The last cup of banana cream pudding taunted her from the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
She squatted until she could squat no more, trying to get at the damn pudding cup.
Her fingers grazed against it before the pudding fell to the ground.
Brenda could neither grab it off of the ground, nor return to an upright position.
She was stuck.
She grabbed on to either side of the counter, trying to become unstuck with little success.
"Brenda! Honey! What are you doing?"
"Trying to get the pudding," said Brenda. "I wanted to add it to my peanut butter and lamb stew."
"Peanut butter and lamb stew?" asked Valerie, as David helped Brenda out of her uncomfortable squat.
"Don't ask," said Brenda.
"Why don't you sit and Val and I will make it for you," said David.
"I tried to stay awake until you got in," Brenda told them.
"Dylan said you conked out just before we did," said Val.
"We got in really late," said David. "Steve couldn't stay awake long enough to get back to his, so Clare will probably be here later."
"You scared me," Brenda told Val. "Why did you decide to scare me like that?"
"I didn't want to scare you, Bren," said Val as she tucked her arms around Brenda's shoulders. "It was just something I needed to do."
"You needed to go to jail?" asked Brenda.
"She needed to confront her past," said David.
"And I could only do that in jail," said Val. "It's hard to explain."
"Well, I'm glad you're back," said Brenda.
"It's great to be back," said Val. "Is it just me, or have you grown more?"
"It's not just you," said Brenda. "Every time I think my belly can't possibly get any bigger, it gets bigger."
She accepted the stew from David.
"Oh my God!" Valerie snatched at Brenda's finger. "That's a ring! You're engaged!"
"You missed a lot while you were gone," said Brenda.
"If you aren't engaged to Luca, then I sure did," said Val.
"She is assuredly not engaged to König," said Dylan as he entered the kitchen. "Bed was lonely without you," he told Brenda.
"I was hungry," said Brenda.
"What's your latest creation?" asked Dylan.
"Peanut butter and lamb stew," said Brenda.
"With banana cream pudding," said Val.
"Is that all?" asked Dylan. He explained to David and Valerie that the stew had been one of Brenda's less bizarre cravings as of late.
"So congratulations are in order," Val told Dylan. "When's the big day?"
"Tomorrow, actually," said Dylan. "You just made it, Malone. Although I really should yell at you for spooking Brenda the way you did."
"It's okay," said Brenda. "It was something Val needed to do, like when we yelled at the sky."
"Next time, Val, just yell at the sky," said Dylan.
"We know this great spot to yell at the sky," said Brenda. Leaning against Dylan, she realized that David and Valerie were standing closely together.
"Is there something you have to tell us?" she asked, pointing between David and Val.
"Just that David and I hope you and Dylan will be very happy together," said Valerie.
"You and David?" asked Brenda.
"Me and Valerie," said David, cupping his arms around Val.
Brenda squealed.
"I knew it!" she said. "I knew you loved David!"
"If we're doing the I-told-you-so's," said Val, "then I totally told you you wanted Dylan."
"Which is why we want you to be one of our witnesses when we elope," said Dylan.
"You're eloping?" asked Val. "After all it took to get you guys back together, you're not even gonna have a wedding?"
"We'll have a wedding," said Dylan.
"We want her to be part of it so for now, we're eloping," said Brenda. "And we're asking if you'll stand by our side."
"Of course I'll stand by your side," said Val. "Dylan, about my brother -"
"If you think Harrington can do anything for Curtis, then we'll continue with his services until Curtis is free. Though not sure how effective Harrington will be when he wasn't effective for you."
"You can't help someone who doesn't want to be helped," said Val.
"You think Curtis wants to be helped?" Dylan spoke to Valerie, but Brenda could see through her blurred vision that Dylan's focus remained on Brenda drooping into her snack.
"No, but he's my brother, Dylan. I can't just give up on him. You wouldn't just give up on your sister."
"You got that right," said Dylan. "Bren and I didn't give up on our sister," he told Val. "C'mon, baby." He took Brenda's bowl. "Let's go back to bed. We can yell at Val more in the morning."
"It is morning," said Brenda.
"If it's pitch-black outside, it's barely morning," said Dylan.
"Close enough," said Brenda, though she gave herself away with a giant yawn.
"To bed we go." Dylan waved to their friends as he steered Brenda back to their bedroom. "We've got a lot to do today, and we need you to be fully rested." He helped Brenda under the covers.
She finished the stew, setting her empty bowl on the nightstand.
"You told Val we didn't give up on our sister," said Brenda. She rubbed either side of her stomach. "Did you mean to call her that?"
"Just slipped out," said Dylan as he brought Brenda into his arms.
"Can you have platonic feelings for someone you've slept with?" she mused.
"She's your sister and you're about to be my wife, so I guess it just felt right to say. Are you," Dylan became flustered, "are you alright with that?"
"You can feel however you want about Val," said Brenda. "Shane and I were best friends who became like siblings, even though we dated."
Shock overpowered Dylan's features.
"You remember that?" he asked.
"You told me," she said.
"Oh. Right."
"You'll be the first one I tell anytime I gain back a memory," she assured him.
"Any memory," he said. "Even if you remember your exes."
"You want me to remember my exes?"
"It's your life, Brenda. Everything you've experienced has brought you to this bed tonight and I want you to tell me every time you remember anything."
"I love you," she said, pecking his lips.
Dylan went in for a more powerful kiss.
"You can't do that this late at night," said Brenda. "I can't give it my all."
"That wasn't your all?" asked Dylan. "I thought it was plenty explosive."
"I'm glad you thought so," said Brenda.
She reclaimed her favorite spot on Dylan's chest.
"Tomorrow's the last day you can turn back," she said.
"Hm, let me think about that," Dylan pretended. "Okay," he said less than a second later, "I thought about it, and I've decided you're wrong, Bren."
"Wrong? About what?"
"The day to turn back is long past," he said. "I'm not turning back. Are you?"
"No," she said.
"Glad that's settled, then," he said. "If you're too tired to snog, you're too tired. Back to sleep, Bren."
Brenda's protests didn't make it out of her lips before she had succumbed to sleep.
When she went down for breakfast at a more acceptable waking hour, a group was gathered in her living room.
"There she is!" said Clare. "We were just talking about you."
"You were?" asked Brenda. She focused on the hand Brandon rested on Kelly's leg.
I told you so, Brenda thought. I told you all so.
"We promised you a baby shower," said Kelly, linking her fingers through Brandon's, "and that's what you're going to get."
"Plus more," said Steve.
