"David, can you pass the orange juice?" Kelly asked, looking up at her brother expectantly as he handed the glass bottle to Brandon. Like the gentlemen he'd always been, Brandon poured the pulp-free liquid into the glass tumbler. She smiled at him gratefully, squeezing his hand beneath the table.
"Bren, can I get the bacon?" Dylan asked from beside her. She nodded and handed the platter to him. He threw a few crispy strips on his plate between the pile of scrambled eggs and stack of wheat toast.
Madeline was happily munching on grapes between Donna and Steve. Since their conversation in the bathroom, Donna had tried to avoid having any time alone with the father and daughter duo beside her. She had tried to explain to Maddy that Janet would always be her mother and no one would take her place, but the little girl was too young to understand. She only knew that her mother was gone and never coming back.
Watching the young girl go through everything only reminded Donna of losing her father. That entire process had been the most difficult thing she had ever had to endure in her entire life, and it was David that had gotten her through it. Looking across him at the table, she wondered where that man had gone. The person who arranged a final Christmas in her parents' palatial Beverly Hills home was long gone, leaving behind an angry, moody man who had grown to resent her over time.
Sitting next to her, however, were two people that needed her. She had begun to truly consider Kelly's proposal from earlier. While she wasn't sure that Steve would ultimately go for it, she had a fairly strong feeling that he would accept once Brandon argued all his talking points. The whole situation made sense, even if it was just for the moment. She'd just have to address the mother issue with Steve first, and then, she was certain that it could work out for all those involved.
Just then, Steve looked up at her, as if he had been reading his mind. In reality, he was wondering what was going on with her. She had been distant since before he'd taken Valerie's phone call. There was something going on in Donna's mind, and she seemingly had no intention of letting him know what that was. He was worried about her; she was running on empty just like he was. At some point, they were both bound to break.
"Maddy, slow down," Donna giggled, reaching out to grab one of the two pieces of sausage she was trying to shove into her tiny mouth.
Steve smiled as Donna tried to prevent his daughter from eating too much in one bite. In the next breath, overwhelming grief consumed him when he realized that Janet would never chide her for such behavior again. It shook him to the core. While he knew that his wife was gone, it was the little things that reminded him how much he would miss her. Suddenly, he felt the need to get out of the stuffy dining room. He needed air.
"Excuse me," he said hoarsely, pushing back his chair and walking rapidly toward the front door.
"One of us should go," Andrea said. Donna and Dylan exchanged a look. They were the only two who had experienced a great loss comparable to Steve. They'd felt an unusual duty to care for their friend.
"I'll go," Dylan volunteered, nodding slightly at Donna. Grabbing Steve's coffee as well as his own, he headed out of the room. Six sets of eyes watched as he went after his friend.
"What's wrong with Daddy?" Madeline asked worriedly.
"Nothing, he's just a little tired," Brandon lied. "What do you say that you and I go to the park this afternoon so he can take a nap?"
"Yay!" she cried. "Let's go now."
"Okay, go upstairs and change your clothes," Brandon laughed. He turned to Kelly. "Are you up for a trip to the park?"
"Sure," she nodded. "I should probably go back to the beach apartment to shower and change. I'd like to get out of these clothes."
"I'd like to get you out of those clothes," Brandon growled, dropping his voice so that only she could hear before addressing the rest of his friends. "Well, I guess we're out of here, kiddies. I will catch you all later for dinner at the Peach Pit."
Kelly and Brandon made their exit, leaving their four friends behind. David looked at the three women and knew that he needed to get out of there. Though he didn't think that being alone with Andrea would have any sort of adverse effect, the Donna/Brenda situation would prove far too tricky than he was ready to deal with. Wordlessly, he left the room like a coward, slipping out the front door past Steve and Dylan and into his car.
"Where's Silver going?" Steve asked, watching as the green vehicle reversed onto the street.
"Who knows, who cares," Dylan replied. "What I do care about, what we all care about, is how you're really doing. I know you and I haven't exactly been really close lately, and I'm not your best friend like Brandon. But I have been through this before, so I know how it can be. Everything can be fine, and then the smallest thing will set you off. I'd smell her perfume on an old sweater or run across a photograph, and it'd be over for me. That's why I had to get out of town, that's what took me to London."
