CHAPTER 30

I DO NOT OWN EMMERDALE OR IT'S CHARACTERS, THEY ALL BELONG TO ITV1

A/N: THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS...

Aaron Livesy yawned as he crawled out of bed...Jackson had got up long before him, around about 6 to get onto site extra early, he pulled on a pair of trakkies and his Tee shirt...and went downstairs to see Sarah faffing about in the kitchen making Jack's packed lunch, she turned as he entered the kitchen, and smiled at him, " It's SO good of that school to take Jack back...I had a good look around it yesterday...Jackson has made a good choice..."

Aaron started making himself toast, " WE chose it together actually...", Sarah waved her hand at him, "well whatever...Im just saying it was a good choice..." Aaron nodded at her...he didn't want a row...he had managed to bite his tongue for over a week now...so another few days wouldn't matter, "so...how's that flat hunting coming along..." asked Aaron, now buttering his toast and licking his finger, Sarah turned finishing putting together Jack's lunchbox, "what...OHHHHH...didn't Jackson tell you...he's let me stay awhile longer...I'm JUST not ready to be out there yet...NOT with Jeff around..."

Aaron sat at the table, "SO...you're NOT going back to him so just tell him to DO one if he bothers yah...", Sarah sighed at him. " yes but it isn't that easy...HE'LL know now..."

Aaron looked up, "know what..."

"didn't Jackson say...I obtained a copy of the fire report yesterday...IT was nothing to do with our Jack playing with matches...AS IF...they think it was started by a lit cigarette..."

THIS was news to Aaron...why hadn't Jackson told him...he'll have to ask him later...he then noticed the sandwiches on the draining board...all packed up in tinfoil, " YOU didn't have to make me sarnies you know..." he told, Sarah laughed at him, "don't be daft silly...I WOULDN'T even know what you would like...THOSE ARE Jackson's...but he forgot them..." Aaron was double taking the sandwiches...and HER face, " YOU made SANDWICHES FOR MY JACKSON..."

Sarah was shaking her head at him, " COURSE I DID...YOU were still in the land of nod when that poor man got up...HE'S a grafter is Jackson...that's why I've made his favourite...banana and jam...", Aaron pulled a face briefly at the content but composed himself...it wasn't the SARNIES that bothered him, "I didn't know he likes that, sounds gross..."

Sarah started to pack up Jack's school bag, "WELL I have know Jackson alot longer than you Aaron...that's all"

Aaron stood up and dumped his plate and tea mug in the sink, he wasn't going to let HER get to him, "well...THANKS for the tip Sarah...considering IT'S ME whose gonna spend the next 50 odd years with him..." he then went into the lounge, before going up for his shower, Jack was watching cartoons on TV, " see you later little mate...have a good day at school..."

"Thanks uncle Aaron...can you fix MY car..." he handed him a tonka toy that clearly had belonged to Jackson when he was young, " YOUR Nana been giving you MORE castoffs...I'll see what I can do later...I'll book it in for a service...", he then took the toy with him upstairs...

Sarah came in and handed Jack his lunch box and bag, " right YOU school...I've got to go into town..." she was clutching onto Jackson's sarnies..."YOUR daddy will forget his head one day..."

At lunchtime, Aaron entered the Woolpack and stepped to the bar...Chas was upon him with one of her smiles, " YOU alright babe...", Aaron frowned at her, "Yeah... JUST PULL us a pint will yah...", as Chas did just that, she clearly could see there was something on her son's mind...AND she knew what it was...or WHO...

"IS SHE still there..." Chas asked...Aaron looked up, "yeah...WE said she can stay as long as she needed to...it's just...", Chas placed his pint in front of him, " It's JUST what..."

"IT'S JUST HER...she's sorta taking over..." moaned Aaron, " and it's getting worse...SHE'S even making him lunch now..."

Chas frowned at him, " well Jack IS her son love..."

Aaron rolled his eyes at her, " NOT Jack's lunch you silly mare...JACKSON'S!"

Chas was right in there with him over that, " THEN SHE'S crossing the line love...IT'S your job to look after your man...NOT HER'S...", Aaron nodded in agreement, " yeah I know..."

