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

Chapter Two

We began our story at the beginning about us wanting more time together, how I had got complacent with my curfew. I completely understood the nervousness of my parents if I was going out but I was around the corner at Dylan's. They could call if they were nervous- they never did, they would rather sit and wait in the dark with a passive aggressive tone. We discussed the Baja trip being agreed to and how they had withdrawn their support when I had slept through my curfew. I had clarified we had fallen asleep after a movie nothing else.

Iris was a free spirit but she wasn't supportive of my choice to lie and go to Baja. She understood my parents disappointment, though she didn't understand why her son got the blame for my choice, especially when he wasn't aware until we were there that they didn't know. It was a point I had been stressing to my parents. The blame for Baja was solely on me Dylan was innocent. They refused to listen.

When it came to us being banned from each other she didn't think that was realistic- it wasn't. She asked if it was meant just as a ban from going out, that effectively we were both grounded at the Walsh house and we had taken it the wrong way. When I explained that Dylan was off limits, it was a complete ban she didn't say anything but from there she stopped rationalising my parents behaviour.

The wedding was hard for her to take, especially when Dylan said he went for a bottle, she knew then that this had escalated to the point that it was unhealthy for her son. He had been travelling well, taking care of himself, getting good grades, being responsible, and then his stability began to be eroded. Their complete change toward him, their refusal to find a more realistic approach, especially in light of the fact that this wasn't just a normal couple situation- they had made Dylan a part of the family, and then in one action by me he lost me and them.

She sighed when I got to the point of me running away, "Iris it's been nearly eight weeks of this. They aren't willing to compromise, or even let me work towards gaining back their trust. They just expect me to abandon him, he's my family- they said he was theirs as well."

"This has be blown out of proportion, you both and your parents keep escalating this. I'm not sure what the end goal is."

I immediately respond, after today's meeting it was as obvious to me as daylight was, "for me to be back in their control."

"Mum Brandon even said as much, they think I'm taking her away. Away to where I'm not sure, it's not like we didn't spend time with them. We studied and ate dinner most nights there, or were there for hours each afternoon. If I was taking her away I'd assume we would have to have left their house first." Dylan's sarcasm and frustration was clear, we knew we had escalated the situation but the situation didn't seem to make sense. It was like my dad was looking for an excuse to end our relationship.

"Is that it? Brenda is staying at your place and they are angry?"

"Not quite." Dylan went on to discuss the letter that was delivered last night, and then went word for word through the meeting with my Dad. He got an eyebrow raise from me when he got to the part where he asked my dad what he was supposed to do not let me in? I knew he wasn't pleased about me not discussing it with him first, I should not have been that impulsive. I backed him into a corner and I knew it. He was an old soul but he lost his cool and rebelled against too much regulation too much pressure. I could be completely rational and emotionally mature at times but when my anger flared I could be impulsive and dramatic. We both understood that about each other, and as much as his rebellious attitude frustrated me at times my dramatics did the same to him. He usually didn't keep that too himself though, he always made me aware from the start when I had gone too far. I did the same to him- it's why we worked well together, we got each other but we didn't idolise the other.

Iris was quiet for a long moment but we knew she was still there we could hear her breathing. "I love you both and while I think you are capable of handling any situation I think this one sees you both at a disadvantage. Brenda darling you are going to Paris, be surprised, question their sudden motivation, and then be thankful and humble. Dylan try and keep the peace default to Jim's lead. I want no further escalation on this matter until I arrive. I'm going to remove Jim from the Trust, it isn't a straight forward process as he gets a percentage of the investment returns he makes. On a Trust this size it's considerable. His misuse though and abuse of power is clear." She sighs, "this has the potential to make it more difficult for you both. He may never support your relationship again but Dylan I can't have him misuse his power over you. I won't have him be another father who allows you to bare the brunt of his powerlessness."

He reaches for me and I climb into his lap, his hold on me is iron tight. I express what Dylan isn't ready to voice, "Iris I can't give up Dylan."

"Darling no one is asking you too, but you both will have to restrain yourselves. That threat… well I'm not sure what it might escalate to once he loses his power over Dylan." She was subtle but her tone clearly indicated she didn't want us being physical. I could understand that a threat like my Dad's had to be taken seriously Dylan had to be protected.

"Mum what if I just do what he says and-"

"Dylan we lived together for a few weeks in LA, you having limited control over your life made you spiral out of control. I know part of your recovery has been to open up about your life with your father to me; his emotional, physical and neglectful abuse means that you don't handle authority well. How long after you cave to Jim will it be before you blow up the life you have successfully made for yourself? How long until you lose what you and Brenda have, either in the bottle or by making a foolish mistake? I don't think you understand how much people can change when their world falls apart."

I can feel him nod slightly, she is right Dylan wouldn't cope with this. He won't cope with feeling powerless again. Thank god he told me, god only knows what I would have come home to from Paris if he didn't. "Yeah I would have hated it, I hate what he is doing to our life now. I don't like him controlling either of us. He isn't always like that I don't get how this set him off to go to such extremes?"

