This chapter all takes place on Christmas day, a happy one I hope. I'm away for a long weekend now, so I thought I'd write a quick chapter before I went.
Aaron walked through the village with the flowers that Hazel had got for him in his hand. It was early so no one was around, which suited Aaron fine.
A&J
Jackson stretched as he woke, he suddenly remembered it was Christmas morning and he moved his hand to touch Aaron, but he wasn't there. He was disappointed because he had been looking forward to waking up Christmas morning for the first time with Aaron, in bed. This was their first proper Christmas together, even though they had been together last time, they weren't living together.
Maybe Aaron had just gone to the loo and he would be back any minute, so he got up and put some clothes on and went out onto the landing, only to see that the bathroom door was open so he couldn't be in their. He went downstairs and found his mum in the kitchen clearing the worktop so she could start preparing breakfast.
"Merry Christmas my darling," she said as she pulled Jackson in for a kiss and a hug.
"Merry Christmas mum," he said returning the hug. "Where's Aaron?" he asked as they parted.
"He's gone to the cemetery," said Paddy as he walked into the kitchen. "Happy Christmas," he said as he gave Jackson a quick hug.
"Same to you Paddy," he said hugging the man who was like a father to him, "you said Aaron had gone to the cemetery!"
Paddy nodded. "It's always the first thing he does on Christmas morning, he takes some flowers to put on his mum's grave."
Jackson looked a bit surprised. "He's never mentioned it," said Jackson looking out of the window in the direction of where Aaron would be, "when did he go?"
"I heard the door go just before I came down, so it's probably about ten minutes ago," said Hazel.
Jackson took his coat off the peg and put it on. "I'll go and meet him."
"Okay love, we'll open the presents when you get back, then we'll have some breakfast." Jackson smiled and opened the door.
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"Happy Christmas mum," said Aaron as he laid the flowers against the headstone. "I'm sorry it's been awhile since I've been, but…a lot of things have happened lately. Jackson's brother showed up and robbed…," he paused, "you don't want to hear all the bad stuff," he crouched down, "you remember me telling you about Jackson, well I love him mum and I've asked him to marry me….and he was stupid enough to say yes," he starts to laugh, "can you believe it, me marrying, who'd have thought it." He ran his finger along the letter's of his mum's name, "I wish you were here to meet him, I think you would have liked him," he started to pull a few weeds that had started to grow around the grave. "Dad's good, he's seeing Kathy, who's a vet as well. He's happy mum, I really hope this one work's out for him and Hazel is great, I love her to bits, she's taking care of all of us."
He stood up. "I've got to go now, but I'll come back soon," Aaron touched the headstone then turned round to see Jackson walking towards him.
"Hey," said Aaron as they came together, they kissed and hugged.
"I missed you this morning," said Jackson.
"Sorry, I had something to do." Jackson looked over Aaron's shoulder to Chas' grave.
Jackson smiled. "Your dad told me, you could have woken me up, I wouldn't have minded," he kissed him again, "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas Jackson," he took Jackson's hand and started to walk out of the cemetery.
"Are you alright?" asked Jackson.
"I'm good, thanks….I..I told mum about us getting married."
"I wish I could have met her."
"Me too," said Aaron squeezing his hand.
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Paddy and Hazel were waiting for them in the living room when they got back. "Merry Christmas son," said Paddy as he hugged Aaron.
Hazel was next in the queue, she pulled Aaron into a bone crushing hug, "Merry Christmas kiddo," she pulled back and looked at Aaron, asking him the question.
Aaron smiled. "I'm fine Hazel."
"Good, now let's get these present's open." They all sat down and started handing presents to each other. They boy's got the usual socks, underpants and smellies and they also got some new x-box games. Paddy and Hazel were delighted with the presents they got off their son's and they couldn't wait to show the boys the big surprise they had for them, but the boy's had to give each other their present's first. Jackson was first, he gave the wrapped box to Aaron and watched him as he opened it, he was delighted when Aaron's face lit up when he saw the watch. He looked at Jackson, "this is the one I saw in the shop window…but it was too expensive. Jackson you shouldn't have."
"I worked some extra hours, besides it was worth it to see your face just now," he looked at Aaron who was still looking at him, "well, put it on then." Aaron smiled and took the watch out of the box and put it on. "It's great Jackson, thanks," he said as he leaned in and kissed him.
"Your welcome babe."
"Time for yours," said Aaron handing Jackson a small box wrapped very neatly. Jackson looked at it. "Okay, your mum wrapped it for me," they all laughed, "just open the bloody thing. They all watched as Jackson ripped the paper off and opened the box, it was a new chain and cross. Jackson picked it out of the box and looked at it.
