"I'm up for whatever Shannen's up for. And, uh, any of the fights that she doesn't wanna fight, I'll fight 'em for her. And, uh, if she wants to do it [a reboot] we'll do it and if not *shrug* we'll see." - Luke Perry, Splash News, the 1st of April in 2017.
xx
She had been engaged before. It had been a brief affair, to a man she had only just met, and now seemed a distant memory that had occurred to someone other than she.
An engagement to the man with whom she had spent most of her life in love carried with it another feeling entirely.
She was over the moon. If experience had taught her anything, it was that being over the moon always led to an inevitable freefall.
But a few days after his proposal, following another bout of lovemaking, all Brenda experienced was pure and utter bliss.
"Do you find it odd," she said, lying flat across Dylan wrapped in nothing but a sheet, "that we've been back together for almost a year and haven't fought once?"
"Not particularly," he answered, kissing the top of her head. "What would we fight about? Everything we used to fight about is no longer relevant."
That was true. Shane Wachinski, the topic of their most damaging argument, had become Dylan's closest friend in London. Dylan hadn't touched a drop of liquor, not even at Brandon and Kelly's wedding where it had been readily available. He hadn't indulged in drugs, Brenda hadn't found any reason to be jealous of Dylan's female acquaintances and, rather than complain about her male coworkers, Dylan had accepted they were simply part of her job. They both knew precisely what they wanted their future to hold. Their fights in the last London go-around were all in the past; those arguments from their adolescence hardly applied to the new life they had carved out for themselves.
"I mean, if you want to fight, then I'm not gonna start it, but I can finish it." Dylan slid both of his hands down her naked derriere, gripping it closer to him.
"I don't want to, but we will. We're bound to fight eventually," Brenda sighed, closing her eyes. "It always happens sooner or later."
"Because we're both two incredibly passionate people who have killer makeup sex," Dylan replied with a grin as he kissed her nose.
"None of that," she scolded, "I have an early rehearsal tomorrow and I'm still utterly knackered from Paris."
Brenda and the city of Rimbaud and Baudelaire had developed a strange relationship over the years, in that she had both loved and hated its streets. She had befriended Maggie Olivier - no relation to Lawrence - in its old buildings. Brenda would keep in contact with Maggie on and off during the years and host the chic model in her London home. It was in Paris when she and Donna came into their own, grabbing their chance at exploring a new culture. But, it was Paris where she had met that bland Rick, and it was while she was in Paris that Dylan had decided out of sight, out of mind and cheated on her.
Paris had always been lovely, but Paris had been tainted.
She learnt that Dylan had felt the same; loathed what Paris meant to their past, loved the city as a whole. He had told her once in their old apartment that it was there, during his senior year summer trip with Kelly which began and ended in the French countryside, that he had pictured Brenda accompanying him instead. It was when he slipped out to Balzac's house alone, leaving Kelly in yet another shoe shop, that Dylan swore to himself that next time he went to Paris, he would take Brenda Walsh along. It was in a little village outside Paris that he had attempted to call her, the evening she attended a rather dull party with her former friend Darla.
They had discussed returning to Paris several times together, but it had never been part of Brenda's tour schedule and she had scarcely found time for a weekend alone with Dylan. Now, when she thought of Paris, she wouldn't think of Kelly, or Rick, or missed opportunities. She would think of Dylan, holding a script, pulling out her great-grandmother's ring, the love overflowing in his eyes, knelt in front of the house of a poet whose work they both revered.
They had reclaimed Paris, as Dylan said they would do his first morning back in London. They had made it theirs.
Now, Brenda thought, they would need to reclaim Prague. That could be an even touchier subject than Paris had been originally.
"I could've taken you anywhere, Bren." He tickled her ribcage. "Do you wish I would've proposed somewhere else?"
"Where? Like Baja?"
"It is where I always imagined proposing to you, before you decided to stick with London," he smiled, folding his hand into her hair.
"Why didn't you?"
"Because, Brenda, with your schedule, how was I gonna get you over to Mexico? Call me impatient. I wanted that ring on your finger the second I got it, but it isn't like I could exactly pull you out of your brother's wedding early and bring you down to Baja before we caught our flight."
