Chapter 12 Out of Character?
Brandon made his way across the beach apartment balcony with gifts in tow. He knocked gently on the back door. Kelly opened it up and looked at Brandon with a straight face.
"I come baring gifts." Brandon gave her a small smile. Brandon moved a single yellow rose from behind his back. "I'm sorry, truce?"
Kelly smiled as she took the rose and brought it to her nose. She moved to the side to allow him to come in.
"I also brought breakfast." Brandon moved through the door and into the kitchen taking out pastries and juice from a bag.
"I'm sorry too, I don't know what my problem was." Kelly moved closer to him.
"No, you were right, I went over last night and apologized to Brenda."
"Good." Kelly smiled as she leaned in and kissed him softly on the lips.
"Is David and Donna here? I got enough for everyone."
"Nope, Donna had breakfast plans with her mom and dad and David I think had to go to school for something."
Brandon turned his attention back to her as a flirtatious smile gleamed across his face, "You mean we are all alone?" Brandon wrapped his arms around Kelly's waist leaning in and kissing her on the neck.
"Yep." Kelly let out a giggle.
Brandon kissed her hard and backed her up against the counter. "Nice." he exhaled as he allowed his hands to explore Kelly's body.
"Maybe we should go back to bed." Brandon whispered in between kisses.
"Or maybe we should stay here." Kelly a raised her eyebrows looking at him as both of their heads turned toward the kitchen table.
**
Jim took a deep breath as he started up the walkway to Dylan's home. He started going over everything that we wanted to say to Brenda in his head. He wanted her to know that he was disappointed in the choices she had made but that it was done and if she wanted his support they got it. Jim came to the front door, before knocking he looked inside through the windows in the front door. He glanced inside and saw something that would make talking to Brenda a lot easier than anticipated. There was his daughter standing near the couch talking to Dylan as he was sitting. He saw Dylan rub his hand across her belly as he looked up at her. Then Dylan got up and after kissing her gently on the forehead he walked back into the bedroom. There was something about the gentleness and loving way Dylan took care of Brenda. Jim took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Brenda's head turned toward his direction and she walked over opening the door.
"Hi Brenda." Jim said softly.
"Dad…Hi, what are you doing here?" Brenda said surprised.
"I thought we could talk a little, I brought Dylan a cup of coffee, plain black and you some decaffeinated tea, its blackberry. The women at Starbucks said it was their best one. You should cut down on caffeine." Jim handed over both cups.
Brenda swallowed hard and gave her father a awkward smile, "Thanks. Do you want to come in?"
Jim nodded as he moved past her into Dylan's living room. "Want to sit down?"
Jim sat down on the futon and Brenda joined him, taking a small sip of the tea her father had brought her.
"Look Brenda, I wanted to come by and say I was sorry for the things I said to you yesterday, it was a lot to take in and I didn't mean it."
Brenda looked down, "Which part?"
"Most of it, well all of it….no this wasn't what your mother and I wanted for you. But you will always be our daughter and we are proud of you. I don't know why it took 3 years for me to accept the fact your in love with Dylan and instead of punishing you for it I should be embracing it. You found a guy that loves you back and that will take care of you."
Brenda feeling hormonal, which was a regular occurrence these days felt the tears well in her eyes.
"Bren, are you sure you don't want to come with me? I don't like leaving you here all alone." Dylan said from the bedroom as he walked out to find Jim and Brenda sitting on the futon. "Oh hi sir, I didn't know you were here." Dylan said nervously.
"Hi Dylan." Jim said with a half smile.
Brenda grabbed the cup of coffee from the table and walked over to where Dylan was standing, "My dad came to talk, he brought you a cup of coffee." Brenda said handing him over the cup.
"Thanks. That's great I was going to get some on the way but now I don't have too." Dylan was uncomfortable.
"Did I come at a bad time, were you guys on your way out?" Jim said looking at them.
"Oh no dad, your fine, I am not going anywhere."
"I was just going to go down to the beach, get some surfing in before we head back to the cold tomorrow." Dylan said with a smile. "But I don't have to." he said looking at Brenda.
"No Dylan, go, my dad will keep me company for a little while and I will probably go and try to hang out with Donna and Kelly, maybe have a girls day or something."
"Ok, I'll see you later then." Dylan looked over at Jim, Jim got the hint and looked down. "Bye." Dylan leaned down and gently kissed her lips setting his hand on Brenda's belly again, "Love you." he whispered softly.
"I know." Brenda smiled up at him.
Dylan grabbed his surf board and bag and walked toward the front door. "Oh Mr. Walsh, thanks for the coffee." he said turning around.
"No problem son." Dylan paused for a second after hearing Jim call him son again. It felt nice, he hadn't heard it in a long time. Dylan smiled once more at both of them before making his way out the door.
