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

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Brunette's win by a landslide

While I usually went home with Art on Friday's I wanted to stay and drive Bren, she was tired and unless her class flared her Irish up making her mad enough to forget her tiredness I didn't want her driving home. As Art was happy listening to David sing the guy's decided to hang out with us at the Condor Café and wait the sixty minutes till the end of Brenda's class. When she had walked off Brandon had commented that she was tired saying it appeared more than just one nights lack of sleep, Steve had sniggered at that. I ignored his innuendo, and had merely said being at school and then the play all evening meant she was doing eleven hour days on campus and then once the kids were in bed she'd study for a couple of hours. It wasn't a lie I just left out the part where Val, Erica and even her parents were adding a heaviness to her. She was more restless in her sleep and the kitchen had gradually begun to appear a little more shiny in the last two day's, all clear signs that she was stressed.

For most of the time we waited Steve kept us entertained with KEG stories, Brandon with his Washington preparations, and once Art decided Daddy was good for tired grumpy snuggles, David chatted to us about his music and him and Donna. Donna wasn't adjusting to the new gang dynamic, he looked at all our faces and gave us a sad smile. "I know I know but I think she thought this would blow over, and it doesn't help that Kel is still pretty upset." I don't even answer I just shake my head.

Steve though can't resist, "what she upset this week about? My sister having a teething baby while managing everything else."

"No something about the lawn on Wednesday and Dylan looking happy, and her realising he might be happier now. Look my sister, I don't think is used to rejection and I think that's what she is feeling- she's not handling it well on top of our parents divorce." I shake my head.

Wednesday Bren and Art surprised me after my meeting with Jim, yeah I had been happy, even after a shitty morning. "I was with my family of course I was happy. Look Kelly and I were over long ago, we never should have started but it's been months since that car crash ended, even before Bren got back. I'm not sure what she feels rejection from-"

"You, Bren, Steve and Brandon."

"Okay well she has had multiple multiple opportunities to make it right and hasn't, there's a point where you just have to give up. Bren's cut her losses and honestly David you know I'm happy about that. I don't need my girl constantly under attack for my unwillingness to commit and give Kelly access into my life. It was never going to happen, I disrespected and betrayed Bren a lot during that time but I was never going to go that far. I would never give even a spec of the place that I only gave to her, I wouldn't give it too anyone else." I look at my friend, "you know Bren and I hate that you are in the middle. You will always be our family but we know if you need to pull back, if we need to change meeting days so we no longer go together, we can respect it all. We know this is a shit position for you-"

"Dylan we are cool man. Look Donna, Kelly and Andrea are struggling but it's not like it wasn't a longtime in the making. I love my girlfriend and sister but I know they aren't innocent in this. It's been nearly two weeks since that dinner and I think they thought it would die down and go back to normal, it's only now starting to sink in to all of them that Bren wasn't messing around. That all three of you would absolutely stand behind her and give up the close year's of friendship we've all shared."

Before I can respond Steve does, his laughter at Bren and my antics long since gone instead replaced with a seriousness, "David I've been closest to Kelly and Donna the longest, all through Junior High and High School. Kelly destroyed my trust, and then watching her with my sister at the end of senior year and since she has come home has destroyed any goodwill left. Donna watched most of the same things as I did and never even battered an eyelash. When push comes to shove Donna may not want to admit it but she is loyal only to Kelly, and I don't see how she wouldn't realise that we'd be only loyal to our sister. Dude your position sucks here but you understand-"

"I do. Look Donna asked for me to try, I think she meant with Bren but seeing how tired she is and knowing how hard it has been on her I didn't want to raise it with her."

"Silver the fact Donna sent you rather than approaching my twin says everything. I mean they are all sitting in a room together-" he stops and sees Bren walking towards us. "Well they were."

"Why are you all still here?" I give my girl a smile.

"I didn't like how tired you were, you were almost delusional Baby before class, talking about David being sexy." My friend flicks me the bird, "I didn't want you to drive. I can drive you back for your rehearsal after your nap." She leans down and kisses me, "how was class? You are out early."

"Class was fine we were watching clips from her unseen documentary. She let us go as she is just answering questions on our final paper for the last fifteen minutes, I have no questions so I left as quickly as possible. How's my baby boy?" She rubs Art's back as he is rubbing his eyes and drooling on my shirt.

