Blake kissed her forehead.

"I love you Blondie," he said softly. Tori suppressed the urge to cry. She couldn't believe what they had just done...

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Blake woke up the next morning smiling. He opened his eyes and saw Tori gone. His heart sank. Did she regret what they did the night before? His mind was racing. He had blown it again.

"About time you woke up," a voice said. He turned and saw Tori on the other side of the room packing her bag.

"What are you doing?" he asked. She zipped the bag closed.

"We're going home," she said softly, avoiding his eyes. "I talked to Riley and he's letting me go...I should never had left her...I need to see my sister." Blake's heart again sank.

"We need to talk about last night," he said getting up. Tori continued to avoid the subject. She was still upset with him and deep down she was regretting what they had done the night before. It was too soon...they both needed time to sort things out.

"The flight leaves in a few hours...you should probably-"

"We can't avoid this Tor," he said gently. Tori sighed and sat next to him on the bed.

"I don't know what happened, Blake...but it shouldn't have...not yet." She closed her eyes and felt him reached out to cup her face. He leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"I'll get ready then." She watched him get up and dressed, averting her eyes away when he was naked. She knew she had hurt him.

Blake dressed quickly and walked out the door. Tori watched as he headed out to the beach. As soon as he got there he began running. He didn't know where he was going, or why he was doing it. He just had to run. He ran around a small dune and started sparring against the air.

He was so angry and frustrated with everything. He loved her more than life itself. Why did any of this have to happen? He produced ten roundhouse kicks in a row and then a large back flip before sinking to his knees. His fists pounded into the sand. When he focused again, his eye caught sight of the ring he wore on his left hand. Then everything hit him at once.

He had broken his promise to be true to her... a promise he had sworn in front of his friends, family...and his wife. His mind went back to the gift Sensei gave then on their wedding day- the banner with their insignias on it, joined together. He had to fix this.

"Blake?" he turned when he heard her voice. Tori stood there in a light blue sundress with her hair flowing down her shoulders. She saw him run away, and had heard his cries when he was sparring. She was, in truth, worried about him. Her voice caught in her throat when she saw her ring hanging around his neck.

He looked at her and felt his heart melt. "You're beautiful," he said without thinking. She blushed slightly and watched as he got up. He was sweating and his arm muscles were throbbing. It took her a moment to gain her composure.

"I, I was just coming to make sure you were alright," she said at last. He dusted his hands off and tucked her ring back into his shirt.

"I guess that depends on your definition of alright." His head turned out to the water, and they stood there for a few moments in awkward silence. "Do you still love me?" he asked softly. Tori felt tears begin to sting her eyes and she wrapped her arms around herself.

"Yes," she answered. Her eyes didn't leave the figure standing in front of her. He was still facing the water...tears in his eyes now as well.

"Then why are we doing this to each other?" he said spinning around. "I know I messed up Tor," he said. Blake carefully made his way over to her and placed his hands on her arms. She raised her head to look at him. "I'm sorry...for everything." He lowered his head. "The day you walked out, I felt like I had died. Please," he said pleadingly.

Tori didn't know what to do. This is what she had been dreaming about since the day they parted...so why was she so reluctant to take him back? Maybe it was the little voice in her head that screamed 'he lied to you AGAIN,' or maybe it was that she still remembered the look in his eyes when he fired at her...and the fear she felt.

She looked into his eyes and instantly saw the truth in his words. The fear she felt left when she gazed into his brown orbs. She didn't say anything, but pressed herself against him and wrapped her arms around his waist. Blake buried his head into her shoulder and held her to him.

"I love you," he heard her whisper. "I'm sorry too...I, I shouldn't have said those things to you."

He pulled away slightly and kissed her forehead. "I know I scared you...I never meant for it to get that out of hand." She smiled a little and rested her head on his shoulder. "I promise I'll never hurt you again..."

Tori just clung to him and kissed his neck. "You better not," she said laughing a little.