"I believe you" the builder stated without preamble
"Which bit" the mechanic couldn't help the sarcasm dripping from his voice
"All of it, I believe everything you've told Me, everything you've said has been the truth, I was just an idiot" the builder took a breath "I've allowed things from My past to threaten My future a future that I hope is still Me and You"
Aaron sat listening to Jackson speak there was something different this time when he spoke, something about how he spoke that made the mechanic really listen to what the builder said, his heart that had been so closed for the last few days started to melt as the words washed over him, would they finally be starting an open honest relationship
"What's changed" Aaron raised his blue eyes to look into Jackson's
"These last few days, I never want to go through that again, I don't want to feel like that again, those photo's, your shirt, your watch I should have just waited and listened but I allowed My doubts to cloud My brain until I couldn't think straight"
"I don't understand I've never"
"I know, I know it's Me, I don't know if I can put it into words except to say I didn't think I was enough for you"
"Not enough" the mechanic was incredulous "Jackson, Your all I want, your all I'll ever want, but you've hurt Me so much I don't think we can just jump back into a relationship"
"Oh" the builder didn't know how to react
"I want to be with you" Aaron finally touched Jackson just gently raising his head so their eyes could meet again "I think perhaps we should take it slowly, get to know each other again from the very beginning, perhaps even go out on a few dates" the mechanic smiled
"Okay" Jackson was relieved that Aaron was giving him a chance "Can I take you somewhere tonight?, do you fancy a movie?, a meal?"
Aaron could hear the excitement in the builders voice and it was contagious, he thought for a second, "I'd like to go somewhere where no one knows us, other than that you choose"
Bean had had enough of sitting looking for nonexistent ducks and started to cry, both his Godfathers spent a couple of minutes fussing over him their hands touching occasionally, Aaron smiled shyly at the builder then they both started to walk in the direction of Sunshine Cottage, when they got to the gate the two stopped walking and stayed looking at each other, in the window Anna stood watching, she was so happy her son had done it again he'd brought two people back together that shouldn't have been apart in the first place
Jackson had fussed over his appearance and stood in front of the mirror with a couple of shirts trying to decide which one looked the best, he was stood in the bedroom towel around his waist and the bedroom door slightly ajar, Ben passed his door on the way to put Bean to bed, Jackson looked up and smiled at the pair a newly bathed boy gurgling and trying to eat his fist
"You off out?" Ben already knew the answer but wanted to open the conversation
"Yeah, I am, which shirt do you think is best?" the builder returned to looking in the mirror
"Don't ask Me I'm a Man, no dress sense, you better ask Anna, you won't get out the door until she happy with how you look anyway" he turned "Anna, come and help Jackson choose a shirt"
By the time Anna had climbed the stairs Jackson had pulled on a pair of black jeans
"Um, you look good in those", she walked up to the builder and sniffed "You smell good too, why doesn't Ben ever smell as good as you?"
"He's not Gay, so doesn't know how to look after himself" Jackson was grinning
Anna stood looking at her friend after the last few days it was so nice to see the old Jackson emerging and she just hoped he'd learnt his lesson and would talk to his boyfriend rather than just assuming the worst, she may not have known Aaron as long as Jackson but she loved him just as much as she did the builder and it had broken her heart seeing the state he'd let himself get into it was more evidence of how much these two loved and needed each other
"Now which shirt were you thinking of wearing?" she looked at the two Jackson was holding up "No those won't do, you should wear your white shirt, crisp and clean, it also shows off your rippling muscles, by the end of the night Aaron won't be able to resist you"
"Who said I was going out with Aaron?" the builder tried to play it cool
"Perhaps that beaming smile you've been wearing since you came in from your walk with Bean and I happen to know Aaron walked you home"
Anna Chambers were you spying on Me?"
"Of course I was My Darling, how else would I ever know what's going on with you two?" she kissed him on the cheek "now get dressed and go and win your man back"
The evening was one of the best that Jackson could remember, Aaron had also made a great effort with his clothes, he wasn't wearing the top in the photo's that previously had been Jackson's favourite, instead he was wearing a grey jumper and grey/blue jeans that showed of the curves of his bum, Jackson struggled not to give it a squeeze, they headed out of Emmerdale in a chauffer driven car which took them into Hotten where Jackson had booked a table, as they ate their meal the conversation flowed but the subjects were always safe neither one wanted to risk the fragile truce that they had, after the meal they decided to go bowling and spent the next two hours trying to out do the other with their skills there was also a bar and as the drinks flowed they began to relax and really enjoy each others company
Surely that couldn't be the time, Aaron was having such a great night that he didn't want it to end, he looked at the watch he was wearing it was one of his old ones as his favourite was still missing, he looked at Jackson
"Well I suppose we better make a move" he really didn't want to
Jackson could hear the disappointment in Aarons voice, he knew the night would have to end but he'd loved spending time with Aaron and it reminded him once again that he'd been really stupid in risking what he had with the mechanic
"Come on then, I turn into a frog again at midnight" the builder laughed
"Oh, must be past that time now then" the mechanic giggled
"Oi you watch it" he handed Aaron his coat, this was how it was supposed to be, he couldn't bear to think of it any other way
The car picked them up and returned them to the village
Suddenly Aaron felt very shy, he wanted the builder to kiss him, but what if he didn't?, they stood outside The Woolpack the cold night air misting their breaths neither one wanting to walk away
Jackson wanted Aaron his body was zinging with feelings for the Mechanic, he wanted to hold him, to kiss him and most importantly to love him completely and unconditionally, but too soon, he knew that, they had started small steps towards rebuilding their relationship and he had to be happy with that, but he could risk a kiss couldn't he?