It was after 6am and Kyle had been up for over an hour now. He decided it was pointless trying to get back to sleep as he would have to go into work in a while. So he traipsed his way over to the kitchen and began making breakfast: scrambled eggs, bacon strips, some veggies and toast. To top it all off he poured himself a cool class of orange juice. As he devoured his meal, Andy walked in a wide grin on his face. "Something smells nice. You enjoying that?"
"Mmmmm," Kyle nodded in response.
Andy chuckled. "And what? You couldn't save me some?"
Kyle quickly finished chewing so he could speak. "Should've got up earlier."
Andy shook his head. "And there I was thinking you were the thoughtful type!" As Andy made himself some cereal, Hannah came up behind him dressed in a nightie.
"Hey handsome. I was wondering where you'd got to."
"Not all of us can afford to laze about in bed all day. Some of us have to work." Andy replied, giving her a kiss. He took his bowl of muesli to the table and sat down to eat. Hannah sat down next to him carefully eyeing the remains of Kyle 's food. When he eventually caught her looking he sighed. "There's some extra bacon in the pan." Hannah jumped up and headed into the kitchen.
"Surprised Ricky isn't awake by now what with Casey up all night." Andy said through mouthfuls of food.
"Actually Case sleeps better these days. He doesn't give her as much hassle anymore."
"He's growing up." Kyle 's face changed as soon as he heard the sound of Ricky's voice. "He's my little man." She walked into the kitchen with Casey on her hip just in time to catch Hannah scoffing down a bacon sarnie. Ricky laughed. "Everyone in this house is obsessed with food!"
"Well...that's me done. We've got deliveries today at the restaurant so I'm off." Casey stretched out his tiny fingers at Kyle as soon as he saw him. A bottle of milk in her hand, Ricky caught Kyle's gaze for a moment but then they both quickly looked away. Andy noticed and smiled to himself. As Hannah joined Andy at the table, Ricky gave Casey his bottle and he took it happily.
"Don't deliveries come at 9 o' clock?" she asked.
"This is a special one. Extra early."
"Ohhh..Ok." Ricky replied. "Well at least give Casey a goodbye before you go." Kyle walked over to them and held Casey in his arms. Casey, still drinking his milk put his head on his uncle's shoulder.
"Hey Case. You enjoying your milk? Yeaah you love it don't ya? Are you gonna be a good boy for Mummy today? Come on give me a hi-five if you are?" Casey put his hand to Kyle's and his uncle gave him a kiss on the head before handing him back to Ricky. "Well...I'll see you all later."
Andy, seizing the opportunity to find out what was happening between them spoke: "Err guys, tonight me and Hannah were thinking of heading into the city. I reckon you both should come. We could make a night of it."
"But who would take care of Casey?" Ricky protested.
"Give him to John and Marilyn they looove him."
"I might...also...have some stuff on-" Kyle began.
"Nuh-uh-uh. We are all going out tonight to have some fun! No excuses!" They both resigned and Kyle nodded before heading out. Ricky went with Casey into her flat.
"That was nice," said Hannah when they were alone. "But I don't remember us making any plans to head out tonight."
"It's not for us." Andy lowered his voice. "It's for them."
"What? Are Kyle and Ricky...together?" Hannah was in shock.
"Not right now but maybe after tonight they will be." Andy replied, a mischievous smirk on his face.
Leo Peters sang his heart out as he strummed away on his acoustic guitar. "Why can't it be easy? Why is it so hard? Really wish it were simple…" Andy, Hannah, Kyle and Ricky were sat at their own table in a busy restaurant called Ocean Floor. As they were waiting for their food, Leo Peters (a famous singer) had come onstage. "Bet he's getting paid quite a bit to do this," Kyle said to Ricky. "Not to mention how good it is for exposure…"
"Why? Are you jealous?" she replied.
"Sometimes I wonder what could've been…especially with Phoebe but it's all in the past. This is my life now."
"Ok. So you are jealous?" Kyle chuckled. Across from them were Andy and Hannah. As Andy smiled watching them, Hannah nudged him. Then she whispered into his ear "Don't make it so obvious!" Andy glanced at Hannah. She was wearing a white peplum dress with pearl jewellery to match. She looked stunning. Andy was glad that he and Hannah, despite all their ups and downs, had finally managed to work things out. And now they were happier than ever. But Kyle and Ricky had had it tougher than them. They may be oblivious to it, but they needed each other. Although it wasn't ideal, Brax would want both of them to move on. Nobody understood how to take care of Ricky better than Kyle. "Penny for your thoughts?" Hannah asked. Andy frowned. "Depends. I charge pretty high." Everyone laughed and just then, their food arrived.
"Seriously Kyle?" Ricky cried, as the waitress placed his plate in front of him. "You're having pizza?"
"We don't do this kind in Angelo's." He protested. "And what about you? With your…lasagne. You could have that at home; just chuck a frozen one in the oven and you'd be good to go!"
"I think it's pretty clear you guys are turning into parents. You know…playing it safe." Hannah chimed in before covering her mouth after she realised what she'd said. "I'm sorry, I…didn't mean…"
"Ohhh no, don't worry." Ricky assured her, as she began eating. After they'd all finished their meals, they listened to some more of Leo Peters playing. The customers clapped after he completed a song and asked him to play another he sang earlier. Leo lifted his hands in surrender and then began singing. The words swirled around in Kyle's head. "Really wish it were simple. I wish that it was easy to love you. But still I choose to love…you…anyway." Kyle knew he loved Ricky. But he didn't want to betray his brother. He wanted Casey to always know about his father and would relish telling him stories as he grew up. He'd also tell him stories about his namesake - his uncle. Kyle and even Heath, had agreed that as messy as their family history was Casey needed to know where he came from.
"But still I choose to love…you…anyway." Ricky was aware her feelings for Kyle seemed irrational. Maybe it was too soon. Maybe it wasn't. But she felt they owed it to each other to try at least. "Kyle…" she whispered. Funnily enough, Hannah had fallen asleep on Andy's shoulder and Andy himself looked about five minutes away from dozing off. "I love you," she said still looking at the stage.
"I love you too." He replied. "But I'm scared. I don't know the future of us. After everything with Brax…it feels like we're doomed before we've even begun."
"Ok. So how about this? What if we take things slow, real slow and see how things develop?"
"I'd like that." Ricky said, turning to face him. Kyle gave Ricky a kiss on the cheek.
"Not too much?" he joked. Ricky shook her head.
"Just perfect."