I've heard it said / That people come into our lives for a reason

Bringing something we must learn / And we are led

To those who help us most to grow / If we let them

And we help them in return / Well I don't know if I believe that's true

But I know I'm who I am today / Because I knew you...

I have been changed for good

27th May 2011

Aaron was perched on the side of the bed when Jackson awoke. His body was turned towards his boyfriend's sleeping form but his eyes were fixed on his lap where he was nervously pulling at the sleeves of his hoodie. He didn't notice big brown eyes opening and looking at him until a voice interrupted his thoughts.

'Come on then...out with it!'

Pulled from his thoughts Aaron could only reply 'Huh?'

'I know you Livesy. There's something on your mind and if I'm gonna find out what it is before I'm dead...'

'Don't Jackson, don't joke about it!' Jackson could hear the pleading in his voice.

'Yeah I know, I'm sorry. So are you gonna tell me?'

'Well actually it's about that...you know, when you...go.'

Jackson was shocked, normally he was the only one who would dare to broach the subject, 'Ok'

'I need you to promise me...I want you to wait...'

'Aaron we've been through this already, I'm sorry but I can't...'

'Just listen for a minute! I want you to wait until after the 17th June. Promise me that will ya?'

The 17th June. Jackson desperately scrambled round in his mind, trying to figure out the significance of the date. Then a memory followed by a smile crossing his lips. 'I can't believe you actually remembered.'

Embarassed now but happy that the older man too recalled what had been a momentous day for him Aaron smiled shyly in return. 'Well it's not every day a thug threatens to whack you over the head with a spanner is it?'

His own grin widening Jackson couldn't resist joining in the banter, 'Hang on a minute, don't you work with Cain?'

'Yeah but his weapon of choice is a wrench not a spanner.'

'Classy!'

Grateful for a release from the tension that had filled the house Jackson now called home so much of the time recently the two boys laughed before meeting each other's eyes.

Aaron continued, 'I'm serious though. I want to celebrate our anniversary with you. That day, when we started this, properly I mean, I knew I wanted you and that first night we spent together just made me even more sure of that but I had no idea where it was headed. If someone had said to me then that a year later we'd still be together and that I'd be completely in love with you I'd have laughed in their face.'

'You're a real charmer you know that. Just hoping for a quick fling were you?' The smile behind Jackson's eyes betraying his mock indignation.

'To be honest I thought you'd get sick of me after a while!'

Thinking back to the scared young man he had first met, Jackson had no doubt that was true. 'I knew that I wouldn't. Even before that day I'd tried so many times to be sick of you, to not care anymore but I just...I couldn't do it. There was just something about you...still is.'

Aaron blushed, he had spent so long as the black sheep or the local head case that he still wasn't used to receiving compliments. Taking Jackson's hand in his, knowing that although he couldn't feel it he could see and appreciate the gesture he asked again. 'So will you do it? Will you wait?'

'I don't know Aaron. Something like that, celebrating what we have together...it's just gonna make it harder when the time does come.'

'Look it's gonna be impossible whenever it happens. At least this way I'll have one last happy memory of us and I'll be able to tell people about the incredible year I spent with the guy I love, cos despite everything that's happened this has been the best year of my life. I know that sounds messed up with everything that's happened but...'

'It's ok Aaron, I get it!' Looking into Aaron's pleading face Jackson knew there was no way he could deny him, or himself for that matter, that day. 'Ok then.'

'Really?' Aaron's face lit up.

'Really!' Jackson tilted his head forward to meet his boyfriend's lips. Since Aaron had agreed to help Jackson end his life their kisses had seemed to linger for longer and this was no exception. Eventually their lips parted but not wanting to lose the contact they could still share with one another their foreheads remained touching until Jackson broke the silence.

'So are you gonna tell me what you've got planned for this anniversary of ours or is it another one of your little surprises?'

Leaning back, linking his hands behind his head and releasing a breath Aaron's response was less than convincing 'Urmmm...it's a surprise.'

'Could that be cos you haven't actually planned anything yet?'

The shrug of the shoulders he received in response confirmed that he was right.

'How am I supposed to top sky diving?'

Not sure about this chapter but have got a few more planned so let me know what you think :-D

The lyrics at the beginning are from 'For Good' from the musical 'Wicked'