Chapter 20 We Accept the Gift of Affinity

Brenda stared at herself in the mirror, anxiety running wildly through her veins. Her heart was beating a mile a minute and she wasn't even sure why. Dylan was due to pick her up, and now that she was standing here, all done up, her mind was telling her heart how stupid it was. Tomorrow evening Brenda was going to be back on a plane, back to the far away world that now held the pains of her past, unlike before when it was an escape from Los Angeles. Brenda had come here to do a play, she had planned on staying out of sight, to get through the week and go back without a second thought. Now this week had been a whirlwind of drama, heart ache, joy and love. Dylan and Kelly were not getting married. Brenda had been sexual with him, reconnected with him and she even had made peace if that's all it was going to be with Kelly, what a strange week it had been. A light knock tapped on her front door and she exhaled looking at herself one last time in the mirror. The night ahead felt major for some reason and she knew Dylan and herself for that matter had just wanted to spend time together. So why did it feel like what happened tonight, would change her life forever. She moved her lips, spreading her lipstick around one last time before she made her way to the door. She opened it gently, there with his hands in his pockets, his customary smirk, head tilted to the side, eyes burning hers…was Dylan. She smiled at him as she breathed out taking him in. His eyes ran down her frame slowly and he shook his head.

"You're trying to kill me Bren." he said softly.

Her look questioning, "How so?"

His eyes widened as he leaned forward a little, "You look incredible." his soft lips gently hit her cheek. His face in front of hers, closer now, "And I can't tell you what else I'm thinking because it's very very inappropriate, I'll save my dirty mind for later." he grinned, a tinge of humor being his words.

She laughed and swatted at him. "You ready beautiful?" Dylan held her arm out, Brenda nodded shyly feeling confident and sexy, something Dylan was very good at making her feel and linked her arm with his.

"Lead the way…oh and Dylan." He looked down at her, "A dirty mind is a terrible thing to waste." his smile grew as he nodded his head leading her to the elevator.

They made small talk in the car and laughed. They flirted but kept it innocent, the suspense to where they were going was killing Brenda and after holding it in for long enough she asked.

"So…where are we going?" she looked over at him from the passenger side. His eyes met hers quickly then landed back on the road in front of him again.

"Well…Miss Walsh, you haven't changed a bit…still impatient as ever." Dylan joked.

Brenda laughed, it was true, "Well you haven't changed much either, you still clean up rather well and you still love to torture me."

Dylan smirked as he stopped at a red light, he looked over at her intensely, "Well you know what they say, the more things change the more they stay the same." He leaned in and kissed her. A gentle harmless kiss. "Sorry…I had too." his face close to hers.

Brenda playfully shrugged, "When in Rome." Dylan laughed out loud, there being hidden meaning she didn't understand yet, as the light turned green and he proceeded to their destination.

He moved into the parking lot and Brenda knew exactly where they were, her smile faded and she exhaled. She didn't want to come here. She didn't think she was ready to face the people here and deep in her heart she hoped they would be alone together. She looked down as he pulled in and parked the car.

"Dylan…I don't know if coming here is a good idea." she said hesitantly as she looked up at the After Dark sign.

Dylan looked over at her, "I know…but it's not what you think, trust me." he winked at her and got out of his car. She took a deep breath and reached for the handle to the door, it swung open, Dylan opening her door for her. She smiled, he still was a gentleman. He gently brought his arm around her waist as he guided her towards the entrance. Maybe she would get lucky and it wouldn't be crowded, the parking lot hadn't looked busy, there were quite a bit of cars but it shared a parking lot with the Peach Pit, it didn't look as packed it did the last time she had been here., there was no line outside either It was eerily quiet too, she had remembered you could hear the music from inside the club from the outside. Dylan got out his key and opened the main door. Brenda looked at him surprised.

"Is it not open yet?"

He smiled as he leaned in and kissed her forehead, "You'll see." was all he said as he opened the door and allowed her to step inside.

She made her way through the front entry and walked into a dark empty club. She looked back at Dylan, he leaned against the door frame looking like he was up to no good. "What is all this? We have the club to ourselves?" Brenda's heart was beating wildly. They were going to be alone after all.

