AN: GUEST: Your comment on the beach club flashback is the biggest compliment ever. Thank you so much! I really wanted to put that scene in because we never got to see it on the show and I wanted to do something different that I normally do with it in other stories, but I still wanted it to connect to the show. As for Rick, he is mentioned in this chapter and you will gradually find out more about what's going on there.

Since you have caught on that Donna might know someone for Kelly, and are hoping it's Matt, I still haven't decided between him or Mark Reese. On one hand, I love Matt so he's in a lot of my stories, but on the other hand, this is AU so I like switching it up and I haven't had Mark before. Maybe you guys can make the decision about who Kelly's date is. :D

Falling

I keep on falling

in and out of love with you

Sometimes I love you

Sometimes you make me blue

Sometimes I feel good

At times I feel used

Loving you, darling

Makes me so confused

"You guys must be hungry." Dylan said after carrying Brenda's bags in. James plopped his suitcase on the floor and stretched his arms.

"Starving!" James exclaimed

"Why don't you order a couple of pizzas?" Brenda turned to James. He nodded and proceeded to pick up the phone.

"3 Pepperoni?" He checked with his parents and they both nodded.

"So..." Dylan came to join Brenda once she sat on the couch. "How was it? How's big Jim?"

"Good." Brenda replied, "He's still got the karaoke machine."

"Oh boy." Dylan chuckled, "And how's your mum?"

"She misses you." Brenda smiled

"I miss her too..." He drawled. "Maybe next time I can pay her a visit."

After they ate, Brenda went to unpack her suitcases. James and Dylan remained at the kitchen table.

"So, buddy." Dylan began, "How was your summer? ...Did it uh help, you know, getting some space?"

"Yeah..." James nodded, "You were right. Getting away from Beverly Hills did help clear things up."

"Glad to hear it." Dylan acknowledged

"Honestly, dad." James turned to face him, "I had a lot of time to think over there and... I realized, I'm gonna be 18 next year. So if I wanna work things out with Pam... i think you kinda need to accept that."

"I see..." Dylan leaned back on his chair. "So you're gonna pursue things with her?"

"Look I don't mean to be disrespectful... to you or the situation with Cameron but... your past actions don't get to dictate what I want in my life now."

"Hey Tommy!" Brenda said, opening the door to find him behind it.

"Aunt Brenda!" He grinned, kissing her cheek. "Welcome back."

"Thanks, honey." She beamed up at him. "I'm so sorry you couldn't be with us... I hope you and your dad talked it out."

"You know your brother, Aunt Brenda." He joked, "But don't worry about me."

"Did you have a good summer vacation at least?" She asked

"Uh yeah..." He fidgeted, "Can't complain." He cleared his throat, "So uh where is he?" He looked around for James

"In his room, go on up!" She directed.

"Missed you man!" James grinned, hugging his cousin.

"I missed you too, man." Thomas said sincerely. "So how was it over there?" He asked, sitting on the chair at James' desk.

"It was good." James sat on the bed, elbows leaning on his knees. "The gang says hi. Billy... Denise."

"Yeah..." Thomas nodded before smirking, "But did you have any fun?"

"To tell you the truth?" James looked over to him, "I missed Pam."

"Really?" Thomas was surprised, uncomfortable and not too pleased with the answer. "But I thought you said it might be time to move on?"

"Yeah I know but... Wait a minute, you were the one who told me not to care about the whole sharing a sibling thing and go for what I want?"

"Yeah but that was... when, you know," Thomas struggled, "I guess I thought you just wanted an out..."

"Nah." James shook his head, "Being away from her, just made me realize how strongly I feel about her."

"Oh." Thomas grunted with disappointment. He felt guilty; he felt annoyed.

"So what about you?" James asked, "What happened this summer?"

"Huh?" Thomas hadn't realized he was lost in his thoughts. "Oh uh... not much to be honest."

"Where is my cousin and what have you done with him?" James eyed him closely

"What?" Thomas let out a nervous chuckle.

"A summer in Beverly Hills and you have no conquests to speak of?" James teased

"None uh worth mentioning." He forced a smile.

Pamela was in her cabana the next morning when Cameron came knocking on her door.

"Cameron!" She gasped, "Hi!"

"Hi... May I?" He requested to enter and she nodded enthusiastically. "Listen," he finally said once he entered the cabana. "Joey won't be bothering you anymore."

"What?" She crinkled her forehead

"I saw you, Pam." Cameron revealed

"What are you talking about?" Pamela let out a nervous chuckle.

"You and Thomas." He paused, "I know Joey's been holding it over your head. But he won't anymore."

Pamela was speechless. Cameron politely waved his hand about to walk out.

"-Why?" She blurted out, "Why would you do that for me?"

