Next installment of the story. A few of you couldn't believe I'd left it there on the last chapter but you'll understand why once you've read this :)

Thankyou again for all of your lovely reviews :) x

I have actually wrote a chapter of over 2000 words. *Shocked face*

It had been a whole month since Brendan last had any contact with Steven. A whole 30 days. No texts, no talk, no nothing. Everything had gone so well on their date/drink/meet-up whatever it was, it was lovely. That was until the moment that Steven had found his photo. The photo that Brendan had cherished and looked at every single day since it was taken. He loved that picture; Steven was smiling perfectly in it, staring at the camera longingly with his blue eyes gazing not only into the lense, but into Brendan's own pools of blue. Brendan daren't have removed it, it reminded him of the one thing he didn't want to lose again. Yet, it seemed he had because Steven had not answered any of Brendan's phone calls or replied to any of his texts.

It hurt Brendan, cut into his heart, the insults Steven had thrown at him. He'd accused him of all sorts. Of plotting to murder him, of taking advantage of him and getting his wicked way. Steven had actually thought Brendan had wanted to hurt him, he hadn't the littlest of clues that Brendan actually wanted to care for him, to cherish him, to have him back in his life after so long.

He didn't even know why he was still here in Hollyoaks. He should have gone home weeks ago, nothing was left for him now was it? Sure Mitzeee obviously loved having him around, catching up, but Riley was due back soon and he would probably not appreciate a man hanging around the flat with his girlfriend. Even if that man was gay.

Steven I can explain. Please give me a chance.

Answer your phone Steven I only want to talk to you.

I'm none of those things you said I was Steven. I like you Steven, please talk to me.

Steven come on please!

Ste scrolled through his inbox, just as he had for the last month, staring at his screen. Brendan had given up now surely. He hadn't received one in the last few days after being bombarded with hundreds of others. This was harrassment wasn't it? What the hell was there to explain? He'd caught him red-handed, yet he still felt like he wanted to talk to him, to hear his stupid little excuses. To hear him out, just incase there was a logical explanation...

Brendan awoke with the irritating beep of a phone in his pocket, which he'd been leaning on, therefore the phone was digging in his side as it vibrated. Brendan couldn't believe his eyes when he popped one eye open to see who'd rudely awoken him from his nap.

Steven - You've got ten minutes to explain yourself Brendan. Archway in the village.

Brendan rubbed both his eyes open, bringing them back to his phone screen. Steven wanted to meet him? Steven wanted to see him? He didn't care what he was wearing right now, he didn't care that he looked like some tramp from the street in his manky old trackies and an old white tshirt. He'd go there naked if he had to, if it meant Steven would see him and let him talk things over. Well, maybe not completely naked...

Brendan grabbed his hoodie from the back of the chair, running over to the door to retreive his trademark flip flops. He didn't care right now that it was fucking freezing in the village. It was the easiest and quickest footwear to put on, which meant he would get to Steven even faster, without delay. Brendan forced the front door open, slamming it behind him and running as fast as he could towards the village. Towards Steven.

Ste didn't completely understand why he was doing this. Really he should have waited until tomorrow, until it was daylight so if Brendan did try something, then other people would be around to help him. The truth of the matter, when it came down to it, was that Ste didn't think Brendan was like that at all. He didn't think Brendan would hurt him, he knew Brendan fancied him and he knew that he fancied him back. After all, sure he'd text and tried to call since the night in town, but he hadn't actually seen Brendan at all, which secretly upset him deep down.

Ste leant on the wall, facing downwards towards the village. He'd text Brendan five minutes ago and he still hadn't turned up, he hadn't even replied to his text. Was he even going to come? Was he even still in Hollyoaks?

It was beautiful up here at night, Ste thought. The village was peaceful, not a sole person around. The shop lights were still lit up, the street lights beaming down onto the floor. It was quiet, well it was until Ste heard somebody swear.

"Fuck!"

Ste laughed to himself, seeing what Brendan had on his feet. Flip-flops. Here Ste was in his jeans, boots, tshirt, jumper, coat and scarf and there Brendan was running in the village, wearing flip-flops and tripping over his own feet. They say opposites attract don't they?

"Steven..I..." Brendan started, trying to catch his breath.

"Sorry you're late yeah yeah. So what's this truth then? What's this truth I need to know?"

"Can I just..like...get my breath back first?"

Ste turned down towards the village again, seeing people shuffling out the club. Their lives were so simple, so carefree. Getting drunk every night, no responsibilities.

"Steven, look at me a sec please." Brendan pleaded, which Ste obeyed. "Erm."

"Brendan get on with it. I said you had ten minutes. So speak. Why did you have a picture of me in your wallet from all those years ago?"

"Because..." Brendan looked to the floor, how the hell was he meant to word this? Either way he said it Ste was going to hate him wasn't he?

"Because what Brendan? What's the excuse?"

