– AARON & JACKSON –

– THE LONG ROAD –

"Let's See Where It takes Us"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on the same day as Let There Be Hope

# I do not own the characters, or Emmerdale – ITV do.

- Hey guys, just a note for you all, previously I said this story would stop but instead I'm just gunna do a big time jump ahead and keep it going. Hope you stick with me this will happen after this chapter. If you lot have any suggestions then I'd like to read them, see what I could do with them :D

Aaron was now in the pub wallowing in his own misery; Jackson had been calling and texting all day but he didn't want to speak to his husband right now because he'd realise something was wrong, and Aaron couldn't bring himself to tell him, not yet. He'd been sitting with his only pint that his mum brought over for him for well over an hour, he'd hardly touched it.

Adam leaned over the bar closer to Chas. "Do you think I should have a word?" he asked.

Chas smiled and nodded. "Yeah...see what you can do..."

Adam nodded and walked over.

Cameron frowned. "What's up with him?" he asked curiously.

Chas shook her head. "It's not my place to say..." she pulled a wary face. "It's his business and I've done enough damage to start telling everyone what's going on with him..."

Cameron nodded. "Yeah...sorry..." he replied awkwardly.

Chas shook her head again and smiled. "No, don't worry about it"

"So, are you gunna talk to me or what?" Adam asked as he watched Aaron run his fingers up and down the glass, wiping away the condensation on the glass.

Aaron looked at him. "Sorry what?"

"You wanna talk?" he asked again.

"Nah...Nothing to say...it just is what it is..." he sighed.

"Yeah maybe but you're hurting and that isn't so simple"

Aaron shrugged, lifted his pint and took a long drink.

"Do...you wanna go into town later? Get away from prying eyes..."

"Nah mate, I've been ignoring Jackson all day, if I'm not here when he gets back he'll worry again, you know how protective he can be..."

Adam nodded. "No worries...another pint?"

"Yeah...I'll get them though..." he told him as he stood; he walked over and stood at the bar.

"Yes love?" Chas asked with a smile.

"Two pints and a pair of new arms..."

Chas sighed. "I wish I could son...I really do..." she looked away sadly as she poured the pints.

"Busy in here isn't it?" he asked as he looked around seeing most of the village regulars in.

Chas nodded. "Yeah but who am I to complain?" she smiled as she placed one full pint on the bar and started the other.

Aaron handed over his money when she placed the second pint on the bar and he lifted them in his hands, but Chas hadn't moved; she wanted to keep an eye on him.

"You wanna hand mate?" Cameron asked. Everyone knew of his condition but that he wasn't going to get any better was something they didn't know.

Aaron shook his head as he started walking to the table. "No thanks..." after he spoke, all he felt was both glasses slipping out of his hands and then the sound of them smashing onto the floor, which caused everyone's attention to divert to him, there was lager everywhere. Aaron lowered his head and shook it, his anger rising.

Chas ran around the bar. "It's alright love...I'll get you some more it's fine..." she put her arm around him and looked up into his eyes, as she had to bend down to make eye contact.

Adam stood up although seconds before he was apprehensive to whether he should. "Come on mate, I'll help you get cleaned up"

Aaron raged, he lifted his head and moved closer to Adam quickly and pushed him away harshly. "I DON'T NEED YOUR HELP...I DON'T NEED ANYONES HELP!" he screamed, his face red with anger and the veins bulging just showed how angry he was.

The pub fell silent. "Yes you do son..." Chas replied quietly.

"I can't even carry two pints of lager!" he raged. "How stupid is that!"

"It's not stupid Aaron" Ashley began. "You just have to keep trying..."

"But that's it!" he raged and stepped closer, but Cameron stopped him from going any further. "There's no point in trying because this is the *best*!" he spat angrily. "That I'm gunna get! Don't you even attempt to mention so called god, because if there is one he pretty sure fucking! Hates me!" Aaron's anger was uncontrollable and he knew that.

"Hey, there's no need for language like that!" Betty complained and Edna agreed too.

Aaron shot a look at them then turned to the door and was about to walk out but he was stopped when Jackson was stood in the doorway. Aaron swallowed hard; he'd done it this time, he thought, and the tears burned through his eyes and he bolted for the door and passed Jackson and ran out.

Jackson was stunned, and he stepped closer to the bar. "What have you done now?"

Adam shook his head. "Nothing, Jackson...I mean that..."

"What was that about? Going on about that's the best he'll get?" Jackson was confused, he just assumed that was Aaron's thoughts venting and not actual confirmation. "I-I've been trying to get in touch with him all day, he's ignored me then I come back to that..."

Chas nodded. "Alright...alright...Adam...Go get the mop will ya please love?"

Adam nodded. "Yeah...sure" he told her with a smile and went off into the back.

Chas walked up to him and took him round the side of the bar. "He couldn't pull a pint...he came here this morning before...be-"

"Before what Chas?" Jackson asked his impatience clear.

"Before his appointment at the hospital...he was scared Jackson he wanted to see the doctor...he hasn't told me what happened, but I saw him when he was coming back and he was so upset...he went home for a bit then came here, sat with a pint for over an hour, he came and got more pints and as you can see..." she sighed.

"He couldn't carry them..." Jackson surmised.

"And he flipped, which is understandable..." she continued.

"Why didn't he tell me?"

"Because you're his husband, he's the person who he doesn't want to let down the most, and in his eyes he has...so, just don't be mad..."

Jackson nodded; he turned and took a few steps then stopped and turned back to her. "T-Thankyou..." he said hesitantly.

Chas smiled, were they making some headway? She hoped so.

A while later Jackson walked across the bridge and sat down next to Aaron both their legs dangling over the edge. Jackson didn't speak just held his hand and Aaron leaned and rested his head on Jackson's shoulder. "You haven't disappointed me Aaron...I love you so much and I don't care what limits you've reached, we've got each other and that's all that matters, your life can still be good and I promise you..." Jackson lifted Aaron's face to look him in the eyes. "...alright? I promise you it will, I'll make sure of it. Let's see where it takes us" Jackson smiled.

Aaron smiled and nodded.

"I love you Aaron"

Aaron kissed him quickly and Jackson returned it with such passion. "I love you so much" Aaron said breathlessly in between their kiss.

TBC...

Like I said before this chapter, the story will jump a number of years, not sure how many yet until I start the next one.