Disclaimer: I don't own Beverly Hills 90210.

Author's Note: Not that I didn't like what I wrote in my other 'spin-off' story, I think this one is going to be so much better! Stay tuned my fellow readers! Setting - about the same time when the new 90210 came out. I forgot who it was that wrote that a sudden death brought back the gang, but I am not stealing any plot of yours. It was merely a tragic incident I wanted to use to bring them all back to Beverly Hills 90210.

Full Summary: Brandon, Brenda, and the gang are brought back together after years when a tragic loss takes place. The gang once again find themselves lost, loved, and strengthened with each other. It's a new and different time for them, as the stakes are much higher and there is a lot more to lose. Coming from a world of glamour and privilege, with endless possibilities in front of them, anything can happen. All in all, it's just another day in the world's most famous zip code.

"Tragedy of Friend" Drama/Romance. Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty, Luke Perry. Series Brandon and Brenda, and the gang are prompted to come back to Beverly Hills when they are informed that Nat Bussichio passes away.

Washington D.C.

He loosened his tie and quickly unbuttoned the top three buttons of his long sleeve shirt and rested his face in his weary hands. He had been working over hours in the office after being offered the chance to become the new Co-Editor and Chief of The Washington Post.

He was to do a major project that would put him on top of The Washington Post Board. He was nearly done and so was the deadline.

The clouds cleared out in Washington D.C. when Brandon Walsh answered his phone.

"Hello?" Brandon answered tiredly. The other speaker was silent. "Hello? Can I help you?"

"Is this Brandon Walsh's work phone?" muttered the voice softly. "...at The Washington Post, I believe?"

"Yes it is," answered Brandon, confused. He sat up. "...this is he, can I help you with anything?"

There was a chilling silence before any of them spoke.

"I don't know if you remember me," the breaking voice began. "But I'm Joane." The name sounded familiar. "Joane Bussichio, Nat's wife." Brandon remembered.

"Oh," said Brandon in relief. "Of course I remember you! How could I ever forget you! How's little Frankie?" Joane softly chuckled but soon answered back in a melancholy tone.

"He's not so little anymore," she answered Brandon quietly. "He misses you too."

"Not more than me," laughed Brandon. He still didn't understand why he was having this conversation. "How's my old boss, Nat? Is he fine? Is he taking care of himself? How's everything back home?"

"Brandon," Joane muttered, almost like in a pleading tone. "Everything...everything's not going so well over here. Nat - Nat's umm -"

"What did he do this time, Joane?" cut in Brandon sarcastically. "Is he trying to go back to work? I can't believe it, I just spoke to him a couple weeks ago on the phone telling him to lay off work. Willie's there, Willie can handle it! Nat needs to start taking care of himself before he -"

"Brandon, Nat passed away," she sliced through the phone. Brandon's sarcasm rapidly died. His eyes widened and his heart jumped up to his throat. His temperature rose and he began to tremble in his seat.

"What...what do you mean?" mumbled Brandon. He couldn't find the strength to keep talking. He felt as though his stomach just took a blow.

"Brandon," Joane calmly stated. "I know this must be hard to hear -"

"How?" breathed Brandon. He was sad, upset, angry, confused, hopeless, helpless. He couldn't save Nat this time. "Why? How could this happen?"

"He had another heart attack," explained Joane. "This one was his fourth." Brandon took a deep breath.

"I am so sorry for your loss, Joane," exhaled Brandon. His words were, too, breaking apart.

"Yeah, me too," she wept. "Well...I already made preparations for his funeral which is going to be this weekend. I know tickets are expensive and you must be busy with work -"

"I'll be there," he answered her immediately. "I'll be there, I can promise you that. I'm booking a ticket right now. I can't miss this."

"You're a good soul, Brandon," she replied.

"So was Nat," breathed Brandon. "I'll call you soon, okay? You just hang in there." He hung up the phone and shut off his project. It wasn't going to be turned in on time and he knew it.

