The next few days were hard for Blake and Tori when they returned home. Things were still a bit awkward between the two. Tori had slept on the couch for the past two nights. Blake was glad to have her home, but he wanted nothing more than to have things go back to the way they were.

Tori was sitting on her balcony sipping her coffee when the phone rang. Blake had left for the track already...maybe he was calling her about something. When she answered it however, she was shocked and excited to find her sister on the other end.

"Tori, I'm fine...really. Just a few bruises and a cut on my cheek. I'm home for good now," Taylor said. Tori felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her heart. "So how are things at home?" Tori sighed. She had to tell her. For the next hour, they talked about everything that had happened when she had left.

"I love him so much Taylor..." Tori said.

"You were always the one telling me to let people in. I think you need to start helping yourself," Taylor replied. "I mean, Eric drives me nuts sometimes, but I wouldn't want it any other way."

They talked a little more and then hung up. Tori sat back in her chair and looked down at her left hand- something was missing and she intended to get it back.

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Blake made his way around the track and stopped his bike in front of Kelly, who had her stopwatch in hand. "Blake, you're giving up too much air on the jumps," she said. "We have that tournament next week." Blake sighed and settled his helmet on his handlebars.

"I know...my mind's just not all here right now." Kelly gave him a sympathetic smile and put a hand on his shoulder.

"I think we've had enough for today," she said. Blake nodded and loaded his bike into the van. He decided to walk home and try to clear his head. He walked down the sidewalk towards their apartment and saw two teenagers sitting on a bench holding hands. He smiled a little as he thought of Tori and him.

They were once those awkward teens trying to figure out their feelings. Now they were 22 and 21, married, and still trying to figure out where they stood. He continued to walk and came across a street vendor selling flowers. He looked through the arrangement of beautiful flowers until he came to the one he was looking for- a white rose tipped with blue.

He paid the vendor and continued walking. He knew Tori loved these roses...maybe it would help break through her icy exterior and let him back in. His thoughts were interrupted when he reached his destination. He walked around the back of the building and saw his love sitting on the balcony.

The way the sun hit her face made his heart skip a beat. She was like an angel in the setting sunlight. He walked into the building and up the stairs. When he opened the door he saw that candles had been lit, the place was meticulously cleaned, and there was a bottle of wine sitting on the table with two glasses. He smiled and went to find her. When he reached the balcony he saw that her eyes were closed slightly and that she was wearing the same dress she had worn the day they got married.

She didn't hear him open the door, or walk through the kitchen. She had been thinking about what Taylor had said to her all day. She had to stop listening to her head and start listening to her heart. She spent the day making everything perfect for when he got home. As she was looking through her closet she stumbled across her wedding dress. The dress was blue, but it was so pale it appeared white.

She smiled when she remembered her wedding day...she took it out, put it on, and prayed that Blake would understand why she was doing all this. She wanted to let him know that she still loved him and would forever.

She looked back into the apartment and saw that he wasn't there. 'He should be home by now,' she thought as she rose. She stopped short when she heard soft music coming from the living room. She recognized the song instantly...'Your Song'... the same one that had been playing when he took her to Hawaii. Cautiously she made her way into the living room and saw him standing there in his ninja uniform.

He smiled when he saw her and took out the rose from behind his back. She walked over to him and took the rose. His hand lingered on hers and she looked into his eyes. "Dance with me," he whispered. She simply nodded her head and let him hold her close to him. "That day when that thing attacked you on the beach," he said into her ear. "That's when I knew I loved you. It didn't matter what sides we were on, I just knew I had to save you."

Tori felt his hand reach the small of her back as they swayed to the music. "After I got hit and you brought me back to Ops, it killed me to lie to you. It's still killing me..."

"I know you never meant to use me," she whispered through her tears. "And I never meant to hurt you...but I know I did...and I'm sorry." They pulled away slightly and Tori placed her hand behind his neck and began to scratch lightly- a gesture she knew he loved. He gave her a small smile and placed a hand on her cheek.

