A/N: A BIG SHOUT OUT to those who last reviewed: mallissa, dyrne-faemne, crimsonkittycat, garnetred, blindinglight101, luciusz, jorgitosbabe, ghostwriter, frida, dcm3387, camfan4ever, and blueangel07. You guys ROCK so HARD! lol. I promise yall a longer chapter, so enjoy reading and don't forget to review!

"Family Dilemma"

Dustin and Shane stood a great distance from the beach as they watch Tori come out from the water with the surfboard to her side. Lately they've noticed that she has isolated herself from the society they live in, refusing to speak to anyone as she keeps herself occupied with school and surfing. They exchange a quick glance when suddenly Dustin shoved Shane forward as soon as Tori begins to pack up her stuff. "Go ahead, man." He said, taking it as a sign that she was now leaving. The skaterboy plasters a bewildered look once he was given the assignment for the both of them.

"What? Me." Shane looked horrified. "No, man. I thought you were going to do it."

He scoffs. "Dude, we made Hunter talk to her and look where they end up. You actually think I want to be in that situation?"

"You think I do?!"

"Okay. Okay. Fine. Why won't we both talk to her?"

Shane smirks. "Good plan." He walks forward when suddenly Dustin tugged on his arm. He goes back and wrinkles his forehead. "Yes?"

"What do we talk about again?"

He grunted impatiently. "Didn't we go over this before?"

"Yeah, but I'm freaking here!"

"Why? It's just Tori. We both know her more than anybody else."

Dustin nods. "True. But how often do the three of us talk about being in a relationship or something so personal?"

Shane pauses and scratches the top of his head. "Okay, good point."

"See!"

"But she needs us right now and she doesn't even know it."

"What if she wants to be left alone? Huh?"

Shane rolls his eyes. "Don't even try to get out of it, Dustin. We have to talk to her."

He groans reluctantly at the idea and nods. "Alright." Defeated, the goofball threw his hands up in the air. "After you, man."

While walking towards her direction, Tori was all ready and packed to leave as she stood right in front of them. Surprised with their unexpected appearance, she stood back and smiles. "Hey, guys." Tori wrinkles her forehead while throwing a blue duffel bag over her shoulder. "What are you doing here?"

Shane and Dustin looked at each other awkwardly. "What are we doing here?" He acted pretty stupid. "Well umm...we came to see you."

"Yeah."

Tori narrows her eyes at them curiously. "Okay...and why may I ask?"

Dustin turns to Shane for backup as he nudges his shoulder to speak. "To umm...talk. You know, like old times."

She smiles for caring. "Guys, I would love to but I umm...have other plans. I've got to meet Marah and Kapri somewhere if that's okay."

The two nodded their heads. "Yeah. I mean that's fine. We can do this some other time."

"Great. I'll umm...see you guys later then."

"Cool. Later, Tor!"

"See ya!"

Dustin and Shane watches on as Tori got into her van and sped off to the distant horizon where the skies turned a mix of dark orange and the sun was making its final farewell. Once the vehicle was no longer in sight, they both look away and sighed deeply. "Well, dude at least she looks happier than before."

Shane scoffs. "Don't count on it. She's totally faking it."

"You think so?"

He reassures him. "I know so."

Meanwhile, as Hunter's father ran to the nearest restroom of the shopping mall, the dirty blonde walked inside a toy store to look for video games that he thought Dustin and Shane may want for Christmas. His eyes wandered in all sorts of directions until he stopped and found what he was looking for. "Oooo...Awesome." A sudden gasp escape from his lips as he walks towards a rack full of new releases, and without looking, bumps into a little a girl. He turns around and looks down at her. "Oh, I'm sorry."

She glances up with a surfer Barbie doll in hand. "It's okay." Just then an older woman stood right beside her. Hunter studies the little girl's mother carefully; noticing that she somewhat resembles his father--sharing similar features and bone structure.

The woman looks up at Hunter and gives him a small smile. He too smiles in return. "Is that all you want, Hazel?"

The name sounded too familiar to him as if he heard it once before, but for reason it wasn't clicking in his head.

The little girl nods. "Uh huh."

"Alright." The woman takes the box from her daughter with a few bills in hand. "Stay put while I go and pay for this." She nods as her mother headed towards the cash register. In the meantime, the little girl stood next to Hunter and waits.

"Isn't a bit early for you to get Christmas presents?" Hunter grins as he keeps her company for the time being.

Hazel shrugged, unaware that she was talking to a complete stranger, although she didn't seem to mind. "It's for my birthday. I turned six two days ago."

"Oh wow. Happy Belated Birthday."

She smiles warmly at him. "Thanks."

"My name is Hunter by the way." He suddenly introduces himself.