For the first time in a really long time, he began to cry. He cried like a little boy. His tears wept hard for Nat. He felt as though he had lost a father and that loss roughly speared right through his heart. For some reason, he was longing to hear Nat's voice one more time. He gazed at his cell, hoping to get a call from Nat, assuring him that everything was okay and that he was still breathing fine.

"Nat," he wept sorrowfully. "Nat..."

Beverly Hills, California

The weekend arrived...

The bright California sun was subtle. The waves were peaceful. The wind was soothing.

Beverly Hills Funeral Home

It was quiet. It was sad. It was calm but emotionally chaotic at the same time. People wept and wept at the site of Nat's white marbled coffin.

Brandon stood in the front, gently squeezing Joane's hand while keeping 12 year old Frankie, Nat's son, safely hidden in his other arm. Brandon's eyes were filled with tears - but none rolled down his cheeks. He wandered his eyes around the small vicinity, catching glimpses of familiar faces.

He hadn't seem them in years.

There was Kelly Taylor. Beautiful but corrupted by love. She sat closely in the front with her half-sister, Erin Silver, and aging mother, Jackie Taylor. They all tightly held each others' hands.

"Kel," whispered Erin.

"What?" muttered Kelly softly. Erin nudged her to look up. Kelly's face dropped on the ground. Her lips parted breathlessly and her eyes wide awake.

"It's Brandon," added Erin excitedly. Kelly gulped. "Look."

Kelly's sparkling blue eyes couldn't help themselves and stared. She combed her short blonde hair back behind her ear and took a short breath.

"I know who he is, Silver," commented Kelly arrogantly. Erin happily winked at Kelly. "Silver not now. We're at Nat's funeral for God's sake. Have some respect, okay?" Erin quieted down.

Jackie whimpered a little louder.

"Are you okay mom?" asked Kelly comfortingly. Jackie nodded her head while Kelly rested her hand on her mother's back. "It's okay, I'm here."

Kelly gazed at Brandon's way and caught his weary eyes. It was the quietest, peaceful, most understanding conversation she ever had with him. They both understood each others' emotions and Kelly missed the feeling of feeling understood.

He hadn't changed a bit, she thought. He was still stocky, had the same haircut, and the same loving smile. The only thing that changed about him was that he was aging and had a goatee. But besides that - he was still Brandon Walsh to her.

She smiled curtly and grazed away a tear that climbed its way down her rosy cheeks. Brandon took a deep breath and revealed a small smile.

000

Not too far away from her was Brandon's best friend, Steve Sanders. He was sitting tight with his family. Janet and Madeline Sanders were buried in his arms. Steve still looked the same, expect he was older and seemed more mature. Brandon chuckled at the thought of Steve being mature. Whenever Steve comforted his little girl, Maddie, the same old grin appeared on his face and made everything better.

Brandon looked away. Steve's smiled did help a little.

"Have you talked to Brandon?" asked Janet quietly. She nervously tapped her fingers gently on the palm of Steve's hand.

"No, not yet actually," coughed Steve. "Not since our last phone call. I didn't even know he was going to be here for the funeral."

"It's Nat," explained Janet. "Of course he's going to be here."

"You're right," reasoned Steve. "I just can't imagine how hard this must be on him. Not even a word before Nat died." Janet pouted her lips. "Must be hell for him." He watched Brandon stay strong for Nat's family.

"Losing somebody who's dear to you is always going to hurt, Steve," added Janet. "It just sucks that it had to be Nat."

"I don't know if I told you this before," whispered Steve. "When we were in high school, Nat had a heart attack at The Peach Pit...and Brandon and Dylan were there to take him to the hospital. Brandon and Dylan saved Nat that night."

Janet took a deep breath.

"I just hope he doesn't blame himself for not being there for him this time," finished Steve.

"I love you babe," whispered Janet sweetly. She somehow felt Joane's struggle and pain. "Don't you go anywhere just yet." Steve kissed her forehead.

"I'm not going anywhere," mumbled Steve. He kissed Maddie's head and tightened his grip on his family. "I promise."

000

Brandon turned his head to the left and caught a glimpse of Andrea Zuckerman, by herself, crying immensely in her hands. She was the loudest by far, louder than Joane. She was on the edge of her seat in the front row.