"Tired ready for his bottle and nap I think."

"Okay shall we go home then all three of us can nap together." I smile that sounds like a perfect afternoon. We sleep for over an hour and a half, and then Art fusses again but the nap has given us the boost to finish off the day. I return phone calls from Frank while Bren gets ready for rehearsal and Art lies in the middle of our bed surrounded by pillows trying to rip his socks off.

After dropping Bren back on campus I duck over to The Pit. Nat is delighted to see us and grabs his honorary grandson and shows him off to the regular's as I drink a coffee while Katie one of the new waitresses organises my takeaway order of two slices of pie. Bren needs a treat after the last few day's, and I know until she hears from Val and my mum she's going to be internally climbing walls in her mind- not unlike I'm doing. By the time Nat brings Art back my little guy is smiling at least- it's hard to stay grumpy with Nat's excited laughter.

"You okay kid?"

"Yeah it's just been a big week, especially coming off such an amazing weekend, and it's shocking for me to say but I'm also missing Iris being around."

"She rang briefly before she left, she had to cancel plans we had to go see an old seventies band playing on Melrose this weekend said she'd most likely be back Sunday night right?" I nod, "well until she's back you need anything you call okay."

"Thanks Nat but we'll be fine, Art and I might lay low and be little home bodies tomorrow while Bren has a full day of rehearsal."

"She nearly ready for opening night on Thursday?"

"Yeah she seems happy with how it's going. Speaking of opening night are you sure you don't mind babysitting?"

"Not at all. Gives you, Erica and Iris a chance to attend along with Steve and Brandon. Oh and the rest of the family you've invited."

"Well the grandma's and Bren's grandpa did so much for her and Art I wanted them to see her first big performance. I'm glad Bobby and his parents could come to."

"You going to be able to fit them all at your place?"

"Yeah Art will be in with us and the daybed we keep in his room will work for grandma Walsh, grandma and grandpa Beevis will take the guest bedroom across the hall. Val's room will have Bren's Aunt and Uncle, and Bobby will take Erica's room. Leaving the girls including Bren's cousin to have a sleepover in the den. Thank god that room has the Murphy bed and the big U lounge in there can be broken up and made into beds. Erica is so excited for her first sleepover it's hard to get her not to spill the beans to Bren about the family all coming out."

"Does Jim and Cindy know?"

"Grandma Walsh wants to surprise him, especially if he turns up to the play. I'm not sure which will be worse for him being there or not being there. When I chatted to her yesterday when Bren was at rehearsal she was pretty angry about my meeting-"

"I'm pretty angry. I gave him my decision I don't like that he tried to get you to change my mind."

"Nat join the queue, I think a few people are finding Jim a little heavy handed at the moment." The pie is delivered by Katie and I reach out to take my son back. "Sunday brunch here this week or did you like getting out having it at ours like last week, or do you want to try the beach?"

"Nah Dylan let's do it here, Brandon and I need to go over the accounts and rosters for the month. Luckily Suzanne told me today before Sunday but she wants four day's off in two weeks I think that's the wedding date. Did she tell you?"

"No but I know she's dress shopping tomorrow so we thought it would be soon, Erica is going to be upset to hear how soon. Getting her to agree to go dress shopping tomorrow was hard enough. She really doesn't like Kevin, he seems okay."

"Well Suzanne, doesn't spend a lot of time with Erica, when she's here. Erica just keeps her nose in a book. I imagine she is worried that the marriage will mean less time."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Look I better get going this little guy needs his mash- whatever weird vegetable concoction is healthy mummy has made, and then a bath. Wish us luck that the worst of his teething pain is behind him on this tooth."

"Of course. Bye little guy, see you on Sunday. See yeah Dylan, and remember you need anything just call."

"Thanks Nat."

When I get home I see Mum has left a message on the machine checking in and letting us know that they'd arrive Sunday just after midday. They were taking the first flight out and with the time difference would arrive just after noon. I left the message for Bren to hear hopping that she didn't pickup on the McKay avoidance strategy that Iris was using; detailing the flight rather than providing any details of today.

Bren, came in about fifteen minutes later than usual, Art was already asleep and as he was exhausted from his broken sleep last night and crashed a little early I had taken the opportunity to set a candle lit dinner for my girl. When she came in to the darker than normal room and our favourite violin piece softly playing she paused, "what's all this?"