They both had tears in their eyes as they leaned in and kissed. A surge of electricity seemed to run through their veins. They pulled away gasping for air. Their foreheads leaned against each other and Blake pulled his necklace off. He removed the ring he wore and took her left hand in his.

"I love you," he said as he placed it on her finger. Tori felt him hold her hand and they leaned in for another kiss. They pulled away and Blake looked at her with his signature smile that made her weak at the knees. "Are we okay?" he asked. Tori didn't say anything, but pulled him in for the most passionate kiss she had ever given him.

"Yes..." she breathed. They held each other for several minutes, taking in the comfort they had been longing for. Blake pulled away and led her over to the couch.

"I want to give you something else...it's something I learned at the Thunder academy a long time ago," he took her hands in his and concentrated his powers. His hands began to glow a dark blue, casing her hands in the light. Tori felt the warmth radiating from his hands course through her body. The light faded and he opened his eyes.

"What was that?" she asked.

"I've just bonded myself to you...Sensei Omino taught me and Hunter how to do it. It's like you're a part of me and I'm a part of you...literally. We'll be together forever this way...even after we pass into the next life...kinda like Shane and Skyla."

Tori then recognized the gesture. She had read about it, but she never thought it was possible. Like something you only heard about in ancient lore. Her hands were still being held in his and suddenly began to glow a faint color of light blue. She smiled and concentrated her powers. Blake soon felt the same sensation and smiled wide.

"Sensei used to tell me stories about this...he said that when two souls meet and they recognize each other, their true colors will show...because of love." She began to rub circles in his hands and felt the power fading. "I guess he was right."

The rest of the evening went by smoothly. It was like nothing had ever happened to sour their relationship. The wine was gone, the candles had long burnt out, but they remained on the couch, content to stay in each other's arms.

"I need to turn in," Tori said after a while. Blake kissed her temple and stood. "Do you have any room in your bed?" Blake stood up and brought her close to him.

They walked back to their room and Tori laughed when she saw the mound of pillows where she would normally sleep. "What? I couldn't sleep without you...I had to make a substitution," Blake said as he spread the pillows out. Tori smiled and began to remove her dress. Blake turned back and saw her beginning to undress. He walked over and helped her.

Placing a hand on her neck, he eased the left shoulder of the dress off and laid small kisses on her tanned skin. She closed her eyes and felt his hands slide down her arms and his lips rest on her pulse. Both shoulders were now bare and the rest of the dress fell to the floor leaving her in a matching blue bra and panties set. She turned around and saw the look of love and admiration in his eyes. He leaned in a kissed her lips and felt her hands begin to undo the zippers of his uniform.

Soon they were both standing there in their underclothes. Tori kissed her way down to his boxers and removed them...she then began to kiss back up him, but stopped when she reached the one thing that brought her so much pleasure. Blake's eyes closed when he felt her lips around him. He ran his hands through her hair and let out soft moans as she continued her labors.

She smiled as she pulled away and kissed up to his lips. Blake grabbed at her hungrily and quickly removed her remaining garments. His fingers probed her as he led her back to the bed. He cupped her breasts in his hands and began to gently massage and lay kisses on them. Tori reached her hands behind her and clutched the pillows. This was better than anything she had ever experienced.

"Blake," she said breathlessly. The tone in her voice made Blake want her more. He brought his lips to meet hers and slowly pushed himself into her, letting all the emotion and love he held for her show. Beads of sweat began to form on their bodies as their pelvises met and released in fluid motions.

Tori moved herself slightly and felt him hit a sweet spot she hadn't known about. He felt her respond by digging her nails into his skin. He ignored the pain and found that he felt more pleasure in this than he ever thought possible. Tori was gasping for breath as she felt her climax. Blake felt her tighten around him and found that to be his undoing. He clung to her tightly and began kissing her neck.

Tori's eyes were closed slightly and she had a grin on her face. Blake's body was pressed up against hers and she kissed his forehead. He moved off of her, but kept his head resting on her chest. Their hearts beat in tune with one another, the way it was always meant to be.