– AARON & JACKSON: MY WAY –

"THE LONGEST NIGHT"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic begins the night Aaron beats Paddy, in my version Aaron does not run out after the scene on the stairs. Events after that will be different.

I hope whoever starts to read this, enjoys it hopefully and takes time to review, thanks guys! x

- I do not own the characters, or Emmerdale – ITV do.

...

Aaron walked out his bedroom in Smithy cottage with his bag over his shoulder as Paddy stood in front of him, beaten bloody and swollen on his face; well the damage that was visible anyway. Aaron's eyes stung from the tears that had ran from his eyes already that night and now as he took hold of the banister he knew there'd be more as he intended to leave, he couldn't stay after beating Paddy and for the fear that everyone would find out his secret – that he was gay.

As Aaron walked down a few steps Paddy took hold of the banister and slowly lowered himself down onto the top stair wary not to aggravate his injuries. They began picking at each other, what they disliked about each other and this went on for a few minutes.

"You were the worst thing about her" Paddy told him. "But she's gone now" there was silence for a few seconds. "And you turned out to be the best" Paddy smiled and laughed slightly at the overwhelming emotion he felt towards Aaron.

"Are you stupid?" came Aaron's blank response.

Paddy's head was lowered and he was fighting his tears.

"She couldn't get away from me quick enough" he stopped and had to catch his breath as he sobbed. "She knows what I'm like..." Aaron shook his head. "When I lose my head I-..." he struggled and let out a breath, it was shaky. "I can't control it" he shook his head some more as he told Paddy. "I mean look at you" Aaron's eyes explored the damage that he'd inflicted upon the man. "Look at what I did to you"

Paddy looked up briefly and then looked down at the stairs and he squeezed his eyes shut and tears fell from his eyes.

"I could have broke every bone in your body – the only person that ever cared about me" he stated.

"I still care for ya...you're a son to me...I love ya"

Paddy's statement caused Aaron to cry more, he couldn't take it, he just wanted to run and never come back, but he didn't and he moved closer to Paddy and put his arms around him and sobbed into his shoulder. "I'm sorry..." Aaron whispered.

Paddy nodded as he too held his arms around him. "Come on mate...put the bag away...please?" Paddy asked. "We can deal with this I promise you"

Aaron pulled away and dropped his bag and sat on the stair below Paddy. He sighed and put his head in his hands. "People are gunna find out Paddy, t-that I'm gay...and that it was me who did this..." he shook his head. "I can't take it I don't wanna be like this" he repeated on what he'd told him earlier.

"And like I've already told ya mate...if you're gay, then you're gay...no one will find out from me and we can come up with something to tell people about this...I won't leave the house for a few days...give it time to go down a bit..."

Aaron shook his head. "It'll take more than a few days..."

Paddy nodded "I know but it's me and you mate, I can't and I'm not giving up on you now are you listening to me?"

Aaron's shoulders began to jerk up and down as he sobbed into his hands; he nodded his head in reply.

...

After several minutes Paddy and Aaron had moved into the kitchen and Paddy was sat at the table as Aaron picked up the table cloth, the fruit and the bowl off the floor. Paddy was at ease now after he'd managed to get Aaron to promise he wouldn't run, night or day.

"I'm sorry for pushing ya Aaron" he apologised.

Aaron put the now refilled fruit bowl in the centre of the table and sat down next to Paddy. "You don't have to be sorry Paddy...I 'am...I really am...I never meant to do that to you..."

"I know..." Paddy nodded, he thought for a second. "What are you going to do about Jackson?"

Aaron shrugged. "I dunno it's awkward...we've only spoke a few times...it doesn't matter anyway, I'm not interested"

"Are you gunna say that every time you meet someone?" Paddy asked. "I mean, I know Jackson is the first gay lad you've met but just because he's the first one doesn't mean you should dismiss him so quickly, you never know nothing might happen but you could make some good friends..."

"I don't know Paddy, I'm not ready for all of that..."

"But yet you've found yourself intrigued by that bar west and have even been in for drinks...you want to be ready though..." he spoke calmly.

"Can we not..." Aaron frowned. "Talk about this now...please?"

"Okay" Paddy smiled. "Put the kettle on then" he grinned.

Aaron looked up at him and cracked a slight smile and then got up from the table and set about filling the kettle and preparing two cups.

Aaron placed the two cups of tea down on the table after he'd made them and threw a box of paracetemol on the table in front of Paddy.

Paddy chuckled. His heart was in the right place and after what he did he was trying, Paddy could see that but he felt that paracetemol wouldn't fully take the pain away which is what he wanted, but he opened the pack and popped two from their metallic covered slip. "Thanks"

Aaron smiled and sat back in the chair obviously in a world of his own as his thoughts ran wild inside his head.

"What you thinking about?" Paddy asked after swallowing the tablets.

"You...you'll be okay won't you?" he asked.

Paddy nodded with a smirk. "I'll be fine Aaron, I'm more worried about you to be honest" he told him.

"Why?" Aaron asked confusion on his face.

"Because you're a mess Aaron...and you're unpredictable"

"True, which is why Jackson is well rid" he grinned then shook his head. "There was nothing to be rid of anyway he was just a guy in a bar who happened to bring my phone back..."

"If you could hear yourself..." Paddy commented as he took a sip of tea.

"What's that meant to mean?" he snapped.

"What I mean is Aaron you can tell me you're gay but your sat there lying to yourself about this Jackson...I only saw him once but he seems like a good lad..."

"Yeah, good on him...swap places shall we?" Aaron shot a look at Paddy. "At least you won't have me to put up with that way" he sighed. "I should have just left"

"No!" Paddy raised his voice. "You agreed to stay here Aaron, I'm sorry for going on about him I just care about ya, you know that...you can talk about anything whenever you want too"

Aaron nodded. "Is it ok if I go up to bed?" he asked.

Paddy nodded. "Of course it is" he told him. "Why'd you ask that?"

Aaron shrugged. "I dunno, you might want me to help you or something"

"No, I'll be fine mate you go on up and I'll see you in the morning"

Aaron nodded and got up and began walking to the door.

"Aaron" Paddy spoke and he stopped and looked at him. "It'll be alright you know"

Aaron smiled, he was grateful for his efforts but he couldn't see anything being alright and he shook his head, his expression sad before he made his way up the stairs.

Paddy had his work cut out for him this time!

TBC...