Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.

Chapter Thirty-Two:

Puppies were like babies- I didn't know that. They both were sharing a bed but cried out throughout the night for the toilet, food, water, and attention. Bren and I may have started the night begrudgingly for me in separate rooms but after our third meeting in the laundry I took her hand and led her back to my room; from there we took turns in getting up for them.

We needed to leave early to be at The Pit so we both woke way too early to the set alarm; at least my girl was in my arms it softened the blow from the lack of sleep. Once I had hit snooze and returned my arm back to its position of holding Bren close she stirred and kissed my chest, "Merry Christmas!"

I lean down and lay a kiss on the crown of her head, "Merry Christmas Baby!"

"Are the twins awake?"

"No I can't hear them, but I imagine after waking every hour throughout the night they are exhausted. I know I am."

"Hmmm regretting our new additions?"

"Not at all but I'm definitely thinking when the time comes eight is way too many."

She snorts, "god only knows where you were going to find a woman to give you eight kids."

"Oh I found her. She's about five four with brown hair and shares a home with me."

"Not if you keep thinking there will be anywhere close to eight. I'm crossing my legs just thinking about that number."

I chuckle, "we can negotiate later on the number. You ready for your Christmas present?"

"Ddddylan-"

I ignore the grumble and reach into my bedside table and pull out an envelope. "Merry Christmas!"

"We said and you promised-"

"I know and believe me I don't ever want to break a promise to you again. Just open it up and you will see I didn't."

She does and immediately sits up after pulling the paper's out, she's making sure she is reading it correctly. "Dylan you can't-"

"I have. This is our home, it will always be ours; you now just have the paperwork to prove it."

"Dylan it's too much, what if-"

I put my finger on her lips. "Whether it takes, day's, week's, month's or year's. Hell if it takes till graduation then it's okay I'll wait. I'll wait right here beside you in our home that is owned officially now by both of us and wait. This this is what I want, you are all I'll ever want. I'll wait till you feel it in your bone's, in your blood, in your gut like I do. I don't fear or doubt it anymore, I'm not afraid of the intensity I understand what it is now. It's pure love, it's undying, and it can survive anything- I know because I did my best to destroy it but it wouldn't die it just got stronger. It grew where it could, into our friendship, into our family connection, it is endless, limitless and forgiving. I know you worry you won't get there but you will. I know you will- I have absolute faith in us now."

She puts the paper down and gently lifts my finger and then she is kissing me, it's a kiss that you know is the start of something the type of kiss that sends you in a frenzy of need. It's a kiss we know we don't have time to start or finish properly this morning but I think that's her point. I think it's a promise.

I know she is getting frustrated with herself, I've seen her continually try and curb my expectations in fear that it won't be possible. I know it is. I know Bren wouldn't have entertained San Diego with me if it wasn't. I know she wouldn't have kissed me our first morning here if it wasn't. Bren is still not herself, she doesn't trust herself or what's in front of her, she's had it all ripped away too recently to see anything as solid. I get that, I get that better than anyone. It is why I ran from her, everything I ever wanted was ripped away from me and I didn't think I could have her ripped away too- so I let go.

It's funny that in letting go you expect things to float away, move out of your orbit, we never could. After the park that was supposed to be it, any other person any other love it would have been. Not us. Not her. We loved each other in spite of ourselves and that's why I know we will be okay.

We drive up to LA with the top up, Bren was worried about the twins getting overstimulated from the rush of air. They are in a cage in the half seat behind us, I think she was actually worried that Rebel may magically escape and make a jump for it- that little puppy was a handful.

As we drive the freeway, my girl is holding my hand while I'm actually enjoying listening to carols, it's a bizarre morning a bizarre feeling to be this happy. We drop the twins off at the bungalow that is currently vacant. Brandon will be moving in after Christmas, he didn't want his parents too lose the both of them in the same day so he's spreading it out by a week.

When we get to the carpark of The Pit I look over at her, "they'll be fine. They have the whole porch to explore and it's enclosed they won't be able to escape."

"I know I'm not worried about them, worried for the few pot plants we have out there as Rebel has really taken to digging but that's it. Do you think everyone will be able to tell?" I lift my eyebrow, "about us?"

I shift around to face her fully. "What's there to tell about us? They know we live together, about to start college down there, they'll hear about the dogs, what else is there?"

Her look of frustration confuses me. "Dylan?"

"Brenda. Are you there yet?" She lifts her shoulders, it's not a no it's uncertainty. Progress. I smile at her. "When it's a nod for sure will you let me know?"

"Yeah." And we are back to hesitation. "Are we kissing today? In front of them I mean?"

"Do you want to?" She bites her lip and shakes her head, "I'm happy to have this between us. This time I'm protecting it with everything I've got. I can wait to kiss you until we are alone again if it means less drama, less interference."

"Thank you." She reaches out and squeezes my hand. "You look very handsome today."

