AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"Duet"

Two months had gone by without hearing from or seeing Aaron. It killed Jackson not seeing him but he was now beginning to realise how much he loved him; his love for him grew more each day. The last few months had brought bad, depressing days but some were okay, and either way each day went Jackson, Chas, Hazel and Adam simply had to get on with it. No day was happy or fulfilling and they knew why, a vital component was missing from their lives – Aaron.

Following the days of Aaron's admission to the psychiatric ward, Chas and Jackson fought and still did on occasion, Hazel had painted a picture of Aaron smiling which she took to the hospital and asked the nurses to give it to him, and they did happily. She did it in hopes of making Aaron remember who he was. She still didn't know to this day if it worked or was working but the fact that Aaron still wasn't home; well it wasn't boding well, yet she was still hopeful.

Jackson started drinking a little more, a sly one from the whisky or vodka bottle when he knew no one was looking and a sip at work too from a small bottle that he kept in the drawer of his desk. He was by no means an alcoholic; he just liked the comfort of it being there.

Adam was deeply affected and it showed to those around who loved him, he had become a part of the family and it saddened them, over the weeks Adam slowly adjusted to his life without Aaron. Although one night in the days following Aaron not being around, he did something that he now regretted and if Aaron found out, he wouldn't be pleased in the slightest.

…

It was a warm day; the sun was shining in a cerulean sky. Children played around the neighbourhood with their friends, it was a Saturday afternoon. Aaron smirked as he watched them, then slowly as he flung his bag over his shoulder he turned back and looked up at the house. This was one of the moments the doctor had spoken in depth with him about and he remembered that he should not feel like an outsider he couldn't help that a tiny part of him did as he started walking up the front path. Questions that he was told not to think of entered his mind, am I welcome? Do they want me? Should I just go? If they didn't he wasn't human. The circumstances and events leading up to him having to be away for a while were horrific, he had yet another scar, this time on his stomach from cutting himself with the knife he'd taken from Mark's home and while being recovered he would never forget what he did, what was said or anything surrounding those final dark days but he was at ease now, he had forgiven himself and now he was returning home.

Aaron stopped at the door and frowned. "Do I knock?" he muttered, then with the shake of his head he pushed the handle down and opened the door and stepped inside, he could hear music playing but other than that the house was quiet, as he closed the door a draft was felt, he pouted the back door must be open he thought to himself. No one knew he was out of hospital so he hoped he could surprise people like he wanted. Aaron walked through to the kitchen, seeing the back door open leading to the garden; he quietly placed his bag down and sneaked to the window to see who was out there.

His heart thumped at the sight of Jackson sitting topless on a sun lounger, tears filled his eyes quickly, he'd missed him so much but what was done was necessary. He hoped, just hoped the music playing outside kept his approach quiet. Aaron took a deep breath and walked to the door then stepped out into the garden. He crept up behind the lounger and quickly placed his hands over Jackson's eyes quickly. Jackson jumped slightly; Chas and Adam weren't meant to be back for hours.

Do I assume? Do I just do-st-stop! He argued mentally with himself. Just… he let out a deep breath …do it…

Jackson frowned. "W-Who is it? Adam you're so not funny"

Aaron smirked as he leaned down and passionately kissed him on the side of his neck in the spot where Jackson loved being kissed. "I don't think Adam would do that somehow do you?"

Jackson's eyes widened and he scrambled out of the lounger and turned to face Aaron. "Oh w-wow…oh my god, Aaron, Aaron you're here!"

Aaron nodded with a smile.

Jackson just stared in awe, he hadn't changed majorly, he may have bulked up a little, with nothing else to do there, he must have resorted to some kind of fitness. He looked good, better than good, damn right sexy, not that he didn't before but a bit of working out had done wonders for him, but despite that; he looked just like the young man he had met six months ago. Suddenly emotions came into play and Jackson's breathing hitched as the sobbing began. "Y-" he pointed. "You're here" he told him as he put his hands over his mouth.

"I-Is that okay, Jackson?" Aaron asked him.

Through his sobs all Jackson could do was nod repeatedly, giving Aaron his answer.

