The next year passed much the same as it had been before Hayden left. Waking up, I stare at my ceiling as the realization hits me that today is my seventeenth birthday and the only thing I really want is for the love of my life to be with me. Picking up my phone, I see a new message from Hayden [Good morning. Happy 17th birthday, my love. I sent you a gift but you'll have to wait until Ike-do practice to open it since it won't be there until then. I love you] Laughing at my loving boyfriend, I typed back [Good morning to you too. Thanks but the only gift I'd accept is you in my arms again. I love you too] Getting ready for the day never felt so sad. Leaving my house, I saw Amy standing just outside the gate holding a gift wrapped box and smiling at me.

"Good morning Cam, happy birthday" she smiled handing me the box when I had stopped in front of her.

"Good morning. Thanks, what's this?" I asked curiously.

"Open it and find out" she said with a grin. A little worried, I opened the box to find a necklace with a dog tag pendant that said "I love you forever" and some athletic tape. Confused, I looked a Amy who laugh and said "you'll need the tape later and the necklace is from me, I got Hayden bear a matching one since I love you both so much."

"Awww thanks sis. I love you too" I said giving her a hug. As we turned to leave for school, I got the feeling someone was watching me but when I looked around I didn't see anyone. Choosing to ignore it for now, I walked with Amy towards the park chatting as we went. As we exited the park, we met up with Jon who wished me a happy birthday before falling into step with us.

"Have you heard from Hayden today?" he asked as we walked.

"Yeah, I woke up to a message he'd left for me in our chat telling me good morning and happy birthday. He also mentioned he'd sent me a gift but that I'd have to wait until Ike-do to open it which totally confused me" I said scrunching up my face. Amy and Jon exchanged a look before burst into fits of laughter simultaneously while I just watched them confused. When Amy could breath again, she looked at Jon and said "this is too funny. I gave him his birthday present and it confused him too."

"oh my god, really? What was it?" he asked between giggles.

"A necklace and athletic tape" I said holding up the pendant that was now secured around my neck. Pausing, Jon took the pendant in his hand, looking it over with a smile.

"It's very pretty. It suites you" he smiled before looking at Amy who for some reasons nodded like they were having a secret conversation of some sort. We continued our walk, chit chatting as we went until we reached the school.

The school day passed by normally with Jon and I hanging out as per usual. After the final bell rang, Jon and I were walking down the hall towards the main entrance when he said "I can walk you to practice if you'd like."

"Nah, I'll be okay. I want a little time to get my head together before Sensei kicks the shit out of me again" I shrugged.

"Okay, I'll just walk with you until my street then" he shrugged as we continued on. As we got closer to his street, Jon said "maybe try not to let Sensei kick the shit out of you tonight. I know it's hard but I'm sure even Hayden doesn't want you hurt too badly." Laughing, I said "he was the only other person to beat the shit out of me besides Sensei. So, I'm not sure that's true."

"Okay at least try to avoid any head shots" he said before waving and heading toward his house as I continued on to the dojo.

As I walked into the dojo, Sensei turned to me and yelled "hey Cam, happy birthday. By the way, we have a newbie I want you to work with tonight." Confused, I shrugged and said "yes Sensei and thanks" before heading to the locker rooms. While I walked, I thought about Senseis' expression and realized something was off about it but couldn't figure out what. Putting it out of my mind, I entered the locker rooms and went to my locker absent mindedly changing before heading back out into the dojo. Taking my usual place at the back of the room, I let my mind wander until Sensei signaled for the class to begin. Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes and waited for this newbie to come to me. Without warning, I was dropped onto my back as someone started laughing. Shocked as I recognized it, I laid there thinking "am I dreaming?" Something on my face must've been hilarious because the laughter got louder as he moved closer. Hovering over me, was the face of the man I love as he laughed at my awe struck expression.

"Surprise! happy birthday baby" he chuckled as he moved to help me up. Once I was standing, I took in a shaky breath and asked "am I dreaming or are you really here?" As I stared at his now shoulder length chocolate brown hair that was pulled back in a ponytail, emerald green eyes, and well toned body in shock.

"This could be both a dream and reality, baby but I'd prefer reality since it means I get to be with you now" he smiled and then added "you know you really shouldn't wait for an opponent with your eyes closed."

"Well, Sensei said I was working with a newbie not my boyfriend and favorite sparring partner" I huffed trying not to smile. Then the realization dawned on my "you were watching me this morning and that's why Amy gave me the athletic tape!"

"Guilty on both counts. Hell, I even watched your cute ass get dressed this morning" he whispered making me blush. Then moving closer, he whispered “I like that you’re wearing the boxers I sent you today.”

"I wore them thinking of you but I'd rather you undress me" I whisper teased back before I attacked with a knee to the midsection which he blocked. At one point, I caught Sensei laughing at us out of the corner of my eye telling me he had planned all of this.

At the end of practice, we headed to the locker room passing Sensei who said "nice birthday surprise right?"

