DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS...THEY BELONG TO ITV1
A/N: Thanks for the reviews...THEY ARE ALL SO APPRECIATED! xx
CHAPTER THREE
Jackson was sat at the kitchen table at Smithy cottage, he was staring at the 'YOUR CIVIL PARTNERSHIP CHOICES' pack...having read through it twice, he hadn't realised how big this was...there was music to choose...vows to choose...ushers to choose...witness's to choose...how many guests attending...how will THEY BOTH enter...alone...or accompanied...his mind was swimming...
Paddy came in from the vets interconnect, and went to make a cup of tea...he saw that Jackson was in deep thought, and stretched his neck to see what he was reading, " so...is that...emmm..." he began, Jackson turned, " yeah...our application form to wed Paddy...that's ME and AARON...not YOU and..." he said realising what he said, Paddy nodded his head, "yeah...I get what you mean mate..." Jackson could sense Paddy wasn't quite himself, "are you alright about this Paddy...with me and Aaron getting married", Paddy made them both a brew, and joined him at the table, " look...I was shocked at first, but it's only that I worry over Aaron..."
Jackson nodded his head, " and I get that Paddy..., but LET me worry about him...he's mine to worry about...well...when we get wed anyway...", Paddy pulled a cheeky grin, " I don't envy you...he's a handful to look out for..."
" and don't I know it...", Jackson mused, setting back to the paperwork again...Paddy bit his bottom lip...he had promised Chas he would ask...tackle somethink that worried them both...he decided HE SHOULD ASK...it was his duty to Aaron...being sotr of a father to him over the last couple of years, " Jackson...this...this...wedding...is it...well...about little Jack...he's a lovely little lad and I really enjoyed looked after him when yous were in London...but Aaron's mentioned that you are going for custody...", Jackson looked up and shook his head, " that's the plan!", Paddy flustered, " well...some might look at it...like...you marrying Aaron because...well you being in a stronger position like..." he stuttered.
Jackson was already guessing what Paddy was on about, he pulled a frown at him, " just spit it OUT Paddy...you think I'm doing this to make it look good in a court battle...", Paddy opened his mouth, " well...your words not mine..." he said trying to lighten the seriousness of the question, Jackson pulled his eyebrowes together, " OF COURSE I'm NOT!...I love Aaron...and THIS would be happening with or without Jack...Aaron makes me the happiest man alive Paddy..."
Paddy knew Jackson was true with his words, you just couldn't get anyone as honest as Jackson...well...except for the odd glitch...ie Rhys...but all that was forgotten..."SORRY..." he blurted, " it's just I have to be sure" Paddy told him, " this is a BIG thing for Aaron...", Jackson's face became softer, " I know...but Aaron's sure...I'm sure...we are BOTH sure...we both want this...I promise you...I'll NEVER let Aaron down...I'll be good to him...", Paddy smiled at him, "good..." he then looked at the application form, " so...do you need any help with that like...", Jackson closed it up, and shook his head, " Aaron and me can do this...but thanks anyway..."
Outside Lisa was bringing Little Jack up the main street, where Aaron came hurrying over from the garage, " hiya mate...did you have a good day at school...", Lisa handed him a painting, " little Jack painted this...Samson did one too...", Aaron glanced at the painting, and smirked at the stick men...he pointed to the middle one, " I bet that ones me..." he told, Jack giggled, he was right, Aaron was always the one with the glum face, Lisa turned, " well I better go and get Zac's tea on...at least Jack's finished his first week at school unscathed...", Aaron nodded, they had made it...and each morning they were getting better at it, " yeah..."
Lisa looked up, " ohhh, by the way...how's the plans going...", Aaron held Jack's hand, " what plans..." he asked with a frown, " you know..." she nodded towards the lad, " oh..." realised Aaron..." yeah...Jackson saw his solicitor last week...you know just for advice like..." Lisa smiled warmly, " well good luck with it...", Aaron took Jack indoors, Jack jumped up and down, "are you going to stick me picture on fridge..." he asked, Aaron smiled and with the fridge magnets, held it in place, " there...your Dad can see it when he gets home from work..."
