Authors Note: I own nothing. No ownership rights to Beverly Hills 90210.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Fierce Goddess
My parents were officially losing it!
I don't bother to look at Dylan as I know he is as mad or even madder than I am. As I begin to stand up I look to Andrea, "would you mind taking Art to Iris in the pool area?"
She looks confused but begins to stand and then moves closer, "yeah of course."
Brandon either picking up on my twin emotions or just seeing the furry that was written over both mine and imagine Dylan's face moves to get up. "Brenda I'm guessing our parents have crossed the line on bringing Stuart here?"
I ignore him and see Jesse stand and move behind me to Dylan, he obviously picked up the fact that Dylan's focus would not be on the grill. Without turning around I can sense Dylan is closer, "Baby your parents your call but that guy I will be removing from our property."
My father having heard Dylan looks to us, "you both are being extremely rude to a family friend and a guy Brenda-"
I cut Dad off, I don't think I can keep my recent dating experience quiet but I can try; Dylan doesn't deserve that this be a topic of conversation. "Stuart please leave our property right now, if Dylan does it he won't be asking."
My pleading eyes and firm request do nothing, he actually moves forward. "Look I don't want to cause a scene I just wanted us to talk. When I explained to your parents over brunch at my parents house that Dylan hadn't been supportive for us to continue to date, they felt that he was crossing the line- taking away your choices. When I told them that I heard him asking you to marry him as I went to leave the restaurant, they thought he maybe taking advantage of your situation manipulating you when you are vulnerable because of your illness and being a new mum. I thought maybe if I came and explained that I'm serious about us, that he isn't your only option that you could make a better choice." The gasp from the girls on the word marriage was the only sound that was heard throughout the confused man's diatribe, though Dylan had wrapped his arms around me and held me close.
Well if he wasn't going to go quietly so much for us keeping his past a secret. "Did you tell them that you knew Dylan?"
"I told them back in our younger days we use to run in the same circles, and that back then I was struggling with my own demons much like Dylan."
"Don't you think that is a little misleading?"
"Brenda, Stuart advised us that he was into… well that he was part of the LA scene back then, but he's clean, he has a respectable career and comes from a supportive family, people make mistakes."
"Jim. Stuart wasn't part of the scene he was the supplier for the scene. You have brought into Brenda's and my home, the house we raise your grandchild in, an ex-drug dealer." Brandon, Steve and David all move closer.
"Dylan that is a horrible allegation-"
"Jim it's not an unfounded accusation, I'm literally the proof- he was my dealer! He is the guy that at twenty years old had no qualms in selling my fifteen year old self a range of substances. He's the guy you brought into my home, the guy you want dating my girl and being around my son." He squeezes me tighter, "Baby you mind?"
I look to the pool area, the kids are playing and the adults over there, specifically Suzanne and Kevin are oblivious to this scene. Iris and Nat are keeping them well and truly entertained. "No go right ahead." With that Dylan kisses my head and moves to escort Stuart off the premises. David and my brother's follow as support. If Stuart tries to get my attention in the process I'm oblivious as my eye's are focused in on my parents.
It takes my mother a moment once he is out the door to speak. "Brenda we didn't know. We would have never brought him here or set you up with him if we knew."
"Mum I get the set up as being unknown and I even understand that he wasn't honest with you, but what I don't understand is that when I said I wasn't going to see him again, that I wasn't interested, why didn't you both respect that? Why after me saying that would you ever think it would be okay to bring him into my family's home? Why would you think I'd be okay with him around Art and Erica? Why would you think I'd ever want Dylan uncomfortable in the home we share?"
"That's the problem you shouldn't be living in his house with him, you should have never allowed him back into your life. Yes he is Arthur's father but he can have visitation he can see him once a week. He doesn't need you living in his home or playing house with him, he doesn't deserve to take your future away from you."
"Dad what future is he taking away from me?"
"He just asked you to marry him."
"He didn't just ask, Dylan has been asking me for over two months now, after spending six months asking me to come home to him."
"So he is now making light of marriage making it a joke?"
"I'm not sure how from what I just said you have come to that conclusion, but no Dylan isn't making light of marriage."
"So why does he keep asking then if he is not throwing it around like candy?"
"Well Jim, I'm hoping one day your daughter the only woman I have ever loved will agree to become my wife. I'm hoping that the love of my life, this one and all my others will say yes. Bren and I take our family very seriously, and while we will happily live in our homes together raising our family without rings I'd like her to be formally Mrs McKay. I'd like for everyone to know we are devoted and in love with the other. Bren and I know marriage is forever for us, that we will be making that commitment for life. I've been ready to do that since… well I ask her a lot because I'm hoping one day she'll start listening again to every cell of her body that has known since our first meeting that we belong together." He moves closer to me and I smile at him. "He's off the property and the gate is closed but I turned on the camera's just to be sure." He picks up my hand but I subtly feel him move his fingers to my pulse point, of course Mr Protective is worried.
