Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.

Chapter Eighteen

By the time I reached the upstairs cabana Dad was lecturing Brenda about responsibility and respect; how even if they approached she should have apologised to Iris and walked away. My mother was trying to play the translator to our father, softening his more upsetting remarks or threats. Bren was standing her ground on very few points- it was very unlike her. She was even trying hard to tone down everyone's anger of the situation. It wasn't the scene or the sister I thought I would be walking in on.

As I move into the room I give her a quizzical look over Dad's shoulder, Bren was headstrong and fierce, especially on things she cared about, and she didn't just care for Dylan. When she gives me no indication on why she is behaving in this passive way I step in and interrupt the conversation. "Dad she can't avoid his parents or him today, the club is packed and everyone is here. You don't want them to be alone together they won't be with this madhouse but it's unrealistic to think that she can stay clear-"

"Stay out of this Brandon, this is between your sister and us."

My exasperation at my father rises up immediately, since overhearing Iris that day it was always close to the surface now. "No Dad it's not. You made sure of that when you threatened my best friend, a guy who saved my life on the rock face in Yosemite, a guy who has stood by both of us, who has done everything he could to please this family."

I'm shocked when it's not my Dad or Mum who reply but my twin, "Brandon thank you but Dad's made up his mind-" I raise both my eyebrows at that… why the hell isn't she standing up for Dylan for the both of them. She reads my face and responds, "Paris has given me a new perspective on family and how it's important to sacrifice some of your wants to ensure you protect your family. Dad and Mum obviously feel that the Walsh family is under threat here, and are doing what they think is best. It doesn't mean I like it, and that I didn't… don't hope we can find a more reasonable solution. Look Dylan and I agreed to stop being boyfriend and girlfriend, we agreed to only go out socially when it's the eight of us, but I will run into him in the hall, I may sit in the same room with him, we may bump into each other at the club or The Pit… I can't avoid that but we will respect your rules we won't date, we won't socialise go out unless it's the eight of us, but you have to trust me a little, you have to give me space to show you that we are adhering to your rules."

"Brenda we can do that but your father and I have significant concerns about you spending time with Jack McKay-"

"Mum I'm not having lunch with him, I'm not chatting for hours, I didn't even shake his hand. I stood three feet from him and spoke only three sentences all about our sand castle entry. Like I've said a couple of times since I got up here, if the conversation continued I would have excused myself."

"How can we trust you will do the right thing for the rest of the day?"

"Dad you will just have to take me at my word. I know what I'm risking by not following through. I love Val and I'd love to spend time with her again but I want this year here with my friends, I want to graduate with my twin."

"Bren believe me we will graduate together. If you go to buffalo I go to Buffalo." My sister gives me a smile in thanks for the support.

"Brandon that's not-"

"Dad she's my twin, we have always hated being separated and I'm not willing to-"

Mum still playing peacemaker jumps in and obviously not willing to hear my promise to follow my twin, "of course of course. Look let's hope, and from Brenda's words it appears she understands where we are coming from… let's just hope we don't need to take up Abby and Victor's generous offer." My mum then looks at her watch, "Jim we are meeting your clients the Carson's for tennis and drinks in a few minutes. We need to get going, and I'm sure Brandon need's to get back to work. Brenda-"

"I'll be at the sandcastle competition for most of the day, but we will be on the deck for lunch if that's okay?" The sincerity she asks that in was not fake, and I think if they had told her to stay in the cabana all day she would have. What the hell is going on with her?

"Lunch with just the girls?"

"Yeah Dad that was the plan we wanted to have a day just the three of us but maybe Steve and David may join us."

"Okay, your mother and I are trusting you don't let us down again." When she didn't bite back that she didn't break their rules the first time I knew something was seriously up. I hung back a few minutes till they left.

"Okay what's going on?"

"Nothing-"

"Don't, it's me remember. I have your and Dylan's back on this."

She smiles and walks over to me and gives me a hug, "we know you do but we just don't want to rock the boat-"

"For how long?" She pulls back and gives me a blank smile, she isn't giving anything away. "Fine just answer me this, did you guy's really break up?"