"Well, I'm glad you chose Paris. We've successfully reclaimed it."
"We sure have," he grinned.
"So," she broached the subject, "I think there's another city you'd love that we'd also reclaim."
"Oh yeah? What's that?" Dylan nuzzled his nose in her hair.
"Prague."
He stiffened.
"Prague?" he echoed, voice scratchy.
"It's a beautiful city, Dylan. You'd really love it."
"Yeah," he said faintly, "yeah, I suppose we should go to Prague together one of these days."
"And then Prokhladny."
"Prokha - what?" Dylan laughed from his confusion.
"Prokhladny. It's in Russia."
"I didn't know you had such a longing to see Russia, Bren."
"More like it's a location starting with a P that we haven't fucked up our relationship in," she winked.
"Okay, Prague first, then Prokhladny." He grinned, pressing his forehead against hers. "And now, my tired ass is gonna bid my gorgeous fiancée goodnight."
"I don't think so, mister. You owe me one more round," she said, sitting up on him.
"What happened to you being 'utterly knackered,' Bren?" he asked with air quotes for emphasis.
"That was before I started imagining seeing Prokhladny with you in your parka," she giggled. "Or maybe in my parka, like when my parents dropped in."
"Well, see, now you just had to go reminding me of that. I think I'll have to urge it out of your memory," said Dylan as he rolled them underneath the covers.
But it wasn't Prague or Prokhladny they saw next; it was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for every rainbow in their life inevitably came with a torrential downpour.
Dylan had gone ahead, reluctantly parting temporarily with Brenda as she finished up her latest tour. She came to the realization whilst they were apart of how accustomed she had grown to having him constantly around. This caused her to wonder, not for the first time, how they had managed to ever avoid each other for as long as they had.
It was an immense relief when her plane touched down at Philadelphia International. She caught the train - quite easily after her travels throughout Europe on much more difficult transit systems. Upon arriving at 30th Street Station, she opted to walk rather than take the bus and continued past Love Park.
"Did I mention how much I fucking missed you?" He said, spotting her arrival.
"At least three times yesterday alone," she laughed.
"Well, I did." Dylan kissed her nose. "This is the longest we've been apart since I moved back in last year, and it's been fucking torture. I still don't understand how we managed this for so long."
"Has anyone else been by?" she asked, setting her hands on his lower back.
"Bran and Kel stopped in earlier." He reached behind him, moving her hands further down. "They drove down and are staying at a hotel just down the road. Steve went with them to get lunch."
"Maddie isn't with him, is she?"
"No, Andrea's watching her back in LA."
"David?"
"Yeah, he and Donna are on their way over."
She let him walk her into the unit, enjoying the feeling of being back by his cozy side.
"How's she doing?"
"Not so great," Dylan frowned. "The doctors have her on some serious painkillers. We think it'll help for her to see you." He nodded to the door. "Ah, we're here."
Nodding, Brenda pressed a kiss to his lips and walked into the brightly lit room.
"Val?"
"Brenda. Hi." Valerie gave a tiny smile, hidden under a mask of pain.
"Honey, what happened?"
"My mom's dead, Bren."
She said it as if she were reading a word out of a textbook.
"I heard, Val. I'm so sorry. How are you holding up?"
Apologies never seemed an adequate choice of words when a person lost a parent, but having not yet experienced that tragedy herself, it was all Brenda could offer.
"Honestly? I don't know how to feel. I mean, I hated her for so long. But she's -"
"Still your mom," Dylan strolled in, pulling Brenda flush against his waist.
"Yeah." Valerie glanced down at her hands. "She's still - she was still Mom. I didn't tell her that as much as I should've."
"Val, your relationship with your mother was complicated, to say the least," Brenda said, attempting to comfort her friend.
"That's an understatement." Valerie laughed sardonically. "It's just - we had just started getting along and now -"
Brenda tilted her head, silently communicating with Dylan. Nodding, he sighed.
