DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN EMMERDALE OR ANY OF IT'S CHARACTERS. THEY ARE THE PROPERTY OF ITV.

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LATE AUGUST

"So has he said much?"

Rhona asked this to Paddy as she cleared away the breakfast things at Smithy. The vet nodded, "Not really...he's abit touchy...you know what he can be like...he just, you know, goes into one"

Rhona chucked the plates into the washing up bowl and scowled at him, " It's not on Paddy! We've had to move Leo into our room again, he loved that little room"

Paddy pulled a face at her, " Then why don't YOU go tackle him about it...look...he'll talk when he's good and ready, you just have to know how to handle him, that's all"

Aaron of course could hear every word that was being said. He sat on the back doorstep puffing away on a cigerette.

Clyde was sniffing at his feet. Good old Clyde at least he had missed him.

Aaron had been back for a couple of days. He had flown home from Spain 5 days after Jackson did.

Jackson's mate Steve had giving him some money, some euros that added up to about 300 quid in english, he told him to use it to go home, because the last thing Jackson had wanted was for him to be stranded there.

Not that he had deserved it, Steve had said, not after decking Jackson like that on his birthday.

Now he was back here, back in the village, back in his room, back amongst the likes of Pads, Rhona and Mum.

They had all been pleased to see him. When he had first phoned Paddy that he was at the airport, he had just told him that he was just visiting. He hadn't the balls to tell him that he had fucked everything up.

But then after that first day back, he broke down because Paddy was giving it all the'awwwww he's missing Jackson already...' routine.

Thats's when he spat at Paddy, that he wasn't going back to Spain...ever.

Since them, he had just changed the subject everytime Paddy tried to bring it up. And now Rhona was starting to get touchy about it all. What a flaming mess.

He flicked away his ciggy and stood up and turned, Paddy was standing there waiting for him, "I think you and me needs talk,don't you Aaron? Keeping what ever it is bottled up is going to do you no good, is it?"

Aaron sighed heavily, he was reluctant, but he knew deep down, he had to tell him.

"Come on then"

He lead the way into the kitchen and went to lean on the counter. Duran Duran's 'hungry like the wolf' was playing on the radio and Paddy turned it down.

Aaron licked his bottom lip and stared at Paddy, trying to think where to start.

"So...have you and Jackson fallen out? Is that why you've come home"

Aaron nodded.

"So...what happened...", he then jumped to his own conclusion, "...HAS HE BEEN MESSING YOU ABOUT!"

Aaron shook his head at him and swallowed, " No...Pads, its not that..."

"Then what then?"

Aaron mets Paddy eyes, "...it's a case of ME messing HIM about..."

XXX

"Well...THIS IS A BIT OF A SHOCK...seeing you stood at the doorstep"

Nathan said this as he grabbed a couple of cans from the fridge. Jackson was sat on the sofa, he turned, " Yeah...I suppose I was the last person you thought who would come knocking...but I thought it best to stop by, while I was in this neck of the woods"

Nate sat down and handed him the can of lager, Jackson was grateful and took it and pulled the ring.

"I knew you were back...I sorta heard it on the grapevine"

Jackson chuckled after taking a sip of the lager, "nothing gets past you"

"So why have you come round..."

Jackson met his gaze, " AS IF you don't know...come on Nate, you KNOW that me and Aaron never worked out..."

Nate shrugged that off, "Yeah I sorta heard that too...I just wanted to hear it from your lips thats' all" he teased.

Jackson was smiling at him and looked away, "Come on! Say it"

"Say what" laughed Nate. feeling all smug.

"That you TOLD ME SO"

Nathan dismissed it, "Yeah yeah...whatever...I'm not gonna be rubbing it in your face, am I"

Jackson tilted his head, his face telling him, 'really'

"...ok...maybe JUST a tad" Nathan laughed.

Both sat in silence for a while.

"So..." broke Nathan, "...you've come here to say that then...that you're back then"

Jackson gave him knowing look, "...not in THAT sense" he told him.

