I don't own Hollyoaks or the characters.
Kris' alarm went off before the sun was up. John Paul was ready to kill his guest. When he returned home last night, Kris and James were bickering at each other. Matthew seemed to enjoy the fighting though, that worried him a little. Finally, he had begged James to go back to his place. Kris had laughed most of the night about it.
Stumbling into the dark hallway he ran into something. Something that yelped.
"Walking here," Kris snapped at him. "I have an appointment. Your ex is on his way today."
"My ex?" Fear shot threw him at the thought that Craig had come back. He couldn't deal with that.
"Father Kieron." John Paul could just make out Kris' smirk in the dark hallway.
He had to bite back the groan. When Kieron was in town, his mother went crazy over him. Kieron and he had somehow had a relationship for months before Craig came back. There was no real competition, John Paul had to pick Craig. Kieron had left as soon as his time was up. He had gone to another church; John Paul's mother had been broken-hearted. She talked about how close she got to the man; he didn't have the heart to tell her, after Kieron moved out the only reason he hung out at their house was because they were sleeping together.
There were only a few to this day that knew about the affair. Kris, Mercedes, Michaela and Mat. Kris had been Kieron's friend and confidant. John Paul had blurted it out to Mercedes, Michaela had snooped around until she found out. Finally, Mat and Kieron had gotten a flat together, they were the same age and got on well. Unfortunately, one night they hadn't expected Mat to come back until the next morning. He caught them in bed together. To say he was upset was a huge understatement. Kieron sported a black-eye for a while afterwards.
That didn't stop them seeing each other, it probably made John Paul keep the relationship going longer than it should. Last he heard about Kieron, he had gone through some sort of awakening and left the church. He guessed that it was because he found someone else. He hoped it was true because Kieron was someone who would do well in a relationship.
"What is Kieron doing back?"
Kris got a pensive look on his face. It was getting easier to see him because the sun was rising and the light from the living room was lightening the hallway.
"He wanted to tell Myra himself."
"Tell her what?"
"That he left the church."
Most knew Kieron left the church, though no one had the heart to tell his mom. Kieron had been surprisingly quiet about it…well he assumed so because he hadn't even said a word to Kieron since he left with Craig.
"I don't understand why he's coming out here to tell her that. Is he going to tell every member of his former parishes?"
"No…he wants to unburden his soul."
"Meaning?" Although he had a feeling he knew what that meant.
"Meaning…he's going to tell her about the affair. About the two of you."
John Paul couldn't believe what he was hearing. It had been eight years. Why bring it up now? He was a stupid teenager then, only nineteen. Also, he had still been in love with Craig. He had to put up with the judging looks from Mat and Mercy. Michaela at least actually was happy for him, at least a little bit. She mostly thought it was romantic and rebellious. After the major blowup that was his and Craig's public outing he hated having secrets. But that was part of the deal with Kieron.
"She doesn't need to know. It's over and done with…history." This would kill his mum. Or she would kill him…it was going to be a bloodbath.
"Kieron doesn't want any more secrets. He wants us to start our life fresh."
"What?"
"Yes, we're getting married."
"You have to be joking."
When James knocked on the door he didn't expect Kris to answer the door. He had hoped the man would be gone by now. There was yelling earlier that morning, he thought that meant John Paul kicked the diva out.
"Where's John Paul?"
"Shower." Kris stepped back and let him in.
Crayons were all over the floor, along with spare pieces of paper. Some had attempts of art work on them, others just had scribbles. "I see you've been busy."
The tall blonde just raised an eyebrow at him. Matthew could be seen in plain view, drawing on paper while on the floor. He was still in his night clothes, humming along with the music filling the flat. It wasn't the kind of music he liked but there was no accounting for taste. Hopefully, Matthew would grow out of the atrocious sounds coming out of the speakers.
Instead of trying to converse with Kris, he sat on the sofa. It wasn't long until Matthew noticed him and climbed on his lap, bringing his picture along.
