"Steve?" Donna yelled as she quietly shut the front door behind her. Stepping into the foyer, David took her coat and hung it on the brass rack in the corner. The house was quiet, unusually still considering the energy Madeline usually brought to the Spanish villa.
"I'll be down in a moment," his sad voice called from upstairs.
David glanced at his wife, concern obvious in his green eyes, as Steve's mom appeared from the kitchen. "Hello, David, Donna. Where's Steven?"
"He said he'd be down in a minute," David answered. "How's he doing? We're all really worried about him. He hasn't been returning our calls or anything."
"He's been quiet. He doesn't really do much but stare at the walls. He's been a little more attentive toward Middy today, but other than that, it's like there's nothing going on inside him. Even the tears have stopped."
"It must be difficult. I mean, we all loved Janet, but she was Steve's wife," Donna replied. "Is there anything we can do?"
"You're doing it now. Just by being here, I'd like to think that it helps my son. And the rest of your friends should be here any minute, so that will help too. He needs as many people around him right now that love him."
"Well, that's the thing about old friends, they're always there when one of us needs something," David noted as Steve came down the stairs. Madeline is in toe, staying close to her father as they catch up with David, Donna and Samantha.
"Hey, man," David greeted his friend, shaking his hand firmly. Leaning down, he places a gentle kiss on Middy's forehead. "Hi, sweetheart."
"Hi," she replied softly, escaping quickly to her grandmother's waiting arms.
"Thanks for coming, guys," Steve replied. "I'll go get you some coffee."
"Let me," David countered.
"I'll help," Steve's mom added before they disappeared from the entryway, leaving Donna and Steve alone.
"Hey, you," she whispered softly, moving into Steve's embrace. He wrapped his strong arms around her and closed his eyes. "How are you holding up?"
"Not very well," he admitted. He hadn't planned on telling any of his friends the truth, but somehow, Donna had always managed to bring out the honesty in her friends. "Looking at Madeline, I know that I have to get it together soon. It's just that the days are so dark right now, and I don't feel like anything is going to get better. I miss Janet so much that it hurts."
"I know," she reassured him, running her fingers across his back in a circular motion. She felt him relax slightly from her touch. "We all miss Janet; I can't even imagine how you're feeling. I'm not even going to pretend that it is. I know what it's like to lose someone you love. When I lost my dad, nothing and no one could comfort me."
"Thanks for not trying, Don. It feels like everyone has been trying to say the right thing, but nothing helps. It always ends up coming out wrong and it just frustrates me more."
"Then, I'll just tell you that I love you and that I'm here if you need me," Donna said softly, hugging him one last time.
"Hey, hey, get off my wife," David teased, handing his best friend a steaming cup of coffee. Cradling his own mug between his palms, he smiled and hoped that his joke would crack a smile. Thankfully, Steve's face broke out into his signature grin for a split-second before disappearing again.
"Funny, Silver. You kill me," Steve mumbled before the meaning of his words caught up with him. Looking away quickly, he pushed his own feelings away quickly and focused on the other people in the room. "Maddy, we should probably get you dressed. Everyone else will be here pretty soon. There are some people I can't wait for you to meet."
"Uncle Brandon is going to be here!" she cried suddenly, remembering that her favorite of Steve's friends was coming. Bouncing with excitement, she grab's Donna's hand and pulls her toward the stairs. "Donna, will you help me?"
"Sure," she told the little girl. "Will you guys excuse us ladies? We have a dress to pick out."
David and Steve laughed as the girls disappeared upstairs. "You know, that's the happiest I've seen Maddy all week."
"Donna has a way of bringing out the best in people," David agreed. "That's actually the happiest I've seen her in quite awhile."
"Things not picture perfect in the Silver household?"
"They haven't been for awhile. I don't know what it is, I can't put my finger on it. Maybe we're growing apart, but something has definitely shifted," David admitted. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be bringing this up now."
"No, man, seriously, it helps. It forces me to think about something else. If you ever need to talk about it, let me know."
"I will."
Brandon pulled the rental car behind the army green jeep parked in the driveway and killed the motor. Turning to his sister, he sees Brenda staring up at the house in amazement. "It looks just the same, Bran."
"Do you remember how happy we were in that house? I had so many good times there," Brandon replied. "First with our family and then with the family I had created here. Living with Steve and Valerie during college, they became my second family in your absence. And then, when Kelly moved in, I felt like I had finally started a life."
Brenda noted the hint of regret in her brother's voice. He had filled her in on most of his life in Beverly Hills over the years, and he had always been wistful about his relationship with her former best friend. Kelly Taylor was the love of Brandon's life, and even now, it hurt him to talk about her.
