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

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EARLY-DECEMBER

xx

"He's good him! I've never been able to get them lights on in the cellar, and now it's like daylight down there. It'll be handy to have him around"

Aaron, who sat up at the bar frowned at his mother, "Why's that? Because you are too tight to go and out and pay for one, he's just here to get your electric's done for free"

Pearl, who sat up the bar from him leaned forward with a smile, "I've just had him round to look at my kettle, it's been playing up for weeks. He's a very LOVELY young man"

Chas waved a hand at her, "Ohhhh I wouldn't say no!"

Ed came out from the back with a tool box, "All done down there...whose was this kit again?"

Aaron took it from him, "The garages...I'll take it back in a bit"

Ed slumped beside Aaron at the bar and Chas quickly poured him a pint, "there you go, love...thanks for fixing the lights"

"And my kettle", chipped in Pearl.

"Hey, don't forget my iron" breezed Rhona as she walked by, "Betty was saying just now if you know anything about washing machines, hers as just clapped out"

"Just like HER then!, "Aaron downed his pint and turned to Ed, "drink up...we'll go to me mate, Nicks...at least there YOU'LL get some peace..."

Ed downed his own pint and pulled on his jacket. It was his second day in Emmerdale. Aaron told him not to expect too much. And he didn't, the village seemed sleepy enough, like any other village.

When Aaron got that call from Nick telling him how ill his dog Clyde was, the machanic wanted to come straight back because that mutt meant the world to him.

Ed decided to drive him. He was going to give himself some days off anyway. What could be nicer than to spend a few days out of Manchester and in the countryside.

When they had got back in the early hours, Clyde was still alive and Aaron stayed with him till he passed on. Paddy said that he would take care of the arrangements and as soon as the dogs ashes were ready to collect, he'd tell Aaron straight away.

Aaron had been quiet after Clyde died. But part of him knew that the canine was getting on abit and it was only a matter of time before this happened.

They stepped out into the cold and Aaron dropped the toolkit back at the garage. They then made for Ed's car that was parked up on the forecourt.

"I am SO sorry about them lot in there..."

Ed laughed as they both jumped into the car, "hey, it's fine...I like to help"

"yeah, but they are not asking are they, they're just taking advantage because you are here"

Ed nodded to the lane ahead of them, "round and over the bridge yeah?", Aaron nodded as he pulled his seatbelt round him, "yeah...just follow the signs to Hotten"

Ed started the engine and they were soon off.

XXX

Nick got the beers in when Aaron and Ed arrived at his place. Nick could see that Aaron was really relaxed in the electricians company. It was good. Ed was a good tonic to get Aaron's mind off from moping about Clyde.

"So...how do you like the village then?"

Ed opened his can, "It's...interesting"

Nick laughed out loud. Aaron screwed his face up at the pair of them, "You just count yourselves lucky that yous two don't have to live there"

Nick turned, "I thought you said sommit about moving out again...I'm sorry about Clyde and that, but at least you won't get kicked out of places where the landlords are funny about keeping pets"

Aaron shook his head, "true, I suppose"

Ed finished his can and looked up, "Is it alright if I get another?"

Nick stood up, "bugger that, why don't we go out"

Aaron looked up, a tad jumpy, "what? Where?"

Ed shrugged as he got to his feet from where he had been sitting on the rug, "I'm not fussed, me...as long as the beers good"

Aaron didn't dare shift his arse, "We're okay here, aren't we? If we've ran out-I can get us some more cans in"

Ed nodded to the stairs, "Well, try and decide before I get back from the toilet, yeah?"

Aaron nodded and watched Ed hotfoot it up the stairs. Nick turned around, "What's up with you? I know Bar West's not exactly Manchester, but, he's not gonna care, is he"

Aaron kept glancing towards the stairs, and then back at Nick, "It's not THAT...it's the people...what if Ed gets a sniff about me? You know, what I've been up to"

The penny dropped, "Oh Aaron! Come on...nobody knows him, whos' gonna be talking to him?"

"I can think of a couple of bods who'd be glad to rub my nose in it and see me squirm"

Nick shushed him. Ed was going back down, "So...are we drinking in...or going out?"

Aaron glanced at Ed, then at Nick, then grabbed up his jacket. Why should he stay away.

"We're going out...and Nick's said he don't mind being the cab"

Nick elbowed him, "Oh cheers for that, lets go now before I change my mind"

XXX

Bar west was rocking. Not.

As soon as they came down the steps and into the bar, Aaron could see that there was just a handful of couples around.

The two pink punks up at the bar. The loving couple all over eachother in a booth. The old git with scraggy hair no teeth learing from the dark corner. A few more norm looking blokes stood near the stage.

Aaron immediately turned to look at Ed. The Electrician's face said it all.

"We can go if you want" he said quickly. Ed shrugged, "we're here now...and you're right about it being abit quiet"

Nick tried to laugh it off, "It's not usually like this...shall I get them in?"

Aaron nodded, but still kept looking back from Ed to various corners of the club.

Nick told Aaron to sit down. Ed joined him. He then went up to the bar and ordered a round in. Jonny took the tenner and glanced over at Aaron sitting with Ed, "Oh, is that the latest then?"

Nick glared at him, "Yeah, it is...you missed out there, your loss...oh yeah, are You STILL with that minger, Miles"

Jonny raised his eyebrowes, "at least Miles doesn't go putting it about everywhere like him...somebody should go warn this new lad that he might catch something, or, use something at least"

Nick forced on another glare, "You dare"

Jonny laughed, "I wouldn't waste my last breath on him"

Nick brought the beers over. Ed took his and nodded to the bar, "you like the barman, do you?"

Nick and Aaron glanced at one another. Ed frowned.

"It's a long story...so...Ed...I have this drill at home that's got a dodgy plug...", Aaron glared at Nick and he burst out laughing, "JOKE! I've bet you that's all what you've had since you've got here..."

Miles arrived, and went to the bar. He kissed Jonny and his boyfriend got him a drink.

"You seen whos in?"

Miles turned and pulled Jonny a shrug, "I don't care...I'm just worried about poor Stu"

"Is there any change?", asked Jonny as he wiped down the bar top.

Miles shook his head sadly, "No...he's still in a coma...I think they want to do brain stem tests or sommit...his Mum and Dad are always in tears, it's flaming awful being there. Jackson's starting to feel out of his depth, I think..."

"Did you tell him that Stu wasn't round yours that night"

"Yeah...but he said he got a text from Stu that night and he said that he was staying round mine because I had a crisis with you..."

Jonny frowned, "something don't add up..."

Miles leaned forward, "yeah...like he was found practically outside Nathan's back gardens, how did he get there...Nathan said he never called round his, and he thinks it's well odd, too"

Jonny sighed, "Maybe Stu and Jackson had a fight? And Stu called round yours and found you not there, went round to Nathans place and then got done over..."

Miles shrugged. Seemed plausible.

"Guess we won't know till he wakes up..."

"If he wakes up"

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More soon when Jackson (his final chapter)makes a decision about his future, and Aaron is offered a new job.