A/N I must say, HO have thoroughly annoyed me. What a horrible way to ruin such a perfect friendship. *Waves Stendan flag sadly.* BLAH. Just poor storytelling IMO and it's not going to end well at all. I just want Stendan back. : - (

Characterization may be a problem here, wasn't in the best of moods whilst writing it, so sorry!

"So you stayed with me all night?" Ste asked, after a while. He was attempting to understand. He couldn't believe he'd let Brendan near him, even if he was practically paralytic with booze, he had to have some restraint.

Brendan suddenly felt awkward; he wished he'd not told Ste all about last night; Ste would no doubt lose his temper and ask Brendan to leave. Brendan coughed, and diverted his eyes to the menu on the table, "yeah, I didn't try anything though…if that's what ye think."

"I'm glad you made sure I was okay," Ste smiled.

"Ye are?" Brendan looked up with confidence, was Ste warming to him again?

Ste nodded, "proves you missed me." Ste grinned, "n'aww, the soft side of Brendan Brady. That's why I fell in…"

Ste shook his head, what was he thinking? So Brendan had stayed the night, it meant nothing. It didn't take away all the months of confusion and anger.

"Love with me," Brendan finished. He cocked his head to the side, "and the reason you still do."

Ste nipped at his bottom lip with his teeth, "no, you're wrong. I can't stand you, Brendan. I've made plenty of mistakes in my life, but you were the biggest."

"Ye know, I thought this front was cute at first," Brendan leant forward, "but it's boring me now. Be at mine for 7."

"NO! You can't order me around no more."

Brendan got up, "just be there, Stephen. Don't keep me waiting."

XXX

So he turned up, of course. Of course he would, there was nothing left to lose. Nothing would be said that would change how things were, and why they'd got to where they were now. So he showed up, knocked on the blue door he used to be so familiar with and waited.

"Come in!" Brendan shouted from inside the flat.

Ste huffed and opened the door, "thanks for the warm welcome." He stood with the door still open, "I don't plan on staying ya know, I've left Doug and-"

"Take a seat, Stephen."

"I'd rather not," Ste crossed his arms. "What did you want?"

Brendan was clearly frustrated, he had a tea towel draped over his shoulder and when Brendan pointed at the table Ste realised, "thought we could have a…meal." Brendan replied.

"But you can't cook," Ste couldn't help but laugh. "I knew you were mad, but this is proper daft."

"It's a good job I live with someone that can then, isn't it? Lindsay gave me a hand." Brendan dished out the food and sat down at the table and started eating. "Cat got ye tongue, Stephen? It's ye favourite."

And it was, the smell of Spaghetti Bolognese lingered around the flat. Ste shut the door and took a seat facing Brendan. And he had to admit, it was pretty good.

"Mine are better," Ste commented between mouthfuls.

Brendan's fork and knife scrapped against his empty plate, he lifted the plate to his mouth and licked off the sauce, "lies. That's the fastest I've seen ye eat."

Ste wiped his mouth with the back of his mouth consciously, "well I had to rush, din't I? I've got work, so-"

"Ye won't want desert then?" Brendan asked, getting up to get the bowl out of the fridge.

Ste looked up at the clock on the wall; 7:30. Doug had said he could come back whenever he liked, he'd ask Texas to cover. He thought it best to still leave now though, it would only lead to a whole heap of mess and confusion.

And the desert was only orange trifle – again, Ste's favourite. He sighed as Brendan sat back down," I've gotta go, me."

"Not even gonna taste it?"

"I haven't got time for your games, Brendan!"

"Games?" Brendan faked innocence, "ye've lost me."

Ste was getting frustrated, "you know what I mean. The dinner, staying with me last night…it's gotta stop."

Brendan licked his lips, "did I hold a gun to ye head this morning?"

Ste's nose wrinkles up, "no but-"

"No buts, Stephen. Ye here causes ye wanted to be here. Ye a big boy, ye could have easily stayed at work playing Jamie Oliver but ye didn't. So anyone would think ye're the one playing games…"

Ste scoffed, "don't turn this round on me! I only came cause you were been a prick to me this morning, and I knew that if I didn't come, you'd be on my case even more."

"Oh, Brendan Brady, the big bad wolf," Brendan yawned. "Bye then."

Without another word, Ste got up and left.

XXX

Ste later met Doug in The Dog. Boy, did he need a drink and someone to talk to.

