CHAPTER 52
DISCLAIMER: I Do not own Emmerdale or it's characters, they belong to ITV
A/N: thanks for ALL the reviews and COMMENTS on the story, they mean SO much to me...xx
HOPE YOU ENJOY...xx
Aaron stared at the display of his phone, come home now...Mum x, it was the third text now, Greg realised this and looked over his shoulder at the bar, " what's up...", Aaron shoved the phone back into his pocket, " nowt important...want another drink mate...", Aaron had stayed out at Bar West till 10.30, then drove home, after parking up he glanced toward Mill Cottage, all the lights were off...he shrugged and headed into Smithy to go to bed.
Meanwhile, Hazel was coming down the stairs at her place, in her dressing gown, the front door was being banged at continuously, " alright, ALRIGHT, where's the fire!", she called out annoyed at having been woken up, she pulled open the door to see Chas standing there on the step, " what are YOU doing here!" gasped Hazel, it was the last person she would of expected here, Chas pushed her way inside, " is he here...!" she cried, Hazel rolled her eyeballs closing the door, and folled her into the lounge, "who..."
"AARON...who else...he's not answering his phone...I've just come from the hospital...!", Hazel some what annoyed gaze softened a tad, " Hospital...whose laid up in there", Chas glared at her looking somewhat shocked, " GORDON of course...Aaron's dad...HE'S dying Hazel...has Aaron NOT SAID...", by the puzzled look Hazel gave her, Chas got her answer, " oh this is just Typical!", Jackson was then at the foot of the stairs, " what's ALL the noise about..." he spotted Chas, she looked abit upset, " is everything okay with Aaron!", he asked concern rising in him, Chas turned to him, " ohhh Aaron's okay no doubt...it's his Dad who is on his LAST legs..."
Aaron brushed his teeth at Smithy, and then rinsed his mouth out, before coming out the bathroom to come face to face with Paddy standing on the landing in his dressing gown and fluffy slippers, " blimey Paddy...taken up sleep walking now have yah!", Aaron smirked, Paddy's expression was rather glum, Aaron...haven't you got any of yah Mums texts...", Aaron nodded at him, pulling a face, " yep!..all 5 of them...why", Paddy pushed his specs up his nose, " it's...it's yah Dad...Chas had to call an ambulance...he's at the hospital..."
Aaron just stared at him...the info processing in his mind..." they rushed him in not that long after you left the village with Jackson anf Hazel earlier..." added Paddy, Aaron yawned, and headed off to his bedroom, " well I'll like to talk longer Pads, because how riviting this conversation is...I'm tired and want me bed..."
"AARON!..!" gasped Paddy, " did you NOT hear what I just said to yah..", Aaron paused at his bedroom door, and turned, " I HEARD what you said Paddy..." , and just as he was about to enter his room, his mobile sung to life in his pocket, Paddy pointed with a knowing smile at him, "that'll be your Mum...", Aaron pulled out his phone, and smiled smuggly at Paddy, " it's Jackson ACTUALLY" he took the call, "Hi ya...WHAT...WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S ROUND YOURS!...WHAT...NO I DIDN'T TELL YAH...ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT KEEP YOUR HAIR ON..." Aaron was rolling his eyes, " NO YOU SHUT UP...ALRIGHT SEE YOU IN A BIT...LIKE I HAVE ANY FLAMING CHOICE!" , he ended the call, Paddy looked up, " Sooo..what did he say..."
"Me Mum's round his...going on about HIM" snapped Aaron.
"your Dad..." asked Paddy, Aaron shook his head, "NO...YOU ARE ME DAD!", he said that with a hint of a smile...and Paddy smiled too...but it still didn't change the fact Gordon was at the hospital, "SO...what's..."
"Jackson's COMING to get me...INSISTING IN FACT...guess I better go wait for him...but I'm telling yah something Pads...NO ONE is making me SEE HIM!"
Aaron looked at his watch, as he stood in the dark outside Smithy, and as he looked up, he could see the flash of headlights swing around and the purr of Jackson's blue Van...leaning over and winding down the window, Jackson called out, " GET IN!"
Aaron obeyed and got in and sat next to his boyfriend in the van, Jackson looked at him eyebrowes pulling together, " why didn't yah tell me...WHY hide it from me..." Jackson was mad...Aaron bit his lip, but simply answered, " it was NOT important...as far as I WAS concerned...", Jackson shook his head in sheer disbelief, " WHAT...that yah DAD IS SERIOUSLY ILL!"
