"Hey you!" Steve grinned once Kelly opened her front door.

"Hey!" She smiled back, letting him in.

"So..." She said once they were in her kitchen and Steve plopped himself on one of the bar stools.

"What?" He looked up after grabbing a handful of strawberries from the bowl on the counter.

"When are you going to do it?" Kelly asked eagerly with a big grin on her face. Steve laughed.

"...Actually that's what I wanted to talk to you about." He explained

"Yeah?" She perked up

"Yeah... I was hoping to get your blessing." He shrugged and she smiled at him.

"You have my blessing." She assured

"Really?" He looked into her eyes.

"Yes." She grinned, "Steve, you have been there for me during the hardest time of my life. And made it stable for 18 years, and gave me a beautiful daughter. I want you to be happy, and Janet is... so great!" She reached over and squeezed his hand.

"We have been through a lot together. We've been family forever." He acknowledged

"Yeah." She nodded in agreement.

"...Even our divorce is good!" He joked and she chuckled.

"So... how are you going to propose?" She pried

"I don't know. " He shrugged, "I thought of 5 different ways, but now I'm thinking... something simple. Have our love speak for itself. ...Is that cheesy?"

"No." She shook her head and smiled, "It's incredibly romantic. That's how it should be... you and her, in a place that means something to both of you."

He grinned, "By the way, Kel..."

"yeah?"

"What's happening between you and Dylan?" He had a curious look on his face

"What?" Her eyes widened. Why would he ask that? She thought, doing her best to hide her fear. He doesn't know. He can't know. "Nothing, why?"

"Well.. Last time I saw him, he was sniffing around... asking about Mark." Steve pursed his lips

"Oh." Kelly muttered. Phew, she thought.

"You got something going on with that guy again?" Steve observed her

"No." Kelly did her best to sound confident.

"Okay, well. Just be careful." He insisted

"I don't think I need to." She let out a nervous chuckle, "He's with Brenda. I'm with Mark. That... was a long time ago."

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Steve paused, "You never mentioned him since the day you left the hospital after Cameron. Even when he showed up last year, there may have been a curiosity, you know. I wondered if that would affect you... But I figured you had put it all behind you."

"Yeah. It is." She whispered

"Because you know, I cleaned up quite a bit of the mess he left behind." Steve added

"I know..." Her voice was quiet and Steve eyed her closely again.

"...He wouldn't get to you anymore, right?"

"Right." Kelly forced a smile. "...Steve. ...Where is this coming from?"

"I don't know. It's just when I saw him, he had that look... And I've known you both for a long time... and once Dylan comes lurking, that usually means trouble for you."

"Hey Cam!" Dylan greeted after opening the door to Cameron.

"Hey Dylan." He smiled, walking in.

"You're right on time." Dylan acknowledged, closing the door behind them.

"Yep." Cameron nodded

"So... you're in California University... I was there for a minute." Dylan smirked, "How's it going?"

"It's alright. I'm studying literature. Doing what I came to do." Cameron shrugged

"That's real good." Dylan smiled, he was proud of him. "I'm glad we're doing this. Me and my boys." Dylan said after a beat.

"Yeah... Well... it's been nice spending time with Pam and getting to know her better. I wanted to do the same with James. Speaking of, how is he?"

"He's hanging in there." Dylan assured.

"What do you want to eat?" Brandon turned to his son, while standing at the Peach Pit counter.

"Anything." Thomas mumbled

"Tommy, I told your mother we'll pick up some takeout so she doesn't have to cook. So hurry up and just pick something." Brandon's patience was wearing thin.

"I'm not hungry." Thomas shrugged.

"Brandon?" A familiar voice called out. Brandon turned around

"Andrea!" He grinned as she approached them.

"Hey! It's so good to see you!" She hugged him.

"You too!" Brandon then turned to Thomas, "Uh this is my son, Thomas." Andrea held out her hand and he shook it.

"Hi." Thomas was quiet but made an effort to be polite.

"Handsome... Just like your dad." She sighed.

Thomas forced a faint smile before heading to the nearest booth.

"He's going through something." Brandon said once Thomas was out of earshot.

"Tell me about it. My daughter just started college... she's a wreck." Andrea chuckled

"Hannah is in college?! Wow time flies." Brandon shook his head in astonishment.

"I know! Well, I should get going but uh... don't be stranger, okay?" She insisted

"Deal." Brandon grinned. He watched her leave, smiling to himself.

Once Andrea left, Dylan, James and Cameron entered the Peach Pit.

"Is this a reunion or what?" Nat called from behind the counter.

"Well, well, well." Brandon greeted them. "Fancy meeting you here."

