I was happy to be back in New Zealand, with the guys, hanging out, surfing, once more welcoming the character of Legolas into my life. I think Peter had kind of forgotten what he was getting himself into every time he got us all together. He went right back to his usual reply to our antics - a short bark of laughter, an exasperated shake of the head. We fell right back into the easy friendships, shooting day or night, spending all of our free time together.

We had one day off in the midst of it all, and the Hobbits and I were hanging out at Elijah's place, the television droning in the background of our conversation. We had been surfing that morning and now were just kicked back, waiting for the sandwiches that Elijah had promised us before disappearing in the kitchen. I don't think any of us expected more than PB&J, most likely without the J.

"Hey, isn't that Torrie's show?" Billy asked, pointing at the TV.

We all glanced over. It sure was. I had taken to watching it every week, the only chance I had of seeing her. Believe it or not, it was interesting and educational. Or maybe I was biased because of who the host was. If asked, I would have replied that Torrie could make anything a success. I knew she and Sean were currently in New Zealand, no more than a few hours away from us, so the show could do some filming. Elijah had told me the second day we were here. I think he had said it as a warning, in case we ran into each other on accident or something. I didn't really know if I wanted such a thing to happen. It was fine to dream about her when she was little more than an image on TV, but to see her in person again…. I didn't know if I could handle that.

Dom, Billy and Sean were behind me on the couch, chatting away, and as was usual when her show came on, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen. Torrie was sitting on the edge of the boat, wearing a blue and black wet suit, her wet hair slicked back off of her forehead, telling her viewers all about bottle-nose dolphins. I moved forward, out of the chair, and sat down on the floor in front of the television set, my gaze never leaving her image. God, I missed her. I loved her. And she looked so beautiful to me, laughing as the dolphins swam around her in a tank at Sea World. Then she was back on the boat, in diving gear, falling back into the water and encountering wild dolphins, and she swam with them and the cameras even recorded a birth. At the end of the segment, Torrie was back at the Center, sitting with an otter, and I suddenly remembered Pablo and sitting with her that first day, feeding him together. The camera did a close up of her face as she talked about the creature's rehabilitation and I couldn't help but reach out and trace my fingers along her cheek, wishing she were really there, wishing so very much that I could touch her again.

I hadn't realized that it had become silent around me until I heard a sort of squeak - I guess that's what you could call it. I turned to find Elijah had just come out of the kitchen with a plate full of sandwiches and he was watching me with this sort of shocked, wide-eyed expression, just standing there. On the couch, Billy, Dom and Sean also were silent and staring. I sighed, realizing that my secret was finally out. How could they not know with me pawing the TV like some love-sick fool?

I glanced back at the screen for a moment, watching as the credits rolled, then looked back at my friends. "Guess you're wondering what the hell, huh?"

Elijah just sort of dropped onto the nearest chair, still silent.

"I kind of guessed it," Billy commented quietly. "I mean, the night of the crash, when we were all dancing, I looked up at you and Torrie together and there was just something in your eyes. I don't know why I didn't see it sooner."

I gave a half-smile and stood. "Well, now you know. I'm in love with Torrie. I have been since… It feels like forever, does that make any sense?"

Another squeak from Elijah. This time all four of us looked over at him. He was sitting there, shaking his head, his eyes wide, looking for all the world like he was going to explode.

"Lij, you okay?" Sean asked.

He muttered something.

"What was that?" Dom questioned.

"It's a fuckin' Greek tragedy, that's what it is," Elijah answered, tossing the plate loudly onto the table and digging frantically through his pockets for a cigarette. We watched in silence as he lit it, all wondering if he hadn't flipped his little mind.

Billy cocked his head to the side. "What is?"

Elijah waved his hand toward me, muttering to himself again. "Him. Her. The whole goddamned thing."

They looked at me and I looked at them and we all kind of shrugged and looked back at Elijah who was staring thoughtfully at nothing, puffing away on his cigarette.

Finally he turned his gaze to me and asked, "Why have you never told her? I'm curious."

I shrugged, kicking at the carpet. Atti and my mum were the only ones who knew. It felt good to get it out in the open to the Hobbits. Though, I did kind of fear them letting it out to Torrie someday. I guess I had to have faith that they would keep it to themselves.

"It took me the longest time to realize. For so long I fought it. I don't know why. I just did." I glanced back up at Elijah who was still watching me and I couldn't place the expression on his face. "When I did realize, she loved Sean and Sean loved her and I was with Julie and… That was that."

"And now?"

"She's with Sean. I'm not going to ruin that."

Elijah clamped the cigarette between his lips and ran a hand through his hair, as if he were suddenly frustrated. "What would it take for you to tell her?"

I smiled. "Lij, give it up. It isn't going to happen. I've come to terms with that."

"What if she loved you, too?"

