A/N: This is going to be AU from now on in.

Not a very big response to the last chapter, I hope people will continue to read and review. Please and thank you. : )

Enjoy x

"What if the kids don't want to leave, what if you change your mind, what if Douglas makes it hard for you to leave-"

"Can you please just shut up?" He places his hands on your chest, your heart beating fast, but the contact calms it down, "we will deal with the 'what ifs' later, Brendan."

"Ye've lived here for years Steven-"

"Do you not want me to come with you; is this what all this is about?" His face falls and he drops his hands from your chest.

"No! I'd love ye to come with me, of course I would. But it's not that easy." You grab for his hand, "sorry."

He sighs and entwines his fingers with yours, "when has anything been easy when it's come to us, eh? I know it is gonna be dead hard and that, ya know, adapting to change, but as long as I got you… I don't care."

You smile at him, "cute."

"So Mr Worrier, are we doing this, or what?"

You look at him thoughtfully. His grip on your hand strong, his body stood tall, his nose and chin lifting up confidently, his eyes wide and hopeful, the small smile playing on his lips.

You smile stupidly. You have your answer.

-XO-

You've told Steven to go home and pack the kids' stuff and try and leave Doug on good terms. You cancel the first booked plane and book a different time for later tonight.

The only thing with turning back up in to the flat means you'll have to answer Cheryl's 20 questions when she wakes up.

You rip the letter up and throw it in to bin. You stick the kettle on and make yourself a tea. Sitting at the table you decide you'll speak to Cheryl face to face.

-XO-

"Morning love," she chirps happily enough, coming down the stairs.

"I've made ye breakfast," you turn to smile at her from the stove.

She smiles back at you and wraps her night gown around her tighter, "I know. The smell of burnt bacon woke me."

You laugh and shrug, "so ye going to turn down a full breakfast are ye?"

You hand her, her mug of tea and she leans up to kiss you on the cheek, "thanks. What are ya up to, Brendan?" She asks suspiciously.

You place the plate in front of her and you both sit at the table.

"Why does there have to be anything?" You ask digging in to your scrambled egg.

She sighs. "Because there always is with you, so hit me with it now."

"Jesus Chez, I'm humbled by the sisterly love here."

"Is it to do with Walker?" She asks wary and you stop in your tracks, your blood boiling just at the mention of his name.

You shake your head sharply, "ye never have to worry about him again, ok?"

She nods in agreement, but you can tell she is unsure.

Now you worry about leaving her here. How do you know that she will be 100% safe from Walker? There's hardly anyone you can ask to stick around and keep an eye on her here. That's when you realise you would have gone to Ste to do that, her best friend, your best friend.

You grunt awkwardly and shift in your chair, "there was something, but it doesn't matter now."

She watches you intently and you squirm, she knows you're lying. Of course it still matters. She shakes her head and places her hand over yours gently, "ya lying. You can tell me, I can handle it, whatever it is." She smiles, "please."

You take a deep breath and let it all gush out. "Dublin. I- me and Steven are going to Dublin… together, with the kids'. But now I'll cancel, ye need me here."

She lets go of your hand to pull her chair in closer to the table, she leans over closer and confusion sets on her features. "What?" Is all she can seem to say, she then shakes her head slowly and smiles a bit, "you're so daft!"

You look at her affronted, "ye what?" It's your turn to be confused.

"Ya cannot stay here… not when there's the chance of a fresh start." She pauses, "oh my god, does this mean Ste and Doug have split up? Ya haven't killed Doug, have you?"

She's kidding, sort of. You think.

You scoff, "thanks sis. No I haven't touched a hair on Douglas. Steven broke up with him last night," you watch her expression turn to shock, "I know, I was just as shocked as ye."

"But they were so happy…"

You shake your head, "they weren't. Steven hasn't been happy Chez, and I know he'd be better off with Douglas… but he's sure this is what he wants. He's so sure, I haven't had to play any games to get him where I want him, I haven't manipulated him…he came to me on his own accord"

You know you're grinning again; you haven't been able to stop since this morning. You would try and stop it from getting wider, but you realise you no longer care. You know you don't deserve Ste, but you think maybe now you're ready to start believing that you actually deserve to be happy. That with Ste's support, you'll get there in the end. And with the words and advice of Father Des still in your head, you know you're as ready as you'll ever be.

You have changed, and you feel so, so good.

"I'm actually speechless!" Cheryl grins at you, "look at that grin, Brendan! I've never seen ya so happy."

