*I do not own Beverly Hills 90210 or any characters developed by the show*

Believe me if I did, things would have turned out quite differently. ;) This chapter will show Brenda's POV of the almost run-in with Dylan, and dive into the origins of BD's connection. Ugh i love them! Enjoy!

Brenda's first official day back in LA was thankfully uneventful. The nagging feeling in her gut that made her feel anxious about running into any of the old gang didn't subside until she made it to her parents's house without any run-ins. They were all truly happy to see each other. Over the years, with her living in London and her parents living in Hong Kong, they just didn't get to visit as frequently. But now that they were both living in the states again, it had been easier for them to fly out to see each other.

Jim and Cindy Walsh. To say they've had ups and downs in their relationship with their daughter is an understatement. The problems started in high school, and even after. Brenda always felt like she was lesser than her brother Brandon because they made it seem like he could do no wrong. The Golden Boy. He could crash and total a whole car and get arrested for drunk driving and it earned a lecture but was passed off as a simple mistake. But Brenda? No. Brenda made a "simple mistake" and they question her character, her motives, and her whole value system. She always felt she was held to an entirely different standard than her "can do no wrong" brother.

Sure Brenda made her mistakes and reacted impulsively in her teen years at times, especially when it came to her relationship with Dylan. Throw in running away from home, getting arrested, and an engagement with someone she knew for only a hand full of weeks, and well she could see how people might feel that she was "dramatic." However, despite all of this, she was generally a responsible and mature person for her age.

For example, helping at the teen help line in her sophomore year, and being a part of actively stopping a former classmate from being assaulted. There was also that run-in with Emily Valentine. She'd had to talk her down from setting a gasoline covered float on fire that would have also ignited herself, and Brenda by extension.

She was faced with probably more traumatic situations than she should have been for a girl in her teens, but she faced them with determination and kept her head for the most part. Brenda could be called stubborn, but she preferred to see it as strong-willed. She would never apologize for fighting for what she felt was right, and standing up for herself. She would also never shy away from honesty. She was a straight shooter, even if sometimes the truth hurt. All these reasons are why she and her parents, mainly her father, butted heads much in her younger years.

Things had improved as she got older, but it still always felt as though her father would never stop telling her what HE thought was best for her. Or really what HE wanted for her was the more accurate description. Brenda had introduced them to Chace a year ago, and her father of course instantly loved him. He was responsible, came from a good family, had status without being showy about it, and had a great job at his father's company. Far cry from the boy who showed up on a motorcycle with a drinking problem, an earring and a criminal father. No wonder Jim loved him so much, he was the opposite of her first love, though at the time her father couldn't see past all of those things the way Brenda could.

It certainly helped that Chace gushed over Brenda and treated her like an angel. It was hard not to love the guy, and she wasn't surprised at all that her father took a liking to him the way he did. When Chace asked for his blessing to propose to her, Jim agreed without hesitation.

Brenda sat at the kitchen table at her parents condo in Beverly Hills, having sold their old home to Steve Sanders while she was still in London. Her mother was making one of her extravagant lunches, even though it was just the three of them.

"So, when is that fiance of yours coming to join us?" Cindy asked her daughter sweetly.

"Oh, he'll be here next week on Friday. The day before my play opens here. He never misses an opening night." Brenda smiled brightly at her parents

"I'll bet he doesn't." Jim smiles at his daughter. "You know we should have some people over once he arrives. Sort of an engagement celebration, what do you say?"

"I don't know dad." Brenda says honestly. "To be honest I think I'd rather just enjoy my time with you guys, and focus on the play. Avoid any major gatherings and just lay low, if that's alright?" Brenda shifts nervously in her seat, hoping her parents accept her plea to keep to herself.

"I mean…sure honey if that's what you want, but don't you want to see your friends? You haven't seen them in years." Her mother asks nicely.