"...No one should have the ability to manipulate another." Cameron shrugged, "Besides... we're... kinda related." He shot her a soft smile.

She smiled back. "Thanks." She whispered

"Listen..." She began before he turned away, "I know it looks bad... I am going to tell James."

"You don't need to explain yourself to me." Cameron assured.

"Hey you." Brenda joined Dylan on the couch. They snuggled up to watch TV. He wrapped his arm around her and gently kissed the top of her head.

"You alright?" She asked

"Yeah... " Dylan drawled, holding onto her. "Better now." He smiled softly at her.

"What is it?" She urged him to spit it out.

"...I just realized..." Dylan swallowed a gulp, "I'm turning into Iris."

Brenda laughed, "What?"

"Our son stood up to me. He basically told me I can't tell him who he can or can't love..." Dylan pondered on that thought, "I had no idea I was."

"We're doing the best we can. That's all a parent can do." She assured

"Yeah..." He nodded, "I just wanted what's best for him. But I guess, he thinks that's Pamela."

"Yeah, I've heard all about it in Minnesota." She sighed

"Oh yeah?" Dylan tilted his head back to face her.

"He's got his mind made up."

"What do you think about all this?" He asked, stroking her arm.

"I'm not gonna say I'm thrilled. But he is growing up..." She accepted. Dylan nodded slowly. "Speaking of a shared brother. What happened there?"

"His parents have embraced us getting to know him."

"That's good. He is 18 now, so... they can't really stop him anymore." Brenda concluded, "...How was it?"

"He came around a couple times and... we had the uh dinner."

"With Kelly?" Brenda asked quietly

"Yeah." Dylan drawled

"Did she have much to say?" Brenda was not too keen on Kelly right now.

"I haven't seen her since." Dylan pursed his lips. He still hadn't quite digested what happened there.

Before Brenda could respond, she heard her phone vibrating.

"One sec." She said as she got up to go find her bag.

She found her bag on her bed. She picked up her phone and found 1 unread message.

Brenda, I know you're back. Call me.

-Rick.

Brenda let out an exasperated sigh before replying to the text.

Is this about work?

-Brenda

I need to see you.

-Rick

Brenda shook her head anxiously before typing

Rick, I'm married! Stop calling.

-Brenda.

Pamela opened her front door to find James behind it.

"James!" She gasped

"Hey beautiful." He smirked, pulling her in for a hug.

"Who is it?" Kelly called from the kitchen.

"Uh it's James." Pamela called back.

"It's good to see you." He grinned. She let out a deep sigh, nervous to look him in the eyes as he towered over her.

"It's... good to see you too." Pamela said quietly. Meanwhile, Kelly sneakily popped her head around behind the kitchen wall to see what was going on. Raising an eyebrow, she couldn't help her curiosity.

"But... um" Pamela shook her head nervously, "You didn't call. For 5 weeks."

"I know..." James said apologetically, "I'm sorry. I just needed some time."

"I didn't know what to think when I hadn't heard from you so-" Her voice started to tremble. But before she could say another word, he interjected.

"-Look, I know you didn't deserve that... And I know I didn't go about it in the best way. But I needed to be sure that this..." He pointed his finger from himself to her, "was worth it all."

"And?" She breathed out

"...There was a girl. I could've kissed her, slept with her even... and no one would know. But when the opportunity came, I... I realized I didn't want anyone else." He looked into her eyes. He couldn't read her.

She was filled with mixed emotions. Happiness, relief, guilt, sadness...

"Jim..." She shook her head, she wanted to tell him then and there, get it out the way. But she found herself unable to respond.

James cupped her chin, getting her to look at him, "Pam... I only wanna be with you."

He leaned down to kiss her. As hesitant as she was, once their lips touched she surrendered to the passionate embrace.

Dylan was sent to the store to get some movie night snacks. He found himself involuntarily taking the long route. For one, the drive often cleared his head. And two, it boded well for him to pass Kelly's house.

As he got closer, he slowed down. He thought about the many times he had come to this house his senior year. How giddy he used to feel when he was about to pick her up for a big date. It's funny how complicated it felt at the time. Now, he realized it was probably a lot simpler than things are now. All he could think about was how excited he used to get, knowing he was about to see her in a couple of minutes. Knowing that he would get to kiss her, hold her, breathe in her perfume, and bury his head in her silky soft hair.

But once he had spotted the entrance in his eye view, that fuzzy feeling in his stomach turned into knots. He watched Kelly, kissing another man, and unlocking her front door. He watched as she invited him in, and the door closed behind them.

Clenching his jaw, he exhaled. He started to feel bitter, tense and sick.

I never felt this way

How do you give me so much pleasure

And cause me so much pain

Just when I think

I've taken more than would a fool

I start falling back in love with you

I never loved someone the way that I love you