CHAPTER 37

DISCLAIMER: I Do not own Emmerdale or it's characters, they belong to ITV

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews...they really give me the urge to write and write...xxx

Aaron splashed his face with aftershave, and stared into his bedroom mirror...it felt weird going on a first date...and he still had his doubts if this was the right way to go in his relationship with Jackson...especially since having seen him on a date the night before. They had had a great time...just like they always do, a curry, the pub and sex...because he ended up staying over at Jackson's. Sex with Jackson was always good...and the point where things turned sour is when he laid in his boyfriend arms after, Jackson had asked about any up coming dates with other men.

Of course Aaron told him about Flynn...and his up and coming date the next night, Jackson took this well, smiled at him, kissed him and wished him well with it...Aaron hated it.

The only conclusion Aaron could come up with was Jackson was putting his son first...and if he felt Aaron was too immature for a committment, he was slowly etching him out...the slow way.

Paddy's voice called out from the bottom of the stairs, "AARON..!...cabs here!"

Aaron turned his side lamp off, "coming" he called back, he snatched up his wallet and opened it to see if he had enough cash on him...then focused on the pack of condoms on the unit beside his bed...he sighed to himself and quickly pocketed them, before hurrying down the stairs.

Paddy and Rhona were watching TV, Rhona turned, " well Jackson's a lucky guy...2 nights out in a row..."

Aaron shoved his trainers on, "yeah so...", Rhona smiled, "just saying..seeing since or Paddy can muster is a couple at the Woolie.."

Aaron pulled a frown, " yeah what ever...don't wait up!", he then disappeared out the door to his waiting cab, Paddy turned...something was wrong...he didn't know what...but something was going off that he wasn't aware of...

Meanwhile Jackson was at Bar West playing a game of pool with his best mate Joe.

Joe watched Jackson pocket the balls...each stroke harder than the first...and Jackson kept on going and going and going...his face in a constant frown, Joe took a sip of his ale, and spoke up,

"Hey...arn't I gonna pot a shot in this game...", Jackson looked up at him raising his eyebrowes,

"sorry, if I to good at it...", he snapped, Joe rolled his eyes, "Jackson what's with this mood...you've been like it since we flaming got here...!", Jackson pocketed a ball and looked up at his mate, chalking his cue, " I'm not...I'm just...", he couldn't find the words.

"what..." asked Joe, "this about Aaron...you said to me you were alright about this open relationship of yours...it was YOUR idea!"

Jackson shook his head, " nothing to do with Aaron...I saw him last night we hads a curry...he stopped over..." his eyes wondered away.

Joe leaned forward, " and now he's on a date tonight with someone else...just deal with it!"

"Don't decide how I'm feeling...I'm okay with it..I'm fine...really happy in fact...just play the game will yeah...it's your shot!" Jackson flared.

Joe aligned his shot, Jackson was trying to convince him he was ok with it...but it just seemed to Joe that Jackson was just trying to convince himself...

At club 21 across town, Aaron sat at the bar, and saw Flynn make an entrance, he came to Aaron's side and smiled, " hiya...So...I've got you all to myself tonight have I...bout time" Flynn teased.

Aaron shoved a bottle of beer across the bar to him, "yep...so you have...", Flynn took a swig and turned, "hey...sorry bout calling yah last night...I guess it was the wrong time"

"I was out with Jackson...we had a curry..." answered Aaron, fingering his beer bottle.

"sorry...it's just...it's gonna take a while to get used to this arrangement...this sharing", Aaron led the way to a table, that over looked the raised dance floor, " what do you mean by that..." Aaron asked, watching the clubbers dance to the massive beat, " us...me having to share...I'm not good at sharing...I might not like it" told Flynn, trying to get Aaron to face him, he finally did, but it came with a scowl.

"then if you've got a problem with it...you know where to go...I'm with Jackson...you know where you stand...you're just..." Aaron began...

"something extra..." realised Flynn staring towards his beer bottle, Aaron smirked, " yeah...my bit on the side...a bit of fun..."

Flynn shrugged his shoulders, and looked up, "well...if I am something...then maybe I'll just have to make yah realise being with me could change that...", Aaron leaned forward, " and how are you gonna to that..."

Flynn smiled, their eyes locked, " Jackson may be experienced...but I'm younger...and can keep going ALL night...not sleep after the first session" he teased, Aaron laughed, but at the back of his head he was hating this...

Jackson downed his 6th beer at the bar , and slapped Joe's back at bar west, "COME ON..drink up...we're moving on..." he told.

Joe looked at him in disbelief, "What but...I thought you're wanted to stay here tonight..."

Jackson pulled on his leather jacket, "I've changed me mind...now let's GO!", Joe shook his head several times, and followed Jackson to the exit...

