AARON & JACKSON –

– DESIRE –

"As Long As You Love Me"

This fanfic begins on one cold March morning 2010 with a slightly different Aaron. Hope you guys enjoy, let me know what you think! X

Characters belong to ITV

...

Aaron opened his eyes slowly and groaned at the noises coming from the kitchen, however the smell of bacon roused him and he sat up. He squinted; the harsh day light stealing its way into the room blinded him. He rubbed his eyes quickly, and he stretched followed by a long drawn out yawn. He sighed. He smiled remembering the previous night. When the words he'd been keeping to himself had finally found their way out – to Paddy at least. "I'm gay" he mumbled then smiled. He was happy with who he was, in the beginning of his realisation he buried himself away, the thoughts tightly tucked away but eventually he realised he couldn't fight it. He looked at a woman – nothing. A man - well...there was certainly more than nothing stirring in his mind and physically on his body as it reacted.

"Aaron!" Came Paddy's yell from the kitchen.

Aaron sighed and climbed out of bed and threw on his trackies and a t-shirt that he'd discarded on the floor the night before. His bare feet thudded down the stairs and he walked into the kitchen.

Paddy turned. "What?" Aaron asked.

Paddy frowned. "I hope you're not going out like that"

Aaron looked down at himself, his t-shirt inside out, bare feet and unknown to Paddy – no boxers. He scoffed. "Course I'm not, you shouted so loud I nearly shit myself just threw them on...so what is it?" he asked leaning his head forward curiously, waiting for his reply.

Paddy simply shook his head and picked up a place with two bacon sandwiches and held it out. "Or would you like me to wait while you get yourself all glammed up?" he couldn't help but smirk.

Aaron tutted while wearing a scowl. "As if! I'm not like that, I'm just me and..." he stopped as he took the plate and sat down taking a bite. "And nothing's changed, I just like men" he concluded with his mouth full.

"I'm really happy for ya mate but don't eat with your mouth full, have I taught you nothing?" he chuckled.

Aaron just looked up at him; he pouted and shook his head. "No not really" he said lazily but then a hint of a smile at the corners of his lips told Paddy he was joking.

Paddy joined him at the table. "So...is there anyone you've got your eye on?"

Aaron sat back relaxing into the chair. "David...now he..." he then laughed at the shocked reaction on Paddy's face. "No, kidding...Erm...nah not really the guys in bar west are nice to look at and all that but..." he shook his head. "No one special"

"There will be" Paddy nodded confidently.

Aaron smiled slightly and sat up properly and continued to eat, silence filling the room. A few minutes passed and Aaron chuckled to himself. "I can't believe you thought I was doing drugs"

"Er...w-well" Paddy stuttered. "The signs and all that...and I got ahead of myself I admit but it was out of love Aaron"

Aaron nodded. "I know"

"But..." Paddy sighed. "I really did think you were going to hit me at one point, I know I was pushing and pushing but I had too, something was bothering you"

"If you'd have pushed me a while back, I-I think" he frowned, the realisation of what he was about to say hurt. "I might have" he swallowed hard. "But somehow on my own I got my head together, despite me being an emotional wreck last night I' am fine with it, I just got upset because I thought you wouldn't be fine with me the way I' am"

"Nothing would ever make me think any less of you Aaron, you like men" he pulled a bemused expression. "So?" he chuckled. "You are who you are and like I said last night, if you're gay, then you're gay" he smiled.

Aaron smiled. "What would I do without you eh?"

"I don't wanna even think about that"

Aaron nodded as he looked down at the table. "In a cell or dead" he looked back at him seconds later. "It's true though" he added.

"Good job for me then eh?" he sighed and stood up and took away their now cleared plates.

Aaron smiled and watched him. "I'm going to get sorted then I'll be out, most of the day probably, got some people to see haven't I?" he smiled. "Then I'm going to town so, don't wait up"

"No problem" Paddy acknowledged. "Just be careful"

"I will" he nodded and turned and walked back to the stairs and up to the bathroom.

...

Aaron walked past Dale head, still getting renovated. The guy working was hot. But as was always the trouble, was he gay? Aaron couldn't tell. He looked carefully as he passed; he couldn't see him but heard the radio blaring. He turned the corner to the garage. Cain was working on a car. He looked up and saw his nephew and started chuckling. "It's your day off you sad git!" he called over to him.

"Uhhh yeah I know" he said sarcastically. "Got a minute, got something to say, actually"

"Bloody hell, did I hear right? You're voluntarily going to speak" Cain pretended to look shocked.

Aaron tutted. "Yeah...well...you remember those gay rumours?"

"Yep and you just stormed off when I asked you about them" Cain answered as he wiped his hands on a towel to rid himself briefly of oil.

"Well a month, two however long it's been I'm here now to answer your question" he took a breath, he was shaking slightly – it was Cain after all.

"Go on then" Cain told him. He already had an idea he just wanted to hear it from him.

