Prodigal Son – Chapter 2
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV.
-O-
"I ran into Declan today," Jackson addressed Aaron as he came through the door on arrival home from work.
"Hi Honey...how's your day been?" Aaron tried his hand at sarcasm, but Jackson usually had him beaten on that front.
"Sorry!" Jackson apologised and gave his husband a peck on the lips, "It's just that I'm excited."
"Oh," Aaron's smirk was unmistakable, "I'm in for a treat tonight then, am I?"
"Will you listen for a minute?" Jackson was becoming agitated as he wanted to tell Aaron his news, "Declan has put some work my way, but the best thing is that Dale Head is vacant again and he said that he'd be happy for us to move back in there. What do you think?"
Aaron pondered for a moment, "Won't it be a bit like taking a step backwards?"
Jackson suddenly looked a bit deflated, "I thought you'd be pleased," he pouted as he looked into Aaron's beautiful baby blues.
"I AM pleased, especially that you've got work coming in, but we moved into Dale Head once before and then things went tits-up, didn't they?"
Jackson chuckled, "You think the place is cursed, do you?"
"Not exactly," Aaron grimaced, "but it just feels like we've been here before, that's all."
Jackson took Aaron's hands in his own, "Maybe it'll be better this time and, anyway, your mum wants us out from under her feet, doesn't she?"
"There is that...and it will be handy for work," Aaron knew that Jackson would not understand that statement, he also had news for his husband but Jackson had stolen his thunder.
"What do you mean?" Jackson's quizzical expression made Aaron smile and he almost felt like prolonging the agony and teasing him for a while.
"I bumped into Cain today," Aaron explained, "and he asked if I could put a few hours in at the garage."
"That's great, babe," Jackson was pleased for his other half, "but, will you have the time to do that, what with the work on the farm?"
"That's all sorted now, Adam's managed to take on another bod to help out, so I'll be able to resume at the garage now."
"...and you said 'we've been here before' when I said about moving into Dale Head. This is déjà vu all round, isn't it?"
"I suppose it is, if I knew what you were talking about!"
Jackson chuckled, "Déjà vu? It means the feeling that you've done something before."
"Like 'Groundhog Day', you mean?"
"Yeah...something like that, any more news on your mother's mystery guest?"
"No," Aaron looked pensive, "She's staying tight-lipped about that. I don't know what the big cover-up is all about. Anyone would think she's not allowed to say anything under the Official Secrets Act."
"Oh well, if we do move back into Dale Head, I don't suppose it will affect us much anyway."
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Chas was behind the bar, but things were fairly quiet in the Woolpack so she was twiddling her thumbs. Aaron and Jackson came bounding through the door and headed straight for the bar, "Hi Mum!" Aaron looked chirpy as he looked around the pub, "A bit dead in here tonight, isn't it?"
"Hello love, you look full of the joys of spring. Two pints, is it?" Chas asked.
"Yeah, thanks," Aaron was beaming from ear to ear, "We've just signed on the dotted line with Declan, so you've got your wish, we're moving out tomorrow."
"Awww," Chas pouted, "I'll miss you two being around."
"I thought you couldn't wait to see the back of us," Jackson chimed in.
"That's not fair!" Chas placed the two drinks in front of the lads, "I've loved having you to stay, but like I said before, I'll be able to offer someone a roof over their heads now. Have these on me," Chas pointed to the beers.
"Result!" Jackson picked up his glass and took a swig.
"A roof over their heads?" Aaron looked directly at his mother, "Have you taken to inviting people in off the streets?"
"Not exactly," Chas was clamming up again, "Let's just say this person needs someone to vouch for them and say that they've got somewhere to go."
"Why all the secrecy?" Aaron still did not have a clue as to the identity of Chas' intended tenant.
"Look love, I don't want to discuss it in the bar," Chas was still staying tight-lipped, "Meet me out the back later and I'll tell you what's going on."
"At last," Aaron replied, "We finally get to know the identity of the mystery guest. I'll just be pleased to find out who they are."
Chas looked sceptical, "I'm not sure you'll be so pleased when I tell you!"
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Later, in the back room, Chas sat Aaron and Jackson down and took a deep breath, she knew the statement that she was about to make could drive a wedge between her and the boys, but she wanted them to know of her decision and it needed to come from her and not a third party.
"It's like this," Chas hesitantly began, "I've been visiting Eden in prison."
Aaron's expression suddenly hardened, "You what? That little scumbag...what have you been doing that for?"
Chas could see Aaron's hackles rise at the mention of his half-brother's name, "He's my son, Aaron, just as you are. I can't just wash my hands of him."
"The little toe-rag ripped you off, Mum! You'd be entitled to wash your hands of him...I have!"
"He had a good reason to do what he did, he was desperate," Chas was adamant, "I know he did wrong, but he's really repentant now. I can see his spell inside has changed him."
"He's got you fooled again, hasn't he? Apart from stitching you up, have you forgotten what he tried to do to me and Jackson?"
Jackson just nodded his agreement to Aaron's statement.
Chas looked a little sheepish but she continued, "He regrets that too."
"I bet!" Aaron had a face like thunder, "He's just playing you, Mum! I suppose he's due to be let out and this place is a convenient bolt-hole for him. You're a mug!"
