Hi everyone :)

I've brought you all some more yummy Tori/Dustin goodness :) Glad to hear you're all enjoying the story.
I was watching an episode of Mighty Morphing Power Rangers last night just for nostalgia 'cause I used to love that when it first came out, I think I must have been about 6 or 7 years old. Anyway, I never realised before but the Yellow Ranger doesn't have the little skirt thing that the Pink Ranger does yet is played by a girl in the American version. So I'm guessing it was meant to be a guy in the original Japanese version. I just thought it was interesting and funny that I've never noticed it before...But that's just me :)

Review time :

Aubrey ) : I absolutely adore Aerosmith full stop. They rock so hard. My favourite has got to be "Dude (Looks Like a Lady)" but "I Don't Want to Miss A Thing" is my second favourite. Glad you liked the version I made up myself. I do that kind of stuff a lot, changing the words to songs although I usually change them to something stupid :)

Makia Durron : I am mean aren't I? lol

TVrocks : I love your reviews :) They're so funny. I'm glad you think I've caught the emotions well and sorry about breaking your heart, I'll help you sweep it up afterwards lol. I actually thought the whole doorbell thing was more funny than heart breaking but that's just me I guess.

Blake-Tori88 : Oooo, nice long review :) I can imagine Tori being with all the guys except Shane and that's only because I'm not that interested in Shane. Glad you liked the Aerosmith touch. I just had to include them in at least one of my stories and this seemed like a good place to put them. There are a few of reasons I had Tori's favourite movie as Armageddon; a) I know more about Armageddon than Blue Crush, b) Armageddon gave me a good excuse to use Aerosmith's song and c) everyone says that Tori's favourite movie is Blue Crush. It's so predictable.

I'd also like to thank : CamFan4Ever, alexis, Stoned Gir, GP and Moonlit Sea for all reviewing :)

I doubt this chapter will be what a lot of you expected. From some of your reviews, I think you're all expecting a huge dramatic kiss with cries of "I love you" and other stuff. Well, although that's what I was going to originally do, it's not what I'm gonna do now. I thought about it and that just seems like such a cliche so I'm gonna do something a bit different which will, hopefully, still work just as well as a huge, dramatic declaration of love.

Now, for your entertainment, I give you Chapter 4...

11:26
Twenty-nine hours, thirty-five minutes remain.

Dustin remained sitting on the floor and began to flip through the CD's again, trying to make it look like he wasn't bothered with knowing who was at the door.

"Hey, Dustin!" Shane's voice suddenly greeted from behind him. He looked over his shoulder to find Shane now sat on the sofa and Blake and Hunter just coming in. "Dude, why are you still in your pyjamas?" Shane laughed, noticing his friends choice of clothing. Dustin shrugged and turned from the CD's to face them all now that Tori and Cam were also in the room.

"Didn't see the point in getting dressed. Besides, Tori's still wearing her's." Dustin pointed out.

"She's allowed to, it's her place." Shane grinned.

"Anyway," Cam interrupted, not wanting to have to sit through a debate. "How's it been going?"

"Pretty good I think." Tori answered as she perched on the edge of her table which was still pushed against the wall.

"Done your attack sequence?" Cam checked.

Yep, we've got it all figured out." Tori nodded.

"Been doing your exercises?"

"Yeah...And found out some very interesting facts." Tori grinned, giving Dustin a sly, side-long look. Dustin gave her a look which just screamed don't-even-go-there. "So, what's the situation on the freaky cat?" Tori inquired, thinking it best to change the subject.

"Haven't seen or heard anything." Hunter spoke up. "Would've come and got you two if we had." Tori nodded and then there was a long silence. They all knew the question that was screaming to be asked but none of them thought it was thier place to ask.

"So how's the whole bond thing going? Fallen in love yet?" Shane asked suddenly.

"Shane!" Blake yelled, hitting the boy next to him with a pillow while Tori and Dusitn's cheeks turned a bright shade of pink.

"What? We all want to know, you guys are just to chicken to ask." Shane retorted before turning back to Tori and Dustin. "Well? How is it going?" Tori stared at the ground, trying to think of something to say that didn't sound too commiting...

"We're just taking it one step at a time." Dustin answered. Tori looked over at him and was surprised to find his blush gone and his voice showed no sign of nerves. "You know, just seeing how things turn out." Tori couldn't help but be amazed by his calm attitude. He was usually the first to get flustered when he was accused of anything romantic. The other's seemed to be rather surprised as well and no one spoke for a moment until Shane suddenly jolted forward and picked up on of the video games carelessly left on the floor.

