Terrified
AU. After Sammy and Dylan are caught in a car crash, Kelly rushes to their side. Set up in 2018
Rest in peace the beautiful soul that was Luke Perry.
I own nothing
Kelly woke up the morning of Dylan's surgery earlier than she hoped, her kids wouldn't be going to school so the house was too silent. She stayed there in bed alone, thinking of what would be ahead.
Her bed seemed too big witout Dylan or her kids there, if this would be any other day, she'd be grateful to have a moment to herself, but right now, the idea of sleeping in bed alone in the long haul was too daunting.
Her hand was placed protectively over her still flat belly and memories of her carrying her three other children filled her head.
Sammy had been the hard one, first pregnancy, plus dealing with her and Dylan's insecurities about parenthood, because, yes, she had accused him of not being able to commit because of fear, but the truth was, she too was terrified, not only by the prospect of motherhood, which she didn't know if she'd be any good at, her mother, Mel and her father had not been good role models.
And yet, even with dread she couldn't wait to meet the baby, a part of her and Dylan, finally, a part of him she wouldn't have to say goodbye to,
Gracie, er, Hannah had been a different story, she had been the one baby she was ready for, she and Dylan had already been married when she was born, Kelly smiled at the memory of Dylan and Sammy at Paradise Cove the night he had proposed to her.
Donna had been dragging her around all day on errands until she had gotten a mysterious call, so Kelly followed her to the car, even though she was her best friend, her sister and she knew both her and David had been up to something for days, she hadn't been able to get anything out of them.
Donna helped her out of the car as she was now blindfolded. "Okay, one more step." She instructed as Kelly prayed she wouldn't trip.
"She's all yours." Donna spoke as Kelly was still in the dark, she felt Donna's hand leave hers and being replaced by a bigger one.
"Of all the beaches of all the towns, she walks into mine." Her heart skipped a beat at his words, the memory of the first time he'd spoken them to her flooding her. "Well now Miss Kelly Taylor…"
"Dylan, what is going on?" Kelly asked nervously, her lips in a small smile as he held her, still in darkness.
"Come here, let's take a few more steps." And so they did and then Kelly was freed from the blindfold and what she saw made her heart catch in her throat, Sammy stood there, in matching outfits with Dylan and it melted her heart.
"Okay Sammy, either you're going to tell me what's going on or…"
Sammy looked over at Dylan with a bit of playfulness in his stare as his Dad smiled back.
"You know how you say I remember the little things from when we were kids? Like pushing you on the swings or the half a cookie you gave me in kindergarten?" Dylan began, Kelly simply nodded. "Well, I finally figured out why I remember that so well out of everything else in my life. Because I think, that even back then, I was so in love with you, I made myself remember every little detail I could… in case I didn't get the chance to be with you." " He hesitated. "I know you and I don't have the greatest track record kel, but I mean, we've already done everything backwards, right? And I know I screwed it up big time by leaving… by not owning up just how important you and Sammy are to me. You guys will always be my family and I almost messed up again, but Kel, we're having another baby and it's like the world is trying to tell us something, so I think it's time we both own up to all the wrong things we did as kids and grow up."
He was now kneeling down, with Sammy beside him, then the little boy took a step towards Kelly and offered her his hand, she took it and walked a few steps so she was facing Dylan. "Come here Kel." She was now kneeling down beside him on the blanket that was laid out neatly beneath them.
"Dylan…" She was crying, damn pregnancy hormones.
"I'm sorry it took me this long to finally do this, but Kel, in this world, I've always said it, you are my soulmate and with Sammy here beside us, with the new baby coming, I want to ask you what has taken me a lifetime to man to up to do. Kelly Taylor, love of my life, mother of my children, will you marry me?"
Sammy looked over at his mother expectantly. "Took you long enough McKay."
"I'm guessing that's a yes?" He said nervously, a new one for him, she laughed and leaned to kiss him.
"Yes, yes of course." Kelly began to cry, which made Sammy glance over again worriedly. "I love you."
"I love you too."
"Mommy, why are you crying?" Sammy asked worriedly.
"Oh, sorry baby, don't worry. I'm crying because I'm happy."
"Cause it worked?"
"Yeah, it sure did bud." Dylan said ruffling his hair and pulling him close.
