Glancing over at Brenda busying herself at the fryer, Jackson groaned quietly. He had been sitting in the café waiting for his sandwich for over 10 minutes now. He'd already flicked through his newspaper and drank almost all his coffee. Gosh, he looked over at her again, was it so hard to stick two slices of bacon on a piece of bread? He was almost glad to see Viv appear behind the counter and take over from Brenda, who looked like she had too much on her mind to even worry about keeping customers waiting. Jackson wondered if she was okay, she didn't look it. He'd been so wrapped up in his own Aaron fueled dramas, he'd almost forgotten that other people had problems too.

His eye caught Maisie entering the café. He liked her alot. When he first arrived in the village, they'd chatted at the bar which lead to them texting each other quite alot. He was glad to have a friend in Emmerdale. Yes, he had Aaron, Adam, Ryan and the rest but he liked having someone to talk to who wasn't in that group. He liked being able to moan to Maisie about things that only girls would willingly listen to. She spotted him and walked over smiling.

"You gonna buy me lunch?" she asked, slipping into the seat opposite him.

He made a joke about being 90 by the time they'd get served and she laughed. Just then, Viv bustled over to them and set Jackson's plate down. Maisie ordered her lunch and once the older lady had dissapeared back to the kitchen, the two had slipped into easy conversation. He had asked her about work and she had done the same, she'd asked him how things were going with Aaron and he'd not been able to hide the smile on his face. Not that Maisie didn't already know. She knew how much the builder liked Aaron as he'd told her during one of their late night texting sessions.

Half an hour later, they walked out of the café, said goodbye and headed towards their respective workplaces. Jackson scanned the garage forecourt for Aaron but headed on into Declan's when he didn't see him. Cain had sent him into Hotten for some parts and he'd been gone all morning. He missed him. Missed stealing looks at the mechanic through the window or just knowing he was near. Jackson worked on silently, an over-played Lady Gaga song blasting from the radio. He hummed along, the time passing with every brick he laid, every wall he plastered. Soon enough, it was 3pm and time for a cuppa. He set his tools down and strolled over to the garage where Ryan was working on a beat-up Ford Fiesta.

"Aaron not back yet?" Jackson asked.

"Nah. He's just milking it, staying away for as long as possible so he doesn't have to work! You putting the kettle on, then?"

Jackson laughed and filled the kettle with water. When it was ready, both boys leant against the Fiesta talking. Ryan was alot like Jackson. Fun and carefree, it was easier to have a laugh with him than with Aaron. Aaron was intense but that's what kept Jackson's attention. He loved that sulky teenager look and it helped, of course, that Aaron was bloody gorgeous.

"So I said 'NO, YOU LISTEN-" Jackson was snapped back to the present by Ryan's voice raising to emphaise his point and waving his arms about. Jackson nodded, pretending that he was listening to Ryan's ramblings. Just then, a dark blue car pulled into the garage and a woman got out looking worried as she explained to Ryan that her brakes were faulty. Jackson took this as his cue to get back to work. He was working outside a while later when he realised he'd left his hammer in the house. He turned back towards the front door when he heard footseps approaching up the gravel.

Aaron. He'd just gotten back from town and was walking towards Declan's.

"Didn't you hear me calling you?" he said impatiently.

"Obviously not or I would have walked away faster!" Jackson joked, earning a chuckle from his boyfriend. He actually hadn't noticed that Aaron was back but then again, he'd been too busy to even notice that it had just gone 6. Clocking off time. He threw Aaron a suggestive smile.

"Wanna help me clear up here and then we can go back to yours.." he trailed off as Aaron pulled him closer. Not close enough for it to be classed as PDA but close enough. Close enough for Jackson to notice Aaron's baby blue eyes had been replaced by dark, hungry eyes. His heart did a backflip as he allowed himself to move even closer to the mechanic. He didn't know how close he'd actually be able to get before Aaron backed off, still not comfortable with being affectionate in front of the village.

By now, they were standing so close that their chests were almost touching, their heads cocked slghtly to opposite sides, looking deeply into the other's eyes. Needing, wanting, loving. Aaron's hand crept its way onto Jackson's neck and he placed a soft kiss on his lips. Just one kiss but to Jackson it was one of the best kisses they'd ever had because it was outside. In the village. Infront of passers-by. In broad daylight. Aaron didn't even look around to see who was watching them. Jackson licked his lips gently and Aaron did the same. They broke apart to clear up the tools that littered the front garden.

The pub was empty when they arrived. A few bodies were sat at the back having a chat and Bob, Maisie and Moira lounged against the bar. They looked up as the boys walked in and Bob took their order. Aaron went off to the bathroom as Jackson sipped his pint, filling Maisie in on a joke he'd heard. She was laughing. He was laughing. Aaron was back. He was asking what was so funny. Maisie was tellng him and Aaron was looking at the two of them like they were mad. Then his face cracked and a slow smile spread across his features, showing off his pearly white teeth and lighting up his eyes. Jackson smirked and they grabbed a table.

Jackson was happy. Really happy. He was aware of Aaron talking but he wasn't paying attention. He was just thinking about how he never wanted this feeling of happiness to end. As an idea formed in his mind, he smiled at his boyfriend.

"Aaron.."

"Uh-huh?" Aaron sounded, taking a drink.

"What would you say if I asked you to move in wih me?"

Aaron almost spat his drink out. He had not been expecting that. He thought for a moment before realising the answer was completely obvious - and more importantly, it was something he wanted. "I'd say I love you."

"Is that a yes?"

"You could have at least said please! Or I love you too?" Aaron pretened to look hurt.

"So it's a yes?" Jackson couldn't hide the delight in his voice.

Aaron smiled and nodded his head. He'd never been so sure of anything in his life. He looked at the builder and wondered how he'd gotten so lucky. One minute, he was hating himself for being gay and the next he was falling in love with a man. He wanted to wake up next to him, he wanted to go to sleep next to him, he wanted to be with him always and forever.

Jackson grinned, trying to stop himself from ripping Aaron's clothes off and taking him right there in the pub! They settled for going back to Paddy's though. As they walked through the vllage, Jackson slipped his hand into Aaron's and he didn't pull away. Infact, he gripped it tighter. As they approached Smithy, Jackson stopped and looked serious. "I love you too." he simply said. Aaron winked and the two headed inside to tell Paddy their news.

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