*next day*
"Brendan?"
"Yeah?"
"Can we take Leah and Lucas out today? I want them to get used to you"
"Of course, what did you have in mind?"
"Swimming? Or maybe the park?"
"Forecast to rain later Steven so maybe today we should take the kids to the pool and go to the park another time?"
"Pool it is then" He says grabbing his trunks and getting it all packed up. He texts Amy who agrees and gets the kids stuff ready for when they get there.
Brendan grabs his swimwear and a towel and they head off to pick up the kids
*At the pool*
They all get into one big communal shower before going for a swim and Ste stands opposite Brendan and he gives him a cheeky little wink before helping Leah and Lucas into their arm bands. They walk along the poolside all four of them holding hands and Ste and Brendan walk into the pool while Leah and Lucas stay on the poolside.
"Daddy Brendan, catch me!" Leah yells with a big grin. Ste and Brendan look at each other with big grins.
"Ok sweetheart jump"
She jumps and Brendan let's her get waist deep into the water before pulling her back up. She gives a happy little scream of excitement and thrashes her legs wildly in the water before clinging onto Brendan's neck.
"Come Lucas, jump into daddy's arms!" She calls
Lucas stands there shivering. "Don't want to"
"Come on Lucas daddy will catch you" Ste says holding his arms right in front of him
"Can I go down the steps?" He says, knees knocking from the cold and fear.
"Course you can. Come on I'll meet you there." He says wading over to the steps. Some big kid about 12 is too busy running and knocks Lucas straight into the pool. One of his arm bands has fallen off and he's struggling in the water trying to stay above the water.
"Leah honey stay sitting on the side until I come back" Brendan says quickly sitting her down and swimming over to Lucas. He's gone under and Brendan dives down and grabs him by the hand pulls him up. He coughs and splutters and clings desperately to Brendan. He's shaken but he's ok. Ste's grabbed Leah from the side and has swam over to them. He takes Lucas and checks him all over before hugging him tight.
"It's ok son"
They wade right down to the shallow end and get out and head to the kids pool. They're alone there except for a lifeguard who watches on as Ste and Brendan race each other with the kids on a giant float each. Ste and Brendan then sit on a giant float, Brendan with Leah and Ste with Lucas, and they play bumper floats being careful not to knock Lucas into the water, which is so shallow he can stand up in but they don't want to frighten him again. After a few hours of fun they get out, get dried and dressed and walk home. The weathers grey and it looks like it's going to rain very soon. Brendan pays for everyone to have an ice cream, a packet of sweets and a magazine before heading back to theirs. Ste cooks tea for everyone before they take the kids home in Brendan's car because by this time it's heavily raining.