I am going to be working on my other stories so I decided to give you some secrets in this chapter instead of gragging them out. You're welcome lol No but i tend to update all my fics so I wanted to leave you with a good one to hold you over. Enjoy!

Chapter 3 The Past Comes Out

Brenda hurried through her front door coffee cup in hand, "I'm coming." she mumbled dropping her things to the ground and hurrying to the phone.

"Hey this is Brenda…" Brenda grabbed the phone as the answering machine kicked off.

"Hello." She said rushed.

"Hey…bad time?" Valerie voice seemed distant.

"Val…hey…no I just walked in the door." Brenda took off her coat, "What's up?"

"Are you sitting?" Valerie was rarely serious.

Brenda made a face, "Should I be?" Brenda was kind of nervous with that introduction.

"Yes…most definitely you should be sitting, maybe lying down."

Brenda laughed, "Oh give me a break, I am sitting what?" Brenda flopped down on her couch, bringing her legs under her.

"I don't know how to tell you this, and I have been putting it off for 2 weeks." Valerie sighed and sat quiet.

Brenda was a little freaked out; Valerie was always vocal about everything. "Ok…want me to guess? Hmmm this big of a deal where you…are at a loss for words…You're pregnant?"

"Bite your tongue." Valerie snapped back.

Brenda laughed, "You're getting married?" Brenda joked.

"No...that may be worse than being pregnant." Valerie laughed as her nerves calmed, she got serious again.

"Oh come on Val…nothing you can tell me can be worse than finding out Dylan and Kelly are getting married…unless I had brain cancer or something…that would suck."

"You know already…that was what I was going to tell you, I got the ugly ass invitation a couple weeks ago. Who told you and." Valerie started laughing, " I'm laughing right now at the fact you just compared Kelly and Dylan getting married to brain cancer?"

Brenda sadly laughed, "Well…I might compare them as a couple to constipation or the runs…you know, painful and annoying as hell but them getting married…was a serious shock." Brenda sat quiet for several moments. "They invited me."

"Shut up…are you serious? Dylan might have just received the biggest asshole award of the century. Are you going to go?"

"No…why so I can see her have what I was suppose to have…no thanks. I was forced to watch them when we were in high school; now I have a choice…its just…I knew they were back together…I just didn't think it...him and her…never mind." Brenda looked down.

"You just didn't think it would ever be that serious? That he would move into marriage with someone else? Or maybe you were just hoping you were wrong back then?" Valerie said sadly.

Brenda sighed loudly, she shook her head, "You know…I have known Dylan for a long time. He must have really reconnected with her for him to take this step. I think its safe to admit he is over me huh…I just wish I could say the same thing."

"Bren." Valerie breathed out feeling badly. "Are you going to be ok?

Brenda wiped her cheek quickly, "Of course I am going to be ok." Brenda said so matter of fact she almost believed it. "I wonder what her ring looks like?" Brenda looked down.

"I am sure not as pretty as yours." Valerie took a deep breath, "I wonder how he proposed?"

"I am sure it was…disgustingly romantic…that's Dylan for you."

"Uh stop you're making me nauseous, and Bren…Dylan wasn't romantic when it came to anyone but you."

Brenda sniffed and let out a laugh, "Yeah…so…are you going to go?"

Valerie sighed into the phone, "I don't know…I doubt it, not without you anyway. What can I say Bren? I guess we will always be the outcasts."

"I guess so." she said softly, "Anyway I gotta go, I have rehearsal in an hour but on the bright side I will be going on tour so at least I can keep busy. I think I will be in New York in a month. Come down and meet me?"

"Absolutely…I'll call you later."

"K…bye Val."

"Bye Bren."

Brenda hung up the phone and took a deep breath. Thank god for Valerie, she was the only person from the so called gang who had kept in touch with her well besides Brandon of course. It was funny that they weren't part of the gang at the same time. Brenda couldn't be mad though, she hadn't tried to keep in touch with them either. After Valerie left Beverly Hills, they ran into each other in New York city. Valerie was trying to adjust without Beverly Hills and Brenda was touring, the same tour in which Dylan had planned to come with her. They had spent a week catching up and Brenda finally opened up about what had just happened between her and Dylan. They had been good friends ever since and tried to visit each other as much as possible. They never talked about the past, the past with Dylan and Valerie, or anything to that nature because at that time Dylan was the last person Brenda wanted to talk about but Valerie had proved to be a good friend despite it and she gave her support when Brenda needed it the most.

