It was an all-nighter at the club the night before with some highs and lows mostly from Brendan's part. It amused Ste very much, seeing the man at his best doing his duties as a boss was a turn on. He never once thought of someone like Brendan never thought that Brendan could be his type, if he had one anyway. But he was tall and fit, the chest hair was a bit too much but maybe it was soft to the touch and dun to plat with. He liked that he was the one in control at Chez, but sometimes overly so. Brendan would scream at the customers, even the employees would run away from him. Ste noticed him flirting with Jacqui McQueen which made Ste sick to his stomach because it all seemed like a game to Brendan without any feelings behind his actions. Being Queer didn't make him into a freak acting fake did. It made Ste laugh to himself every time Brendan would tap on the bar counter and would do a little turn; Ste wondered if he really could dance, Brendan's body language said that he could.

Ste had a rough time going to bed and when he was a sleep had a hard time staying that way. He was energized from the night before. He couldn't get his head to feel relaxed, the beat of the music, the customers, Brendan, all of it had his eyes wide open.

When Ste finally did get out of bed for good it was due to the noise of drills coming from what he thought was the deli. He took a quick shower and got dressed he walked into his children's room and kissed his children goodbyes who were fast asleep in their cribs and then Ste left the flat.

Ste walked to the deli and noticed a big change. Riley was there already and was helping to clean up. Ste patted Riley on the shoulder. Ste looked around and looked at the one wall that had haunted him for months. 'Will you marry me?' was now covered in white primer. Ste took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Ste looked around for Brendan and sure enough he was in the back of the deli in total control with the contractors.

Ste couldn't help but stare at Brendan; who was wearing faded black jeans and a deep purple button down long sleeve shirt which was tucked into his jeans.

Brendan noticed Ste at the front of the deli and walked over to him.

"What are you doing here Steven?" asked Brendan slow and not happy to see Ste there.

"Just curious to see how it's coming along"

"So what ye think" asked Brendan

"I can't believe how much they have done already, don't know how to thank you enough Brendan"

"It's nothing" said Brendan coldly

Riley walked over to Ste once Brendan went back to the back of the deli.

"How are you feeling about all this?' asked Riley

"I feel good; it's time for a change"

"Uh, how are you feeling? I know that Doug was your best mate" asked Ste to Riley

"I'm alright, I appreciate the job boss."

Ste and Riley hugged and Brendan noticed from the back not looking at all happy.

Brendan walked back to Ste.

"I think you should leave and help Cheryl" said Brendan rudely

"Ok" said Ste not at all happy to being kicked out of his own deli.

In Chez, Chez

Ste walked inside the club and didn't see anyone there.

"Anyone here?" called out Ste

"Down here Ste" said Cheryl at the bottom level of the club which was the dance floor.

Ste walked down the stairs and watched Cheryl dancing to the soft music that was playing. Cheryl stopped dancing and Ste walked over to her.

"I'm surprised to see you here so early" said Cheryl out of breath.

"Yeah well, Brendan kicked me out of the deli"

"Why the hell would he do that?" asked Cheryl angry

"I don't know, maybe he doesn't want me to feel hurt"

Cheryl laughed out loud.

"What's so funny?

"Brendan don't give a shit about things like that"

"He told me yesterday that he would take care of everything so that I wouldn't have to be there but it's changed so much already that I don't recognize it anymore"

"What's going on between you and my brother?"

Ste looked at Cheryl confused.

"Nothing, why, what are you talking about?" asked Ste in shock.

"Well, I think that Brendan likes you" said Cheryl seriously

"He what?" asked Ste confused and shocked.

"Of course he won't admit it but I see the way he looks at you when you're not paying attention"

"He's not that kind of person, he already told me he feels uncomfortable being that kind of person."

"I Know that already Ste" said Cheryl as she sat down on one of the steps.

"Do you really. Did you know that he bashed up that guy he slept with so bad he ended up in the hospital and doesn't know if he's alive or dead."

Silence in the room when Cheryl noticed Brendan in the room.

"Don't" said Brendan before running off.

"Sorry" said Cheryl to Ste

Ste ran after Brendan

Brendan was leaning up against the door of the entrance of the club.

"I guess it's my turn to say that I'm sorry" said Ste sweetly

Brendan looked at Ste and pushed Ste against the wall hard. Ste banged his head and fell to the floor.

"Don't mess with me and don't mess with my family" screamed Brendan in Ste's face.

Brendan left the club and left Ste lying on the floor.

Cheryl walked over to Ste.

"Ohmigod, Ste" screamed Cheryl

"I told you" said Ste getting up from the floor with Cheryl's help.

"I'll be back later" said Ste rubbing the back of his head

"Relax, I'll talk to him"

"You sure?" asked Ste

"Yeah go on"

"Thanks"

Ste walked out of the club and ran carefully down the stairs and ran away from the deli.

Ste didn't notice Brendan coming out of the deli and looking in his direction, a look of longing on his face.

Later on that night.

Brendan walked into Chez, Chez and looked around for Ste at the bar area but Cheryl was there instead.

"Brendan, you have a lot of nerve showing your face here after what you did?"

"What I did, what about what he did?"

"He didn't do anything. I opened my big mouth to him, it was my fault not his."

"What did you say to him?"

"That I thought you liked him"

"Oh come on Chez, you know that I'm not into that"

"Well he was telling me that when you walked in. I swear to god Brendan, you lay another hand on that young man, I'll hurt you myself"

Brendan left the club, he was on his way to Ste's flat when he saw the lights on in the deli he stood outside of the deli and saw Ste in the deli facing the wall that once said 'Will you marry me?' on it.

Inside the deli

Ste was facing his favorite wall of the deli. He was in tears, his hands clenched tightly together.

"Living here without you Doug is not the same. I hate it here. I miss you, even the friends I have don't feel like friends since you ran away. I need you; I need my best friend back"

There was a knock at the door and Ste dried his eyes on the sleeves of his shirt.

"Sorry to intrude" said Brendan kindly as he walked into the deli.

"What the hell you want Brendan? Maybe through me against this wall too?" said Ste angry

"I'm Sorry about that back there, what you said is all true, I was angry that you told Cheryl the one secret that I could trust you with."

Brendan walked closer to Ste and Ste walked away from him.

"Leave me alone Brendan, I appreciate what you've done to the deli, but that's as far as it goes. You're my silent business partner, that's it. As far as anything else I don't need you far"

"Ouch, and here I thought we could be good mates. Well goodnight Ste" Brendan turned around and walked out of the deli and walked in the direction of his flat.