AARON & JACKSON

-1912-

"New Lives"

The port was huge; it had to be to accommodate thousands of people, vehicles and cargo. But looking at the colossal ship in the bay, it was small in comparison.

Aaron Livesy held his third class ticket tightly in his hand, everything he owned hung over his shoulder in a brown sack. He watched as people hurried around him, he was in no rush he had been through the inspection queue, something he didn't like actually and he made them aware of it too, just because he wasn't well off didn't mean he was riddled with fleas. He rolled his eyes remembering the heated conversation, as he stood watching people they looked down on him, he scowled looking disgustedly back at them, he hated people like that. He groaned. And I'm getting on a ship full of them, good one Aaron, could just go back to Emmerdale? He thought to himself but the step forward was his answer. He couldn't do that, he wanted a new life and America was the only place he could do that and getting there on the largest ocean liner to date the R.M.S. Titanic, well that was just the start.

The door to the Renault limousine was held open for her, especially for a woman of such celebrity, Hazel Rhodes' art had become popular in the UK very quickly and now she was making her way to America to let the same popularity ensue. However that wasn't the only reason she was going there. Hazel's son Jackson Walsh and his fiancée Samantha Whittaker were going back to her home country for their wedding, a wedding Hazel was much looking forward too, though she didn't sense the same happiness from her son.

Hazel stood beside Samantha and smiled a smile that hid a big worry as she watched her son co-ordinate with their steward on transferring their belongings to the ship. He walked towards them a few seconds later. "We're all ready, our state room has a private promenade deck" he told them.

Hazel turned to Samantha who smiled happily and Hazel gave a wink. "Well if we're rich then why not?" she stated.

"Mum!" Jackson frowned. "A lot of people here aren't, you're being a bit rude"

"I'm not concerned if they can or cannot hear what I'm saying Jackson, what is up with you? You've acted strangely for weeks" she told him.

Jackson sighed. "I-I've just never travelled on board a ship I've helped build"

"Oh it will be fine darling, shall we?" Samantha asked, her American accent very clear to anyone who could hear.

Hazel nodded and began walking ahead. Samantha walked toward Jackson and slid her arm around his. "Don't worry Jackson, the ship is grand" she smiled up at him. "And anyway, gives you an excuse to wear things like this" she tugged at his suit with a smirk. "Instead of that dirty building gear"

Jackson smirked. "The rest will do me good I suppose, I'm sorry for being snappy lately"

"Its fine" she told him as they walked to the gangway that led them to the entrance to their part of the ship.

Jackson looked up at the ship as he walked up the sloping ramp. He sighed. He didn't want this.

Yards away Aaron looked up at the ship, he checked the watch on his wrist and he frowned instantly. He tapped it profusely, and then sighed; it had stopped. He looked around scanning the buildings beyond the sea of people, Titanic left at twelve pm, he didn't dare go and check the time instead he began walking to one of many gangways and walked up, these were less busy, definitely a sign he was third class and possibly that it was almost time to leave. He stopped at the top and was greeted by an officer in a black uniform with a white shirt beneath the black jacket and he wore a hat. "Ticket?"

Aaron quickly handed it over.

The officer examined it quickly. "Inspection queue?"

Aaron sighed. "Yes" he told him with bite. "Don't get me started on that!"

"Alright, well then, welcome to Titanic" the officer said proudly with a smile on his face.

Aaron proceeded to walk past him with a frown on his face then he gave him a look as if to say it's nothing special. Maybe it was but to him it was just a ship, a means of travel that he so desperately needed to take.

Once inside the corridors were laced with white wood that spanned the entire length of the corridors. The corridors themselves were ram packed with passengers trying to find their way to their rooms, Aaron glanced down at his ticket as he walked through the crowds and occasionally bumping into a few, he murmured to himself his room number until he found the door. He let out a sigh of relief when he opened the door, thankful to be escaping the chaos. He turned to face into the room after closing it to be greeted by a young man, possibly the same age as him. "Hi, I'm Aaron"

"Adam" he introduced himself and held out his hand which Aaron took and they shook hands.

"Just us then?" Aaron wondered as he lowered his bag to the floor.

Adam nodded. "Looks like, just one bunk-bed"

Aaron looked around the room, the bunk bed was against one wall, the sink was against the wall in the centre beside the beds and there were two chairs aligning the opposite wall, and a small wardrobe for belongings. Aaron checked his ticket again. "Ahh yeah, single cabin..."

"I've got top bunk by the way" Adam smiled.

Aaron nodded. He wasn't overly fussed. "It's okay, anyway, I see a sink, but where's the loo, the bath?"

"They're all in the public areas, there's only two baths, one for men, one for the women"

"Ugh"

Adam chuckled. "I'm sure they're cleaned after use, wouldn't worry about it"

"I'll try not too" he mused as he rolled his eyes as he looked around the room again.

"You heard what they're calling this ship?"

"Titanic" he answered blankly, as if he'd just been asked a stupid question.

"No" Adam chuckled. "Word of mouth sort of...the ship of dreams"

Aaron frowned. "Catchy" he replied sarcastically.

"You're not too bothered are ya?" Adam asked with a smile.

"Nope, it's just a passenger ship, but yeah, alright I can see why people call it that, a lot of people are leaving for America in hopes of a new life"

"Are you?"

"...Yeah" he nodded. "There has to be more opportunity over there"

"I hope so, that's why I'm going" Adam grinned.

"Cool" Aaron said with a nod. "Anyway, I'll be back in a bit, gunna go up on deck, get some air. Touch my stuff, not that there's much but touch it and I might just have to hurt ya" he smiled at him.

Adam laughed. "I won't you can trust me"

"I don't even know ya"

"I'm just a trustworthy guy and if you play your cards right I might just be your friend"

"Who says I need any?"

"Well we're both travelling alone, why not?"

"Hmmm" he sounded as a smirk crept across his lips. "I'll think about it" and with that he opened the door and headed back out into the corridor which was now a lot less chaotic.

/

With their belongings more or less unpacked Hazel walked out into their private promenade and watched her son leaning against one of the windows, his arms rested over the edge, he'd opened it for air. She couldn't approach slowly her shoes gave her away on the wooden floor.

Jackson turned to face her. "Everything sorted?"

Hazel nodded. "Just about"

"Good"

"Listen Jackson, I know something's wrong and I have a good idea what it's all about and I'm telling you it's wrong, it's really wrong, you're marrying Samantha and you're going to love her"

Jackson sighed. "I do love her but it doesn't mean she is what I want"

"Well what you want you cannot have, I won't allow it Jackson!" Hazel tried to be quiet in her frustrations.

Jackson shook his head as he looked to the floor. "You're making me do something I don't want"

Hazel grabbed her son by the jaw sharply and lifted his head. "You have no choice, you're marrying her Jackson, that idea you've got in your head is the workings of the devil, it is wrong, men!" she scoffed. "The most ridiculous and disgusting thing I've heard in my life, and I've only ever heard it from you Jackson, it isn't normal, not in my eyes and certainly not in the eyes of society. Fix it" she hissed sharply then turned away and walked away into the lounge area of their suite.

TBC...

I know this is a different approach but I loved the idea, I've always been fascinated by the Titanic aswell so that was a bonus for me. I hope you lot like this idea too! I understand Hazel is written differently but I had to fit her into the era the story is set, in a way which would be realistic, well I hope. I never lived those days (obviously lol!) no amounts of research can tell me how people reacted to gay people back then. Please read and review as always, it's much appreciated guys x