"Will you stop fussing?" Nicki told Brandon as he was laid in bed, he was meant to be going into surgery that afternoon. "You are worse than the kids."
"I'm sorry, I mean I knew I'd do it, but going under the knife isn't something I'd like to relieve, remember my appendectomy?"
"This isn't the same and you know it, plus, you are doing this to help your friend, that counts for something."
"Yeah but if something goes wrong…"
"Why would you even think that?" Nicki scolded. "And don't you dare mentioning that to Kelly, she's stressed as it is." Brandon sighed. "Listen, I asked my Mom to bring the kids later, I'd thought you'd want to see them before the surgery."
"Yeah, sounds good, hey I'm sorry I guess I'm more nervous than I thought I'd be." Brandon admitted shyly.
"I am too, but if I think about it too hard, I'll go crazy, so no, we're not thinking about it, alright?"
"Fine." He mused. Just then there was a knock on the door. Kelly.
"Hey guys, Dr. Bean told me you were up here already." She said with a weak smile.
"Hey kel, how are you holding up?" Brandon asked. "How's Dylan doing?"
"He's okay, tired but he's glad to have the kids here, I think it helps with having his spirits up."
"Do you need help with anything?" Nicki offered.
"No, thank you, I just want this to be over already."
"It will be okay Kelly." Nicki shot her husband a look given his restlessness moments before.
"No, I know but… well I just wanted to thank you for doing this, really I don't think I'll ever be able to pay you back."
"Kelly you don't need to alright?" Brandon said as she stood beside Nicki next to his bed. "Dylan means a lot to me and so do you, that's why I'm doing this."
Kelly nodded. "So, umm Brenda called, she said she'd be getting in around four." Kelly said.
"Yeah, she called me too, my parents won't be able to drive up until later though so It'd be good to have her here."
"Yeah, it will." Kelly agreed.
Then, the nurse in charge of Brandon came in and asked her to leave the room so she could begin with the pre op care.
Kelly and Nicki remained by the door. "Are you really okay with the whole Brenda situation?" the blonde bit her lip. "I don't mean to be stirring old feelings or anything but I was there Kelly and that's a lot of water under the bridge."
"Yes well, the three of us have found ourselves drowning in that water more than once, but I mean, Brenda is happy with her life and I think so far Dylan and I are too, we all have moved on the best way possible and even though I know there will always be feelings between us, Dylan and I have been supportive of Brenda before and she has been of us, that has to count for something, right? More than what happened when we were in High School?"
David and Steve stared at Dylan wide eyed. "You want to do what?"
"I need you to get my lawyer…"
"Dylan, come on man, I knew it's surgery and it's a scary concept but...you're not going to die." David insisted.
"There are no guarantees man, you know there aren't and even though I've cheated death before for some reason, I have no reassurance that I'll make it. I just want to make sure Kelly and my kids are well taken care of."
"Dylan…" Steve echoed.
"Just in case guys, please." Dylan asked again. "You can't say nothing to Kelly."
"Don't think she'll notice?" David asked with a sigh.
"Yeah, that's why I sent her to Brandon."
"That's a sentence I thought I'd never get to hear." Steve mused. "Fine, I'll talk to Janet about keeping her distracted for a bit, but what about your kids? Silver can't keep them in the cafeteria forever."
"I already talked to Sammy about it, It will be fine." Dylan said. His friends stared at him again just as there was a knock on the door. David and Steve smiled at Silver and the kids as they went about their mission.
"What's up guys? Did you find something good?" Dylan asked the kids, Evan and Hannah began telling him about the pancakes they'd eaten as Sammy typed on his phone. "Hey you, listen, do you mind taking them up to see Uncle Brandon while I talk to Aunt Erin for a minute?" Dylan told Sammy who had just looked up from his phone.
"Sure, come on you guys." Sam said with a smile as Silver gave Dylan a weary glance.
"You are never not going to call me Erin, are you?" Silver said as she stood in front of the bed.
"Hey, that's your name and I happened to change your diapers, so no, I don't think so." He mused.
She nodded annoyed. "Did you know I figured out I was in love with your sister the first night we babysat you together?"
"No, I didn't know that." Erin said with a small smile.
"Yeah, she'd invited me over but we had to put you to bed and she asked me to watch for a minute and well, the rest is history."
