Dustin "Dusty" Donovan is a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama As the World Turns.
In 1983, a rebellious teen, Dusty arrived in Oakdale with his stepfather, horse trainer Burke Donovan.
Though Lucinda wasn't thrilled with this relationship, she preferred Dusty over the new stableboy, Holden Snyder, who also had a crush on Lily.
He saved her life, but Lucy's father Craig wasn't so grateful after Molly said those guys were probably the same ones who wanted the money from Dusty.
Although they were first antagonistic towards each other, as Lucy was a spoiled 18-year-old, and Dusty a criminal 30-something, they grew closer, as both saved each other's lives several times.
A few months later, Dusty was approached by an old friend, Dominic Ramsey, who planned to set up a boxing match in an Oakdale gym.
Dusty renewed his relationship with her, but in the meantime befriended Jennifer Munson, Paul Ryan's sister.
Jennifer, who was his business partner, was pregnant by Mike Kasnoff, but later revealed to Dusty that the unborn child was actually Craig Montgomery's after a one-night stand.
However, things changed when Dusty found out Meg lied to him about Johnny, Jenn's supposedly deceased baby.
Dusty was surprised when he found out the new doctor treating Johnny, was, in fact, Lucy, who had returned a year after her departure.
They were often pressured by Lucinda, Lucy's grandmother, who wanted the two back together again, but pushed away by Barbara Ryan, who felt Dusty should grieve some more.
After realizing Lucy almost died in the storm trying to save Johnny's life, Dusty completely trusted her.
Dusty didn't understand why she did it and was outraged when, days later, he found no Johnny in his house and realized Lucy had taken off with her little brother.
Dusty bonded with Emily Stewart, who begged him to help her find her sister Alison, who apparently was addicted to crystal meth and had become a porn star.
All of them were cleared of the charges, and then Lily and Lucinda were suddenly held hostage by Evan, who turned out to be Dusty's killer.
On September 24, 2008, Meg Snyder Ryan was taken hostage by James Stenbeck and taken to a deserted island and locked in a small cabin.
He explained that he faked his death, using a drug to slow his heartbeat to make it appear as if he had died so he could flee Oakdale and go after Lucy and Johnny.
But when Lieutenant Margo Montgomery Hughes found out that an unknown man was shot at the windmill, she started to question Meg.
On the night of the opening of the "Luke Snyder Foundation", Dusty showed up at Metro and shocked everybody with his return.
Paul then went to New York City and hired an actress and her son to roam the world pretending to be Lucy and Johnny so that Dusty would see them and follow them, leaving town and Meg.
Not wanting to own a large corporation anymore, Lucinda agrees to find a buyer rather than buy it back.
Josie told Paul she didn't want to go through with the plan anymore because she had started to fall in love with Dusty.
While in jail, Craig Montgomery (having recently returned to town) arrives, telling Dusty he's on his side.
Paul then overdoses on anxiety pills to get Meg to help him and realize she wanted him, getting the idea from his father's ghost.
He then picks up Meg and takes her to the hospital, where she gives birth to a premature but healthy baby girl, Eliza.
Dusty tells Lucy she needs to leave town cause even if she isn't charged, Craig will find a way to make her suffer for what she did.
Josie leads them on a wild goose chase, giving Lucy time to say goodbye to Johnny before leaving town on Dusty's corporate jet.
Craig attempted to marry Carly Tenney to make a judge think he was a family man.
Paul tells her she still loves him and she reminds him she never denied it, only the fact she can't take him back and his behavior just confirms it.
On January 26, 2009, they were married in Reno, Nevada in a small, simple ceremony, following the finalization of her divorce from Paul that day.