Thank you again everyone for your patience/support/reviews/PM's. Glad you all seemed to enjoy the last chapter. This one has had to be split in half it ended up being that big; which means I'm pretty excited about the next half/chapter of this. Hope you enjoy this one :)

An awkward silence descended on the Brady household. Ste felt for a moment that everything was frozen and it seemed nobody dared to move. Ste had felt that nothing else could faze him tonight, not after being locked in a car by his pretend boyfriend for the week's crazy aunt; but how wrong he had been. He glanced over at Brendan's whose face showed just as much surprise as everyone else's. Even Aunt May (who always seemed to know what was going on) had an expression of pure confusion on her wizened old face.

A loud noise of somebody thundering down the stairs suddenly broke the spell that had descended on them all. A very naked man appeared at the bottom of the stairs, his cheeks flushed. For a moment it seemed he had forgotten about his nakedness and he hastily grabbed an old picture as he sprang off the last step to cover his lower regions.

'That's Liam.' said Aunt May faintly.

'No it's not,' said Brendan through gritted teeth, a vein twitching on his forehead. 'That's Kevin.'

'No,' said Aunt May more firmly. 'That's my late son Liam's picture covering his nether regions. It's quite apt really, I can't think of any place he'd rather be. Probably the most action he's had in years, god rest his soul.' she gazed at their confused expressions. 'Did I not mention my Liam was gay?'

'Is everyone gay in this family?' asked Cheryl, her face filled with wonderment.

'I'm not sure.' said Aunt May thoughtfully. 'But I'm beginning to think the whole of Hollyoaks is, my Liam would have loved it here. Though I think he'd have found a better pair of legs to sit himself between, Kevin is hardly the cream of the Hollyoak's crop. Maybe that Mr Blake would have been more his thing, now there's a man I wouldn't mind spying on when he's in the bath.'

'Can we get back to the matter at hand?' said Brendan, his angry eyes still on Kevin.

'Why bother?' asked Ste. 'It's obvious what he's here for.'

'Well it's not to me,' growled Brendan stepping forward menacingly. 'Kevin has one minute to explain himself, before he ends up being food for the fishes.'

'You heard our Brendan' said Aunt May; she pushed the bottom of her walking stick into Kevin's shoulder. 'Though dumping him in the sea is a bit far too go. Can't we just put him your car boot and take him to the woods instead? I think that wood would make a good place to hide a body or two.' her gaze on Kevin became even more intense 'I want my Liam back at the end of this conversation, you owe me a new photo frame laddie.'

Kevin's eyes darted between Ste and Brendan. 'It was that guy Vinnie, from the temping agency. He said if I wanted to get your attention I had to do something extreme so that you would notice me. So I just did what he said had worked for him.'

Brendan's face twisted with several expressions. 'What did you expect me to do when I found you in my bed? Whisper sweet nothings into your ear? Buy you flowers? Leave chocolates on the pillow? Tell me Kevin, because we're all dying to know.'

Kevin looked nervous for a second. 'I just wanted to get rid of him.' he pointed a Ste. 'Show him he's just another one in a long line of men. I thought then maybe after you'd move on to me. That's how you work, isn't it?'

Aunt May let out a cackle. 'Move onto you laddie? There's more chance of him getting together with that Spade and them skipping round the village, holding hands in matching knitted cardigans! Why would he slum it with you when he's got prized steak at home? You're nothing but a stale cheese sandwich.'

'I've had enough of this. I am here you know?' said Ste, he grabbed his coat angrily and walked towards the door.

'Where are you going?' asked Brendan.

'I'm going home. I've heard enough.' Ste said. 'Do you sleep with all your employees Brendan? Or just the ones that throw themselves at you?'

Kevin tried to hide his winning smile.

Ste turned on him. 'Happy with yourself, are you? Well I'll soon change that.' he shot up the stairs and appeared a moment later carrying Kevin's pile of discarded clothes. 'Let's see how smug you are when you have to walk home naked.' he opened the door and threw the clothes over the railings before anyone could stop him. 'I'm done with you Brendan, go and find some other notch for your bedpost.' without another word he turned and disappeared down the steps.

