Last Christmas

-O-

DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV

Thank you to all you lovely people who have read and reviewed my stories throughout the year...bless you.

Merry Christmas everyone. x

-O-

Paddy returned to the lounge from the kitchen and noticed that Aaron was missing. All the others were there, Rhona, Hazel, Chas, Marlon, little Leo; but there was no sign of Aaron.

Rhona had picked up on Paddy's concerned look without him having to ask the question.

"He's gone out," she told him, "said he wanted a breath of fresh air."

"I thought we were going to play charades after our Christmas supper!" Paddy looked disappointed.

"Aaron...playing charades?" Rhona had that 'don't be daft' look all over her face, "The rest of us can play, Aaron will be OK."

"I bet I know where he's gone," Hazel said, without elaborating.

It was quiet in the graveyard, Aaron had the time and space to think clearly here. He loved Paddy and the rest of the gang, but he just needed to chill by himself and, of course, to speak to Jackson. At first, he stood staring at the gravestone, almost not believing the words inscribed there. He had brought a torch so that he could see them clearly in the early evening darkness. "Do you remember last Christmas," he began, "I bought you that jumper and you said you'd never wear it? You did though, didn't you? I loved you for that! You just wore it to please me and to show you didn't mean it when you said I was rubbish at giving gifts! Well, here we are, Christmas again! I can't believe it's been a year since then. I still miss you; every day. I suppose I always will."

Aaron paused, a single tear rolled down his cheek as he made the effort to continue with his one-sided conversation, "I didn't know what to get you this year; so I got you these." He had brought a bunch of flowers with him; and he placed them carefully on the grave, doing it silently, in the darkness, as if to make a noise would have disturbed Jackson.

He paused, unsure of himself but determined to continue, "Cain got himself beaten up; I've been at the hospital quite a bit. I'm an expert at sitting by hospital beds, me!" Aaron allowed himself a little wry smile, "Funny how seeing somebody else lying there brings it all back. He's luckier than you though, at least he can still use his arms and legs! If only you could have done that, you'd still be with me now. But, maybe I'm being selfish, what gives me the right to be happy, eh? Yeah I know my Mum, your Mum, Paddy, Rhona, Marlon, they all do their best; but none of them can replace what I've lost; what I had last Christmas!"

Aaron's tears had become a flood now; he used his cuff to wipe them away from his face.

"Did I tell you I'm little Leo's godfather now? Paddy and Rhona asked me. It was good of them and I do appreciate it. Oh, and I'm on this training course learning about specialist motor mechanics. I've stopped the self-harming now; I saw this counsellor, Phil, and he's helped me sort my head out! That was no mean feat! You know how screwed up my head usually is! I don't need to tell you THAT though, do I mate?"

He opened a can of lager and tipped the contents over the grave, "Anyway, all I wanted to say was, Merry Christmas!"

Aaron shuffled from one foot to the other, he was aware that the cold night air was chilling his bones. He also suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness, standing in the darkness by himself. He needed a sign that he was not alone; that Jackson had heard him.

Then, as he looked up into the inky black sky, he saw a shooting star cross the heavens. It rose in a large arc and then disappeared over the horizon as quickly as it had appeared. He knew, in his heart, that Jackson had answered him; and it gave him great comfort and joy.