"Hitting Home"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on a week or so later after Beginning Of The End

# Disclaimer – I do not own Emmerdale or any of the characters

Chas was stood outside Smithy cottage with her arms folded against her chest as she tried to keep warm in the winter cold. She heard the front door open and Paddy walked out with two cups of steaming coffee. "What you doing out here?" he asked.

"Those builders are doing my head in Paddy, all the decorating is done, they had better not ruin it, and what's taking them so long anyway, the medical support thingy whoever he is, is coming round to check things over and if he comes and there still here..." she sighed loudly.

"Chas...calm down, as for the decorating and alterations, I don't think Aaron is going to care, well he will with the alterations because it'll help him but he's never been a one for decoration" he chuckled.

Chas took one of the mugs from him and held it in her hands. "I know I just want it to be all done...Thankyou Paddy; I mean that, I dunno how I'd have done this if it wasn't for you"

"Well it is his home, I thought about it properly and I wanted to do this, besides there's no major change...I'll just be living upstairs a lot more that's all" he reassured her.

Chas nodded with a smile. "I just want it to be right for him"

Paddy placed his hand on her shoulder. "It will be"

In the quiet hospital room, Jackson was waking up in the chair beside Aaron's bed. He smiled as he watched him sleeping. 'So gorgeous when you sleep' he thought to himself. He sat back and watched him some more before he sat forward and stroked his cheek. He watched Aarons eyes flicker and he woke up. "Hey" Jackson spoke softly.

Aaron smiled. "How long have you been awake?" he asked.

"About five, maybe ten minutes, I just sat watching you"

Aaron chuckled then gave him a serious look. "Today's the day eh?"

Jackson nodded with a smile. "Certainly is, you looking forward to it?"

Aaron breathed in and nodded. "Yeah" he let out a breath. "I 'am actually, a bit nervous"

"Why?" Jackson wondered.

"Because I've got a builder and a woman I can't stand most of the time looking after me" he joked.

"Ha, my sides are splitting, and anyway we know what we're doing, don't you worry about us, you're in safe hands I promise you"

Aaron smiled and turned his head and kissed Jackson's hand that was still caressing his cheek slowly.

-LATER THAT DAY-

The taxi drove off and Aaron and Jackson were met by Chas, Paddy, and Adam. Aaron looked genuinely happy to be back, Jackson though had to double check he was smiling, he had just gotten used to sadness, and it had become a rarity for Aaron to be happy these days under the circumstances. But when he smiled so did Jackson.

"This is brilliant" Adam beamed with a huge smile on his face. "Come here you!" he said to Aaron.

Aaron smiled and moved towards Adam and he was met by a massive friendly hug that he appreciated so much.

"How you doing mate?" Aaron asked.

"Oh you know me mate, fine as always"

Aaron smiled. "Good and what about you two, whats that look for you look worried to death?"

"Me?" Chas asked in a high pitched tone.

"Yes you" he laughed.

"Oh love I just hope you like it – we both do" she looked at Paddy and he agreed.

"Well I won't know until someone opens the door and lets me go in" Aaron smirked.

Aaron moved up the ramp leading to the side door, further along the house away from the front door, but this was now his main entrance. As soon as he moved inside his mood plummeted he felt guilty because his situation had changed not only his own life but Paddy's too, it was his house, now it just looked like the hospital, well downstairs anyway. Chas rushed in front of him and pointed into what was the kitchen. "That's the wet room now and the living room is that aswell as where you sleep"

"Obviously the bed tells it all.." he replied.

"Yeah alright...I thought you'd be pleased?" she sighed.

Aaron decided to pretend and he looked at her and smiled. "Yeah. I'am...sorry. Paddy..." he called.

"Yes mate?" Paddy asked as he walked round to him.

"Thankyou so much" Besides the feelings of guilt for changing his home, he was grateful he'd even decided to do it.

"No problem at all" he smiled.

"I'm going to get some drinks, Paddy I could use a hand" Chas said as she walked to the doorway leading to the wet room but before that was an additional new stairway leading upstairs. The one at the main door was still there but the entrance to what was the kitchen was blocked off.

"Uh not for me Chas I better be heading off, got a lot on at the farm"

"Okay" she called as she was halfway up the stairs.

"I'll drop in later mate if that's alright?" Adam asked.

"Sure, we'll be in" Jackson replied.

"I think he was talking to me." He eyed Jackson then looked back at Adam. "Yeah I'll be here"

"Great, see you both in a bit" Adam said as he walked back out the door.

Not long after Adam left, Paddy and Chas came back down with the drinks and Chas gasped. "What you doing?"

Jackson was carrying Aaron over to the bed and he turned his head to look at her and gave her a confused look. "Carrying my boyfriend to the bed so he can relax, I thought the sight was obvious"

"Yeah well you should have shouted one of us" she said as she put her drink down and rushed over as Jackson laid Aaron down. "Move please"

Jackson sighed and did as he was asked and he looked at Paddy who only shrugged in reply.

"You alright there?" she asked her son.

"Well my head feels comfy, nice soft pillows I assume Jackson chose them" he smirked.

"Hey you, I did actually and anyway you don't look comfy" she said quickly and began adjusting his pillows causing his head to flop to the side.

Jackson watched the frustration intensify on Aaron's face and he turned his head because he knew what was coming.

"Mum! Stop it, get off!" Aaron yelled.

Chas quickly stopped and looked at him. "I just wanted to help"

"Yes I know but I was fine, you have to stop before this gets too much to handle"

Chas was sad and she walked away and out of the door to the side of the bed. Aaron sighed. "You know what? I'd like to be alone, so if you don't mind, do one" he spoke quickly.

Jackson shot a look back at him. "Don't you think you're being a bit harsh?"

"Yeah I 'am leave me alone."

"Alright...alright...we'll be upstairs if you need us" Paddy told him.

"I won't." He was certain about that one.

Jackson looked at Paddy and they both began to leave the room.

Hours had passed and downstairs where Aaron was, was completely silent just as it was when Paddy and Jackson left him. Jackson walked down the stairs hoping his mood had changed. He popped his head into the room and knocked on the door. "Safe to come in?" he asked, noting Aaron was in the same position he was when he'd left him.

Aaron nodded and Jackson smiled as he walked into the room and pulled up a chair by Aaron's side.

"Or you could get on the bed?" Aaron asked.

"I thought you'd never ask" Jackson grinned as he forgot about the chair and walked around and laid on the bed next to him.

"I didn't think I had too" he smiled at him.

"What's going on Aaron?" Jackson asked.

"I dunno, I just feel guilty for changing Paddy's home"

"It's yours too" Jackson told him.

Aaron nodded as Jackson leaned up onto his elbow. "Let me do those pillows for you" his voice was quiet.

Aaron nodded to let him and he just lay watching him and their eyes met as Jackson was busy arranging them again. "What?" Jackson asked with a chuckle.

"I was just wondering when you were going to kiss me"

"Well now if you like?" Jackson smiled.

"Sounds good to me"

Jackson's smile widened and he moved closer to Aaron until their lips met and they passionately kissed. Once they stopped, Jackson shot up.

"What?" Aaron laughed.

"I got you something..." he said as he reached under the bed. "A belated Christmas present"

"Open it for me then" Aaron told him.

Jackson nodded and began opening it and then proudly unfolded the shirt and held it up.

Aaron frowned and smirked. "A checked shirt?"

"You don't like it?" Jackson asked.

"No..." he swayed his head from side to side as he thought. "I do...but I'm not wearing it"

Jackson smiled and leaned in to kiss him again.

To Be Continued...