Disclaimer: I do not own HO. Hi guys! Sorry it's a day late. I've got three jobs and college and it all just messes with my head. Thank you so much for reading and liking this story. It means so much to me. ^.^ See y'all next week.
Someone was pounding on the door loudly as Brendan was trying to sleep off his hangover on the couch. He threw the nearest thing in that direction, not opening his eyes but the knocking just kept on getting more and more persistent. He grumbled under his breath about people being dumb as he got up.
"I'm coming!" He shouted at the door, immediately regretting the headache but the knocking did stop. "For fuck's sake." He held onto the doorknob and heaved for a few seconds before opening it to reveal a small brunette with green eyes, a blinding smile and a Belfast accent.
"Finally managed to wake you up." She cheered before throwing her arms around Brendan's neck and squeezing tight. He quickly returned the embrace, shocked by the current events. He dragged her inside the house and spun her around earning a giggle from the small woman. He pulled back to look at her in amazement but didn't dare to let her go.
"What are ya doing here, Lyns?" She opened her mouth in a mock offence but grinned at him.
"You're not pleased to see me? I thought we were family, Brendan." He shook his head and smiled back at her.
"I just…I can't believe you're here." He whispered.
"Yeah, let me go. Me bags are still outside." She laughed and ran to bring her luggage in. "I'm here because I've missed my best friend. How is she?" Brendan looked down at the ground, not sure of how to answer that question. Lynsey sighed with her entire disappointment. "Right. D'you mind if I stay here? I've not booked a place yet."
"Sure, you can have Paddy's bedroom. He won't mind. He loves ya." She smiled at him sadly.
"I'm sorry I didn't call for the anniversary. I know how hard that day is for you." Brendan shook his head not wanting to open the subject.
"You should go upstairs and see Chez. You might actually make her day." Lynsey put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly before going up the stairs. As he made a cuppa, he heard Cheryl's surprised yet delighted voice at the sight of Lynsey. He pulled his phone out and saw that it was already lunch time. He figured he could blow off work today to spend some time with his sons and Lynsey. Cheryl maybe but it wasn't a definite option.
'I did not drink enough last night.' Brendan thought as he waited outside of Paddy's school for his son, Declan next to him texting his newest girlfriend. The reason why Brendan was not in the mood to stand outside the damn building was that all the women there were eyeing him in a very seductive for them way. Including fucking Sinead O'Connor. Who was walking towards him. Brendan closed his eyes and braced himself for her annoying voice.
"Hi Brendan." She said overly sweetly. He could hear Declan put his phone away and start to enjoy the spectacle that was his father's misery. "Haven't seen ya in a while." He slowly opened his eyes and focused them on the young woman.
"Sinead. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I was just walking by and saw you." She batted her eyes innocently but came off looking like she had a stye. "I was wondering if maybe you'd like to get a drink or summat?" He turned back to watching the school gates where children were finally starting to pour out.
"Not keen on getting an STD, Sinead. Piss off." She stood there in silence glaring at him for a moment before scoffing and turning off. Declan shook his head next to him.
"Da, you'll never pull if you treat girls that way."
"I don't want a girl, Deccy." Brendan crossed his arms trying to find Paddy. "Where the fuck is my eight year old child? I thought you two finished the same time." Declan looked down at his phone again mumbling about something. "What was that?" Declan sighed exasperated and faced his father.
"I've been leaving my last lessons early so I'm here in time to pick Paddy up since I've been in sixth form." Brendan raised his eyebrows. "Look, you had your hands busy with aunt Chez after uncle Nathan died, I've got no problem missing out on half an hour of lessons I'd probably be bored through awaiting freedom so it worked out." Brendan swallowed the uprising guilt.
"How did you get permission to leave early?"
"Fake note at the beginning of the year given to all my teachers and the school office." Declan shrugged. "Your handwriting is super easy to fake. Plus it helped when I turned on the sympathy because me uncle was dead."
"That is really cold blooded."
"Not really." Declan said putting his phone in his pocket. "I embellished the truth so I could come and pick up my little brother every day. Rachel thinks it's really sweet." Brendan groaned.
"Oh, Jesus, you pick up girls with that? You really are my kid." Declan smirked.
"Yeah, but I've got me football ability from ma." Paddy was running towards them with a huge grin on his face as his eyes were set on Brendan who once again was feeling the uprising guilt. He was so focused on keeping Cheryl alive, keeping the club going and keeping everything at a distance, he forgot his children. Declan may be able at coping without him better but Paddy was still a kid. They both would be dysfunctional but Brendan wanted to do something right by them.
