-1Disclaimer I own Tori and my ideas …the rest I leave to the professionals. If I owned the guys, I definitely would not be online - ever.

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Saving Breakfast

They all stood looking at Tori. She had cried softly for about five minutes before she seemed to remember who she was. She had to say something soon or they were going to burst into little pieces.

"You want me? Freely. You want me to come with you? To be in your family … families?" Tori asked hoarsely. She couldn't phantom why these people would want to help her. She knew she was on her own from now on …why would they say these things?

"If you want." Tyler came to her. She needed to know that they were serious about her. They didn't ever do these things but they felt connected to her. They felt for her.

"Yeah. We get along better than anyone and we've only been together for a week. We really like you." Pogue stated lamely. He knew that she knew these things but he felt she needed to hear it. As it turned out Tori did need to hear it.

"I like you guys too."

Reid couldn't take the silence that engulfed the room after her statement. He didn't need this, this mushiness. He was a man of action but now he was resorted to waiting for her answer. "Then, what's it gonna be?"

Tori took in a big breath and smiled at the agitated boy. His face was blank but she knew better. He was waiting for her to say something. "Ok. You've got yourself a sister but only because I feel like I can trust you and that alone makes you special."

Caleb couldn't believe the girl that sat in front of them was like this all time. Defensive and closed off to everyone. They would get to her … the real her. He laughed at the way she looked sitting there with a shy smile on her face. "Ok, tough girl. How about we go for food?"

Tyler's eyes got brighter at the mention of food. "Yeah. That sounds real good."

"Lets go then." Pogue seemed equally excited. He knew he had to get out of there before he threw his arms around her and swung her around like a little girl.

Tori needed a dose of estrogen soon before all the guys overwhelmed her with their 'stuff'. "Mind if we bring Jenna?"

"Nah. Lets go get her." Tyler loved being able to talk to this girl. He could talk to her like he had never talked to any other girl. "Cool." Tori answered gleefully.

Reid couldn't believe they were making him wait. Reid Garwin did not wait for food. Least of all, did he wait for others to decide when he could have something. "Would you girls move it! Starving over here."

"Chill Blondie." Tori backfired. Reid's face contorted to one of pain. And guessing by it he wasn't too fond of his new name.

Tyler had noticed way before anyone else. He figured he would milk it for all it was worth. "Keep calling him that. I love the look on his face … it's like something bit him."

"Shut it."

Caleb had had enough of this little bickering. He needed food too! "Com'on guys. Food sounds pretty good right about now."

They filed out of the room and headed for the front desk. Jenna was checking out a customer when the group approached her. They stood there and told her all that had happened that morning. The look on her face was unreadable.

She got up from her seat, crossed over to the front of the desk and stopped in front of Tori. All of a sudden, she began squealing and jumping like an excited two year old. She hugged them all and went on and on about how great the news was. It didn't feel like great news to the groups' ears. They convinced Jenna to go to lunch with them.

Once they were seated in one of the large booths of the diner down the street, the chatter took a new turn and the topic changed.

Jenna had questions. She wanted to at least know what the guys were getting themselves into. She needed to know some of Tori's past. Well at least as much as she would share. "So how long has it been since you went to an actual school? I mean the whole brick building and after school activities. You know - the whole shebang?"

Tori's answer was a lot more honest than any of them thought she would have given. "Its been a long time. Longer than it had to be."

"Ok. New topic, please."

"It's okay Tyler. I accept my past today. Just don't ask me to tell you my deepest darkest secret. At least not yet." Tori admitted jokingly. She missed the look that passed between the people in the booth with her.

Pogue couldn't help it. The main thought that circled his head since he was thirteen came back to him then. 'Yeah, deepest darkest secrets are going to be an issue.'

A silence descended upon them as their waitress came to take their order. "What would you kids like?"

Jenna spoke up first. No need to be silent now. "Hmm…I'll have the sausage and eggs."

"Ok."

"I'll have the cheese omelet on a roll, please." Pogue answered the waitress' unasked question.

Caleb couldn't help the content smile that came upon his lips as he thought of his order. "And I'll have the French toast - syrup on the side." Lords he loved French toast.

"Hmm…cinnamon and raison waffles for me." Tyler had cravings. He needed cinnamon. Now.

Tori twitched a bit when she noticed she was next. She was definitely not ready to order. "Ewww, skip me. I'm not ready."

"Ok, Hun. Take your time."

Reid wasn't even fazed by what had transpired. He just had one question. "What kind of cereal do you have?"

Pogue couldn't believe he was doing this. This 'kid' needed to grow up. "Com'on Reid. Get something real."

