"The Approach"
WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING
-This fanfic follows on from Knew It All Along
# Disclaimer – I do not own Emmerdale or any of the characters used.
Aaron woke to the instant pain from his cuts on his hands as he rested up onto his elbows; he instantly smelt bacon rising up from the kitchen. He looked down at his hands and noticed bruises had developed around the cuts aswell. He sighed. You're mental Livesy Aaron thought to himself.
Last night was a revelation to say the least. Paddy knew Aarons predicament, but in usual Paddy style and understanding, well yes that's what he did, he understood. He didn't care if Aaron was gay, he just wanted him to be happy and he promised him in his sobbing that he would try to be from now on. That's why today was going to be difficult – he was going to approach Jackson and see how it went from there.
Several minutes later Aaron wandered into the kitchen. "Alright?" Paddy asked.
Aaron nodded and stood at the kettle waiting for it to finish boiling. "Yeah not bad I guess" he frowned. "You?"
"Yeah fine" Paddy smiled. "So...big night last night wasn't it?"
Aaron couldn't help but laugh. "I guess so"
"I'm gunna repeat myself now again, but don't feel weird about it okay? You are who you are and as long you accept that in time and be happy, then that's all that matters to me"
"I know Paddy" Aaron turned to face him. "Thankyou...Are you gunna tell mum?"
"No I think that's your job don't you"
Aaron nodded. "I will when I'm ready but first I'm gunna keep my promise and see Jackson today"
Paddy grinned. "I'm glad, so do you like him?" he asked as he placed some bacon onto some bread for Aaron and put the plate on the table with the sauce ready.
Aaron poured their coffees and sat down at the table with him. He smirked.
"Go on you can tell me"
Aaron laughed.
"Ha! Aaron Livesy going red, I never thought this day would come!"
Aaron sighed as he took a bite of the sandwich. "I like the look of him" the muffled voice replied.
Paddy laughed. "Oh yeah cause talking with ya mouth full is gunna turn him on"
"Oh Paddy!" Aaron laughed and looked away.
Aaron swallowed and cleared his throat. "I said – I like the look of him, he's attractive – I just don't know him yet that's all"
Paddy nodded. "Well you can make a start today then can't you?"
Aaron nodded. "I'll do my best"
Hazel sighed as she entered the living room; the house was coming together a lot more now. She liked it. "Are you gunna lounge around here all day or you actually going to go to work?"
"Self employed mum, nothing important in the diary and anyway I'm dying here, give me some sympathy, go on you know you want too" his deep brown puppy dog eyes looked up at her.
Hazel almost fell for it every time. "I love you son but you're hung-over, you aren't dying at all, once upon a time you could use that excuse on me but not no more" she chuckled. "Boys" she sighed as she opened the curtains much to Jackson's distain.
"Arghh" he moaned and pulled the cushion over his face.
Hazel sat on the single chair. "So, have fun last night?"
"Hmm depends how you define fun, I got wasted, it was at the time, but now it isn't"
"I can see that" she laughed. "Meet any nice boys?"
Jackson surfaced from under the pillow. "As a matter of fact I think I have – but not from last night, I saw him in the village actually but I've hardly spoke to him really except once and to be honest he seems a little - I dunno; conflicted..."
"Meaning?"
"He doesn't seem sure of who he is, but I like the look of him"
"Well get to know him, what's he like? Have I seen him?"
"I'm not sure, the mechanic?"
Hazel's jaw dropped. "Ohh he came round yesterday, said your van was ready, but you left before I could tell you, he is very handsome"
Jackson smirked. "I know" he sat up. "Better get a shower hadn't I? Got a van to pick up"
Hazel shook her head. "That you're excuse now is it?"
Jackson stopped in the doorway before going upstairs, turned to his mother and simply nodded with a wink.
