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

A/N: tired... nowt to say.

CHAPTER 12

Aaron Livesy watched the kettle boil...he could hear Jackson up stairs getting dressed, he had an appointment with the solicitor today, and Jackson wanted to look his best, the house was SO quiet without Jack...it was only now starting to take effect on them proper...at first was the initial missing of the lad...now it was the day to day thing...no getting the lad up...no getting him dressed...no making him breakfast...no getting him ready for school...it wasn't just Jack's routine that had properly changed...it was him and Jackson's routine as well.

Aaron opened the cupboard door to see Jack's favourite cereal stare right at him...ready there...when Jack came back to them...if he came back to them...legally that was...

Jackson then came down the stairs...he was done up in a nice cotton shirt and trousers...the tie his his tight grasp, " Aaron can you do me tie...", Aaron turned, his thoughts of Jack's routine leaving him, " What...oh yeah...I aint a clue mate...we're call on Paddy in a while...", Jackson watches as Aaron made the brews, and sat at the table...both sat in silence for a while, before Jackson broke the silence, " well...today marks the direction we will take mate...hey did you speak to Cain yesterday...", Aaron sipped his tea and thought about just that...how he had gone to the garage to talk to Cain, only to be confronted by Matt...that creep from the garage he had worked in Hotten for a couple of weeks...his talk with Cain just wasn't right with HIM there...and he wasn't looking forward into going to work today...

"Aaron...Cain...did you speak to him...", Aaron jumped up and slung his mug into the sink, "NO...I couldn't get him on his own could I...I'll do it today...", Jackson downed his tea, and stood up himself glancing at his watch, " Then DO IT today...as I said...today will make up our minds...", Aaron nodded...Jackson could sense alittle apprehensiveness in Aaron's attitude, "Aaron...are YOU alright...you've been acting wierd since yesterday...", Aaron hadn't told Jackson about Matt...he wasn't sure how he would react...Jackson certainly wasn't a Matt fan...but nor was he...

"I'm fine...look you better get going...you don't wanna be late...", told Aaron, Jackson went over and kissed Aaron on the lips, " wish me luck...because it's just gonna be the same old thing...Jackson YOU have no rights...", Aaron stared into his brown eyes, " YOU have...just tell him about when he was here...HOW Jack will miss us...because I'm SURE he does...", Jackson smiled at him," Livesy...you always know when to say the right things...", he kissed him again, then headed to the door, " Right i'll just get Paddy to do me tie and i'm off..." Aaron shook his head and watched him leave...he then had to get to work...his first day back since he got married...and HE was there...

Aaron strolled up to the garage where Cain already had his head in a bonnet of a motor, when he heard Aaron's approach he snapped his neck up, " Ohhhh...here he is...bout time...AND you can't blame it on the kid...", Aaron gave him a sharp glare and Cain realised his lack of tact...not that he had much tact..." Sorry mate...didn't think...", Aaron was already looking toward Matt who was working on the car inside the garage, Cain clocked the gaze, " easy tiger...you're a married man now..." he teased, Matt looked up and pulled a grin, " yeah HE is...but as they say when the cat's away...", Aaron pulled him a glare, " just shut yah trap...", Cain turned, "HEY...cut it out...I'm having NO arguments around here...to yah here me...", Aaron noticed Cain removing his overalls, " Hey where are you going...", Cain laughed, " I'm off mate...you've GOT HIS help today...don't need me around...see yah later...", Aaron felt awkward as Cain casually strolled off down the forecourt, Matt was then at Aaron's side, " Oh well...looks like it's just you and me...", Aaron turned around and snatched his overall, " just keep away from me..." he sneered...there was no use pretending to like Matt...not with Cain out of earshot...Matt raised his eyebrowes, " Keep away from you...what do you think I'm gonna do...take advantage of you here and now...", Aaron picked up a spanner and approached the motor Cain had been working on, " No...course not...", Matt turned to start back to work on his own motor, " I mean...can't take advantage of you without a shower can I..." he smirked with a wink...Aaron shook his head in disbelief... it wasn't gonna be easy, but he tried to concentrate on his work.

