"Accepting Fate"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on the next morning after Fading

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

Just a short one, before it all starts again, I hope you lot are enjoying it, thankyou for the reviews, they mean a lot! I know its sad and depressing and may sometimes seem quite repetitive maybe but I'm just trying to get across the rawness of the situation and the desperation Aaron is in. But yeah anyway I'm on a roll as a lot of you have noticed so enjoy! :) D x

Chas was distraught, looking worn and exhausted as she made her son some breakfast, she stood by the bench waiting for the bread to toast, staring into space. She jumped when Paddy's voice filled the room, she had no idea he was right beside her. "Jesus Paddy..."

"Sorry...are you okay?" he asked.

"Erm yeah, yeah I'm fine, just a bit tired you know he's hard work..."

"About that...I'm sorry I haven't pulled my weight...the surgeries been so busy lately"

Chas nodded. "I know but Jacksons been great and Adams around too" she smiled quickly.

Paddy nodded. "I'll try and get off early, sit with him for a bit..."

"You know what Paddy...you'd be wasting your time..." she didn't know fully whether that would be true or not; the simple fact was she didn't want anyone else around him after last night's 'showdown' she had with her son.

It had been awful, she knew as soon as she stepped in the door something was wrong, and it was; her son told them that it was pointless for them to organise things to help him because it wouldn't change matters. Chas didn't want anyone else knowing about this and she made it clear to all three boys last night. And now she was facing burying her only child sometime in the probably near future.

"...He's not talking...or anything..." she continued.

Paddy chuckled. "I'm used to that you know..."

Chas smiled. "Alright...Alright..." she agreed and turned and took Aaron's toast from the toaster and buttered it and put some marmalade on it.

Paddy couldn't help but smile. "Nicking my marmalade again I see!" he joked.

"Some things just never change eh?" she said with teary eyes as she cut the toast up, thankful Paddy couldn't see.

Paddy nodded. "I'll get to work then, see you later Chas..."

"Yeah, see ya"

Paddy walked down the stairs and left for the surgery.

That was when Chas' crying intensified. She dropped the knife and held onto the bench for support. She couldn't handle this, it hurt too much...she loved Aaron and she didn't know how she'd cope after he'd gone. In those thoughts as she stood crying her eyes out she realised what she'd just thought, or more of an admission...'how she'd cope after he'd gone' She had pretty much agreed to help in, in the whirlwind thoughts of her mind.

Chas composed herself moments later and set about downstairs with Aaron's breakfast. No words were exchanged as she sat down beside him. "Here love, get this down ya..." she told him as she picked up a piece of toast for him.

Aaron turned to face her and took a bite from the toast. "Thanks" he said as he chewed.

Chas smiled a little. "Listen son...me and Adam were talking and despite the circumstances...we're all going to go away...we were going for Northumberland but we changed our minds, we thought the lakes might be peaceful, enjoyable..." she told him.

"Not enough to change my mind though" he told her.

"I know that...But if you're really planning to do this then can me and you have a nice time together with the boys?"

Aaron frowned. "You what?"

"What?" Chas was confused.

"You're going to let me...?"

Chas lowered her head. "I could stop you I know that but that would only increase the mental pain you're in...and you would hate me for keeping you alive...so..." she nodded. "If it's what you want then you have my support..."

Aaron began to cry, it was like a giant weight had been lifted from him to have the support of his mum. "Thankyou"

Chas reached out and placed her hand on his cheek. "By no means am I happy about this though...but I love you so much, I just want to help you be happy and this world...isn't it..." she sighed and looked around, her lips shaky. "It never has been really..." she too had tears rolling down her cheeks.

"It's had its moments" Aaron smiled at his mum.

Chas couldn't help but let out a laugh as she cried. "Yeah..." she sniffled, happy to know that Aaron retained those happy memories somewhere in that brain of his.

"To answer your question, yeah...let's have one final nice time...all of us together...can you do me a favour though?"

"Of course love..." she composed herself.

"I need a camcorder..."

"Once Jackson gets back I'll nip into town..." she told him.

Aaron nodded. "You've got my card yeah?"

Chas nodded.

"Good" he smiled. "More toast please?" he flashed a cheeky smile.

Chas smirked and continued feeding him his breakfast, while sending a text to the boys.

"Who you texting?" Aaron asked curiously.

"Just the lads telling them that we leave tomorrow" she smiled.

The text read:

Get packed boys we're going away, we leave tomorrow...I know we've agreed to help...to be there...but we have one final chance...so we have to do what we can this time...See you later – Chas x

TBC...