A massive thank you to everyone for all your support and a special thank you to Shawn who helped me so much with this chapter. You're a star x

Aaron and Flynn woke up the next morning, bright sunlight filtering through Aaron's curtains. They had left the others in Bar West the night before and returned to Smithy Cottage to be on their own, to make love to each other, making it last as long as possible knowing they had the place to themselves. Flynn put his arm around Aaron as Aaron lay with his head resting on Flynn's chest, his fingers continuously tracing over the outline of Flynn's tattoo. They were talking about what a good night they'd had, how funny it was to see the village's own village people singing and dancing, something Aaron was determined not to let them forget in a hurry.

"So, which one do you reckon Paddy is, the construction worker, the cowboy, he's definitely not the red Indian, that's more Adam…."

Flynn laughed. "I haven't got a clue but you know far too much about Village People for someone your age."

Aaron laughed too. "It was a good night though wasn't it?"

"Yeah, one of the best and it got even better when we got back here."

"Funnily enough, that was my favourite bit of the whole night" Aaron said as he rolled on top of Flynn, wanting to feel Flynn's body under his, his blue eyes staring intensely into Flynn's.

"Mine too" Flynn said quietly as Aaron's lips hungrily met his, both of them wanting to repeat what had happened between them the night before. They spent most of the day in bed watching DVD's, neither wanting to get up and get dressed. They only got out of bed to get something to eat and drink and even then they brought it up to bed with them. They eventually got up in the early evening so they could have a couple of pints together in the pub before Flynn had to go home.

Hazel was on her way back from visiting Jackson. She looked up the road just as Aaron and Flynn were leaving. She watched as Aaron closed the front door and jogged the couple of steps to catch up with Flynn before barging into his shoulder and running off. Flynn chased after him and caught him, pulling him into a kiss. She sighed. She was happy for Aaron, she liked Flynn but she couldn't help but wish that Jackson was still alive and with Aaron, that it was Jackson that was putting that smile on Aaron's face and Aaron doing the same to him. She turned away hoping to make it home without being seen but it was too late.

"Hazel, wait up" Aaron called. She fixed a smile on her face and turned round to face them.

"We're just going for a quick drink if you want to join us."

"No thanks, you're alright, another time maybe."

"You turned me down last time I asked too. If I didn't know you better, I'd think you'd gone off me."

"How could anyone go off you? It's just I've got some stuff to do. I'll see you soon though."

They watched as she walked quickly down the road and went home. Flynn looked at Aaron. "You're worried about her aren't you?"

Aaron nodded. "Something's not right."

"Why don't you go after her, talk to her. We can go for a drink another time."

"Are you sure you don't mind?"

"Course I don't. Go on, I'll talk to you tomorrow." Aaron kissed him quickly and smiled gratefully at him. "You're the best, you know that don't you?"

Flynn just smiled and walked back up the road to catch the bus home while Aaron set off after Hazel. He knocked on the door and waited for Hazel to open it which she did with a look of surprise on her face when she saw Aaron. "What are you doing here? I thought you were going for a drink with Flynn."

"Change of plan. So, are you going to let me in or just leave me here on the doorstep all night?"

"Sorry, yeah, course, come in."

Aaron went in and sat down on the sofa. Hazel sat down near him and smiled. "Can I get you anything, drink, something to eat?"

"No, you're alright thanks. What you can do though is tell me what's wrong."

"What's wrong, there's nothing wrong."

"Come on Hazel, I know you too well by now. You're as bad a liar as I am so what's the matter? You can tell me."

Hazel put her head down and took a deep breath. She looked at Aaron, at his concerned face staring back at her. She knew what she was about to say would hurt him and she hated herself for it.

"There's no easy way to say this so I'm just going to come straight out with it. I'm leaving the village."

Her words hung in the air between them. Aaron had heard them but they didn't register, not straight away. When they did, he felt like he'd been hit with a sledgehammer.

"But you can't leave, this is your home, why would you want to go anywhere else?"

