AARON & JACKSON

-1912: The Aftermath-

"Home, Once Again"

Later in the day Aaron was having a shower after he and Jackson shared a nap in each other's arms. He could smell the cooking lasagne from upstairs, it smelt amazing – his favourite too.

Jackson was in the kitchen setting the table as he waited for the others to arrive, he'd rang his mum and Adam to tell them he was cooking and he insisted that they be there. Minutes later Chas barged in with a sigh, cursing under her breath, she was tired and very narky after a bad day at work. She hung her coat up and continued on to the kitchen. "Something smells good Jackson" she said as she looked at him and her brow rose slightly, overcome with a slight arousal. Jackson was stood in suit, if he wasn't gay well…she got carried away her thoughts. "A-And you're looking dapper yourself" she grinned. "If only you were straight"

Jackson laughed as he handed her a glass of wine. "Thanks thought I'd make an effort for a change, first real dinner party sort of thing, invited mum and Adam too"

Chas sighed and looked down into her wine. "Shame Aaron can't be here eh? His favourite aswell by the smell of it" she paused and looked back at Jackson. "Soon though, I hope"

Jackson grinned as she had a drink of wine; she placed it down on the table. "Right well, I'll go and get myself changed"

Jackson nodded and continued laying the table as she walked off, he set it for five people, the cutlery was brand new, never been used and so were the wine glasses and plates. He was going all out. Half an hour later Chas walked back downstairs in a red dress, which she had gotten from work she was completely unaware that her son was upstairs at the time getting ready aswell.

Adam strolled happily through the front door next. "Wow smells good, I could eat for England, I'm starving!" he calls to them as he walked to the kitchen and stopped in his tracks as he glanced at Chas sat in her red dress then bit his lip and pulled his eyes away.

"You're always starving!" Jackson told him.

"Yeah well, growing lad and all that…so y-you two are dressed up a bit am I missing something?" he asked with a frown.

"Nah just a little bit of dinner that's all" Jackson told him as he handed him a glass of wine.

As Adam took it Hazel walked in, in a flap. "I can't believe this!" she growled angrily as she removed her now black jacket, it was cream when she left the house.

Jackson walked along the hall and saw the state of her, he stopped himself from laughing. "Um, what happened?"

"Some flaming numbskull drove right into a puddle and muggins here got a shower!" Hazel explained and Adam burst into laughter in the kitchen, which prompted Jackson to start smiling. Hazel glared at her son as she marched along to the kitchen. "I could hear you sonny!" she warned. Jackson followed and swung the kitchen door closed slightly as he walked through.

"Uh yeah, course sorry, terrible that…you look nice though" Adam told her.

"Yeah, my new jacket is ruined though!" she complained as she sat down at the table while Jackson checked over the food.

"Right are you all sat?" Jackson asked and looked over his shoulder. "Good, it's ready" he told them as he grabbed the t-towel that was hiding the fifth place on the table.

Adam was the first to notice and he frowned to himself. "Five…" he said quietly. "Five places Jackson"

Jackson turned around to them as he dished out the food.

"T-There's only four of u-" Adam was stopped in his tracks when he saw the kitchen door swinging open in the corner of his eye. "Oh my god" he breathed as he stared at Aaron in the doorway, he had a massive grin on his face, mirroring Jackson's as he watched on, he'd had his reunion it was time for theirs.

Chas leapt up from her chair and literally screamed. "OH MY GOD!" as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.

"Hi mum" he spoke with a smile as he hugged her back.

Chas pulled away but kept her hands on his shoulders. She was ecstatic. "Ahh let me look at you" she said with tears in her eyes.

"I'm fine" he reassured her. "The Aaron you know is back…not that stranger"

"Oh love I'm so happy you're home"

"Me too you alright?"

Chas nodded as she wiped her tears away, she didn't want her mascara to run. "Never better love, go on…" she stepped back and sat down again.

Adam stood up and held out his hand to Aaron with a smile. Aaron grinned back, nodding at him and took his hand firmly and pulled him into him and they both hugged. "Missed you mate" Adam told him.

Aaron pulled back. "I've missed you too, you alright?"

"Yeah I'm good, things just got so much better now"

Aaron nodded and Adam sat back down next to Chas. Aaron walked over to Hazel and hugged her. "Hi Hazel"

"Hiya love, glad to have you back"

Aaron smiled and nodded. "Thank you"

Hazel nodded, she understood.

