So, I decided to write this after coming up with an idea that I originally said someone else should write. However, I was in a slight creative mode and was swayed into giving it a try. Lets hope this isn't awful and that this creative streak lasts long enough for me to finish it. I would like to give an extra little nod to the lovely Love Out Of Lust as her need for porn fic drove me to try this. I will attempt porn, just for you.

For the sake of this, Seamus is alive, Dublin never happened and Seamus was only in HO for a few weeks. He is also separated from Cheryl's mum. Nate and Cheryl still happened as on the show. It is based on things that happened on the show, but with things added in for pleasure or plot devices. Not a great deal of dialogue, so if it's not your thing, there is your warning.

Year Gone By

Mr Hay and Mr Carter

Mr Seamus Brady and Ms Kathleen Brady
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Cheryl Brady to Nathan Tenbury-Newent
at Highview Manor Estate, Donegal,
on 27th September 2013,
at, 11am

RSVP

Ste had received the invite in the post back in April, RSVP'd without a second thought. Cheryl was his best friend, or at least used to be before she moved back to Ireland with Nate. He'd phoned her, full of congratulations from Doug and himself and couldn't wait to visit her new house, or rather, manor.

It was only when he'd been speaking to her about the details and colour schemes to make sure his suit didn't interfere with the best man and ushers, that she'd mentioned Brendan. It seemed somehow, Ste had managed to forget that Brendan would inevitably be at this wedding. He moved away from the village within weeks of Cheryl leaving. There had been an awkward goodbye, only occurred by chance as Ste passed Brendan lugging his cases down from the flat. He'd asked if he was going on holiday, Brendan muttered something like, you could say that, but just permanently.

There was no denying it had knocked Ste for six, so to make the most of it, he'd offered to help bring down the last of Brendan's stuff. There had been a hug of sorts, neither wanting to embrace each other fully, nor did they want to let go. The parting words had been, 'take care of yourself Steven', to which he could only reply with a feeble, 'you too'.

Since then, Ste had just continued to play the respectable business man and happy husband, and it was mostly true. He was a respectable business man now, by some miracle the deli had taken a turn and they were raking in the profits. It seemed they were being advertised somewhere, but Ste had no idea how, neither he nor Doug had paid for it, but there were no complaints from them.

The happy husband part was true, if you looked at it through rose tinted glasses. He wasn't unhappy, not at all. He just wasn't fulfilled, wasn't excited, there was no passion with Doug any more. They fitted the role of business partners better than they did husbands, heck, Ste didn't even wear his ring anymore after a risky near miss in the deli.

But now Ste was at the airport with Doug, Leah and Lucas. He was about to board a plane to Ireland for his best friend's wedding, but he was also about to face Brendan, his ex of sorts. They'd never officially been together, but he'd be lying to himself if he said he wasn't filled with an insane lust every time he'd see him. Lust and possessiveness.

He felt possessive over Brendan, knew that he was one of the few who were inside the walls he built up and no matter what happened with them, it was something he didn't like to share. Ste had to admit to himself, he was slightly concerned at his fear and jealousy of Brendan rocking up to the wedding with another guy, didn't know how he'd react. He was even more concerned about Doug clocking on to this fact.

"Ste. Ste. Anyone home? Ste"

"DADDY" Leah shouted, finally getting his attention. He was on the receiving end of a furrowed brow look from Doug.

"Sorry darlin'. Daddy was just thinking, making sure we've got everything" he lied to placate his daughter.

"We definitely have everything, remember, we made a list. Look" Leah said pulling the list, her pride and joy, from her pocket. She'd written it all by herself, with only a few hints from Ste. He was unsure who was more proud, him or Leah.

"I know we do now, because you're my little brainbox and you made sure of it".

"Yep" Leah beamed. There was a brief pause before she continued. "Are we going to see aunty Cheryl again? Is she going to look like a princess?"

"She'll definitely look like a princess, one of THE prettiest princesses you'll ever see. And everyone will be there to see her, so you need to behave for Daddy and not fight with Lucas"

Ste loved his children, but he could imagine the horror if the two of them started bickering during the ceremony.

"Yes, I know. Everyone will be there? Does that mean hairy Brendan will be there as well? I miss him. He read me a story once, in a funny voice" Leah giggled.