Brenda takes a deep breath, "I know, Mom. But to be honest, I think seeing everyone together at once after such a long time is a lot of pressure. Of course I want to catch up with everyone, but I think a gradual one on one will be better. I haven't seen any of these people since Freshman Year at CU." Brenda tries to maintain a happy smile to drive home the point that she is fine, but truthfully, she would be fine not seeing anyone.

Her last couple of years here in LA weren't exactly pleasant and she'd felt like the friendships she'd formed weren't as genuine as everyone liked to pretend. She'd never fit in, not really. She did keep in touch with Donna and David, and she is actually pretty close with Steve these days, but to see the gang all together at once pretending everything was the same as before? She didn't know. The last thing she needed is any reminder. Any reminder of him. She would reach out to Steve and Donna and David separately on her terms.

Jim looks at Brenda for a moment, and seems to accept her answer. But Cindy can see it in her daughter's eyes, that she's anxious about being here. There's something different about Brenda's stare…her big blue gray eyes. They're missing their usual sparkle. Her mother doesn't say anything, and just smiles sweetly at her.

"Of course, sweetie. We'll have a great time with just us and Chace, especially once your brother gets here. It'll be so nice to have you both here with us again."

The rest of the afternoon with her parents goes by without incident. Conversation flows freely and Brenda actually feels calm. She tells her parents about the play and is excited they'll be able to attend. As many plays as she's been in, because of the distance, they haven't been able to attend many of her performances since her freshman year in college. They'd been to a few performances in New York in the last year. Brenda was pretty widely known in the theatre world internationally now, having built an impressive resume in London and New York.

Her mother and father actually praised her for her accomplishments, and they told her they were proud of her. Brenda tried to think back to a time that they'd said that before and she honestly couldn't remember when they had told her that last. But hearing it was like a rush of relief for her. She accomplished what she set out to do. She had a successful career, a steady relationship, and plans for the future. Of course they were proud of her now.

Once they finished with lunch, Brenda decided that she would go back to the hotel to grab her things and head to the theatre. She already knew the play from performing it continuously in New York, but she wanted to familiarize herself with the theatre and its surroundings. Brenda wasn't crazy enough to go to any of the popular places from back in the day, like the beach, or Peach Pit. She'd steer clear of any places she thought the gang might be. She didn't want to run into anyone.

After leaving the Beverly Royale, she headed to the theatre. It was nestled in between cute boutiques and small art studios. Brenda was almost to the theatre when she spotted a cute coffee shop about a block away. The cafe had an adorable outdoor seating area, and the inside looked as though it was designed to give a European feel, adorned with unique architecture, and lined with bookshelves. She moved toward the cafe, coming up behind a person that was opening the door to go inside as well.

As soon as the doorbell chimed when the door to the cafe opened, Brenda looked across the street, and spotted Annie, one of her co-Stars in the play. She smiled a big smile at her and turned from the coffee shop, heading across the street to meet her friend, and that's when she felt it.

It was the unmistakable crackle in the atmosphere around her. Some unseen force that caused a tingle in her veins. Brenda stopped for a second, and brought her hand to her stomach. Oh no. Recognition seeped throughout her body as she came to the realization that she couldn't yet breathe life to. She knew what this feeling was. She'd know it anywhere. It's haunted her since she was 16 years old. The moment her eyes connected with his at that locker it had become the driving force for a profound connection that invaded her entire being.

He's close. She knows it in her bones. Run Brenda. Come on. Move. She really tried, but it seemed her feet were weighted to the ground, the shock to her system inducing the feeling of being stuck in place. Like that dream where you need to run, need to sprint but you can only move in slow motion. The sounds around her muffled, and people seemed to blur into unrecognizable shapes.

Annie looked at her confused from across the street, then she called out to her.

"Velma, hi!" Annie said excitedly, trying to get her attention.