"Da! Hi!" Paddy yelled and waved at a small boy who was walking slowly behind him with big eyes. "Da, this is Ahmed. He's me best friend other than Leah." Brendan nodded at the young boy.
"Hi, Ahmed. I'm Brendan." He introduced himself to the boy who looked like he was about to piss himself from shaking so much. Brendan noticed the young boy's coat was a lot thinner than Paddy's.
"Da. Can Ahmed pleeeeeease come to ours over the weekend? Can he stay over?" Paddy asked and Brendan agreed immediately not seeing any reason as to why that should be a problem. The two boys jumped excitedly and whispered furiously amongst themselves when a stern woman walked up to Ahmed and grabbed his arm, talking fast in Somali.
"Hi Mrs Issa." Paddy interjected, comfortably so. The woman looked over at him, keeping quiet but her expression softened. "This is my da. Can Ahmed come and stay over on the weekend?" The woman straightened up and looked over at Brendan who felt like he was back in Sunday school when Sister Marion was quizzing him on the Bible.
"You bring women to your house?" She asked in broken English but her tone was harsh and strict. Declan snorted next to Brendan but hid his face immediately in his father's back as the woman glanced at his for a beat of a second.
"No. Nothing inappropriate happens when me boys are around. Your Ahmed can come over to ours any time." She pulled a scarf out of her bag and wrapped it tightly around the small boy who was staring with a pout at the ground. She spoke in Somali to him again and when he nodded, she turned back to Brendan.
"My Ahmed will come at 3 on Saturday. He eat only fish. No pork." She narrowed her eyes at him. "No pork. No chicken. No meat. No women. You understand, moustache man?" Brendan felt more than heard Declan snicker but the teenage wasn't dumb enough to let it be known.
"Of course. I'll see you on Saturday, Ahmed."
"Bye." The small boy said quietly and waved at Paddy before letting his mother drag him away. Brendan looked at Paddy who was grinning.
"That's so cool. His mum never let's him do anything!" He jumped up and down. "She must like you." He grabbed Brendan's hand and started dragging them back home. The hand holding somewhat foreign to Brendan but not entirely unpleasant. "We're going to make a blanket fort, okay? And order pizza. Super hot vegetarian pizza. It's going to be so much fun! I'm really happy you came today, da. Now all the boys who say you don't exist are feeling dumb because they are dumb. I knew you existed." He pratted on like that, Declan walking behind them and Brendan finding out he had more layers of guilt than he initially knew existed.
Finally when they got to the house, Brendan told them that they had to be rooming together because there was an special guest staying over. Both boys started to protests but when they saw Cheryl and Lynsey sitting in the kitchen, they freaked out because Lynsey was one of their most favourite people on the planet and they would basically do anything for her.
Which was proven by the fact that both of them were fighting over who got to hug her first. Lynsey declared the fight a draw and hugged them both at the same time.
\\/\\/
He was at Tony's restaurant, trying to do some tax forms in an environment that didn't revolve around Jacqui or Walker or any new annoying employee. Even Ash was starting to bother him because she brought out her psychology degree out every fucking chance she could, driving customers and her co-workers away.
It was like a fucking playground full of grown up children.
Exhausting. Brendan shook his head as he realised that he did another mistake and pulled out rubber but the paper was already so thin, he ripped through it. He scrambled up the sheet in front of him and threw it to the side, rolling his head around trying to decrease the oncoming headache but the only thing that subsided it successfully for more than an hour was a night of drinking cheap alcohol.
He spotted Tony and Ste walking in together, laughing, with little Lucas and Leah on both of Ste's arms. He observed curiously. Last time he spoke to Ste, the young man wasn't keen on seeing Tony but it looked like they were back to being best friends again.
They sat at a nearby table, not spotting Brendan and he was happy to be unnoticed. He was happy to observe the young man in his natural habitat. Ste was an attentive father. Every time one of the kids called his name, he stopped his conversation with Tony to focus on what they needed. It did stir something warm in his chest to see that Lucas was holding onto the bear tightly.
Paddy never liked bears and Declan never got any when he was that age. Their family was poor and in pieces back then. It was a miracle that Declan turned out to not be emotionally constipated. Well, he did change girlfriends on weekly basis but it didn't mean that he was emotionally stunned. No. That was Brendan's thing. Declan had a balance and Paddy was an open book, spilling his feelings to anyone who'd cross his path. Paddy was the dangerous one.
Brendan couldn't help but see a certain parallel between his youngest son and Ste. Both boys emitted sunshine happiness even though there was so much bad happening to them. Both cared a lot. Both wore their hearts on their sleeves. Brendan admired that. He'd love to have that quality. It could have saved him.
