Kilkenny Castle Park

Much to the confusion of the others Walter turned at Castle Road and pulled over. "Why don't you er show Ralph the grounds?" Walter suggested. Paige looked suprised for a minute, before realising what Walter was about to do. Proud that she didn't have to badger him before it came out naturally and that she didn't have to be privy to that awkwad conversation she undid her seat belt, gave him a quick peck on the lips and got out the car.

Getting out himself Walter leaned against the car he smiled as he watched Ralph run towards the fountain with Paige not far behind him. After a moment or two Toby and Happy got out the car realising Walter needed to speak to them alone.

Toby and Happy shared a look of concern, worried that Cabe had told them the real reason for Ralph's visit. They didn't want to worry Walter and Paige with the truth unless it was absolutely necessary. The truth that came out however was something Toby never exspected to hear.

"Toby I erm have a confession. A few years ago I married Happy. It wasn't for love or anything! It was er just a business arrangement between friends"

"YOU DID WHAT?!" Toby shouted. Walter took a few steps back, worried about the wild look in Toby's eyes. "Stop!" Happy shouted "It was a few years ago. His Visa was up. He was a friend in need. It was my idea. what I don't understand is why O'Brien is admitting to it now. We promised we'd keep this a secret. The more people that know the more risk we'd get caught"

Walter fiddled with his hands "I'm er with someone else and I erm need a divorce."

"and you couldn't tell me that in private because?" Happy questioned

"Because my mother wants me to be married in the local church here- and I had to explain to her it likely won't be possible. She was bound to bring it up"

"Tabling this for now- but I will come back to it- who are you Marrying Walt? You've yet to introduce us to the lucky lady" Toby asked smirking, though if he were still a betting man he'd put all his money on Scorpion's Liason "it's er Paige" Walter replied looking away from Toby so he couldn't be analysed. "We aren't engaged- just promised to each other. I don't want us get engaged before the divorce is finalised" he admitted.

Toby looked suprised "Promised? Like the royals of old" he laughed. "I knew you had a superiority complex Walt but- Ow My head!" He cried out as Happy hit him "Like the Irish tradition you idiot" she chastised.

"Oh yeah!" Toby replied rubbing his head "sometimes I forget Walt's not a Yankee doodle dandy"

"Oof!" Exclaimed Walter as Ralph dived onto him seemingly out of nowhere. Looking down he saw he was crying. Walter knelt down in front of him and wiped away some of his tears "Ralph why are you sad?" He asked as calmly as he could, though inwardly he panicked.

"I'm not sad" Ralph chuckled through the tears "Are you truly going to be my Dad?" Walter looked towards Paige who smiled "I had to tell him" she said softly.

Walter looked back towards the boy in front of him and nervously smiled "if that's something you want?" He said gently "b-but it's OK if you d-dont" Ralph nodded his head almost violently and wrapped his arms round around the older Genius's neck. "I want it... Dad" Ralph cried happily.

Walter brought his head down to Ralph's should and cried joyful tears of his own.

Big Wheel Pub Bus stop

Conner stared down at the ground ashamed of himself. He was sitting at the bus stop. He had no destination in mind, no where to go. But if he got himself away far enough perhaps he would be allowed some space at a hostel where no one knew him. Knew of his sickness. He heard the sound of gravel crunching on the path as someone approached but didn't look up.

The person silently sat themselves beside him. Conner knew who it was without looking up- the smell of his exspensive aftershave filling his senses. It was the last person he exspected to want to sit near him.

"I suppose you've heard" Conner said sadly without looking up. Walter nodded, then realised Conner wouldn't have seen that. "Yes. I suppose I should feel flattered, but to be honest I don't see why it's such a big deal. I'd be a hypocrite if I'd felt upset about it... when Paige first joined my company..well..you er get it" Walter finished awkwadly.

Conner looked at him in shock "You aren't angry?" He asked suprised before continuing "But I'm a bloke- it's unnatural" Walter shrugged in response "Its biology. We have no control over what we feel for others- believe me I fought my feelings for Paige until it was nearly too late. As for Sexual attraction to the same gender it's quite natural- in the animal kingdom it's very common, even with one of our closest primate relatives. Its only humans that show Homophobia."

Conner still didn't feel convinced and couldn't look at Walter. He hated himself.

Walter sighed. He had trouble communicating with people at the best of times but his mother had told him they would not be able to convince him to come to the farm so he had a safe place to stay without knowing he wouldn't be judged.

"Look if it makes you feel any better I'm not entirely straight myself" Walter admitted much to Conner's suprise. "I experimented a bit in my late teens and early twenties. Never went all the way but it was enough to know that I enjoyed the experience somewhat, dispite the fact that I am usually uncomfortable with people touching me" Walter continued blushing "I want to be clear I love Paige and won't be with anyone but her. But I want you to know I won't judge you for feeling the way you do." Walter finished.

Conner's eyes widened as he turned his head towards Walter's "You don't hate me?" He asked nervously. Walter took a deep breath before replying "I hate the way you treated me for years. But Paige once told me that sometimes we hide our feelings under stronger emotions even from ourselves, and with Thomas egging you on I can see why you treated me that way even if I didn't like it. I don't hate you though."

Conners eyes watered as he confessed "I've never felt the way about anyone else the way I do about you". "In time you will" Walter promised "Look everyone just wants you to be safe. Come back to my parent's home with me- nobody wants to see you out in the cold yeah?"

Walter was relieved when Conner finally nodded thanking him and followed Walter to his car. Emotional conversations drained Walter at the best of times, with everything that had happened today he felt absolutely exhausted. He just wanted to curl around Paige and get some sleep.

A/N Please let me know what you think. Your reviews mean so much to me- its gone from a one shot to my longest story so far with your support. What do you think is going to happen next? :)I don't know if I'll have time to do chapters on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as I'm going to see Mr Gallo himself Robert Patrick on Friday, I'm taking my daughter to the Observatory on Saturday and on Sunday my daughter and I are going together to see Robert Patrick. I'm definitely going to be back to writing Monday though- will likely post the afternoon or evening then.