Johnny felt bad for lying to his new friends; he was over at Whitney's trying to take his mind off missing Danny who had been away all week with Lucy on a business trip; they were playing truth and he'd manage to dodge the first few questions regarding his love life but now he was having to lie outright.

"Come on Johnny! It's called truth for a reason." Whitney pressed.

Johnny coloured deeply. "I already answered the question, it's Lauren's turn."

"You can't tell us you've snogged a guy and then not tell us who it was. Come on! Was it someone local - Peter? Oh my God it was Peter wasn't it?!"

"No it wasn't." Johnny said thinking of Lucy's twin brother who he'd only met briefly. "He's with Lola remember? And besides he's not my type." he replied honestly.

"So what is your type?" Lauren asked with interest.

Johnny blushed. "I dunno." he shrugged. "Tall dark and handsome I guess."

Lauren and Whitney both rolled their eyes. "Come on Johnny that's what we all fantasize about; what do you really like?" she asked.

Johnny drained the rest of his vodka and coke. "Alright alright." he said deciding this was a question he could at least answer honestly. "I like confident guys, but they've also got to have a sense of humour and a cheeky smile too." he said thinking of Danny once again. "And I have to feel safe with them." he added. "That's really important."

Lauren and Whitney glanced at each other both trying to work out who Johnny's mystery man could be. "Tamwar?" Lauren asked before she and Lauren spluttered into a fit of giggles. "Can you imagine what Zainab would say if she found out she had two gay sons!" she said roaring with laughter. "I think she'd explode!"

Johnny just stared at them not understanding the joke. "I have no idea what you're talking about, who is Zainab? And more to the point who is Tamwar?" he asked.

"Okay so clearly not him then." Whitney said pouring some more drinks. "Is it even someone from Walford?" she asked handing a glass to Johnny - perhaps if she got him drunk enough he wouldn't be so secretive.

"No." Johnny lied. "Someone from back home, you wouldn't know them."

"Aw that's no fun." Lauren sighed. "Okay so Whitney who was a better kisser Fatboy or Tyler?" she asked.

Johnny relaxed once his questioning was over and was able to enjoy himself once more. Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket he pulled it out and smiled at the text message he'd received: "Hope your having fun with the girls. Lucy is boring me to tears :-( Would much rather have you in the passenger seat D x"

Johnny quickly typed out a reply and sent it. "Having a great time but would rather be with you, I'm sure I could have found a way of putting the smile back on your face."

Almost instantly Danny replied: "The night is still young, we're on our way back shouldn't be long - need to see you tonight Dx"

Johnny's heart soared - Danny was back tonight? He wasn't supposed to be home until the following day. Johnny was about to reply when his phone was snatched from his hand. "Texting him are you?" Lauren said holding the phone above her head; in her high heels she was taller than Johnny who couldn't reach.

"Hey give that back!" Johnny demanded.

"What's the harm? It's not like we'll know who it is anyway." Lauren said glancing briefly at the last message still open on the screen. "D? Who's D?" she asked noticing that the contact name was also under the same initial.

Johnny jumped up on the arm chair and snatched the phone out of her hand, pocketing it quickly. "That's none of your business." he snapped.

"Wow defensive." Lauren said with a roll of her eyes.

Whitney glanced at Johnny and could see he was more than a little annoyed with her friend. "That was a little harsh Lauren." she scolded. "You wouldn't like it if we went through your phone."

Lauren sat back down on the sofa with a heavy sigh. "Sorry alright." she muttered.

"It's fine." Johnny said not wanting to lose his new friends as quickly as he'd made them. "Just don't do it again."

Lauren just nodded.

"I'd better go actually." Johnny said getting up and pulling on his coat.

"Oh no not yet!" Whitney said jumping up and following Johnny out of the room. "Lauren said she was sorry and we won't ask any more questions about it."

"It's fine Whit, honest." Johnny smiled reassuringly. "I'll see you tomorrow." he said leaving the house and slamming the door behind him.

Whitney returned to the living room. "You shouldn't have done that." she said sitting down and sighing heavily - potentially a great night had been ruined.

Lauren glanced at Whitney. "All I know is that whoever it was he was definitely from Walford."

Whitney glanced at her friend. "Oh yeah?" she asked with a sly smile.

"Yeah, come on don't pretend you've never put a guy's name in your phone under just an initial or a code name or something." Lauren said thinking about how not only Joey but Jake had been under different names in her own phone; from the look on Whitney's face she could tell her friend had also done the same. "And the reason we do that is because we don't want anyone to find out, usually because they're already taken."

"What are you saying?" Whitney asked with a frown.

"Oh come on Whit join the dots - likes guys but already taken and the name begins with D, doesn't take a genius to work out." Lauren replied.

Whitney's alcohol soaked brain took a few moments to catch on but soon realisation dawned on her. "Danny?! Johnny and Danny? No way!"

Lauren just rose her eyebrows. "Uh huh." she nodded.

Whitney couldn't help but giggle. "Ooh this is going to cause trouble."

"Big time." Lauren nodded in agreement.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Johnny had been sitting on the park bench opposite the Vic for sometime just letting the cool air sober him up; his mother didn't mind him drinking but she didn't approve of him getting completely trashed. Once his eyes had regained focus and he was confident he could walk in a straight line he got up and headed for the pub.

