A/N: My computer is facing technical difficulties at the moment, so It's going to take me a few days to get it fixed. But good thing I was able to load this chapter up before my computer crashed on me again, so yeah. I apologize if this story is confusing, but it will make more sense as it goes on---answering most of your questions hopefully. Anyway, enjoy your Mother's Day weekend and don't forget to leave a review! Later days.

"Burning"

A couple of days have flown by and they were finally set to bring the baby home. Natalie felt ecstatic and anxious to bring Nathan to her house and reveal his room that she and Hunter have been working on for a week since the day she was well enough to leave the hospital. It's been also that long since the last time Hunter has spoken to Tori. Everytime they would walk past each other and catch glances from the corner of their eyes--the more he wanted to talk to her. Tori would also come by to the house and help out with the room with Shane, Dustin, and Blake. With her presence roaming around, Hunter wanted to go extremely crazy for trying to keep his promise. It's been only a week, and it was destroying him completely. How much longer did he have to sink it all in before blowing up in frustration? Have Tori stopped loving him for good? He made it over a week, and could barely control his emotions in a day. Why was it hard for him to talk to her all of a sudden? Hunter shook his head and sighs as he inserts the key into the doorknob.

"Aren't you adorable?" Natalie chuckles while playing with the baby's tiny fingers. "Oh, yes you are." He watches on and smiles in awed as they entered the house. Before closing the door behind, he takes one good look at Tori's house from across the street with her blue van parked in the driveway. Hunter pursed his lips and turns away, placing the keys on the table with a groan. Natalie looks up, bummed to see him in a depressing state. She knew why, but refuses to talk about it with him. He's been stressed, busy, and working hard for Natalie and the baby. Although money wasn't really an issue, it was only fair to him to help out with the finances and work as a team to raise Nathan.

Natalie was beginning to worry as she stares at his fatigue eyes. She couldn't help, but feel concern for him. "You know, Hunter..." She starts off while cradling the baby in her arms. "You've been very helpful this past week, and for that you haven't been in your apartment, getting some good night sleep--"

"Natalie, I'm fine." He stated reassuringly. "Don't worry about me. I said that I'd always be here for you and the baby. And so be it."

She sighs. "Fine. You're stubborn so I won't even compete with you." The model adds with a chuckle. "But remember, you won't be able to take care of Nathan if you can't take care of yourself first."

Hunter rolls his eyes. "Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sure, mom."

Natalie gasps. "That was cold. Cute...but cold."

He smirks as he turns his gaze over to Nathan. "Anyway, how is my son doing?"

Natalie looks down at the little one. "Very well." She grins while handing him gracefully to the arms of Hunter. He smiles as he takes him in gently.

"You know what, little dude?" We'll have so much fun together." Hunter exclaims quite enthusiastically while holding Nathan in his arms. "When you grow up, I'll teach you how to motorcross and you'll ride like a pro. Maybe be good enough to tour with the riders of Factor Blue--just like your Uncle Blake. Now how does that sound?"

Natalie smiles. "Yeah and then become a famous model."

Hunter laughs. "Oh yeah and that too." He pauses for a moment, gazing into his son's eyes as they open and close between repeated variables. Moments later, Nathan begins crying. 

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"Dude, I can't read this. Does this say drapers or dippers?" Dustin questions as he hands Shane a piece of paper. "Cuz dude, I can't read his crappy handwriting."

The skaterboy looks over his shoulders and squints. "It says diapers, you idiot." He slaps the back of Dustin's head and groans in irritation. "Common sense, man."

The goofball pursed his lips as he stares at it carefully. "Ohhh...that's right." He folds the paper and stuffs it in his back pocket. "So tell me, dude...why are we baby shopping for Nathan again?"

Shane rolls his eyes while pushing the cart down an aisle full of baby items . "Hunter and Natalie are taking him home today and obviously they won't have time to go shopping for the little guy. And besides, we're doing them a favor--just to help out a bit, you know."

Dustin nods. "Cool. So we done yet?"

He looks down at the cart to make sure. "Let's see...baby food, diapers, baby wipes, bottles, bibs---" Shane pauses for a moment and bobs his head. "Uhh...pretty much."

"Hey guys." Marah and Kapri came walking towards them with a cart of their own filled with food and a few baby items. "We're all set."

"Ditto." Shane and Dustin replied in unison as the four headed towards the customer service counters to purchase their items.

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Five long minutes have gone by as Nathan continued to cry uncontrollably. Hunter did everything in his right mind that he could think of at the moment to make him stop, but the more he tried comforting him--the louder Nathan got with his shrilling cries. After a few pats on the back, Hunter finally gave up as he handed his son over to Natalie. Once she had a hold of him, the crying immediately stopped. The dirty blonde looks on in confusion and frowns. "Okay, the kid obviously doesn't like me."

Natalie laughs. "Don't be ridiculous. Just give him some time. He'll eventually adapt to you."

"Well, I held him several times and he didn't have a problem with me then."

She shrugs. "Maybe you're right. He doesn't like you." Natalie states jokingly.

He sighs. "See!" Hunter turns around, bummed out when suddenly he looks out the window and spots an unfamiliar car parked on Tori's driveway. This certainly made Hunter feel curious as Natalie places a hand on his shoulder without noticing.