Suddenly, her phone rang aloud. She reached for it and answered it discreetly.

"Jesse?" she whispered, wiping her tears.

"Honey," replied Jesse. "I'm sorry I'm not there with you."

"Don't worry Jesse," muttered Andrea carefully. "Hannah's sick and someone had to take care of her." Her words were falling apart. "How is she? How's my baby?"

"She's doing better than yesterday," answered Jesse. Andrea was relieved. "How's my baby?" Andrea shut her eyes tight and let the tears run down her cheeks.

"I don't know," she answered him truthfully. "I don't know if I could get through this. Jesse, what am I going to do?"

"Don't focus too much on his loss, but hold on to the memories he's made with you," replied Jesse. Andrea could hear Hannah hollering for her father on the phone. "I'll call you as soon as I can, babe. Hannah needs me right now."

"Okay," she whispered. "Take care of her. I love you, Jesse."

"I love you, too," he muttered softly. Andrea hung up her cell and threw it back in her purse.

She met Brandon's eyes and wept harder. Brandon wanted to comfort her, to embrace her. Andrea pinned her auburn curls up and wiped her thin lips with a napkin. She continued to weep.

000

Where was Dylan McKay, Brandon thought? Dylan was after all, business partners with Nat - at least that's what Brandon had thought. He looked around the room but saw no Dylan. Brandon couldn't help but to feel a little betrayed. A little disappointed. A little angry.

Brandon closed his eyes, offended for Nat.

...Jackie leaned closer to Kelly.

"Yes mom?" asked Kelly.

"I'm just wondering," began Jackie. "Do you have the slightest idea where Dylan might be right now?" Kelly was taken back.

"No, I don't, mom," answered Kelly sternly. "We haven't spoken to each other in a while and I really don't want to talk about him right now."

"Fair enough," replied Jackie. Kelly shook her head, disturbed. "Kel, don't give me that attitude, I was just wondering."

"I know mom," added Kelly. "Let's just forget we had this conversation." Kelly sat up straight, aggravated.

"Kel," called Erin.

"What?" snapped Kelly, annoyed. "What is it, Silver?" Erin pointed with her eyes towards the back door.

"It's Aunt Donna and David!" squealed Erin excitedly. "With baby Ruby!" Kelly immediately turned around, happy to see David Silver and Donna Martin. Donna caught Kelly's attention and motioned David to follow her to the front.

"Shh," hissed Jackie. "Quiet down girls."

"Mom," muttered Kelly. "Donna and David's here." David and Donna quietly rushed around the congregation, finding empty seats next Kelly. "...and Ruby!"

David, his head shaved, still had his strong masculine features about him. He grew up. He was more clean and fatherly looking. He was a music producer in Japan. Donna, no longer a red head, returned to her natural blondness. She still had her beautiful bulging eyes and sweet smile. She held her baby safely in her arms. She continued to expand her fashion industry throughout the globe and started multiple boutiques in Japan.

David and Donna exchanged quick warm hugs with Jackie and Erin and took their seats.

"She is so cute," squeaked Erin. "Mom, look! She's so adorable when she's asleep!" Donna chuckled quietly and held Ruby carefully in her arms. "I could eat up her cheeks!" David stared awkwardly at his little half-sister. "But of course I won't because that would be weird."

"Good to see you again, Erin," whispered David.

"Eww," spat Erin. "Don't call me that David. It's Silver, okay?" David rolled his eyes and traded hugs with Kelly.

"David," exhaled Kelly. Kelly kissed him on his cheek. "How are you?"

"I can be better," answered David truthfully. "You know how it is, work's work and Donna and Ruby are great. But this Kel - Nat. I can't really...I can't believe he's gone." David's voice was strained.

"It's so surreal," wept Donna. She handed Ruby over to Jackie and Erin. Kelly and David comforted Donna. "I just don't want to believe that he's gone either. He's been like my second father." She was crying even more now. "He walked me down the aisle. He loved me."

She buried herself in David's arms.

