Chapter 7

As Kelly is driving she notices how quiet Sammy is still, she's praying that by meeting Brandon, he will be able to act like himself again and that they won't get hurt. Once Kelly pulls onto the street, Sammy definitely notices the street and is confused, then once they pull into Casa Walsh driveway even more confused he asks, "Mommy why are we at grandpa and grandmas?"

Kelly just smiles and says, "You'll see."

Brandon has been sitting by the window since Jim called, waiting for Kelly and Sammy to arrive, nervous to meet his son. But then he remembered last night and how he felt when Sammy had his bad dream. All he wanted to do was comfort Sammy; he knew he would be fine.

Brandon sees them pull into the driveway, opens the front door, and takes a step out as Kelly is getting Sammy out of his car seat. Sammy sees the same man from the Peach Pit, stepping out of the door, wondering who he is.

"Mommy, who's that," Sammy asks.

Kelly pulls the baseball out of her purse, handing it to Sammy, "Someone who loves you very much and you've been waiting very patiently to meet," Kelly replies.

Sammy's eyes quickly get large, as he jumps down from out of the car, running towards Brandon, crashing into him, holding on for dear life. Brandon quickly squats down to Sammy's level, preparing himself for Sammy's hug, but Sammy's force knocks them both over, with Brandon's back onto the sidewalk. Kelly watches with a tear escaping her eye and joy filling her whole body, while laughing at them.

Brandon manages to sit straight up on the sidewalk, still holding Sammy, "Hi Sammy."

Sammy replies, "Did you really catch this ball?" holding up the ball so Brandon can see.

"Yeah, I did. I was eight years old; your grandfather always took me to the Minnesota Twin's opening game. We were sitting in left field; it was the bottom of the ninth inning. The Twins hit a homerun, winning the game. Afterwards, I refused the leave until I got the ball signed," Brandon told Sammy.

"WOW," is all that Sammy can say.

"Would you like to play catch with me?" Brandon asks Sammy.

"Yeah" Sammy says then turning to Kelly, "Mommy would you like to join us?" Sammy always trying to be so polite.

Kelly replies, "No thanks, I think I would rather watch you from the front steps."

As Brandon and Sammy is laughing and playing, Kelly can't help to think that she can't believe this is actually happening. She never thought, they would see or hear from Brandon again after he disappeared. She still can't help, but feel hurt because he's been gone for so long. She's afraid of what is going to happen next. She's preparing herself for when Brandon feels he needs to go chase the next story across the world again. She feels torn in two because she wants to protect herself and Sammy from Brandon hurting them like he has hurt her in the past. She also can't help to think, if he has been with anyone else. She still doesn't know if she can trust him fully and completely after the affair. But she also wants Sammy to spend as much time with Brandon as possible, since she never had much of the chance with her father. She does know one thing for sure, she loves Brandon with all of her heart and she has no regrets about anything because otherwise, she wouldn't have Sammy.

Her thoughts are interpreted by Brandon and Sammy running up to her, "Mommy, we're hungry," Sammy says.

"Well, why don't you boys go wash up, I'll make some sandwiches," Kelly replies since she knows Cindy won't mind.

Kelly is in the middle of making the sandwiches when he hears them walk into the kitchen area. She hears Sammy asking, "Mommy, how did you know my birthday wish?"

Kelly answers, "I didn't exactly, but I think it a mother's intuition."

Brandon whispers into Sammy's ear as they moved over to the table, "Your mother is really smart like that."

Sammy then asks Brandon, "Where do you live?"

Brandon is a bit thrown off by the question. "Well, I guess currently I'm living here."

"You didn't live here yesterday morning?" Sammy asks confused.

"Well, I've lived in several different places, up to a couple of weeks ago, I lived on an island in the Pacific Ocean for a bit over 6 years," Brandon tries to explain, hoping Sammy understands and won't ask for too much details yet.

"Oh, ok," Sammy says as Kelly brings them the sandwiches, "thank you, Mommy."

Brandon looks at Kelly, "thanks, Kel."

"You guys are welcome," Kelly replies as she sits down.

"Are you going to go back to the island?" Sammy asks Brandon.

"No, I'm staying here in LA, but I will need to make a trip to New York to take care of some business." Brandon says, while also giving Kelly a smile and placing his hand on her knee for reassurance since he figures she might be wondering some of the same questions.

"Are you going to live with Mommy and me?" Sammy looking up at both of his parents.

Brandon responds, "Well…I don't know, we haven't had a chance to talk about it yet," looking at Kelly.

Kelly also responds, still thinking and a bit shocked because she's not ready for that yet, "hmm…we will have to see."

"But, Brett lives with both his mommy and daddy and they share a room," Sammy says.

"I know, honey, why don't we talk about this another time ok," Kelly says while setting her hand onto Brandon's hand that is still on top of her knee. Brandon then changes the conversation to hockey, hoping it will distract Sammy from asking him and Kelly anymore hard questions they are not prepared to answer yet.

After they finish eating, Brandon is helping Kelly with the dishes as Sammy sits on a counter stool asking Brandon more questions about his life.

