AN: Obviously, vampires cannot suffer from any STIs, so safe sex is not an issue for Ste or Brendan anymore. Enjoy.

Steven was naked. And Brendan couldn't even leave. He was not going to last long before he plastered Steven to the nearest surface, which would probably be the floor and fucked him until neither of them could walk. Then they would be stuck here all day. And Brendan was having difficulty remembering why that would be a bad thing.

Except they were ordering each other around. That was not a good thing.

He sighed. They had to have this conversation. "Hang on," he said, "I've got to let Cheryl and Anne know what's going on."

He pulled out his phone, as Steven folded his arms and looked offended. He rang Cheryl. It rang just once before she answered

"Bren!" she cried, "you'll never…"

"Look, Chez," Brendan interrupted, "I'm gonna be stuck here for a bit, right, and…"

"What do you mean stuck there?" Chez cried.

Steven bent over, carefully displaying his arse as he pretended to pick something up off the floor. "Steven has ordered me not to leave so…"

"OMG!" cried Cheryl, "He's ordering you to…"

"Okay, Cheryl," Brendan sighed, angrily, as Steven looked back at Brendan over his shoulder, arse still criminally on show, "You're not going to talk from now on unless it's a short answer to a question."

There was silence on the other end of the phone and Brendan was confused momentarily until he realised that of course, Cheryl wasn't talking because Brendan had ordered her not to. He felt a flash of guilt, but didn't have the energy to retract the words or apologise. He was focused on trying not to stare at Steven who was now wriggling his bum with no pretence or subtlety. "Ok, so I won't be back, probably until tomorrow night; so I need you to look after everything, okay?"

"Okay," she replied, and he could hear her trying to add things, battling his maker's power.

He could have cared, but Steven was stroking his own crack with one finger. "Where's Mercedes?" he asked.

"She escaped," Cheryl replied, in a terrified voice now.

He looked away from Steven's bottom. "What?" he just managed to say.

"Mercedes escaped," Cheryl confirmed. Maybe she didn't want to say more that time.

"How did she escape?" Brendan growled, furiously.

"She ran when we weren't looking," Cheryl squeaked, near tears now.

"And why didn't you follow?" Brendan demanded.

"Because you ordered us to stay!" Cheryl cried.

Brendan swore. This was exactly why he almost never used his maker's power. It always lead to difficulties. He accidentally looked back at Steven, who was leaning seductively against one of the stones, hips swaying gently from side to side.

"Right!" He growled, "just, don't do anything stupid 'til I get back, right?"

"Right," Cheryl sobbed.

And Brendan hung up. He didn't have the energy to protect Chez's feelings right now. He was furious; it wasn't her fault, it was his for being stupid.

Steven hadn't picked up on his mood. Still naked, the young vampire had draped himself on the stone slab, long slender legs artfully akimbo and a lazy tongue licking his gorgeous pink lips.

Brendan decided to try to resist as long as possible; there was some impotrant things they needed to discuss. "That was Cheryl," he said, "the only person that could tell us who attacked those people has run away."

Steven blinked, but didn't look anywhere near bothered enough "Then there's no hurry, is there?" he whispered, in a husky voice.

Brendan frowned, "And she got away because I gave a stupid order and they couldn't disobey it!"

Steven bit his lip, "Not my fault," he muttered.

"I never said it was," said Brendan.

The atmosphere had become darker and colder. Steven picked up on it. He pulled his legs closed and stopped trying to flirt. "I want to have sex," he grumbled.

Brendan sighed, "I know, I do too."

"Then why won't you?" Steven complained, sounding like a child.

"Because you haven't been able to consent for a while," said Brendan.

Steven made a face at him, like he was crazy. "I've been begging you to fuck me for days!"

"You'd have begged anyone to fuck you, you'd have begged a passing chimpanzee to fuck you!"

Steven's eyes widened, "I was confused!"

"Exactly!" said Brendan, "you think that was consent?"

Steven looked at him, panic beginning to set in. "It's not like it could have been rape," he whispered, "You know I want you! I've always wanted you!"

Brendan saw himself, begging for his rapist to fuck him as the bastard used his confusion and the lust of his change against him, to torture him. The control that man had had over him. Rape was not simple for vampires. His eyes felt like they were burning and when he blinked a drop of hot liquid tumbled down his face.

Steven's eyes widened and a blood red tear mimicked that on Brendan's face. "Why are you crying?" he asked Brendan, his voice croaky with his need to weep.

"Why are you?" Brendan replied, aware of the break in his own voice. He didn't know if he was ready to share this with anyone.

"Because you are!" cried Steven, miserably. "I don't understand!"

