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

Chapter Twenty

I had graciously offered my car to my parents to go to the Carson's in. My mum having been raised around luxury but seeing how little happiness it had provided anyone in her family was far from materialistic and therefore the car she had bought to run around LA in was so… her. It was the antithesis of her family status, and she did not care one bit. My Dad though having struggled for money growing up still found comfort and legitimacy from having nice things that people took note of. It made me wonder how they had ever found their balance when they met with Dad's showy nature against my Mum's understated one, though having moved into the house six day's ago and seeing how they arranged their rooms it was clear that they somehow made it work. They were striking a balance between their two styles in a way I had never seen on either of them individually, or remember from my childhood.

Iris' house in Hawaii was void of all brand names but she did believe in buying all natural good quality item's, things she said would last a lifetime. My wife was similar, well if I went off what the sales people had said when I paid for and picked up her many house purchases. Iris had continued that aesthetic in her and Jack's rooms and living space, however had managed to incorporate some of Dad's items that had not been repossessed by the State to cover his fines and back taxes. When he had brought in the boxes from the storage locker Mum and I had just shock our head at some of the art pieces which he and mum had once collected together, and some of the pieces from his later post-divorce collections that had not been seen as valuable by the State to auction off. Many of those pieces alone could have purchased the house a couple of times over. Dad's response had been the State assessor was an idiot, Mum and I thought there may be more to the story, and even after I had snuck a peak at the paperwork that clearly stated they were released back to Dad's care I still thought it was strange.

However they had come back into his ownership it had led to my parents bottom floor rooms having an amalgamated style of the both of them; quality wood, natural materials with a healthy (according to my mother) dose of crystals set against my father's art, rugs, and antique's. It somehow seemed right in the traditional Spanish home, and it was clear they were both happy making their combined styles fit again. When I had got home today Mum and Dad had taken their home making beyond their rooms which wasn't unusual, everyday over the last five I had come home to Mum having got Dad to hang more of the Art or bring in a new plant purchase, or a sculpture or Persian rug they had collected from the family storage- I wasn't sure if that was the McKay family or my mother's family one's. Bren and I knew that Dad could be with us for three year's and Mum seemed to have decided to bunker down for at least the foreseeable future, so we didn't mind the house being a combination of the four of us. Though my parents seemed to still respect and understand my need for it to legally be seen as my house well actually my wife's and mine; too much instability in my childhood had left me needing to know that I was home. Though when I came through the gate's and up our driveway today I didn't know whose home I had stumbled into as their spreading style had reached new heights.

Getting out of my car I had quickly moved around to the side of the house, "Dad what did Mum talk you into now?"

He smiled and looked up from where he was on his knee's removing grass, "she wants to expand the garden bed here and then in the centre put a yoga and meditation platform."

My mum had come out of the garden where she had been hidden behind trees and ferns, "and add some water features and maybe some chimes. Dylan Darling don't look at me like that you won't be able to hear them from your room or study, only ours overlook this side of the house."

"And the guest rooms on the floor above yours Mum."

My dad had chuckled at that, "you planning on having guests anytime soon son?" My parents both knew I was not a big entertainer, I disliked too many people in my private space.

I had ignored their amused looks, and vowed to myself if I could hear the chimes at all I'd be cutting them down. "Speaking of parties don't you have the Carson's to go and get ready for?"

My mum had given me her best reassuring look, she knew this night could be important, "we have plenty of time for that. I have already laid out my dress, though your father thinks I should wear something skimpier."

"I didn't say skimpier I said more form fitting, you have beautiful curv-"

"Yep this is why you guy's have your own lounge room. You've both scared me enough in unusual ways throughout my childhood I would appreciate if we could avoid inflicting the more traditional scar's now." At that they had both laughed; their flirting was growing each day and with it my aversion to witnessing it. They thought it was cute, I thought I didn't need to know what my dad thought of my mum's curve's. "Anyway, Bren's parents will be there-"

"Son relax your mother has already given me more than enough lectures today on how I need to be on my best behaviour. We, like you are hoping that he might reconsider some of his stronger house rules and at least allow Brenda to visit under the supervision of your mother or for you to at least go over there."

