Author's Note:

So, as you can see I've been talked into continuing this, still looking for a beta though. I don't know what is about English English that makes me so nervous to get it right….I even feel more confidant in my secondary languages (German, Polish, Hebrew, and American Sign) , but to the point…

Just as a reminder these are snippets and pieces, like one-shots that all tie together…most of them for a bit will be flashbacks, I'll post the date at the top of the chapter and as the chapter title. I do have quite a few written already, but I make no promises that they won't jump around a little. But I'll do my best so its not confusing.

Now, if there's any suggestions, questions, things you would like/ or think need to be seen just let me know! Also until I can find a beta keep your eyes peeled and let me know if I'm making mistakes.

And most importantly, thank you for the reviews, much appreciated, keep it up…they're what will keep this story going.

Without further ado I hope you enjoy!

(June 2011)

"I'm sorry." Aaron's voice came out quiet and some what hoarse from the previous shouting. He dared to look up from his place against the wall of the hallway in the flat to his boyfriend who stood against the opposite wall down a few feet from him. He could just see the sad smile begin across the builder's face.

"You say that a lot, Aaron." Aaron opened his mouth to protest, but Jackson cut him off, "But this is the one time you're not the one who needs to say it."

The mechanic had to wait a little longer for the other man to explain, "You're right I've over reacted, but I still mean what I've said, we're done, this" he gestured between the two of them, "Has run its course."

"Jackson, no, please." Aaron leaned his head up so he could stare at the ceiling, the tears finally began to spill over.

"Aaron, come on, this isn't love, never was, not really. Mate, this was you needing me, and me wanting to be needed. You just came out…"

"A year ago!"

"It's still new, and that bloke tonight, he hasn't been the first and he won't be the last to make you think twice about who you're with. You need to take some time, mate just to be single. Aaron, in the last year you've changed…"

"I haven't." He was starting to get angry.

But Jackson just shook his head and closed the distance between them, standing in front of him and reaching to wipe the tears away, he placed a chaste kiss on the younger man's forehead, "Aaron, you're nineteen, ya still have your whole life ahead of ya. And really, I'm just the first, there's not many who end up with their first, gay or straight right?"

There was a reluctant nod, another moment of silence, before Aaron who was unable to muster a biting remark a final blow simply resigned to a deep breathe, "I guess I should be going then."

"Yeah, probably for the best." The builder stepped back allowing Aaron to go, but as Aaron reached for the door.

"Aaron?" His name stopped him, but he didn't turn as Jackson continued, "I know ya may hate me for sayin' this, but I'm gonna risk it. Still mates, alright? Anytime you need me," He started then added as if it were simple afterthought of an inside joke, "Platonically, I'm here for ya, alright?"

There was response no response as Aaron disappeared out the door, the slam taking the place of the abuse Aaron was shouting in his head, having just enough control not to say them out loud. As he stormed of in the direction of the bus stop to home, there was that piece of Aaron's mind that knew Jackson was right, that even after a year of being out (though he still at times had to use that term loosely) he was still new to all of this, and here was another first. The first breakup. And yet it felt like any other he had gone through. So, despite knowing Jackson was right, he didn't want to feel hurt, and instead went to his old standby, the anger. He trudged back home pausing momentarily when he saw the light on the kitchen, not wanting to go through Paddy's over cheerful interogation, but he didn't want to bother finding anywhere else. The desire to hole himself in his room won over only to open the door to find Paddy coming down the stairs as he slammed the door.

Blocked, Paddy looked immediately concerned, "Bad night?"

"Yeah, you can say that. Can I go to my room, please?" Aaron's face was stone, but Paddy felt daring.

"What happened?"

"Nothing." Aaron said, making his best effort to sound more annoyed as he squeezed past the older man and directly in his room locking it after he slammed his third door of the evening.

Ever persistant Paddy follows him, worried, as always when he discovers the boy this way. "Come on Aaron, you can talk to me." He tries to guess, "Did something happen with Jackson? Did you two get into a row…" He tries to force a laugh only to find it doesn't feel right, "You two have had problems before, and fixed it up."

There was an extremely pregnant pause before Aaron replied, "We're through." The door unlock and a confused Paddy stepped over the threshold where Aaron had already made it back to the bed. There was a slight nervousness suddenly brought about in the vet, the slightest feeling of familiarity in this space.

"He broke up with me." There was an obvious distaste for the words as they were spoken. "He said 'its runs its course' and I've changed, I don't need him anymore or something."

The slightest trace of scoff escaped Paddy's mouth, "That's rubbish, really, that bit about you changing."

He regretted his choice of words as he saw the pain dance across the face of the nineteen year old he considered his son, which caused him to stutter to redeem his self, "You haven't though, have you? You nearly brought the house down storming in, you still are quick tempered," he wasn't doing much better, "You haven't changed, you've just grown up a bit, haven't you?" Now Aaron was confused. "I haven't been beaten or bruised yet, have I? And a year you would have done as much with half the conversation. You're still Aaron, you just handle it better." Paddy bit on his lip for a moment, and even though he knew it was his awkward mess up that earned the smirk across the nineteen year old's face.

"What if that's it for me?" Aaron asked after a moment, "What if…?"

Paddy approached carefully on the bed, "That a bit soppy for you." He added a laugh to make sure the lad knew he was joking, "Maybe you have changed."

The response was instant, "Shut up."

"Nope, still the same. Just checking."

The two sat on the edge of the bed for few minutes of silence. Paddy didn't know what to say, because even it was for brief moments, it felt like the year before again. He rubbed his hands against his knees.

"Well," He said backtracking in the conversation, an air of mock seriousness about him, "I've fallen in love three times, and I'm the better looking of the pair of us, so no, I think your done. You don't stand a chance."

The smirk was there full force now, the one Paddy knew was Aaron's way of calling him 'idiot'. And if there was one thing Paddy Kirk, veterinarian extraordinaire, was sure about it was that 'idiot' was Aaron Livesy's way of saying he cared. But, ultimately if Aaron was calling him an 'idiot' even if it was just in that look, then everything was going to be okay.

Let me know what you think!