Gift: Healing Love
By
Ragemoon
Tori stood in the front room of her new apartment. She looked at her tree and the trimmings that were on it. She smiled at the decorations. She gotten several new ones that year. One for each of her friends both old and new where on her tree she looked over at Blake who was placing the last of their shared gifts under their tree she smiled at him. "Well?"
They are all coming and no Hunter and Bran have no clue the other is coming." Blake looked at his beloved. "I cannot believe she is three months along." His voice trailed off. "I should have realized something was going on when she started wearing more baggie styled clothing…"
"Blake all of us should have realized it." Tori pointed out to him. She sighed. "But people do like to change their fashion styles and Bran liked to change hers."
"I cannot believe I'm going to be an Uncle." He looked at her. "Do you think this will work?"
"I made Dustin promise not to punch Hunter again." Tori went on smiling lightly when she found out about that from Marah. "Not that Dustin did not feel justified in his reaction."
Blake nodded as the others started to arrive. Cameron came by with Marah and Dustin. They were followed by Christa, Brandie, Kapri, Dawn and Shane.
Blake blinked not believing the dresses the girls were all wearing. Each were in a different color: Tori was in her infamous blue, Christa was in green, Kapri was in orange, Marah was in pink, Dawn was in yellow and Brandie was in scarlet.
Brandie was showing ever so slightly at three months but not too much. She sighed sitting hear the balcony she then walked outside onto it as Hunter walked into the door.
Cameron placed a hand on Christa's shoulder so she would not say anything to the crimson wearing young man. Cameron looked at him. "My suggestion Hunter would be to apologize to Bran."
Hunter looked at him suddenly. "I know I need to Cam. But she is extremely hard to get near enough to speak too." He did not realize that Brandie was standing outside hidden from view on the patio and could hear the conversation. "No one trusts me enough to say I'm sorry."
Christa bit her lip realizing that Hunter was being honest and sincere. "You should not have said what you did." She pointed out.
"Hunter what were you thinking?" Tori asked him.
"I was not." Hunter sighed. "I just felt trapped."
"How do you think she felt?" Christa said to him. "She did not want to tell you because she was afraid you blow up on her but she is not the sort to take a life Hunter she just cannot do that."
"Looks like she was right to fear my reaction." Hunter sighed. "I messed up ok. What do you all want from me? To grovel?"
"No." A voice came to his ears that Hunter blinked and turned seeing her in her long scarlet dress showing off the small bulge she was developing in her stomach region. She was so tiny to him and yet she stood there looking at him. "You are too strong to do that."
He looked at her opened his mouth to speak and found no words came but Brandie had more to say.
"I'll raise the little one on my own Hunter. I don't want you to feel obliged to me in anyway." Brandie looked at him. "Teach your students. Be the best teacher you can be."
He looked at her. "I could not go on teaching and living a lie. Telling them to respect each other when I disrespected you, the woman I love." That brought gasps from the assembled who had no clue over Hunter's feelings.
Shane shook his head he did not like Brandie one bit. Nor did he like Christa. He did not even like the fact that Tori was marring Blake. He viewed them all as foes who are friends. Heck he did not even trust Marah and Kapri completely. Dawn was even a mystery to him.
Tori looked at Brandie. "Don't be so stubborn." She smiled. "Dinner is on. Let's dig in."
After dinner, Brandie wandered out to the balcony to breath in the fresh air. Hunter followed her. "Bran?" he asked her.
Brandie turned and looked at him. "Yes Hunter?"
"I'm sorry." He reached out and pulled her to him. "I honestly did not mean what I said. I was so in shock I called you and said some things that are so unforgivable."
"We all make mistakes Hunter." Brandie pointed out to him. "We need to learn from them not dwell on them. I know what I have chosen is hard for you…"
"No it's not that Bran." Hunter looked out into the night. "I made a fool out of both of us. The things I said."
"They hurt. A lot Hunter. But I'm ok now it took me a while to not feel the pain your words did but I did eventually not feel it." Brandie looked at him. Neither realized their conversation was being listened in on from Blake and Tori's front room. Tori had turned the music very low so they could hear the two voices outside.
Hunter found himself pulling Brandie into a bear hug. She at first was stiff then relaxed against him. He did not know if he was angry about the stiffness at first or pleased that she relaxed and was now leaning on him.
"I love you Bran." He looked at her both still unaware of the others watching them. "Let me be a part of your life again even if I am unworthy of it."
"I love you Hunter." Brandie's voice squeaked a bit with tears as she looked up at him. He realized she was crying again.
"Don't cry. I'm sorry." Hunter said as he wiped her tears away. Seeing her cry made his heart twist painfully in his chest. "Forgive me?"
"Only if you forgive me as well." Brandie said softly looking up at him. "I'm not perfect Hunter far from it. We've got a rough road ahead ya know."
"I do and we'll endure it together." He promised. "For better or worse."
Dustin smiled. "'Bout time he got it dudes." He shook his head. "He took forever."
"Well," Cameron looked at the others. "They are both young. People do react badly to strong life changes and that's one of the strongest."
"Cam it is also a gift." Tori said as she snuggled with Blake. "It's the greatest gift two people can give themselves and their family."