A/N: I'd like to dedicate this final chapter to everyone who has ever taken the time to read and review my stories. Your encouragement and kindness has been overwhelming and I'll never forget it. No matter how bad things get, I'll always love these two. I'm giving them this ending for me and for all of you. Thank you.

Chapter Five

Ste awoke the next morning with Brendan draped over him. As mornings went, it was a pretty nice way to wake up. He slipped carefully out from underneath him and padded out of the room towards the kitchen. He decided on a simple breakfast today; pouring some cereal into bowls for Leah and Lucas and fixing him and Brendan some toast.

When he went back to the bedroom, Brendan was awake. His chest was on display and his arm was over his eyes tiredly.

"Something smells good." He murmured as Ste bounced onto the bed beside him.

"Fixed you some toast." Ste said, kissing him lightly on the lips.

"A man could get used to this." Brendan said, sitting up and taking the offered plate out of Ste's hands.

"You forgive me for yesterday then?" Ste grinned, munching happily on his crusts.

"I think I have blisters, Steven. What do ye think?"

"Aw, I'll give you a foot rub shall I?"

"Don't even think about it." Brendan warned. "They're so sore."

"You know who else is sore." Ste said suggestively, placing Brendan's plate onto the bedside table and crawling on top of him.

"Too sore for a bit of morning delight?" Brendan crooned, reaching out to trail his fingers down the back of Ste's neck.

"No chance." Ste grinned, leaning forwards to kiss him, deeper this time.

"Ye taste of toast."

"Is that a good thing?"

"Ye know food and you are my guilty pleasures."

"Guilty, hm?" Ste raised his eyebrows, hands resting on Brendan's chest. He felt the dark hairs there, brushing the tips of his fingers over Brendan's nipples.

"Well, not anymore." Brendan replied, hands moving to grasp Ste's waist in a firm grip.

"But it used to be?" Ste asked, already knowing the answer.

"It was different then." Brendan said softly.

"Do you ever…" Ste trailed off, uncertain.

Brendan's hands stilled, looking up at him questioningly. "What?"

Ste sighed, ducking his head a little, embarrassed. "It's nothing."

"No, go on." Brendan pressed.

Ste sat back on his heels, surveying Brendan carefully. "Do you ever wonder how different things could have gone? If we hadn't gotten back together when we did?"

Brendan frowned, seemingly wondering what had brought on this turn in conversation.

"I just mean, would we be where we are right now?"

"Where else would we be?" Brendan asked, confused.

"I dunno." Ste answered evasively. "That's what I'm asking."

"I don't know what to tell ye, Steven." Brendan said honestly. "I'm just glad that we're here and… ye know, together."

Ste's face lit up at these words. "That's all I wanted to know." He said, wrapping his arms around Brendan's waist.

"Ye have the strangest thoughts sometimes." Brendan said good-naturedly.

"I think too much." Ste admitted sheepishly.

"I thought it was only me." Brendan chortled, holding him against his chest.

"Daddy?" Leah called through the door.

Ste grinned up at him, lowering his voice. "We'll continue this later."

"I'll hold ye to that." Brendan promised, giving his arse a slap on the way out.

Xxx

After breakfast they readied themselves for the Treasure Trail. Ste couldn't help laughing at the sight of Brendan decked out in what he deemed 'outdoors wear'. It was strange sometimes, thinking about how far they had come. Ste couldn't imagine seeing Brendan like this a few years ago; holding Leah in his arms protectively, Lucas gazing up at him in awe. He wasn't a different man, not really. He was still unbearably irritating when he wanted to be but in new ways. He was over-protective at the best of times, insecure at others. He left the toilet seat up, he stole the covers.

But they were silly things really and when Ste thought back to the troubles of old he wondered how he had got to this place. A place where Brendan was his and they were truly, unequivocally happy.

"Ye alright?" Brendan gave him a small nudge to draw his attention back. "They're explaining the rules."

Ste gave him a shrewd look. "Do you care though? Aren't you going to cheat?"

"I'm beginning to wonder if that's possible." Brendan teased, flashing him a grin.

"Maybe we should do it by the book this time." Ste suggested, raising his eyebrows.

"Spoil sport." Brendan murmured.

The groups dispersed and Brendan stirred Ste into action. They took the bikes with them, Leah trundling along as best she could. The clues were fairly easy to work out and Ste was feeling immensely pleased with himself when he guessed one correctly. The couple to their right snorted at his over-enthusiasm, giving him the once over.

"What you looking at?" Ste asked very loudly.

"Nothing." The man said, giving his wife a pointed look.

Brendan stepped forwards then, glaring. "What's the problem, hm?"

