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

Christmas was a day of going through the motions because deep down, Jackson hated Christmas.

Eileen had come round. She had brought Josh with her. Jackson was glad because it ment dad could spent sometime with him.

"Thanks for bringing Josh round, dad's really missing him...it's been like old times for him"

"Yeah...I suppose...it doesn't change though...look at me stuck in the kitchen feeding the five thousand"

Sarah and Michael had sent Jack down. This pleased Jack no end, because his mother had promised him two Christmas's. One with his dad and one with her in the New Year.

"...It's good that Sarah's let Jack come down...Josh really misses him", said Eileen.

"Yeah it is...he's well chuffed at having two christmas' in all..."

"I bet he is..its's the two sets of pressies he'll be getting that's swung it, I'd expect!"

Jack and Josh squabbled over the new games whilst setting up the XBOX.

"Oi you two...stop that, dad will be back from the pub in a minute"

Eileen was puffing and blowing in the kitchen. It was all steamed up and she had the windows open to let out the steam.

Eileen asked him about Scarborough over a glass of sherry, Jackson had a can.

"So how's it been then? You must like it...better than Whitby?"

"Much better...it was daft coming back here...I was just going round and round in circles...best thing I could have done is move to Scarborough...I've made some great friends, my best mate Joe's there and I've got the beach just around the corner, what is there not to like"

Jackson wondered if Eileen liked to live apart from his dad. If she did, she failed to show it.

"Lets talk about you"

"Why"

"You say you like to be apart from dad...that you come around here just to keep Josh happy"

"I do...well...I must admit, I do miss it...I miss your dad...funny how that seems"

After Christmas lunch, Eileen was left to do the washing up. In the lounge Jackson thrashed Josh on the XBOX, and Jack thrashed Jackson.

"See I told you I could beat you at that!"

"Smartarse"

Jackson was bored with that and went outside to get some fresh air, even though it was chilly and there was a frost on the grass.

He hated Christmas.

Jack was popping his head around the french doors and said that dad was getting out the home movies.

"Come on Jackson...dad's brought down us the box!"

Jackson wasn't having that, he didn't fancy seeing ghosts of the past, like Mum.

Jerry was knelt on the floor diving into a cardboard box full of video tapes.

Jack was waving one under his nose. It was THE CUBE.

He snatched it off him.

"We are NOT watching that!"

"Why not dad? Is it because YOU never won owt? WE ALL KNOW THAT!"

"No! It's got Mum in it and I just said, I don't be wanting to see any ghosts"

"...and it's got AARON in it", said Jack.

"Yeah it has...the OLD Aaron...the one that would never of..."

Jackson was fed up with this, he looked at his watch.

"Look...I promised my mate Dan I'd pop in to his party, it's only around the corner"

Jerry understood, and placed a hand over Jackson's shoulder.

"You go son...let your hair down, you've spent all day around us...you go and have a catch up with your mates"

Jackson went around Dan's. It was only a few blocks from his dads place and the party was in full swing.

"Good to see you Jackson...you never texted so we thought you weren't gonna show up"

The beer was free-flowing. Dan and Spencer told Jackson about their plans.

"Spencer is gonna make an honest man out of me, and me him"

"Good to hear it!"

"Spencer wants to do it in church, but I'm not into all of that shit"

"You should do what both makes you happy...when's the big day? I'll make sure I'll won't miss it"

"Summer, we'll let you know...bring a plus one"

Jackson was really pleased for them. Dan took him to one side.

"Hey...I saw your Aaron about last weekend...he's with a guy...I THINK they were together, Spencer said he saw him kiss him a few times...this bloke he was with"

At last, Aaron was getting on with his life. About time too, stop him from calling HIM all the flaming time. He sat on the stairs and downed his fifth can.

Rich was there. He came over to him and tried to apologise, but Jackson stood up to him.

"Oh come on Jackson! I was only having a laugh...I didn't mean what I said"

"Yes you did! But it doesn't matter...I've come to realise you are just as sad and shallow like the rest of your so-called mates"

"Just because your EX is with someone else...I heard that Dan told you...I SAW them too...they were ALL over each other!"

Jackson was feeling upset and went out to the outside toilet in the yard, he tossed the empty can into the bog pan. The music was blaring out of the house.

Jackson looked at his phone. He saw Aaron's number. And looked up to see two blokes kissing near the shed. He pressed call and it was diverted to voicemail.

"...I hate you...I hate you for making me feel like this...I used to love Christmas and I hate not having you with me...I wish I could magic you out of my head, but I can't...I HATE YOU..."

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