Brenda set the phone on the hook and walked into her bedroom. She stood in front of her dresser and looked at her reflection. She was hiding her pain well but Brenda could see the redness in her eyes, the puffiness in her cheeks and the overall sense of heartbreak all around her. Brenda sadly took her earrings off and opened up her jewelry box setting them in the red velvet lined box. She saw her ring and picked it up, bringing it closer to her. She loved it so much, it was a shame she had to keep it hiding in a box. It was a beautiful marquis, about a carat but Brenda didn't care about that. It had 3 smaller princess cut diamonds on both sides of the center stone that was raised high off the band. She placed it on her ring finger looking down at it. She sadly looked up thinking back.

Brenda made her way into her and Dylan's flat. She set down a couple grocery bags on the kitchen counter, "Dylan…baby…I am home." she called out taking off her coat. She opened up the refrigerator grabbing a bottled water walking over to the answering machine and hitting play. She had to be on a flight to Corsica in three hours and she still hadn't finished packing. Now that Brandon and Kelly weren't coming Dylan was going to meet her in a week before their next venture. She walked over to the bags and started unpacking the groceries as she listened.

BEEP "Hi Brenda and of course you too Dylan…I got your message about having something important to tell us. I hate that we keep missing each other. Anyway call your father and I back when you guys have a chance. We love you both…bye." BEEP

Brenda smirked as she turned and set things into her refrigerator.

BEEP "This is a collect call from Erica McKay, is anyone there to accept the charges?" BEEP Brenda turned towards the answering machine and thought it was odd but shrugged and continued to listen.

BEEP "Dylan and Brenda…I hope I am not interrupting anything…just thought I would call and let you know that Erica's graduation was lovely and she graduated with honors. Which I am assuming had some of your influence Brenda. Anyway I was really disappointed you guys couldn't come out for it, I know Brenda will be touring and I think its sweet Dylan you didn't want to leave her alone. So you guys are off the hook this time. Anyway call me when you can, I love you both…Oh and Brenda…your planets need aligning, don't make any rash decisions today. Ok bye you two." BEEP

Brenda had slowly moved toward the answering machine stunned, she pressed play again and listened to Iris. A million things began running through her head as she realized Dylan hadn't gone to Erica's graduation. Well he wasn't home so where exactly had Dylan gone those 4 days Brenda thought he was in Hawaii?

Brenda sat on their oversized chair in the dim lighting of their living room. She clenched the Kleenex in her hand as she heard Dylan unlock the front door and make his way in. As Dylan tossed his keys on the table he looked up and saw her. She just stared at him, there were two suitcases sitting next to the door.

"Hey." he said with a smile moving closer to her. He noticed the used the Kleenex spread around, her eyes were puffy and red. Her make up was a little smeared. "Bren…what's wrong?" Dylan began to move towards to comfort her as Brenda stood up putting her hand up and walked away.

She stood in front of the answering machine, she hit play and turned quickly as she stared at him. The sound of Iris played through their apartment. And Dylan quickly looked down. "I can explain." he said softly.

Brenda shook her head angrily, her body was furious but her heart and her head were sad. "You went to L.A…to the wedding…or non wedding." Brenda's voice cracked with tears. "You lied to me."

Dylan took a deep breath, "I know and I am sorry…I"

Brenda interrupted, "Why?" she raised her voice.

"I don't know." he shook his head.

Brenda smirked as tears poured down her face, "You don't know. Do you know what it was like hearing that message…and then having Erica tell me where you really were. What Dylan? You're still in love with Kelly? Were you the reason they called off the wedding? Were you ever going to tell me?

Dylan shook his head, "I didn't know how. And I know it looks bad but its not what you think."

"It's not…you just decided to hop on a plane and lie to your future wife…"

"Bren…listen to me." Dylan moved a couple steps towards her as moved back crossing her arms.

"Listen to what…you havent tried to explain anything." Brenda yelled and Dylan was taken back. Him and Brenda had their share of arguments and disagreements but the tone and volume in her voice he hadn't ever heard out of her before. "When I told you Brandon and Kelly didn't get married, you knew?" she shrugged as her tone droped at the end.

