Prodigal Son – Chapter 8
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV.
-O-
To my friend Sharon: the 'in joke' is for you (you'll know what it is when you begin reading!)
-O-
Aaron breezed in through the front door of Dale Head and looked at Jackson, who was sitting at the table, sorting through some paperwork.
"How did it go with the physio-terrorist today, then?" Jackson quipped.
Aaron held his arm in the air, "Look, no strapping. I should be able to leave it off as long as I take it steady and don't put too much strain on my wrist."
"That's great babe, I was hoping your hands will be working perfectly for the exchange of rings."
"What're you doing?"
"Tax returns," Jackson grimaced, "I want to tidy up the loose ends before our wedding, so that I can relax on our honeymoon."
Aaron had a smirk on his handsome face, "I don't know that I can let you relax!"
"No change there then, you don't usually," Jackson was always the king of sarcasm.
"Just as well I've got a limp wrist...otherwise I'd give you a good slap for that remark!"
"Ooh, a limp wrist," Jackson adopted a high voice, "How camp."
Aaron sneered, "My legs are still in good working order though, I could always give you a good kicking!"
"Don't go giving me grounds for a divorce before we're even married!" Jackson stood up.
Aaron suddenly turned romantic and pulled Jackson to him to look into his chocolate-coloured eyes, "I'd rather make love than war," he said, as he kissed his life-partner. Jackson was used to Aaron's swift change of moods and he melted into the kiss.
"Good, so the wedding's still on then," Jackson chuckled.
"You're stuck with me Walsh, God help you!" Aaron laughed along with the only man in the world that had ever mattered to him.
"How did the trip into town go with your brother? I'm surprised you agreed to give him a lift, I thought you'd leave him stranded on the pavement," Jackson knew that Aaron was still having a hard time accepting that his brother had changed.
"Well, he needs physio too, so it killed two birds with one stone," Aaron made light of his good deed towards his brother.
"You'll be calling him 'bro' before I know it!" Jackson said, with a smile.
"Now, hold on," Aaron was keen to get his point across, "He's a long way from being a good brother to me and maybe he never will be."
"Well, at least your on speaking terms, that's something," Jackson's voice of reason surfaced, "I know it will take you a long time to trust him again, if you ever do. I just want you to know that I'll stick by you, whatever you decide. Whether Eden's in your life or not, I always will be, as your husband."
"Oh, that reminds me, I've got the rings from the jewellers," Aaron said, as an afterthought, "Eden was finished with his treatment first, so I gave him the money and he hobbled down there to pay them the balance and collect the rings while I was having my physio session."
"You actually let your brother loose with some cash and jewellery?" Jackson was amazed.
"Well, I figured that I owed it to him to try to trust him again, after all, he did save my life. In any case, it wasn't as if he could do much of a runner on crutches!"
Jackson kissed Aaron again, "What's that for?" Aaron raised his eyebrows.
Jackson looked at Aaron fondly, "That's for being perfect!"
"Give over, you Muppet," Aaron looked bashful.
"If I ever had any doubts that I was doing the right thing in marrying you, then you've just dispelled them all. I'm so proud of you at this moment, I wish I could marry you a hundred times over!" Jackson's eyes were moist.
"You old softie!" Aaron tried to make fun of his husband, but the water welling up in his eyes confirmed that he was just as emotional as Jackson.
"I'm glad Franco is coming to the wedding with Eden," Jackson observed.
"Yeah, Eden seems different since he took up with the fireman," Aaron had a smirk which told Jackson that a saucy remark was coming, "I'm sure he loves sliding down his pole!"
"AARON!" Jackson chided his husband, "...and you call your brother a 'dirty git'!"
"Well, you know what Eden's always been like," Aaron tried to defend himself, but back-tracked a little, "Still, he seems happy and if it makes him a better person, who am I to complain?"
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It was a big day in Emmerdale village: the first gay wedding at the parish church. All of Aaron and Jackson's family and friends were there in their finery and the happy couple were smartly dressed in matching light-grey suits with crisp white shirts and sky-blue ties. Hazel, dressed in a smart purple two-piece with a floral design on the jacket, started with the waterworks from the off: she was overjoyed that her son had found the love of his life.
Eden walked into the church on his crutches with Franco by his side and Aaron turned and smiled at them. They smiled back and Franco gave him a little wave, while Eden nodded as he could not wave for fear of falling over. Aaron surprised himself when he found that he not only wanted Eden to be there, he was actually pleased that his brother would share in the most important day of his life.
As they stood in front of Jude at the altar, Aaron looked at Jackson almost as if it was the first time that he had ever seen him. He looked so attractive in his sharp suit, with his dark curly hair immaculate and his designer stubble neatly trimmed. His white teeth were gleaming and no-one would ever be able to wipe the smile off his gorgeous face.
Jackson was also studying Aaron intently. He had never looked so fantastic before. His handsome face seemed to have taken on a special glow. He was clean-shaven, with his hair slightly longer than his customary shaven-headed look and Jackson thought that he was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen. He could not believe that he was about to commit to such a perfect vision of love.
Jude asked Adam to present the rings to Aaron and Jackson and then asked Aaron to make his vows and place his ring on Jackson's finger and say a few words. Aaron was almost choking with emotion but he managed to make his speech, "Jackson, I give you this ring as a symbol of my love, loyalty and trust. You are the one person in this world that I thought I'd never find, but I'm eternally thankful that I did. Please be in my life, as my partner, so that we can live as one. I promise to love you, cherish you and keep you safe from harm, for the rest of our lives."
Jackson was close to tears, but he managed to hold it together to make his own speech as he placed his ring on Aaron's finger, "Aaron, I give you this ring as a symbol of my never-ending love and devotion. You are that one special person who makes my heart skip a beat every day. Please be with me from this day forward, to always be by my side. I give you all my love and all that I have. I promise to protect you from harm for as long as we live."
