– AARON & JACKSON: MY WAY –

"I WANT YOU"

~This fanfic follow on two days after Breaking Through

- I do not own the characters, or Emmerdale – ITV do.

...

A lot had happened over the last few days, in the pub Chas overheard Declan talking about needing a builder and she happened to recommend Jackson, he met Jackson and his quotes were reasonable and he seemed like a good lad and he was hired a few hours after their meeting.

Aaron had mixed feelings about this, part of him wanted to jump up and down in joy that Jackson would be in the village most of the time but another part of him wondered if it was such a good idea.

Jackson loved being near Aaron, working in the village, it meant he could see him a lot and also keep an eye on him. Aaron was all he thought about. He just smiled whenever he thought about him, he knew his feelings for the lad were growing and with spending more time with him he felt they were making some kind of progress; he learned of Aaron's history with his mum, his dad, the drug dealing and of his troubled past, almost burning John's barn down, then being locked in it for what seemed like ages, Jackson chuckled when Aaron told him that, and how he used to steal milk from the milk van, and he admitted that he still did on occasion. But aside from the troublesome side of Aaron, there was however a good, soft natured side to him that Jackson never doubted, especially one story he'd been told where Rodney's small van began to roll down the village and in the end, ended up smashing into Leyla's shop it which explained the state it was in now. But Aaron was the one who dropped everything to try to stop it; despite failing he tried his best. Jackson knew a lot more about Aaron now and it was nice, he felt they were making progress in learning about each other.

...

Jackson finished for the day at Dale head a few hours ago and he left the village to go back to his flat in town, he caught up on a few things, paperwork for one, then he showered, changed and left again to meet Aaron in the woolpack, he was looking forward to it, he wanted to be there for Aaron aswell, this would be the first time he'd been out since the hospital and it made him nervous that people saw the ambulance and probably knew what he'd done by now.

When he walked into the pub, the first thing he noticed was it was really quite busy and he saw Aaron sitting in the corner looking away from everyone, obviously paranoid they were staring and/or talking about him. Jackson walked over to him smiling and seeing his pint was almost gone. "Another?"

Aaron breathed in relief *Thank god he's here* He nodded. "Yeah" he nodded. "Please" he smiled nervously.

Jackson sat down next to Aaron a few minutes later and placed both pints down on the table. "So, how you doing?"

Aaron nodded. "Aside from feeling like everyone's looking at me...I'm fine...was a bit nervous though..."

Jackson smirked and looked around. "There are a few looking but they're probably wondering who I' am"

"Yeah well let them" Aaron smiled. "How was work?" he asked.

"Yeah it's alright, it's a big job...he wants it gutted and completely re-done, walls re-plastered, ceilings, decoration...new kitchen, plumbing..." Jackson laughed at Aaron's expression.

"I know what you mean but I have absolutely no idea..." he was confused.

"I know what you mean" Jackson told him and took a drink of his lager. "When we're finished here I thought we could get some food and chill if you like?"

Aaron nodded. "Sounds good" he replied with a smile as he looked at Jackson, his feelings over the past few days had developed too, he fancied Jackson he was just too scared to admit it to himself or him.

"Good and just relax" Jackson said with a smile and touched his arm quickly but he felt Aaron back off and stand up. Jackson looked at him quickly and stood up too. Aaron's heart was racing, everyone was certainly looking now. Paddy was stood at the bar and turned to them. "Everything alright lads?"

Aaron ignored him and pushed Jackson into the wall hard. "Don't ever touch me again!" he breathed frantically clearly panicking, people saw Jackson touching him. Aaron felt Paddy's hands pulling him back but he pulled away from him and ran out.

Jackson sighed and shook his head. He cursed himself repeatedly in his mind as he got up to his feet again. He looked at Paddy apologetically and ran out after him. Once outside the pub he looked and saw Aaron walking quickly up to Smithy and he ran after him. Once within reach he grabbed Aaron's arm. "Hey! What the hell was that!" he demanded.

Aaron stopped and turned around. "You touched me – In the pub! I can't believe you did that!"

Jackson sighed. "Men can touch each other Aaron; it is allowed it doesn't mean something's going on! You're so paranoid you think everyone's gunna find out!"

Aaron nodded. "Yeah too right I' am...NEVER touch me again or I swear to god I'll do more than push you!" his expression and tone was nasty.