"You remember Cameron, right?" Dylan suggested

"Yes, of course. How are you son?"

"Good. It's good to see you again."

"Jimmy." Brandon hugged him. "Tommy come over and say hi to the boys."

James looked over to Thomas. Thomas shot them a lazy wave. James pursed his lips and turned away. Cameron waved back.

Just when it seemed it couldn't get any more awkward, Steve and Pamela walked through the door.

"Hey!" Steve went over and hugged Dylan and Brandon. "Cameron, good to see you!" Steve patted him on the back. He had only met him a couple of times with Kelly, and would constantly mention that he was the first person to see him when he was born, after Kelly.

"Hi Mr Sanders."

"Hello Jimmy." Steve smiled and James shot him a coy smile back. Pamela remained behind her dad, dreading every minute of it. Thomas and James wouldn't even look her in the eye. Cameron gave her a gentle side hug. Dylan was always surprised by how much she looked like Kelly, and Brandon was busy looking over at Thomas, disappointed in his lack of manners.

"Brandon, your order's here." Nat called. Brandon grabbed the takeout and said goodbye to everyone. He nodded in Thomas' direction to get going, Thomas waved goodbye to Dylan, who patted him on the back as he passed them, before following his dad.

"You want to join us?" Steve asked as Pamela had already found a booth. Dylan looked at the boys and he could see James was less than enthused.

"Maybe next time." Dylan nodded

"Suit yourself." Steve grinned before joining his daughter.

James selected a table at the other end, and Cameron and Dylan followed. James glanced at Pamela who caught his gaze. For a brief moment, they acknowledged each other with no words. Pamela then looked down at the table, and James paused before turning back to face his father and half-brother, who were already deep in conversation about literature.

Mark parked outside Kelly's house after their date, and walked her to her door.

"I had a great time." Kelly smiled at him.

"Me too." Mark nodded

"You know, I was so afraid of dating again. Putting myself out there... But you've been so patient with me. And I don't know... Maybe... Maybe there's a future for us." She offered a coy smile, and he grinned at her.

"I guess this means... We're serious now." He smirked. She looked into his eyes and a smile spread across her face.

Mark slowly leaned forward, and his lips brushed against hers. She hesitantly returned the kiss and Mark picked up the pace, eagerly wrapping his arms around her.

It was going so perfect, she thought. Until he kissed her. The kiss was good but... she didn't feel the sparks she was hoping to feel. When it came to passion, Mark was a Brandon. That wasn't an insult to Brandon; he was a sweet, loving, playful and thoughtful lover. But Kelly hoped that if she had to give Dylan up, she would at least find someone else to love her that would swing from chandeliers.

Mark began to kiss her neck eagerly, failing to contain his excitement. Kelly struggled. She wish she didn't, but all she could think about was Dylan. Bet, he loves that, she thought, knowing that every other encounter now pales in comparison.

As Mark continued to trail kisses along her neck, she started to feel uneasy. She didn't feel comfortable. Damn him, she thought. If she could just stop thinking about him, maybe she would have a clearer understanding of her own feelings.

Next thing she knew Mark searched for her lips again, and as he began to kiss her, she suddenly didn't feel safe. She didn't feel she could let loose.

She pulled away. "-I'm sorry." She gasped

"Something wrong?" He asked, staring into her eyes

"Yeah, no." She shook her head, "I'm sorry I uh... I can't do this right now." She shot him a sympathetic nod before turning her key in the door.

Kelly headed into the Peach Pit the next day to grab a coffee. To her surprise, Brenda was already at the bar.

"Hi." Kelly said softly once she approached the counter.

"Hi." Brenda offered her a faint smile, before turning to Nat. "Nat, coffee to go."

"Uh same here." Kelly added. Nat shot them wink before heading off.

Just then Kelly's phone buzzed. 1 unread text message:

Where are you?

-Dylan

Kelly quickly shoved it back into her bag and turned to face Nat who had just arrived with their coffees.

"Here you go." Nat grinned at both of them, taking a good look at them "Wow, it brings back memories seeing the two of you in here again."

Brenda and Kelly awkwardly smiled back at him. "Well... Here's to selective memory." Brenda pursed her lips "Thanks, Nat." She added, holding up her coffee before heading out.

Once the door closed behind her, Nat turned to Kelly, "Everything okay?" He looked confused.

"Yeah... " She replied, watching Brenda leave. She continued to watch her outside as Brenda seemed to be arguing with someone in a car. She then observed as Brenda decided to get into the car. Once Kelly got a better look at them, she saw the driver was none other than Rick. "Guess closure is sparse in this town." Kelly whispered. Nat was barely paying attention, already preparing his next order.

