John Paul lay back on his bed with a smile. He felt a contentment that he hadn't known in so long. Seeing Craig again the day before, being with him again, had felt more right than he had expected and it wasn't something he wanted to let go of this time if he could help it.

He took hold of the photo frame that he had placed by his bed and ran his fingers lightly over the glass. They had been so happy on the day that picture had been taken and maybe they could be again. Turning the frame over he touched the small engraved panel on the back, how could five words scratched into a piece of metal make him feel so alive?

John Paul jumped as the vibration of his phone against his thigh brought him back to the present. Lifting the phone he saw a number on its display that he didn't recognise. But he didn't need to recognise the number to know who was calling.

"Hello?"

"John Paul, hi." John Paul couldn't help but grin at the sound of Craig's voice on the other end of the line only a couple of days ago the thought of speaking to Craig again had seemed impossible.

"How did the meal with the family go?"

"Oh you know… mum, Jack, Steph, Jake, even Darren… all sat around a table together… it was hell!! So what are you doing today?"

"Nothing planned, why?"

"Fancy coming to the Dog for a pint and a catch up?"

John Paul laughed, "What you mean TALK?"

"Yeah," Craig said echoing John Paul's amusement, "I suppose we could do that too."

John Paul glanced at his watch, "See you in about half an hour?"

"Great I'll get you a drink in… oh and John Paul…"

"Yeah?"

"I…" Craig paused, he couldn't say it, he wanted to but he couldn't. He was suddenly unsure if it was too early… or too late.

John Paul listened to the sound of Craig's breath for a moment. He'd recognised that tone in Craig's voice, he'd heard it many times before.

"Me too," John Paul replied to Craig's unspoken words, "See you soon."

John Paul fell into the seat next to Craig and took the bottle of lager he offered.

"It's strange… being here again… with you," Craig said as he watched John Paul take a long drink from the bottle.

John Paul nodded, "I never thought we would be."

Craig cast his gaze around the pub, "The place hasn't changed. It's almost like I never went away."

"But you did," John Paul's voice was barely more than a whisper.

"I had to."

"I know."

John Paul took another drink.

"So how IS Trinity?" he asked with a smile in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"It's good," Craig replied enthusiastically, "Hard work… but really good."

"It's all you hope it would be then?"

"Yeah… I've learned a lot… about a lot of things."

"So… is there… anyone?" Both John Paul and Craig knew this conversation had to happen and John Paul was desperate to get it over with.

"There has been," Craig admitted, "Nothing serious… there was this one guy who…"

"GUY?" John Paul couldn't help the shock that crept into his voice. Did Craig "I'm not gay" Dean really just admit to a relationship with another man? John Paul felt jealousy clawing at him. He knew he had no right to that reaction, after all he'd had relationships since Craig left, but knowing that Craig chosen to be with a man again after all he had said felt like some kind of betrayal.

"I know," Craig was continuing, "I couldn't believe it… but he… he reminded me of you. I think I just wanted to know… to be certain."

"Certain of what?"

Craig took a deep breath, "If I was gay… if it was just with you…"

"And?"

Craig emptied his bottle before replying.

"It was OK at first… but when things started to move on… when he wanted to take things further… I couldn't do it. It just didn't feel right."

Craig looked into John Paul's eyes as he spoke, "It wasn't like it was with you. It's just you. It's only ever been you."

John Paul felt a satisfied relief. "I'm glad," he said without realising he had spoken out loud before turning his attention back to his drink to hide the flush of embarrassment that came to his cheeks.

"So what about you?" Craig asked, "Anyone swept you off your feet since I've been away?"

John Paul shook his head, "A couple of casual things… nothing long term… I'd just had my heart broken… I wasn't looking for anything more."

Craig swallowed down the familiar surge of guilt and rose to his feet. He pulled a pool cue from the rack and turned to John Paul with a challenging smile.

"Fancy a game?"

"Sure," John Paul said moving to his side, "But I should warn you… I've been playing a lot of pool this past year."

"Think you can take me do you?" Craig joked his voice dripping with innuendo.

John Paul couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe later," he replied with a wide smile, "How about I just thrash you at pool first?"

