"Time Has Come Part One"

WRITTEN BY DAYNE DINNING

~This fanfic follows on 4 days after Tensions Rising

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

The holiday was cut shorter than what was planned; they weren't really in the spirit of having a good time anymore. This was it; it was real and happening and all three, Chas, Jackson & Adam knew that as soon as they were back they were only waiting on his say so. That day the boys had to work and Chas went into town to meet a dodgy dealer that Aaron knew from his past, which seemed like a life time ago to him. As Chas exchanged the money for the drugs she was numb and cold; she'd never thought this was how the New Year was going to be like when it set in.

Aaron lay in his bed, sat up with the camcorder rolling at the side of him. He was almost finished his first recording. "...This is all my doing" he continued. "I'm making that clear now...They have all only acted on what I cannot do, no one is forcing me to do this, I' am completely aware of what is happening and what I want, so whoever gets this...police...jury...judge...I dunno ...just don't blame them, they're doing it because I've asked them too and out of love they agreed and I couldn't be more grateful - stop" he spoke clearly and calmly as the red light at the top off the camera turned off signalling the recording had stopped.

Aaron took a breath and lowered his head to compose himself before raising it again and carrying on. "Start recording..." the red light came back on. "This one's for Adam..." he smiled. "To my best mate in the whole world...well what can I say really..." he smirked. "You're the best, you've always been there and I'm so grateful for you for sticking by me through everything, yeah we had our ups and downs but we made it and I know all of this has been hard on you but you have to remember that this is what I wanted, I love you mate and thankyou..." Aaron began to have tears heavy in his eyes. "Thankyou for being you and understanding through everything... the attempted kiss...for one..." he smiled slightly in remembrance. " But the one thing I wanted to thank you for above all else...well two things, one...for helping Jackson get the job in the village and two for saving me from myself when I tried to top myself in the garage, I'm just so sorry you couldn't save me from this, and it's not yours or anyone's fault so now that I'm gone you have to move on with your life as best as you can" Aaron smiled. "And just remember me from time to time...just remember me" Aaron was serious as the tears streamed down his face. "That's all I ask...I love you mate...oh and keep your hands off my mother...I know you have a soft spot for her" he smirked and winked then breathed unsteadily. "Stop"

Paddy walked in a few minutes later and after seeing Aaron's red eyes that only indicated one thing, he asked what the matter was. "Nothing, just this camera, makes me talk you know..." he smiled.

Paddy smiled. "It's must be a help though, I mean letting some feelings out that you can't sometimes with us"

Aaron nodded. "You all packed for your business trip?"

"Yeah all done, leave tonight" he smiled. "Speaking of which, how about me and you go to the pub?" he wondered.

"Sure but you'll have to-" he stopped when Paddy interjected.

"I know, don't worry" he smiled and brought Aaron's chair closer to the bed and proceeded to lift him off and into the chair, then secured him in it safely, then put on his trainers for him.

Aaron looked down fondly at the man he'd come to love as a father. "Thankyou Paddy"

Paddy looked up and smiled. "It's no trouble at all, in fact I should have been doing this from the start"

"You've got your life Paddy I never expected you to drop it for me..."

Paddy smiled "Yeah, but still..." he said and stood up.

Once in the pub they got their drinks, and made their way to a table in the corner. "Here you go" Paddy held up the glass and the put the straw close so Aaron could take a drink.

Aaron nodded in approval. "That's nice" he sighed. "Cheers"

"No problem, so how did the holiday go?"

"Yeah" Aaron nodded again. "It was nice you know, wish you could have been there, I had fun has mum told you yet?"

Paddy grinned. "Oh yes, congratulations you, eh? Aaron Livesy engaged, bloody hell, never saw that one coming"

Aaron chuckled. "No, me either, Jacksons been great though, I love him so much" he told him.

"I know you do mate"

"Listen...Paddy...I just wanted to say thankyou, for altering the house, taking me back after my mum went with Carl - again...and being there for me, helping me after everything I've done to you. Not many lads my age can say they had someone they could look up to like you, if they have somewhere out there or do then they'll be as grateful to theirs as I' am to you right now and always have been"

At that moment Chas walked in with Adam and they clocked him talking to Paddy. Both instantly knew what Aaron was doing. Adam looked at Chas and she nodded. "Afraid so..." she sighed loudly. "Give me a pint and double vodka and coke please Diane..."

"Bit early for that aint it?" she asked with a smile.

"Yeah well I need it after the morning I've had, let's put it that way"

"Shut me up if you want Chas but you're not looking your usual self lately, or you laddie"

Chas nodded. She expected this sooner or later. "We're just tired you know, that son of mine is hard work..." she lied, actually she found out that he wasn't, she just had to lie to cover up the real reason – sleepless nights filled with worry and dread.

"Yeah, he's going through a nightmare phase..." Adam lied too.

"Ahh...right I see...understandable...but they'll pass I'm sure" she said as she placed the drinks on the bar.

"What's brought this on Aaron? Are you sure everything's okay?" Paddy asked, a little concerned by what Aaron just said.

