Assumpta lay staring up at the cream plaster ceiling of her room, but her eyes saw little in reality.

Niamh's words rang in her mind. The irony of her situation was not lost on her. Her, the staunch anti-Catholic, and him, an ex-Catholic priest. She had to hand it to God, if He really was in control of the situation – He had a sense of humour.

She knew what they'd say about her. That'd she'd seduced him, the last bastion of purity in society. That she was selfish; she'd known what she'd wanted, and hadn't let go until she'd got it, no matter the cost. That she'd corrupted the incorruptible.

Maybe they were right. Maybe she had seduced him. Maybe she had been selfish.

Maybe, eventually, he would realise what he'd gotten himself into, and run.

She closed her eyes. She had to stop thinking like this. It only made her frustrated with herself, and angry. Angry made her heart rate rise, and heart rate rise meant longer on medication and more hospital visits.

Hospital.

She swore out loud.


Peter looked out the window at the brightly-lit city below. He bit his lip. He couldn't wait to see her again, but he was nervous. He hadn't brought the ring; now was not the time to ask. That would have to wait until this were sorted out, and he could actually make some kind of commitment.

If things ever sorted themselves out.

He chastised himself for the thought, and focussed on the lights that illuminated the otherwise dark tarmac that was rushing up at him. He watched as the tyres of the plane hit the bitumen and the plane bounced up slightly.

He slowly made his way out of the plane and up the path to the terminal. It didn't take long to spot Brendan's light-brown trench coat. He grinned and headed over to where Brendan was standing- cradling a cardboard cup.

'I knew you couldn't stay away,' Brendan quipped. Peter nodded, knowing he was going to get that all weekend. 'I don't blame you. Manchester just doesn't have people of this…calibre,' he said, pointing to himself and shaking his head in mock sadness.

Peter chuckled. 'Yup, that's it. I just can't stay away from your wit and charm.'

'Of course.' He patted Peter on the back as they walked. 'I suppose Ballyk does have some appeal besides me. I've heard the landlady could use a bit of help behind the bar,' he said, eyeing Peter.

Peter sighed, his face falling. 'I know.' They walked in silence for a while, Peter deep in thought.

'How is she, Brendan?' he suddenly asked as they reached Brendan's car.

Brendan looked over at his younger friend. 'She's ok,' he said reassuringly, and Peter relaxed a little. He knew Brendan wouldn't lie to him; he'd proven as much over the past year. They climbed into the car. 'She certainly hasn't lost her wit and charm,' he said, dryly, and Peter smiled.

'Of that I have no doubt.'

They drove along in silence again, Peter staring out at the familiar landscape of Cilldargan. He smiled to himself. He was home.

Brendan's voice broke through his thoughts.

'What are your plans?'

Peter sighed. He knew he couldn't hide forever; for one, it was just getting too hard. Besides, most of the important people knew he was there, with the exception of Padraig and Siobhan, but they would be easy enough to drop in on.

'You can't hide forever,' Brendan added, repeating Peter's thoughts, when Peter didn't answer straight away.

'I know. I don't want to. I'd…I'd just like to see Padraig and Siobhan first,' he said, and Brendan nodded.

'I may have convinced Assumpta to tell Siobhan,' Brendan admitted, and Peter smiled. Assumpta had told him of Brendan's request, and they'd both laughed. He'd wondered how long Brendan would be able to hold it in, especially now that the two were expecting an addition to the friendship.

'I'm surprised you didn't tell her yourself,' Peter said, his tongue firmly in his cheek. Brendan didn't look at him. 'She's going to be very happy with you when she finds out how long you've known.'

Brendan didn't reply, and Peter couldn't help but smile at the distinct change in his friend's expression. Brendan Kearney was very well aware of the trouble he was in.


Assumpta couldn't believe herself. She was actually nervous.

They'd both decided she would tell Siobhan before Peter arrived, just in case she decided to pay a surprise visit to Brendan's place sometime in the next couple of days. It would definitely be a surprise – more for her than Brendan – and they'd decided it wasn't the kind of surprise they really wanted to inflict on a very pregnant and sometimes…quite emotional…Siobhan.

'Assumpta? You alright?' Siobhan asked, a concerned frown on her face. Assumpta's head shot up.

'Me? Yeah, fine. I'm fine,' she stumbled out. She stared at Siobhan for a second. Now's my chance, she thought to herself. 'Actually, there was something,' she said, nodding in the direction of the kitchen. Siobhan slid off the stool she had been sitting on and followed Assumpta into the kitchen.

Assumpta shut the door behind her and turned to face the now puzzled-looking vet. 'Uh…tea?' she said, walking over to the kettle. Siobhan's eyes narrowed very slightly, but she accepted and sat down at the table.

'Assumpta, what's wrong?'

