Aaron felt a tap on his shoulder 'Aaron', he turned round to see his Dad standing in front of him.

'Oh hi. You alright?'

'Yeah I'm good thanks. Everything went well then by the looks of it?'

'Yeah, I mean, well he said yes and here we are.'

'So you've had a good day then?'

Aaron who had been looking round the room finally located him what he had been searching for. Smiling he replied 'Yeah it's been brilliant. Come on, I'll introduce you to Jackson.'

Jackson was stood at the edge of the dance-floor chatting to some of his mates. Seeing Aaron walking towards him he excused himself, instantly realising who the mystery man following behind him was.

'Alright?'

'Yeah. Jackson this is Gordon Livesy, my dad. Dad this is Jackson Walsh...my husband.'

Hearing those words Jackson beamed. 'Hi, good to finally meet you.'

'I'm just nipping to the loo, I'll be back in a minute.' Aaron let him hand brush across Jackson's upper arm as he dashed off.

'So Jackson, it's nice to finally put a face to the name, Aaron told me a lot about you when I saw him the other week.'

Chuckling Jackson replied 'Really? That doesn't sound like him.'

His laughter was returned 'No well I was pretty taken aback myself, the last time I saw him it was difficult to get a word out of him but then I suppose it's been a long time...too long. Anyway he seems to have grown up a lot. I know you two have been together a while so I guess a lot of that's down to you.'

Shaking his head Jackson put him straight 'Mr Livesy, don't get me wrong, I love your son, really I do and we've been through a lot together but any growing up he's done is all his own work. I don't know what he's told you...'

'About the accident you mean?' Jackson nodded 'Not a lot, I got the feeling he doesn't really like to talk about it but I thought I should ask, I spoke to Chas after it happened and she told me a bit. All I really got out of him was that you were paralysed but you put a lot of work in and managed to recover eventually. I could tell from the way he spoke about it that it must have been extremely difficult for you both'

'Yeah it was, it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life, but what Aaron wouldn't have told you is that he's the reason we got through it and that I recovered. When I found out I was paralysed I tried to break up with him, I didn't want him to be stuck with a cripple but he wouldn't have it. He stuck by me and he was so strong. I wanted to give up so many times but he was always there helping me through and pushing me to go a bit further. Honestly if he hadn't been around there's no way I'd be standing here now.'

At that moment Aaron returned from the toilet. 'What are you two talking about?'

Not wanting to embarrass him and knowing his Dad would understand Jackson lied 'Just telling your Dad how you tricked me into marrying you today!'

'Oh yeah, you complaining?'

'Nope!'

Aaron took Jackson's hand in his, squeezing it tightly. It was moments like these when Jackson knew that what Aaron's Dad had said was right; he had grown up so much since they first met. That scared boy he had met four and a half years ago would never even have considered giving his Dad another chance, too eager to hate him for abandoning him and sure he would never love a gay son anyway. Now here he was, making an effort to build bridges and not trying to hide their relationship to do it.

They continued to make small talk for the next five minutes or so; feeling the conversation become slightly strained, after all it was still early days for the father and son who had gone years without communicating, Jackson spotted someone coming towards them who he knew could help out.

'Mr Livesy, let me introduce you to my mum, Hazel.'

Gordon held his hand out to shake but a slightly tipsy Hazel threw her arms around him. 'No need for the formalities, we're practically family now. Gordon, isn't it? I can see where Aaron gets those good looks from. When I first met him I said to myself, I said Hazel that boy must have some good genes cos we all know he doesn't normally make the effort to doll himself up...'

Knowing he could count on his mum to keep things ticking over for a while Jackson led Aaron towards the bar and ordered them a couple of pints.

'You sure that's a good idea?' Aaron said, looking back at his bewildered looking father. Hazel had never exactly been shy in her criticism of Chas or Jerry's parenting and Aaron had mentioned his father's short-comings in that department more than once.

'Don't worry, I warned her when we got here that he was coming and made her promise to be on her best behaviour.'

'And since when does your mother watch what she says no matter what anyone tells her?'

'Since I blackmailed her!'

'Oh yeah, with what?'

'No grandchildren.'

Jackson watched Aaron practically spit his drink out of his mouth and struggle to regain his voice.

'You what?'

'Well what did you think she'd be expecting now that we're no longer gonna be living in sin?' Jackson was smiling to himself, secure in the knowledge that he'd got exactly the reaction he'd know he would.

'Well I...I don't know...you're gonna have to tell her!'

'Tell her what babe?'

Now it was Aaron's turn to smile, knowing his act had worked and the response Jackson was expecting.

'That she's gonna have to wait a couple of years. I mean, we are newlyweds so I'm gonna want you to myself for...ooh at least a year. Then we'll have to start thinking about whether we're gonna adopt or use a surrogate and how we'll pay for it...'

Watching Jackson cough and splutter Aaron couldn't help but laugh as he patted him on the back.

'Are you serious?' Jackson finally composed himself.

'Yeah I am. I've been planning today for weeks and I knew at some point the kids thing would come up so I've been thinking about it.'

'And?'

'And I know you, I knew you'd want them at some point and I realised that I do to. You're brilliant with kids, you'll be an amazing Dad and I'll learn cos you'll be there to help me.'

Taking the drink from Aaron's hand and putting it down with his own Jackson grinned from ear to ear as he pulled him towards him and planted a kiss on his lips.

Breathless having been caught off guard it was Aaron who reluctantly pulled away first, his smile mirroring that of his husband; 'Wow! What was that for?'

'I thought after this afternoon that there was no way you could surprise me any more or make me any happier than you already had but it seems I was wrong.'

'Ah well, in that case I suppose you do owe me a thank you.' Aaron just about managed before their lips met once again.