"Craig… Craig are you awake?" Frankie Osbourne tapped on Craig's bedroom door. "You really need to be getting up your train leaves in a couple of hours."

"Mmmmm," Craig murmured into his pillow, "Yeah… I'm awake."

Turning over in his bed Craig half opened his bleary eyes and began to smile as the face of John Paul gradually came into focus.

"I guess we fell asleep," John Paul said touching his fingertips to Craig's sleepy face.

"I guess we did." Craig agreed as he wriggled closer to John Paul nestling his way into the arms that were held open for him.

They had talked long into the early hours of the morning, breaking down any barriers still left between them as they admitted their hopes and fears for the future and leaving them feeling as if they knew each other better than they knew themselves.

"This is it then," John Paul said with a touch of sadness.

"We've still got a couple of hours," Craig replied before suddenly throwing back the duvet and leaping from the bed.

John Paul looked on in amusement at Craig's sudden burst of energy. Grabbing a dressing gown Craig slipped it over his arms before throwing another at John Paul.

"Come on," he said with a grin.

"What? Where?"

"It's morning," Craig said stating the obvious, "Time for a shower."

"We can't," John Paul said as he pulled the dressing gown around himself, "Not when everybody's home."

Craig simply shrugged as he opened his bedroom door a fraction. "Coast's clear," he said as he grabbed John Paul's hand, "Come on."

They were both laughing as Craig turned the lock on the bathroom door before shrugging his dressing gown to the floor. John Paul stepped forward, touching his hand gently to the warmth of Craig's chest, his eyes following the path of his fingers before lifting them to Craig's to see a love in them that made him want to laugh and cry at the same time.

"Tell me that you love me," John Paul asked quietly.

"I do," Craig told him, "I love you… more than I ever knew I could."

John Paul's hand slid over Craig's chest to slip behind his neck as he leaned forward to share the kiss of their last morning together.

A knock at the door made John Paul jump back in surprise.

"Is that you Craig," Frankie called.

"Yeah mum it's me."

"Just making sure you were up."

"Yeah I'm up… I'm gonna have a shower."

"What about John Paul, does he need another call."

Craig couldn't help the wide smile that spread across his face as his mum asked about John Paul in such a relaxed way.

"No he's fine mum," Craig called back as he grabbed the tie to John Paul's dressing gown and pulled it open, "We'll both be down in a bit."

"OK then… I'll put some breakfast on."

John Paul laughed as Craig tugged on his dressing gown causing him to move forwards until he was standing only inches from Craig.

"I can't believe you!" John Paul said.

"What?" Craig asked in mock innocence, "I was only telling the truth." Craig slowly pushed John Paul's dressing gown from his shoulders, "You ARE fine!"

Craig ran his eyes over John Paul's naked body causing John Paul to tremble inside as if he had just been touched.

"Come on then," Craig said as he took John Paul's hand again and lead him towards the shower. He held his hand under the flow of water until it reached a comfortable temperature and then stepped under in, moving back to make room as John Paul joined him.

John Paul turned his face into the warm caress of the water, savouring the sensation as it ran across his skin, trickling over his back and chest and running pleasantly down his thighs.

Craig stood silent, mesmerised by the sight of his lover standing under the running water, he couldn't stop his eyes from following the droplets of water as they trailed down the length of John Paul exquisite frame.

John Paul wiped the water from his face as he turned to look at Craig, pleased to notice that sharing a shower was having the same effect on him as it was on John Paul.

Craig took hold of a bottle of shower gel, squeezing some into his hands, he rubbed it over John Paul's chest, moving his hands in circles as the gel built into a lather that Craig began to spread further and further over John Paul's body.

John Paul sighed as Craig's touch moved over his flesh making him ache for more but Craig's hands against his skin felt so good that he had no real desire to rush them. He didn't realise that he had taken a step backwards until he felt the cool of the tiles against his back, letting himself relax against the wall John Paul pulled Craig against him, their bodies slick with water and the soap between their chests.

