Don't own any of the characters in this fic, ITV do..

Thank you to see me through for beta

I hope you enjoy guys. sorry its taken me so long to update but i just couldn't get past a certain part in the chapter.

hopefully the next chapter won't take me as long to write.


The beers that Jackson had drunk earlier on in the day to steady his nerves hadn't worked. He found himself sat in the car alone with a gorgeous looking Aaron. He felt slightly stupid for feeling as nervous as he currently did because it wasn't as if this was the first time that he had been alone with the mechanic but for some reason he just looked all the more appealing in his suit than he had ever done in those grimy overalls and that was hard for him to believe.

What was bothering Jackson more than anything though was the fact that he felt as if he was on a date but he had no clue if it was in fact a date or not because Aaron had never spoken about his sexuality. He hadn't said he was straight but then no one ever does but on the reverse side of that he knew Jackson was gay and had never said "Me too" or anything along those lines. Jackson was confused. He hoped it would turn out that Aaron was gay and that this was in fact a date because looking at the mechanic in the suit that clung to him in all the right places had his mind conjuring up all sorts of images. A little that it was in fact a date came in the shape of Aaron had put Pearl and Paddy off from joining them at the event after the party, Aaron had said there were only two tickets but if they were why had he specifically requested that they not join them? Jackson's stomach twisted in anxiety, he couldn't let himself believe it was a date, he didn't want to feel let down when he spotted Aaron all over some girl.

….

They pulled up outside a beautiful hotel before too long and Jackson couldn't help but drown in its beauty. It was a 19th century hotel surrounded y acres and acres of land, he wanted to explore but he knew he couldn't as the door was opened and they were ushered inside. The inside was just as grand and beautiful as the outside, being a builder Jackson couldn't help but marvel at beautiful buildings whenever he was faced with one. The ball room was elegant room with high ceilings, it had a huge floor to ceiling hand carved open fireplace as a feature and there was a large dance floor in the middle with a bar slightly to the side of it.

The two men were greeted by Paddy, Pearl and a few other guests, their jackets were quickly taken and they were each handed a glass of champagne. Jackson was in awe; even in all his years with Adam and all the high profile friends that he had had he had they had never been to a ball or house of this standard.

Aaron was gracious with everyone and to look at him you would think that would be the last thing he would be. He greeted them warmly and effusively and not once was Jackson made to feel out of place as Aaron made a conscious effort to introduce him to everyone he spoke to. The only time Jackson found himself without Aaron was when he joined Paddy and Pearl on the dance floor and before long Aaron had even joined them, he was spinning Pearl around the floor and laughing at her jokes.

Paddy couldn't keep his eyes off of Aaron as he danced with Pearl. There was something different about the mechanic. He looked happy, content and he looked as if his life was good, as if he was good and Paddy knew that was something Aaron hadn't been for a while. Whatever had inspired the mechanic's happiness was a good thing and Paddy was all for it.

….

They didn't make the comedy club in the end. Instead they decided to stay at the hotel and continue to have a good time there. Aaron couldn't deny that he was enjoying himself. The last few times he had been invited to these things he hadn't really wanted to come and he found himself faking it. Last year had been fake smiles and small talk but this year he was enjoying it and he was happy to engage in conversation with anyone that wanted to talk. He knew why it was though; it was because of the builder. He really liked him but he knew that the builder would be confused as he had never actually spoken to him about his sexuality and he didn't think anyone in the village had either because Jackson had never mentioned it. He had brought friends along previous years but it didn't feel anything like it did tonight. He had a permanent smile on his face and it was because of Jackson, the builder had a knack of getting along with everyone so it seemed and everyone at the ball loved him. It brought a smile to Aaron's face.

When the party was over Aaron and Jackson found themselves sat at the end of the bar talking. Aaron was talking about himself. He had decided that it was time to lay it out on the line, lay his sexuality out on the line and see what happened from then on out. In the end both of them were too drunk to drive home and instead they booked a room, a room with twin beds thankfully. Aaron didn't know how he would cope if he had to share a bed with the builder. Could he keep his hands to himself? With the amount of alcohol he had drunk probably not.

….

Jackson learned a lot about the mechanic that night. It turned out that Aaron was previously married too to someone called Joe, which it turn made him in fact gay, a fact that Jackson was more than happy about. Aaron had also previously lived in America with his husband but it wasn't to be and it wasn't until they had moved to America that it became clear to Aaron that their marriage wasn't as solid as he once thought. Aaron had also found out that Joe was a serial cheat; it turned out the man couldn't keep it in his pants. He knew right there and then that they weren't meant to be. After putting up with it for so long Aaron finally had to stop making excuses and see Joe for what he was and it was then that Aaron left America to return home to Yorkshire and he'd never looked back since that day.

One thing Aaron was grateful for though was the fact that he hadn't had children with Joe, not that he didn't want them because he did and he had been ready for all that but it wouldn't have worked, not with Joe.

Aaron would sometimes forgot about the whole other life he had had with Joe but he couldn't regret it because regretting his life with Joe would mean regretting who he was because Aaron knew Joe was the reason he was the person he was today and for that he had to thank the man.

….

They woke the following morning with heavy heads, both extremely hungover from the copious amounts of alcohol they had consumed the night before. After having a quick breakfast in the restaurant of the hotel they left for the village. As Jackson sat in the passenger's seat of Aaron's car he couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen now. Aaron was gay. Did Aaron want anything to happen? Little did Jackson know that Aaron was having the exact same thoughts, he'd glance at Jackson out of the corner of his eye and wonder what the builder was thinking about. Would the builder want to date him? Was he the builder's type? He had so many questions buzzing around in his head but he was scared to ask them. He didn't want to be rejected and lose the builder as a friend.

Were they both on the same page or where they barking up different trees? Neither man knew but one thing was for certain, they both wanted to know.


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