"Look what I draw'd," he said, pushing the paper in James' face. Taking the paper that Matthew was trying to shove into his skull, he looked at the masterpiece. It took everything in him not to laugh. Matthew's little face showed how proud he was of his picture. James would not be his father; he wouldn't tear the child down.
"You did this?" his asked.
"Uh huh. I did good?"
"Very." Now all he had to do was figure out what the picture was of without letting the little boy know. It had two triangles that were colored in purple, each had what looked like a set of eyes.
"When is Kieron getting here?" John Paul asked from hallway.
He was just wearing a towel around his waist. It wouldn't be that surprising, if it was just Matthew and James. But having Kris here it made it more unnerving. John Paul was a very private person. Again, his mind tried to place Kris in John Paul's life. It made him wish he knew more about the man.
"Soon, he wanted to talk to you before he goes to see Myra," Kris replied. John Paul hadn't seemed to notice James yet.
"This is a mistake. She doesn't need to know; it was years ago."
"He thinks it does."
"He can think what he wants. He doesn't live here anymore, I do. Think about what people will say."
Kris stood up and made it two steps before the doorbell rang. A panicked look came over John Paul, it was then he noticed James. Turning he fled to his room, shutting the door roughly.
What the hell was that about?
Kris lead a tall, dark haired man into the flat. He had broad shoulders and was quite fit. There was something about him that put James on edge, he couldn't describe it. He looked to be in his mid-thirties. James let out a breath of relief that he hadn't known he'd been holding when Kris and the new visitor lovingly embraced.
A light smack hit his face. Looking down he saw Matthew's large blue eyes looking at him. They were so much like John Paul's he didn't even have to wonder if John Paul was Matthew biological father.
"Yes?"
"Pay attention to me." Yes, he was very much like his father.
"Right. What do you need?"
"Umm…Biscuit."
"I don't think so," he said, tickling Matthew's belly.
"It this Matthew?"
They looked up to see the new addition. He was looking at Matthew oddly. Before he really knew what he was doing he cuddled Matthew into his side. Unsure who this man was, or what his intentions were.
"Yep, that's him. Seems that Craig wasn't the forever type either," Kris snipped.
"Not in front of Matthew, please," John Paul said as he entered the room. He was wearing baggy, ill-fitting clothes. It was odd to see on him, usually when it was just the three of them he was in comfortable casual wear. But at least they fit him properly.
"John Paul," the tall, dark haired man said breathlessly.
"Kieron, you look well," John Paul said, looking uncomfortable. He stood by the sofa were James and Matthew were still sitting. "So, is there any way I can talk you out of this?"
Kieron shook his head in the negative. "I'm really sorry, John Paul but I have to come clean with her. She let me in her house…trusted me. How did I reward that trust? I had an affair with her nineteen-year-old son. I can't keep this quiet anymore."
"Why? It's over and done with, there is nothing to gain from this."
"Half of her children lied to her to keep it a secret from her. She still believes I got one black-eye from Mat because of an argument over household expenses. Also, that Mercedes hit me because she could. This needs to come out."
"No it doesn't. Please, not now." James was surprised by the panic in John Paul's voice.
"Why?" Kieron asked quietly.
John Paul crossed the room, now standing very close to Kieron. Reaching out he took Kieron's hand in his, it was an odd scene to watch.
"I know you're not a priest anymore but I could use a friendly ear."
James bit his tongue so hard that he could taste blood. He had been there for John Paul since they met weeks ago. John Paul hadn't told him any of his secrets. He hadn't leaned on his shoulder for comfort. True, he wasn't good with that stuff but he wasn't even given the chance.
"Go on," Kris said when Kieron looked at him.
John Paul led Kieron back to his bedroom, making James see red. It wasn't like John Paul was his partner or anything. They had only slept together the once. It seemed like something was holding John Paul back from anything more.
"So John Paul and Kieron used to be together?" he asked, hoping for casual. Matthew chose that moment to run to his room, saying something about a surprise.
"Back when Kieron was Father Kieron at St. Timothy's."
"So you weren't joking, he really was a priest."
