DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...THEY BELONG TO ITV1

A/N: Thanks for the reviews...just to reasure folk...I am NOT going to kill anyone...(or cripple)

The first half of this story is about Aaron's struggle with being married so young...and the pressures and temptations that go with it...SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN IN THE SECOND HALF THAT IS A VEHICLE TO KICK AARON INTO TOUCH...so to speak...Hope this settles folks minds...MARK xx

PS...YES I DID HAVE A NICE HOLIDAY...AND NO A DON'T LIKE THE NEW THEME TUNE!

PS2: FORGOT to disclaim the CUBE and PHILIP SCHOFIELD...I don't own them...and don't care to want to either! sorry to waffle.

CHAPTER TWO

Chas came down the stairs at Mill cottage, and went into the kitchen and yawned...she then opened up a cupboard to make some breakfast, she went to pull out the box of cornflakes only to be landed with a double pack of kitchen roll, she double took the cupboard space,then started to open more cupboards to see a row of canned food that was there only yesterday...had been replaced with crockery...Chas pouted her lips as she heard Hazel approaching from the lounge where the TV was blaring out, "MORNING!" she chirped, Chas frowned and pointed her finger at her, " Hazel...have YOU been messing with me cupboards love..." Hazel put the kettle on and sirked, " yes...I said to be self, I said Hazel..there HAS to be a system here somewhere but...I couldn't find the logic to it...so...don't thank me...I was happy to ablige my dear..but..." she leat on the counter and waved her hand, " you will SEE there IS logic here now...in fact it was a pleasure...a pleasure to offer my assistance..."

Chas pulled open the cuttery drawer only to be greeted with a piling bulge of tea towels, " this IS out of order...I can't find owt in me own kitchen!", Hazel shook her head at her, " look...I am TRYING to find a place since Jackson gave notice on our masonette but...if it's TOO much trouble I can always..."

" NO you flaming won't" told Chas, " let them be, Aaron and Jackson are gonna just have to get used to it...get themselves in...I don't know...a routine I suppose...", she said nicking Hazel's tea and sipping it, Hazel frowned at her, " says mother of the year..."

"are you having a pop at me" accused Chas, " because you heard them last night, they want to manage things themselves..."

Hazel smiled grasping her morning mug, " yeah...knowing MY Jackson I'd expect he's got everything running like clock work over there..."

At Dale head, chaos had erupted the place, it was 8.30...it was a Monday morning...and it was little Jacks first day at his new school...and Aaron and Jackson were in a flap...having overslept!, Little Jack squealed in laughter as he watched a cartoon on the TV, and Aaron was trying to make sandwiches in the kitchen, he over buttered the bread, then with his elbow knocked the mini flask into the sink, he sighed, and pulled the flask out soaking the sandwiches in the process, Aaron chucked the knife down on to the counter, " OH FLAMING HELL!" he cried in frustration, Jackson then came flying down the stairs and turned to Jack, "COME ON YOU...lets get them trainers on...now please!" Jack jumped off the sofa and handed his trainers to his father, Jackson frowned at Jacks shirt, " AARON...is THIS shirt even ironed!", Aaron peered in from the kitchen, knife in hand, " I thought YOU did it..."

"NO...I told you to do it...THIS little mans going to go to school looking like a bag of shite...WHERE'S Mum when you need her!", Aaron smirked at the doorway, "She proberly hasn't even got her fat arse outta bed yet!", Jackson put Jacks trainers on, and glared at Aaron mouthing FAT ARSE...and "..not in front of Jack!", but Jack laughed, " Nana FAT ARSE!" Jackson gave him a worried frown , " ohhh...Nana Hazel's gonna SO kill your uncle Aaron..."

"I'm quaking in me boots..." called Aaron finally managing to finish making a sandwich, most of the filling was falling out, but it'll have to do thought Aaron and slapped it into the lunchbox, Jackson came to his side with Jack's new school ruck sack, " we're crap at this...aren't we..." he sighed, Aaron shoved a bag of crisp and an apple in with the sanies, and slammed down the lid and shoved the box into the ruck sack...his eyes met Jackson's, " we're learning...don't get all 'i can't do this' on me...YOU CAN...WE CAN...anyways it's ME who should be the one saying that, not you...", Jackson kissed him, " thanks Aaron...for ALL THIS...sometimes you do this better than I do...I'll promise to make it up to yeah..."

Aaron put his arms around Jackson's neck, " oh yeah...I wonder how...oh.." he smirked cheekily, "maybe if you'd won that 20 grand ...you could have bought me that Sportscar...", Jackson slapped Aaron on the arse playfully, " hey...you KNOW we DON'T TALK about THAT!"

"Jack was asking when it's being put on the telly..."

"I don't know...the didn't say...BUT I'm sure we'll have the OTHER SIDE on anyway..." Jackson told.