That shook Brenda out of her stupor. Velma Kelly. That was the name of the character that Brenda was portraying in her current running play, Chicago! Brenda was grateful she used her stage character name as to not draw attention to her, in fear that he would hear. She didn't know how long she was frozen in place, but hoped it was only mere seconds. She moved swiftly across the street having snapped out of her quicksand prison, refusing to look anywhere but in front of her. She didn't want to catch a glimpse of him or give herself away.

"Annie! God I know I just saw you last week but man it's nice to see a familiar face here" Brenda smiled at her, hoping she couldn't sense the anxiety on her face as she tried to push the panic down.

"I've never been to LA." said Annie timidly. "this place is so different from New York."

Brenda nodded her head, "Yeah definitely. So what are you doing here? I thought I was the only one that came early, the play doesn't open for nearly 2 weeks." She asked nicely as the crowds of people walked past them. Good. Maybe the crowded street would hide her.

"Umm. It's kind of a long story." Annie said with a sweet shy smile.

"Do you want to walk with me to the theatre?"Brenda had to get out of there, she had to move. She could still feel him, and worse, it was getting closer. "You can tell me all about it, or not if you don't want to." Brenda continued, trying not to be pushy but also feeling the panic rise in her throat.

"Sure, of course." Annie answered. Relieved, Brenda wrapped her arm around Annie's and they started down the street. She refused to look behind her, and led her friend toward the theatre at a pace that was definitely too quick for a casual stroll along the street. The feeling hardly diminished as they walked away. She felt as though she were going against gravity, the familiar pull toward the other half of herself. It was unnatural to fight the instinct that said to go to him, but she couldn't. He wasn't her Dylan anymore. He never would be again. She forced down the bitter taste that rose up her throat at that knowledge, and continued to the theatre, away from him. Away from her other half.

Dylan hardly remembered the drive home. His mind foggy with confusion and his body still buzzing from feeling her near him. The dam that he built inside his mind to keep her out all this time came crashing down in an instant. Throughout the years he'd allowed her to seep through the cracks occasionally, in his dreams, in his imagination. But the dam he'd built was strong. It wasn't just "out of sight, out of mind." He'd a made a conscious daily decision to block her out, which was like fighting a battle with his gut instinct to let her consume his thoughts. But he forced her down. He had to. It was the only way he could do what he needed to. But as soon as he felt that familiar pull, as soon as he caught glimpse of that brunette hair, the dam broke instantly, and there was no stopping the memories that hit him like a tidal wave the second he'd sensed her presence again.

It was Brenda. It had to be. There's no way, even in the most vivid of his daydreams, that he could accurately imagine the intensity that came with the closeness of her. It was too real, and it had been that way since the moment they'd met. The terrifying connection that was instantaneous as soon as his brown eyes met blue gray in an intense stare, as if their souls recognized each other.

"So, you're Brandon's sister?" He asks with his signature sexy smirk.

"Yeah, I'm Brandon's sister." She smiles a sweet shy smile.

Dylan had to force himself to look away from her that day, otherwise he would have blown every class and gladly stayed there, getting lost in her eyes. He felt as though his whole being was changed in an instant. She'd affected him from that first moment, and has followed him every day since then.

Brenda Walsh. The first girl to see through his bravado. The girl he'd allowed into his darkness and finally showed his true self to. She'd pushed past his walls until they crumbled and he welcomed it, without any hesitation at all. Most girls back then looked at him like he was some kind of royalty. The Prince of Beverly Hills. The rich, sexy, loner type that was mysterious and cool.

That's what he'd wanted at the time. Dylan worked hard to hide his inner demons. He forced a personality forward that presented coolness. A facade of the flirty bad boy with a good heart. Intimidating. Mad, bad, and dangerous to know. He knew how to talk to girls, make them crumble under his influence. Even today he could flirt his way into bed with anyone. He was a master of his role. No one now or then knew that he carried more baggage than the cargo hold of a completely full flight. No one except her.

