Holy shit y'all...this is a much awaited update. It's freaking been a year at least! I hope you enjoy it. I'm working on my other stories too. Some old...some recent...it's a process. But how dare I take this long. As DK fans fill the 90210 page with their couple...HOW DARE I? Anyway...thanks for waiting...being patient and still caring. You guys know how much I appreciate you. So here you go. Enjoy!

Chapter 35

Thankful

February 6, 1992

Dear Diary,

It's like World War III at West Beverly, the students against the PTA. The superintendents find it inappropriate to have condoms available for kids in high school. The kids the opposite. Andrea is very into this issue and Brenda seems to be on her side, maybe not as passionate as her. I mean Andrea seems to be starting a little revolution. So how it started, with a sex survey…alright is was more a health survey but you hang out with Steve long enough his idiocy rubs off. So the sex survey was cancelled. Parents and school officials thought that talking to kids about sex would give them ideas. Which is ridiculous. I didn't take any sex survey and I thought about sex all the god damn time. So Andrea decided to go up in front of the school board and petition to have condoms available to the students of West Beverly. I like Andrea…I love Brenda how I feel about the issue isn't that relevant. I'm a supportive guy. Now would I want to take a sex survey hell no. My life is private, my sex life is even more private. And truthfully I'm a little embarrassed by my past to be honest. Especially how I treated girls now that I was actually having sex with someone I loved. I don't think condoms in school are necessary, I personally don't mind buying them in public. Actually lately I seem to be buying them in bulk BUT is it a good idea…probably. Many kids may feel embarrassed to buy them and if there was a safe place to get them, where no one looks at you funny then maybe more kids would use them. Kids are having sex, they just are. Brenda and I are having sex. We're comfortable in our relationship and that physical side of our love. It's not a daily occurrence we do it but it sure is often, really often. I carry two in my wallet at all times, Brenda carries one in her purse too. It's just habit and ever since our pregnancy scare we have been extremely careful. So I guess what I'm saying is if it helps even one kid not have an unwanted pregnancy, an STD then I'll support it. I guess in this circumstance I'm more a follower. I'll support, I'll participate but me Dylan McKay…will not lead the next sexual revolution. HAHA What's weird is…Andrea is? I don't even want to think about that. Speaking of sex…Brenda is here. I got a couple condoms with our names on them. Talk soon.

Dylan

Eliot smiles and shakes her head. Man what a difference twenty years makes. Condoms are accessible at West Beverly and have been since Eliot started there. She plops her dads book to her side and sighs. She has been so worried about her dad. He's been in the hospital for weeks and he finally comes home today. Just as her thoughts of will he be okay comes in, the noise and chaos interrupt her.

"Bren…I'm fine…stop." Dylan says frustrated and loudly.

"Don't yell at her." Erica demands.

"Will you two stop it already." Iris says calmly. "Dylan needs calm energy to heal, here wear the healing crystal."

"Iris I swear to god…" Dylan clenches his teeth. "I'm not wearing a fucking crystal."

"Dylan!" Brenda and Erica scold him for his language.

"I knew I should have got that hospital bed." Brenda says thoughtfully.

"Hell no…I'm not an invalid I can make it up the damn stairs."

Elliot stands at the top of the stairs and looks down. She hides her smile as her aunt, mother and grandmother surround her father like he's about to break.

"Daddy?" Tears fill her eyes as a wide smile spreads slowly across her face.

The frustration on Dylan's face fades as his eyes meet hers. "Hey El." He says quietly.

It only takes a second before Eliot is bounding down the stairs at full speed. She gently throws her arms around her father tightly. Dylan grunts in pain from his incision. "I'm sorry." Eliot pulls away and looks to his t-shirt covered chest feeling badly for not thinking.

"It's ok…it's practically healed." Dylan reassures her. "Come here." He hugs her tightly again.

"I missed you daddy." Eliot whispers against his chest. She feels him kiss her head fondly.

"Baby girl" He breathes, "I missed you more."

Eliot looks up at her father, tears still in her eyes as one falls down her cheek. Dylan smiles and wipes it sweetly. "I'm okay." He tries to reassure her as her eyes roam his body almost to make sure he's whole.

Silence surrounds them, tears flow as the women in Dylan's life stare at him. "I'm fine…I promise."