Silence. The three on the couch looked at Elijah and then looked at me and I kept staring at him. Finally, I laughed, shaking my head. "Yeah, right, Lij. Notice she hasn't said anything."

"And when did you last tell her how you feel?"

I frowned. "What're you getting at, Lij?"

He smashed the cigarette into the ashtray and turned his gaze to me. "What if I were to tell you that I have it on good authority that Torrie has been head over heels in love with you since the day you first met?"

I felt a tingle shoot through my spine. Nothing much, a prickle really, of excitement maybe, or fear. I didn't know what at that moment. "Whose authority?" I demanded.

Elijah tried to bite back a grin, failed. "My own."

Billy and Dom both let out a neat curse and Sean just continued to stare at us in shock. I was feeling a mixture of everything. I was positive that Elijah was wrong. Damn positive. But he looked so fucking sure of himself, with that shit-eating grin on his face, watching me. I swore they each could have heard my heart thudding against my chest, and maybe even the screaming that was going off in my head. Outwardly, I attempt to remain calm, to think it all through, to pretend that I wasn't beginning to realize the meaning of Elijah's words about it being a 'Greek tragedy'.

"Lij - " I began but he cut me off, jumping to his feet and approaching me.

"Jesus, Orli! Only someone who is completely nuts about you could put up with the crap you've put her through. Think about it."

"You don't know - "

"I sure as hell do," he replied. "That night when her and I had sex - "

As one, Billy, Dom and Sean chimed, "You what?!"

We ignored them. "She told me then, and she cried and I wanted to make her feel better and one thing led to another."

"If you're telling the truth, why did she never tell me?"

Elijah shook his head. "Remember that morning on Halloween when she was talking to me on the phone and you walked in on the conversation?"

"Yeah?"

Elijah just remained silent, watching me. Inwardly, I suddenly recalled her side of the conversation: "I love him, you know that... No, I just don't see that happening… He deserves better, that's why… Oh, please! I'm nothing compared to him while he is everything. He deserves at least that much. Someone who is as enigmatic and beautiful and perfect as he is… He is, too!… I knew I shouldn't be discussing this with you… I'm just a marine biologist. Not exactly a headline-maker there… Don't be ridiculous. That's a fairytale, Lij… Because it is. I am trying to remain grounded here, ya know… He's my savior, and he knows it… He is. My knight in shining armor… I can't believe you are making me say these things to you. And keep your little pixy mouth shut, got it?… Because, I know where you live! And Uncle Tony will pay you a visit!… Isn't my telling you I love him enough?"

"JESUS FUCKING CHRIST!" The words exploded from my mouth without warning, sending Elijah into peels of laughter before me. "This isn't funny, Lij!"

"Sorry, man," he apologized, fighting back the laughter. "I know it isn't. And yet, sadly it is. I can't believe the two of you are so goddamned stubborn and blind and - "

"I get it, Lij," I interrupted, running a hand over the recently-shaved Mohawk.

Truthfully I couldn't decide if I wanted to laugh or cry. She loved me. After all this time, and she loved me. No, it wasn't possible. I looked back at Elijah. "That conversation was a long time ago, Lij. A lots happened since then. She's with Sean now."

"He's got a point," Billy commented. Dom told him to shut up.

Elijah shrugged. "Yeah, she is. And you were with Julie. So does that mean you're just going to ignore it, like she did? Just let it go? Just hope that someday maybe you will both get your act together, coordinate your schedules and decide to be single at the same time?"

"I can't just walk up and break them up," I argued.

"Why not?" Dom interjected. "I mean, don't you think you should give her the choice? If you both love each other - "

"No one says she still loves me is the point," I replied, shoving my fists into my pockets into walking over to the window. God, I wanted to believe that she did. But the mere thought of holding her in my arms - really holding her, knowing she was mine - was too frightening to comprehend. It couldn't be real. It couldn't.

"She forgave you, didn't she?" Elijah asked quietly.

She did. And it hadn't been expected. Still…

"Don't sit on this one too long," Sean commented behind me. "I mean, Bean adores her, could ask her to marry him any day now. And if she doesn't think she has any chance with you… "

What was the worse that could happen? That Torrie told me sorry, but I was too late? At least then I would know. She would know. It would be over. And maybe someday twenty years in the future we would talk about all the could have been's and should have been's of our lives. Or maybe…

"Well, Orli?" Elijah came up beside me, holding out a piece of paper. On it were the directions to where Torrie and Sean's condo was located.

I set my jaw. There was only one way I would ever know.

"I'll see you guys later," I told them, snatching the paper from Elijah's hand and sprinting for the door.

