AARON & JACKSON

-1912-

"We Can But Try"

Hey Mcllst123, nice to hear from you again and thank you :) to answer your question I just write them as I go, I hope the story and pacing continues to please.

And thank you to my regular reviewers for your continued support and for the time you take to write your reviews. And to everyone else out there who reads my stories and chapters, thank you also; I really, really appreciate it! X

-Monday 15th April 12.45am-

Chaos

It was all around, passengers filled the boat deck in a panic, the first lifeboat was about to be launched. Officers stood and helped the women and children into the lifeboat. Upsetting and heartbreaking goodbyes between wives and husbands, fathers and their children took place. Some women had to be man handled into the boat by the crew, young women couldn't bare being without their partner but time was running out, it had to be done. After settling the women into the boat, the officer ordered for it to be lowered.

Aaron and Jackson were inside the ship now in first class; Aaron was following a step or two behind Jackson. As they passed through the smoking room which was busy with gentlemen chatting, drinking and enjoying a cigar he noticed a bottle, he grinned and taking advantage of the situation he grabbed the whiskey and followed Jackson out into an open area, the grand staircase to be precise, he'd seen it on the tour Jackson had gave him days ago but they never really hung around, this time he would. "J-Jackson slo- slow down, I'm cold, wet and I need a rest..."he told him as he sat himself down on one of the steps of the luxurious staircase.

Jackson nodded. "Alright, alright not too long though" he told him then frowned when he started unscrewing the cap of the whiskey bottle. "Where did you get that?"

"Swiped it from in there, taking advantage of the situation, medicinal see...I'm freezing, and all I can taste is salt..." he shrugged sarcastically. "So...yeah that's about it..." he took a swig and swallowed the liquid which warmed his throat nicely. "They owe us after this anyway, they are responsible for this, so the least they'll let me do is sit here and drink they're fine whiskey and sit on this staircase for a little while...class doesn't count now, not in my book anyway"

Jackson smirked as he listened and sat down beside him, he looked around at the many people milling around. "You have a lot to say for yourself don't ya?" he asked with a smile.

"Oh yes" Aaron grinned as he passed the bottle to Jackson.

Jackson took it gratefully and took a swig. He looked down into the bottle then looked back up at Aaron. Aaron frowned. "What?"

Jackson shrugged lightly. "You...How can you be so flippant and calm? I mean that's great and I can be as flippant and calm too but not now...this Aaron, this is bad"

Aaron sighed he knew where Jackson was coming from. "I know, just a mechanism I suppose, don't think I don't know how bad this is because I do...but like I said, I need a minute, we both do..." he told him calmly and stopped, took a breath and started to speak again, softly now "Y-you could of died back there Jackson"

"You too" Jackson added equally as quiet.

"I know but I'd have rather helped you, e-" he stopped, sighed and closed his eyes he found it hard to find his words. "...even if it meant something happened to me, as long as you got out of there"

"I will always be grateful to you for what you did down there, however" he smirked. "I wouldn't have forgiven myself if something had happened to you"

"I wouldn't have if it did you...but we're here so" he smiled.

"And there he goes again, flippant as ever" Jackson smiled lovingly at him.

"Have to be...for the minute, all we have is now Jackson...and just in case-"

"Oh no...No, don't you dare"

Aaron sighed. "Jackson please"

"No, I don't want to hear it"

Aaron gave up and looked down at the floor and nodded. Seconds later he felt Jackson's hand squeeze his shoulder, he felt emotional, the tears wanted to fall but he stopped them, he lifted his arm and placed his hand over Jackson's and squeezed it.

Moments later Aaron frowned, he felt like he was slightly being pulled forward. "Jackson do you feel that?"

"Uh yeah I do..." Jackson replied as he looked up at the bright white dome above them.

"What do we do?"

"Nothing we can do...are you ready to carry on?"

"Yeah I suppose..." he turned and saw him looking up. "Looks good..."

"Looks like the white light, the doorway..." he looked at it thoughtfully, his eyes narrowed as they scanned it.

"Yeah well..." Aaron stood. "It's not ours. Come on..."

Jackson nodded and quickly got up and followed Aaron and moments later they were back out in the cold night air.

"Why are these lifeboats only being filled half full?!" Aaron and Jackson heard the thick Irish accent as soon as they walked out.

"Who's that?" Aaron inquired as he looked over at the man as his conversation continued.

"...They have been tested with the weight of over seventy men, damn you man, fill the boats!"

Jackson took in a deep breath; he was disgusted at what he had overheard. "That's Thomas Andrews, my boss good friend too; mother is well acquainted as you probably guessed..."

Aaron smirked. "I bet, she is the definition of celebrity, don't be forgetting that"

Jackson chuckled. "I don't think I ever will" he told him then a saddened look came over him.

...

Samantha was already seated in a lifeboat and was looking at Hazel impatiently who was still stood on the deck firm, unwilling to get in. "Hazel, get in this boat now, or so help me god!"