Jackson shook his head. "I thought we were making some kind of progress? We can sit next to each other in there and be comfortable"

"That's different Jackson; we don't have most of the village as an audience!"

"You need to sort this out; people who matter know sod the rest!" Jackson told him as he stepped closer to him.

Aaron didn't move, he just averted his eyes and breathed heavily, trying to calm down.

"Hey" Jackson's whispery voice caused a reaction, shivers all over Aaron's body, it felt good but yet he was so scared of it. "Why can't you look at me?" he asked.

Aaron swallowed hard. "Because you make me want to kiss ya, touch ya...I've never felt like this before Jackson and I'm scared...I want you." he spoke with pure honesty and began to look up at Jackson slowly.

Jackson nodded. "I'm not going to push you into doing anything you don't wanna do Aaron but I feel the same every time you look at me, or if you just enter a room...I can't stop thinking about you, I've never fell hard like this before" Jackson too was honest.

Aaron shrugged his shoulders. "W-What do we do now?" he asked.

Jackson couldn't see anyone around and he stepped closer again and took his hand, Aaron looked down at his hand holding his cautiously, he closed his eyes, he didn't want to freak out, Jackson was helping him he knew that.

Aaron felt Jackson's head against the side of his as he put his free arm around him tightly. Aaron felt an immense release, all his anxieties, anger, confusion lifted away from him and his body relaxed against Jackson. His smell, his touch everything about Jackson Walsh invaded Aaron's space, it was the thing he'd feared the most but now here it was happening and in the middle of the village of all places. Aaron wanted him, he wanted to kiss him again but not there, he wasn't ready for public displays of affection, he wasn't even sure if he ever would be but it was time for the next step. "Thankyou and I'm sorry" Aaron whispered.

Jackson lifted his head and looked into Aaron's amazing blue eyes and smiled. He knew Aaron found it hard to admit when he was wrong, and he had one hell of a hard push on him, he never expected it but thinking about it; that was part and parcel of being involved during this rough time. "Don't worry about it"

Aaron smiled and nodded. "Let's go inside"

Jackson nodded and followed him as they walked further up the village to Smithy.

...

"So which one?" Jackson asked as they were both knelt down looking at the DVDs on the shelf.

Aaron shrugged. "Paddy has the godfather...if you really wanna watch that then I'll pretend I'm interested" he told him with a smirk as he scanned the selection.

Jackson turned and looked at him, Aaron felt his eyes on him and he felt every inch of his body go warm and he realised this was it, he turned to him and he felt like his breath had been taken away.

Jackson realised this was something different. "W-We don't have too..." he reassured him, once he'd said that both men began to move closely to one another their lips connected softly, they looked at each other and Aaron kissed again with more pressure than the last, Jackson reciprocated and placed his hand on Aaron's face as they kissed passionately, their tongues touched and battled for dominancy. Aaron felt light, he'd wanted this for so long, the kiss of a man, the touch of a man, it all made sense now - it felt right.

They stopped for a air several seconds later and they smiled at each other. "I don't do anything I don't wanna do" he told Jackson with a smile.

Jackson smiled widely. He saw it; Aaron could be happy, the sparkle in his eyes and the wide smile beamed happiness. Their foreheads rested against one another's. "That was a pleasant surprise..." Jackson told him.

"Yeah...it felt right..." Aaron replied. "So what does this mean? Are we together or?" he wondered.

"Why? Do you wanna be together?"

"Do you?" Aaron replied with a question as he looked him directly in his eyes.

Jackson smirked. "What do you think?"

Aaron chuckled and shrugged.

"Of course I do ya idiot, I-I just don't want you to feel rushed because that's the last thing I wanna do"

Aaron understood Jackson's worries. "I know and you're not...we can see how it goes? Date?" Aaron scrunched his face up at his own question. "I have no idea about dates, but I'd like to now...after all the drama, do it properly?" he asked.

Jackson grinned happily. "Well then that's what we'll do"

"You sure?"

Jackson nodded his head. "Definitely"

Aaron smiled. "So...this DVD...?" he asked.

"You pick" Jackson told him.

"No you pick, because if I choose you won't like it..."

"And you won't like what I choose" Jackson chuckled.

This went on for several minutes before they actually decided to go into town instead – their first proper date.

TBC...