"You rented Soul Calibur II? Sweet, I rule at this game." Shane grinned.

"Hey, I beat you the last time we played remember?" Dustin reminded. Shane looked at him and grins slowly spread across their lips.

"Soul Calibur II Tournament!" They both cried as Shane lept off the sofa and shuffled next to Dustin just in front of the TV. Tori let out a bored sigh and Hunter, Blake and Cam looked confused and silently asked her for an explanation.

"They do this sometimes." Tori told them in a bored tone. "They have a little 'tournament' to prove whose the best. Usually it's best three out of five but they adjust it if their loosing. They drag me into it sometimes but most of the time I'm able to avoid it." She took a quick look at her oldest friends who were currently arguing about what characters they were going to be. "We won't be allowed to talk to them for a while."

"So how has living with Dustin been so far?" Blake questioned.

"It's been pretty good. Except for the weird food combinations and the mountains of sugar he insists that we eat. That I could do without." Tori replied, smiling slightly.

"How was sleeping in the same bed? Shane said he snores like thunder." Hunter smirked. Tori kept back a blush and struggled to find her voice at the mention of last night.

"Can't say I noticed any snoring." She managed to answer. "But then again, I sleep like a rock." She added with a laugh.

"Ha, beat you!" Dustin cried making the others turn to look at him and Shane.

"That was just one round. Still a lot more to come." Shane sneered, his eyes not leaving the screen.

"Bring it on." Dustin challenged, also turning back to the screen. While Dustin and Shane continued to play, the others just talked about various thing, nothing really important. At one point, Tori left to make them all something to eat since they were all getting hungry. Cam and her were the only ones who ate something proper while the rest of the guys settled for junk food. After a while, Blake and Hunter had gone over to Shane and Dustin to cheer them on while they played their tenth game, so Tori and Cam were left to talk alone. Tori had moved from the edge of the table and sat on the arm of the recliner that Cam was sat on.

"Cam, how much do you know about the bond Dustin and I share?" Tori murmured quietly so the others, who were making a lot of noise, couldn't hear her.

"Well, I've done some reading on it since yesterday and I have spoken to my father about it a bit." Cam explained.

"Do you know anything about how quickly it develops?"

"Well, from what I understand, there isn't a set development rate. It appears that it can come in leaps and bounds. It can barely be noticable for years and then suddenly, everything will come almost at once. Also, it doesn't necessarily develop at the same rate for each person. Why, are things not developing for you and Dustin?" Cam inquired.

"No, it's not that. The opposite actually. Yesterday morning he was just Dustin, but by the evening he was...I don't know, but I didn't feel the same about him. I still don't." Tori admitted sheepishly, rather embarrassed to be talking about this.

"It's not surprising that it's developed so quickly. Like I said, it has a highly irregular pattern which is impossible to predict. So, you've developed feelings for him now?" Cam gently prompted.

"I guess I have." Tori mumbled.

"Do you know how he feels?" Cam coaxed.

"I'm pretty sure he feels something for me as well. There have been several close encounters, if you get what I mean."

"I see." Cam nodded. A short silence. "So you think you two will get together now?"

"I thought me and Dustin being together had always been in-escapable." Tori replied quietly, a hint of questioning in her tone.

"I guess it has." Cam agreed. "I'm happy for you Tori. As long as your happy, I don't care who you're with." Tori nodded. More silence.

"Hey Cam?" Tori said.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks." She whispered as she leaned down slightly and quickly kissed his cheek. They smiled at each other and continued to talk until Tori felt someones eyes on her. She looked over to the others and saw Dustin looking at them out of the corner of his eye, a small frown on his face. Tori noticed that Shane's character was just about to hit his and she made a small blocking gesture with her arms. Dustin seemed to get the message and quickly turned back to the screen, just in time to see the on-coming attackand press the block button.

"Dude, how did you know I was gonna do that? You weren't even looking at the screen!" Shane growled in annoyance.

"I had a bit of help." Dustin grinned as they both pounded on the buttons on their controlers. Shane got what he meant and let out an indignant gasp.

"That's cheating!" He protested. "No outside help from people you share a supernatural bond with."

"Since when?" Dustin asked, his eyes not leaving the screen.

"Since always."

"You've never said anything about it before." Dustin pointed out with a grin.

"I've never had to before."

"Then how am I supposed to know?"

"It shouldn't have to be said!"