"You want to go upstairs or the couch?" Brenda asks touched at the father daughter reunion.

"Couch for now." Dylan smiles at her. Calming and letting his frustrations go.

Brenda wraps a hand around his waist helping him to the couch. He lays down slowly as Brenda fluffs his pillows behind him.

With Eliot, Erica and Iris in conversation and greetings, Dylan takes Brenda's hand stopping her from doting.

"Hey…I'm sorry." he says quietly.

Brenda smiles softly, "Me too."

He gives her that signature smirk and points to his lips. Brenda smile widens as she leans in and kisses him softy.

"I'm glad you're home." She whispers heartfelt. Their foreheads meet, eyes closed relishing in the closeness.

"Me too Bren…me too."

Brenda stands but leans down and kisses his forehead before getting up. Dylan watches her as she dotes on his mother and sister. Taking his medications to the kitchen. He smiles a little watching Eliot and Erica interact. Their personalities are so similar.

Byron comes through the front door, plopping his baseball bag to the ground. Erica and Iris make over him. Hugging him and touching his cheeks. He politely moves through them. "Dad?"

Dylan smiles, "Hey son."

Byron's eyes fill with tears and he rushes him. He leans down and hugs him tightly. "I'm so happy you're home." Bryon whispers. "You okay?"

Dylan's eyes close, his hand moving down his son's head, "I'm fine son…feeling pretty damn perfect right now."

They back away from each other. "How's the team looking?"

"Sick." Byron smiles.

Dylan chuckles, "That's good right?"

Byron laughs, "Yep…real good."

Brenda comes back in, "Well…I held the troops away for now but it didn't stop them from filling the fridge and freezer with dinners for two weeks. I put a taco casserole in the oven. Hope you guys are hungry." Brenda comes over sitting by Dylan.

"Who made it?" Dylan asks hesitant as he absently plays with the hair.

Brenda smiles widely, "Kelly." Dylan makes a face. "I know I know…it smelt edible." She reassures them. The gang had all wanted to come over today but Brenda kept them away for now. It was too much to have everyone over on Dylan's first day home.

It's a quiet night at Casa McKay, surprisingly the kids stay downstairs, Aiden has joined them now after visiting his mom at promises. Iris, Erica and Brenda make small talk as the household is circled around Dylan in the family room.

"What's that you're reading sweetie?" Iris sips her tea and looks at her gorgeous granddaughter who cuddles with her boyfriend on the living room floor. Nose in the journal.

Eliot looks at Dylan…then Brenda silently asking for permission. Dylan smiles at her with a nod.

"It's dad's journal he wrote for mom. They're letting me read it."

Iris smiles, "You still have that journal?"

Dylan looks at this mom, "What do you know about it?"

Iris shrugs innocently, "I might have read a little."

Brenda laughs out loud and Dylan sits up a little straighter, "When?"

Iris clears her throat, "When I was staying with you in the bungalow."

"Are you kidding me? Talk about invading my privacy." Dylan lays back again.

The family chuckles a little at the expense of Dylan. Iris tries to stick up for herself. "I was in the dark, I was trying to get close to you. I didn't read it all, but I'm glad I did because that's how I found out who the Walsh's were. How I met Brenda…Cindy…Jim and Brandon. If I would have waited for you I never would have met the girl who had captured your heart."

Brenda smiles leaning into Dylan. His arm comes around her tenderly as he kisses her head.

"Did you like Brenda when you met her?" Aiden asks curiously, his eyes move to Dylan's and back to Iris quickly.

Iris smiles, "When I first met Brenda I wasn't sure what to think." Brenda sits up a little straighter, she aways thought Iris liked her. "She definitely had a passion and strength that was hard to miss. Brenda is strong willed, loving and intensely loyal. I knew she was a scorpio and I wasn't sure how that would mesh well with Libra." The room chuckles. "But it didn't take me long to figure out that whatever defensive wall Brenda had put up in those first meetings were just that. Protective and loyal to my son, she was keeping me at arms length to protect him, she wasn't quite sure about me either, right Bren?"

Brenda looked down embarrassed and nodded once. She didn't want to say that her first impression of Iris was that she was weird. She had only ever heard from Dylan what a loon she was. How flakey and eccentric she had been. She also saw first hand that Iris McKay drove Dylan crazy. He was miserable in those weeks she came back into his life and anything that made Dylan miserable, made Brenda miserable too.