"Yeah I know", Nathan threw a hand through his blond hair and smiled, "But I'm sure we can be...well civil"

"That's why I'm here...making sure we are singing from the same hymn sheet and that...besides, you know how it is round here...everybody knows everybody...it'll be good if there's no bad feelings"

Nathan agreed with that, but he was quick to add, "...and what about the chav...I mean Aaron...he's bound to come home, isn't he? Does being civil stretch to him as well..?"

Jackson looked at the laminated wood floor.

Now that was a tough one...

XXX

Aaron stood on the corner. Bar West was across the road. Looking bothways, he crossed the street when he saw whom he was meeting round the corner.

Nick beamed a smile at him, " So...Aaron...long time no see"

Aaron managed a half smile back, " Well I cant come home and not text yah, could I"

Nick walked with him towards Bar West's entrance, "So you've come home then...?" he trailed off.

Aaron stuck his hands into his pockets and nodded at the pub across the way, "Look...shall we go over there? Suns still out...and there's that nice beer garden out back..."

Nick glanced at Bar West, then to the pub across the way, "Something tells me that you are avoiding someone..."

But Aaron was already leading the way across the street again.

XXX

"...so you are staying at your Mums? Crikey Jackson, you are gonna be as fat as a house with all them lardy fry ups of hers"

Nathan turned from the sink. Jackson came to stand at the counter and leaned on it, Hands deep in his pockets, "Well me Mums place is as good as any...besides I haven't that much in the way of choice, do I"

Nathan threw him a teasing glance, "There's a bed here if you want one"

Jackson raised his eyebrowes at him, "What beds that? Yours?"

Nathan was playfully hurt, " As IF I would even suggest that! No, I meant the bed in the spare room..."

"That wonky bed with the three legs on it..." cried Jackson blowing out a laugh.

Nathan laughed back as he cut some ham up, "the bed YOU were meant to of fixed for me that time, but never did"

Jackson gaped his mouth, " What! I think you find everytime I did get to have time to take a look at it, YOU were dragging me off for a night of passion in the other room...", he stopped himself and looked away.

Nathan was abit fazed and the knife went through the side of his finger cutting him, " Yelp!", and put it into his mouth.

Jackson snapped around wide eyed, " What is it? Let me see!"

Nathan was now shielding his hand with his other one, " It's nowt, I've just lost concentration and sliced meself"

Jackson came forward, but Nathan moved away, "Jackson can you stay back please, I said it's nowt...I'm a qualified Staff Nurse remember, I can deal with it"

Jackson shook his head, " Yes but..."

"Jackson! Just GO...please...go"

Jackson shook his head again, this time completely confused, "Whats got into you? Time of the month or sommit...", he then turned and marched to the door and was out in a second.

Nathan stared at the cut on his hand, the blood dripping on the counter and then running in drops to the floor.

He quickly got a cloth and wiped it all up. Carefully disposing it.

He then fetched the first aid box from the bathroom and treated the wound. After, he went and sat down and started to sob into the armchair...

XXX

"I told you, didn't I? I had doubts about you and him"

Aaron stared at Nick from where they sat in the sunny beer garden, "You don't GET IT, do yah? It's not Jackson who fucked up here, it were me...I was then one who..."

Nick sighed and sat back, "I did try and tell you...jumping into your first serious relationship like that was gonna end in tears, especially with him...So where is he now..?"

Aaron shrugged.

"In Bar West" Nick concluded himself, "That is WHY you are avoiding the joint"

Aaron stared into his pint, " I just don't know what to say to him, that's all...I'm gutted about us...I wanted us to work, I REALLY did...", he met Nick's gaze, " I DID...I WANTED IT TO WORK"

"Are YOU trying to convince me or yourself, perhaps"

Aaron breathed out heavily, " my heads mashed, I just don't know why I did it...and it were his birthday..."

Nick shook his head in disbelief.

"So what do i do..."

Nick looked up at him, " What? You want ME to sort this out for yah? Aaron you've done all this yourself..."

"I know...I mean..."

Nick swallowed and smiled at him, "You just have to learn from your mistakes...next time you'll be abit more..."

"Next time? I don't want anybody else"

"You have to move on...you can't go back now...what's done is done...as I said learn from it and MOVE ON"

XXXX

But that was easier said then done...