As they were coming into the village Hazel looked at Aaron and smiled. "I've really missed this place," she said.
"The place has missed you, it's been a lot quieter without you."
"Hey," she said as she saw Aaron grinning, "tell me again why I like you?"
"Because I'm charming."
Aaron pulled up outside Smithy Cottage. Hazel was laughing as she got out of the car. "Thanks for picking me up Aaron, I appreciate it."
"I wanted to do it," said Aaron as he opened the boot and took out Hazel's case. "Besides, it gave me a chance to talk to you about Jackson before we got home."
Hazel looked up at Smithy Cottage and then something drew her to the window of the room that Aaron and Jackson shared. She waved when she saw Jackson looking down at her, but he didn't wave back, he just moved away from the window. She lowered her hand and turned to look at Aaron who had been watching the exchange. "He's been like that since it happened, he's withdrawing into himself. Now that your home I'm hoping you can help me with him."
Hazel nodded, "come on then, lets go and see our boy." Aaron pulled Hazels case up the path following her into the house.
Walking into the kitchen Hazel finally felt like she was home, she had loved living here and she was glad she was back.
"I'll take your case to your room and I'll get Jackson," said Aaron as he went straight up the stairs.
"Thanks love," she said as she took off her coat and put it on the back of one of the kitchen chairs and sat down.
A&J
Aaron put Hazel's case in her room and then went to go and tell Jackson to come and see his mum. He opened the door to their room and saw Jackson sat on the end of their bed. "Jackson."
Jackson got up and walked over to Aaron and put his arms around him and kissed him, Aaron was surprised by his welcome but not unhappy. He kissed Jackson back.
"I've missed you," said Jackson, "I didn't think you would be gone so long." Aaron thought he detected fear in Jackson's voice.
"I've only been gone for two hours."
Jackson looked surprised, "two hours, it seems like you've been gone all day."
"It's only three o'clock, come on, your mum is dying to see ya."
Jackson looked apprehensive. "What did she say about me."
Aaron kissed Jackson again. "The only thing your mum wants to do is hug you and make everything alright."
"She can't though can she," he said as he allowed Aaron to pull him out of the room.
A&J
Hazel had put the kettle on and it was boiling by the time the boys came downstairs. She was anxious to see Jackson but she didn't want to play the over protective mother. Aaron entered first with Jackson behind him. She could see that they were holding hands, their fingers interlocked with each others and she could tell that Jackson had a tight grip onto Aaron. She stood up and smiled at her son, who stood slightly behind Aaron as if he was a shy child meeting someone for the first time.
"Jackson."
He smiled weakly at her, he was still expecting her to have a go at him about Matt, even though Aaron had assured him that she wouldn't.
Hazel didn't like that her son was being like this with her, she and Jackson had always had a close relationship which she was proud of, but at the moment her only son was looking at her with frightened eyes. She knew she had to hold him and reassure him that everything was alright between them. She walked towards him and held out her arms. Jackson looked at her then looked at Aaron who was smiling. He let go of Aaron's hand and moved into his mothers waiting arms. They stood in the embrace for a couple of minutes before Hazel spoke.
"Aaron's told me everything that's happened, I'm sorry Jackson, sorry that boy ever came back into your life." They both parted and sat down at the table, Aaron walked over to the worktop and started to make three teas.
Jackson smiled at his mum. "I thought you'd say that it was all my fault for letting Matt in, for trying to get to know him and you telling me years ago to have nothing to do with him."
"That was when you were a teenager and he was leading you astray. You're a grown man Jackson, and I can't tell you who to see and who to not see." She nodded towards Aaron who was fetching over the teas. "If you had listened to me about Aaron when you first met him you wouldn't be with this wonderful lad now, would you?"
Jackson laughed and looked at Aaron, "no he wouldn't," he thought.
"I just thought that you would be mad at me and say I told you so."
Hazel shook her head, "Jackson, you should know me better than that."
Jackson smiled. "I'm sorry. Aaron kept trying to tell me that everything was alright with you, but I'm not thinking straight at the moment."
"You've been through a lot love, I'm here to help you not get on your case."
A&J
The three of them were sat at the kitchen table talking about anything except what had happened. Hazel was telling them all about her holiday and the places she had been and people she had met, Jackson and Aaron cringed at some of the things she was telling them but they were having a laugh which Aaron was grateful for.
Paddy interrupted the laughter when he came walking into the kitchen talking on his mobile. "Yes, thanks for letting me know, bye." He ended the call then looked at Hazel.
"Hazel, it's good to have you back."
"Thank you Paddy, it feels good to be back," she said.
"Sorry it's not under better circumstances," he said as he sat down. Aaron got up, "do you want a drink dad?"
"Love one, thanks son."
"I've just been sorting out the surgery, I'm expecting a delivery in the next couple of days to cover the stock that was taken."
A pang of guilt hit Jackson. "I'm sorry Paddy."
Paddy turned on Jackson. "Stop apologising, I don't want to hear you say sorry again."
Jackson nodded. "Ok," he felt Aaron's hand on his back as he sat back down beside him and hand his dad his drink.
"That was the police on the phone," Paddy said.
"And," said Aaron.
Paddy looked at Jackson. "They've found your van."
"Where?" asked Jackson.
"Abandoned in a service station near Grantham, the police say they will return it to you in a couple of days.
"What about Matt?"
"Nothing yet."
They all fell silent for a few seconds then Hazel spoke. "Well, it's my first night back and I say we all go to the Woolpack tonight for something to eat."
