Thanks to Dangling Hearts for the beta-ing.

Lad, Interrupted

Chastity Dingle sighed heavily, relaxing into the bar stool as Maisie poured her drink and popped the straw into the glass. She heard the whispers but, being a Dingle, she was used to them, so she ignored them and started the process of emptying her glass.

It was when Diane returned from her break that Chastity learned the reasoning behind the whispers.

"I hope Paddy's given your Aaron a clip round the ear, the way he was acting earlier. Although, a smack wouldn't go a miss either. That poor lad he punched – I thought they were mates at first, then your lad started swinging his fists!" she said, before moving away to serve the Barton family patriarch.

"This true?" Chas asked her son's workmate, Ryan, who was sitting with his mother in the corner.

"Yeah, pretty much. We were all planning to head into town, then Aaron lost it and Paddy dragged him home."

Chas muttered angrily, finished off her half and stormed out of the pub, heading for her former place of employment and residence.

"I'm sorry, alright!" Aaron reiterated, resting his head in his hands.

"The more times you say sorry, the less meaning it carries – didn't your mum ever tell ya that?" Jackson said, finishing his coffee.

They hadn't moved, all three still sitting around the dinner table. During a lull in the conversation, Paddy had grabbed a packet of biscuits, of which half had been eaten by himself and Jackson.

"Sore topic, mate." Paddy said, gathering the empty mugs and putting them in the sink to wash later.

"Isn't it always?" Jackson replied.

"Well, if I'm that bad, why are ye two still here?" Aaron burst out, his eyes once more misty eyed.

"Oi, calm down! We're here cause we care for you, alright? Well, I care for you, I can't speak Jackson." Paddy said.

"I do too, Aaron. I'm going to help you through this. It's just, if you keep lashing out, you may not have anybody there left to help you." Jackson intoned, reaching out and resting his hand lightly on the side of Aaron's face.

He could tell that Aaron was fighting his inner reaction to pull away; to react with anger once again. But, after only a few seconds, Aaron was leaning into the touch, enjoying the feel of the rough hand of Jackson against his cheek.

Paddy, a feeling of intrusion coming over him, explained that he had some paperwork to complete and wandered off to his office.

"I know what you're going through, Aaron. I've been where you are now. I can help you through this, but you have to let me help you." Jackson stated, using his thumb to wipe away the tears that now ran down Aaron's face. Aaron rested his hand upon Jackson's, the one cupping his face.

"I do. I... I need you. I've just, what I've been through... I see red and then I swing. I can't stop myself. I need your help, Jackson. I do."

The lads sat there, just watching each other. Paddy returned to the kitchen 20 minutes later, offering to cook a fry for dinner. Unlike Jackson's expectation, Aaron didn't jump away. He stayed there, enjoying the intimate touch.

Aaron was enjoying it, in the comfort of his private, safe home. With his would-be boyfriend and his pseudo step-dad. He laughed. That sentence, as off as it sounded, brought comfort to himself. He was calm...the two people who, supposedly, cared about him the most surrounding him.

"I'm going to do some bacon, sausages and eggs, that alright with everyone?" Paddy asked, retrieving the frying pan.

"That'd be nice, cheers Paddy." Jackson replied.

"Cheers, Padster."

Aaron stood up and, tentatively, took Jackson's hand in his. He smiled shyly at the older man before leading him into the living room.

"We're gonna watch the box for a while, okay?" Aaron politely asked, continuing towards the kitchen.

"I'll call you when it's ready, okay?"

Chas made it outside before being accosted by Cain, who was carrying a small-fortune of sweets, a trash magazine and a car magazine.

"Alright sis, how's your bruiser! Heard he floored some poof! Good on him, who would want to be touched up by that kind of freak?" Cain said, his face held in a grimace at the mere thought of it.

"I'm heading over to Paddy's now, to give him what for. Did you know that this bloke he leathered is apparently his mate? That's what Diane and Ryan say, anyway."

"Well, good on him for proving himself!"

Chas grunted, "Back off, Cain. It's not right, what he's done. It's just too much." She shoved her way past her half brother and continued on her stride to Smithy Cottage.

"Just quit changing the channel, leave it be!" Jackson instructed, removing the remote from Aaron's hand.

"Sorry – nervous habit."

"Relax, I'm not gonna jump you." Jackson joked, placing the remote of the coffee table.

Aaron was silent, his mind awake with raging thoughts and impulses.

"After that kiss, all I could think was what could've happened next... I... I wanted it to go on longer, you know... because, for the first time, it felt right. It felt – it felt exciting."

Jackson nodded, showing he understood, as he turned to face Aaron.

"It was... It was like when I first, you know, liked a guy. His name was Kyle and... I just couldn't stop watching him. But then, I was able to kiss you, able to follow my feelings. And, God, that was the best kiss of my life."

"Aaron, as kisses go, it was pretty amazing." Jackson smiled, reaching his hand out and taking Aaron's in his.

Aaron took a deep breath. He built up his courage, yet his eyes couldn't retract themselves from where his and Jackson rested.

"Would you...," Aaron cleared his throat, "Would you like to go again?" Aaron asked, blushing immensely.

"God, such a romantic!" Jackson laughed, his free hand resting over his heart.

"Shut up!" Aaron joined the laughing, gently squeezing Jackson's hand. Aaron looked up and his face was so bright with laughter and the blush, that Jackson smoothly leaned forward and kissed Aaron, all passion and empathy pouring between them.

Chas stormed up the driveway, her heals dislodging the stones and ricocheting against the slabs of slate. She reached the door, didn't knock but allowed herself in. She found Paddy at the stove, cooking the tea.

"Where is the little toe rag? I just heard about his outburst in the pub! Where is he?" Paddy mumbled and flustered, unable to speak suddenly. Chas rolled her eyes and heading for the living room, having heard the TV on.

"Oi, Aaron! You've got some explaining to do!" Chas shouted, rounding the corner. What she was met with, took her breath, for all of a few seconds, before she continued her tirade. "What's this about you beating up lads in the Woolie?"