Aaron walked out of the cafe with a coffee in his hand and told himself to go to Dale head and knock on the door. He wasn't looking where he was going and the next thing he knew, his coffee went all over his chest and seeped through his clothes, burning instantly. He winced in pain.
"Oh god! I'm so so sorry" Jackson was very apologetic and tried to rub it off with the sleeve of his jacket.
When Aaron realised who it was he decided to forego the brutal verbal assault he would normally deliver and instead his breath was taken away and not by the burning. "Death by steaming coffee" Aaron instantly rolled his eyes. How pathetic was that? He cursed himself.
Jackson looked at him and laughed. "This isn't what I usually do by the way..."
Aaron frowned, trying not to let the hotness from the drink bother him. But it didn't work Jackson could tell, and he felt awful. "What?" Aaron asked.
"Bumping into you so I could talk to you – I mean..." he took a breath, it was like he was turning into a kid who couldn't get his words out when he really liked someone. "I mean I *was* coming to talk to you..."
Aaron smirked. "Jackson – it's fine really...I was coming to talk to you aswell, I wanted to explain last night, I shouldn't have done that, and I made a right fool of myself, Paddy's out if you wanna come back and talk? I just need to get changed..."
Jackson smiled. "Yeah" he nodded. "Sure – lead the way"
Inside Smithy Cottage, Aaron left Jackson in the kitchen while he went upstairs to get changed. His chest was quite red and sore to the touch, but he'd live. He hesitated going back downstairs. He's actually in the house the words surprised him. What the hell do I do now? He wondered. He stopped for a second, collected his thoughts, took a deep breath and walked down the stairs and into the kitchen where Jackson was sat at the table.
"You ok?" Jackson asked.
Aaron nodded. "Yeah thanks, it's not bad, you're safe"
Jackson let out a breath. "Good – so I'm here, *we're* here now..."
"Yeah..." Aaron sat down beside him. "I told you yesterday that I crossed a line and that's why I attempted to kill myself..."
Jackson nodded.
"I tried kissing my best mate" he sighed. "And ever since I've been so confused, and when I saw you moving in, and saw you, I got the strangest feelings I never experienced them for a man before, well not as intensely as yesterday" his face screwed up as he tried to make sense of it all.
"It's alright Aaron, you don't have too, I mean you hardly know me..."
"No see that's the thing, I think you're attractive, hot..." Aaron blushed. "And I do wanna get to know you, last night was me running away..."
Jackson noticed his hands. "They weren't there last night..."
Aaron sighed. "I smashed my mirror and spent most of the night telling Paddy things I should have talked about months ago"
"You mentioned him, who is he?"
"He's, well...he's a dad to me really, he's looked after me since I came here, he's the vet, owns the surgery, it's actually connected to the house believe it or not"
"Ahh...so how did he take it?" Jackson was intrigued by Aaron, he didn't know why.
"Absolutely fine, typical eh? I worry about telling people and then they're fine" he chuckled.
Jackson nodded. "That's usually the case, for other people it might take some getting used too but they come round eventually, but my dad? Different story altogether, our relationship has never been the same since" Jackson told him.
"Sorry to hear that"
Jackson shook it off. "It's alright, but I wanted to come find you to also tell you how attractive I think you are, and to thankyou for fixing my van – works wonders now"
Aaron found himself looking into Jackson's eyes; he couldn't tear himself away, and instantly a complete change of attitude swooped over him. "And what kind of thankyou do you have in mind?"
Jackson ended up slowly edging towards him even closer than he already was. His lips pouted for a second as he thought. "Drink? In the pub – I mean you gotta introduce me to the fine residents of Emmerdale" he smirked.
"And then?" Aaron asked.
"And then Aaron, I don't know, we'll have to see how the night goes won't we?"
Their heads were really close now, Jackson was teasing him but his actions were louder, Aaron turned his head slightly to receive the kiss Jackson was ready to lay on his lips.
But the pair jumped away from each other quickly as the front door squeaked open...
To Be Continued...