Aaron looked at Jackson, waiting for some sign as to whether he was up for it or not and he was surprised when Jackson said that that would be nice.
A&J
It was seven o'clock and everyone was nearly ready to go out, Hazel had been over to see Bob and he was meeting them in the Woolpack.
"Jackson, Aaron, are you ready," she shouted up the stairs.
The bedroom door opened and Aaron popped his head out. "Five minutes."
"OK love."
Aaron went back in the room to finish getting ready, Jackson had been dressed ages and he was sat on the windowsill looking out of the window. Aaron had told him to go down and sit with his mum and Paddy, but Jackson said he would rather stay with him. Aaron finished putting his trainers on then held out his hand to Jackson, "come on handsome, let's go and have a night out with the old fogey's." Jackson smiled and got up.
A&J
"Ready," said Aaron as they walked into the kitchen.
"About time," said Hazel, "your worse than two women."
Aaron pulled a face. "Very funny."
Hazel and Paddy were first out the door then Aaron with Jackson holding hands came last, Aaron was just stepping out of the door when he was brought to an abrupt stop, Jackson had come to a complete standstill just inside the door. Aaron turned to look at him, he could see that Jackson's eyes were wide with fear and he was starting to sweat and his breathing was erratic.
"Jackson!"
Jackson looked at him. "I can't Aaron, I can't"
Aaron moved closer to him. "Can't what?" by this time Hazel and Paddy had made their way back up the path.
"Aaron, what's wrong?" asked Paddy.
"I don't know," he said, not taking his eye's off Jackson.
Jackson's eyes were pleading, "Aaron please don't make me."
Aaron put his hands on Jackson's arms. "Make you do what?"
"What is it love," asked Hazel who was now stood beside Aaron.
"Go out, I can't, please don't make me," he said sobbing. Aaron pulled him into a hug, "I'm not going to make you do anything you don't want to do," Jackson clung onto him. "Come on, let's get you back inside," he started to guide Jackson to the kitchen.
Hazel and Paddy started to follow but Aaron stopped them. "Look, you two don't have to come in, you go and have something to eat, I'll stay with Jackson."
"Are you sure?" asked Hazel who was a bit reluctant to leave her son.
"I'll take care of him Hazel, don't worry," said Aaron.
"If your sure love, you know where we are if you need us." Aaron nodded and he and Jackson watched as their parents walked down the path.
Aaron shut the door behind them and went into the kitchen, he nodded towards the living room, "go and sit down and I'll get us a drink." Jackson shook his head.
"Ok," said Aaron, he didn't want to push him. He opened the fridge and got out two cans of lager and then went to the cupboard and got out a big bag of crisps, he was hungry and he had already decided to order a pizza later on for both of them. He turned and looked at Jackson, he'd thought he was getting better but obviously not.
"Come on," he said, "let's go and watch the tv, I think the highlights of the rugby are on," he handed his boyfriend a can then walked into the living room followed closely by Jackson.
Sitting down together on the sofa, Jackson had snuggled up next to Aaron and Aaron had put his arm around him, he watched as Jackson drank his lager, he could tell that he had calmed down and was no longer in a state of panic, so he picked up the remote and put the tv on looking for the rugby. An hour had passed and they had hardly said anything, just a few passing comments about the game but that was it, Aaron had been restraining himself telling himself that Jackson would tell him what had happened but he couldn't wait any longer. Jackson who was comfortable laying against Aaron suddenly found himself being pushed away. "We need to talk," said Aaron.
Jackson knew this was coming and he turned to face Aaron.
"What happened tonight?"
Jackson shook his head. "I don't know."
"That's not good enough Jackson, you have to tell me why you wouldn't go out, please."
Jackson shifted uncomfortably and looked down and started playing with a button on his shirt, "I can't explain it, as soon as I got to the door I just couldn't move," he looked up at Aaron with a single tear running down his face, "help me Aaron, I don't want to be like this."
Aaron moved forward and held Jackson, he was determined to help his boyfriend through this no matter what.
A&J
Matt was sat in the bar of the ferry waiting for it to set sail to France. Since he had abandoned Jackson's van and got a lift in the lorry he felt like everything was going his way. The driver, Dave, had been pleasant enough and he didn't ask any questions which was good and most of the time Matt had just sat looking out of the window. They had shown their passports as required at one of the booths and had paid for the crossing before being ushered into a lane to wait for the ferry to be loaded. Once onboard he thanked Dave and made his way to the bar.
Taking a drink of lager he began to wonder what was happening in Emmerdale, he laughed to himself, Jackson had been such and easy target, too trusting and he enjoyed thinking about how awkward it must be for him. Disgusting was the word he thought of when he imagined what Jackson and that boyfriend of his got upto, he deserved all he got and Matt hoped that what he did would cause a lot of trouble for Jackson.
He bought himself another drink and sat back down at the table, he looked at his watch, the ferry was due to leave in fifteen minutes. He had nearly finished his second pint when two men approached his table.
"Matthew Walsh?" one of them asked.
Matt didn't like the look of this. "No you must have the wrong guy," he said trying to be casual and taking another drink.
"I don't think we have sir," one of the guys said showing Matt a photocopy of his passport, "this picture looks very much like you, wouldn't you say so sir."
Matt put his glass down on the table, he had a sinking feeling in his stomach, this wasn't good.
One of the guys moved towards him. "Matthew Walsh, I am arresting you…" but Matt didn't hear the rest, his mind went numb, he had been so close to getting away with what he had done, now he was about to be dragged off the ferry and into a waiting police car.
tbc
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