Brenda Walsh has always been known as the girl with no struggles. With the perfect life, the perfect parents, the perfect boyfriend, no problems. Nobody really knows her story because nobody cares to ask. Nobody knows the real reason why they moved to Beverly Hills, not even her boyfriend, Dylan. She keeps the perfect facade up around all of her friends but when she's alone that's when it hits her, every struggle she has ever had to deal with comes to the surface.

"A pack of cigarettes, please," Brenda quietly requests, ashamed of herself, but she can't fight the urge. She grabs it quickly, rushing outside in the back alley she lights one up.

She inhales it and exhales it slowly, sighing in relief. It's not the real deal of what she's looking for but it'll have to do. She squeezes her eyes shut and finishes the cigarette when a figure comes down the alley. Dylan. He sees her with the cigarette and looks at her with confusion.

"Brenda?" He asks slowly.

"Dylan? Oh hi!" She says sniffling as she puts out the cigarette discreetly. "W-What are you doing here? It's late, are you okay?"

"Why are you smoking?" Dylan asks, moving to stand in front of her.

"Smoking?" She tries to play it off but she sees he isn't falling for it. "I couldn't fight it anymore Dylan, I had to, the urge was so strong and it kept calling my name."

Brenda broke down in tears and collapses in Dylan's arms and he holds her tight, confused as to what she is talking about. He kissed her head a few times 'shh'ing her and whispering sweet nothings in her ear. Before pulling away from her slightly to look at her as he bent down to her level.

"What are you talking about, baby?" Dylan asks looking into her bloodshot eyes.

"Nobody knows the real reason why we moved to Beverly hills," Brenda whispers. "It wasn't because my dad got promoted, it was because of me, I guess now is as good of a time to tell you."

"You can tell me anything Bren," Dylan whispers gently.

"When I was 13, my mom was diagnosed with cancer, my dad became a drunk, he always drank and drank until he passed out or he would take his anger out on Brandon and I. Brandon dealt with it well considering the circumstances, but I didn't. I got my hands on drugs, alcohol, anything that could take away the pain. I became addicted to smoking more than anything else. My mom got better and my dad sobered up but I was still out partying, lying, smoking and drinking. I didn't have the excuse of I'm in pain anymore, so we knew I was addicted, and my drug dealers became my friends and my mom didn't like it so my dad got a job here and we moved. That's why everyone makes a big deal about me drinking. That's the real reason why we are in Beverly Hills. I guess I'm not perfect after all huh?" Brenda tells him, with her eyes on the ground only looking at him once she finished. He was too quiet as he stared at her. "Say something."

"Oh baby," He sighs pulling her into him, one hand around her waist the other behind her head as she cried into his shoulder. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was ashamed, I didn't want you to think differently of me," Brenda whimpers pulling back. "Please tell me you still love me."

"Bren, of course, I still love you," Dylan says before pulling her in, pressing his lips on her in a slow, hard kiss only pulling away when he is out of breath. "I will always love you, baby."

"I love you too," She cries throwing herself into his arms, the only place where she feels safe. "I haven't smoked for 6 months until today."

"Let me take you home Bren," Dylan cooed softly, comforting her as much as he can knowing exactly what she is going through.

"No," Bren cries out looking at him with an alarmed look, "they'll know I can't go back there take me with you."

"Okay, baby, I'll take you with me," Dylan immediately replies, wanting her to calm down, his heart breaking at how alarmed and scared she is. It breaks his heart seeing her like this. Is this how she feels when he relapses? If so, he never wants to ever again so she doesn't have to go through this. "Let's go, I've got you."

"I'm sorry, I didn't tell you, I trust you I do, it's just something I've been so ashamed of sharing with anyone, the only people who know here is my parents, Brandon and now you," Brenda apologizes looking up into Dylan's eyes, stopping them. "I trust you more than anyone else."

"I know, babe we'll talk when we get to my house okay?" Dylan says softly. "Calm down, I hate seeing you worked up like this."

"Okay," Brenda sighs, walking with him to his car.

"Did you think I would judge you, Bren?" Dylan asks with hurt in his voice. "After everything, you'd think I'd judge you?"

"No, Dylan, I just didn't think you'd want me anymore, a-and this was my new start I didn't want to bring it up, I didn't know how to," Brenda cries reaching for him and he jerks away from her.

"How?! Brenda, I went through the same thing, and instead of making me feel like I was by myself, you could've told me, that would've helped me, to know there was somebody I trust goes through the same thing, dammit Bren," Dylan says running his hands through his hair, turning away from her.

"I'm sorry! I am, baby, you have to believe me, I was so ashamed of myself, I still am, you always saw me as your saving grace and I didn't want to ruin that image with this side of me, you were always so proud of me I didn't want to disappoint you," Brenda sobs. "Please don't be me, Dylan, I need you right now."

Dylan hears her crying and he spins around his face softening, "Oh Brenda, I'm not mad at you, I understand I just wish I'd known so I could have helped you."

Dylan takes her into his arms, holding her against him, allowing her to let out all the pain and let him take some away.

"I've dealt with this by myself since I got here, it's like my parents think that I'm all better because I'm not in Minnesota," She cries into his chest, clutching his t-shirt in his hands.

"Well, you've got me, baby," Dylan murmurs pressing a kiss to her head. "Always."

Dylan waited for her to fall asleep before he calls her parents to let them know what is going on, "Hey Cindy, it's Dylan, I'm calling to let you know that Bren is with me sleeping, I'd like to talk to you and Jim about her, if that's okay, it's important."

"Oh, okay honey thanks for calling, is everything okay?" Cindy asks concern leaking through her voice over the phone.

"No, it's not, but Brenda needs me right now so I have to get back to her, have a nice night," Dylan says almost coldly before hanging up the phone.

Dylan took a deep breath, it angered him the way they treated the situation. Being a still troubled, recovering alcoholic, he knows that all the help and love and support they can get helps. And the way they turn a blind eye to her needs, how she feels so alone around them breaks his heart. Although he doesn't have much experience in the parent department, he knows that they are supposed to be there for you no matter what. This is not being there for her, that's pretending she's perfect, when she's not. Even though, in Dylan's eyes, she's damn near it.

Dylan sighed shaking his head returning to her, crouching down next to her and running a finger through her hair, "I love you Bren, never doubt that."

He walked around the bed and stripped before climbing in, wrapping his arms around his girl he buried his face in her neck and slept through the night. Tomorrow should be interesting.