Peter Robinson is quite clear he needs Ulster Unionist support to complete the Hillsborough deal.
He said it in the House of Commons on Monday and the message is being underscored again.
However, it will not be easy.
Sir Reg Empey says he has been hearing this since September but, so far, his party has been excluded from negotiations.
''Peter knows our concerns but we have not heard anything,'' said the Ulster Unionist leader.
I'm told at a meeting of the UUP on Monday night, the party decided in the current circumstances it would have nothing to do with the deal.
Now this could change but Sir Reg seems determined his party will not be a push-over.
There will be pressure.
The British government will be constantly on the phone.
The Secretary of State may well argue the Ulster Unionists will take the blame if the institutions collapse.
An Assembly election will be run alongside the general election, he will be warned, and he should be wary of the electorate.
And what if David Cameron comes out and says the deal should be supported.
''This is our business,'' one senior UUP member said to me.
It could all be very interesting before March 9 vote in the assembly.
The glory of Hillsborough is fading fast.
Reality is sinking in.
And this time it is Peter Robinson who has the ace of taking us to elections, if he wants.
Unionist unity!
We will see.
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