Like a Fairytale
Author: Verita Parlata
Rating: PG-13Characters/Pairings: Brenda/Dylan; minor mentions of other pairings.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Beverly Hills, 90210.
Description: While on vacation, Brenda and Dylan confront their painful past.
Notes: Written for Ember1313's birthday. It's a little early since her birthday isn't until the 22nd, but…I don't think she'll mind. :D Her only request was that Brenda and Dylan be together. I hope I've delivered. This is my first story focusing entirely on Brenda/Dylan so...be kind to me. Happy Birthday, Sweets!
Chapter I:
Worst vacation ever, Brenda Walsh thought bitterly as she sat on the bench outside of her hotel. The night air was crisp and cold, and stung her cheeks. She resolutely refused to go back inside. At least, not until she calmed down enough to face her off again/on again (currently on again) boyfriend Dylan McKay.
Pulling the jacket tightly around her, she cursed. Leave it to her to suggest they come to Dublin during what would be classified as a 'not normal' winter season. Having come here before (work, of course) she knew the winters in Ireland were incredibly mild compared to the other parts of Europe. The fact that there was still snow and ice on the ground was the biggest indication of all. She thought for a mere second of running back inside to pull on her hat and then going for a long walk to simmer down, but the chance that she would run into Dylan in their suite was not one that she wanted to take.
Besides, it was what she gets for running out of the hotel restaurant in a huff after their conversation took a turn she didn't like.
She sighed again, looking out at the lights of the busy city, and told herself she had no right to be upset. She knew that when she and Dylan broke up five years ago he'd gone back to Beverly Hills and took up with Kelly Taylor again. It was one of the first things he told her when they started dating three years ago (after he broke up with Kelly, realizing that he still loved Brenda, and always would). She imagined that in the two years they dated, they took vacations and did the same things many couples did.
However, hearing him tell her that he and Kelly came to Dublin once before affected her in a way she hadn't expected. Especially after…what he said…she couldn't even bring herself to think about it. It was a horrible idea, just like this vacation.
Still, as much as she would like to blame all of her worries on Kelly Taylor and the past relationship she had with Dylan, truth was that she couldn't. The very real problems that she and Dylan faced were caused by her inordinate amount of fear. They've been through so much together. Shared a lifetime worth of pain that would have driven most couples apart (and, in fact, had driven them apart for a very long time), but she wasn't so sure they had it in them to handle more. She wasn't sure she could handle him walking out on her again.
"I think you might need this." It was Dylan. He stood in front of her and placed the floppy purple hat that matched her winter jacket on her head, taking care to pull the flaps down her ears.
"Thanks," Brenda mumbled, brushing the hair out of her face with her gloved hands. Dylan sat down beside her, his own jacket pulled tightly and black hat sitting snugly atop his head.
Neither of them said anything for at least two minutes. They simply sat there on the wooden bench in the cold dark as another light patch of snow began to fall. The silence was anything but comfortable with the two of them having much to say. Even so, no longer being those dramatic teenagers they were in high school, and having learned a few things since their last attempt at a relationship, both knew that these things take time.
That was the one thing they promised each other when they got back together. Time.
"We can't keep on like this, Bren," Dylan said quietly. His voice cut through the cold air that settled between them like a knife. Brenda didn't turn to face him, but knew he was looking at her. "We can't keep avoiding the past, and you can't keep running from me every time you get scared." In fact, that was the reason for this particular vacation. They'd resolved to try harder with each other.
"I know," she replied shakily. It amazed her that she could speak at all, given all the rampant emotions running through her. "I don't know why I got so upset when you said that you and Kelly came here." She shook her head slightly, a motion Dylan missed when he turned his gaze away. "I don't know…sometimes it feels like I can't escape Kelly no matter what I do." She glanced at him briefly, then quickly away when she found his dark eyes watching at her. "I know it's not fair to you."
"No," he agreed. "But I understand." Of course he understood. He was the prick that ran back home to her when things between him and Brenda got really tough. That action still haunts him. It was too much like Jack McKay for his liking. Too much like Iris.