"I can't run away from this, not with Maddy in my life," Steve countered. "This house reminds me of my entire life with Janet. The Beat office reminds me of Janet. Looking at Madeline reminds me of Janet. She's everywhere I go."
Dylan kicked a rock underfoot. "I know that you can't leave L.A., but maybe you could change your residence. Give both you and Madeline a new start, you know?"
"I don't know," Steve shook his head. "I don't want to change too much for Maddy too fast. She's already been through so much, so I'm not sure how a move would affect her right now."
"Well, think about it," Dylan prodded his friend. "It's amazing how a change of residence can alter your perspective."
Back inside the house, the three remaining women were left with an air of awkwardness. Donna looked down at the plate in front of her, trying to think of an excuse to leave the room. Brenda gazed out the window beside her, struggling to remember what life was like back in London. Andrea absently chewed on an orange rind, silently praying that someone would return to break the silence.
"Brenda, can I ask you a question?" Donna asked silently.
The brunette dropped her fork on the plate loudly. She had been waiting for the confrontation all morning. "Go ahead."
"Did something happen between you and David last night? I know you spent the night there, and I know that you two have been avoiding each other all morning. I also know that you got into a fight with Brandon. Something obviously happened, and I want you to tell me what that was."
"Last night, after we left here, David and I both just needed to let loose. He suggested this jazz club, so we went there. After too much tequila and a few slow songs, we eventually ended up back at your house. I don't remember anything else until I woke up this morning. We were in the guest bedroom. I didn't even realize we were in bed together at first. I can't tell you what happened for sure, but I can tell you that we both woke up fully dressed."
"So, let's see if I have this right," Donna spat hatefully. "You got drunk with my husband, and woke up in bed with him. That can't be all there was, there is something else you're not telling me."
"I kissed him or he kissed me, I'm not really sure. I just know that we kissed," Brenda said. "It shouldn't have happened, but we were both lonely. I'm not excusing what we did, but maybe it explains why it happened. It meant nothing, I'm not in love with David. I'm sorry that I did, and if I could go back and change it, I would do it in a heartbeat. But I can't."
"It's just so typical of you, Brenda."
"How would you know, Donna? You don't know me anymore. I'm not the same Brenda Walsh that you shopped with on Melrose or who followed around Kelly and Dylan like a sick puppy."
"You're right, I don't know you. The Brenda I knew would have never done this to me," Donna replied.
"Donna, come on, you don't know all the details," Andrea tried.
"Look, just because you feel guilty for whatever went on between you and Dylan does not give you permission to interfere here," Donna said. She stood up and eyed both girls angrily. "You both make me sick."
Andrea and Brenda watched as the blonde flew from the room, pushing past Dylan and Steve on her way out. Steve looked at the two girls sitting at the table and shook his head sadly. "I don't know what you did or said to get her that upset, but I think it might be best if you both left."
"Steve, c'mon," Dylan implored.
Steve shook his head firmly. "I want them gone by the time I come back," he threatened before jogging after Donna.
"No, it's fine," Brenda spat. "I shouldn't have come back here. I knew it was a mistake."
"Brenda," Dylan groaned.
"Me neither," Andrea agreed.
"Andrea, please stop," Dylan begged as both women tried to leave simultaneously.
Andrea shook her head. "You can't have it both ways, Dylan. You have to choose which one of us you want to run after. I'm not Kelly, and this isn't high school."
Dylan looked between the two girls. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do," Andrea replied, staring straight into his eyes. "Why don't you do us all a favor and choose Brenda? It's the choice you should have made years ago, and it's the choice you should make now. I have to go."
The man watched as she strode out of the room. A loud slam soon followed, causing both he and Brenda to wince as the sound reverberated throughout the house. Brenda hadn't said a word since Andrea had gone on her tirade. She had remained frozen in her spot, pretending to be very intrigued by her shoes. Dylan didn't know what to say. He hadn't expected the outburst anymore than she had. Part of him felt guilty for giving Andrea false hope, but a bigger part of him was glad Brenda hadn't left.