Dylan reached and flipped the light switch and as a million twinkly lights lit up the club she slowly turned and took in the sight in front of her. Dylan had again recreated the sights of Europe, places they had visited, when they were together. it was a regular occurrence to travel together, for fun, for touring, Brenda and Dylan had been to quite a few amazing places in their time in London. Brenda gasped as she took a few steps into the club further. To her left, was caffè in the Campo de' Fiori, Dylan and Brenda had frequented that cafe a number times in their trips to Rome, when in Rome, now she got it. It was quiet and romantic, they served the best cappuccino and you could see the ancient stone paved walkways from their favorite table. Next to it was Budapest, the back drop of the romantic charming city, where they walked hand and hand for hours, talking about their love and life together. Sweden was next, a small make due restaurant called Gondolen was recreated. Brenda smiled remembering Stockholm. Dylan had taken her to a romantic Valentines dinner there for their romantic weekend together, the place was perched 108 feet above the water. They had wanted each other so badly all through dinner, by the time they got in the elevator, with 15 other people to head down to the ground level. They had made a scene with their kissing but unknown to the people in the elevator. Dylan had gone to third base up her skirt and made Brenda come under his hand in a matter of minutes. Brenda flushed pink as she remembered the excitement of the public display of affection and the secrets they had kept in that elevator that night. She felt Dylan now behind her. His lips on her neck, his mouth gliding up the side of it, moving behind her ear.

Her eyes closed as she whispered, "Dylan."

"You like it?" he whispered back, keeping his closeness, his hot breath in her ear.

"It's incredible." she whispered her eyes opened as she moved towards the props and memories. Her breath came out in a gasp again as she finally laid eyes on the park. The Le Jardin du Luxembourg again…same scene, same location as the actual first reunion and proposal spot. Her finger tips went to her lips, she blinked as a hot tear ran down her cheek. He gently took her hand and lead her towards it. The gardens, set with beautiful colored tulips and other flowers, the fake trees hugging the surrounding display with white lights strung eloquently around the branches. The dark green park bench over looking the Palace back drop on the After Dark's dance floor. A picnic basket, a personal size bottle of champagne and one of cider, flutes and laying across the back of the bench, a bright red satin blind fold. Brenda shook her head and laughed. He remembered everything, every little detail.

"This is amazing Dylan…I'm speechless." She looked at him, so much fire and heat behind his eyes, "You are amazing." she said with so much sincerity she wasn't even sure it was enough for him to know just how incredible she felt at that moment. To see all of their places, places Brenda had yet to come back to because they held so much meaning, she couldn't return to them without him, and here they were all in one place.

Dylan led her to the bench, holding her hand tightly, "Since it would be pretty impossible to whisk you away to one of these spots in the time we have, I decided to bring our world here to us. I don't think there was a time I have been happier visiting these places with you. They hold a lot of happy memories for us. A time when it was just you and me and the places around us. It was our world Brenda…and I'd take you back to any of them in a heartbeat if you'd let me."

Sadness rushed Brenda overwhelmingly. She was leaving and before her tears threatened to over come the moment. Dylan had poured her a glass of champagne and a apple cider for himself. She took the flute from him, bringing it to her lips, a much needed sip of alcohol needed to calm her emotions. Dylan sat facing her titled sideways on the bench. His left hand held his glass, his right one wrapped around the back of the bench. He looked into her eyes, all she saw was warmth, tenderness and most importantly love.

He leaned into her their noses practically touching, he whispered, "And before she walked away, he whispered, just because the timing is off does not mean you and I are not destined to be. There's no end to our story Bren…not then, not now, not 20 years from now." he took Iris's words and said them. "I know tomorrow you plan to get on that plane to London but baby I'm not giving up on you. Will you dance with me?" With all the stuff to look at she hadn't even heard music. Now that she listened, the lovely romantic ballad of music sounded through the club.

She nodded unable to speak from the intensity of this moment. he kept his closeness but was a little farther from her face so they could look into each other's eyes. He took the flutes and set them down as he grasped her hand leading her to an open part of dance floor. Her arms encircled his neck tightly as his wound around her waist. He led her, swaying slowly with the music. Brenda took the minute to look above her, white lights twinkling everywhere, this moment was so perfect, there would never be another moment like this. Dylan face went to the side of hers. Her eyes closed with the feeling of home and completeness in his arms.