"But very quickly Brenda and myself bonded on the one person we had in common. Dylan. We both just wanted what was best for him and I loved my son. Hard to believe I ever thought you were wrong for one another. God I was so wrong back then."

"What?" Brenda sat up, "I always thought you loved me, I thought you were aways team Brenda?" She pouted. Dylan pulled her back against him with a chuckle. He set a long kiss to her temple.

"She was babe." He tried to comfort Brenda's shock.

Iris laughed, "Remember that night we met. I had gotten your names from that journal. So I looked you up and called talking to your mom. She had invited me over. Later that night, I made the mistake of telling Dylan that you two were totally wrong for one another. He told me." Iris sat up straighter, "Brenda Walsh, and my relationship with her is none of your business." Iris smiles, she disguises her voice trying to sound like a soft spoken Dylan. "Gosh he was so mad at me. I knew I had found his sensitive spot."

Dylan chuckles again remembering, "Anyway yes I liked Brenda very much when I first met her. All it took was to see how much she loved my son and how much he loved her. Any one who can put up with Dylan, is a saint to me." Iris smiled as she looked lovingly to Brenda.

"Thanks mom." Dylan shook his head as the kids laughed a little.

"She has a point." Ericka smiles then stuck her tongue out at her brother.

"Brenda and Dylan are soulmates...affinity...twin souls...rapport. They were meant for each other. In this life, the ones before and every other one after."

Brenda and Eliot sigh dreamily.

Dylan brings his wrist up, peaking at his watch. "It's getting pretty late, you guys have school tomorrow."

Eliot gets up, she holds her hand out helping Aiden off the ground too. Eliot makes her way to Iris and hugs her hard, "Goodnight grandma Iris." Iris smiles wildly hugging her tightly, "Good night sweetie."

Byron does the same. Kissing and hugging his aunt and grandma goodnight.

Iris watches Aiden move his arm around Eliot shoulders as the teens ascend the stairs.

"Looks like Eliot may have found her Brenda." Iris comments.

"Please…mom don't." Dylan sighs, "They're 17 years old."

Iris smirks, "What's his sign again?"

This time Erica, Brenda and Dylan only roll their eyes in response.

February 13, 1992

Dear Diary,

It's the day before Valentines day and Brenda will NOT stop bugging me to know what I have planned for her. It's a surprise but Jesus she does not give up. Let me also put it out there that I like when she begs (Wink). Also it's driving her crazy and that's the general idea. So far I have given her a few hints. Number 1, we'll be laying down. Number 2, it's red, warm…and close to your heart. Number 3, it's not for kids, you got to be at least 17 years old to do what we are going to do tomorrow night. Number 4, I told her father we will be taken care of in a public place sir! Jim doesn't need to know the details of the whole night. And Number 5, I told her to wear short sleeves. So diary, any guesses? I bet not. This is going down in the books of the most romantic thing we could do together. Stay tuned!

Love,

Dylan

Eliot thinks confused by the clues as well, what the hell? Lying down…in a public place…where you have to be 17…while enjoying something red, warm and close to you heart? She doesn't have a clue. She looks up as there is a knock at her bedroom door. Byron peaks his head in.

"You awake?"

Eliot smiles and pats the spot beside her. She hasn't really had any heart to hearts with her brother. With everything thats happened with Emma to their fathers health scare, it just hadn't happened, even though at a time like that, it should have.

Byron crawls in next to her leaning against the headboard. He looks over at her, "You doing ok El?"

Eliot smiles, "I was about to ask you the same thing…how are things with Emma?"

Byron shrugs, "It's ok. It's hard. What happened to us was…a lot…grown up. I don't know if we'll ever be the same...but we're strong." He rubs his palms nervously down his jeans.

"Well…that's understandable. It will get better. I know it's not the same but if Aidan and I can get through cheating and betrayal. You can get through this loss. Especially if you keep fighting and you love each other."

Byron nods. Silence closing in around them. It's comfortable yet deafening.

"Dad…looks good." Byron sadly looks at his sister. Neither of them discussing the fact that they almost lost him yet.