Aaron walked around the table, squeezing Jackson's shoulder as he slipped into the chair between him and his mum. "Nice surprise then?"

"Oh yes" Chas told him as she placed her hand on his head and stroked his hair softly.

"So yeah I'm back now and I wanna take this chance to apologise to all of you, but I will speak to you all individually after dinner, something the doctor suggested I do…me and Jackson have talked…had an amazing afternoon together didn't we?" he asked with a smile.

Jackson took his hand and held it. "We certainly did"

"I think we all would have wanted to talk to you privately anyway love" Chas smiled. "Things need to be said to clear certain things up" she had wanted this for so long, she was going to tell him everything he needed to hear, so there would be no more doubting on his part. Chas loved her son and she was going to show it.

Aaron nodded then nudged Jackson. "Where's this food then?"

Jackson smirked as he got up. "Got distracted, sorry" he chuckled.

…

After their meal, Jackson, Hazel and Adam were enjoying their drinks in the lounge while Chas and Aaron washed up, well she washed he dried. "Everyone's in there love, want that chat now?" she asked softly as she tilted her head in his direction.

Aaron nodded. "Ok here goes. I did a horrible thing, taking someone's life I mean it's one of the worst things anyone can do but the fact you loved him makes…made it all the more worse…" Aaron chuckled slightly at his correction. "Doctor said I've got to remember it's the past and not to talk like it's now"

Chas smiled at him. "You don't have to answer this son, but that night, what made you snap? How did Carl push you to a point that up to now has been of no return?"

Aaron sighed and looked down into the soapy water in the sink. "My nineteenth, the party in the pub you planned for me…" Chas nodded "…I went out for a smoke and he was walking up to the pub, stopped and he started saying the same old stuff, you're sick, ill, disgusting, I just rolled my eyes and ignored him like I had done for months, then he changed his mind about going into the pub because it was my do he didn't want nothing to do with it and he walked away"

"And you followed him?" she asked quietly.

Aaron nodded and swallowed hard. "I started shouting at him asking why it was an issue, it's the same as a man and woman, he laughed so I told him it made no difference to him that I liked men, I-I don't even know how he found out…suppose I'll never know but he did and it all started to escalate, my anger it just built and I ran to catch him up just as he was walking up his driveway, I grabbed him and he grabbed me by the neck, I remember yelling why do you hate me so much he laughed in my face and tightened his grip…he told me that someone like me, someone so nasty, evil, perverted, disgusting and sick shouldn't have come from an amazing woman like you" he closed his eyes and sighed. Chas moved to put her arm around him but he stepped away and held out his hand, he needed a minute.

"I lashed out, we ended up on the floor punching, kicking each other, he said men like me deserved to be burned alive and if that was me, on fire he wouldn't even spit on me if I was…I-I was raging mum, he was so nasty, his tone was evil mum you know how that sounded…he kept punching, he was hurting me, had me pinned down smack after smack to my face" he blew out a breath. "That's when I looked to my side and saw the brick…I grabbed it, screamed and whacked him…"

Tears ran down her face as she listened for the first time Aaron's full side to the story.

"T…that wasn't the end of it though…I got up and he was coming around…he started laughing, goading me some more and I whacked him again, I-I've never felt such anger in my life than I did that night…it was like I'd been possessed by evil, he was dead the second time…I-I dropped the brick and I ran and the rest of the story is what you know…"

Chas nodded. "I forgave you a long time ago, when you left for this country and I was all alone I realised how much of an impact you have on my life and I missed you, despite what you did, Carl always deserved everything he got, including his death by you. I never stopped loving you either so when I got this letter filled with a ticket and money from a man I didn't know, telling me he was your boyfriend and inviting me to come to see you I jumped at the chance Aaron, me coming here didn't need a second thought…you're not evil, you were just pushed way too far, I'd have probably done the same in your shoes. I love you with all of my heart Aaron and what I want to hear from you next is not sorry because I know you are, hell…you've paid enough for it, d-don't say anything if you don't want, just let me hold you"

Aaron let out a shaky breath and stepped closer and they both wrapped they're arms around each other. "I love you too"

Chas smiled. "I know you do, best finish this washing up eh? Then we can join the party, getting a bit rowdy in there eh?"

"Just how we like it" Aaron said with a smile as they turned their attention back to the dishes. "And how I certainly plan on being like with Jackson later…" he chuckled. Chas laughed and flung the towel at him again, she had never heard him speak like that to her but she didn't mind in the slightest.