"Because I'm not coping Aaron. I've given it over a year and it's not getting any better. Everywhere I go, there are reminders of Jackson and it's just too painful for me."

"But it'll get better, it will. I thought like you but it got better for me and it will for you too."

"No, it won't, love. I've tried and I can't do it. There's nothing here for me anymore."

"What about Jackson? He's here" Aaron said, tears starting to flow down his cheeks.

Hazel shook her head, tears falling down her cheeks too. "No, he isn't. My Jackson's been gone a long time. Besides, he wouldn't want me to stay here being miserable. He hated the thought of me being tied down to one place, you know that. He'd want me to move on and that's what I'm going to try to do just not here."

"But I need you" Aaron said, his voice breaking up as he spoke "please, don't leave me. You're the closest thing to Jackson that I've got left."

Hazel got up and sat down next to Aaron, holding him tightly as he sobbed.

"You don't need me, Aaron, you've got your mum and Paddy and Flynn now. He's a good lad, he loves you very much and he'll do anything to make you happy. You've moved on and that's great. Now, you've got to let me try to do the same."

"But why can't you do that here, with me and your friends to help, that's what I don't understand." Aaron looked at her, wiping his eyes on his sleeve. "Have I done something?"

"No, course you haven't. You're like a son to me and I want what's best for you but what's best for you is too difficult for me to see right now, do you understand?"

"You mean me being with Flynn don't you?"

"I'm happy for you, I genuinely am, that you're happy again and you've got someone who loves you like you deserve to be loved but it's hard for me too."

"So, if I wasn't with Flynn you'd stay."

"No, I wouldn't, it's not that simple."

Aaron felt numb. He sat quietly for a few minutes before continuing. "So, where are you going?"

"There's a friend of mine who owns a bar in Portugal. She wants me to go out and help her to run it. It might be just what I need, a change of scenery, something new to focus on."

"So I won't even be able to keep in touch with you" Aaron said.

"Yes you will, I've thought of that. I'll get one of those web cam thingies so we can still talk face to face."

"You and computers are a nightmare, that'll never work."

"I'll make it work. You're too special to me to risk not staying in touch."

"So, when are you going?"

"Friday morning. I know it's only five days away but now my mind's made up, there's no point in hanging about."

Aaron sat for ages trying to take in what he'd been told, Hazel leaving him to his thoughts. He knew he didn't see Hazel as often as he used to but it was a comfort to know she was there close by. What would he do when she wasn't there anymore? Suddenly, he had to get out. There was only one place he wanted to be and only one person he wanted to be with. He told Hazel he had to go and phoned a taxi to take him to Flynn's.

It was late when he got there but he never gave a thought to the time. He knocked on the door, eyes on the floor. The door opened and Aaron looked up into the face of Flynn's dad.

"Is Flynn here, I really need to see him" he said.

Flynn's dad was shocked by Aaron's appearance. He had obviously been crying a lot and his heart went out to him. "Course he is, come in." He ushered Aaron in to the house where Flynn's mum was standing wondering who was knocking at their door. "Can you go and get Flynn?" he said, as he tried to lead Aaron into the living room but Aaron's legs didn't seem to want to work. A couple of minutes later, Flynn came running downstairs wearing a pair of jogging bottoms and nothing else. "Aaron, what's happened, what is it?" he said. Aaron walked towards him and threw his arms around him, starting to cry again. Flynn put his arms around Aaron, making soothing noises, holding him, letting him cry. Flynn's mum and dad went upstairs and left them to it. Flynn didn't know how long they stood there or how long Aaron cried for. His shoulder was wet from all of Aaron's tears and his ankle ached from standing in one position too long but he was not going to move until Aaron was ready.

He pulled back slightly as Aaron looked at him. "Are you ready to talk me yet?" he said. Aaron nodded so Flynn led him into the living room and sat him down on the sofa. He waited for Aaron to speak, his heart pounding as he waited to hear what had put his boyfriend in such a state. Aaron told Flynn exactly what Hazel had said including how difficult she found it seeing them together. Flynn never said a word, just listened as Aaron got it all off his chest.

