"Where you at?" David asked Kelly, referring to the novel in her hand
"High school chapters" she replied
"What made you read it?" David asked
"Your wife," Kelly grinned
"Is she being bossy again?" David joked
"She just... hit the nail on the head."
"Smart girl" David sat beside Kelly on the couch, "So... what do you think?"
"Well... it's beautiful, but there's so much in here he hasn't ever said to me." Kelly bit her lip
"Well not many people can get a word in with you" David playfully nudged her, "Seriously, though... sometimes it's a lot easier to write something down to yourself than share it... even with those you love the most. Like me for instance, I never show Donna a new track until it's complete... an artist needs to be ready before showing their work."
"But this was vital stuff that could have helped our relationship"
"Would you have listened even if he had talked?" David asked, and Kelly shrugged.
Dylan's House
"I will miss you very much, sweetheart" Iris said giving her grandson a giant hug, "You see this?" She held the necklace he was wearing, the one with his birthstone, "This is for good luck, good health and happiness." She kissed his forehead before turning to Dylan "And you..."
"Yes, Iris" Dylan said with a monotonous tone
"To you a man makes his own luck, doesn't he?"
"True."
"So get started" Iris pleaded. She hugged her son and headed for the door.
David and Donna's apartment
Kelly sat on the porch outside the apartment, with a glass of wine and the novel. She hated reading it honestly. She wanted to put it down but she couldn't. Before she never wanted to read it because she was scared of her fears becoming true, but now, knowing that Donna was write and SHE was the culprit, knowing that her fears destroyed the relationship, that she could have single-handedly put Jack through what she went through just because of a fear, she couldn't live that down. And what was even worse, reading Dylan's accurate description of her trust issues and intimacy issues.
-Flashback -Soulmates
"That morning when I called you on the boat... All I wanted to do, was hear your voice." Kelly said, sat on the swing, tears streaming down her face
"You still want to?" Dylan asked, and she nodded. He walked towards her, and her arms wrapped around him naturally as soon as he arrived. She could know cry, comforted and safe in his arms. He kissed her the top of her head and held her close.
"Kel..." Dylan said once she had stopped crying "You are beautiful... but that's not why I love you... and that's not why your mother loves you either. Talk to her?" Kelly nodded and he pulled her up and they headed to his car.
"Ready?" Dylan asked as he parked infront of the Taylor house
"Yeah..."
"Call me later?"
"I will." She said quietly "Thank you for being there."
"I'm not going anywhere." Dylan kissed her forehead before she left the car. He watched her walk into the house.
-End of Flashback-
Kelly thought about that memory, remembering the day all too well, but hearing Dylan describe it as magically as she remembered it was overwhelming. Her thoughts were interrupted by the door knocking. She opened it to find Jack and Dylan in front of her.
"Mummy!" Jack hugged his mother
"Glad it's back to mummy and not Kel." Kelly teased, "Had a good weekend with grandma Iris?" she asked and he nodded
"Look what she got me!" Jack said, holding out the necklace for his mother to see
"Wow, it's beautiful!" Kelly kissed her son's head. "Show it to uncle David."
"Liking it?" Dylan said once Jack ran out of the room, noticing his book was lying open, and upside down on the table.
"It's interesting..." Kelly said, she couldn't help but smile
"hmm" Dylan couldn't contain his smile either
"Wanna come in?" She asked. He followed her into the living room as they sat on the couch.
"So" he asked. He watched her as she sat there quietly, she seemed somewhat nervous
"What?" She groaned, she hated him staring
"You gotta give me something better than interesting... I value your opinon." Dylan said, knowing those last words had a real effect on her.
"You know it's good, Dylan... everyone's told you." Kelly mumbled
"I'm not asking if it's good, I'm asking how it made you feel" He said, moving a little closer to her on the couch.
"It's... Well, sometimes it's beautiful and romantic and sometimes it's... torture." Dylan laughed at her comment
"That describes us well, Kel." He smirked
"This is torture!" She gestured to his smirking and staring
"You nervous around me now, Kel?" He teased
"You know when people invite you into their home, you're supposed to be polite, not harass the host."
"Sorry" He chuckled, raising his hands in the air, initiating a surrender. "It's actually refreshing to see you speechless for a change."
"I'm still gathering my thoughts." She glared at him. Jack ran back into the room and jumped on his father's knee.
"Daddy said I have holidays from school soon." Jack said to his mother
"Yeah, uhm.. thanksgiving." Kelly replied
"Santa Ana winds will be blowing by then." Dylan said to his son, but winking at Kelly, which made her even more uncomfortable.