He curled his legs into his chest, like a child. Brendan had only one instinct at that moment. He pulled Steven to him, tucking the younger man's head into his neck, feeling Steven's hands grab his clothes as he wrapped him in his arms. He let the boy cling to him, as he clung back. He felt overwhelmed again by the power of his love for this man, and hoped Steven's clinging was proof that he felt the same.

"Hey," said Brendan, quietly, "it's gonna be alight, yeah? You're with me now. I'm going to look after you."

"I'm gonna look after you!" he heard Steven retort, his voice more angry than soothing. "You're mine and I'm gonna take care of ya."

"I'm yours?" Brendan repeated.

"Yeah!" Steven replied, firmly, "you're mine and I'm yours. It's just how it is, isn't it?"

Brendan nodded, arms still locked around Steven. It was true. He'd felt it for a while. Steven was his life, his responsibilit, and he guessed that made him Steven's.

"So," he said after a while, "does this count as you satisfied? Can we leave?"

"Er, I'm naked and clinging on to your chest, do I look satisfied?" Steven replied.

Brendan laughed, though not entirely sure sex was the direction this interaction was about to go in. He pulled Steven closer, until he was basically sat on Brendan's lap and kept hold.

"You don't feel cold, anymore," said Steven, suddenly.

"That's because you're cold, too," said Brendan, though he wasn't certain that was right. They both felt unexpectedly warm. He decided it was one of the strange things about newly turned vampires – they retained some of their human heat for a while.

Steven just hummed thoughtfully in response. He wrapped himself more firmly around Brendan, his arms winding around his neck, a leg sliding down the length of one of Brendan's own. He used the foot on that leg to gently stroke Brendan's ankle, which was the only move either of them made for many minutes.

"Are you gonna tell me why you was crying?"

So Brendan hadn't got away with that one. He'd hoped Steven hadn't noticed.

"Just… seeing you like that," he tried, not letting Steven go, "it was hard."

Steven pulled back, his face now confused.

"You're lying!" he said.

Brendan was surprised by the certainty in Steven's voice. And it wasn't exactly a lie. "No I'm not!"

"Well, there's something you ain't said!" said Steven, still certain that he was right, "I can feel it. I know! What are you not saying?"

Brendan floundered, panicking. He wasn't ready. What could he say? He couldn't let Steven know. Steven looked up to him, respected him, thought of him as strong, his protector. He couldn't reveal the truth, what a pathetic waste of space he really was. His mouth gaped, as he searched for words.

"It's OK," Steven said suddenly. "You don't have to tell me anything, but… don't lie to me."

"I didn't…" Brendan protested.

"Don't," said Steven. "Never lie to me. I want you to tell me, but … I don't want you to lie to me."

"I won't lie to you," Brendan promised, aware that he probably couldn't lie now, anyway. Steven had phrased it as an order, maybe unintentionally, but marker's power was strong enough. "You don't lie to me, though, either, right?"

"OK," said Steven. He buried his head back into Brendan's chest. "Do you want to have sex?"

"Yes," said Brendan with a smile, "always."

"You always want to have sex?" asked Steven, pulling out again, eyebrows raised.

"With you," Brendan clarified. "I always want to have sex with you."

"And what about other people?" teased Steven, "Do you want to have sex with anyone else?"

"I would never want to do anything that might hurt you," Brendan replied, easily. Steven seemed satisfied with the answer as a big grin spread over his face.

"Unless I want you to," Steven smirked.

Brendan raised his own eyebrow, "Unless you want me to."

Steven kissed him gently on the lips. Brendan let him take control, submitting to the move. He had barely even kissed Steven since he became a vampire and was pleased to discover it was just as beautiful. Steven may be a creature of darkness now, but his lips still somehow held some innocence. Or maybe, that was just what Brendan wanted; Steven frozen in time, still in possession of that innocence he'd held when they first met. Brendan couldn't accept that he'd destroyed it, through his thoughtlessness, his stupidity, his selfishness.

He wrapped his arms more tightly around the beautiful young vampire, pressing him against his chest. He could feel every one of Steven's ribs against his chest, each bone of his spine against his hand. He was so strong and unbreakable now, but he still felt like he could snap between Brendan's fingers.

"You're so fucking hot," he found himself mumbling against Steven's lips. "So perfect."

Steven just groaned. "Stop messing around."

Brendan smiled, and began to nibble on Steven's neck.

"Brendan!" Steven moaned, "I want to fuck!"

He pushed Brendan down, flattened him to the stone. Brendan groaned with his own need, feeling Steven's perfect body writhing over him, strong hands on his shoulders. Brendan loved Steven's need, his confidence, the way he was taking control. But it wasn't want he wanted now.