It could have saved more than just him.
Lucas and Leah run to the bar to order some milkshakes but on the way back, Lucas spotted Brendan and dragged Leah with him to his booth as the man quickly turned back to his paperwork.
"Nuh uh." Leah said in her voice, climbing up the seat. "We saw you." Lucas climbing up next to her, putting the bear in between the two siblings. He smiled brightly at Brendan looking just like his father but his hair longer and much blonder.
"Hi." Lucas said and waved at him as if it weren't enough to tell Brendan, the small boy was in front of him.
"What are ya doing?" Leah asked looking at the papers and scrunched up her face.
"Paperwork. It's really boring." He answered pushing his untouched curly fries towards the kids. It was a bad omen when a Brady was not hungry. Lucas immediately grabbed a handful and stuffed his face with them.
"Lucas." Leah sighed annoyed. "You're getting crumbs all over yer bear." She pushed her free strands of hairs out of her face with her small hand and reached for one fry which she ate delicately. "My mummy says you're a bad man but Paddy says you're not bad at all. Me and Paddy play on the playground all the time. Are you bad?" She cocked her head to the side, watching him and chewing slowly. Brendan smiled to himself and tapped the pen against the paper.
"I'm bad to some, little bit. Good to others."
"What does that mean?" Lucas asked in between his eating.
"Means it would be best if you don't hang around people like me."
"But you're funny." Leah said getting another fry. "Paddy says so. He says his mummy is really evil and you're the bestest dad in the world. Which is not true because our daddy is the bestest. But you're the besets to Paddy so it's okay." She said convinced and a shadow loomed over the table. Brendan glanced up to see a cross Ste standing over them, glaring at his kids.
"What are you two up to? I thought your mum taught ya to not bother strangers." Leah stood up on her seat.
"But he's not a stranger. He's Paddy's dad and the man who bought Lucas a bear. Gosh, daddy." She grabbed another fry and ate slowly. "We're having an important talk here."
"Yes, Steven. I'm enjoying having finally a stimulating conversation with your five year old." Brendan added with a smirk on his face as Ste's face changed into a confused one.
"Nearly six." She corrected.
"Nearly six." Brendan amended. "Leave us be."
"Yes, daddy. Please leave us be." Leah parroted.
"Shlove, daddy." Lucas added with a mouth full of curly fries. Ste rolled his eyes but nodded.
"Fine. But we're leaving in ten minutes and you two still have milkshakes to finish." Lucas quickly shoved the rest of his fries into his tiny mouth, waved at Brendan, grabbed his bear and run back to the table where Tony was laughing conspicuously. Leah didn't budge. She had a staring contest with Ste until the man threw his hands in frustration and walked back sitting next to his son. Leah sat back in hear seat and eyed Brendan curiously.
"I'll finish my milkshake quickly. My daddy isn't scared of ya. How comes?"
"I dunno." Brendan shrugged, his eyes flickering to the young man. "Maybe he's brave."
"He is. I want to be as brave as him. One time, grandma Pauline came by with grandad Tery and they were so mean to him. Grandad Terry kept screaming so much and hit him and I was so scared and I was crying and when daddy saw me, he told them to leave and never came back." She said proudly. "My daddy is the bravest man in the universe." She looked straight at Brendan. "Do not hurt him. You'll have me to come after you."
"You know." Brendan leaned on the table. "You're pretty scary yerself." She beamed at him.
"I know." She bid him goodbye and walked back calmly to finish her milkshake. Brendan shook his head and went back to his paperwork, trying to ignore the little happy family, he secretly craved to know better.
\\/\\/
Lynsey was a great addition to the household. She brought in the cheerfulness that has long been missing in Cheryl. The boys adored her with all their mighty and even Mitzeee didn't mind her. Although she was a bit put off by the fact that Lynsey came along to drop Paddy off at school with them.
Cheryl wasn't nearly back to herself, not by a mile, but she smiled more and ate with them whenever they did. Plus Lynsey's cheerful influence in the household drew out Eileen's bullshit. Brendan took his friend shopping with him when he bumped into Doug, that crazy curly guy in an ascot named Barney, the weirdo Dennis, the psycho Leanne clutching onto her boyfriend Lee and that hippie chick Texas with Dodger staring at her all puppy eyed. Brendan nearly laughed at how much their little outing looked like a school trip.
"Alright, Douglas?" Brendan asked his employee who swallowed nervously but eyes lit up immediately when they landed on Brendan's companion.
"Yeah. Just doing some weekly shopping with my roomates. You know how it can be." Brendan cocked his head to the side and took a step forward blocking Lynsey from the Yank's view. He could see his companions in the background shift uncomfortably.
