CHAPTER FIVE

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdlae or it's characters, they are owned by ITV

A/N: Again thanks for all the kind reviews, that gives me the urge to continue to write this story.

Aaron revelled in the hot shower at Smithy cottage, he needed to take the chill out from his bones, that had seeped in after staying the night at Ben's flat in Hotten.

But he didn't regret it, far from it, he had put it off for a fair while, but sleeping with Ben had been the right thing to do. He had to move on with his life, and not dwell on the recent past.

He exited the shower room and hurried into his bedroom to dry himself off. Poor Ben was waiting downstairs with out him, hopefully he wasn't getting too bored.

Aaron dried himself with the towel and quickly opened the top drawer to his dresser, to get a fresh pair of boxers. But laying there amongst his underwear was Jackson's photo, he picked it out and touched the face of the guy he had such strong feelings for, before slamming it back in and choosing the pair of boxers he wanted to wear.

Jackson was the past, he needed to move on.

Down stairs, Ben was staring out the window of the lounge. Since they arrived in the village that morning, they had found the cottage empty. Aaron had said Paddy was proberley out on a call, and then told him he'd be 20 minutes, because he needed to shower and change.

Ben told him he'd wait and watch TV, but now he was getting bored and edgy. He had found himself starting to rout around the place, and he didn't want to do that, not here anyway...

The Village was quiet, too quiet for his liking, he would rather stick pins in his eyes than to live here.

His train of thought was interrupted by a clattering sound. Curiously Ben made for the source of the noise, and saw some old bag picking up what looked like files and pens from the floor of the extension, that Aaron had told him was the Vets Surgery where Paddy worked.

"Are you alright with that..." Called Ben with a flash of the trade mark grin.

Pearl looked up with a startle, and was unnerved by him standing in paddy's house. She cautiously came forward removing her specs,

"What are you doing in there!, the surgery is around here..." she informed him with a sharp tongue.

Ben raised his eyebrowes " I haven't got a pet...I'm afraid the last cat i owned was run flat over!"

Pearl stood mouth agape, as Ben gently smiled " I'm joking with yah...no...let me introduce my self" he came forward " I'm Ben, I'm with Aaron"

Pearl stared at him taking in the info, and smiled, " Ohh yes, Paddy mentioned you, you are Aaron's new special friend...I'm Pearl paddy's receptionist"

Ben Immediatley started picking up the files and pens scattered about the floor, " Let me help you...saves a lovely lady like you bending down all over the shop"

Pearl grinned and watched him, as she fiddled with her silk neck scarf " Ohhhhh...you are such a gent!"

Ben stood and placed down the files where pearl wanted then on the shelf, and the pens back in there desk organiser, he noticed at a quick glance all the drugs in the cabinet behind her

"There's alot of drugs in there!", Pearl turned and smiled,

" we are a very busy surgery you know" she organised her desk and looked up " thanks for helping me, would you like a nice cuppa, i was just going to make one..."

Ben shrugged, hands dug into his jeans pockets, " yeah why not, Aaron's still in the shower no doubt...a cuppa will go down nicely"

Pearl wafted by hands in the air " I'll just have to make then in Paddy's kitchen, will you be a love and look out for the phone for me?"

Ben watched her disappear into Paddy's " will do..." he called out after her "...take your time"

When Pearl was out of sight, Ben noticed her handbag on the desk, he stretched out and grabbed it and snatched out pearl's purse.

On opening it, he sighed in disappointment at the loan £20 note, but took it anyway, before shoving the purse back into the handbag, and then slinging back where it had been on the desk.

The shuffle of feet made him look up and Pearl came back with two mugs of tea on a tray, with choc buiscuits "There you go, a nice hot cuppa with a choccy biccy"

Ben took the mug from the tray and took a quick slurp,

" You know what Pearl, you make a fantastic cup of tea!" Pearl blushed and sat at her desk,

"Ohhhhh, you are such a charmer...Aaron has good taste, just like Jackson, do you know Jackson ?"

Ben discreted rolled his eyes, " I don't intend to..."

Thankfully,the comment went straight over Pearl's head completely,

Aaron then appeared at the doorway, all refreshed and smelling nice " So this is where you are hiding!" he said with a smile.

Pearl cupped her mug " I'm just getting to know your lovely young man...now if only i was 40 years younger..." she flirted playfully.