I drove like a bat out of hell to get there. Okay, so I always drive like a bat out of hell but this time I had a purpose, a reason. It was a two hour drive to get there. I made it in an hour and twenty minutes. I was relieved to see a light on in the place when I arrived. It would have sucked royally if they hadn't been home. They. I still didn't know how I would handle Sean. He'd probably kill me, just for showing my face, let alone for trying to steal Torrie from him. Fuck it. I had to know.

I knocked, then bounced a little on my feet, nervous as all hell. When the door opened, it was Sean and I kind of took a step back, anticipating him to take a swing at me or something.

"Orli." The weirdest part was, he didn't look all that surprised to see me.

"Hey Sean. Umm… is Torrie here?"

Now he did look surprised. "What? No… She… Didn't she find you?"

Okay, it was my turn to be surprised. "Find me? No. I mean, I didn't know she was looking for me."

Sean glanced at his watch. "Maybe its too early," he mumbled while I continued to stare in confusion. He looked back up at me. "She had some filming to do today. Then she was going to drive out to where you guys were. Or at least, that's where she was supposed to go."

I was beyond confused. "Why?"

Sean grinned suddenly, folding his arms over his chest and leaning against the door jam. "Why are you here?"

Holy shit. I didn't want to believe it. "Sean - "

"Look, Orli. This has been a pretty tough day for me. I mean, having a woman turn down my marriage proposal is one thing. Having her leave me for a little pest like you is quite another," he said with a half-smile. "I told her to go to you. I don't know if she will or not. She was a little… hesitant. All I can tell you is look for her and get this crap all figured out before I kill the both of you."

I was already bounding down the steps back toward the car.

"Hey Orli?"

I glanced over my shoulder, slowing. "Yeah, Sean?"

"When you find her, take care of her, okay?"

I smiled. "I will. I promise."

I was dialing Elijah's cell as I climbed into the car and roared it to life.

"Yeah?"

"Lij?"

"Fuck, Orli! Thank god its you! Isn't your fucking cell on?"

"It is now."

"Great. Well, I was trying to call you and let you know Torrie is here."

I laughed. This was just perfect. "Yeah. I just talked to Sean."

"You did? What the hell - "

"Can't explain right now. Look, whatever you have to do, keep her there. Tie her down if need be. I need to do some things, okay? Then I'll call you."

"Orli, what - "

"Lij, please?"

"Okay, man. The Hobbits'll sit on her."

"Don't squish her," I laughed. "And don't tell her I'm on my way either!"

"Yes dad. But hurry the hell up, would you? I'm dying to see how this ends."

I laughed again, feeling happier than I had in a long time. "Me too."

I broke every speed limit posted. Luckily the cops didn't seem to be out that night. Okay, so maybe what I was planning on doing was a little corny and I was probably going to catch hell from the guys for it, but it didn't matter. What was important to me was that I made Torrie understand exactly how I felt, exactly how much I loved her and what that meant to me. And I could only think of one way to do that. It would mean calling in a few favors and hoping to all hell that everything went perfectly. But it was worth it. I knew it would be worth it. It had to be.

The sun had just dipped below the horizon by the time everything was ready. The sky was grey and a full moon loomed overhead as I called Elijah and told him everything was ready. I told him to make certain that he sent Torrie outside of the house in approximately twenty minutes. He kept trying to get me to tell him what was going on but I wouldn't. His laughter would have ruined the effect, I'm certain. I was scared shitless if the truth be told. I didn't know what to believe anymore or what to believe in. Everything seemed surreal at that moment - had since Elijah had spoken that afternoon. This was the end of the line. After this… I had no idea what would come next. Like I told Elijah, I was curious as to how it would end myself.

So I sat there, waiting in front of the door, gently patting the sleek neck of the horse beneath me. I had wanted the stable crew to give me Shadowfax but they had told me there was no way in hell and gave me one of his stand-ins instead. That was okay. As long as the horse was white, I guess it didn't really matter. I had considered wearing something special for the occasion, like a tux or something, but then I realized I wanted Torrie to understand that it was me, not Orlando Bloom the Actor. Simply Orli, the guy she knocked off the pier into the water when she wasn't paying attention. So there I was, in jeans and t-shirt, sitting atop this pretty white gelding. I must've looked like a complete tool. I was surprised at how relaxed I was, waiting for Torrie to come out the door. Waiting for her reaction. God, I felt sick, nervous, excited, terrified.

The door opened. I sat up, rehearsed in my mind what I wanted to say, took a deep breath.

Torrie walked out, but her gaze was over her shoulder, still watching Elijah and the others who were hovering in the background. Fucking great. An audience. I ignored them, allowing my gaze to roam over her. She was wearing jeans and a white blouse and her signature Keds and she looked positively perfect to me.

"Torrie?" I whispered.

Her head whipped around and her eyes widened and she came to a halt a few feet away. The gelding danced nervously beneath me and I settled him, never taking my eyes from hers.