I walk over to her, "tomorrow will be one week since our last ever first date and I feel like I have lived a month in that week. I know you feel the same."

"It's been a challenging week, but Baby there has been exceptional moments each day, usually multiple exceptional moments."

I give her what she refers to as my sexy smile. "Yes, well I thought while we had the house to ourselves and as our son decided he needed an early night, I thought we should have a few more multiple exceptional moments."

"Multiple?"

"Multiple. But first you need food."

Art woke in discomfort only a couple of times in the night, I ended up bringing him to sleep with Dylan and I. The tooth had broken the gum at the tip and it probably would take a few more day's until it was not uncomfortable for him. This teething business was a cruel punishment to babies it looked intensely painful.

When Art had come in with us Dylan had wrapped his arms around both of us and after checking that our son was okay kissed my neck and whispered how crazy life was. This time nearly three years ago we were worried about my family moving back to Minnesota, two years ago Jim was banning us from seeing each other, and one year ago the distance between us felt overwhelming. Today though he knew he was home. That he never had felt (even with all the present challenges that we were facing), he never felt more connected to me and secure that this is where he was always supposed to be.

I whispered I felt the same and then advised him after our Architect meeting on Monday I had booked a Doctor's visit. He didn't need anymore information before his hand crept onto my stomach. He knew expanding our family wasn't going to happen yet but my booking the visit meant I wanted to connect with him in every way. The rest of the night he spooned into me as close as he could, and our son slept in front of me on his back.

Rehearsal had been intense. We ran through the play four times, twice with me in the lead and twice with Kelly. We were all nearly ready to go but would spend Monday and Wednesday doing it in costume and with the lights. Kelly would run her final rehearsal on the Tuesday giving me the night off- he wanted me well rested for Thursday's opening night. When I came in late Saturday afternoon the house was quiet but I could see through the window that Dylan and Art were outside swimming. It was a hot day and my son looked to be in good spirits loving the water like his parents. I quickly got changed and joined them.

Dylan and I spent the evening distracting each other from the tensions of our world. Iris and Val had rang and let us know they were fine but we were given no new information other than that. Suzanne had rang asking if Erica could spend the day with us on Sunday as after a day of wedding shopping and the announcing to her the date, Erica seemed less than keen to spend the day driving to San Diego. Kevin has a potential lead on a company who maybe looking to hire. Dylan who had taken the call congratulated them on the date, but had been upset that they would be moving that far away, and had vocally denounced Kevin's current employer for not seeing the need and opportunity that Kevin's idea presented. We of course agreed to pick Erica up for our normal beach morning and keep her overnight on Sunday. Dylan did suggest as there was so much going on that maybe a family dinner on Tuesday could work so we could all hear about San Diego and if he and I could help with the wedding plans. Maybe an early one down by the beach, our treat. Suzanne had agreed.

Both calls had put back the heaviness that we had been feeling this week, and as last night he had taken the lead on giving us a respite tonight was my turn. I made his favourite dinner lasagna using my mother's recipe, and while it cooked and Dylan bathed Art I had then arranged the den to be a Marx brother's film festival. We had spent most of the night laughing, and after the movies, reminisced about our first week together, I even dragged him into our dressing room to try out that 80s Breakfast Club jacket he wore on our first informal date. It had led to us laughing about some of our early dating fashion choices. It had been jokey and light until I had tried on the Spring Dance dress and Dylan's mood instantly changed. He threw me over his shoulder as he had in our hotel room that night and had then reenacted undressing me close to our bed.

An hour later when I was picking up the dress from the floor I felt Dylan wrap his arms around me from behind. He had gone to turn off the lights and check on our son, giving me the opportunity to tidy up after our fashion reminiscing. "We are never throwing out that dress."

"Even when it no longer fits me or I get really old?"

"Nope, not even then. Seeing you in it takes me instantly back to that night. I knew us together was unlike anything I had known with any other woman. I had never been in love until you, but I didn't expect it to physically be so different. The intensity it was something else, it still is something else." He leans down and pepper's my neck with kisses between each of his words, "kissing you, touching you. That magnetic pull changes when our skin touches. I never want to not touch you, the more skin I'm touching the more I want to feel."

