AARON & JACKSON

-Six Years Later - 1918-

"Does Time Heal Old Wounds?"

The sun was at its highest point and the heat radiating from it felt amazing on his skin. Jackson was lying on a lounger in the back garden; he was taking a few days off. As the owner of his building company he didn't need to be in as much, his staff were professional and could manage without him, in both offices. Four years ago Jackson realised his business was going from strength to strength and decided to open another office in New York, it was the right thing to do, it turned out to be a continuous tidy profit, he was wealthy but it never went to his head.

He was drifting off but when slapping of small hands on his arm started, he opened his eyes and smiled at the big brown eyes staring back at him.

"Dad we need a drink" Jak told him breathlessly, he's been running around the garden for ages.

Jackson smirked and got up.

"Me too!" Nathan shouted and ran towards Jackson.

Jackson chuckled. "Come on then, let's see what we've got then eh?" he asked and walked through the back door into the kitchen followed by the boys. Jackson opened the fridge and looked down at the boys. "Juice?"

Jak scrunched up his nose and shook his head.

"You're a little rascal you sunshine, you do like juice"

"Yeah you do cause you had some the other day when I was here" Nathan told him, matter of factly.

Jak sighed. "I want some of this" he said as he walked over and pointed at the wine-rack. Jackson chuckled. "Oh no, those are for grownups"

"All of them?"

Jackson nodded.

"But why?"

Jackson rolled his eyes, everything was a question lately but he didn't mind really. "It's not for little boys; you have a long time to wait before you can have alcohol, it's nasty stuff"

"Not too nasty cause you drink it"

Jackson smirked and picked up two cartons of juice, he put the straws in and handed them both to the boys just as the front door opened.

"Mummy!" Nathan yelled excitedly as he ran along the hallway to see his mum.

Chas grinned at him as he hugged around her legs. Chas ruffled his dark hair. "You been good?"

Nathan nodded as he sipped his juice through the straw. "Me and Jak were playing in the shed" he giggled. "We made a den"

Chas chuckled. "Good job there's no tools in there eh Jackson?" she asked as she walked along to the kitchen.

"Who needs a shed full when I've got an entire warehouse packed with equipment" he replied with a laugh.

Chas smiled and leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "Happy Birthday love"

Jackson smiled. "Thanks Chas"

Chas reached into her bag and pulled out a card. "That's for you" she said with a smile. "Thanks for having him again, we appreciate it"

Jackson nodded. "I know you do and I love having him here"

"Where's dad?" Nathan asked as he looked up at her.

"Still on the farm darling, he'll be home later"

Jackson watched mother and son talking and he found himself staring at Nathan, he'd realised it a lot and it came to him again, but it was like he was looking at Aaron. No he'd never forgotten him.

"Oh ok can I stay here tonight?"

"Uh well that's not up to me son, its Jackson's birthday he might have plans"

"But he doesn't mind me" he told her as he lifted himself up onto his tip-toes then back down again repeatedly.

Jackson chuckled. "Forward" he nodded at him. "Definitely the way to be kiddo, course you can stay"

Nathan grinned and ran off to the stairs. "Thankyou!" Jak instantly ran after him. "I'm in top bunk!"

"No you're not, I am!" Nathan shouted back as he ran up the stairs, followed by Jak.

Jackson looked thoughtful as he watched the boys run off to stake their claim on who got what bunk. He bowed his head, his mood had shifted slightly, he should be there on his birthday and every other day, and he should be watching Jak and his step brother grow up.

Chas looked on sympathetically, despite his name never been mentioned in six years, they still obviously thought about him. Chas knew what was wrong and rubbed his arm. Jackson smiled and held up his birthday card. "Thanks for this"

"You're welcome love, so how you spending the rest of your birthday?"

Jackson sighed and shrugged his shoulders. "Mum's coming over armed with food, sandwich buffet type stuff; you and the husband are invited of course"

Chas chuckled. "It's been four years and I still can't believe we're married"

"Aww" Jackson smiled. "He's a good man"

"He certainly is, of course we'll stay, we only live down the road anyway so if we get drunk it's not far to walk" she chuckled. "Actually speaking of drunk, a glass of red would go down nicely"

"Ohh sounds ominous…"

Chas sighed as she sat herself down at the kitchen table. "I had to sack somebody today, I've never felt so crap in all my life" she told him.

"All part and parcel of being manager"

"I know but still, it's tough out there and I've left someone jobless…still she nicked from the till…what else did she expect?"

"You what?" Jackson asked surprised as he grabbed a red wine from the rack.

"Yeah…silly cow…got it back though"

"That's alright then" he told her as he poured Chas and himself a glass and sat with her at the table. Chas took the glass and held it up. "To you Jackson, happy birthday" she said with a smile, they clinked glasses and Jackson thanked her once again.

