A/N: thanks for the reviews guys :). I told you this one would come sooner as a way to make up for leaving you hanging for a month. I have things sorted things out and now I am able to devote my time to both fic and university. Thanks for your patients. This chapter Niamh has an awkward dinner with the the Osbournes, gets annoyed at Cheryl for making a crazy business venture and Joel joins in with doing deals with Niamh.
Niamh woke up the next day, she was laid in bed and she had Esther's head on her chest and her arm wrapped round her. Niamh wrapped an arm round her shoulder and stroked her arm. By the time the movie was over they were both tired so they decided that Esther would stay the night. She was in a pair of Niamh's smallest PJs due to her hight. Niamh kissed the top off her head and smiled. She was actually falling for this girl she was the only one she could understand her and she could be herself around. Except Brendan but he was different. Niamh smiled at her sleeping girlfriend. Niamh tapped gently on the shoulder.
"Wake up" said Niamh soothingly rubbing her arm. Esther smiled and opened her eyes. Niamh looked in to him and kissed her.
"Wish I could wake up like this everyday" said Esther. Niamh smiled at her and sat up. Moving out from under Esther smirking going towards the bedroom door planning breakfast in her head.
"Get dressed and I'll be down stairs making breakfast" said Niamh she blew her a kiss and walked out the room. Niamh went downstairs and busied herself making pancakes. She was a pro at them and as it was the first breakfast she was making for Esther she decided to make it special. She soon noticed she had an audience sat at the dining room table. She put the kettle on and looked to who was sat at the table to see Esther and Brendan were sat talking normally.
"Yeah, not to bad a sleep" said Esther smirking at Brendan.
"So she didn't star fish and kick you out of bed" said Brendan. Niamh cringed as he started to tell Esther embarrassing stories of her childhood.
"Well I was going to offer to make you a coffee but change my mind" said Niamh smirking whacking Brendan round the head with the newspaper. Brendan looked at her and Niamh kissed the mark where she hit him quickly before making a drink and plating up the pancakes. Bringing through a selection of seedless jam, chocolate spread and lemon and sugar.
"Niamh my gran wants to know if you can come round to tea later, she invited Johno as well" said Esther. Niamh nodded but deep down she knew it was a meet the parent scenario and she wasn't sure she liked that. It had been easier introducing Esther to the parents because it was one parent and he was the reason they got together sooner. Cheryl had been over the moon and Lynsey had just been expecting without embarrassing her. Niamh sat back in the chair and looked at her phone.
"As long as Johno has a less of dickish attitude I think I can survive" said Niamh. Esther smirked and got up. Niamh an arm round her waist and leant her head on her side.
"I've got to go, see you later at about seven" said Esther. Niamh got up and showed her to the door. She opened it and Esther kissed her on the cheek before leaving. Niamh shut the door and went back in to the flat. She sat back at the table and put her face on the table. Nerves rattling for later's meal with the Osbournes.
"Come on angel, could be worse" said Brendan. Putting his hand on her head. Niamh looked up and put her head in her hands.
"How is that?" said Niamh.
"Well you could be introducing her to your mum" said Brendan. Niamh groaned at that comment she had completely forgotten about Eileen. She had told the boys but not Eileen she didn't want to make a big fuss over the situation. It would be embarrassing just her mum asking question after question to Esther.
XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Niamh was in the dog and she was carrying a bunch of flowers and a bottle of red wine from the club as a piece offering. Brendan had helped her pick it out and then bought it so it looked like a customer had bought it to stop questions. She went upstairs and knocking on the door off the pub. Esther answered the door and smiled at her. All the tension and nerves eased away as she saw Esther smile at her so reassuringly. She went into the flat, she gave Frankie the bottle off wine smiling and gave Esther the flowers.
"Thanks Niamh" said Frankie. Niamh nodded and Esther beckoned her over to sit next to her. She did so and grabbed her hand and held it under the table. Her nerves were back and bounced her knees under the table. Soon everyone was sat down and talking they seemed to be grilling Johno which was fun to watch. He looked so uncomfortable it was hilarious to watch.
"So Niamh what do you do at college?" asked Frankie, she had a feeling the conversation would turn to her soon. She sat up a bit more in her chair ready for the questions.
"I do English literature, business studies and critical thinking was going to do art but can't paint" said Niamh adding a joke at the end to prove that she could have a joke and a laugh. It made Esther laugh but nobody else, Niamh noticed now that the whole table was silent.
"Do you have a job" asked Frankie. Niamh smirked and nodded her head to the job.
"Yeah when Ste needs a babysitter I help him out and watch the kids" said Niamh. Darren raised an eyebrow at the mention of Ste which made Niamh give him a questioning look.
"I am surprised your still friends with Ste, he seems to hate Brendan at the moment" said Darren. Niamh looked at him again raising her eyebrows she had always made sure her and Ste's friendship stayed unharmed to whatever was going on with Ste and Brendan's relationship.
"I am not my dad, I may be a lot like him but I don't get involved in that side of his life" said Niamh smiling taking a sip of her drink using it as a distraction so Frankie would stop asking questions. The meal continued and Niamh started to relax again and she made jokes with Esther and she would listen to the snippet of conversation going round the room.
"Niamh, how is Padraig" asked Charlie pipping up from the end of the table, Niamh looked at him and smiled she had forgotten he was at the table completely. "He's fine, he's back in Ireland at the moment buddy" said Niamh. She knew that Charlie and Padraig had become friends in the short time that he had stayed over the last time, she wished she could have him over again.
