I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT 'S CHARACTERS...THEY BELONG TO ITV1
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FINAL CHAPTER
NEW YEARS EVE 2013
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In the Woolie, Chas was having a coffee out the back. Her phone was stuck inbetween her shoulder and her ear, and she was smiling like a cheshire cat as she filled up the kettle, "Ohhh, you are naughty...like 'talking dirty' do yah?...OHHHH I BET YOU DO..."
Aaron was then coming in and sitting down to put on his trainers, Chas immediately raised her voice, "...Okay then, that's fine...i'll get back to you with that order, bye for now...", she snapped shut her phone and grinned at her son, " That were just a sales rep for...errrr...NEW ALE..."
Aaron pulled a 'i'm not bothered shrug', " yeah...whatever..."
"anyway...SOOOOO..." she quickly perched her bum down on the arm of the opposite chair, "...are you coming in tonight, seeing the New Year in with us...?"
Aaron shrugged his shoulder, as he slouched back in the chair and crossed his foot over his knee, " donno...Jackson might have plans for us"
Chas frowned at him, she was a little bit disappointed, " Ohhhhhh...PLEASE SAY YOU'LL COME...you know how crap it was last year..."
Aaron felt bad now, this time last year he was stuck in a hospital bed with her seeing him having his arse wiped by some health worker, because he couldn't do anything for himself because of the accident.
He leaned forward, " I''ll see what I can do...but I'm NOT promising you owt..." he then stood and left the room, Chas smiled to herself, then she recieved a text. Chas looked at her phone and giggled to herself. Unbeknown to her, Aaron was in the hallway listening with a big fat smirk on his face...
DID SHE THINK HE WAS STUPID OR SOMMIT...SHE HAD A NEW FELLA IN HER LIFE...and was trying to keep it quiet from him.
Sales rep? Pull the other one!
Xxxx
Even though the snow lay thick around 'Hazels house', Jackson had been up at the crack of dawn plastering the inside walls of the building's good section. The builder was clinging on to hope that he, Aaron and maybe Jack, could move into this section within the next couple of weeks...but due to all this cold winter weather, it was slowing things down to no end.
He pulled a sigh as he reached for his flask, then whilst unscrewing the lid, he saw that it was drained empty, he pulled a frown.
He snapped his neck round when he heard the door open, and Aaron came in from the cold, "Alright?" the machanic asked, his greeting more of a mumble.
Jackson smiled at him and nods, " yeah...you?"
Aaron nods, his eyes glancing up and down at Jackson's handy work, he shrugs," This is looking well smart this, Can I do abit...you know...to help, like...?"
Jackson knotted his browe, " Hinder more like!" he told, but seeing Aaron looked abit hurt and looking down, the builder smiled at him, "...COME ON...you have to be honest...you're rubbish at this sorta thing"
Aaron agreed, he was actually, he couldn't deny it...but he felt like he was just spectating...and not putting anything IN for their future together. Jackson dumped his trough on the side and came forward grabbing each of Aaron's arms, then with his fingers lifted his chin, " If you wanna do something, you can get the teas in if you want...I'm gagging for a brew, me!"
Aaron smiled, and from within the lining of his jacket, he pulled out a flask, " I'm one step ahead of yah mate"
Jackson laughed and took the flask from him, " I was just gonna ask yah what the hell you were hiding in that jacket of yours"
He and Aaron shared the flaskcup and stood there admiring the work. Aaron turned his head as Jackson took his mouthful of the luke warm coffee, " Mums gotta new fella..."
Jackson nearly spat out the coffee and grinned, " oh yeah...does he know what he's let himself in for?"
Aaron frowned at him, so Jackson playfully punched him on the arm, " I'm messing with yah! Good for her...she's been on her own for a while..." he tried to work out by the look on Aaron's face how HE felt about it, he sniffed and asked him outright, "So...are you alright with it!"
Aaron shrugged at him and stuck his hands into the front of his trakkies to keep them warm, "Dunno...suppose it's alright...as long as he's not a knobhead like Carl was...or me dad"
Jackson picked up the trough and started back to work, he climbed a step ladder and made a start on the ceiling...he spoke as he did so, " Not seen him yet then?"