Aaron stepped forward and wrapped his hands around Jackson's warm smooth skin; he tightened his arms around him he'd missed him so much there were no words to explain.

Jackson hugged back just as tightly and cried on his shoulder. Aaron soothed him and when he was calmer they both sat down on the grass, there was no room for two on the lounger and Aaron wasn't fussed in getting another out, he had to talk.

Jackson shook his head as he wiped his eyes. "I'm sorry; it feels like it's been forever…" he blew out a deep breath. "I'm alright now"

Aaron smiled. "I-I know you let me hug you so I'm assuming you want me, despite knowing it all now? The doctor said it was best to get things discussed as soon as I could"

"Aaron" Jackson reached out and held both of his hands. "Do you know how much I've missed you? I've wanted you every second of every day through the past two months, there's been a massive hole in my life and my heart because you weren't here"

Aaron nodded in understanding.

"And yes I do know everything now and it doesn't change anything, I'm still me, still the man who loves you…your affair with Mark well…" he smiled. "I'm over that now, and there's no bad feeling and there certainly shouldn't be any awkwardness between me and you Aaron, it's dealt with and been put to bed"

Aaron smiled and nodded. "Same here, but I do want to say how so sorry I am for sleeping with someone else…" he pulled a hand out of Jackson's then cupped his face. "It didn't mean anything" he told him honestly and Jackson could really see it in his eyes. His hand slid down Jackson's face and he held it against Jackson's chest, feeling him for a second.

"I know it didn't" Jackson replied and looked down at Aaron's hand on his body. He smiled. "You never left it" he told him, and when he saw confusion in Aaron he reiterated. "My heart, not for a second"

Tears fell from Aaron's eyes now and he nodded with a massive smile on his face. "Do you understand why I made the choice I did? In the hospital"

"At first, I'll be honest I didn't and I was angry I couldn't bear the thought of you being alone, your mum and I clashed over that but we were okay and in time I did understand Aaron and I still do, was it the right decision?"

Aaron smiled warmly. "Yes, I'm better Jackson and like the doctor said, I won't forget what I've done, what I've said, the hurt but I've forgiven myself" Jackson understood. "And that's the important bit and now I'm home, with you…a-and I'm finding it a little strange to be honest…"

Jackson chuckled. "You'll get back into it all babe, you'll be fine, and I'm here and like I promised you I'm not going anywhere"

Aaron's face scrunched as he looked down at the grass as he started to cry again, and when Jackson lifted his chin up Aaron simply moved forward and hugged him tightly once again. "Y-Y…You were my rock while I was in there…I know I was mad and hating you at first but you got me through it" he sat up properly and with teary eyes he stared into Jackson's. "The thought of your beautiful eyes and that cheeky smile and the love you have for me got me through it, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry for everything" he cried out and Jackson pulled him close and soothed him.

"There was never anything to forgive, I understand it all Aaron, I'm just so glad you're home"

"I love you so much, I never stopped" Aaron told him.

Emotionally all of this was hard for both of them but they both knew that when the time came of him returning a talk like this would happen. "I love you too" Jackson smiled.

Aaron nodded as he blinked away tears. "I know I've had too many chances but I'm asking…" he chuckled. "…again for the third, fourth however many chances I've had…Can we start again?"

"Of course we can" he told him as he laughed.

Aaron nodded and calmed down, that all needed to be done. He was back with his boyfriend now, he didn't want to be apart from him again. "How is everyone?"

"Oh yeah, they're good…your mum got a job, Adam's doing well…stays here most nights actually, we've looked after him"

Aaron gave a thankful look to Jackson, Adam meant the world to him, and he hated wondering if he was alone.

"He's like a part of the family now actually..."

"I'm glad…so my mums gotten a job? Doing what exactly?"

"She works in town in a clothes store it's not much but she really does do her bit around here and my mum's fine too"

"Ah yeah you're mum, I need to thank her actually…"

"Why?" Jackson frowned.

"She didn't tell you?"

"No"

"She painted me…a happy me and asked the nurses to give it to me early on…it helped, brought it back actually"

"Wow! That women never ceases to surprise does she?"

Aaron laughed. "No…I thought the same when the nurse told me who it was from…So everyone's good any gossip I've missed?"

