Chapter 23 Anthony Marchette

Dylan shook his leg impatiently sitting at the kitchen table. Why does it take girls so long to get ready? Dylan had been ready for 30 minutes already.

"Brenda." he called out, "We have to meet your parents in 15 minutes, it's going to take longer than that to get across town." Dylan said as he walked into the bedroom.

Brenda turned around sadly, "Do I look ok?"

Dylan smiled and tilted his head, "You…look beautiful." he wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned in kissing her forehead.

"Nothing fits me anymore, this is really depressing." Brenda pouted.

"Bren…you look perfect." Brenda looked up at him and gave him a look, Dylan laughed, "You do."

"Laughing is not cool." Brenda pointed her finger at him.

"Let's Goooooo." Dylan shook his head continuing to laugh and whine.

Brenda looked at him and squinted her eyes.

Dylan took a deep breath, "I'm not laughing at you, I'm laughing because pregnancy makes you sooo."

"Bitchy?"

"No." Dylan continued to think.

"Self absorbed?" Brenda pouted her lip.

"Obsessed."

"Why…because I don't want to look like a fat cow at dinner?"

"Well…yeah." Dylan gave her a cute look.

Brenda sighed. "You're not being cute right now." Brenda crossed her arms and looked at him.

Dylan smiled and moved in closer wrapping his arms tighter around her waist, "Baby…you are beautiful, more beautiful then ever and I didn't even think it was possible. I think your little belly is sexy and you are carrying my kid, of course you look good." Dylan smirked.

Brenda laughed slightly, "I get the point, stop being a baby, I got it…let's go."

It took Brenda and Dylan 25 minutes to get downtown, they rushed into the restaurant to meet Jim and Cindy.

"Sorry we are late guys." Brenda said rushed as she sat down.

"Oh no problem sweetie, we just got seated about 5 minutes ago." Cindy said handing over two menus.

"Did you guys have a good time today?" Dylan asked with a smile looking back and forth between them.

"Yeah…we had a blast, we went shopping, and to the empire state building, we went to times square…you know the usual." Jim said happily. "I love being on vacation."

Brenda and Dylan laughed slightly.

Jim's face turned serious, "So how are you holding up son?" Jim directed his question to Dylan.

Dylan looked confused; he glanced over at Brenda who gave him a subtle shrug.

"Holding up?" Dylan asked confused.

"Since they released Anthony Marchette."

"Who's Anthony Marchette?" Brenda asked curiously.

Cindy and Jim looked at each other as Jim regretted bringing it up.

"I am sorry Dylan; I assumed you knew what was going on…"

"Jim…what?" Dylan was beginning to get frustrated.

Jim hesitated, "They had brought Anthony Marchette in for questioning regarding the murder of your father, but he was released shortly after."

"They obviously didn't have anything to arrest him for." Brenda set her hand on Dylan's as he looked at her. "Right?" Brenda looked back at her father.

"Whatever they had was enough to suspect him but I guess not enough to keep him." Jim said sincerely.

Dylan swallowed hard taking everything in, "Will you excuse me." He muttered setting his napkin on the table and walking to the bathroom.

The Walsh's watched Dylan almost looking numb, "Nice one dad," Brenda threw her napkin on the table, getting up.

"How was I suppose to know, don't you guys watch the news?" Jim said defensively as Brenda went to see if he was okay. "Oh right…of course you don't watch the news, my 19 year old daughter is living with her boyfriend and she is pregnant, I doubt keeping up on current events was a main priority."

"Jim." Cindy shook her head.

Dylan stared at his reflection in the mirror. He had tried to move on and not think about his father's death and now it was all coming back to him. Living in New York with Brenda, their unexpected baby news, the drama with Toni had all been a distraction…Toni…Dylan's eyes got wide. Dylan thought back to the time on the beach.

Dylan sat on his board looking in the distance, as a wave started to form he turned around and started to paddle. He looked back looking at the wave and as he looked forward he found himself bumping his board into another, causing both to fall off.

"Hey man, what the hell, it was mine." Dylan said grabbing his board and pulling himself in a sitting position.

The person grabbed their board finally getting on and looked at him, "Said who?" she said rudely.

Dylan felt a little stupid thinking it was a guy, "You don't surf here often do you?" Dylan said with a smile.

"Well no, usually up Malibu but what does that have to do with anything." She said pushing her hair out of her face.

"Well normally when you see someone paddling out to catch the wave you don't try to steal it."

"I didn't see your name on it." The girl said flirting.

"How do you know what my name is, maybe it did." Dylan was being a bit of a smart ass.

"Ok fine, you have a point, let's start over. I'm Toni Marchette." The girl stuck her hand out with a smile.

"Dylan McKay." He gently shook her hand and returned the smile. She was strikingly beautiful, even though her hair was wet you could tell it was curly. She had gorgeous light eyes and a smile that almost drew you in.

Dylan looked out to the horizon again after catching himself stare, "Here comes another, you want it?"

