"Valerie Malone!" Brenda squealed the next week at the airport. Val grinned from ear to ear as she spotted her brunette counterpart from her childhood. Running through the crowd, the two girls wrapped their arms around each other and laughed. Trying to talk over each other, they collapsed into a fit of giggles as they went back to where Dylan and David were waiting. The two men waited for a few minutes as the girls animatedly conversed about all the plans they had now that they were finally reunited.
Finally, David cleared his throat. "Um, hi, Val. Forget about me?"
"Hi," she whispered, turning to kiss him deeply.
"Isn't it just like a guy to get jealous when all the attention isn't on him?" Brenda laughed.
Dylan looked at her pointedly. "Like you really enjoy being ignored, Bren."
"Hey, who asked you?" his girlfriend joked, elbowing him in the ribs.
He grinned at her and leaned over to kiss Valerie on the cheek. "Val."
"It's been a long time, stranger."
"Yes, it is, and I think it's safe to say that you haven't changed a bit."
"Never, I'm still the same old Val."
"Well, same old Val, what do you say we head over to the Peach Pit? Something tells me that there are a few people that would like to catch up with you, including Nat."
Brandon stepped back to check out the banner he had just pinned above the entryway. "Welcome Back, Val" was painted in bright red block letters across the white paper. He'd spent most of the morning with Donna getting the restaurant ready. Nat had even closed for the evening so that they could hold the festivities in private. He had been working all day cooking Val's favorite meals and making her favorite deserts.
"Everything looks great, Brando," Steve commented as he passed by with a plate of steaming French fries.
"Thanks, I hope she likes it."
"She will, Brandon, don't worry," Andrea replied supportively.
Kelly watched from across the room as Brandon fussed over the banner for the thousandth time. He had been nervous since he found that Valerie was coming back. Half worried that they'd resume their old feud and half wanting her to feel comfortable to make her home in Beverly Hills once again, he'd organized this party with Donna's help so that everyone and their significant others could get together. She was proud that she was in love with someone that cared so much about his friends.
"Kel, can you hand me that roll of streamers?" Donna asked from a stepladder beside her.
"Sure, here you go," Kelly muttered as she handed over the purple crepe strips."
"That looks great, Don," Steve told her. Kelly watched as he chivalrously helped her off the ladder. Donna kissed him quickly before blushing at their public display of affection. They still hadn't quite adjusted to everything.
"Um, I think I am going to help Hannah and Jesse with the cake," Kelly said before disappearing toward the kitchen.
Once they were alone, Donna reached over and threaded her arms around Steve's waist. Pulling her to him, he rested his forehead against hers and peered down into her eyes. "How are you doing?"
"I'm okay. This actually isn't as hard as I thought it would be. Valerie makes David happy, and in the end, that's what I want for him."
"And what about you?"
"I have you and Maddy and that makes me happier than I ever thought I could be."
"Good answer," he murmured as he kissed her again.
Nat flew by and cleared his throat. "Sorry to interrupt, my little lovebirds, but Dylan just called to say they are a few blocks away. Is everything ready?"
Donna surveyed the room and nodded firmly. "Everything looks okay on my end," she answered. "What do you think, Bran?"
"We're ready," he called as Kelly, Hannah and Jesse emerged from the kitchen. His fiancée crept over to where he was, flipping off the lights on her way by. Andrea tucked behind the counter with her family and Nat while Donna and Steve hid beside the jukebox. Brandon and Kelly hid in the hallway by the bathroom just in time for Dylan to push the door open. As the Peach Pit's signature bell dinged and the lights came on, everyone jumped to their feet and screamed "Surprise!" in unison.
Valerie laughed as Donna leaped forward to hug her. They'd been close off and on over the years, but the rapport was still there. It didn't matter that Val loved her husband, Donna was happy to see her. Andrea and Jesse were next to embrace their old friend.
"It's so good to see you guys back here," Valerie told them. "And you must be Hannah."
"Hi, I am Hannah Rose Zuckerman-Vasquez. Nice to meet you," she announced formally as she shook Val's hand.
"Likewise."
Steve was next, picking up the thin brunette and spinning her in a circle. "Valerie, I have missed you so much!" he laughed. Kissing her on the cheek, they just stood there and looked at each other for a few seconds.