"Hazel."

"Hazel." Hunter whispers while trying to figure out its familiarity. Still, it wasn't clicking. "Beautiful name you got there."

She shrugged her shoulders yet again like if it was no big deal. "It's alright I guess."

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Hazel thought about the question carefully before smiling. "A famous surfer." Hunter lifted his eyebrows surprisingly at her response. It immediately reminded him of Tori and her early dreams in becoming one as well. He looks down and sighs.

"Hazel!" Her mother calls out from across the toy store. "Let's go."

She faces Hunter. "I have to go. My aunt's calling me."

"Oh? She's your aunt?" He chuckled for not knowing. "I thought she was your mother."

She looks down. "My mom's dead."

Hunter bit his lip regretfully. "Oh." He suddenly felt ashamed for bringing the subject up the first place. "I'm sorry about that. My mother passed away as well."

She frowns. "Sorry too."

"Maybe I'll see you around sometime? Perhaps we can talk about our problems and deal with them together?" He wasn't sure why he even said it, but all of a sudden he felt a close connection with her.

Hazel liked the sound of the idea as her frown turned into a smile. "I go to the beach alot and surf. I'm usually alone nowadays doing it."

"Oh, you surf?" Hunter stated amusingly.

She nods. "Yup! This girl taught me the basics stuff for a few weeks, but then of course she stopped and ditched me."

"Ditched you?" He squints his eyes. "She doesn't seem very nice."

Hazel shrugged. "Whatever." She turns around as soon as her aunt called her name once again. "I have to go now. Bye."

Hunter waved. "Goodbye." He stood in the video game section and watches on as his father enters the store where Hazel and her aunt meets. Mr. Smith brushes passed them and stopped as soon as he recognized the woman.

"Elaine?"

The woman turned around as soon as her name was mentioned. Once she faced him, she gasps and accidentally dropped her shopping bags. "Oh my God...Edward?!"

"Hey, glad you can make it." Marah and Kapri turned around from their chairs and gave Tori a warm welcome. "Come sit." The blonde took a seat next to Marah as the three huddled over the bar like some secrecy. "So...how's it going?"

Tori forces herself to smile. "Pretty good." Marah and Kapri weren't convinced as they give her the look. She slumps her shoulders and sighs deeply. "Okay, I'm a wreck." Tori admits while resting her head on the table. "I can't take this."

Kapri frowns as she rubs her back for comfort. "Don't you worry, Tori. You'll get through this. I know you will."

Tori lifts her head up as drops of tears slowly stream down her cheeks and onto the table. "It's horrible, Kapri. Hunter wouldn't even look at me. He and Blake are no longer talking, and it's all my fault." Kapri and Marah exchange concern looks. "I mean whatever I do one of them gets hurt. God, what did I put myself into?" Tori buries herself in hand and groans frustratingly. "ARGH, why is this happening?!"

"Oh honey, It's not the end of the world." Marah reassures her. "Things will eventually turn out better in the end, I'll tell you that. But first, you need to ask yourself one question. And that is, what do you want? Let Blake and Hunter handle their own problems."

"But how can I step back when I was the one who caused the problem the first place? I can't just let this go. It's affecting everyone because of me."

They kept quiet for a brief moment as people walk pass them. Kapri places a hand on her shoulder and presented a soothing smile. "Give them some time to work it out themselves. They're big boys now. In the meantime, decide for yourself what you want without having Blake or Hunter get in the way."

"That's the thing, I don't know what I want." Tori was unsure of her decisions. "This is why I'm here. I came to you guys for help."

Marah parted her lips to speak. "Maybe because you're afraid to admit that you're still in love with Blake." Tori was taken by surprise as if she suspected Marah reading her mind. "But you also have a soft side for Hunter, which makes it even more difficult."

Kapri nods her head in agreement. "Don't forget to mention the fact that they both have feelings for you. Now that's a problem."

Tori averts from their gazes and deeply sighs. "You know...every time I look at Blake now all I remember is the day he broke my heart." Marah and Kapri listened remorsefully as her voice trails off to a much softer tone. "And whenever I feel the need to cheer up and forget about the past, I look at Hunter and all of a sudden the pain just goes right away." Tori genuinely smiles at the thought. "But now these two hate each other because of me, and for that, I don't think I'll ever forgive myself."

Marah gives her a sympathetic smile to cheer the saddened blonde up. "You know what? I think you just made your decision." But before Tori could say anything or even notice, customers who were making their entrances to the cafe distracted her, and as she turns around to look at the door, she spotted Blake walking in. As their eyes met, he smiled at her.

"Oh God." Tori quickly turns around."He's here."

