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

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LATE-NOVEMBER

Nathan walked into the chemist and and went straight for the sleeping pills. Nytol. Night and Day. Not too many. Don't want it to be obvious.

He bought tablets at the counter and payed in cash, then swiftly left. Boots was next then superdrug.

After stopping for a quick cupper in a local cafe, he checked the time. Midday. Now it was time to do this. Start this. If he didn't now, then he'd bottle it.

And he couldn't let that happen. He needed telling, he needed dealing with.

He looked up putting the tea cup back onto it's saucer, and noticed the christmas lights in a nearby shop window.

Christmas was 4 weeks away. But he wasn't feeling any festive cheer at the minute. But maybe after today, he would.

He reached into his manbag and pulled out his mobile and scrolled down to Stu's number and pressed call.

Voicemail. No doubt when the lad saw it was him ringing he had switched his phone off deliberatetly like he always did.

Clearing his throat, he spoke, "it's me...look...i'm really sorry about last week. I can't get over myself flooring you like that, it's a good job that Aaron was there to pull me off...oh the thought of that...look, can we meet...maybe you could come round for a drink or sommit...I just want to say sorry properly, that's all...pleassseeee call", pulling a face he ended the call.

Stu was traitrous little bitch.

XXX

Stu had been up early. He finished his college project and was nervous about how good it was going to be. As he ate his toast, Jackson gave him one of his big bear hugs. The builder stood behind him and wrapped his arms around him. He kissed his neck.

"You are gonna be fine...you've worked really hard on that...you've got nowt to worry about"

Stu sighed, "I know...but with all that business last week with Nate, my minds not been on it, has it"

Jackson twisted him round and stared into his eyes, "You forget all about that nasty little cretan, do you hear me? He is NOTHING...and i'm telling yah, if I get me hands on him..."

Jackson was angry again. Stu still had a bruise on his face where Nathan had clobbered him one.

Stu kissed him on the cheek, "don't get mad...I'm okay...and anyway it's all thanks to Aaron...he was the one who got him off me..."

Stu went to the couch and readied his college bag, Jackson turned and pulled a face. He frowned, "Aaron? What's HE got to do with it...?"

Stu looked up zipping up his portfolio, "he was the one who pulled him off me...didn't I say? I'm sure said"

Jackson shrugged. Maybe he did, but it didn't clock, "you probably did...it's me, my minds like a siv...just blame me mother"

Stu came forward and after they enjoyed a lingering kiss, Stu left for college.

At lunchtime, Stu walked across the college sports playing field texting away to Jackson. It was cold and the sky looked full of snow.

As he went to pocket his phone into his jacket pocket, it starting ringing and he held it up and glanced at the screen. It wasn't Jackson calling him back.

It was Nathan.

His heart was in his mouth, he didn't want to speak to that creep.

He switched his phone off and stuffed it into his pocket. No doubt if Nate had anything to say, he'd leave a message, like he always did.

He forgot about it, and after finishing college at two thirty, he decided to listen to the message Nathan had left.

On the bus home, because his car was still being seen to, he put the phone to his ear and listened to Nate's cringing words...

XXX

Jackson couldn't stop thinking about what Stu told him this morning. Aaron had pulled Nathan off him when he was being attacked by him at Bar west.

Why would he do that for?

He was working on some roof in Robblesfield. He climbed down and put away his tools and took down the ladder and loaded it onto the top of his van.

"Thanks for the cuppa Mrs Buttersnatch, but I'm gonna have be calling it a day...skys full of snow"

"Yeaass", the old woman said.

"...So I've covered it all up and i'll be with you at athe crack of dawn and finish it off for yah...weather permitting that is, love"

The old woman looked at him and nodded pulling her cardy round her.

Jackson waited a second but she never said anymore bless her. Mrs Buttersnatch was abit deaf and didn't always hear what you said, even with a raised voice.

"Well I'll be off then!"

He gave her his trademark wink and jumped into the van. As he kicked the engine into life, he thought about going to see Aaron. Emmerdale was only up the road and it was virtually on the way home.

Aaron was still in the garage when Jackson pulled up onto the forecourt. Aaron looked up from the car he was working on and grabbed a rag to wipe his hands off.

Why was Jackson doing here?

The builder jumped out the van and gave him one of his cheery hellos.

Aaron shrugged, "alright...what are you doing around here?"

"I was working up the road, actually...look...I came here to say thanks, you know...for what you did..."

Aaron frowned then realised what he ment. Bar West.

"Oh that...yeah...well,it didn't look very fair, did it, with him on top of him"

Jackson shook his head, "Yeah and it was kind of yah to pull him off...thanks for looking after him, Stu's not good with his fists"

Aaron screwed his face up, "What? Not like me you mean?"

Jackson held his hands up quickly, "No no I don't MEAN that...It's just Stu's abit lame when it comes to all that business...he's a right soft lad..."