"I' am yeah" he nodded. "I'm gay" he admitted calmly and looked down at the gravel. Almost immediately he felt Cain's hand on his shoulder gripping slightly.

"Proud of you mate...those rumours did get me thinking and the way you didn't answer me..." he shrugged. "I'm just happy for you but..."

"Yeah" Aaron let out a laugh. "I know...don't wanna hear or see it...fine by me, I'm not into PDA"

Cain scowled. "And what's that when it's at home?"

"Public displays of affection, god you really need to move into the twenty first century – old man" Aaron quipped and jumped back away from him.

Cain flung the towel at him but missed. "Go on you! Get out of here before I make you work"

"Ha ha very funny you eh?"

"Someone's a lot more cheeky and confident" Cain noted.

"Yeah well" he dropped his arms by his side. "Why shouldn't I?" he smiled and turned away.

...

Aaron arrived at the factory about half an hour after a slow walk. Once he reached the door and had his hand held out to the handle he pulled back and pinched his lower lip. Thoughts now stopped him from his intended plan. Should I? It could wait. Tell her at a better time he sighed. No, he had to tell her now. As he reached for the door again, it opened and he jumped back, seeing Laurel, Lisa and Lizzy on their way out. "Oh hiya love what you doing here?" Lisa asked then turned to Lizzy on her arm. "It's Aaron" she told her.

"Oh hiya love, yeah what you doing here? Sick of the garage? Fancy a crack at this?"

Aaron smiled nervously. "E-Erm no actually I just came to see my mam"

"She won't be long Aaron, its lunchtime now anyway; she'll just be getting her bag"

Aaron nodded with a smile."Thanks" he said and they walked off leaving them too it. He smiled briefly at Laurel as she followed them.

He walked away several metres from the door and paced, impatiently. Chas walked out of the factory as she spoke on the phone, she giggled and looked up seeing Aaron. She frowned. "I'll ring you back in a bit Carl...no Aaron's here...well I don't know do I...bye" she sighed as she disconnected the call and walked quickly over to her son. "Aaron?"

Aaron stopped pacing and looked at her, he flashed a nervous smile. "Hi"

"W-What's wrong? You okay?" she asked.

"Oh yeah, yeah I'm fine...but I need to talk to you" Aaron told her.

"Aww really?" Chas was shocked but grateful to him that he needed her.

Aaron nodded and they started walking away side by side. "You know I've not been happy lately"

Chas chuckled as she looked at the vast countryside and breathed in the air, the wind blowing her hair slightly. "Yeah...but you've always been like that son, if I'm honest"

Aaron nodded. "I know that...but lately it's been because..." he stopped.

"Go on" she rubbed his arm softly as they walked.

Aaron took a breath. "I'm gay mam"

Chas stopped in her tracks, as did Aaron a metre or so in front of her, he turned and saw the tears in her eyes and the warm smile on her face, she approached him and hugged him tightly. "And you? You're ok with it?"

They parted and Aaron nodded with a smile.

"And so am I" she told him happily as she wiped her eyes clear of the tears that were ready to fall. "Who else knows?" she asked.

"Don't take this funny or anything, cause technically you aren't the last to know but Paddy and Cain know, I've got to tell Adam...he's gunna love that after I nearly kis-" he stopped, his eyes widened.

Chas frowned in amusement. "Oh aye...what's that?"

Aaron shook his head. "Nothing, erm but yeah they know, I'll tell Adam when I see him and if you want you can tell people, I'm fine with it honestly"

"Good, I'm proud of you kid"

Aaron smiled and felt Chas stand closer and she placed her arm around him as they started to walk again. Aaron let out a breath and relaxed into her support, grateful for it, of her for once in his life.

...

When they arrived in the village, mother and son stopped outside the pub before walking in. She smiled at him.

He chuckled. "What?"

"I just love you son, I know I've not been the best mam but I wanna try I do"

Aaron nodded.

"Good" she smiled. "So what you doing tonight?" she asked.

"Well it was between x-box with Paddy or gaying it up in bar west" he grinned.

"Bar West then?" she asked, with a smirk.

"Oh yes" he grinned happily as they walked into the pub.

"That's great but be safe and all that love"

Aaron sighed. "I'm not stupid mam!" he gave a soft glare.

"I know you're not, just telling you that's all" Chas told him as she stopped at the bar. "Pint?" she asked.

Aaron nodded. "Cheers"

"And you Chas?" Diane asked.

"Oh just a half for me, on me dinner" she explained as she pulled a note from her purse.

Aaron smiled to himself and looked around the pub. He was content and happy, his life ahead of him, he wanted it to begin and it would, he was sure of that. His eyes locked on the builder hunched over the table doing paperwork, Jackson Walsh his name was. He smirked, he was fit. But he probably wouldn't be interested in someone like him. Despite his new found ease and confidence he still had his insecurities. Maybe one day he's buck up the courage to speak to him. Maybe...

TBC...