Marah and Kapri both look up as Blake made his way to the bar. "Hey ladies." He greets them kindly. "Mind if I join you?"

Tori glances over her shoulder and smiles self-consciously in return like some shy typical teenage girl who is being approached by a hot stud. "No. Not at all."

Hazel's blank stare remains fixated on her aunt and the strange man who were looking at each other as if they have just seen a ghost. The silence between the two was certainly bugging her as she gently tugged on her long trench coat for answers. "Aunt Cruela...what's going on?" Hazel asks innocently as the man looks down at her and smiles.

"It's her isn't it?" The man said in his deep, assuring voice. "Wow, she has grown up to become so beautiful." Hazel wrinkles her forehead as Aunt Cruela squeezed onto her tightly.

"You stay away, Edward. Stay away, you here me?" She warns him seriously.

He was hurt by her abrupt response. "Elaine, come on." He tries playing it off with a smile. "We're family."

She stepped back and hid Hazel behind her as he tries reaching over. "Not in this lifetime, you're not."

The man sighed deeply. "Elaine, I've changed. Really I have..."

"And you think that makes up for all the horrible things you've done?! Open your eyes, Ed! Can't you understand you've hurt so many people?!

He rolls his eyes. "She's my daughter, and I would never do a thing to hurt her!"

"And why should I believe you?"

"Because it's the truth!"

"Stop!" Hazel cries out horrifyingly. "Why are you two fighting?!"

Elaine squats down to her level and strokes her hair for comfort. "Shh, baby. Don't you worry, we'll be going home now okay?" Hazel nods as her aunt kisses her tears away. She rises up and stares coldly at the man.

"What's going on here?" Mrs. Cruela then shifts her gaze over to a much younger man with dirty blonde hair who suddenly intrudes to their conversation. She stares at him suspiciously as he stands next to Edward.

"Hunter, what are you doing here?" He said, hoping to keep him out of their conversation. His son didn't reply back as he glances down at Hazel and then at her aunt with mere curiosity. Mr. Smith nervously looks his way as he tries to get his attention, and remain calm. "Listen, umm...why don't you go and get us some drinks eh?"

Hunter lifted a single brow weirdly before nodding his head. "Uh sure thing, Dad. What do you want?"

Mrs. Cruela stares at him wide-eyed as her lips parted in utter disbelief. Hazel then easily slips off from her Aunt's grasp to get to Hunter. "I think you're Dad and my Aunt knows each other." Hazel whispers to him. Puzzled, he just stood there blankly.

"Hunter?" The woman whispers while studying him carefully. "It can't be Katherine's son, can it?"

The dirty blonde begins to freak out. "Um...Dad, do you know this woman?" He didn't answer and his gazed remains fixed on her. "And how does she know my mother's name?"

Hazel, too looked surprise. "Your mom's name was Katherine?" She shrieked excitedly. "So was mine!"

Hunter stares anxiously at the two adults. The sudden coincidence got him thinking. "Okay, can someone please tell me what's going on here?" He turns to his father for answers. "Dad? What is it?"

Elaine Cruela folds her arms and smirks. "I'm not surprise, Ed. Your son doesn't even the the truth, does he?"

"What truth?" Hunter was beginning to lose his patience as he shook him abruptly on the shoulder for his full attention. "Dad, look to me. What is she talking about?"

Mr. Smith glares evilly at her. "Don't listen to a word she says, son. My sister is a flat out liar. Always has, and always will." Hunter's eyes grew larger. 'Sister?' He thought to himself carefully. 'If they're related...then that means...'

"I'm the liar?!" Hunter lost his train of thought as soon as she scoffed for her own amusement. They were embarrassed by her loud, aggressive voice as they receive awkward glances from shoppers around them. When Hunter noticed a security guard looking their way, he brought the group to settle down and led them to the nearest exit.

"When exactly did you get out of jail, Edward?" Mrs. Cruela goes on as soon as they were outside where no one else was around. "Does he even know why you were behind bars all those years? Huh? Or the real reason why you and Katherine were about to get a divorce?" She turns to Hunter, who felt confused and lost at the moment. He didn't know who or what to believe, if only he knew the truth for himself. "Your father is sick! He's a very sick, man. Tell him, Edward! You claim that you've changed and became a better man for yourself. Well here's your chance to prove it. You want to start off with a clean slate, and then do so by telling your son everything. If you refuse to, then I'll tell him everything myself!"

He gulps down nervously. "Elaine, please don't do this." He begs of her. "Don't hurt him this way."

"Maybe you should have thought of that the first place before making the biggest mistake of your life." She replies straightforwardly. "But I guess your children, nor your wife were that much important to you, were they?"

"That is not true! I love my family!"