"You have no idea how great of a gift it is Sensei" I smiled as we passed. Once we were in the locker rooms, I grabbed my towel and shower stuff heading too the stalls to get cleaned up with Hayden right on my heels. We took our time showering before heading back to our lockers. This time as we changed, there was no awkwardness or attempts not to stare at each others' nearly naked forms. With a smirk, Hayden asked "see something you like love?" Looking him up and down as I took in his shirtless muscular chest and low riding sweat pants, I whispered in a husky tone "most definitely baby." Glancing around the locker room, Hayden took a step forward and lightly connected our lips in a sweet hesitant kiss that only lasted a few seconds before he pulled away again with a smile.

"I'm so glad I can do that now without being on the other side of a computer screen" he said grinning.

"So am I love, so am I" I smiled before turning back to finish dressing. As I lifted my shirt above my head, Hayden grabbed my left arm holding it where it was and said "hmmm this ones new" as he lightly touched my most recent tattoo of a moon and sun together that said "forever yours" across the center on my ribs.

"I got it a little over a week ago as a birthday present to myself. It symbolizes you and I as you are the light of my life even in my darkest hours" I said looking over at him. Glancing around again, he leaned down and kissed my tattoo nearly making me moan aloud before standing back up and saying "you're making it really hard not to kiss you, you know."

"Then hurry up and finish getting dressed so we can" I said with a smirk before pulling my shirt over my head. As we left the dojo, we walked for a few minutes before Hayden pulled me into a alley. Giggling, I followed willingly as he pushed me against a wall and moved to stand right in front of me placing his hands on the wall on either side of my face. Smiling at him, I gripped his shirt and pulled him towards me connecting our lips. Lightly biting his bottom lip, he gasped allowing me to snaking my tongue into his mouth and deepen our kiss as he moved his hands to my face while mine found their way around his waist. Pressing his body fully against mine, it didn't take long for us to sync our movements like we'd been doing this forever. We lost track of time as we got lost in each others arms as our erections rubbed against each other. Eventually, Hayden broke the kiss leaning his forehead against mine as we panted for breaths. Smiling, I said "best birthday ever" before we both chuckled as he hugged me to him.

"I missed you so much love" he whispered in my ear. Giggling, I said "then kiss me again you idiot" before he leaned back and did exactly that. Breaking the kiss, Hayden leaned his head against mine and smiled before stepping back. Taking my hand in his interlacing our fingers, he led me out of the alley way towards our favorite restaurant grinning as he opened the door. Reaching up, I pulled his hairband out of his long chocolate brown hair letting it fall down around his shoulders before walking inside.

“What did you do that for?” he asked as I passed him on my way inside.

“Because, I wanted to see how sexy you look without it tied up” I smirked making him blush as Tess called out “Cam, your booth is free. Who’s your friend?”

“Hey Tess” I waved before pulling Hayden to our normal table. This time when we sat down, we scooted around into the corner without releasing each others’ hands. Leaning over as Tess made her was over, Hayden whispered “how much you wanna be she doesn’t recognize me even up close?” Laughing, I said “you’re on” as Tess finally made it to our table with her usual smile.

“Who’s your friend, Cam? It’s been a while since we’ve seen Hayden, how’s he been doing?” she asked as I chuckled “why don’t you ask him?” With a shocked expression, she turned to Hayden and said “oh my god, is that really you Hayden? You look so different!” Laughing, he said “yeah, in the flesh. A year away will do that.”

“Oh, we were all worried. I hope everything was okay” she smiled as he squeezed my hand.

“Yeah, just some family stuff but I’m home now so no need to worry” he shrugged with a smile.

“Glad you’re back. Cam hasn’t been himself lately but maybe now you can help get him back to normal. Anyway, you guys want the usual?” she asked jotting stuff down on her pad.

“Yeah please” Hayden said as I looked at our interlaced fingers in my lap. When she had finally left, he turned to me and gently asked “what did she mean baby?” Taking a deep breath and staring at our hands, I said “I got depressed for a bit causing me to maybe stopped sleeping much and barely eating. This was after I found out where you were and all. I didn’t want to worry you and I promise I’m okay now.”

“Oh baby, I know the separation was hard for both of us but I never thought it was bad enough for that. I’m so sorry my love” he said before pulling me to him and kissing the side of my head.

“I love you, Hayden” I whispered before adding “I can’t believe you’re home finally.” Smiling, he said “neither can I and I love you so much baby.”

“I like hearing you call me that by the way” I smiled as I stared at our interlaced fingers.

“What? Baby?” Hayden asked rubbing his thumb against my forefinger.

“Yeah” I smiled again as he leaned down into my ear to whisper “then I’ll keep calling you baby.”

A comfortable silence engulfed us as we waited for our food to come until I remembered something I'd seen earlier while we were dressing.

"Oh, since when do you have a tattoo? I thought you were scared of needles" I teased embarrassing my boyfriend.

"Well, I got it about two months after I left. Did you happen to see what it said?" he asked with a smile as he turned to look at me.

"No, I just saw that you had a tattoo on the left side of your ribs" I said as he glanced around the restaurant before turning back to me and lifting his shirt far enough I could see it. On his ribs were the words "you will forever be my always" with my birthday under it. Looking back up at him with tears in my eyes, I reached up and pulled his face to mine kissing him as my tears spilled down my cheeks. Putting down his shirt, he pulled me to him before breaking the kiss to say "I missed you so much that I wanted a reminder of what was waiting for me when I got back." While I was busy crying, Tess came back with our food and said "I take it he told you about what happened with him while you were gone?"