If Only You Were Mine. . .

This is the 10th part in a Stephen and Eloy fanfic I wrote about a year ago (2000) about the beginning of the relationship. As I, and nobody else, knows the 'real' truth about how they first got together, I thought you might like to read this completely fictional piece of work which I would like to think is how they got together. In some instances, real events are portrayed.

* * *

Eloy stared out the window. "Feck!" he said, in a pretend Irish accent. "They're still there!"

"What am I going to do?" Stephen asked, the panic in his voice apparent.

"I don't know," Eloy said, quietly. "Go away!" he silently hissed through the window.

It was a cold March morning in Amsterdam and Stephen was due to record a Dutch TV show that morning with Boyzone, except Ronan that is, who was due to become a dad any day now. But first Stephen had to overcome the obtacle of Eloy's fans before he could get to the TV studio. They'd been waiting outside for 1 hour now and showed no sign of leaving. As one set of fans would leave, another set would arrive. Because Stephen and Eloy were still having to keep their relationship a secret, there was no way they'd be able to let the fans see them together.

Stephen looked at his watch, realiising he needed to be at the TV studio in an hour.

"E? Can't you just go outside again, speak to them and come back?"

"Stephen, that's what I have been doing for the whole morning!! As soon as I come back inside, more arrive!! I haven't been in the public eye for a few months now- you would think they'd have forgotten about me! I mean, I'm grateful they haven't, but I really wish they weren't there."

Stephen sighed, knowing that there was only one thing he could possibly do. He would have to make a run for it.

Eloy stared at his partner wide-eyed. "Are you serious?!?!?!? Stephen, I don't know whether you've noticed, but you're in the biggest boy band in the UK, and quite big in Holland too- do you seriously think they're not going to know who you are?"

Stephen raised his arms helplessly. "No. But maybe I should just walk out and see what happens. It was you who once told me that if you don't act suspicious, no one will suspect anything."

Eloy sighed. "THIS is different. You can't just come waltzing out of my house in the morning! The fans will start asking questions- 'we didn't know you were good friends'; 'why's Stephen Gately staying at your house?'- and soon the secret will be out!"

"I know," Stephen said, suddenly having a brainwave. "Be back in a minute."

Stephen got up from where he was sitting and disappeared upstairs into the bedroom he and Eloy were practically living in together at the moment. Eloy sat downstairs, waiting patiently. Eloy didn't have to wait long, as Stephen poked his head round the door, wearing a black hooded top. Eloy looked puzzled.

"And your brilliant idea is. . . ?"

"This!" Stephen exclaimed. "With a hood over the top of my head, the fans won't be able to see who I am!"

Eloy rolled his eyes. "It's not exactly one of your BEST ideas, Steve." Sighing, he added, "Well, there's not much time and so it'll have to do. You lead, I follow, okay?"

Stephen nodded.

"Ready?" Eloy asked, before opening the front door on Stephen's approval. Stephen made a mad dash to Eloy's car, quickly opening it with the keys, before putting his head down. Seconds later, Eloy scooted into the car, before putting the key in the ignition and speeding off.

"Do you think they suspected anything?" Eloy asked.

"Nah," Stephen said, before playing their favourite Madonna CD on the car's stereo system.

* * *

Back at the house, the fans were left feeling slightly puzzled.

"Wasn't that Stephen Gately from Boyzone?" one commented.

"Yes. . . I think it was,"another replied.

"There've been some rumours that Stephen is quite 'close' to a member of Caught In The Act, you know," another fan piped up, before being bombarded with questions from the other fans, dying to know all the gossip. Little did Stephen and Eloy know what was about to happen. . .

* * *

Eloy turned his brand new Audi TT car into his road. He glanced over at Stephen, who was fast asleep in the passenger seat. He loved this car! It had been a present from Stephen for his 26th birthday 1 day before. Eloy had, at first, been rather unwilling to accept such an expensive present but Stephen, as stubborn as anything, refused to take it back. Eloy felt guilty for accepting it, but he felt that the gift kind of showed how much Stephen must really love him. Eloy had felt embarrassed as, 5 days after his birthday, it would be Stephen's birthday and he only had a ring to give him. Eloy had already given Stephen his gift as they would be apart on his birthday. He was relieved, however, that Stephen really loved the gift. It was a commitment ring- Eloy kept one for himself, and he gave Stephen the other. Stephen did, however, refuse to wear it on his finger at the moment, choosing instead to wear it on a chain around his neck. Stephen felt it would look "too" suspicious. Shaking his head, Eloy felt that Stephen was taking this secrecy thing a bit too far. Stifling a laugh, Eloy recalled a recent holiday in Miami he and Stephen had taken with Keith, Lisa and their son Jordan. As a surprise, Eloy thought he would have Stephen's name tattooed on his arm. Him and Stephen had been discussing getting tattoo's and Eloy thought he would surprise him. Stephen had gone mad, however, as he felt that it wouldn't be long before the fans saw it. Smiling wrly, Eloy remembered the fact that Stephen always made sure he wore long sleeves and never short sleeves which may expose Eloy's love token to Stephen. Eloy did though know that Stephen would be getting his own 'Eloy' tattoo soon.