I turn in his arms and cup his face, "it's a good thing then that I like you touching me, that I only ever want your skin next to mine." I reach up and kiss him and he reaches down and picks me up, I wrap my legs around him. As he carries me back to our bed I gently pull on the hair at the base of his neck. "God I love you. That night I thought I knew how much but I was so wrong. I still don't think I understand the depths of it."

When he lays me down and begins opening my dressing gown he looks at me holding my eyes. "I know but I think that's because it's endless. The intensity is because it's limitless, and our need for the other the need for our skin to be touching will never be satisfied."

We pick Erica up the next morning and while Dylan surfs, Erica, Art, and I splash around in the water. Dylan had decided that Malibu was were he wanted to surf, mainly because he wanted to discreetly check out the status on the houses; with Erica there we wouldn't go see them. Keeping everyone unaware of our property business meant Erica needed to be kept that way as well, we didn't want her accidentally mentioning it to her mum. It wasn't like we were never going to mention it but Dylan wanted to experience success in it before we said anything, he was nervous that if it didn't go well people would see him squandering his inheritance away.

Breakfast at The Pit was a joyous affair. Erica ate pancakes, Nat was in a good mood with all of us around and bouncing Art on his knee, and Brandon and Dylan were having fun each going out of their way to be as loud as possible as Steve had a hangover from a KEG party. When Dylan and I announced our early departure to go and collect Iris who we had simply said had been out of town, my blonde brother was relieved. His brother's had really thought they were being funny torturing him. Before we left Dylan patted him on the shoulder and told him that was for all the inappropriate jokes and innuendos. His gloating though bit him in the ass when Erica asked him what innuendo meant, when he looked over at me for help I shook my head, "sorry baby this is all on you."

He was still floundering through a convoluted definition that had led to an equally convoluted conversation between the two of them, as I dropped him and the kids back at the house before heading off to LAX; I was smiling ridiculously at his self made misery- he found it less funny.

With Erica joining us this morning we wouldn't have all fitted in one car to go collect them, and I was glad as it now meant that I could have a moment with Val. It would give me time to make sure she was okay, well as okay as she could be.

I was waiting for them at baggage knowing that Val would have her whole wardrobe and personal items with her. When she saw me she became that ten year old returning from vacation, she ran and hugged me- it made me more nervous. Val was not emotional and this was an emotional greeting, Iris over her shoulder could see my fear and gave me a comforting head nod letting me know both were okay. Once the car was full of bags we headed off, with me letting them both know the kids were waiting for them at the house but both were disgruntled, one because of a tooth the other because of a dress she had to wear to a wedding she didn't want.

After a few minutes of me nervously rambling Val interrupted, "Brenda it's okay you can ask."

I sighed, "how did it go?"

"Badly. They could take me leaving but I needed to ensure my brother and sister were safe, it required home truths to be spoken and well things set in motion. Iris and I may need to return back to Buffalo this summer as there is an investigation into it. Before we return I'll sit and tell you everything, but I'd like a few weeks of normalcy first. I want to pretend I've moved out here and it's just a normal situation."

"Okay, Dylan and I can do that. Brandon may have questions-"

"I can handle him. I'm more nervous about your parents, my mum may tell them and well I'm not sure about how they'll respond."

"Valerie, we've talked about this dear, Cindy and Jim may take a moment to digest and realign their reality but they'll support you-"

"They don't support Dylan and Brenda."

"They don't support them because they have the luxury not to. If Brenda had told us all while she was pregnant they would have. People are stubborn and dogmatic when they have options, with your situation there is none."

"I'm not sure about that, but I guess we will find out."

"Besides normality, do you need anything?"

"Yes nephew and niece snuggles, and you to kick ass in that play. I want to watch Kelly squirm on opening night knowing her performance will be the significantly lesser one."

"She's actually pretty good-"

"As good as you?"

I didn't know how to answer that. We had different approaches and Roy was very complimentary of my performances. I'd been thinking too long and Val took that as a response, "I thought so. You are better. Brunettes are always better actresses."

"Where did you pluck that random judgment from?"

The rest of the car ride the three McKay brunettes ranked the best actresses of all time. Val kept score with how many had black, brunette, blonde or red hair. She insisted that it also had to be based off natural colour not dye jobs. It kept us laughing throughout the LA traffic.

When we got to the gate Val declared Brunette's the winner by a landslide.