"Val, losing a parent you have a complicated history with isn't easy. You wanna hold onto that hate you had for them, but it fucking hurts at the same time to know they showed a side of themselves that they could've shown much earlier."
"Yes." Valerie swiped at her cheek. "Exactly that, Dylan. If Abby hadn't put off getting new wiring, or maybe if I'd bought some for her -"
"Val." Brenda sat beside her. "What happened to your mother was an horrific accident. You can't blame yourself. Bran and I are just glad you survived the fire."
"As am I," Dylan said as he sat next to Brenda. "Life would be a whole lot less interesting without you yelling at me every time I fuck it up with Bren."
"Which you aren't gonna do this time, right?" Valerie hinted.
"As a matter of fact, I think Dyl's finally got it right," Brenda said with a secretive smile.
Valerie looked between the two, who were lost in each other's eyes. "Oh my God."
"What?" Brenda asked nonchalantly.
"Let me see it!" Valerie demanded, her somber state quickly dissipating.
"See what?"
"Bitch, show me that ring right now or I will yell so loud, they'll think you're doing something to me."
Laughing, Brenda removed her shoe and showed Valerie the ring tied to a string around her ankle.
"What the fuck is that ring doing as an anklet?"
"We didn't think it was the best time to tell anyone, what with you being in here and all."
"Quit being so fucking nice and let Dyl put that ring back on your finger for the whole world to see who really snagged perpetual bachelor, Dylan McKay."
"Perpetual bachelor?" Dylan chuckled. "That's a new one." He untied the ring from Brenda's anklet, moving it onto his fiancée's finger. "Better?"
"Much." Valerie grinned, then winced from the facial movement. "My best friend is finally getting married. She won Dylan."
"I don't really think I won Dylan, Val. You can't win a human being. That's -"
"Yeah yeah. If I wanna say you won Dylan after everything that happened with you two, then I'll say it."
"Pretty sure I won just by getting this amazing woman to let me back in her life. Being her husband will be a cherry on top of the sundae she's already given me." Dylan wrapped an arm around Brenda, tucking her into his side.
"Again, where was this guy when I was crushing on him?" Valerie shook her head.
"Bren was gone, Val. That's all you need to know."
"I was gonna wait to ask this, Val." Brenda spoke slowly, intentionally dragging out her question. "But since you know, I wondered if you might be interested in being -" She paused for an imaginative drumroll.
"Brenda!"
"My Maid of Honor?"
"Fuck yes! Of course I will!" Valerie quickly sat up to embrace her. "I'm gonna be the best MoH anyone's ever seen."
"I'll understand if you can't do the usual MoH duties from long distance and with everything going on with your family."
"You're my family, Bren. The best thing Abby ever did was opening the door to your mom's welcome-to-the-neighborhood brownies. You're the sister I always wanted Suzie to be and I will do everything possible to ensure this wedding is everything you've ever wanted."
"But, Val, you'll need to arrange your mom's funeral -"
"Curtis can do that. He was much closer to her; Abby's favorite kid, really. Besides, I can use the distraction."
When Brandon and Kelly entered the room, Valerie was in a planning frenzy. Brenda herself had yet to consider the answers to any of Valerie's inquiries, including which city they wanted their wedding to be held.
"What's going on?" Brandon asked, handing Valerie a paper bag.
"Hoagie. Thank you, Bran. Finally get some real food," she said before scarfing down the meal.
"Well, Bren and I have some news." Dylan smiled, his hand reaching for Brenda's.
"Which I take it Valerie was told before I was, judging by her much cheerier demeanor than when we saw her last," Brandon said. "Did either Wachinski know before us?"
"We haven't told anyone. Didn't want another scolding like last time."
"Then go on," said Brandon with the kind of look that said he knew what was coming.
"We're engaged!" Brenda announced, holding out her hand.
"Brenda!" Kelly squealed, grabbing at her hand. "Oh Dylan, I'm so happy for both of you. Married life is incredible."
"Welcome to the family, brother." Brandon clapped Dylan's back. "Officially, that is. It's been years since I thought I could call you brother for real."
