Liam just got home from the hospital, he thought he was at least as knackered as Karen herself, but he felt awefully great. It was one of the very best experiences of his life and he now felt even worse that he hadn't been there when Meghan was born. Meghan was with Charlie and Claire so he didn't only have to call Charlie to tell the news but tell him he could bring Meghan home now, that he was home again. He was pretty excited and couldn't wait to tell his brother. And there was one more thing he wished to ask Charlie which he was hoping his brother would do for him. He took the phone with him into the living room and sat down on the couch trying to calm down. Then he dialed his brother's number.

Charlie woke up dazedly, arm still wrapped around his niece, to hear the phone ringing. Carefully removing himself from Meghan, he reached across from the couch to the coffee table, grabbing the phone in his hand, looking at the number. Seeing 'Liam, home' on the dial made him smile, and he settled back down beside the sleeping girl. "m'lo?" He said sleepily into the mouthpiece.

Liam couldn't stop smiling proudly. "It's a boy, baby brother! I'm father of a baby boy. John Noel. He's healthy and so is Karen and it was amazing." Liam stopped rambling to breathe. Then he went on. "Do you want me to get Meghan? Or will you bring her? Or shall we meet at the hospital so she can see her brother?" Now he finally stopped to let his brother say something as well.

Charlie smiled at his brother's exuberance. He looked at the clock. It was only early evening, nearly 6. "Yeah, maybe I can wake her and drag her over there..." He said, still a little sleepily. Meghan wasn't that deep in sleep, it wouldn't really be as hard as Charlie was making it seem.

"She's asleep?" Liam asked. Liam hated when Meghan slept long in the afternoon, it was making it hard getting her too sleep at night. But right now he wasn't in a strict-dad mood and today was special anyway so why not letting her sleep? "I'll come over and wait for her to wake up. I wanted to talk to you about something anyway so maybe it's just better that way. You okay with that?"

Charlie raised an eyebrow questionably, but agreed. "Ok, I'd rather not leave Aaron either." Claire walked in, smiling at him, carrying little Aaron in her arms. "How long will you be?"

Liam glanced at his watch. "Well, guess that depends on the traffic, but it won't be too long, couple o' minutes." he assumed. "So, I'll see you in a bit, 'kay?"

Charlie worried his lip. "You sure you want to leave Karen? I can come there, you know, no problem. Its completely up to you mate, just wondering." Claire sat next to him, and he mouthed 'its a boy' to her, earning a delighted smile from her.

Liam didn't know whether to smile or not. "Charlie, I'm at home. Karen's at the hospital so I kinda already left her, didn't I? I'm getting the feeling you don't want me to come to yours." he added. "So, you want to come here, bring me my little girl, or shall I get her? It's up to you."

"Well," Charlie said, sighing. "Seeing as I am feeling much to lazy to stand up, I will insist that you come here. SO I'll see you soon, yes?" He sat up again, letting his head roll backwards onto the couch.

Liam sighed, he couldn't get rid of the feeling Charlie didn't want to see him tonight. "Fine, I'll be there in a bit." He said and rang off. Then he took his car keys again and left for Claire's.

Charlie slowly rubbed Meghan's back, who amazingly hadn't awoken to the noise or the motion of Charlie moving about. He coaxed her awake slowly, petting her arms and back gently as she began to wake. He then sang to her, an old tradition of his. "Your Da is coming soon, my love, so wake your sleepy eyes..."

Liam pulled up at Claire's. He hoped he was wrong and misinterpreted Charlie's sighing and stuff. He climbed out of the car and went to the front door.

Charlie finally roused Meghan, and soon she was up and bouncing around again. He went to pour her a glass of juice just as Claire came into the kitchen, kissing his neck in passing. "Liam's coming by to get Meghan. I offered to take her, but he wanted to come here. I'm not going to argue." He said, smiling. It would be good to congratulate his brother on the new baby in person. He hadn't really done that last time, just kinda... yelled at him...

Liam started to become nervous. He couldn't explain why though. It was rather ridiculous to be nervous. This was only his brother, nothing to really worry. He could already hear Meghan jump around in the house when he finally knocked.

Charlie smiled, letting Meghan open the door and spring onto her daddy, asking him about her new brother. She was bouncing madly before Charlie came into the room with her sippy cup, giving Liam a huge hug. "Congrats, bro." He said, smiling.

