– AARON & JACKSON –

– BORN AGAIN–

"Home Once Again"

This fanfic follows on a few days from Complications

...

Aaron's operation had been a success and he had woken up late on Christmas day, the bandage around his head where the shunt had been inserted had to remain on for another few hours. Jackson sat with him, he'd only left the hospital once to get a shower and get into a change of clothes. He smiled when Aaron smiled at him. "It's weird, I have this tube thing in my head and I can't feel it"

"Suppose that's a good thing though?" Jackson asked. "Even though it runs down the side of your neck and down your chest..."

"Yeah I suppose, if it helps keep me alive then I'm all for it" Aaron nodded.

"Don't suppose brain surgery brought any memories back then?" Jackson asked with a smirk.

Aaron chuckled and shook his head slowly. "Afraid not, no"

Jackson frowned. "You scared me to death"

Aaron reached for Jackson's hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry"

"Noo, don't be silly, you couldn't help it. You didn't know what was wrong"

"Yeah I know"

Jackson smiled. "So, the other day with my mum, what were you talking about?"

Aaron smirked. "I was asking for her permission"

"You what? Really?"

"Yeah. And she said yes and then the rest you know and you still wanna get married don't ya?" Aaron quickly became worried.

"Of course I do, I love you ya muppet...mind you we should rent out a suite in this place, the amount of times we're here" Jackson said with a laugh.

"Oh don't I feel bad enough"

"I'm joking" Jackson replied.

"I'm not, I've ruined our engagement and I ruined Christmas day, mum and Paddy were here all day yesterday, Adam came to visit, even Debbie..." he sighed.

"Stop getting yourself worked up"

Aaron tutted and frowned. "Wanna do some numbers? Reading?"

"No" Aaron told him bluntly, angry with himself.

"And my mans in one" Jackson grinned. "Fine, suppose I could just tickle ya"

Aaron sighed. "Jackson, seriously" he complained.

"Alright, alright, should I go?" he asked.

"No, course not, I'm just tired that's all"

Jackson nodded; he understood that. "Well get some rest and you'll be home before you know it"

...

It was now the 27th December 2010, Aaron had been in hospital for four days, but now was allowed home; his head bandage had been removed and the stitches along his hairline just up from his right temple were now visible and so was the shunt along the side of his head which circled around and down behind his ear, down his neck over his collarbone to his stomach.

"Their itching" Aaron complained as he walked to the door of Smithy.

"What are?" Jackson chuckled.

"The stitches, both sets"

"What were you told? Hmm?"

"Yes I know! Not to scratch or touch them for that matter"

"Well then do as your told" Jackson told him with authority as he opened the door to Smithy.

Aaron stopped in his tracks as he entered the kitchen to see Chas, Paddy, Pearl, and Adam gathered around the table. "Merry Christmas!" they all said happily.

Jackson leaned into Aaron and spoke in his ear. "Christmas is just a day, in special cases it can be anytime" he smirked.

Aaron turned to him and smiled. "Well then where are my presents?"

"They've got them, and yours for them are under the tree in the living room"

"Oh yeah what about yours for me?" Aaron asked.

Jackson smirked and bit his lip, looking intently into his eyes – he was trying to behave himself in front of the others. "You get yours later" he told him and walked further into the kitchen after taking Aaron's bag from him and putting it down.

Aaron was impressed and he looked forward to it. "You lot didn't have to do this you know"

"Well tough, we wanted too, now sit down you, you're only out cause I told him you had a lot of people around to help" Chas told him.

"You say that as if it's a lie" Aaron smirked.

"Noo, I just don't want anything happening to you so that you have to go back, been there too much these past few months" Chas told him as he sat down.

"Alright lad?" Adam asked.

"Yeah I 'am now after seeing your gorgeous face" Aaron replied and flashed a grin.

"Oh aye..." Jackson chirped in as he unpacked the bag.

"Only have eyes for you Jackson" Aaron replied seriously.

"What are you boys like?" Pearl shook her head. "Ohh, Jackson did you try my lemon drizzle?"

Adam frowned at Aaron and Aaron just shrugged, he had no idea what they were on about. Paddy just watched smiling.

"So how does it feel?" Paddy asked.

"It doesn't" Aaron replied.

"But it's visible" he added.

"Doesn't bother me" he shrugged. "How've you been anyway?"

"Oh er- ye-yeah good, cheers mate"

"Thanks for staying all day Christmas by the way, must have been so boring"

"Nah it was alright" Paddy told him. "Although they don't do a very good Christmas dinner"

"Ugh! No that stuff...I don't know what it was but it wasn't turkey! And the veg? Just mush...could have done better myself!" Chas told them with a disgusted look on her face.

"Yeah you probably could actually" Aaron curled up his lip and nodded.

"Hey you, I can still slap you!"

"Go on then" Aaron challenged.

"No. You look too delicate to be honest love" she said seriously as she stood up. Jackson and Adam both laughed without looking at him.

"Right so, shall we get a little more comfy in there...the tree, decorations, lights...a warm fire...and presents!" Chas asked quickly and made her way in.

Pearl and Paddy followed her and Aaron got up from the table, as he began to stand, Adams hand gripped around his arm and helped him up.

Aaron looked at him and smiled. "Cheers mate" he told him softly as he found himself looking right at him.

Adam pulled his head back a little, frowning. "You alright mate?"

Aaron scoffed, and then he nodded and looked away quickly. "Yeah sure, just been a long day...kinda zone out every now and then" he lied.

"Well just make sure you take it easy right?"

Aaron smiled and watched him again as he turned away from him then continued into the living room. Chas was right, it was cosy.

"Is he alright?" Jackson wondered.

"Yeah I think so mate, he must be tired that's all"

Jackson nodded. "And now hopefully, we can just live normally like a proper couple"

"Could take some time though" Adam told him.

"Yeah" Jackson nodded. "Let's go in before he thinks we've left him with them"

Adam chuckled and followed him through to the living room.

...

Jackson moved from on top of Aaron and lay next to him holding him close. His breathing was heavy and Aaron smiled just listening. "Was that my present?" Aaron joked.

Jackson shook his head. "Nope..." he kissed his neck then lifted up and reached behind him to his drawer and took out a key and he held it in Aaron's view.

"What is it?" Aaron asked.

"A key"

"Yeah I know that, what for?"

"Our house" Jackson told him softly. "Do you want to move in with me Aaron?"

"Yeah" Aaron nodded, he was well and truly surprised he was stuck for words. "Where's our place then?" he asked with a smile.

"Down the road, the house I was working on for Declan, I said I wanted it and we came to an agreement for the rent and it's ours, can move in after the New Year"

"Wow" was all Aaron said.

"I know, and I know it's all quick but I love you Aaron, we can't live here forever, I know how much you love Paddy and this place but you'll still see him"

"I know" Aaron nodded. "I said yes, I'd love to move in with you"

"Good" Jackson's smile was wide, and he leaned in and kissed him passionately again. Aaron rolled on top of him kissing him.

"Hey you've got to take it easy, you've not long since had brain surgery – again!"

"Yeah and I know when to be careful, or can you not handle a second round?"

Jackson raised an eyebrow. "Go on. Find out then" he winked.

"I intend too" Aaron told him softly as he began to kiss down the centre of Jacksons' toned torso and stomach and then some...

TBC...