"SO...have you said owt..." asked Chas serving Andy now, Aaron shook his head, "I don't wanna rock the boat do I...IF i'm rude to her...Jackson will be mad...", Chas shook head in disagreement, " NO LOVE...YOU have YOUR say...it's your house as well as Jackson's...JUST TELL HER to butt out...DO YAH HERE ME!", Aaron downed his pint...his mum was right COURSE she was...and in any other circumstances..he'd had a right go...but THIS WAS Jacks's mother...and he had to play this carefully...just make Jackson see she can't stay forever...the nicely nicely approach was best...FOR NOW.

In town...the building site was a hive of activity...Jackson wiped his browe..the sweat was dripping off him...he replaced his hard hat and carried on shovelling sand into the mixer...he then looked up to see some woman waving at him...with the sweat stinging in his eyes he at first didn't see it was Sarah...when realising it WAS her...he smiled and approached her, "SARAH...what are YOU doing here...nowt wrong with Jack is there...", Sarah shook her head and handed him the tinfoiled sarnies..."you forgot yah lunch...", Jackson stared at then and smiled, " thanks...BUT you really didn't have to bring them to me..."

Sarah casually waved her hand at him, " OHHHH...I was coming into town any way...I'M makking YOU a a nice roast dinner for when you get home...YOU work SO hard...and such long hours...", Jackson raised his eyebrowes at her, " a roast...sounds good...can't remember LAST time I had a roast...", Sarah touched his arm, " Aaron not much of a cook is he...well...THAT'S WHY i'm here to spoil yah and Jack..."

"and Aaron..." told Jackson, Sarah nodded to him like it was an after thought, " OF COURSE Aaron...I wouldn't forget him would I...", Jackson glanced at his watch and held up his sarnies at her, " WELL...cheers for these...it was very thoughtful of yah...BUT I must be getting back to it...", Sarah nodded and was about to turn to go whrn she said, " Jackson...THANKS for letting me stay at yours...that business with the fire...you know...the cigarette starting it...the thought of it has made he all shakey..." Jackson held her, " hey...don't BE daft...we like you spoiling us...", Sarah kissed him on the cheek and she went away with a wave...

Jackson's mate's, Dave and Roger came over to him, both wearing grins on their faces, "SO...You're a dark horse Jackson...GOT a nice bit of skirt tucked away there..AND we though you batted for the other team...", Jackson blew then both a kiss, " STILL do guys...but don't fret, you're still me favourites..."but their teasing had bothered him...IS that how it looked...he hoped Aaron hadn't noticed...THAT WOULD FREAK IN OUT, thinking he was going straight...he was just being nice to her...he decided it was best to nip that in the bud as soon as possible.

Sarah was in the village cafe with Hazel, Bob served their coffees, " There you go ladies..." he said in his usual cheerful manner...Hazel thanked him and took a sip, "SO...you settled in a Jackson's..." she asked, Sarah nodded, "yeah...YOUR son is a gent...but...he always was wasn't he..."

Hazel patted Sarah's hand sympathetically, "AWWWWW...it's a pity he turned gay...you would have made a nice wife for him...well before you met THAT Jeff that is...", Sarah sighed. "Jeff was a mistake...4 years of my life wasted on that creep...WELL I'm glad Jackson never signed Jack over to him...HE was right ALL the time...", Hazel was agreeing with her, "WELL...I've always said MY boy has a good head on his shoulders...must take after me" she mused, Sarah bit her lip, " SO...him and Aaron are happy are they..." she asked casually, Hazel nodded, " yeah...well most of the time...they have their ups and downs like we all do...", Sarah took a sip of her own coffee, "oh...downs..."

Hazel nodded, " yeah...Aaron's is one of those lads who is abit insercure...MIND you can't blame him with his up bringing...", Sarah smiled at her, " Really...another coffee Hazel..."

"arrrrrrr" began Hazel glancing at her watch, " I could also treat you to a sticky bun..." enticed Sarah with a smile, Hazel lauged and waved her hand, " Ohhh GO on then you've twisted me arm..." Sarah went to the counter to place the order, she then sat back down, " right...you were saying...about Aaron..."

TBC...PLEASE review...THEY ARE ALL WELCOME! whether you hate it or like it... xx