There was but hell would have to freeze over before Jackson blabbed, he couldn't tell him. "Nah not really, pretty boring…you haven't missed much"

"Figured"

"Anyway" Jackson reached out and squeezed his biceps. "Look at you eh? Hot stuff"

Aaron blushed. "I got bored in there"

"Figured" Jackson repeated Aaron's reply with a smirk. "Well you look amazing Aaron, you really do"

"Ah come on, you sat there like that compared to me…god Jackson…I've missed your body" he sighed.

"Hey you, your body is perfect…I love it don't I?"

"Yeah"

"Well then" Jackson grinned.

"So I'm right to assume everyone will be alright with me then?"

"Correct"

"Good, I have to talk with my mum too"

"I'll give you some time later or tonight, whenever you want but they won't be back for hours yet"

"That's fine, actually it's worked out good, this way I've been able to talk to you and spend time with you in private before they get the surprise"

Jackson smiled. "What do you wanna do? Anything, anything you want

"Right now…I-…I just want to talk to you, I know that sounds silly coming from me but we never really did before, not properly anyway and I want us to start as we mean to go on, you're my boyfriend Jackson and I love ya…there's still so much to know, to talk about, so yeah…I'd happily sit or lie comfy with you and just talk, about anything"

Jackson was impressed and he couldn't take his eyes off him. "One last question…wanna stay out here or go inside?"

"Inside…if you catch any more rays I'll start getting jealous, can't be having that" Aaron told him and stood up, holding his hand out for him to take. Jackson chuckled as he was pulled up by his man. He just loved it!

Once inside Aaron told Jackson he'd be back in a second, and that he was taking his back upstairs. Jackson waited until he was up there and followed him. Once there he closed the bedroom door behind him and Aaron looked at him as he unpacked the bag. Jackson smiled and approached him, placing his hands on Aaron's waist he turned him around to face him. He planted a soft kiss on his forehead whilst moving his hands round to Aaron's back then as he kissed Aaron's lips he slowly lowered him slowly down onto the bed.

Their kiss was rough, raw, long awaited but yet still passionate as their hand explored their bodies, and that was all they did. Once there kiss ended they lay on their bed. Aaron lay being held in Jackson's arms as he rested his head on his bare chest. "This is perfect"

"It really is" Jackson replied as he ran his fingers up and down Aaron's back. "Are you still on medication?"

Aaron nodded. "Yeah but it's a very low dosage and I only take it before bed"

"Ah that's not so bad"

"No, it isn't" his voice was quiet as was Jackson's, they were both so comfortable. "When I look at you Jackson, I-I see perfection, an amazing man with a big heart. I see my future, I see us growing old and I know I'm young, we both are but that's what I want, for you to be by my side always, you truly are my soul mate and I'm so blessed to know you, to have you, you…you know me, you love me despite stuff, but importantly you know how to love me and I don't have to tell you. I realised I loved you but I didn't love you like you deserved to be loved but that, from today is going to change" he turned his head up to look him in the eyes, he was teary and Aaron wiped them away with his hand. "How did you find me, Jackson?"

"I found you on a bad day, you smiled up at me…y-you were just there…you stood out from everyone else. Aaron I have no regrets, I won't ever have any, I'm just grateful for you, for your own love, and like I said I'm not going anywhere, me and you we're for keeps and I'm going to look after you, because when" he frowned as he thought back to it, it wasn't nice. "I was giving you CPR after me and Adam got you out of the lake, I've never felt a physical pain quite like it, it hurt like hell, imagining my life without you"

"Well that's not going to happen for a long, long time. I mean it. I'm sorry I put you through that…t-this is gunna be strange cause when things crop up, I'll start apologising all over again"

Jackson chuckled. "Well don't because I know you're sorry, but there's nothing to forgive, like I said"

"Thank you" Aaron said in a whisper as he rested his head back down on Jackson's chest and absent minded, he ran his fingers up and down over his defined stomach muscles. "You cold?"

Jackson shook his head. "No"

"Good" Aaron said as he turned to face him and put his arm around him and hugged him and they remained there both lying comfortably on their bed in each other's arms.

TBC…