Christmas Present - Chapter 1

-O-

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

-O-

It was the perfect Christmas scene. The bare branches on the trees were covered with the early morning frost, making them sparkle in the sunlight which greeted the dawn on Christmas Eve.

Aaron, wrapped in a warm fleece hoodie top, took in the view as he made his way to the garage, carefully treading on the frozen ground so that he would not slip on any ice. He did not want to fall and injure himself as he needed this Christmas to be special, but it would be spoilt if he ended up with a broken arm or leg. In any case, Cain required his assistance in the garage for the morning and would not be best pleased if Aaron had to take sick leave just because he had been careless.

As it happened, the morning passed without incident: there were only a couple of cars left to deal with before the Christmas break. Once Aaron had finished the brake pads on a Vauxhall Nova, at around eleven, Cain told him that he might as well go home and start his Christmas holiday. Aaron was not going to argue and he was glad of the half-day to make the final arrangements for a surprise that he had in store for Jackson when his partner arrived back from work at their home in Dale Head.

At around two in the afternoon, Jackson breezed through the door as expected. He greeted Aaron with a kiss and noticed that his lover was dressed in dark trousers and a chunky-knit blue sweater: a colour which matched his eyes perfectly and made him look even more handsome than usual.

"You look smart," Jackson said.

"Are you saying that I usually look scruffy?" Aaron retorted.

"Don't start!" Jackson rolled his eyes: he knew that Aaron would easily turn a simple remark into world war three, given half a chance.

"Anyway, you'd better get some warm gear on, too. I've packed our suitcases."

"Suitcases?" Jackson frowned, "Where are we going?"

"Lapland!" Aaron replied, as if the answer was obvious.

"Don't be funny, you're winding me up!" Jackson did not believe a word of it.

"I'm serious," Aaron smiled and pulled Jackson to him, "Do you remember last Christmas, when we went to that hotel in the Lakes?"

"Yeah."

"And in bed that night, after it snowed, you said how you wished that you were in Lapland, so that you could go to see Santa?"

"Well, yeah, but I was only joking."

Aaron suddenly felt that he had made a big mistake in arranging the trip in secret, "What's the matter? Don't you want to go?"

Jackson quickly put Aaron's mind at rest, "Of course I do! It was just a big surprise, that's all. I'm not used to you being this spontaneous."

"Spontaneous? Hardly!" Aaron grimaced, "I've been saving up all year for this! It's taken quite a bit of organising, especially as I've had to do it behind your back, to keep it a secret. I've checked that both our passports are up to date."

Jackson was welling up as, even now, Aaron had the capacity to amaze him. His lover could be so caring and thoughtful and the love he felt for him suddenly multiplied in that moment. He kissed him again.

Aaron broke the kiss and gazed into Jackson's warm brown eyes, "Well, as nice as this is, you've got to get ready to go. The taxi will be here in an hour."

As much as he would have liked to stare into those beautiful blue eyes forever more, Jackson knew that he would have to shower and change before the cab arrived. "Well, I'd best get ready then. I'd better come with you on the journey: otherwise, with your geographical skills, you're likely to end up in Iceland or somewhere."

Aaron frowned, "What, the one in Hotten High Street you mean?"

"You div!" Jackson scolded his partner, but they both knew that it was all in fun and shared a quick peck before Jackson headed off to the bathroom.

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The flight was on time and Aaron and Jackson soon found themselves in their log cabin in Lapland, which was warm and spacious. There was pine everywhere, from the furniture to the walls of the rooms. On their first night they sat by the fire, which was in a stone hearth, warming themselves after being outside in the frozen wonderland of snow and trees. There was also a tree inside the chalet: a Christmas tree, decorated with multi-coloured baubles and a silver star on the top. The ends of the branches shimmered with built-in lights which constantly changed colour.

Jackson put his arm around Aaron's shoulders, "I can't believe you remembered that remark I once made about coming to Finland and I'm speechless that you actually arranged to come here."

"You? Speechless? Now there's a first," Aaron was being his usual cheeky self, but he snuggled up to his boyfriend: he felt warm and toasty, "Anyway, it's Lapland, not Finland."

