The funeral
There are many things in McHay's storyline that I would have done differently myself. But the main one is starting it earlier (before late December/early January). So, what if John Paul and Ste had stopped being nemeses in early November 2013, at Doug and Leanne's funeral?
John Paul felt numb. There were no other words to describe it. He was attending the joint funeral of one of his closest friends and his ex-boyfriend, and he was gutted that he had lost both of them less than a week apart. In some ways he was thankful that it was a combined funeral: he wasn't sure if he would be able to cope going to two different ones so close together; at least this got all of the grief out of the way at once. Plus, it was appropriate for it to be a joint funeral because Doug and Leanne were best friends, and everyone knew that they would have wanted to be buried together. He felt helpless as he watched Dennis and Ste mourn for their loved ones. In fact, during Ste's eulogy, John Paul couldn't help feeling sympathetic towards the man that he had always disliked, and was particularly touched when he heard that Doug made Ste 'want to do the right thing', and hoped that he would carry on with that mind-set even though he was gone.
As Leanne's coffin was being lowered into the ground, John Paul patted Dennis on the arm comfortingly. However, as Doug's was lowered John Paul felt an unexpected urge to wrap his arms around Ste in an embrace, but decided against it. Instead, he squeezed Ste's shoulder supportively and received a surprised glance from him, followed by a brief smile with red eyes that locked with his momentarily. John Paul felt slightly better to have provided some comfort to the man who was grieving for his husband. John Paul was the only other person who was close to understanding Ste's state: he had been in a relationship with Doug himself and appreciated everything about him. Although he had barely spoken to him – or Leanne for that matter – since they had broken up, he still cared about the young man, and John Paul inwardly made a promise to look out for Ste: he owed it to Doug.
xxx
John Paul tentatively approached the table where Ste and Leah sat. Ste was staring into space whilst Leah chatted away. Ste nodded and hummed at her as though he was paying attention, but John Paul knew that he wasn't.
"Hey" he greeted softly.
Ste blinked at him in shock whilst Leah glanced up at him quizzically. John Paul smiled slightly and gave a brief wave, "Hi Leah, I'm John Paul"
Leah smiled at him before grabbing her backpack and taking out a book. John Paul sat down in a chair across the table from Ste and glanced at him sympathetically.
"How are you doing?" John Paul asked gently
"Never better" Ste responded sarcastically.
John Paul felt a sense of déjà vu as he recalled Ste being beaten up about four months earlier, and providing the same answer to his question. He also remembered Doug being there, and that the situation would lead to their break-up. John Paul swallowed uneasily.
"I'm really sorry-" John Paul began, but Ste scoffed
"It's funny, isn't it? People keep apologising but it's not their faults" Ste murmured, "It's the person who made that stupid bomb who should be sorry"
John Paul shifted uncomfortably, "Well I actually found out that Claire made the bomb, and she intended for it to blow up The Loft and kill Mercedes, and probably the rest of us" he admitted.
Ste looked astonished, "So if Sinead hadn't taken it, thinking it was money…" he began, but John Paul gently grabbed his wrist to interrupt him
"Don't blame Sinead for this" he instructed softly, "It was an accident on her part. And if she hadn't taken it then this would probably have been my funeral, as well as Mercedes, Carmel, Nana, and probably Matthew" he became slightly tearful, "My whole family. Not Doug, Leanne or Ash; this shouldn't have happened to them"
Ste shook his head and his face became grim, "In that case, it's probably for the best that Claire's dead. She got exactly what she deserved"
John Paul could feel Ste's muscles tensing, so he rubbed his arm gently to soothe him. Ste's eyes met his in confusion and John Paul quickly pulled his hand away. An awkward silence overcame them, so Ste turned his attention to his daughter. As much as John Paul was usually reluctant to admit it, he knew that Ste worshipped his kids and always tried to do what was best for them. It was quite a sweet sight actually: Ste talking to Leah about the book that she was reading and asking her some questions about it; John Paul couldn't help smiling at the interaction.
Suddenly a thought occurred to him and John Paul cleared his throat, "Where's Lucas? I thought he'd be here"
"He's got the flu" Leah chipped in distractedly, still engrossed in her book.
"It's probably for the best" Ste commented, "Funerals are a horrible experience for a four year old"
John Paul nodded in agreement.