"I have missed you too, Steve," she replied finally. "And you too, Nat!" she nearly screamed, jumping to hug the group's father and patron. He hugged her tightly.
"Val, this place has never been the same without you."
"I never had a better partner," she agreed. Looking around the room, her eyes fell on the two people yet to greet her, the one she wanted to see the most and the one she wanted to see least.
Kelly was the first to make a move. "Hi, Val," Kelly greeted her brightly, hugging her awkwardly.
"Hey, Kel, nice to see you," she replied absently, her eyes locked with Brandon's. Letting go over her nemsis, she carefully made her way to him. "Brandon," she whispered. It had been too long since she'd seen the only family she felt like she still had.
"Valerie," he replied, hugging her tightly. Embracing her, Brandon finally felt like his family was complete. Beverly Hills hadn't quite been the same until now.
"Can I talk to you for a minute alone?" she asked as they pulled apart.
Brandon nodded his head toward the door. Scanning the room, he noticed Kelly and David watching after them as they made an exit out the back door. "It's really good to see you again, Val."
"Do you have any idea how much I have missed you?"
"I think I can guess. I've missed you just as much."
"It's really hard to be back here," she admitted quietly.
"I know, but you can do this. David is here, and he is in love with you. Brenda is back, and Steve was psyched for you to come back."
"And what about you, Brandon? You have to know you're one of the reasons I agreed to move back to Los Angeles."
"The city doesn't feel like home without you."
"So I guess I have you to thank for this party?"
"Guilty as charged," he answered. "And Donna, she really put a lot into planning this shindig."
"Well, I will definitely tell her thank you. I know that once we go back in there I'm going to get overwhelmed. I just wanted to get a second alone with you. Even after everything, you're my best friend, Brandon."
"And you're one of mine," he agreed. "If it wasn't for Steve, you'd have the role. I just think he'd be crushed if I didn't give him the title."
"Well, if I'm going to be second to anybody, I guess I could do a lot worse than Steve Sanders," she giggled as they hugged again. David came out and breaking the intimate moment.
"Sorry to interrupt, but everyone wants to eat," David said. He eyed Brandon suspiciously. Despite everything he had been through with Val, he still felt like a second banana when it came to her relationship with Brandon. She'd always made it clear that if he would have her, she would run to Brandon in a second. Even though she knew that theirs was a relationship more based on platonic friendship, he couldn't help but be a little jealous of the other man in Val's life.
"Yeah, we should get back in there. It's your party."
"That's right, we need to celebrate my return!" she declared. "Val's back, and she's here to stay."
Inside the Pit, Kelly was peaking through the window at the conversation that had transpired in the back parking lot. Brandon and Valerie were close, and she'd always knew that there was something between them. While it had been mostly friendship on Brandon's end, Valerie had once revealed what had almost happened that night after they'd come back from Palm Springs. She still blamed Kelly for taking away her only chance with Brandon. Selfishly, Kelly was glad that she had showed up when she did because who knows where she would be now.
"Staring much?" Steve asked as he popped up behind her.
"No," Kelly protested.
"It's okay, Kel. They're just friends, you know."
"I know, it's just…it's just that it's Val."
"Trust me, if Brandon didn't give in when we all lived together, I highly doubt that he ever will. He's just happy to have her back in California. He told me the other night that she's like a sister to him, and he didn't feel like he had everything he needed here quite yet. With her back in town, I think he's feeling a lot better about building his future here."
"I wish that he didn't love her," she muttered.
"I know you do, but he does. She's one of his best friends, whether you like it or not. While he spent all those years not talking to you, she was in his life. She has been in his life longer than any of us except Brenda. When Jim and Cindy moved to Hong Kong and Bren decided to stay in London, Val was the only family he had here. He was the only family she had, and honestly, Brandon was the only person she could rely on. You don't need to be jealous of her. Yeah, Brandon loves her, but he's in love with you."
"Thanks, Steve," she said softly.
"It's what I'm here for," he shrugged as he left to find Donna.
Hand-in-hand, Val and David headed for the dining room while Brandon stopped to grab his fiancée. "You okay?"
"Yeah, Steve made me feel a lot better actually. I'm really going to try to make it work with Val this time."
"Steve did that? I've been trying to reassure you for years."
"Sometimes it takes an outsider to put things in perspective."
"Well, it's good to know that he's good for something."