At club 21, Aaron came out the toilets to see that Flynn had bought them another round in,

"what's this...trying to get me drunk..." Aaron asked, with a smirk.

Flynn raised his eyebrowes, "no way...I've got plans for you tonight...", Aaron sat, "oh yeah...and what plans will they be..."

Flynn smiled, " you'll find out...", both sat in the noisy silence before Flynn could see Aaron jhad drifted off in deep thought...he was elsewhere...

"HEY...you're WITH ME tonight...NOT HIM!" Flynn pushed.

Aaron looked up, " who says I was with him..."

"just a hunch, " told Flynn "look...you're out having fun...with me...we could do this ALL the time...why don't you just...maybe...drop him" Flynn decided to take the risk.

Aaron pulled a frown, " what...dump Jackson...and why would I do that...!"

Flynn smiled, "for me...look...let's face it HE has to be responsible...he's got a kid..."

"who he sees ONCE a week!" pointed out Aaron smiling.

Flynn shrugged, but he wanted to plant a seed of doubt in Aaron's already mixed up mind,

"what if something happened to the boy's mother...and Jackson had to look after him full time...what then a...I'll tell you...you're be playing daddy to it...and all the pressures that go with it" told Flynn.

Aaron hadn't thought of that...Flynn could see Aaron's mind tick over...and sat back satisfied of throwing a spanner in the works.

Jackson and Joe had entered club 21, and got themselves served at the bar, then they both turned to face the clubbers, Joe immediatley spooted Aaron sitting with some guy, he sighed out in frustration, " oh I get it!...this is why you've come here..."

Jackson stared at them, and smiled, " let's go say hello...", but before Joe could stop him, he was off ahead with beer in hand, Joe quickly followed fearing some sort of confrontation, but gladly that didn't happen.

Aaron looked up in mid flow of laughter to Flynn's jokes, and saw him, Jackson..." he gasped.

Jackson beamed a smile, " me and Jo were just passing through...thought i'd say hello..."

Aaron gazed up at him , and then toward Flynn, Jackson was smiling...Flynn looked abit awkard.

Aaron stood up, "Ahhhh...Jackson this is Flynn...Flynn this is ...Jackson..." the two men in Aaron's life shook hand, making Aaron want to crawl away...he pulled out his cigs, "need a cig!" he informed...but realised something had falling toward Jackson's feet...Jackson stooped and picked up the packet of condoms...he handed them back to him...smiling...but aaron could swear he saw a flash of shock in that face.

Aaron then hurried away...he had to take 5...steady his nerves.

Joe sat down, so did Jackson...and Flynn finally pulled a grin at him, Jackson smiled himself at that, " so...you can smile then!", Flynn nodded" yeah...me and Aaron are on a date..." he informed.

Jackson nodded, " yeah...I know...Aaron told me about you last night...IN BED"

Flynn looked at him, "look...you don't mind do you...Aaron's explained everything to me..."

Jackson shrugged, " has he...well did he mention I just want to smash yah ugly face in!" told Jackson with a grimaced look, Flynn stared at him unsurely, but Jackson suddenly beamed him a smile, and patted Flynn's shoulder, " I'M joking!..." he stood up, " look you and Aaron have a nice night...and tell Aaron i'll text him..we like to share", Joe stood up and asked, "where are we going now..."

"Home" told Jackson, Joe shook his head in disbelief and made for the bar...Flynn the stood up and faced Jackson., "I'm just gonna find Aaron..."

Jackson shook his hand, " Well it's nice to meet you...at last"

"You too..." Flynn smiled...and then walked off...Jackson's smiled faded to a look of contempt on his face, as his eyes followed Flynn's exit.

Jackson met Joe at the bar, as he finished his pint, " what a waste of time this was..." he moaned annoyed...then saw Jackson's face in turmoil.

Jackson finished his own beer, "yeah ...sorry..."

"Look you are SO not alright about this...hell man what are you doing...you don't REALLY want this do you!" asked Joe.

Jackson shrugged, " I thought I was okay with it...but when I swa those condoms...it...it just felt too real..."

"It IS real...you've got to come clean to Aaron...if you hate this then stop it now...or it's gonna eat away at you...until you go mad..." pointed out Joe.

Jackson's face looked distant...his mind ticking over...then he bolted to the door...

Outside, Aaron and Flynn stared into eachothers eyes...tonight it proved to Aaron that Jackson really didn't care...so maybe what the hell, why not just take the plunge...after throwing his cig butt, Aaron gathered up Flynn's face and kissed him full on the lips.

Both of them failed to notice Jackson watching them from the entrance to the club...his blood started to boil...his eyes on fire...his heart started to race...fists cletched... he began to make his way over toward them...

TBC

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