His mouth was hungry as it tasted Craig's; their lips were locked tightly together as the water continued to run over their faces and they held onto each other in an embrace that would keep them warm once they were apart.

Moving back from the kiss Craig shook his head wildly, laughing as droplets of water were sent flying in every direction. Joining his laughter John Paul took hold of the shower gel and, pointing it at Craig like a gun, he squeezed hard sending a flow of the thick liquid shooting over Craig's chest and then slowly trickling down towards his groin.

Craig let his eyes fall to the shower gel coating his body for a moment and then looked at John Paul with raised eyebrows.

John Paul's tongue slipped between his lips for a second, something that he did often and yet still made Craig want to take hold of him and taste him again.

Reaching his hands to Craig's chest John Paul began to mix the shower gel into the steady flow of water, easing the lather over Craig's shoulders and arms, pushing it down over his hips and across his thighs. Craig gasped as John Paul's hand passed over his cock making it twitch in anticipation but instead John Paul's hands moved away and snaked around Craig's back.

Craig's eyes were wide with need as he looked into the mysteriously beautiful blue pools of John Paul's. He didn't know how he would cope without being able to look into those eyes every day.

Tightening his grip around Craig's waist John Paul held him close, pressing kisses over his cheek and down his neck before biting lightly on the damp skin beneath his mouth. Craig murmured his pleasure as John Paul bit him a little harder and pressed his body against Craig's a little closer.

Craig felt the firmness of John Paul's cock pushing into his belly; much as his own was doing against John Paul. He moved his body in a slow rolling motion causing a wonderful slippery friction between them making them both moan with pleasure and press their bodies together harder.

"Craig…" John Paul's voice was hoarse as Craig's name slipped from his lips.

Craig eased his hand between their bodies and ran his fingers over the length of John Paul's cock. His hand slid easily over the soapy flesh as it moved in a slow deliberate motion.

"God Craig…" John Paul knew that nothing in the world could ever feel as good as Craig's touch and that he would never feel as complete as he did in Craig's arms.

John Paul's fingers sank into the flesh of Craig's shoulders as Craig continued to caress his cock, running his hand over it's entire length before pausing to run his thumb in a teasing circle over it's head.

Relaxing his grip on John Paul for a second Craig widened his hand and, when his grip tightened again, John Paul felt the additional sensation of Craig's hard cock pressed against his own as Craig moved his hand over them both in unison, sharing the pleasure he was giving to John Paul.

John Paul cupped Craig's face in his hands, kissing him deeply as Craig's touch continued to excite him, he pushed his tongue into the heat of Craig's mouth exploring every inch of him that he could reach, his body shaking as the movement along his cock pressed firmly against Craig's was almost unbearable.

Craig marvelled at the feeling of holding his own cock tight against John Paul's, feeling them both throb in his palm as the need in them increased. John Paul's tongue inside his mouth swirled against his as John Paul's hands held on to him tightly.

Craig could feel the pressure between them building as he increased the speed of his stokes, the sounds of John Paul's moans that vibrated through his mouth urging him to go faster, to hold on tighter, to give them both what they wanted.

He felt the pulsing of John Paul's cock almost at the same time as he felt his own climax begin to build inside him.

John Paul broke away from their kiss, his breath coming in short gasps, as the pressure inside his body became too intense to withstand and, as he held on to Craig, he felt his whole body shake as he came, whispering Craig's name as his orgasm rolled over him, spilling over Craig's hand and covering his cock with its passion.

Craig could hold back no longer and, even before John Paul had regained his breath, Craig's own climax exploded from him as he cried out, the heat from his body pouring over his hand to mix with John Paul's as Craig held their cocks together until they were both totally spent and they rested their head together with satisfied smiles.

They stood silently for a few minutes allowing the water to run over their bodies until Craig had to admit with a sad defeat that the time had come for them to go.

"I think breakfast might be cold," Craig said as wrapped a large bath towel around himself.