Ste wasn't quite sure what his face was doing, but it had certainly caught Doug's attention. He was trying to find his voice again, whilst his mind was flooding with memories of Brendan reading The Three Little Pigs to Leah in a strange London accent. He heard Doug answer before he'd got his thoughts back in order.

"Yep, hairy Brendan will be there as well sweetie pie. But he'll have his children with him, so you need to make sure he gets to spend time with them. They live with their Mummy, like you live with Daddy, so they miss him" Doug explained.

Whilst what Doug said was true, he knew Leah had always been besotted with Brendan and didn't want her to overcrowd him, Ste couldn't help but think that there was some underlying tension in Doug's words. He wasn't explaining to Leah, he was telling her. It didn't quite sit right with him, for some reason.

"I'm sure there will be plenty of time to play with hairy Brendan, but we'll see when we get there"

They were called through to board their plane at the perfect moment, too much rushing around and growing eyes in the back of their heads watching the children to worry about the impromptu mention of Brendan.

It had been decided they would split into twos, Ste and Lucas, Doug and Leah. Lucas was a shy child, had never really taken to Doug or at least not enough to sit with him for the short journey to Ireland. Leah didn't care, she'd grow up to be the life and soul of the party.

They eventually made it to their seats, but unfortunately were a good few rows apart. An older lady took her place in the spare seat next to Ste and Lucas and shortly afterwards the plane took off.

About 15 minutes into the journey, all the excitement had Lucas chattering away, the most Ste had heard him speak in a while, and if Ste was being honest, he was relieved. He'd been starting to get slightly worried about how quiet he'd become, even asked at the nursery how he was doing, but had been assured he was fine.

They were talking a lot about a little, Ste making up facts about where they were flying over, his geography knowledge was non-existent, but it kept Lucas interested. They'd been quiet for a short while when Lucas asked a question.

"Will I get to see the hairy man, daddy?" he'd asked eyes bright.

"Hairy man? You mean Brendan?" to which Lucas nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, he's Cheryl's big brother so he'll be there. I bet he'll be really happy for his baby sister as well." Ste explained, slightly surprised by Lucas' intrigue.

"Do you think he'll let me have cake again?" Lucas asked.

"Again? When did he let you have cake before?" This was all new information to Ste and the fact that Lucas, one of the shyest children in his nursery, was asking whether he could talk to Brendan again made his heart swell. It was a reaction Ste knew he should no longer be feeling.

"I don't remember. But it was at home, he let me have cake. And it was bedtime. You and Doug never let me have cake at bedtime. He made me laugh, because his voice sounds funny. Like Doug has a funny voice, but hairy Brendan's is funnier" Lucas continued.

To say Ste was shocked was an understatement. He'd just realised how well his children had taken to Brendan, in such a short time, compared to how they'd taken to Doug.

Ste realised he'd spent an awful lot of time recently, comparing Brendan and Doug, something he really shouldn't do. Because no matter how frequently Brendan comes out on top, he always loses in the long run. He isn't ready to fully commit to a gay relationship and Ste couldn't continue to be a secret, it was too much hassle and heartache.

He wanted to be proud of who he was and be proud to be on Brendan's arm, like he was Doug's and he knew he'd have been waiting a long time for that and he just didn't have it in him. Especially not now that Amy had trusted him to look after the children whilst she returned to college full time in Manchester. He needed stability and normality, for their sakes as well as his own.

The journey had come to an end and they were due to land any moment now. Ste gave Lucas a boiled sweet to suck, to stop his ears from popping, then just about managed to pass the packet back to Doug and Leah. He'd never been sure if it worked, but it was something that Tony had told him to try, after the disaster flight to Florida a couple of years back.

Both children seemed happy enough as they waited for their luggage to appear on the conveyor belt, whilst simultaneously both trying to climb on and go round with the luggage. Luckily, they didn't have to wait too long for it and managed to make a hasty escape out of the airport. Cheryl had arranged for someone to come and collect them from the airport, as it was apparently quite a journey to the manor and he nor Doug could drive. Legally, anyway.

The four of them made their way towards the arrivals lounge, hoping their driver was ready and waiting. Ste was eager to see Cheryl and gets the kids sorted for bed, as time was pushing on. Stepping through the doors, to where all the drivers were waiting, he was taken by surprise.

"Hello, Steven".