"Thanks Charlie." he replied. "We'll go visit Mum and your bro later Princess. But I gotta talk to your Uncle first, k?" He told his daughter. She agreed telling him to talk fast though. Liam kept her on his arm going into the living room with Charlie.

Once in the living room, Charlie leaned in close to Meghan, saying "If you help Auntie Claire with Aaron, tell her I said you can have a cookie, ok?" And almost immediately, she wriggled out of Liam's grip and ran to the kitchen. Charlie sat back, smiling. "So, what do you need to talk to me about Li?"

"Well, we want our kids to be baptized. And since Meghan's almost old enough to choose for herself if she wants to be we were thinking if maybe you could improve her religious education. And if you want to be her godfather." Liam asked. He didn't want to force Charlie, he didn't want him to feel like he had to, but he wasn't sure he had made it that Charlie'd see that.

Charlie gaped, smile on his face. Godfather? Really? He was bursting from excitement, this wasn't what he had thought Liam was going to talk to him about at all. The first part of the question failed him though. "Improve her... education? On religion? Bloody hell, Liam, I don't know. I haven't been all too into that since..." He wavered. The Island had changed many things about him, religion being one of them.

Liam had kind of expected his brother's reaction. He respected it. "Well, it's okay if you can't do it. I just thought that, well, you'd be still better in it than I am. And she likes being with you so I thought it'd be a good idea. But if you can't you can't that's okay."

Charlie bit his lip, thinking. "I just don't know, Liam. I know all the facts and so forth, but... none of it means anything to me anymore, and that’s not the proper way to teach a child, try to force something on them you yourself don't believe..." He kept biting his lip. "I'll give it a go, I guess, but I don't know if it'll be satisfactory..."

Liam nodded. Charlie was right, it wasn't that a brilliant idea if you yourself didn't believe. "Please Charlie, don't feel like you have to. But, yeah, maybe you could still try..."

Charlie put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'll try, for you, big brother." He said, smiling half-heartedly. "If it doesn't work out than I will single handedly find you someone better. I promise." He rose from the couch, asking if Liam wanted a drink, or if he wanted to stay for dinner.

Liam smiled at Charlie. "Thanks baby brother. I really appreciate your help. As for dinner... it sounds quite tempting since I haven't had anything to eat yet. I bet Meghan will hate me though, if we stay much longer." he laughed. "We'll stay anyways."

Charlie smiled, pulling his brother close. "Claire's making pasta, pesto, of course. That ok with you?" He said, leading Liam into the kitchen and announcing that he'd stay for dinner.

"Anything is, I'm starving." Liam laughed. "I hope it doesn't cause trouble that we stay." he said to Claire. As he had expected Meghan asked rather protesting when she'd see her brother. "He isn't going anywhere for some time love, so stay calm, okay?"

Claire scoffed at Liam's mention of them not being welcome, and Charlie laughed. He leaned over to kiss her cheek, smiling. "It'll keep me from gaining weight. I'm on a diet!" Charlie said, laughing. He was still rail thin, having never gained the weight back from his absence

Liam shook his head laughing. "You being on a diet? That's insane. One can still see every single rib of yours."

Charlie lifted his shirt playfully, showing off his thin stomach and hip bones. "Claire's picky! No fatties near her!" He said, laughing as Claire walked behind him and smacked the back of his head. "Ahh... ok, fine. Tuck in, mate" He said as the food was placed in front of them.

Liam shoved in the first bites as if really starved - well he was starved. But that isn't good manner, was it? "Well Charlie, what about the other thing? You've only said you'd try the educating thing, you didn't mention the other yet." He asked after a while.

Charlie paused momentarily, placing his spoon on his nose and balancing it while pulling a thoughtful expression, making Meghan laugh. "I forget what the second part was..." He said, scratching his head comically. Truth be told, he had forgotten.

Liam watched Charlie grinning. "I can't believe you forgot that I asked you to be Meghan's godfather." He shook his head.

"OH!" Charlie exclaimed, dropping the spoon onto his plate with a clatter. "I'd forgotten!" He said, wriggling around in his excitement. "Of course I'll be her bloody godfather, I'd be flattered to. How could I possibly refuse?"

