time line is 5 years after the show ended. They are at Hannas 12th birthday party. Andrea is 7 months pregnant with a baby fathered by Brandon. They're not together in a traditional sense but have had a sexual relationship since high school and are extremely close friends. Living back in LA they tried living together but that didn't work. Neither really wants to be committed to the other. Friends with benefits was a great arrangement through out the time they've known each other so they needed to make it work for the sake of the kids. They bought houses close to each other and made a schedule. Its Hanna's twelfth birthday and when Kelly walked in and smiled at Andrea rubbing her belly Brandon could not take his eyes off her. Something has changed in her, she seemed peaceful and settled.
" Oh my goodness, Andrea you look so great. This bump looks good on you. How's the pregnancy going? Any complications like last time?" Kelly says to Andrea when they are alone in the kitchen.
" Everything is good so far. Nice long maternity leave for me. Ten weeks to go. I'm in a much better place in my life this time around and it all seems to be going great. Hannas excited about finally being a big sister. She's wanted a sibling for a long time." Andrea is happy to catch up with Kelly " Its been a while since I've heard from you. What are you up to these days?"
" Well, I spent the last couple months in london reconnecting with Bren, we had a lot of issues to work out. I had a lot to account for and I wanted to explain a few things in person. Some revelations are just not phone worthy. When we have a chance I'd love to sit with you and clear some of the air between us as well. My therapist has really helped me so much over the last couple years. But enough of that lets party." Kelly says as Hanna runs into the kitchen to sneak some cookies off the counter.
" Sounds like a great plan. Can you carry this out for me?" she hands Kelly the fruit tray to bring into the dining room
As everyone gathers around the table to sing happy birthday to Hanna. Brandon works his way around the crowd and leans over to Kellys ear.
" Hey Kel, fancy meeting you here. I thought you were in london. Last week I talked to my sister she said you'd been there for months. Im glad you guys got a chance to hang out. Spend time together. I hear you guys are bffs again." Brandons distracted by her perfume " Are you back for good or just here for the party?"
" Yes I spent a long time in london, I don't know if bffs is where we got to but we are definitely on the right track to renewed friendship. I'm back for good. I start work at a clinic on tuesday. How are you?" She avoids making eye contact with him. " How's the housing co parent arrangement going?"
" Well I'm happy to say that the house right over there is mine and since the baby isn't born yet the co parent thing is a piece of cake." He smiles at her as he points out the window at his house.
" Wow that's really great that you got a place so close. I meant Hanna, I know how involved you are. How you've been there for her since her dad flaked. I know when that babys born you'll be a great dad to him too. Have you heard from Dylan lately? Donna told me that Erica got married and had a baby. I guess Dylans been clean for a while now and looked great when he stopped and visited them. Donna and David couldn't make it today since they're in Texas looking after Felice, she broke her hip and is having surgery tomorrow morning." Kelly nervously looks at her watch " Donna said she'd call around 6 their time to wish Hanna a happy birthday. Its 5:35. God Brandon your making me nervous standing so close."
Brandon reluctantly steps back a little.
" Sorry I didn't realise I was making you uncomfortable. I wouldn't ever do anything to make you uncomfortable on purpose. Maybe we should catch up later. I think Hannas doing presents in the living room in a minute. I'll stay away from you until you want to talk." Brandon whispers back to her as he walks over to help Andrea serve the cake.
" Hey thanks for the heads up. I wasn't prepared for Kelly to show up." Brandon says quietly to Andrea
" Im sorry ace I didn't know if she was going to make it at all. You knew I invited her. This situation was bound to happen sooner or later. At least Dylan and Brenda aren't hear making things even more tense. Now lets put smiles on and celebrate the best thing that ever happened to me. No matter what crap the grown ups are dealing with... today is about Hanna. Its bad enough her dad hasn't contacted her in years. She needs us to bring joy to her special day. ok?" Andrea hands him the gifts
" I know I'm sorry for being a jerk. Its about our girl today." He walks behind her into the living room giving Hanna her gifts.
Fifteen minutes later all the kids have run outside to play with the new toys and Brandon and Andrea are alone in the kitchen. The kitchen they've prepared a couple hundred meals in and washed a thousand dishes in. The kitchen that just last night they made love to each other in.