"How are they doing, Kel?" Brenda glanced at Kelly's rounded stomach, feeling a slight pang at her own lack of one.
She knew she needed to be patient, but that was much easier thought than done.
"They're good, Bren." She smiled, taking Brandon's hand. "Really good. But we can talk about all that later. This is your time to shine. I had mine. Are you still gonna have that magic flute?"
"What magic flute?" Dylan asked.
"I can't believe you remember that," Brenda stared.
It was a conversation of long ago, back when she and Kelly were truly the best of friends and not merely civil sisters-in-law.
"Of course I do, Bren. I remember a lot of things we've talked about," Kelly said softly.
"Knock knock," said Donna, entering the room with David, Steve and little Sammy, who ran straight to his stepfather.
"Hey, buddy." Dylan reached over to muss Sammy's curls.
"Stop, Unca!" he laughed.
Everyone looked at Dylan to gauge his reaction.
"Uncle?" Brenda asked. "I thought Sammy calls him Dyl."
"We, uh, told Sammy that he could see his Aunt Brenda whenever he wanted. And then when we told him that you and Dylan were together, he decided that made Dylan his uncle. Sorry, man." Brandon gave Dylan an uncomfortable smile.
"Don't be," Dylan shook his head. "I am his uncle. Brenda is his aunt," he paused and laughed, "twice-over."
"Twice-over?" Donna's gaze whipped towards Brenda. "Bren, did he -"
"He did," Brenda grinned, once more displaying her ring.
"Thatta boy!" said Steve, lightly punching Dylan's shoulder.
"And here I was thinking Dylan was never gonna ask you," David joked.
"Hey, I've mentioned it repeatedly since we got back together. Bren's the one who wanted to wait."
"Well, the wait was clearly well-worth it." Donna examined Brenda's ring. "This is stunning."
"It was her great-grandmother's," Valerie said. "We used to wear it for dress up until Abby's dog almost ate it and Bren's Uncle Simon decided it would be safer stored away."
"I'm surprised you remember that," Brenda laughed.
"I remember a lot of things we've done," Valerie said, looking directly into Kelly's glare.
Brenda tensed at the incoming argument between her adoptive sister and her sister-in-law. She looked at Donna, who bore a frown.
"I've gotta get this girl to the hotel," Dylan cut in. "She came straight from the airport. Bren, when's the last time you had a decent night's sleep?"
"Uh -" Brenda hesitated, for she could not recall the last time she had slept for more than three hours.
"That's what I thought." Raising himself from the bed, Dylan tugged Brenda to stand. "C'mon, future wifey. I'm gonna make sure you nap."
"Nap, huh?" David smirked.
"Yes, nap," Dylan said, staring him down. "Get your head outta the gutter, Silver. Val, text us if you need anything."
"I think that's our cue to leave, too," Brandon said, giving Valerie a kiss atop her head.
"Are you gonna kiss me too, Kelly?" Valerie asked.
"I don't think so," said Kelly, who kissed Brenda's cheek instead.
"We'll stay with Val," Donna said. "Get some sleep, Bren. I wanna hear every single detail of the proposal later."
"We'll see you lot later," Brenda said, embracing them all before she deeply yawned.
"See? That's one sleepy girl." Dylan picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder.
"Baby!" She giggled. "I can walk."
"Nah, I much prefer this way. Later, guys." He saluted their friends and then carried her out of the hospital.
She crashed as soon as he lay her down in the heavenly hotel bed and was shocked to find herself awaking to a darkened sky.
"Oh my God, how long did I sleep?" She jumped out of bed, only to be gently pushed back down by Dylan.
"Well, put it this way. You'd be waking up for work right now if we were home." He winked.
"Dylan! Why did you let me sleep that long?"
"Because you needed it, Brenda." He quickly kissed her. "You've barely stopped to breathe since your latest tour started. Wachinski texted that you landed back in London from Riga and then headed straight to your plane for Philly. Both he and Levi have told me they're worried about you. Frankly, Bren, if you keep going like this, we're all concerned you're gonna crash."
"But Val needs us."
