The Livesy-Walsh Diaries – Chapter 1

-O-

DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV

-O-

Polly Preston was talking to Richard in the kitchen of Aaron and Jackson's house.

"You seem to have the perfect life here, Rich!"

Richard Oakes studied Polly's face carefully. Her attractive features were not showing any signs of a smirk, so he guessed that her statement was genuine and not an attempt at a wind-up; which would not be unusual for her! Her long, auburn, naturally curly hair was swept back into a pony-tail today; and her brown eyes fixed on him, expecting a response.

"How do you mean, Pol?" he asked. Richard had adopted an abbreviated form of Polly's name, as she always addressed him as 'Rich'. Usually, he did not like people shortening his name, but he had become good friends with Polly in the year that she had been working as a nanny for the Livesy-Walshes; and he did not mind as he looked upon it as a term of affection.

"Well, you've got a roof over your head, a well-paid job, employers who think the sun shines out of your behind! What's not to like?" Polly said, cheerily.

Aaron and Jackson had recently extended their house as they had wanted to create a playroom for their little boy, Jaron; so that he would have his own space to play and, hopefully, his toys would not encroach on the rest of the house! At the same time, Jackson had drawn up plans for an annexe, consisting of a living room, bedroom and shower room and these had been built next to the playroom; accessed by a door from the existing utility room, which was next to the kitchen. On completion, Richard had been moved into the annexe to give him a more secluded area; providing him with a self-contained living space.

"Yeah...I'm really lucky!" Richard mused, "It's just that, being 'out in the sticks', there's not a lot of opportunity for a social life!"

"But, you go into Leeds on your nights off! You're one of the Centaur Bar's best customers! Didn't you say you met a nice guy there a couple of weeks back?" Polly took a keen interest in Richard's social life and knew that he enjoyed his visits to his favourite gay bar.

"Yeah...Tim is his name...but, I don't think it will go anywhere with me being stuck out here!"

"Why don't you invite him over?" Polly would not let it go.

"I can't ask him back here...to Aaron and Jackson's house!" Richard looked uncomfortable.

"Why not? You've got your own quarters now! Anyway, they wouldn't mind! It's not like they're going to throw you out for bringing a boyfriend back home, is it?"

"He's not my boyfriend," Richard said, defensively, "I only met him the week before last!"

"I know, but it hasn't stopped him texting you every five minutes, has it!" Polly laughed.

As if to reinforce Polly's statement, Richard's phone beeped at that moment. He took it out of his pocket and looked at it.

"Tim?" Polly stared at Richard and raised her eyebrows.

"Yeah!" Richard answered, "He wants to meet up for another drink!"

"Look, Rich, you've got to grab what happiness you can in life; when you've got the chance! Tell him you'll see him again! Go on!" Polly was in a determined mood!

"Alright...if it will keep you quiet!" Richard caved in to Polly's badgering and she had a self-satisfied smirk on her face; she usually got her own way where Richard was concerned!

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"Did you check that your passport is up to date?" Jackson looked at his husband as they stood in the living room of their home.

"Of course I did!" Aaron looked exasperated, "You don't trust me to do anything, do you?"

"Alright, keep your hair on! I was only asking!" Jackson brushed off his husband's brusque manner; he knew him inside out and did not rise to his bait.

"More to the point," Aaron continued, "Have YOU sorted the tickets?"

"Of course I have!" Jackson copied Aaron's response to his earlier question, although he thought better of adding a further sarcastic comment.

Aaron's mood suddenly lifted as he pondered their forthcoming trip to Canada, "I'm so looking forward to seeing little Ben again!"

"Yeah!" Jackson was just as excited at the thought of seeing their 'surrogate son' again, "Janice is over the moon that he can take a few steps on his own now."

"I can't believe we've left it this long to go; I thought we'd go and see Ben after a couple of months," Aaron said, wistfully.

"You know I've been too busy at the studios!" Jackson felt like he was making excuses, "This is the first break I've had in about a year! What with the TV show, the chain-store advertising campaign, the newspaper column, the..."

"OK, OK! I get it!" Aaron stopped his husband in mid-flow, "You needed to put a couple of million more in the bank first!"

Jackson took hold of Aaron and embraced him, "How else am I going to keep you in the style to which you've become accustomed?" Jackson had the cheekiest of smiles when he was in this mood and Aaron couldn't resist his gorgeous partner. He kissed him.

Their lips reluctantly parted, "It wasn't MY idea to build the 'East Wing'!" Aaron was referring to their house extension.

"Well, we needed the extra space, didn't we; what with Polly in one of the bedrooms and your mum, my mum and Sylvia staying over quite a bit!" Jackson continued to grin at Aaron.

"Yeah, we hardly ever get Jaron to ourselves these days!" Aaron had a cheeky smirk on his face, "Anyway, you only wanted to act the 'Lord of the manor'; having a 'servant's quarters' thrown in!" Aaron's less than perfect attempt at a 'posh' accent made Jackson laugh.

"If I'm 'Lord of the Manor', does that make you the 'Lady'?" Jackson was in the mood for a good wind-up.

"Lady Aaron Livesy-Walsh; sounds very upper crust!" Aaron joined in with the banter which always made them 'fit' as a couple and it caused Jackson to think about how far they had come on their journey together in life.

"Every day, I say a little prayer and thank God that I've been blessed!" Jackson turned serious and rubbed noses with the only man who had ever made him feel alive, "Things could have turned out very differently!"

"You'll be joining the local congregation next! Do you know any good hymns?" Aaron had a cheeky grin on his face which always made his husband's heart skip a beat.

"What's your favourite? 'Fight the Good Fight'?" Jackson returned Aaron's smirk.

"You div!" Aaron managed to say before Jackson's lips crashed into his again. He kissed him at length.