"Hmmm it might be the new shirt I found laying on bed after my shower- I thought no presents?"

"It's not a present it's your Christmas outfit. You always have to wear something new on Christmas."

"Oh you do do you? I didn't know there were Christmas rules."

"Yep." She looks at the backdoor to the restaurant, "we should go in. I hate having to share you."

"Dido."

Nat's thrilled to see us and delighted with the gift that we give him. Bren wants him to find the work life balance more and had arranged a weekend away for him at the end of January; it will be our second weekend back and it will mean we have to take a couple of shifts while up here, along with Brandon but the three of us are taking this scare seriously Nat needs balance.

Kelly all but ignores me though she fusses over Bren, which has my girls eyebrows raised until we see the giggles and flirt happening between Brandon and her. I bite my lip to stop laughing, Bren's back being the best friend now that Kelly has obviously set her sights on her twin. My girl elbows me to stop me from laughing out loud at the ridiculous show, how can a person be that ignorant to their own behaviour? Assume that a friendship, a person can be discarded and picked up whenever it suits their own whims?

Once The Pit Christmas lunch is served and the cleanup is finished we make our way after a quick detour to Casa Walsh. When we walk in the gang and their parents are already there, Jim immediately looks at me and shakes his head. "You bought her puppies? You know what happened to the one in Minnesota right?"

"Merry Christmas to you too Dad! And I was a kid. And it wasn't like anyone else couldn't have opened the door when he was tapping." The dog who got too cold, god she hates that memory. She holds Shadow a little closer.

Brandon breaks the tension by standing up, "okay let's me the fur balls."

Bren holds out Shadow, "this is Lord Shadow McKay and his sister is Lady Rebel McKay."

"Lord and Lady?" He lifts his brow at his twin, clearly amused by what he is sure is her dramatic flare.

"We were testing names all day yesterday and seeing what they responded to. Rebel liked Lady but Shadow wasn't keen on the Tramp, anyway we tried a lot of names these are the ones that seemed appropriate."

"B just call them Shadow and Rebel, Brenda's only using their full names when one of them does something wrong-"

"Shadow doesn't do anything wrong, it's Dylan's little Princess there who is getting the full name treatment."

"Bren she's just exploring, and you were the one who taught her how to dig-"

"I was gardening."

"Well to her it looked like digging."

Brandon cracks up, "less than a week living together and you sound like a old married couple fighting over the kid's."

"Nah Jones this isn't fighting Bren's just worried. We got back to the Bungalow and Rebel had destroyed every pot plant."

"And this one here gave her cuddles for it."

"Ba- Bren she was jumping up looking so proud I couldn't ignore her-"

"McKay who knew you were going to be such a pushover when you have kids."

I look at Steve and shake my head, I then walk over to him and place Rebel in his lap. "You try and stay angry at that face." She's immediately sniffing up his chest and then gives a little bark for his attention. He's putty in her hands in seconds.

Samantha looks at her son, "no Steven I will not buy you a puppy."

Bren passes Shadow to me. "Since Rebel like you is clearly a flirt your hands are free to hold him. Don't corrupt my little boy too, I'm just going to wish Mum a Merry Christmas and see if she needs a hand." I laugh at her sass, she adores both of them and as much as she pretends to be an angel Rebel reminded me a lot of her.

When I'm sitting down Erin comes over and looks at me, well more accurately the golden retriever puppy in my lap. "Would you like to hold him?"

She's bouncing up and down in seconds, David quickly moves over and sits her on his lap and then I lay Shadow down. Donna is gushing over the cuteness and goes to join them while Steve continues to play with Rebel on the floor, it gives me a moment to move over to the bar and grab a soda. Brandon's not far behind me.

"So Jones any news?"

"Well the puppies-"

"They are cute but you and-"

"B it's still not a conversation I'm willing to have with anyone even you. It's between us."

"Okay okay. You look happy though."

"Yeah I didn't think it was possible to be this happy. Our house is awesome. I'm surfing everyday. We read, or listen to music. Jack's records are currently on heavy rotation while Bren cook's. It's like our perfect little world."

"It sounds great, I'll have to come down and visit."

"You should come for New Year's unless you are off to a campus party? There's fireworks on the beach and I'm going to light the fire pit on the back deck. It will be very low key but-"

"No man that sounds perfect. Bren will be cool with company so soon?"

"Yeah your parents are coming down the day after Boxing Day, we got tickets to the Globe that night for all of us as part of their Christmas gift."

"You and Bren are doing joint presents with them? That should go over well."

"Nah well yes but your sister wrapped your parents separately. I'm giving the tickets and she's giving them perfume and cologne and some other things. Though speaking of presents." I pull out an envelope.

He opens it and laughs, "seriously?"

"Yeah I'm seriously not letting your two left feet hold us up. Merry Christmas Jones!"