"It's not an excuse Steven, it's the truth."

"Go on, tell me."

"Because we... we knew eachother Steven."

There he'd said it. He'd said it straight to Steven's face. It was out in the open, and Brendan could feel the breath he'd been holding leave his mouth.

"What do you mean we knew eachother Brendan?"

"We knew eachother Steven. We were together, like together, together you know."

"You were my boyfriend?"

"If that's the word you want to use. I used to use better half, but yeah. Boyfriend, partner whatever."

"You were my boyfriend." Steven repeated to himself, looking to the ground shocked. Amy and Cheryl had never told him about this bloke that had apparently nearly killed him. They'd never mentioned a name, a look, shown a photograph, said where he was from. Absoulety nothing. Zilch.

"Steven I need to tell you this okay. Please just listen, don't interrupt. Then if you want to leave afterwards, get on with your life, that's your decision okay? I just need you to know what happened, how everything was my fault. How everything's been eating away at me for the past three years. I nearly killed you. I'm never going to forgive myself I swear. But I just need you to understand, understand how I had to try and make amends. I needed to know you was okay. Alright?"

Ste found himself nodding. This was the man that had nearly killed him, nearly made his children father-less, nearly left Amy alone with two children to support. But somehow he felt calm, contained, ready to listen to Brendan's side of things. Amy had never told him the full truth, whenever Ste had asked questions about the person that done this to him, she'd change the subject, pretend one of the kids had called her, pretend she had an appointment to go to. He figured she would still do that now if he'd ask her. At least this way, Ste could get Brendan's side of the story and then maybe open up to Amy and Cheryl later and see her side. She'd have to answer then.

"We were at home, and we'd argued. I don't even know what about now and you'd rushed out the house to go and pick the kids up..."

"We.. we lived together?"

"Yeah. Hey I thought you said you wouldn't interrupt?"

"Sorry."

"I tried to call you Steven, I wanted to sort things out you know? I hate leaving on arguments, it aint right. You wouldn't answer your phone though, you were always careful on the road, you didn't want to get caught by the police, driving on the phone. But I kept at it Steven, I just needed to talk to you, I wanted to make everything alright, I kept calling and texting and calling and texting. In the end you got fed up of it and answered my phone call, and that's when..."

Brendan began to break down. He'd never cried in front of Steven in their whole relationship, it somehow made him feel weak, useless. He was meant to be the strong one in this conversation. If anything Steven should be the one getting upset, having to hear what happened to him, probably for the first time.

"When what Brendan? When what?"

"The van it hit you... head on. It hit you Steven."

Ste moved closer towards Brendan, making the gap even smaller. He wanted to reach out, to hold him in his arms. Tell him everything was okay, except he couldn't. There was an imaginary barrier infront of him, not allowing him to. If Brendan wanted everything to be okay, that much, then where had he gone?

"Go on..." Ste prompted, he could tell there was more Brendan wanted to say, to let out.

"I sat with you for days Steven, days trying to make you wake up. I just wanted to apologise to you, tell you how sorry I was, how I didn't mean to do it. But you didn't, you didn't wake up. They told us you might die, and even if you didn't that you might have brain damage. I couldn't face that Steven, I had to let you free. I know it was selfish, but I wanted to have our memories together, keep those ones. That's why I left, you needed to start a new life without me. Start fresh."

Ste moved closer now, Brendan's tears were falling even heavier, not stopping at all. He reached into his pocket, pulling out a tissue. He'd used enough in the last month to last a lifetime, so always had them spare. He passed it to Brendan, letting a little smile fall to his lips.

Brendan reciprocated the grin, taking the tissue. "Thankyou Steven, shouldn't you be the one crying eh?"

Ste shook his head. He believed every word Brendan had just said, nobody could fake that much emotion surely. It was raw, so fresh on Brendan's face, almost as if he was reliving in the whole thing in his mind.

"Thanks Brendan."

"What for?"

"The truth."

"Just had to tell you, you know. Balls in your court now. I'll just.." Brendan pointed to the stairs, descending to the village. "See you around?"

Ste nodded, watching Brendan walk away...

"Wait." He called. "Brendan wait."

Brendan turned around to face Ste, who was now walking towards him at the top of the stairs. Ste touched Brendan's cheek, which he melted at the touch, the contact.

"Thankyou Brendan." Ste muttered, before placing his lips to Brendan's, pulling away looking into his eyes, before going back for more, deepening the kiss, letting his tongue roam inside.

"Steven I.."

"Shh." Ste whispered, placing his finger on Brendan's lips. "It wasn't your fault Brendan. I wasn't your fault okay? I believe you."

He believed him? He believed him? Brendan wanted to tell Ste how he still loved him and how he had never actually stopped this thing he felt for him. But he thought he'd better save that for the next date, because he sure as hell hoped that Ste would accept his next invitation.

Wow that was a long chapter for me. Hope it lived up to expectations etc etc :)