"When's he coming to visit" said Charlie. Niamh wished she could give him an answer to that question but she couldn't because she had no idea when he was due back again.
"I don't know" said Niamh smiling hoping he would leave it at that and not push the issue off why she didn't know why she didn't know when her brother was coming again to visit.
"Why do you live so far away from your mum and brothers?" asked Ruby. Niamh got taken a back by that sudden question she seemed to be in her own conversation with Johno and Jack. She looked at Ruby who was at the other end of the table.
"You don't have to answer that" said Esther, she was glaring at Ruby.
"It was an innocent enough question Esther no need to get so protective off your girlfriend" said Frankie. Niamh rolled her eyes, she wanted the subject off the boys because she didn't want to talk about it the fact she wasn't even sure when she was going to see them again.
XOXOXOXOXO
The meal seemed to go so slowly like time was standing still for ages but soon everyone had finished eating. She sat back and breathed she had got through it.
"Esther where did you get to last night" asked Frankie from the kitchen.
"She stayed the night at mine, thought it would be the responsible thing as we fell asleep watching a DVD in my room" said Niamh missing out the fact they had been in the club all evening because she knew she would freak out. Smiling at Frankie, Frankie looked at her mouth wide open.
"She's under age, and you slept in the same room" said Frankie. Niamh rolled her eyes and just looked her thinking of a good response.
"We just slept gran, don't see why your giving us the first degree when Ruby and Johno have actually had sex" said Esther. Niamh watched the whole tables attention turn to Ruby and Johno. Jack pulled Johno out off the chair and frog marched him out the door.
"What let me get this straight, I am not allowed to have a boyfriend, but Esther is allowed to date the village psycho's daughter" said Ruby getting up and storming to her room. Niamh made an excuse and left the dinner party promptly giving Esther a kiss on the cheek on her way out.
She went downstairs in to the pub bit to find Lynsey sat at the bar. Niamh went over to her and sighed. Lynsey seemed to get the picture as soon they were outside the pub and walking back to the flat. They got back to the flat and Niamh and Lynsey sat together on one of the sofas.
"That was a nightmare, why couldn't they just accept it like you guys did, felt like 50 question" said Niamh. Lynsey smirked at her and laughed.
"You do remember it's Frankie Osbournes right?" laughed Lynsey. Niamh looked at her then started to laugh herself. The situation was crazy but it could have been worse.
"Now just to let mum know, waiting to do it face to face" said Niamh. Lynsey nodded and looked sad for a minute which caught her attention "what's up Lynsey" putting her arm round her quickly.
"It's just doctor Browning is a really annoying boss, he tries to like prove point that he's better than me and embarrasses me in front of the patient" said Lynsey quickly. Niamh blood boiled at the idea that someone was making a fool out off Lynsey, she was a really good nurse.
"Ignore doctor death okay because you are better than any doctor" said Niamh.
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Over the next few days Niamh did her normal day to day activities without much worry. She noticed Cheryl was becoming more and more organised with the club and her studies which was good also also Esther told her Darren was planning a surprise wedding for valentines days which was crazy but she like the idea. She was sat in the office of the club with Brendan and Cheryl. It was close to the valentines day club night so Niamh and Brendan were bouncing ideas off each other while Cheryl sat quietly on the sofa. There was a knock at the door and Dodger poked his head around the door.
"Could we go through some details of the 14th" said Dodger. Niamh frowned they didn't have a booking on the 14th that was valentines day.
"What?" said Brendan slowly looking between Cheryl and Dodger. Niamh rolled her eyes please say there had been a mistake and Cheryl hadn't just put in a bad business decision.
"Darren and Nancy's wedding reception, you made the booking last night" said Dodger. Niamh glared at Cheryl how could she make that much of a stupid decision off letting them use the club.
"one of the busiest night of the club's calender and you decide to book a wedding, Cheryl what were thinking" said Niamh.
"Does it have to be the 14th" asked Cheryl quickly looking at Dodger. He nodded quickly at this.
"We got drink ordered in and everything" said Dodger. Niamh couldn't believe that she was hearing this not only had she got the place booked for a wedding on valentines day but they were also bringing their own drinks.
"Great, Cheryl get out your mangling my head, Mark leave" said Brendan. She got up and went to towards the door. Dodger protested "hey do you want me to get up you wouldn't like me if I got up". They left the office and Niamh shut it behind them.
"Who plans a secret wedding in the first place" said Niamh sighing sitting back down again the idea sounded crazy because Nancy seemed to be like the perfectionist. She could imagine her having the wedding planned to the finest detail.
"We are having no part in this the events manager sort it out" said Brendan sitting back in his chair. Joel came in and sat down opposite Brendan sitting next Niamh.
"So you sending me out on the deal" asked Joel.
"Yeah, your going alone to this one" said Brendan. Niamh looked taken a back but the look he gave her made her understand what he was doing. She was testing Joel on his loyalty to make sure he wouldn't spill on Brendan's or Niamh's whereabouts.
"Good luck, you just have to stand your ground, if they suspect weakness your a goner" said Niamh. She tapped his shoulder then walked out the office to give Joel and Brendan time to talk. She walked back to the flat and went to her room sitting against the wall bye her bed.
TBC
Next chapter: Niamh attends Nancy's wedding, ends up watching Kathleen Angel and has bonding time with Ste as she helps him out with his trial at college coffee.
