You Are All I Need – Chapter 5
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
-O-
Aaron snuggled up to Jackson in their bed at Dale Head. He always loved the feeling of his boyfriend's naked skin against his own; it gave him both a sexy feeling and a comforting feeling at the same time.
Jackson awoke and looked at Aaron, who was staring intently at him, "How long have you been awake?"
"Not long," Aaron replied, planting a quick kiss on Jackson's lips, "I'm still exhausted from last night!"
"Yeah, I'm quite the red hot lover, ain't I?" Jackson smirked.
"No, I'm not exhausted from that, you div!" Aaron rolled his eyes in his traditional style, "Well, not totally; I meant the party at the Woolpack. I think everyone in the village was there at some point during the evening."
"Yeah, we've got some good friends in this village, it's a pity we can't take them all with us, isn't it?"
"I don't think Tunnoch Bridge would be able to withstand the shock," Aaron giggled as he stroked Jackson's arm.
"Yeah," Jackson grinned mischievously, "They've got enough of a shock in store with a certain Aaron Livesy coming to town."
Aaron formed his hand into a fist and playfully punched Jackson's arm, "Oi, listen Walsh; if you want a slap you're going the right way about getting one!"
"Aww...you wouldn't hurt little ol' me, would you?" Jackson pouted and fluttered his eyelashes for comic effect.
Aaron looked at Jackson's handsome face and he became more serious, "Nah; I wouldn't hurt you...my days of using you as a punch-bag are well and truly over. I'm sorry I..."
Jackson cut Aaron short, "Sshhh! That's all in the past now," he looked into his lover's beautiful blue eyes, "I've forgotten all about it."
"Me too," Aaron rested his head on his boyfriend's chest. After remaining quiet for a couple of minutes, Jackson picked up on the fact that Aaron was suddenly deep in thought.
"You're very pensive, little one," Jackson ran his fingers through Aaron's cropped hair.
"I was just thinking," Aaron mused, "My life is about to change completely; I never saw that coming when I met this Muppet at Bar West all that time ago..."
"Which Muppet was that, then?"
Aaron lifted his head to look into Jackson's big, brown eyes again, "Which do you think?"
"Aww...you really know how to sweet-talk a guy, don't you; you silver-tongued devil!"
"See? A Muppet through and through. My charms worked on you, though, didn't they?"
"Haven't got the sense I was born with, me..." Jackson chortled, "You ask anyone."
"Just as well I promised not to thump you, ain't it?" Aaron chuckled.
"Whatever did I ever see in a violent hot-head like you, eh?" Jackson smirked at Aaron; he loved to wind him up.
"So, you don't want to spend the rest of your days with me in Scotland, then?" Aaron looked serious, although Jackson knew that his boyfriend was teasing him.
"It's OK; I'll have my Mum there to help me...she knows how to keep you under control!"
"YOU..." Aaron lunged at Jackson and they soon got into a wrestling match. Except, most wrestlers did not engage the kind of activities that the two of them participated in together. In their own unique way, they had just affirmed their love for one and other; they fitted together seamlessly, on every level.
Once they were up, breakfasted and dressed, Jackson went off to serve his last day with Declan while Aaron finished packing. The task did not take him as long as he thought, so he went to Smithy Cottage to see Paddy.
"All ready for the off?" Paddy enquired, as Aaron entered the kitchen.
"Just about," Aaron answered, "Jackson's doing his last day at work and, once he's finished, we'll be heading off to Bonnie Scotland."
"It's beautiful up there," Paddy had a dreamy look in his eyes; "I wish I was coming with you!"
"Why don't you set up a practice in Tunnoch Bridge? The place is awash with sheep...I'm sure you'd be kept very busy."
"It's a nice idea, but I don't think Rhona's all that keen to up sticks and move up there."
"I suppose not," Aaron looked deep in thought, "Listen, I didn't get the chance to talk to you properly last night; with all the people in the Woolpack, but I'm really going to miss you, Paddy."
"Aww, come here," Paddy could see the teary-eyed look on Aaron's face and pulled him into a hug, "We'll keep in touch. You've got the chance for a fresh start, away from here. Is Jackson looking forward to it?"
"He hasn't stopped going on about his new job since we came back; he's as happy as a pig in the proverbial!"
Paddy drew back from the hug and looked Aaron in the eye, "...and, are you happy?"
"Yeah, 'course I am. This place has been a big part of my life...but, I've got a new life to look forward to now."
"That's the spirit!" Paddy smiled, "...and, you've got Jackson, of course."
"Yeah," Aaron stared back at Paddy, "I know I don't talk about my feelings or show my emotions, but, I do really love him, Paddy; he's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm not going to cock this up! I know how lucky I am to have someone to love me...and to love them back; you taught me that."
"Wow!" Paddy was taken aback, "I've never heard you talk like this before!"
"Well," Aaron explained, "I'm not going to get another chance to talk to you, face to face; not for a long time. Anyway, I just want you to know how happy I am and for you not to worry about me; I've got everything I ever wanted now."
"I've seen you grow from a boy to a man, Aaron; and you've turned into a fine young man at that; I'm so very, very proud of you, son!"
Aaron was touched that Paddy thought of him as a son, "Thanks...Dad!" he said as they hugged again.
After Aaron had gone, Paddy looked at a photograph of Aaron on the mantelpiece, with a tear in his eye, "Yeah, I'm so proud of you," he repeated.
