Disclaimer: See first chapter.

AN: As hard as it is to believe, I can't think of anything to say.

Home is Where the Heart Is

By Ravyn Jayne

Chapter 4

Dinner was awkward. Uncomfortable. And not for the reasons you would think.

Well, maybe a little for the reasons you would think. Cam and Hunter were in surprisingly good moods for people who kept getting interrupted during a moment that was months in coming. But nonetheless they were a little peeved, and the extended anticipation of their first kiss was starting to make them somewhat edgy. Blake and Tori, who had also put off their romance for months, fully understood, and therefore were trying to find ways to ease the tension.

They wanted to give them some time alone, and it would probably be the best course of action, but they were in a very crowded room and even if Tori and Blake left, Hunter and Cam would still be surrounded by all the other Thunder students. Tori was sure Cam wouldn't like to have, what was quickly becoming, his most personal relationship put on public display. And though Blake wasn't entirely certain his big brother wouldn't make out with the green Ranger in the middle of a crowded dining hall, he did believe Hunter knew better than to give the socially shy Cam their first kiss in such a public setting, no matter how cute Hunter thought the computer op was when he blushed.

Despite this, Blake and Tori, along with Sensei Omino and Leanne, kept the conversation light and entertaining, and Hunter and Cam seemed to relax slightly and slowly moved closer to each other until they were sitting with their thighs touching, as they had been the previous night. Other students, old friends of the Thunder Brothers, who hadn't come around the night before, occasionally stopped by the table to visit and say hello. Therefore no one thought anything of it when a blond girl walked up and sat next to Hunter.

"Hey, Michelle." Blake greeted friendly enough, if a little warily.

It had never been a very well kept secret that Michelle had a crush on Hunter. Then again she seemed to gravitate toward Blake as much as Hunter and the brothers figured she was more in love with the fact they were being trained as Power Rangers than she was with them, as people.

"Hey Blake. Hunter." Michelle greeted, with a dazzling smile. "I didn't see much of you guys last night. Usually you're at the center of the party."

"Yeah, well, we decided to take it easy. It's been a long couple of days." Hunter said, only giving Michelle half of his attention, while he stole some bread off Cam's plate, silently flirting.

"You're probably getting a lot of this, but thanks for saving us all from Lothor." Michelle said leaning closer to Hunter and putting a hand on his shoulder. "I knew you and Blake would get us all safely home."

"Uh, your welcome?" Hunter looked uncertain as he tried to move closer to Cam. Cam looked like he'd love nothing better than to forcibly remove Michelle from Hunter's side. "You know we had help. Cam and the Winds did just as much as we did."

"Oh, I'm sure. Especially with you leading them." Michelle said sweetly. Cam raised an eyebrow.

"Actually, it was more of a joint effort." Hunter explained, growing more and more uncomfortable with Michelle's closeness. A group of girls walked by and one called out for Michelle. Not looking away from Hunter, Michelle motioned for them to wait a minute.

"Well," Michelle said, her smile becoming seductive. Before anyone knew what she was doing, Michelle leaned in and kissed Hunter. Hunter froze in shock, but recovered quickly and pushed Michelle away. Michelle looked at him brazenly, and said, "Thanks."

"What-?" was all Hunter got out before he realized Cam had gotten up from the table and was quickly headed toward the exit. "Cam! Wait!"

Hunter hurriedly got up and followed Cam, completely ignoring everyone else. Tori looked at Michelle through narrowed eyes, and Blake could have sworn he heard her growl. Tori was fiercely protective of her friends and family, and all the Rangers and Sensei fell into that category. Before Tori could lunge at the other blond girl, Blake placed a restraining arm around her shoulders. Tori took a deep breath, but continued glaring at the other girl. Finally it was Leanne who spoke up.

"Leave." she ordered, in a voice that left no room for argument. Michelle, looking from the stern teacher, to the livid Tori quickly left.

"I'm gonna make sure Cam is okay." Tori said starting to stand up. Blake stopped her.

"I think Hunter needs to fix this one." he explained.

"I believe Blake is right." Sensei Omino agreed. "Hunter is the only one who can make this right with Cam."