"Hey--"

He quickly turns around. "Listen, I think I'm going to go outside to get some air. Would that be alright?"

Natalie smiles. "Of course! Take your time."

"Thanks." Hunter smiles as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before walking out the door. She looks on and sighs.

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Moments later...

"Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it." Tori smiles as she led the way to the front door of her house.

The young and handsome gentlemen nod, "No problem. Just remember to keep eating small portions at frequent intervals and try to stay away from alcohol beverages. That stuff is bad for you anyways."

Tori bobs her head. "Okay. I'll try to remember that."

"And I'm not kidding." He chuckles while pointing a finger at her. "You need to take care of yourself, Tori. What you have is very serious and--"

She rolls her eyes in annoyance. "Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I got it." The two shared a warm hug as Tori slightly opens the door. Hunter stood in front of the doorstep as she spots him from the corner of her eye. "Hunter..." Tori whispers while pulling away from the hug. "What are you doing here?"

The dirty blonde slowly moves his gaze to the dark haired gentlemen who he finds very attractive looking. He had hazel green eyes and a nice structural face; fit for a famous celebrity (extremely hot). This made Hunter feel utterly jealous as he beams right at him coldly with the urge to beat the living hell out of him. "Um, Hunter..." Tori starts off in surprise. "Meet Eric Evans."

The guy looks up at him and smiles. "Hey." He extends his arm and shook hands with him. "I heard a lot about you, Hunter."

He shifts his eyes to Tori and gave her a confused stare. "Oh really? Hope nothing bad."

Eric chuckles. "Nah. Don't worry." He turns to the blonde beauty and smiles. "Anyway, I should be heading back to the hospital. Same time, same place tomorrow?"

Tori nods. "Yup."

"Cool. See you later and nice to meet you, Hunter."

The dirty blonde waves half-heartedly. "You too."

Moments later, Eric got in his car and immediately drives away. Hunter glares at his direction as the car turns to a corner and disappears in the distance. He nods his head in dismay and faces Tori. "He's a pretty boy. I don't like him." Hunter admits truthfully. "Who the hell is he and why was he at your house?"

She groans at him, being the overprotective guy he is. "Why else do you think he was at my house?" Tori asks with her hands on her hips.

Hunter narrows his eyes in suspicion. "Did he touch you?"

"Well, he was trying to feel my--"

He immediately covers his ears. "Oh my God. Don't even tell me."

She stares at him, puzzled at his awkward reaction. "What is wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"

"Why am I acting like this?!" Hunter suddenly raises his voice up in disbelief. "Come on, Tori. Is this what you really want? I mean--him?!"

"He is--"

"You know what?" He interrupts, refusing to hear anymore. "Forget it. I don't even want to know." Hunter turns around and walks away.

Tori sighs while reaching out to him and pulling his shoulder to face her. She searches his eyes carefully and smiles. "He's my doctor, Hunter."

The dirty blonde wrinkles his forehead. "What? Nah uh. That can't be. Doctors don't feel up people like that. That's so wrong."

Tori grunts. "You didn't even let me finish. He was just checking my heartbeat and my breathing. What the hell is wrong with that?"

"What? B-But he's young. And are you REALLY sure he's a doctor?" Hunter questions in curiosity. "You never know. It could be some guy playing a trick on you."

"He just graduated from Stanford University."

The dirty blonde pauses for a brief moment and continues again with a stutter. "Oh...well...that's just great..." Hunter adds on, feeling intimidated. "The guy is hot and a pure genius."

Tori lets out a good laugh. "Hot huh? Boy, would he be thrilled when he hears about this." She sticks her tongue out jokingly. "Is that why you came here? To see him?" Tori nudges his shoulder with a wink.

"No. I just wanted to--" Hunter trails off nervously as he rubs the back of his neck. "I wanted to umm…"

"Wanted to what?"

He stares at her sincerely and sighs. "I just wanted to check up on you...but then it looks to me that you're fine with this other guy...so I might as well just go now..."

Tori smirks. "Sounds like you're jealous."

"Me jealous?" Hunter laughs. "Yeah right. I'm fine. Better than ever without you…that is." He spits out accidentally. Oh crap, he thought as Tori looks down, feeling stung by his words and the grave tone he implied to it. Hunter knew in his heart that he didn't mean what he said. In fact, it was the complete opposite. He just felt saddened and depressed to see a guy suddenly walk into her life, which gave him the need to get back at her somehow. Whether it worked or not, Hunter wanted to take back what he said, but feared it was too late.

"Well...at least you're keeping your promise." Tori says with a slight nod. "You should go back to Natalie and your son. They need you." She looks down and continues. "Like you said, you're better off without me, so no reason to check up on me, right?"

Hunter looks at her regretfully and sighs. "Tori, I--"

"Well bye now, Hunter." Without letting him finish, Tori shuts the door behind and slowly slides down against it. She curled her knees up and buried herself into a ball as the distressed blonde cried herself out to sleep. As much as Tori still wanted to be with him, she knew this was the only way to prevent any more pain. However, not being with Hunter each step of the way was making it even worst—causing endless heartache for the both of them. But telling him the main reason why is another thing.