If that was their hope they were aiming too high, "that would be great but I think Jim realises that any concessions in visitation would see our relationship start back up again- well in his eyes anyway."

"You guy's still keeping it below everyone's radar? No one suspects anything?" My parents were the only ones who knew that we were together but we still didn't want them to know the extent. When the news of that breaks we would like for any chance at our parents getting along in the future not being destroyed, it would be impossible if they had helped hide our marriage.

"Yeah Dad, though Bren's annoyed at the girls coming near me and I need to have some strong words with the football guy's."

"The girls I get but why the football… oh they are looking at Brenda too much?" My Dad had at least asked it with sympathy.

"They have taken up residence at her locker. Tony Miller has always had a crush which has at least made the other guy's too afraid to declare their interest, but when she turns him down I know I'm going to be needing to hire her a bodyguard, or you should just expect a lot of calls from Mrs T about me being in fights with the guy's that are now going to think it's their chance."

"Darling is that really necessary? Brenda is strong and confident enough to decline any advances-"

"They shouldn't be advancing, she's my… " I had taken a breath then, the growing frustration over the last ten day's still getting to me, "sorry Mum for raising my voice. Today was hard for both of us. Actually that's what I wanted to discuss, we need a favour."

Dad took on his excited face, both Mum and I had noted since his release how eager he was to support me. Mum felt it was him trying to be the far he always hoped to be. "Okay we are all ear's."

"Can you call here and let us know if either Jim or Cindy call their home this evening from the Carson's?"

"By we I assume you mean Brenda and you." I nod at my Dad. "I'm guessing they'll be calling to check on Brenda and Brenda may not be there to check on."

"Dylan taking her on a date is risky."

"I know Mum that's why we are only staying here."

"Can't you just go there, at least it means she'll be home if they call?" Mum hated telling lies.

"No I want her to see the house, and honestly I don't trust Jim not to have said to the neighbours to be on the lookout for me."

It doesn't escape my notice that my Mum gives my Dad a worried look which he seems to calm with a wink and a smile. "That's fine son, your mother and I are happy to help."

"Thank you, Bren and I appreciate it."

Two hours later as my Dad comes into the kitchen decked out in a suit I smile. "Haven't seen you wear one of those since you've been out."

"Well your Mum never really cared for a man in a suit even before she went full hippie in Hawaii."

I laugh, "before I was born did you always do what Mum said?" That's how Dad and I casually marked time now, before my birth and once I was here. It wasn't about me but rather the change in Mum. Mum was a little more blunt about her own illness.

"Son I learnt early on to pick my battles, suits were for work and the occasional party. Your mother before she stepped back from society life after the divorce had always been known as a woman of beautiful but eclectic taste- though when you come from that amount of wealth it was somewhat expected. As her husband I didn't need to conform as much, prove myself, her being with me meant we were always accepted in even the most elite circles."

"And you still have nothing to prove to the Beverly Hills society scene so lose the tie Jack it's a dinner at an old well I guess friends house." My mother's reassurance and gentle demand came while she walked into the room whilst adding an additional bangle to her already full arm- eclectic was a good term for her.

"Iris everyone will be wearing a tie."

She huff's at that and then walks back out of the kitchen, I assume to go finish getting ready in their rooms. I looked at Dad then, "want to take my car? Mum's is…"

"Not very me?"

I didn't want to immediately agree that it wasn't something that I could see him being comfortable in when pulling up to one of the wealthiest family homes in Beverly Hills, "for as long as I can remember you've had driver's or occasionally a sports car-"

"Ahh my midlife crisis collection- there was so beautiful cars in there."