"Well if you're that certain you…" Craig's words died on his lips and his eyes darkened.

John Paul turned to follow his gaze until his eyes landed on the figure of Sarah standing a few feet away before taking an unconscious step closer to Craig.

Sarah came towards them. "I didn't know you were back."

"Just for Christmas," Craig's tone was flat, his eyes blank and expressionless.

Sarah looked from Craig to John Paul and back measuring their closeness in her steady gaze.

"It's good to see you two are friends again."

"No thanks to you," Craig snarled as he felt his temper rise. John Paul rested a hand on Craig's shoulder, possibly in a show of support or gesture of restraint, neither man was certain which.

"What do you want Sarah," John Paul asked her levelly.

"Nothing… look I just wanted to say… what I did… I'm sorry – really. But it's all in the past now. Can't we all just move on?"

"You cost me everything… I lost everything," Craig said taking a threatening step forward, "And now you expect me just to forgive and forget? Just get out of my face."

Sarah shrugged and turned to go, her eyes meeting John Paul's for a brief moment and then she was gone.

Craig was seething as John Paul turned back to him.

"I don't know how she could even talk to us after what she did."

John Paul ran his hand along the length of Craig's arm. "It wasn't ALL her," he said simply before moving over to the pool table.

"Come on," he called over to Craig, "Let me show you how this game is really played."

Less than an hour later John Paul was lining up his shot to win the third game in a row. Craig realised that his old friend hadn't been kidding when he said he'd been playing a lot of pool recently.

Deciding to resort to dirty tricks Craig waited until John Paul was about to shoot and then cleared his throat loudly.

John Paul didn't flinch as the cue hit the white ball smoothly which in turn sent the black sailing into the corner pocket. He stood up and looked at Craig with raised eyebrows, amusement evident in his eyes.

"You're STILL trying that old trick?" He asked with a laugh.

"WHAT?" Craig asked with mock innocence, "I just had a tickle in my throat is all."

"Course you did… it must be your round then. A nice cool drink should soothe that tickle!"

Craig smiled as he headed to the bar for more drinks. After an awkwardness between them earlier he now felt comfortable with John Paul again. It was as if the last 18 months had been wiped from their memories and they could take up their relationship from that wonderful place it had been before his stupidity had ruined things. Except, of course, for the fact that he would be heading back to Ireland in a few days time, but he was trying desperately not to think about that just yet.

John Paul was racking up the balls again when Craig returned.

"Another game, or have you been thrashed enough for one day?" John Paul asked.

"Bring it on," Craig replied confidently, he still had one or two more tricks up his sleeve yet.

"You want to break?"

"Sure."

Craig took a drink from his bottle before placing it on the table and grabbing his pool cue. Lining up his shot he struck firmly at the white sending it careering into the nest of coloured balls at the end of the table separating them across the felt, but not one of them fell into a pocket.

He stepped back as John Paul leaned over to take his first shot. Potting a coloured ball easily John Paul lined up for his second and then third, sending them both sailing into the pockets.

Craig sighed. There really was no way he was ever going to win, at least not fairly. And as John Paul seemed immune to his usual style of distraction Craig decided that he would have to try something new.

John Paul leaned across the table to reach the white ball that had come to rest in a difficult position. As he stretched over to it he didn't notice Craig step quietly behind him.

As John Paul lined up his shot Craig leant forward to whisper into his ear.

"Have you got any idea how hot you look leaning over the table like that?"

John Paul's cue caught the edge of the white ball causing it to spin off in the wrong direction.

"Dirty trick Dean," he said as he moved back from the table.

Craig smiled. "Just telling the truth," he said as he walked forward to take his shot.

Craig was jubilant as he managed to pot a ball before totally missing the second and having to relinquish the table back to John Paul.

John Paul leant in to take another shot before standing upright and looking over at Craig.

"This time you stay on THAT side of the table," he said firmly.

"Of course," Craig replied with mock innocence.

As John Paul leant back over the table Craig crouched down at the other end so that he was in John Paul's direct eye line.

Pulling back his arm to take a shot John Paul couldn't prevent his gaze from flicking up to meet the steady brown stare of Craig's eyes.