Tori shook her head at the childishness of the two boys. "I can't believe one of those guys is our leader and the other shares a bond with me." She muttered to Cam quietly.

"Scary thought isn't it?" Cam smirked. Tori grinned back at him and they continued to talk as Dustin and Shane carried on their arguement which Hunter and Blake eventually became part of.

18:14
Twenty-two hours, forty-seven minutes remain.

Tori muttered to herself angrily as she went around her sitting room with a big plastic garbage bag collecting all the rubbish her friends had produced. There were sweet wrappers, empty bags that had once contained crisps, empty cans and there were crumbs absolutely every where. Dustin was just saying goodbye to everyone now they were finally leaving. She wasn't sure who had ended up winning the little tournament between Shane and Dustin and they probably weren't sure themselves as half way through, Blake had asked who was in the lead which had resulted in the eruption of another heated debate between her childhood friends causing them to make a lot of noise which had made her mood rapidly deteriorate. She heard the front door close and let out a relieved sigh. Finally, a bit of piece and quiet. She loved all of the guys to bits but sometimes it was more apparant than others that that's what they were; a bunch of teenage guys who were roudy, messy and immature. However, now they were all gone, that meant she'd be alone with Dustin again. Great! Her confidence and guts from earlier now completely gone, she felt nervous an apprehensive and with her headache, it wasn't the exciting sensation that could usually be enjoyed. It was a great combination really; a headache from the yelling, the stress of once again being left alone with Dustin and a very messy sitting room which it looked like she'd have to clean herself.

"Woah, what a mess." Dustin's voice came from the doorway suddenly. Tori looked up for a second to see him leaning against the door frame. She stood up and frowned at him, her hands going to her hips.

"Oh that's right, just stand there. Don't bother helping me clear up the mess you helped create." She snapped, her voice thick with sarcasm. Dustin was rather surprised by how annoyed she seemed to be and gave her an I'm-sorry look. Tori continued to glare at him before her resistence fell and with a tired sigh she continued to clean up.

"So what can I do to help?" Dustin asked, getting the really strong sense that Tori was feeling kinda stressed.

"Nothing, I can handle it." He heard her mutter. He considered it for a moment. He could either take what she said at face value and do nothing or he could ignore her and help. Though considering her mood at the moment, he probably wouldn't be able to do anything right and he'd get snapped at whatever he done. So, he decided to choose the thrid option; guilt trip. If there was one thing that could snap Tori out of a bad mood it was a guilt trip.

"Tori?" Dustin said quietly as he slowly walked over to her. No reply. "Tori?" He repeated, gently tapping her shoulder.

"What?" She grunted as she threw a can into the bag not bothering to look.

"Are you mad at me?" He asked in an innocent tone, looking at her with sad eyes just in case she decided to look at him. She stopped her movements and her shoulders slumped.

"No, I'm not mad at you." She told him quietly as she resumed her cleaning.

"What's the matter then?" He questioned, crouching down beside her to try and see her face but it was hidden behind a curtain of her hair.

"Nothing. I'm fine." She insisted as she stood up and went to the other side of the room, a blatant attempt to try and avoid the on-coming coversation with Dustin. Dustin read her like a book though and decided that if she wasn't going to tell him out loud, he'd just have to feel it. He watched her carefully and concentrated, hoping he was doing the right thing to allow him to read her emotions. A sudden wave of emotion came over him and a lump formed in his throat, his head started to really badly hurt and he felt really nervous. He looked over at Tori who was still hurridly stuffing rubbish into the black bag. Was this what she was feeling? Did she really feel this low at the moment? Tori's emotions suddenly left Dustin as his concentration lapsed and he felt like himself again. He continued to watch Tori's actions as he pondered her feelings. He knew what was causing the headache, they had been making a lot of noise, and the stress was probably from the clutter. Tori hated clutter. He knew it, Shane knew it, everyone knew it. That feeling of nervousness though...It was strange. It was the sort of nervous feeling you got when you were around someone you liked, the sort that can actually be quite exciting, but for her it was just another problem...Did she still feel shy around him? But, she knew how he felt about her, she'd heard him singing last night. Maybe she just needed a little reminder of how he felt.