"More?" asked Brenda.
"We have to wait very impatiently for your wedding so we're at least throwing you a bachelorette," said Donna.
"Dylan's getting a bachelor party," said David.
"Without the strippers," said Brandon.
"And then they're insisting on us spending the night apart," said Dylan as he snuck up behind Brenda and melded her back to his stomach.
"It's tradition," said Donna. "If you break it, you'll have bad luck."
"Which you have plenty of," said Steve, "so we're trying to keep you from getting more. Except Dylan said, and I quote, 'I will throw your ass into a geyser if you make me spend the night away from Brenda.'"
"Dylan," said Brenda.
"Hey, we don't know what will happen," said Dylan.
"So we came up with a solution," said Steve.
"We've booked a hotel suite," said Kelly.
"Adjoining rooms," said Andrea. "All the girls will be in one side; all the guys in another."
"That way, Dylan will be near you and can easily hear you, should anything happen, but he can't see you unless he absolutely has to," said Val.
"Sound like a plan?" asked Brandon.
Brenda and Dylan silently communicated amongst themselves.
"It's a plan," said Brenda.
"Great!" said Donna. "Then you two head off and we'll get your stuff together."
Brenda held Dylan's hand, fixated on the screen.
She still had two weeks to go, but something told her that would be the last time she saw her baby through a dark screen.
She wouldn't tell Dylan that, who was anxious enough as it was.
"Everything still looking good, Doc?" he asked. "We've made sure Bren's been doing her checks."
"Twice a day, every day," said Brenda. "I've been taking my meds, too."
"Everything seems to be in order," said their OB. "Baby's in perfect position, and her heartbeat is strong. Have you been experiencing any Braxton Hicks?"
"In the mornings, mostly," said Brenda. "But I haven't felt any today. Will she be okay, if she's born before her due date?"
"Plenty of babies are born before their due dates," said the OB. "There isn't any reason yours shouldn't be just as healthy as them."
Brenda breathed a massive sigh of relief as Dylan dropped his lips in her hair.
"What about sex?" asked Brenda.
Dylan's face leapt out of Brenda's hair.
"Sex?" asked the OB.
"Can we have it?" asked Brenda. "Dylan's nervous."
"I just don't want to hurt Bren, or our baby," said Dylan. "Bren's heart can't handle much."
"Sex during pregnancy is perfectly natural," said the OB.
"We haven't had it yet," said Dylan. "Can we have it when Bren's this far along and her heart isn't as strong as it should be?"
"You may have to experiment with different positions than you are used to," said the OB, "but it is fine for you to engage in sexual intercourse."
"Told you," said Brenda. "Nothing to worry about."
"I'll always worry about you," said Dylan.
Brenda had Dylan park the car in a carpark so that they could engage in a proper snogging session.
"Bren," said Dylan. "Bren, we've got to stop." He lightly pushed her back as Brenda began to unzip his jeans. "I'm not having sex with you in our car."
"Why not?" Brenda pouted.
"Mainly because it will be incredibly uncomfortable for you," said Dylan.
He wasn't wrong.
"We could be in our bed and it would still be uncomfortable for me," said Brenda.
That didn't have the effect she had hoped for.
"For you, this is like our first time again," said Dylan. "I'm not letting it be in a car."
Brenda couldn't stop thinking about what Dylan had said.
It was like their first time and, as such, Brenda didn't want to mess it up.
"What does Dylan like?" she asked Val.
"Like?" asked Val. She had been assigned to keep Brenda distracted whilst the others finished up party preparations.
"In bed," said Brenda. "What does Dylan like in bed?"
Valerie sputtered out her drink.
"Why are you asking me what Dyl likes in bed?"
"Because you've been in bed with him," said Brenda.
"So have you," said Val. "Way more times than I have."
"Yes, but I don't know what he likes and I don't want to fuck it up by doing something wrong."
"He likes you, Bren. Whatever the rest of us did, it didn't cut it for him. He's chosen to be with you, from now 'til eternity. He'll like anything you do, because all Dyl wants is you. You have plenty of time to figure out what works for your relationship."
"He didn't want to have sex in the car," said Brenda.
"Trust me; it's uncomfortable enough when you aren't pregnant," said Val. "You don't want the steering wheel jabbed into your back."
"Who did you have sex with in a car?" asked Brenda.
"Not Dylan, if that's what you're getting at," said Val.
"How many lads have I slept with?" asked Brenda.
"Four, I think," said Val.
"How many women has Dylan been with?"
"You're better off not asking that, babe."
She would have to focus on her own sex life, Brenda decided, rather than on Dylan's past, or she would be trampled by comparisons.
The door opened, revealing Clare, Donna, and Kelly.
"Follow us, Mama," said Clare.
Clare took one of Brenda's arms; Donna, the other.
Kelly stood unsure of what to do.
"Here, Kel." Valerie gestured to the bed. "Do you mind getting Bren's suitcase?"
"Not at all," said Kelly, with a rare smile at Val.
"Are you two alright?" asked Brenda.
"What do you mean?" asked Kelly.
"You're friendlier to each other than usual," said Brenda.
"Well, I'm in Val's life and she's in mine, so we'll just learn how to get along more often," said Kelly.
"Good," said Brenda, "because my daughter isn't choosing between her aunts and, based on what I saw this morning, I have a feeling that Kelly might end up being one of them."
"Brandon and I have decided to take things slow," said Kelly. "We're savoring our time together."
"Is that why you didn't come back to Andrea's last night?" asked Donna. "You were 'taking things slow'?"
"We were just sleeping," said Kelly. "I was too tired to try anything else."
"David and Val were also just sleeping," said Brenda, "or so they say."
"We were," said Val. "It was a long flight. And our attempt at joining the Mile High Club didn't go quite as planned."
"That's my brother you're talking about," said Kelly.
Dylan was waiting for them at the bottom of the stairs.
"Almost thought my bride had run off," he joked.
"Not funny," said Brenda. "You know I can't sprint."
"Neither can I," said Dylan, relieving Donna of Brenda's arm. "Gotta warn ya," he whispered into Brenda's ear, "Sanders hasn't actually been to a baby shower before, so from what Silver texted, he might've ended up mixing it with ah, something else."
Brenda walked into a living room transformed.
An aquamarine sea coiling over a white sand beach reflected against the windowpane. Mariachi music played over a stereo. Dylan's surfboard stood in the corner.
"Oh my God," said Brenda, examining the tiny surfboard propped beside it. "Who got her a board?"
