At the reception, events would change everything for the friends from the West Beverly Hills High School Class of 1993. As Brandon and Kelly danced happily, their friends watched on with joy and admiration. Andrea and Jesse were happy, finally deciding the night before to try their relationship once again. In David's arms, Valerie was happily planning for the future. They were running the After Dark together, and David was still producing acts on the side. The four danced next to each other, laughing as the slow song faded into a disco song from the late 1970s.
Across the room, Jim Walsh spun his wife into a circle. She looked at her husband and grinned as they mirrored each other's movements. "I want to come home," Cindy whispered into her husband's ear. He pulled back and grinned at her brightly. "Me, too." Hours of conversation were not needed. Three decades of marriage had left them able to read each other's feelings with a simple look in the eyes. In two short weeks, the Walshes were back in Beverly Hills, living in a Spanish villa just down the street form Brandon and Kelly.
"How about some champagne?" Steve asked Donna, offering her a flute of the golden bubbly.
Donna shook her head and covered her mouth. "No, thanks."
"But you love champagne," he insisted, pressing the glass against her hand.
Again, she shook her hand, setting it on the table beside her. "I said no."
"What's wrong with you?" he asked worriedly, his eyes searching hers.
"We need to talk," she replied, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward a quiet spot of the room. "I never thought this day would come. I never thought that I would have to tell you this. I never thought I would have to tell anyone this."
"Tell anyone what? What are you trying to say?"
"I'm pregnant, Steve. Two months late."
"Oh, wow, um, wow."
"I know, I know," she whispered, crossing her arms over her stomach protectively. "Look, I know you love me but you didn't sign up to be with me for forever. I know this is new, and it hasn't really sunk into your head yet. I know this is scary, but it's happening."
"It's not scary," he said softly, drawing her into his arms. "It's wonderful. Maddy has always wanted a little brother or sister, and I can't think of a child that would be much more beautiful than one that is half you and half me."
"Do you mean that? I mean, maybe you should take some time to think about it."
"I don't have to think about it. I love you, Donna, and I will love this child. We're going to be happy, I promise you."
"Excuse me, Miss Walsh, can I steal you away for a moment?" Dylan whispered into her ear. She turned and smiled, apologizing quietly to Donna's mother before following him onto the balcony. Dylan looked out across the sea of people below, taking a deep breath in hopes that it would give him courage. He tries to come up with the right words to express how he feels but they don't come. And, true to McKay fashion, he doesn't force them. Instead, he pulls the box from his pocket and drops to his knee before her. Taking her hand, he looks up at her expectantly. He doesn't ask, he simply tells her, "Marry me." Sliding the multi-carat diamond and platinum band on her ring finger, she smiles down at him.
"Marry you," she says, pulling him to his feet. He kisses her deeply, his pulse racing. Her heart is beating out of her chest as they pull back, fingers locked together. "We're engaged."
"And no one knows except your parents."
"So, we should go tell them."
"But, it's Brandon and Kelly's day…"
"And I'm about to make it mine," she laughed. As they walk into the ballroom downstairs, Brandon and Kelly are making their toasts.
"There are a lot of people here that know and love us all," Brandon began. "To our parents, Jim and Cindy and Mel and Jackie, thank you so much for sharing this day with us. We are both gaining two amazing parents, and we feel more than blessed to be your children."
"Brenda, David and Erin, there have never been better siblings than you," Kelly continued. "Bren and David, we love you both more than words. You are our best friends and our siblings. Erin, you're our princess."
"To Nat, you've been like a father. Thanks for always being there," Brandon said next. "And finally, to our gang…Brenda and Dylan, Steve and Donna, David and Valerie and Jesse and Andrea. Simply said, we love you almost as much as we love each other. For the friendship and so much more, we thank you."
"And we'd like you all to meet us for champagne on the veranda. Everyone else, enjoy the party."
The ten friends join their families on the veranda per the bride and groom's request. Rush and Samantha Sanders stand next to Felice Martin just behind Steve and Donna. Mel and Jackie are standing between Kelly and David. David's arm rests around Val's shoulder, who is talking to Abby Malone next to her. ON the other side of Kelly, Brandon is standing next to his father. Cindy is next with Brenda and Dylan on her other side. Andrea and Jesse complete the crowd. As glasses are passed around, Felice notes that her daughter abstains.
"What's going on, Donna?" she asked worriedly.
"Actually, I guess we should tell them," Donna whispered to Steve.
One hand resting on Maddy's shoulder and one grasping Donna's, he looks around the room. "So, I know this is Brandon and Kelly's day, but we have some news of our own."
"What is it, son?" Rush asked.
"I'm…we're pregnant," Donna announced.
The room erupted into a round of applause and congratulations. Even Felice manages to be supportive, much more relaxed since the death of her husband. By the time they are done, Brenda decides to dive in. "Oh, by the way," she started in a quiet moment. "We're engaged." The room dissolves into another wave of jubilance. After a few minutes, they head back toward the party and dance the night away.
Somewhere around two in the morning, thy friends find themselves alone again. Brandon looks around and smiles at everyone. "We're all home again."
"Some of us never left," Steve laughed, wrapping his arms around a very tired Donna in his lap.
"Some of us found out how to belong," Brenda said, smiling up at Dylan.
"It took us a little bit, but we finally figured out how to let ourselves fall in love forever," Dylan added.
"Or to reconnect with the one we loved before," Andrea countered.
"Sometimes you get it right the first time," Jesse said.
"And sometimes it takes a few times to finally get it right," David remarked.
"But eventually, we all have found our way," Donna replied.
"And it's the right way this time," Valerie retorted.
"And we're still here together, loving each other in one way or another," Kelly concluded.
"It's good to know that there are people out there who would do anything for me," Brenda smiled.
"I know that you all would," Steve acknowledged.
"That's the thing about you guys, I want you to know how special it is," Valerie told them.
"As an outsider who got on the insider, I have to echo what Val said," Jesse commented.
"That's the special thing about our makeshift family," David said.
"Some of it based on biology and some of it not, but it all stems from love," Kelly explained.
"That's good because you guys are all I got," Dylan chimed in.
"You're what I've always known I could count on," Donna continued.
"And it's what has brought us all home again, the knowledge that we wherever we are, we will always be there for each other…" Andrea added.
"In a heartbeat," Brandon ended.
Fin. Thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, loved or hated this story.