Sorry for the wait. For reasons - don't ask me what - I had to skip a chapter while I was writing this on paper. So while the next couple of chapters are already written (and will be uploaded much more quickly) this chapter was really difficult to write - hence why it's so patchy. Anyway, I hope you don't find it a complete train wreck. Thanks again to everyone who has reviewed so far. Please keep reviewing!

Buffyxenaman, sky's girl forever, sporty-mia09 and Chylea3784 - thank you all for the reviews.

Sreym - Thanks for the review. Sorry about the paragraphs problem, hope this chapter is better.

a/n - Just so you know, this chapter is the biggest inclusion there is going to be of any Shane/Cam romance mainly because I'm not a huge fan of that pairing. I'm not really sure why it's in here in the first place but whatever.

"Ok then, as soon as training's finished we're heading straight to the beach." Shane announced, his voice happy and confident but Tori still watched him...and that's when she saw him take a quick but deep glance at...Cam.

It couldn't be... a smile slowly crept across her face.

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For Dustin, training seemed to last an eternity but he was still surprising everyone with how focused he was, especially Tori who was his unlucky sparring partner. She was relieved when she heard Sensei clear his throat.

"That is enough for today." He told them calmly, "Go now and enjoy your afternoon." Tori could have sworn she saw a hint of a smile on the guinea pig's small and delicate features. Can guinea pigs actually smile? She thought with a grin. She was beginning to sound like Dustin. At that moment the earth ninja hurtled back down the steps into the room, breaking her momentary daze, and grabbed her wrist.

"C'mon, let's go!" he cried in an excited voice while practically dragging her back out with him.

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All the guys let out a loud cheer when the beach finally came into sight. As soon as Tori's large blue van came to a halt they eagerly leapt out and began unloading the food and supplies.

Dustin stepped aside for a moment and looked at the beach. As it was a weekday it was mostly clear but there were groups of people scattered around in some parts. A worrying thought suddenly flashed across his mind.

As if sensing Dustin's uneasiness, Hunter came and stood by his side.

"You're worried about the people." He said more as an observation than a question. Dustin sighed and turned to look at Hunter.

"My parents…they know a lot of people around here and if one of their friends were to see us…" he saw the subtle flash of hurt on Hunter's face and quickly explained himself, "It's not that I don't want them to know about us, it's just that……they don't know I like guys, as well as girls……and I'd rather tell them myself than them find out from someone else." Hunter looked slightly relieved at that statement and gave Dustin a reassuring smile.

"You don't have to tell them because of me." He suggested but Dustin shook his head.

"No, I want to tell them." He briefly took Hunter's hand and gave it a playful squeeze, "I'm telling them when I see them for dinner tomorrow." He tried to smile but Hunter could see the worry in his eyes.

"You don't think they'll approve?" he asked Dustin quietly. The earth ninja shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know about Mum…and as for Dad…well, he's never approved of anything I do; somehow I don't think this is going to be any different" Hunter didn't know what to say to that. His parents weren't exactly around to express their opinion but he was sure they'd approve if they were. He'd never even thought about how Dustin's parents might react.

"Hey guys! Quit standing around and help us with this stuff!" Blake called out to them, breaking the silence. Dustin shrugged his shoulders slightly, as if trying to shake off the feelings of worry, and walked back to the van to help the others. Hunter followed a moment after.

Soon everything was unloaded, the van was locked and they were headed to the sand. Tori quickly caught up with Shane, who was walking apart from everybody else.

"So when are you gonna tell him?" she quietly suggested. He gave her a half-hearted glare.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He insisted but couldn't keep it up when she gave him one of her locally famous 'Oh yeah?' looks. "What do you expect me to do? I can't tell him-"

"Why not?!" she cut in quietly but with an edge on her voice.

"Because what if he doesn't feel the same way? That could ruin everything; it's too great a risk." Tori couldn't help but smirk.