Liam laughed heartily and shrugged. "I don't know, I never really thought you would." truth be told he really never doubted Charlie'd refuse, maybe only a little after he said earlier he wasn't really into religion anymore. And he was more than glad that his brother accepted. He smiled when his daughter started to poke him asking why they were talking about her. "Well Charlie, how about you getting your first chance to try on the educating?" He said with a wink at his brother.

Charlie looked confused, scratching his head. "Um, no religion at the dinner table." He said hopelessly. He took a bite of food, motioning for Meghan to do the same. "Waste not."

Liam looked at his daughter who looked a little disappointed. "I'm gonna explain it later, okay love? When we're going to see your brother. Now finish your meal, will you?" Then he looked at Charlie again. "D'you wanna come with us see you nephew?"

Charlie glanced at his watch. It was still early. Nodding, he took his last bite of food, leaving a little still on his plate, and collected the other plates. "Claire, wanna come? You can bring Aaron, or we can leave him with the neighbor. But I'm sure he'd love to meet his new cousin. Come on Claire, please?" He crooned, kissing her on the neck. Claire looked hesitant still.

Liam already got up as well and Meghan wasn't to kept still anyways. Liam looked at Claire. "Yeah, come with us Claire, hm?" He tried to support his brother.

Charlie smiled, nudging her. Finally, she agreed to come. Charlie ushered her to get her coat just as the phone rang. He picked it up, hoisting Aaron into his arms. "Hello?" He felt a chill up his spine as the rusty voice on the other end spoke to him, asking how he was. Sawyer. Charlie looked around, not meeting eyes with Liam, saying into the receiver "Look, I told you to stop calling the house phone. I have to go. Stop calling. Bye" and he hung up, shaking.

The way Charlie answered the phone call and that he was avoiding meeting his eyes - or anyone's eyes for that matter - was making Liam uneasy. He grabbed Charlie on the wrist, tight but gently. "Who's that been?"

Charlie just shook his head, moving to walk away. "No one important." He said, a little shakily. He tried to get past Liam, but the man was solidly blocking his exit.

"Charlie, you're shaking! Don't tell me this wasn't of any importance. Who?" Liam was willing to kick the 'living shit' out of anyone doing telephone terror to his baby brother, just he wouldn't tell Charlie. Partly because he had a youngster in his arm who mustn't learn such language.

Charlie put Aaron on the floor, telling him to go find his mum. "Really Liam, it was no one. Just a sales man, won't stop bothering me really..." He said shakily, his voice higher than normal, his laugh completely fake. Wow, when had he gotten to be this bad of an actor?

Liam shook his head. He couldn't believe Charlie was hiding that bad that he was lying. "No salesman makes you act like that, baby brother." He looked at Charlie as if trying to force him tell the truth only by his look. And the longer he thought about it and looked at Charlie the surer he got he had an idea of who it was.

Charlie paused at the door, sighing. "It was Sawyer." He said, turned around resignedly against the door. "He calls here to see if I regret my decision to leave him and to torture my mind about the matter." He said, thumping his head against the door frame.

Bloody dirty bastard! was the first thing that came to Liam’s mind. He had offered Sawyer to stay after Charlie had moved in with Claire, but now he was pretty glad Sawyer hadn’t accepted. He stepped up to Charlie, wanting to hold him, comfort him, assure him he didn’t have to go through this alone. But he wasn’t sure if Charlie’d let him, so he only laid a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “I’ll look out for you. That cunt will suffer!”

Charlie let his head come to rest on his brother’s shoulder, inhaling deeply before stepping away quickly. "I.." he paused. "Can't. Can't do this anymore." He said with a shudder, bringing his fingers to his mouth as he did when he was nervous. "I keep lying to Claire, telling her nothing's wrong, but it won't work, she knows something's up..." He trailed off nervously.

"Oh Charlie!" Liam went after his brother. "Come here baby brother." He pulled Charlie into a tight hug. "I promise it's gonna be okay." Liam meant what he said, that he'd be there for his brother and that he'd 'revenge' him. But at the same time he felt pretty crappy and guilty. He had never told Charlie about the two or three encounters he and Sawyer had had since Charlie's party after his first gig. And now he was torn more than before whether to tell him or not.

