Author: Fate Believer

Rating: PG-13 in some areas...as story progresses R to MA

Summary: Complete AU starting at season 5. Val still comes to live with the Walshes, but Brenda comes home at the end of the summer.

Pairing: B/D K/B and other undecided pairings.

Disclaimer. They aren't mine. If they were, the whole D/K soulmates thing would have never happened.

Author's Notes: Brenda and Kelly are friends in this one. Kelly is happy with Brandon. Valerie is still...well Valerie. A lot of the things that happened during the course of the show will still happen but will be changed to fit the plotline.

Brenda Walsh hung up the payphone, annoyed. Where the hell was Dylan? She had tried calling him at least a dozen times today and each time she got the damn answering machine. With an irritated sigh, she headed towards baggage claim to retrieve her luggage. She hadn't expected him to meet her at the airport, but she expected him to at least return one of her calls. They hadn't spoken much during the summer at all and it made her heart hurt. He hadn't taken well to Erica going missing. That much she knew. He was spending most of his time trying to find her and Brenda couldn't be mad at him for that. Erica was all the family he had left.

London had been fun and her parents had encouraged her to stay when she told them about the opportunity for her to extend her stay. She had to admit she was tempted, but the truth was, she missed Dylan. Her parents weren't aware of their resumed relationship and she knew her father probably wasn't going to react well, but it was her life and she had made her choice. Her choice was her life in Beverly Hills and a life with the man she loved. Besides, what better place to try and get into acting than Los Angeles?

She hefted her bags onto a luggage cart and fished her keys out of her purse. No one knew she was coming home. She had wanted it to be a surprise and she imagined it would be now. The only person she told was Dylan and she hadn't exactly told him. She'd told his damn answering machine. It was of little consequence though. It wasn't like she was stranded her. Dylan had made sure of that before she ever left for London. She made her way through the parking terminals at LAX until she reached her parking spot. There was her going away present from Dylan. A current year model BMW. Something her and her two best friends had in common now. She originally hadn't wanted the car, saying it was too expensive, but Dylan had insisted she needed something to drive that was hers when she returned home. After all, she couldn't show up to auditions in a beat up station wagon.

After throwing her bags into the trunk, Brenda slipped behind the wheel of her car. She had to adjust the seat because after all Dylan had been the one to drive it last and his legs were quite a bit longer than hers. She smiled when she looked over in the passenger seat. He had to have been here recently because there was a small box sitting on the seat. Eagerly, she opened it and was pleased to see a framed picture of the two of them right before she left for London. God, she loved that man. With a shake of her head, Brenda started the car and headed towards home.

Brandon Walsh scowled at the blue screen. Delayed. Damn. He hated airports as it was, but now he had to wait even longer? He was supposed to meet Kelly in a couple hours, but he had no idea how long he was going to have to wait for Valerie's plane to land. It was going to be weird to have anyone besides Brenda living in the room next to his. He wasn't exactly comfortable with sharing a bathroom with another female. Let alone Valerie. She was a sweet girl, but there was something deeply troubled in her. Always had been. However, his heart went out to her. Her mom wasn't the nicest woman in the world and her father had killed himself. Brandon resolved to show Val a good time here in Beverly Hills.

Brenda pulled into the driveway of Casa Walsh and was once again reminded of exactly why she decided to come home. She loved this place. Brandon's car was missing and she was disappointed. She was looking forward to seeing the look on her twin's face when he saw her. She shut the car off and climbed out, activating the alarm with a small beep. She used her key to open the door and stepped into the foyer of her home.

"Brandon, Valerie is that you, " her mom's voice called from the kitchen.

Who was Valerie? Last she knew Brandon was seeing Kelly.

" Sorry, Mom. Wrong twin, " Brenda headed towards the kitchen and grinned when she saw her Mom emerge with a stunned expression.

"Brenda? What on earth are you doing here? I thought you were staying in London, " Cindy Walsh was floored.

" Not exactly the Welcome Home I was expecting. I wanted to surprise everyone, " Brenda smiled wryly.

"Mission accomplished, honey. How did you get here? You should have called. I would have had Brandon pick you up while he was picking up Valerie, " she replied as she hugged her daughter tightly.

" I didn't need to be picked up, but thanks anyways. Color me confused here, but who's Valerie, " Brenda asked as she pulled away from her mom.

" Oh honey, you know Valerie. Valerie Malone. We told Abby we'd let her come live with us..." Cindy trailed off, remembering the rooming problem after her shock of seeing her daughter home again wore off.

" Oh, duh. Brandon told me about her dad. I can't imagine what she's going through right now..." Brenda said, sympathetically.

" Sweetheart, um, we weren't really expecting you to come home...so we told Abby that Valerie could stay in your old room, " Cindy waited for the explosion, but it never came.

" No big deal. There's some things I'd like to grab from my room though, " Brenda shrugged.

" I don't mean to sound dense here, Brenda, but where are you going to stay, " she asked.

" I have lots of friends, Mom. They have couches until I can find something more permanent," Brenda laughed at her mom's reaction.

" Oh, honey I feel just awful. I feel like we're kicking you out, " her mom sounded guilty.

" Mom, relax. I didn't tell you guys I was coming home. This is totally my fault, " Brenda's mind was working in overtime though. Dylan hadn't been home, but she had a key to the house. She'd just crash there for a while.

"Well come into the kitchen and tell me all about London, " Cindy replied, excitedly.

An hour later the door slammed shut and Brenda jumped. She stood up from her chair and headed into the foyer where she saw Brandon and Valerie.

" Whoa. I was wondering who the hell had the audacity to park in my spot, " Brandon grinned as he held his arms open to his sister.

" Oh, please. Like it has your name written all over it, " Brenda shot back as she hugged her brother tightly.

" You're not supposed to be here, little sister, " Brandon stated as they parted.

He got a slug to the shoulder.

"Never tell your sister she can't come home, Brandon, " Brenda stuck her tongue out at him. Cindy joined them in the foyer and smiled when she saw Valerie. She stepped forward and hugged her.

"Welcome to Beverly Hills, honey," Cindy Walsh smiled at the petite brunette.

" Thanks Aunt Cindy, " Valerie smiled as she coined her favorite name for Brenda and Brandon's mom.

" Valerie! Wow, I haven't seen you in forever, you look great, " Brenda grinned at her old friend.

" So do you! Nice wheels by the way, " Valerie teased.

Brenda looked guilty momentarily and waited for the barrage of questions.

"You know, Bren, I was meaning to ask you about that...now say you're sorry and swear you'll never steal another car again, " Brandon smirked.

"Wait a second, Brenda, you have a car, " Cindy Walsh sounded stunned.

" Okay hold on here. First of all, the car is not stolen, Brandon. It's mine. Legally bought and paid for. Secondly, yes Mom I have a car. Did you think I walked here, " Brenda teased her mom.

" I just assumed you took a cab..." She was cut off

"And that I left all my luggage in London? Not likely, " Brenda replied, amused.

"That only leaves the question...where did the car come from, " Brandon asked.

" It was a going away present, " Brenda replied defensively.

" From who, " Brandon and Cindy both wanted to know.

Brenda winced and prepared herself from the fallout of answering this question.

"Dylan."