She stands up and pulls you by your arm to stand too. Her arms wrap around your neck and she holds you tightly when you wrap your arms around her for a hug. "I've got Annalise... Joel, I won't be on my own," she whispers in your ear happy, "don't you worry about me, I might be your little sis, but I can look after myself." She steps back and holds your face in her hands, "I know it's been a tough few months…but you're still my brother and I love you. I want you to be happy, and however much you may deny it, we both know you need Ste just as much as he needs you. Don't ruin this chance cause you're worried about me, just promise we'll stay in touch, yeah?"

Her eyes glitter with tears slightly and she smiles tight, you nod and pull her back for a hug. You don't want to see her crying, "I love ye."

-XO-

"Ring me as soon as you get there, ok?"

Cheryl has been like a little child in candy shop since you told her. She's gone through your bags to make you've packed everything, moaned at you for just throwing them in the bags without any real care, hugged you million times and squealed like some sort of crazed fan girl.

"Stop ye fussing, Chez. I will ring ye as soon as we arrive, I promise."

"Ya best not hurt him Brendan," she suddenly turns serious. "I want you two to be happy, you've got to give yourself that chance, ok? It's probably gonna be hard for you guys, and I don't want you ruining things."

She doesn't need to tell you that, you know already. You know anything could happen in Dublin, but you aren't prepared to lose Ste again. You kiss your sister on the cheek, "I promise I won't ruin it this time."

She hugs you tightly one last time and smiles again, "good. You're gonna have a great time, I'll miss ya though."

"I'm gonna miss ye too, but I'll phone ye every day."

"I know you will, or I'll be coming over to Dublin myself to give ya a slap," she smiles warmly. She pauses for a while, "bye then."

You can tell she is going to set off again, if you see her cry you are going to end up staying. You pick your bags up and kiss her on cheek, tell her you love her and exit quickly.

Once out, you turn to look at the blue door you've walked in and out of so many times, and you realise now that you've exited it for the last time. You walk to the railings and look around the village, the club, the deli, Price Slice, the deli, the flower shop, the gym.

You didn't think you would, but you're going to miss more than just your baby sister, you are going to miss this place too.

-XO-

You drive round to Ste's and when you get there he's already outside, suitcases and bags in toe, along with Leah and Lucas.

You climb out and look at Ste, smiling from ear to ear, your smile matches his.

You walk up to them, "everything ok?"

He nods and continues to grin. "Yeah, the kids are dead excited."

"Their Daddy looks just as excited," you say amused.

He blushes slightly, "alright, I am as well."

"Me too," you agree. You look down at Leah and Lucas and Leah gives you the thumbs up, both of them smiling broadly.

"Can we go now?" Leah asks.

"Ye ready?" You ask, picking up Ste's luggage before he can even answer.

"Yeah I am," he smiles and licks his lips. "I can carry them, you know."

He bends down to pick up one of Leah's bags and he groans when he stands back up, "it's just me back." He explains, "I'm alright, honest."

You look at him worried, "where's your crouches?"

"Oh Brendan, I don't need them. I'm fine, can we just go."

"Ye go wait in the car and I'll get them."

"Doug's in there," he whispers. "He's not good Brendan…it's just going to aggravate him if you go in there."

"I thought he was ok with this."

He rolls his eyes at you as if you're stupid, "Brendan, he's not ok with it. He just knows there's no future for us…he knows me and him will never work. He's doing this for me, not because he wants to."

You nod and look through the net curtains, you see Doug's figure near the window, "maybe we should talk to him together, try and calm him down."

Ste just shakes his head, "he said he needs space, Brendan. The least we can do is respect that."

"I don't want him hating ye… me I can deal with, but I know that'll hurt ye."

He sighs at you. "It'll only be what I deserve. But it'll be ok in the end, I told him I'll always want to be his friend, ya know, for when he is ready? This is for the best Bren."

You snap out of it and take his hand, "sure this is what you want?"

He looks at you as if you're taking the piss, you need to be sure, there's nothing wrong with reassurance, is there? He nods at you slowly as if you're a small child, "yeah! You aren't having doubts, are you?"

You just laugh. "No, I've never been this sure about anything-"

"Daddy, Brendan, hurry up!" You turn to see Leah and Lucas are waiting at the car, you smile.

"It seems they take after their Dad when it comes to bossiness." You joke, sort of.

He just grins and shakes his head at you, "and you aren't? You know you love it."

He looks at you cheekily and all you can do is make a "mhmm" sound. Now is not the time to be flirting and getting hot under the collar.

You've got a plane to catch.