– AARON & JACKSON: MY WAY –

"THOSE WORDS -THEY CHANGE EVERYTHING"

~This fanfic follows on a week after Love

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

...

Aaron and Jackson got out of Jackson's van with their bags; they'd spent a few days away to get away from it all, it helped a lot. Aaron stretched when he stood looking around the village. "You alright?" Jackson asked.

Aaron nodded. "Yeah, just wish we didn't have to come back you know"

Jackson nodded, he knew that feeling. "You're looking better now..." he commented, Aaron's cuts had almost healed and the bruising had subsided a lot and the swelling was gone.

Aaron smiled. "Yeah...all over now"

"Exactly" Jackson told him.

Aaron frowned when he heard his mum shouting by the pub.

"GET OUT! OUT of this pub and out of MY son's life you worm!" Aaron turned and looked down the village and the next minute he saw his dad being thrown out of the pub by his mum "I told you the other day and I'm telling you again stay the hell away! He doesn't need you!" She continued to yell at him in the middle of the village.

Aaron slowly started walking toward them "Aaron no! Stay out of it" Jackson pleaded with him not to go, but in typical Aaron style he didn't listen to a word Jackson was saying.

"Mum!" Aaron shouted "Leave it" he continued.

"Leave it? Leave it Aaron really?" she shot a nasty look toward her son "That piece of … Nearly gets you killed years ago, abandons you, and now comes back into your life and nearly does it again, did you forget the state you were ?" she asked.

"Mum I've told you I got beat-"

Chas stopped him "Drop the act son, Cain told me everything, That! That SCUM" she pointed at Gordon "Got you doing his dirty work YET again! You were beaten to a pulp Aaron!" the tears were filling Chas' eyes.

Gordon laughed "You're not exactly mum of the year! Walking out on your son, sleeping with everyman possible you slag!" He spat.

"STOP IT! Both of you!" Aaron yelled as loud as he could.

Chas' eyes widened "You're just gonna let him talk to me like that?" she asked in shock.

Aaron didn't reply causing Gordon to grin smugly.

Aaron stood back "And you can wipe that smug look off your face, you maybe my dad...but only in blood, nothing else!" he told him. "I did it because I cared..." he scoffed and shook his head. "Never again, I want you to leave, and I don't want to see you ever again, I was alright before you came back and I'll be alright again...do one!"

Gordon sighed. "I need your help son"

"I'm not your son and you can go and swivel, you're not getting my help, I really wish I could give you the pain I've felt for days all because of you"

"I'm sorry Aaron but I had to tell them!" Gordon explained.

"No..." Aaron pointed and shook his head. "No! You could have just gone and did it yourself without even mentioning me dropping out, I have a life - a pretty good one, and I'm not messing that up! You did this intentionally to hurt me and to get back at me for dropping you in it..." Aaron walked up to him. "Well I tell you something it was your mess in the first place!" he shouted at him then turned away and walked back to Smithy.

Jackson placed his arm around him as they walked but he stopped when he heard Gordon say 'puff'. Aaron thankfully didn't hear it and he frowned when Jackson pulled away and stormed over to the direction of Gordon.

"Woah..." Chas stepped closer. "Jackson..." she tried to calm him.

"What did you say?" Jackson asked.

Gordon grinned. "I said puff, it's no wonder he couldn't do it...not man enough"

Jackson nodded and bit his lip. "Right...think that's clever do ya?"

Gordon flicked up his eyebrows his expression smug.

Aaron looked at his mum, confused.

Jackson stepped back, clenched his fist and swung his arm round to the man's face, knocking him back.

Aaron and Chas stepped closer quickly ready to pull them away from each other but it wasn't needed.

"You deserve so much more than that after what you've done! Get the hell out of this village and never come back!" Jackson spat angrily.

...

Back in Smithy, Jackson was sat at the kitchen table and Aaron was leaning against the bench. "I thought you were dead against violence?" Aaron asked.

"Not when it's directed at you, and there's times when it's necessary" Jackson replied. He thought for a second. "You know...I tried Aaron...none of that should have happened, you're like a moth to a flame when it comes to stuff like that" he sighed.

Aaron began to shake his head "It was my parents Jackson! Anything could have happened; you know what they're like"

Jackson stood up "I know what Chas is like, as for that animal all I know is he nearly got the man I love killed" Jackson just froze, he didn't mean for that to slip out so soon.

Aaron scrunched his face and slowly shook his head.

Jackson noted the scared look on Aarons face, he rushed around the table toward him "Aaron I-I I'm sorry I didn't mean to say that." he scrunched his face and sighed, he wanted the ground to open up and swallow him "No I did mean it but not the way it came out" he reached to touch Aarons arm but he raised both in the air and ran for the door, he opened it with such force it swung against the wall making a dent as the handle impacted the wall.

Jackson clasped both hands covering his mouth with tears running down his face he couldn't believe what he'd just done, although he didn't regret what he said at all. Jackson snapped out of it quickly and went out after him "Aaron!" he yelled as he ran. After a few seconds he saw a bus pulling up at the bus stop and Aaron getting on it. He ran up to the bus banging on the window next to where Aaron was sat "Aaron please! I'm sorry don't do this." He shook his head as the bus pulled away, and he began walking back to the house, lost in his own thoughts, as he crossed the road the sound of a beeping horn brought him round, it was Paddy coming back from a call-out. Paddy rolled down his window with a frown. "You alright Jackson?" he asked.

