Tori watched the boys bring in the tree, and set it up. They were all talking, and good naturedly arguing like brothers. She went to the door and got her coat. Hunter looked at her.

"Where you going?"

"Just for a walk, been inside too close to that old woodburning stove. Time to cool off, and just enjoy the quiet of the woods." Hunter glanced at the other boys, and then back at her.

"Want some company?" Tori looked at him, there was something in her eyes that Hunter didn't quite understand.

"Maybe later, after dinner." She smiled at him, and he returned it. Just as Blake looked up and saw it. His lips turned down, and tightened. He walked over to Tori, smiling goofy at her.

"Tori, I was thinking of looking for a yule log, we could go together."

"I really want to go alone. I have some things to think about. You guys already been outside for awhile. Talk to you later." She turned and left, turning her collar up around her neck. She walked off the porch and into the snow, as soft flakes of snow fell on her. She walked towards the woods, unaware of eyes that followed her.

"Hunter?" He turned to see his brother by his side.

"What?"

"Hunter, why?"

"You don't really love her, you are leaving her behind."

"Yeah, but still, you are my brother."

"Am I to give up the change for happiness because you once were attracted to Tori? What right do you have for that? You made your choice." Blake looked up at his brother, his eyes smokey.

"I just don't feel right about it."

"Blake, you go for your happiness, and let me go for mine."

"Alright Hunter. But don't expect me to say good luck." He turned and walked away.

Hunter turned and saw Dustin studying him. He walked over to the stairs and went upstairs and some privacy.

Several hours past, and Shane was cooking dinner, and the tree was decorated. It was quiet except for the crackling fire, and the sounds of nuts cracking. The boys were sitting eating nuts and watching the fire.

Hunter came down stairs and looked around. He could smell the smells of dinner coming from the kitchen. He glanced in as he came down the stairs, and found a mess with Shane in the middle. He was smiling as he worked at stiring a pot over the stove.

"Where is Tori?"

"She hasn't come back yet." Said Dustin. Hunter looked at the door, and went over and got his coat. The dog got up from beside the fire and came over. Hunter looked down, and petted the dog.

"Yeah, you can come. Help me find her will you." The dog looked up and seemed to grin. The two went out into the storm, that had gotten worse. The snow was swirling around, the sky darkening. Hunter walked towards the woods following the dog.

-

Shane looked into the living room, and at Dustin." Think we should go after them?"

"No, I am sure that Hunter will find her soon." Said Blake, with a sour look on his face. As he turned back to the magazine he was reading.

"If he doesn't get back in an hour, we will go looking." Said Dustin, as he went back to the 3D puzzle on the coffee table he was working on.

Hunter walked through the woods, he began to worry about Tori. He had a feeling, and it wasn't good. He followed the dog. It led him to another cabin, that had smoke coming from the chimney. He went up and knocked on the door. Footsteps sounded and then the door opened. A middle aged woman stood there. Her hair dark and fine lines showed on her face. She smiled at him.

"May I help you stranger?"

"Yes, I was wondering if you had seen a young woman about 17 with blond hair, about so high?" The woman shook her head.

"I am sorry my boy. But no one has been around. It is cold out there. Would you care for some hot drink?" She stood aside and motioned to the room behind her.

"Well it is cold out, I could use something warm to drink." He followed her into the cabin, which was more expensive than the one he shared with the others. It looked lived in too. There were pictures on the walls, and things collected over the years around the room.

"Please have a seat, I will get you something warm to drink." She walked through another door, as Hunter went to sit on the sofa, with the embroided cushions. He warmed his hands by the fire, as he waited. He heard a womans voice singing in the kitchen, and he smiled. The tune sounded familar but he didn't know how. The front door opened and an older man came in, stripping off his coat as he stomped his feet on a rug. He turned as Hunter got to his feet. The man dropped his scarf to the floor stairing at Hunter.

"Who are you?" The older man came closer studying Hunter, as the older woman came back with two steaming cups in her hands.

"My name is Hunter Bradley. I am looking for a friend of mine, a girl."

"I haven't seen anyone out there. Where were you born?"

"I don't know. I am an orphan."

"Oh you poor boy. You have parents now right?" Ask the lady.

"Not anymore, they are dead."

" Nancy, we have been giving a miracle. How old are you?"

"Eighteen." The man looked at the woman, and she him. Hunter had been studying the man as well. The face was one he knew well, it was his own. An older version of himself.

"Hunter, you are our son. I feel it."

"If I am, why did you give me up?"

"We were very young, I was sixteen, and Dan was seventeen and my father hated Dan, and kept us apart. When the baby was born he stole it away. We searched when we finally were old enough, but never found you." She came up to Hunter, and there were tears in her eyes as she looked up at him. "My baby has come to us."

"Our son, is back. Do you have a birthmark on your left hip, shaped like a bell?"

"Yes."

"Then you are our son for certain. He had that birthmark, as do I and my father, and grandfather." Hunter looked at both, many emotions going through him at that moment. He had found his parents. They had not given him up because they didn't want him.

"You look just like Dan. Spitting image of him." She reached out and hugged him, and he held her close, smelling her scent of lavender. Dan stood there, and put his hand on his shoulder, his eyes misting.

" I have wanted to find you for so long. I never thought it would happen." Said Hunter as he stood there, between his two parents. "I have real family now."

"Yes, and a brother and sister too. We want to make it up to you."

"No need to, it's not your fault. I had good adoptive parents, and a adoptive brother. Until they died. Then it was just Blake and I. I don't want to cause problems for your family, I know it would be hard to explain."

"No Hunter. There will be no problems. You are our son, and from now on, all will know we have found our first born son."

For an hour they talked, they showed him pictures, and told him stories of the family. He could feel the love that existed there, for him. He in turn loved them.

Hunter pulled back. "I forgot for a moment. But I still have to find Tori. She is out in this storm for hours." Both his parents looked at him.

"Can we help?"

"No you stay inside where you will be safe, I will be back later."

"Is this your girlfriend, or wife?"

"I love her." Both smiled at him, remembering their early days.

Hunter moved to the door, and opened it, he glanced back at the two standing there. The dog followed him outside and into the storm.

"I'll be back." He walked into the woods, following the dog.