I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT 'S CHARACTERS...THEY BELONG TO ITV1

MID-NOVEMBER 2015

THURSDAY NIGHT...

The bath was running and Aaron was having a shave. Jackson came in with a towel around him, "so are you coming in with me then?"

Aaron frowned, "We haven't done that for a long time"

Jackson shrugged, "Yeah I know, that's what I'm saying...do you want to come in with me?"

Aaron smirked, "Alright...have you taken your meds?"

Jackson nodded and turned the taps off and removing the towel he jumped in. Aaron capped the shaving foam and put away the razor and closed up the cabinet. Looking into the nearly steamed up mirror, he saw Jackson looking at him, " Locking away the blades are we?"

"No..."

Jackson smiled, "It's okay...I'm not gonna do anything", the builder tried to reasure.

Aaron nodded as he removed his boxer shorts and climbed into the bath, they sat facing eachother.

"How was it last night? Your night out with Joe"

Jackson shrugged, but it was like he was bothered about something; "it were okay...well...he were abit off actually, I feel like I have to tread on eggshells or sommit"

Aaron frowned, "Why's that? It's YOU whos been inside the nuthouse not him"

Jackson knotted his browe at him, "Nicely put" he said with sarcasm.

Aaron leaned back, " you know what I mean...maybe I should have a word"

Jackson frowned at him, "you? Why you? He's meant to be MY best mate, isn't he? It should be me having it out with him"

Aaron breathed out a nervous laugh, there was no need for that surely, " why do you need to have it out with him? He just found it hard that's all, you know, when you were inside...he was abit upset about it"

Jackson pulled a face, " That's not like Joe at all"

Aaron found the soap, he REALLY wanted to change the subject, " Oh yeah...talking of Joe...HE said that the only reason you wanted to go to scumbag Craigs wedding, is because you wanted him to see we're still solid"

Jackson looked at him like Aaron really shouldn't know that, " Oh yeah? Joe been shooting his mouth off has he, what else as he said..."

Aaron scowled at him, " Can we NOT talk about Joe please...can we just talk about you and me...", he then tried his best with a cute face he knew Jackson could never resist.

And it worked. Bang on cue, Jackson was smiling at him and leaned forward to kiss him, "Did you miss me then? When I was inside...I bet them sheets were crusty"

Aaron scowled, sometimes he could swing for him, but he would never have it any other way.

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FRIDAY NIGHT...

At Pizza hut in town, Jack stole another piece of the hot'n'spicy off Jackson's plate, the builder watched as the lad shoved it whole in his throat, "Have you been near that dog next door to your Mums"

"No"

"I'm SURE you've got worms"

Aaron laughed as he sucked on the straw to his coke, Jack looked at them both, "So...now dads home from working away, does that mean I can move back to yours...?"

Jackson could see the hopeful look on his son's brown eyes, eyes that were a mirror of his own, "Not yet...as I said to yah, I'm redecorating your bedroom...you said you hated that Tranformers wallpaper"

Aaron glanced up at Jackson, who looked back at him as to say 'come on, help me out here'

So he chipped in, " I'll tell you what pal, next Saturday we'll go down to homebase or sommit and pickout some new wallpaper...only thing is...you have to stop over at your mothers for a little bit longer 'till it's all done"

Jack finished off his coke and looked at his dad, " Can I have my ear pierced?"

Jackson looked at him and pulled a face, " Why do you want your ear pierced for?" Jack shrugged. " Bradley-Ben at school has just had his done...except he has to take it out in class"

Aaron laughed, " I hate pierced ears, me"

Jack rolled his eyes at him, " That's because you are not cool", he turned back to his father, "So? Can I?"

Jackson pursed his lips together and shook his head non committedly, " I'll speak to your mother..."

As they paid up and left the joint, Jack ran ahead towards the parked van. Jackson and Aaron held back, " Is it me, or is he growing up too fast..." concerned Jackson.

"He's 10...but THINKS he's 16...What I can't get me head round is...WHY am I NOT cool!"

Jackson looked at him knowingly with a smile, " You were NEVER cool"

Jack was at the van waiting, and suddenly asked randomly, " Dad, what's a cunt?"

Jackson nearly choked on his tongue, Aaron was smirking, but even after seeing Jackson with his 'help me' face, the lad nodded to the builders son, " I'll let you explain away that one, you've had more of that than me!" he laughed.

Jackson looked down at his son and scratched his head:, " errrrr..."

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SATURDAY NIGHT...

Woody's nightclub (Formerly Bar West) was packed. There was a drag act on, and it was still going on and on when Aaron left the gents. He hated drag acts, he couldn't stick all that gloss and camp humour.

Jackson was sat up at the bar with his orange juice. He looked at it with a glare and looked at the guy next to him who had just got himself a pint of bitter.

Aaron was suddenly there and slapped the back of the stranger, " Alright Simon mate, you gonna buy me one inall!"

Jackson smirked, " Oh I see...I bet you got my Aaron to buy all the rounds in, when you were in Ibiza having a good time without me!"

Simon laughed at the builder, " You know me too well..."

Jackson winked at him, " I know you VERY well"

Simon paid for his pint and went off to find his other half, Carter. Aaron pulled a face after him, "Tosser!" he hissed.

"Yep...and before you ask, yep I had him too"

Aaron blew out a laugh as he took his pint, "blimey! How many boyfriends have YOU had!"

Jackson grinned at him, " well, what can I say...I kissed a lotta of frogs before I found you..."

Joe was then coming out from the crowd gathered about the stage, watching the drag act. Jackson looked over to him, Aaron turned his head and looked at them both, he pulled a face, " What? So have you too had a fallen out or sommit...?"

Jackson shook his head and faced the bar, "It's nothing, just leave it"

Aaron glanced at him, his pint glass at his lips, "What's he said?"

Jackson frowned and focused on him, "What's that supposed to me?"

Aaron buttoned his mouth and supped his pint. Jackson shook his head and faced front.

Aaron swallowed and turned to him..."Jackson..."

Jackson stopped him with a knowing nod, " I know why you kept stum...and it's really sweet of yah...but you shouldn't be put in that situation"

And then he walked off towards the gents. Aaron made a beeline for Joe and swung him round, "OI! What have you said?!"

Joe frowned at him, "What?"

"You and Jackson...he KNOWS, doesn't he?"

Joe frowned again, he really was lost, " what are YOU going on about!"

Aaron glared at him, " HIM JUST NOW! You and him have had words"

"Yeah...HE KNOWS I didn't go visit him on my own accord at the hospital... you had to talk me into going to see him...THAT'S what he knows..."

Aaron breathed out a sigh of relief.

Joe turned, "Look...I'm NOT gonna say owt...it was ME who tried to kiss YOU...why are YOU feeling bad about it"

"I don't like keeping it from him..."

Joe nodded.

"And if I DO tell him...then it's over between you and him, your friendship...I HATE being in this situation...WHY DID YOU HAVE TO GO SPOIL THINGS!, I feel like I gave you the wrong signals, but I'm sure I didn't"

He then hurried back to the bar to join Jackson. Joe turned and put his back to them.

It didn't sit right for him too, let alone Aaron...

...maybe, when enough times passed by, and Jackson was over his depression...he could confess all.

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