"I'm okay, I feel okay, stop stressing." I run my finger over his frown, he closes his eyes and takes a breath and then opens them again- he's calmer. I look back at my parents this has to stop. My son is once again removed from them, my health is being checked and Dylan is carrying the stress of all of this, taking never ending kicks on his character from them. None of this is fair on my family. "When I found out about how you convinced Dylan to support me going to Paris, by freezing his trust and by threatening to formally make untrue statutory rape claims about our relationship, I gave you a warning." I once again ignore the girls shocked gasps. "He, our family is a non-negotiable you have interfered with that and put that at risk. You've shown no respect to him or to me, and it hasn't been just once it's ongoing. I won't continue to put my family through this and I was serious about my warning. I'd like you to leave now."
"Brenda you can't-"
"Dad I was clear, if you tried that level of interference again you would be out of mine and Arthur's life. I think inviting a drug dealer into my home after I had made it clear that I didn't want anything to do with him fits that category. Please leave, I won't ask Dylan or my brother's to throw you out but I'm asking you to avoid making any more of a scene and to leave my home now."
"Brenda-"
"We are done. Please leave so I can go feed my son and put him down for his nap, leave before Erica picks up what is going on over here, leave so I can go back to celebrating with my family." He holds my eyes shocked and mad that I would do this to him. "Show me at least an ounce of respect and observe my wishes on this."
"Brenda-"
"Jim that's enough, our daughter has asked for us to go and we should go. For what it's worth we really didn't know the type of man he was."
I didn't follow them out, I didn't check they left the property I just stood my ground and waited for the front door to close. Dylan held my hips the whole time but he didn't wrap me in his arms. Once they were gone he broke the silence, "Baby what do you need?"
I turn to face him, "I need to go and feed our son and I need you to try and salvage lunch as I'm starving."
He holds my eye's, "how loud and clear is the voice?"
I smile, this man gets me. "It has a megaphone and is speaking clearly in both French and English."
"But not Spanish, we need to work on your Spanish." I laugh at him, he leans in a kisses my head. "Go feed our son and can you ask the kids to get out of the pool, hopefully by the time they are dry their lunch will be ready. Steve it will be just five minutes before the kids are feed, want me to set a timer so you can see it countdown?"
As I walk away I hear Steve say, "McKay don't make me reconsider whose better for my sister, the drug dealer didn't give me nearly this much lip."
When I get back from putting Art down everyone is sitting down to lunch, Jesse is an absolute legend and had taken over the grill ensuring everything was perfectly cooked. I send him a grateful smile, his understanding nod is the only acknowledgement. Dylan has made me a plate and as I put the baby monitor in front of him he pulls out my chair for me.
The conversation is light with Nat keeping us entertained with old stories but I know from Iris' wink she has been informed about what has gone on and I'm sure our other housemate is aware as well. Once lunch is finished and the kids are off running around eating ice cream cones and we are all eating dessert, mine the smallest piece ever, the patience of some members of our group to know gossip breaks.
"So you dated Stuart? You never said anything at our sorority meetings."
Suzanne from across the table sits up at Kelly's question, "you are dating other people? What about Dylan?"
Dylan who had been trying to fend off me stealing a fork full of some of his equally small piece of dessert responds. "I encouraged Bren to date other people so she realises how amazing I am, sometimes you have to look close at the grass to realise it's actually dead and just spray painted bright green."
"Dylan is that mixed metaphor a shot at our first Christmas tree in LA?"
"B if the analogue fits." As he has been distracted I manage to creep my fork to his plate and steal a bit of the chocolate cake, without turning from my brother he moves and lightly holds my elbow. "There is this little village in Switzerland called Lauterbrunnen it has the best hot chocolate I have ever tasted. I was thinking of adding that to our trip, it would be the perfect place for long walks, good books and as it's at the base of the Alps evening hot chocolate's in front of the fireplace."
"I wasn't going to eat this I was getting this piece for you. See." With that I raise my fork to his mouth and as he begins to smile at my innocent expression I shove it quickly in.
When he is able to he responds. "Thank you that was considerate of you Baby. For a moment there I thought you were going to break your Doctor's recommendations, which would be bad at such a sensitive time when he has just lowered your dose for the second time."
"Would I do that?"
"Not usually but you do have a wicked sweet tooth that sometimes makes you forget yourself." My brother and friends are silently laughing at me, knowing full well who the fork was really meant for.
Jesse's voice indicates he is still clearly amused by our antics when he asks, "so you are planning a trip to Switzerland?"
"Brenda has spent majority of the last twelve months with severe morning sickness or on a restrictive diet, that's on top of spending most of it on medically forced bed rest to keep them both…" he grabs my hand, "carrying our son has literally risked her life many times. When she finally gets the all clear we are going to go on a trip to celebrate. We both speak fluent French and love Paris, but we are adding Italy and now Switzerland to the itinerary."
"Wow when will you go?"
"That's up to Bren's Doctor and when he thinks she can officially have the all clear."
"Europe again Dylan?"
Dylan had been fielding any potential negative remarks away from me it was my turn to do the same, I squeeze his hand stopping his retort at Kelly. "From the little I saw of Europe I love it and Dylan has been going since he was a child he loves it there. We have some interesting memories tide to our recent experiences there but why prevent that from allowing us to enjoy a place we both love, and make new memories as a family?"