Aaron blew out a laugh, " You're joking, aren't yah? She doesn't EVEN KNOW that I KNOW!"
"Well I'm sure shes old and big enough to make her own mistakes, mate...anyway..." he stepped back down the ladder and looked at him, " So was it just the coffee you came to give me, or was there sommit else, it's just that..." he trailed off.
Aaron knew. Jackson wanted to get on, so he nodded, "oh yeah...I wanted to ask about tonight..."
Jackson screwed up his face, " Yeah...it's New years yah div!"
"I know THAT! It's just...me mum said about seeing it in at the pub...", he made a face, the last bit came out like 'we should, but what do you think'
Jackson's eyes widened, and his mouth became all agape, "REALLY!...but I've gone and told Scott and Camp Dave that we'll meet them now..."
Aaron looked disappointed, and nodded 'ok' as his eyes hit the floor .
"I'm MESSING with yah...Pubs fine...anyway, Sarah's dropping by later to drop Jack off, she's gonna have a little nosey over this place as well"
Aaron turned to go, " Good for her...call me when Jacks's here and SHE'S gone..."
Jackson nodded with a smile, then just before Aaron had chance to leave, he called out after him, " Hey Aaron...how would you feel if say...there were two Jack's?"
Aaron pulled a face...the question was completely lost on him, " but...there's only one Jack"
Jackson smiled...he was amused as well, because the question was lost on him, "...look, forget I said it...it's NOT gonna happen, so it doesn't matter anyway...I'll see text yah later..."
Xxxx
The Woolie was all gearing it's self up for the New Years celebrations. There was a banner, balloons and Chas had laid on some trays of Champers...cheap Champers, but Champers all the same.
Moira stood behind the bar as Chas was busy texting on her mobile...a big grin kept on showing up upon her face. Moira was dying to know, and Chas was dying to tell...you could tell by just looking at her, that she was fit to burst.
"So...who is it them" asked the farmers wife, " You've been grinning like a wee cheshire cat all morning..."
Chas looked up at her as she stocked up the lager, "have I?"
"Yes you have...ESPECIALLY when you get a text...that could only mean one thing..."
Chas stood up and closed the fridge and leaned on the bar top, " Ohhhh...I've gone and bagged meself a new man, haven't I" she informed with another all excited grin.
Moira rose her eyebrowes and smiled at her, " Oh? Who is he? Anybody I know?"
Chas nodded, " yeah you know him...everybody knows him, it's just that..." she did that thing with your mouth as to say 'oh god' , " It's just that...he's leaving his wife..."
Moira's jaw dropped, " He's MARRIED!"
Chas shoke her head and rose her hand, " I know I know...but he was gonna leave her anyway...he's been trying to pick the right moment, that's all"
Moira polished down the bar, " whens that ever gonna be?"
Chas looked up at her and frowned, she got the discinct feeling that Moira didn't approve, "What's THAT supposed to mean..." Moira was quiet, " COME ON MOIRA...if you've got something to say"
Moira looked up at her, " Ok!...It's just I hate to see you get hurt that's all...what IF HE doesn't leave his wife...?"
"He will! He's promised me...anyway...once that's all done I can finally tell my Aaron...I hate to think how he's gonna react to all this..."
"React to what?" came her son's voice as he strolled in casually from out the back.
Chas glanced at Moira and shrugged it off with a wave of the hand, " Nothing FOR YOU to worry about, love"
Aaron just shrugged, he knew what was going on, but he was going to continue to play dumb...so he can say 'I KNOW' to her when she finally DID tell him...that'll shock her.
Xxxx
Sarah glanced round the room as she entered 'Hazel's house'. Jackson had managed to plaster everything and he was starting to call it a day.
"Well, what can I say...impressive. I wish Mike could so things like this"
Jackson was sweeping some crap across the floor, then scooped it up and binned it, " I'm sure he can learn...it's not exactly rocket science is it?"
Little Jack was looking all sheepish and shy, Jackson looked at him, " What have you done?" he asked, because he knew that face.
Sarah turned around and pushed the boy forward, " Your father asked you a..." she spotted the plaster all over the boys hand, he had hidden behind his back, " Ohhhhh JACK! What did I SAY!" cried the builder when he also noticed.