"Miss we do not have time for this, I've already refused passengers to go back and collect their belongings, I've pulled women from their men, if I have too, I will drag you in that boat, now come...move along..."

Hazel let out a laugh. "Have you seen the size of me darling? I doubt you'd manage"

"With all due respect, I'm sure I could...please..." the officer held out his arm, motioning for her to get in the lifeboat

"No...No I need to know if my son is okay"

Sam sighed. "Get in the damned boat! People are waiting!"

Hazel frowned. "Why do you even care?"

"Why do I care?" Sam frowned in shock at Hazel's words. "Why am I still here with you?"

Hazel nodded.

"You may have done some bad things Hazel but you are a lovely woman deep down and that is the Hazel I know, that's why. I know this voyage has been tough on both of us, and it's just got a whole lot worse...b-but...also you are Jackson's mum, I love him...I always will and he'd want me to look after you..."

"You talk like he's dead" she spat, scared at the thought.

"We may never know...Hazel...please?" Sam was now pleading. "Get in the boat..."

Hazel let out a sob and took hold of her dress, slightly lifting it up with one hand while the other was taken by the officer for assistance.

Jackson stopped in his tracks as he caught sight of her. Aaron frowned. "What's wrong?"

"My mum...over there..." he replied while staring at her.

Hazel turned around once in the boat and as she did she locked eyes on Jackson. Jackson swallowed hard when he saw that she'd seen him.

"Jackson, I'm not telling you what to do but maybe you should-"

Jackson shook his head at him.

"Why not?"

"Because of what she did to you"

Aaron sighed. "That really doesn't matter anymore Jackson...you have a chance right now to see her, say goodbye...do it...if I could see my mum right now I'd jump at the chance cause to tell the truth...I never thought I'd say this but I could do with talking to her" he smiled sadly. "Jackson go..."

Jackson smiled at him and nodded before quickly walking over. Jackson stood out of the way while other passengers got onto the boat and Hazel too had moved so they could see each other properly without bodies passing in between them. Hazel was crying. "I thought you were dead"

He smiled as he shook his head lightly. "I almost was..." he turned to Jackson. "He saved me mum"

Hazel turned and looked at Aaron but no eye contact was made. Despite who Aaron was to her, she had never being so grateful to anyone in her life. She turned back to Jackson. "Y-you need to get out of this Jackson"

Jackson lowered his head as his own tears surfaced. "I'm going to try...b-but I don't think I will, I'm scared mum"

Samantha sat behind Hazel wasn't looking at them, but she could hear their conversation and her eyes filled quickly with tears.

Jackson sobbed and the emotions caught his breath, he tried to calm down. Hazel reached out and placed her hand on his cheek. "You will, you're strong Jackson you always have been...I-I love you so much"

Jackson nodded as he cried. "I love you too"

Samantha wiped her tears away as she listened.

"I want you to know something" Hazel told him as she took his hands in hers. "I'm so proud of you" she smiled as the emotions were overwhelming, Jackson nodded. "And I want you to know that I' am so sorry for everything that I have done lately"

"Mum we've already-"

"Shh I know we have but I needed you to know again...c-c-could you tell your boy-...erm Aaron that I'm sorry, I can never make up for what I've done but I understand it all now...just tell him I'm sorry"

"Lower away!" called out the officer.

Jackson nodded and began to panic when the signal was called out and the boat began to slowly lower.

"Look after yourself son, I love you"

Their hands gently parted as the distance apart increased. "You too" he smiled and looked at her with teary eyes. He looked at the boat and his eyes locked onto Samantha's "I'm sorry" he mouthed.

Samantha smiled back as she nodded at him, a silent message that she was okay, that it was okay.

Jackson smiled he got the message, he got to his feet and wiped his eyes, he stood at the edge looking down until the boat was too far down. He turned and unexpectedly saw Aaron standing a metre or so behind. Aaron smiled at him.

"She wanted me to tell you that she knows she can never make up for what she'd done but she wants you to know she's sorry"

It felt like he'd been thumped in the chest. Wow he thought and unexpected tears rose to the surface, they completely caught him off guard, should he get emotional over that? He placed a hand on his hip and looked down at the deck, his free hand wiping away the tears. "I'm sorry I just...to me that was a sort of acceptance...and I never for one minute thought I needed it, never felt like I needed it...but now..."

"You do?" Jackson asked.

"I guess" Aaron replied as he looked back up at him. "Yeah" he sniffed and wiped his nose on his sleeve. "So now what?"

Jackson shrugged then turned to the officer. "Excuse me? Is there any letting men on?"

"Not this side sir, starboard aft might be letting men on...can't promise anything though"

Jackson nodded and the boys quickly hurried along the boat deck, bumping into people, weaving through people then stopping to look up in awe as another distress rocket was launched, a loud bang then a bright white light lit up the ship and people, it held for a few seconds. Aaron stood staring at the sparks as they fell to the water.

TBC...

Feels like I've been doing this chapter all day! Yet it doesn't look like much lol...hope you liked it anyway