Dustin stood up and left the room making Tori give a down-heartened sigh. She couldn't believe he'd just left without trying to help or attempting to find out what was wrong again. Maybe she had read it all wrong. Maybe he didn't like her in that way after all. Maybe it would never be anything more than friendship for him. She fought back the tears that were threatening to spill over. She felt awful; her head was pounding, the tight lump in her throat was uncomfortable and her back ached from bending over to pick up rubbish. She stood up and stretched her back, hoping to loosen it up. Suddenly, an arm come around her waist. She looked over her shoulder to find Dustin standing right behind her, a glass of water and two painkillers in his hand. He held them out to her and she slowly took them from him, popped the pills into her mouth and washed them back with the water, While doing this, Dustin's other arm came around her waist so he was hugging her from behind.

"Now, you are going to go lay down in your room while I clean up all this mess." Dustin ordered gently, his head coming to rest on her shoulder lightly. Tori just looked at him speechless and he gave her a small grin and kissed her cheek. "I think we've spent enough time being shy and tip-toeing around each other don't you?" Tori still couldn't reply as Dustin took the bag from her and continued to clean up.

As if moving on their own, Tori's legs walked her to her room where she let herself collapse on her bed. She definately hadn't seen that coming. She felt for sure she'd end up making the first move...Well, she already had, kinda. She certainly hadn't expected Dustin to do something as bold as that anyway. She was glad he'd done it though. Gave her one less thing to worry about. She rolled onto her side and breathed in the scent that was stuck on her pillow. She smiled and noted that it smelt like Dustin's shampoo. Dustin had always insisted on using this shampoo that smelt of chocolate his reason being,
"I already look good enough to eat and I wanna smell good enough to eat."
Tori smiled and curled up into a ball. Her head still hurt and her back still ached but the lump in her throat was fading away and she no longer felt so stressed out anymore. She hugged the pillow to her and closed her eyes, intending just to rest them, but eventually, slipped into a light sleep.

19:22
Twenty-one hours, thirty-nine minutes remain

Dustin wandered around the kitchen making snacks and cooking more pancakes. Tori was still in her room and, once he'd done all the cleaning and vacuumed up all the crumbs and stuff, he decided to cook them something. Having given up on making a proper meal after realising how much work it would be, he decided to stick with what he knew which were pancakes and junk food. While he had his head inside a cuboard, trying to find something, he failed to notice that the pancake that was currently cooking was actually begining to burn. After a while, the smell of burning reached him and he lifted his head only to bang it on the top of the cuboard. He gave a loud moan of pain and edged out, rubbing the top of his head with his hand. He looked over to the cooker and saw that the pancake was now actually beyond just being burnt and had actually caught fire. Dustin quickly scrambled to his feet and dashed over to the pancake. He stood just in front of it, looking around frantically and moving from side to side, not really knowing what to do. Just then, the poptarts in the toaster popped up to reveal that they were also burnt. Dustin let out an annoyed groan and turned his attention to the poptarts. He managed to get them out of the toaster whithout burning his fingers too much but then remembered that the flaming pancakes should probably on the top of his list of priorities. He turned back in the cooker's direction and, to his surprise, found Tori standing there laying a wet towel over the frying pan with the pancake in it. She gave a grin to Dustin who just gave her a sheepish smile back, embarrassed that he hadn't thought of smothering the flames with a wet towel.

"You panicked huh?" Tori guessed as she lifted the, now slightly burnt, towel away and set it down on the side.

"Yeah, I guess I did." Dustin admitted, scratching the back of his neck.

"Doesn't matter." She assured as she picked up the frying pan and tipped the burnt contents into a nearby bin. She held the frying pan up and sighed. "Looks like I'm gonna need a new pan though."

"I'm really sorry Tori." Dustin apologised.

"Like I said, it doesn't matter." She repeated, setting the pan down next to the towel. They stood in silence for a short while before Tori slowly went up to Dustin and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Thanks for trying though." She whispered, resting her head against his chest. Dustin slowly wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. And that was that. There were no dramatic speeches, no pledges of un-dying love, not even a proper kiss...Yet they both knew how the other felt. They both knew they were together now, Dustin knew Tori was feeling better and Tori knew what Dustin had been trying to do and neither had said a word, because words weren't necessary for them.

Okay, that was chapter 4. What do you all think? I'm not that keen on it myself but that's just me. I'm kinda paranoid lol. I've got a serious case of writers block at the mo so I kinda struggled with this chapter. Sorry that it's not as long as the others but this felt like a good place to stop. I reckon there will be another two chapters, maybe a third if I get an idea for an epilouge. They might come out a bit more slowly though, like I said, major case of writers block :(

Anyway, I'll catch ya'll later :)
Huggles
Wings of a Dream