"Daddy!" Jim Walsh heard a high-pitched voice scream over a crowd. He dropped the leather carryon bag at his feet as his daughter ran into his open arms. Beside him, his wife was enveloping her twin son in her warm embrace.
"It is so good to see you," Cindy Walsh murmured as she hugged Brandon tightly to her body. Ever the warm matron of the Walsh family, she was never happier than when she was in the midst of her two children and husband.
"It's great to see you, too, Mom," Brandon replied. It had been far too long since they had all been together. Sometimes he felt childish to miss his parents so much, but without them around, he never felt quite like himself.
"Get over here, Bren," Cindy called as her daughter moved into hug her. Over the top of Brenda's head, she watched as her husband and Brandon hugged. "Where's my other daughter?"
"Right here," Valerie laughed, emerging from the crowd of waiting onlookers. Jim and Cindy took turns hugging the other brunette, relishing in being around the three people they loved most in the world.
"I am so happy to be home again," Jim said as he put one arm around Valerie and the other around Brenda. "It's been too long."
"Yes, it has," Cindy agreed as Brandon picked up her bag. Slinging it over his shoulder, Brandon offered his mother his arm and led her to where his friends were waiting. "Well, hello, Kelly."
"Hi, Cindy," the blonde replied softly. She felt out of place in the middle of the Walsh family reunion. Jim was fawning over Brenda and Valerie, commenting on how beautiful they had grown in the short time since he'd last seen "his girls." Cindy was too busy clinging to Brandon to really pay attention to anyone else. While her mother would probably be the same way toward her and David if she had been away for an extended time, she still felt like an outsider in the situation.
"Come here and give me a hug," the older woman insisted. Kelly smiled as she leapt forward to embrace her. Cindy had always had such a warm aura, making everyone around her instantly comfortable.
"What about me?" Dylan called from behind her.
"Oh, Dylan," Cindy cried.
"It's nice to see you again, son," Jim said, reaching out to shake the man's hand. He then leaned over to kiss Kelly on the cheek in greeting.
"Well, Nat insisted that I bring you both by for dinner on the house as soon as you landed. What do you say?"
Jim nodded. "I'd love to see Nat again. The burgers in Hong Kong just haven't quite matched up to those of the Peach Pit."
"Well, I have my car, and Dylan has his. Do you want to ride together or split up?" Brandon asked, shifting from one foot to the other to help balance out the heavy bags he had accumulated.
"Well, if your friends don't mind, I would like to ride over with you and the girls," Cindy said. "I'd like a few minutes alone with just my family before we get bombarded with everyone else.
Dylan and Kelly exchanged awkward looks. Though Cindy meant nothing by it, her comment had automatically excluded the mates of her two children. "That's fine," Dylan answered. "I'll take Kelly over, and we'll meet you there."
"Thanks, Dylan," Jim replied dismissively as he headed toward the exit with Valerie and Brenda in toe.
"I'll see you over there, Kel," Brandon said, kissing her quickly on the cheek before following his father out. Cindy just smiled kindly before disappearing with the rest of the Walsh family.
"Well, I guess it's just you and me," Kelly told Dylan.
"Not like they really noticed," he retorted sarcastically.
"Glad I'm not the only one who felt a little bit left out," she remarked. "I know it's silly of me. They haven't seen Brenda and Brandon for awhile. But what's the deal with the attention on Valerie?"
"C'mon, Kel, you know that she's just like family. There's no need to be jealous."
"I guess it just feels like I'm never going to be a part of that family like she is."
"I know what you mean," he said as they slipped into the Porsche. This was the first time they had been together since the breakup. The awkwardness was gone between them. They were in love with other people, and right now, they were bonding over their mutual feeling of not belonging. "Jim and Cindy have always said that I'm like a son to them. I know that they love me, but I still don't feel like I fully belong when I'm with them."
"Brandon, I am so happy you are marrying Kelly. She is a lovely girl, and I don't think I've ever seen you happier than when you are with her," Cindy said as she watched Jim and Brandon load suitcases in the back of his car.
"Thanks, Mom, maybe you could tell her that. She's been a little weird about you guys coming. I think she feels left out. I keep trying to reassure her, but somehow, I don't think it's working."
"I will talk to her, Brandon. I've been where she is," Cindy said knowingly. She climbed into the backseat next to Brenda. Jim flopped tiredly into the passenger seat as Brandon slipped behind the wheel. Within a few minutes, they were out of the parking lot and on the freeway toward the Pit.
"Well, how are things with Dylan?" Jim asked finally. He had mixed feelings about her daughter reigniting the relationship; it had always been full of ups and downs. They loved each other, and he just hoped that they would find a way to make it actually work this time.
"Honestly, they've never been better. We're not talking about marriage or anything right now, but I think we're finally in a place that works for us both."
"That's great, honey," Cindy stated warmly. "How about you and David, Val?"
"I think I'm finally in a relationship you would both approve of."
"You seem happier than the last time we saw you," Jim commented.
Valerie smiled and nodded. "I am. Honestly, I am."
