Thanks for the feedback guys it was much appreciated. Glad you all liked it; I had an edit this morning so the story was more structured and easier to read. Hope you enjoy this next chapter and sorry it has taken so long wanted this chapter to be good. (I don't know a lot about the legal system but if it's Hollyoaks, if Mercedes and Paul can get away with murder by pinning everything on a dead bloke then anything can happen)

The first thing Ste was aware of as he was coming round was he was still lying on the floor, on his side but there was something supporting his head and something was draped over him keeping him warm. He tried to open his eyes but they weren't budging only his eyelashes fluttered. He groaned as he started to feel his whole body ache. "Dad, he's coming round" called Declan's voice nearby. He got his eyes open at last but his vision was blurred he blinked a couple of times and his vision went back to normal. He looked around Declan was sat on the sofa and Cheryl was sat near his feet. Brendan ran in and knelt down next to him.

Ste sat up quickly alarmed was he hallucinating, he couldn't be knelt there. He was about to fall backwards but Brendan caught him and laid him back down on his side again.
"Hold your horses Steven" said Brendan. Ste had billions of questions going through his head but he didn't know which one to ask first but it made his head hurt so he stopped. He just stared at Brendan. Then his eyes started to hurt so he shut them and fell asleep his head feeling heavy.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

When he next woke up, he was in his bed in the holiday home. Brendan was perched on the edge of the bed watching him. Declan was sat on the window sill looking out the window.
"Brendan?" said Ste, Brendan chuckled to himself, which confused Ste.
"Is this you awake this time, you been saying my name in your sleep for the last hour" said Brendan. Ste nodded and sat up the questions coming back in to his mind.
"How did you get out of prison? How did you now we were here? How come you told Declan to rebuild this place? Please explain" asked Ste. Declan turned around, Ste watched Brendan as he took a huge breathe.

"Okay Steven, Declan I owe you both an explanation; I got let out of prison because I managed to convince the jury to give me a lesser sentence by changing my statements, that was Jim's idea so I changed it, I couldn't handle prison I just couldn't, I changed my statements Danny Houston and Seamus from murder to self defence, Nana Flo I changed to an accidental death by hugging her too tightly, I didn't even get anything for Mick because his body was never found, I got sent down for only two years but I got let out early so only ended up doing six months" said Brendan he cleared his throat then continued.

"I told Declan here to rebuild this place because if you either of you needed a safe house, you would come here, I knew that you may need this place, once I heard of Cheryl that Declan was missing from Dublin, I rang up the deli to see if Steven was there, I pretended to be someone trustworthy so Douglas would tell me the truth, he told me you had both gone on the run together, I live not from here only 10 miles down the road, I knew the place needed restocking so I bought loads in so you would be satisfied, even remembered your favourite brand of lager, then I heard from Cheryl that you were both in trouble and the drug dealers had caught up with you, then it was my moment to act, I jumped in my car and sped down here"

Ste took in the information that Brendan was giving him. It made him very confused with his emotions towards him. He was happy that had thought about them but pissed off that Brendan had been out years and not made any contact with him. He had the urge to kill him but at the same time had the urge to kiss him.
"Why didn't you come back for me?" asked Ste
"I did, I came but I saw how messed up you were, how close you were to self destruction that I couldn't, I couldn't mess your life up anymore" said Brendan he sounded sad "It was a really hard decision"
"So aunty Cheryl knew you were out?" asked Declan. Brendan nodded at him.
"She knew about me being released, she's my next of kin so she had to know" said Brendan.

Ste was having still having his inner battle kiss or kill, kiss or kill, kiss or kill, kiss or kill, kiss or kill.

"I missed you, Brendan Brady, I needed you there" said Ste "that's why I was having the breakdown, I missed you so much and after everything had happened it all took its toll on me" Brendan winced which made Ste soften, he didn't want to hurt Brendan it was the last thing he wanted to do. Declan looked at them both and jumped of the window sill.
"I got all the answers I needed, I think you two need some alone time, I'm going to get some sleep, was an active night" said Declan he walked out the room quickly. Shutting the door behind him, they sat there awkwardly both too scared to do anything or to speak.
"Steven, I just need you to know I never stopped loving you, ever, I never felt different about you" said Brendan.
"Oh Brendan, then why didn't you come back, no phone call, nothing, just left my life, I didn't want you to that" said Ste his voice was breaking now a wave of tears going down his face.
"I just wanted what was best for you, I always have and always will, until I am in my grave you will always be in my head, you're the only man I have ever truly loved, you helped me and you changed everything, it was the worst day of my life the day they dragged you away" said Brendan he was tearing up to.
"I love you Brendan" said Ste
"I love you too" said Brendan. Ste sat up closer to Brendan.
"Come here" said Ste. Brendan did as he was told and they kissed. Ste had not tasted that mouth in five years and god had he missed it. He wanted to stay kissing forever but Brendan pulled away and they laid down on the bed. Ste felt Brendan pull him into his arms. Ste wrapped his arms around Brendan, he never thought he would feel like this again and boy did he love this feeling. They both fell asleep contented.

TBC

(Next chapter will just be pure romantic fluff)