Knowing I had one shot at this, I said softly, "I don't have a castle to take you to, and well… the horse is borrowed. In fact, if I don't return him I think he might even turn into a pumpkin or something." I smiled.

Torrie didn't. She just stood there, her expression unreadable.

I resisted the urge to start biting on a nail. "Still, I wondered if you would ride away with me? There's no sunset but the dawn is coming, signaling a new day, a new start. And here in the darkness, we can hide all of those insecurities we've been harboring for so long and trust each other to guide the way."

Still nothing. No change of expression, no sign even that she was breathing. I grew more terrified as each moment passed. Maybe they were wrong. Maybe they were all wrong.

I took a breath. "I'm in love with you, Torrie. And… I think you're in love with me, too. I want… I want 'Happily Ever After'. I want that to be our ending."

I continued to watch her, as her eyes widened a little more and she appeared ready to say something. Even "Get the fuck away from me" would have been better than the silence. Then, without warning, she turned and ran. I just sat there, staring as she disappeared toward the surrounding woodland. They had been wrong.

"Well don't just sit there like a bump on a log!" Elijah shouted from the doorway. "Go get her, for God's sake!"

I glanced over at the doorway and all four Hobbits were standing there, glaring at me, waving me away and I kicked the horse beneath me into a gallop and shot after her into the trees. We caught up in no time and, hoping the gelding would be smart enough to stop nearby, I threw myself off of him, straight at Torrie. We fell to the ground, where I tried to pull most of my weight to the side instead of on top of her. She immediately tried to get away but I rolled onto her, covering her body with my own and pinning her arms above her head at the wrist. She kicked like a hellcat - I said before she's got swimmer's legs - trying to dislodge me.

"Dammit, Torrie, stop it!" I shouted. "What the hell?"

Nothing. A mutinous glare from her pale green eyes. God I wanted to kiss her. Fuck it. I did. I bent my head down and gave into the urge that I had been fighting for months and just captured her mouth with my own, trying to be gentle, trying to coax her into relaxing. She bit my lip.

"Ow!" I reared back, still holding her. "What the fuck was that for?"

"Lemme go!" She began struggling again

"No. Not until you tell me."

"Tell you what?"

"You know damn well what, Victoria Adams," I snapped angrily. "We're going to stop playing this stupid game, you and I."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I can lay here all night. I have nowhere to be until tomorrow morning."

That only made her madder. "Get the fuck off of me, Orlando Bloom!"

"Why?" I demanded, pressing myself into her further. Needless to say, her struggles had awakened my desire for her fully and I doubt she could have missed it. I pushed my groin against her and she tried to bury herself into the soft ground. "Is it because you don't want to feel what's between us? Have you been burying it for so long you can't allow it to surface any longer? Tell me, angel. Do you burn as badly as I do?"

"Stop it!"

"Say it!"

"No!"

This was getting me nowhere. Fine. No matter how much she was trying to deny it, I was more and more certain of the truth. I just had to break through her defenses. I leaned into her once more, kissing the edge of her mouth softly, careful to stay away from her teeth. I trailed kisses over her cheek, across her jaw, down her neck. My thumbs gently caressed the soft skin on the back of her wrists. I nibbled at her neck, moved back over her jaw, traced a line around her lips with my tongue. God, she tasted as sweet as I remembered. Taking a chance, I kissed her again, long, tenderly, drawing everything out of her that I knew she was holding back. Slowly, coaxing. She whimpered beneath me.

"Say it, angel," I whispered against her mouth.

"I… I can't."

"Why not?" I had let go of her wrists, my hands moving over her shoulders, one cupped her chin, the other wrapped around her waist, lifting her into me.

"I'm… I'm afraid," she cried quietly.

"Oh angel." I kissed her lips, cradled her face in my hands. "I'm afraid, too. I'm afraid that I won't be able to make this work, that I won't be able to make you happy, that you'll get tired of trying. But you know what frightens me the most?"

She shook her head. I couldn't stop touching her.

"I'm afraid of not trying, Torrie. I'm afraid that I'll never be able to find someone to love as much as I love you. That I'll never be as happy again as I am when I'm at your side. That, by not trying, I could be throwing away the most beautiful thing to ever come my way. That's what scares me the most."

I sat up, pulling her with me, cupping the back of her head with one hand while the other continued to stroke her cheek. I wiped the tears from her eyes and kissed her mouth again, lingering, our lips barely touching.

"Say it," I whispered against her mouth again. "Tell me, angel. I want to hear you say it."

She sighed into my mouth. "I'm in love with you, Orli."

And then her arms were around me and she was returning my kisses and we held each other and touched each other and fell back against the ground, promising forever and always. Over and over again we whispered I love you, those words we had denied each other for so very long.

And somewhere, in the midst of it all, I felt tears. My own. But this time, I was smiling.

Dolphin's Cry Home