Sarah looked up, " Ohhhh Jackson, he didn't mean to...he's just bored, that's all...it's not like he's got a brother or sister to play with, is he?"
Jackson dumped the dustpan and gave Sarah an old rag so she could wipe the plaster off Jacks' hand. He could now see the Jack sized hand indention on the wall behind the lad.
"Not THIS again...Sarah, I've said! There is going to be NO baby...not from me anyway!" he told with authority.
Jack's little ears pricked up, " Baby? Is there going to be a baby?" his eyes were all wide and equizative with them both now.
"Now look what you've started...", the builder told, nodding his head towards his son as he said it, Sarah shrugged, " I'm sorry...it's me again...I'm just all broody at the moment"
"Well go and be broody somewhere else...and not around me" told Jackson pulling his eyebrowes together.
Sarah sighed and turned, putting her hands together, " Right...I best be going, I..."
Jackson's phone rang, the builder dropped what he was doing and pulled this mobile out from his overalls, he glanced at the display and answered it, " Hello...yeah...look i've already said I've got the money...I'll sort it...alright...I'll call yah, not today though...ok, if you don't like it you can take a run and jump..." he pocketed the phone.
Sarah raised her eyebrowes at him, but didn't say anything, Jackson nods to the door, "are you still here?"
Sarah smiled, " So...who was that?"
Jackson blew out a laugh, " Nobody...just some guy I owe some money to...Aaron knows, so there's no big secrets..."
Sarah frowned at him, " But I thought you said you borrowed a shed load of money from your dad to get started on this place..."
Jackson shook his head, " Yeah I did...but it wasn't enough...now...YOU were going" he told nodding to the door. Sarah took the hint, " I'll call Jack tomorrow...make sure he doesn't drink TOO MUCH beer tonight..." she said with a knowing smile.
Jackson smiled back at her, " I won't...have a nice time...", Sarah said goodbye to Jack and was gone, Jackson went up to his son and smiled at him, " Right you...lets get you in that camper and you can watch TV while I finish up, alright?"
Jack shook his head and followed his dad out of the door. Both unawares that some body was watching them from behind the trees...
Xxxx
Later on, the New Years festivities were well under way at the Woolie. Chas looked up from the bar to see Aaron, Jackson and Jack enter through the doors, she greeted them with a smile, " YOU CAME! I thought by the way the looks you gave me, you were going to some club in town"
Aaron didn't want it to sound like he wanted to be here, so he nods to the boy who was climbing up onto the bar stool, " Well...we've got him, haven't we...so we had no choice" he told.
Chas started to pull them both a pint, " awwwww...well I'm glad you here..." she looked up as she placed the first pint onto the mat in front of them, " ...because it looks like the WHOLE clans gonna be coming in tonight...back in a sec!"
Aaron shook his head and looked across at the Dingles that had grabbed a couple of tables for them selves, his Uncle Zac and Lisa at the helm, Charity was cackling like an old witch "Great..." he said, not really that bothered,Jackson placed his hand onto his partners shoulder, " So...what's this 'we've got him' thing...I thought you wanted to come here tonight?"
Aaron shrugged, "Yeah...but I don't want HER to know that, do I?"
Chas was coming back, " right..." she said, rounding herself behind the bar again, "what's the little fella having?"
Little Jack looked up, " pint please Chas..."
Jackson nods at his son, " Just a WEAK shandy for him please Chas..."
Aaron pulled off his jacket, and placed it over the top of the bar stool, then he tapped Jackson on the arm as he passed by, " Just going to the bog"
Chas watched as both Jackson and Jack picked up their drinks and drank a mouthful simultaneously, " Awwwwww two peas in a pod you two...have you ever thought about having anymore kids?"
Jackson nearly choked, blimey who had she been talking to, he shook his head,"Nahhh...just one little Jack's enough trouble for me..." he said ruffling his son's hair.
He then smiled to himself and gave Chas a knowing look, " so'a...Aaron tells me you've gotta new fella..." he teased.
Chas looked right shocked at that. She leaned forward, " What! But Aaron doesn't know...does he? What's he said?" she slapped her forehead, " OHHHHHH! He's not very happy about it, is he?"
Jackson shook his head and tried to reasure her, " Hey...He's okay about it...but you best not let on that I've told yah he knows...you know what he's like..."