"Where are you off to handsome?"

Johnny span around to see Danny standing by the park gate; he rushed over, wrapped his arms around Danny's neck and kissed him not caring that anyone could catch them - he'd missed him too much to care right now.

Danny broke the kiss, grabbed Johnny's and pulled him into the alleyway next to the pub where they were less likely to be seen. He didn't even give Johnny to speak before their mouths locked together once more.

Johnny groaned as Danny pushed him against the alley wall; his tongue plundering deep into the back of his mouth and his thumbs hooking into the top of his jeans. Johnny's hands scrabbled over his shoulders and down his back and he moaned into his mouth. "I missed you." he managed to say. Danny just hummed in agreement, his mouth too busy sucking and nipping at the base of Johnny's neck for words. Johnny arched his body up from the wall, pushing against Danny and groaning at the hardness he felt in his jeans. "Feels like you missed me too." he said with a shy smile.

"Damn right." Danny muttered nipping at Johnny's earlobe playfully as his hands slid down his chest. "I'm glad I got to see you tonight, it feels like it's been forever." he said pressing kisses to his jaw.

Johnny dug his fingers into Danny's hair and mouthed open kisses against his ear and cheekbone. "Don't ever go away ever again." he told him. A week without seeing him had been pure torture.

Danny drew away and smiled. "I can't promise that I'm afraid." he said cupping Johnny's face and stroking his thumbs down his cheekbones. "But it's always fun when I come back isn't it?" he smiled.

"Let me come back to yours." Johnny asked.

Danny shook his head and sighed with disappointment. "I wish you could but Lucy is there, I told her I was just coming over for a quick pint."

Johnny just nodded but the mention of Lucy fuelled him with jealousy - he hated the fact Danny and Lucy were the couple and he was just Danny's sordid secret. Danny seemed to sense his frustration and kissed him reassuringly. "You know if I could be with you I would." he told him.

Johnny sucked in a deep breath and decided to be brave - if Danny wanted him as much as he said he did then he needed to prove it. "Dump her then and let's make a go of it properly, you and me out in the open." he said quickly before he talked him out of saying the words.

Danny drew back a little and stared at him stunned. "What about your mother?" he asked.

"I can't live my life trying to please her all the time." Johnny replied. "She won't be happy until I tell her I'm straight and marrying Whitney or some other girl and that's never going to happen. If she's not going to accept us together then so be it, I'm not going to give up the man I love and be miserable just to keep her happy."

Johnny swallowed hard after his rant and just watched Danny; his anxiety grew as moments passed and Danny said nothing. Johnny panicked realising he'd said too much - Danny didn't really want to be with him, he wouldn't leave Lucy for him, what was he thinking?! Johnny slid away from the wall and out from under Danny's arms and ran his hands through his hair as he backed away. "I'm sorry, forget I said that it's fine we'll carry on as we are." he gabbled, not wanting to scare Danny off. "I'd better go." he said turning away.

Danny grabbed his hand. "Did you mean that, what you said?" he asked still staring a little wide eyed which worried Johnny. "You said the man I love - me - you love me?"

Johnny realised then why Danny looked so stunned. "Fuck I'm sorry it just came out, I - sorry -" he stammered.

"But did you mean it?" Danny asked.

Johnny stared at the floor; the alley was damp and cold, littered with empty beer cans, food wrappers and fag butts - this really wasn't the way he thought this would happen but it was out there now so he might as well just be honest. Johnny nodded his head slightly; he was pretty sure Danny was going to take off, that he'd scare him off by making things so serious when it was only supposed to be a bit of fun between them.

Johnny was shocked when Danny pressed his lips against his but he kissed him back just as eagerly. "Fuck Johnny." Danny moaned his hand carding through his short blond hair. "What have you done to me eh?" he asked between desperate kisses. Danny had used relationships whether they be with men or women to get by in the world and his one rule was to never get to involved, to keep things casual. He knew from the moment he and Johnny had started seeing each other that there would be trouble - he'd been attached to the boy from the very start.

"I'm sorry." Johnny whispered.

"Don't." Danny said shaking his head. "Don't be sorry." he said stroking his nose over Johnny's and kissing his lips tenderly. "Say it please." he asked. Johnny just blushed heavily. Danny stroked his fingers over Johnny's cheek. "I love it when you blush." he smiled causing Johnny's blush to darken and creep further down his face. "Please Johnny say it."

"I love you."

Danny's eyes darkened with desire. "I've got to have you." he said, his voice a low deep rumble. Needing to kiss him Danny slid around Johnny's neck and he pulled him in to a rough desperate kiss.

Johnny broke the kiss when he felt Danny's fingers unbuttoning his jeans. "No, I can't do this any more." he said pushing Danny away. "I don't want it to be like this."

"What do you want?" Danny asked.

"Get rid of Lucy or whatever this is between us is over." Johnny said boldly; he didn't want any more quick fucks in the alley, any more sneaking around, any more lies. He didn't want to pretend he didn't care about Danny, he wanted to acknowledge him when he came in the pub not ignore him and most of all he wanted everyone to know that this gorgeous, incredible man was his. "Danny?" he asked trembling slightly.

Danny nodded quickly. "She'll be gone by the morning." he told him.