Title: I Can't Stop This Feeling I've Got.
Summary: All of Craig's concentration seems to be directed at a fair-haired, blue-eyed boy he knows all too well.
Author's Note: Takes place during the episode aired on 16/05/07, and then takes a different route.
Word Count: 2,482
Disclaimer:
Neither John Paul McQueen nor Craig Dean belong to me, I'm just playing.

------

Part 8

"Tell me you want me," John Paul moaned, thrusting into the lithe body below him. Craig's legs, wrapped tight around his lovers lower back, pulled JP down onto him.

"I want you… God, I want you so much!" he replied.

Hands grabbing at John Paul's head, Craig pulled him down and attacked his lips with such passion that he even scared himself.

Tongue's caressed. Bodies joined; in motion. The heat in the room was sweltering. The sheets below saturated with sweat. Hands stroking bare skin. Eyes joined; blue and brown.

"Tell me you love me…" John Paul groaned, his breathing heavy and fast.

"With all my heart."

John Paul crashed hard into Craig's body, his orgasm rushing through his system as his toes curled in pleasure. Feeling John Paul's warmth deep inside him, Craig kissed any skin he could reach as his own cock began releasing himself.

Warm, wet and sticky, the boys fell onto the mattress, their bodies gluing together after Craig's release.

His head resting against Craig's chest, John Paul fell into the land of nod.

Craig was sated, yet completely content. In the arms of his soul mate, the boy he loved, Craig was incredibly happy. In the past 24 hours his very thoughts had done a full 180 degree turn. Before, his mind was torn in two. Now, he was comfortable in his own skin, relaxed about who he was becoming… who he always had been, before he had paid any attention to his own feelings.

Meeting JP so many months ago, even if he thought he was a weirdo, had pushed his feelings, ones he had hidden for years, into the forefront of his thoughts. How, at some times, he found himself being attracted to other guys.

Now, he could bask in these relaxing moments of having the guy of his dreams. Closing his eyes, Craig let sleep take hold and carry him off to those dreams.

-----

Around half eight that night, John Paul awoke to find the house brimming with activity. Sleepily lifting his head from his boyfriend's chest, John Paul groaned as he heard a loud crash downstairs.

"Another mug smashed," he mumbled into Craig's chest as he rested his head again.

"And not the first one of the night," Craig replied as he kissed the top of his lovers head, "We need to stop falling asleep; otherwise we won't sleep a wink tonight," he joked, breathing in the aroma known as John Paul McQueen.

"At least we'll be fully rested if we do any more… activities."

Blushing, John Paul buried his head further into Craig's chest.

Comfortable in their surroundings, the boys fell silent. The only sound that could be heard in their sanctuary was their slow breathing.

"I think we should head to the Dog… tell my mum. If Mercedes did storm out of her shift, you just know that Jack and Darren will have told my mum something's going on. And Sarah… she must've told her parents. And we all know what your 'Chaela is like!" Craig rambled, willing his hand to stop shaking.

"Shush," John Paul whispered. Leaning up, he tenderly kissed Craig's lips, "You're just nervous."

"With you at my side, I'll be fine… you will still come with me, right?"

"I'd follow you to hell if had to."

Disentangling himself from the brown haired boy, John Paul grabbed his clothes and began to dress. Following the lead, Craig sat up and sighed. He took his clothes that JP had retrieved from the floor and started to dress.

"I still can't believe you're here with me," JP said, a smile breaking out on his porcelain face.

"Neither can I. But I wouldn't change a thing… well, maybe one thing."

"Yeah?" John Paul asked, pulling his hoodie over his head.

"Yeah… the fight. If I had the power to, I'd take it back. To be honest, if I could change anything, it would be the Dance Off."

John Paul stopped moving. Sitting up straight, his eyes wide, he searched Craig's for his reasoning before speaking.

"Change it how?"

"When I kissed you… I wouldn't have pulled back. I woulda kept going. You know, gave into me feelings, not into my fear. I could've kissed you forever in that gym, if I wasn't so scared about people finding out."

"And now you're not?" John Paul asked, throwing his arm around Craig's shoulder and pulling him close.

"I spent too much time hiding my true self… it's time I was just Craig."