He felt his hand shake slightly and had to force himself to concentrate on taking his shot.

"But seriously," Craig said softly as John Paul turned his attention back to his cue, "if there weren't so many people in here I would show you just how good I think you looked bending over the table like that."

Once again John Paul's shot went wide but he just couldn't seem to care about it.

"You are a terrible man Craig Dean," John Paul said as he laid his cue down on the edge of the table and walked around to where Craig was rising to his feet.

"What, I can't even give you a compliment now?" He asked running his hand lightly over John Paul's arm.

"Is that what it was?" John Paul asked, his breath slightly shaky and his jeans beginning to feel a touch too tight.

"What else would it be?"

"I'm sure I don't know."

Craig moved a step closer until John Paul could feel his warm breath against his face. He ran his tongue lightly over his lips, unable to take his eyes from the soft curve of Craig's mouth.

"Come upstairs and I'll show you," the soft tone of Craig's voice sent shivers down John Paul's spine.

John Paul cast his eyes around the bar.

"It's OK," Craig reassured him as he followed the path of his eyes to Frankie and Jack behind the bar, "It's too busy in here for either of them to take a break any time soon."

John Paul nodded with a smile. The bar certainly was busy during this festive period and the lure of joining Craig upstairs was too good an opportunity to resist.

After the noise and bustle of the bar there was an unusual air of calm as they entered the living space above the Dog.

Craig had taken hold of John Paul's hand as they moved from the public to the private area of the pub and he held it tightly as he pushed open the door to his room.

"I guess I should have tidied up," Craig said apologetically as he realised the mess he had left his room in.

John Paul just laughed at the sight of the opened suitcase with clothes scattered over the floor and more strewn across every possible surface.

"It doesn't matter," John Paul told him, "I didn't come here to admire your cleaning skills."

"No?" Craig replied pushing the door closed behind him, "So what did you come here for?"

John Paul moved towards him until they were merely inches apart. He could feel the heat from Craig's body and, as he breathed deeply, he took in the aroma of Craig's aftershave mingled with the scent of his skin.

Craig lips were parted slightly and John Paul couldn't tear his eyes from them. "For you," he said.

Craig drew a fingertip over John Paul's face. Tracing the soft curve of his cheek, over the temptation of his lips and the angle of his chin before trailing slowly down his neck.

"You're so beautiful," Craig said tenderly, "I don't think I've ever told you that before."

"Craig…" John Paul felt a blush rise to his cheeks, embarrassed at being described in such a way, but at the same time Craig's words caressed him as surely as the touch of his fingertips.

"I mean it," Craig told him, his hands seeming to melt away the buttons of John Paul's shirt. "And I don't just mean here," he said returning his touch to John Paul's face, stroking lightly at the softness of his skin, "You're beautiful here as well." Craig's hand moved to John Paul's chest resting over his heart. "I'll never forgive myself for hurting you," Craig continued, his voice hushed with emotion and his eyes lowered, "You deserve so much better."

John Paul placed a finger under Craig's chin to lift his gaze upwards. He was startled to see tears in Craig's soft brown eyes and his heart ached at the pain he knew that Craig was causing himself.

"It doesn't matter anymore," he said cradling Craig's face in the warmth of his hands, "It's over with… and we're still here. I'm still here."

"I can't lose you again."

"You won't… not this time…"

"But… but what if I do something… say something… what if I mess up again," Craig's eyes were filled with self-doubt.

"Craig I've just spent 18 months without you," John Paul said still holding on to Craig's face, "I can't think of anything that would make me want to go through that again."

Craig smiled, reassured by John Paul's words, by his touch and by the look in his stunning blue eyes.

"I didn't realise how much I loved you until you weren't there…" Craig said as he eased John Paul's shirt from his shoulder immediately missing the warmth of John Paul's hands against his face, "Or how much I would still love you when I came back… how much I would still need you."

"Loving you is the one thing I've always been certain of," John Paul replied, "And I know I can cope with anything as long as I've got that."

Craig ran his hands over the smoothness of John Paul's chest and felt the racing of his heart beneath the warm skin a mirror of his own rapid heartbeat.