"pity...Betty was only suggesting to me Mum and Diane about maybe we could watch your spectacular performance on the big screen at the Woolie..." he laughed, Jackson kissed him again, " you are SO going to pay for that Livesy", Jack was in between them, "I've spilt me Milk..." he said nervously, Jackson could see milk soaking into the boys school jumper, "never mind...uncle Aaron will go get the spare...", Aaron pulled a face, " THAT WAS the spare...you burnt the other one with the iron yesterday..."

It was 9 when the three of them emerged from Dale head, Lisa came forward with Samson in her grasp, " I'm SO sorry...we were..." began Jackson, " we're learning..." told Aaron.

Lisa looked down at Jack, and smiled, " he looks..."

" a mess..." sighed Jackson frustrated, Lisa nodded, " not at all...he looks okay...I'll tell you what...I can lend him one of Samson's jumpers...they'll be a big big for him but..."

"thanks, " smiled Jackson gratefully as Lisa started to lead the boy away, Jack waved, Jackson waved back, " be good...", Aaron turned, " he'll be fine it's just a new school..."

Jackson turned, " well...better get on site in Hotten...and while i'm there...I'll get us an appointment...the the registry office...", Aaron nodded licking his lips unsurely, " are you sure YOU still want to do this...", Aaron smirked, " of course...i do...anyway we're drank from the Dingle wellie...we're committed to eachother...", Jackson went and jumped into his van, "see yah later...I might be a tad late too...me old landlord wants the rest of our stuff out the old place...", Aaron nodded, and watched Jackson drive away, Aaron smiled to himself and approached the garage where Cain was tapping his watch at him, " alright, alright leave off!...we HAD to get Jack ready for school...it was OUR first time at it..."

Cain smiled at him, " blimey!...any later there and the little lad would be ready to come home!", Aaron sighed at the line of cars and picked up a spanner, " aren't YOU gonna replace Ryan..." Cain looked up from the bonnet of the Mini he was working on, " not yet...but...I've got this mate in Hotten...he's gonna take some of these rust buckets off us...and I'm lending him you..."

Aaron was open mouthed, " WHAT...I got to go WORK there..."

"Yep..."

" in a garage where I don't KNOW anybody..." whined Aaron.

Cain looked up, " now that's where you are mistake lad..me mates got this lad working for him...Matt I think his name is...he knows you..." he teased..." he's from YOUR neck of the woods...", Aaron looked at him...Matt...another gay mechanic...it was catching!...this was going to be interesting...

Meanwhile Jackson stepped into the Hotten registry office, and striding up to the counter, the receptionist at the desk came over to him removing her specs, " can I help you..." she smiled warmly, Jackson swallowed nervously, " I...I..wantto make an appointment...for...sorry..." he smiled, "I don't know how this works..."

The receptionist smiled at him, " what IS IT you are thinking of doing...are you wanting to register a birth...a death..."

"A civil partnership...!" blurted out Jackson quickly...he was usually so confident...but THIS was so important...the lady grabbed the computer keyboard, " no problem sir...we can book a day and time for you, and we can even show you what rooms we can offer...and prices for the ceremony...but firstly...can I take your name..."

" yeah...it's Walsh...Jackson Walsh..."

At the village, Aaron went to the Woolpack for lunch and at the bar Chas smiled at him, as she pulled him a pint, " so...how was things this morning love...get Jack off to school did yous.."

Aaron shook his head, " yeah...of course...", Chas looked at him, "so everything went okay...", Aaron glanced into his pint, " we're learning...things will get easier..."

Chas laughed, " you'll kidding aren't yah...things just get worse..., Aaron glared at her, " how would you know, you never saw me off to school...!", Chas grabbed Aaron's hand before he could leave the bar, " hey...I'm just kidding...look...Aaron...I worry about you...ARE you sure you want this...", Aaron looked at her...but said nothing...he just sat at the nearest table where Adam came to join him, " hiya mate!...how's things going..."

Aaron nodded, " yeah good...you..."

"yeah mate...so...you up for a good friday night out!" asked Adam sipping his pint, Aaron nodded, " can't mate...not now we've got Jack...", Adam sighed, "yeah...but Jackson could stay in...or if he wants to join us...maybe Hazel would look after him..."

"yeah maybe..." mused Aaron.

Adam stood and finished his pint, " look mate...I'm chuffed yous got Jack living with yeah at the mo...but...yah 20 not 40...WHEN are you gonna get some fun hey..."

Aaron watched him go...Adam was right...when WAS he gonna get any fun...he downed his own pint...maybe when Jack was settled...things would sort themselves out...

but he was now just starting to realise HOW BIG this was gonna get

...was he really, truely up for it...

AS ALWAYS PLEASE REVIEW...THEY ARE ALL WELCOME xx