"Well, I guess we should get in there," Brenda said reluctantly before pushing the door open with her stiletto heel. Leaving their luggage in the car, the Walsh twins slowly made their way up the shaded path to the front door. Hesitating for a moment, she finally raised her hand and pressed the door bell.
"Ready or not," Brandon muttered under his breath, slinging his arm around his sister's shoulders as they waited for someone to answer the door. Finally, a tall blonde man swung the door open. His stony face broke into a wide grin at the sight of his best friend.
"Brando!" Steve shouted, grabbing the man in a bear hug.
"Stevie!" Brandon replied, squeezing his friend in return. Over Steve's shoulder, he could see David standing in the background. "Silver, long time no see."
"No doubt," David laughed before pulling Brenda into an embrace. "Bren, you look as beautiful as always. It's been entirely too long since I've seen you. I've missed you."
"I've missed you, too," she murmured into his shoulder, inhaling his scent deeply before trading partners with her brother. "Steve, how are you?"
"Better now that my favorite set of twins are here," Steve told her. They watch David and Brandon trade some kind of intricate handshake before Donna returns downstairs with Maddy on her hips. "And there's my favorite girl."
"Well, thank you, Steve," Donna teased, setting down the dark haired girl. Steve kneeled to catch his running daughter, but she rushed past him. Throwing herself into Brandon's arms, she squealed in delight as he showered her face with kisses.
"How is the most beautiful girl in Beverly Hills, Princess Madeline?" Brandon asked.
"Fine," she giggled before looking over at Brenda. "Who's that? Is she your girlfriend?"
"No, that's not my girlfriend. You're the only girl for me."
"Uncle Brandon!"
"This is my sister, Brenda. Brenda, please meet Madeline Sanders."
"I'm delighted," Brenda said formally, shaking Maddy's outstretched hand softly. "I've heard many good things about you from this one."
"Bren!" Donna cried, as if she finally noticed her standing there. The two women bubbled with excitement as they rushed to hug each other. David stared at them, surprised to find his eyes landing on his friend rather than his wife. Glancing away, he caught Steve gazing at them as well. His eyes were on his wife. Knowing that it should bother him, David felt slightly uneasy when he realized that it didn't.
"Donna, it's so good to see you," Brenda bubbled before letting go of her friend. She watched as Donna gave her brother a side hug and then looked around the room. David was staring at her, causing Brenda to blush. Glancing down at her feet and then back up at David, she felt so self-conscious to have him looking at her like that.
"Yes, it's good to see you all," Brandon agreed as the door bell rang again. "Who could that be?"
"Our next guests have arrived," Madeline gasped excitedly, squirming until Brandon sat her on her feet. Running back into the foyer, she pulled the heavy front door open and gaped at the woman on the stoop. "Who are you?"
"That is Andrea Zuckerman," Steve answered from behind his daughter. Sweeping his old friend off her feet, he spun them in a circle and laughed. "It is so good to see you. Thank you for coming."
"Of course, there is nowhere else I would be right now," she said into his ear as he kissed her cheek chastely. Taking his hand, she allowed Steve to guide her into the living room where all their friends were waiting. "Looks like most of the gang is here already."
"Andrea," Brenda and Donna uttered in unison. Andrea let go of Steve's hand and leapt forward to hug her old friends.
"The Peach Pit Sorority is almost back together," Andrea laughed.
"Do you have pictures of Hannah? She must be so big by now," Brenda inquired.
"You haven't seen her in such a long time, Bren," Andrea replied. "It's amazing. She's this whole little person now. Half-child and half-adult, she's something else."
Brenda and Donna started to pour over the envelope of photographs as David and Brandon moved into hug the sixth member of their clique to arrive. "You look great, Andrea. How's Jesse?" David asked.
"Um, we got divorced last year," she answered. "But he's good. Hannah's is staying with him back in Boston this weekend. He told me to tell everyone hello."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, David. You didn't know, and that's my fault. I was ashamed to let anyone know."
"Even me, Chief?" Brandon asked, kissing her on the forehead. Looking down at his old friend and former role model, he feels like he knew her in an entirely different life. They'd put little effort into staying in touch, despite their close locations.
"Brandon, it's been a long time."
"I know, I'm sorry."
"It's just as much my fault as it is yours. The telephone works both ways."
"Well, you're here now, and that's all that matters," Steve replied for the group, putting one arm around her waist and the other around Brandon's. The sadness that had consumed him only an hour ago was starting to dissipate from his body. Though the grief was still there, he was slowly finding a way to bury it for the moment. Having his old friends around him reminded him exactly how much he had to live for. Letting his loss overtake his life wasn't good for anyone, especially Madeline. "Andrea, I would like you to meet the love of my life. This is Madeline Sanders. Maddy, this is Andrea."