….

The high pitched screeching of the iron gates being opened went right through him. Aaron took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He gripped his hand around the strap on his bag and flung it over his shoulder. He looked at the prison guard who gave him an encouraging nod and Aaron nodded back then faced forward and began to walk. He was free.

Aaron walked along the quiet road that led to the prison. He wasn't really paying attention he looked down at the ground as he walked but minutes into his walk he looked up and he instantly knew why he had when he saw him. Mark stood up ahead smiling at him.

Aaron nodded at him and smiled as he walked to him. Early on Mark had found out he was in prison and why and ever since they had sent letters to one another frequently over the past six years and Mark had visited too. "Hi mate" Mark said with a smile

Aaron stopped in front of him and nodded. "Alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine, what happened to you?"

"Oh that idiot I mentioned in my letters, Doug" Mark nodded. "Apparently I provoked him, I didn't but he beat me anyway"

"Yeah to a pulp by the looks of it"

Aaron shrugged. "It doesn't matter I'm out now, w-why are you here anyway?"

"Err…years ago I asked the prison to notify me if and when you got released…"

"Ahh" Aaron nodded. "I see…"

"I figured you wouldn't have anyone if you got out, I-I couldn't let you be on your own"

Aaron nodded.

"What do you say to a coffee, on me?" Mark asked with a smile.

"Sounds good but I've got money"

Mark chuckled. "Oh yeah from the work you did in there?"

Aaron nodded. "Enough to get me by…actually it's more than I've probably had my entire life…how pathetic is that eh?"

"Come on mate, fresh start now…"

"Yeah, it will be"

Mark watched Aaron as they walked, he had definitely changed, he was very, very calm and seemed too laid back.

When they arrived at the café in town they got themselves a table and sat facing one another, Aaron picked up the mug and took a drink then placed it back down. "Listen Mark…I-I appreciate you being there for me today…but I've always wanted to ask but I never put it in the letters…"

Mark nodded he had an idea of the question.

"Why did you visit? Why did you spend your own time writing letters to me after what I'd done to you and what I'd done to that man, I killed a man Mark…w-why did you still bother?"

Mark smiled and let out a deep breath as he sat back in the chair. "Because you're worth bothering about Aaron, no one deserves to be alone. Yes, what you did was wrong and it's no excuse, but I understood why you did it…I cared about you then and I still do now, that's why I wrote letters and visited and that's why I was there today to meet you when you got out"

All Aaron could do was smile a little.

"Prison would have been enough but what you had to endure in there was torture for you I could see that from when I visited. You've paid for what you did hell you've done more than pay for it, you've been beaten so many times…I-I remember Aaron…"

"I-…" he breathed out heavily. "I did it on purpose…every single one"

"What?" Mark asked as he frowned.

"I provoked every one…so I lied to you back there, I made it happen, so see Mark…prison it wasn't enough I had to have those beatings…you don't have to understand but it made me feel better…" he swayed his head from side to side. "Along with the counselling"

Mark nodded, he understood him. "I know you might feel strange at the minute, but that counselling has worked hasn't it?"

Aaron smiled slightly and nodded.

"I can tell" Mark smiled back at him. "Listen, say no if you want but I don't see you having any other choice, but you can stay at mine if you want? For as long as you need to alright?"

"I'd appreciate that" Aaron nodded. "Thank you"

"You're welcome"

When he finished his coffee Aaron sat back and sighed. "They gave me some info about jobs and stuff but I was thinking about the mine again, would they employ me?"

"Oohh Aaron I-I dunno…I can have a word for you though?"

"Please"

"I'll speak to the boss tomorrow, they know you're coming out though, I told them"

"H-How was it after I went away?"

Mark sighed. "Front page in the local paper…everyone who didn't know you certainly did after that, it calmed down after a few weeks though…just be careful though alright mate…people well, they might remember"

Aaron nodded. "Yeah, the guard had a word with me before I left, told me what I might expect"

Mark nodded. "You'll be fine, I've got your back" he took in a breath and thought about what he was about to say. "H-Have you thought about…you know?"

Aaron nodded and swallowed hard. "I-I can't show my face at that house, six years is a long time…I remember what Jackson said before I walked into the police station, that he loved me…that love could have turned to hate for all I know and I'd rather avoid a verbal attack from any of them…and I know I'll be rejected so I'm not going to put myself in that position"

Mark let out a breath of relief, which caused Aaron to frown. "I'm so pleased you said that, I'd have had to start warning you off going back"

"I'm not going to go back but still it doesn't mean I don't want too"

"I know mate, hey listen how about we get you settled at mine? Get something to eat then maybe later we could go for a pint?"

"You sure you want to be seen with me?"

Mark chuckled. "Since when do I care what people think of me?"