Sammy also says, "What am I suppose to call you? I don't even know your name?"

Brandon lets out a small laugh, "Well, first my name is Brandon. I suppose you could call me, Brandon, or…" he pauses "or if you want, you can call me daddy."

"I've never called anyone daddy before. I've wanted to call Uncle Steve, daddy, but I knew he wasn't. I even tried once, but I don't think he heard me because he didn't respond," Sammy says slowly and sad.

Brandon looks over to Kelly for reassurance. "Well, I've never had anyone call me Daddy before, would you like to be the first one?"

Brandon asks Sammy. "Really, can I?" Sammy looks up at Brandon.

"Yeah, you sure can… son," Brandon says for the first time.

"Okay, Daddy," Sammy says with the biggest grin on his face, "this is the best birthday ever!"

"Good, I'm glad," Brandon says as he hugs his son.

"Daddy, I think I like having you here. I hope you do live with mommy and me, also so then I don't have to help mommy with the dishes because she will have you to help."

"Hey, I thought you liked helping me with the dishes," Kelly says a bit offended and hurt.

"Well, only sometimes, but I would rather play."

"Oh, well ok," Kelly replies as Jim and Cindy walk in through the backdoor.

"Hey, how are things going here," Cindy asks while giving Sammy a hug.

Sammy replies, "Great," with a huge smile.

"Good, we brought you guys some cake, if you are still hungry, we should have some ice cream in the freezer," Jim says.

"Mommy, can I?" Sammy asks Kelly.

"Sure, but I don't want to eat too much and then get a stomach ache."

"I won't, I promise," Sammy says.

"Alright, let's go find that ice cream," Brandon says as he lifts Sammy up from the stool, so he can help search.

As they eating the cake and ice cream, they move into the living room and Jim and Cindy tell Sammy several stories about Brandon when he was little. Sammy is sitting in Brandon's lap as Kelly is sitting next to them and Brandon has his arm around her shoulder. Kelly is able to notice Sammy starting to fight getting sleepy, and she knows she's starting to get tired herself.

"We probably should get home, he's going to be sleep soon and I'm tired a bit myself," Kelly says.

"Nooooo, Mommy, I don't wanna go home, can't we stay here with Daddy?" Sammy whines.

Brandon turns his head towards Kelly, "Kel, I can sleep on the floor in Sammy's room, so you can have guest bedroom, it's not a problem."

While Jim adds, "Yeah, we still have that old cot, I can set up for you Brandon."

"Ok, that's fine with me," Brandon replies, "So, it's settled you two are staying here for the night."

"Alright, let's go get this kid in bed," Kelly says unable to say no now, although she wishes Brandon didn't have to sleep on a cot.

Jim goes to find the cot; awhile Brandon and Kelly get Sammy ready for bed. Kelly is thankful that she normally keeps some things at Casa Walsh for times like this. Sammy falls asleep pretty quickly, although he was trying to stay awake so hard so he could learn more about his father.

Once Sammy is asleep, Kelly gently pulls Brandon into the bathroom, closes the door and kisses him gently. "I've wanted to do that all day," Kelly confesses.

"Yeah…well, I've been wanted to do this for the last six years," Brandon says as he turns them around so Kelly's back is to the door, pushes himself against her hard, kissing her more intensely and running his hands down the side of her body until he reaches her hips, holding on tight.

After a minute, she breaks away, "Brandon" she says out of breath.

He rests his forehead against hers, catching his own breath, "I know…we can't do this…I'm sorry," Brandon replies.

"Thank you," Kelly tells him.

"For what" Brandon asks confused.

"For being here today, for this, for Sammy, for everything," Kelly responds.

"I should be the one thanking you for everything. I believe it was you that kept me alive on that island, if I didn't dream about you I don't know how I would have survived that long. That's why I made my first stop to find you to see if I still had a chance." Brandon says.

Kelly gives him a sympathetic look, while rubbing his neck. "Well, you don't need to worry about that anymore. I love you," Kelly says.

"I love you, too," Brandon responds, "you should lock that door tonight; I may need to take a cold shower either way."

"Hmm…don't temp me, I may want to join in that case," Kelly says.

"We can't," Brandon said, now being the one with reason.

"I know, plus your parents are nearby, that would be too awkward," Kelly says laughing.

"Yeah, but that is the only room we haven't done it in," Brandon replies smiling.

"Well that's because Val was there…I was so happy when Janet finally redecorated it after Val left," Kelly says.

Brandon frowns, "I know you two never got along, I could never understand why."

Kelly replies with, "Well I'm pretty sure it was because I was happy and that we always had a special connection that she couldn't understand why you were able to share that with me and not her. But I'm not going to let Val in between our relationship again!"

"Sounds like you have had some time to think about that," Brandon says.

"Well I do have a master in Psychology, I truly figured it out in grad school," Kelly says.

"I see," Brandon says lingering for a moment, "well we should probably go get some sleep; tomorrow is going to be great."

"Your right, good night," Kelly says as she goes for one lighter kiss.

"Night, Kel, sleep well."