"Mamma Knows Best"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on TWO WEEKSafter Let Me Try

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

*Before I start writing this chapter I just wanted to thank all of you who have reviewed and are enjoying reading this ongoing story, things are gunna start picking up now I promise you...but I'm not giving anything away ;-) But again thankyou and continue reading – makes me wanna keep doing it *

It had been two weeks since Aaron's revelation to Adam and Jackson; those weeks were pure hell for them. Both boys hadn't slept much and it showed it really did. And without saying it Jackson and Adam knew they hadn't managed to change his mind, they'd taken him on days out, to see things he was interested in, even a concert, but still, there was no change.

It was a bright sunny day, but a little cold, the window was open in Aaron's room to allow the cool air in and Jackson was sat in a chair, with his leg crossed over the other, reading a magazine, well that's what Adam and Aaron thought when they saw him but in fact he was just reading the same line over and over again unable to concentrate properly. Adam was across the room watching TV with Aaron and the program finished moments later.

Adam yawned and stretched back against the chair. "Ahh life is good" he smiled.

Aaron tutted and raised an eyebrow. "Well then you're in a parallel universe mate cause yours isn't the same as I'm experiencing"

Jackson looked up from the magazine slightly and frowned, then went back to it.

"Yeah that's obvious mate and we're trying so hard!" Adam reminded.

Aaron nodded.

Chas was upstairs clearing away the boys' plates after a late breakfast and she'd just finished and walked to make her way back downstairs.

Aaron looked to Jackson. "Cheer up mate"

Jackson looked up at him, uncrossed his legs and rested his arms on them, trying to calm himself after Aaron spoke those words but it wasn't working as he leaned his head out as far as he could go. "How the hell can I when you're thinking of killing yourself Aaron? Do you really think that I'm just going to act normal after hearing my boyfriend, yes that's what you are, wants to die!" Jackson raised his voice, little did they all know Chas was on the stairs and had stopped mid-way after hearing that from Jackson.

Chas instantly froze, and then she began to shake, as a lump formed in her throat. Did she hear right? Or did she just imagine it? She felt instantly sick.

"I can't pretend anymore" Jackson continued.

"Will you be quiet?" Aaron hushed him angrily.

"No, I fucking won't, I think it's about time everyone knew what you were thinking because I'm at my wits end here, so is he...Do you not even care what you're doing to us?"

Aaron sighed and rested his head back as his mother came back into the room smiling. "Alright boys?" she asked. "Make yourselves scarce will ya? I need to talk to my son..." she said nicely then mother and son locked a cold stare onto one another. "In private"

"Yeah sure" Adam smiled and got up. "See ya in a bit mate"

Jackson left with Adam without saying a word.

Chas waited until the door was shut then she sat on the bed. "So..." her voice was shaky, her composure was slipping again after only managing to regain it for those few seconds.

"So?" Aaron asked.

"I heard every word that Jackson just said Aaron..."

Aaron frowned. "What?" his expression turned serious as he realised she'd heard. "He was messing..."

Chas shook her head quickly. "Oh no, Jackson wouldn't joke about you wanting to die, it's the last thing he'd do..."

Aaron lowered his head and turned it away.

Chas instantly placed her hand on one side of his face and swiftly turned it back to face her, but he turned it away again quickly, but her hand was still in place he had to fight it a little to turn. But he did, and then she leaned forward and placed two hands on his cheeks. She wanted to see his eyes – the look in them, that would tell her all.

He'd put up such a fight that it took several seconds to turn his head round to her and when she had, her son fell to pieces before her eyes and he nodded as he sobbed his heart out.

Chas' lips quivered. "N-N-No Aaron...No..." she wept and she moved closer to her son and held him. "No, you're my baby" she cried.

"Help me mum..." he sobbed hard, his words broken as he couldn't catch his breath.

Chas shut her eyes tight as she held him and the tears fell some more. "There's a chance Aaron that it could work itself out you know, you have to stop thinking the way that you are" she opened her eyes and pulled back and looked at her son, her only child; and no matter what the pairs history had been prior to all of this there was no doubt that Chas Dingle loved her son with all her heart, and she always would no matter what happened.

Aaron looked up with red tear soaked eyes. "I do my physio, I go out...I do-..." he sighed. "I observe things I like and used to do and want to do, Jackson and Adam have been great they have but there's just this feeling deep inside and it hurts, it's like an aching to be set free and the only way I can do that is to die, the doctors said 'a very slim chance'" he quoted.

Chas had her head in her hands and she wiped her tears away, she sighed heavily and looked at him again. "That doesn't mean there couldn't be...but that doesn't matter Aaron because the simple fact of the matter is I can't let you go, I love you so much, so you're going to listen to me right now..."

Aaron looked at her and nodded.

"We're going to get through this, me you, Jackson and Adam, we're going to get through it no matter how hard or pointless it seems...we will...and you have to be strong because you are the strongest person I know...I' am so proud of you..." she breathed and closed her eyes as more tears came.

"There's nothing to be proud of" Aaron said quietly.

"Oh but there is..." Chas smiled. "You know...I know I messed up with you son but I never stopped knowing that you are the best thing to come into my life...yeah you're god damn annoying at times, stubborn, nasty, but there's another side to you, loving, funny, caring and not many people get to see that, but those boys have and they love you, and want to help so please just try some more, harder this time cause life is worth living, I'm going to help them show you that it is"

Aaron nodded. "Okay..."

Chas smiled and nodded. "But you have to do one more thing for me?"

"What?"

"Just love Jackson will ya? You've been so horrible to him"

"I have..." he frowned. "Haven't I?"

Chas nodded.

"I'll do my best" he flashed a sideways smile.

Chas nodded. "I'm going to give Paddy a shout then I need to find the boys...we're going out tonight" she grinned and slapped her hands down on her legs. "No idea what to wear or where we're going but it'll be fun whatever..."

Aaron nodded. "Go on then..."

Chas smiled and stood up and walked out to the surgery to ask Paddy to keep an eye on him.

TBC...