His mouth close to her ear now. He whispered the poem, "If I've wasted your time, I'm sorry my love…Thoughtless and careless…Oh I was young…like a ship in the night, I watched you pass by, I wish that I may, I wish that I might, Get back to you…The quickest I can…One if by sea or two if by land…Yea I'd cross the world to hold your hand…No wandering this time…I'd draw a straight line…As the crow flies." Dylan leaned out a little and looked deeply into her soul, he continued a new part she hadn't heard yet, "No more wrong turns, I've had it with Mistakes, misplaced second chances and this time, I'll try so much harder, I see what I've done to me and you…I'll chart a course thats straight to your heart…Follow the light from a northern most star." his nose came against hers again, "I'll love, I'll love like I didn't before…I'm here and I'm yours…'m yours." he whispered the last part, it was filled with emotion. Brenda's eyes closed feeling his forehead on hers. "Be mine Brenda. Let me love you again." he breathed against her lips. With the emotion in the air she felt him separate from her, she felt empty as she opened her eyes confused, Dylan wasn't in front of her holding her anymore, he was lower, he was on his knee holding out a ring. Her old ring that was suppose to be in her jewelry box back at her London apartment.

"Oh my god…Dylan." tears fell from her eyes. She was frozen, she wanted to gasp, she wanted to bring her hand to her mouth again but she couldn't move. "How did you…?" her voice barely audible.

"I love you Brenda. There is no other soul meant for mine. As the crow flies means a straight line, my heart is attached to yours in that line and no distance will ever break it. Marry me Brenda…now, next year…10 years from now. I'll spend the rest of my life making sure you know, it's you, its always been you. You are my first love…and whether we are together or apart, you'll be my last. I should have never left our apartment, I should have fought for us, I'm fighting for us now."

Brenda stood silent, the intensity of his words and stare, her eyes flickered to her ring. A ring she adored and wore often when she needed a good cry, a ring she looked at and admired. It symbolized her and him, a love so intense they both often didn't know how to handle it.

Her eyes met his again, searching hers for an answer. Her mind and heart were not at odds as she slowly went down to he knees so she was face to face with him. Her hand came to the back of his neck bringing him roughly into her. Their lips enclosed around each other. The kiss was needy and searing. Her tongue pushed gently into his mouth as her head tilted opposite his. They deepened the kiss, exploring their already knowing mouths.

Dylan pulled away breathlessly, his lips still a whisper on hers, "Say yes Bren…marry me?" he repeated.

Her hands cupped his face, "Yes…yes." she leaned in and kissed him again, she nodded her eyes closed and whispered yes again in between kisses. Just like the scene they had three years ago. Their eyes locked as they smiled at each other.

"I'll wait however long it takes but I'm not letting you get on that plane tomorrow, unless I'm on it with you."'

She shook her head, "I don't want to go yet and I don't want wait. We waited too long already."

Dylan smiled going in to take her lips with his again. She didn't have to be back in London until mid June, they'd get married here in LA, they could honeymoon and be back in London by June 15th easy. Brenda and Dylan had waited long enough, they didn't need anything big or extravagant. All they needed was family and close friends on a beach somewhere pledging their love for one another and finally grabbing hold of their affinity. Her past and present had come together, in a straight line…as the crow flies. Dylan once again put Brenda's ring where it belonged, on her left ring finger. They made love on the park bench, maybe not the most comfortable place they had done it but just like Stockholm they couldn't wait. Besides there was enough romance to last a lifetime all around them. As they moaned out in ecstasy coming hard against one another. Brenda straddling his lap, her dress pulled above her waist, his suit pants down around his ankles. Their hands tangled in each other's hair, there, surrounded by some of their favorite romantic places, under the stars of the twinkling lights they were one. He'd have plenty of time to worship her later, back at the hotel, for the rest of their lives. Right now, in a small club in Beverly Hills, surrounded by Europe, Brenda and Dylan's story began with no end in sight.

The End

Thank you all for reading. This story was started so long ago. I'm so happy to finally finish it. It has 50 follows and 252 reviews. I hope it was worth the wait. xoxox