Silence fell over the table.

"Cam! Cam!" Hunter called through the closed door to the room Tori and Cam were sharing. "Cam, let me in!"

"It's not locked." Came Cam's wry voice.

"Oh." Hunter said. Guessing that was as much of an invitation as he was going to get from Cam at the moment, Hunter turned the knob and walked into the room. Cam sat on his bed, and it alarmed Hunter to see how lost he looked. Without thinking Hunter asked, "Are you alright, Cam?"

"Peachy." Cam replied dryly.

"Look, I'm sorry about Michelle. If I had even thought she was going to do that… well I'm not sure what I would've done, but I definitely wouldn't have let her kiss me." Hunter said.

"I know." Cam said, and by his tone Hunter could tell he really did.

"Then why do you look like you look?" Hunter asked.

"How do I look?" Cam asked, avoiding the big question.

"Like you're defeated. Like you're giving up." Hunter explained.

"Maybe I shouldn't have come here." Cam said, putting his head in his hands.

"Excuse me?" Hunter asked, looking a little panicked.

"Why me?" Cam asked, suddenly getting to his feet and pacing between the two beds. "You could have anyone, I think that was just proven, so why would you choose-"

Cam cut himself off and ran a frustrated hand through his hair, finally standing still. Hunter almost didn't recognize Cam. The Cam he knew was always so composed, so sure of himself. Now he seemed filled with doubt, completely uncertain.

"Maybe my dad was right." Cam muttered, but Hunter heard and tensed.

"Maybe your dad was right about what?" Hunter asked assuming the worst. "What? He doesn't approve of me? Of us?"

"It's not that. He's just afraid I'll get hurt." Cam wearily raised a hand for silence when Hunter tried to protest. "He…, I…, We both know you'd never intentionally hurt me. But this is all new to me and not just because you're a guy. I've never had many personal relationships. I spent most of my time at school or the academy, and the Rangers were the first ones to acknowledge my presence there. I can barely handle having friends. I have no idea how to handle a-"

"A what?" Hunter asked when Cam seemed unwilling to go on. Cam ran a hand through his hair and took a deep breath.

"A boyfriend." Cam blurted, then started talking very fast. "I know I'll screw this up somehow, probably by just being me, and if I lost you, I don't think I could bear it, and-"

Suddenly Cam was cut off by Hunter's mouth on his, as Hunter's arms pulled him close. At first Cam was too stunned to respond, but when Hunter ran a warm tongue across his bottom lip, Cam let him in. They simply stood kissing for long moments, the Green Ranger's arms wrapping around Hunter's waist, the Crimson Ranger's right hand kneading Cam's back, his left cupping the back of Cam's head as if to keep him in place. Slowly, reluctantly, Hunter pulled away but kept his arms firmly around the other man.

"I love you, Cam." Hunter said looking Cam straight in the eye. "I love you. You'd never ruin our relationship by being you, because it's you that I love. I know this is all new to you. It's new to me too. I've never felt this way about anyone before. You just gotta trust me."

"I trust you." Cam responded without hesitation. "I love you."

Hunter smiled and leaned forward to kiss Cam just as there was a knock on the door. Hunter dropped his forehead to Cam's.

"I swear to God…" Hunter sighed and Cam chuckled. Hunter gave him a dirty look which only succeeded in making Cam laugh harder.

"Bro?" Blake's voice called from the other side of the door.

"If that was anyone other than my brother," Hunter grumbled, "I would so kill them."

"Hunter? Everything alright in there?" Blake tried again.

"Everything's fine Blake." Cam called out to him, amusement ringing in his voice.

"Are you guys sure? It's kinda quiet in there." Blake called back.

Finally Hunter let go of Cam and stalked to the door. Only opening it a few inches, Hunter looked out to where his brother and Tori were standing.

"Everything is fine. Thank you for your concern." Hunter said slowly in a deadly calm voice. "Go. Away. Now."

