AARON LIVESY

-The Chase-

"What Life Could Be"

Flynn smiled warmly at Aaron when he watched him walk into the living room wearing his clothes after his bath which he seemed to have lapped up spending almost an hour in, Flynn didn't mind though. "How are you feeling?"

Aaron nodded as he let out a deep breath and started walking to the sofa. "Um, yeah…you know" he replied as he sat down next to him and instantly felt the warmth of Flynn's arm against his lower back then finally his hand resting on his waist. Aaron smiled back at him shyly, but grateful for him at the same time.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Aaron shook his head. "No, no really I'm fine, it's done he's buried…nothing more I can say than what I have already"

Flynn nodded; he understood. He really didn't want to push it.

"But I know that if I need to I can"

Flynn chuckled. "I'm pleased you're learning…but then again coming here over the urge to do something stupid says a lot and I'm really pleased you did"

Aaron nodded. "But you didn't have plans did you?"

He did, but nothing that couldn't have been moved to another day, he wasn't about to tell Aaron that though. "No, but if I did…its tough, I'd rather be with you anyway" and that is exactly what he had chosen to do.

"I'm not much company though, it can't be much fun for you" Aaron told him quietly.

"Fun can wait, I'm just happy with you being here in the same room as me"

Aaron nodded with a small smile. "Me too ah crap, I better call Debbie, tell her where I am…"

"Oh erm, speaking of you've got seven missed calls and quite a few texts" he told him with a smirk. "I didn't read them but your phone was quite busy while you were in the bath"

"Oh...right, sorry" he apologised as he reached over and picked it up from the coffee table. Aaron smirked and rolled his eyes. "My mum, Hazel, Paddy, Moira, Adam, Cain, Cameron and Debbie…"

Flynn chuckled. "Someone's popular"

"And not for the right reasons either"

"Ah they're just worried about you that's all"

Aaron nodded. "I know…"

"When you call tell them you'll be back in the morning…"

"In the morning? A-are you sure?"

"I wouldn't have suggested it otherwise" Flynn told him gently.

Aaron knew Flynn expected nothing from him and it was a refreshing change from his brave act he had to put on every day. "Thank you"

"You're welcome, go on make your calls I'll go and grab the takeaway menu" he told him as he stood up.

"Oh paying are ya?" Aaron said and he couldn't keep his smirk back when Flynn turned around to face him with a faked shock face.

"Looks like I am yeah" Flynn told him now with a grin and walked off.

Aaron took a deep breath and called his mum back, when the call connected he had to move the phone away from his ear and he just listened to her panic stricken rant and when he could get a word in he did. "Alright! I'm sorry, I should have told you about the funeral but I didn't, it was best that way, something I had to do without letting you all know, Cameron didn't even know I was going till this morning when I text him"

Chas sighed on the other end. "Well I can hardly be mad at you now can I?"

"Well…you can if it helps you but it won't help me mum…I am genuinely sorry I didn't tell you"

"A-a…alright darling it's fine, but as for going AWOL…"

Aaron sighed as he nodded. "Yeah I know…I know alright but I'm fine"

"Well…come on, where are ya? Do you need picking up?"

"No, No I don't I'm with Flynn, I came here pretty much straight after the funeral…he's asked me to stay the night"

"To stay?" she asked in an accusing tone.

Aaron tutted; which his mum would have definitely heard. "Not like that! Jesus mum, I just buried my boyfriend" he explained as Flynn listened from the kitchen. "B-But…" Aaron's tone softened. "He's being really amazing mum…he is…he's so caring…considerate…and he doesn't expect anything"

"Well neither do we!"

Aaron sighed. "Well I feel like you do sometimes…like I have to put on an act, and that's what I end up doing to make you think I'm fine when I'm not"

"Well we aren't stupid love, we know you're not and you don't have to do anything to spare our feelings, we all just love you that's all"

"I know mum, a-and so does Flynn…and I believe him…"

"Do you love him?"

Aaron sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Yes I do but I was already in love with him before Jason I just never realised it…"

"And what now?"

"Mum seriously" he started to laugh. "I've already talked to Flynn about this and when and if things happen and we decide to tell you then you'll know but for now, I can't act on my feelings for him because of what I've been through and lost because of it"

"Excuse me?" Chas asked her tone was sharp.

"What?" had he missed something?

"What you just said…you didn't lose Jason because of what he did…"

"Well he did it because I was around…and he ended up dead because of the state I didn't help getting him into so…I don't care what you say…I feel guilty as hell"

Chas sighed, she feared that. "Does Cameron know how you feel?"

"Erm no…and I don't want him to, it won't change anything anyway, if the guilt goes away, it will do by itself, anyway enough about me…how's your day?"

Chas couldn't help chuckle in complete dismay at her son. "How can you ask me that?"

Aaron frowned. "Because I'm not selfish" he scrunched his face and shrugged his shoulders.

