"Baby Steps"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on a week or so later after Hitting Home

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

Paddy, Rhona, Jackson and Aaron were sat at the table in what was formerly the living room; there had still been room for a dining area downstairs when they needed it. Over time Aaron's pride had slowly disappeared, well in front of people he was comfortable with anyway. He didn't mind being bathed, fed and helped in general.

Jackson held up a piece of toast for Aaron as he was chatting with Paddy and Rhona. Aaron smirked and pulled a face as he watched Jackson then leaned to the toast and took a bite. Jackson turned to him and smirked. "What?" he asked with a chuckle.

Aaron scrunched his face "It's just all so casual..." he said with a mouthful.

"Well...it is...we've all had time to adjust...except you need to take one more leap and start going out more in public" Paddy replied.

Aaron sighed and let his head fall back into the head rest. "Really?"

"Really!" the three of them replied in unison.

"Morning!" Chas shouted as she opened the door.

They all turned and looked. "Hmm...good timing...might try that then...see ya" Aaron flicked both eyebrows up with a sigh and turned in his chair to head back out in the door she just came through.

Chas frowned and stood in front of him. "Stop being so rude will ya? I've come to see ya and I got you a bacon butty..." she explained then actually realised they were just finishing breakfast. She felt slightly flat after realising that. "Oh..."

"Sorry Chas...I didn't know you were coming..." Paddy apologised.

"And I didn't realise I had to call ahead first!" she snapped.

"No...No..." Rhona shook her head quickly. "You don't"

Chas relaxed with a heavy sigh and sat beside her son on a free seat. "I didn't eat this morning anyway, so I might aswell not let it go to waste"

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, you do that won't ya?"

"Oh stop being so mardy will ya?" she shook her head. "Anyway, Diane's told me to pass on a message that she expects you all to be in the woolie tonight for the New Years Eve celebrations"

Jackson gave a supportive look to Aaron as he knew as soon as those words came out of Chas' mouth; Aaron's stomach would rise up into his throat. "We'll be there" Jackson nodded.

"Good, I'll see you all then, then" she smiled and quickly stood. "I was just passing on my way to the pub...see how you were doing"

Aaron looked up to her. "Hardly on your way is it? More of a diversion..."

Chas sighed and turned to leave, as she opened the door Jackson got up and followed her quickly and closed the door behind him once he was outside. "I'm sorry Chas; he's been like that all morning, sarcastic, winding people up"

Chas turned to face him with a smile. "I wouldn't worry kid...he's been like that for as long as I can remember...I just wish for once he would be serious and realise that I'm just worried, scared you know this is all a massive change and I just feel like I'm being left out...I'm a grown woman...how pathetic does that sound?"

Jackson shook his head and his eyes squinted from the bright sunlight. "It's not pathetic, but I' am sorry if I've contributed to you feeling like that"

Chas shook her head and half turned away. "No it's him Jackson..." she looked sad and walked away.

When Jackson walked back inside, Paddy and Rhona had gone – to work he'd assumed. "Right..."

"Right what?" Aaron asked as he turned to face his boyfriend.

"Do you realise how horrible you are to your mum?" he asked.

"Yes" he simply replied.

"Well pack it in!" Jackson raised his voice. "She was so close to tears out there because of you, stop pushing her away for god sake!"

"If I let her in, she'll go again and I'll be right back to square one" Aaron told him calmly.

"No she won't, you're her son. Just stop acting like a child and act like a man alright...because you and I both know that you can be...and Aaron...I really want us to have a good night tonight...but if you don't wanna go then that's fine but at least just think about it"

Aaron hesitantly nodded.

"That's all I ask" Jackson smiled. "Do you need anything before I go to work?"

"Just need to be put on the bed and you can put the telly on if you don't mind?"

Jackson shook his head and walked closer to him and undid his straps and went about carrying him onto the bed, after putting the TV on, he made sure he was comfortable and left.

Jeremy Kyle was on in the background and Aaron looked around the room and sighed with a heavy heart.