Warning: Contains Noah!

Also, for the benefit of this story Amy is living at her dads, and Rae is living with Doug and the 'lads'.

Thanks for reading and reviewing. (:

'I'm gonna stay with you whilst you tell him.'

Stephen's pacing across the living room, he's shitting his pants bless him. I don't know why he's letting this get to him; Noah's a waste of space anyway.

'You don't have to; I don't need you to hold my hand.'

I raise my eyebrows.

'You sound like me, Stephen. Anyway, you can't kick me out of me own home.'

I laugh. It sounds so weird, like it's not actually happening, and in a minute I'm going to wake up and realise it was all a dream. I've got my man back, my wee fella.

I watch him relax a tad as he lowers his arms to his sides.

'Are you sure this is what you want?'

'Hey, come 'ere.' I beckon him over with my arm.

I lean against the back on the kitchen side as I hold him close, by his waist. He scans my face with his, his eyelashes looking longer than ever as he blinks. Utter beauty this boy, what the fuck was wrong with me? I had this person, this soul all to myself and I just couldn't acknowledge. I lean forward so our foreheads touch.

'Of course I'm sure.'

And I am, for the first time in years I am sure this is right. There's still a little bit of adjuration in the back of my mind, but that's normal, right? Years of lying, hurting, hiding, running and now I know that this thing, whatever it is, has pulled me to the right place. It's pulled me to Stephen; we work in our in little, mad way. Fucking hell, I'm turning my stomach here. I need to get a grip; this emotional bollocks is all down to young Stephen.

He grins up at me and reaches up to kiss me. His soft lips slotting between mine, his head turning to the side to deepen our kiss, his tongue piercing through the gap of our mouths; I would grant him his wish but we need to stay focused, damn, am I really turning sex down?

I pull away and his eyes open again slowly.

'If you want, you can go get your stuff from Cheryl's? Or pick the kids up from nursery?'

'Stop trying to get rid of me, it's too early for the kids anyway, isn't it?'

He looks up at the clock on the wall, 10:45.

'Yep, I just don't want to rub it in his face.'

'I promise I'll be on my best behaviour.' I grin.

And I will, because it's what Stephen wants. If I had my own way I'd batter the shit out of him, given how he's tried to change Stephen, and coming in this place like he owns the place; granted I've done it a few times myself, but this fella is a nobody. Urgh, just thinking about him makes me sick. And, to top it off, he's had his hands on my man, the person that belongs to me… he's actually invaded his perfect body, done shit to him. I shudder as I try and rub away the thoughts and images in my head.

'You okay?'

'Yeah… yeah, is he always this late?'

Just then the door shuts, and I stand by Stephen's side.

'Just breathe.' I whisper as he begins to rub his hands together in awkwardness.

'I'm back babe!'

Babe? Another reason to despise this fella.

'Oh, hey Brendan.' He smiles at me, looking miffed as to why I'm here.

He kicks his trainers off and leaves them in the middle of floor, bloody hell, this guy needs a slap.

'It's over.'

Stephen blurts out.

'What is?' Noah asks getting out some pasta. Pasta? Who eats that shit?

'Us.'

He turns around to face us, yeah he looks hurt but he doesn't belong here, doesn't belong to Stephen.

'I don't understand.'

'It's not working, Noah. I want you to leave please.'

'But… I thought we were going strong.'

Oh, I can't stand it.

'Look…mate, me and Stephen are together, and you are no longer welcome here.'

He places his hands on his hips on the defensive.

'You and him? I should a' known.'

'I'm sorry, Noah…'

'As if you two will last.'

Cheeky bastard, I know I said I'd behave but he is really starting to grate on me.

'I don't wanna fight with you, please. We can still be mates.' Stephen try's with a small smile.

'Oh, save it. We had something, Ste, something this… creep can't give you, but if you can't see it then fine. I'm worth more than that.'

And with his little speech he heads to the bedroom to pack his stuff. How dare he call me a creep, he doesn't even fucking know me. I feel my fists clench as I eye up the bedroom door.

'He's got a right attitude.' I spit.

Stephen turns 'round to face me, his eyes looking tired. He's too soft this lad when he wants to be, where's that strong side to him he shows he as when he fought against me? I suddenly loosen my hand back open and realize that that no one is just that; a no one. Stephen is what I will focus on.

'I feel bad.'

'Don't, it had to be done.'

He smiles up at me and flings his arms around my neck.

'Thanks for been here.'

X

We go to the nursery to get the kids, I've only had one encounter with Lucas, and I suppose it wasn't on best terms. Scaring both Amy and Lucas, looking back now it was a stupid movement on my part. It's very rare of me not to think about what I'm doing, but that was a moment where I wasn't thinking.

No one bats an eye lid as me and Stephen wait for the kids to leave the building. Every other parent/guardian just paying no attention to two men waiting to collect ones kids', I don't know why I'm surprised. I clearly just thought that people would have been looking at us, whispering and pointing at the way Stephen's broad smile looked up at me every other second. Cause he can be a bit in your face, can Stephen. I've had to warn him a few times about it, thankfully he's calmed it down a lot.

Stephen tells the kids that I'm moving in. They of course don't seem to care. But Leah points over to me with a confused expression on her small face.

'That looks silly.' She giggles.

She reaches up that bit further and prods at my moustache playfully. I smile down at her, kids eh? Cheeky little mites, but you'd be lost without them.

'Leah, leave Bren alone.' Stephen warns.

'I…I'm only playing daddy.' Leah sulks.

I look over at Stephen and smile.

'It's cool, really.'

'I know, but they can be a bit of a handful.'

Leah's soon toddling off to play with Lucas. Squawks and car noises are made as Lucas runs his toy car over Leah's dolls. I look down at them and smile, my eyes becoming blurry as I think of my little ones back home.

I feel Stephen's hand against my arm.

'Everything okay?'

'Yeah… just thinking of my little ones, well they aren't so little anymore, ya know? But I don't half miss them.'

'You should go over and see 'em. It'll be nice for the lot of you.' Stephen advises.

'Yer right, I'll sort it out when I get time.'

My tone sounds a bit off. I'm not ready for Stephen to meet my family back home, it's not needed anyway. He wouldn't like it. I feel my phone vibrate and retrieve it from my trousers.

1 new message: Cheryl.

Where u got to love? Not heard from ya since lst' nite, I take it things went well? Get in touch, all me love Chez. Xx

'Who's that?' Stephen asks trying to have a look.

'Cheryl wondering what's happening, we off to go tell her the news?'

A/N: Not really happy with this chapter, but I'm not in the best state of mind after the last few episodes. Brendan's in my bad books, along with HO!