Disclaimer: Power Rangers does not belong to me, nor do any of the songs referenced in this chapter.

Chapter 8: In Love with an Airhead

"You told Blake he should give up motocross for you?" asked Cam incredulously. "That was selfish, Tor. It's like you didn't care about him at all. How could you be so unsupportive, so insensitive, so…"

"I think she gets the point, Cousin," interjected Marah, giving Cam a sharp stare as she put her arm protectively over Tori's shoulders.

"No I deserve to hear that," sniffled Tori. She hadn't stopped crying since she'd returned home that evening from visiting Blake. "Thanks so much guys for comforting me," said Tori gratefully. "Especially you, Marah. I'm sorry if I'm ruining the last few hours of your birthday."

"Nobody can ruin it more than Dustin has already!" complained Marah, still trying to comprehend how her boyfriend could have forgotten her birthday. "I'm going to try calling him again."

"Sup?" Marah heard Dustin say through her cell phone.

"Where have you been all day?" demanded Marah. "And why was your cell phone off the whole time?"

"Shane and I took some of the ninja students out on a meditation retreat," said Dustin. "We didn't want any noise distractions."

"I guess that's understandable," moped Marah. "Where are you now?"

"I went back to Kelly's to take a shower," responded Dustin. While Tori and Shane lived at the Wind Ninja Academy, Dustin because of Marah still shared an apartment with Kelly above Storm Chargers since overt student/sensei relationships were forbidden at the school.

"But Honey, did you forget what today is?" whined Marah.

"Uhhh," stalled Dustin.

"Typical airhead," pouted Marah to herself.

"Oh Babe, I totally remember now!" exclaimed Dustin.

"Finally!" thought Marah to herself, sure that Dustin was about to burst into a run of romantic apologies.

"Sensei asked me today to clean the leaves out from the gutters on the roof," continued Dustin. "Oh man, he's going to be pissed that I forgot!"

"Sensei is going to be pissed?" glowered Marah to herself. "My boyfriend can remember roof gutters but not his girlfriend's birthday?

"Look Babe, I'm really tired from today's retreat," yawned Dustin. "I'll talk to you tomorrow," he finished, hanging up before Marah had a chance to respond.

Marah gaped dumbfounded at her cell phone. "All boys are stupid!" she bawled.

"They provoke you so easily too," added Tori angrily.

"Hello, I'm standing right here!" shouted Cam, waving his arms in front of the girls' faces. Tori and Marah giggled and each grabbed one of Cam's arms.

"Not you Cam," said Tori, kissing his cheek. "Every girl would totally agree you're an awesome dude."

"I'm not sure Kelly would concur with that," said Cam indignantly.

"Some day Kelly will love you just as much as I do," assured Marah. "Especially seeing as you're a sweetie, inviting me to a tea ceremony tonight with Sensei since Dustin bailed on my birthday."

"Don't thank me yet," warned Cam. "My father's intent on reading us the first 20 chapters from How to Recharge Your Inner Ninja."

"Sounds like a real party after all," groaned Marah, disappointed about what a disaster her birthday had turned out to be. "You want to come for some tea, Tor?"

"Thanks for the invite, but I'm not really in the mood," moped Tori. "I think I am going to go back to the dorms and find Shane. Happy birthday, Marah. I'm sorry about Dustin."

As Tori sulked off, Marah and Cam made their way across the Academy grounds to the pagoda to join Sensei for tea. Marah breathed in deeply, taking in the cool, night air. "I know Dustin's the one for me," thought Marah to herself. "But could I really be in love with an airhead that forgets something as simple as my birthday?"

"So what are you going to do about Dustin?" asked Cam, interrupting Marah's reverie.

"I don't know," mourned Marah. "I'm really looking for a guy who's going to sweep me off my feet."

"Hold that thought," grinned Cam as the two approached the darkened pagoda.

Before Marah could ask her cousin what he meant, she gasped as the pagoda was suddenly illuminated by boundless strings of white Christmas lights. Marah's hands flung to her mouth when she saw what was inside: Dustin, dressed in a tuxedo, standing by a candlelit table for two holding a dozen, red roses.