Stephen suddenly interrupted Eloy's thoughts as he stirred from his sleep.

"Must have dozed off," Stephen said, looking up and smiling at Eloy. "That TV show made me so tired!"

Eloy grinned, before concentrating his eyes on the road in front of him. Looking ahead, he was relieved to see that there were no fans hanging around outside his new house any more. It meant that he and Stephen could enter the house without all the secrecy.

Walking into the front room, Eloy saw the red light on the answer phone blinking.

"Looks like there's a message Steve," Eloy said, before pressing the play button. The first message was Stephen's mum checking to see if her son was okay, the next was from Ronan who was ringing in to give them a 'baby' update.

"Still no baby yet, Steve!" Eloy called out to Stephen, who had disappeared upstairs to get changed.

The last message was from Boyzone's PA, Caroline McAteer. It sounded as if it was urgent.

'Stephen, Eloy, you have to call me AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS MESSAGE okay?'

the message said.

Stephen walked into the front room, just catching the tail end of the message. "Who was that?" he asked.

Eloy turned to look at Stephen with a puzzled expression on his face. "Caroline. She said we have to ring her as soon as we get the message. It sounded important."

"I'll give her a quick ring now then!" Stephen said, before getting out his mobile phone and dialling her number. Eloy rolled his eyes. 'Stephen's addicted to that phone!' Eloy thought. He was always annoyed with the fact that Stephen always insisted on using his mobile indoors, when they had a perfectly useable phone already!

Eloy sat reading the paper whilst Stephen spoke to Caroline. From the tone in Stephen's voice, Eloy could tell that something was wrong. Putting the paper down, Eloy mouthed to Stephen, 'What is it?' Stephen shook his head, motioning to Eloy that he would tell him in a minute.

Upon ending his conversation, Stephen furrowed his brow, looking dead serious all of a sudden.

"Steve? What is it, what's wrong?"

Stephen sighed. "It's all over. We've been caught out."

"What?"

Stephen quietly explained. "A security guard who worked at the Childline Concert in January is trying to sell the story about us. He rang up The Sun and told them about it. The good news is though that The Sun already knew about me being gay. It's news to them though about you, but they've told this guy that the story is worthless unless he can get some evidence."

Eloy's eyes brightened as he said, "Well that's great!!!" Noticing the glum expressionon Stephen's face, Eloy added, "Isn't it. . . ?"

"No! Eloy, the secret's out. Nobody knows who this guy is at the moment. He's going to keep sniffing around until he gets something against us. Let's face it- the story is going to be out before the year's end."

Both men sat in stunned silence as the realisation dawned on them.

"Eloy- I may as well leave. You're never going to want to stay with me through this and so I'll just go and pack my bags."

Before Stephen could get up, Eloy placed one hand on Stephen's face, making the younger man look at him.

"Stephen- look at me! I'm not going anywhere. I'm here to stay. I'll support you through this. A few months ago, I promised you that I'd never leave you- that I'd never let go- and I'm going to keep that promise. Baby, I love you and I'll give up anything just to be with you. Even if this means the end of my career. I hope you feel the same."

Smiling, Stephen said, "Of course I do! I'd give up my career tomorrow if it meant we could be together, you know that. But, are you willing to stick by me, even if it means having to admit our relationship to the world? Can you stand that kind of pressure and publicity?"

"Of course I can," Eloy said, pulling Stephen into a tight hug. "But, let's not worry about that just yet. The guy can't do anything until he has evidence of our relationship. Why don't we just wait and see what his next move is?"

Stephen nodded in agreement. "Caroline said that The Sun are fully on our side and they would prefer for me to do an interview with them rather than for them to get a story from a security guard so I guess that waiting for a while does make sense. . ."

Stephen's voice trailed off as he and Eloy lay in each other's arms on the settee, with Eloy slowly stroking Stephen's hair. Both men knew that it was like a time bomb ticking away and they didn't have much time left. However, they knew that they were safe. For the moment, at least. . .

* * *