"ONE YEAR"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

- This fanfic marks the one year anniversary of Jackson's Walsh' death and the beginning of a new fanfic.

...

-7th June 2012-

Chas walked down the stairs of the woolpack sighing loudly, she was tired, she hardly slept lately, the stress of her affair with Cameron was becoming too much, but she liked him, maybe even loved him. Some days however she wondered if it was worth the hassle, and this day was one of them. She walked into the lounge and saw Diane making a cuppa. Chas smiled. "Morning"

"Morning love" Diane replied with a smile. "Kettle's just boiled, you want one?" she asked.

Chas shook her head. "No thanks Diane, erm I was wondering if I could take the morning off, I need to pop into town for some things" she told her.

"Yeah course love, got plenty on hand here" she smiled.

"Thanks" Chas was grateful and left the lounge and grabbed her coat and bag, and walked out of the back door to her car.

As she was about to get in Cameron ran up to her. "Hi" his usual charming smile made her feel weak but she was too busy to even think about him, and it was one of those days.

"Hi" she replied bluntly.

Cameron frowned. "Something wrong?"

"No, just busy today so I'd prefer not being held up" she told him.

"Oh, okay...I'll call you later" he told her.

"Don't bother" she sat in the driver seat and slammed the door shut, leaving Cameron confused.

...

A few hours later, Chas parked up behind the pub once again and headed down the village to the graveyard. The only people on Chas' mind right now were Aaron and Jackson, but Jackson more so; it had been a year since his death; Hazel had gone, Aaron was gone. She didn't think anyone else would come to lay flowers or to visit on this day. She checked her watch, it was half twelve, then she remembered the day one year ago, going to Dale head with Paddy to confront Jackson about what had upset her son once again. But when she got there it was made clear, a shiver went right through her, it was probably the exact time when he lost his life, in that moment as she walked down the village carrying the big bouquet of flowers.

Moments later she stopped in front of Jackson's headstone Loving Son & Boyfriend she read and smiled. "You certainly were kidda" she spoke, another fresh bouquet had been laid, when she read the card it was from Jerry and she felt bad for not even thinking he'd go. Chas sighed and knelt down on the grass and placed the bouquet down next to Jerry's. She felt silly and awkward for sitting there but she felt a need too, for the people who were unable to be there.

"So..." she smiled. "I hope you're looking over my Aaron over there in France...but Ed though...I think you might have approved, he's a good lad. It's just a shame Aaron's not here, he does some stupid things but I love him all the same, and I'm proud of him, I know you'd be too..." she took a breath. "He won't have forgotten..." she shook her head slightly. "No chance, keep this between me and you but you were the love of his life..." she sighed. "Oh Jackson I wish you were still here...he was a mess after you'd gone, typical Aaron...he bottled everything up, and he began to hurt himself" she closed her eyes. "The day I found him in his room and I unzipped that hoody...It doesn't bare thinking about...he thought he did the wrong thing that he should have tried harder...but he's better now, but he knew deep down all along it was right what he did. I'll be honest +love; I hated you for what he did. It almost ruined him" she spoke; she hoped that if Jackson could hear he'd understand what she was saying. "So you're walking up there I hope...I hope you are looking after him Jackson because he'll be a wreck today...and there's no one around him that truly understands...just give him a sign that you're okay..." she found herself tearing up.

"Do you remember the day I came to Dale head while you were working on it?" she chuckled to herself. "You were so sincere and caring towards Aaron and respectful towards me, I had to smile when I left the house...We all wish and wonder about the what ifs, I know Aaron has and I have too...I often wonder how my sons life would be now if you hadn't gone, how your relationship would be" she smiled. "He wouldn't have ever given up on you, but you know that, he was there till the end" she smiled, kissed her fingers and rested them on top of the headstone. "I won't leave it so long next time love" she told him. "See you soon" she spoke softly and stood up, she took in a deep breath of fresh air and turned around and then remained fixed on the spot.

Aaron was stood in front of her, wearing his usual trackies, and hoody with his hands in his pockets. "Hi mum" he said with a smile.

TBC...