Nyx Eris

Chapter 17: Breathe

Women around her were prone to unconsciousness.

She had discovered her aunt Sheila, collapsed on the carpet of her parents' bedroom.

She had discovered Kelly, out cold on the unforgiving floor of the Peach Pit restroom.

She had discovered Maggie and Mina, who had both partaken in a bit too much drink during a Christmas party and had taken to lie in the grass of Shane's back garden.

She had discovered Kelly again, this time beside a crib in Casa Walsh.

She had flown in for the week, having been encouraged to meet with a possible agent who only accepted in-person meetings in their Los Angeles-based office.

Dylan had remained in London, tying up loose ends in the event that Brenda would be informed that she needed to extend her planned short stay.

A newly engaged Brandon had offered for Brenda to stay with himself and Kelly.

Brenda had been newly engaged herself, a fact she had requested that Dylan keep between them until after Kelly had given birth.

The meeting with the agent had been both inefficacious and eye-opening.

Brenda was told she would never work in Hollywood after she had rejected the agent's advances.

She had informed the agent that she didn't need Hollywood.

The premature end to the meeting that should have lasted longer had returned Brenda to Casa Walsh earlier than scheduled.

She had told no one of the meeting or the agent's response, but everyone had heard from Brandon about how Brenda had found Kelly.

Seven and a quarter months into her pregnancy. Bleeding. Unconscious.

Brenda had called out Kelly's name, several times.

She had attempted to get in contact with Brandon.

She had tried to call Donna. David. Steve. Kelly's mother. Stepfather.

Frustrated with the estimated time of arrival for the ambulance and her inability to connect with anyone, Brenda had driven Kelly to the hospital herself.

It hadn't been the first time she had been in Cedars-Sinai.

It had been the scariest.

Brenda had sat beside Kelly's bed, waiting for Kelly to awaken or Brandon to come.

He had come, breathless from his breakneck marathon through the hospital.

Brenda had been on her mobile with Dylan, who had asked whether he should fly out.

"Have they told you anything?" Brandon had panted. "Like whether my fiancée will awaken? She likes to scare me like this, you know. This is the second time she's made me see her passed out in a hospital bed."

Brenda had fiercely tightened her arms around her brother.

"We were warned," Brandon had said. "We knew there was a risk in Kelly carrying this baby, with the endometriosis. But she wanted him. And I wanted him."

"I don't know what happened," Brenda had said. "I walked in and there she was. I got her to hospital as soon as I could. Bran, the doctor said Kel's in labor."

"Have they tried to stop it?" Brandon had inquired.

"They can't stop it," said Brenda. "She's in labor. Your son's decided he wants out and he wants out, now."