He rolled them over, switching their positions, pushing Steven down to the stone, watching him writhe and plead, needy and desperate. Was he really himself? Could Brendan be certain?

"Do you want to?" he said, "really?"

"Yes!" Steven gasped, "Please, Brendan, I want you to make love to me."

Brendan kissed him deeply, feeling Steven's hands pulling into his hair, his feet digging into his bottom. Then there was a scramble for Brendan's clothes, to get him as naked as Steven. Steven's hands dragged his shirt off, ripping the buttons. Then he attacked Brendan's trousers.

"Come on!" Steven gasped, "please!"

Brendan tugged the trousers down and his underwear with them. Steven didn't seem to care if they went the whole way. His legs were around Brendan's waist, pulling him closer again, a hand grasping Brendan's dick. "Please!" he repeated.

"Hang on," said Brendan, "I don't want to hurt you."

"I'm a vampire!" Steven groaned, "you can't hurt me!"

Brendan stroked his hair from his face, "That's not true," he breathed. "Like you said, we look after each other now, yes?"

Steven nodded. "Love you," he breathed.

Brendan smiled, "I love you too." He meant it so much more than he'd ever thought possible. He had some lube in his pocket. Maybe he had known this was a possibility. Maybe he'd just hoped. He pushed a coated finger deep into Steven, letting the sound of his groan fill him with pleasure.

"Another!" Steven gasped, "Please! I'm so ready! Please!"

Brendan complied, and quickly pushed a second finger inside him. Then a third. It was quick, just enough to prepare Steven for the real thing. The young man was panting, squirming, pleading, and Brendan felt a small amount of shame for making him wait this long, and a naughty desire to do it again; Steven looked incredible like this.

"Ready?" he breathed.

"Always!" gasped Steven, "Please!"

Brendan was only too happy to comply. He lined himself up, his face close to Steven's, watching every hint of emotion on the face of his lover. He pushed in, gently, feeling the slight resistance then the give, seeing Steven close his eyes at the intrusion, purr with need and adoration, gasp, groan, moan, all before he was fully seated. When Brendan had filled him completely, Steven gasped anew and grabbed his back, fingers sharp enough to split the skin.

"Fuck me!" Steven hissed, "Fuck me Brendan, please!"

It might have been an order that time, but Brendan was ready. He pulled out and pushed in again, relishing the feel of Steven around him, the sounds he was making. He pulled out and pushed in again, angling it just right so that Steven's next sounds were nothing like sense, going the same way as his own thoughts. All that was left was need and movement and bodies. Steven's legs around him, Steven's arms digging in, Steven's mouth, Steven's gasps, Steven's eyes, Steven's beauty.

They didn't last long. It felt like no time before they were both releasing, and Steven was clinging on to Brendan as though his life depended on him and Brendan was clinging right back. The stillness won, the love they held for each other, their chance to just hold each other, the tension passed. Brendan turned them back over, so Steven was on top of him, arranging them so Steven must be comfortable, his hands on Brendan's chest, his head on Brendan's shoulder, one leg crossing over Brendan's.

It didn't matter if it hadn't lasted. They could go again. And again. They could be that close, feel each other as many times as they wanted.

They had eternity to feel it.

Nate the dog wasn't the most normal of dogs. For one thing he hadn't always been a dog, he had actually been a quite successful business man. Considering he was a dog, he didn't enjoy normal dog-like behaviour either. The very thought of sniffing another dog's very smelly and dirty bottom turned his stomach. He couldn't even bare to lick his own crotch, no matter how good it would probably taste. So to many it would seem he didn't display dog-like behaviour at all.

Nate had to admit since the crazy witch had changed him into a dog, he'd quite been enjoying life. As a human his mother had become borderline insane. She'd been trying to control every aspect of his life and set him up with one of the scariest women he'd ever met. He'd gone to the witch in desperation. A friend of a friend had recommended her, said she could maybe help him. Nate had never expected to permanently become a dog. He'd just wanted some confidence to stick up for himself in front of his mother!

Life as a dog had turned out to be wonderfully relaxing. He'd roamed around for a while, swam in rivers, ate out of bins and even drank out of the toilet. Nate had even lived with a guy called Doug...or Spade or some stupid name for a while. And then that had all changed when he'd seen her. Cheryl Brady, the most beautiful and loud woman Nate had even seen in his life. He was a leaf drawn to a beautiful butterfly; well a beautiful butterfly that was extremely loud and would probably want to eat him if he was still human. But what did that matter in the scheme of things?

Now he was trapped forever as a Dog, just at the one point in his life that he wished more than anything that he was human. Myra had told him what would happen from this point. Slowly he would begin to loose his mind and humanity, he would eventually be lost completely. As the days passed the human side of him would disappear bit by bit, until it was gone. It terrified him that as the days passed he was coming closer and closer to his own death. Nate the human would be dead, but Nate the dog would live on...as a dog. In which his only worry would be where the next meal was coming from.