"He wanted to be here though" Ste continued with a slight smirk on his face, "He obviously doesn't understand what a funeral really means, 'cos if he did then he wouldn't have wanted to come"
John Paul grinned, "Sometimes it's better that way. One less person apologising unnecessarily"
Ste nodded and sniggered, and John Paul was glad to have improved his mood, however slightly. John Paul was slightly surprised by his change of feelings towards Ste: whether it was just sympathy or something else, he wasn't sure, but he wanted to do everything he could to help the grieving man during this dark time.
xxx
"Can I get you guys any more drinks?" John Paul asked as he rose out of his chair. Ste exchanged a look with Leah, who nodded.
"A couple of orange juices, thanks" Ste replied
John Paul smiled politely before heading over to the bar and Ste watched him thoughtfully. After a few moments, Sinead plonked herself down in the chair that John Paul was just sitting in.
"Whoa, that was well weird" she whispered
"What was?"
"You and John Paul being all buddy-buddy" she explained, "I thought you guys couldn't stand each other"
Ste honestly couldn't remember how or when his dislike of John Paul began, or even why it was still going on. John Paul seemed like a nice enough guy; he didn't have to make the effort to talk to him today, but he still did instead of leaving Ste alone with his miserable thoughts.
"Well he has every right to be here" Ste replied dismissively, "He was friends with Leanne, and he and Doug were… you know"
Sinead rolled her eyes, "That's why it's weird. You're sitting at a table having drinks with your dead-husband's ex-boyfriend, who is also seeing your dad"
Ste sighed, "What am I supposed to say to him? 'Go away, I've hated you since we were teenagers? Oh, and you slept with my ex-husband and ex-boyfriend, plus you've been having an affair with my dad which is really weird-'"
"And you almost went there too" Sinead pointed out
Ste shook his head, "Look, like I said before, we've just got to forget about that"
"How can you forget about almost sleeping with your own dad?" Sinead asked incredulously, "You have to face him every day"
Ste grimaced, "I know but there's no point rehashing it and tearing my family apart, is there? So what can I do about it except to keep quiet and move on?"
Sinead considered this before nodding reluctantly.
"So we're just gonna have to pretend that it never happened" Ste instructed her
"What never happened?" Sinead asked jokingly
Ste nodded in satisfaction, "Good" he responded, and then glanced over to the bar where John Paul was receiving the drinks, "Now, you'd better get out of John Paul's seat before he comes back"
Sinead put her hands up in a fake surrender before rising out of the seat, planting a quick kiss on his cheek and walking away. John Paul returned with the drinks and placed them down on the table before sitting down again. Ste smiled at him gratefully before offering one to Leah and glancing at John Paul shyly.
xxx
John Paul was pulled out of his thoughts by the sound of Leah murmuring the lyrics to 'Glad You Came', the song that she and Doug used to sing whilst hoovering.
"That is a good song" John Paul noted quietly to Ste, "Doug had quite a nice singing voice actually, despite the accent"
Ste nodded, "Yeah, he did" he replied, smiling thoughtfully, then his face dropped and eyes widened dramatically, "But you should have heard him singing 'New York, New York'" he shuddered, "That's something I'll be glad never to hear again"
John Paul chuckled before noticing that Leah had quite a sweet voice, and he smiled.
"You have a lovely voice, Leah"
Leah smiled and blushed at his praise.
"I'm guessing you're planning to be a pop star in the future" he continued
Leah shook her head, "No. I want to be the first woman Prime Minister"
Ste and John Paul exchanged an amused look before giggling.
"Well I'm sure you'd make a great one" Ste responded, wrapping an arm around her shoulder and hugging her.
"What's the first law that you'd create?" John Paul asked, raising his drink to his lips.
Leah didn't even hesitate before replying, "Everyone has to have two daddies"
John Paul almost choked on his mouthful and swore that his heart melted at her words. He glanced at Ste, whose face was full of pride.
"You've raised her really well" John Paul whispered to Ste, "I only hope that Matthew grows up to be as sweet and accepting as your kids"
Ste smiled gratefully and took a sip of his drink. He was really beginning to reconsider his feelings about John Paul, and realised that he wasn't as bad as he had always thought.
Thanks for reading! I wasn't sure to what extent I wanted the story to develop (I could have carried on much further), but I only really wanted it to be about the funeral as I think there was a missed opportunity there. Also, though it's set around a funeral, I wanted to make it slightly sweeter and cheesier to contrast from the previous couple of chapters. Anyway, if anyone has any ideas (for either stories) feel free to let me know, and please leave a review!