'Steven, Steven!' shouted Brendan, moving forwards to go after him.

Aunt May held out her walking stick to stop him. 'Leave the lad, it's not everyday you come home to find an umpa lumpa in your boyfriend's bed. Give him some time to cool off.'

'She's right.' said Cheryl softly.

Brendan turned to Kevin. 'I want you out, before I do something I regret.'

Kevin glanced down at the photo frame he was still clutching and then at the door. 'What's so special about him? He seems a bit pathetic to me.'

In seconds Brendan crossed the room and pinned Kevin by his neck to the wall. His eyes were flashing and the side of his face was twitching slightly. 'If you ever say anything about Steven again, you'll find it'll be the last thing you do.' he said dangerously.

'Hit him Brendan!' shouted Aunt May 'hit him hard!'

'Aunt May!' hissed Cheryl. 'Don't encourage Brendan to be violent. Brendan put Kevin down; we don't need another assault charge just before my wedding.'

'Don't listen to our Cheryl.' said Aunt May. 'Nobody would blame you if you hit him; he's got one of those faces that are just asking to be smacked.'

Brendan inhaled deeply, before letting go of Kevin. Kevin slid down the wall and his eyes darted over to Cheryl, a disappointed Aunt May and finally back to Brendan. 'Does this mean you're not interested?'

'What do you think?' said Brendan darkly.

'I'll be going then.' said Kevin, he gingerly placed the photo frame back onto the table he'd got it from and put his hand in its place. 'Could...could I borrow some clothes?'

'I've got a lovely floral number that would suit you.' said Aunt May, her eyes flashing.

'Anything else?' asked Kevin weakly.

'You heard the lady,' said Brendan calmly. 'It's the dress or nothing.'

Kevin paused for a moment before making his way to the door, he lingered hoping one of them would change there mind.

'Kevin,' said Brendan.

He turned around hopefully.

'You're fired.'

Kevin's shoulders slumped, before he disappeared into the night completely naked.

'I'm going to bed.' said Brendan, he walked up the stairs and slammed the door when he got to his bedroom.

'Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase taking everything including the shirt off his back.' cackled Aunt May. 'The bare faced cheek of that lad.' she laughed awkwardly and loudly at her own joke.

Cheryl looked concerned. 'Do you think Ste and Brendan will be okay?'

Aunt May's eyes glinted. 'Don't worry, I'll make sure they are.'

Ste slammed a tray into the oven and shot a glare at Doug. John Paul had been at the counter for the last ten minutes flirting with him and Doug as per usual was oblivious. John Paul was making his usual barbs about Ste during the breaks in flirting and it was beginning to get under his skin. He briefly wondered whether anyone had died before by being smoothed to death by a baguette and how much publicity the police case would get if John Paul was the first.

Ste let out a long sigh wondering whether things between him and Brendan could ever be that simple. He barely knew the man, but at the same time felt as if he did. How could he ever be enough when men like that Kevin were waiting in the wings to pounce on Brendan? He'd made that mistake with Noah, thinking he was enough and look where that had got him. He was better to just stay away from Brendan's world, a world where he didn't belong.

'Your face is going to stick if you keep frowning like that.' said Aunt May's voice from behind him.

Ste turned and forced himself to smile at the older woman. 'That's just me usual expression.'

'Yeah, gormless.' muttered John Paul under his breath.

Aunt May turned her piercing blue eyes on John Paul. 'Who the hell are you?'

'John Paul, I'm a teacher at the local school.' he said proudly.

'What do you teach? How to be smug and belittle people? Must be a bit cold up there on that high horse of you, careful you don't fall off it and break your pretty little neck.' she paused suddenly glancing at Doug and then to John Paul. 'Do you like knitted jumpers?

John Paul open and closed his mouth, unsure of what to say. 'They're alright.'

