Valerie Malone, better known as Val to her friends back in Buffalo, was not a happy camper. She was in Beverly Hills and should be out having the time of her life, but instead she was stuck here with her mom's best friend, Cindy. It wasn't that Val didn't like Cindy, it was more of the fact she hated pretending to be interested in whatever the hell the woman was telling her. Valerie had been excited when her mom had told her that Brenda had moved to London and she was sending her to live with the Walshes.

Yet here she was, once again in the shadow of Brenda Walsh. When they had lived in Minnesota everything had always been about Brenda. Her mom used to ask her why she couldn't be more like Brenda. In truth, Val couldn't stand the good two shoes. However, she realized earlier tonight that Brenda wasn't quite the golden child she thought she was. Apparently Uncle Jim really didn't like Brenda's boyfriend.

That was fine with her though, because it would make it easier for them to see that she was a much better daughter than Brenda could be. Something about Mexico finally filtered her brain and she snapped back to attention.

"I'm sorry, what did you say Aunt Cindy, " Valerie asked sweetly.

" I said since the kids and Jim have gone to Mexico, Brandon's girlfriend, Kelly is going to pick you up tomorrow morning and take you shopping, " Cindy replied.

" Oh okay. Why did they go to Mexico again, " Valerie hadn't paid attention close enough to that part of the conversation.

" Brenda's boyfriend, Dylan, he's missing and they think he may be hiding down there, "

" But Uncle Jim doesn't like Brenda's boyfriend. Why did he go, " Valerie asked innocently.

" Oh honey, Jim and Dylan have a love-hate type relationship. Jim doesn't always approve of everything Dylan does, but Jim does still care about him, "

Valerie fumed. Well, that could be taken care of very easily.

Kelly wasn't sure what to make of Valerie after spending the entire morning with her. On the surface, Valerie seemed nice. She was polite and oohed and ahhed over just about everything she saw. She didn't stop complimenting Kelly all morning and using the phrase that she wished she'd lived here all her life. They talked very little about Val's life back in Buffalo and Kelly chalked it up to her grief over her father.

When the subject turned to Brenda, Valerie was eager for any little detail about her life. Kelly knew she didn't like that. They talked about Brenda's relationship with Dylan and Kelly got the impression Valerie was trying to fish for information. Smart enough not to let anything detrimental slip, Kelly managed to steer the conversation back to Valerie. Brandon had told her that Brenda and Val used to be friends, but she didn't know how close and Kelly was taking her vow to be a better friend very seriously. The one thing Kelly did know though was that after spending a day with Valerie, that she was almost positive she was up to no good.

Brenda sighed as she left the bar. The bartender said he hadn't seen Dylan when she had showed him his picture. God knows Dylan was good at disappearing when he wanted too. In a way she felt like this was partly her fault. She should have told him right away she was coming home instead of trying to add a dramatic flair to her arrival. She never would have told him about her offer to stay if she had known about Erica.

That was one of the things she loved most about Dylan. He always wanted was best for her. Even if he was going to lose something. That was the thing though. Being with him was what was best for her. She had never loved anyone like she loved him, not even Stuart. Dylan McKay was one of a kind and she loved him with her whole heart, flaws and all. She loved that even though everyone perceived him as a bad boy, he was really a total teddy bear at heart. His capacity to love was astounding.

What she loved the absolute most though was the fact that he always stood by her. Even when it caused him problems, he never turned his back on her. Not when she told him about Rick, not when she was arrested, and not during the whole Rory Randolph debacle. Dylan had unwavering faith in her. That touched her in ways no one would ever be able to grasp.

That's what was driving her to find him. He had never turned his back on her and she wasn't going to let him think she had done it to him. With renewed initiative Brenda continued her search. If she were Dylan where would she go? That's when it hit her.

The beach.

Jim Walsh was impressed by his kid's loyalty to their friends. He and Brandon had been searching for hours and Jim was a bit surprised to learn his son and his daughter were both fluent in Spanish. He realized there was a lot he didn't know about his kids. Like just how deep the bond between Brenda and Dylan ran. She was like a bulldog with a bone, and dead set on her mission. She wasn't leaving until she found Dylan. He just hoped she was fairing better than he or Brandon.

She had been walking for hours it seemed when she finally spotted the little cantina on the beach. A few people were milling around beside it and she felt a spark of hope in her chest. A beach and a bar. Two things Dylan was sure to want. If he managed to find a combination, he would be set. She nearly broke out into a run in her hurry to reach it.

When she did she had to pause to catch her breath. The man behind the bar looked at her annoyed as she tried to gasp out what she was trying to ask.

"¿Usted ha visto a este hombre, " Brenda asked as she held up his picture to the bartender.

"Sí, He visto el borracho, " he responded annoyed.

"¿Cuándo? ¿Usted sabe dónde puedo encontrarlo, " Brenda asked desperately.

The bartender pointed down to a cluster of rocks. There was Dylan sitting beside them looking out at the ocean. Relief flooded through her and she almost fell down. Her first instinct was to run and wrap him in her arms. Even from this distance, she could see he drowning in his pain. She approached cautiously, her footsteps silent on the sand. He was so lost in his own world, he actually jumped when she spoke.

" Imagine my surprise when I return home and the one person I really want to see is gone, " Brenda spoke softly.

" Wasn't good company, " Dylan turned and offered her a pitiful excuse of a smile.

" When has that ever stopped me, " Brenda sat beside him and searched his face. What she saw there actually frightened her. It was the face of a man with no hope.

" You Walshes... you never do give up, " Dylan replied.

" Call it a character flaw, " she reached up and placed her hand on his cheek. His eyes closed and he nuzzled against her hand.

" I didn't have anywhere else to go but here, " Dylan sighed.

" Well you've got me now, " she kissed his forehead and pulled his head down into her lap.

They sat that way for a long time not speaking with Brenda running her fingers through his hair.