I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS, LIKEABLE OR NOT. THEY ARE ALL PROPERTY OF THE ITV STUDIO

This chapter is all set in the present. Or in this universe, the near future.

OXXXO

Aaron Dingle had kept himself busy for the last week and a bit; he'd do anything to keep his mind off things. Today, the tractor at the Barton Farm needed its engine looked over and he was happy to oblige.

Finishing the job, Adam sat in the cab and turned over the tractor's engine and it rumbled into life almost instantly. Aaron stood back and smiled at his handy work, he still had it.

Adam jumped down from the cab and came forward, "Cheers Aaron, Cain was meant to be looking at it but he had other things on his mind..."

"Your Mum"

Adam nodded.

Aaron wiped his oily hands with a rag and pulled off the overalls he had borrowed from the farmer that he had worn over his trakkie bottoms and T-shirt.

"That Vanessa knows that I was inside", he murmured.

"Who? Oh that one who works with Paddy and Rhona...how did she find out? Is she gonna tell Paddy?"

Aaron sighed and looked at him, "No...I sorta warned her off...went abit to far if you must know..."

Adam walked along side him towards the motorbike parked up near the house, "Maybe it's time to come clean, like..."

Aaron glared at him.

"...Aaron you have to...do you really think Vanessa's going to keep it to herself?"

Aaron snatched up his crash helmet and shrugged at him, "we just have to wait and see, I'll cross that bridge if I have to"

Aaron jumped on the bike and kick started it.

"I'll meet you in the pub laters for a pint, yeah?" asked Adam.

Aaron nodded and was off.

Moira came along side him from the house, "So? Did he get it going?"

"Yeah he did"

"Good...how much longer is he staying for? Chas and James are back tomorrow"

Adam bit his lip thinking something up, "Yeah...that's what he's waiting around for...once he's seen his Mum, he'll be off"

Moira looked at him like she didn't believe him, but nodded and walked off with a; "well if the tractors working again, we can get back to work..."

Aaron parked his bike up outside Smithy cottage and bumped into Vanessa who was coming out of the vets.

Both of them looked at each other fleetingly, then the vet went to walk away. Aaron called out, "Hey wait"

Vanessa turned around.

Aaron came over to her scratching his head, "about the other day...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have threatened you"

"No you shouldn't of...what I can't understand is you walking around with this big secret and there's Paddy and Rhona in there being good to you"

"Paddy knows I've done something bad...I'm just not ready to talk about it yet, that's all"

"He knows you've been in jail?"

Aaron wished she wouldn't say that out so loud, especially with the likes of Betty come trundling along in her electric wheelchair.

"No, he doesn't and you best KEEP IT that way...understand"

Aaron could have kicked himself, he was going into threatening mode again.

"soz...just keep it quiet, yeah"

Vanessa nodded and was about to go, when she turned around, "Whatever you did...you've paid for it, so what's the problem?"

And then she was off up the street.

Aaron sat up at the bar of the Woolpack. It was lunchtime and it was busy. Bernice put a pint down in front of him, "this tab of yours is getting bigger...", she sung.

Aaron pulled a face at her, "So? Mums back tomorrow, ask HER for the money"

"Charming...you REALLY ARE a charming young man, aren't you?"

Aaron glared up from his pint, "are you trying to be funny?"

"No...but you've got this air of mystery about you...I love mysteries me..."

Aaron was silent.

"I suppose with your Mum being back tomorrow you are going to be getting back on that bike again and go speeding off into the sunset again"

"something like that"

"I can see you're a traveller, one who is always on the move...a nomad", she smiled toying with her neckchain.

Aaron looked up at and pulled a face, "You what?"

Bernice nodded her head to him, "the St Christopher around your neck...the patriant saint of travelling"

Aaron downed his pint in one hit and was off.

Bernice picked up the beer glass and sighed out after him watching him leave by the swinging doors nearly knocking someone flying, "as I said...a man of mystery..."

"No, he's just one big fat angry baboon who's always got a chip on his shoulder, a white wine when you ready..."

"okay Nicola..."

Outside, Aaron walked across the road and saw Schapps tied up at the garage. He smiled and went over to him and stooped to give the dog a good old pet.

"You're a good dog aren't you...do you remember me"

The dog nuzzled him a few times as he rubbed its belly. As he did this, someone was watching him from the bushes.

Aaron looked about him. He felt like he was being watched. He shook the feeling off and went up the street towards Smithy.

Inside Paddy was faffing about with the TV remote, Aaron came up to him, "Pads, can you borrow us a tenner? Adams coming for a drink later and I'm brasic"

Paddy dug into his pocket and gave him the money, "Your Mums back tomorrow, have you thought about what you are gonna say to her?"

Aaron shrugged, "I don't know...I don't know what I'm gonna say...maybe I'll just say hi and then take off again"

Paddy followed him into the kitchen, "that's sounds like to me that you are not even going to give ME to chance to ask what's gone on"

"Don't Paddy..tomorrows not even here yet..."

Someone was watching them from the window.

"...and besides, I haven't even decided that I want to stay in the village yet"

Paddy caught a glimpse of somebody peering in, "Hey, who's that?"

He and Paddy went to the door and saw a bus at the bus stop. Somebody was jumping on it in a hoodie and bag over the shoulder, and was moving to his seat as it was pulling a way.

"Who was that?"

Vanessa was coming up to them, " Blimey that scared him off I only said Oi what are you doing peering in the window...never seen someone run so fast"

Paddy scratched his head, "Did you see who it was?"

Vanessa looked at them both in turn, "well...I wouldn't get too jumpy, it looked like to me he was wearing a school uniform beneath that hoodie, some stroppy teenager on the rob?"

Aaron had his hands loosely on his hips, face glum, " I think I know who is was...",and he went back inside leaving Paddy and Vanessa none the wiser.

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