I do not own Mrs Browns Boys. Brendan O Carroll and BBC/RTE own all. No copyright infringement is intended nor should be inferred.

Chapter 1

Cathy sat at the kitchen table nursing a mug of tea. She was exhausted. The court case had ultimately saved the market but it had drained them all. Sighing heavily she thought about Mark and Betty, how her sister in law had run their 4x4 into a ditch. How Dermot and Rory had tried to help. Even Trevor and Father Damion had tried.

"Morning Cathy."

"Morning Mammy."

"You alright Luv?" Agnes Brown assessed her only daughter. "Really?"

"Yes Mammy. I'm fine. Would you stop yer worrying?"

"No. I'm your mother. That means a lifetime of worrying about you and your brothers, whether you like it or now." Agnes busied herself with making tea. "Have you eaten? Would you call Grandad? Tell him to get his behind down these stairs."

"Yes Mammy." She left her mug on the table before yelling for Trevor and her grandfather to get down the stairs. Agnes sighed. She knew she'd always worry about Catherine Brown. The only one of her six children to divorce. Childless, with no boyfriend or suitable man on the horizon she worried her daughter would end up a maiden aunt with Dermot's triplets or young Bono feeling they had to look after her.

"I called Grandad. He told me to bigger off." Cathy laughed. "Trevor is in the shower and I am going to be late. I'll see yer, Mammy."

"Alright Cathy, Luv." She smiled as the blonde almost ran out of the house. Winnie stepped through the back door as Cathy slammed the front door.

"Was that Cathy leaving?"

"Oh, hello Winnie." Agnes smiled. "Yes, she's late. Always rushing here, there and anywhere."

"Same as my Sharon." Winnie laughed. "Kids today."

"She's not though, is she? She's a grown woman. Oh what's going to become of her, Winnie? Trevor has the church. Mark had Betty and Bono. Dermot's got Maria and the babies. Rory has Deano. Who does she have? When I'm gone?"

"She's going to be fine, Agnes." Winnie smiled. "She's a clever girl."

Xxxxxx

Cathy walked along the main road passed the market where her mother would be in the next hour or so. She was keen to get to her appointment before work, it was already getting late. Checking her watch she pushed the glass door open and froze.

Xxxxx

"Betty." Mark turned to face his wife. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am." Betty grabbed her handbag. "I didn't want to say anything with Bono around. You know what he's like." Betty sighed. "I wanted to talk to you first. Before Dermot went off on one or your mother got in a state."

"It's not them in worried about, Betty. Ma will say her piece, Dermot's protective of her. We all are." Betty nodded. Shrugging her shoulders she stepped towards her husband.

"Your mother doesn't like me, so she doesn't. I took her previous boy away after all."

"She doesn't not like you. It's just her way. When my father died it was just us six and her. She couldn't cope. You know that it was only when Grandad moved in with us that we could go back home." Mark rested his hands on her shoulders. "That's why she's overprotective of us." Betty smiled slightly.

"Aye. That's why I want to be sure before I tell her." Betty sighed as he kissed her gently.

"If it is him. After what he put my sister through." He closed his eyes as memories of his sister shaking and trying not to cry. He remembered her pulling away, the bruise on her arms hit him.

"Best thing we ever did. Going to London to get her." Betty sighed. "But we still have to tell Cathy. And your mother." Betty stepped back as Mark sighed. He knew she was right.

Xxxxxx

Cathy stepped back as she registered who was in front of her. She felt her stomach twist as the man in front of her smiled.

"Hello Catherine. I've been looking for you."

Xxxxxx

A/N first story for this genre. Can Mark and the others save Cathy. Will Agnes keep her family together? Shall I write more?