Kissing his cheek, JP shot to his feet and offered his hand to Craig. Accepting his hand, Craig was pulled to his own feet. Once standing, he pulled John Paul into a tight embrace, rubbing circles into his back. He'd never felt so protected and loved as he did when he was in John Paul's arm.

Pulling back, Craig slid his feet into his trainers and smiled at his boyfriend.

"C'mon, we can't hide in here forever... as much as I'd like too."

Like earlier that afternoon, the boys took a mint each. Craig laced his fingers with John Paul's and the pair headed for the stairs.

------

In the McQueen sitting room was Michaela and Carmel, watching television, and in the kitchen was Myra, Jacqui and Tina. Tina had a dustpan and brush in her hand and was on her knees, presumably clearing up the smashed mug that they boys heard breaking earlier that night.

Whispering to his elder sister, John Paul asked Carmel what happened.

"Tina and Merc had a major row over the wedding. Apparently they both wanna get married on the same day, Nana's birthday. Anyway, Tine said that Mercy was only having it on that date 'cause it was when Tina wanted to have it. Then Mercy flung the cup against the wall and stormed out," Carmel said, her eyes sparkling as she shared the gossip.

"Oi, shut it, will ya, I'm trying to watch Corrie! That David ain't half hot!" Michaela said, dreamily.

"Not as much as that Todd bloke was… he had such nice eyes."

All three McQueens turned to face the Dean boy. JP was trying his hardest not to laugh, Carmel had a wishy-washy smile on her face, and Michaela had a look on her face like something died and was starting to smell really bad.

"Ugh, you're such a gay!" She groaned, turning back to the box.

"I liked him TOO Craig! He was just so sweet, wasn't he?" Carmel said, her eyes twinkling as she remembered Todd Grimshaw's smile.

Like a cat caught in the head lights, Craig made a whimpering noise and nearly pulled John Paul's arm from his socket.

Now outside, John Paul's laughter shattered the quiet street. He was bent over, his face wet with tears of laughter. Craig, who at first felt embarrassed, now felt bored. His boyfriend was almost on the ground in stitches over something minimal that he'd said.

Standing up, John Paul tried to quieten his gasps for breath. He caught sight of Craig's face and tried harder.

"Are ya alright now? Calmed down enough?" Craig asked, his arms crossed as JP moved towards him.

"Yeah, think I've gotten over the shock!"

"What shock? I just said that I thought he looked good, not much of a big deal."

Taking Craig's hand in his, John Paul squeezed it comfortingly and then kissed his lover's cheek.

"I know that Craig, but it's just… to hear you say that another man was good looking kinda throws a spanner in your whole 'I'm not gay' spiel, doesn't it?"

His cheeks reddening, Craig gave a quick laugh and placed his hand over JP's.

"I guess it does. Now come on, we have to get to the Dog."

------

The Dog in the Pond public house was quiet for this time on a weekday. Propping the bar was Leo Valentine, a half finished pint in his hand and another waiting to be touched on the bar. At one of the tables was Zak and Darren, both of them laughing loudly at some comment that Zoë had said.

Behind the bar, Jack was drying glasses with his dish cloth, awaiting the arrival of new customers.

"Craig, son, we were wondering if you'd be coming home at all today!" He exclaimed, noticing his step-son and his best friend as they moved to the flat door.

"Uh, Jack, is mum upstairs?" Craig quietly asked.

"Yeah, she is. Steph's upstairs too. They're both watching baby Charlie tonight, so that Jake and Nancy can have a bit of a breather."

"Okay…," Craig said, quickly glancing at Darren and then the boy beside him, before returning his gaze to his step-father, "Erm, Jack, I was wondering if you could come upstairs for minute… I have something to tell you all."

Seeing the worried look on the boys face, Jack agreed and called out his son's name.

"Yeah?" Darren asked, joining his dad behind the bar.

"I need ya to look after the bar for a couple of minutes, okay?" Jack said, looking at the two's boys before him.

Smirking, Darren winked at Craig and John Paul before agreeing to help out.

Leading the way upstairs, Jack called out to Frankie and her daughter to meet them in the living room.

Using the excuse of getting a cup of tea, Craig and John Paul slinked off to the kitchen. Turning the cold water tap as far as it could go, Craig splashed the water over his warm face. He grabbed a stray glass from the sideboard and filled it to the brim with fresh cold water. He drank the glass dry and gasped as it stung his tongue.

