Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me.

A/N: This chapter will make more direct sense if you go back and read the very start of this story. Also the end of this chapter was inspired by that famous moment from the PRiS episode "Red With Envy" when Andros finally asks Ashley out.

Also, "Wild Storm" has now become my most read, most review and most favorite story of the ones I have currently written on this site. (This is very ironic for A LOT of reasons, which y'all can feel free to ask me about one-on-one if you care to.) That said, I wanted to thank each and everyone SO MUCH who has read (and especially to those who left such supportive reviews) while I have been writing "Wild Storm." I'm so happy that this concept of the one ranger team-up that never took place has gathered such a following.

There's still more to come, so I hope y'all will continue to stay tuned. Now without further delay, Chapter 17 and the resolution of Tori and Blake's romance. (Hunter/Alyssa/Cole fans hang in there a little longer. I will get to them next chapter.)

Chapter 17: It's a Date

It had been a crazy 48 hours between meeting six other Power Rangers, defeating three mutant aliens and enduring two team-up battles plus performing an infinite amount of roundhouse kicks… and Blake for one was just glad it was all over. Well, at least the fighting part of it.

Now with the Orgs forever defeated, it was time for celebration. Princess Shayla had invited everyone up to Animarium for a party, and Blake couldn't believe his eyes. Between the lush forests, pristine streams and massive animals zords, the Animarium was even more beautiful than the Wild Force rangers had described.

Looking around the picnic area, Blake saw that everyone was having a great time. Dustin and Cole were each introducing their own lion zord to the other. Taylor meanwhile was giving Sensei a ride on her eagle zord as Shane flew alongside them on his falcon zord. The giddy guinea pig looked to be having the time of his life up in the air, much to the anxiety of his concerned son Cam down on the ground.

Merrick and Shayla were nowhere to be found, but then again neither was Hunter and Alyssa. Although the latter pair's absence did not come as a surprise to Blake. He always knew his brother had moves just as good as he did.

"Or maybe better," grimaced Blake to himself as glanced longingly over to Tori where she was playing in the waves with Max alongside their respective dolphin and shark zords.

"So are you ever going to ask Tori out?" Blake heard, immediately wondering if someone was reading his thoughts.

Blake spun around and noticed with relief that it was just Danny. Shrugging in response, Blake just turned back to watch Tori who was now rubbing water all over her purring dolphin zord. Tori's sweet and gentle nature just made Blake adore her all the more. Evidently Blake's love pangs showed on his face as Danny put a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.

"You can't give up," Danny gestured toward Tori. "Never give up, right?"

Blake smiled ruefully at the bigger boy. "Maybe that motto works for you and Max, but I'm not so sure for me," sighed Blake. "Today whenever I tried to ask Tori out, all I ended up asking her to do with me was to check my gas or go to bathroom."

Seeing that even the supportive Danny couldn't hold back a grimace, Blake just shook his head and let out a large groan that slowly started to turn to laughter. Before Blake knew it, he was doubled over in hysterics on the ground. After feeling depressed about Tori for the past two days, this was exactly the cathartic release Blake had been waiting for.

"Wh-wh-why are you laughing?" stuttered Danny in.

"Come on, bro!" hooted Blake, still cracking up. "It is pretty funny when you think about it. I'm trying to ask the girl of my dreams out, and me being the giant dork that I am, ask her to look at the cans of gasoline fuel that I'm holding!"

"Shouldn't you be sad you're not with the one you love?" asked Danny puzzled. "True love is not a laughing matter! Blake, love! Nothing in the world…"

"Is more sacred than love?" finished Blake grinning, by now knowing how the speech went. "And nothing is more important. Love: the single element that binds two people together for as both shall live."

"Wow, he has rubbed off on you!" said Max with raised eyebrows as he joined the pair.

"In some respects," mused Blake. "Though I don't think I'll ever be as close as you are with him."

"So does this mean you're never going to ask Tori out now?" asked Danny, having clearly missed Blake's pun.

"I don't know," shrugged Blake, giving a wry smile. "If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. But for now, I think I'm going to give it a rest. After yesterday, I don't think I can take any more humiliation. Plus Tor is such a great gal. If I can't be with her as more, I honestly am just grateful to have her in my life and as my friend."

"So even if you saw her right now, you wouldn't ask her out?" questioned Danny dumbfounded.

"Nope," grinned Blake broadly before growing even more playfully. "In fact, I'd tell her I have no problem just being friends if that what she wants."

