Hi, sorry I haven't updated in a few days. Been a busy bee with all the snow and talking to Kieron[Ste] on his radioshow on Sunday. Yes, I actually talked to him. I was shaking a tad. Anyway here's the quick update, enjoy :)

Ste felt safe in Brendan's grasp, his arms. He may have, in his head, only known him for a little while but now it was all making sense why he felt so comfortable with him all of a sudden. It was almost like he'd reverted back to a previous life, a life were he obviously was happy and enjoying it.

He'd took Brendan back home after the kiss, well Cheryl's, sneaking him in his bedroom before either woman noticed they had more company than they thought. Brendan didn't even know why he agreed to go back, but then there was no way on earth he was going to pass up the oppurtunity to be close to his boy, his love.

Ste nuzzled his head closer to Brendan's shoulder, kissing it before settling his head back down. They hadn't even done anything, it was just the closeness that both craved.

"Tell me something about us?" Ste prompted, anything. He didn't care he just wanted to know something that they used to do together, that neither Amy nor Cheryl would have told him before.

"Like what?"

"Anything. Just something I don't know."

Brendan thought long and hard. He didn't want to tell something too personal, like the acts they used to get up to in bed, that would be the worst thing to do right now when in Steven's head he hadn't even done any of that yet, well not that he remembered.

"There was this one time you were like drunk and I mean pissed out of your brains. I had to carry you out the pub, over my shoulder. The looks I got seriously Steven, so fucking embarrassing.. Never again."

Ste started to laugh, managing to choke on his own spit. Brendan didn't find it as hilarious as Ste did, but then again this was a part of his life he couldn't remember. It was probably comforting to the boy in a way, learning stuff about yourself that you never knew.

A creek made Brendan jump, coming from outside the door.

"Ste are you alright in there?"

"Steven get in the wardrobe..."

Ste gave him a disaproving look. "This is my room Brendan?" Ste whispered, obviously a little confused.

"Course it is." Brendan quickly got up from the bed, darting in the wardrobe and pulling the door to. There was hardly any space in here, boy always did love his clothes...

"Yeah..yeah I'm fine Amy.."

Amy didn't even have the decency to leave it there, to go back to her bed seen as it was at least three in the morning, maybe even more. She pushed open the door, staring at Ste, then at the bed.

"Just coughing fit Ames. I'm fine seriously, go back to bed."

"Sure?"

"Sure. Goodnight."

Amy walked out of the room, closing the door behind her. Brendan waited a little longer, until he knew she had definately gone, definately settled back into her bed. He couldn't help but smile seeing how amusing Steven found this whole situation. Neither really wanted to break the news just yet. For very different reasons. Brendan, for how Cheryl had treated him back in the day; Ste didn't know this though. Didn't even know they was related truth be told. Ste didn't want them knowing just yet either, after all both had effectively lied to him. They'd both lied to his face about how this ex-boyfriend of his had nearly killed him. They'd never told him how though, how it was a car crash that his 'boyfriend' basically had nothing to do with. Ste didnt have to answer the phone call after all.

"Gonna come back to bed then?"

Brendan didn't even need to answer, just lowered himself back onto the bed, putting him arm around Ste's shoulder.

"What was that all about then hm?"

"What?" Brendan replied.

"Saying I should go in the wardrobe? All this gone to your head already?"

Brendan scoffed a laugh. No more secrets. No more lies.

"I used to make you hide in there."

Ste seemed confused, therefore Brendan elaborated. "We both weren't you know. Out as such. So we'd sneak about and stuff. Steven do we have to talk about this now?" Brendan huffed. He didn't want to get into all the secrets they used to keep, faffing around so nobody knew about them. Another time maybe but not now.

"No course not. You staying?"

"For a bit." Brendan replied, kissing Steven and letting him snuggle close.

Ste woke up the next morning, sunlight glazing through the window where he'd failed to pull the curtains last night. He failed to do anything last night really except fall asleep in Brendan's arms.

Brendan.

Ste turned to the other side of the bed, seeming a little disapointed realising he wasn't there. He didn't expect him to be, yet his sad face obviously wasn't told that. Ste dragged himself out of bed, walking groggily to the kitchen, flicking on the kettle. He turned back towards the living area to flick the TV on, see what shit there was to watch today. Same old routine. He got the fright of his life though seeing someone sitting on the sofa.

"Daddy!"

"Leah..err.. Why aint you at school?

"Don't feel well. Mummy said I could have the day off."

"Come here princess." Ste lifted her up, laying himself down on the sofa and placing her on top of him, laying on his chest.

"Is your boyfriend coming round today?"

"He's not my boyfriend Leah."

"Oh. Is he coming round though?"

"No."

"Why not? He played football with Lucas I wanna brush his hair, not the head though. His face!" She gestured to her top lip.

"What's this?"

Cheryl pretended she hadn't heard. She had though. Two words sticking out. Boyfriend. Hair. Moustache?

"Oh nothing Cheryl. Can you make us a brew please? Kinda got a ill child on me."

"Of course love. Tea, three sugars coming right up."

Cheryl managed to make the tea, passing it to Ste. "Just got a phone call to make love, I'll be upstairs." she smiled.

"Brendan would you like to explain to me why the hell that phone call had no international ringtone?"

"Away on buisness Chez."

"Buisness. That's what they call it these days."

"Yes. Buisness in London Cheryl.."

"I don't believe you. You were threatening me for his phone number earlier this month and now all of a sudden he's got a boyfriend..."

"Another one?"

"What?"

"Another boyfriend. Not made this one up?"

"Shut up Brendan. I swear if you're in Hollyoaks."

"London Chez. Gotta go bye."

Cheryl was still fuming. She didn't believe Brendan in the slightest, she needed to dig futher. Further with Ste.

"Sort your phone call out alright?"

"Oh yeah, yeah. So what you up to today then?"

"Sit in here I suppose. Catch a cold from this one, the usual."

Leah interrupted. "He won't let his boyfriend come round though!"

"Ooo boyfriend Ste. Do tell."

"It's early day's Cheryl." He nearly laughed at his own joke then, it was far from early days.

"And has this boyfriend got a name? What's he look like? Where's he from?"

"I don't wanna get my hopes up."

"Something that's all, then I'll make us some breakfast."

"Promise?"

Cheryl nodded.

"Ireland, like you. That's all your getting" Ste pretended to zip his lips closed. He probably shouldn't have said what he did. Cheryl and Amy knew this bloke, but then again there's loads of Irish blokes. They didn't necessarily know this was Brendan.

"Brendan."

"What now Chez? On the way to my meeting."

"You stay away from that boy, or I swear."

"What boy?"

"Brendan, you're my brother. I know when you're lying. And you're lying."

"Chez leave it."

"I swear, leave him alone or I'll tell him who you really are."

"He already knows Chez. I told him last night. Can I go now? Something I need to do. See ya."

Just to let you know I don't have a clue if you get an international ringtone from England-Dublin. Fits with this though. So let's pretend :)

Please review x