"Err nah, not really...we had an argument...he's done what he does best"

"I wouldn't worry Jackson, he'll be back" Paddy said with a smile.

"Yeah...maybe" but inside he doubted that very much. "See ya later" he told him as he walked along to the house and back inside while Paddy went back to the surgery

...

Jackson was sat on the sofa; their bags from their break away were up against the wall by the door. He sighed, he kept his phone in his hand, hoping that it would ring, vibrate anything, but it never did.

Hours had passed so he decided to text Aaron. Aaron where are you? I'm worried please come home we need to talk. I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you, please Aaron xxx He then went into the photo library on his phone and found one they'd taken on holiday, they both looked happy, despite Aaron wearing his sunglasses because of the bruises around his eyes. *Jackson you idiot* he said to himself and held the phone to his chest.

...

An hour or so later Hazel walked in, as cheery as ever; as soon as Paddy heard her he tugged on her arm, pulling her into the kitchen.

She scrunched her face "Patrick Kirk I'm flattered but you're too young for me" she laughed.

Paddy smiled "Hazel it's the boys" he whispered

"Whats wrong are they ok?"

"Well when I was driving home I found him walking back to the house, Aaron's ran off they had an argument, he hasn't said anything else, and he's been sat in there in the dark just staring into space. I'm quite worried Hazel, he says he's ok but I think something's happened, I've not seen Aaron at all and he's not answering his phone" Paddy let out a breath.

Hazel rubbed his arm. "I'll go and talk to my Jackson he'll open up to his old mum" she smiled

"I'll go round to Marlon's, give you some space, let me know?" Paddy asked

"Of course"

...

"Bottle of Lager " Aaron requested bluntly.

The bar man at Bar west raised his eye brows "Sure Mr sunshine"

Aaron scowled; he half heard him "What you say!" he spat.

The bar man placed his drink in front of him with some force, a little spilled over the top of the bottle "£2.50" was all the barman said.

Aaron slapped the money in his hand and went to sit at a table. He took out his phone and read the text Jackson had sent - for the third time. He slammed the phone screen down on the table.

Half an hour had passed and he'd had several lagers. He picked his phone up once more and he too looked at the same picture of himself and Jackson. He was scared of what Jackson said. He'd never been in love before, he didn't know if the things he'd being feeling the past few weeks were love or not. He didn't want to tell Jackson this incase he lost him, so instead he did what he knew best, which was to run.

"Alright mate can I get you a drink?" A dark mysterious well kept man asked him.

Aaron scowled and raised his drink "What the hell do ya think this is exactly?" he remarked sarcastically which caused the man to walk away. Aaron then got up, kicked his stool and ran out of bar west. He walked a few yards before coming across a set of big green bins, of which he kicked and punched venting some of his anger and sadness. He then slumped down in between two of them.

...

"I said to myself I said Hazel, my boy looks upset. What's wrong love?" she asked as she ran her hand through his curly hair.

He turned his head away from her; he didn't want her to see him cry.

"Oh no you don't Jackson, you're gonna talk to your old mum" she gently spoke as she forced his face round to her.

He knew he had no choice in the matter so he sat forward, clenching his phone in both hands.

"That's it" she smiled in an encouraging manner. "What's he done this time? Is he still in the lakes?" she asked.

Jackson shook his head "No no. I don't know where he is, but he did come back with me. We argued. I said something. He ran away that's about it"

Hazel looked confused "What about? Tell me son I might be able to help"

Jackson laughed, "I doubt that. Aaron's dad got in contact a few weeks back. He asked for Aarons help doing drug runs to pay off his debt that he'd built up"

Hazel's eyes widened

"The beating? He wasn't mugged; it was some drug dealing scum. Anyway that got sorted. We kept it quiet so Chas didn't find out. But when we got back earlier Chas was arguing with his dad. I asked him not to get involved but he did; typical big man Aaron. I was scared for him I didn't want anything to happen to him" Jackson started getting upset

"Go on son, take your time" she comforted. "I told him I-I didn't want the man I L-L_"

"Love?" Hazel sighed and finished what he was saying.

Jackson nodded his head as he cried "And H-he just ran out, never said a word, where is he mum?" he cried hard.

Hazel grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. "Ssshhh its ok Jackson" she kissed him gently "He'll be home soon and you will sort this out, it's ok" she tried to comfort him but she knew it wasn't working.

...

The next morning Aaron stretched his leg "Oww for fuck sa-" he stopped when he realised where he was "Ughh" the smell coming from the bins was horrendous. Aaron quickly stood up and covered his nose and mouth with his hand and ran down the alley.

Hazel sat at the kitchen table with Paddy; she couldn't believe the events that had just transpired. They sat for a further forty five minutes and looked at the front door when they heard it open and saw Aaron walking in "Look don't say anything. Is Jackson up?"

Paddy sighed "He's gone son"

Aaron looked confused "Gone?" he said faintly.

TBC...