When Kate's dad was made redundant things were difficult for the whole family. Money was tight and after months of unsuccessful interviews they were faced with the prospect of losing their home. Then out of the blue Kate's dad was offered a job in Dublin, Ireland. Two weeks after accepting the job they were packing their things and leaving their sleepy village in the midlands for the bright lights of Dublin. Kate was especially excited as her favorite pop group, Westlife, came from Ireland and she was hoping to meet them.
After six months of living there Kate's hopes had come to nothing, she hadn't met any of the band, despite two of them originating from Dublin. On the plus side, Kate's dad's job was going well and Kate had got herself a job in a club.
One night as she was leaving work she was nearly knocked over by a group of drunken lads, one of them tripped over her foot and went flying, suppressing a giggle Kate said,
"You shouldn't drink so much, then maybe you'd stay on your feet."
"Whatever." was the slurred response she got.
"Come on Bry, up you get." said one of the others, trying to pull him up.
"Gerroff, just leave me alone." he said.
"Come on guys, lets go, he'll come back when he's sober." and with that they left. The one they called Bry was still on the floor and seemed in no hurry to get up.
"Are you okay?" Kate asked leaning over him.
"Hmmm?" was the mumbled response as he turned to look at her, blood seeping from a gash in his head. Kate did a double take, was it really him? But there was no mistaking his face, she was looking into the eyes of Bryan from Westlife, but who he was was irrelevant as she looked at the cut on his head.
"Come on get up." she said, taking his hand "You need that head looking at."
"I can't." he said, trying to pull his hand away.
"Look, you can lie there and bleed all over the pavement if you like, it's no skin off my nose, but I think you should go to hospital." Kate said willing him to get up, she had no intention of leaving him there.
"Okay, okay, I give up, you win." Bryan said, trying to stand up. Slowly, with as much help as Bryan could manage in his drunken state, Kate got him to his feet.
"Come on, my car's in the car park, I'll take you myself." Kate said and they made their way to her car. She felt a bit embarrassed putting him in her battered old car, but then in his state she didn't think he'd remember much about it anyway. As they were abou to leave Bryan's mobile phone started to ring.
"You'd better get that." Kate said. "It's probably the others wondering where you are."
Bryan fumbled with his phone but couldnt find the right button to press.
"Oh for goodness sake, give it here." Kate said, taking it from him and answering it.
"Hello?" she said.
"Hello?" said a confused voice at the other end, "Who is this?"
"The name's Kate." she said, "Who are you?"
"Nicky." said the voice, "What are you doing with Bryan's phone?"
"He's sat in my car about to go to hospital." Kate replied. It was as she said this that she realised just how absurd the situation was. Here she was, a barmaid in a club, and she had Bryan McFadden in her car. No-one would believe her when she told them.
"Oh my god, what's he done?" asked Nicky.
"He fell coming out of the club where I work and he's cut his head. I'm just taking him to have it looked at." Kate explained.
"Do you want us to come with you?" asked Nicky.
"Would that be wise." Kate said, "One of you turning up at the hospital is bad enough. If you all go what would the press make of that."
"Yeah, you've got a point there. Look, whatever the time, ring when he's seen a doctor and let us know how he is."
"No problem." Kate said and with that they hung up and Kate set off for the hospital. Luckily the hospital was quiet and they were seen straight away. After Bryan's head had been x-rayed and stitched they put him in a side room on his own with a security guard outside the door. Kate didn't like to think of him waking up on his own so she decided to stay with him. She phoned her parents and told them that a friend had had an accident and she was staying with them until she knew they were okay. Then she phoned Nicky, as promised.
"Hello?" Nicky said as he picked up the phone.
"Hi Nicky, it's Kate."
"How is he?" Nick asked.
"He'll live." Kate replied, "He's got six stitches and they want him to stay overnight. But apart from a bad head when he wakes up he should be fine."
"Thanks for all you've done Kate." Nicky said, "It's really appreciated."
"That's okay." said Kate blushing, "I thought I would stay with him until he wakes up. I think he'll be a bit confused when he does."
"Yeah, probably." Agreed Nicky. "Thanks again, and we'll come and get you in the morning."
They said goodbye and Kate went back to Bryan's room, smiling at the security guard as she went in. Bryan was out cold so Kate sat in the chair next to the bed and was soon asleep too.
When Bryan woke the next morning he felt like he'd been hit by a truck. His head felt as though it was about to explode and his mouth was like sandpaper. He put his hand up to his head and it all started coming back to him, he could remember having too much to drink, falling and hitting his head when he left the club. But where was he? This wasn't his room. He looked around and saw Kate asleep in the chair, then the rest of it came back, she'd taken him to hospital so that was obviously where he was. But what was her name? She must have told him but he couldn't remember. With that Kate woke up, she was embarrassed seeing him looking at her, she was all rumpled, having slept in a chair all night and her make-up was smudged. Bryan was also embarrassed, what must she think of him, he knew he'd had too much to drink and here he was in hospital with a girl he didn't know.