"Nothing, mate." The man repeated, a little unnerved this time.

"Ye best hope not." Brendan said, voice deadly quiet. The man's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Come on, we're on holiday here!"

"I don't take a day off from looking after him, can ye say the same?" Brendan shot back.

His wife pulled on his arm hastily, steering him away from Brendan.

"That was a bit much, Bren." Ste chastised him.

Brendan turned back to him, face smoothed out. "I couldn't give a shit about him, Steven. I just like scaring people, I miss it."

Ste snorted then, giving him a playful shove. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"Yeah but I wasn't wrong. I don't take a day off." Brendan said seriously, slinging an arm around Ste's waist.

"Perhaps you should sometime." Ste said carefully. He began speaking again quickly when Brendan appeared hurt by his words. "I don't mean that! Just you've been so anxious lately. We haven't had any trouble since Andy and even then I pretty much saved our butts." Ste's eyes glittered in amusement. "So calm down, yeah?"

Brendan shrugged, grunting in reply.

"I know it's because you care." Ste added, knocking his head affectionately against Brendan's shoulder.

"Course." Brendan murmured, almost embarrassed.

"Well let's finish this then we can go for a swim or something."

Brendan's eyes raked over his body. "I'll buy ye some skinnier trunks."

"You will not!" Ste blushed.

"Don't be shy, Steven. It doesn't suit ye." Brendan whispered against his ear, giving his arse a squeeze.

"Next clue!" Leah piped up suddenly, tugging on Ste's sleeve.

Ste laughed, following his children as they bounded away happily.

"We need to get back on the bikes!" He called after them. Brendan scooped Lucas into his arms, giving his nose a tweak.

"Always be good for yer Da, yeah?"

"Yeah." Lucas nodded, grinning.

"Brendan." Leah piped up, very quiet. Ste turned his head away, taking Lucas in his arms and pretending not to listen.

"What is it, darling?" Brendan asked, kneeling down to her level.

"Are you going to stay with us now you and Daddy are married?" She asked, hands clasped behind her back nervously.

"Of course I am." Brendan told her, his mouth twitching with a smile. "Me and ye… we're friends, aren't we?"

"You can be my Daddy too if you want." Leah said sweetly, grin splitting her face.

"Ye only have one Daddy, Leah."

"I know, but I want you too." Leah held out her hand.

"I'd be honoured." Brendan said, taking her offered hand. "But let's not make Daddy jealous, yeah?"

Leah held out her hand to Ste too, grinning widely up at him. "Love you!"

"And you!" Ste replied, just a little choked up.

"Softie." Brendan winked, but his eyes were shining too.

Xxx

They spent the remainder of the day doing various activities with the kids. Brendan suggested that they save the swimming until it was dark and it didn't disappoint. The way the lights lit up the water and the serenity of the late breeze coupled with the soothing quiet was enough to give Brendan his most relaxing moment of the holiday yet.

The kids paddled nearby together while Steven lay in between Brendan's arms, floating easily on the surface. They were fortunate enough to get a few minutes outside alone; just the four of them. Brendan felt the rain spitting on his face but it only added to the calmness he felt throughout his entire body.

"I could stay here forever." Steven said blissfully. His eyes were closed, the eyelashes glinting with the rain water falling onto them.

"Mm, same." Brendan murmured. He had a hold of Steven's waist to stop him floating away from him. Brendan leaned against the edge of the pool, holding his lover close and basking in the joy of an atmosphere he never believed possible.

"Do we have to go home tomorrow?" Steven asked, his chest rising and falling slowly.

"Afraid so." Brendan replied, smoothing his hand across Steven's forehead. "Ye like it here then?"

"It's been proper good." Steven responded. "The kids have loved it."

"Yeah." Brendan agreed, glancing over at them.

"They told me they've had a better time than when they went with Amy." Steven told him, opening one eye to witness Brendan's reaction.

Brendan grinned a little, old rivalries never completely disappearing. "Glad to hear it."

"Maybe we should take your boys away sometime."

"Ye reckon they would?" Brendan asked thoughtfully.

"I dunno. Worth an ask though."

"Mm." Brendan said, drifting his hand across the water. "Steven." He began, a thought seizing him.

"What?"

"Come here."

Steven righted himself, slipping easily into Brendan's arms.

"I know things haven't always been… right between us."

"Bren, we don't need to do this." Steven interjected, brushing his palm against Brendan's chest.

"Just, let me finish, yeah?" Brendan took a deep breath. "I just want to tell ye that I will give ye everything ye deserve and that I know I can never make up for some things, the danger I've put ye in-"

"Hardly your fault, Andy was a nut job."

