CHAPTER 19 of 20

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Emmerdale or characters, they belong to ITV

A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful reviews...and for those of you who put my mind at rest over this storyline...you know who you are...xxx

It was valentine's day, Aaron and Jackson hadn't even left the bedroom yet, and it was nearly midday.

Aaron rolled over, and stared at the giant card that sat on the floor beside his the bed, there was even a cuddly toy attached to it, and the header read TO MY WONDERFUL BOYFRIEND.

The card was of course from Jackson, he feel guilty really, because Jackson was holdng his card from him, it was just a standard size norm that read TO SOMEONE SPECIAL.

" it's fine, it's the thought that counts..." Jackson said with a smile on his face, Aaron couldn't even read his card, opened up it took over Jackson's side too,

" you went abit overboard... didn't yah" Aaron cried.

Jackson laughed out loud, " nothing for the best for my cuddly boyfriend!"

"Cuddly!" Cried Aaron playfully, and rolled on top of Jackson, and pulled him into a cuddle, his face was just inches from Jackson's and, they kissed.

When Aaron pulled away Jackson gasped, " and what was that for..."

Aaron pulled a side ways smirk at his boyfriend, " it's because I love you...dah!"

Hazel was sat in the kitchen when Aaron and Jackson had finally made an appearance, she looked at her watch, with a big sigh, "...about time you two crawled out your pit...heavy night was it..."

" A late one yeah..." breathed Jackson pouring himself an orange juice from the fridge, Hazel stood up with a knowing smirk " I know it was late, my lovely boy...because I was kept up half the night by your bed banging up agaist the wall again...I said to my self..."

"...Mum.." said Jackson trying to stop her, to save Aaron the embarrassment, but he was to late,

"...I said Hazel, one of those boys has alot of staminer, and if you take after your father..."

Jackson was agape in shock " Mum...shut up! " he cried out, Aaron, red as a beetroot, had already disappeared out of sight.

" I'm only saying love...that maybe it's time for you to get a new one that's all..." she moved to give him a hug " I'm only saying...and... that bed rattles as well...Now..." she snatched up her medication from the counter, "... it's time for me to start rattling myself, and take my midday meds"

Jackson watched his mum disappear upstairs, then he pushed open the back door , and stepped out to the back yard to see Aaron having his first smoke of the day.

" she's gone upstairs mate...sorry about that!" apologised Jackson " I know how you don't like all that up front..."

Aaron nodded taking a drag of his ciggy, " I know...I should have got used to it by now...any way..." he glanced at his watch, " we better make tracks soon...we're meeting Adam and this new bird of his at Bar west tonight...and i've got to go home first..." he then gave Jackson a sheepish smile, "...is it alright to leave me card here...if Paddy sees it, he'll just take the mick...and as for Cain..."

"It's fine...now let's feed that belly of yours, and I'll drive yah..."

That evening, Bar West was heaving with Valentine's night punters, Jackson and Aaron stood at the bar with there first pint, both had tarted themselves up to look gorgeous for eachother.

Adam and his new girlfriend, Mia, came hurrying up to them, Aaron turned towards them clocking their arrival, " thought you two were blowing us out..." he told.

Adam laughed " had to wait for her to get ready..." Mia tapped him playfully on his arm,

" hey less of the cheek you...", she turned toward Jackson, " i'm Mia, by the way...we've never had the pleasure..." Jackson grinned at her, and took her hand and kissed it, " ...and can I say you look lovely tonight!", Adam laughed out loud, as Aaron rolled his eyes, " Jackson always the gent...pity it's never rubbed off on you mate..." he teased Aaron.

Aaron pulled a face " and you..." he shot back in jest.

Jackson bought the round of drinks, and they all grabbed a booth to sit at.

The night started off pleasent enough, and Jackson had a laugh with Adam about the size of the card he bought Aaron...and the size of Aaron's to Jackson.

"Always was a cheapskate!" laughed Adam taking the mick, tongue in cheek.

" Well I got the works...heart shaped chocs, and flowers!" cooed Mia, not wanting to be left out.

Aaron pulled a frown as he finished his beer, " proberly from the petrol station, that's his usual trick!"

"Oi you!" laughed Adam , Jackson laughed as well but stopped when he saw someone standing up at the bar he wanted to see.

Jackson stood, " back in a mo...I've just seen someone I wanna see,"

"Who's that..." asked Aaron looking, but he didn't notice Tom at the bar, " never you mind...I'll buy a round when I get back..."

