"Joint Efforts"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on after Baby Steps

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

Aaron shook his head quickly. "No I don't like that one" he told Jackson as he was stood getting ready a few metres away.

Jackson sighed and walked back to the CD player and changed the song.

"Nope, don't like that either"

Jackson frowned; after all he was trying to get ready for the party in the pub, he pressed the skip button yet again and looked at Aaron. "How about this one?"

Aaron scrunched his face and shook his head.

"Tough, it's staying on, we're gunna be late...now I'd like it if I can change now..."

"Okay" Aaron said simply and looked around the room as the music played; he couldn't tell if Jackson sensed it, but Aaron was winding him up all along, for the millionth time in one day.

Jackson removed his t-shirt and Aaron caught sight of his boyfriends amazing body, and he looked away, his lips pouted slightly as it began to sadden him. All he could do was try and remember how his skin felt, his warmth and its smoothness. It also got him thinking back to the old days when they used to get ready together for nights out and mess around and have a laugh, but those days were long gone.

"Will I do?" Jackson asked and then he sighed a little as he watched Aaron in his reflective state. "Aaron?"

Aaron heard him that time and looked up. "Sorry, what?" he asked.

"Will I do?" he repeated.

"Oh" Aaron smiled and looked at him. "You look fit...amazing, you always do" his smile widened and Jackson nodded with a grin.

Jackson turned around and walked quickly to the wardrobe and opened it, Aaron couldn't see what he was doing because the opened door was obstructing his view.

Aaron frowned. "What are you doing?" Seconds later the checked shirt that Jackson had bought Aaron for Christmas hung over the door.

"Ha!" the sarcasm was clear then Aaron's tone fell flat as he spoke again. "No."

Jackson immediately popped his head past the door with a massive grin on his face.

"The answers no Jackson" Aaron told him again.

"Oh C'mon just this once, then you never have to wear it again, promise" Jackson pleaded.

"No! Just get me my jumper and trackies, whats the point in making an effort when I'm stuck like this anyway?" Aaron replied

"Aar-" Jackson was cut off

"Don't Jackson just don't, Just get me changed and let's get this night over and done with."

Jackson quietly placed the shirt over the chair near him, and moved to get out Aaron's desired clothing. As Jackson walked back across to him, Aaron turned his head away completely so he didn't have to look at Jackson.

Jackson sighed. *Maybe it's a good thing Chas feels left out...better than feeling like this every day...* he thought and began to dress Aaron's numbed body.

A while later and with Aaron back in his chair and strapped in safely Jackson walked to the door and opened it "You all set then?" he asked.

"Suppose so..."

"Come on then, you will be alright you know" Jackson smiled warmly at him as he motioned head towards the door but Aaron wasn't making a move.

"Aaron, come on everyone's expecting us" he walked towards Aaron and kneeled down in front of him "Whats wrong?" he asked softly

"I don't wanna go, I don't like being forced into things, you'll have a better time going without me, just go"

Jackson stood up with a saddened expression on his face "Aaron please! I want to go with my boyfriend who I'm so proud of with the progress you've made...Its only family and friends Aaron they aren't gonna look at you any differently, please come on" Jackson pleaded.

Aaron leaned his head back and couldn't help but begin to laugh. "You call this progress? Really? Okay..." Aaron trailed off. "Jackson just go can't keep *everyone* waiting" he said sarcastically as then spun his chair around.

"Fine Aaron have it your way! Sit here and feel sorry for yourself" Jackson stormed out of the house and left Aaron with a loud bang of the wooden door and marched towards the pub.

"Pint please" Jackson asked as he propped himself up on a stool at the bar. Diane nodded and walked to get his pint.

"I said to myself, I said Hazel, my boy needs cheering up!" Hazel' distinct voice made its way through the bar as she hurried through to meet up with her son.

Jackson let out a long drawn out sigh and put his head in his hand and looked at Diane. "Oh god...Is she here already? It's too early" he sighed again.

"Afraid so love" the landlady replied with a smirk as she placed his pint down.

"For the sake of your life mother don't you dare say karaoke" he warned as he handed over his money to Diane.

Hazel frowned. "Oh come on I'm only messing, what's up with you? I mean I know...well I can guess but it's almost every day sunshine"

"Oh god!" he was frustrated. "Can I please just have this drink in peace please? If you wanna annoy someone, go to smithy and annoy that stubborn idiot out of the house, because my patience are wearing thin!"

"It'll be alright love, don't get yourself worked up" Diane intervened expressing her supportive side to Jackson.

Adam was sat with Mia on the opposite side of the pub and heard Jackson's frustrations; he made his excuses to Mia, and promised he'd be back soon and then left the pub.

"Worked up about what?" Chas piped up as she and the rest of the Dingles piled in.

Hazel frowned and turned to Chas. "Your son has decided he's not coming"

"Yeah I can speak for myself mum..." Jackson chided. "I'm sorry Chas; I tried my best I really did"

Chas sighed. "This has got to stop!" she said and turned to leave.