Ben turned and pulled a face, from where he was perching on her desk,

" Ohhhh, 20 years surely!" he grinned,

Pearl waved a hand " Oh you, don't be silly " she laughed

Aaron rolled his eyes and looked up with a sigh " Look i hate to break you two love birds up, but Ben has a village to sight see, and you have Paddy's filing to do..." he told Pearl.

Ben sighed and took Pearl's hand, " It's been a pleasure..."good impression on her"

"Well if you are in the pub later I might see you..." Pearl cooed.

Aaron and Ben walked through smithy and made for the front door, "So.." said Aaron " seems you've made an impression on her"

Ben kissed him quickly on the lips, before opening the door, " I promised you I would didn't i.."

Aaron took Ben across the village to the garage, where Cain and Ryan were working on cars in the forecourt, Ben noticed that the village had been festively decorated for Christmas, very nice but it was just not for him.

At the Garage Aaron introduced Ben to Cain and Ryan, and Cain cracked a joke that Aaron alledgedly worked there when he was not out chasing guys. That annoyed Aaron no end.

Cain pointed to the Ford capri parked outside Smithy, " So that's yours is it ?"

Aaron laughed " It's a classic...!"

Cain nodded "It is, but I wouldn't let him drive it, if you know what's good for you!"

Aaron shot his uncle an 'Oi' glance, but Ben smiled " He already has, he's fine..."

Aaron turned " Look it's nearly 1, let's get to the pub for lunch and a beer, i'm sure Paddy will call in at some point"

Ben agreed and Aaron told them they might see then later in the pub, Cain chewed his gum and poured his tea away, trying to work out why he disliked Ben.

Ben stood at the Woolpack bar on his 4th coke, Aaron told him to have a few beers and he could stay the night a Smithy, but Ben insisted he needed to be sober to drive home.

In the 3 hours he endured there, he had met Aaron's best mate Adam, and his girlfriend Scarlett. Adam had bored him to death about tractors and cows, and Scarlett was all giggles and talked rubbish. It was a wonder Farmboy and ditzygirl had a brain cell to share between them.

When he came back to the bar for yet another round, Paddy had arrived and was the grinning loon he was when he first met him, but he got a good insight to Aaron's past , and of course story's of saint flaming Jackson. But Paddy seemed a nice guy, just too bumblely for him.

Next was Chas, Aaron's mother. The same tart with high heels he had briefly spotted the other week.

Chas had asked him " So, are you close to your mum, love ?" while she sucked her drink up through her straw.

"No..."Ben had replied, " She dumped me when I was still little, but it's nice to have something in common with Aaron..." he had turned and flashed her a warm smile " No offence..." he had added.

Now with his 4th coke at the bar, he couldn't take no more from the village of the damned.

Aaron joined him back him, back from the gents.

"Hey, I'm gonna go..." said Ben.

"What, but it's still early!" he looked at his watch, " It's only 4..."

"I've got things to do, I promise I'll make it up to you" Ben soothed, seeing Aaron was disappointed.

"Alright, I'll walk with you to the car..." Ben bid his farewells and they left the pub.

Zak turned from where he sat with Cain and Chas, " well that boy our Aaron's courting seems a nice lad"

Chas agreed " I agree he had a nice smile..."

Cain chewed his gum, staring at Ben as they finally got away from Pearl, " Yeah, maybe he is too nice," he mused. Too nice always made Cain uneasy.

Outside Aaron walked ben to his car " I'll text you tonight " said Ben " I promise"

It was getting dark and they kissed, Aaron felt uneasy at public displays of effection, but he was slowly getting used to it.

Ben jumped into the car and within a flash he sped off out of the village.

As Ben drove, he was glad to get away. He liked Aaron alot, but if he was going to continue to see him, he had to make sure it was out way from that damned village.

Where life was like a pond, with pond life thrown in.

His phone jingled and he pulled the car on to the verge of the country lane.

Ben flipped the mobiles, lid and read the text

Can't wait to see u Lee x

He smiled and sped off back to Hotten.

Back at the village, Aaron was bursting with a smile. He sat in the dark on the bench by the phone box, maybe it was time to let go of his feelings for Jackson...may be it was time to replace those feelings for someone else...

TBC

Reviews welcome