The Livesy-Walsh Family Album – Chapter 3

-O-

DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV

-O-

"Nervous?" Aston asked his best friend, as they waited for Janice and Blake to pick them up from the station.

"I've never met my mother before," Jaron replied, "So, yeah, I am a bit nervous."

"Don't worry," Aston smiled reassuringly at his friend, "She sounds really nice...and her husband. I'm sure she'll be over the moon to see you."

It was a couple of days since the two of them had shared an intimate experience in their motel room. Neither of them really knew what to make of the encounter. Aston knew that he was definitely gay, but Jaron still insisted that he liked girls and was just 'mucking about' because he was horny. Aston had kept himself to himself since that night, but he knew that his deep friendship was turning to love and he was hoping beyond hope that Jaron would fall in love with him too. But, he decided to put such thoughts on hold for the time being as Jaron had enough to cope with, meeting his mother and brother for the first time ever.

Blake's car hove into view. Jaron and Aston had previously handed their hire car back to the rental company and travelled by train to Janice and Blake's hometown, so they needed a lift back to Blake's house.

Blake and Janice climbed out of their vehicle and Janice wasted no time in throwing her arms around Jaron and hugging him, "It's wonderful to see you!" she gushed.

"Lovely to see you too," Jaron replied, he did not really know what else to say.

After the introductions were made, Blake drove them back to his and Janice's house. On the way, they all chatted like old friends.

"So, where's Ben?" Jaron asked.

"He's at work," Janice replied, "He's an assistant in a laboratory, but that's only temporary to earn some cash until he goes to NASA."

"NASA?" Jaron said, "The space people?"

"Yeah, that's right," Janice was bursting with pride, "He's passed all his exams and starts there next month. He's always been interested in space."

"Yeah," Jaron nodded, "My dads told me he loved all that stuff when he was younger."

"That's our Ben," Blake also spoke with pride, "He's always wanted to be a scientist, specialising in astrophysics. He can tell you the names of all the planets and their moons, how far they are away from the sun...all that stuff."

"What do you want to do, Jaron?" Janice asked.

"Dunno, really," Jaron suddenly envied Ben, who knew exactly what he wanted to do with his life, "I like computers so I might write programs for them. I've written stuff for games and that sort of thing."

"Well, you've got plenty of time to decide," Blake said, smiling, "The world's your oyster!"

Later, when they had all settled back at Blake and Janice's house, Ben walked in through the door. Jaron understood why Janice had said that Ben's disability was hardly apparent anymore, as he seemed to walk like any able-bodied person.

The lads hit it off straight away, "I have a vague recollection of you as a baby," Ben told Jaron, "We were in a car and I was watching you sleep. I remember being told that I needed to look after you as you were my baby brother. Funny how we don't really know each other, yet we are brothers! At least we've had the chance to meet now."

"Yeah," Jaron smiled, "I've never known what it's like to have a big bro, so it's a new experience for both of us."

"How's Uncle Aaron?" Ben asked, "...I mean, your dad!"

"He's fine thanks, he sends his love...oh, and Pop of course."

"Pop?"

"Yeah...sorry, Uncle Jackson, I should say."

Ben laughed, "We are a mixed up family aren't we? We are brothers, yet your dads are my uncles! We need an expert genealogist to decipher our family tree!"

Jaron laughed along with his brother, "Best not to think about it too hard...it'll give us both a headache!"

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Aaron sat at the dining room table, studying a text on his mobile. Jackson walked in and saw him looking intently at the small screen on the phone.

Aaron looked up at his husband, "It's from Jaron," he nodded at his phone, "He's met Janice, Blake and Ben and he says they're lovely...but we knew that already. He says that Ben is going to work for NASA."

"No surprise there, knowing how his head has always been up in the stars," Jackson smiled, "Has Jaron said anything about this amazing news he wants to share with us?"

"Not a thing," Aaron replied, "I expect he'll forget whatever it is by the time he gets home."