Aaron was then back beside them, he had brought Adam in toe, " Room for a small one?" the farmer asked.
Jackson nods and moves his stool, Adam sat down and glanced at his watch, " Oh well...just 4 more hours to go and we're be there..."
Jackson took a sup of his pint, "yep...2014...I just hope it's gonna be a better year than what this year brought..." he said quietly as he looked at Aaron making a fuss of Jack, Adam slapped him on the back, " Blimey mate...cheer up, ANYTHINGS gotta be better than THIS year a?"
Xxxx
Chas went out the back because Moira said they were running low on crisps, as she grabbed a box, her phone jingled...it was a text:
back door...after midnight
Chas grinned widely and pocketed her phone.
Xxxx
Meanwhile at the darkness of 'Hazel house' someone was snooping around in the dark...first they tried to look in through the windows of the house, but then spotted the camper van. Treading across the snow and ice, the mystery visitor peered through the window and tried the sliding door...it was locked.
Xxxx
The hours flew by, and it wasn't long before the chimes of big ben evaded the ears of revellers in the pub.
Once the new year was 'bonged' in, everyone was shouting Happy New Year. Aaron and Jackson hugged eachother...wanting to be close because this time last year...
Of course Jack wanted in on the action he tried to squeeze in between them, but he was tired as well, he backtracked and rubbed his sleepy eyes.
"Looks like somebodys ready for bed" Moira said with a nod to him. Jackson turned and smiled at his son, " COME ON sleepy, lets get you back..."
His reply was just a massive yawn.
Aaron pulled on his jacket and was looking around the bar for his Mum to say ta ra to her...where the hell did she disappear off to?
He rounded to the back of the bar and went down the hall, Chas was on the back doorstep, she turned and on spotting her son, she closed the door, " Sorry love...just getting some air..."
Aaron just pulled a face, " Yeah? Whatever...look we're off now, I'll see yah tomorrow...BUT NOT too early"
Chas pulled her son into a awkward cuddle and she sqeezed him, " Happy New Year to yah kid!" Aaron managed to worm his way out of the cuddle, she looked at him, " We'll have a better year this year, yeah?"
Aaron nodded and half smiled, " Yeah..." he zipped up his jacket and kissed her on the cheek, "see yah in a bit" and he was off.
Once he was out of sight, Chas pulled open the back door again...her waiting fella was there...just like he said in his text earlier.
Frank Harrington came forward and pulled her into a passionate kiss in the darkness behind the beer barrells.
Xxxx
The road was dark and cold as they crunched through the snow. Jackson lead the way, carrying his sleepy son, Aaron followed on behind with his hands deep in his pockets.
"That were a good night..." commented Jackson.
Aaron just shrugged behind him," it were okay...better than being stuck in hospital I suppose...but we'll go to a club next year,a?"
Jackson smirked as they crossed into the next narrow lane...
Suddenly they were blinded by a pair of bright headlights. There was screach of the tyres as a car came only inches from them forcing Jackson and Aaron into the ditch. Jack woke up in a startle. Aaron was already running up the road in a yelling frenzy, " FUCKING WANKER!"
But the car was well out of sight...the tail lights disappearing from view.
Jackson, still carrying Jack came to his side, " Are you alright?"
Aaron placed his hand on his hips and turned, " Yeah...you?...HOWS Jack...?"
"We're fine...did you see the make of the car..."
Aaron shook his head, still feeling worked up, " Nah...it's too dark...lets just get home, yeah"
Xxxx
If nearly being knocked down by a car hadn't shaken them...then they were in for a much bigger shock.
Because as they carried on up the road...
...nothing would prepare them for what was to follow...
BUT MAYBE THAT'S ANOTHER STORY.
THE END
AUTHORS NOTE: HAVE BEEN IN A CAN'T BE ARSED MOOD AT THE MINUTE, SO SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY AGAIN! HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS FIC, AND A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO'VE READ IT AND EXPRESSED THEIR VIEWS OF IT. YOUR REVIEWS AND OPINIONS ALWAYS MAKE IT WORTHWHILE, AND I'M SURE I SPEAK FOR EVERYONE WHO IS AN AUTHOR ON HERE.
THANKS AGAIN, MARK xx
