Happy Birthday to You
Disclaimer - Emmerdale & its characters do not belong to me, they belong to ITV.
A/N - Chapter 2. Enjoy! :D
He felt bad. Really he did. It was his birthday and after the strop he had thrown at when it was his birthday he hadn't really expected Jackson to go to so much trouble. Things had changed a lot since then though. He had changed, he was a lot more accepting of his sexuality but still, ruining Jackson's birthday still sticks in his throat. It made him feel even worse when he had woken up earlier that morning by Jackson kissing him and whispering 'Happy Birthday'. He had tried to keep the fact it was his birthday secret, feeling like they shouldn't celebrate it because of what happened in August but he couldn't. Paddy mentioned, his Mum mentioned it, everyone flamin' mentioned it. Jackson knew fine well it was his birthday and it seemed the builder wanted to celebrate it.
"I've taken the day off of work" the builder told him as he sat on the bed watching him get dressed "Why?" Aaron asks confused "I'm going to work"
Jackson is grinning and shaking his head as Aaron eyes him on through the mirror "No, you're not"
Aaron frowns, he was going to work, he was getting ready for work "Debbie said you could have the day off, what with it being your birthday and everything"
"But... but... How come I'm only getting told about this now?"
"Cause Debbie only told me last night"
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"I don't know" Jackson shrugs, moving himself along the bed until he's sat on the edge, facing Aaron. His hands sneak on and he pulls Aaron forward by his tracksuit bottoms "It means you don't have to leave this room for a good while yet"
At that Aaron had grinned and pushed Jackson back onto the bed, climbing on top of him. Not going to work and wakening up next to Jackson on his nineteenth birthday had its perks, he had to admit.
That was a good few hours ago though and now, now he found himself sat in Bar West, Bar West which was currently full of his friends and some of his family members all to celebrate his birthday and all because Jackson had planned it. That guy really did continue to surprise him. He hadn't been the best boyfriend to begin with but he was pretty sure he was getting better at it, at least he hoped he was.
"Hey you!" Jackson's voice pulls him out of his own little world and he turns to the builder, his face lighting up as he does so "Hey yourself, where you been?"
"Getting chatted up" Jackson says with a huge grin "Oh aye?" Aaron asks "Getting sick of me are you?"
"You are getting old"
"Like em' young do you?"
Jackson thinks about it for a minute before shaking his head and moving in closer towards him, Aaron thinks he's getting a kiss but Jackson stops just in front of his face, a teasingly "Nah, just you" Aaron finds himself wondering why Jackson hasn't kissed him yet, he wants him to kiss him but he's just sat there, grinning at him like an idiot and suddenly Aaron realises what the older man wants. He wants Aaron to make the final decision, yeah, they kiss and they'd kissed in Bar West countless times but this time it was different, this time half of the village was in the bar. Jackson was giving him the option but Aaron knew there was only one correct answer and he moved forward, capturing Jackson's lips, kissing him deeply.
It's almost a minute and a half before they pull apart, both breathless but with matching smiles on their faces. They were happy and they were together, not much more they could want. Aaron was determined that come August he would give Jackson the best birthday he had ever had. He didn't even have to worry about whether or not they would still be together because he knew they would. They weren't going anywhere; he couldn't not be with Jackson they'd tried that and they were both miserable. No, it was the two of them against anything, they belonged together, and Aaron knew that.
Aaron scanned the bar, taking in the laughing, happy faces of his friends and family and couldn't actually believe just how lucky he had been. He was nineteen. He was finally accepting his sexuality, he had a job, he and his mother were getting on better, he had his friends, but more than anything he had Paddy, the man who made him feel safe and loved and of course he had Jackson. The guy that no matter what he put him through had stuck by him, had wanted to be with him. He knew most people in the village thought Jackson was crazy for going anywhere near Aaron but Aaron was grateful that he had, he wouldn't be who he was today if it weren't for Jackson. He was fully aware of that.
The music changed and he had an idea. It was completely throw Jackson as he never in a million years would it expect from him but, he grabbed the builders hand and pulled him from their booth. "Where we going?" Jackson asks "The toilets?" he suggests playfully causing Aaron to turn and give him a look "Just a suggestion" the builder mumbles. A pretty good suggestion he thought, Aaron was looking hot and by god did he want him.
Jackson found himself in the middle of the dance floor surrounded by bodies, he was confused. Aaron didn't dance "What are we doing here?"
"I wanted to dance with you" Aaron says moving forward and slipping his hands around the builder's waist. Aaron feels a little awkward, he knows people are watching him but this is what he wants and no matter what anyone else thought he was going to dance, for the first time ever, with his boyfriend.
"You don't dance"
"Are you going to keep reminding me of that or are you just going to take the opportunity to dance with me, hmm?"
Jackson didn't need to think about it long a couple of seconds later he had pressed his body against that of Aaron's and wound his arms around his neck. Aaron didn't dance and he was pretty sure that the guy who had his arms currently wrapped around him was not Aaron Livesy but he wasn't going to complain, it felt far too good. They way Aaron was grinding against him felt far too good.
As they swayed to the music Aaron thought about Jackson, about their relationship and how he felt about the guy he currently had his arms wrapped around. He knew how Jackson felt about him, Jackson had told him that he loved him and Aaron still hadn't uttered those three little words back to him. He couldn't, he didn't know. Jackson had told him that when he was in love, he'd just know and that's when it struck him. He knew. Just how the hell did he tell Jackson without sounding like an idiot? He had no clue, but he was sure he'd have to think of a way, he couldn't keep this news until Jackson's birthday. Valentine's Day was coming up, it was clichéd and stupid but if he hadn't told him before then he told himself he would most definitely tell him then.
He felt a hand on the back of his neck and knew it could only belong to Jackson; he was turning his face towards him "Hey" he whispers to get his attention
"Hi" Aaron smiled down at him
"Happy Birthday" Jackson whispered just before kissing him soundly on the lips. Yeah, Aaron thought it was a happy birthday, the happiest he'd ever had by far.
Xxx
A/N - Reviewing makes me happy and makes me post the next chapter faster! Let me know what you think! :D