I chuckle, "you said it old man."

I hold out the keys in as a silent offer for which he takes, "thanks your car would be great."

"You know we could go grab your own one this weekend…"

"Yeah not yet. I'm liking hiding away here with you two, though I have another meeting with my parole officer next week and now we are settled in here he's going to ask about work so I might have to bite the bullet eventually."

"What are you thinking of doing?"

"White collar work seems a ridiculous choice as I couldn't with my parole terms hold any of the positions I'm qualified for. I've been thinking though my family in Ireland used to work on boat's."

"I remember you telling me the stories as a kid. Though I can't see you much as a fisherman like your uncle."

"My grandfather was a ship builder when he got too old to do that intense manual labour he worked on building smaller boats, my father and then me used to help him. I was thinking maybe I could restore and refurbish sailboats. Could you see your old man doing that?"

"If you asked me a month ago I'd say no but today I saw you on your knees covered in dirt digging up grass, you looked happy."

"That's your mother's influence, her crazy ideas always led to the best times."

"So are the garage's here capable of your boat venture?" I knew he couldn't run his own business per the terms of the parole so I assumed any venture would need Mum and I to own if capital was needed to get this off the ground.

"Yeah well I'm thinking of trying to restore a few small ones to start with, see if there is any interest or profit. Here would be fine to work on the cabin's and deck but I'll need to move to the dock when it's closer to completion."

"Where do you start?"

"Going out to the salvage yards and seeing if there is anything worth restoring."

"Want some company we could go on Saturday morning after I get back from the bay project?"

His whole face lights up in surprise, "yeah that would be great. I could teach you some of the old McKay way's."

Before I can respond my mother breezes back in the room and sticks a pocket square in my Dad's breast pocket, and then begins to remove his tie. I hold back my laugh.

"My lov- Iris what are you doing?"

"Compromising, my father's silk square instead of a stuffy tie."

"Do I get to be a part of this compromise, have a say?"

She folds down his collar and then unfastens his top button. "No it's not necessary, I've made it so we are both happy." My Dad would have lost it if any of his girlfriends were ever so heavy handed with him, but my Mum just gets a large indulgent smile.

"Of course my love. Do I look better now? Do we match?"

She lifts her brow at his term of endearment but smiles and jokingly nod's after giving him a quick once over. "Yes I believe we look more like the McKay's of our early twenties, well maybe with less volume in our hair and the absence of shoulder pads for the both of us."

"Oh god, Dad's hair was bigger than it is now?"

"Hey are you the pot or the kettle son?"

"Okay you two you can compare hair height when we get back. Darling please be careful tonight, seeing her everyday even around everyone else is better than phone calls to Buffalo."

"Relax Mum we won't get caught. Bren's got a car waiting for her around the block from her house and it will drop her back home at ten."

"You hired a driver for her?"

"I didn't trust cab's."

"Good call son."

"Oh my you are both as ridiculous as each other." With that she kisses my cheek and shakes her head and leaves. My Dad just smiles and winks at me before he follows.

My parents had finally left after I had been grilled about my evening plans. I swore that I was at home this evening where I may do some rearranging or organisation of my room, and the biggest highlight may be a bath. None of it was a lie, I had even packed a few items to bring to put in our room.

In the eleven day's since I had been back in LA my hope had shrivelled and died to there being any kind of reasonable solution to this, though I knew the moment I said I wanted both pockets that it was most likely never going to be an easy few months or year's to come. Dylan and I married would be hard for everyone to take, my parents more so than anyone else. If I could keep a relationship post birthday I would be surprised, though I think I have a greater chance at winning the lottery.

As the driver turned into the driveway I keyed in the gate code and made it up the hidden gentle slope to the round turning circle with the fountain in the centre. The house was a little opulent for Dylan and my taste but the age and traditional Spanish feature's gave it the character we both seemed to like. The driver would stay here all evening in case I needed to rush back to Casa Walsh so as I was thanking him and asking if he needed anything as we pulled up, my door was opened and I was being not so subtly urged out. "Bren it's fine I have already gone through this with Phil when I booked his services for this evening, he's fine aren't you Phil?"

