Black and White

"I'm thinking of staying..." Brandon told his sister when she came over for that afternoon.

"Really?" Brenda rejoiced, "I'd love that!"

"Yeah... I ran into Steve. Offered me a job at the Beverly Beat."

"Wow. Picking up right where you left off." Brenda teased

"Guess so."

"Well, you're not the only one onto bigger and better things." She let out a breath, "My play is getting produced off-broadway!"

"No way!" Brandon exclaimed

"Yep. I head for New York just before Christmas. Hate to leave my boys for the holidays, but knowing you'll be here is reassuring."

"I'll make sure they get a hot meal." Brandon joked "...Why don't they come with you?"

"They want to. But it's something I have to do on my own. It's my career."

"How's Dylan handling that?"

"He's supportive... just doesn't want me to be gone for that long."

"Can't take care of his son by himself?" Brandon mocked

"Come on. He's a great dad. Just not very organized." She grinned

"Hey, I heard about the time capsule broadcast." Dylan said to his son who just arrived home and slumped himself on the couch. "At least you got home early."

"It was the class of '93..."

"That's my year!" Dylan informed

"I know..."

"So, what did you think of your dad at 18?" Dylan joked. James inhaled slowly before breathing out.

"Never would've pegged you for a liar... or a cheat."

"Mrs Teasley called me about what happened..." Kelly began as she and Pamela sat at the kitchen counter. "I understand how that may have affected you."

"Cut the psycho-babble, mum." Pamela hissed, "It's bad enough that the whole school saw it. But that's not even my problem. My problem is that I don't even know you. The girl in the video was so full of life and you... you live this pretentious life! Trying to be so perfect. All you care about is image."

"Pamela, you have no idea what it's been like. Please don't judge something you're too young to understand!"

"Well I understand that you had an affair with James' dad and that his mum used to be your best friend. I had to see the look on James' face when he found out."

"Son..." Dylan groaned, throwing his head back. "That's in the past. And I'm sorry son, but it has nothing to do with you."

"Tell me what would you do if you found out something like that about your parents?"

"My parents hurt each other a lot, Jimmy. I didn't want that life for you. In fact, your mother and I made sure you wouldn't live like that."

"That's what I thought too. I thought I had it good."

"You do... We do."

"I know you stayed in London because mum got pregnant. I chose to ignore it because we were happy."

"Regardless of how your mum and I got together, we are a family."

"So why didn't you get married."

"Your mum is my wife. I don't need a piece of paper to prove who my family are." Dylan assured

"...Why did she forgive you?" James questioned

"As time changes... so do people. Life is... messy. You fall in and out of love with people. You change - life goes on."

"But this wasn't some mistake. You were in love with her. You said that on the time capsule."

"I never said it was a mistake."

"Then what was it?"

"It's hard to explain to your kid..." Dylan struggled but James did not avert his gaze. "...Look." Dylan sighed, "Kelly was... a special part of my life. I don't really talk about it because it's hard to put into words. ...I know right now you feel that your dad is the bad guy for having an affair. But one day... you'll see the world isn't black and white. And on that day... I hope you can forgive me and understand that... there are some connections you make in this life that you can't ignore. They run too deep."

"Was she... like what? The love of your life or something?"

"What it was between us... I'd rather keep it to myself. It lives on only in my memory."

"Well, I'm sorry about James. I really am. I know how it feels when the home you know doesn't feel the same. But I am not discussing this right now." Kelly warned.

"Why not?" Pamela urged, "I think it's time we start being honest, don't you think?"

"Pamela!" Kelly yelled, "That's enough." She stormed off. Pamela stood there and folded her arms.

"Hey!" Pamela smiled once James opened his front door. "Is this a bad time?"

"Hey, come in." He held out his hand.

"Hello Pamela." Dylan greeted her from the couch. He felt a lump in his throat as she reminded him so much of Kelly.

"Hi." Pamela replied awkwardly. James quickly grabbed her hand and they headed to his room.

"My mother just lost it." Pamela shook her head, "She was so angry, she stormed off."

"Well... my dad and I talked about it a bit."

"You did?" She asked "And?"

"He didn't say much. Just that it was a long time ago and he wanted to keep his feelings about it to himself."

"Right." Pamela scoffed

"Come on, Pam. Whatever it was. It's history. Besides... I'd much rather focus on us." He leaned over to her and planted a kiss on her lips

"Hey sweetie." Brenda said, walking into her son's room and sitting beside him on the bed. "Your dad told me what happened... You okay?"

"Are you okay?" James asked her

"Yes." She smiled

"How did you end up forgiving him?"

"Hmm... Well, Jimmy - just like everything else in life... even a broken heart gets better with time."

"Can't believe you won't be here for Christmas." He groaned, "We've never spent a holiday apart."

"I know..." Brenda soothed, "But this is a big opportunity for me. One I've wanted for a long time."

"I'm happy for you, mum. Really..."

"I thought you would be." She grinned

"Just pray dad and I survive each other." He joked

"Hey... it's hard for your dad too. Being here - not working... give him a break."

"What a way to spend the Christmas holidays, huh?" Kelly groaned as she and Donna had a drink at the After Dark bar. "Steve's working, again! My daughter is off with the McKays... And I'm here watching you and my brother have the perfect marriage."

"Thanks?" Donna chuckled, confused as to how to take the 'compliment'

"I'm sorry. It's just I usually have things all put together and right now... Life is just a little crazy for me."

"Dylan..." Donna concluded

"Even when he's not in my life, he still manages to intervene." Kelly drawled.

"You seem a lot calmer about the whole thing." Donna observed

"Yeah well... my daughter alone is handful right now."

"And Dylan?" Donna asked

"What about him?" Kelly exasperated

"I don't know... Having to deal with it all over again - and explain it to your daughter."

"Oh well, she hates me right now."

"She doesn't hate you. She's just doing what teenagers do. Everything is life and death for them. Once you explain it to her, she'll calm down." Donna assured

"There's nothing to explain... " Kelly said after a beat, "Everything that happened between me and Dylan is just... details. And details don't matter after a while. We might as well have been two ships passing in the night. Never quite getting it right... That's all we got out of it in the end."

"No... you got a great love. However short-lived, most people don't ever get to experience the kind of passion you two shared."

"Well, I'll try to look back at it fondly one day. Until then, we're keeping our distance."

"I'm not so sure about that." Donna crinkled her forehead

"What?" Kelly groaned

"He's coming over here..." Donna signaled.