"Actually. No. Not really." He grinned and slapped the young man's cheek lightly as Doug flinched slightly. He's been at the receiving end of Brendan's violence before. "Ah, just messing with ya, Douglas. But I see ya eyeballing Lynsey over there again, your little shopping trips may be cut short." Lynsey scoffed and pushed Brendan to the side.
"Don't listen to him. He gives ya any grief, you come to me and I sort him out." She smiled at Doug and took his limp hand into a handshake. "I'm Lynsey Nolan. Nice to meet ya."
"D-Doug Carter." The Yank stammered out. "I work at the club." Lynsey seemed surprised at that fact for a second.
"Really? Guess I must come by and see if your cocktail skills are as tasty as you." She flirted, winking at the young man which of course he blushed at, and turned back to Brendan who was rolling his eyes. Lynsey always had a way to charm anyone around her. "Now, you grab a trolley and stop bullying others. Bye Doug." She smiled grabbing Brendan's arm and pulling the Irishman towards the chocolate aisle. "Why do you always have to be so mean to people?" She asked him. "He looked terrified of ya."
"Well, good." Brendan gloated. "I can't do me job properly as being an alpha of the household if I've got people thinking I'm soft." She swatted his arm but linked their hands together.
After his mum, Brendan went to live in Belfast with Cheryl, Seamus and Maggie. Maggie was convinced that Brendan was in serious need of physical affection so she always went out of her way to try to hold his hand and hug him as often as possible. Cheryl started copying her mum about three months after and Lynsey followed.
Cheryl liked to link her arms with Brendan but Lynsey took it a step further by actually interlacing their fingers. It was good sometimes because it got rid of unwanted attention for both of them and Brendan could pretend that his nightmares weren't real, holding tight onto something that was.
Brendan stared at their hands again, feeling like Lynsey's grip was the only thing making sense to him right now.
"You are just a big softie, Brendan." She smiled at him and pointe trolley. "This one looks good. Give me a pound." Brendan handed over his wallet, letting go of her hand and feeling off balance again. He pulled out a list from his pocket of all the groceries they needed at home. It was double sided because no one's gone in a while and everything was eaten in a quick amount of time.
"Alright." He put his arm over her shoulder. "Cereal first."
\\/\\/
Brendan was sitting out on the stairs in cold November air, not wanting to go into the club just yet. He'd have to see Walker's face and have to survive Jacqui's incessant questioning and Joel's annoying talk about Theresa McQueen. It seemed the boy was absolutely smitten with her and would talk to Brendan about her every chance he got. Little Foxy somehow got the impression that Brendan was a father figure to him.
Brendan sat up straight as he spotted Ste walking towards the club and called him over. The younger man looking apprehensive, came up to him.
"Steven, I just wanted to say. What you saw the other night. Me and Walker—"
"I know owt." Ste interrupted him. "S'none of me business. You have yer—"
"Eileen would take me boys away." Brendan interjected. Ste looked at him in shock. "That's why she's here. She's looking for something I've done wrong so she can take them back to Ireland. I provide them better financial support than she could, better education, they are happier here, they are near their family and Declan's health can be monitored regularly by one of the best doctor's in this country since he works in the hospital." Brendan rubbed his bottom lip with his thumb, secretly pleased at the fact that Ste's eyes followed the motion. "If Eileen found out about me…" He couldn't actually speak the words out loud. He physically couldn't say what he wanted Ste to know. "All of it would be gone. And it would be for nothing because it is over." He didn't miss the small flicker of a small in the corner of the boy's mouth. "So I would like to ask for your discretion." Ste nodded.
"Of course. I know I'd do anything to protect me kids." He grinned at Brendan. "Your secret's safe with me, Brendan. But can I have Saturday off? I want to be at Tony's party but not as a bartender." Brendan stood up and loomed over him, eyeing the young man who didn't flinch a single bit.
"You cheeky bastard." He muttered as Ste's mouth quirked upwards. "Blackmailing me? Really, Steven?"
"When I see an opportunity, I take it." The younger man whispered and brushed past Brendan with a smug smirk on his voice. His shoulder lightly nudging Brendan's, turning the Irishman around so he'd watch after him. Brendan felt something rush inside him. It was powerful and it wanted to reach for Ste. It wanted to pull him down from the stairs onto the could ground and place Ste under Brendan's body. It wanted the Mancunian to stop smirking and keep smirking at the same time. Brendan stared after him for a minute before sitting back down on the stairs and putting his elbows on his knees.
He wanted Ste.
And it felt like Ste himself was playing along with Brendan's game.