Toni thought for a second, "Race you to it, may the better surfer win." Toni started to paddle out farther.

Dylan shook his head with a smile, "You're on."

Dylan quickly opened up the bathroom door to find Brenda waiting out in front of it. He tried to walk around her. "Dylan…are you ok?"

Dylan shook his head quickly, "No Bren…I got to go check something out, I will see you back at home."

"What?" Brenda said angrily, "Where are you going?"

"To talk to Toni." Brenda's eyes got wide.

"Excuse me?" Brenda crossed her arms and instantly gave him attitude.

Dylan realized what it sounded like after the words escaped his mouth. He looked into her eyes and rubbed down her upper arms, "I am sorry." Dylan took a deep breath, "I realized something after hearing your father tell me about Anthony Marchette…Toni…her last name is Marchette."

Brenda looked confused, "You think that the Anthony Marchette is related to her somehow?"

"Maybe…I mean maybe it's her father…an uncle…whatever…I don't know but I feel like I should ask her. Maybe it isn't a coincidence that I met her in L.A. and here. I'll see you at home." Dylan began to walk around her.

"Dylan." Brenda called out; now the tears were beginning to fill her eyes. Dylan turned around and saw them right away. "You're going to ditch me to go talk to Toni… now? With my parents here…what am I suppose to say to them?" Brenda was beyond hurt, she understood that it was important to Dylan and all this information was probably a big shock but there was no reason he had to leave her at this minute, especially for a girl who up until this morning they had broken up over. Also leaving her with the possible scrutinizing of her father, who both Brenda and Dylan knew was watching their every move, on getting along and deep down they also knew her parents, both of them, were setting them up for failure. Maybe not purposely but it was obvious.

"Bren." Dylan took a deep breath.

"Dylan…if you leave me right now, things won't be the same between us. I understand what you have to do and the need for information but leaving your pregnant girlfriend downtown alone to explain the sudden urge to go and talk with Anthony Marchette's niece…daughter whatever is not okay. And I will not look at you the same." Brenda swallowed hard trying to hold back from breaking down. "If you want this to work, me and you, you have got to let me in. I will help you, I am there for you, you know that. But it isn't about you anymore only. We are a family and I deserve more respect than that." Brenda said sternly.

Dylan took a deep breath as he looked at the seriousness of the situation and the seriousness in her eyes. She was not kidding and he understood. It wasn't the best idea to leave her alone with her parents to have to justify to them or stick up for him. Also it wasn't safe for a visibly pregnant woman to travel across town at night alone in New York City. Also what Dylan was going to do at 8 o'clock at night was beyond him. He didn't even know where Toni lived. Dylan slowly gave her a nod. Brenda kept her glare as she turned and slowly walked to the table as Dylan followed closely behind.

**

Donna smiled at David as she grabbed another slice of pizza. David had hung out with Donna during her show and Donna had stayed for his as well. The head of the radio station commented on how they had never had so many call ins before. David and Donna thought a little celebration was in order.

"The girl that called about why college doesn't have recess, I almost peed my pants." Donna said laughing. "What an idiot."

"I know…like there isn't enough breaks and free time. You handled her well though." David looked over at her and smiled, "It was fun today. Like old times." David nodded.

Donna smiled back, "Yeah…it was." The two continued to look into each others eyes as a knock at the back door interrupted them.

David shyly looked down and got up slowly opening the back door.

"Hey cutie." Valerie said with a smile leaning in and giving David a quick peck.

"Ah Val…hey, I didn't know we were meeting here." David said nervously as he noticed Valerie glance into the living room at Donna.

Valerie swallowed hard, "Yeah…you told me this morning." Valerie moved into the living room and plopped herself on the couch. "I heard you two on the radio today…cozy." Valerie looked back and forth between them.

Donna continued to be sweet even though she noticed the daggers and jealousy in her tone right away. "Yeah…it was fun." Donna sweetly smiled.

"I bet." Valerie kept her tone and glared at David.

The silence grew among them as Donna finished her pizza, "Well I should get moving on homework. Nice seeing you Valerie." Donna placed her plate in the sink and moved to her bedroom.

David sat next to Valerie and placed his hand on her leg, "Stop…I see the look." David said playfully.

Valerie shrugged, "I don't know what you're talking about." Valerie smirked as David moved in and captured her lips with his as they smiled mid kiss.

David slowly leaned out, "You want some pizza?"

Valerie shook her head as she moved slightly, straddling him on the couch, "I want you."

"Mmmm…is that so?" David kissed her hard wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Let's go into your room." Valerie smiled and motioned her head toward the hallway.

David smiled and took a deep breath, he was torn.

PHEW I updated! I hope this flowed ok, I had the beginning done a LONG time ago. Anyway I hope people are still reading LF, I have some things planned. Let me know what your thinking, Val and David? Donna and David? Sex? Dylan and Brenda? I want to know everything. Next up, Dylan confronts Toni and Kelly and Brandon separate for x-mas not for good lol