"I love you so much," Craig breathed as he pulled John Paul against him, touching his lips to the sensuous warmth of John Paul's mouth, sharing a kiss born out of love that soon deepened into one of great need and desire.

Craig's hands moved over John Paul's back as they kissed, stroking his skin and journeying down towards the denim covered flesh below.

John Paul pushed his hands underneath Craig's jumper raising them slowly to pull the garment from over his head and dropping it to the ground amidst the other clothes scattered there.

Lowering his face to Craig's exposed chest John Paul pressed his mouth against the bare flesh tasting the familiar flavour of Craig's skin.

Craig closed his eyes as John Paul's mouth travelled over his body covering every available inch with kisses. He stroked his fingers gently through John Paul's hair. Nothing ever felt as good as being with this beautiful person, nothing had ever made his heart feel so full as knowing he was loved this completely and that he was wanted this wholly.

As John Paul's mouth returned to his Craig kissed him with unreserved desperation, his love and his need making every inch of him ache for John Paul's touch.

Craig quickly undid the fastening to John Paul's jeans, his hand slipping easily inside the denim covering and the soft cotton boxers beneath.

John Paul was hard beneath his touch and his hands gripped onto Craig's hips as Craig's fingers curled around him lightly.

Craig's tongue eased its way between John Paul's lips eager to taste as much of him as he could manage as his grip on John Paul's cock tightened causing a deep rumble of pleasure in John Paul's throat.

John Paul let go of Craig's hips, his hands brushing over his thighs and up over the growing hardness between them before slipping open the buttons of his jeans and pushing them, and the underwear beneath, down far enough to allow his full erection to spring free from its constraints.

John Paul pulled back from their kiss to stare into Craig's eyes as he ran the tips of his fingers over the length of Craig's cock and drew his thumb in lazy circles over its head. Craig's eyes widened at the teasing touch as his pupils dilated with desire. Nobody had ever known how to touch him like John Paul did or how to drive him to distraction with such little effort.

John Paul lowered his mouth back to Craig's skin, nibbling softly at his neck before running his tongue down over his shoulder blade and then pausing to circle slowly over his nipple, which grew hard as John Paul gripped it lightly between his teeth.

As his mouth explored Craig's chest his fingers never ceased in their torment of his desperate cock. John Paul continued his light strokes and gentle caresses never quite gripping or giving Craig's the relief he was aching for.

"John Paul… please…" Craig's voice shook as he spoke.

John Paul couldn't help but smile as he ran kisses lower down Craig's chest reluctantly allowing his own cock to slip from the reach of Craig's grip. The need in Craig's voice was obvious and the fact that John Paul created that need was a satisfaction of its own. But there was a deeper satisfaction that they both wanted, that they were both craving.

Sinking to his knees on the carpet John Paul pulled Craig's jeans to the floor before running his hands up the soft skin of his thighs.

John Paul took a moment to look up into Craig's face, his eyes were half closed and his lips were parted allowing soft panting breaths to escape.

John Paul's hands ran over Craig's belly and down into the soft hair below, finally wrapping around the hardness of Craig's cock, causing Craig to cry out and grip onto John Paul's shoulders to steady himself.

Craig's grip tightened as he felt John Paul's breath against his sensitive skin, the tip of his tongue circling over the head of Craig's cock before guiding it into the welcome heat of John Paul's lips.

His hand and mouth moving in time John Paul took Craig deeply into his mouth, his tongue tasting every inch as he moved forward onto it.

Craig whimpered as John Paul sucked him into his mouth, his hand clamped tightly around the base of his cock, the combined heat of his mouth and tightness of his grip taking Craig to the edge and threatening to push him over at any second.

"God John Paul…" The trembling in Craig's voice matched that which flowed through his body, all other words seemed lost to him but he just wanted to hear that name again, to say it again after being without him for so long.

"John Paul… I…" Craig breathed the name again as John Paul moved faster against his pulsing cock taking him to a place far beyond pleasure.