"That would be us," said Clare and Steve.
"We figured Dylan would get one for her, but when we saw it, we couldn't resist," Clare added.
"It's perfect," said Dylan and Brenda, in sync.
"Welcome to Baja," said Brandon, as Kelly flung out her arms for show.
"Baja?" asked Brenda. "Is this what it looks like?" she asked Dylan.
"Pretty damn close," said Dylan. "They even got the cosmos right."
"It's the only memory you've had of Dylan, so we thought we'd try to recreate your time there," said Brandon.
"You can't go to Baja, so we brought Baja to you," said Donna.
"Except most of us haven't been there, which meant we had to get help from excessive research," said Andrea.
"And Iris," said Clare. "She told us she used to go there with Dylan's dad."
From Dylan's expression, that had previously been unknown information.
"Do you like it?" asked Kelly.
Brenda responded by bursting into tears.
"Did we - did we fuck up?" asked Steve.
Dylan brought Brenda into his chest.
"I don't know why I'm crying," she said. "It's just; for a while, I thought I might never remember Dylan and then; and then I did remember something about him, remembered us in Baja, and for all of you to recreate that so Dylan and I can kind of experience it again, that means - it means…"
"It means everything," said Dylan, as Brenda tried to compose herself long enough to agree.
"So, you're happy?" asked Donna.
Dylan buried a kiss in Brenda's hair.
"She's happy," he said, "and that makes me extremely happy."
"Job well done, guys," said David.
The group asked Brenda if she felt rested enough to begin the festivities and, at her approval, Steve blasted what Dylan explained as Mexican cumbia music.
Brenda was told to sit in the center of the room. Dylan sat cross-legged beside her feet, with his head resting against her legs.
She played with his hair as she listened to the others.
They had all been ordered by Donna to share three memories each: a moment that stood out to them of how the love between Dylan and Brenda had impacted their own lives, and one each that encapsulated how they would be as parents.
"I've got one," said Steve and Valerie, at once.
To break the tie, Donna had them go around in a circle.
"I think it's pretty obvious how Dylan knocking up my sister has impacted me," said Brandon, who was the first in the circle.
"You have to play along," said Donna.
"Dylan was always over at the house," said Brandon. "Always. I'd come downstairs at eleven o'clock at night and he'd be watching a movie with Brenda. Well, he'd be watching it; she was usually asleep on his lap. Sometimes, I thought he might actually try to convince Jim and Cindy to let him spend the night."
"I wanted to," said Dylan, as he nuzzled his face against Brenda's legs.
"But it was the night that Brenda got held up at the Peach Pit that I realized exactly how much Dylan loved my sister," said Brandon. "How much he wanted to protect her, to take care of her."
"I failed," said Dylan. "I massively failed."
"So did I," said Brandon, looking at Dylan. "We both failed to protect Brenda, we both failed to be there for her. But the important thing is if I believe you will be there for her now, that you will continue sticking by her side, and D, I believe it."
Brenda could feel Dylan shaking against her, whether or not the others noticed.
"I will," he whispered to her. "I promise I will."
"I don't doubt it," she said, rubbing over his back.
"That wasn't quite what I had in mind," said Donna, "but I suppose it works."
"And you all know that Dylan loving my sister made him my brother," said Brandon. "Has made him my brother again, this time in a bond that he can never destroy. You say your vows to my sister and you're stuck with us, D. Bren and I; we aren't leaving you alone. You've got a family you can't push away, so deal with it already."
Brenda became concerned Dylan would go into cardiac arrest the way he viciously shook.
"Can we have a minute?" she asked Donna, who agreed that they could.
Brenda took Dylan's hand and led him into another room.
"Do you need us to stop?" she asked him, keeping her voice quiet to provide privacy.
"I'm alright," he told her in the same quiet tone. "It's just, I've got everything I've ever dreamt of and I'm - I'm -"
"You're terrified of losing it all?"
"Scared shitless," he said. "People like me don't get to be this happy without something coming back around to bite us in the nuts."
"You do get to be happy," said Brenda. "I'm going to make you happy."
"You already do, Bren. I can't handle this all being yanked away from me. I can't handle knowing you're gone, to a place I cannot go. I can't handle losing you with no way of bringing you home."
Brenda's hands moved in rapid motion over Dylan.
"You won't," she told him. "You won't." She kissed his hair.
He held her under his chin, which Brenda hoped he would continue to do over the years.
"I can't raise her alone," he said. "I refuse to raise her alone."
"I won't let you raise her alone," said Brenda.
"You promise?" he asked.
"I promise."
Dylan held out his pinky and taught Brenda how to pinky swear.
"I'm good," he said.
"Are you?" she asked.
"Can we just - can we just do one quick check?" His breaths came out heavily.
Brenda produced her monitor.
They returned only when Dylan was satisfied with Brenda's numbers.
Steve and Brandon were in the middle of an argument, with Steve accusing Brandon of purposely forcing the waterworks to kill the festive vibe.
"I said what I needed to say," said Brandon.
"Why don't you go next, Steve, and then we'll go back to the circle," said Donna.
"Alright," said Steve. "I knew Brenda really meant something to Dylan when she was the first and only girl the grapevine didn't try to spread rumors about."
"I might've put one or two of our classmates in their place," Dylan confessed.
"Yeah, Dustin comes to mind," Steve chortled.
"What did you do to poor Dustin?" asked Brenda.
"I heard that 'Poor Dustin' kept ogling you in your drama class the summer we were broken up," said Dylan. "He was telling people how he was going to make a move on you. I merely explained to him that it was a temporary break and -"
"And if Dustin tried anything, Dylan would tell the LAPD all about Dustin's shenanigans freshman year," said Steve.
"Dylan!" said Brenda.
"Dustin Mahoney was a snob with a stick up his ass," said Dylan. "I was doing you a favor."
It went on in that vein, with the men telling stories about Dylan and the women sharing stories about Brenda.
Brenda particularly liked the story Valerie told of the letters Brenda had written her.
"When I was in Buffalo, I grabbed some from my old room," said Val, giving them to Brenda. "I thought I'd lost them when I was, you know, arrested, but -"
"But they fell out of Val's pockets and I picked them up," said David.
"My hero," said Val.
Brenda looked down at the loops and curls of her handwriting.
"Careful, Val," said Dylan with a smile. "We don't want her getting too emotional."
"May I read some of this aloud?" Brenda asked the others.
"It's your party, honey," said Donna. "You can celebrate however you want."
Dylan held Brenda on his lap as they took turns reading the letter.
