Moira Barton picked up the Hotten Courier from the doormat and gasped in surprise when she read the headline "HOODIE COMES OUT THE CLOSET" above a picture of Aaron Livesy. So Adam was right all along….. She thought back to earlier in the year when Adam told his parents he thought Aaron was gay and tried to kiss him.

Just then Adam appeared in the doorway of the kitchen, Moira handed him the paper and said "Here...have you seen this?"

Adam took the paper and shook his head "Oh brilliant….he was worried how people were going to react yesterday and that was just family now it's splashed across the paper so the whole Village is going to know now…." Adam sighed as he sat down at the table and thanking his Mother for the mug of tea she handed him.

"Is this why he tried to….you know…." Moira asked quietly.

"Kill himself….yeah…" Adam replied "and at the time I felt partially to blame for that…."

"Why? " Moira asked sitting down opposite him at the table.

"I think I freaked him out…" when he saw the confused look on his Mother's face, he realised she hadn't a clue what had gone on as Adam had kept all this to himself. "I guess I can tell you the whole story now…"

"Well yeah, Me and your Dad always suspected you knew more than you were letting on but we both said it wasn't our business…." Moira stated.

"Yeah…..well I guess it starts back to when he tried to kiss me….I freaked out, I was in shock, I didn't see it coming and I guess looking back now I handled it all wrong. So of course he was in denial and pretending it never happened….I told him I never had a problem with him being gay but I didn't like him using our Holly…."

"Was he…?" Moira interrupted "using her?"

"I don't think he intended to but I think what happened with me freaked him out so much that he was trying to prove to me and him that he was straight…..I don't think he ever meant to hurt her…. but having said that…she wasn't exactly into him much anyway…..and dumped him."

Moira shook her head in acknowledgement of what Holly was like.

Adam continued "anyway so when Holly dumped him, I think he started seeing Jackson…I don't how for how long but anyway one night I was out with Scarlett when I saw him and Jackson….well you know..." Adam didn't need to say the words as Moira understood to what her Son was trying to say.

"Did he see you then"? Moira asked

Adam nodded and quietly said "yeah….that's why he freaked… I even tried to talk to him to make him see it was ok and that I had no problem with it…but he blanked me…..and then Jackson turned up at the pub on my Birthday…. I just think it got a bit too close to home for him …."

"And that's why he hit him?" Moira concluded.

"Yeah I think he was panicking that everyone was going to find out his secret then afterwards he found out that Paddy had told Marlon and his Mum….he couldn't handle it….and that's when he tried to top himself…." Adam finished.

Moira leaned across the table to take Adam's hand into hers and said softly.

"Adam….I had no idea you were dealing with all of this but it sounds like you have been there for him, you have been a supportive friend to someone who finds it hard to open up…"

Adam nods in agreement and says "Thanks, I think he realises it now and I really was glad when he told the truth yesterday in Court as I think he wanted to be sent down rather than admit being gay…"

"Well I guess your gonna be gloating now…after all you were right along" Moira jokes.

"Would I do a thing like that? …" Adam laughs.

Moira rolled her eyes and stood up and walked towards Adam, bent down to kiss him on the head saying "Of course not" she said sarcastically.