"Bren," Dylan said softly, moving close to her. She was still looking down, but he could tell by her slightly shaking shoulders that the tears were finally coming. As he walked up behind her, he leaned his head on her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her slender waist. She turned around in his arms, burying her head in his black knit sweater. His fingers soon found their way to her silky black hair.
Brenda pulled back and looked up at him. He rested his forehead against hers without breaking eye contact. They were so close that she could feel his soft breath tickle her nose. She knew that she had to say it now, or the words might never be said. "Choose me."
Steve found Donna collapsed on his bed. Her blonde hair was splayed across the bed, her face hidden beneath a pillow. Silently, he perched on the edge of the bed and started to rub her back slowly. "Are you okay, Donna?" She didn't answer, she only cried louder. "I told them to leave."
Wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, she sat up and stared at her friend. "You didn't have to do that. They're your friends too, and this is your house."
"I don't care about them, Donna, I care about you."
"Steve…"
"Don't talk, just listen," he interrupted. "I was talking to Dylan outside about everything, and I realized something. I can't stay here. Everywhere I look in this house reminds me of Janet. I don't want to live alone, and you can't stay with David. I'm going to need help with Maddy, and she's really latched on to you. I was thinking that maybe we could find somewhere to live together. Platonically, of course."
Donna closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "I don't know if that's such a good idea."
"Why?"
"Maddy asked if I could be her new mother this morning. I tried to explain to her that no one would take the place of her mother, but she didn't really seem to understand. She only got that she only had one living parent now. I don't want her to be any more confused and hurt than she already is."
"I'll talk to her, but please tell me you'll consider it. We need you, Donna, and I think if you were honest with yourself, you need us too."
"I do need you, Steve," she admitted. She didn't have the courage to look up at him. "I just don't want anyone to get hurt here."
"You're not talking about Maddy anymore."
"I'm talking about us."
"I can't guarantee that we're not going to get hurt, but I can promise that I'll do everything in my power to try to prevent it. I know that there is something here between us, and I'm more than aware that my wife just died. I'm not looking for a relationship right now, but I could really use your friendship."
"You have my friendship, please don't doubt that."
"I don't."
She slowly nodded. "Kelly offered the beach apartment. The lease is still in my name. We can move in there. We can do this. Let's do this."
David walked in the living room of the house he shared with Donna and listened to its still silence. Throwing his keys in the bowl they'd picked up on a trip to Italy last year, he had never felt so alone in his own home. He strolled through the living room and stared at the silver frames that lined the fireplace mantle. There were photographs of his family – Mel, Jackie, Kelly, Erin and himself all smiling over a birthday cake at Erin's last birthday. Photographs of he and Donna on various vacations and holidays. There was a photograph of the gang at high school graduation and different version of the gang on the day of their college graduation. The final was a photograph of yet another incarnation of the circle of friends on his wedding day. Lifting up the fragile frame, his eyes did not fall on his wife but another love from years past.
He had never been able to shake his connection to the dark beauty. She had reminded him of Brenda many times over the years, maybe that explains the attraction to his old friend. He hadn't been able to keep her off his mind since dreaming about her. A few weeks later, he had run across an old photograph of them together in his desk at the After Dark. They hadn't really kept in touch, but David knew that she still talked to some of his old friends. She'd kept contact with Brandon, and Noah would mention her every now and then. He knew that she was living in Aspen now, running a successful luxury afterhours club for the richest of the rich.
Shaking his head, he placed the picture back on the solid wood surface and headed for the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he enjoyed the cool air on his face. Reaching down, he grabbed a bottle of beer and propped himself up on the counter. Twisting off the cap, he blindly threw it into the sink. He heard the metal clink against the porcelain surface, its sound echoing throughout the cozy room. A blinking red light on the wall caught his attention. Aimlessly, he reached over and punched the button on the answering machine.
"Hey, David, it's Val," her velvety voice teased. "I tried calling you back over at Steve's, but Donna said you weren't there. I was hoping we could catch up. You've been on my mind a lot lately…I miss…just give me a call when you get the chance, you know the number."