"I checked on her while you were asleep. She's fine."
"She's pretending."
"Brenda, you needed the rest, okay?" Dylan said firmly.
"You're sweet," she said with a sleepy smile.
"I'm marrying an actress," he said, setting his lips to her forehead. "A super fucking talented actress who needs to make sure she rests every now and then. If you won't do it for yourself, then do it for me, Bren."
"Okay," she agreed, lifting off his shirt. "I'm much more awake now." She ran her hands over his chest, looking at him suggestively.
"You, uh, sure you don't wanna sleep more?" He bit his lip. His hands reflexively went to her own top.
"Uh-uh." She shook her head. "Like you said, it's been a week."
He scrambled into the bed, allowing her to remove the rest of his clothing whilst he kissed her intensely.
Their pleasuring of each other lasted well into the night, until they both fell asleep with their bodies still entangled.
They were in the middle of dressing for another visit to Valerie when Dylan spoke.
"Val brought up a good point earlier. We should start getting some idea of location. So babe, where do you want us to get married? Your grandparents' church in Minnesota?"
"No. That was the fantasy of a child, Dylan, back when Bran and I still went to Sunday school." Clothed only in her denim shorts, Brenda tried to remember where he had thrown her bra the previous night. "Where do you want us to marry?"
"I asked you." He smiled, delaying her search with the drop of his lips to her jawline. "Home, maybe? There's that venue near the Wachinski place that Katie mentioned you talked about before."
"Uh, that was when I thought I would end up with Graham," she hurriedly replied.
"Oh," he said, and she could tell that he was trying to prevent himself from saying anything further.
"Honestly, Dyl, I'm fine with wherever you want. The venue isn't important. I know you. You're thinking somewhere else entirely and won't say it, for some reason."
"I don't want to dictate where we get married, Bren. Brandon says you and Val have been planning your wedding since you were kids." He handed her the missing bra, which had evidently sailed to the windowsill.
"Brandon needs to share less," she snipped, clasping it in place. "Okay. We'll say it on the count of three and whichever one has the better weather is where we'll go."
"Sounds like a plan," Dylan smiled.
Once the countdown had hit three, they both said, at once, "Baja."
"You want to get married in Baja?" Brenda asked.
"Definitely. You do, too?" He grinned.
"Absolutely," she replied, pecking at his lips. "I'm just not sure how many of our London friends will be able to fly over there."
"Let me worry about that. Just promise me one thing."
"What's that?"
"That you won't stress yourself out over the wedding preparations, especially with everything going on in your career. If I see you start to stress about the style of the bridesmaids dresses or the color of the flowers or something, then we're running over to the town hall and eloping. We've waited a long time for this, Bren, and while I want you to have the wedding you've dreamt of, I don't want you to run yourself even more ragged planning it."
Her lips opened slightly. "We're supposed to be meeting the others, Dylan, not going in for another round."
"Who says we can't do both?" He nuzzled her cheek. "Practice for the honeymoon."
They arrived at Jefferson University Hospital sated, flushed and clearly wearing their night on their faces, for David laughed when they came in.
They waited for Brandon, who was in with the doctors to ensure everything went smoothly with Valerie's release. The second-degree burn on her waist had healed to the point that the staff would allow Valerie to leave, provided that she had supervision. Brenda had been quick to offer that Valerie stay with her and Dylan, until she remembered her upcoming schedule. Brandon then made the same offer, but it was Steve whom Valerie agreed to stay with until she was able to live on her own again.
Steve helped Brenda pack Valerie's things, cheerfully humming in a way that caused her to look twice.
"What?" he asked, glancing at his shirt. "Do I have a stain? Something in my teeth?"
"You're humming," Brenda pointed out whilst she sifted through Valerie's closet.
"Well, it's a beautiful day, Bren. Isn't it a beautiful day?"
"It is, Steve. That's why Bran and Dyl took Val over to the park while we get this done. Are you feeling okay?"
"Me? I'm great." He nodded. "Amazing. Stupendous. Do you hear the birds chirping?"
