Disclaimer: Unfortunately Aaron and Jackson don't belong to me, it's ITV but a girl can always dream.

I want to hold your hand

Chapter One

Aaron was working at the garage, trying to fix some old woman's ancient banger and getting nowhere. "It would be cheaper just buying a bloody new one!" Thought Aaron. He wiped his hands on a rag and went to put the kettle on. Ryan was giving him a wide berth, he knew Aaron was in a foul mood and didn't want to be the one who got the brunt of it.

As he drank his tea he thought about Jackson. They were like a light switch at the moment on and off. The recent fight had been playing on his mind. Jackson was always so honest and open and Aaron sometimes felt out of his depth. He wasn't saintly like Jackson. He'd done some bad things in his time. Okay, he was turning a corner now and growing up a bit, which Paddy liked to remind him was down to Jackson but he was still nowhere near like his boyfriend. The fight had been the same as nearly all of the others. Jackson getting frustrated because he didn't feel like Aaron really wanted to be with him. That he couldn't say "I love you" back. Aaron kicked the tool box in frustration. Jackson wasn't going to put up with him forever. The problem was that Aaron did love him but he just couldn't say the words. Two things had been going round in his mind since the fight, the first was that he didn't tell Jackson how he felt and lose the person that made him the happiest or he could tell him and they could finally be happy and get down to having a great relationship…

He made up his mind, he wasn't going to let Jackson Walsh get away from him so easily. He pulled out his phone and typed.

Hi, look we need to talk, meet me in the pub at 6. A

A couple of seconds later he got a reply saying see you there.

Aaron was nervous as he put on a new blue shirt on to go with his jeans. He loved Jackson and he just hoped he believed him. He felt like such a girl. "God, when did I start worrying about feelings and love!" He glanced at his watch he had fifteen minutes. He went down the stairs and ran into Paddy in the kitchen.

"Hey, don't you look smart! Where're you going all dressed up?"

"I'm not all dressed up."

"Right sure and the pope is a prod. What's wrong? You seem on edge. Are you meeting Jackson? I know you haven't been yourself since you fell out." Paddy worried about Aaron. He wasn't his son by blood but he loved him as a son just the same.

"Yea, I'm meeting Jackson. Look I better get going."

"Aaron wait! Are you sure the two of you aren't better just going your separate ways? I mean, I like Jackson a lot but you both seem to want different things. Why keep torturing yourselves?" Paddy hoped Aaron wasn't about to kick off. He was only looking out for him. Instead he got the biggest of surprises.

"We don't want different things. I want the same as him but I'll lose him if I don't tell him so I'm going over there to tell him that I love him and want a proper relationship."

Paddy was speechless for once and pulled Aaron into a hug which Aaron quickly pulled out of and gave him the famous Livesy scowl.

"Paddy! Don't get too excited. It's not that big a deal."

"I'm proud of you mate. Right then, I'll not keep you back any longer, good luck." Aaron escaped out the door before Paddy could hug him again.

As soon as the coast was clear he picked up the phone and called Chas.

As Aaron entered the pub he saw Gennie and Katie laughing at something Marlon was telling them as he put down their food. The pub was crowded, everyone seemed to be in tonight. Great, maybe asking to meet Jackson here wasn't the best of ideas. As he looked around he caught sight of Jackson in the far corner waving him over. As he saw two drinks on the table he didn't stop at the bar first. He didn't like the look on his partner's face as he sat down. He was about to open his mouth to speak when he was beaten to it.

"So, your message sounds serious, do I take it that you don't want to be with me anymore?" Just saying the words had Jackson almost tearing up. He loved Aaron with such a passion that he had never felt before. He was regretting ever pushing Aaron into saying the words, he knew it was all new for his young lover.

Aaron frowned, "No! I do want to be with you. That's why I wanted to talk to you. I could never say it before. I was scared alright and that's not something I admit to easily. Jackson, I love you. I want a proper relationship with you. I want us to stop all the fighting." He pulled Jackson's hand towards him across the table and kissed it. He didn't care who was watching anymore. He loved Jackson and was going to keep his promise to him. He was going to love him and not let anything hold him back anymore.

He looked at Jackson, he had the biggest smile across his face. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, trust me. I've had a lot of time to think about this. I want you."

"Good, what a relief. I thought that you wanted to stop seeing me!"

"Just shut up and kiss me." Jackson raised his eyebrow in surprise but kindly obliged his boyfriend.

The night was going very well. Both boys were happy and glad they were back on track, they couldn't take their eyes off each other. The pub was also very busy and the punters had to sit close to each other to hear what the other person was saying. Not that Aaron and Jackson noticed, they were too wrapped up in each other.

Which was why they never noticed why the pub had gone as silent as the grave and only noticed something was wrong when they heard a voice shout. "Everyone on the floor now, come on. On your belly, hands behind your backs."

Jackson and Aaron looked up just to see six men in masks standing at the door to the pub, each one carrying a gun. Jackson felt a pit in his stomach and grabbed Aaron's hand pulling him down to the floor. He said a prayer for himself, Aaron and the other customers who had become his friend as the men started barking orders.