"Dylan and I agreed we didn't want to be boyfriend and girlfriend any longer, it didn't feel right… it hadn't felt right since he came back from dad's office."

"You love him though?"

She finally gives me her beaming smile, "absolutely. Hopelessly. Look Brandon, we are aware that it's unfair to put you in the middle, and before you say you wouldn't be that we have your support, we know that. But we don't want Casa Walsh at war like before the summer or even during the summer. Dylan's getting to know his parents and I want that for him, I want that for all of them, and he wants that for himself. He's going to focus on that for the next few months and hopefully in a couple of months this has all settled down and they'll be more reasonable."

"You're both being very mature, grownup about this."

"It's what we agreed to do. To take the grownup path."

"Does it suck?"

"A little but it has a whole lot more to offer than a a couple of months of us being uncomfortable, and missing the other."

I can see even though she isn't saying anything and trying to be brave that she hates being separated from him. Deciding to lighten the mood I try and raise her green eyed monster by putting on a mock serious face. "Wait if you guy's aren't dating does that mean he can see other women because I'd like to know, I don't want another Emily situation?"

She rolls her eyes completely aware of my attempts to rile her up. "None of us want another Emily situation, and no I'd kill him if he even thought about it which he won't." I give her a curious look she wasn't scared in the least but then I remembered last summer, even broken up he was devoted to her. He didn't look at any other women, I guess it's another one of those separations for these two; it makes sense given my parents current behaviour. Before I know it my smart ass twin is turning the tables on my teasing game, "now why do you care about Dylan being competition for you, you have a girlfriend?"

"Come sister dear let me tell you about my weird conversations with Brooke today."

The girls and I eventually manage to make enough headway to stop for lunch. It's looking okay but I don't think we are in with a shot for the amateur competition but it's been fun anyway, especially the catching up on all our news. Kelly's stories about living with David had me vocally celebrating that I finally had a friend who understands the pain of having a teenage brother. She seemed to like the idea as well that we could commiserate on the struggle, Donna though feels the need to defend her boyfriend. It was this defence that had Kelly and I laughing as she tried to justify his constant need for headphones and as Kelly put it near compulsive need to dance down the hallway at home.

When we make it to the deck our laughter sees Brandon walk over and ask to be let in on the joke. He finds it less funny than us that Kelly and I are sharing horror stories of having teenage brothers and swears to get even by finding young Silver to raise his grievances about the pains of sister's. As I teasingly push him Henry walks up to us. "I see you are putting your brother in his place- glad someone can, he gets way too much praise from the members around here."

"I know Henry he seems annoyingly perfect but believe me he's not. I'll happily-" I'm stopped by my brother jokingly putting his hand over my mouth.

"Let's leave me at perfect okay little sis."

As I elbow him in the stomach to let me go , Henry asks if we are here for lunch. Once we confirm we are and preferably something with light shade he sees us to a table that is next to where the other McKay's are residing. I give Brandon a look and once Henry's gone smiles at me with a hint of mischief. "Sorry I can't move you, with the club so busy today Henry is personally overseeing the lunch seating's and kitchen rush. He wants everyone to be relaxed and not waiting in the heat so I'm sorry I can't move you." There is not a trace of any sympathy in his voice at all- he's a great brother.

"How's the Paris map going ladies?"

I look over the foot and half gap between my husband and I, and see his sparkling eyes. While I'm appreciating the view of him and seeing how relaxed he is around his parents Kelly answers for us. "It's going well, though Andrea's group is most likely going to win."

"That's the bat mobile right?" Dylan nods at his dad, "well it was looking pretty good even when we arrived earlier but ladies I'm sure you are just being modest." I give Jack a subtle shake of my head and Iris chuckles into her ice tea while Jack silently laughs at my honesty- we weren't going to win.