"You'd say that to her if you saw her RIGHT NOW?" asked Max, looking at him pointedly and gesturing off toward the water with his head vehemently.

"Why not?" joked Blake. "Heck, I'd tell her to go be like Alyssa and make out with Hunter, too!"

"You'd tell her that if you saw her THIS INSTANT?" asked Danny loudly, shifting his body hard toward the ocean.

"Why do you keep asking me that?" inquired Blake, looking at the pair strangely.

"Because Tori's coming this way!" hissed Max.

Blake grew pale as he swung in the direction the boys had previously been gesturing toward. There indeed was Tori walking up from the waves, clasping her hands back and forth anxiously. Blake saw her bite her lower lip; a habit he knew she did when she was nervous. But Blake couldn't believe she could possibly be more awkward around him than he had been around her the day before.

"Uhhh guys," began Blake, shifting back and forth apprehensively. "All those things I just said about me and Tor. You know I wasn't serious about…"

"Glad you're ok with the friend thing," grinned Danny supportively as he grabbed Max and dragged him away.

"Have fun telling her to make out with Hunter!" called Max as he was carried off.

"Make out with Hunter?" asked Tori confusedly as she came up beside Blake. "What is Max talking about?"

"I have NO idea," emphasized Blake strongly. "After all," he laughed a little too loudly. "You know those two are quite the odd couple."

"Yeah, that definitely can be strange," agreed Tori candidly. "Speaking of which, you were acting awful strange yourself yesterday. I just wanted to make sure everything was alright."

Blake couldn't meet Tori's gentle gaze, aware that he'd forget all the English he'd ever learned if he looked into her stunning, aquamarine eyes. He knew in his heart that at this moment he still more than ever was attracted to Tori for both her outer beauty and inner radiance. But after his miserably failed attempts to ask her out, Blake didn't' want to risk anymore 'strange' behavior that might put their friendship in jeopardy.

"No, everything's cool," lied Blake as he gave her a shy smile.

"Oh," was all Tori said in response with what Blake thought he detected was a slight tone of disappointment.

"Come on Tor," said Blake, giving her a playfully pat on the cheek. "I'd tell you if something was up. After all, we're friends right."

"Friends," repeated Tori monotonously. "Friends, right. I just thought maybe…"

"Maybe what?" urged Blake, his heart suddenly racing.

"Well," began Tori, biting her lower lip. "I know this might be boring for you since we do spend a lot of time together being rangers and all, but maybe sometime just the two of us…"

Blake didn't miss a beat. "Would you like to go out together sometime?" he asked eagerly, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Grinning broadly, Tori placed her own hand on top of his. "It's a date," she said happily.

Tori and Blake both grinned broadly as their heads gradually grew closer and closer together. Rubbing their noses together tenderly, Tori again bit her lip nervously as she could feel Blake's breath on her face. Just as they were about to kiss, the two heard the sounds of a familiar couple coming up quickly behind them.

"Hey Tor!" yelled Max obliviously as he ran up with Danny. "Sharky wanted to know if you and Dolphin would swim with.. well, well, well!" he said, suddenly changing his tune as he realized what Tori and Blake had been about to do. "How ARE things going with you two friends?"

"I dunno, buddy!" grinned Danny, unable to hide his delight. "They look pretty friendly to me!"

"Maybe Blake should take you Tori to the restroom now," joked Max, cracking only himself up with his lame joke.

"Alright let the lovers be," hissed Danny, causing Tori and Blake to both blush.

"But I want Tori to come swimming with Sharky and…" whined Max.

"NOW, MAX!" said Danny firmly as he grabbed his little buddy's arm to take him away. "I'm go swimming with you!"

"But you can't swimmmm!" wailed Max as he was dragged off by Danny.

Tori turned away red-faced as Blake crossed his arms embarrassedly; neither looking at the other as they laughed sheepishly at being caught almost in the act. But both were too delighted with finally knowing that the other felt the same way to care more than anything else at this moment than about each other. They knew they would have plenty of time for that special first kiss later. Perhaps when there were not so many people were around.

"Come on," said Blake warmly, taking Tori's hand with the utmost tenderness.

With their arms around each other's waists, Tori and Blake now walked back a couple to join their friends with yet another reason to celebrate.

Next Chapter (18): A Kiss 3,000 Years in the Making (can you guess who that chapter will be about? hehe. That's all the preview for now. Stay tuned! )