At dinner time, Aaron downed tools, and went to the Pub for his lunch and a pint...Matt was hot on his heels, " hey wait up mate...not gonna ask me to join yah...or will HE be there...the old man!" he laughed in jest, Aaron swung around to him, " can't you take the hint I just want a quiet lunch...ON ME OWN", Matt stopped in his tracks, " so you wanna sit in there like billy no mates huh...", Aaron smiled, " Yeah it beats hanging around with you...", Matt shook his head as Aaron disappeared into the Woolie, he rubbed his chin a few times...and smirked, "What the 'eck...", and followed Aaron into the pub.

Aaron ordered his meal...and got himself a pint, Chas nodded toward Matt who stood a little way down the bar with a big smile on his face, " Where have I seen HIM before..." she asked pulling Aaron his pint, Aaron shrugged, " he's at the garage...Cain got him in...only on loan though...like he loaned me out...",Chas handed him his pint, " ohhh is that HIM...bit of a dish hey!" she teased with a wink, Aaron looked at her in disbelief, " well, saving making a fool of yahself...YOU are not his type..." Chas was puzzled at first...but then it clicked, " OHHHH...you wouldn't know, would you..." Aaron rolled his eyes, and sat at his table, Matt leaned on the bar and faced him, " sure you don't want me to join yah...", Aaron looked up and shook his head, " Oh GO ON then...but don't talk to me...you bore me...", Matt came over with his pint and sat on the stool, " you won't know I'm here...I'll just sit here quietly like...and perv on yah...", Aaron watched as Marlon brought over his meal, once on the table he tucked in forcing away any eye contact...

Jackson pulled up in his van outside the pub, and he got out with the look of the world on his shoulders...Hazel came hurrying over, " Jackson how did it go love...", Jackson looked up to his mother...and forced on a grin with a shake of the head, " Yeah...solicitor thinks I've got a really good chance...", Hazel was over the moon, " Ohhh Jackson...I'm SO pleased...Oh I JUST KNEW you could do this...", Jackson loosened his tie...but Hazel stopped him, " ohhhh don't do that...you always look so smart in a collar and tie...", Jackson shook her off, " leave off mum...I need a pint..."

Aaron washed his hands at the sink of the gents...then he turned to see Matt entering...that iritating grin plastered on his mug, " thought I'd come and see what was keeping yah...", Aaron looked at Matt in the mirror, " can't I have a shit in piece...", Matt shrugged and came to his side, "look...you don't have to be...so...awkward around me you know...", Aaron looked at him in sheer protest, " WHAT...I don't feel awkward around yah...", Matt begged to differ, "You do...and I can understand it...it's the chemistry between us...YOU feel it...", Aaron swallowed nervously, " no...there IS NO chemistry...I...I love Jackson...", Matt put his hands in his pockets, "yeah I know...and I don't doubt THAT...but...love and lust are very different..."

Aaron found himself glancing at him...their eyes locking...but only for a brief moment...because Aaron bolted out the door...with a heavy sigh and a hint of a smirk...he followed him out.

In the bar Aaron had already spotted Jackson at the bar with his Mum, Jackson looked up and beamed a smile, " Aaron!...I thought I'd missed yah...Your mum said she thought you'd gone back to work...", Aaron nodded toward the gents, " I was in there...", it was Hazel who sighted Matt first as he exited the gents...she raised her eyebrowes in disapproval, "Oh yeah...was YOU now..." she said knowingly...Jackson also spotted him...he narrowed his eyes, " WHAT'S THAT JERK DOING HERE!", Aaron came to their side, "blame Cain...he's on loan at the garage..."

Jackson glared at Matt...he KNEW what Matt wanted...he wanted Aaron...and he'd be damned to let HIM ruin things...not when they had Jack to think of...Matt came forward to the table he had sat at with Aaron before...

Matt could see Jackson's glare of contempt...

...to deliberately wind up Jackson, Matt raised his pint...and gave him a knowing wink...and an obvious leer at Aaron...

TBC

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