'What about this one?' Steve pointed to a small cage and one of it's nine furry inhabitants.

'Nah, it looks evil, see how it's nose twitches, like it has some cunning plan to take over the world.'

'Brian it's a bloody rabbit, it's nose is meant to twitch like that.'

'Well I still don't like it, I don't like the way it's looking at us.'

Steve threw his hands up in desperation. 'Give me strength.' he muttered under his breath but not so quietly that Brian couldn't hear it.

'Would you like any help here sir?' A shop assistant enquired politely.

'Yes,' Steve replied firmly, 'I'd like to take a closer look at that rabbit there if I may,' and he pointed to the chocolate coloured one that Brian had already secretly dubbed 'Dr Evil.'

'Certainly Sir.' The assistant raised the wire lid of the cage and brought the rabbit out into Steve's waiting hands.

Steve smiled as the rabbit just sat there contentedly, occasionally twitching it's nose and looking around. 'Want to have a hold Molks?'

'Nuh-uh. No way.' Nothing in the world was going to persuade Brian to hold that…that…creature, 'Knowing my luck it would shit all over me.'

'But it's so cute.'

'Watch it there Stevey-boy, think of your image. What would our fans think if they could hear you coming out with words like 'cute'? You're meant to be the blokey one remember.'

Steve just rolled his eyes and said something to the shop assistant about 'day release.'

'Oi, I heard that you tosser.'

Steve ignored him and instead handed the rabbit back, telling the assistant that they would take her.

'How do you know that her is a her?' Brian asked as they waited by the cash desk whilst the assistant sorted out a travelling box for the rabbit.

'Ok, Brian,' Steve put on his best 'talking to a small child here' voice, 'there are things that little boy rabbits have that little girl ones don't.'

'I know that arsehole but how can you tell on something that small.'

Steve laughed, 'because it said so on the outside of the cage you twit.'

Brian was distinctly unimpressed and just 'humphed.'

Spending the morning buying a rabbit for Emily for Christmas was not exactly his idea of a good time but Steve had asked so nicely and who was he to refuse Steve anything? Besides Steve had promised in return to go with him and pick out something for Stef so it wasn't entirely a one-way street.

Wisely Steve had suggested that they go and buy Stef's present first and the unmarked bag that Brian now held clinked every now and again ominously. Much deliberation had occurred over whether to buy Stefan fake fur lined handcuffs or the velvet ones. In the end Brian had brought both sets along with various other 'accouterments' declaring that if the bassist didn't like them then he would always use them himself.

In the cab back to Steve's place Brian kept a healthy distance between himself and the box containing the rabbit. A little difficult seeing how the vehicle also contained a hutch, a large pack of straw and several bags of premium rabbit food.

Brian politely declined Steve's offer to go in for a coffee and instead keep the cab running whilst he helped him in with all his purchases before jumping back in and gratefully going home.

He hadn't been home for more than a few hours before his phone rang.

'Bri, I need a favour.'

'Mouth or hands?'

'Yes, very funny. Listen Emily is coming over this evening. The wicked witch has relented, I think she thinks that if she lets me see her before Christmas I'll forget all about Christmas Day. Some chance.' Steve snorted to indicate exactly what he thought about that possibility.

'Well I'm very happy for you but what precisely does all this have to do with me?'

'I need you to look after Snuffles, I can't have Emily finding out about her before Christmas Day.'

'Snuffles!' Brian nearly fell off the arm of the sofa on which he was perched he was laughing so hard.

'Just shut up and listen. I'll be over in about twenty minutes. Thank Bri you're a lifesaver.'

'Steve no…wait…I ca…'

But all Brian got in response was dial tone.

Forty minutes later Steve was on his doorstep, complaining fiercely about pre-Christmas traffic, arms loaded up with Snuffle's hutch.

Dumping it on the floor he fussed around laying down the newspapers he had brought. 'Can't have her residing on 'The Gay Times' now can we?' he had said by way of explanation.

'They're Steffie's. He left them over here last time he was round.' Brian protested.

'Which is why they are still on your coffee table and not in the recycling box yet.'

'Hey, I do sometimes go for girls you know.'

'Well now you've got one all to yourself for the next 24 hours.' Steve said, standing up and handing Brian a piece of paper. 'I've written it all down, when to feed her and how much and please no putting waccy baccy in her feed mix,'

Brian snatched the instructions from his hand. 'I do think I can manage thank you.'

'Just be nice to her, that's all I ask. I would quite like her to still be alive come Christmas.' He glanced at the clock on Brian's VCR, 'okay I've got to dash, love you Molks.' And with that he was gone.

Brian poured himself a stiff vodka, no tonic, and went back into the living room. He sat down on the sofa and glared at the small ball of fur scuffing around in the wooden hutch, bits of sawdust and straw already littering the newspaper under it.

'One false move and you're Sunday dinner.' Brian muttered treacherously.

The shrill ring of the phone interrupted before Snuffles could answer him.

'And no harassing her either…'