"Uh-oh, I know that look," Doug came back from the bar with the drinks and sat down, "what's happened?"

Ste showed Doug his phone, a text from Brendan:

'I need a word, just 5 minutes of your time is all I ask. Meet at Chez Chez around midnight? BB'

"Are ya gonna go?" Doug asked.

"I can't," Ste shook his head. "I'm not giving him what he wants again. I told him to stop the games, I've moved on now, why can't he?"

"Ste Hay, ya little liar," Doug laughed into his drink.

"You what? I'm not lying!" Ste whined, with an exasperated look on his face.

"It's clear as day ya miss him! And if you don't, why miss work to go see him?"

Ste took a big gulp of his lager; he suddenly wanted to get very drunk, "you know what Brendan's like, it's hard to say no to him! But I promise I'm over him. And I'll never leave you on your own at work again."

"I've seen the way ya look at him, Ste. I'm your mate; ya don't have to put on a front for me."

Ste rubbed at his face as if to wipe away everything he'd ever felt for Brendan. He wished it was that easy at times. He bit his lip, "alright, I might miss him, but that does not change the way he makes me feel…worthless. He makes me wanna kiss and strangle him at the same time," Ste took another gulp of his drink, "like today, he made me my favourite meal. We didn't say much, but it was the first time he'd ever sat and had dinner with me, and he'd done it for me. And then the next minute, he's saying bye and I'm leaving his place like… like my heart had dropped and I meant nothing to him. If he wanted me back he'd stop doing that, I can't play by his rules anymore," Ste moaned. "Oh god, he's a bastard Doug."

Doug couldn't help but giggle, "yeah he's a bastard alright, but maybe he wants to say sorry…go and see what he has to say for himself."

"It'll be more lies and empty promises," Ste finished off his drink. "I know him too well." He got up to go to the bar, "another?"

XXX

"Now don't you be getting any funny ideas," Ste slurred drunkenly.

"Drunk two nights in a row, we'll have to keep an eye on ye before ye end up at AA meetings."

Ste had turned up at Chez Chez having had a drunken heart to heart with Doug back in The Doug. Doug had told Ste he should just try and hear Brendan out. Obviously Ste had shot down Doug's idea time after time. After his fifth drink, Ste was telling Doug how Brendan was actually an amazing guy and that he was just misunderstood. His opinion of the man changing rapidly, Doug was nothing but amused and he walked with Ste to Chez Chez.

So here he stood, in the office of the club he used to work. He'd been there less than 10 minutes and he'd had three glasses of water.

"Ye need to sober up," Brendan told him. "I can't talk to ye when ye… in this state."

Ste laughed, "soz Granddad."

Brendan sat on the edge of the desk and folded his arms, he was clearly agitated. Why did Ste have to be drunk? Tonight of all nights, the night Brendan was actually prepared to talk.

Ste had noticed Brendan had sent down, "are your knees giving you jip, old man?"

"I'm fitter than ye," Brendan resorted childishly. "The only thing giving me jip is you ye lippy shite."

Ste opened his mouth in mock surprise, "that's proper rude." He poured himself another glass of water from the jug, "Why do you have to be so mean?"

"It's just the truth, Stephen. They do say the truth hurts though."

Ste nodded, "I'm a bit drunk, me. Ya not old really," he smiled.

"I agree on both points," Brendan smirked.

"Err, no need to be cocky, is there?" Ste stood in front of Brendan, "what did you wanna see me for anyway?"

Brendan shrugged a little, "just wanted to say sorry. Ye know, for earlier?"

Ste nodded, "so you should an all. Was bang out of order that." He finished off his water, "I forgive you though, I'm…sorry too. The meal wa' right nice." Ste put the glass down, "I'd better be off anyway."

Before Ste could get any further Brendan grabbed his arm. "Tomorrow, ye free? There's that new Indian opening…thought we could try it." Brendan rushed his words, he felt like a little kid asking their crush out. He felt Ste's arms fall from his grip, he looked down has his arm drifted between their bodies.

"No, I can't. There's no reason for us to be seeing each other now, we've settled it," Ste felt like he was making the wrong decision here. He realised this was a big thing for Brendan, but a night out somewhere was not enough.

"Ye can. I promise… it'll be better now," He whispered, "I'll be better. A fresh start, what do ye say?"

A/N: If anyone has read this, sorry for the wait. I wasn't in the mood for this fic (the reason in the first A/N) but I've decided to carry it on. Hope you enjoyed.