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The journey back to Scotland went off more smoothly the second time around, in fact, Aaron and Jackson arrived at Tunnoch Bridge station, bang on time. Hazel and Campbell were there to take them back to the house. Campbell's house was an old, stone-built, four-bedroomed dwelling on the outskirts of town, approached by a narrow lane called 'Strathview Hill', which eventually lead to a farm gate a few hundred yards further on, where the road ended. The house was within walking distance of the town centre, but was a bit of a hike, especially on the way back as it was all uphill. Aaron's calf muscles had only just stopped aching from his previous walk back from the town on their last trip.
On the couple's first evening back in Tunnoch Bridge, they sat in the living room with Hazel and Campbell, chatting about the new life they were about to map out for themselves. The curtains were still drawn back; but it was pitch black outside, so the beautiful view of the mountains through the picture window could not be seen again until morning.
"It must be quiet around here at nights," Aaron said, "I didn't see any pubs in town."
"There are no pubs in Tunnoch Bridge," Campbell answered, "But there is a bar in the Loch Tunnoch Hotel; it's open to non-residents."
"That sounds alright, doesn't it, Aaron?" Jackson was hoping that the prospect of not having any 'pub crawls' was not going to upset his boyfriend.
"What's it like, this bar?" Aaron wanted to know.
"It's very nice," Hazel chipped in, "Campbell took me there just after we returned from Austria. It's just like a pub; you wouldn't know the difference."
"Oh well, if it's the only place to get a drink, I suppose it will become our 'local'," Aaron did not look too sure about the situation, but he realised that his days of 'popping down the Woolie' were over.
"There's a few things that will seem different at first," Jackson said, "It always feels a bit strange when you move somewhere new."
"Yeah, like getting used to the locals, you mean?" Aaron chuckled, "Angus was talking about some 'wee beasties' the last time I saw him; I didn't realise he was talking about the insects in his garden."
Campbell laughed, "You've never been to Scotland before, have you Aaron?"
"No!"
Campbell decided to tease his young friend, "Well, after you've been here for over two weeks; every day you'll have to eat porridge for breakfast and haggis for dinner; it's the law of the land."
"Really?" Aaron looked less than thrilled at the prospect, "Supposing I don't like it?"
Jackson winked at Campbell, "What, haggis? A sheep's stomach filled with offal; what's not to like?"
"Urrggh!" Aaron turned his nose up at the thought of it and they all burst out laughing.
"You've got a lot to learn, laddie," Campbell could not keep a straight face and the penny suddenly dropped for Aaron; he was being wound up, good and proper! He realised that Campbell was not serious about the 'compulsory' haggis diet, though Jackson's description of the dish had been fairly accurate.
"You rotten lot; I'll get my own back," he scowled, "Just you wait and see!"
"Oh Aaron, don't ever change, sweetheart," Hazel was in fits of laughter.
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Later that night, Aaron and Jackson had climbed into bed after a long day. Their travelling had taken its toll and they were both tired. They just cuddled, not really in the mood to make love, just to share a little closeness before going to sleep.
"So, do you reckon you'll settle in here?" Jackson asked.
"Yeah, I don't see why not; after all, it's not that much different to Emmerdale...except there isn't a pub."
"I don't suppose there's a gay bar nearby either," Jackson replied, "Not that we'd been to Bar West for a long time anyway."
"That's true," Aaron had a far-away look in his eyes, "Mind you, I sort of lost interest in going there. Once I had found someone special; then I didn't need to go looking anymore."
"Oh, so you met someone special at Bar West did you? Anyone I know?"
"No, you wouldn't know him...though you do bear a striking resemblance!"
"Well, will I do then?"
"Maybe," Aaron had a wicked glint in his blue eyes, "until 'Mr Right' comes along."
"I hope you're not going to start checking out all the local talent," Jackson joined in with the banter; they were never too tired to indulge in it, "All those hot Scottish lads in their kilts; with nothing underneath!"
"If they've got nothing underneath, I wouldn't be interested," Aaron's cheeky smirk just got to Jackson every time.
"Well that's alright then, just so long as I know I don't have any competition."
Aaron turned serious, he looked into Jackson's lovely brown eyes, "You never will have, babe, you're my one and only and always will be."
Jackson was always touched when Aaron showed his tender side and he also turned a little more serious, "Have you ever regretted not 'playing the field'? After all, I was your first...you could have 'shopped around' before you settled for me."
"What's brought this on?" Aaron looked bemused.
"It's nothing really...I mean, I've had boyfriends before, as you know, so I've got something to compare our relationship with...not that any of them could ever hold a candle to you, of course," Jackson smiled.
"You div!" Aaron's response was predictable, "I've always known that you were the only one for me; I could make my way around all the gay guys in the world and it would make no difference...I'd always come back for more of you."
Jackson was moved by Aaron's words, they held a simple truth; a confirmation of Aaron's love and loyalty. His heart was full of love for this young, gorgeous, fit lad called Aaron Livesy; he was, in every way, his 'dream come true'.
"Oh Aaron, I am so glad we've come here...a fresh start...just you and me."
"Me too...like I said before; you are all I need..."
"And you are all I need. I love you."
"You are MY man; and I'm YOURS. Don't ever forget that...I love you too, babe."
They embraced and kissed passionately; each feeling that they belonged in the other's arms. No matter where they were in the world, they would only be happy as long as they could always be together.