A few minutes later Steve comes over along with David to join us for lunch but both are snappy at each other due to Steve being unable to secure David the spot for tonight's entertainment. Dylan looks at me and gives me a teasing smile and I know he's remembering our conversation on why Steve would not be managing my acting career. Andrea having returned the kids to their parents for their lunch break comes and joins us, well joins the McKay table as ours is full. It gives Dylan and her time to chat about the pages he'll be editing this year. The others not knowing this listen in interest, though no one is more keen than Jack to hear about his son's plan's. Iris reaches out to squeeze my hand between the two tables, she's thrilled to see Jack be the father he always was supposed to be.

As we are finishing off our lunch Mel and Jackie bring over baby Erin and Kelly beam's. As I stand to see the little miniature wispy blonde, Jackie asks if I would like to hold her. Her being a newborn when I left meant I hadn't formally met the little girl and so I eagerly agreed. As I'm rocking her I refuse to look at my husband as I know what I will see on his face and that would send even warning bells I imagine to my in-laws to know how Dylan had already begun to plan this stage of our lives- though it would be a good few years away unless fate intervened.

"I can't believe how big she is, she fitted into my hand when we babysat her only a few weeks ago. Didn't she Kel?"

"Yeah she was tiny back then. Every week she grows so much bigger."

It's as I'm rocking the little one while Jackie is sitting in my seat having a glass of ice tea and filling the tables in on Erin's milestones that my parents arrive with another couple. "Oh Jim look how big Erin has gotten?"

Bless her, I know she is trying to distract Dad from focusing too much on the McKay men who are sitting near us. Though it's pointless when the woman who mum obviously was playing tennis with walks up to me and looks at Erin. "Oh my what a gorgeous baby."

Jackie smiles as Mel squeezes her shoulder and responds thankfully taking all eyes off me, "thank you. I'd like to take some of the credit but she takes after my gorgeous wife Jackie, and my beautiful stepdaughter Kelly."

Brandon who is by the tables looks at David, "sorry Young Silver seems she missed your gene pool."

"She'll get my musical taste and dance move's." That makes Kelly and I share a look and a giggle.

Once my mum has introduced the Silver's and their new daughter Erin to Vivian Carson, Jackie stops her before she can finish off the rest of the table instructions by offering her a hold of the little Angel that was currently dozing on my shoulder. "Cindy would you like a hold of her, Brenda has been kind enough to rock her while Mel and I take a few minutes to catch up with everyone?"

It's then while my mum smiles in delight at Jackie that Vivian looks around and notice's Iris. "Iris is that you? I didn't know you were in town." After having passed over Erin to my Mum I meet Jack's eyes. I have spent very few minutes with him in person but Dylan has the same expression when he knows someone is bullshitting him. From what I understand the press has been hounding them for pictures, there is no way that Mrs Carson didn't know unless she was living under a rock.

It's as she move's around the table to air kiss a now standing Iris that my Dad jumps in. "I didn't realise you were acquainted with each other?"

"Oh yes we go way back to when we were baby's. Iris' family and mine knew each other well, especially our father's."

"Jim. Vivian's family were also in construction and with Iris's family being the biggest steel supplier in the State for over a hundred years everyone knows them." My dad's and a number of our friends eyes go big, no one knew of her family dynasty it was something Dylan told me that only the California old money ever really knew of. Even the papers refer to her as coming from old money nothing more- she told me that Jack and her had provided enough inches to writers columns through their romance that no one ever did a deep dive into her family's past anymore, and she liked it that way. Jack stand's and places a comforting hand on her back as Vivian moves back to her husband.

"Jack it's good to see you again." Lawerence extends his hand out to Jack and he moves to shake it before returning back to Iris's side. "Jim I didn't know you knew the McKay's." It is said with a slightly impressed look. It is clear now that Dylan was right in his assessment that Jack alone is a disgrace but Jack with Iris is legitimate- well to the old money crowd of Beverly Hills anyway.

"Yes our son Brandon and Brenda go to school with Dylan." The poor fake coughing from our friends at the underplay of our connection is not lost on Vivian, and she gives my mother a curious look requiring to be let in on the joke.

"Brenda and Dylan dated."

Iris not liking the underplaying of our relationship pick's up where my mum left off. "They have been together since sophomore year, with Jim and Cindy kindly looking out for Dylan while Jack and I have not been living in Beverly Hills."