"Yeah..." he smiled. "I'm just having one of those days I think, get emotional over anything in this mood..." he chuckled. "I don't think I've ever said this but I love you...dad" he lowered his head as his lips shook with the emotion.

Paddy put his finger underneath Aaron's chin and lifted his head up. Aaron laughed, a little embarrassed as the tears rolled down his face.

"And I love you, son" he chuckled. "What you like eh? Gunna set me off in a minute..."

"Sorry..."

"No...No, nothing to be sorry about" he said as he ruffled Aaron's very short black hair.

Jackson parked up on the grass outside Smithy and slammed the van door shut and set off up to the fields as he fiddled with his earphone wire. He couldn't face going back in that house yet, he couldn't even face a full day's work so he left early after only half a day. It was clear that Jackson was struggling. As he walked; countless songs played in his ear but one song, beginning with a slow melodic piano tune caught his attention, and he listened carefully as he walked through the field.

Watching the clock on the wall...Been a while since you called...I can't help but wait, It's late and I can't get no sleep

Jackson wandered aimlessly as he listened.

Something's different this time it just doesn't feel right. Have we broken in two? Am I really gonna lose you tonight?

That was when the tears started, slowly at first, but enough to impair his sight as he walked.

But I know you're leaving ...I know that smile I can tell you've been crying ...You're gonna say goodbye...wish I could stop you but you've made up your mind...I beg you don't go...But I already know you're leaving...

With those oh so raw words playing loudly in his ears, he broke down and fell to his knees as it started to pour with rain. He cried so hard, that it hurt him and the song continued...

Where does the time go between goodbye and hello? How did we come to this is there something we missed along the way...With your bags at the door I wanna pull you in close and hold you once more even though...

Jackson looked up into the stormy black sky; the rain hit his face hard like pellets. He sobbed harder and harder. "Dear god no!" he cried out. "Stop my boy from doing this please! I beg you!" he slammed his hands down on the ground and bent over, his head touching the slowly turning muddy floor, and he cried until he couldn't cry anymore.

It was almost seven pm when Jackson walked in the door of Smithy, soaking wet and dirt stained. "Where the hell have you been?" Aaron raised his voice, his tone clearly panicked when he saw him. "I've been worried sick Jackson!"

Chas and Adam watched on, frowning at Jackson's appearance.

"Well...I went for a walk...a long one, cried my eyes out and sat in the pouring rain in the middle of a field, and yes, Chas my phone was turned off, that is allowed"

Chas knew instantly not to push him. "I know love" she told him calmly. "Aaron was just worried that's all"

"Come on mate" Adam stood up. "I bet your freezing...I'll get you out a towel, go get yourself a shower and warmed up yeah?"

As Adam approached, Jackson backed away and held his hand out.

"Alright...you can do it yourself...shout though if you need anything" Adam told him.

They all watched him go. "Mum how will he cope?" Aaron asked.

"I haven't a clue...none of us will, I don't think you have any idea how much you, Aaron...mean to us"

"I do..."

"Well it doesn't feel like it" Chas said and left it there.

It was almost an hour later, and the three of them had eaten without Jackson, he'd not come down from the shower.

"I'll go...you two watch telly...or something"

Aaron nodded as she went upstairs. "So what you putting on then?"

Chas sighed as she stopped at the bathroom and knocked. "Jackson love, can I have a word?" she asked.

The water stopped running and she heard movement, a few minutes later the door opened, and Jackson was dressed in shorts and a tight fitting white vest top. He was drained, that much she could tell. "Me and you need to have a talk..." He was blank so she spoke to him as if he were a child, she put her arm around him and they sat on the very top step on the stairs.

"I had my iPod in and...and a song came on, it was basically about our situation, leaving...and Aaron's leaving, and it says about wishing they could stop their loved one but they've made their mind up..." Jackson told her.

Chas soothed him as she rubbed her hand up and down his back. "It really got to you..."

"That's an understatement Chas; if anyone were to see me the men in white coats would have been round and put me in a straight jacket..." he sighed. "I was so bad that it got me praying to god...and I'm not even religious...I mean...how far does this have to go?"

"He's not changing his mind..."

"I know, I just keep hoping I'm gunna wake up and find out this has all been a nightmare..." he looked at her sadly.

"We'll get through this together, all of us when Aaron's gone, we'll help each other Jackson..."

Jackson nodded and closed his eyes. "I don't want him to go" he began to cry and Chas pulled him in for a hug.

"Me either love" she cried too.

They sat in their embrace on the top of the stairs for what seemed like hours when Adam bolted to the bottom of the stairs startling them. "You need to come now!" his voice shaky and panicked. "He's ready...t-t-tomorrow morning..." Adam stuttered and broke down then fell to his knees.

Chas and Jackson's eyes widened and they ran down the stairs together. "No... No..." Chas cried and ran into Aaron's room and stopped and saw him crying while Jackson picked Adam up and soothed him.

"Is Adam right?" she swallowed hard.

Aaron nodded. "It's time mum, don't back out on me now..." he struggled. "Please"

TBC...