Thanks to Dangling Hearts for the beta-ing.

In the Night

Two hours later and Aaron and Jackson were resting on Aaron's bed, just chatting whilst watching Wanted on DVD.

After the events of the evening, Jackson decided that it would be best if he just stayed for the night, to help Aaron through the explosion of his outing to his mother.

Aaron wouldn't have called it cuddling, but that's what they were doing – cuddling. Aaron was leaning against Jackson's chest, his hand holding onto Jackson's as if it was his life force.

He'd been quiet all through dinner, only grunting his answers when asked a direct question and not speaking otherwise.

After dinner, Aaron had taken the task of washing upon himself and Jackson dried, nodding at Paddy's silent "Good luck" as he headed to the living room to watch some telly.

Following the chores, Aaron led Jackson to his room and put on the DVD before inviting Jackson to recline on his bed. And they hadn't moved since.

"It's alright, you know? Your mum was fine with... with us," Jackson started tentatively, "Her only issue was your punching me in the pub. She loves you, Aaron. She doesn't want you throwing your life away in prison. She doesn't care if you fancy Eve or Steve as long as you're happy." Jackson held Aaron still, just in case he made a break for it.

"I never know if she cares, Jackson," Aaron whispered, wishing that for once his eyes wouldn't water. "She's never been there for me, always dumping me off at some relative or another. When she just left me at me dad's, I wasn't his first thought day in day out. He was busy with work, with his new wife, with his new kid and I just... I fell in with a bad group. They accepted me, talked to me, let me do things I wanted to do. And then I got in trouble with the police and me mam took me in, and then she just ruined the good thing she had with Paddy and got back with her ex, who's a toerag, and wouldn't accept it when I told her I wanted to stay here... Over this past year, Paddy's been… he is the closest I've had to a parent in years. I like our arrangement. And me mam can't accept that I don't want anything to do with her." Aaron quickly explained, suddenly out of breath.

"So, you think that she doesn't love you?" Jackson bluntly asked, kissing Aaron gently on the top of his head.

"I didn't say that... I just, I don't think it's any of her business. I'm... I will talk to her, but she's... she's always thinking the worst of me."

"Aaron, I only met her this evening but I don't think that's true."

Aaron turned on the bed, resting his head in his hands, with Jackson following suit.

"Like you said, you only met her today. You don't know her."

"By the sound of it, neither do you." Jackson returned, reaching out and stroking Aaron's cheek.

Aaron flinched, much to Jacksons' expectations. After all that had happened today – the punch, the kiss, his mum interrupting them, their argument – Jackson expected a step backwards. But the flinch was momentarily and Aaron was soon leaning into Jackson's hand and even resting his free hand upon it.

A sudden explosion on screen drew their attention from each other and back to the TV screen.

"So, do you have this because of Angelina Jolie or James McAvoy? Because I've been told I hold a certain resemblance to him..." Jackson stated, trying to keep a straight face.

"Yeah – pig ugly the pair of you!" Aaron joked, breaking into a smile.

"You weren't saying that when I was kissing you." Jackson stated, his voice deeper, as if he was suddenly wanting more of it; more of the kissing.

"Well, it was nice. We might need to try again, though, just so I can be sure." Aaron shyly smiled, reaching forward and pulling Jackson towards him.

Their lips met softly, the kiss chaste in the beginning. Suddenly the spark grew and their mouths were opening and it was teeth and tongues and stubble burn and moaning and clashing. And then Jackson was pulling Aaron's t-shirt over his head. Aaron was lost in the moment, but still knew what was happening.

He wanted it to happen. He had to take this step. To know. To feel.

Jackson looked into Aaron's face, reading his expression – Aaron was panting, wanting. He slightly nodded, showing his okay with whatever was about to happen.

Jackson kissed him, full of passion, and then kissed Aaron's neck, tasting the skin, feeling Aaron react to the feeling, listening to his groan.

"Is this... okay? I don't want to rush you into anything you don't want to do." Jackson said, giving Aaron an out if it was too much.

Aaron didn't speak. He just leaned forward, kissed Jackson, and helped him to remove his own t-shirt. Aaron stroked Jackson, feeling the soft, downy hair on his chest and the toned muscles beneath his skin. It was different from the girls he'd been with, in obvious and subtle ways.

He kissed Jackson again and then kissed further down the skin. He reached Jackson's nipples. It was odd. It was different. When he was with Holly, he faked interest in her breasts, but now... Jackson was turning him on. It was what he wanted.

He kissed the centre of Jackson's chest. He moved back to Jackson's mouth.

"I'm sorry... I can't... I just... I do want you, but it's too soon." Aaron whispered, kissing Jackson again.

Jackson smiled, kissing Aaron back, "Don't worry. That was further than I expected this soon, really."

"Can we just... can we sleep? It's been a long day," Aaron yawned as if to emphasise his tiredness. Jackson made a move to stand up, grabbing his t-shirt from the bottom of Aaron's bed. Not wanting him to leave, Aaron placed a hand on Jackson's shoulder. "Can you stay with me tonight?"

"If that's what you want?"

"Yeah."

"Ok then."

"I'm just gonna go to the bathroom, brush me teeth. Grab some clothes to sleep in if you want." Aaron said, jumping to his feet and opening the drawer for Jackson before heading to the bathroom.

He did his business, flushed the loo, washed his hands, brushed his teeth, washed and dried his face before returning to his room in under five minutes.

Jackson was in his boxers, a t-shirt that was a size too small for him grasping his chest.

"That was quick. I'll be back, nature calls!"

Aaron couldn't move. His eyes were fixed on Jackson. He looked fit. Aaron shook himself from his stupor and removed his trousers and socks before grabbing a t-shirt to sleep in.

Jackson returned soon, his breath minty fresh. Aaron knocked the DVD player and the telly off and sat on the end of his bed.

"I'm not sure what to do now," he explained as Jackson sat beside him.

"Generally, we get under the covers and go to sleep."

The corner of Aaron's mouth lifted in a smile as he joined Jackson in pulling the covers back and climbing under.

They ended up in the position that Jackson believed Aaron wouldn't call cuddling – but the bed wasn't really big enough for the pair of them – it was a thing to be comfortable.

Aaron sighed as his head rested Jackson's chest. He closed his eyes.

"Night," he mumbled. A kiss landed to the top of his head followed by Jackson's "Goodnight, Aaron."

And soon they fell asleep.

The best sleep Aaron ever slept.