Nate knew that before he 'died' he would protect Cheryl with his life. He'd tried to do the same for Ste, but had failed at that. It wouldn't happen again. When he looked at Ste with his canine senses all he saw was a beautiful light glowing from him, it hadn't changed even in death. The light got bright when he was near Brendan, rubbing off onto the other man and making him glow too. Ste and Brendan were special, it seemed only Nate with animal senses could see how much.

After Ste's death Nate felt as if perhaps now Cheryl was safe and he could now embrace his fate. But how wrong he'd been. He was now sat at Cheryl's feet growling at the most despicable monster he'd ever met. Every one of his dog senses told him that this man was evil and not to be trusted. So why was Cheryl sat on the sofa looking at the man with loving eyes, like he was the most wonderful thing to have ever been created?

"Brendan wasn't very happy on the phone." stated Cheryl. "I didn't tell him you were here."

"Good girl." said Seamus. "We both know how much that brother of yours overreacts."

"I've missed you so much Daddy." said Cheryl, wiping away a few tears.

"I've missed you too Princess." said the man in a low voice.

"What are you doing here?" asked Cheryl, "Not that I'm not happy to see you Daddy."

Nate let out a growl, he was far from happy to see this man. This man was darkness, this man was the devil himself. Every one of his senses was telling him either to attack or flee.

"I heard through a few sources that you were having a bit of trouble with one Warren Fox." said the man, he opened his mouth to grin and his teeth were unnaturally white. "So I brought you a present." He placed a sack into Cheryl's lap.

"What's that?" asked Cheryl, pulling a face at the overwhelming smell of something foul. She opened the sack and gasped. "Daddy...is this?"

"Yes Princess, it's Warren Fox's head. Don't say your old Dad never gets you anything nice." said Seamus.

Cheryl pushed the sack to the floor. "How did you know Daddy?" she wrapped her arms around you him. "I've missed you so much." she sobbed again. "Does this mean we can all be a family again?"

"That depends on your brother." said the man, he seemed to be waiting for her to say something.

Cheryl froze in his arms. "Don't let him keep you away from me again Daddy. Last time was horrible, can't the two of you find a way to get on?" she looked at him with big and tear filled eyes. "For me?"

"Your brother doesn't want me here Princess. He even got that witch to sever our final connection, the worst thing he could do to me as his father and maker." he said in a chilling voice that Cheryl seemed to take no notice of.

"He didn't mean to hurt you Daddy, he just couldn't stand being ordered around. You know what he's like." She grabbed his hand in an attempt to comfort him. "Things are different now."

Seamus's fixed his face to try and display innocence. "I hear there was a boy he was... friends with. His name was Steven...or something?" he looked at her with burning eyes.

"Ste?" said Cheryl softly. She looked at her nails and bit her lip, as if fighting an inner conflict. "He was...he was something special to Brendan, but he died. He was a bit of a mess for a while."

"Well I'm here now, I'll take care of you both." said Seamus, his eyes glowing with an unknown emotion. "Such a sad tale, poor boy. Did he have a family?"

Cheryl nodded. "Yes, but they should be taken care of. What with Ste being a vampire now." She grinned. She at least thought it was wonderful news that Ste was still with them.

Seamus's face darkened, but he didn't allow Cheryl to see it. "The boy...the boy is still alive?"

"Yes Daddy, our family is getting bigger and bigger; isn't it?" unaware of the waves of rage which seemed to be coming from her Father. "I'll just grab us some blood." said Cheryl, she stood up and kissed her father on the cheek. "I'm so happy you're here."

"Me too sweet heart."

The minute Cheryl stepped out of the room the man's face twisted with rage. He finally realised the remote he'd been clenching since the moment his daughter had said Steven Hay was still alive, it was dust.

"What are you staring at, you ugly vermin?" Seamus cruelly asked Nate.

Nate growled and showed his teeth, wanting nothing more than to stink holes into the vampire's flesh. Seamus grabbed him by the collar and threw him viciously across the room. Nate yelped, trying to get back to his feet. The pain yet again was unbearable.

"Once I've taken care of the boy, you'll be next mutt!" hissed the man. His eyes practically glowing red with malice.

"Do you want your blood warming up?" asked Cheryl brightly from the kitchen.

The man's face twisted back into the picture of innocence. "Yes please darling." he stepped out of the living room and headed into the kitchen.

Every part of Nate felt afraid. Cheryl had invited the devil into her home and their lives. And there was nothing Nate could do about it.