Andie stared at the sight before her. Balon was on the ground, Bane standing over him, his body positioned between her and Balon, who a look of incredulous anger in his eyes. No one had dared move or say a word, and the electricity in the air felt strong enough to make even Jessica's waist length hair stand on end. It was almost as if time itself had stopped, and there was no sound except for the boys' breathing and a gentle breeze flowing through the openings of the building. Bane and Balon glared at each other, neither saying a word or moving an inch, save for their chests as they breathed. Andie imagined that Bane had never been so defiant before, and that Balon didn't much appreciate the insubordination. But Bane was no longer a boy. Andie looked from one to the other as she took in what must have happened. Balon, infuriated at having his mistakes shoved into his face like that, had wanted to lash out at her, probably to get back at her for the flames she'd aimed at him. But Bane had jumped in between them and knocked his mentor to the ground. Balon, however, wasn't about to take that lying down. He sprang to his feet faster than a cat and flung himself at Bane.

"Balon, what on Earth are you doing?!" Adena shouted.

But he wasn't listening.

"Bane, stop it!" Andie intervened, poised to intervene but keeping still.

They were rolling on the floor, blocking and aiming punches at one of them.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Terra shouted.

The outburst was so sudden everyone jumped. Bane and Balon stopped fighting and Andie took the chance to pull Bane off the ground.

Then, after a moment of tense silence, Bane finally spoke. But he sounded very different from what Andie had ever heard since she'd met him.

"I know how much you brought me, Balon." he said in a low, cold voice. "And I will always be grateful to you for it and respect you. You know that perfectly well. But that does absolutely not give you the right to do what you just did. Or treat me the way you have been for the past few months. I have made mistakes, certainly, but none that justify your berating. And I warn you, Balon. If you ever, and I mean ever, try and touch Andie again, you will deal with me. And we both know I am not the ten year old you first mentored."

Silence fell again. Andie peered at the others. Even Jessica was looking slightly anxious. They were hesitating on whether to pull them apart or let them work it out. Even Andie had to admit she wasn't sure what to do. But before any of them could make up their minds, Bane stepped back and turned to Andie. He marched towards her and pulled her into his arms, resting his forehead against hers. She closed her eyes as they wrapped their arms around each other, breathing in his scent.

"I'm sorry you had to do that..." she whispered.

"Don't be," he said. "He makes his own decisions, whatever you can say or do, he has no right to do what he was about to."

"This is exactly why I didn't want you to mingle with them!" Balon said angrily.

He had gotten to his feet. Bane shifted around so he was still between him and Andie.

"You couldn't stand not being able to be close to her because of your feelings for her!" Balon said, fuming. "If you hadn't felt the way you do, it wouldn't have mattered that she wasn't aware of the truth!"

"Yes, it would!"

For the first time, it was Terra who had spoken.

"Whether Bane had feelings or not for Andie wouldn't have changed the fact that she was chosen, and as such, a target for Zorak. In fact, it's thanks to those feelings that Bane was able to protect Andie!"

"Have you learned nothing from our last conversation?" Adena asked. "You spoke to Andie about rights. What about your rights, Balon? What right do you have to try and keep two people who love each other apart? Don't you think they've more than earned a little happiness?"

Balon eyed them all coldly.

"Fine. I see I am outnumbered here. But we'll see who was right in the end."

And he walked away crossly, fading into the wind and leaving the others behind without a word or look back. After a moment of awkward silence, Adena said quietly:

"I think we have had enough training for today..."

Bane turned to Andie.

"I agree. Come on, let's get out of here..."

He took her hand and they walked off.

Still reeling from the incident with Balon, the drive to Bane's house was silent. They soon found themselves in Bane's living room. Andie was sitting on his leather couch and waiting for him to return from the kitchen. He soon reappeared sporting two glasses of orange juice.

"Thanks," Andie said, reaching up for hers.

He sat down beside her as she took a sip. She glanced at him as he set his own glass down and leaned back into the couch with a sigh.

"Hey... I'm really sorry that I put you in that position with Balon," Andie said. "I didn't mean to."

"I know that," he said, touching a hand to her cheek.

She smiled slightly and leaned into his shoulder, heaving a quiet sigh.

"... I don't understand what's gotten into him..." Bane said. "I mean, he was always tough, but since the circle was formed... it's just been getting worse."

Andie pondered that silently for a moment. Eventually, she said:

"I think I know why."

Bane raised a curious eyebrow at her.

"I'd love to hear your theory, but how would you? You've known him for just a few months, I've known him almost half my life."

"Exactly," Andie agreed. "You're too used to how he is around you. You're biased, in a way, I suppose. I haven't seen as much of him."

"Okay..." he still seemed a little perplexed. "So what do you think is his problem?"

Andie touched her chin thoughtfully.

"Well... he was alive once, right?"

"Yes..."

"And, now he's nothing more than a spirit bound to you. He can take on a human form, but it would still never be exactly the same as being alive. And he can't ever be with Adena the way he was then. But he has you and me constantly reminding him of what he was and what he lost. So... I guess he's just lashing out at you because you're the one he feels he was supposed to be."

"He made the decision to give up his powers," he reminded. "They all did. Why resent me now? It's not like I asked for this."

"Because he probably regrets it," Andie said. "He probably thinks it felt like the right decision at the time, but now he's not so sure, and it's frustrating him, because he can't take it back and change things to how they were before."

Bane looked at her.

"Why would you think that?"

"Well... I kind of know how he feels... being trapped in a situation with no way out..."

There was a silence. Bane's arm tightened around her shoulders. Andie didn't want to talk about it anymore, so she said:

"Anyway. Let's just focus on us for a while."

Bane seemed to catch on, because he didn't make any comment.

"That sounds good to me."

He leaned down and kissed her. She then rested her head on his shoulder, enjoying the peaceful silence.