"Well, I'll tell you something, you haven't made it easy for her."
"No, I haven't, that's true." Dylan said shyly. "Here, help me up?"
"Sure, old man." This made him smile. "Hey, you said you changed my diapers, do the math."
She helped him up and he wrapped his arms around her. "You okay?" She asked when he grunted in pain.
"Fine." He said. "I'll be fine." This time, he sounded more confident.
"I guess I never really thanked you for taking me in, again." Erin said after a moment after they took a few steps back and forth. "I don't think I would have made it without you."
"Hey, you are family, no matter what, lord knows if people hadn't helped me when I was in a bad place, I wouldn't be here to tell the tale." He said.
Silver smiled again. "You are going to be okay, you know?"
"I know." He said with a small smile, then he turned serious. "But just in case…"
"Dylan…" She said in a very Kelly Taylor kind of way.
"No, hear me out, just in case I don't make it out of this, promise me you'll take care of Kelly, of my kids."
"Of course I will, do you even have to ask?" Erin said as she helped him back to bed. "But now, you have to promise me something? Not to leave my sister again, specially after she's just found out you two are having another kid. Four is a big number to deal with alone."
"It is." Dylan agreed, they couldn't speak further because Erica and Kelly had come back into the room with the kids.
Brenda Walsh remembered the first time she'd moved to LA, she was sixteen and her parents had just dragged her and her brother far from anything they knew, and her experience in Beverly Hills had not been a walk in the park, even though she had made friends quickly, her life there hadn't turned out like she hoped.
So she had made a decision to leave it all behind, and it was the first time now in more than 10 years that she had stepped back inside the crowded airport with her eldest daughter, god bless her heart, her husband had stayed back home with her other kids.
But she had come back to the place that had meant so much to her but which had also broken her heart. "Mom?" Sarah asked. Her first baby was 10 now and she was far from a little girl, she was mature and always had her back.
"Come on honey, I asked an old friend to pick us up." She called to the small group behind her.
"Brenda Walsh, I thought I'd never see the day." A voice said as as they reached the gate.
"Nat, hey thanks for offering to pick us up, you're a godsend."
"Well, everyone's already in the hospital, so it was no problem." He said breaking the hug. "Young lady Sarah, I cannot believe my eyes, since when did you get so tall?" Sarah giggled as she and Brenda climbed into Nat's car.
"How are they doing? Brandon texted me."
"Well, doctors say they have good odds of it working and Dylan making a full recovery." Nat didn't miss Brenda's sigh. "They're going to appreciate you are here."
"Yes, well, I almost didn't make it, when Steve called me, I debated myself on whether I wanted to be here again." She admitted, Nat gave her a look.
"But you are."
"Yes well, I might have had a bad judgement moment. I don't even know if kelly would want me here."
"They called, didn't they?"
"Steve did, not Kelly."
"Well, I think she figured it would be a little awkward for you kids to ask for her to ask for such a favor."
"She asked Brandon."
"Yes, well, Brandon didn't date Dylan."
"Point taken." Brenda sighed, she was kind of grateful for LA traffic as they approached the hospital and her past.
Kelly Taylor was face to face with Brenda Walsh for the first time in years, Kelly had accompanied Dylan on a book tour about two years earlier and they had decided to pay her a visit.
Brenda stared at her, but then Kelly moved to hug her. "I'm glad you are here." Brenda hugged her back. "And so will Dylan."
"I'm glad to be back too." She smiled.
"Brandon is in the fourth floor. Room 405." She said. "Sarah honey."
"Hi aunt Kelly." The little girl smiled.
"No Scott?" Kelly asked, referring to her husband.
"No, he offered to stay with Lily and the baby."
"Oh, how's Scotty?" Kelly said referring to her new baby.
"He's good, adjusting, I think we all are." Brenda said. "And you, how are you holding up?"
"Well, you know? I'm hanging in there for my kids but, honestly? I'm scared and Dylan, he, he won't admit it but I know he is too, he even called the lawyer, which he thinks he's so good at hiding but he's not." Kelly laughed.
"He's just trying to protect you Kelly." Brenda said.
"Yes, well, that hasn't worked out well for him before has it?" Brenda's mind then jumped to them being 18 all over again.
"He's going to be okay Kelly."