"Oh yes, I got a ringside view of the vow breaking and everything. For a while I was the only that knew about them. Then Mercedes, Michaela and Mat. He feels guilty for starting something with John Paul under her roof when he was there to lead the church."
"Obviously. She let him into her home and he took advantage of her son."
Kris barked out a laugh, one that annoyed James. In fact, everything about the man annoyed him. "Taking advantage of John Paul? That's a laugh."
"What do you mean by that?" John Paul wasn't like Mercedes, he wasn't some…slut.
"You do know about John Paul, right? Slept with his straight best friend while the boy was dating a friend of John Paul's. When it all did fall apart, it was messy. John Paul sort of made a name for himself after that. At least not many people know about Danny."
"Danny?"
"Well, I wasn't here for that but John Paul told me about it when it was happening. He met this older guy…boy's got daddy issues but who doesn't." James kept his mouth shut. "Anyway, turns out the man had a wife and kids. I warned John Paul about those kinds of men. That led to having a on again off again relationship with him. It ended when John Paul started to show interest in Ste Hay."
"Ste Hay?" What did John Paul like about that drugged up loser?
"Yes, too bad he was Danny's son."
James pinched the bridge of his nose. He thought his previous love life was bad. Father and son. Something then occurred to him. John Paul and Ste hadn't been together, even if there was harmless flirting nothing had come from that. He'd learned a lot about Ste in his hunting of Harry. John Paul wasn't in his past.
"What happened?"
"Don't know. One day I stopped hearing from him. I called Myra only to find out John Paul was missing. Months later, I find out that they called off the search. The family had been real tight-lipped about whatever happened. Soon they just told everyone the same line, he needed time away to get his head straight. They never made it out like he was off working but I believe they were hiding something, I just couldn't get them to break, neither could Kieron."
"Kieron tried?"
"Yes, after John Paul disappeared Kieron contacted Myra. He was worried…everyone was."
At that moment James promised himself that he would find out why John Paul left. Why he was gone for so long, and why he seemed so different than how Kris had described him.
"Get ready, Matthew," John Paul told his son.
They were finally alone but it wouldn't last. They were due at his mother's for dinner. He had given permission to Kieron to tell. During their talk, he realized how much it was killing Kieron inside to keep this to himself. Now that he was going to marry Kris he wanted to be completely honest, which meant telling about what happened in her house. John Paul thought about talking to Kieron about his own ordeal but he was so excited about his upcoming marriage, he didn't want to be a downer. The only downside he was feeling was knowing what faced all of them tonight.
"James coming?" Matthew asked as he put his trainers on the wrong feet.
"Wrong fee, come here." Matthew was really the only bright part in his life at the moment.
"I can do it," Matthew pouted before taking them off and switching them. "I want James to come."
"James can't." He didn't know if James could or couldn't. It was going to already be an awkward night, no need to make it worse.
"Please, I need him."
"Why?" It hurt that he son favored James over him. With Mat it was expected but he had only known James the same amount of time he'd been back with him.
"He makes you smile lots. I don't like you sad."
His little boy was right, he did smile more with James around. He didn't even realize it until Matthew said it. When it was just the two of them he let his worry and anxiety overtake him, waiting to make the wrong move. He was waiting to mess up, screw up like always.
"Alright, let's go see if James can come with us."
"Yay!"
"Mum, calm down," Mercedes said, trying to get her mother to sit down.
Ever since they found out not only John Paul was coming over, so was Kieron, Kris and James. That had made her go into a frenzy. Tina, Mercedes and Nana tried to do most of the work. But she kept on trying to get involved.
"They'll be here soon. Nothing is ready."
"Sit down, we'll take care of everything," Tina said from the kitchen.
"I'm so nervous, I haven't seen Father Kieron in so long. After we shut him out when John Paul left, I thought he was through with us." Mercedes' eyes met Tina's. They weren't looking forward to what was going to happen, John Paul had given them a warning. She tried to threaten them to keep their mouths shut but Kieron was dead set on it. All they could do was ease her into finding out that her beloved priest, the one that she let into her house, had a months long affair with her youngest son. It was going to be a nightmare.
