Complications

Part 1

Jackson had just sprung it on him out of the blue. He'd come home from work for his lunch and had been told to get a shower and pack his stuff, enough for a long weekend away.

"A long weekend away where?" He'd asked, but Jackson wouldn't tell him it was to be a surprise.

He should have been excited, he should have been pleased and he was, sort of, but what he was mostly, was thrown. He couldn't just up and go, not just like that. What about work? He'd left a car up on a ramp and was supposed to be working Friday, Saturday and Monday, Sunday his only day off, Cain wasn't going to like it, he knew his uncle of old, he wasn't going to let him have all that time off, not without any notice. But Cain already knew! Jackson said he had sorted it, he wasn't expecting him back until Tuesday. Cain hadn't breathed a word to him. And what about money, he was skint and Jackson had been pleading poverty for weeks now too. "Sorted!" Jackson had told him as he'd patted the pocket he kept his wallet in.

Where'd he get the cash from? They were saving; supposedly, every spare penny they had now went into their recently set up joint savings account in the bank! He'd changed so much in the two years they'd been together, he'd calmed down, wised up...grown up, he knew what he wanted and that was to spend the rest of his life with Jackson and the next step in their relationship was getting a place of their own.

He'd done as bid and gone for a shower, the water washing away all remnants of his morning's toil but not the daze Jackson's announcement had left him in. He'd then packed his things, stuff for the day, stuff for the night, especially stuff for the nights because apparently where they were going had plenty of nightlife.

Paddy knew all about the mystery weekend, it seemed he was the only one who didn't. The older man unable to contain his excitement, and telling him to show some too, that Jackson had put a lot of time and effort into planning this surprise. He obviously had and he couldn't quite believe he'd not noticed anything was going on or that Cain or Paddy hadn't let anything slip.

Paddy had of course wanted to see them off, so too his mum! She'd turned up just before they'd left. She'd been in on it too and had been really pleased with herself for managing to keep it secret.

He'd taken it for granted they'd be going in Jackson's van but he'd found his boyfriend sitting in a car, a rental car, a flash car it was too. Another surprise, something else he should be pleased about and he was, it was just that it added to what was all so unexpected, and the thing about him was that he liked to know what was happening. He liked to have some control over what was happening to him, he couldn't help but feel he was being carried helplessly along on a wave and for some reason he felt scared. Scared? Why the hell should he feel scared?

He'd eventually guessed where they were going; well the road and motorway signs had helped. London! He'd never been before, had always wanted to go, play the tourist, see the sights. Now he was going and he couldn't quite believe it.

They'd got lost just the once, took the wrong motorway exit, they'd been talking instead of concentrating on the unfamiliar. It had added half an hour to their journey, not that it mattered, they had all weekend.

He'd started to relax once in the car, to loosen up, the excitement was finally starting to build and he was suddenly looking forward to some time away, to some time alone with Jackson, to having some fun.

They'd not done much socialising the last few months, not since they'd got serious about saving, life had got a bit boring, a little dull, but they both knew they had to make such sacrifices. That's why he hadn't been able to understand why Jackson was splashing the cash now, had he won the lottery or something? He didn't like to ask where the money had come from, that really would put a dampener on things.

Their hotel was on the outskirts of the city, not an expensive one, but not a cheap one by any means. It was nice, really nice, the nicest one he'd ever been in. It had started him off worrying what it was all costing Jackson, they usually split the cost of everything, but when he'd mentioned putting something towards it, Jackson had said no, no way, it was his treat.

Treat? They weren't talking bed and breakfast in Whitby here. It was like they were celebrating something, but what? It wasn't either of their birthdays, it wasn't an anniversary of anything, of when they'd first met, first slept together, first moved in together.

He'd thought they were going to hit the clubs, there was one he'd heard about, it was supposedly a great night out and he was keen to find out just how good for himself. But no, not tonight, Jackson said they were going for a meal, the table was already booked.

The restaurant wasn't far from the hotel, in walking distance. It looked expensive from the outside, even more so from the inside, could they really afford to eat at such a place? He only hoped they served proper food, something that would fill a working man's belly.

It was busy but they were shown to a quiet, secluded corner. He felt a little out of place...no he felt a lot out of place, but at the same time it felt nice, it was nice the two of them eating out somewhere special.

He'd had everything, starters, main, and dessert. Leaving him more than full, fit to burst in fact.

He'd enjoyed every single minute of their evening, the conversation, the food, he was eager now to get back to the hotel, to get Jackson into bed. But Jackson said he had one more surprise for him before they left, hopefully one he'd like.

"What is it?

The older man had taken hold of his hand, smiled at him, and as he'd looked lovingly into his eyes had quietly asked, "Marry me?"

TBC