"I've heard of you," the little girl mused. "You're the smart one."
"That she is, Princess," Brandon laughed, patting the girl's hair lovingly. Andrea watched her old friend for a moment, taken aback by his affection for the little girl. It was unnerving to see the connection he shared with her.
"I thought you hadn't been back to L.A. for years. That's what Steve said the other night on the phone," Andrea said to Brandon.
"I haven't."
"Then, how does she know you so well?"
"Well, Steve has been out to see me a few times, and we talk regularly. Besides, Maddy has mastered the art of web conferencing, so I see my favorite girl all the time."
"Brandon is at the top of my buddy list," Madeline said proudly.
The door bell chimed once again. "That must be Kelly and Dylan," Donna retorted. "I'll get it."
Brandon and Brenda exchanged looks. Both were nervous to see their former loves for the first time in many years. They knew that Kelly and Dylan were living together and had talked about marriage. And despite moving on with their own lives, both had admitted on the car ride in that it was going to be hard to see them together. Glancing at Brandon and then over at David, she had a feeling that it was going to be much harder on her brother than it was hers.
"Hey, Kel," Donna remarked nonchalantly as she ushered the final two in the door. They saw each other all the time, so their greetings weren't filled with any grand emotions. After stopping to briefly greet David and Steve, Kelly locked eyes with Brandon. His eyes were burning into hers from across the room before Andrea and Brenda ambled over to hug her.
"Bren, you look amazing," Kelly complimented, hugging her petite friend warmly. "I just read your latest review, congratulations."
Brenda laughed nervously. "Thanks. You look great."
"So does Dr. Zuckerman," Kelly replied. "Those photo updates do not do you justice, my friend."
"Thanks, Kel," Andrea replied, hugging her near. Over her friend's shoulder, Kelly looked up at Brandon again. His gaze had not left her, if anything it had only grown more intense. As she let go of Andrea, she felt magnetically drawn into her ex-boyfriend's arms.
"Kelly," Brandon whispered softly into her hair as he took her in his arms. As soon as his fingertips brushed against her smooth, warm skin, everything else in the room faded away. Neither of them said anything, they only became lost in the moment.
Meanwhile, Dylan hugged Brenda. Looking down at the dark-haired beauty, he had expected to feel a twinge of something. However, as she smiled back up at him, he felt only friendship for his old girlfriend. "How you been, Bren?"
"I've been good, D. How are things with you?"
"Business is good. Life is good."
"Hey, Bren, can you help me in the kitchen?" David called over his shoulder.
"Sure," she said automatically. "I'll talk to you later."
Dylan stared after her, watching as she enthusiastically followed David. Unless his Brenda Detector was malfunctioning, he definitely sensed some strong vibes between her and the Young Silver. Glancing over, he noted that Donna was wrapped up in an intimate conversation with Steve. Yes, something was definitely brewing in Casa Walsh. However, he wasn't given much more time to think about it as an old familiar face was soon in front of him. "Andrea Zuckerman, as I live and breathe."
"Dylan McKay, my favorite writer," she smiled, hugging him tightly. Unbeknownst to everyone in the room, including Kelly, Dylan and Andrea had been exchanging emails for quite some time. Since he had begun writing his book, he had picked the brain of the former editor for help. After agreeing to become his beta reader and occasional editor, Andrea and Dylan had struck up their friendship after many years apart. Looking down at her now, he realized that he felt closer to her than almost anyone else in the room.
"I'm really glad you're here," she mumbled into his chest. "It felt really awkward without you here. I feel like I don't know anyone anymore. Like these people aren't my friends, you know?"
"I know exactly what you mean," he said. Despite the fact that he saw David, Donna and Steve frequently, he had felt the same way, especially lately. He had always been closer to Brandon and Brenda, so after he came back to the city, it had always felt strange without them here. And since he and Andrea had started corresponding, he'd begun to miss her as well.
Looking around the room, he felt at peace with Andrea near him. As the friends had started to break off into pairs, he noted that it was as if the deck had been shuffled and randomly dealt into couples that made absolutely no sense. David and Brenda were laughing in the kitchen, Donna and Steve were still lost in their own conversation in the corner, and Brandon and Kelly were staring at each other silently. Well, actually, one duo made sense. He should probably be jealous but after the way things had been between them lately, he couldn't gather the energy to muster ill feelings toward the two. In reality, as he looked at his friends, it was almost as if this was the way things were meant to be.