'And you're gay?' asked Aunt May.

'I was the last time I check.' said John Paul, confusion etched on his face.

'Great.' said Aunt May. 'Spade will pick you up at eight tonight; wear your most hideous knitted concoction, I hear he has a fetish for them.'

'You can't just...' started Doug.

Aunt May waved her hand. 'You can thank me later or send me a slice of wedding cake in the post or something. Now I've done this for you, you need to do something for me.'

Doug looked cautiously at the older woman. 'What do you want?'

Aunt May looked over at Ste, who was slamming another tray into the oven. 'I want you to cover Ste's shift for the rest of today. I have a hospital appointment and I want him to accompany me.'

Ste sighed and turned away from the oven. 'Can't Brendan do it?'

'Our Brendan isn't exactly known for being Mr Sensitivity.' she stepped closer to Ste and grabbed his hands over the counter. 'The doctor on the phone made it sound like it could be serious.' her eyes filled with what looked like tears. 'You wouldn't send an old, frail lady like me to face that alone would you?'

Ste glanced at Doug and then at John Paul who was giving him a disgusted look. 'Fine I'll go with you, but don't expect me to speak to Brendan.'

Aunt May's face lit up with a winning smile. 'There are lots of things you could do with our Brendan that don't involve talking while you wait.'

'Is she suggesting what I think she is?' asked John Paul in the background.

'You never know with her.' said Doug quietly.

Aunt May ignored the two of them. 'I'm glad you've agreed laddie. If you'd had said no I'd be forced to take our Cheryl, and I just know afterwards she'd be round my house sizing up all my expensive antiques faster than that Kevin when he jumps into another man's bed.'

'You make it sound like your dying.' said Ste nervously.

'We couldn't be that lucky.' muttered Doug.

Aunt May turned her gaze back onto Doug. 'I would say I'd come back to haunt you, but I can't imagine anything more boring. Think I'd rather go to hell, least then I wouldn't be bored with constant trips to charity shops followed by episodes of sulking, moping and staring at Ste. I can't imagine a more mundane existence.'

Ste pulled off his apron and put it down on the counter. 'Alright, I think it's time we were going.' he said quickly noticing Doug getting redder and redder. 'See you in a bit Doug. Thanks for covering' he practically dragged the older lady out of the Deli.

Over an hour later Ste and Brendan sat in a waiting room together. The drive over to the centre had been awkward and the two of them were now sat in silence. Aunt May had disappeared into a room to see the doctor and said she would call them in when she needed them. Ste picked up a magazine and then threw it down as if it burnt him.

'Steven.' started Brendan.

'I'm not talking to you.' said Ste.

Brendan raised an eyebrow. 'Then what are you doing now?'

Ste childishly stared at the wall. 'Not listening.'

'I didn't know Kevin was going to be in my bed.' said Brendan.

'So I'm supposed to smile and say everything's okay, am I?' asked Ste, he turned around and faced Brendan. 'How many more men am I going to find in your bed before this week is done?'

'Just you.' said Brendan softly.

'Just...' Ste paused suddenly taking in his words. His cheeks flushed red and he found himself unable to talk for a moment. 'Saying that type of thing doesn't work on me.'

'Anyone would think you were jealous Steven.'

'Jealous?' asked Ste angrily, trying to ignore the part of him that agreed with Brendan.

'Misters Brady-Hay, you can come in and join us now.' said a female doctor.

Ste and Brendan walked into the office and sat in chairs either side of Aunt May. Ste glanced over at Brendan and made sure that the man was aware that he was glaring at him.

'So,' said the doctor. 'Your Aunt has explained everything to me. I think you're both doing the right thing, no matter how hard it is to take the first steps towards it.'

'Sorry,' said Ste tearing his eyes off Brendan. 'What are you talking about?'

'Sorry,' said the doctor, pinning a clinical smile on her face. 'How forward of me; I'm Doctor Smith, I will be your marriage councillor for the next hour.'