"I feel sick…" He mumbled, splashing more water onto his face.

"Looks like they don't know which is good. It means they won't hear it as some gossip in the village."

John Paul stood behind him and drew him close, wrapping his arms around Craig's chest.

"I'm glad you're here with me… I don't think I could do it on my own."

"I'm not gonna leave you high and dry, Craig. I'm in too deep to let go."

Turning on the spot, Craig grasped at John Paul's hips, "Me too."

He pecked at John Paul's lips, drawing comfort from them, before John Paul took a step back. Breathing out, Craig ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

"Time to face 'em."

------

Frankie Osborne knew something was up the instance her husband said that Craig had something big to tell them all.

In all honesty, she'd expected something like this to happen ever since that disaster back in February. But as the days and the weeks and months passed, she breathed a sigh of relief thinking the storm had passed.

But the winds had picked up, the clouds were rolling in, and the temperature was falling drastically.

Here comes the hurricane, she thought.

She smiled brightly when her youngest son returned to the sitting room with a fresh glass of water, and scowled when his best friend followed him in.

If truth be told, she didn't like John Paul McQueen, or any of the McQueen's. She found them to loud, boisterous and pig-ignorant. Always out for themselves, or anything in a pair of trousers.

Glancing at Jack, who seemed to already know what this was all about, Frankie cleared her throat and looked at her son.

"Craig, love, what's this big news you have to tell us?" She asked, rolling the baby monitor around in her hands.

"I…I-I… God, this shouldn't be this hard, I had it all planned out in my head before we left…" Craig said, puffing out a vast amount of air. Placing his hand on Craig's back, John Paul gently rubbed circles into the boys back.

Drawing comfort from the touch, Craig sipped at his water before continuing.

"Mum… Steph… Jack… I'm ga…I'm gay."

There he'd finally said it. And he'd meant it as well. God, it felt like a weight had been removed from his shoulders. He smiled at his boyfriend before looking at his family's reaction.

Steph had gasped as her brother's news echoed in her ears before chuckling at the revelation.

Jack looked down, knowing that his inkling had been spot on.

Craig could tell, even without words, that those two would be okay in time with his honesty. His mother was the one he was most worried about.

The baby monitor fell from Frankie's hands as her eyes started stinging with tears. Her hand shot to her mouth as the bile burned its way up her throat. She raced to the kitchen. A retching sound reverberated through the too-quiet flat. Water ran. A sob was heard.

And then his mother stomped back into the sitting room.

"What have you done to my boy? My baby boy! He's not gay! He's with Sarah, he loves Sarah! They're moving to Dublin once all they get their results. What have YOU done to him?" She roared.

She ran at John Paul, her hand raised to strike him when he was within reach. When he was within her grasp, Craig suddenly stepped between the two. But Frankie's arm was already in motion. The crack as her palm me her son's face was like gunshot in some empty alley way.

"Craig… I'm so sorry… It's all my fault … I didn't bring you up right, ever since you're dad ran off with that girl… it's my mistake that you're… that you're with HIM!"

"Mum… I love John Paul. We're in love."

"No," She sobbed, her hand at her mouth again, as she tried to stop her tears.

Jack strode across the room to his wife and attempted to take her in his arms.

"No! I just need to be left alone… she whispered, as moved to the stairs. A crying Charlie could be heard.

The remaining four stood in silence as the baby' cries carried through the flat.

Steph was the first to breach the silence. Once again, she was laughing.

"I always thought you were gay, Craig… it's those bloody cardigans… they always screamed 'no style' to me… and everyone knows that gay guys have the best style… Oh my God, we need to go shopping!" She exclaimed, jumping to her feet.

"What? Why?"

"We need to get you some 'out and proud' clothes!"

Chuckling, Craig hugged his sister close.

"I'm glad you're okay with this."

"Course I would be, you're my brother."

She kissed his cheeked and then removed herself from his arms.

"Well, I'm going to go… I'm meeting Elliot in the SU Bar."

She waved bye and was gone.

And then there were three.

"Jack," Craig started, audibly swallowing.

"No, I get to speak first."

Jack crossed the room and stood before the boys.

It was in this moment that Craig understood why Jack had entered the Police force.