Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I do not own Beverly Hills 90210, Kelly Taylor, Dylan McKay or any other characters mentioned. I only really own the plot idea since we were never shown the extent of it on the show.

AN: WOW it's been a long while since I last updated. I've been busy with finals and honestly I didn't really think there were a lot of people reading this still, but there are a dedicated few of you that really make my day and like what I write so this story really is for you and your enjoyment. Don't forget to review!

It was late in the evening by the time they got back to Dylan's place. They had saw a lot, ate a lot and now they were all winding down.

They knew they had to get back when Sammy kept falling asleep during dinner. And he had insisted on staying up late in order to spend time with Dylan.

"Come on little man." Dylan huffed as he carried Sammy on his back, the latter was almost fully knocked out now. The only reply he got was little mumbles of protest. But that wasn't enough to encourage staying up late. That would be one more thing for Kelly to hold against him and the how he choose to parent. And the last thing he needed was another strike hanging over his head.

Kelly and Dylan stared at Sam's sleeping form almost ten minutes later. Kelly had came in to tuck him in, but Dylan didn't have the heart to leave the sight in front of him. So it was settled, he would stay, at least until Kelly left as well.

"God I missed him. I can't believe how big he's gotten. " He spoke softly, running a hand through his son's curly blonde hair.

Kelly visible stiffened at his words. Even those few words had such an impact on her. She narrowed her eyes, keeping focus on watching her son sleep. "Children grow Dylan. It's been months, no wait years more like it, since you even made an effort to see him. These things happen."

"I missed you too Kel. I just needed some time." He offered a shrug, and as Kelly grew more frustrated with his answers, she slowly moved out of the room, trying not to wake up Sammy.

Dylan reluctantly followed her out into the hallway, shutting the door behind them, dreading the conversation they were about to have. It was long overdue sure, but that didn't mean he still didn't want to hold it off for as long as he possibly could.

"Time?" She angrily whispered with an eye-roll of pure annoyance. "You needed time? For what?" The heat of her glare was evident, but Dylan wasn't backing down.

"I needed to put everything into perspective." His reply came slowly, but with no hesitation.

"And did you? Did you find the perspective you were looking for?" She shot back.

"I thought I needed to be away. I thought me trying to be a father, I would screw it up and it wouldn't work out. You would be better off. And I could escape for a while but it didn't work. Nothing worked."

"What do you expect me to say to that? Do you want me to feel sorry for you that your plan to abandon your son didn't work out as well as you planned?"

"That's not what I meant."

"Well that's how it sounds. And honestly it just makes me hate you even more." She huffed, crossing her arms around her chest.

"You don't hate me." He said stubbornly, sure of at least that much. She didn't hate him, not even close. They had been through too much together. She was bluffing. She had to be, right?

"Yes I do." Her voice was cracking through the masked anger. She was cracking. "Do you know how many nights I spent alone when you left? How many nights I cried over you? How many times I had to hear Sammy ask 'where's daddy, when's daddy coming back?' "

Her voice raised with every word, she didn't want to shout but he just brought this side of her out. " I hate that you left Sam and I alone. And I hate that you can act so casual about this. I hate that you feel you can just walk in and out of our lives whenever you feel like it." Tears were gathering in the corner of her eyes, damn her emotions, and it didn't go unnoticed by Dylan who's tone dropped down to a soft, soothing whisper.

"But you don't hate me."

She looked deep in thought, trying to process everything, and Dylan standing there so close to her wasn't helping anything. It was getting harder to breathe with him around.

"One more box to go!" Kelly's cheerful proclamation could be heard all over the neighborhood.

Dylan groaned from behind her, having to be the one to carry the boxes from the car and into the house.

"When are you going to do some of the heavy lifting around here?" He asked in a mocking, light tone.

"But honey, that's what I have you for." She teased back with a wink, patting him on the back.

"So what are you good for then?" He asked, raising an eyebrow at her statement.

"Cooking, cleaning, loving, all things expected of a woman."

"Tell me more Miss Taylor. you could teach me a thing or two in your areas of expertise."

"Really?"

"Absolutely, you can teach me how to cook as badly as you." He cracked a smile, chuckling to himself at the shocked expression forming on her face.

"I hate you sometimes." Her glare was timid at best.

"You love me." His hands easily snaked around her waist, pulling her towards him with a grin.

"Guilty." She pouted slightly, admitting defeat rather quickly.

"Or maybe," He smirked leaning down to capture her lips for a quick kiss. "we can just work on the loving part." He grinned up at her before kissing her once more, not being able to stop from smiling like an idiot.

"I think that can be arranged." Their foreheads touched momentarily before Kelly bursted out laughing as he picked her up in his arms, unpacking the boxes be dammed, and carried her to his favorite room of their new living quarters. their room.

"Kel." Her name was barley audible through his lips, but it was so gentle and soothing, it must have set something off in Kelly because now tears were actually falling from her face. Pent up emotions were finally coming to surface after months, years of holding them all in.

"I could never..." She finally made eye contact with him, direct eye contact, through glassy eyes and tear-stained cheeks.

He finally exhaled at that admission and before he even realized what he was actually doing he had grabbed her wrist, forcing her to face him, as he pulled her into his arms, wrapping them around her so tightly he was afraid she might break.

She was always the strong one. After everything that had happened to her, she had been through hell and back, and it broke his heart. And now there he was adding to the pain even more.

It seemed like forever. And they just stayed that way for a while. He just held her in his arms as she cried.

He could at least manage to do that much without screwing it up.

The next day Kelly woke up not even remembering half of the day before. She glanced around at her settings and then knew she wasn't at home, she was still at Dylan's ranch house in Wyoming.

She rubbed her eyes before finally getting out of bed. Dylan's bed.

The sight she saw before her eyes almost had her stop in her tracks. Sammy was standing on a chair next to the stove, helping Dylan cook breakfast.

She was thankful her son didn't have a very large attention span. He was only able to remember the good things about his dad. And maybe that's what was best for him. For them. At least for right now. They got along. And she and Dylan were civil. And that was really all she would ask her at the moment.

"What's going on here?" Kelly asked with furred eyebrows.

"We're making breakfast mommy!" Sammy's cheerful response could be heard practically echoing throughout the house.

"I-I can see that." She hesitantly shot them both a small smile. "It looks real yummy."

"Have a seat Kel." Dylan suggested as he set a plate down on the table, then another, then another.

Eggs and toast were served. And sure Kelly cooked for Sammy often but it had been a long time since they had any breakfast not consisting of cereal or something quick in the morning before school started for either of them.

"Almost like a picture perfect family sitting down together huh Kel?" Dylan stated, glancing between Kelly and Sammy, who had sat in the seat between them, with a questioning glance. He almost dared Kelly to deny it, right in front of their son.

"Almost." Was the only reply he got from her. But the longingly stare he caught, and just as easily returned, finished the job for him.

It was a start.