"W-what?" Tori spluttered.

"Tori, according to this... you're pregnant. " Cam repeated.

"I know, I heard you the first time." Tori said as she sank down onto the couch.

"How did this happen? I mean ... I know HOW it happened but Tori ... you're usually the responsible one, the one who thinks everything through, the one who is usually giving US advice!" Cam exclaimed.

"I know I just ... when were together, it's like something HAPPENS between us, and logical thought is impossible ... I can't explain it." Tori said. Even in with the weight of this news bearing down on her, white hot desire and yearning filled her very soul every time she thought about Blake.

"Look, there is always a chance my instruments might be wrong, I strongly suggest going to a doctor and finding out for sure." Cam said.

"Okay, but not a WORD of this to Blake or the others, got it?" She said as she shook her finger at him.

A bubble of anger suddenly rose up inside of Cam. "Are you worried about Blake's reaction?"

"Oh God no, he'd be thrilled." She said as she waved his concerns off.

"But I also know that he would put everything on hold, and his career is just taking off, I can't do what to him." She added.

"You'll have to come clean eventually, obviously you won't be able to hide it forever. " Cam pointed out.

"No, but I do have a little time to figure things out." Tori replied.

Just then, they heard voices, Tori hurriedly shoved the printout into Cam's hands.

"Hide this!" She said, and not a moment too soon, because just then, the boys clambered in, chortling excitedly about their afternoon.

"Everything ok?" Blake said.

"Uh ... yeah! Cam just recommends I get seen by a doctor, just as a precaution. " Tori said quickly.

"So ... nothing's wrong?" Blake asked Cam.

"No, Blake. But I am no medical professional, and I just think it's a good idea, just in case my instruments missed something. " Cam said, hoping his lie was convincing.

"I'll make the appointment first thing in the morning before my demo, I promise." Tori said.


"Well, Miss Hanson, your suspicions were correct, you are, in fact pregnant." The doctor said as he looked over the paperwork.

"Damn." Tori said under her breath.

"Is the father in the picture?" The doctor asked.

"Well er ... its complicated. " Tori said, thankfully the doctor seemed to understand and didn't press the matter any further.

"I am referring you to an OBGYN, she is very good and has a lot of experience with young, single mothers. Her name is Doctor Ruth Steinwell." the doctor said sympathetically as he scribbled down the information on a prescription pad.

"Thanks, doc." Tori said.


Although she still felt ill, paradoxically, Tori's surfing had never been better, even SHE was impressed, it was like the water gave her strength.

"So, you like the water too, huh?" She said, her mouth forming a small smile as she put her hand over her stomach.

"Tori, that was amazing!" Shane said as he and Dustin caught up with her as she put her board into her van.

"Yeah ... it's strange ... whatever is going on with me seems to be amazing for my surfing." she replied.

"What IS going on with you anyway? Come on, Tor, we know you went to the doctor the other day, you can't keep your brothers in the dark forever." Shane said.

Tori blew out a ragged sigh.

"You're right ... but not here, it's not something I ... want everyone to know. Why don't you guys come over to my apartment around seven." she said as she cast a nervous glance around her.

"We'll be there." Shane said.


"I can't believe you kept this place." Dustin said as he walked into her old apartment.

"Well ... I do need a place to live when we are in town with Factory Blue, and this IS my home city." she said with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"Okay Tor, out with it, what's going on?" Shane said as his eyes narrowed.

"Okay ... there is no easy way to say this so I am just going to come out and say it ..."

"Is it the flu? some kind of allergic reaction? Oh god ... it's not cancer ... is it ...?"

"Dude ... why don't we let HER finish first?" Shane interrupted him.

"I'm ... I'm pregnant." she said.

It was like a bomb had gone off.

Dustin sank down on her couch in stunned silence, Shane had gotten up and was pacing back and forth with a scowl on his face.

"Shane ... please say something." Tori said.

"I can't believe you're ... you're ..." Dustin trailed off.

"Going to have a baby ... have you even TOLD Blake yet?" Shane said.

"Er ... no." Tori said embarrassingly as she pointedly avoided his gaze.

"WHAT?! Tori he deserves to know! don't you think that he would WANT to know?" Shane replied his voice rising.