Charlie wavered for a moment, letting his brother hug him. "We should go..." he said weakly, trailing off. "Claire will wonder where we are. I don't want her suspecting something."

"Yeah," Liam agreed "Yeah, we really should. I'm sorry I held us up." Liam shook his head as if trying to get rid of his current thoughts. In fact he really nearly would have forgotten their actual plan.

Charlie shook his head. "You didn't hold us up, no worries." He said distractedly, still focusing on the phone call. He absently went to stand by Claire, kissing her hair. She cast him a worried look, but he just smiled at her. "Nothing love. Wrong number"

Liam helped the kids into the car then told his brother and his girlfriend to get in as well and climbed behind the wheel. He felt confused because of all the feelings he was feeling right now. He still was pretty proud - the proud daddy - but now he also felt angry - angry at Sawyer - and worried - about Charlie - and, yeah well, guilty. He took a deep breath before starting the car. What he wanted - and tried - to focus on now was his wife and his son and his daughter.

Charlie sat in the back with Meghan as Claire chatted amiably with Liam, saying how beautiful she thought the baby would be, and how what month it was really determined what the baby would be like grown up. Charlie smiled tiredly at her. Always so optimistic. He dozed for a bit, loosing track of time and space.

As Liam pulled up the car at the hospital's parking lot Meghan was the first to climb out the car. Liam knew he couldn't hold her back any longer so he told her where to find her mum and off she ran. "Ey Charlie, we're there. D'you wanna come with, or rather sleep on?" Liam asked gently waking his brother while Claire helped Aaron out of the safety seat.

Charlie woke abruptly, shaking his head to clear it. "Woah, really didn't mean to fall asleep..." He said, swaying slightly. He started getting out of the car, head still foggy as he walked next to Liam. "She here?"

"Yeah, that's where she is." Liam replied. "Meghan's already ran off. Couldn't wait to see her brother." Liam felt great, this time it hadn't been his brother who had seen his child first but he himself had been with Karen during the actual birth. But still... "Charlie, I'm feeling bad for Meghan."

Charlie looked at his brother, confused. "What about her? What's wrong with her?" He said, putting his arm around Claire, who walked beside him, leading Aaron, who walked on foot slowly.

"That I hadn't been there. That those bloody drugs had been so much more important back then. I've been a bad dad." Liam sighed.

Charlie motioned for Claire to go find Meghan, before rounding on his brother, stopping him from walking. "Liam. Let. It. Go." He said forcefully, putting his hands on his brother's shoulders. "She probably doesn't even remember that, doesn't remember the first year, I don't know a baby that does. You've been a great father since, you gave up everything for her. You are NOT a bad father." Charlie finished, letting his fierce gaze flow into Liam. Truth was, he worried about the same thing with Aaron. It wasn't the same, of course, seeing as Charlie really wasn't Aaron's father, but he was still wary.

Liam looked into Charlie's eyes. He knew Charlie was right somehow. He still couldn't get himself to really see it. It wasn't easy to accept that he had made those huge faults before but wouldn't be punished or anything by Meghan because she couldn't remember her first year. Maybe someday he would tell her and ask her to forgive him "I'm sorry." he said lamely.

"Liam, seriously. You got off of it before I did. That’s gotta mean something, doesn't it? At least we know you’re stronger than I was." He finished, the last part a bit disgruntled. He couldn't lie. He still had a sore spot for Liam for getting him on the drugs to begin. But he wasn't going to let his brother put himself down.

Liam pressed his lips together and nodded slowly. "I had to though. I needed something to kick off my will to stop. So did you. And you got your kick off as well." He stated. He wouldn't let Charlie call himself weak. He wasn't weak. And he always had been strong enough to get Liam out of shit as well.

Charlie smiled. "Exactly. You broke out of it for your daughter. If anything, I think that makes you an even better father. You gave up something incredible for her. Something you couldn't really control, you did, for her. That pretty much gives you the father of the year award." Charlie grabbed Liam's hand, leading him on into the hospital. He didn't say anything about his addiction or withdrawal. He really hated himself for all of it.

Liam let himself being lead into the hospital by Charlie. He appreciated to feel his brother's hand on his. He liked that much more than discussing their withdrawals or addiction. He hated that subject but he couldn't help that this had made him come to think of all this.