The polite driver turns and smiles at me before looking at my impatient husband, "yes Mr McKay I have everything I need, and will be waiting here for when Ms Walsh would like to leave."

Phil's agreement was all Dylan needed before he was almost lifting me from the car. Under normal circumstances I would have been put out by his need to rush but I understood we were on limited time and any second alone together should not be wasted. When I was up the two stairs Dylan stopped and looked at my left ring finger and then lifted his eyes, "as soon as my parents were out the door. My husband was very right today, wearing them made me feel better, calmer."

He smiled then before shocking me by picking me up bridal style, "your husband is always right." I laugh and raise my brow questioning the accuracy of that statement, he concedes, "okay most of the time I'm right. So Mrs McKay ready to see your home for the first time with your husband?"

"Are you going to carry me around it like this?"

"No this is to make sure you cross the threshold for the first time appropriately."

"Didn't we do that in Paris when we got back to our suite?"

"Woman stop questioning tradition, now are you ready?"

I laugh, "lead the way."

He carried me across the threshold and then preceded to kiss me in the foyer until our lungs and I'm sure his arms were burning from the strain. When he put me down I pecked his lips again and smiled, "you know I didn't realise how much you like traditions."

"Not all but I like all the classic's and that extends from books, movies, music and-"

"Moves?"

"You think I'm putting the moves on you?" I tilt my head wasn't he, "no Baby these aren't moves they are… well we only get all of this once right, you'll be my only wife and I'll be your only husband. So much of our first few weeks and months of marriage will be different than we want. I just want to not miss all the traditional moments."

"I love you."

"I know. And I love you. Now Brenda McKay would you like to see your home furnished?"

"Yes please."

He pulls on my arm leading me into the lounge room, "I think you'll be impressed at how well I followed your instructions. Though the labeled diagram with perfect measurements were somewhat idiot proof."

His mocking tone at my detailed diagrams was less than subtle, "I was helping."

"Yes you were my OCD wife." He jumps back laughing before my elbow lands in the stomach. He knew me too well.

The house was beautiful and everything had been put where I had asked it to go. Dylan had been thrilled when I had opened my bag in our bedroom and had pulled out some items that I know no one would miss from Casa Walsh. As I was folding the last of the clothes I had bought over he had put his chin on my shoulder and had hugged me from behind. "I like seeing this. I think every time you come over you should bring a little more. It will help both of us."

"How do you figure that? Less things for me to tidy back at Casa Walsh?"

"The more it grows over here and decreases over there will mean our time apart is coming to an end."

I turn in his arms, "okay who are you and what have you done with my husband? Not even he is that sentimental."

"Haha need I remind you I once rang you to describe the colours of the sky during a storm in Hawaii- I can be romantic and sentimental, especially when you I'm missing you."

"Well I'm here for the next little while no missing needed."

"True. Come on let me show you our study, I put shelving units all around it as it's the only room you didn't give me a floor plan for."

"Honestly it's because I thought you would just turn it into your new box fort room and I'd just fix it when I moved in."

"Hey I emptied all the boxes from this move, there is no fort in Casa McKay." He makes his declaration as he swings open the door to the study. It's such a Dylan room, I could see him lighting a fire on rainy days and me curling up next to him in the oversized armchair reading the day away.

"This is perfect."

"It will do for now." I turn and look at him not knowing what need's to change once I add my box to the shelves. "It's the room next to our bedroom, in a few year's it will make a great nursery and then we can move this over to one of the guest bedrooms or maybe downstairs were my parents rooms are. Who knows were they will be by then, maybe sailing the world or on Mum's pineapple mountain."

"Sailing the world?"

