Chapter 22: Apologies

A few weeks had gone by since Tori had left. Hunter had no luck of trying to find her on his own. It was time to ask the one person he knew would know where Tori was hiding.

(Storm Chargers)

Dustin was working on a bike when Hunter came in. "Oh, hey Hunter," Dustin greeted. Hunter looked at Dustin.

"Where is she?" He asked.

"Who?" Dustin asked.

Hunter felt his jaw tighten. "Tori…bro…where is Tori?" He asked. Dustin stood up wiping his hands on a rag.

"Dude, I don't know where she is," Dustin replied.

"Liar," Hunter accused.

"Dude why would I lie?"

"I can think of a few reasons. Now where is she?"

Dustin remained quiet. "Seriously, Hunter, I won't tell you where she is," Dustin replied. Hunter felt every emotion flowing through him at once. The biggest emotion was rage.

"That's it," he snarled.

He grabbed Dustin by the front of his shirt, pinned him up against the wall, and picked Dustin up off the floor. "Where is she Dustin?" He demanded. Rose came out of the back to find her boyfriend pinned to the wall.

"Dustin!" She gasped.

"It's okay, Rose," he answered.

Hunter glared at Dustin. "Tell me where she is before I rip you apart right here," he threatened. Dustin stayed firm.

"I promised her I wouldn't tell. Besides how can I trust you not to hurt her again?" Dustin asked.

"I have made the biggest mistake of my life and that was letting Tori walk out of my life. I've seen my mother suffer trying to raise us on her own I don't want her going through that. I want to be there for her. Now, please, tell me where she's hiding."

Dustin let out a sigh. "Okay, I'll tell you where she is. But…dude…can I touch the floor again first?" He asked. Hunter let him go and Dustin straightened out his shirt.

"I'm only going to ask one more time. Where is she?" Hunter repeated.

Dustin sighed. "I swear if you tell her that I told you she'll rip my head off my shoulders," Dustin pointed out.

"Won't be any better if I do it," Hunter commented.

Dustin nodded his head slowly. "She's in Angel Grove. She has relatives there," he answered. Hunter nodded his head slowly.

"Thank you," Hunter told him.

Dustin watched as Hunter took off and Rose placed a hand on Dustin's shoulder. "Let's hope that she doesn't kill me," Dustin commented. Rose laughed and kissed his cheek.

(Angel Grove)

Hunter found Tori's aunt's house and walked up to the door. He knocked and stood back, waiting for an answer. The door opened and a woman that looked like Tori only older opened the door. "Yes?" She asked.

"Um…is Tori here?" Hunter asked.

"Yes…you must be Hunter."

"Yeah…yeah I am."

The woman went to close the door. Hunter pushed it open. "Wait please," he insisted. The woman sighed.

"My niece comes here three weeks ago in tears telling me that you walked out on her," she commented.

"I made some mistakes, but I want to be there for her. Please, Miss Hanson, let me talk to her."

Miss Hanson let out a sigh and opened the door. "Go wait in the living room," she instructed. Hunter nodded his head slowly and went into the living room.

Miss Hanson walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. "Tori," she called. Tori looked up when her aunt came in.

"What's going on, Aunt Helen?" She asked.

"Sweetheart, Hunter's downstairs."
"What? Why did you let him in?"

"Because you two need to talk."

Tori shook her head. "I have nothing to say to him," she answered. Helen sighed and sat next to her niece.

"Sweetheart, give him a chance to talk," Helen insisted.

Tori let out a sigh and closed her eyes.

Hunter walked over to the mantelpiece to find pictures of a young Tori and her aunt. "My mom never wanted me, so she handed me over to my Aunt Helen when I was three," Tori commented when she came in. Hunter turned to look at her.

"Hey," he greeted quietly.
"Hi," she answered.

They were silent for a minute. "Dustin tell you where I was?" She asked. Hunter shrugged.

"It was either he told me or I'd rearrange his face," he replied.

Tori looked at him. "Hunter don't you dare make me laugh," she insisted. She wrapped her arms around herself. "What do you want?" She asked. Hunter sighed.

"I want you to come home," he replied.

"No."

Tori shook her head. "No," she repeated. Hunter sighed sadly and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm really sorry, Tor," he apologized.

"How can I believe you?" She asked.

Hunter swallowed the lump in his throat. "I'll give you anything in the world to make you happy, Tori. I'll go to the ends of the earth, I'll do anything to make it up to you for the rest of our lives. But please, come home," he explained. Hunter took a deep breath as he got down on his knees in front of her. "I'll do anything, Tori. I'm sorry, I made a horrible mistake. I love you, I want to be apart of the baby's life, just please, please believe me," he insisted. Tori listened to him with tears falling down her face. "Forgive me…" he whispered. Tori got down on her knees and hugged him tight. "I'm sorry," he repeated. Tori bit her lip and buried her head into his neck.

"I'm sorry too," she answered.

Hunter pulled back and placed his hands on her face. "Now will you come home?" He asked. She nodded her head slowly with a small smile.

"Yeah," she replied.

Hunter smiled and kissed her deeply. Tori wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.