Charlie smiled, forcing Liam in front of him, pushing him to lead the way. "I don't know where I'm going! We don't want to miss your baby again!" He joked, pushing against Liam with all of his 108 lbs

Liam let himself being pushed, but then backed away sideways almost causing Charlie to fall over. "Well baby brother, we almost did." he said gripping Charlie's wrist and pulling him back a bit towards the elevator. He pushed the button and waited.

Charlie laughed as he was pushed around, taking two fingers and drumming them against the door of the elevator at a high rhythm, fast paced beat. "How'd you come up with the name this time?" He asked absently, focusing on the beat more than what he was saying.

"Well," Liam began when the elevator door opened. He ushered Charlie inside. "I wanted to use names of people who'd had big influence on me. And well, I actually had already been thinking 'bout yours, but Karen didn't like the idea of naming him after his uncle, she said that'd be too obvious and wouldn't be really creative. So now it's Lennon and Noel Gallagher." Liam shrugged grinning.

"Clever!" Charlie said, ignoring the reference to his name. He didn't know why, but he didn't think he deserved to have a child with his name. "Lennon, definitely. I'm not such a fan of Noel Gallagher, but I see why you'd be..." Once in the elevator, he started bouncing on the balls of his feet. Something about him was filled with some kind of nervous energy suddenly. He was having the weirdest day...

This time Liam took over the pushing part moving his brother towards the room where all the new born lay. He could see the others already standing there staring inside at his son. "You okay, Charlie?" he asked his brother, who seemed a bit fidgety, in a whisper when they were still a bit away from the others.

Charlie ignored his brother a bit, saying "Let’s see your baby!" He pushed down all the emotions to glance at the beautiful baby before him, smiling. "He's got your nose."

Liam knew his brother well enough. He could have just said 'no' but he hadn't, he ignored him and evaded the question. That always meant he wasn't okay! Liam had thought about it before, but now he was determined to talk to Charlie - alone! - later. "Has he? God the poor boy." he replied on Charlie's comment about the nose.

"What, your nose isn’t as bad as mine. Mine's bulbous." He said, smiling over his shoulder at his brother. The baby before him was so small, but Charlie could easily see the different traits on him, deciphering them from Karen and Liam.

"It's not that bad. I like it." Liam answered referring to his brother's nose. "What do you think, love?" he asked Karen wrapping his arms round her from behind and placing a soft kiss on her hair. She smirked and answered she was quite glad the baby didn't have Charlie's nose.

"Exactly, see, the woman has taste!" Charlie said, rubbing his nose. "I should get it redone, now that I have money." He laughed. "Can I hold him?"

Karen freed herself of Liam's grip, telling Charlie he surely could hold him, he'd just have to be very gently because he was asleep and he had to let Meghan hold him a bit too then because she hadn't allowed her earlier.

"Here, how's this?" Charlie sat in the chair, pulling Meghan onto his lap. "Now we can both hold him!" He said, showing Meghan how to hold out her arms carefully for the baby.

"Karen, did I leave the camera with you? Aren't they just too cute?" Liam asked, already looking for it. While Karen got the baby out of the bed, Liam could hear Aaron whining jealously, because Meghan was on Charlie's lap.

Charlie smiled, patting the bed. Claire lifted Aaron into her lap, sitting next to Charlie. He wrapped one hand around her, pulling her close, still holding Meghan and supporting her hands around the baby. He leaned down to place a kiss on Aaron's head, smiling.

This was how Liam had in former times imagined his brother's future: with a family. It was just what fitted him best, right after music. But it had been him, Liam, who had had family first. Liam had found the camera and took, what in his mind was, the most beautiful picture of his brother.

Charlie smiled, feeling the flash of the camera wash over him. It felt so good, yet so strange, to have a bunch of warm happy bodies in his hands. He met Liam's gaze openly, eyes showing all.

Liam looked at him affirming and happy. This was the way life felt good. This was how it should be. "Isn't he like the best uncle ever, Karen?" Liam asked smiling at his wife. Karen agreed but said he should stop to fangirl his brother anytime.

Charlie smiled, kissing every one of the beauties both in his lap, and next to him. "Oui, I'm loosing the feeling in my legs" He joked. But in reality, there was no place he'd rather be. This was his family, right here.