Emmerdale and it's charactors belong to ITV, not me!

He'd been staying at the bed & breakfast in Scarborough for over a week now, the reason he'd picked Scarborough was because it was where he and Jackson had gone for a few days on their own after they had been married. They had been so happy to be together on their own, without having Hazel or Paddy fussing after them, they were married men and they loved each other.

Aaron looked around the room, the same one that he and Jackson had been in for those few days, he looked at the photo of the both of them on their wedding day which he had placed on his bedside table. "I've spent this last week thinking about everything and I came here because this place was the last place that we were truly happy. You know that I will always love you…but I feel now that I have to move on. I promised you that I would and I never broke a promise to you. I know I would have spent the rest of my life with you….I love you Jay." He smiled at the photo, then stood up and started to pack his stuff into his holdall.

A&H

This was the third night in a row she had visited the bar hoping to see him. The other two nights, Sam had been with her, but tonight he had a late lecture so Hazel was on her own. She looked around as she walked up to the bar and was disappointed not to see him. Still, while she was here she might as well have a drink.

"Large gin & tonic please," she asked the bar man. After she had been served she found an empty seat and sat down, pulling out her mobile she tried Aaron's number again and put it back in her pocket when his phone was still switched off. She wiped a tear that was threatening to fall when she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Hazel?"

"Luke."

"Are you alright?" he asked as he sat down opposite her.

She smiled. "I've been hoping to bump into you, can you tell me if you've heard from Aaron since he went home?"

Luke was surprised by the question. "No, Aaron made himself clear that he wasn't ready for anything…why?"

"He's been missing for nearly a week, I'm so worried about him."

Luke was shocked, Aaron hadn't seemed the type to go away and make the people closest to him worry for his wellbeing. "If he does get in touch with me I'll let you know straight away, let me have your number," Hazel pulled out her mobile and Matt told her his number and she loaded it into her phone. "Thanks Luke, I'd better get going."

"You sure, I'm on my own tonight, I could do with the company."

Hazel thought about for a few seconds, then nodded. "Okay, that would be nice, I'd only be sat on my own at home worrying."

"Aaron will be alright."

"I hope so, god I hope so."

A&H

"Still nothing," said Paddy, "I contacted the police, but he's a grown man and he's not been gone long enough."

"That's ridiculous, do they know what he's been through," said Hazel sat her kitchen table with a cup of tea in her hand, "I'm coming up Paddy, I can't stay down here any longer when he's missing."

"When?"

"After I teach my class tomorrow," just then there was a knock at the door, "Paddy, I've got to go, someone's at the door." She heard the knock again.

"Okay Hazel, I'll be in touch."

"Bye Paddy," Hazel put the phone down and walked through the kitchen and living room to the front door. There was another knock. "Okay, okay, I'm coming," she opened the door and she stopped, shocked but happy at the sight before her, "Aaron," she said grabbing him and pulling him into a hug, "god, we've been so worried about you, why didn't you let us know where you were?"

"I'm sorry Hazel," said Aaron trying to breath because Hazel was crushing him, "I just needed some time to myself." Hazel, who was crying, released him and looked at him. "Can I come in?" he asked.

"Course…course you can, sorry love," she said taking his hand and guiding him into the house. Aaron put his bag down on the floor and sat on the sofa next to a still crying Hazel. "You had me and Paddy worried out of our minds, we'd thought we'd lost you too."

"Is he mad?" asked Aaron as Hazel took his hand.

"Worried out of his mind, both of us have been, you should have rang one of us to let us know you were okay," she said pulling him into a hug again, "I've already lost one son, I don't want to lose another."

Aaron returned the hug. "I'm sorry."

"Your alright that's the main thing, now we'd better let Paddy know," she said getting up to get her phone, "do you want to ring him," she asked.

Aaron thought about it then shook his head. "Can you speak to him please, I don't think I could take the disappointment in his voice."

"Aaron, he'll just be so relieved that your safe," Hazel said getting up and going into the kitchen to get the phone. Aaron let his head rest back and he closed his eyes, god he was so tired.

A&H

Hazel didn't have to wait long for Paddy to answer. "Paddy, it's me, Aaron's just turned up."

"Is he alright," asked Paddy with relief.

"He's cold and it looks like he's been dragged through a hedge backwards, but I'll get him sorted here," said Hazel walking back into the room and seeing Aaron with his eyes closed.

"Can I speak to him?" asked Paddy, anxious to speak to his 'son'.

"Aaron love," said Hazel, but there was no response, "Aaron," she said again before she realised that he was asleep, "he's asleep Paddy, poor lad must be exhausted," she said as she ran her hand lightly through his hair.

"Okay," said Paddy disappointed not to able to speak to him, "I'll ring later."

"Wait while morning Paddy, I'm going to let him sleep then get some food inside of him before getting him to bed."

"Okay Hazel, I'll ring tomorrow. I'm just so relieved, so will everyone else when I let them know. Take care of our boy."

"I will Paddy, speak to you tomorrow," Hazel looked down at Aaron, she knew she had someone else to ring before she went into the kitchen to start getting something ready for Aaron to eat. She dialled.

"Luke, it's Hazel."

A&J

Have you checked on him yet?" asked Sam as he watched Hazel peg out Aaron's now clean clothes on the line.

"An hour ago, but he was still dead to the world and I didn't have the heart to wake him," she said then she stopped what she was doing.

"What?" asked Sam, sensing that something was on Hazel's mind.

She turned to him and smiled. "You don't mind if Aaron stays here for a while, if he wants to that is," she said.

"Course I don't love," Sam said walking to Hazel and kissing her, "he can stay as long as he wants."

Hazel pulled him into a hug. "Your one in a million you are," she said just as she saw Aaron walk into the kitchen. "He's up."

Hazel and Sam walked into the kitchen. "Morning love," Hazel said.

Aaron turned round and smiled. "Nearly afternoon," said Aaron, "sorry I slept so long."

"That's okay, you must have needed the sleep," Sam said, "well I've got afternoon classes so I'd better get off," he picked up his mobile off the table and kissed Hazel, "I'll see you both later."

"Bye love."

"See ya," said Aaron, "oh Sam, sorry about just turning up here."

"Don't worry about it, we love having you here," Sam said as he walked out of the door.

Aaron sat down at the table with a glass of orange juice when he heard a noise and looked towards the living room door, he nearly dropped the glass.

"Sam said to come right through."

"Paddy!"

tbc

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