"Yay!" Jack squealed, "Does that mean you'll teach me surfing?"
"Sure!"
"Dylan!" Kelly said sternly "that's a little dangerous don't you think?"
"He'll be fine, Kel, chill."
"Daddy got me a surf board! But he said to leave it at home."
"You mean at daddy's home?" Kelly asked
"Yeah home." Jack said, before running to his room.
"he still thinks your home is HOME." Kelly whispered
"Well, can you blame him, he shouldn't have moved out in the first place."
"Because it's all my fault?"
"Well... you left."
"You know what... I'm not doing this. We are not going to fight."
"Kel... if we are ever going to talk about all of this, you are going to have to admit that this time you were wrong. I admitted to all my shortcomings in that book. You have to admit yours in order for this to work."
"You think I'll come back to you if I finish the book?"
"I know you will."
"Dylan, don't be like that."
"I'm committed, to you, to Jack. I'm not running. You pushed me away and I'm still not running. I'm here for the long haul. Trust me. This is it..." Dylan kissed her forehead and got up "Say good night to Jack for me." And he left.
1 week later
Peach Pit After Dark
"Jackie has Jack." Kelly said, sipping on a vodka cranberry. "God, I have so needed a night out like this."
"I agree... feels good to be all dressed up, heels, make up. No stress." Donna and Kelly cheered their drinks
"David's music sounds good." Kelly said and Donna looked at her surprised
"You must be drunk." Donna joked,
"No I'm serious," Kelly chuckled, "I actually like it."
"Where's Dylan tonight?" Donna asked
"Haven't spoken to him... By the way Donna... there is something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Yeah?"
"It's about the store."
"What is it?"
"I think... I think I need to take a step back."
"Oh... you're leaving the store?"
"I need to find something for myself, you know. I need some motivation."
"I understand... I'll miss you though... you were a perfect business partner"
"I'm always here if you need me" Kelly reassured
"Do you know what you wanna do?" Donna asked
"No idea."
"Classic Kelly Taylor" Donna joked
David's DJ stand
"What if she doesn't wanna come back?" Dylan said, trying to yell over the music
"Oh Dylan, this is so not the time, man." David sighed
"Don't you think she'd realise by now that there was nothing to worry about and it was all in her head?" Dylan continued
"Give her some space, Dylan.. you of all people know you need space to make an informed decision."
"Yeah, I guess you're right... Should I go see her?"
"Yes, so I can play my set... No if you're going to talk to her about this."
"Yes it is then." Dylan walked down the few steps and headed over to the girls
"Looking fine, ladies" Dylan said
"Thank you Dylan" Donna smiled sweetly
"How you doing, Kel?" He asked, his eyes sparkled, she knew he was looking her up and down and enjoying the view.
"I'm fine."
"Wanna dance with me?" He asked, Kelly looked at Donna and Donna nodded in his direction. Kelly got up as he led her to the dance floor.
His arms were wrapped around her waist.
"Wanna spend the night at mine?" Dylan asked
"You waste no time." Kelly laughed
"Well, you look like THAT. Jack's at your mother's. You're reading my book. You're the girl in my book."
"And that means I should spend the night with you."
"Yup."
"I don't know, Dylan."
"I keep thinking about the last time you were in my bed."
"Well, don't think about it." She rolled her eyes and he laughed
"I'll make you a deal... I won't push you to discuss our future, I won't even push you to discuss our issues. I'll give you all the time you need. But have some fun with me while I wait?" He smirked at her
"I wonder whose maturity levels are higher, you... or Jack?" She teased
"Hey, it's not like we can get MORE complicated."
"How about we dance now, you buy me a couple of drinks and I'll answer you at the end of the night?"
"Deal." He grinned. She laid her head on his shoulder
-Flashback -SpringFling
"You alright, Sanders?" Dylan asked as Steve watched Kelly dancing with Brandon.
"Yeah.. I guess. Little miss springfling queen made it clear we are officially over."
"Sorry, man." Dylan said, as they both watched her dance
"I used to always know what she was thinking, now I have no idea" Steve shook his head
"Well, Kelly's a mystery... we were so close and then... nothing." Dylan uttered
"She just.. she keeps you hanging on... then once you're hooked, she breaks your heart."
"Yeah she does." Dylan replied, almost in a whisper
-End of Flashback
Dylan quickly shook off his thoughts, determined to remain hopeful.