"Surprised?" asked Dustin, grinning from ear to ear as he walked down to Marah and kissed her cheek. Meanwhile, Marah's jaw was still dropped to the ground in shock.

"Huh? What is? How did?" squeaked Marah in delighted astonishment.

"And here you were thinking I was being an airhead again, right?" laughed Dustin, enveloping his stunned girlfriend in an enormous hug. "Happy Birthday, Babe."

"But …" stuttered Marah confused.

"But we got you good, Sis!" cheered Kapri, coming around from behind the pagoda and giving Cam a high-five. "Good acting, Cuz."

"And props to you for setting this whole thing up," complimented Cam.

"You said you were gone on a meditation retreat with your students all day," questioned Marah.

"I was gone all day," responded Dustin. "With Kapri. Your sister helped me out prepare what we thought would be your dream romantic evening. Does this come close?"

"You guys," was all Marah could muster. "Dustin, this is the best present I could ask for."

"The present!" panicked Dustin to himself, realizing he had left it back in his room at Kelly's apartment. "Here I was pretending to be an airhead all day, and I pick now to actually forget something!"

Dustin hurried over to Cam and Kapri as Marah had pranced into the pagoda to admire the set-up. "Cam, you have to go Kelly's apartment!" said Dustin breathlessly.

"It's Marah's birthday, Dustin," replied Cam sarcastically. "Not April Fools."

"I left Marah's gift in my room there," pleaded Dustin. "And you're the only one here with a car besides Tori."

Cam sighed, knowing Dustin was right and that now was not the time to bother Tori. "You're coming with me for protection," ordered Cam to Kapri.

"The gift is in a small box on my nightstand," directed Dustin. "It's a gold necklace with a beehive charm."

"Why a beehive?" asked Cam.

"Marah's nickname for me is 'Honey'," explained Dustin blushing.

Kapri sighed romantically while Cam conversely rolled his eyes at Dustin's corniness. "You'll never see me swooning over some girl," thought Cam to himself as he and Kapri walked toward his car. "Especially not the girl whose apartment we're driving to."

Dustin walked back into the pagoda, coming up behind Marah and wrapping his arms around her waist. "I hope you like grilled salmon and steamed rice," said Dustin, putting his cheek next to his girlfriend's.

"How did you know?" asked Marah, again surprised.

"Let's just say I got a crash course in cooking today from Kapri," laughed Dustin as they sat down.

"Dustin, this is delicious," marveled Marah at the succulence of the seafood. "You're a man of many talents."

"And I'm just getting started!" perked up Dustin. He went over and knelt by a boom box. Turning on the CD system, Evanescence's "Going Under" blared through the speakers:

"Now I will tell you what I've done for you,

50 thousand tears I've cried.
Screaming, deceiving, and bleeding for you."

"Ummm, that was definitely the wrong track," said Dustin with embarrassment as Marah gave him a bemused look. He pressed some buttons and soon the soft sounds of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love" were floating through the pagoda.

"May I have this dance?" grinned Dustin as he held out his hand to his girlfriend. Marah felt herself melt as she dissolved into Dustin's tender embrace.

"Wise men say only fools rush in,
But I can't help falling in love with you.
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin,
If I can't help falling in love with you."

"The salmon's going to get cold," teased Marah, nuzzling her nose against her boyfriend's.

"I don't care," replied Dustin, kissing her softly on the lips. "I'm never going to let you go."

Marah let her head fall on Dustin's shoulder as she snuggled deeper into his chest.

"Like a river flows surely to the sea,
Darling so it goes.
Some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, take my whole life too.
For I can't help falling in love with you."

"Thank you for the best birthday ever, Dustin," whispered Marah. "I love you, Honey."

"I love you too, Babe," responded Dustin. The pair met in a passionate kiss inside the pagoda as the stars danced overhead.

"Like a river flows surely to the sea,
Darling so it goes.
Some things are meant to be.
Take my hand, take my whole life too.
For I can't help falling in love with you."

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to all the Dustin/Marah shippers out there and to those that believe that people who are meant for each other will end up together.

This story's not done yet, but I just wanted to send shout-outs to those who have left reviews so far for "Season of Love" – jean, BiccaBoo, the real vampire, BlueGirl90 and star-chan. Thanks for all the encouragement!