"I don't want to believe it," wept Kelly softly. "He was a father to all of us. I didn't know it was going to be this tough letting go of Nat." David reached for Kelly's hands and squeezed them tightly.

"Hey," whispered Donna. "Look, it's Brandon." David looked up while Kelly glanced away.

Brandon couldn't help himself but to look over at the little reunion. David and Donna regrouped themselves enough to where they could exchange warm smiles with Brandon.

000

Brandon paid his respect as he stood with honor in front of Nat's coffin. From the corner of his eye, he saw Joane walking to him.

"Is everything okay?" asked Brandon.

"The pastor said it's time to give the eulogy," explained Joane, wiping her stuffy nose.

"Are you ready?" asked Brandon, holding her arms. Joane wept even more at the site of her husband's coffin and fell to her knees. Everyone around her was alarmed and stood up on their feet. "Joane. Are you okay?"

"I'm not anymore Brandon," she cried. "I can't do this. I can't give the eulogy."

Brandon was searching for a better answer.

"I've been strong throughout this process," explained Joane. "It's just time for me to feel hurt and be okay with it. And cry and weep for my husband because I'm not sure how I'm going to function with a fatherless twelve year old." Brandon embraced her in his arms. "Please, Brandon. Give the eulogy. I know that's what Nat would have wanted."

"Okay," he answered her. "I'll do it." He led her back to her seat.

Brandon felt ashamed.

He hadn't spoken to Nat in a long time. He hadn't seen Nat in years. And know he was to give a eulogy.

Brandon strolled slowly up the steps of the stage and made his way up to the podium. He felt as though he was about to give a graduation speech. He'd done this plenty of times, speaking in public. Speaking to an audience was easy for him. But why...why was this different? Why did this seem to be harder? Brandon was panicking internally. He didn't want to say anything wrong or leave anything out. He'd known Nat for most of his life. What was he supposed to say?

He got up to the podium.

"This one's for you, Nat," whispered Brandon to himself. "You son of a gun of a wonderful guy."

He turned himself around and was startled to see that his family was there. Standing in front of the double doors. His proud parents, Jim and Cindy Walsh, who now had white hair and 'old people' wrinkles. His father looked the same, except his hair was receding. His mother's hair was pure white.

Jim and Cindy smiled at their son with warm hearts. Brandon smiled slowly.

The one that surprised him the most was his twin sister, Brenda Walsh. She stood by her parents, hands wrapped around herself. He hadn't seen her in years. Her long, dark, lavishing hair fell closely to her waist. Her striking brown eyes met his and her small lips smiled thoughtfully back at his.

"Hi," Brenda mouthed. Her sultry eyes fell down to Nat's coffin. She brushed her tears away and followed her parents to a seat in the front. Everyone's head turned as they saw the Walsh family walk down the aisle and to their seats.

Kelly, Steve, Andrea, David, and Donna couldn't believe it.

Little did everyone know, that Dylan McKay was standing outside in the lobby. He was crushed. He was devastated and destroyed. He couldn't face Nat in there. After abandoning The Peach Pit and stealing Nat's money. Dylan continued to replay all the bad things he's ever done to Nat in his mind.

Dylan roughly combed his thick, smooth brown hair back, and rubbed his scruffy jaw with his hands. He tried pressing against his puffy red eyes and wiped his runny nose on his sleeve.

Same old country bumpkin.

Dylan wasn't new to death. A lot of people around him always died, he thought. But this death was tough to handle. So Dylan stood outside the double doors and listened closely to Brandon's eulogy.

000

Brandon cleared his throat and lowered the mic to his lips.

"Nat Bussichio was a man that was kind and generous. He loved all of us with such joy and pride that it lit up his face every time we were together. There was never a time that I could not talk to him or that he would not offer advice, asked for or not. Some of you may not have known Nat the way that I did, but for those who did not get to see this side of him missed out on knowing a great man. A man that made sure that his family was taken care of even if it meant he had to sacrifice something important to him..." Everyone was beginning to weep.

Steve kept his eyes shut and held on to his family. Andrea tried to keep herself quiet and listened intently.

