Sorry but how amazing was that episode tonight?! Full of fluff, yet it was still not overly soppy. Brendan and the orange I nearly died. Anyway here's my next update. Major Stendan feels right now...
It had been two weeks since he'd last seen Steven. He'd had to go back over to Ireland, seen as the staff he'd hired in his new established bar couldn't even sort out a handyman to fix the leaky roof. He was the manager after all, had responsibilities, so he couldn't exactly moan about it when fucking Ronan called begging for him to return. He thought it would be nice to see Dec and Paddy as well seen as he'd left them now for over a month. He warned Dec about no parties or girls in the house; yet somehow he knew now was no way that promise was kept. Brendan was a seventeen year old once himself, a seventeen year old that had just got his girlfriend pregnant, he knew kids never listened to their parents, especially when the particular parent they reside with has a sea between their space.
Him and Steven, they'd kept in contact since, phone calls, texts, late night Skype chats. He loved hearing Steven's voice, but there was something about seeing his face on the computer screen that made him just that little bit more content, seeing he was safe and well. He'd made Steven wear headphones when they'd chatted. He'd somehow got Cheryl off of his back, fuck knows how, deep down he felt like he knew she didn't believe this 'buisness trip' crap, but she'd said no more on the subject, and Ste never mentioned it, so gathered she'd said nothing to him either. Still better to be safe, so headphones were always a must. Cheryl would notice his voice anywhere.
Brendan had been back in Hollyoaks three days now, and still hadn't seen Steven. He wanted the first time they'd see eachother to be special, something Ste would remember. Then it came to Brendan. A first date, like a proper first date, not the pub or park shit they'd done already. A proper meal, somewhere to talk things through, get to know eachother again. Brendan didn't exactly do 'dates' as such, never has really, not even when he was apparently a loved up husband with a gorgeous wife. He never took her out for dinner, brought her flowers, surprised her at all. Yet, with Steven he felt like he wanted all of that; he wanted to surprise him. Make him be in love with him again. He just had to work out how.
What you doing tonight?
Nuffin why? Surprising me? ;) x
Thought you might want to go out somewhere?
Brendan are u back? x
Yep. 8 o'clock?
Looking forward to it ;) x
It always amused Brendan how their text conversations went. They were flirty, yet not disgustingly filthy. Steven always had to include little winks and kisses, suggestive comments, you name it. They still hadn't even so much as touched eachother, yet reading through their texts you would have other ideas. Brendan was prepared to wait for Steven though, after all he'd waited this long what's a few more weeks?
He'd picked Steven up, usual place a little before eight o'clock. Well quarter to and Steven was already there, which proved how much both of them were looking forward to it. Who's early for a date? Standing outside in the freezing cold? Exactly.
They'd been shown to there seats, right by the window, some sort of view, something to talk about and bring up in conversation if it ever died. Brendan had chose this restaurant because little had Steven known but it was one Brendan had taken him to before. He remembered it fondly. Brendan insisting Steven have the steak, the fish wasn't good. But Steven, being Steven had refused, he had soon regretted it though. Brendan had been here loads of times in the past. The fish was shit; the other food though sublime.
Steven sat there, menu nearly as big as him, peering over it every now and then to get a little look at Brendan, a sneaky one, everyone Brendan had reciprocated. Brendan knew exactly what he was going to have, didn't even know why he was bothering to even look at the menu really but heyho.
"What you having Brendan?" Steven asked, putting the menu down in a huff. "There's too much to chose from. There's the steak... then there's the fish..."
"No fish Steven.."
"What? Why not? Is it crap?"
"Yeah, was quite sick when I had it last time." He wasn't, but he didn't want Steven to be.
"Oh steak it is then. You having steak too?"
"Yeah. I like my meat Steven."
Ste looked over to him, obviously understanding the double meaning, due to his red cheeks. Then letting a smile fall to his lips. "You're disgusting."
"Yep, people tell me that all the time."
Their food had come, a whole plate of steak, chips and vegetables. It was hardly up market cuisine, but Steven seemed to be enjoying his as much as Brendan was. Well, Brendan had wolfed his down like a trooper. He enjoyed his grub, lapped up every last bit of it. Ste was only half way through his meal.
"You always eat like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like someone that hasn't eaten for weeks."
"You liked my eating ways."
"God what did I see in you?" Ste winked, just to show he was joking.
"So... tell me something about yourself?" Ste prompted. This was awkward Brendan thought, he knew everything about Ste, he was 26, he was 5 ft 9 inches, he wore 32 inch waist trousers, he knew all about his past relationships, his whole life more or less.
"Erm. I'm Brendan Brady, I'm thirty-six, I'm Irish."
"Brady?"
"Yeah why?"
Then it hit Brendan. He'd never actually told Ste that he was Cheryl's brother had he? He couldn't even read Ste's face. Was he shocked? Annoyed? Pissed off to the max?
"I didn't know you were relat..."
"Yeah I'm related to Chez, I'm her brother. Sorry I didn't tell you Steven, I didn't ever get round to it. Are you.. are you mad at me?"
"No, just shocked I suppose. So that bed I'm sleeping in was that...?"
He didn't even need to finish his sentence, Brendan half didn't even want him to. Was that were we'd slept together? Consumated this 'thing' we had?
"Yeah, my bed. It was my bed, my wardrobe..."