"And it gives me a chance to teach Bren some Italian and hopefully get more fluent myself."
"Dylan if that was the case you should of told me I could be helping you practise."
"Nat I didn't know how much of the language you knew."
"Are you kidding I know it all Salvatore would insist on it and well my grandmother only spoke Italian. Kids we will start your education tonight."
The bbq continued later than anticipated with Erica asking to watch a movie with her new friends and some of the adults taking advantage with the kids inside to enjoy the pool themselves. Nat and I eventually made some pizzas to ensure everyone was well feed, while Bren cut up another platter of fruit. By the time they had all left we were exhausted. Later that night when Art, Nat and Iris were asleep and our house had returned to it's usual order I declared that this would not be a regular occurrence, it was nice but hard work. Bren gave me an amused smile and disappeared soon after to have a bath.
It was a little while later while I was reading a book on my bed that I saw her walk past my room, "hey you okay?"
"Yeah just wanted to give Arthur a kiss before I went to sleep. Have you done his dream feed?"
"Yeah just finished he is out like a light, today was exhausting for him."
"I'm sure Erica is the same." While we didn't discuss it it was clear to both of us that we missed her when she wasn't at home with us. Bren indicates she was going in and disappeared into Art's room to check on our sleeping son. When she comes out a few minutes later I call her in.
"Do you want to talk about today?" She comes and sits on my bed.
"No, Brandon cornered me before he left and well I'm all talked out."
"What's he saying?"
"That I made the right decision, that something needed to break them from this pattern and hopefully being removed from our lives will make them reflect. Sorry if this makes the financial relationship with my Father difficult."
"No need to apologise at all, I'm just happy you are finding your voice again, feeling more confident to stand up for yourself and well our family. The finances well I'm not sure what to do on that. Ending it would make it clear that it could be a permanent break but keeping it would indicate that there is still a chance for them to correct and change this situation."
"Take out the message that this gives to them about our family and tell me if you want Dad to still have control over your money, do you still trust him?"
"I trust him not to lose it but I don't trust him not to tie it up in investments that will be beneficial in the long term but will see us cash poor in the short term."
She moves closer to the top of the bed and rests against the headboard, "what do you want to do then?"
"Cut all tie's."
She picks up my hand and squeezes it. "In case you need to hear it, in case you are unsure, you have my full support. I trust you to know what is best for our family."
I bring her hand up to my mouth and kiss the back of it. "I'll always need to hear that, even when I know that's how you feel I'll always want to be sure."
"So Suzanne doesn't like me much."
With her hand I pull her close to me, she acknowledges my silent request and comes and leans her head on my chest. "I don't think it's a matter of like."
"Care to share your thinking?"
"Mum said that she wanted to hear all about our love story, Mum complied hoping it may be because of Erica being here that she wanted to make sure we were stable together, but Mum's vibe," it was the closest I'd get to discussing her intuition. "Is that she was looking for holes in our relationship, points of weakness." Bren looks up resting her chin on my chest, "Mum's inner Mrs Jack McKay was on high alert. I think Suzanne like most people was fooled by her hippie way's, forgot she was shrewd enough to be able to handle my Dad for just shy of a decade."
"Did you talk to your Mum about our concerns?"
"No, I'm sure Mum has figured out we aren't a hundred percent sure of Suzanne's intentions but I won't ask mum to be anything more than authentic and follow her own instincts. Jack left a few too many scar's and I won't repeat my father's mistakes."
She runs her finger down my check and lightly across my lips, I feel my heart rate pick up. "You are really trying to be better, to be that man again that I was hopelessly in love with."
"I'm hoping to better than even him. I'm hoping to be the man you never have even a nanosecond of doubt over. That you will know that you and our family will always come before everything else." She smiles and puts her head on my chest and squeezes me tighter.
"Mmmm I like that feeling."
I kiss her head. "What feeling is that Baby?"
"Feeling the echoes of us, the buzz under my skin when you're close. There isn't any butterflies-"
"Good, butterflies die too quickly. They live less than a month."
"Erica?" I nod, she loved sharing new information from school as I drove her back up the hill to our home each night. "Did she tell you how long magnets last?"
"I think they are attracted to each other forever."
She yawns, "that's good then. I'd hate to lose this buzz, even at our most difficult times it's been impossible to ignore."
As I rub her hair and move us down the bed to lie more comfortably I respond, "it's not supposed to be ignored it's supposed to be strong and pull us as close as we can be together. It's a pull to ensure that any obstacles in its path are eventually overcome." As I reach and turn off the light I decide to be brave and ask, "are you nearly ready?"
She kisses my chest, it amps up that buzz throughout my skin. "Let me finish tuning into my voice first, give me time to find my own bad ass once again."
I smile and pull her closer, "the rebel and the fierce goddess. You know I kind of feel sorry for anyone who ever attempts to mess with our family."
"Don't." She lifts her leg slightly over mine, I pull her closer. "Sleep your son will be awake before you know it."