Eliot sighs heavily. "I was so scared By." Tears fill her eyes quickly. Byron brings his arm firmly around her shoulders. She rests her head against his chest and shoulder.

"I know…me too." He whispers. "I could barely look a how broken mom was. I never want to see her like that again."

Eliot nods and sniffs leaning away from him.

They sit silently for a moment again. Byron reaches for the journal. "Anything good happen yet? Did you find out who the blonde is?" Byron opens it up where Eliot has a bookmark in between the pages she left off.

Eliot chuckles, "I do not think you want to know."

Byron looks at her, "Well shit…now I do. Who is it?"

Eliot smirks and shakes her head, "Aunt Kelly."

Byron's eyes widen, "No shit? Uh." He shakes a little grossed out, "I'm not even surprised, the gang…is incestous as hell. Let's hope our group is never like that."

"No kidding."

"So…mom and dad huh? They're sweet…a good couple?"

Eliot smiles widens, "An epic couple."

Byron looks downed he smiles a little and begins to read out loud. Eliot looks at her brother surprised he cares. She smirks, she knows deep down Byron is all guy but there is a soft romantic spot in him, no matter how hard he tries to hide it.

February 15, 1992

Dear Diary,

Valentines day was no doubt the most romantic night I've ever had. I showed up to Brenda's with a dozen red roses, a box of candy and two tickets to an amazing play…Love Letters. It's about a man and a woman, who are in love with each other for a lifetime. Although they never really get together, their love is so strong that it grows in spite of them. It's a beautiful story. Brenda was more than impressed. She loves the theatre but she asked me what all those clues had to do with a play. It wasn't the play, it's where we were going before that. We're giving blood. You have to be 17, we'll be lying down, and blood is red, warm and close to your heart.

The truth is when I was a little kid, I was in an automobile accident. My head went through the windshield. That's how I got my eyebrow scar. I needed a lot of blood, anyway I decided when I was older, I'd give some back. I thought Bren…would want to share it with me. The accident happened on Valentines Day. So as we laid down, my hand in hers, Brenda and me shared the most romantic thing we could have ever done together. We shared the most amazing Valentines Day. We gave back. And even though Brenda is deathly afraid of needles, we made a pack, that every Valentines after that, no mater what, we'd donate blood. I hope that no matter what happens with me and Bren in the future, we are always in each other life, and this pack is something we will share for a lifetime. Besides...Brenda is the only person I've shared that story with. And people ask about the scar a lot. Especially girls. She'll know that little secret and that will just make what the two of us have even more special.

Love,

Dylan

Byron breathes out, "Geez this is heavy stuff."

Eliot looks at her brother and nods. "It's all like that. Sometimes it's light and other times intense. But they're the real deal."

Byron smiles, "And that explains why every Valentines Day, no matter what their plans are they always find a blood drive."

Eliot smiles and nods, "I wonder if even when they broke up they kept their pack?"

Byron chuckles, "Well I guess we'll find out." He lifts the book a little.

"We?" Eliot looks at her twin shocked.

Byron looks at his sister and nods, "Yeah…we."

Eliot leans in and hugs her brother. She never thought in a million years Byron would want to share this with her. That he'd want to read for fun. That he'd want to read about their parents love story.

As they lean away, they settle back in their spots. Backs resting against the head board.

"You know By…we are so lucky. Lucky to have the parents we have, lucky we didn't lose dad."

Byron nods slowly, "I know."

Eliot turns a little, "What if we gave back too? I know dad didn't need blood this time but we're 17. We could give back like they did. Just as a thank you for the things we have."

Byron smiles, "Okay…so we make pack. Every year on his day, the day dad came home from the hospital, we give blood too. No matter wear we are, what college we go to, when we're married, old and grey."

Eilot giggles, "We give back." He concludes, holding out his hand.

They shake on it, "Deal." Eliot whispers. Tears fill her eyes, but they aren't tears of fear or sadness, they are tears of gratitude.

So here it was kids. Hope the continuation of this story was worth the wait. Next up. Dylan continues to heal and opens up to Brenda about his father, Toni (eek) and his coma. More journals and sadly were coming up here pretty soon to the beginning of the end of Brenda and Dylan. Stick around my friends. Here comes season 3 Dylan. hit review...tell me everything!