"I don't know," Jackson mused, "If whatever he wants to say is big enough that he wants to tell us in person, I don't think he's likely to forget about it."

"I suppose not, we'll have to wait and see, won't we?"

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On their last night in Blake and Janice's house in Canada, Jaron and Aston were lying on their beds in their room. They were sleeping in the same room, but it contained two single beds so they had one each. There had been some awkwardness between them since their sexual encounter in the motel room a few days before, but Aston was bursting to say something, now that Jaron's initial meeting with his mother was over and done with.

Aston looked at Jaron, sprawled on his own bed, and spoke, "Jaron?"

"Yeah."

"Can we talk about something?"

"We've been best mates nearly all our lives," Jaron had a sarcastic smirk on his face, "I'd think it strange if we can't talk about anything, don't you?"

"I s'pose," Aston looked apprehensive, but continued, "I want to talk about what happened...you know...in the motel."

"Oh!" Jaron became hesitant: the subject had been the 'elephant in the room' for days now. "OK."

"I don't want it to affect our friendship...you know...since we did that."

Jaron chuckled nervously, "We didn't do anything! I mean, we grabbed each other's," he paused, as if searching for the right word, but then continued, "...well...you know. Anyway, you're still my best buddy in the whole world, that hasn't changed and never will as far as I'm concerned."

Aston was given a little courage from Jaron's words, "What if I said I wanted to do it again? Not the fondling... although that was good...I mean...I want to kiss you again!"

Jaron's cheeks flushed a little, "Are you serious?"

"Yeah," Aston wondered if he should continue, but he felt that he had come this far and had no choice now, "I think I've got feelings for you...you know. That's why I said I don't want it to ruin our friendship...if you don't feel the same but you know how I feel. Does that make any sense?"

Jaron climbed off his bed and stood up, holding his arms out to Aston, who also stood up and embraced his friend, "You're very brave to have admitted that you're gay," he whispered in Aston's ear, "...and I do have feelings for you too. But I'm not sure what they are! I'm confused and I don't want to lead you on if I can't give you what you want."

They drew apart and Aston's toffee-coloured eyes stared into Jaron's blue ones.

"It's OK," Aston looked a little sad, "I understand. But I always want to be your friend."

Jaron kissed Aston's forehead, "Give it time and let me get my head straight, if you'll pardon the pun!"

That cheered Aston up and he giggled.

"But know this," Jaron continued, "We will always be best buddies, nothing will ever change that...no matter what!"

The 'elephant in the room' made a quick exit!

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"Did you have a good time?" Aaron was keen to hear his son's news on his arrival home.

"Yeah, ace!" Jaron replied. He was sitting in the lounge with his dads and looked tanned and fit. "It was great to meet Janice, Blake and Ben at last. Ben and I had a right laugh about being brothers who had never met, well, not really. We've pledged to stay in touch now, I call him 'big bro' and he calls me 'baby bro' and I feel we'll be close, even though we're miles apart."

"That's great!" Jackson was pleased and smiled at Jaron, but then noticed that he looked a little apprehensive, "Are you OK, son?" he said.

Jaron fidgeted in his seat, he knew that he would have to say something but did not know where to start.

"I want to talk to you about something...something that happened while I was away," Jaron nervously looked at his parents.

"I hope we've never had any secrets," Jackson's warm, calm voice gave Jaron courage, "You can talk to me and your Dad about anything, you know that."

"I know," Jaron wrung his hands and Aaron and Jackson knew, by his actions, that he was about to unburden himself, "Well...the thing is..." he paused again.

"Come on, buddy," Aaron urged his son to continue, "Tell us what's bugging you."

"You know when I said that me and Aston stayed at a motel?" Jaron looked at his parents and they both nodded, "Well...we did something together that we'd never done before." Jaron paused.

"Go on," Jackson smiled encouragingly.

"We were hor...I mean, excited!" Jaron looked at the floor.

