AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"Longing"

Dear Mum,

Well its five am here, woke up earlier than normal and thought I'd write to you, not that I wasn't going too but you know what I mean. Anyway I'm sorry it's been a few months since my first letter, well four actually…things have been mad here lately, my mate Adam I told you about he moved out and got a job on a farm, he seems to like it, the family who own it rented out a room for him, he means a hell of a lot to me so I'm pleased for him.

Jackson and I have moved house too, far, far away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I got a job, can you believe that? I never thought I'd find one; it's nothing glamorous though I just work down in the mine, made a few good mates though. I like it now everything seems to have a sense of order. Jackson started his own building firm and by the looks of the brand spanking new stuff he's bought it seems to be taking off quite well.

Thing is where we've moved is way closer to Jackson's mum Hazel than I had expected. You remember me telling you about her in my first letter? But yeah she can have her weird moments with me at times but I just nod smile and let it go over my head. And the more I see her and Jackson together the more I miss you.

I know coming to America was my choice and I knew I'd miss you but I think because of the sinking it's made me miss you even more because I know what could have been, and I know you've asked me to let you in, to let you know what happened and I'm sorry but I just can't. I hope you understand?

Anyway I'll stop this here, I love you so much mum, I look forward to your next letter.

Love Always,

Aaron x

Jackson began to wake up and he lifted himself up onto his elbow and looked across the room to see Aaron sat at the desk. "What you doing babe?" he asked groggily.

Aaron turned and faced him with a smile. "Just been writing my mum a letter" he said as he folded the piece of paper.

"Wow, it's been a while since you've done that"

Aaron nodded. "Four months since the first one…but I explained about stuff here so she'll understand hopefully…"

"Yeah course she will, you alright though Aaron?"

"Err yeah" he nodded. "Just thinking about the last six months…well it'll be six in a few days…and I just think about it you know? The promise we made" Jackson nodded. "That I- well w-we did it didn't we?"

Jackson smiled widely. "We certainly did…come back to bed…just for half an hour"

It didn't take much convincing and Aaron got up and walked the few steps to bed and let his dressing gown slide off his naked back down onto the floor. He smirked at Jackson and climbed into bed and snuggled up against his naked boyfriend. "Like you said it's still a few days till the actual six months mark but do you have an early indication of your decision?" Jackson asked

Aaron pouted as he mulled over the question. "Well…" he sighed and looked up at Jackson as he lay in the builders arms. "We have jobs, friends…everything we could want, I-I don't want to ruin what we've built here…yeah I miss my mum" he shrugged. "But some people can't have everything, I can still write to her, but I've got you and you more than make up for not having her around, I love you Jackson and my answer is no, I don't want to go back"

Jackson grinned and kissed him passionately on his lips. "Thank you"

"No, thank you…you were right, I just had to try" Aaron said with a smile.

….

Later that day Aaron arrived home after dark, he was always really dirty after a day's work, his hands, arms, face and neck were black. He took a breath as he closed the front door, he could hear Hazel in the living room. Seconds later Jackson appeared in the hallway with a smirk on his lips. "Who's this stranger then?"

Aaron sighed and looked at him with a frown. "That jokes getting old now Jackson"

Jackson laughed. "You're baths ready babe, enjoy"

"Oh trust me I will" he replied as he removed his boots and started walking up the stairs.

Standing naked at the sink Aaron looked at the state of himself in the reflection of the mirrored cabinet door that was hung above the sink "Angin job but someone's got to do it" he reasoned then turned to the bath and stepped in. He lowered himself down and began to lie down in it, soothing his aching muscles in the really hot water just how he liked it.

A while later after a long rest in the bath, he emerged clean and fresh, changed into comfortable clothes and he ran down the stairs and into the living room but suddenly stopped when he saw the painting Hazel had not long completed by the looks of her equipment still everywhere. The painting was resting up on an easel - it was of Titanic's stern high out of the water and light boats were painted in the foreground. She truly did have a magnificent talent, it was a true genuine take on the event but still it stunned him slightly and Jackson looked at him and knew Aaron wasn't comfortable. He smiled sheepishly at Aaron. "I did tell her"

Hazel looked up briefly as she began to pack away things that didn't need cleaning. "And you said you were both okay now"

Jackson frowned. "Still doesn't mean we'd want to see it mum"

"Well neither did I Jackson but this is what I saw and people deserve to see it and know what we went through"

Aaron rolled his eyes and smirked. "I'm not getting into this conversation, been down this road before" he told them with a chuckle. "Tea anyone?" he asked as he turned and began walking away.

"Please" they both replied.

Aaron returned ten minutes later with the tea, he'd grabbed something to eat, he assumed Jackson had already eaten, which lately had been the case. Aaron got in from work late a lot and it wasn't fair for Jackson to wait.

He placed the tea down and notices a pile of playing cards, he smiled and was lost in thought for a moment, a thought that increased his longing, the thought in fact was a memory of his mum using playing cards to teach him how to count. He smiled unknowingly because he remembered it vividly for some reason; it was the only real memory of his very early childhood he retained. Hazel looked up at him and saw in his eyes the longing.

Jackson noticed the smile and frowned. "You alright?"

Aaron came back to reality. "Yeah, fine"

Jackson grinned and patted the sofa beside him and Aaron quickly sat close to him. The evening progressed nicely with a game of cards, chatter and laughter. Aaron however had bowed out early because the start of his shift the following day was quite early.

With Hazel and Jackson alone she took the opportunity to tell him. "Aaron's doing alright now isn't he?" she asked.

"Uh yeah, misses his mum though"

"Ahh…so seeing me and you won't help"

"Well no but he doesn't mind you being here at all" Jackson told her.

"I know but maybe you could do something about it, technically he is alone here, you've got me…"

"Hmm" Jackson mumbled as he considered Hazel's words. He had a plan.

TBC…