'Wrong?' Assumpta repeated. 'Nothing. Nothing's wrong.' She smiled to herself. Everything was starting to go right for a change. She looked up and grimaced slightly. All the conversations she'd rehearsed in her head suddenly disappeared. She absent-mindedly fiddled with the button on her cardigan, desperately searching her suddenly-blank mind for the words that wouldn't come.

Siobhan just stared at her, perplexed, but clearly concerned.

'I…well, I guess I wanted to thank you for being there for me over the last few months,' she started. She looked up, meeting Siobhan's eyes. Siobhan frowned for a split second, clearly confused, but then smiled.

'Ah, I did nothing. It's Brendan and Niamh you want to thank,' she said.

'No, you were great. Visiting me as often as you did, listening to me whinge. And I know you must have helped out here at least a few times.'

Siobhan waved her away. 'Truly, it was nothing. Nothing I know you wouldn't do for me.'

'Yeah,' Assumpta said, still not sure how to direct the conversation to Peter. No one had really discussed the ex-curate; well, at least not around her. Not that she was surprised. But it meant that she didn't really know how people felt about Peter, and that made things difficult. She wasn't really in much of a position to discuss him without giving something away – the publican and the priest had been hot gossip in town prior to her accident, and his sudden departure had definitely set tongues wagging. People wouldn't be honest with her. She knew they were protecting her, but it put her in a very awkward and rather tricky position now.

'How's the baby?' she blurted out, unable to think of anything that would lead her to Peter, knowing that Siobhan would probably not mention him unless she did.

'Uncomfortable,' Siobhan said. 'But fine. Growing,' she added. 'I can empathise with my patients a little more. I feel like a house.'

'You don't look it,' Assumpta said, her eyes wide. She meant it – Siobhan looked great. She'd barely put on any extra weight. Assumpta knew Niamh was a little jealous – she'd constantly complained about those extra baby-pounds she's somehow found so quickly. Assumpta had bit her tongue, resisting the urge to let her know exactly where they'd come from.

'I feel it,' Siobhan complained. She looked over at Assumpta. 'Alright, out with it. What's actually going on?' Siobhan asked, her eyes narrow. Assumpta glanced up at her before looking back down at the full cup of steaming tea in front of her.

'I…ah, this is all Brendan's fault,' she complained.

'Brendan?' Siobhan said, surprised. 'Assumpta, will you just tell me what's going on?' she groaned, clearly frustrated now.

'Well, it is his fault, actually. He was the one who talked him into coming back,' she muttered. She looked up at Siobhan, whose expression was one of complete confusion. Assumpta shook her head.

'You remember…that night?'

'As if I could forget it,' Siobhan said quietly.

'What do you remember?' Assumpta asked.

'Everything. It was the night of the Asian food fair. The lights went out, and you went down the stairs to fix them. They'd been going out on and off for days. You were only down there for a few seconds before we heard them blow…' Siobhan trailed off and looked at Assumpta. 'They brought you out on a stretcher. Michael said you were dead.'

'I was.'

There was silence. Assumpta sighed quietly; this was going to be harder than she thought. She'd thought that by asking Siobhan to recount her version of events that night she'd be forced to mention Peter, but she'd not-so-subtly avoided him altogether. She was going to have to be direct, and suffer the consequences.

'Siobhan, do you know why Peter left?'

Siobhan stared at Assumpta for a second, before shifting uncomfortably in her seat. 'No,' she replied shortly. Her eyes narrowed as she noticed Assumpta's expression. 'Do you?' she asked quietly.

'Yes.' Assumpta watched the information, and what it meant, slowly sink in. Siobhan just stared at her.

'You've seen him,' she stated. There was something in her voice that Assumpta couldn't make out; hurt? Anger? Concern?

'Yes.'

Siobhan let out a breath. 'What did he have to say for himself?' she asked, and Assumpta couldn't mistake the tone this time. Her voice was hard. She was angry.

'He left because he thought he had to,' she said. 'He thought he was doing the right thing.' Assumpta watched Siobhan's face carefully, her own being watched just as carefully.

It was a few second before Siobhan spoke. 'He's coming, isn't he?'

Assumpta grimaced internally. 'Yes.'

'Well, he's got some explaining and some apologising to do,' she replied, standing. 'If he thinks he can just waltz on back into town…' she trailed off.

'He doesn't,' Assumpta said, standing herself. 'He knows he needs to apologise.'

Siobhan eyed the publican. 'Is he staying here?' she asked, her question full of meaning. Assumpta couldn't hold her gaze.

'No. He's staying with Brendan.' She looked back up at Siobhan. 'But he will be spending quite a bit of time here,' she stated, her meaning clear.

Siobhan nodded, understanding.

'I don't know what he did to earn your forgiveness, Assumpta, but he's going to have to work hard to earn ours.'

Assumpta's face fell. She'd been foolishly hoping they'd just forgive him, welcome back with open arms. Well, maybe not open arms, but at least forgive him. She nodded.

'Don't worry. He will.'


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