"No, I know but it's just, it isn't just about me anymore, it's the kids and Sammy, he was in the car with him Brenda, if something happens I don't know how he will recover from it."
And she didn't know how but for the first time since the night of the accident, just like she had done with Donna, Kelly allowed herself to cry.
"Dad…" Sammy sat there with Dylan, hours before his surgery, he had explained to him what he had to do in case something would happen to him. "But…"
"Sammy, just promise me, it doesn't mean you have to be the man of the house or anything, that's not on you son but I need to know that you understand."
"I understand." Sam said, trying to choke down his emotions. Steve and David stood beside him.
"You are a good man Sammy McKay."
"I don't think I'm a man just yet, I'm sure, I'm going to need my father for that, so you better come back okay?" He didn't mean it to come like it did but then Dylan smiled.
"I'm going to do my best." Sammy nodded. There was yet another knock on the door. Kelly and to Dylan's surprise, Brenda stood by the door.
"Aunt Brenda…" Sammy smiled at the dark haired woman.
"I cannot believe what I'm seeing, look at you, all grown up!" She said with a smile as she wrapped him in a hug.
"It's good to see you aunt Brenda, we've missed you." Sammy said in all honesty.
"Oh, I've missed you guys too, I'm sorry I've been gone too long." Brenda said, she shot a look Dylan's way as David and Steve looked at each other. "Hopefully that will change soon."
"Hey Sammy? Let's go find Dr. Bean huh?" Sammy nodded and with another smile to his mother and Brenda followed both men out the room.
"Oh yeah and Sarah is out there with Donna, do you guys mind?" Brenda asked.
"No of course not, it's so good to see your pretty face." Steve smirked.
"It's good to be seen." She said.
Once they were gone, Dylan turned to both women. "Funny how life works... Anytime I see you two in a room together, I feel bad about what happened and yet I'm also really grateful you are still in my life for some reason." Dylan said. "It's good to see you Bren."
"It's good to see you too." She said smiling at him after she'd hugged him.
"I really thought you weren't going to make it." Dylan said. "After everything…"
"Dylan that was a long time ago, and just like you said, I'm grateful that for some reason after all that happened, we're all here together."
"The three musketeers? Even if it might be the last time?"
"Dylan, don't say that." Brenda said before kelly could. "Or I'll kill you myself for leaving Kelly alone with four kids to raise."
"How did you…" Kelly asked, she hadn't told her about the baby. "Brandon?"
"No, you are not drinking coffee and you keep munching on stuff so I just figured it out."
"Sorry I didn't tell you…"
"It's fine, really Kelly, you don't have to explain, I'm happy for you." She offered them both. "Anyway, how are you?"
"I'm fine, a little nervous but I figure that's normal…" He said with a shy laugh. "Have you seen Brandon?"
"No, not yet I was on my way, but I wanted to see you first."
"Thanks for being here Bren, really." He smiled,
"Of course." She said, then she turned to Kelly."I better go see Brandon, so I'll leave you two, I'll come back before they take you up if that's okay?"
"It's more than okay." Kelly replied with a smile. "I'm really glad you are here Brenda." They hugged each other and with one last glance at Dylan, she left the room. "We both are."
"Definitely." Dylan agreed.
Kelly then turned to her husband. "That wasn't terrible, was it?"
Dylan laughed. "No, it wasn't. Come here." He offered her a small space in the bed and she curled up beside him, he kissed her forehead. "How are the kids?"
"They are good, glad they have Erica and Silver fighting over them." Kelly said. "Can you believe we helped raised those two?"
"Hardly, but we've gotten better at it, haven't we?" Dylan said sweetly. "Our kids are pretty amazing."
"Yes they are." Kelly agreed, they remained silent for a moment. "Dylan?"
"Hmm…"
"Please tell me everything is going to be okay and you are going to be here to see them grow up."
"Kelly…"
"Please, I need to hear you say it."
"You know I can't guarantee that." She turned her face away from him. "But I'm not going down without a fight, that I can promise you."
Kelly felt tears stream down her face as he gently wiped them off with his finger. "Hey, Kel, look at me." She did and he just leaned to kiss her. "I love you." He placed a hand over her stomach. "And I love our family, everything will be okay."
Later that afternoon, Donna, David and the entire gang gathered outside Dylan's room as they rolled in Brandon and were asked to wait outside.