"That's OK," John Paul told him pulling his dressing gown back on, "It wasn't food I was hungry for this morning anyway."

Craig kissed John Paul again before he went to the bathroom door and opened it a fraction to peer out.

"Morning Craig!" Steph called as she passed by the door.

Craig stepped back in surprise. "Oh… yeah… morning Steph..." he stammered in reply.

"Morning John Paul," she said with a grin before disappearing down the stairs.

John Paul and Craig looked at each other and laughed. It seemed that they weren't as clever as they thought.

Standing at the station with Craig felt horribly familiar. Was it really 18 months since they last did this? Since he last said goodbye to the man he loved.

Once again John Paul felt the pangs of sadness as he stood holding on to Craig's hand. Having to let him go again hurt almost as much as it had the first time, but at least this time he knew that Craig would be back and he knew that Craig would be on the other end of the phone whenever he needed to talk.

The minutes were ticking by so fast that John Paul knew Craig had to get on the train soon or risk missing it all together.

"You'd better go," he said sadly, "they wont wait for you."

Craig nodded, holding John Paul's hand a little tighter, "But will you?"

"You know I will... for as long as it takes."

Craig pulled John Paul into his arms, holding him tightly for one last time, kissing him for one last time, saying goodbye one too many times.

"I don't think I can do it," he breathed into John Paul's hair, "I don't think I can leave you again."

John Paul stepped back, holding Craig at arms length and looking into the soft brown of his eyes.

"Yes you can," he said simply, "I won't be the reason for you leaving Trinity... I won't risk you resenting me for that in the future."

"The future?"

"Our future," John Paul continued, "We've got the rest of our lives to be together... I think we can cope with a little more time apart..."

"When did you get to be so sensible?" Craig asked with a laugh.

"I always have been... you just never noticed before. Now go on... get on the train before I change my mind."

Pressing his lips against John Paul's once more Craig turned and boarded the train to start his journey back to Ireland.

John Paul watched as the train pulled away from the station, staring after it until it's shape became only a blur in the distance.

With a sad smile he started to head back along the platform.

A sudden vibration against his leg alerted John Paul to the arrival of a text. Pulling his phone from his pocket he smiled as Craig's name was illuminated on the screen. He quickly pressed read.

"Did I say that I love you?" The message from Craig read.

"You might have mentioned it," John Paul replied, "But you can say it again as often as you like. Call me soon."

Slipping his phone back into his pocket John Paul's steps were lighter as he headed out of the station.

Within minutes his phone began to shake again, a different vibration announcing a call. John Paul laughed as once again Craig's name lit up the phones display.

Craig began to speak the second John Paul answered his call.

"So would NOW be too soon to call?"

"You could have at least waited till you got out of Chester," John Paul replied laughing.

"Yeah I could have done that," Craig agreed laughter apparent in his voice, "But I couldn't wait that long!"

"You DO realise that if we carry on like this we're gonna end up with some huge phone bills!"

"I can live with that," Craig said decisively, "I don't want to give you the chance to forget me."

"It's never gonna happen!"

"As long as you remember that I love you," Craig said.

"I love you too," John Paul replied.

"I'll call you soon..."

"Make sure you do..."

There was a pause as they both held their phones, listening to each other's breathing.

"See ya Craig..."

"Bye."

John Paul felt a new born confidence as he made his way home. Craig might be miles from him right now but they would be together again and then nothing would ever come between them.

Craig rested his head against the cool glass of the train's window with a sigh.

"Saying goodbye to your girlfriend?" The old woman sitting opposite asked him with a smile.

"My boyfriend actually," Craig replied grinning as he sat back into his seat.

"You should see him," he continued, "He's so beautiful... the most beautiful person I've ever known."

Craig smiled to himself as he closed his eyes, the image of John Paul burning brightly in his mind. The train might be taking his body on its journey back to Ireland but he had left his heart back in Hollyoaks, back in the hands of John Paul. And he knew it would be safe there.