CHAPTER SEVEN

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

A/N: Thanks for the kind reviews, just to let you know we the story is nearing the half way point.

It was Boxing Day, Aaron and Ben slumped back, bloated on the couch at Mill cottage, the big roast dinner laying heavy on them.

" I must say Chas, you are a really good cook!" Beamed Ben, rubbing his belly, Aaron screwed up his eyebrowes,

" Ah...!, the meat was tough, the potatoes were burnt, the peas were like bullets, and the sprouts were rock..."

Ben shot him a glance and said " Well I thoroughly enjoyed it, your mum has gone to so much trouble Aaron, be grateful..."

Chas beamed a smile, as she sat on the arm of the sofa, nearest to where Ben was sitting,

" Ohhhhh, you can come again!"

Aaron looked up to her with a frown " I see Carl left as soon as he filled his gullet...is it the company i wonder ?"

But before Chas could answer, or make an excuse for Carl, Ben spoke up,

" Speak for yourself mate, you are right though, he is a dickhead..." he had turned to face Chas as he said it "...No offence love, but I was the perfect guest!

Chas finished her wine with a laugh, Ben was right, Carl was a dickhead, especially to Aaron,

" So..." she said grabbing another bottle of red from the wine rack," Did you spend Christmas with your folks like...?"

Ben nodded and his reply was a tad evasive, " yeah...something like that...look, I need to use your lav" he stood " Is that okay?"

Chas stood and pointed to the stairs, " It's up there love, first on the right"

Ben smiled and marched quickly up the steps, Chas pulled a face,

" Nowt to do with my cooking I hope"

Aaron rolled his eyes " That wouldn't surprize me...it'll be me next up there"

Chas then sat opposite her son, " So...how's you and Ben going, all okay is it"

" Yeah... as if I'll tell you all about my business!" Aaron shot.

" Yeah..., I'm not prying love, I just want to know that you are happy...you seemed a little to quiet over dinner, and don't blame it on Carl, because I think it's not to do with him"

Aaron bit his lip " It's just...I saw Jackson last week, he was at a club in town..." he trailed off,

"so...that's all in the past...isn't he?" replied Chas while pouring her self another glass of wine.

Aaron nodded " yeah, it is but...I...I still kinda got...feelings for him, for Jackson I mean..." he looked up "...But Ben doesn't like it, so I sorta promised I'll stay away from him..."

Chas snapped her neck round " No bloke should tell tou what to do, or who to see love.."

Aaron was quick to go on to the defensive, " Ben's not like that...!, anyway you are right, he's in the past...anyway he's got someone else now any road"

Chas stroked her hair " and are you okay with that...?"

Aaron was about to reply, when he saw Ben came down the stairs, " Yeah...yeah I am..." he finally answered, a little unconvincingly put as he would have liked.

Ben grabbed his coat, " right..." he beamed with his amazing smile, " Pub ?, my treat...!"

The pub was busy, it was Boxing Day after all, and everyone in the village seemed to have the same idea to have an afternoon snifter at the local.

Ben bought Aaron and Chas a beer and a white wine, at the bar Adam suddenly slapped him playfully in the back " Alright mate, top night last week, it was a laugh!"

Ben nodded " yeah if you say so..." he mused, Adam lowered his voice " Don't worry about Jackson, it's long over between them, I saw him there that night, that's why you stormed off isn't it?"

Ben smiled and paid Diane for the drinks, " who says I'm worried..." he turned to Adam "...here" he gave Adam a ten pound note from his change " you and ditzy have a round on me huh.." Scarlett waved at them from where she sat at a table.

" Hey mate!, that's really kind of you" cried Adam,

" well it is Christmas" Ben grinned " Season of good will and all that..."

Ben then made his way to Aaron and Chas and dumped their drinks in front of them " I'm off for a slash..." he informed.

"What again!," cried Aaron, Ben just ignored his remark and made for the gents.