" HE'S been that ALL his sad life...what's the flaming difference..." told Aaron, Jackson was realising how deep the hate was embedded in Aaron concerning his Dad, " but...he's yah Dad..." Jackson said softly, Aaron faced him in the dark shadows of the van, " PADDY'S me dad...THAT MAN is just some sick old man dying in hospital...", Jackson sighed, " your's Mum's waiting...SHE'S upset...even if you don't care about Gordon...you SHOULD care about her!", Aaron swallowed before asking, " where is she...still at your's..."
"no" replied Jackson, " she's at the hospital..."
"with HIM...nah...I'll just wait until she comes home...", Aaron was about to leave the van, but Jackson grabbed his arm, " Aaron wait..." he hissed, " don't go...!", Aaron paused, and took his hand away from the door release, " why...what is there else to say...", Jackson slowly placed his hand on Aaron's thigh, " I'm...sorry the way I acted earlier...I were a div...Mum said YOU...you organised today...I didn't thank you, did I...", Aaron shook his head at him, " well...it was ALL for nowt anyways, you still don't want yah son...", Jackson looked up, " that's NOT true...I've COURSE I want him...but I wish YOU could just see it...how I see it...wanting the best for Jack..."
"and what's that, palming him off onto Jeff...let Jack call HIM dad...because he will..." warned Aaron, Jackson fell silent, and stared out the vans window toward the quiet dark village, Aaron sighed heavily, " sometimes I wish...I wish you never said owt...in Lanzarotte I mean...I wish you just kept yah trap shut about Jack...then that way...", he faced him, " I wouldn't of met him and got too...attached", Jackson swung his head around, " WHAT..." there was a hint of a pleased smile on Jackson's face, " Aaron Livesey...are you saying you love me son...", Aaron didn't know about love...that was a VERY big word...BIG feeling...that he knew he only had for Jackson...and Paddy in a different way but...he turned, " fond of...is more I was think of..." he corrected.
Jackson was still pleased...it was a big start after all, " look...if I say..." he swallowed, " If I say I'll...delay any plans...and I'm ONLY saying DELAY my plans...will you see yah dad...or Mum at least..." suggested Jackson as a compromise, Aaron wanted to say yes...but the very thought of seeing HIM in that hospital bed...but if Jackson delayed his plans...it would be worth it...wouldn't it..., " lets go then..." , he was really not sure...but he had said it now...Jackson beamed a smile and started the engine, Paddy was watching with a smile as the van pulled away out of the village, he let the net curtain go, and held his mobile to his ear, " don't worry Chas...he might be on his way..." he soothed hopefully.
Jackson drove him to the hospital in no time, and Aaron's stomach was doing somersaults...after parking up, Jackson switched off the engine, and turned, " I'll stay with yah...if it helps...", Aaron was too quiet, he just nodded and exited the van, Jackson came out the van and called to Aaron, " hey come here...", Aaron stood staring at him in the quiet hospital carpark, "what...", Jackson waved his hand, "COME HERE!" Aaron approached him, and no sooner had come at a breaths distance, Jackson grabbed him...and pulled him up against the van...both gazed into eachother eyes, " I LOVE you..." told Jackson seriously, " I know I don't say it as often as I should...but I do...", Aaron smiled at him sadly...but his blue eyes showed the love inside him...and they locked lips very gently...pulling away from the light clasp, Aaron looked up, " we better get in there...then..."
Jackson locked up the van, and followed his boyfriend into the hospitals main entrance...god Aaron was SO peeved...would he EVER see the back of a hospital this year, in the clinical corridor, they followed the route to reception, and atfer making some enquiries (Jackson did...Aaron remaining quiet) they headed off to the cancer unit, where Aaron could already see his mother sobbing in the corridor...a nurse was with her...Jackson immediately turned to Aaron already realising what might happen, Chas looked up at him...her make up smeared all over her face, " so NOW HE shows up..." she cried bitterly, Aaron came forward, " so where is HE..." he asked without interest.
"YOU TOO LATE AARON!...HE as you call him...HAS DIED!", Jackson's eyes widened, and instantly came to Aaron's side...not knowing how he'd react...Aaron stood there stark still...not really taking it in..."OI..." snapped Chas waving her hands in front of her son's staring eyes,
"DID YAH HEAR ME...YOUR SODDEN DADS DEAD!", Aaron still stood there...mouth open, so she resorted to grabbing his arms, and shaking him, " LISTEN ARE YOU DEAF!" she shouted, Jackson intervened " THAT'S ENOUGH CHAS!" he yelled angrily, Chas turned to him, " and what's all this got to do with YOU...", Jackson turned, " every thing about Aaron IS MY business...because I MAKE it my business...", Chas turned, " where's he gone..."
Both Jackson and Chas looked around the corridor...Aaron had vanished!
TBC
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