"I'm sorry babe, I really am. I don't know what else I can say."

"There isn't anything you can say. I just feel so guilty, like this is my fault."

"Hang on a minute Aaron, how can this be your fault? What happened to Jackson was an accident, him getting ill and dying was just one of those terrible things that no one had control over, you can't blame yourself, it's not right."

"But what about me and you, I made that decision didn't I?"

Flynn felt sick. His voice went quiet as he said "So, what are you saying, that you regret it, that you don't want to be with me anymore, that you'd rather be on your own again."

Aaron looked at him as if he'd said the stupidest thing ever. "No, absolutely not. I can't be without you, you're everything to me. I love you so much and I know I won't ever want anyone else. It's just hard knowing that what makes me so happy hurts her so much."

"I know, it can't be easy for her" Flynn said. He took Aaron's hand in his and looked him straight in the eyes. "I know you probably won't want to hear this but maybe it's for the best. If moving away is the only way she can cope, then she has to do it. It's only Portugal, it's a few hours away. You can go and visit and use the webcam to keep in touch."

"But it feels like I'm losing her. I lost Jackson, how long til I lose you too?"

Flynn shook his head. "Aaron, you're not going to lose me. The only way I won't be with you is if you tell me you don't want to be with me anymore. Look, I know how I feel and what I want. In ten, twenty, fifty years time, I'll still feel the same and want the same thing. I'll still love you and still want to be with you. Don't ask me how I know because I can't tell you, I just know." Aaron looked at Flynn, the expression on his face confirming the words he'd just spoken. He knew exactly what Flynn meant because he felt the same way, he just knew too. Aaron leant towards him and kissed him. He'd never felt so much love for Flynn as he did at that moment. "Thank you" he said.

"Don't be silly. Do you want a drink or anything?"

"No, I better be getting back."

"No, not tonight. You're staying with me."

"But what about your mum and dad?"

"Don't worry about them. Come on" he said holding out his hand to pull Aaron up off the sofa.

They went upstairs in silence and into Flynn's room. Flynn went to the bathroom leaving Aaron to get undressed. By the time he came back, Aaron was already in bed. He closed the door behind him, took off his jogging bottoms and got into bed, leaving his boxers on. He wanted Aaron to know he wasn't expecting anything from him. In the dark, Aaron snuggled up against him. Flynn was surprised to feel that Aaron was naked. He put his arm around him and shut his eyes waiting to go to sleep. Aaron was tired but he was thinking about everything that Hazel had said, everything they'd said to each other and his mind was far too alert to allow him to sleep. He thought about him and Flynn, how right everything felt between them and realised that he shouldn't feel guilty for being with him even if Hazel was finding it difficult. He'd made his peace with the most important person, Jackson, and that should be all that mattered. His eyes had adjusted to the dark so he easily found Flynn's mouth and kissed him, a long, slow tender kiss that Flynn eagerly returned. He opened his eyes to look at Aaron. "What was that for, not that I'm complaining."

"Because I wanted to and because I can" Aaron said. He'd never wanted Flynn as much as he wanted him now. Words were one thing but he needed to feel how much Flynn loved him, wanted to show Flynn how much he loved him too. He kissed him again, more passionately this time, his tongue darting into Flynn's mouth, finding Flynn's tongue and battling with it.

"I thought you were tired" Flynn said grinning.

"I am but I need you right now more than I need sleep."

Flynn wanted Aaron as much as Aaron wanted him but his mum and dad were only across the landing. Aaron's hand was caressing his chest, looking for the spot where Flynn was extra sensitive. He found it quickly, Flynn letting him know he'd found it by moaning quietly. Aaron smiled, he had him, there was no way Flynn was going to refuse now and he was right. Flynn's mouth was on his and his hands were all over him before Aaron knew what had hit him. Flynn shifted his weight so Aaron could remove his boxers before kissing him again. They were both aware of where they were but the need to show the other one how much they were loved was too great to ignore. When they eventually fell asleep some time later, neither was left in any doubt just how much the other one loved them.