"Hmm, true…alright then if you're sure?"

"I am" Mark replied with a grin.

A while later Aaron stood smiling as he looked around Mark's house, the same one. "You decorated" he called to Mark who was in the kitchen.

Mark chuckled. "Yeah, a few years back, I started saving too…bought a few more things for the house, got myself out of the bit of debt I was in too"

Aaron smiled as he listened. "Good for you mate"

…

"Ah come on mate, I've been to work all day and I need a pint and it's your birthday what a better excuse…my shout" Adam tried to goad him into going with him; he had been for a while.

Jackson finally gave in and with a sigh he replied "Alright, alright…let's go…"

"Great!" Adam grinned. "And when we can come back we can enjoy the food your mums brought"

Hazel laughed. "It'll be gone before your back love"

"Better not be!" Adam said as he walked to the doorway and waited for Jackson to get his jacket.

"No babe we'll leave you some" Chas told him as she walked to him then kissed him on the lips.

"You don't mind do ya? He just seems a bit…"

"Yeah I know, course I don't mind you boys have fun, but don't overdo it"

Adam nodded and opened the front door and left, followed by Jackson as he closed the front door they overheard Chas yelling for the boys to come down for food.

Sat on the floor in the living room with a plate each in front of them the boys giggled together as Chas and Hazel talked on the sofa while eating their own. Jak couldn't stop laughing and Nathan nudged him to calm him down. "One…" Nathan started and picked up a mini sausage roll as did Jak, still giggling. "Two" he whispered… "Three" on three both boys threw their sausage rolls, Jak's hit Hazel between her eyes and Nathan's right in Chas' eye which startled her causing her to jump and to instantly hold her fingers over her eye. Hazel jumped back into the chair, and the glass of wine she was holding jolted and soaked her blouse. The boys sat laughing. "Jak Walsh!" Hazel raged. "Nathan Barton what on earth are you playing at?" she asked with a raised voice as she looked at her son with a squint.

The boys laughed even harder when they got told off and they quickly got up onto their little legs and ran upstairs. When it sunk in what the boys had actually done Hazel and Chas burst into laughter while shaking their heads.

After Chas and Hazel had finished eating they heard the patter of tiny feet coming down the stairs, they both instantly turned on their stern and strict faces. The boys peaked into the leaving room. "Go on then" Jak urged Nathan in a whisper. Nathan then walked in holding something in his hands, and Jak followed.

"You boys are naughty do you know that?" Hazel asked harshly. "That was very disrespectful!"

The boys had got the message and stood hanging their heads. Jak then shoulder nudged him which prompted Nathan to step up to his mum. "Mum…" he began as he turned the photo frame around so Chas could see. "Who's this?"

Chas' eyes widened and she looked at Hazel who by her expression hadn't a clue how to handle the situation. "Err...err…nobody son, you shouldn't go snooping in other peoples rooms! This isn't our house"

"But it used to be" he told her.

"Yes I know that but we moved into our own house" she told him with a smile. "Come on, hand it over"

Nathan sighed and handed the picture of Aaron to his mum. "I'm sorry, I won't do it again"

"And the sausage rolls?" Hazel asked with a raised eyebrow.

Nathan nodded. "Them too" Hazel then looked at Jak, he quickly nodded. "I'm sorry grandma"

Hazel nodded. "Alright then, finish your food then eh?" she said with a smile.

…

"So you're what? Thirty?" Adam said with a grin as he raised his pint to his mouth.

Jackson laughed. "Few years ahead there mate…twenty seven"

Adam laughed. "I know I'm taking the piss"

"Good job" Jackson said as he looked around the pub, the miners pub, it was the closest and he'd become a regular the past six years and now there was no divide, he felt comfortable in that world. Suddenly he began to laugh. "Jak was funny earlier, he came up to me and said they wanted a drink, so we go in I ask him if he wants juice, bear in mind he loves it he shook his head then walks over and points to the wine rack, he said he wanted some…"

Adam laughed. "God there little terrors, separated and together"

"Tell me about it…I'm happy they've got each other though, I hope their friends their entire lives" Jackson said with a smile.

Adam nodded and his smile widened. "So am I mate, it's nice seeing them together, growing up together, they can be there for each other, I hope and like you say, friends for life"

Jackson nodded as the door to the side of him opened and they both instinctively looked and who they saw, well…they nearly had a heart attack. Jackson simply stared, he couldn't believe it, and neither could Adam. Jackson turned to Adam, his breathing was fast. "W-What the hell?"

Mark tugged at Aaron's arm. "Come on mate…it's alright…"

Aaron allowed himself to be pulled up to the bar, once there he turned back and he and Jackson locked eyes. It showed in his eyes and his body language. Aaron was scared to death.

TBC…