"if you were going to say you were horny, we won't be shocked," Aaron said and Jackson gave him a knowing look.

"Jesus...this is so embarrassing!" Jaron had turned red.

"It's OK son," Jackson soothed Jaron's nerves, "We know every filthy word in the book! You're eighteen now, we don't mind if you use adult language."

Jaron looked at his dads again and could tell they were sincere: he loved his parents to bits and knew that they were both brilliant men who he could rely on and trust completely. He looked into Jackson's eyes: his father had always been a tower of strength and always given him good advice. In fact, Jaron could not remember a time when his old man had ever steered him wrong.

"Aston kissed me," Jaron suddenly came to the point, "...and, I kissed him back!"

"Is that it?" Aaron shrugged, "You just kissed?"

"Well, no..." Jaron blushed again, "We did a bit more than that...but..."

"It's OK, son," Jackson reassured his son again, "You don't have to tell us anything you don't want to, we don't need all the gory details...that's private between you and him anyway. So, are you telling us that you and Aston have started a relationship?"

"No...well, not exactly. Aston tells me he has feelings for me...you know. But I'm not sure, I kinda have feelings for him too, but I don't know whether they are just because he's my best buddy, or whether it's something more, but I've never thought of myself as gay. Aston told me he is, but...I dunno!"

Jackson looked at Jaron steadily, "Don't be in a rush to label yourself, mate. Just go with your gut feeling. You're bound to have strong feelings for Aston, hell, you've been best mates nearly all your lives. If there's something more between you, then only time will tell. You're a brilliant lad and we love you and we're so proud of you. We are privileged to call you our son. We'll always stand by you, regardless."

"At the end of the day, we just want you to be happy," Aaron added.

They all rose to their feet and Aaron and Jackson embraced Jaron in a group hug, "You are the best parents in the world," Jaron was almost in tears, "I love you guys too, so much."

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That night, Aaron met Jaron on the landing, on their way to their respective bedrooms.

"Jaron?"

"Yes, Dad."

"I hope you know that you can always talk to me, if you think you are gay, or about anything," Aaron looked into a pair of eyes that were a mirror of his own.

"Thanks, Dad. You've always seemed so confident about being gay, but I'm not sure about it."

"You don't know the half of it, son," Aaron had a wry smile playing around his lips, "I had a terribly tough time coming out."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I guess most gay people go through a struggle to accept who they are, but I was the world's worst! Then I met your Pop and he made me see it was OK to be myself. He changed my life, for the better you understand...and I've loved him to death ever since."

"I know you and Pop love each other: I've seen that over the years. I love Aston too...as a friend. But I don't want to string him along if I don't have the same feelings for him that he does for me."

"Astie's a top lad, I'm glad he's your best buddy and I'm sure he always will be. If you decide you do want more than just friendship, you could do a lot worse. You're very loyal to him as a friend and I admire that about you. I'm also pleased that you are a decent lad, being honest with him about your feelings. I'm so proud of you son."

"Thanks Dad, goodnight then," Jaron disappeared into his room, he was about to become embarrassed and start blushing.

Later, Aaron and Jackson were in their bed, reflecting on the day's events.

"Do you think that Jaron might be gay?" Aaron snuggled up to his husband.

"Might be," Jackson replied, "It could run in the family!"

"Idiot!" Aaron scolded his partner.

"Seriously," Jackson chuckled, "It doesn't matter to me if he's gay, straight, bi or whatever, we'll love and support him, just the same, won't we?"

"Of course we will," Aaron gazed lovingly at Jackson, "He's our boy and he can do no wrong as far as we're concerned. I think we can be proud of ourselves, the way we've raised him."

"That we can! As you said yourself, we just want what's best for him and for him to be happy."

"If he's as happy as we've been, he'll be the luckiest boy in the world," Aaron leaned into the kiss that Jackson was offering him, "Love you!"

Jackson smiled contentedly, "Love you too...'night gorgeous."

"'Night, babe."

THE END