Brenda went back and sat next to her dad, "Thank you for coming over. It means a lot to talk to you without yelling."
"I know, you're an adult and you and Dylan will be fine. Is he excited about the baby?"
"Yeah actually he is." Brenda smiled, "He has been great, I couldn't really ask for more."
"That's good."
"What about mom, does she know you are here?"
Jim looked down sadly, "Yeah she knows…she will come around. Its just going to take some time that's all."
"I would have never thought I would be having this conversation with you about mom, I would have pictured it the other way around." Brenda looked at her father sadly.
Jim quickly changed the subject, "So are you going to stay in school?"
"Of course, the baby is due right before summer so I plan to finish the year out and have the summer off to get situated, and then we will have to figure something out for next year. Dylan and I had discussed taking opposite schedules so that way one of us was always home and that way I wouldn't be taking too much time off to forfeit my scholarship."
"So your planning on staying in New York?"
Brenda nodded slowly, "Uh Yeah, we actually decided last night."
"Well I guess we will have to come and visit every chance we get, I don't want my first grandchild to not know who I am ." Jim gave her a sweet smile. "Has Dylan told Iris?"
Brenda looked uncomfortably toward the door, "Yes Iris knows."
"Everything ok?"
"Yeah." Brenda shrugged, "We told her when we first found out, I just didn't want you to be upset, we told her first."
"I am not upset. How did she take it?"
"She was shocked at first but thrilled once it set in. She was also very telling of what a Taurus baby holds for our future." Brenda let out a light laugh.
"I'm sure." Jim playfully rolled his eyes.
There was a moment of silence between them before Jim spoke up again.
"Are you happy Brenda? I mean truly happy? Do you love him? Does he love you?"
Brenda smiled and nodded, " I love him more than anything and yes he loves me. And now, after talking to you, I have never been happier." Brenda's eyes filled with tears again.
Jim took his daughter into his arms and closed his eyes. "I love you sweetie, I'm glad your happy. You know that's all me and your mother ever wanted for you."
"I know." Brenda sniffled.
She had a feeling of calmness come across her. Jim was finally accepting Dylan and letting her go. It was almost surreal and she realized that day, that maybe Big Jim wasn't as bad as she always thought he was. Now if only her mother would come around.
**
"Hey David!" Valerie called out as she quickly tried to catch up with him.
"Oh hey Val, how are you?" David looked her up and down slightly noting how good she looked in her slip dress and boots.
"Hey are you leaving soon? I have been trying to call Brandon to come and get me but he isn't home. Mind giving me a ride?"
"Oh actually I just talked to Kelly a second ago, he is at my house."
"Oh great, can I just come back with you then, and I will catch a ride with him?" Valerie smiled sweetly at him.
David nodded, "Sure."
The two headed to the car and started the drive to the beach apartment.
"Where's Donna?" Valerie said looking out the passenger window.
"She had plans with her parents."
Valerie nodded pretending she cared. The rest of the drive was pretty quiet as they finally arrived. David unlocked the front door and let Valerie in.
"Kelly." David called out, "I'm home."
There was no answer as David took his jacket off and walked toward the hallway noticing Kelly bedroom door was closed.
"Guess Kelly and Brandon went somewhere, maybe down to the beach or something, you are welcome to hang out."
"Ok." Valerie smiled looking around, "This apartment is great."
"Yeah want the grand tour?"
"Yeah." she said excitedly.
David pointed out the kitchen and walked back to the bedrooms, showing her Kelly's, Donna's and finally his. Valerie made her way in his room looking around and being nosy.
Valerie picked up a picture of him and Donna and sighed under her breath.
"Very cool." she said turning around leaning against the dresser. "What?" she said with a smile noticing he was staring at her.
David shrugged, "I don't know."
Valerie raised her eyebrows and walked toward him. "I think I know."
"What do you know?" he said playfully.
"You like me."
"And how do you know that." he said with a smile.
"I just do."
"Well I do like you, I just wish things were different."
Valerie nodded, "Ah because of Donna."
"Well yeah because of Donna."
Valerie moved closer to him, "Are you in love with Donna?"
"I think so." David looked down uncomfortably
"Well then she is a lucky girl." Valerie shrugged, she was used to playing games and acting out to get what she wanted but for some reason she really liked David. She gave him a shy smile as she moved past him. David gently rested his hand on her arm stopping her. The two looked at each other and shared a gentle kiss. Valerie broke free, "I like the fact you're the sweet guy that wont cheat on his girlfriend."
David looked down, "But if the two of you break up or decide to see other people, for sure call me." Valerie moved into the living room leaving David confused, a little shocked, and even more attracted to her.
Please review, you guys are going to be a bit surprised with the angle I take Donna and David and Val really. I hope I don't piss off the D/D fans too much. I still bet it isn't what you guys are imagining tough. Anyway let me know what you thought.