It took a really long time for Ste to calm down. It was into the next day in fact. He didn't bother going into the deli. He'd managed all by himself when Doug had been 'sorting his head out', now it was Doug's turn to see what that was like.

But still Brendan's words were running angrily through his head. When had Ste turned his back on him? What did he mean by all that?

But Ste knew. All that time in prison, Cheryl worried stupid about him being beaten up, and Ste too scared or angry or selfish to check on him. But what did Brendan expect? They weren't together, and that wasn't at Ste's choice.

He knew he shouldn't. He knew it was the last thing he should do. He knew he should just leave it, forget it. Brendan lent Doug the money, not him. He could just pretend that it was nothing to do with him, he should pretend none of that stuff Brendan said had mattered to him. But that was never how Ste's mind had worked.

He was knocking on Brendan's door before he knew it. He didn't pause in the knocking until the door opened. He didn't need preamble.

"What did you think I was gonna do, Brendan, show up at the prison sobbing like some heartbroken wife?"

"Good morning, Brendan, good morning Steven, did you sleep well, Brendan, why yes, like a baby, Steven, thank you for asking."

Ste ignored him, and pushed past. "I thought you'd killed Rae."

The door was slammed behind him. "You thought I… You thought I was capable of that?" Brendan's face was livid.

"I know you're capable of it Brendan, remember?"

Brendan's fury grew, and Ste took a step back involuntarily, memories of fists accompanying that face driving him. Brendan clocked the movement and grunted, but Ste couldn't let it his own cowardice stop him.

"So what do you actually want from me Brendan?"

Brendan pierced him with that gaze. The temper seemed to be cooling, but that look still made Ste's heart beat faster and stomach flip. He couldn't let him stop him. He had to press on.

"Cause, when you sacked me, right, you said you were fed up of my whining voice. You nearly cracked me ribs, just because I let Declan have a couple of hours to calm down before I brought him back, and then yesterday… Just, what do you actually want?"

Brendan breathed out, his expression now more thoughtful than aggressive, "I want you Steven."

Ste fought back the part of him that wanted to lower his eyes and submit to the words.

"But you don't, though. You've shown me again and again, you don't."

Brendan advanced on him, expression intense and serious. "I will always want you Steven."

"I've heard it all before Brendan!"

"Yeah, I've made mistakes. I'll admit that Steven."

"I can't pay back the money!" Ste blurted out. "It's too much, I don't know if I ever will."

And Brendan was on top of him. "So what?" he whispered, drinking in Ste's face, staring at him like he hadn't seen another human in centuries.

"So, do you want me? Or do you want to buy me?"

Brendan stroked his face, so tenderly, "What are on about now, Steven?"

"Is this you trying to control me again?" Ste asked, "'cause I can't do that again, Brendan. I can't be your little secret to shag when you get the urge."

"Steven…"

"'Cause what I've got with Doug, right, that's real. He told everyone he was gay so he could be with me. That's more than you were ever brave enough to do."

Brendan laughed ever so gently, "You're really comparing what Douglas did for you to what I have done for you?"

"He cares about me."

"I love you!"

Ste couldn't argue with that. He knew it was true, that Brendan in his own twisted way loved him.

"I love you too," he said.

And Brendan's lips were on his, a fire they hadn't felt in months, that they hadn't experienced in far too long. His mouth was warm and so strong and inviting.

But he had to pull away.

"Brendan, if we do this, if you mean it, it can't be about you controlling me."

"It won't," said Brendan, kissing him again.

Ste pulled away again, "What about the deli?"

"What about it?"

"It's gotta be mine. Not yours. It can't be something that you own, something you've got over me."

"It won't be," Brendan mumbled, kissing him again. Ste got lost in that kiss. He always could with Brendan. Everything about it felt like fire. But there was still fear. This always blew up in his face.

"No," Ste said suddenly.

"What?" said Brendan between kisses on Ste's neck.

"No, I can't just sleep with you 'cause you made some more empty promises, no."

"What?" Brendan said again, this time with more care, looking at Ste properly.

"I said I can't just…"

"Yeah, I heard what you said, Steven," he searched his face and Ste knew he must look the picture of sexual need. He always did when Brendan was this close. Brendan smirked, "So… you want me to stop?"

He put a hand on Ste's hip, temptingly close to the places that would drive Ste over the edge. "No," croaked Ste in a strangled voice. Brendan put his head forward again, ready to resume, "Yes," croaked Ste, remembering the argument, and pushing Brendan off him again. "How stupid would I have to be to fall for it all again?"

"It's not about you falling for it, Steven, it's about us doing what we both need to do."

"What, shag?" said Ste sceptically.

"No Steven. Be together."

Ste held onto Brendan's shoulders, keeping him away, trying to help himself think straight.

"Are you serious? You want a proper relationship? With me?"

"I hate being without ye, Steven."

"But how do I know you're not lying again?"

Brendan sighed, exasperated, "What will ya have me do, Steven?"

Ste thought for a bit. "We tell people we're together."

"'Course."

"Before we sleep together."

Brendan frowned. "You mean you don't just wanna get down to it here and now?"

"I need to know for sure, Brendan."

"OK," sighed Brendan, "OK, I'll go get a megaphone then shall I? Does it need to be pink or will a normal one do?"

"And you sign the deli over to me proper."

"What?"

"You can't just be in control of me, Brendan. You can't own my business, and be able to hold it over me forever. It's got to be mine."

"Steven, that's eighty thousand pounds of my money."

"Yeah," Ste smiled, "and I thought you did that out of the goodness of your heart?"

Brendan snorted, "So, let me get this straight, you will get back with me, if I sign over eighty-thousand pounds worth of business, to you, free of charge?"

"It's not your business, though," insisted Ste, "it's mine, I built it, I made it happen, I created the menu, I run it."

Brendan was looking at him levelly. "Alright," he said and walked out the door. Ste looked about the flat in confusion, then followed him.

"Where are you going?" he called after the dark haired man.

"To the club," Brendan replied, without turning.

"Why?"

"You don't think I keep the paper work in the flat do you?"

"Oh," Ste said, and fell into step beside him. It was odd, walking beside Brendan in the open air. It was almost normal.

"How are the kids?" asked Brendan, casually.

"Er, yeah, they're good , thanks," Ste replied, taken aback by such a normal conversation with Brendan Brady, "Leah got all excited about the Deli, and they both lo…."

He'd been about to say they love Doug, but that was probably not the best thing to bring up at that moment.

Brendan's lips tensed and the corners turned briefly downwards. Ste tried to move the conversation on.

"How are the boys?"

Brendan's face grew even darker, and he grumbled something Ste didn't hear. Ste decided not to press that, either.

They hit the bottom of the steps, more than one curious face glancing their way. Doug's friend Leanne sent them a proper scowl. Brendan smirked at the sight.

"Let's start as we mean to go on, what?" he grinned, and put an arm around Ste's shoulders.

Ste nearly collapsed in shock. He'd fought to stop himself believing that Brendan could really have changed that much. They'd barely touched where anyone might see before, and now he quite comfortably announced their relationship with his actions where all the world could stare.

True, it wasn't exactly a sweet move. The strength and weight of the arm felt more like a statement of control and possession than a genuine demonstration of affection. But Brendan Brady had put an arm around Ste's shoulder.

They passed the deli. Ste didn't look in. He wasn't ready for Doug's face.

Brendan guided him into the club, which currently contained only cleaners, and into the office. He shut the door firmly behind them.