"Are you scared that he'll bail?" Dustin said abruptly, worry coloring his voice.

"Oh no, he'd be thrilled, he'd drop EVERYTHING, and that's why I can't tell him, I don't want him to give up everything because I was stupid and wasn't careful." she said sadly.

"Tori, we might not be related by blood, but you're our sister in every sense of the word, you know we'll be here for you, I'm not going to bust your chops, but keeping this from Blake is the WRONG thing to do. If I was him, I would want to know. You aren't going to be able to hide this forever, and when he DOES find out, he's going to be really hurt." Shane said.

Tori smiled tearfully as she pulled them both into a hug.

"Thanks guys."

"Hey, what are bro's for, right?" Shane said, playfully ruffling her hair as they walked to the door.

"Remember, hit us up if you need ANYTHING, Tor." Dustin said.

"I will, I promise." she replied with a kind smile.

Shane opened the door to find Blake on the other side of it.

"Oh ... hey dude, we were just leaving." Dustin said as they both made a hasty exit.

"What's up with them?" Blake asked as he watched them jump into Shane's jeep and practically peel out.

Tori merely offered an ambiguous shrug.

"Come on, Tor, don't give me that, you went to the doctor, so tell me what they told you! whatever it is, I can handle it, I promise!" he said as he gripped her by the shoulders.

"Well the good news is I am not dying or anything, but they still ... need to run more tests to really find out what's going on." she lied.

Guilt settled deep in the pit of her stomach at how easy it was becoming to lie to him, and she knew that she wouldn't be able to lie forever, but she just wasn't ready to tell him ... not yet.

"So you're not ... seriously ill?" Blake replied.

"No." she said, offering a smile.

"Oh man! what a relief!" he said as he pulled her into a hug.

"Yeah ... what a relief." she said, trying to feign happiness as she hugged him back.

Blake withdrew and pulled her into a spontaneous passionate kiss.

The logical side of her mind was nagging at her to break it off and resist. 'this is how you got into this mess in the first place!' it said. But it was no match for the magnetic force that was always pulling them together.

'And the damage is already done, anyway.' She reasoned with herself.

Tori pulled at her clothes, they suddenly felt tight and restrictive as her skin buzzed and tingled.

"I've been thinking about you all day." He growled into her ear.

"Funny you say that, because I haven't been able to get you off my mind, either." She purred in reply.

"I think I might have an addiction." he said.

"I was going to say the same thing." she said, somehow, their clothes had ended up strewn on the living room floor.

Tori pulled him into the bedroom.

"Do you have to torture me every time, though?" he groaned as she slowly traced her fingers down his chest.

"The Buildup makes the sex so much better." she purred in reply.

"Each time is like the first time with you." He replied, his voice heavy with arousal .


Blake awoke to his phone alarm buzzing under his pillow, he reached over and found Tori's side of the bed empty, he sat up and pulled on a pair of pajamas as he heard the toilet flush and Tori came out of the bathroom looking very pale.

"Sick again?" He said, worry coloring his voice.

"Yeah, the doctor said this would happen, but it still sucks." She said as she flopped back into bed.

"Tori, what's going on? Why do I feel like there's something you're not telling me?"

"It's ... nothing, I'm fine, trust me, it's nothing serious." she said.

"Tori whatever it is ... you can tell me." He pressed.

"I said I'm fine!" she shot back with more venom than she intended, she was emotional and feeling like crap, and not in the mood to argue as she flopped on her side, facing away from him.

Blake blew out a sigh. "I'm gonna grab a shower, I have races first thing this morning." he said flatly as he left her alone.

Tears pricked Tori's eyes as she heard the shower turn on.

'This is for the best.' she tried to tell herself as tears slipped down her cheeks.

'Is it, though?' A small voice answered.

'His career is taking off, he doesn't deserve to be burdened and tied down by this baby.' She thought.

'It doesn't have to be like that, you both could have it both ways.' The little voice replied.

Tori wiped her eyes, maybe her voice of reason was right. He WAS eventually going to find out, she couldn't trust Dustin, as excited as he was about the prospect of being an 'uncle' to keep his mouth shut forever.


END OF CHAPTER 2