As Aaron walked back to Dale Head after getting the bread he noticed that Jackson's van was no longer parked outside, funny he thought he never mentioned needing to go out the only thing Jackson had looked ready for was going back to bed, in fact Aaron had been certain that that is where he would find his boyfriend, he let himself in, dropped his keys beside the unopened bills and went to put the bread in the kitchen, he noticed a pile of photo's they hadn't been there when he went out, he picked one up, What the hell!, it was him and he was kissing another bloke, he looked at the rest of them, bile rising up from his stomach as each imagine saw him in intimate embraces with a man he didn't know, how had these been taken?, when?, He looked at them again, he was wearing the top that Jackson had bought him he only ever wore it when he went out with Jackson and there on his wrist was his watch, the watch that he'd lost after their last night out all those weeks ago

Jackson pulled up outside Sunshine Cottage he couldn't drive any further as the tears falling from his eyes made it impossible to see the road he sat with his hands still on the wheel, bowed his heads and wept as though his heart was breaking and that is how it felt to the builder

Anna was looking out of the window, why wasn't Jackson coming in?, she put Bean in his bouncy chair and called out to Ben

"Jackson's outside, I'm going out to see him, watch Bean for Me" not waiting for an answer she put on her shoes and walked out, as she approached the van she saw Jackson just sitting there and as she opened the door he about fell out he was so distressed, Anna didn't say anything she just gathered the crumbling man into her arms and held him

The kitchen was warm and cosy but Jackson didn't feel it the ice that had formed around his heart refusing to melt he didn't even acknowledge Bean who was happily bouncing in his chair, his eyes were devoid of any emotions he just stood in the corner of the kitchen, Ben was coming into the kitchen but his wife gave a quick shake of her head so he about turned and left the two of them alone

Anna waited quietly she knew when to push the builder but this wasn't that time, she busied herself making tea and then sat at the table drinking it, still Jackson didn't move or say a word, Bean was jabbering and blowing raspberries but even this didn't get a reaction from his Godfather, Anna finished her tea the stood up and walked up to Jackson

"You look exhausted, do you want to take a nap?, the spare bed is all made up" the concern in her voice was almost the undoing of the builder as his cried red eyes looked back at one of his closest friends, he simply nodded as Anna took his hand and walked with him to the stairs, she kissed him on the cheek before watching him climb the stairs, the only thing that would affect him this much must have something to do with Aaron, they were both her friends she loved them and couldn't stand the thought of them hurting, she returned to her Son picked him up cooed as his chubby fingers grabbed at her necklace as she walked through to find Ben

"What's up" Ben looked up from his paper

"I don't know, Jackson hasn't said a word since I brought him in" she was standing in the doorway from there she could hear sounds of the builder weeping, this was breaking her heart, she didn't want to interfere but couldn't stand around doing nothing

Ben looked at his wife, they'd had their share of difficulties at the beginning of their relationship and during those times Jackson had always been there, never judging but a sounding block for both of the to voice their worries and hopes for their future, now it seemed the time was here to return the favour, Jackson hadn't involved them in his other relationships and the couple knew that was because he'd never really loved Brett or Tom, but Aaron, he was the reason that Jackson was in such a mess now

"Do you think I should go and see Aaron?" it was as if Anna was talking to herself trying to figure out the best course of action for both of her friends

"Darling do what your heart tells you to do, it's never let you down before" Ben hugged his wife collected his son out of her arms and went to fetch her coat

Anna was just about to walk up to Dale Head when there was a knock at the door, she knew it was Aaron before she'd even opened it

"Is he here?, of course he's here his vans parked outside", the mechanic was babbling "It's not how it seems I promise" his voice was starting to crack, his eyes ears also full of unshed tears, just as she had done with Jackson she took Aaron into hers arms and hugged him

"Do you want to come in?" Anna saw Aaron hesitate "It's okay, I promise it'll be alright Jackson's having a lie down, you only have to talk if you feel like it, it's freezing out here come on and I'll put the kettle on"

Aaron nodded and followed Anna in closing the door against the rain which had stared to fall, wishing it was that easy to close his heart to what he was feeling

In the quietness of the kitchen sitting at the table with Anna, Aaron had slowly started to talk first about Adam and what a good friend he was to the mechanic about their night out the previous evening getting back to the village and finding Jackson awake, he gone quiet then sipping his tea but not really tasting it, it was something to do when he felt the pressure getting too much for him

"He burnt the toast, I went out for bread, came back and he'd gone" the tears now started " I found these on the table" Aaron pulled out the photo's and put them on the table

"Can I?" Anna enquired

"Go ahead, I'm sure he's already told you that he thinks I'm cheating on him"

"Actually he hasn't said a word " she said as she turned over the photo's, she couldn't stop the gasp that escaped as she looked at the pictures

"I know it looks bad, but I swear to you, that I am not and haven't cheated on Jackson"

Anna looked into the blue eyes of the mechanic, she believed him but it wasn't her relationship that was on the line, she did need to support her friend however so she put her hand on top of Aarons and squeezed

"This is Brett again I can feel it" the mechanic sighed, "He'd do anything to break us up and it looks like he's succeeded, I just thought that Jackson would give Me more of a chance, give our relationship a chance but he just left, he didn't wait for Me to look at the photo's, he just believed what he saw, found Me guilty, sentenced Me and I wasn't given a chance to defend Myself and I don't know now if I want to be in a relationship with someone who has so little faith in Me"

"Oh Aaron" Anna didn't know what to say

"I don't know how it's been done but these photo's have been doctored" the mechanic continued, he picked one up "You see the top I'm wearing?, well I only ever wear that top when I'm out with Jackson, it's his favourite so I save it for nights out with him, and you see that watch?, I lost that watch about 2 weeks ago we'd been out, it was a fantastic night" Aaron reminisced "But I lost that watch, been looking for it ever since, so these photo's have to have been taken on a night out with Jackson, I just don't know how to prove it and I don't think I should have to, I've put up with all this crap from Brett believing that what we have, had, was worth it but now I'm not so sure"

"Yes, it's worth it" a quiet voice from the doorway implored

Aaron looked up, there was Jackson, Anna got up and walked out of the room

"You heard?" the mechanic asked never taking his eyes off Jackson

"I did and I'm sorry"

"Save it Jackson, it's just words, you say sorry I accept it and then when something else goes wrong you bale on Me, well I deserve better than that"