"I know you never mentioned it but I could tell that it upset you when you lost your chain in the crash and I thought you might like a new one." Jackson had tears rolling down his eyes, he looked up at Aaron and wrapped his arms around him. "I love it, and I love you so much."
Put it on then," said Hazel, "your neck always looked bare without one." Jackson took the chain out of the box and fastened it round his neck. "How's it look?"
"Perfect," said Aaron. Jackson smiled.
"Now," said Hazel," we couldn't decide what to get you boy's, so we clubbed together and got you a gift from the both of us."
"You've both got us so much already," said Jackson.
Paddy got up. "Come on, it's in the surgery." Aaron and Jackson looked at each other as they got up and followed Paddy and Hazel, just before they entered Hazel turned round and told them to close their eyes, they started to protest, "close them," she said again in the tone of voice that they knew so well, they quickly closed their eyes. "Keep them shut," said Paddy as the adults guided them into the room. "Okay, you can open them," said Hazel.
Opening their eye's they saw before them a flat screen tv. Open mouthed they looked at their parents.
"It's a 46" widescreen television and we got you a blu-ray player as well," said Paddy as he pointed to the machine next to the telly.
"Dad, it's amazing, thank you so much," Aaron said as he hugged him at the same time that Jackson was thanking his mum and hugging her.
"We thought you'd need a television for when you get your own place," said Hazel, Jackson and Aaron looked at each other. "Oh come on," Hazel said, "your not going to want to live with us old foggies for the rest of your lives. As soon as you are married you'll be wanting your own place."
"Well, we had thought about it, but we've not made any definite plans yet," said Jackson.
"That's okay, no hurry," said Paddy, "we can set the telly and dvd up in your bedroom till your ready.
A&J
They potted around for the rest of the morning, Jackson, Paddy and Aaron played a couple of the new x-box games, while Hazel busied herself in the kitchen. When everything was prepared and the turkey was in the oven they decided to make their rounds of Aaron's family. They stopped off at Bob's on the way to give presents to Bob and the kid's, then they went to see the Barton's and had a drink with them which was always good fun. The last stop was at Zak and Lisa's where most of the Dingle clan would be, the house was packed and Hazel wondered how they would get them all round the table. They made fuss of Aaron which he didn't really like, but they were his mum's family and he knew she would want him to be here.
A&J
Christmas dinner was very good, Hazel had excelled herself and was told several times by the three men round the table that she had done a good job. They pulled crackers and wore the paper hats and told the stupid jokes that were inside them and they had a good time.
They all helped with the dishes and then they sat in the room and watched the Sound of Music which was on the television. It was Hazel's favourite, so they all sat through it munching on chocolates and have the odd wee drink. Aaron was laid resting against Jackson's chest and he had to admit that he was enjoying the movie, though he probably wouldn't say it.
It was six o'clock by the time the movie finished and Hazel had fallen asleep while the three of them had sat through the whole film. Paddy nudge Hazel and she woke up with a start, "enjoy the movie then?" he asked with a smirk. They boy's laughed.
"Come on, let's go to the Woolly for a drink," said Jackson as he pushed Aaron off him which brought a groan from the younger man, who had been comfortable laid on him.
"Alright," said Hazel getting up, "I'll go and put some lippy on, won't be a sec."
A&J
The Woolpack was packed with friends and family, Aaron and Jackson went and sat with Adam, Holly and Ryan while Paddy and Hazel sat with Bob and their friends. They had a karaoke on and Hazel and Jackson got up and did a duet which had the whole pub in an uproar. Jackson tried to persuade Aaron to get up and sing with him but he was having none of it, no way was he going to make an idiot of himself in front of everyone, not even for the man he loved. Diane had put a buffet on but not many people where eating, probably because of the large dinner's they had eaten earlier, but the alcohol was going down just fine.
A&J
"It's been a good day," said Jackson as he wrapped his arms round Aaron as they lay in bed.
"It's the best Christmas I've ever had," said Aaron.
"Just think," said Jackson, "it's our last Christmas as single men, next year we will be married and possibly in our own home."
Aaron smiled. "I can't wait to be Mr Aaron Walsh."
Jackson looked at him surprised. "Your going to take my name!" They'd never discussed who would take whose name.
Aaron kissed him and ran his hand down his body. "Course I'm taking your name, I don't want to be Aaron Livesy anymore, Livesy was Gordon's name and I should have changed it to Kirk along time ago, I just never got round to it."
"I like the sound of Mr Aaron Walsh, it's got a ring to it," said Jackson kissing Aaron on the lips and then starting to work his way down his body, "now how about I give you another present."
"Oh god yes," said Aaron with a smile on his face hoping that all the Christmas's from now on were like this one.
To be continued
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