She beams coldly at him. "The prove it." Mr. Smith paused for a brief moment to recollect his thoughts. He then parted his lips to say something; to explain himself and persuade his kids that he speaks the truth but no words came out. Defeated, he looks down and sighs. Elaine nodded her head in dismay. "What a shame. You don't even have the heart to."

"Elaine...please--"

"Save it! You've had your chance." She forbids him to finish his pleading sentence as her anger increases with roaring outrage. "I can't believe the officials have the nerve to release you so damn early! Do they actually think you've learned your lesson?! My God, this is a disgrace! You deserve the death penalty, brother! Now tell me, how many girls have you put your hands on so far since your newly found freedom? Huh? What now? Are you after your own daughter Hazel?"

"Excuse me?" Hunter plasters a shocking, and yet appalling look at what was just said. He then turns to his father. "Dad, tell me this woman has gone crazy mad." Mrs. Cruela gives him the evil eye for the crude comment. "What is she talking about?"

He stuffs his hands into his pockets and grunted uneasily. He could barely even look at him. "Yeah, Edward. Why you stalling? Aren't you gonna tell your son what I am talking about?"

Still, there was no answer as he continues to avoid the questions that were being thrown at him. His head remains down and still. "Okay since he won't tell me, why don't you." Hunter says as he faces his new so-called Aunt. Hazel held onto her hand tightly feeling quite terrified with the whole situation. "And I want the truth. No lies."

She shrugged. "What else do you want me to say? It seems pretty clear, don't you think? Who knows? Chances are one of your girlfriends in Blue Bay Harbor may have an encounter with your father. Ask anyone. Go ahead! He was under the most wanted list."

"But how can that be? He was arrested for stealing, not child molestation!"

"That's what he told you, Hunter. I mean, if it isn't the truth then why is it hard for your father to even say it to your face?" She questions with a good argument. "Huh? Just look at him! He can't even look at you!"

"NO!" Hunter shuts his eyes, hoping to awake from the horrid nightmare. "It can't be true!" He looks down as tears begin to run down his cheeks. After a few moments of sparing and thinking it through while given worried looks from the three of them and curious stares from shoppers walking in and out the mall, he was now off to his own world and transfixed in a memory trance.

"I still have my father."

Tori shuts her eyes and sighed deeply. "No, you don't."

Hunter felt hurt with her response as he plasters a surprise, bewildered look. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"He's not what you think, okay? Can you actually trust this guy after being behind bars for like what? A decade?"

"Whoa. Whoa. Stop right there." Hunter narrows his eyes and points a finger at her. "Since when do you have the right to judge my father that way?" She looks down, as he slowly grew angrier by the minute. "Huh? Answer me! I sure as hell would like to know."

"Hunter, I--"

"Look, my father is trying really hard to fit in and make a better man of himself. Why can't you just give him a chance?"

Tori never pictured Hunter being so angry with her, nor to anyone else till now. She stalled a bit before answering. "I wish I could tell you--"

"Well then tell me, Tori! If there's something else you want to tell me, then just say it. I'm begging you. Please, tell me."

Hunter snapped out of it, and stares at his father wide-eyed. "Oh my God. I remember…" He trails off in mere disbelief. "It all makes perfect sense!" His facial expressions suddenly became infuriated looking, and heated as he clenches his teeth together. "The night when we went riding with Dustin…you weren't lost or beat up. You went over to Tori's and you tried to hurt her! Same night when I found her all huddled up in the corner, shaken up and completely terrified!"

'Tori?' Hazel thought as a gasp escape from her wavering lips. 'I know her.'

Mr. Smith tries reasoning with him. "Son, please..."

Hunter continues on angrily without letting him finish. "It was you that ruined her all this time! You were the one that took away her childhood! God, why didn't I think of this before?! No wonder she was afraid to even be near you!"

"Hunter, let me explain—"

"Explain?!" He yells outrageously as he brings his fist up and punched him right on the face. "You're sick!"

Mr. Smith stumbled backwards as Elaine and Hazel got out of the way. "Please, son—"

"Damn it. Stay away from me! I do not want anything to do with you!"

He regained his balance. "I am still your father, Hunter!"

"My father died a long time ago, Edward! And you…" He stops with a nod of disapproval, and a finger pointing directly at him. "Well, you're nothing to me! You lied to me and I hate you!" Elaine and Hazel stares at him sympathetically as he ripped out a picture from his wallet and threw the remaining pieces at his face. It was the only picture of the two of them together when Hunter was just born. After taking one good look at his father, and reminding himself the kind of man he grew up to be, he turns around in disgust and goes to find Tori.

A/N: Don't forget to review!!! One more chapter left...