Aaron managed a half smile, "Yeah...he is...but, as I said...he was on the floor and Nathan had the advantage"

Jackson shook his head, "He's out of control him...I think this HIV has done something to him in the head"

Aaron blew out a laugh, "hes ALWAYS been like that...you were just blind to it before"

Jackson was about to turn back to the van when he stopped and looked over at the pub, then nodded over to it looking at Aaron.

"Can I buy you a pint? To say thanks..."

Aaron bit his lip as to think about it, then broke into a smile, "Go on then..."

And they headed to the pub.

XXX

Danny walked with Stu up the high street, "Do you want me to come with you? I mean, you know what he's like and everything"

Stu shook his head as they reached the corner, "No...i'll be fine. I'm not planning to stick around for longer than I need to...he NEEDS telling and it's a waste of time ignoring his phone calls because he just doesn't know when to stop"

Danny nodded, "Doesn't know when to take the hint"

"Anyways, thanks for the chat, I'll see you had college tomorrow and we'll arrange something for your birthday next week...20 eh? That's a biggy"

Danny rolled his eyes, "don't remind me I think I'm gonna be needing botox soon, see yah"

Stu waved at him, then crossed the road that led into the direction of Nathan's place.

XXX

Jackson and Aaron were up at the bar in the Woolie. Chas was giving the builder the evil eye. So he turned his back on her, "She always like that?"

"I'll have a word. It's ME who was in the wrong, not you, i'll put her straight"

Jackson lead the way towards a seat and they went and sat their backsides down. Aaron looked up, "So is Stu alright? Any comebacks from Nathan?"

The builder shook his head, "Nope...but I think Nathan's been trying to call him...I've told him just to ignore him, he'll get bored of it in the end, I should be the one to know"

Aaron screwed his face up, "He's like a dog with a bone him"

The builder chuckled, "Yeah...that's ONE way of putting it"

Aaron laughed. Then Jackson's phone went off. The builder glanced at it.

He sighed.

"Mum"

"What's she want?"

"Wondering whether me and Stu are gonna be coming around for us teas. She says she's cooking bangers'n'mash but the last time she cooked them they were so over done I nearly broke a tooth", he complained.

Aaron laughed, "She still bugging you about moving out?"

Jackson met his eyes, "Not so bad now...I think shes getting used to it again. So..enough of ME what about you...hows your lovelife been? Anyone you got your eye on?"

Aaron shrugged, "Not really. Well there WAS this lad..but...well...doesn't matter...lets just say it's pretty much non-existant"

Jackson stretched his hand out and put it over Aaron's, "If you ever want to talk...I'm always around you know"

Aaron looked down at his hand and moved his away. Jackson looked up to see Chas hovering over them. Her face said it all.

Jackson drunk up and turned to Aaron, "Call if you need me..."

Aaron nodded and looked at his mother when the builder had gone, he pulled a face, "What?"

"You and him...it best not be back on"

Aaron jumped up, "Just get out of my face, yeah...What I do and what I get up to it's nowt to do with yah..."

And with that he finished his own beer and was heading back to work. Chas sighed and collected up the two glasses and went to serve another customer"

XXX

Stu pressed the buzzer in the foyer and waited.

"Yeah..."

"It's me..."

"Best come up..."

The buzzer went and Stu pushed his way through the door and up the stairs to Nathan's appartment.

The door was already on ajar. Stu went inside and saw Nathan in the lounge, he beaconed his hand, "Come in...I've poured you a glass of wine"

Stu stood still near the door, "I'm not stopping, I've just come around IN PERSON to tell you to stop the harassment..alright?"

Nathan laughed, "Harassment? That's a bit OTT"

Stu stepped forward onto the freshhold, "I beg to differ...you are ALWAYS calling me...well I'm changing my number so that won't be a problem for very much longer"

Nathan came forward, "Look lets have a chat...we can get over this...WE USED TO BE BEST MATES...I aways liked you more than Danny and Miles"

Stu swallowed, "I don't care...I"

"And I helped you out...when you had those problems at college...when your mother had cancer and it was ME who helped her jump the que for treatment...is THIS how you thank me"

This threw Stu. Nathan had been great through that. If it wasn't for him...

"Nathan THIS can't go on...this...nastiness"

Nathan sighed, "why do you think I was calling you so much...I WANT to put things right...just YOU and ME...what do you say? Have a drink at least...and if...after we've chatted...you don't want to be friends, then you can go and we say nothing more..."

Stu blew out a laugh, he was a tad skeptical, "What NO reprecussions?"

"Of course not! What do you take me for...", Nathan stepped forward and handed Stu the glass of wine. Stu took it and moved into the lounge.

Nathan closed the front door and locked it.

Then removed the key and pocketed it...He smiled, and followed Stu further into the appartment...

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Continues next time.