" Man I wish things weren't always so complicated. How can it be that after all this time and everything we went through that she can still get under my skin like this?" Brandon asks himself out loud
" Well Brando, your story isn't finished. Just cause you and I fuck like bunnies on a regular basis doesn't take away from the soul mate connection you two have. I love you but we'll never have that kind of connection. And I'm fine with that. We got this baby coming and your help with Hanna stepping up when Jesse flaked out on her. I don't mind sharing you if she decides to let you back in her life. Even if it means you and I don't have a sexual relationship. We'll still be mom and dad." she wraps her arms around him and squeezes him hard " Janet's due to come get Maddy in less then an hour and I need you to get up in that attic and grab the box that says Hannas bedding on the side. Its the curtains and a bedspread from Hannas old room she wanted to give to Maddy for her new bedroom. Its dusty up there and in case you forgot I'm pregnant with your baby and don't want to risk the ladder. Plus it'll give you something to keep your mind off the beautiful blonde in the yard talking on her phone. Now get going please." she smacks his ass as he walks by her.
He turns and grabs her kissing her deeply and smiles as he pulls away.
" I really don't know what I would do without you Andrea."
" Well you'd spend a lot of time in the shower." she yells after him as he's headed up the stairs.
" Seldom wrong and right again." He yells over his shoulder
A moment later Kelly comes back inside with a smile on her face.
" Donna and David just called and sang happy birthday to Hanna over the phone. I'm sure Donna told you about her mom and everything. She said the little ones are having a hard time with everything. I was trying to think of some way to help them. I just don't know what to do for them."
" Well Kelly what helped me the most when my mom had her heart surgery was when people offered to spend time with Hanna, that was right after Jesse cut off all contact with Hanna and I was so overwhelmed with everything. When my close friends rallied around me and came up with a schedule to get Hanna to and from school making her lunches giving her baths just becoming the village that I needed so I could care for my mom and settle her estate after her death. Brandon would never say this but during those months and after her death, he raised Hanna. Cause I was in no condition and her father was mia." Andrea wipes a tear away " Unfortunately Texas is too far for most of us to go and help out but I have it on good authority that help is on the way to them."
" I'm sorry I wasn't around to help you and Hanna. I was in no shape to help anyone back then and would have probably caused more harm. I'm glad everyone rallied and if there was a crisis now I'm right here. I'm not surprised that Brandon stepped up with Hanna. He's always been amazing with kids and I know he loves Hanna like his own. He always wanted a house full of kids. I can't wait to meet this little guy." Kelly smiles and touches Andreas belly " Andrea, I have to ask you something and I just need a straight answer, don't worry about my feelings just be honest. Are you and Brandon committed to each other? Is he seeing anyone else? Is this thing with you guys still a friends with benefits arraignment?"
" Well that's a complicated set of questions that he should probably be the one to answer. As far as my relationship with him... We love each other and we sleep together once in a while. Nether of us is exclusive to the other. Friends with benefits is a good way of putting it. Plus we are raising Hanna together and we're getting ready to have a baby together. So I guess co parents with benefits is a more accurate way of describing us." Andrea pours herself and Kelly some coffee and they head to the table to sit and catch up. " So where have you been keeping yourself Kel? I heard from Donna that you spent some time in a hospital. Were you sick? Are you better now? Brenda said you guys had a great visit while you were in London."
" Well I was sick but I'm better now. I had a break down after my mother died and I was hospitalized for quite a while. Don't feel bad cause I kept it from everyone. I didn't even tell David until he tracked me down as my next of kin and executer of my mothers estate. The thing is when my mother died was going through her things and found a journal that she kept when I was a baby and toddler. There were some things I read about in that journal that shocked me and clarified somethings about my mother and caused me to have dreams that felt like memories and I lost it. I'm better now and I've basically spent the last months on an apology tour. Hannas birthday was a great reason to make you my next stop. So I'm here and if you'll give me a couple hours next week I'll go into more detail. For now I'm truly sorry for the petty way I always treated you and Brandons relationship. I was jealous of the connection you had." Kelly pauses as Brandon comes down the stairs with a dusty box with his handwriting on it.
" Well chief there you go. When Janet gets here I'll take it to her car and Maddy will get to spruce up her new room. I'm going to wipe it down because I've clearly interrupted an important conversation so I'll be going now." Brandon recognizes that the ladies are having a serious talk and backs out of the room to put the box down. The ladys chuckle as he falls all over himself to get out of the room.
" Oh man, he really hasn't changed much has he?" Kelly laughs
" Nope same old goof ball. That's what I love about him. He was always the best friend I could have asked for. And he's sexy as hell. Parenthood looks great on him." Andrea winks at Kelly
" Yah it does." They both laugh