John Paul began to suck harder against the hardness in his mouth as he felt the first drops of Craig's desire spill out of him. The increased pressure against his cock caused such physical excitement to run through Craig's body that he could hold back no longer and he cried out as his climax boiled over into John Paul's mouth. A mouth that didn't let him go until Craig was completely spent and sank to his knees joining John Paul on the carpet.

"God you're too good at that," Craig said in a breathless gasp.

"I hope that wasn't a complaint," John Paul joked.

"Never," Craig replied rising upright on his knees and pulling John Paul towards him. "Never," he repeated before leaning in to taste himself in the sweetness of John Paul's mouth.

Craig rested his hands against John Paul's thighs as he kissed him, surprised to realise that they were still covered in denim.

"You should really take those off," Craig said as his eyes flicked over John Paul's jeans.

"You think?" John Paul said with a grin as he pushed himself upright.

"Definitely," Craig affirmed as he pulled the offending clothing to the ground before rising to his feet.

John Paul laughed as he removed the last of his clothing, smiling as he saw Craig doing the same.

Once completely naked John Paul pulled Craig up against him, his cock still hard pressed into Craig's belly as John Paul wrapped Craig in his arms and kissed him deeply.

Stepping out of the embrace Craig took John Paul's hand and lead him over to the bed. Lying back against the softness of the mattress Craig held out his arms inviting John Paul to join him.

John Paul knelt between Craig's legs his eyes drinking in the beauty of the naked body below him. Craig slipped his hand under the pillow and brought out a small bottle in his grip, something that John Paul clearly remembered doing so long ago.

John Paul took a moment to consider if he should be offended that Craig had been so sure of himself or glad that he had been prepared before taking the bottle and pouring some of it's oily contents over his cock.

Craig raised his hips as John Paul lowered himself against his body, guiding his cock into place and pushing gently against Craig until he felt Craig's body open up and allow him access.

Craig's fingers gripped onto John Paul's flesh as he felt John Paul push deeper inside him, the initial discomfort quickly forgotten as John Paul's mouth covered his and his cock filled Craig completely.

As soon as John Paul started to move inside Craig he knew that he wouldn't be able to enjoy the sensation of him for long as he already ached for release and the feeling of Craig tight and hot around his cock was too much to resist.

His tongue pushed into Craig's mouth as the speed of his hips increased, pushing him harder and faster into Craig until all the pleasure of the world seemed to be contained in the passion between them.

John Paul moaned into Craig's mouth as he felt him orgasm begin to build inside him. Craig gripped him tightly raising himself to meet John Paul's thrusts urging him on until he could resist no longer.

Crying out Craig's name John Paul came hard and fast, his body shaking as he pushed into Craig one last time filling the man with his desire before collapsing onto him exhausted.

Craig rested his head against John Paul's shoulder.

"You'd like Ireland you know," he said suddenly.

"Yeah? You think so?"

"I do, it'd suit you."

Raising himself up on one elbow Craig looked down on the contented feature of John Paul.

"You could come and stay with me," he said.

"Is that an invitation?" John Paul asked.

"I don't want to be away from you again," Craig told him, "Come back to Ireland with me."

"You could always stay here."

Craig shook his head. "I'm too far into my course to quit… I couldn't just…" the words died on his lips as he realised what he was saying. "And you can't just walk out on yours either can you?"

John Paul pressed his palm softly against Craig's face. "I can't," he agreed, "I have to stay here and you have to go back. But this isn't like last time… and it isn't forever."

Craig leaned his head back against John Paul's shoulder. "I suppose we'd better make the most of the next few days then."

John Paul didn't want to think about Craig leaving but he knew it was unavoidable and, as the festive holiday sped past, his departure came ever closer. "What day do you go back?"

"My travel's booked for the first of January," Craig told him sadly.

"The first? But…"

"I have to be in work on the second," Craig sighed, "I'd agreed to do it before… before I knew I was coming home… before I knew I had something to stay for."

John Paul pulled Craig into his arms and pressed his lips against the top of Craig's head. "At least we've got another week before you leave," he said, "It's more than I expected to have this Christmas."

Craig snuggled deeper into John Paul's embrace with a comfortable sigh. He was certainly having a far better Christmas than he'd expected as well.