"No…I went to the wedding…I didn't stay…" Dylan looked down.

"Why?" she said frustrated.

Dylan shook his head and took a deep breath, "Because…I decided I didn't want to be there."

"Cut the shit Dylan…after everything I have done for you, after everything we have been through…be honest with me, I deserve at least that much." Brenda kept her stare as she felt herself begin to shake from the anger.

Dylan sighed, "I realized I didn't want to watch Kelly marry Brandon…so I went down to Baja for a couple days and then…came home."

"I don't believe this." Brenda let her tears free as she looked down.

Dylan walked to her, this time Brenda didn't back away, he looked down at her, "I came home to you."

Brenda closed her eyes and let out a smart-alecky laugh, "Fuck you Dylan." she said softly looking him dead in the eye. He stood speechless, his face filled with regret, sadness, guilt. She moved around him and headed for the door. "I got to go, I have a plane to catch." she said monotone.

Dylan turned around, "We'll take some time, I will meet you in Corsica in a week?"

Brenda stopped after picking up her bags and stared at the front door. She dropped her bags to the floor and turned around. Her stare was cold, her tears were falling, "Don't be here when I get back."

Dylan's face fell, "What do you mean?" he said hurt.

Brenda wrapped her fingers around her ring and slid it off, she set it gently on the table near the front door, "I am done." she shook her head looking at him one last time and turning to pick up her bags again.

Dylan stood there and watched her open the door. "I am not going anywhere, I am not letting you go, I am sorry I was confused but I know now, I want you. I'll be here when you get back."

Brenda shook her head facing the hallway, without turning around she carried her bags out the door and left.

Brenda shook her head to get the memory out of her head. She put the ring back in the box and closed the top. She wanted to hate him, for coming to London, for making her open her heart to him again, making her trust him again. Then for proposing to her, but she couldn't. Brenda tried to pull herself together, she had rehearsal and she welcomed the few hours of interruption. At least she knew for those few hours her thoughts of a Dylan McKay would be minimal.

**

Dylan took a deep breath, when he had come back to Beverly Hills he at first had no intention of going after Kelly. People were asking a lot of questions about where he had been and about Brenda. He was trying to move on from her at her request and after seeing Kelly and the fact that Brandon and her didn't get married he figured maybe all along him and Kelly were suppose to end up together. He had spent two of the 3 years in Beverly Hills trying to get her back with no luck. He had thought about leaving and running back to Brenda more than a handful of times, when he was battling drugs, when it seemed he may have been in L.A. for no reason but never did because he for one didn't know how to change the past and two he didn't think she would forgive him, and honestly Dylan knew he couldn't take the rejection. Kelly had rejected him numerous times but thinking about Brenda doing the same thing was different. Dylan would give anything to take back what he did, lying to her, being confused and most of all, leaving. While Brenda was on tour, Dylan kept his word at first. He wasn't going to move out and he figured if anything the space would cause Brenda to calm down and then Dylan would do whatever it took for her to forgive him. Then as the time went on, Brenda hadn't tried to reach him, he left messages at the hotels, nothing. So Dylan did what he thought she wanted he left.

Kelly looked over to the couch at Dylan as she sat at the kitchen table with Donna.

"Hey Dylan…should we just put Iris at the same table as my mom…or my dad?"

"Dylan…hello." Kelly said frustrated looking that he wasn't looking up from his magazine.

Dylan thought he heard something, he looked up to find Kelly and Donna staring at him. "Huh…did you say something?"

"You haven't heard a word I have said…what's wrong with you?"

"Sorry…what was the question?" Dylan exhaled closing his magazine.

Kelly rolled her eyes and looked at Donna, "See what I mean." Donna looked down , "I said where should we sit your mom? With my mom?" Kelly shrugged holding index cards.

Dylan shrugged, "Why don't you sit her with the Walsh's…she knows them, she'd probably be more comfortable there."

"The Walsh's?" Kelly said it like Dylan just told her he had cheated on her. "Cause she wouldn't be comfortable with my mom?" Kelly barked.

Dylan spoke calmly, "No…she doesn't know your mom." he had a hint of frustration behind it.

"They will meet soon enough considering she is flying in next week and besides Dylan…the Walsh's table isn't a family table."

"Alright…whatever it doesn't matter." he held up his hands and looked down opening his magazine.