"Dylan you feeling powerless sets you off, my Dad's the same. You self-destruct and he turns into his father. From what I understand Grandpa Walsh wasn't an easy man, Dad only references his childhood by saying it was a lot of yelling."

"Yes Cindy said as much in one of our conversations, it doesn't excuse it though. He's the adult here, he's been given a literal trust by me to help you, to guide you. His using of that trust to threaten and force you in line is not okay."

Dylan rubs my arms I can hear the reluctance in his voice, "okay Mum so Bren goes to Paris, you come and appoint a new trust manager, and then what?"

"The three of us try and fix this. I know Darling that you aren't a fan of us living together but I'd like to stay till at least Brenda's home and see if we can make this right."

"And if we can't?"

"Well Dylan you're nearly eighteen and your fierce scorpion is as well… let's cross that bridge if it comes to it. I'm hoping it won't though."

We speak for a few more minutes before we get off the phone. I'll be leaving tomorrow and I imagine I won't be staying here tonight. Dylan doesn't let me out of his sight he stays as close as possible. We don't take it further but we spend the afternoon kissing, talking, and enjoying being in each other's space. By the time we are leaving for my parents we have spoken about our frustrations of the last few weeks, about some of the impulsive decisions I made and about his rebellious move at the wedding. This summer we make a deal, it will be hard enough to be away from the other with so much going on so we promise to communicate, we won't follow our pattern of the last few weeks, there will be regular letters and phone calls.

As we pull up into the familiar driveway he looks at me, "are you regretting falling for a guy your dad disapproved of from the start?"

I turn to him and repeat a line from our first date in the same cheeky tone, "oh yeah." He instantly gets the reference and leans in and kisses me, but unlike our first date when we were unable to voice those new emotions this time we do. "I love you."

"I know. I love you too." He leans in and kisses me again and then when he pulls back he looks at me, "will you do me a favour?" I nod, "wear your Christmas necklace every day over there. I want to know you are keeping a piece of me close to you."

He still is the most romantic guy, "of course. Will you keep my piece close?" He surprises me by unbuttoning his second button down on his shirt and pulling out a silver chain.

"It already is. I saw it when you were in the bathroom taking forever with your hair." I laugh at him and roll my eyes, romantic and real that's my Dylan. He tucks the chain back in, "we should get inside." He gets out of the car and after I take a calming breath I open the door, he's there with his hand to help me out. "I love you in this dress, but I love you in anything." I squeeze his hand, "come on my little actress time to go put on a show."

Throughout dinner I maintain my petulant attitude and Dylan maintains his polite demeanour, we clearly look like we are at odds. Under the table I rub my foot up his lower leg, I want to stay as close to him as I can for as long as I can. When I decide to storm up to my bedroom I go to the mirror above my draws and check my makeup, Dylan arrives quickly and after closing the door behind him comes over and wraps his arms around my waist. "So do I get to be your agent?"

"I was thinking of asking Steve."

"Baby I'm looking forward to being your kept man I'll have no shot if Steve is managing you."

I shake my head, "be nice."

"Trust me Bren I was." He kisses behind my ear, "you were amazing. I'm so glad you can't lie to me."

"You think?" I raise one of my eyebrows and look at him through the mirror.

"I know. I know all your tells." He kisses my neck again, "is your lipstick downstairs?" I nod. "You got a similar colour up here?" I shake my head, "well I guess I'll just have to use the time I'm supposed to be convincing you to go to Paris worshipping your neck instead of your lips." I move my hair to the side giving him room to work.

By the time my mother arrives to try her hand and convincing me we are sitting by the window my hair is back in place but now covering a love bite of Dylan's. He got a little carried away. Once it's all confirmed that I'll be leaving tomorrow I head back to Dylan's to pack up my things, my father will be over in thirty minutes to collect me. Having already packed that afternoon we spend the thirty minutes saying goodbye. It's different from when he went to Hawaii last year, this one feels important like the wrong decisions could have lifetime consequences. I know he feels it too.

Before my father arrives I remind him we are family, he smiles "forever." After kissing me one more time he looks at me, "does it have to be Palm Springs?"

I understand immediately, "the grandkids house can be anywhere, I just like the idea of a cool McKay family house were they will all want to go."

"McKay house? You planning on stealing my name along with the two T-shirts I know you stole this afternoon?"

"Maybe." I give him my cheeky smile, "you got a problem with that?"

"I'm sure they'll look amazing on you just like my name one day will." This time I kiss him.

We see each other as he walks me to the shuttle the next day, he kisses me and then leans his forehead against mine. "You wearing it?"

"Of course."

"Good. Just do me a favour and remember where your heart belongs while you're over there."

"Baby I know where my heart is happiest the only place it wants to be is with you."

He breathes deep, "I love you. I'll be waiting here for you."

"I know. Give my love to Iris and thank her for me." He nod's slightly. We kiss one more time and as we drive out of the carpark he doesn't break eye contact with the van, even as Kelly is clearly trying to talk to him. It reminds me I forgot to ask her to check in on him, oh well Iris will be here tonight and I know she'll make sure he is okay.