"Oh that's wonderful for your family but a shame for ours as I was hopping Jim and Cindy would let me play matchmaker. Lawerence and I have heard such wonderful things about Brenda that we thought our Stuart should meet her." I don't need to look at Dylan to know he was raging at the very notion.

Jack see's the look on Dylan's face and clearly sympathies, "Stuart is he still managing that club down in Hollywood?"

"Oh you were aware of that?" Lawerence tone of surprise was evident.

"Yes I was a silent investor in a few of the clubs down there, it's a small community of owners and managers so you pick up on names."

"Well no he is no longer managing Eve's and is now making a name for himself in the family business." Eve, I knew that name. When I see Dylan's fist clench it hits me where from. Yeah Stuart even if I wasn't in love and married would never happen not with those morals.

"That's wonderful- good for him. Lawerence are you still in big building construction?" Iris obviously could see Dylan was not enjoying this conversation and quickly decided to change its direction.

"Yes Iris I'm surprised you don't know as we still use your family as a key supplier." The questioning tone is clear, I imagine looking for some hidden scandal or unrest in her family line.

"The family business is run now by some of my second cousins. Dylan at twenty-five will be entitled to a board seat, and I have one but I don't engage with mine. I only keep a keen eye on their progress in developing better environmental practices and some of the philanthropic projects of the family business and Trust, the client list is not something I involve myself with." From my standing position I see Steve's eye's go big at Dylan's eventual seat. His trust from her side is age dependent and is designed to follow the family tree line's- like she, he will never have full access but instead be taken care of with five year allowance payments starting at twenty-five.

"Oh I'm so glad you are so conscious of the environment as well Iris, I was thinking of hosting a charity event to raise money for our harbours. Lawerence and I took the boat out the other day and it's truly a disgrace what we saw in the water."

"Yes Dylan's been telling me. Over the summer he's been volunteering at The Bay Project, physically cleaning up the bay's and beaches of LA." My mother having passed baby Erin back to Jackie looks impressed, my father looks shocked and a little put out by the information, my husband gets as close to blushing as he can under his mother's public praise.

"Well Iris that sounds like a wonderful initiative we could raise money for, would you be keen on co-chairing it's been over a decade since your last society event and you and Jack were always so good at hosting them? Cindy and Jackie you'll be willing to help as well won't you?"

Iris knew my mother would have to agree to help as the Carson's were wealthy and therefore big client's of Dad's. Jackie seemed interested as well; Kelly would later mention that Jackie was never included in the old money world of Beverly Hills even when married to Bill, that invite was a big deal for her Mum. As an old model married to a well known Dentist but still only a Dentist, to be included was a jump in social status for her and the family. Iris smiled and while her face was charming and relaxed I could read her energy- when I told her that later on she was so proud. It was screaming that she would rather help pickup the rubbish than arrange a fundraiser but it may aid in helping her family and therefore she'd grin and bare it.

When Vivian had agreements from all she delighted in inviting the couples over for a dinner next week to start planning. Lawerence steps in then and advises that the men could relax with scotch and cigars as the wives plan their event after the meal. My Dad being forced to socialise with Jack was either going to be a great opportunity for my father in law to build bridges or see my father stick his feet even further into the ground on the issue.

The girls and I excuse ourselves a few minutes later to return to the competition, and I spend the next forty minutes avoiding questions about Iris' family tree. Even going through school with Dylan it had never been of public note to them or I guess not common knowledge but I guess Jack being one of the riches self made men in California for most of Dylan's schooling would have carried more weight.

After tactfully avoiding or changing the subject repeatedly over the forty minutes I was fed up and frustrated by the prying- McKay's really do like their privacy, it must have been as Dylan slipped on my wedding ring that that characteristic grew in me. Having had enough I excuse myself to the bathroom. A few minutes later as I am leaving the beach access change rooms a little calmer, I am pulled quickly from behind into a beach storage room. It is as my husband begins to devour me that I think, oh this must be where he stores his surfboard. It's the last fully formed rational thought I have as my husband and I steal a few minutes together to enjoy each other.