"No, Aaron, like I said...he's changed. I really think he deserves another chance: I'm not giving up on him, not again."
"This is not happening!" Aaron jumped up and ran out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Chas looked at Jackson with a grimace, "Hmm, that went well."
Jackson rose to his feet, "I'll talk to him."
"Thanks love, if anyone can calm him down, you can."
"That doesn't mean I agree with this," Jackson looked Chas in the eye, "I can see Aaron's point of view...for once."
Jackson found Aaron lying face-up on their bed, his face still hadn't changed and he looked like he wanted to go out and smack someone.
Aaron looked at Jackson as he entered the room, "Can you believe this? I think I was right, us moving into Dale Head is cursed! Eden...of all people! I never knew my mum was such a soft touch."
"Calm down," Jackson climbed on the bed and put his hand on his husband's shoulder, "Your mum thinks she's doing the right thing. She wants to give Eden the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you should try to cut him a bit of slack."
"A bit of slack?" Aaron spat out the words, "He turns up here out of the blue, makes a pass at you and steals a bundle of cash from my mother, how many chances is he entitled to after all that?"
"As many chances as you've had?" Jackson raised his eyebrows and looked directly at his other half.
Aaron studied Jackson's eyes, "What's that supposed to mean?"
"You know what it means! If I hadn't given you second chances then we wouldn't both be lying on this bed right now, would we?"
"Don't you care that Eden tried to split us up? You should be just as pissed-off with him as I am!"
"Look, Aaron, he's never going to my favourite person after what he did, but your mum obviously loves him and is prepared to give him one more chance."
"Well," Aaron still would not budge...he could be as stubborn as a mule when he wanted to be, "If she's expecting me to give him the time of day then she's going to be sorely disappointed."
Jackson knew that Aaron needed time to get his head round the situation, so he did not push it any further.
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The next day, Aaron and Jackson moved into Dale Head, as arranged. However, news of Eden's possible return to the village had soured the occasion somewhat, but Jackson was determined to put a brave face on things and he decided not to mention Aaron's brother and just try to enjoy the moment. The house was furnished, but the cheap and cheerful wardrobes and chest of drawers had seen better days and the front of a drawer came off in Jackson's hand. He quickly summed up the problem and went to get his toolkit. As he was setting about the drawer with a screwdriver, Aaron appeared from downstairs with two cups of tea.
"What're you doing?" Aaron had an inquisitive look on his face.
"Putting this back together," Jackson replied as he tightened a screw.
"You should have called the landlord for that," Aaron said, "Isn't he supposed to fix things?"
"I can't go calling Declan for a simple little job like this," Jackson smirked, "Besides, he already knows there's someone in this house with a screw loose!"
Aaron scowled and held one of the cups aloft, "Have you tried 'hot tea shampoo'?"
"Don't you dare!" Jackson quickly jumped to his feet, "If you injure the handyman, you really will have to call in the landlord to sort things out."
"I think the handyman needs to demonstrate just how 'handy' he is!" Aaron was smirking and he pulled Jackson to him, suddenly changing from sullen to sultry in an instant.
Jackson was so aware by now of his husband's mood swings that he didn't bat an eyelid, "I think I could just manage to squeeze in another client today."
They laughed as they fell onto the bed together. It seemed that Jackson's do-it-yourself would have to wait for a while.
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Next morning, when Jackson awoke, he opened his eyes to see Aaron staring out of the window, "What are you looking at?" he asked.
Aaron turned around to face Jackson, "Nothing!" he said.
"There must be SOMETHING out there," Jackson replied, sarcastically.
"You know what I mean, nothing in particular."
"Come back to bed," Jackson pulled back the duvet to allow Aaron to climb in.
Jackson's arms wrapped around his husband and he gave him a little kiss, "You seemed a bit fitful last night, babe, you're not sickening for something are you?"
"No...I'm just sickening!" Aaron tried to cover up his mood with a bit of humour.
"It's Eden, isn't it?" Jackson was no fool, "You're still wound up about your mum inviting him to the Woolpack."
"I can't keep anything from you, can I?"
"Lucky guess!" Jackson smiled at his ever-loving, "Don't let it bother you, babe. There's nothing you can do to stop your mum from taking him in and at least you're here to keep an eye on things."
"I suppose you're right...as always," Aaron gave Jackson a look which was half smile, half grimace.
"Anyway, forget about your dear brother for a minute, have you given any more thought to what we were talking about last night?"
Aaron cast his mind back to the events of the previous evening. He and Jackson had been up late as they had been discussing renewing their vows, since gay weddings in church had become legal, "I dunno, I still don't see the point when were already married."
"What we have now is a civil partnership," Jackson was being pedantic, "I think it would be nice to make it official in church, just like straight couples do."
"It wouldn't make any difference to me...I mean, I'd still love ya, just the same. What would another piece of paper prove?"
"We know we love each other," Jackson was trying to bring Aaron around to his way of looking at it, "I just think that being 'properly married' would show the world that we are committed, you know: together for life."
Aaron knew that the idea meant a lot to Jackson and he looked into those beautiful brown eyes that he adored more than anything on Earth, "I'll think about it," he said, with a wry smile.