"...A man that loved and listened to a bunch of kids who hung around at The Peach Pit. A man who took his time to listen to the problems we were going through at the moment. A man who picked up the phone to call you at 3 o'clock in the morning just to see if you were doing well." Brandon shut his eyes to catch himself. "I...I consider Nat to be my second father and I'm sure everyone here does too. I love my father, of course, but Nat was always there for me when my father wasn't. He was like my guardian angel and still is. I don't know how I'm going to remember him for the rest of my life. Maybe eating a megaburger and drinking a shake at The Peach Pit might help, but I know for a fact that he's with me in my heart and is walking with me everyday of my life." Most of the gang softly chuckled. "Nat has saved us all, one way or another. He will be remembered as a hero. His legacy will live on through each and everyone of us..."

Jim and Cindy exchanged sad glances.

"Brandon always knows what to say," whispered Cindy. "...and when to say it."

"Honestly," murmured Jim. "I didn't think he was going to show."

"Oh no," Brenda sighed. She saw her brother having a breakdown. "Brandon."

Brandon was breaking down. He couldn't talk anymore. His eyes somehow searched for Brenda. Brenda cried and walked up to the podium to comfort her brother. He buried his face in her arms.

"C'mon Brandon," she whispered. "Finish. You can do this. I'm right her if you need me."

"I can't Bren," he muttered sadly. "I can't anymore. Please." Brenda unwillingly stepped up to the mic. She looked around the audience.

"...I still can't believe he died of a heart attack," continued Brenda softly. She was staying strong for Brandon. "...maybe it was because his heart was so big and loving that his human heart couldn't handle it..."

Brenda's tear trickled down her flushed cheeks. She held on to Brandon. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

Kelly, David, and Donna wept together.

"Nat would be so proud," whispered Donna.

"If you could hear me, Nat," wept Brandon on the mic. Tears were now falling down from his eyes to the ground. Brandon bit his lips and wept like a baby. "If you're somewhere - if you're somewhere here right now making fun of my speech or of me crying for you...I just want to tell you that I miss you, Nat." Brandon cried harder. "And I will always love you..."

Dylan, outside of the room, was crying uncontrollably in his hands. He couldn't control his breathing anymore.

000

Dylan rushed through the double doors as soon as Brandon was done and dragged himself to Nat's coffin! He was gripping something in his hand. Everyone's eyes were glued to a helpless Dylan.

"Oh God," exhaled Brenda, standing up tall. "Dylan."

"Dylan," breathed Brandon.

Dylan fell helplessly to the ground in front of Nat's closed coffin and wrapped his arms around it. His nonstop tears rolled to all sides of the marble coffin while he wailed away. He placed one of Nat's Peach Pit uniform on the coffin. Brandon made his way down the steps and kindly put his arm around Dylan's restless body and the other on the cold coffin.

"Nat!" cried Dylan. Brenda felt Dylan's cry for help and rushed to the coffin. She fell right next to Dylan and placed her hand on Nat's coffin and the other on Dylan's shoulder.

"It's okay, Dylan," Brenda comforted. "Let it out. I'm here."

Kelly was suddenly uncomfortable at Brenda touching Dylan. She shook the thought away and dragged herself to them. She moved over to Brandon and fell in his arms. Kelly gently rubbed the marble coffin and wept silently.

Steve, Andrea, David, and Donna, too, made their way to Nat.

"Oh God," whispered Donna. She reached for the coffin with both hands and wept frantically. David wept behind her and held her carefully. Steve rested his hand on Brandon's shoulder and wrapped his arm around Andrea's trembling body. They all embraced each other and gave Nat the respect he needed.

They were all breathing uncontrollably. They were all crying hysterically.

"Why," wept Dylan. Kelly clasped her hands together on her mouth. Brenda tilted her head down. Brandon squeezed his grasp on the coffin. Steve turned away while Andrea wept harder. David and Donna comforted each other. None of them could look at each other.

"Nat," whispered Brandon, so quiet only the gang could hear. "we love you...may you rest in peace." Brandon kissed the tips of his fingers and placed it on the coffin.

The quiet breeze in the room carefully clashed against their sorrows and pains.