AN: Ooo, long 'un. Slightly under beta'd. Thanks again for awesome reviews!

Ste had been terrified before. At least once quite recently, when he'd genuinely believed he was going to die, and many times in the early days of Terry. But these nerves were something different. It wasn't fight or flight, he couldn't run away, get out at any cost. He just had to accept the jittery butterflies in his stomach, making him uneasy and fidget with his hair.

Leah and Lucas were being pretty excited too. They knew they were going to the park to play with Brendan, someone who was becoming increasingly important in their lives, and that they were going to meet Brendan's children, though Ste had had to explain that they were 'big boys' who probably wouldn't want to play princesses before Leah got too excited. Lucas was excited too, having recently discovered the joys of football. That worried Ste too – he didn't think he at Paddy's age would have had the patience to play football with a toddler. Hopefully, Lucas would be content with the swings.

Lucas was at an annoying age were the buggy was sometimes essential, and sometimes horrible. He made a fuss about being put in one, unless he was tired, when he would expect to be carried if they had no buggy, which could be exhausting if it was a long way. So Ste, today, was pushing an empty buggy, while trying to keep hold of two very excited children

They arrived at about the right time, and had found a bench just in time to see Brendan and the boys strolling over the grass towards them. Both the boys were developing the Brady swagger, and Ste couldn't resist a grin at the sight of the three of them approaching in a straight line, with Brendan in the middle. They looked like they were auditioning for a Western.

Or they did until Leah shouted "Brendan!" and ran at him with her arms open. That stopped Brendan looking like a cowboy, as he welcomed her with his own arms spread wide. "Hey Princess," he greeted, and spun her round. "I'd like you to meet my sons. Padraig and Declan Brady, this little darling is Leah Barnes, Steven's daughter. "Then he spotted Lucas toddling after his sister, though with far less speed, "and this young man is Lucas Hay. How're you doing little man?"

Lucas noticed the big boys that were now looking at him, and toddled back to his father's legs. Brendan smiled. Leah, seeing her brother's reaction, also decided to be scared of the big boys, and hid her face in Brendan's neck.

"Hey, you know Brendan, there's no point pretending to be shy now!" Ste laughed at Lucas.

"Yeah, Princesses aren't shy now, are they?" Brendan cooed to the little girl who clung to him. She poked her head out a bit at that and looked at Declan tentatively.

"Hey, Leah," Declan grinned. "Nice to meet ye."

Lucas peered around Ste's legs at him, too.

"Alright Lucas?" Declan called to him.

"Why's her name Barnes, not Hay? Isn't that Ste's name?" Paddy chirped up.

There were a few moments awkward silence, and Declan glared at Paddy. Eventually, Ste said "Barnes is Leah and Lucas's Mummy's surname, Paddy."

"Oh," said Paddy, ungraciously.

"Hey," Brendan said, "play nice Padraig!"

"What?" the boy grumbled, "I was only asking."

"It's fine," Ste replied, trying to be kind. It was just a question, after all. "Don't worry about it."

But Paddy glared at him. Damn, he'd really hoped Paddy's hatred had been in his head. It really wasn't, was it?

He caught Declan's eye. Thankfully he looked much happier to see him. "So Dad said we could have a kick about," he said.

"Alright," said Ste. "And you two are gonna play on the swings with Brendan right?"

Leah nodded into Brendan's neck. Lucas wobbled for a moment – the big boys were big, and then emerged from his father's legs, and toddled over to his sister. Brendan scooped him up too, and held them, one under each arm, as they wriggled and giggled, and carried them to the swings.

Ste had second thoughts about that.

"Come on Ste," shouted Declan, and threw a ball at him.


By the time they had reached the restaurant, Declan would have dared Padraig not to like Ste.

They'd had a great laugh. Ste was a decent footballer, but didn't just let them win, though they did have to stop playing occasionally when one of his kids fell off something (Declan suspected his father was distracted by their football game.) They went for lunch at a pizza place, where Dad ate like an animal and Ste spent most of his time making sure his kids had enough healthy stuff to eat. They were much less into the public displays of affection than Dec's Ma and her partners had been, but there was something about them, a deep way they fitted together. There was a real sense of trust there.

Like, when they were waiting for the food, Declan could see them making sneaky eye contact, and the smiles they brought from each other. When Dad spotted something interesting from the kitchen, he pointed out, and took the opportunity of them all turned away to sneak a hand onto Ste's leg, who would return with a playful glare and then return the hand. He hoped that Paddy would see that. It would hopefully point out to him that their relationship wasn't lead by Ste alone. He didn't know if it would though.


Paddy's father and brother had given him proper evil glares when he'd asked about the little girl's surname. He was only asking. He wanted to know. He didn't know any brothers and sisters with different surnames.

Ste had been the only one who hadn't reacted as though he'd set a starving lion on them all. Paddy had had to glare at him extra hard to remind himself Ste was evil.

So, the football had been fun. Ste wasn't a show off, like Paddy's Dad when it came to anything that wasn't football, or Mam's friends, or even Granddad. It was really annoying when Dad kept turning up with one or other of the little kids crying in his arms, and the football had to pause while Ste calmed them down. But that probably wasn't Ste's fault. It was probably Dad's.