"Well aside from worrying sick about you, pretty boring really"

"Oh right then, nice"

Chas laughed. "Anyway listen love, when you come back Paddy wants to talk to you, you up for that?"

"Yeah course; I'll text him when I get back to the farm"

"Make sure you do"

Aaron sighed. "I will, listen to save me some minutes will you call around everyone and tell them I'm okay and where I am please…"

"Yeah sure, and you are sure you're okay yeah? You're not going to do anything stupid are ya?"

"I'm fine, but I wasn't earlier and I'll be honest I was so tempted to do something but I changed my mind and came here, and like I said he is being amazing with me, he's looking after me…and I know everyone does-"

"I know love don't worry, none of us will be offended, I know I'm not"

"Thanks mum, for understanding and for being there"

Chas smiled as tears fell from her eyes and she jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder and she turned to see Cameron behind her. "It's what I'm here for love; I'd like you to drop in tomorrow aswell please"

"Yeah, alright sure"

"Good, make sure you do…I'll let you go but I will let everyone know so they don't worry"

"Okay, cheers mum I'll see you tomorrow"

"See you tomorrow, bye love"

"Bye" he replied and with a heavy sigh he ended the call. "Jesus…"

Flynn chuckled as he walked back in with the menu. "Well?"

"Well that was a heart to heart I wasn't expecting, she was worried naturally, and I feel horrible about that but at the same time I-…" he sighed, feeling horrible for even thinking of saying the words.

"At the same time you have to think about you" Flynn finished for him.

"Are you a telepath all of a sudden?" Aaron asked with a chuckle.

"Nope, I just know you"

Aaron smiled and settled back onto the sofa. "So…What we having?"

Flynn grinned and reached over and patted Aaron's flat stomach. "Nice to see the appetite is still there eh?"

Aaron watched Flynn, looking in his eyes especially and he smiled with a nod.

…

It was just after nine by the time they had finished eating, it took ages for it to arrive and Aaron found it very amusing when he had to sit and listen to Flynn complaining over the phone to the restaurant, he got on his high horse well exaggerating just a little as he spoke to them, whether it was to make him laugh or not Aaron wasn't sure but it worked. They'd already decided on a film while they ate, Aaron had agreed to Friends with benefits but there was a reason behind his accepting of it and Flynn knew why and said. "Oh aye someone wants a bit of the trouser snake does he?"

Aaron then scrunched his nose up, his usual cheeky face. "Who doesn't? Justin Timberlake is fit mate; I wouldn't kick him out of bed for anyone"

"Oh yeah? What about if anyone was me?"

Aaron swayed his head slightly as he exaggerated his decision. "Nah, still wouldn't" he replied and laughed.

"Oh well I'll remember that then" Flynn joked and Aaron laughed some more.

Now they had cleared away the pizza boxes and Flynn lowered the lights and with the DVD in the player they sat back down ready to watch the film. Forty five or so minutes in Flynn had looked over at Aaron like he had done several times already to check he was okay and he had been but this time his heart melted as Aaron was dozing off and his head was flopping to the side, Flynn smiled to himself and leaned over and put his arm around his neck. "It's alright" he whispered. "Come here" he said as he gently pulled Aaron into him, Aaron simply mumbled as his head rested on Flynn's chest, Flynn turned his attention back to the film while he absent mindedly ran his fingers through Aaron's very short hair. He looked down at him again when he moved slightly and when Aaron rested his arm over and around his stomach and squeezed lightly, his heart skipped a beat, and then with his free hand he kissed his fingers then transferred it to Aaron's cheek. Flynn scoffed. "I'm such a soppy git" he told himself quietly.

"So" Aaron mumbled while half asleep. "You're amazing" he slurred.

Flynn's smile was wide. "Shhh just sleep babe…it's okay you're exhausted, you are safe here"

Aaron nodded against Flynn's chest and in seconds he felt Aaron relax into him again. Flynn's attention diverted from the film and he went into a world of his own. I think meeting when Jackson was still around and then everything after, the long times between meeting again, then everything with Chris and Jason, it was meant to happen that way, despite how horrible Aaron's had to suffer since, and still was, he didn't deserve any of it but we're here now I suppose, no not properly as a couple but we both know where we stand now and I understand him, how he feels and I will wait for as long as it takes…he's in my arms right now, and that's all I need, he's beautiful, brave and so strong and it upsets me because he doesn't realise it, he was belittled by Jason, made to feel absolutely shit about himself and I know Aaron loves him and will always probably but because of my own love for this man asleep in my arms I can't help but fucking hate him for what he's done to Aaron and put him through, well I know for a fact that I will spend every day making sure Aaron knows just how great he is, how special he is because that's what he deserves, he doesn't deserve to be some punch bag! I would never ever lay a hand on him, and I know I hurt him before with Chris, but nope, never will I again, mentally or physically. I just can't, not after catching a glimpse tonight of what our life could be like.

TBC…