Kelly took her coffee and began to head out herself. She pulled out her phone and began typing a text:

I'm not coming, Dylan.

-Kelly

Why not?

-Dylan

Kelly rolled her eyes and took a sip of her coffee. Just then her phone starting ringing.

"Hello? Erin? Aren't you supposed to be at school?" Kelly sounded concerned

"I don't have a class right now." Erin sighed on the other end.

"Erin..." Kelly warned, suspiciously. Erin ignored her tone.

"Do you know where David is?" She began, "I need him."

"No, I don't." Kelly sighed.

"Ugh, great." Erin groaned.

"Erin, what do you want?" Kelly probed

"...Could you lend me some money?" Erin asked hesitantly

"For what?" Kelly huffed, getting annoyed.

"Never mind." Erin rolled her eyes.

Kelly immediately starting dialing David's number when Erin hung up.

"Erin just called looking for you. She wanted money." Kelly began

"I'll call her back." David replied, nonchalantly.

"David." Kelly exclaimed, in a warming tone.

"What?" David asked irritably.

"Are you giving her money after Jackie and Mel cut her off?"

"Kelly..." David groaned but she interrupted him.

"David, she's not in college today. She's been spending money she doesn't have on things she doesn't need. Jackie and Mel have made it clear to her that she needs to get her act together, and now you're enabling her, by giving her cash behind their backs."

"Look, just stay out of it, alright?" David huffed, "Jackie and Mel have been claiming that she's going to grow out of her wild child phase for years. What's so wrong about me helping her out? This way, I get to keep an eye on her. I know she'll come to me for an emergency. She comes to After Dark all the time."

"It's not up to you, David. It's up to mum and dad." Kelly insisted

"Well, they don't have the best track record. So, I'm trying a different approach."

Kelly scoffed as David hung up. She then opened her text messages and began typing:

To: Dylan

Still there?

-Kelly

Sent.

"Hi." She breathed out once he opened the hotel door.

"Kel, I'm out of time." Dylan huffed, "I've only got about half an hour before I have to go-"

"-That'll do." She cut him off and kissed him. Engulfed in the kiss, he struggled to tear his lips away from hers.

"I..." He exhaled after reluctantly pulling away, "I'm sorry, I have a meeting."

"A meeting... with who?" She asked

"Your brother." He drawled as he went and sat on the bed.

"What?" She came and sat beside him.

"Yeah..." He scratched his neck, "Steve's selling his share of After Dark, so I might take it."

"Why?" She asked

"He's busy with the Beverly Beat and I need... something."

"I thought you wanted to write?" She asked in a soothing tone.

"But I'm not..." He drawled. He sounded disappointed in himself. She let out a soft hum.

"Well... I think you will soon." She assured. Her sweet tone was very comforting and promising. She smiled at him sweetly, which put a huge grin on his face.

That smile, she thought. I could wake up to that smile everyday.

He reached over and his thumb stroked her cheek. He then cupped the back of her neck and pulled her towards him for a long, longing kiss.

His arms wrapped around her as they leaned all the way back on the bed. He lifted himself on his elbows and his face hovered over hers and she lied down. He continued to kiss her passionately, holding her in his arms.

The minute she was in his arms, she immediately felt safe. She knew that she could let loose, go crazy, and he would be there to catch her.

She urged him to make love to her, which made it even harder for him to turn her down. After several kisses and a good makeout session later, he finally broke their lips apart. He struggled to catch his breath as all he wanted to do was immerse himself in her, but he knew he had to get going.

He got up off the bed. He turned to face her, and noticed that she was laying there, staring at the ceiling.

"You okay?" He asked

"Yeah..." She sighed

"What happened?" He knew something was up.

"Nothing. I'm just tired." She huffed, "Stressed and tired of everyone and everything."

He headed back over to sit beside her on the bed. Moving her hair away from her face. "Sorry, I couldn't make you feel better." He said, kissing her forehead.

"You did." She looked up at him and smiled. Their gaze into each other's eyes went a little too long and he had to forcibly get up to avoid getting locked in yet another passionate embrace with her. She got up after him and grabbed her bag.

She got to the door, and turned around to face him. He shot her a sweet smile. "See you soon?" He asked

As she locked eyes with him, she knew... She knew that she would be back. "I think so." She smiled back at him.

Whether they had said it out loud or not, the gates have opened. They're officially having an affair.

Dylan arrived home, took a shower and got dressed. He was heading over to the living room, but stopped in his tracks when he saw one of his old journals. He began to head over to pick it up.

He then sat at the kitchen table, grabbed a pen, and opened up the book.

...And finally he found some inspiration to write.