And the restaurant was alright too. There was something about the way Dad behaved around Ste. He'd always been kind of distant in the past. It was like that before he left and every time he visited. Now, with them altogether, it was like he had learnt to be honest. He was really with them, and loving them. It felt like a family.

But that wasn't right, was it? Ste was a man. Families weren't two men. And what about their Mam? No, Ma, Dad, Declan and Paddy. That was the family. That was who the family should be!

But Dad was happy. Paddy realised he'd never seen that before.

But no! It wasn't real! Granddad had told him that. And everyone knew two men being together was disgusting and wrong. And Ste was evil. Granddad had said so.

As Ste pulled his son onto his lap and gently wiped tomato sauce off his face, Paddy found it hard to remember that.

He was confused now. He had to talk to Granddad.

"I'm going to the toilet," he said, standing up quickly.

"Alright son, don't be long," his Dad replied.

"Wait up," Ste called, "I've got to take our Lucas."

"I don't need help!" sulked the three-year-old. "I can go by myself at home."

"Yeah, but they won't have steps to these ones," he smiled. "Bren…" he stopped, then changed his mind, "Declan, could you keep an eye on our Leah?"

"Sure, Ste," replied Paddy's goody goody brother.

"Thanks. Don't want to explain any more grazed knees to Amy, do I?"

"Hey," said Dad, "they're quick when they want to be!"

"She's five!"

"And a future Olympian," Dad countered. "Plus we had the best game of snot monster ever, didn't we Leah?"

"Yeeeeeah!" cheered the little girl.

"Yeah, yeah," mumbled Ste, but Paddy could see the grin on his face.

As they wandered through the restaurant, Paddy thought Ste kept glancing at him. He wasn't sure though, until Ste said "Are you alright, Patrick?"

Paddy huffed. "It's Padraig."

Ste grimaced, "I know, but your Mum had a go at me for saying it wrong. Do you mind if I call you Paddy?"

"'Spose," grumbled Paddy. It was better than never having his name said wrong all the time.

Ste grinned at him, "Thanks Paddy. 'Ere, our Lucas was well jealous of our football game, weren't ye?"

Lucas hid his face in his father's T-shirt. Ste laughed.

"I think that's a yes!"

"Yeah," mumbled Paddy.

"Do you play football much at home?" Ste asked.

"No. I play rugby."

"Cool," Ste replied, "are you on a team?"

"Yeah," Paddy replied, fighting his desire to tell Ste all about slaughtering the team from St Peter's last week. "We're quite good," he said instead.

"Yeah?" Ste prompted, looking at him questioningly.

"Yeah," mumbled Paddy, trying to keep his need to show off down.

"I think there's a team at the college, you know. They were always making a mess at the club. We could find out if there's a match while you're here if you want."

They'd got to the toilets, and Ste stood in front of a cubicle waiting for an answer. It was hardly the millennium stadium, but he was at least trying to think about what Paddy might enjoy.

"Alright," said Paddy, with minimal enthusiasm.

"Great!" said Ste, "look, I better take Lucas in here; he ain't got the hang of urinals yet." He disappeared into the cubical with his son, and Paddy used the facilities.


"Wave bye to Brendan, Declan and Paddy, guys," Ste cooed to his kids, as they stood in the doorway after Brendan had insisted on walking them home. The kids jumped up and down as they waved. They were going to be a nightmare to get to bed tonight. After the restaurant, Brendan had taken them all bowling, and had fed them sweets whenever they missed. Which was often as they were so tiny and a long way from bowling straight. Then they had more junk for tea. He was expecting Leah and Lucas to be bouncing off the walls.

Amy had taken the opportunity of free babysitting to go out, even though it was a Sunday. He wasn't sure if he expected her home that night,

"Go and get your pyjamas on," he told the kids, "the first ready for bed gets to choose the story."

They both dashed to their room to get changed. Ste trudged into the kitchen to put the kettle on before he could collapse on the sofa. But someone was already there.

He jumped a foot at the sight of Mr Brady sat leisurely on a chair in his kitchen. At first he was at a loss. At another time in his life he may have turned and run the other way, but there were two reasons, currently having a pyjama race, that meant he couldn't leave now. He simply froze. Not the strongest first move.

"Steven," smirked Brady.

"Get out!" Ste managed.

"Now, that's not very friendly is it?"

"Get out of my flat!" Ste repeated.

"What, after a lovely, family day, you're going to throw out the patriarch, without even offering a cup of tea?"

"I said, get out!" Ste said again, fighting to keep his voice low, aware that shouting could bring the children straight into danger.

"And here I was with some friendly advice."

"I'm calling Brendan," Ste said, pulling out his phone.

"There's no need, boy," cooed Brady, "I'll be out in no time once I've said my piece."

Ste didn't answer, just unlocked his phone, and found the number.

"One chance, boy," hissed Brady, "one last chance to walk away, leave my family alone, or I will destroy you."

Ste hit dial. "It's ringing!" he said, only half heeding Brady's words.

"This is it, Steven, one last chance." Brady's voice was so similar to the one Brendan used to use to excuse the beatings, it sickened Ste.

"No?" Brady continued, "Ah, well, I'll be going then. But don't say I didn't warn you."

And he strolled out the door just as Brendan answered with a cocky "Don't say ye miss me already?"