"Yeah man. Preferably something that involves being heated before it's put on your plate." Caleb supplied.

Reid didn't want to hear it. "Shut it. So, what kind do you have?"

"Well we have Total, Honey Bunches of Oats, Frosted Flakes, Apple Jacks, Cheerios, Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops."

"I'll have the Fruit Loops."

Pogue should have tied him up and force fed him some real breakfast. It would be the only way he would eat anything but that damn little kid stuff. "Lord. You couldn't be a man about it either. You had to pick little kid cereal."

"You know what? Suck it." Reid couldn't help get aggravated at him. They knew him … well apparently not.

Tori needed to order and get the spot light off of Reid and his breakfast choices. He really did need to learn about the joys of breakfast. "Funny guys. I'll have the chocolate chip pancakes. Thanks."

That just caused them all to laugh hysterically. They settled into light conversation until the food arrived. They thanked the waitress and dug into their breakfast.

Pogue couldn't keep his mouth shut. "These are great."

Jenna smiled proudly. "I know, right? I found it last spring and couldn't stop coming here."

Caleb saw his chance to taunt Reid a bit and he was way to comfortable to let it pass him. "How's your cereal? Good? You want me to get you the box prize too? I'm sure if you bat your eyes at the waitress we could get our hands on it."

"Fuck you Caleb and for your information, these are perfect."

Tori couldn't believe these two. They were like two little boys who were pinching each other for fun. "Stop it you two. Although I am going to have to teach you how to have breakfast for real."

Reid smirked at Tori in the most seductive way she had ever seen. "You can treat me to breakfast anytime."

"Watch it. That's my sister you're talking to." Pogue answered with a playful smile. Tori's heart warmed at his words and the note of protectiveness behind it. She had to break the spell somehow and the worst ideas came to mind when she was pressured.

"Enough guys. Besides I think Blondie's breakfast wants to tell him something." The group looked at her with an amused expression.

All except for Reid who was currently confused. "Huh?"

Tori could barely keep a straight face on. "Yeah. See. It says 'ooooo'."

The group broke out into a laughing fit. Never mind that it was corny as hell, it was still pretty funny. After some light conversation, the group made their way back to the Inn. What they found was complete chaos. They approached Mrs. MaCallister for some answers.

Tyler was the first one to ask the obvious question. "Hey Mrs. C, is everything ok?"

Mrs. MaCallister spun around to face the boys. The relief on her face was evident but it was still puzzling why she was under duress. "Oh boys. It's a pandemonium."

"What happened? Mom? Is dad ok? What?"

"Oh no no no. He's fine. It's tonight we're worried about. The group we had booked got food poisoning and now we have no entertainment. You guys know Fridays are big here. With all the regulars, the students from down the road and the usual passer-bys. It's just my luck."

Jenna was worried. She knew how much the crowds liked live entertainment. The sales usually sky rocketed when a good band was playing. They really needed to fix this. "Their has to be someone we can call."

"I don't know anyone who could come in time. I really don't."

Tori's face brightened. She had an idea that was clear to those who were looking at her. "Jen. We can do it."

"What?" Jenna couldn't believe what Tori had just offered. She hadn't picked up an instrument in public since her mother had left her and now she was volunteering. "No. How are we going to do anything?"

"We can." Tori would do this for them, but Jenna had to agree first. "You're an awesome performer and I'm a decent drummer. If your dad can play the guitar we might be able to do it. Com'on think about it. We can do this."

Jenna couldn't contain the feelings coursing through her at that moment. "You sure you want to do this? By ourselves?"

Pogue came up behind Jenna and embraced her. He could feel her apprehension but they would go away after she was reassured. "You won't be by yourselves. We'll be here. All of us."

"Oh God. Ok."

"Ok?" Tori couldn't believe it was that easy. She thought she would have to pummel the girl with praises before she agreed. She needed her to say it again.

"Ok."

The relief emanating from Mrs. MaCallister was certainly tangible. Well at least to Tori it was. It was something she had always been able to do. 'Feeling' other peoples feelings was a little tricky but she somehow could do it. "Oh thank the lords. Now you girls go practice for tonight and I'll send John in a little while. Now go."

Tori scowled playfully at the older woman. "Ok. Ok. Pushy much Mrs. C?" she received a pat in the but by the former beauty queen. That got her moving. "We'll see you guys later."

"See ya'." Reid muttered absentmindedly.

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Well, there is one more chapter for you guys. I hope you enjoyed it, as did I writing it. It help with the stress, so I'm going to keep going. The Corny joke at the top was from an episode of Family Guy. I thought it was hilarious so I put it in.