Absently, he reached for her gloved hand and held it in his. He tugged at her hand gently so that she would turn to face him. "You don't have to worry about competing with Kelly, or feeling like you're second best to anyone." He tilted her chin with his free gloved hand. "I love you. I'm in love with you."
A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "I know," she admitted softly. "And I'm in love with you, too."
"Good, because I meant what I said. I think we should participate in the Hand-Fasting Ceremony being held here."
He felt her tense then she pulled her hand away gently and turned away from him. "Dylan…" she began in idle protest.
Ah...so there was the real problem. "I want you to marry me, Brenda."
"And this lame-ass proposal is your way of showing it?" She quirked an eyebrow.
He knew she was joking, but his face held no amusement. "I'm serious."
"I know…and that scares me." She stared off into the night. The twinkling lights in the distance not enough to distract her anymore. "We've been through so much…and some of it still hurts."
Defeated, but only for the moment, Dylan nodded. He understood without her saying another word why she was hesitant to marry him. A cold gust of wind blew over them, and he shivered violently.
"Okay, I love you, honey, and I want to talk about this, but I'm freezing my ass off out here." He stood and held out a hand for her. "Let's go inside."
Brenda looked up at him sheepishly. Almost like a child with a bad secret to tell. "I twisted my ankle coming out here." She pouted.
Dylan chuckled and shook his head. "So much for skiing then," he joked. "Even though they said this might all be melted by tomorrow. They have some crazy winters here." He hunched down and helped her up.
When she started forward, holding on to him for support, he bent down and scooped her up into his arms easily.
"Dylan!" she yelped with surprise, and a large grin split her face. "Put me down. There could still be some ice on the ground, and you might slip and fall. Then we'll both be stuck in bed the entire trip."
He waggled his eyebrows suggestively. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
He started for the door slowly, no greater feeling than carrying his beloved in his arms.
There was already a fire going in their suite when they came back inside. Brenda guessed someone on the hotel's staff did it while they were outside in the snow. She knew for certain it was one of the staff when she saw the tray of cheeses and fruits and drinks of cider left on the table.
She loved this hotel even more now. They really knew how to treat their guests.
Dylan, who carried her the entire way, only putting her down when they got into the semi-crowded elevator, placed her gently on the bed. They shrugged out of their coats and hats, discarded their gloves, then Dylan carefully pulled off her boots. He took extra care with the ankle she said she hurt, and looked at it carefully.
"I don't think it's a sprain, it's not swelling at all. It's not even bruised." He lifted the ankle to his lips and pressed a tender kiss to the skin. Brenda smiled warmly, feeling loved completely.
He stood once again to remove his own boots and then brought the trays to the bed for her to nibble on. He excused himself for a moment and with a moment alone to think, Brenda realized she was wrong to doubt his love for her. They were no longer the people they used to be. They've changed, grown separately as individuals that complimented each other even more now than when they were kids.
Dylan emerged from the bathroom wearing the pajamas she'd bought for him specifically for the trip. She laughed loudly, and joyously. Dylan McKay was not a pajama-wearer by any stretch of the imagination.
"Very nice," she teased. The red and green flannel complimented his complexion, but that's all. She could imagine he was hot in them, given the heating in the suite and the fire roaring a few feet away. She laughed more when he started for her, modeling them along the way.
He stopped in front of her, giving her a lecherous grin and then reached for the hem of her shirt. Tugging it off her body, he tossed it away behind him.
"I know you don't have any pajamas as cool as these," he said while helping her to her feet. His fingers fell to the snaps of her jeans. He unbuttoned and unzipped them in a matter of seconds, then he pushed them down her hips, exposing the pale white flesh underneath, and she shimmied out of them. "but I figure you can wear the top, and I'll wear the bottoms." His lips found the sensitive skin on her collarbone, and she whimpered.
Her hands reached out to touch the skin he bared when he pulled the pajama top off. Her lips fused to his in a hot-blooded kiss. Then, suddenly, she felt the warmth of the fabric against her back. Brenda let her arms dangle so Dylan could pull the sleeves over them.
"We match now," she said with a smile while he buttoned the shirt.
"We always did," he told her, then kissed her forehead gently.