Jackson followed Tom to the dancefloor, that was way out of Aaron sight level, " Hey...wait" called Jackson, grabbing Tom's shoulder.

Tom turned around " hey Jackson...hi mate...", Jackson smiled at him and nodded to the bar

"let me buy you a drink"

Tom frowned " but why...oh I get it, it's valentines day...sorry mate you're not my type...I wish!" he said in jest.

Jackson laughed out loud and shook his head, " no I mean it...it's for Aaron...for looking out for him for me...when he needed it, I owe you big time mate..."

Tom waved his arm " it's ok...it was nothing!"

" It was...Aaron was nearly..." Jackson hated that thought, " just take a drink from me yeah..."

Tom smiled and nodded his head, " well, if you insist..." his eyes then glanced over Jackson's shoulder, before turning back to face him, Jackson twisted his head around with a frown and saw Ben.

Ben chatting to his mates on the dance floor, chatting and laughing, like he didn't have a care in the world!

Jackson, in protective mode, immediately scanned for Aaron, he was okay, still in the booth chatting and having a laugh with Adam and Mia.

Jackson turned to Tom, " are you and him still mates..."

Tom nodded in defence, " no way...as I told Aaron there are limits to his behaviour, and he crossed the line big time for what he did to Aaron!"

Jackson wished Tom well, and headed back to the booth, before Aaron called out a search party for him. Adam had gone to the toilet, Aaron turned as Jackson sat " hey...where have you been"

"Awww...did you miss me " Jackson teased, and at the same time he kept a look out for Ben, he had lost track of him, but the he spotted him...talking to Adam near the toilets, Jackson jumped to his feet again.

"Where are you off to now!" cried Aaron looking up from his pint, " It's my turn to get a round in "

Jackson just smiled at him quickly, and saw Ben vanish into the gents, Adam was on his way back across the dancefloor, Jackson went and pulled Adam to one side, out of sight from Aaron.

"So...I saw you and Ben having a chat..." he told.

"Yeah..."answered Adam, " I said it was a shame him and Aaron didn't work out...not that i'm chuffed he's back with you mind!"

Jackson stared at the toilet door, like a lion awaiting for it's prey, but he couldn't wait, " Back in a mo..." Jackson barked at Adam and stormed off, his fists clenched as he headed to the gents.

Adam shrugged it off, he'd never ever had seen Jackson in that kind of mood before, and it surprized him, adam sat back at the table as Mia turned with her empty glass, " hey...what took you so long...a girl could flake out waiting for you to show"

Adam pulled a face " I got held up talking with Ben...another spritzer is it..."

Aaron's head snapped up with a gaze of dread forming " Ben!" he cried...

Ben zipped up his flys, and turned to the sink to wash his hands, he then looked into the mirror to see Jackson leaning against the exit, arms folded across his chest, and his expression cold with hateful.

" Ohhh...armm" stuttered Ben, not really knowing what to say.

" Sooo...is that how you generally start a conversation..." asked Jackson coldly "...or do you just spike their drinks first..."

Ben held up his arms in defence " hey...I don't want any trouble ...I don't know what Aaron's ment to of said..."

Jackson closed the gap between them " He's said plenty...and i'm not liking any of it..."

Ben shook his head " look Jackson mate, all that's in the past now...let's just move on, I have"

Jackson pulled his eyebrowes together, " what!...you act like you don't care...what you did to him...you scared him"

Ben had had enough of this, " look, Aaron was asking for it...he's as easy as they come..."

Jackson didn't want to do this, he had faught against it, all his moral views blinded...the anger building up within him, how dare this scumbag dis his boyfriend.

Jackson suddenly grabbed hold of Ben, and throw him up against the wall, his forearm up against Ben's chest, " you try telling that to Aaron, you scumbag...I'm not a violent guy...ask anyone...but you..." he tightened his grip " You...I'll gladly do time for...!"

Jackson then pulled Ben off from the wall, and held him out ahead of him,...

...clenched his fist...

and got ready to punch Ben hard...

TBC

All reviews welcome...xxx

The next chapter is the last in this story...but I have been working on a follow up/sequal, that begins 3 months after this story, it begins with the fall out of events here, then it moves to a story of temptation for one of them, that nearly tears them apart, before a tragedy pulls the boys back closer together than ever... let me know if you want this follow up!