"'I met this guy,'" Dylan read. "'And before you start, yes, he is a surfer, yes, I had that massive crush on Jim Townsend and probably made Marjorie hate me forever because of it," the gang laughed, "yes, I might really like a Beverly Hills guy on a motorcycle. But Val, he's different. He reads. He's into old movies. He knows things even I don't know, things he likes to share with me and I like to listen to. He's got the kind of voice you can listen to for hours and never grow disinterested in.'"
"'We haven't been dating long, but I think - I think he might be someone who I might want to be in my future,'" Brenda read. "'And between you and me, Val, I think I might be in love with him.' That's what I told you," she said to Dylan, "before I dated Luca. That I might be in love with you."
"You know it now," Dylan said as he kissed beside Brenda's eye. "We've fallen into the rabbit hole together and decided to stay in Wonderland because I'm gonna stay wondering how I managed to get a girl like you to fall for a broken boy like me."
"That's lame, bro," said Steve.
He was shushed by the others.
"It's your heart," said Brenda. "See? In the letter." She pointed to the line. "I fell for the size of your heart."
"Or the size of something else," said Steve.
"Steve!" Clare admonished.
"I'm just saying, the girl loved Dylan's Porsche," said Steve.
"You did love my Porsche," Dylan told Brenda.
"That's in here, too," said Brenda.
They set aside the letters to read another time and allowed more stories to be shared.
Kelly stood and looked at both of them.
"First off, Bren, I just want to say how grateful I am that you've allowed me back in your life," she said. "The history between the four of us," she looked at Brandon, "is…complicated, to say the least. I've been sitting here trying to think of what I can say after all the hurt we've inflicted on you and I thought back to when we were bridesmaids, for Jackie's wedding. You called me when Mel and Jackie were on their honeymoon and told me that Jim no longer wanted you to see Dylan. I asked what you were going to do. You said nothing and no one, especially Jim Walsh, was going to keep you from loving Dylan. And you were right. No one, not even me, did. Dylan," she shifted her focus to Dylan, "we've screwed up, a lot. Every time we screwed up with each other, it made us like each other a little less. A lot less, to where we could hardly tolerate each other. But when we've screwed up with Brenda, and with Brandon…"
"It's made us want to do better," said Dylan. "Be better."
"Better than our parents," said Kelly. "We'll always fight to be better than our parents, and fight -"
"Fight for our twins," said Dylan. "I'll stay fighting for you," he told Brenda. "Through everything. Whatever life chucks our way."
"And I'm going to fight for you," Kelly told Brandon. "Because I like being better than I was, and you bring it out in me. Just as Brenda brings it out in Dylan."
"I think Dylan brings it out in himself," said Brenda. "He chooses to be better, to reach for his full potential."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," said Brandon, as he pulled Kelly down onto his lap.
Kelly gave him a bright smile, and it made Brenda smile to see the one Brandon gave in return.
"We can't all be this happy at one time," said Steve worriedly. "Something always happens when we're all happy in relationships."
Clare rubbed his shoulder.
"It's not happening this time," said David's lips from Val's back.
"Damn straight it's not," said Dylan. "Bren and I are getting hitched, and external forces can't stop it."
"Then I say we head over to the hotel," said Steve, "before it gets to be too late and Dylan's luck runs out."
"Just one more thing," said Kelly. "One more story."
"One," said Steve.
"I knew Dylan was going to be the best father when he comforted a crying girl in a locker room," said a new voice. "A girl whose mother was far away, who was scared because she had just gotten her period for the first time and all she wanted was her mother."
A young redhead Brenda recognized from photos appeared before them.
"But she didn't have her mother," said the woman. "All she had was her brother. Yet, that was enough, because he brought her to Cindy Walsh, gave her three scoops of ice-cream, and made it all okay."
Brenda stood to let Dylan do the same.
"Bren," he stood in shock, "this is -"
"Erica?" asked Brenda.
"Sorry it's taken me so long to visit you," said Erica McKay, clothed in a metallic cropped jacket and large bangle earrings. "Dylan told me what happened and as much as I wanted to see you, I wanted to be sure I was in a stable state before I tried. Didn't want to scare ya if I showed up here, hungover."
Dylan scooped his sister in for a hug.
Brenda joined in. It was a simple hug, yet it was one that would have normally made her shrink back and cower.
But hugging Erica was as easy as hugging Dylan, or Brandon.
"I can feel the kid pressing on my back," said Erica's muffled voice.
"Sorry," said Brenda, withdrawing slightly.
"Don't be," said Erica, tugging Brenda back in. "I like feeling my niece."
"So do we," said the room.
Dylan released Erica from the hug, but he didn't fully release her or Brenda from his hold.
"My three best girls," he said. "Which of you invited Erica?"
"Val did," said Kelly.
"Actually, Kel did," said Val.
"It was Val's idea," said Kelly.
"But I couldn't put it into action before everything happened, so Kel's the one who actually got Erica out here," said Val.
"Would you look at that," said Brandon. "You two can work together."
"I heard there's a party," said Erica. "I can't resist a good party."
"If you were a little older," Steve began.
"Steve!" said Clare for the second time.
"I was going to say I could set her up with Ryan!" said Steve.
"Who's Ryan?" asked Erica.
"The local butcher," said Dylan. "He chops up pigs for a living."
Erica was revolted.
"I'm a vegetarian," she told Steve.
"Ryan is my brother," said Steve, "and he's not a butcher."
"But Dylan said -"
"Dylan said what he knew would repulse you," said Dylan. "My little sister isn't dating anyone related to Sanders."
"There's nothing wrong with Ryan," said Steve.
"He's a Sanders," said Dylan.
Erica threw her gaze up to the ceiling, then over to Brenda.
"C'mon, sis," said Erica. "Let's leave the guys to their squabble while I tell you everything Dylan would rather I didn't. Starting with how much he pined for you when I first met him and how completely obvious it was to anyone who paid attention."
"Whatever she tells you, only half of it is true," said Dylan before he and Steve continued their argument.
They all drove off to the nearby hotel, where Dylan held Brenda's hand until Steve practically forced their hands apart.
"I'm only doing this because I love you both and I don't want any kind of bad luck to come for you, whether it's true or not," said Steve.
Dylan slowly unlinked his hand from Brenda's.
"This time tomorrow, we'll never have to spend another night apart," he told her.
"I love you, Mr. McKay," she said.