"But he came after ye because of me." Brendan sighed. "What I'm saying is, that can't happen again. So when we get back to the village things are gonna be different."

"Different how?" Steven asked curiously, staring up into Brendan's face.

"No more dodgy deals, or dodgy people." Brendan smirked a little at that. "If there's even a whiff of something disastrous…" Brendan trailed off, frowning.

"You think there could be more? People from your past?" Steven asked carefully.

"Yeah, there could be. But I'm saying I won't let it destroy us. We'll just leave if they try. Pack Amy and the kids up and go. I won't have anyone take ye away from me, Steven. Not ever."

Steven drew himself closer, resting his head on Brendan's damp chest. "I believe you." he whispered.

"There's something else." Brendan began slowly. "One day… we might have to have a conversation."

"Oh?" Steven looked frightened now in that way he always did when he felt Brendan slipping into darkness.

"It's not going to be an easy one but…" Brendan stared off into the middle distance. "I'm not ready yet."

"I get that but why tell me now?" Steven asked, confused.

"I just need ye to know there might be some surprises." Brendan's face twisted into an ugly expression. "I know I've been overprotective since I got ye back but there's always a reason. I'm just not… I can't…" Brendan stuttered on his words then. Steven held him closer.

"Shh, don't. You don't have to do this now. This is us right now, yeah? We're together and nothing's gonna change that. I love you. Nothing will ever make me stop loving you."

Brendan smiled then, a whisper in the air of something unspoken.

"This is it, Steven. Ye, me, the kids. Our beginning. It's only the beginning." Brendan smoothed his hand down Steven's bare back.

"I know." Steven pulled himself closer, claiming Brendan's lips. "I already have ideas, career stuff." Steven brought his fingers up, listing things. "We're gonna get a new bed too, maybe look for somewhere bigger to live. The kids should have their own rooms, right? And I don't expect you to pay for it all. I wanna do more, even more than what you suggested at the club. I wanna make my kids proud, Bren. I want them to point at me in the playground and say 'that's my dad over there, that's him'. And no matter what's happened with your boys, they're gonna do the same. We're gonna see them more, visit more. I wanna be a part of their lives too."

"Steven," Brendan grinned at him, not wanting to silence him but knowing he wouldn't stop anytime soon. "I love ye."

"This is the start of something very special." Steven said softly, cradling his face in his hands. "Me and you, it's never gonna be perfect but we'll make it perfect. I know it, I feel it."

"Are ye drunk?" Brendan chuckled, curving his hand around the back of his neck.

"Maybe later." Steven winked.

"That sounds like a challenge."

"Oh it is. I want our last night to be extra special."

"Oh yeah? How?" Brendan whispered against his ear.

Steven leaned closer, pushing his groin against Brendan's leg. "I'm gonna pull my legs so far back you'll be buried so deep and tight inside me you're gonna die."

"Die? That doesn't sound pleasant."

"Not literally, Bren." Steven chastised. He continued, rolling his eyes a little at the interruption. "I'm gonna buck my hips off the bed so high you'll hit the ceiling. I'll scream so loud you'll have to gag me."

"Jesus, Steven."

"I'll kiss you so hard I'll draw blood, and my fingernails are gonna leave marks again, I know that much."

"Ye are insatiable." Brendan grinned. "But I think we best stop this conversation. We are in a public place."

Steven laughed, honking and utterly ridiculous. "I forgot we were outside, how embarrassing."

"Ye are getting all wrinkled, shall we get out?" Brendan suggested, feeling the goosebumps on Steven's flesh.

"The kids do look tired…" Steven agreed. "But I won't stop this chat later you know. Maybe I won't let you touch me at first."

"Steven…" Brendan said warningly.

They ceased their discussion while they got the kids out of the pool and towards the changing rooms. They showered in the public area, Leah helping Lucas do his hair, and Brendan doing the same for Steven.

"If I were a cat I'd be purring right now." Steven said, blissed out.

"I think we're getting an audience."

Steven opened one eye, spotting the group of young girls staring at them, open-mouthed and wondering.

"Somehow I don't think they judge us." Steven grinned.

"How could they? We're brilliant." Brendan's eyes flashed dangerously. "Cover yer eyes a minute, kids."

Leah did so, grinning hugely and encouraging Lucas to do the same.

"Let's give them something to really stare at." Brendan smiled, pulling Steven close, hands either side of his face, and giving him a long, deep kiss.

"Just the beginning, yeah?" Steven asked breathlessly when their mouths had parted.

"I promise." Brendan murmured against his lips, and he meant it.