"Oh. So erm tell me about Ireland?"
"Not much to tell really. Ireland's just Ireland. Grew up in Dublin, met my ex-wife had two boys. Declan is seventeen now, Paddy's fourteen. Declan lives with me now, nearer to his school and that. Paddy's still with his Ma. I'm glad Leah and Lucas seem okay. I've missed their little faces."
Ste face always lit up when his kids were mentioned, you could tell they were his world, everything revolved around them. Everything he did, he'd think about if it would effect them at all, and if it did then he wouldn't do it. He loved the bones of them.
"Yeah. I knew Leah recognised you that day."
"What day? Oh the park?"
"Mhm."
"Yeah she looked at me funny, little madam. Can tell who her father is. Sassy."
"Oi who you calling sassy?"
"You. Anymore questions you wanna ask me? I'm all yours."
"I'll think of some, can I finish my food first?"
"I've got a question for you!"
"Fire away."
"How long was we together?"
Talk about get the hardest question out of the way. How long was they together? Brendan didn't even know. Should he count the time when they wasn't exactly together? The times Brendan was insisting he wasn't attracted to men, eyeing up the local model instead? Where did there relationship even start? He resolved that he was just going to count it all, he'd more or less loved Steven since he'd set his eyes on him anyway."
"Two, three years."
"I wasn't expecting that. Was expecting a few months or a year."
Brendan sighed. It was a few months to a year really, that was when they'd properly got together, moved in together, planned their family holiday.
Ste interrupted his silent thoughts. "So where did we meet?"
"You worked for me, Chez nightclub?"
"Oh right yeah, she said I used to work there, so what did we used to go sneak into the cellar or the office at lunch?"
"Jesus Steven, do we need to get into this now?!" Brendan blurted out, chucking Steven the dessert meal. "Get something sweet to stop these thoughts."
Brendan needed to stop these thoughts as well, man had needs and the way this was going Brendan was near to wanting to satisfy them with Ste. Didn't want to push the boy though.
Both decided on no dessert, just another drink at the table while waiting to leave.
It was silent for what seemed like forever, Brendan was debating whether to bring up the topic of the view...
"What was my favourite song then?"
"Girl's Aloud."
"What one?"
"Oo or something."
"Oh. I dunno it? Sing it for me."
"Steven I'm not singing a fucking Girls Aloud song in a restaurant."
"Oh go on, nobody's listening."
"You are..."
"Yeah well. Oh go on Brendan. For me."
Why the actual hell does this both have the most gorgeous, long eyelashes? They flutter, Brendan accepts. That's how it used to work, and if he carried on it was going to again.
"No Stev.."
"Please!"
"Fine! Fine! I don't even know the words!"
Brendan started humming every now and then coming out with "something kinda ooh", "tutu".
"Oh wait, I do know that one!"
"You've just made me sing that, and you knew what it was all along?"
"Maybe."
"Jesus, that's why I love ya I suppose."
Brendan stopped, realising what he'd just released from his mouth. Love ya. Love you. He'd promised himself he wouldn't utter those words yet, not again, not until Steven felt a little more comfortable in his presence, not until Steven had said he'd loved him.
"Another drink?" Ste obviously felt the awkwardness aswell, halting the silence. He hadn't said it back though. He didn't love Brendan yet.
"Err.. yeah. Just gonna go.. yeah.." Brendan couldn't even talk, just pointed to the men's toilets.
He'd stayed in the toilets for a good ten minutes, learning up against the mirror on the far side of the wall, mentally punching himself for even saying the L word. He had to get out of here though, he didn't want Steven to think he'd bailed on him, gone home and left him to fend for himself to get back.
Brendan opened the door, spotting Steven starring, he'd obviously wondered where Brendan had got to, why it had taken him so long. Ste got up.
"I paid the bill, let's get out of here."
"But I invi..."
"I know you invited me, but you paid for the drinks last time remember?"
"Mhm."
"I don't care by the way Brendan."
"What?"
"I don't care that you still love me."
Brendan looked up at Ste, concern in his face.
"No, I don't mean I don't ca... I mean like I don't mind that you still love me. I like it, gets me used to stuff you know."
"Used to stuff?"
"I'm gonna tell Cheryl and Amy tonight."
"No.."
"I want to. So you coming?" Ste started to walk off, hand stretched hoping Brendan would take it, which he did. He didn't even used to hold his hand back in the day, so this was all new. Nice though.
They'd had to park the car down the street, no spaces anywhere else so it was a good five, ten minute walk.
"You cold?" Brendan asked.
"Bit."
Brendan removed his coat, pushing Ste's hand away as he'd refused to take it.
"I want to, I want to look after you."
"Have others looked after you?" Ste asked, unsure what he even meant by it.
"What you mean other lads?"
Ste found himself nodding.
"Nobody ever comes close to you Steven, never." Brendan replied, stopping at the side street, meeting Ste's lips and pushing him up against the wall. "I love you Steven Hay."
Ste smiled into the kiss, breaking away for a minute. "I know you do. Brendunnn Bradehhh."
Long ass chapter sorry :)
I just wanted some cute things LOL!
[The amount of times I wrote Emmett in this chapter and not Brendan, sorry if there's any Emmett's lurking, message me and I'll change them. I'm obsessed with the bloke...]