"Oh." Blake said. Finally it dawned on him. "Oooohhhhhh. Yeah. Alright. Take your time. Tori and I will just-"

"We'll go." Tori said grabbing a firm hold on Blake's arm and pulling him across the hall to Hunter and Blake's room. As Tori closed the door behind them, Blake waved. "Bye."

Closing his own door Hunter turned back to Cam, who now sat on the edge of his bed. Walking over, Hunter sat next to Cam and snaked an arm around the Asian man's waist. Turning Cam's face towards his own, Hunter smiled.

"I love you." Hunter whispered caressing Cam's face, running his thumb across Cam's lips. Cam leaned forward and gave Hunter a swift, sweet kiss. When he pulled away Hunter leaned forward trying to prolong their contact.

"I love you too." Cam smiled back.

"You'd better." Hunter gave Cam a serious look. "You do realize you'll never get rid of me now."

Cam only smiled in response, but didn't seem too put out by the thought. Finally, Hunter kissed Cam long and deep, and just how he'd always wanted to.

Across the hall, Tori made herself comfortable on the bed with the navy comforter. Blake still stood by the door.

"Blake? You okay?" Tori asked.

"Huh?" Blake turned to face her. "Oh, yeah. It's just, well…, my brother is over there making out with Cam. Cam! I mean I knew eventually they were gonna, and I'm happy for them and all, but…, my brother has a boyfriend. Who he's making out with. And that boyfriend is Cam! I never thought Hunter would fall for someone like Cam."

"Yeah. I guess they're kind of an odd couple. But something about them just seems to click." Tori nodded. "You know, I have a boyfriend too. One with which I seem to click. One I was kinda hoping to make out with."

That caught Blake's attention.

"Well, in that case I'm over it." Blake said walking toward where Tori lay. Laying down next to her, Blake wrapped his arms around Tori. Suddenly Blake got nervous. "Hey Tor?"

"Yeah?" Tori turned in his arms to face him, wrapping her own arms around his neck.

"I really am glad you came to the Thunder Academy with us. And I wanted to tell you…, that is I wanted to say, well," Blake sighed, then decided to take a page out of Hunter's book and be totally blunt. "I love you."

Tori's eyes widened, and before Blake could become seriously worried, a huge smile broke out over Tori's face.

"I love you too, Blake." Tori said then kissed Blake and neither one talked for a long time.

Hunter and Cam lay on Cam's bed, Cam tucked into Hunter's body, held secure by Hunter's left arm, and Hunter's right stroking up and down Cam's side, as both young men had content smiles on their faces. Suddenly Hunter gave a silent chuckle, Cam only aware of it by the rumbling of the chest he was lying on.

"What are you thinking about?" Cam asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

"The first time we met." Hunter answered.

"You mean when you broke into Ops, held me hostage, and then kidnapped my father with the intention of killing him to settle a vendetta?" Cam asked back.

"Um…, yeah." Hunter gave a nervous laugh and scratched his head sheepishly. Cam chuckled at his discomfort. "I was thinking more about how I can't believe we went from that, to this." Hunter squeezed Cam gently to show what he meant by 'this'.

"You're lucky the Wind Academy is so big on forgiveness now. It didn't used to be, hence Lothor." Cam shrugged, then yawned. "Promise you won't disappear for twenty or so years, then come back and try to destroy the world?"

"Promise. It's been overdone anyway." Hunter said nonchalantly. Silence came over them again. Finally, "Hey Cam?"

Silence.

"Cam?" Hunter asked again. More silence. Hunter looked down at the Green Ranger. Cam was fast asleep, looking very comfortable snuggled up to his boyfriend. Hunter leaned his head down and kissed Cam's forehead, his lips. "Goodnight Cam. I love you."

Hunter rested his head on Cam's and quickly fell asleep, happier than he remembered being in a very long time.

End Chapter 4

AN-Only one more chapter to go after this one. It might not be very long either. Hope you're enjoying. Just for future reference, I am incapable of not writing a happy ending. To me the entire point of reading is to get to the warm fuzzies at the end. So never fear! Happily Ever After always happens where I'm in charge! Which mainly means these stories and not actual life. I work hard to remember where the line between the two is drawn. I get a little caught up in my imaginings sometimes.J