"Beginning Of The End"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on from Adjustment.

# Disclaimer – I do not own Emmerdale or any of the characters used. They belong to ITV.

"JACKSON WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" Aaron yelled as he and Hazel were sat watching TV, his head moved quickly as he spoke.

Seconds later, loud footsteps were heard coming down the stairs. Aaron's expression was cocky as he looked at Hazel. "Just like that" he smirked.

Hazel laughed and shook her head.

"What you shouting for?" Jackson asked with a frown as he stood by Aaron's chair and had his hand gently placed on the back of Aaron's neck.

"Because you've kept your boy waiting long enough mister, I'm surprised he lasted as long as he did to be honest"

"Exactly. Quite proud of that little achievement actually" Aaron proclaimed.

"You're a bit happier then" Jackson commented with a smile.

"Yeah well you know, not every day is so bad. Are we going out or what?" Aaron asked impatiently.

"Yeah we're going now"

"Well not just yet" Aaron answered quickly.

"Because I'm not going anywhere looking like this" he told him as he looked down at himself.

Jackson smirked and fought to keep his laugh in. "Never bothered you before..."

Aaron turned his head quickly and almost glared. "There's nothing wrong with what I wear and if you didn't like it, why approach me all those months ago" Aaron sounded serious for a second which then turned Hazel and Jackson's expressions serious too but then Aaron smirked. "Joking, we going or what?"

Jackson helped Aaron into Smithy cottage and then Aaron moved himself further into the living room. "So...you want me to carry you to your bedroom or shall I go and pick some clothes and bring them down and get you changed?" he asked.

Aaron lowered his head and what Jackson said about carrying him got him down. "No. Just pick something, anything as long as it's not trackies or something"

Jackson nodded but didn't reply just simply left the room and ran upstairs to Aaron's room and hunted around for some clothes.

"Well if that wasn't awkward I dunno what is..." Aaron sighed as he was now back in the chair. "Oh come on Aaron, I've seen it all before"

"Yeah but sex is completely different"

"Oh so it was just sex was it?" Jackson asked with a sparkle in his eye.

Aaron sighed. "You know what I mean"

Jackson smiled. "Yeah, come on then..." Jackson stood up but then kneeled back down in front of him. "It'll be good I promise you alright, and I love you Aaron"

Aaron nodded. "I love you too"

Jackson stood up again and opened the front door, as Aaron moved himself outside. Jackson watched him, his mood had gone down but that was to be expected.

An hour or so later, they had arrived at the Chinese restaurant in town where Jackson had booked them a romantic meal for two, they were at their table with drinks and had already ordered their food. Jackson looked at Aaron lovingly. "What's on your mind gorgeous?"

Aaron shook his head and looked at him. "Those people staring at me"

"No, they're not..." he lied trying to comfort him.

"Yes they are Jackson I'm not stupid"

Jackson sighed and looked over to the nosy customers at another table. "Is there a problem?" he asked loudly, getting no reply, just as he expected.

"Well there will be if you carry on gawping, he's still a human being, how would you like it if we sat glaring at you lot..." there was awkward lowering of heads from the other table. "Yeah thought so"

"You didn't have to go that far..." Aaron said quietly.

"No one does that to you alright, no one."

Aaron lowered his head again and smiled slightly.

The restaurant was low-lit and the colour scheme had lots of black, red, green, blue, white and silver, obviously not just splashed around. Aaron guessed the colours were a part of the Chinese culture, but what did he know he knew nothing about the rest of the world, well very little. "It's nice this place. Comfortable"

"Yeah" Jackson smiled. "It is" he added as the waiter brought over their meals. Jackson thanked him and he began scooping up some noodles on a fork and held it up to Aaron's mouth. Aaron moved forward and took it in his mouth and ate it. "Mmm..."

"Glad you approve" Jackson chuckled.

The evening had went well, despite the conversation being less than probably either of them expected, although Aaron suspected that was down to him. "What do you wanna do now?" Jackson asked.

Aaron looked Jackson in the eyes. "Just take me back"

"The village?" Jackson asked.

"No..." he shook his head. "The hospital...please?"

"Alright, no problem" Jackson hid his disappointment, he wanted to spend more time with him, he had loved the day with Aaron. But he could understand Aaron even though he hadn't expressed many feelings, if he wanted to go back that was okay.

The entrance to the hospital was quiet; it was after hours after all. Aaron stopped just before the automatic double doors and Jackson walked round to him. "You ready?" he asked sadly.

"No..." Aaron shook his head. "I hate this place, I absolutely HATE IT" he became frustrated and moved his head sharply.

"It's alright, you'll be out soon, don't get worked up" Jackson comforted him and leaned down and placed his hand on his.

Aaron frowned. "What's the point? I can't feel it" he sighed loudly, he felt useless.

"No..." Jackson told him before kneeling in front of him. "But I can feel you"

Aaron looked away as his tears fell.

"What's really wrong Aaron?" Jackson asked.

He sobbed uncontrollably, his chest jerked up and down as his breathing was rapid as he attempted to calm himself. "I loved today so so much..." he looked at his boyfriend. "With you, you're always the best bit of any day...but...but you can't take me out every single day to make me happy"

"It obviously hasn't worked though" Jackson then moved his hand to cup Aaron's cheek which Aaron leaned into and embraced.

"It did...it has" he nodded. "But underneath it all is this useless body, this chair and this place that gets me down and it's never going to go away" he cried. "I know it'll take time, yeah I know that but I don't think I'm strong enough for this - for this life, it's pointless, I – " he stopped as his emotions interfered again. "I wish..." he breathed. "That I died in that crash, it would have saved all of this, spared you this pain, at least grief gets easier, this won't."

Jackson wiped away his tears and then wiped his own away. "If you had died Aaron we wouldn't have this second chance we have now and I wouldn't be able to look into those amazing eyes of yours and tell you how much I love you, be-" he stopped as the lump in his throat worsened. He breathed. "Because I do, so so much, you mean the world to me, it's just me and you gorgeous and we will get through this together, I promise you that. I'll never leave you even if you try pushing me"

Aaron was sobbing again and all he could do was nod. "Thankyou" he managed to whisper and he closed his eyes and tears fell into his lap.

Jackson got up and kissed him with passion on his cheek. "You're Aaron Livesy, you can do anything and I'm here" he whispered in his ear.

To Be Continued...