McHay re-written

Chapter 3

3rd Person POV

"Why don't you take Matthew into the sand pit" John-Paul says to Leah. She nods and holds Matthew's hand so gently but firm enough so he doesn't fall. Ste sits down next to John-Paul and they watch their children play.

"You ok Ste" John-Paul asks and Ste couldn't hold his tears back any more. He cried into John-Paul. He just held Ste while he cried. Ste wiped his eyes with the sleeve of his jacket.

"Amy wants full custody of the kids" Ste says as he looks at his kids who are digging a hole in the sand pit that was about 6 foot in front of them.

"When is the meeting?" John-Paul asks wanting to help Ste in whatever way possible.

"Tomorrow at 3pm. I have less than 24 hours to get custody of my kids." Ste says trying to think of how he could get custody of the kids.

"You know in rare situations, they ask the kids who they would rather stay with." John-Paul says remembering James had a case similar to this a bit ago and won.

"But that won't work. Ryan has then sussed. The only thing that I can think of that I have against them is that Amy faked Leah's leukaemia. They have so much on me. Abuse, Abandonment, plus the fact that Leah isn't actually mine." Ste says feeling tears form again.

"We need something else." John-Paul says. As he says that, something catches Ste's eye. Bruises on Leah and Lucas' arm's?

"LEAH, LUCAS." Ste shouts and all the kids come over to them.

"Yes dad" Leah says which makes both of the grown men melt.

"How did you two get the bruises on your arms" Ste says rolling Lucas' and Leah's Sleeves up revealing large and painful bruises.

"He said not to tell." Lucas says to Leah who just nods.

"Who said not to tell?" John-Paul asks as he is now concerned for the kids safety.

"Daddy Ryan." Leah says after a bit of silence.

"Ryan did this. On purpose or by accident?" Ste asks tear now streaming down his face.

"Like how you did to Mummy and how Daddy Brendan did to you." Leah said Tears now down her face. Lucas was also crying.

"He did this on purpose. Why?" John-Paul asks, patting the set between them. Leah and Lucas both sat down while Matthew jumped onto his dad's knee.

"He does it every time we don't put our toys away." Lucas says looking at his dad.

"He has done it more than once." Ste says stroking Leah's arm and examining the bruise. One of them was fresh, like it was done that morning.

"He has done it since he met us" Lucas says.

"I'm so so so sorry you two have gone through this. I should have known he was bad news" Ste cries and hugs his kids. John-Paul hugs Matthew. He couldn't imagine having to go through this.

"They can't stay with him Ste. What if it isn't just a bruise next time?" John-Paul says. Ste knew what he meant. Ste didn't want his kids to go back to Ryan but they had to tonight.

As Ste was thinking he heard his phone ringing. It was Amy

( A/n Amy will be in Italics and Ste will be normal text)

"Hey Amy"

"Hey Ste what time were you planning on bringing the kids back, their tea is at 6"

"What time is it now"

"5. Can you bring them back now so that they can get changed? Knowing them they are probably covered in dirt"

"Yeah. I'll bring them now."

Ste hung up the phone and looked at the 4 sat next to him.

"Time to go home." Ste says to them.

"Ok" Leah says.

"Don't tell mummy you told me about Ryan" Ste says to them and they nod. Ste takes out his phone and takes pictures of their bruises.

"Do you want me to walk with you?" John-Paul asks.

"Yes please." Ste says. They all get up and head to the flat where Amy lives.

Once they got there, Amy opened the door and told the kids to go upstairs and get changed. She turned to Ste and John-Paul and saw their faces stained with tears.

"Have you two been crying." Amy asks them concerned.

"Just been reminiscing on the past" Ste lies but Amy buys it. She nods and shuts the door.

"I am going to take Matthew home to get him sorted with some dinner. Are you going to be ok?" John-Paul asks.

"Yeah. I am gonna go home and get ready for tomorrow." Ste says hugging John-Paul.

"I love you" John-Paul whispers into Ste's ear.

"I love you too." Ste whispers back. They brokethe hug and went their separate ways.

At the Hutchinson's flat

Ste walked through the door and was engulfed in a hug from Harry.

"Where have you been?" Harry asked taking Ste into the kitchen and putting the kettle on

"The park." Ste says getting some paper from near the TV and a pen.

"What are you doing?" Harry asks handing Ste a cup of tea.

"Getting ready for the custody battle tomorrow. If I want custody of the kids then I need to be prepared." Ste said, writing down two lists. One was things Ryan and Amy could use against him and the other was things he could you against them.

"Do you want me there tomorrow?" Harry asks, taking a sip of his tea.

"No its best if I do this alone." Ste says going into his and Harry's room. He gets out his laptop and transfers the photos of the bruises from his phone onto his laptop. He printed them out and put them into a folder with everything he had put together for tomorrow.

Only time will tell what the result will be tomorrow.