6 days later.

Stephen's visiting today. Jesus, what am I going to say to him? I mean, I've never been good with words, but in this place…it's a whole different ball game. And how do I approach him? I'll probably fight the urge to hug him and never let him go; I don't want eyes, hushed voices and fingers in our direction. Yeah, I think a smile is the safe bet.

Oh maybe we'll bring attention to ourselves in a different way. Stephen shouting and lashing out is always a possibility, especially after reading his letter over and over again for past 5 days.

Be prepared Brendan.

/

I stand in a row full of men waiting to be greeted by family or friends, and I suddenly feel sick and nervous. This isn't right, I shouldn't have let Stephen come here; he shouldn't see me in this state. No one should see a person they…love in prison. I want to turn back around, but the voice in my head tells me to man up. Grow a pair.

I inhale deeply has the gate opens and we make our way to the visiting area. I look around until I catch Stephen standing up, awkwardly messing with his hooded sleeves. He looks up has I walk up to him.

He looks tired, confused, fed up and scared. Fuck sake. Before I know it his arms are wrapped around my neck and he holds on to me tightly as though his life depends on it. I can hardly breathe, and I can sense eyes on us, but in this moment I don't care. I put my arm around his back and pull him closer. He feels and smells just as I remembered him.

It feels like we've being held in this embrace for hours, but after one final tight squeeze we let go of each other and sit down facing one another.

'Sorry,' he sighs 'probably wasn't my best option to hug you in front of everyone like that.'

I shake my head.

'It doesn't matter; it's the best greeting I've ever had.' I smile, but I know it doesn't reach my eyes.

'So… you gonna explain to be, Brendan? Proper expiations, too, don't leave anything out.'

I lean over the table and fold my arms so they rest on it in front of me.

'Right… this fucking Silas guy, ye know him who's related to the Costello's?' I pause to see if he's following, and he nods for me to carry on. 'Well he's the murderer, Stephen. He set me up.'

He scrunches his face in confusion.

'But why would some old man wanna set you up?'

'Cause he knows I know what he's like. He's been messing with Lindsey, I thought she was turning into a nut job at first, but she was right. He's a creep, Stephen.'

'So,' he pauses 'he killed Rae cause you know what he's like? Brendan, that doesn't make sense. What does he have against you or Rae?'

I feel like shaking him.

'Look, I don't know why he went after Rae. All I know is he's put the blame on me cause I had reason to, yer know… kill her, but I swear, I never touched her.'

'Half the village saw you threaten her, Bren. It doesn't look good.'

I scratch at my forehead, agitated.

'I know that, but I was angry. Dec had just found out about me, he's my son; the last thing I wanted was him knowing that. It wasn't her place to say anything. But I don't really blame her… when I confronted her she'd said something about Silas telling her to stick up for herself, he put it in her head that she had to stand up to us. Well, me.'

'She didn't mean to say it in front of him, you know.' He says. 'She was just proper angry and she blurted it out.'

I nod my head in agreement. He looks at me as though his brain is ticking over; he opens his mouth and shuts it again numerous times before he asks the question I'd hoped he'd already know the answer to.

'You would never kill a woman, would you, Brendan?'

'No! No of course not, never.'

'There was Danny.' He whispers.

I look him straight in the face.

'That… that was different, yer know that was for the good. He was trouble; he would do anything for the sake of him coming up tops. I'm no saint, I know that, everybody knows that… but I would never harm a woman in anyway. I have my reasons for doing what I did…do to yer, but I wanna sort that out.'

'Okay.' He smiles, tiredly.

'Okay.' I repeat.

'So if I talk to Lindsey she will help me? I'm gonna get you out of here, Bren. Also, I haven't let you off for leaving me for her, but I'll save the 'old woman' routine for when you get out.'

'Yeah, she believes me, right? She knows what he's like; she's known it for weeks, but no one will listen to her, just like no fecker will listen to me in here. Jesus, Stephen, leave that for now, yeah? It was a mistake.' I grunt.

He nods. 'Yeah she believes you; she's mentioned this Silas dude to me and Cheryl a number of times. But I was so confused, angry and upset that I wasn't paying much attention to her. I was so sure you'd done it… is that bad?' He sniffs.

I laugh short. 'No, no. It's understandable I guess, me and Rae were never the best of friends, and I know she only ever wanted the best for you. She was a wise girl really.'

Stephen wipes at his eyes harshly, his cheeks red and his eyes blood shot.

'Hey, stop this.' I reach over and give his arm a stroke.

'I'm sorry,' he whispers 'it's just… I miss her, me. She meant a lot to me and all I did was shit on her with you. But she forgave me and she was still there for me. Then to think it was you that did it… god, Bren. I hate it.'

I put on my best poker face.

'Everything will be okay… I'm gonna get out of here, Stephen. We will prove that Silas did this.'

How the hell are 'we' going to prove anything, I think as soon has I've said it.

'Yeah?' He asks hopeful.

'Yeah.'

'Five minutes!' The warden announces.

'Already?' Stephen asks 'I've only just got here.'

'Yer know what they say, time flies when yer are having fun.'

HA!

'I don't wanna leave you.' He says and I wipe away tears from his cheek.

'I'm a big boy, don't you worry about me. I've got the wonderful Terry for company, don't forget.' I roll my eyes.

'Oh God! I forgot about him, what's he like? Does he look like a rapist?' He asks, intrigued.

I snort. 'He just looks… well, big and ugly. Doesn't say much, which I'm grateful for, I keep out of his way much as I can.'

'Urgh, dirty bastard.' Ste shakes his head in disgust.

'Two minutes!' We hear this time.

'Right, speak to Lyns and Cheryl for me; get Lyns to get more evidence if she can. But she's gotta be careful! I don't want any harm coming to her, or to any of yer, do yer hear me?'

He nods his head. 'I will write to you and keep you updated.' He pauses. 'Why us? It's not fair.'

I laugh. 'What have I told yer? Life isn't fair, Stephen. Stay strong for me please. I don't want no more tears, yer are my rock whilst I'm in here, right?'

He nods but I can tell he doesn't believe it.

'Time!'

We both look at the warden and back at each other; neither of us wants to leave the other. Shit, c'mon.

'Can't you sneak me in?' He asks, looking up at me.

I wish.

'It's jail, lad…not a walk in centre. Now come on.'

He gets up and hugs me just like he did before we sat down.

'I'll write to you, I'm proper gonna miss you, Bren.' He sighs, sadly.

He kisses underneath my ear, and I feel the warm heat spread down my back and legs.

'By the way,' he whispers 'the beard isn't stupid at all, it's rather sexy.' And I feel his mouth spread in to a little smile.

He pulls back to look at me. 'That doesn't mean it's not getting shaved when you get out of here.'

The movement around us is blurry as all I can take in is the young lad in front of me. He's here for me and I haven't lost him, he believes me. He fecking believes me, it finally sets in.

'I love you.' He whispers has I'm forced to go back to my nightmare.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading and reviewing! Means a lot.