"Do I hear the birds chirping?" she echoed before recognizing the source of his odd behavior. "Steve, did something happen with Andrea?"
"Not exactly," he said. "I took your advice and told her how I feel."
"Yes!" Brenda cheered. "You finally told her! How'd it go?"
"It went fantastically, Bren. For some reason, she thought I wasn't interested in her like that. Turns out, she's been interested in me this whole time."
"Whole time?" Brenda inquired.
"Well, no, not whole time," he corrected. "For as long as I've been interested in her. And then she let me kiss her, Brenda. You know I've kissed a lot of girls, but kissing Andrea again? That was really something."
"Steve, that's great! So you're together?"
"Ah, no." He knelt to open Valerie's nightstand drawer.
"No?"
"She said it's too soon since Keith moved down to Brazil to even consider getting into another relationship. But she didn't say no to having one in the future, Bren, and that's a really great start."
"It is, Steve." She smiled. "I hope it works out for you."
"Me too, Bren. Me too."
"How's it coming in here?" Dylan carried in a tall paper cup that he handed to Brenda.
"What is it?" She peered into the cup.
"We stopped at this place Val loves, Wawa. It's a Bananas Foster smoothie. Thought you'd like it."
"They made a smoothie out of Bananas Foster?" Her lips latched onto the straw. "Holy shit, this is delicious."
"Let me try," said Steve, and Dylan produced a second cup from behind his back.
"Damn, you're good." Steve took the cup.
"Years of knowing you, brother," said Dylan.
"Need any help?" Brandon inquired, coming into the room with David.
"Where's Val?" Brenda asked, looking out the door.
"She's with Donna downstairs," he assured. "Don't worry."
"I think we're almost done." Brenda glanced at Dylan. "Did you book Val's ticket?"
"Yep. She's all set for LA and will be happy to know she's flying first-class." His arms tangled around Brenda's shoulders. "Thanks for keeping an eye on her, Steve."
"It's no problem," he brushed off. "Mads loves Val."
"Speaking of Maddie." Brenda's hands covered Dylan's. "I was wondering if you think she might be interested in being a junior bridesmaid."
"Interested? Brenda, she'd be ecstatic!"
"And I was wondering if her dad and uncle would consider being the brothers who stand beside me as I finally marry the most incredible woman in the galaxy," Dylan said.
"The answer is a resounding yes," David said, with Steve echoing his reply.
"You'll be Best Man, of course."
"Of course," said Brandon, knocking his elbow into Dylan's.
"Boys," said Brenda, and she laughed.
As Dylan had expected, Valerie was delighted in her travel arrangements. Brandon dropped off the future McKays, Valerie and Steve at the airport before returning to his hotel. He and Kelly were staying an extra night and, the following day, would bring the Silvers up with them to Boston. Donna had won a stay in a radio contest for a visit to a Montréal cabin that weekend, which she and David planned to use to their advantage prior to their own LA return.
For the fifth time in two weeks, Brenda got on a plane, but this time, she would have a chance to wind down between her tours.
Their friends back home were equally excited for their upcoming nuptials.
"I've never been to Mexico," said Levi, who they had asked to duo with David at the reception.
"You'll love it." Dylan signaled to Howie for another soda. "Sand, waves and if you're lucky, a mariachi band."
He looked at Brenda giggling and gave her a smile of his own.
"Katie, you'll be a bridesmaid, won't you?" Brenda sipped her drink.
"Yes!" Katie said. "A million times yes."
"If it'll be too hard for any of you to fly over there, we understand."
"Don't be ridiculous, Brenda. We wouldn't miss your wedding to Dylan for the world."
"Especially since it almost didn't happen," Shane added.
"You sound like the gang," Dylan groaned.
"Just saying, mate. You sure took your time."
"I grew in maturity," Dylan corrected.
"But not in humility," Brenda teased.
"Oh, I'll get you for that," he said, and fiercely kissed her without one care that they were sitting in the crowded pub.
Momentarily unlatching her lips from his, Brenda told the group that anyone who might have difficulty affording the flight over should not hesitate to let them know. No one did, however, though Brenda's bank account combined with Dylan's could have easily paid for all of their flights.