"Dad's new business venture, I'll tell you all about it as I show you the last room downstairs, and then I've got a surprise for you by the pool."

The kitchen was great and I loved the big kitchen table, Jack seemingly loved it as well. It reminded him of being raised in Ireland and everyone sitting in the kitchen chatting over endless pots of tea, I had similar nostalgic thoughts of my Grandma Walsh's house. By the time we had made it out to the pool Dylan had explained to me all about Jack's new business idea. I, like Dylan was completely supportive. I couldn't see him working in hospitality or sales, and everything else would either be too junior or a breach of his parole. It seemed like the perfect thing to keep him busy, away from temptation, and focused on his family.

Dylan's surprise ended up being a replica of the meal we ate the night we got married, he had ordered it from his favourite French restaurant in LA. "I'm so surprised you remembered what we ate that night you seemed so on edge."

He laughs, "I was. The Hotel Manager and concierge were trying to find an official to sign off on the wedding and honestly, I didn't think it would be possible. It was making me on edge. It wasn't till I got their note that everything was set did I finally relax."

"The note from the chef to Jack?"

"Okay so that may have been a little white lie but I wanted to keep the surprise."

Having finished my meal I stood up at that and walked over to my husband's lap and sat down, draping my arms over his shoulders. "I guess your lack of honesty is my fault, I did tell you very early on in our relationship that lie's and innuendos would get you everywhere."

He gives me a curious look and then clicks at the memory, "well I guess it's on me now to tell the story of my life with Laverne." He tries his best to capture the voice he used when he said that to Brandon back in sophomore year.

"You still are hopeless at that accent." I then spend the next few minutes trying to get him to replicate the nasal voice needed to pull it off. By the time the phone rings my stomach hurts from laughing so much at his failed attempts.

The mood is instantly changed and he quickly moves inside to get the buzz killing device, I'm too anxious to follow worried that it's his parents reporting on mine. Thankfully he's back outside with the cordless phone against his ear giving me a wink in less than a minute, "yeah thanks for the invite but I'm very happy at home tonight. It's the first night the new place has started to feel like it's my proper home." Whoever he is speaking to goes on for a few minutes giving him enough time to return to his seat and pull me back down onto his lap. "Yeah no I appreciate you checking in, and you're right it's not been how I wanted senior year to start." He gives me a confused look and then relaxes his face, who the hell is he talking to. "Yeah Bren was a little snappy today with Steve but she was fine in Chem with me once she got rid of the headache she was fighting off all day, and knowing her she probably apologised to him before she left West Bev." He covers the mouth piece with his hands and then leans up and kisses me, when I go to deepen the kiss he pulls away. "Look Kel thanks for checking in on me, and for the offer to hang with you and David and Donna tonight watching movies while you babysit, but I'm not in the mood for hanging out with friends. Anyway I hope you all have fun and that Erin stays asleep for you- night."

He's hung up the phone before I think she can even respond and is immediately giving me the deep kiss I was denied seconds ago. When I pull back for air a few minutes later and he's moving down to kiss my neck I finally ask, "why was Kelly calling you?"

He barely lifts his lips from my skin, "she was worried about me being upset over the breakup. She thought babysitting with her, Donna and David would be a good distraction."

"That's nice but she didn't offer that to me this afternoon when we chatted, I must have been worse today than I realised if even my best friend wants to avoid me." A bit of guilt rings through in my voice.

"You were not bad at all but your death stare well I'm sure that will be giving some freshmen and sophomore's nightmares for the next few weeks."

"Good though I need to obviously take it up a notch as the juniors and senior girls are the worst." He laughs into my neck and then stands.

"Come on none of them are worth even a speck of your energy, and wife right now I'd like all your energy and possessive nature focused elsewhere."

"Oh really, and what should I focus on?"

He gives me that smile that his fan club only dream would be directed their way. "Well I still have more of the tour left, I mean I still haven't shown you the pool or the spa."