*It's the night before the holiday and Ste's trying to settle the kids down for bed but they're too excited and jumping on the bed. Brendan's out and has been most of the day.*
"Come on now kids, into bed" Ste says almost begging with exhaustion.
"no!" Leah says bouncing up and down holding Lucas' hand. "We don't want to go to sleep do we Lucas?"
"NO!" he yells.
Just at that moment Brendan comes in. "Hey, hey what's all the racket?"
"WE DON'T WANT TO GO TO BED!" the kids yell
Ste looks at Brendan and Brendan can see how tired Ste is. "You go in the living room and relax" he says steering Ste out of the room "And how about I read you kids a story?"
Lucas stops mid bounce and nearly topples off the bed. "Can it have dragons in it?"
"Of course"
Lucas tugs on Leah's leg as she jumps and she almost loses her pyjama trousers. "Leah, I want a dragon story"
Leah carries on bouncing and shouting. "Will there be any pretty princesses?"
"Yeah"
Leah bounces once more to show she can't be easily persuaded but she stops and snuggles next to Lucas ready for Brendan to start the story.
Brendan makes up a story on the spot about princess Leah and Lucas the brave defeating the evil dragons. Ste stands in the doorway with his arms folded and a soft smile on his face. After a few minutes the kids are fast asleep. Brendan turns to leave the room and finds Ste standing there.
"What?" He says with Ste gives him a look
"You know"
"I really don't"
"You. You're so cute!"
Brendan just blushes.
"Awwww aren't you just adorable"
"Fuck you" He says with a smile.
"Don't tempt me, we've got an early morning ahead of us so maybe we should go to bed ourselves"
"Just this once, I think you're right."
They put their arms around each others waists and head to bed and fall asleep all snuggled up.
*The next day and they're all up early making sure they have everything they need for the holiday.*
"You got the passports, Steven?"
"Yep"
"Swim stuff?"
"Check and you have the plane tickets?"
"Course" Brendan says picking Leah up whilst Ste picks up Leah and carries them to the car before heading off to the car.
When they get there they go through all the usual procedures and find that their plane has been delayed by an hour. They get on the plane an hour later and they watch a film while they fly.
"Daddy Brendan?"
"Yes Princess Leah?"
"When we go cuba diving will there be sharks?"
"You mean scuba diving?
"yeah, will there be any sharks?"
"Maybe"
"They won't eat me will they?" Leah says in a whisper so low that Brendan can't hear her
"What was that sweetie?"
"Shark… They won't eat me will they?"
"No, of course they won't!"
"If we see any sharks you'll just go bam! Bash! Bop!" She says demonstrating some karate chops "and then the sharks will swim home crying won't they because you'll beat them up"
Brendan gives a little laugh "Of course. No sharks are gonna hurt my family"
Leah lays on his arm. "I'm so glad you're my other daddy, Daddy Brendan"
Brendan puts his other arm around "I'm glad you're my little girl now too"
"Love you daddy" she says yawning before she falls asleep.
"Love you too" He whispers, stroking her forehead"