Asked over his son's Skype account to officiate, Nat gave an emotional acceptance. Donna was to design the dress. Andrea would make the arrangements for their chosen venue. Lottie and Kelly would handle the catering. Katie and Erica would plan the decorations. Melody helped with the seating chart. Valerie took care of everything else. All Brenda had to do, Dylan said, was delegate the responsibilities, approve the outcome, and focus on their honeymoon.
"And marry you," Brenda added. She was overcome not by stress, but by the willingness of their friends to assist in the preparations.
"Yes, and marry me." Dylan lifted up her foot to massage it. "Have you thought about the honeymoon at all? I mean, everywhere I would've taken you, you've already been."
"God, baby. I really needed that after today's rehearsal." Brenda closed her eyes.
"I could tell," Dylan said, and she heard the pride in his voice. "How's old Eust doing?"
"Euston," she corrected.
"Yeah, Euston. How's my old friend Euston Vaughn?" he asked with both sarcasm and genuine curiosity.
"He's good, actually."
The subject of Euston Vaughn could have set Dylan off, but he instead nodded and began to massage her other foot. "That's nice."
"Really?" she asked, her tone thick with skepticism. "You're okay with Euston being back?"
The man who, on the surface, had been unknowingly responsible for their breakup had briefly returned to London to choreograph Brenda's next big production. It was a musical and though Brenda had been in her first musical the previous summer, she was no less nervous about the differing style than her usual performances.
"See this, Bren?" Dylan held up her hand so that her ring was in her line of vision. The sudden movement cast a vivid rainbow against the wall. "This right here tells me that we can get through anything together. Besides, you know Euston wasn't the problem. It was Euston embracing you in a darkened theatre so soon after Prague that was the problem. I'm not gonna fuck this up when we're so close to having it all by getting jealous over your choreographer."
"Good," she kissed him, "because you have nothing to be jealous about. You know you're the only one I want."
"I do know that, but feel free to keep reminding me." He grinned against her lips. His hands speedily worked to remove her belted dress. "I noticed on the schedule that you actually have tonight free."
"I do," she nodded, lifting his shirt.
"I think we're supposed to wait to say that, baby," he laughed.
She responded with an array of tiny kisses to his bare shoulder.
"Fuck, Bren," he groaned, gliding his hands along her body. "The things you make me feel should be illegal."
"Maybe you should show me these things I make you feel," she murmured against his chest.
He tilted her chin up, connecting their lips as he slowly moved her down to lay on the sofa.
"Not the bedroom?" she managed through her gasps.
"Way too far."
"It's down the hall."
"Which is way too far." He dipped down, aligning their bodies until Brenda's breaths became labored and Dylan had repeatedly called out her name in ecstasy.
"I love you," he said, pulling her slick body against him with a kiss to her hair.
"I love you," she smiled, curling into him.
"I'm gonna give you the best life, Brenda, I swear."
"I'm counting on it," she smiled, and then fell asleep fully satisfied.
When she later awoke to see Dylan's chest rising and falling in the rhythmic movement of his own sleep, Brenda thought that any joy she had felt before paled in comparison to the glorious warmth of being held in her fiancé's arms.
Life, she decided, was simply exquisite.
-x
This is the first I've managed to get a fic to the engagement stage, so it's taken a bit figuring out the in-between scenes before the wedding. I feel like Illumination will end somewhere between chapter thirty and forty; however, I might be estimating incorrectly.
I believe Ringo will be making an entrance soon, but first I need to figure out to what extent (because I don't expect Illumination to get half as dark as Seven.)
Crystal - I'm glad you enjoy the description! I've always rather enjoyed description in novels, as long as that description isn't overdone. I agree regarding the dynamics of the kids with their parents; there were so many dysfunctional families in 90210, it was crazy. Thank goodness they had the stability of the Walshes to come home to.
As always, thanks a million for the readership, reviews, alerts, favourites, plot ideas, discourse, etc.
To my (US) American readers, have a happy Thanksgiving!