"can I watch me DVD!"
"yeah sure..." Aaron watched Jack switch the TV on and jumped onto the sofa...just as he was about to open a tin of beans, Hazel let herself in, " alright love...just me...", Aaron turned to see Hazel make a beeline to Jack, " hello my little darling...", Jack shushed her, " leave off Nana Hazel me programmes on...", Hazel sat on the arm of the chair, and pointed, " you'll get square eyes...", she told, Jack looked up to her, " Nana Hazel...uncle Aaron says you've got a...", Aaron jumped in, " can I get you a drink Hazel...", Hazel smiled, " that's very nice of you...a white wine will go down a treat..."
Little Jack jumped off the sofa, and followed Aaron into the kitchen, "uncle Aaron...could I have fish fingers for me tea...", Aaron poured out Hazel's wine, " I'm doind sausages..."
Jack pulled his eyesbrowes together, just like his father did, " PLEAAASE.." he whined, "NO!"
"I'll tell Nana Hazel you let me say fat arse...", Aaron snapped his neck down to him, " you what...you wouldn't would you...", Jack pulled him a grin, " can I have fish fingers Uncle Aaron...", Aaron chucked the sausages back in the freezer, " fish fingers it is then...", just then Jackson came in the back door, and removed his muddy boots, Aaron turned, " fish fingers all right..." he asked, Jackson stared at him open mouthed, " Aaron WE had them yesterday..."
"Jack wants them...", told Aaron, Jackson laughed, " Aaron YOU can't keep giving in to him", Aaron slapped the fish fingers into the frying pan, " he keeps going on about us letting him say fat arse...", Jackson got himself a beer from the fridge, " YOU let him..."
" YOU TAUGHT HIM!" Aaron shot back, " taught him what..." asked Hazel coming into the kitchen, Jackson shook his head, " nowt...staying for your tea are yah...", Hazel leant on the counter with her glass of wine, " that'll be nice...I don't think I can stomach anything else Chas serves up...", she touched Aaron's arm, " no offense love...", Jackson necked his beer, and screwed up the can and dumped it into the bin, he turned, " just gonna say hi to my little man...then I'll grab me shower" he imformed.
Aaron could hear Jack squealed in delight as his father entered the lounge, Hazel smiled to herself, then looked at Aaron flipping the fis fingers," you've become a right domestic goddess haven't yah..." she said, with a little hint of sarcasim, Aaron smiled, " I do me best...", Hazel shrugged, " I know...and I'm not knocking it...but..." she looked behind her to make sure they were alone, Aaron sighed..." out with it...", Hazel raised her eyebrowes, "am I THAT obvious...it's just...are you really sure about wedding my boy...I mean...well...", Aaron pulled her a face, "are you saying I'm not good enough for your Jackson..."
"no love...I'm not...really I'm not...it's just you're so young...some might want to have a few more years of having fun..."
"Hazel, Jackson's not that much older than me..." hissed Aaron
"older enough...he's had a little more years of fun than you...played the fieldeven though I dread to think of the misfits he's picked up over the years...", Aaron realised she was looking at him, "are you calling me a misfit now..."
"NOOOO..ohhh..just listen...I'm worried...I'm worried my boy will get hurt because...he loves you SO much..."
Aaron flipped the fish fingers again, " and I love him...end of...", Hazel could just about pinpoint the hint of defensiveness in his reply... " Please...be 100 per cent sure Aaron...I can't bear for him to get heartbroken...", Aaron was getting stressed, why was SHE interfering, "LOOK Hazel just do one...yeah", Hazel nodded her head with out a further word...
...to her she wasn't convinced of Aaron's FULL committment...the boy hid his true feelings...and she was starting to dread their future together...
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