AN: Genuinely thrilled by the reviews. Thank you so much. They really do make my day.

Paddy – he is angry and upset, but I'm not sure even I could make a completely irredeemable child. Or could I? Hmmm…

For now, a slightly nicer bit.

Ste loved Brendan's arms. They were so thick and strong and firm around him. Not enormous, like some knuckle-head weight lifter or something, nor weedy like his own. They just announced their strength, quietly and subtly, to anyone who cared to look. And Ste enjoyed looking. Almost as much as he enjoyed feeling them around him. Times like now, when Brendan's arms were wrapped around him from behind, as they spooned, were the most wonderful of all. He could barely believe they were here, in Brendan's flat, sunlight streaming through the windows, having the most incredible afternoon sex session anyone ever had.

Well, lying in the glorious after-glow of the most incredible afternoon sex session anyone had ever had. It had been amazing. Sometimes, with Brendan, Ste felt like he was clinging on for dear life, that the rest of his life was built around those moments. It wasn't, of course. The kids were his life really, the thing he lived for. But this time, with Brendan, was like reaching for heaven. It couldn't really get much better.

Except they both had to go to work now. That was annoying.

Ste rolled forward to get out of the bed. The arms, however, tightened.

"Hey," he grumbled, "it's nearly four o'clock. I've got to get back to work!"

Brendan growled in his ear "Five more minutes."

"No!" Ste protested, "I've got to go, or I'll get the sack."

"So?" Brendan grumbled.

"So, then I'd be unemployed with two kids to support."

"Then I'll give ye your old job back."

"No thanks, Brendan."

"Ah, come on, illicit sex in the cellar, locking the office door, don't tell me you don't miss those days!"

"Hiding away, you mean?"

"No. Us. Being together. All day."

Ste sighed, "It's not really healthy, though, is it? For couples to spend all day together?"

"But you could spend an extra five minutes in my bed…"

"Hmm," Ste replied, "tempting, but I've got to go now Brendan!"

Brendan's hand crept lower, down his stomach, in a blatant attempt to distract Ste into staying. He wasn't giving up today.

Ste grabbed the hand before it reached its destination, and threw his legs out of bed before he could change his mind. "It's going great at work, and I can't risk messing them around again, specially since I ran off to Ireland with no explanation. I've got kids me, I can't just live off you, can I?"

Brendan mumbled something like "I don't see why not," but didn't push it, as Ste went on a hunt for his trousers. He located them near the door, and wondered vaguely how they'd got so far. It didn't really matter now. Even though their relationship was public knowledge, and months strong (or years if you included the pre Mr Brady, angst ridden stuff) the sex was still out of this world. Ste was usually grateful when he found there were no rips in his clothes.

Once he was fully dressed, he gave a playful glare to Brendan who had laid in bed watching the whole time. Brendan sighed and swung his own legs out of bed and, still fully naked, padded over to Ste.

"Have a good day at work," he whispered, and snogged Ste so thoroughly, Ste nearly forgot his determination to get to work. Nearly. With one last, chaste, kiss they parted, Ste for the restaurant, and Brendan in search of his own clothes.

Brendan found his phone in a corner under a dresser. He often found things in weird places after Steven had visited. Imagining how they got there was one of his favourite pastimes when Steven wasn't there. It always involved detailed replaying of events in his mind, and was second only to re-enacting them on his fun things to do list.

He checked the phone. Four missed calls, two voicemails and a text. He checked the text first.

"Did I leave my keys at yours? On bus. Ste x"

Brendan took a half hearted glance around the room for the keys, but secretly hoped Steven had left them there, then he'd have to come back straight after work for them.

Two missed calls each from Cheryl and Eileen. He frowned. Two each in two hours? He listened to the voicemail from Eileen first.

"Brendan, why aren't you answering? Cheryl says you're not at work, so… anyway, call me back."

There was urgency in her voice, but then, there usually was.

Cheryl next.

"Hi, Bren, Eileen's rung me twice. Apparently you're not answering her calls. I won't pry, but she is the mother of your kids, I'd expect her to take priority over you getting your leg over. Call her back, it's about the boys."

Brendan frowned. Cheryl's mood and attitude were not improving. Things between Steven and Cheryl were still difficult. She seemed desperate to prove he was lying, but with a kind of hopelessness that Steven said meant she did believe him really. She also seemed to have some blame for Brendan, a kind of coldness, a detachment. She said she wasn't speaking to their Dad, but their phone bill was itemised, so Brendan knew the truth.

He understood that too. He could barely believe the man he knew his father to be, and the man who brought up Cheryl so lovingly were the same person.

But he'd better call Eileen. She would probably be getting annoyed; though it had only been a couple of hours, she only ever called about the boys.

She picked up after two rings. "Brendan?"

"Alright, Eileen?" he said, warily.

"It's about time! Why haven't you been answering? Where have you been? Cheryl says you weren't at the club?"

"Jesus, Eileen, what's this, the Spanish inquisition?" Brendan exclaimed, feeling a dash of irritation.

"Alright, keep your hair on! I was only asking if you'd take the boys on Saturday? It's half term, but Ma's going in for an operation."

Brendan felt a sting of guilt. "Is she alright?" he asked.

"Aye, it's just a kidney stone, but I thought the boys wouldn't appreciate spending their holiday hanging around the hospital."

"Yeah, yeah, I'd love to have the boys," Brendan replied.

"So, I'll fly them both over on Saturday then? I'll text you the flight details. And they'll come back Friday so they've got the weekend to get ready for school?"

"That's great Eileen! Thank you!"

"Well, it's mostly because it's convenient," she mumbled.

"Still, thanks."

"Brendan…" Eileen started, then stopped just as suddenly, as though she'd had second thoughts. "Never mind. I'll tell the boys later, and they'll probably call you."

"Thanks, Eileen," Brendan repeated, genuinely happy. A whole week with both of his boys. A large grin filled his face, and he was grateful no one could actually see it.

"But they better not see anything … you know… They're only kids!"

"I know Eileen, I know."

She seemed placated enough.

"Right, Ok then," she said, "well I've got to get going. Don't let me live to regret it," she added, then hung up.

Brendan grinned at the phone again, then text Steven.

"Ur coming over anyway. Got news. B x"

Then he deleted the x. Then put it back. Then he replaced it with 'Good session. Hope you can still walk properly. X" hoping the sexuality would camouflage the sentimentality a bit.

Then he range Cheryl to let her know the good news.