"No Chas, I wouldn't please...just enjoy your night yeah..."

Chas relaxed and turned back to him. "I'll give it an hour then I'm going up there"

"Alright that's fine." he smiled.

Adam walked in without knocking. "Alright lad?"

"Who invited you in?" Aaron asked quickly.

"I wasn't going to wait was I? Its brass monkeys out there!"

Aaron raised an eyebrow quickly. "Fair enough...Jackson sent you has he? Can't leave anything alone" he said flippantly.

"No he doesn't know I'm here, I just overheard him in the pub, they're worried about you, you know, and to be honest so am I" Adam explained.

"Well don't" Aaron replied.

"Aaron talk to me whats wrong mate?" Adam asked.

Aaron lowered his head "I'm not me Adam, I can't do anything anymore he should have left me when I gave him the chance. He deserves more than a moody cripple like me, I know deep down he regrets staying with me, he's only with me out of guilt. Everyone in the village look at me different I've seen them...don't try telling me they don't. They just give my pathetic smiles, I can't do it, and you're the only one who's not changed around me" he explained.

Adam stepped forward and sat on the arm of the chair next to Aaron and put his hand around the back of his neck. "He loves you so much; he wouldn't have stuck around if he didn't. They will look at you different Aaron, you come with a set of wheels now" Adam smirked."But that's all it is they don't look at you for any other reason, they know it's still Aaron. We all care you know"

Aaron smiled.

Adam stood up "So you gonna come to the pub with me hmm?" he asked with a smile

"Yeah ok but if I get one look I'm outta there"

"Deal" Adam agreed as he stepped towards the door waiting for his best mate.

"Adam! Wait" Aaron raised his voice.

"What?"

"That shirt there, over the chair...get it for me...and..." he fell silent and lowered his head.

"Of course mate" Adam smiled.

"Thanks" Aaron said quietly but looked back up at him and smiled slightly.

Several minutes later, Aaron and Adam were making their way down the village and Adam had a new found sense of the struggles Jackson and the family had in everyday life and that was just after he'd changed his shirt. "It looks good mate" he complimented.

"Cheers" Aaron replied.

"Listen mate, I was just wondering and don't kick off alright...but why have you come to the pub for me and not Jackson?"

Aaron thought about it. "I don't know...god I'm so horrible!"

"Yeah" Adam chuckled. "You are...right I'll take over here, get you up these steps..."

Once inside, everyone who saw Aaron smiled at him which instilled a sense of ease within him. Chas smiled and tapped Jackson on the shoulder as she walked by to give Charity her drink. Jackson turned around and there he was, dressed in the shirt he'd bought him, and he knew he'd only wore it for him, despite his misgivings about it earlier. Jackson could feel his heart melting as he looked at the adorable cute smile on Aaron's face. Jackson got down from the stool and walked over to him; he leaned down and kissed him passionately on the lips. "I love you"

Aaron smiled. "I love you too"

Much, much later, the New Years Eve celebrations were in full swing, some of the villagers were taking turns on the karaoke, the pub was packed, and quite noisy, but Aaron didn't mind it, however what he did mind was the two cats screaming down the microphone. "They have no idea how embarrassing this is!" Aaron laughed. "She is not my cousin and she is certainly not my mam!"

"No one minds" Jackson smiled and rested his hand on Aaron's and squeezed. Aaron looked down and saw his hand tightening around his own; it made him feel good to know he was doing that.

"I'm a bit drunk..." Aaron told him.

Jackson leaned in and placed his hand on his face. "It's alright, it's New Years Eve, let's just enjoy ourselves, you've got me" he smiled and picked Aaron's bottle up and held the straw to his mouth.

Chas walked back to her seat after getting another drink and fully intended to leave her son alone that night but she caught sight of him sitting alone and looking a little miserable. She felt sorry for him, she was pleased he didn't see her expression; it's exactly what he didn't want.

"Alright son?" Chas asked as she sat beside him.

Aaron's head swayed a little before he answered and he had to focus on her properly and he nodded.

"Good" Chas smiled.

"I'm sorry I've been horrible mum" he said with sincerity.

"It's alright...I just feel left out that's all" she admitted.

Aaron sighed. "Sorry...again"

"No...nooo love...listen"

"No please just two seconds..." Aaron said. "I do want you around, if I promise to not be horrible will you not do my head in?"

Chas smiled widely. "We can both try can't we?"

Aaron nodded.

Chas put her arm around him and kissed him on the cheek. "I love you son"

Aaron smiled. "You too"

"So...where's Jackson?"

"Outside with Adam I think...get me a drink please"

Chas raised her eyebrow. "Hmm..."

"Oh come on it's not like I'm gunna fall over is it?" he said with a drunken smirk washed all over his face.

Chas' mouth fell open. "You really just didn't say that..."

"Well...its true and I'm just trying" he looked at her and smiled. "...Go on then..."

Chas nodded. "Last one" she said before she stood and walked to the bar.

"I don't think sooo" he mocked when he knew she couldn't hear.

TBC...