"Dylan do you care about this wedding at all? I mean…ever since we decided to move forward and the planning started you have been really distant."

Donna looked back and forth between Kelly and Dylan. "Hey Kel, sorry…I have to get going, its my turn to make dinner tonight and David is probably wondering where I am, I'll call you tomorrow. Donna got up grabbing her jacket. She opened the back door and looked at Dylan, "See ya Dylan."

"Yeah…bye Donna." Dylan said softly knowing the only reason she was leaving was because she was uncomfortable. As Donna closed the back door behind her he looked at Kelly and just stared at her.

Kelly looked down, "Look Dylan…you're the one who wanted me back…you are the one who wanted me to commit to me. I didn't want to trust you again and I did because I love you. Was I wrong to let you back in?" Kelly instead of the usual flared nostrils, angry look, gave him a somber one.

Dylan took a deep breath, "No…you weren't wrong. I am sorry, I just have a lot on my mind. Sit my mom with your mom, she'll be fine."

Kelly sadly nodded and went back to the seating charts and Dylan looked up at the ceiling taking a big breath. He was having second thoughts, for the first time since they had been engaged, he actually said the words in his head not that he was ever that positive about it.

Dylan lay next to Kelly, things were going well. They had easily moved into being a couple again and they hadn't any huge arguments which said a lot for Dylan and Kelly. Kelly lifted her head off his chest and looked at him. He smiled at her nicely and ran his hand down her back.

"I love you." Kelly said for the first time to him maybe ever.

Dylan pursed his lips together and gave her a nod, he swallowed hard, "Me too." he said sincerely. He hadn't said it in so long and Dylan was well aware he had never said it to Kelly. He showed her in different ways and said it in different context but those three little words had never made it out of his mouth towards her. He thought about Brenda, how easy it was to tell her right from the start. Then he got angry with himself for thinking of her.

Kelly sat up bringing the covers with her and leaned against the pillows, she looked down as she nervously played with the comforter, "I want to get married Dylan…sometime…and we have been back together for a little while and you haven't asked…" Kelly looked over at him, "Why haven't you asked?"

Dylan bit his lip and shrugged, "I don't know…things are just going so well…"

"You don't want to?" she asked sadly, "Cause I thought…I mean that was the impression I got from us being us again and Donna and David's wedding…never mind…sorry I brought it up." Kelly began rambling.

Dylan took a deep breath looking up at the ceiling, "No…don't be sorry, I want to marry you." Dylan thought of something…anything to end this conversation. Its not that he didn't want to, when he was trying to get her back he was serious…he wasn't sure when though.

Kelly sat up and smiled, "Really?" he eyes gleamed.

Dylan looked over at her and gave her nod and a small smile.

Then Dylan's mind went to a month later, again they were lying in bed and the subject came up again.

As Dylan began to kiss down her neck thinking maybe round too was in order Kelly kissed him and looked into his eyes, "Dylan…let's do it." she said softly.

Dylan's eyebrows raised, "You don't have to ask me twice." Dylan said in his usual sexy tone.

Kelly giggled, "No…let's get married."

Dylan's smile faded, "Kel…" he hesitated.

Kelly moved away from him shook her head. "I knew it…I knew I was wasting my time with you." she started to get up.

"Where are you going?" Dylan sat up.

"This isn't going to work." she pointed back and forth between them, "I cant be with you if you wont commit to me." Kelly began to get dressed. "I am done."

The words echoed in Dylan's head, hearing them 2 years earlier from Brenda. Dylan couldn't lose both of them. He got up, throwing his boxers on and took his hands to the top of Kelly's arms. "Wait." he stopped her from leaving.

"Wait what?" Kelly shook her head sadly.

"Ok…let's do it." Dylan said it out loud and after a swallow he gave her a smile.

A small smile spread across her face and just like that they were engaged.

Dylan looked at Kelly hard at work as he got up walking past her and into the bedroom. He closed the door and walked over sitting on the edge of the bed. He reached for the phone and gripped it. He pressed talk and began dialing the interntional code and phone number. He slowly brought the phone to his ear and after a second or two it began to ring. He nervously ran his hand down his thigh and waited.

"Hello." Brenda answered.

Soooooooooo way different proposal wasn't it? What are you thinking? I apologize for the K/D stuff, I tried to make it as painless as possible. REVIEW! Its about to get more interesting. hehe