Jude looked at the two of them standing in front of him with a warm smile on his face, "Aaron and Jackson, you have made your commitment to each other in front of God and in the presence of witnesses. You are now legally married in the eyes of the law and you can now go forward and enjoy your new lives together. You may kiss your groom."
Aaron and Jackson embraced and kissed as the congregation erupted in applause and loud cheers. History had been made in the Dales!
As the newlyweds stepped outside, Pearl led the confetti-throwing and Paddy took some photos. Luckily, they had picked a perfect day with plenty of sunshine and a pleasant, balmy breeze. Aaron and Jackson were both beaming from ear to ear and their friends and family were so happy for them. They knew that a special moment in their lives was making memories that would last forever.
The reception was held at the Woolpack. Aaron looked on the pub as a 'family business' and wanted his mother and Diane to benefit from the profits. A lovely spread had been laid on and Marlon had baked a three-tier cake with the figures of two grooms on the top. There was much hilarity as Aaron and Jackson held the knife to cut the cake together and they helped to hand round the slices on plates.
As the evening progressed, Chas took Aaron to one side, "I just wanted to thank you for letting Eden come, love. It meant a lot to him...and to me."
"I couldn't refuse to let your favourite son come, could I?" Aaron laughed.
"That's not fair!" Chas exclaimed, "You're both equally important to me, I don't have a favourite. I may not have been the best mother in the world, to either of you, but I'm trying to put that right."
"I know," Aaron smiled at his mother, "Eden and I have a lot to be thankful for. You accepted both of us when you found out that we were gay, I bet a lot of mothers would have been shell-shocked to have two gay sons."
"Do you think you'll ever have a proper relationship with him? He's trying so hard to make a fresh start, with Franco's help, of course."
"I told him, he needs to let Franco guide him. He's lucky to have found him, he's a top bloke. Just like my Jackson."
"Aww!" Chas' goofy grin came to the fore, "You really do love that man, don't you."
"Yes," Aaron had a far-away look in his eyes, "He's more than I could ever have hoped for, Mum: he's my world."
Chas looked at her eldest son with pride. She had two boys who made her life complete and she knew that there was still a chance that Aaron would accept Eden as a brother.
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A taxi dropped Aaron and Jackson off at the foot of a path leading up to their villa on Formentera Island. It was a fairly simple white-walled, oblong building. One corner had an arch on one side with two arches on another side, at right angles to the first. A veranda sat under these arches that also led to French doors which allowed access to the building. The villa was surrounded by trees which were growing out of the rather dry looking earth.
"Mmm, looks nice," Jackson observed as they approached up the shallow slope and came to the two steps leading up to the veranda. It was hot and they were both dressed in only colourful singlets and shorts.
"I hope it's gonna be OK," Aaron replied, "Like it or not, we're here for the next two weeks!"
They unlocked the door and stepped inside to be greeted by a sparse, white-walled room with a sofa, a table and four chairs and a stone fireplace in one corner. There was a combined light and punka-fan in the centre of the ceiling. A door led off to a little hallway which in turn led to a small kitchen, bathroom and the one bedroom.
"It's not Buckingham Palace," quipped Jackson, "But like my mum said, it's big enough for the two of us."
Aaron decided to investigate and, when he reached the bedroom, he called out to his husband, "Look babe, there's two single beds!"
Jackson followed Aaron and saw what his husband was looking at, "Oh, not a double one then."
"Looks like they're fixed in place, too. How am I going to get my conjugal rights?" Aaron complained.
"We'll have to squeeze into one of the singles," Jackson chuckled.
"Looks like we're in for some acrobatic manoeuvres!" Aaron licked his lips.
"I'm game if you are!" Jackson pushed Aaron onto the bed and kissed him fiercely.
"Oi, careful," Aaron complained, "You know I've got a bad arm!"
"Aww, let me kiss it better, baby," Jackson proceeded to shower little feather-light kisses on Aaron's hand and then continued up his arm until he reached the shoulder where he took a gentle bite with his teeth. Aaron moaned. Then Jackson continued kissing up Aaron's neck until he reached his ear lobe and he nibbled on that, giving Aaron hot tingles which shot through his whole body. They undressed each other slowly, gone were the early days of exploration: they knew every inch of each other's bodies, but there was still the wonderful excitement of that first touch of skin on skin. Naked now, they lost themselves in a tangle of limbs as they moved into numerous positions on the single bed, giving and receiving exquisite pleasure. They made love all night and most of the next day, hungry for each other and unwilling to let go of the passionate, sexual urgency that they always felt for one and other.
After many hours of wild, abandoned rapture, they lay still and quiet in each other's arms.
"You know when I said getting married was just another piece of paper," Aaron said, in hushed tones.
"Yeah, of course I do," Jackson replied.
"I was talking crap...as usual!"
"Well, I'm glad I didn't say that, I'd get a clip round the ear!" Jackson propped himself up to stare into Aaron's heart-stopping blue eyes.
"No you wouldn't. I might threaten you...most of the time actually, but I'm all talk. I'd never hurt you, Jackson, I hope you know that."
"Yeah, I do. I just said 'I do' again...I think it's stuck!" Jackson laughed.
"Muppet!" Aaron chuckled, "No, when I said I was talking a load of crap, I meant that it's not just a piece of paper. Ever since the ceremony, I've felt different...sort of...content."
"I think I know what you mean," Jackson smiled, "The same as before, but just more settled...happier."
"I've never been as happy as I am at this moment. I love you so much Jackson." Aaron kissed his husband, just because he could.
"And I love you too, Aaron. I'll love you forever."
THE END