"Good, all three of our children deserve it," Cindy declared as Brandon pulled into the back parking lot of the restaurant.
As Jim stepped onto the gravel lot, he looked toward the sky. "We're home," he told Cindy, putting his arm around his wife's shoulders.
"We are home," she replied lovingly, looking at her twins before glancing up at Jim. He pressed a gentle kiss on her forehead as they followed Brandon into the back entrance. Nat was cutting a peach pie as they swept through the kitchen. "Nat!"
"Cindy! Jim!" he cried, dropping the knife and rushing to greet his two old friends. They talked animatedly, their conversations barely distinguishable as they struggled to be heard over each other. Stepping into the dining room, they didn't even stop to acknowledge the "kids" that lined the counter. Finally, Steve cleared his throat to make their presence known.
"Steve," Jim laughed. Stepping to the counter, he shook the blonde's hand firmly. Next to him, a little girl smile shyly behind long bangs. "You must be the beautiful Maddy that I get photos of all the time."
"I am," she giggled before hiding behind Donna.
"Don't be scared, Maddy. This is Uncle Brandon's dad."
"You are?" the girl squealed excitedly.
"I am, and this is his mom," Jim explained, motioning toward his wife.
"Hi, Maddy, my name is Cindy."
"I like you, you're Uncle Brandon's mommy."
"That's right, I am."
"I used to have a mommy, but she had to go to heaven. Now, I have Donna."
"I know, sweetheart. Your daddy tells me that you've been a big girl."
"You did?" she asked sweetly, peering up at her father. He nodded and she blushed.
"Donna, how are you?" Cindy asked finally, hugging the girl over the counter.
"I'm wonderful. I'm glad you could be here for the big day."
"Me too. Brandon says that you two are going to stand up with he and Kelly at the ceremony."
"Yes, I'm very honored," Donna said as the café's door dinged behind them.
"Andrea!" Cindy cried as she ran around the counter to hug the petite woman. She held a special affection for Brandon's old friend.
"Oh, has it really been so long?" Andrea asked as she pulled back from Cindy.
"Is this Hannah?" Andrea nodded proudly. "I can't believe how old she is."
"Tell me about it. And you remember Jesse."
"Of course we do," Jim spoke up. "How is life now that you've moved back to L.A., Jesse?"
"We've never been happier," he answered as he put his arm around Andrea's slim waist.
"Hey," David murmured as he moved behind Valerie. She turned around in his embrace to kiss him deeply. "You look happy."
"It's nice to have them home. They're the only family I have."
"I should go say hi," he told her.
She nodded. "That would be nice." Valerie watched as David interacted with the older Walshes. Kelly and Dylan hung back slightly. She noted the look of discomfort and distance on their faces. An idea popped into her head. "Bren, can I talk to you for a second?"
The brunette bounced over to where Val was sitting. "What's up?"
"I think Kelly and Dylan feel left out of the reunion."
Brenda looked at where Dylan was stirring his cup of coffee. "Thanks, Val," she called over her shoulder. Pausing to whisper something into Brandon's ear, she followed her twin brother to where their mates were sitting.
"Everyone, I would like to say something," Brandon announced grandly. "First of all, I just want to thank my parents for coming all this way. I'd also like to thank Nat for throwing this wonderful party for us."
"Anything for my kids!" Nat called from the back of the crowd.
"I just want to thank everyone for sharing in this very special week with me. You are my family and my life, and without you, I am nothing. Most importantly, I want to thank Kelly Marlene Taylor for agreeing to become my wife. I love you." Kelly blushed as Brandon kissed her. Then, with a nod to his sister, Brandon led her to the middle of the café's floor. Brenda followed, pulling Dylan behind her. Jim and Cindy soon joined them.
Hours later, everyone else had left. Donna and Steve had taken a sleeping Maddy back to the beach apartment, followed closely by the Vasquez-Zuckerman family. Valerie and David had slipped out as well. Only Kelly and Brandon, Brenda and Dylan and Cindy and Jim were left.
"Well, I am ready to go home, I don't know about you," Brandon yawned. Kelly snuggled to his side, fighting to stay awake.
"Where are you staying?" Kelly mumbled.
"I think we'll stay with Brenda and Dylan tonight," Cindy said pointedly. She looked at Brenda, who nodded in agreement. They wanted to give the soon-to-be newlyweds one last night together before the chaos set in.
"Okay, we'll see you tomorrow," Brandon told his family, helping Kelly to her feet. With a wave, the blonde followed him out the front door and headed toward their car.
"Thanks for letting us stay with you, Dylan," Jim thanked him.
"Sure, they need some privacy," Dylan replied. "Jim, why don't we go get the car? That way our ladies don't have to use those pretty feet of theirs."
"Sounds good," he agreed. "Thanks for everything, Nat."
"Any time!"
Pushing the door open, Dylan stopped Jim in the parking lot. "I need to ask you something."
"The answer is yes," Jim told him.
"I didn't even ask the question."
"You have our blessing, Dylan You can ask Brenda to marry you." Dylan stared at him in amazement, Jim had literally just answered his prayers.