"I love you, Miss Walsh," he said. "If you need me at all, I'm right next-door. Our friends might be worried about this bad luck business, but I'm not." He cupped Brenda's stomach. "Daddy loves you too, baby girl. It's gonna suck, being away from you both. Be good for your Mummy."
"We're right next-door," said Steve.
"It's still away from them," said Dylan.
Brenda and Dylan continued to eye each other until they were both pulled into their respective rooms.
"You'll see him tomorrow," said Val.
"Tomorrow seems so far away," said Brenda dreamily.
"Okay," said Clare, "we understand that you and Dylan want to keep things really small tomorrow."
"So we accept that only Val, Brandon, and we assume Erica will be there," said Donna.
"But there's another tradition we didn't want to break," said Kelly, "and we don't think it should wait until however long it takes for you to have a wedding."
"Your throne awaits," said Andrea, flattening out her hand in direction of the bed.
Brenda had multiple gifts thrust in front of her.
Kelly had given her something blue, a hairpiece of beautiful forget-me-nots.
"Because Dylan's never forgotten you," said Kelly, "as hard as he tried sometimes. And I haven't, either. You're pretty unforgettable, Bren."
"Maybe I'll get you something blue when you marry Brandon," said Brenda, emotions attacking her throat.
"Do you think I'll marry Brandon?" asked Kelly, whose eyes told Brenda all of Kelly's dreams for the future.
"If you want it enough, you will," said Brenda.
From Valerie came something old.
"Your grandmother's necklace," she said, producing a necklace that matched Kelly's gift. "We must've forgotten I'd borrowed it, because I found it in the attic and brought it back for you."
"It's beautiful," said Brenda, who was too full of love to say anything more.
Clare provided the something borrowed.
"They were my mother's," she said, showing Brenda the earrings. "She was a hopeless romantic and I think she'd want you to wear them when you marry the man who's made you one."
It was the something new from Donna that prevented Brenda from another crying jag.
"Lingerie," said Donna. "Every married woman has to have a good set of red lingerie."
"What happened to our innocent little Donna?" asked Val.
"Shit," said Andrea, and covered her mouth.
"What is it?" asked Kelly.
"I got Bren red lingerie, too," said Andrea.
"The world is upside-down," said Val.
"Then it's good I got it in purple," said Erica. "Metallic purple."
"Your brother isn't going to like the fact that you gave Bren lingerie," said Clare.
"He'll like it when it's off of her," said Erica.
Brenda summoned up enough stability to pull them all in for a group hug.
She didn't last more than a few seconds, but that was enough.
"I love you guys," she said.
"We love you too, Bren," said Donna. "And we can't wait to meet your little baby."
"The newest member of our gang," said Val.
"We could have a girl gang of our own," said Clare, "like the guys have theirs."
They all shook on it before Donna pulled out bottles of nail polish and told Brenda about how they would prepare her for the next day.
As Brenda watched them all fussing over her, Valerie and Kelly getting along with each other to suggest to Brenda what they could do to make the night extra special, Donna pouring the virgin margaritas so that Brenda could be included, more love rose in Brenda than she knew what to do with.
It hadn't been more than six months since she had sat in a hospital bed, flipping through a family photo album that meant nothing to her. At the time, she had thought of Brandon as her only family and assumed it would be just the two of them.
Then three, at the news of the baby, and four, when Valerie reintroduced herself.
It had grown in size to much more than four.
The women around her, the men nearby, they had all become Brenda's family.
And, like Dylan, she was scared shitless of losing any of them.
xx
It was difficult to concentrate when his eyes kept drifting back to the door that separated him from his girls.
"Maybe if I just," he started.
"She's fine," said Steve.
"She could have our baby at any time," said Dylan. "She's not fine."
"She's fine," said Brandon and David with extra emphasis.
"She's got a med student in with her," said Brandon.
"Every time I'm away from her, something terrible happens," said Dylan.
"Good thing you're not too far, then," said Steve.
They tried to figure out what they could do that would stay in line with Dylan's sobriety and prevent them from getting in trouble with their women.
"We're whipped," said Steve. "Well and truly whipped. I can't even consider calling a stripper without wondering how Clare will react."
"Maybe it isn't such a bad thing, to be whipped," said Dylan. "To be in love with someone who's equally in love with you and to care about them to the point that you don't need to think of anyone else."
"I guess I don't really need a stripper around," said Steve. "I get plenty of action from Clare, and she's better than any stripper."
"Val could teach a stripper a thing or two," said David.
"Men, I believe we have matured," said Brandon. "Is this what fatherhood does?" he asked Dylan.
"Depends on the father," said Dylan, thinking over the numerous strippers that had walked through his father's mansion.
"Rush certainly hasn't shied away from them," said Steve. "Mel?" he asked David.
"Strippers aren't really Dad's thing," said David. "He's more into women whose clothes he can take off himself."
"And we all know how Jimbo feels about strippers," said Dylan.
"Dad's bachelor party is a story in itself," said Brandon, as he shared it with them.
"Jim got stuck in the stripper cake?" Dylan howled with laughter. "Simon didn't let him out?"
"Right before the wedding!" said Brandon. "Jim was in there all night."
Steve raised an eyebrow at Dylan.
"Don't even think about it," said Dylan.
"We could put you in a giant cardboard cake, roll you down to City Hall, and you could surprise Brenda," said Steve.
"It's probably better if we don't surprise a woman about to give birth," said David.
"Good point," said Steve. "Maybe before their wedding."
"By that time, we could be on baby number two," said Dylan.
"You're never gonna get Bren to agree to six kids," said Brandon.
"Never say never, Walsh," said Dylan.
There was a light knock at the door.
"Anyone order room service? Got a couple of pies here."
"Pies?" asked Dylan.
Brandon opened the door to another member of their party.
"Jake!" Dylan greeted, clapping the back of his old friend. "What are you doing here?"
"Steve contacted me and said you were getting married," said Jake Hanson, in his standard black shirt and jeans. "Had to come out and see for myself if the chick treats you right."
"She does," said Dylan. "It's Brenda."
"Brenda?" asked Jake. "I liked Brenda."
"I know you did," said Dylan. "How's Melrose?"
"Melrose is Melrose," said Jake. "Steve told me Kelly Taylor is around here."
Brandon stood and began to advance, trying to get past Dylan's outstretched hand.
"He said she's taken," said Jake. "Wonder who the lucky guy is who got that fireball."
"That would be my brother here," said Dylan. "You remember Brandon?"
"Oh, yeah. Hey, Brandon," said Jake.
"Jake," said Brandon.