"It's the same place, you Muppet!" Jackson looked fondly at his lover, "You really amaze me sometimes, babe. Are you sure you can afford all this?"

"Yeah...it's your Christmas present. Like I said, I've been saving up and I wanted to do something special for you after you arranged that Christmas break for us last year."

"I wondered why you told me not to book anything this year, I was beginning to think you didn't like last year's getaway."

"Are you kidding? Not like it?" Aaron looked shocked, "I loved it! But I thought you'd like to do something different this year. We're going on a sleigh-ride tomorrow, drawn by reindeer."

"You old romantic, you! You can be such a softie at times," Jackson chuckled.

"Who me? I'm not!" Aaron blushed. Even after being with Jackson for so long, tender moments still embarrassed him.

"You've gone red!" Jackson had to smile, "Still, it matches your nose when you first came in from the cold...you looked like Rudolph!"

"So did you!" Aaron replied, he was not going to be outdone, "I could have used your nose as a beacon in the dark."

They kissed. Their banter was part of them, something that defined them as a couple.

Jackson pulled Aaron into a tight embrace, "Well, as long as I've got a beacon, if I can find my way back to you...I'll be happy," Jackson rubbed noses with his lover, "Come on, we've obviously got a busy day tomorrow so I think we'd better get some beauty sleep, don't you?"

Aaron rose to his feet and took Jackson's hands in his own, "Yeah...and we'd better be good little boys, otherwise Santa won't bring us any presents."

Jackson had an unmistakable glint in his eye, "I'm always a good boy... but I can't speak for you though."

Aaron had a lecherous smirk on his handsome face, "I can be a little devil when I want to be, so I'm going to have to close the curtains so that Santa can't see what I get up to!"

Jackson laughed, "I'm sure he'd make an exception, just this once. In any case, if he doesn't bring any, we've still got the presents we brought with us from home."

"What? You mean they're not from Santa?" Aaron giggled, he loved being with his boyfriend: teasing him and generally larking about and being stupid.

"Can you imagine my mum, or your mum, or Paddy, with a long white beard and a big red coat?" Jackson chuckled.

Aaron mused for a moment, "Paddy, maybe, but both our mums would have trouble pulling it off! I don't think a white beard and big boobs are a very good combination."

"You're an idiot," Jackson sighed, but the look of love in his eyes proved to Aaron that his boyfriend was only joking. They kissed again before retiring for the night.

Later, in their bed, they were holding on to each other, gently fondling and petting. Aaron always found solace in the feel of Jackson's skin against his own. The private, intimate moments that they always shared had become his comfort, his stability, his contentment. To have Jackson in his life meant everything to him, someone to love and to care about. As much as Aaron loved and cared for Jackson, he knew that his partner also loved and cared for him too...and then some. In the early days of their relationship, Aaron knew that he had given Jackson a hard time: first being in denial and then pretending that Jackson was a 'Muppet' who meant nothing to him, but since he had fallen in love with the sexy young builder, he had settled into a new life. He was often still amazed that Jackson had stayed with him and stood by him, but he knew that here was a man who had taken the time to get to know him and had liked what he had seen. It was still a bit of a mystery to Aaron, who had once felt that nobody could love him, yet Jackson loved him deeply and Aaron had no option, other than to love him back. He was fiercely loyal to his man. Admittedly, their sex-life together had always been very good, but there was much more to their relationship than just that. Love... a pure, honest, all-consuming love: a love that Aaron had once denied, but never could again. Aaron had found something that he never thought he would, completeness and trust with his gorgeous man. He adored Jackson and was utterly devoted to him. Aaron needed Jackson as much as he needed air to breathe and although, with his tough exterior, he hid such feelings well, Jackson always knew that they were there: under the surface. Jackson understood Aaron totally or, as the young mechanic would often put it, he 'got' him.

