Author's Notes: Many thanks again to those of you who reviewed.

This chapter starts out with Brenda, but then goes on to Cindy's thoughts. I wanted to get one of the Walsh parent's perspectives on what they perceived to be going on with Brenda over the last few days, as well as a little on their feelings about the ending of Brenda and Dylan's relationship five years ago.

Disclaimer: See Prologue.

Chapter 20: Kids

Brenda had been sitting in her room for an hour, mulling over the Dylan situation, when her mother knocked and popped her head around the door.

"Brenda? Brandon is out and your father's at work. How about we go and do some shopping? Just us girls," Cindy asked.

Brenda suddenly felt guilty. She had been in Beverly Hills almost a week and she had spent hardly any time with her mother.

"Sure Mom," she replied.

Mom and daughter had a good time together. Brenda was glad her mother had suggested it; she certainly needed it.

Since she arrived, apart from when she was with Andrea and Brandon, Brenda had felt totally disconnected to Beverly Hills, like she'd never really mattered to anyone there. Even with Dylan, she felt like it was picking up a book and opening it halfway through. She had missed all of what had happened in his life in the last five years, and he had missed what had happened in her life. It suddenly occurred to her that things with Dylan were a lot more complicated than the Kelly issue.

Were they still the same people that they were five years ago? Could they really pick up where they had left off, assuming of course that Dylan even wanted that. Sure, this morning he had seemed interested, but maybe his emotions were clouded by the baby revelation or the fragile state of his relationship with Kelly? Perhaps he didn't really feel the same way about her at all. Maybe she was just the "rebound girl".

Brenda sighed. She didn't want to get hurt again. Maybe it was crazy to hang around while Dylan and Kelly had problems. It just raised her hopes that she and Dylan stood a chance of getting back together. What if Dylan and Kelly worked out their problems? Where would that leave her?

Brenda felt the sudden need to talk to someone about this. She needed to talk to Andrea. Unfortunately, she knew Andrea was busy with Brandon and Hannah today. She didn't want to interrupt that. Brenda secretly had high hopes that perhaps Brandon and Andrea might find that they still had that same spark they had all those years ago in high school. It would be wonderful if they could work things out and the three of them, Brandon, Andrea and Hannah, could be a family.

She decided it would be best to wait until tomorrow to talk to Andrea, after Brandon left. Who knows, maybe Andrea would need someone to talk to too.

When Brenda and Cindy got home the house was still empty.

"That's a good sign," Brenda thought. Brandon was still out with Andrea and Hannah, so things must be going well.

She went upstairs to take off her jacket. A minute later, she heard her mother calling her from downstairs.

She went back down, and noticed her mother had a concerned look on her face.

"You have a message Brenda," her mother told her.

"A message?" Brenda asked, confused.

"From Dylan," he mother said.

"Oh," said Brenda, praying that she sounded casual. The last thing she wanted right now was for her mother to say anything to her father about Dylan calling. She could just imagine Jim's reaction to that.

Brenda went to the answering machine and replayed the message.

"Hi Brenda, it's Dylan. Give me a call when you get this. My number is…" Brenda grabbed a pen and scribbled down the number. She could feel her mother watching her as she did so.

"Is everything okay honey?" Cindy asked.

"Yeah, everything's fine," Brenda answered. She saw that her mother didn't quite buy this. She looked worried.

"Really Mom, everything's fine," she said, hoping it would reassure her mother.

Whether it did or it didn't her mother let the matter drop and changed the subject.

"I'm going to start dinner," Cindy said.

Brenda smiled. Her father would have never have let that drop so easily. It was a good thing she and her mother had gotten home first!

Brenda felt like she needed to clear her head. She had resolved not to speak to Dylan again until she talked things through with Andrea. Hearing his voice just now though made the idea of calling him suddenly very tempting. She needed to get out of the house, away from any phones and think for a bit.

"Mom, I'm gonna take a walk," Brenda said.

"Okay honey, but don't be late back. Dinner will be in about an hour or so," her mother replied.

Brenda nodded, and went back upstairs to retrieve her jacket. She said good-bye to her mother, and left the house.

Cindy was worried. She hadn't seen much of Brenda at all during this visit. She wasn't resentful of that, she was glad Brenda was getting out with friends and enjoying herself. That's what this reunion was all about after all. She had noticed that Brenda had seemed very quiet and thoughtful on Thursday evening though. When she'd left the party at the Peach Pit early, Cindy was surprised. Brenda had said she was going to visit a friend. What friend? Donna and Kelly had been at the party. Brenda had also disappeared out for the day on Friday, and again on Saturday afternoon, that time complete with several dresses. The explanation again was "a friend". Who was this friend that Brenda was spending so much time with?

When she and Jim had discussed it on Friday night before they went to sleep, Jim had been concerned that it was Dylan. Cindy had put him at ease then, by reminding him that Dylan had been at the party that Brenda left. Jim had still been suspicious though. After Saturday, it became apparent that the friend was obviously female, and this reassured Jim. Cindy was still curious though.

She couldn't help worrying about Brenda. Brandon seemed to be more together than Brenda was. His life ran on a smooth line, more or less. Brenda on the other hand had been down a rocky road. Cindy couldn't help remembering a few years ago when she learned through a friend of Brenda's that Brenda was on medication for depression. She also had learned that Brenda and Dylan's relationship had ended.

That had hit her hard. Thinking about her little girl so hurt and alone in London broke her heart. She wanted Brenda to come out to her and Jim in Hong Kong and stay with them there, but Brenda had refused.

Cindy had been surprised when she heard about Brenda and Dylan. They had seemed so happy the last time she'd seen them. Even Jim was warming up to him, albeit begrudgingly. She really felt there was a future between them, and wouldn't have been surprised to get a phone call from Brenda announcing their engagement, or even marriage!

Jim had felt betrayed when he learned that Dylan had left London and Brenda. He blamed Dylan of course for Brenda's depression, but also himself for welcoming Dylan into his home and accepting their relationship. He had trusted Dylan not to hurt his daughter, but that is exactly what Dylan had done.

When Cindy and Jim had moved back to Beverly Hills, they had run into Dylan quite early on at the Peach Pit. Cindy had had to restrain Jim from making a scene. Jim still had enough time to tell Dylan that he'd ruined Brenda's life and that he was sorry Brenda had ever met Dylan. Thankfully, Dylan had walked away and things didn't go further. Since that incident, they had been in Dylan's company several more times and both men simply ignored each other. Cindy was unhappy about this, but at least they weren't arguing or, worse, coming to blows with each other.

Cindy had been busy preparing dinner while musing over these thoughts. Brandon had appeared though, and interrupted them.

"Hi honey, dinner will be in an hour," she told him.

"Great," he replied, and then left the kitchen.

Cindy noticed Brandon seemed preoccupied. Oh dear, she hoped nothing was wrong there either. So much for not worrying about Brandon!

"Really," Cindy thought. "What on earth has been going on with my children these last few days?"

Kids, Cindy thought to herself. No matter how old her children were, she was always going to worry about them.