"I thought you said there were pies," said Steve.
Jake opened the door and threw out a request to the hallway for pies.
"Did someone call for pies?" the hall answered back.
Dylan welled up at seeing the man who had been more of a father than his own.
"Glad you could make it back, Nat."
"My kids are getting married," said Nat. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Dylan looked around at the men before him, all of whom had come to mean a great deal in his life.
"We're missing Kai," he said.
"He'll be along soon," said David. "And don't worry, he's not bringing Luca."
"I care only so that Luca won't try to hit on Erica," said Dylan.
"Who's Erica?" asked Jake.
"Nearly a third of your age," said Dylan.
"Too young for me," said Jake.
"I'm telling you," said Steve, "Ryan."
"And I'm telling you, no," said Dylan.
They ruled out drinking for the sake of Dylan, gambling because of Brandon and David, and stepping out of the suite altogether to avoid Steve taking interest in another woman.
"I don't want to cheat on Clare," said Steve.
"Then that's all the more reason to keep you from temptation," said Brandon.
"Alright," said Jake, "if we aren't chasing chicks, drinking, gambling, or hanging out with strippers, that leaves only one thing."
"Strip poker," they chorused.
Steve frowned at them as he lay down his deck of cards.
"I am not taking off another item of clothing," he said.
"You'd make the girls do it," said David.
"I'm not supposed to be losing at strip poker!" said Steve.
"Too bad," said Jake. "Take it off."
By the end of the game, only Steve's bottoms remained.
Dylan knocked on the door.
"No men!" he heard Donna say.
"I just want to talk to my bride," said Dylan.
He heard the shuffling of feet and then the sound of someone beside the door.
"Hi, baby," said Brenda.
"It's hard being away from you," Dylan told her through the door.
"It's equally hard being away from you," said Brenda.
Dylan asked if Brenda's hand was pressed against the door, like his. Brenda confirmed it was. Dylan wondered if their hands were aligned through the door.
"I'll be waiting for you," he told her. "Meet me in City Hall, at noon. And tell our daughter goodnight for me."
"Goodnight, love," said Brenda. "We'll see you at noon."
Dylan looked at the time.
Twelve whole hours to go, the longest twelve hours of his life.
"Who's up for another round?" asked Jake.
"Not me," said Steve. "Strip poker isn't fun when you're sober."
"Strip poker's plenty fun sober," said David. "You're only saying that because you lost."
"Rematch," said Steve.
Three losses later, Steve announced his decision to turn in for the night, which led to them all doing the same.
Dylan called out to his roommate.
"Brandon?"
"Asleep," said Brandon.
"Don't you think we should try to check on Brenda?" asked Dylan.
"They'll text us," said Brandon drowsily.
"It's the one night we're apart," said Dylan. "What if she dreams of the train? What if she screams, and I'm not there to soothe her?"
"The girls will take care of her," said Brandon. "Get some shut-eye if you don't want to be kanackered tomorrow."
"Knackered," said Dylan.
"That's what I said," said Brandon. "Kanackered."
Dylan reached for his mobile as Brandon's snores echoed across the room.
We're good, came to his phone.
How'd you know? he texted back.
Because, Brenda messaged, I know you and you were lying awake, wondering how I'm doing.
Just as you were lying awake, wondering about me, Dylan texted. Get some sleep, gorgeous.
I will if you will.
Going now. I love you.
I love you.
How much?
More than ice-cream.
That's a pretty big amount.
How much do you love me?
More than surfing.
If you love me more than surfing and I love you more than ice-cream, I guess we can get married in nine hours.
I guess we can.
Dylan awoke to find the unfinished text that told him he had been the one to fall asleep on Brenda.
He dressed quickly, impatiently waiting for Brandon and Nat to get into their own formal wear.
"I'm getting married today," he announced.
"How do I have a hangover when I didn't drink a drop?" asked Steve.
"Maybe because I pushed you off the bed when you tried to climb in with me," said Jake.
"I did no such thing," said Steve.
"Oh, you were definitely sleepwalking," said David. "Woke me up a few times to ask about Elvis."
"What was I asking you about Elvis?" asked Steve.
"If he ever lost at strip poker," said David, and darted behind Brandon as Steve came towards him.
"I didn't see Bren last night," said Dylan. "Can I see her now?"
"Not 'til noon," said Steve.
Five hours to go, and they were dragging considerably.
Dylan tried to while away the time by mulling over what he would say when he stood beside Brenda.
Her name appeared on his mobile.
"Morning," she said. "I can't talk long because Kel's gonna do my makeup."
"Tell her we like the more natural look," said Dylan. "How are you feeling?"
"Good, I think," said Brenda.
"Good, you think?" asked Dylan.
"Well, my back's hurting a bit, but that's nothing new," said Brenda. "And my butt a little."
"Tell me if it gets any worse," said Dylan.
Brenda said she would.
"Do you have your socks on?" she asked.
"My socks?" asked Dylan.
"In case you get cold feet," said Brenda.
"My feet are very warm," said Dylan.
"Your feet are never warm."
"Today, they're so warm, they're buried under desert sand. How about you? Do you need socks?"
"I have plenty of socks at home," said Brenda. "I should probably go now."
"See you in four hours," said Dylan.
"I'll be counting the minutes," said Brenda.
As expected, Dylan arrived before Brenda. He walked in with Brandon and Nat, to see Iris and Cindy standing in the hallway.
"We know you wanted to elope," said Cindy, "but do you really think I would let my daughter get married without me?"
"Steve's annoyed enough as it is," said Brandon. "You wouldn't want our moms to be annoyed, as well."
"This makes it easy," said Dylan. "We can tell Steve we kept it to immediate family."
"Nat and Val?" asked Brandon.
"Immediate family," said Dylan. "Jimbo coming?" he asked.
"Jim thought it might be better if he didn't upset Brenda by showing up, but he will be nearby to hear the ceremony," said Cindy.
"Bren and I are glad to have the support," said Dylan.
He fixed his collar multiple times over, looking at his reflection in the mirror.
"You're worried, aren't you?" asked Brandon.
"You know what happened the last time I said vows," said Dylan. "Bren and I aren't free of enemies ourselves and -"
"And today's going to go off without a hitch," said Brandon. "You'll officially be my brother. Husband to my sister, father to my niece, son-in-law to my parents."
"We should get out there," said Dylan. "I sure hope this is one event Bren can make on time."
Brenda was not only on time, she was early; early enough that Erica entered in before Brenda to make Brenda wait until the agreed upon time.
