Author's Notes: I intended to have Andrea and Brenda meet-up again in this chapter, but I decided to split the chapter into two parts as it was quite long. Their meet-up will be in the next chapter. There is however, a meet-up of a different kind in this chapter. ;-)

Disclaimer: See Prologue.

Chapter 6: Everybody Loves Brandon

It was almost 10:30 AM on Thursday morning and Brenda and her parents were back at LAX, this time waiting for Brandon to arrive.

Brenda was excited to see her brother. She hadn't seen him in almost a year. He'd flown out to New York to see her play, but since then work commitments had prevented him from coming to either of her other plays, or her going to visit him.

It would also be the first time all four Walsh's had been together in over two years. Jim, Cindy and Brenda were all looking forward to their family being complete again.

Brenda adjusted the strap of her handbag, and was reminded of the photo she'd put in there the day before. An image of Hannah flashed into her mind, and she couldn't help thinking that maybe not all of the Walsh family would be together again. She quickly dismissed this idea though. She couldn't keep jumping to conclusions about this. It would drive her insane at this rate.

Thinking about not all of the Walsh family being together made her think about something else. A tear formed in the corner of her left eye, and began to gently roll down her cheek. She brushed it away quickly, hoping her parents hadn't noticed.

"Stop being so stupid!" she told herself fiercely.

"Jim! Cindy!"

Jim and Cindy turned around, as did Brenda. Standing in front of them were Donna, David, Steve and a woman that Brenda didn't recognise.

Hugs were exchanged between both Walsh parents and various members of the newcomers. Brenda stood to one side, not noticed by anyone, not until Donna happened to glance in her direction.

"Brenda! Is that really you?" Donna exclaimed.

"I guess so," Brenda replied, as Donna moved to hug her awkwardly.

Brenda was forced to repeat this awkward ritual with everyone, apart from the woman she didn't know. She though bitterly that even Andrea, who probably had good reasons for not being thrilled to see her, had seemed more natural with her than her "closest" friends from high school. Everyone seemed to be just a little bit too chipper, as if on edge. She soon found out why.

"Kelly and Dylan should be here any minute," said Donna, smiling just a little too broadly at Brenda.

So that was it. What, did they think that she'd cause some kind of scene because of Dylan and Kelly? She knew she hadn't seen any of these people in seven years, but it hurt that they seemed to think so little of her.

Steve suddenly spoke up.

"Brenda, you haven't met my wife before have you? This is Janet. Janet this is Brenda. Brandon's sister, you know."

Brenda and Janet shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. The small group chatted for a few minutes, and then Donna got a phone call. She excused herself. She returned a few minutes later with some news.

"That was Kelly. Dylan's car broke down, so they won't make it. They'll be at the Peach Pit later for the party though."

"Party?" thought Brenda. Of course, they were throwing a party to welcome Brandon home. "After all, everybody loves Brandon," she thought.

Wait, that was a bit unfair. It wasn't Brandon's fault that he was so popular, and she apparently wasn't. It was like she said to Andrea yesterday. She'd moved on, and so had they. It wasn't like they were intentionally trying to hurt her.

"Hey everybody!"

Everyone turned to see Brandon walking towards them. His parents ran and engulfed him in a hug. Brenda made to follow, but found herself shoved aside by Steve, who practically jumped on Brandon.

"Brandon, it's so great to see you!"

Donna, David, Steve and Janet crowded around Brandon. There were hugs, kisses, slaps on the back – it was quite a heart-warming scene Brenda thought to herself. One that she wasn't a part of. She couldn't help it. There was her brother, her twin brother standing in front of her for the first time in almost a year, and she felt like she didn't belong, like she was intruding on a private moment.

Brandon was delighted to see all his friends again. Well, not all his friends. He noticed that Dylan and Kelly were absent. A few quick words of apology on their behalf from Donna explained why. He was caught up in the general excitement of the moment for a while, when he noticed someone else standing beside his parents, looking very out of place.

He brushed aside his friends, and approached her, his arms outstretched.

"Brenda!" he said quietly.

They hugged for a long time, each just happy to be together again. Brandon was happy to see his friends, but nothing compared to seeing his twin. They had a special connection to each other that nobody else understood but them.

When they pulled apart and Brandon smiled down at her, Brenda felt a pang of guilt. Would he be smiling at her if he knew the potential secret she was keeping from him?

………………………………………………………………………………………………...

"Brando…" Nat said, making a beeline towards Brandon as they walked through the Peach Pit doors.

"Nat…" Brandon said, using the same tone as Nat.

The two men hugged, and then Nat led Brandon to a booth. The walls surrounding the booth were decorated with banners saying things like "Welcome Home Brandon!" For the second time today, Brenda felt like she didn't belong.

As usual, Nat put things right though. Turning around, he spotted Brenda.

"Brenda!" he shouted, and pushed through the rest of the gang and made his way towards her.

He engulfed her in a big bear hug, obviously happy to see her. Brenda couldn't help smiling. Trust Nat to make a person feel welcome.

Brenda heard the doors opening behind her but didn't pay any attention. A voice spoken from behind her though caused her to freeze.

"Brandon, welcome back man," Dylan's voice said.

She caught Dylan making his way to Brandon in the corner of her eye.

"It's great to see you again!" said another voice, this time Kelly's.

Brenda stood with her back to everyone, not sure what to do. Now that she'd heard his voice, she wasn't sure if she could face him. Not right now anyway. Should she try to leave quietly? Brandon decided for her.

"Bren, get over here!" he shouted at her.

Brenda turned around slowly. Her eyes locked with Dylan's immediately and they stared at each other.

Kelly interrupted the moment, by approaching her and putting her arms around her.

"Brenda! I don't believe it," she said, hugging her.

Brenda could tell the hug was very half-hearted. Kelly obviously wasn't too thrilled to see her.

"Maybe it was a mistake coming here?" Brenda thought.

Just then her cell-phone rang. She took it out and recognised the number on the screen. It was Andrea.

"Excuse me everyone, I have to take this call," she said, and then headed for the back exit.

Once outside she answered the phone.

"Hey! Yeah… Okay… Actually now's a good time for me… Yeah, I'm not doing anything important. I'll tell you about it when I get there… Yeah, I have the address. I'll see you soon. Bye!"

She hung up the phone and turned to go back inside. She jumped however, when she saw Dylan standing in the doorway.

"Hey Bren," he said.

"Hi," she answered, not really sure what else to say.

"It's been a long time," Dylan continued.

"Yeah," Brenda answered.

"Boy, I'm just full of scintillating conversation today," she thought to herself.

"You taking off?" he asked her.

She raised her eyebrows at him. He smiled momentarily, and then explained.

"I couldn't help overhearing your conversation."

"I have a friend that I'd like to catch up with," Brenda told him.

Dylan gestured to the building behind him.

"I thought all your friends were right here?" he said.

"Yeah, right," Brenda muttered, and instantly regretted it when Dylan reacted to it.

He stood looking at her, nodding his head for a moment, and then shifting his gaze elsewhere. Brenda felt awkward standing here with him. She had to leave.

"Excuse me, Dylan," she said, walking towards the door.

Dylan made way for her and she passed by him into the building. He called after her.

"It's good to see you Bren," he told her.

She looked back at him for a moment, and then continued on back into the Peach Pit.

A few minutes later, after borrowing her father's car, she was on her way to meet Andrea.