In the toilets Ben pulled out his phone, and stared at the text he had recieved, his phone had been on silent to stop Aaron from sticking his ore in. The text read,

It's me or the village idiot, Lee

Ben slammed shut the lid with a temper rising from within him, Cain then came out the cubicle " So..." he grinned, " I wonder what's ruffled your feathers..."

Ben washed his hands and turned " Nowt, just a mate whose peed me off"

Cain leaned on the sink, and folded his arms, " really...just too let you know..." he jestured his two fingers from his eyes toward the direction of Ben, " I'm watching you..."

Ben dried his hands, and tossed the paper towel in the bin, " and what's that supposed to mean?" Cain just grinned at him, with a knowing stare, Ben made for the door " Whatever!" he said and stormed out.

Boxing day evening finished off at Smithy, it was late as Aaron pulled out the DVD from it's coverbox " it's called Die hard, It's an 80s classic"

Ben rolled his eyes as he sat on the couch, " Go on, put it on then"

Aaron fed the DVD player, and relaxed back to his own favourite arm chair " doesn't matter if it finishes late, we can lay in till noon " he said with a knowing smile.

That thought made Ben smile too, he looked at him trying to come to a decision in his head, Aaron or Lee, he was definately swaying to Aaron, he was falling for him.

"Okay then, press play and let me revel at this classic..." he laughed with sarcasm.

Ben started to nod off half way through the film. Aaron was annoyed, how could anyone fall asleep during a noisy action film.

Paddy then came through from the dining area, he had spent the day at the Dingles,

" alright you two...did you have a nice day at yah Mum and Carl's" he beamed

Aaron nodded " well, you know what Mums cooking is like, and Carl's charming attitude toward me, apart from that, we got out alive!"

Paddy laughed," How can I forget your Mums cooking, I remember when she cooked me a..."

The phone started to ring, interrupting his story, it was the land line, Paddy went over and answered it, " Yet another christmas well wisher from my family no doubt," he told with a grin, "Hello..."

Aaron sighed and stared at the TV, but as Paddy's lighthearted tone changed to a more shocked expression, it regained his attention.

"...What...No...NO...how dreadful, look, I'm be there," he glanced at his watch " I'll be there in a half hour, just stay calm, stay calm, ok...ok...see you in a bit..." he shakily put the receiver back on it's cradle, Aaron crooked his neck round " What was all that about, some farmer got a sick cow or something" he joked,

Paddy came forward, a grave expression on his face, " Hazel's been rushed to hospital, she's had a suspected heart attack..."

Aaron jumped up " What...!, Aaron took a gulp before asking " "Who was on the phone...Paddy..."

"It was Jackson, he sounded in a terrible state, he didn't know who else to call...i'm just going to go down there...poor lad's on his own going through this"

Before Aaron could ask anymore, Ben opened his eyes, " Go where..." he asked with a yawn,

Paddy turned " Sorry to...you know wake you...hospital, a friends been taken ill...actually it's Jacksons mum...you know Aaron's ex...friend...eh..."

Ben nodded " It's ok, I get who she is Paddy..."

Paddy fumbled as he pulled on his coat and grabbed his car keys from the table, he looked at Aaron, " are you coming...?"

Jackson upset...alone in that hospital...his mum could die...Jackson upset, very upset.

Aaron came out his trance when Paddy had asked him again " AARON...are you coming..."

Ben shot him a you dare glance, Aaron slowly sat, his eyes welling up, " No..." he said swallowing the lump in his throat " Jackson's nothing to do with me anymore...we are not even mates...and...I was never a fan of Hazel any road"

Paddy stared at him " That's a bit harsh...maybe you are in shock, look, I ring you if there is...you know...news..." with that Paddy left the cottage, and Aaron heard the car pull away.

"Well...what a thing to happen on Boxing day...my heart goes out to him..." said Ben through gritted teeth, Aaron nodded half listening as he stared at the TV,

Jackson all lone...what if his mum dies...Hazel is jacksons world..he loved her to death...

"Aaron will you rewind the film abit, I think I dozed off!" said Ben trying to lightened Aaron's mood... but Aaron's mind was somewhere else...

...or with someone else...

TBC

Reviews all welcome!