"How's your head?" Kate asked him.
"Feels like I've been hit with a sledgehammer." Bryan said "I'm sorry, but I can't remember your name." He said blushing slightly.
"I'm not surprised the state you were in last night." Kate said, smiling, "I'm Kate."
"Have you been here all night?" he asked.
"Yeah, I didn't like to leave you." kate said, now it was her turn to blush.
"That's really sweet." Bryan said, sitting up. "I bet my mates are wondering where I am."
"They already know." Kate said, "Nicky rang while we were on our way here and I phoned him after you'd been seen. He said he'd come and get you this morning."
"So you know who I am then, this is really embarrassing." Bryan said looking away from Kate.
"Don't worry." Kate said walking over to the bed, "Your secret's safe with me."
With that a nurse came in and gave Bryan some painkillers and, satisfied that there would be no permenent damage, told him he was free to go. Unfortunately the press had got wind of what had happened and the main entrance was crawling with reporters. Bryan held tightly to Kates hand as they made their way to the waiting car. Kian, Nicky, Mark and Shane were waiting in the car for him and insisted on taking Kate hime too, not one to waste an opportunity, Kate didn't tell them she had her own car in the car park, she would have to come back for it later.
All the way to Kate's house the other guys took the mick out of Bryan.
"I don't know." said Shane, "Falling over blind drunk and being picked up by strange women, whatever next."
"It's not quite the right way to be impressing the ladies now, is it?" laughed Mark.
"You'll be scarred for life now mate." said Kian, "No more pretty girls for you, still that leaves more for the rest of us, hey lads." and they all started laughing.
"Leave it out you lot." Bryan said, pretending to be insulted, but he was laughing just as much as they were.
By the time they reached Kate's house they were all chatting as if they'd known each other for years. Bryan got out of the car and helped Kate out, as he walked her to her door he said,
"Would you like to come out to dinner with me, if I promise not to get drunk? I'd like to thank you properly for all you've done."
"Yes, I'd love to." replied Kate.
"Great, I'll pick yopu up tomorrow at seven, and dress casual." then he kissed her gently on the lips and went back to the car. As he opened the door Kate heard the guys shout, "Yes! Bryan scores!" Then they were gone. Kate turned to see her family stood at the door, they'd seen everything.
"You're a bit of a dark horse." said her mum as Kate walked in, "I thought you were at the hospital with a friend."
"I was." said Kate and she went on to explain what had happened.
The following evening on the dot of seven Bryan was at Kate's door. He was dressed in jeans and a grey shirt, Kate couldn't believe hoow gorgeous he was, sober and clean shaven.
"Are you ready?" Bryan asked.
"Yeah, I'll see you later mum." she called as she left the house. Kate had also chosen to wear jeans but with a delicate floral print gypsy top.
"You look really nice." said Bryan.
"Thanks." said Kate, "You scrub up pretty well yourself." and they both laughed at the memory of two nights ago.
Bryan took her to a small restaurant in one of Dublin's quieter areas. They had a lovely meal and spent the evening getting to know each other. The end of the evening came all too quickly and Kate didn't want to go home. Bryan must have read her mind as he said,
"Would you like to come back to my place. I don't want this evening to end yet."
"Yes." said Kate, "I'd really like that."
Back at Bryans flat they were enjoying a cup of coffee and watching an old movie when Bryan turned to Kate and said,
"I really like you Kate, how would you feel about seeing me again, what with all the baggage I carry."
"Are you serious?" Kate asked totally shocked, "You could have your pick of women who move in the same circles as you. What would you want with a barmaid?"
"But you're much more than that Kate." said Bryan, "You've seen me at my worst and you didn't run away, you stopped and helped me. That means a lot to me." then he swallowed hard and said, "I think, no, I know, I love you. I'm sorry if that scares you, but you've been honest with me so I owe it to you to do the same."
"I don't know what to say." said Kate, but then it just came out, it wasn't planned, but these things rarely are, "I love you too."
Bryan stood up and pulled Kate to her feet, he put his arms around her and kissed her gently, then with more passion. When they stopped he took her hand and led her to his bedroom. Kate looked at him and he stopped, "If you're not ready I'm happy to wait." he said, "I don't want to rush you."
"You're not rushing me." Kate said quietly, "I want this as much as you do." Then she led him into the bedroom and closed the door.