When they came up for air, Jackson took hold of Aaron's hand, "Let's go upstairs!"

"But, it's the middle of the afternoon!" Aaron protested, "Anyway, we've got packing to do!"

Aaron felt Jackson's fingers gently stroking his swelling crotch, "I'm more interested in what you're packing!"

"You horny sod!" Aaron feigned a look of disgust; but Jackson knew that it was all in fun as he felt Aaron's hand on his own growing bulge.

"Come on!" Jackson pulled Aaron towards the stairs; and, suddenly, Aaron did not object; everything else could wait!

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Later on, in the early evening, Jackson was in the kitchen when Richard walked in.

"Are you and Aaron ready for dinner?" asked Richard.

"I bet you'll be relieved to be able to please yourself for the next couple of weeks and not worry about us!" said Jackson.

"Well, I enjoy my job but, like most people, I find that a holiday is most welcome!"

Jackson could see that Richard had a pensive look, "Is everything OK?" he asked.

Richard looked at Jackson and thought how lucky he was to have a caring and considerate boss, "There IS something I wanted to ask!"

"Name it!"

"Well," Richard cleared his throat, "I've met a guy in the bar I go to; and I was wondering if you'd have any objections if I invited him here one evening."

"Richard!" Jackson was almost shocked that Richard would seek his permission, "You don't need to ask me! This is your home!"

"I know; I just didn't want to bring someone back here while you're away; it would look as if I was doing something behind your back! It would not seem quite proper!"

Jackson laughed, "You are funny sometimes! You're like a throw-back to the Victorian era! Thanks for checking with me first, it's very thoughtful of you, but please feel free to bring your friends back whenever you want! Is he special, this guy?"

"Tim? Well, we've only just met; but, I do like him; and he keeps texting me!"

"Look, my friend, I trust your judgement," Jackson smiled at Richard, "I'm sure you're not going to bring back a hoard of undesirables who are going to trash the place! If you like this guy and you want to invite him; then go right ahead! You're only young once!"

"Polly said that...well, something very similar! Thanks Jackson!"

"Well, that's settled! What's for dinner?"

"Any preferences?" Richard looked relieved that he had talked to Jackson and received a favourable response.

"I'll ask Aaron," Jackson replied, "Mind you, that husband of mine will eat practically anything!"

"I heard that!" Aaron was just walking into the kitchen at that point.

"...and he's got big ears, too!" Jackson chuckled.

"You two look like you're as thick as thieves!" Aaron observed, "Have I missed something?"

"Richard here was just checking with me, to make sure that it's OK for him to have an assignation in our house while we're away!" Jackson said.

"I see!" Aaron raised his eyebrows, "On a promise, are you Richard?"

"No!" Richard blushed, "Tim's just a friend, that's all!"

"Tim, is it?" Aaron couldn't resist teasing Richard.

"Maybe it will be a relief to lose you two for a fortnight, after all!" Richard said, sarcastically.

"Just make the dinner, slave; and less of the lip!" Aaron playfully put Richard in his place.

"YES, SIR!" Richard replied, with a salute!

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Aaron and Jackson were sitting in the dining room, having just polished off a delicious beef wellington.

"Have you got everything up to date with the charity?" Aaron asked. He was referring to a charitable trust, 'Baby Bones', that he and Jackson had set up, to help children with spinal problems; similar to young Ben's.

"Yeah!" Jackson smiled, "They gave me a full report earlier. They'll keep the wheels turning while we're away. Don't forget you promised to caddy for me in that Pro-Am charity golf match when we get back."

"Can't I play, then? You're not gonna let me loose with a stick?" Aaron smirked.

"A club! They're called clubs!" Jackson sounded exasperated.

"Oh yeah! You're probably wise; I've never hit a golf ball in my life!"

"You could always learn!"

"I'll leave it to you 'celebrities'!" Aaron was still smirking.

Before Jackson had a chance to respond, Richard came into the room, "Miss Rhodes and Mrs Frost are here!"

"Hazel and Sylvia!" Hazel gave Richard a disapproving glance; she had repeatedly tried to get him to use their first names!

"What are you doing here?" Jackson asked.

"Well, there's a fine way to greet your mother!" Hazel chastised her son, but still kissed him anyway, "We just thought that we'd wish you 'Bon Voyage' for your trip. You will give Janice and Ben our love, won't you?"

"Yeah, 'course!" Jackson replied.

"I still think you should have invited Jaron's grandma along!" Hazel pointed to herself, "You know how much I love to travel!"

"We've been through this before!" Jackson rolled his eyes, "It wouldn't be much fun for you, would it, looking after Jaron while Aaron and I swan off and do our own thing! Anyway, we promised Polly that she could come; as nanny to Jaron; and she gets a nice free trip into the bargain."

"I know!" Hazel looked resigned to the situation, "But you must let me see my grandson in a minute; I won't be seeing his lovely little face for two weeks!"

Richard interrupted proceedings, "Have you ladies eaten?" he addressed Hazel and Sylvia.

"Yes, we're fine, love!" Sylvia answered him, "Although, a cup of tea would go down a treat!"

"Coming right up!" Richard replied as he left the room again.

Just then, Jackson's mobile phone rang. "I'm sorry," he apologised, "I'd better answer this!"

The other's looked on in silence as Jackson took the call while Richard returned to serve the teas.

"Why are they doing that?" Jackson looked concerned, "I see! Oh well, thanks for letting me know! I'll see you when I get back."

"Problem?" Hazel looked anxiously at her son; she could tell that he had received bad news. "That was the producer's office on the TV show," Jackson looked sad, "They're taking it off the air! As of next month, I'm no longer a presenter on 'Northern Lights Tonight'!"