No, not Brenda. He didn't pretend with her. She knew him fully, inside and out. She'd made it easy for him to pull the curtain back and show her all of his demons that he'd kept hidden from everyone else. He almost couldn't help himself. It was like his soul was in charge and willed him to expose every secret he had to her. Methodically cleansing itself in order to surrender to a bond with its other half. Even on their first un-official date he broke down in front of her, and couldn't help the word vomit that exposed all of his secrets. How his father kicked him out, abandoned him, neglects him, hurts him. It was easy with her. The way he loved her…the way he loves her…it's natural. Like he's supposed to. She'd accepted him for everything that he was, and more than that, she'd loved him for all of it. Brenda was his family from the beginning. Until she wasn't. Until he destroyed her and himself along with her.

Dylan anxiously paced his living room. Was Brenda really here in LA? And if so, how long had she been here? If she is here, he needed to see her. He could break his promise to himself to see her one more time. But would she want to see him? Considering the way they'd left things when he left her in London…

No, she probably hated him.

Dylan pushed the thought away. First he had to know if it was a possibility that it was even her. He never saw the girls face. Hell he barely saw anything more than the back of her head. But that feeling…yes. It was definitely her. But she doesn't live here. Hasn't lived here in years. If she was here now, surely someone would have known.

UGH. Dylan let out a frustrated groan as he grappled with what he'd felt in his heart and what his mind knew to be true.

The last he heard, Brenda was living in New York. Maybe she was here now? Could he call Brandon? The other half of the set of twins that made up his family before he blew it all up? No. That's probably a bad idea. He still considered him his best friend, his brother. But with everything that had happened with Kelly, they weren't as close as they used to be. Dylan was honestly lucky Brandon still talked to him at all, and he knew he couldn't expect him to tell him anything about Brenda. And rightfully so. Brandon probably knew everything that had happened between them. Dylan knew he screwed that up big time. He never asked about Brenda, both because he was trying to forget her, and because he knew Brandon didn't owe him anything.

Dylan also figured that Brenda wasn't likely to reach out to any of the gang if she was here. He knew her. He knew that she wouldn't want to make some big spectacle of her return, especially considering how far away from them she'd felt even before she left 8 years ago. Having only kept in touch with a few of them, Brenda was never exactly itching to reunite after their treatment of her. Another thought he pushed away, because he was likely at the top of that no contact list now.

Iris? Would Dylan's mother know if Brenda was here? They always had a close relationship, a bond that formed when they'd first met and found common ground in their love for him. A bond that continued to grow throughout the years, and became especially unbreakable when they were together in London. They probably still talked all the time, but Dylan had considerable doubt that Iris would tell him anything about Brenda even if he'd asked. Okay so that's out. And as if Jim and Cindy would tell them anything. They'd buried the hatchet long ago, but that was before London.

Dylan went to his home office and opened his newspaper, searching the ads for plays that were currently in production in the area. He searched every cast name list and was disappointed to see that none of the productions for this weekend, or next, had Brenda's name listed. Dylan made a mental note to get a list of all the plays at every theatre over the next few weeks tomorrow.

There was really no way to know if it was truly her. His gut and instinct told him it was 100% her, but the facts in front of him said there was no way. He didn't have a number or address listed for her in New York. She'd changed her cell number. He hadn't talked to her in over 4 years. No way to get in touch with her. LA is probably the last place she would come willingly. But if there was some small chance that it was Brenda, he had to know. It was then that the idea came to him. It left an unpleasant taste in his mouth, knowing that he'd probably regret it afterward. But he knew exactly who he had to call, it was the only way.

He cussed at himself under his breath, "Shit. Get a grip McKay."

Dylan took a deep breath, swallowed his pride, and dialed the phone. He could only hope the number was the same. After 2 rings, a hesitant voice answered.

"Hello?"

*Oh Dylan, you're going to have to put the work in if you want answers. Who do you think he called? We'll find out next chapter!

I know you're all probably wondering what happened in London. Dont worry, the next few chapters will start to unravel the truth!