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Aaron awoke on Christmas morning and stared at the sloping, pine ceiling above him. He then looked at Jackson, sleeping soundly by his side. In that moment, he suddenly felt the magic of Christmas: something he had never felt until he started going out with someone who loved him. But Jackson was that special person with whom he could share the magic. He gently traced the outline of Jackson's stubbled cheek with his fingers and Jackson roused and looked into a pair of blue eyes which seemed to perfectly match the hue of the icy landscape outside.

"'Morning, gorgeous," Jackson's smile lit up the room.

"'Morning, babe." Aaron kissed Jackson, lovingly.

"What time do we need to be ready for this sleigh ride then?"

"We've got a couple of hours before that," Aaron replied, "...enough time to get dressed and have breakfast."

"Have we got time for anything else?" Jackson's saucy smile was unmistakable.

"Why? Mr Walsh! What are you suggesting?"

"As if you don't know...playing the innocent. Come here!" Jackson pulled Aaron into an embrace and kissed him again, "Merry Christmas, lover."

"Merry Christmas, babe," Aaron said when their lips parted for long enough.

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After breakfast, the couple opened their presents. Jackson had bought Aaron an expensive model of his favourite Maserati sports car and promised him that he would buy him the real thing someday!

Aaron had bought Jackson a chunky-knit sweater with a reindeer on the front.

"Very appropriate," Jackson held the sweater against his chest, "I could have worn this and pulled you around on a sleigh, to save the expense of the real thing!"

"You idiot!" was Aaron's predictable response, but the chuckle in his voice proved that he was only teasing.

Jackson smiled contentedly. The best Christmas present that he could ever receive was Aaron's love: and he knew that it was always his to have, totally and unconditionally.

Later, the couple had a fantastic time on their sleigh ride. Being pulled along by reindeer and having 'Santa' driving the sleigh made the whole thing a very special experience. Afterwards, they were both given the opportunity to climb aboard a sledge, this time pulled by Huskies. Again, it was a magical experience, dashing through the snow at speed and looking at the Christmas-card scene all around, with the ice-covered trees glistening under a snow-laden sky.

They spent the evening in the nearby clubhouse, which was decorated like Santa's grotto. During the evening, Jackson looked at Aaron and saw the wonder in his eyes. He knew that Aaron had not had the best of childhoods and, the way he looked at that moment, he felt that his boyfriend was making up for all those 'lost' years, all the Christmases that had come and gone without Aaron ever getting excited about any one of them.

"What are you looking at?" Aaron noticed that he was being observed.

"The man I love," Jackson said, without hesitation.

"Give over!" Aaron could be so bashful whenever he was paid a compliment and it only deepened Jackson's attraction to him.

Aaron's expression changed and he looked pensive.

"Penny for 'em?" Jackson noticed Aaron's serious appearance.

"I was just thinking," Aaron looked into Jackson's lovely brown eyes, "I didn't really understand why you wanted to come here, but now, I can see why. It's just so..." Aaron was struggling to find the right word.

"...magical," Jackson completed the sentence for him.

"Yeah!" Aaron had a far-away look in his eyes and Jackson knew that Christmas was now a special time for Aaron: a time that he would always look forward to from that moment on.

Later, back in their cabin, they were sitting by the fire, with their sock-covered feet pointing towards the flames.

"So, have you had a good day?" Aaron enquired.

"Do you know what?" Jackson's pearly whites flashed at Aaron, "This has been the best Christmas EVER!"

"What, even better than last year?"

"Yeah," Jackson took Aaron's hands in his own, "It wasn't really a surprise last year, being as I arranged it all. But this year you've really amazed me with doing all this for us. Have you enjoyed it too?"

"It's been the most wonderful time of my life," Aaron was, uncharacteristically, opening up, "When people used to talk about Christmas, I never knew what all the fuss was about. But, being in this wonderful place with you: my wonderful man, I know now...how special it is. I love you."

Jackson was almost in tears. He could not remember a time when Aaron had ever been so candid about his feelings, "You've really made this Christmas for me, babe...and I'll always remember it. The world doesn't exist for me unless you are in it," he kissed his boyfriend, "I love you too, Aaron...so much. Merry Christmas."

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I wish all the readers of this chapter a very Merry Christmas.

A 'New Year' chapter will follow soon.