A/N: Once again this story is dedicated to my very dear friends Celia, Cassie, Katie, Lyns, and Steph… A special thanks to Agent Smurf for typing this up for me…
Disclaimer: I don't own BH 90210!
Once at the hotel that the reunion was being held at Brenda took in a deep breath before following Brandon inside. She had a death grip on Charles's hand as they made their way inside. She was really nervous about the reactions she would get from the people who use to be her friends.
Charles looked down at Brenda and saw that she was nervous and bent down to whisper in her ear "Relax babe I got this. You're going to be fine and you will get through this. Now smile that wonderful smile of yours and lets go have us some fun."
Brenda actually chuckled and relaxed at once as she snuggled into Charles side as they followed Brandon through the crowd. She was even to smile a real smile and not force once. All too soon though they were at the table that the Gang was sitting at.
Brandon stepped forward and said "Hey guys sorry I'm a little late. I had to wait on someone at the Peach Pit."
Kelly looked at Brandon and said "Why did you have to wait on someone at the Peach Pit when you knew you had to come here?"
Brandon frowned at Kelly's tone and stepped off to the side and then looked back at Brenda and held his hand out to her. He smiled when she took his hand without hesitation even if she pulled Charles with her. He had to chuckle at the look on her face though because it looked as if she thought she was being led to a slaughter or something.
Once he had Brenda pressed against his side he turned back towards his friends. "I had to wait on Brenda."
Kelly's mouth dropped open when she finally recognized the woman at Brandon's side a second before she heard Brandon say who he had to wait on. She jumped up from her seat and rushed around the table and engulfed her former best friend into a hug. She couldn't believe that Brenda had come all the way from London for the reunion.
Brenda hugged Kelly back warmly and then pulled back and snuggled back into Charles's side as she said "Hi Kel long time no talk."
Kelly smiled. "I can't believe you're here. How have you been? How is London?"
Brenda chuckled because she realized that Brandon must have not told anyone that she was back in the States. "I don't know how London is. I've been back in the States for about three years now."
It had finally sunk in to everyone else that Brenda was there and they all got out of their seats and surrounded her.
Donna was the first one to hug her after Kelly and she said "Oh my God Brenda I can't believe it's you. How have you been?"
Brenda looked over at Charles who smiled and placed his arm around her waist and he said "Well babe aren't you going to introduce me into your friends?"
Brenda chuckled but first gave David, Steve, and Andrea a hug and then said "Baby this is Andrea, David, Donna, Kelly and Steve. Guys this is Charles."
Charles smiled and waved at everyone and said "Hi it's finally nice to meet you all. I've heard all about you guys."
Brenda looked around and noticed that Dylan wasn't there yet and said "Well it looks like one of the gang isn't here yet."
Kelly laughed at that. "Dylan's here Brenda but he walked off to go get a drink right before you all got here. He should be coming back anytime now."
Brenda turned towards Charles in the hope of masking the pain in her eyes when Dylan's name was mentioned and she laid her head on his chest as he bent down and gave her a light kiss making all of her friends ooohhh and awwww over his actions. She had to bite back the laugh that threatened to come out of her mouth. If only they all knew what she did.
She had her head buried in Charles's chest still when a voice from behind her said "Why are you all standing instead of sitting now? I've only been gone five minutes."
Brenda tensed in Charles's arms and he rubbed his hand up and down her back and bent his head down to whisper "It's okay babe. You'll get through this and you know it. You're strong now."
Brenda nodded and looked up at Charles with a slight smile and turned around in his arms with her back pressed against his chest and her arms resting on the arms he had wrapped around her waist just as Kelly said "Brenda came back for the reunion. We were just catching up."
Brandon who had seen his sister tense up when she heard Dylan's voice made his way over to her and Charles's side as he said "Yeah I talked her into coming but she made me swear not to tell anyone so that it was a surprise."
Dylan looked at Brenda in the arms of some guy and he felt like his heart was going to beat out of his chest. He hadn't seen Brenda in six years but apparently the years hasn't made his feelings for her any less than what they had been. It actually hurt him to see her in the arms of another guy but he wasn't going to let her or anyone else know that.
He took a couple step forwards and stopped in front of Brenda and looked at her and finally said "It's been a long time Bren. It's good to see you. How are you doing?"
Brenda's eyes roved over Dylan even as she wanted to close her eyes on the pain she was feeling at seeing the man she has loved for so long. "I've been doing good and it's good to see you too Dylan. How are you?"
Dylan saw the guy that was holding Brenda give her arm a squeeze and jealous flared in him but he said "I'm doing good. What have you been up too lately?"
Brandon could tell that even talking to Dylan was causing his sister some distress and he wanted to intervene but he was sure how too but thankfully Donna stepped in and said "How long are you in town for Brenda?"
Dylan finally broke eye contact with Brenda and looked down at the floor but his head snapped back up when Brenda said in a quiet voice "Actually Donna I'm back in town for good. Charles and I will be house hunting tomorrow and we will be joined by Josh and Mindy later this week."
Everyone gasped and Brandon turned towards his sister. "Why didn't you tell me you were moving here? And who is Josh and Mindy?"
Brenda leaned her head back so that she could look up at Charles and he nodded at her and bent his head to give her a quick kiss giving her the courage she needed. "Josh is a friend of ours and Mindy is your niece, Brandon."
Once again everyone gasped and Brandon said "I have a niece? How old is she?"
Brenda smiled at the thought of her daughter and all the tension left her body. "Actually she'll be four in six days. I'm just glad she'll be out here before her birthday."
Donna jumped up and down and said "We'll have to have a party to welcome you back and for Mindy's birthday Brenda. That will also give you the chance to meet Janet, Steve's wife he couldn't be here tonight because their daughter is sick."
Brenda swallowed and forced a smile and said "That would be nice Donna."
Donna squealed a little and then a song started playing that made the pain in Brenda's chest unbearable and Brandon noticed and said "If you all will excuse us I think I should get the first dance with Brenda. No offense Charles I know she came with you but I haven't seen her in years."
Charles smiled and handed Brenda over to Brandon and said "No offense taken. I'll dance with her in a little bit. After all I get her all the time."
Brandon smiled and slapped a hand on Charles's shoulder and then led his sister away from their group of friends and out onto the dance floor.