"How's she doing?" asked Dylan.
"She's excited," said Erica. "Woke us all up to remind us she's getting married today."
"Has she given any indication that she might be cramping?"
"None that I saw."
As a nearby church sounded out the noon bells, a vision of pure white stepped into Dylan's view.
Every curve was accentuated in Brenda's jumpsuit, with a belt that drew Dylan's eye and a cape that swooshed out behind her. Brenda's hair was pinned in a complicated updo, a floral headpiece woven through so that her hair appeared the makings of a flower bush. She wore two necklaces, one of them their necklace, and a pair of drop earrings Dylan thought suited Brenda well.
She held the crook of Brandon's arm, just as she had done all those years ago when Stuart Carson had stood in Dylan's place.
Perhaps by the time of their wedding, it would be Jim standing where Brandon stood.
"You look incredible," said Brenda when she reached Dylan's side.
"Me?" he asked. "I don't look half as incredible as you do."
Brenda angled herself to face Dylan, both of their hands linked together.
The officiator asked for the witnesses. Brandon, Erica, and Valerie presented themselves. Brandon removed the rings from his shirt pocket. Dylan asked to speak before the script could be read.
"To say I love you is an understatement," said Dylan. "To say I love you more than I ever thought possible cannot begin to cover the impact you've had on my life. I love everything about you, Brenda. I love how caring you are, how courageous, how daring, how creative, how you go to the ends of the earth for those you love and still manage to take care of yourself. I know it hasn't been easy for you to let others care for you, but you have. And now I ask that you will allow me to care for you, that the love you have shown me can be returned with the love I will show you. And I do love you, Brenda Walsh. An awful lot. This will be the last day I call you that, you know. Brenda Analiese Walsh, the girl who taught me the beauty to be found in life, if we search hard enough for it."
He could see Brenda struggling to keep it together, and squeezed her hand to give her the strength.
"Dylan Michael McKay," she said. "Damn, are you a hard one to cut out of one's life. According to everyone, I've tried, a few times. You kept pushing your way back in. Maybe you don't realize that, how resilient you are. Because you are resilient. You're strong. You're caring, loving, daring, creative, adventurous, you're all the things I never knew I needed. And when it comes to this journey we're on, you're the one I want by my side through it all. I loved you when I was sixteen, when I was seventeen and eighteen and nineteen, into my twenties and now. According to the letter I wrote Val, you were the first guy who heard me say I loved him. And you are the last, because everything I am, every dream I will ever have, is yours."
"As I am yours," Dylan whispered, too overcome to attempt a normal tone.
He remained transfixed on Brenda, barely acknowledging anyone else.
"The purpose of marriage is the establishment of a family for the common good of its members and the preservation of society," said the officiator. "Marriage is intended to be permanent so as to allow the family members to establish a happy home together."
Dylan didn't think Brenda had ever been more beautiful than she was standing across from him; not in appearance, but in spirit.
She appeared almost ethereal.
"Before these witnesses, I ask you Dylan Michael McKay, will you take Brenda Analiese Walsh to be your spouse, to love, for better or for worse?"
"I will," said Dylan.
Brenda was asked the same.
"I will," she said.
"As you have both answered the question in the affirmative, I now pronounce you spouses," said the officiator. "Take the ring from your spouse as a sign of your union."
They exchanged the rings, Brenda's ring joining her engagement ring and Dylan's finger bearing the sign of his heart belonging to another.
"You are now joined together in marriage," they were told. "As spouses you are equal. Show love and mutual trust for each other in marriage and act together for the good of the family."
"In other words, you may now kiss the bride," said Erica.
Dylan swept Brenda back in a cinematic pose.
"We did it," he said with elation.
"We sure did," said Brenda.
They kissed soundly.
"I love you, Mrs. McKay," said Dylan.
"I love you too, husband," said Brenda.
"Welcome to the family, bro." Brandon embraced Dylan.
"Officially," said Val. "Guess that means you're part of it, too," she said to Erica, "just like Nat here."
"Then that means I get two sisters," said Erica joyfully.
"More than two sisters," said Brenda. "You get everyone who was in the suite."
Erica appeared as touched as Dylan was at seeing the interaction between his wife and his sister.
Nat embraced Dylan and Brenda, at once.
"I knew it," he told them. "I always knew you crazy kids would end up together, one day. I hope you'll both make each other as joyful as my Joanie's made me."
"We love you, Nat," said Brenda.
"Remember," said Nat, "it's okay to go to bed angry, just so long as you're willing to talk it out in the morning."
"Got it, Dad," said Dylan, because it felt right to say.
He hadn't intended to make Nat emotional, who excused himself to speak with Erica.
"I can't tell you how long I've waited to hear you officially pronounced my daughter," said Iris, slipping her arm around Brenda.
"And you my son," Cindy told Dylan.
"I guess we were all impatiently waiting," said Dylan as he sent embraces all around.
They celebrated into the evening with a small reception the others had planned and music provided by the local DJ who David had met through the shop.
Dylan ended yet another dance with Brenda to ask her if she wanted to retire for the night.
"Actually," said Brenda, "I was wondering if we could go for a swim."
"If my wife wants a swim, we'll have a swim," said Dylan.
To his utter delight, Brenda entered the pool in a bikini.
"Is it too revealing?" she asked, looking down self-consciously.
"It's just us in here," said Dylan. "Just a husband and his wife."
"Say that again," said Brenda, wading towards him.
"A husband, his wife, and their daughter in her belly," said Dylan as he fit Brenda onto his lap. "I have a confession to make."
"Steve ordered strippers?" asked Brenda.
"Shockingly, he didn't," said Dylan. "When I found out about the baby, I hoped we would marry before she was born. But I didn't expect that it would happen."
"Truthfully," said Brenda, "when you told me you were her father, I pictured walking down the aisle to you. I just didn't know if I pictured it because of her."
"You pictured it because it was inevitable, Brenda. It's been inevitable since the day we met."
They locked lips, remaining that way until Brenda's fingers pruned.
"Let's get these fingers in the shower," said Dylan as he kissed the chlorine-riddled fingers.
He ran the hotel shower, turning the valves every which way for the perfect temperature.
Brenda appeared in the doorway.
"You're going to shower in your bikini?" asked Dylan.
"I just realized the last time you saw me fully naked, I would have been much skinnier. Much, much skinnier," said Brenda as she covered herself with a towel.
"Should I have had the officiator include something about loving you at any weight you are?" asked Dylan.
Brenda chewed on her lip.