"You know, Dustin said something very similar," she pointed to the earth and crimson thunder ninja laughing happily together, "and look at him now, happier than ever."

"Yeah well, he's lucky…" Shane muttered with what sounded like…resentment in his voice. Tori realized the problem from earlier.

"So that's why you were being a bit distant back at Ninja Ops? Because you're jealous of the relationship Dustin has with Hunter that you think you can never have with Cam?" she assumed and, knowing that he couldn't hide from her, Shane just nodded.

"Well, then follow his lead…let him be your secret inspiration, please just talk to Cam" she pleaded but Shane gave her a look and it in she saw no hope or optimism. He honestly didn't think he had any chance with Cam. Tori stayed silent. Saying anything else now would be pointless. To get results she would have to move on to another, weaker target – Cam. She hid a smile knowing that Cam was even worse at lying to her than any of the other ninjas.

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"No way." Cam insisted when Tori pestered him.

"But you have to tell him!" she moaned in an irritating voice, "There's a big chance he could feel the same way!" she put as much of a hint in her voice as she could which he eventually caught on to.

"You've spoken to him?" he asked lightly, as if afraid of the answer. She nodded and gave him a big smile that told him everything he needed to know. He gave her a shy smile back and went back to the others who were all lazing about on the sand. She grinned to herself.

Mission complete.

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Dustin lay close to Hunter while the others were getting surfing tips from Tori. As it was getting dark now there weren't that many people left on the beach. Hunter wanted desperately to take Dustin's hand in his but he didn't want to push him. Luckily, as if reading Hunter's mind, Dustin took the thunder ninja's hand and held it tightly.

"No regrets?" he asked the younger boy softly. Dustin smiled and turned to look at him.

"No regrets." He said confidently. Hunter laughed when he made a funny face at him.

"I don't care what you say Tor, that is the last time I'm getting on a surfboard." Blake insisted between coughs and splutters. Hunter looked up and saw his brother approaching with sand all over his face. Tori and the others were walking beside him. Dustin gave Shane one of his trademark "……eh?" looks and Shane explained.

"He tried to get on the surfboard but completely miss footed, flipped and landed face first in the sand…very impressive." he grinned and an annoyed Blake thumped him on the arm.

"You just need more practice that's all." Tori reasoned but Blake wouldn't listen. Hunter and Dustin looked at each other and had to pinch themselves to stop laughing. Blake did not look amused. Shane and Cam were laughing together much to Tori's delight.

"C'mon guys, let's go back to Stormchargers, I've got some stuff to pick up before Kelly locks up" Blake moaned and made his way back to the van with the others reluctantly following.

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It was evening by the time the van pulled into the Stormchargers parking lot. Blake got out and quickly headed inside with Tori. Shane said something about checking out some new skateboards and the others were pleasantly surprised when Cam eagerly went with him. Dustin and Hunter were left standing by the van. Hunter could sense something was troubling his boyfriend.

"You're nervous about tomorrow?" he quietly suggested. Dustin grinned and let out a small laugh.

"How is it you can read me like a book?" he smiled at Hunter "Yes, I am a bit nervous about tomorrow but I'm still gonna do it, no matter how it may turn out." Hunter pulled him into an embrace that Dustin happily relaxed into.

"I love you." the earth ninja whispered. Hunter's heart skipped a beat. Dustin had told him before that he felt the same way as Hunter but unlike him he had never said those three little words.

Feeling so happy he could burst, Hunter lifted Dustin up in his arms and spun him round and round with the yellow ninja's laughter ringing like music in his ears. He eventually put him back down again and kissed him passionately, which Dustin eagerly accepted. Both were happier than they had ever been before and didn't want the moment to end…

However, they were so pre-occupied that they didn't notice the pair of eyes that had been watching them for the last five minutes before quickly hurrying away into the darkness of the street…...

Oooo spooky...lol. Anyway, please review. Like I said, the next two chapters will be uploaded very soon. Untill then! Bye bye!