"Alright, we're going to be taking the two up in a minute but I thought you'd like to see each other for a moment. Kelly tells me you go way back." Dr. Bean added as after they had been explained the basics or surgery.
Dylan and Brandon looked at each other. Some things never changed. "We'll be back in a minute."
There was silence in the room.
"You ready for this brother?" Brandon asked.
"If you are?" Dylan replied, their beds were close enough so they could shake hands.
"Thanks again, for this."
"Don't mention it." Brandon replied with a small smile.
Soon enough the room was filled with loved ones and friends, kids and adults gathered around both beds. "So did you tell them you were a match too?" Brandon asked his sister.
"No, I don't think they needed to know." Brenda said turning to look at Dylan and Kelly with their kids. "I didn't think I'd ever forgive them back then, but even after Dylan left LA and we lived together in London, I always knew something else was missing in his life." She took a breath. "I guess it was Kelly."
Brandon took her hand.
"So it's not going to hurt?" Hannah asked from her spot at the edge of the bed, Evan was in Dylan's arms, clutching to his favorite stuffed animal.
"No, I'm going to be sleeping the entire time sweetheart." Dylan said. "I promise it won't."
"Okay, and then you'll come home?" She asked again.
"That's the plan Han." Kelly said, playing with her child's dirty blonde hair.
"Daddy, you keep Dash okay?" Evan said. "He'll take care of you."
"Dash, well now that's an amazing idea, isn't it? I feel so much better now." Dylan kissed his forehead. Dylan glanced at Kelly.
"He helps me when I'm scared so he'll help you too." Evan said. Kelly stared at her son and absent mindedly touched her belly.
"You are the sweetest, Evan, I'll ask the doctor about it okay?"
Evan nodded just as the medical team came in.
"Are we all ready?" Dr. Bean smoked at the group. "Kelly, Nicki you two can walk up to the ward with us."
Both women nodded as each of them said their goodbyes once more.
"Okay you guys, it's time to say goodbye to daddy."
"Sammy? l love you so much son." Dylan said as he hugged him, lingering just a bit.
"I love you too Dad."
"I love you daddy." Hannah said when her turn came.
"To the moon and back munchkin." He smiled at Hannah as she kissed his cheek.
"Come here you," He told Evan as he pulled him close to him again. "Be a good boy, I love you." He handed the boy to Erin with whom he shared a knowing look.
Erica said her goodbyes too as she took the little girl's hand as they began to wheel them away, Brenda kissed her brother and then moved to stand with Donna next to Dylan's bed. "You too are amazing, did you know that?" Donna said. "Love you both so much."
"Bren come here." Dylan said with a smile. "I really just want to, tell you how much I appreciate you being here and Kelly does too."
"So she says." Brenda said, Dylan gave her a look. "No, I know what you mean... and just so you know? Everything that happened between us, I don't regret a thing."
"Neither do I." She leaned to hug him and Dylan kissed her cheek. Then everyone watched Kelly walk behind the beds with Nicki and Dylan waved his hand again.
"Almost there everyone." Dr. Bean announced.
"You're going to do great, both of you." Nicki said not letting go of Brandon's hand. "I love you babe."
"I love you too." Brandon gave her a sweet smile as she squeezed his hand.
"You, thanks again for this." Kelly said taking his other hand.
"What are friends for huh?"
"Kel?" Dylan called over her to his own bed. "I love you, you know I do, right? Even if 99% of the time I tend to screw things over?" Kelly smiled taking his hand in hers.
"I'm going to hold you to that, Dylan McKay, so you come back to me, soulmates right?"
"Always." He kissed her hand, and then leaned to place a lingering one on his lips.
They broke apart as Kelly asked Dr. Bean about Evan's stuffed animal and she placed in on the gourney with him, taking one last chance to kiss him and she and Nicki watched the glass doors close behind them.
Sorry for taking so long to update work has been crazy and so has life, I do hope this chapter with a bunch of Throwbacks makes up for it, specially with Silver and Dylan bonding and Brenda showing up at the last minute but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it because this is ultimately a Kelly and Dylan story, and I would like to believe, they are old enough to get past it and have their priorities settled, anyway thank you so much for all the support as always.
Don't forget to review :)