Midnight

Mark sat staring into space, glad that Bono was sleeping upstairs. It had been the day from Hell and he didn't need to have anything more to worry about.

"Mark?"

"Keep him home from school tomorrow." Betty nodded as she spoke. The tension hung in the air. Betty shook her head sadly.

"I was so scared. My boy. My wee boy! How dare he? How he dared go to the school! Talk to Bono!"

"Our boy has more sense than we ever thought possible for his age." Mark stepped towards his wife. "We've raised a bright lad."

"Mark."

"Hey, come here." He hugged his wife as she closed her eyes. "Bono is safe. You know that. Maria, Dermot and the triplets are safe. Rory, Buster. Cathy is back home with Ma and Trevor."

"Where did your Grandad get to? He rounded all the others up. Cathy told me."

"He thinks he's the only one that can protect us. Buster drove around Dublin for an hour, they were looking for that scum but they had no idea where to look. The man is pushing 90."

"You'd never guess the way he carries on."

"Well, Ma married a younger man. What can I say? The Brown charm."

"Aye, if you say so Mark Steven Brown," she smiled as Mark kissed her hair.

"️Bed."

"Aye." She slipped her hand in his and led him upstairs.

Xxxxxxxx

"Winne said she'll warn Sharon not to serve him in Foleys." Agnes watched as her daughter pulled the dressing gown around her.

"I don't think he'll be wanting a drink."

"Your Daddy used to hit me. Well once he did, in those days people who behaved in such a way were not seen as they are now." Agnes watched as Cathy frowned.

"I know."

"I never told you. I never let you or your brothers see." She adjusted her glasses. Cathy sighed.

"We knew. I used to tell the little ones stories. Rory would hide. Usually under the bed covers. Mark would want to storm downstairs and take Daddy on himself. Frankie would lay on the bedroom floor, silent. You know? He knew the same as we did that you two were trying to hide what was going on. Frankie said something once."

"Cathy, Luv. Don't speak ill of the dead."

"He was Redser's son." Cathy sighed. "That's why him and Mark clashed. I just tried to keep Trevor, Rory and the twins from hearing everything."

"You were always the grown up."

"I was not. Just the only girl." Cathy smiled. Agnes shook her head sadly.

"My baby girl. All blonde curls and a stare that would silence the hardest men. I always

wanted to see you married an appy but you married a pig of a man. Made the same mistake I did." Agnes stared at her half empty mug of tea. "I wanted better for you. For all of you."

"Mammy." Cathy grabbed her hand before the older woman could pull away. "You did grand bringing us all up. Look at Trevor. He's happy. Rory has Dino, they argue like cat and dog,"

"Oh I know."

"Dermot's happy. Maria adores him. Mark has a wife and son that love him and a job he loves. Simon, well."

"Frankie made his bed and so did Simon."

"Simon will be out soon. It's better him and Dermot are apart."

"Good twin, bad twin." Agnes shook her head. "And you, Cathy. What about you?" Cathy fell silent for a moment.

"I'll be grand. You just watch." She kissed her mother's cheek. "Would yer stop yer worrying?"

"No. Never. Now get to bed, young lady and don't wake your Grandad." Cathy smiled before turning and heading up the stairs. She knew her family were right to be worried. Michael wouldn't go back to London just because they wanted him too.

Xxxxxxxxa

A/N filler chapter - please review