"You look just as good as the first time I saw you," said Dylan. "Better, even."
Brenda dropped her towel.
Dylan dropped his boxers, in an effort to encourage Brenda.
Brenda painstakingly stripped herself of her bikini, keeping her hands over the revealing parts.
"I wish I was an artist," said Dylan, enraptured, "so that I could capture your likeness. Rembrandt himself would be captivated by the angel that stands before me."
Brenda uncovered herself, allowing Dylan to see the full extent of his bride.
As many times as he had seen Brenda nude as his girlfriend, none of those moments compared to seeing Brenda nude as his wife.
Knowing no other man would be given the pleasure, that no other woman from that point forward would see what Brenda saw, was nothing less than exhilarating.
Dylan stepped into the warmth of the shower.
Brenda followed.
Dylan threw himself on her, kissing Brenda's neck as his hands waltzed across her skin.
"Have you ever showered with your wife before, completely in the nude?" asked Brenda.
"Yes," said Dylan. "Because you are my wife and we've taken several of those showers."
"The doctor said we could," said Brenda. "If we're awake enough for it."
"I'm awake," said Dylan. "Are you?"
"I'm awake," said Brenda.
Dylan flattened himself against her, connecting their bodies and reproductive organs.
"So this is what sex feels like," said Brenda.
"I'm just getting started," said Dylan as he began to move in and out of Brenda.
The movements grew more rushed, more harried.
Brenda's body spasmed, which Dylan took to mean her satisfaction.
"Dylan."
Dylan let out a tiny hum against Brenda's shoulder, where he had started to devour her skin.
"Baby," said Brenda, "baby, stop."
Dylan pulled back, furrowing his brow.
"Am I hurting you?" he asked.
"You're not," said Brenda. "She is."
"Come again?" asked Dylan.
"My water broke," said Brenda.
Dylan paused his movements.
"Shit, your water broke? Are you absolutely sure?"
"Pretty sure," Brenda grimaced, clinging on to Dylan's arm as she bent over.
"Wha - should I release?" Dylan panicked. "I shouldn't, right? I could infect something? I could infect her?"
"I don't know," said Brenda. "We didn't go over this in class. We didn't ask the OB what we should do if my water broke during sex."
"Well if you don't know, then I won't even try it. Last thing either of you need is an infection."
Dylan rapidly pulled out of Brenda and released onto the shower floor.
"What a great night," he said. "I get to make love to my wife and meet our kid. Do you want us to try to make it home?"
"Yes," said Brenda. "I want to be in our tub when she comes, not a hotel shower."
Dylan shut off the water.
"Then we better dry off," he said, helping Brenda out of the shower. "Typical kid. Wants her parents together, but not if there's a risk of PDA that has the potential to embarrass her."
"I probably wouldn't want to hang around when my parents are making love, either," said Brenda.
"Raincheck?" asked Dylan.
"Could be a six-week raincheck."
"I'm willing to wait."
Dylan located Brenda's bag of clothes and other necessities that he had asked Brandon to bring, just in case.
"Think you can handle the walk home?" he asked, helping her dress before quickly dressing himself.
Brenda's moan answered for her.
Dylan had her climb onto his back.
"Let's go meet our baby, Mrs. McKay," he said. "And Bren?"
Brenda buried her head in the nape of Dylan's neck.
"Yes?" she asked.
"We've just confirmed what I've always known," he said.
"What's that?" asked Brenda.
"Our OB said you'd be unlikely to go into labor unless you orgasmed, which means you orgasmed," said Dylan.
"She said I would've had to already be experiencing contractions first," said Brenda. "You assumed an orgasm would intensify them."
"She didn't correct me," said Dylan. "Ergo, the sex between us is phenomenal; phenomenal enough to initiate labor. Now, you two hang on while I get us home."
Brandon stood outside of their room, his fist poised as if to knock.
"What's wrong?" he asked, looking at Brenda and then Dylan.
"My wife's in labor," he said. "She's asked for me to take her home."
"I'll drive," said Brandon.
They saw Clare on the way out, Brandon shouting at her to have Valerie call Brenda's midwife.
"Nearly there, baby." Dylan sat beside Brenda, rubbing her back as Brenda did her best to breathe. "We're nearly there." To Brandon, he said, "Jones! Pedal to the metal, man, c'mon!"
"I'm going as fast as I can!" said Brandon.
Dylan slid his hand through the buttons of Brenda's dress, feeling the way her belly constricted and loosened.
"She's definitely on her way," he said in awe. He set his hand to Brenda's face.
Brenda groaned, squinching her eyes.
"Take my hand," said Dylan. "Just take my hand."
"I don't want to break it," said Brenda. "Evan, in class, he said Ava literally broke his hand in the birth of their second kid. I love your hand. I don't want to break it."
"I don't care," said Dylan. "My wife is in pain. She can take my hand."
Brenda took his hand.
Dylan saw David and Valerie up ahead, greeting the midwife as she stepped out of her car.
The strength of Brenda's hold didn't bother him. The slow crawl of the car barely bothered him.
Had it not been for the dark car he noticed blending into the shadows near their home, nothing would have bothered him.
It probably meant nothing, he told himself.
Brenda; she meant every damn thing and his entire concentration would be on her.
He slowed his own breathing to a controlled, rhythmic pace that Brenda could mimic.
"Breathe, baby," he told her. "Just keep breathing."
"I'm trying," said Brenda in a calm tone.
On the chance that Brenda ran out of breaths, thought Dylan, she could have his.
He carried Brenda out of the car and up the drive, greeting the midwife as he went.
Over the threshold, into the house.
He set about preparing Brenda and the tub, as the midwife instructed.
Brenda gripped the edge of the tub, lowering her head as her body swung forward and backward.
"Get in," she told Dylan.
Already stripped down to his boxers, Dylan complied and took his seat behind his wife.
"This is it," he said, rubbing her back.
"This is it," she said, leaving no space between their bodies.
Valerie took her own position, between Brenda and the midwife. Cindy sat on the toilet seat, Brandon and Iris on the floor.
They could hear the others chatting in the hallway.
Waiting.
-x
Sources: Google and the websites for Digital and Population Data Services Agency, National Partnership for Women & Families, NHS, Sutter Health, VeryWell Family.
(Shout-out to Crystal and KJ to express my continued gratitude and appreciation, as well as those of you whose review I could respond to directly. KJ, I didn't plan on giving Tom and Val that kind of moment initially, but it just kind of worked itself into there.)
Thanks a million! x