Seconds later Adam came crashing in the kitchen drunk. "Can I borrow my mate for a second?"

Chas laughed. "Yes, go on then just got a few more bits then it's done"

"You sure?" Aaron asked.

Chas nodded with a huge smile. "Yes, go on"

Adam grinned and pulled open the back door quickly and grabbed Aaron and pushed him out. Aaron was confused. "Thought we could talk now" Adam told him. "Before we get too drunk and we forget tomorrow morning"

Aaron smiled. "Alright then, sitting down?" he asked him as they sat on the bench.

Adam sat down beside him and simply just looked at him. "So…you're alright then, like really alright?"

"I've got tablets but yeah I'm fine mate" he told him with a smile.

"Good" he smiled back. "When you left, it hit me hard you know?"

"And I left you cut and bruised…mate, I am so sorry for hurting you so badly, y-you have my word that it will never happen again"

Adam nodded "I just kept reminding myself that you had it worse"

Aaron shrugged. "Doesn't cancel out the way you felt though, I really missed you Adam"

"Oh trust me, I missed you too, and I'm glad you're well and back here with us, you belong here"

Aaron nodded with a smile. "And with Jackson"

"Especially with Jackson"

"Has he been okay?"

"Erm…" Adam nodded. "Yeah…well I've seen him sneak a drink from the bottle when he's thought no one was looking but don't worry though there's no danger of him being an alcoholic I just think it was his way ya know?"

Aaron nodded. "He didn't…" he began but stopped with a heavy sigh. "No, nah don't matter"

"No, go on"

"No because I shouldn't even be thinking about it"

"Did he? Did he what…sleep with so-?"

Aaron sighed and looked serious as he gave a nod.

"No, he just went to work, came home that was it, he never really left the house apart from that"

"I wouldn't blame him if he did, the last time I saw him I told him I hated him, and I'd not long before let someone who wasn't him have sex with me…"

"He loves you, he never stopped, he just wanted you back and now you are, you can be happy together"

Aaron smiled. "Why can't the rest of the world see things the way you guys do in our little world right here, you lot just accept who we are, that we have sex, hold hands, kiss and hug each other…"

"One day, in time"

"I-I had wanted to go for a walk and when Jackson asked me what I wanted to do earlier I told him that we'd just stay here because there was no chance of me keeping my hand away from his if we were out in public…and it's not fair"

"I know but in this garden, in that house you lads can do whatever you want together, no one from out there, over that fence is any the wiser and it will stay that way"

"I just wish people could see how much we love each other"

Adam smiled. "We can, it's all that matters"

Aaron smiled. "Go on get back in there"

"You not coming?"

Aaron shook his head. "No not yet, I just want to be by myself for a few minutes, going from being alone in silence most of the time to this…well it's a shock to the system"

"Understood, don't be long though right?"

Aaron nodded and Adam left him to it.

Chas frowned when Adam came back in alone. "Is he alright?"

"Yeah he just wants some time…y-yo…you didn't say anything to him did ya?"

Chas sighed and rolled her eyes. "As much as I hate keeping secrets Adam, no I didn't, we had other things to discuss first and to be honest for your sake and for HIS I think it's best we keep it that way don't you?" Chas asked sharply as she glared at him.

…

Late that night, Aaron was still outside and unbeknownst to him Hazel had gone home, Adam had crashed out on the sofa and Chas had gone up to bed. It had been a while since Jackson had seen him but he'd been assured that he was okay, now after the drinking had worn Adam down and his mum had gone home, Jackson went outside and found him sat staring up at the stars. He smiled as he sat beside him. "You missed a good night"

Aaron looked at Jackson. "Oh I-I'm sorry I just-"

"Hey, you don't have to explain to me…it's weird after all that time away I get it, I do babe"

"Thank you"

"My mum said that the thank you, you said to her was the icing on the cake for her, she was emotional when she told me that, she said that just to know she helped you in some way was a great feeling, and she told me to tell you to take your time adjusting and that we're all here for you, and we are"

Aaron nodded and then began to chuckle. "Six months ago on Titanic could you have imagined her talking about me like that?"

Jackson let out a laugh and shook his head. "Not a chance, but I'm so pleased she does now"

Aaron nodded. "Me too"

"When you were in hospital I remembered something, something very important"

"What was it babe?" Aaron wondered.

"Do you remember when we were sitting on the debris, you were in front of me and I had my arms around you, you were in bad shape"

"I'll never forget that"

Jackson nodded. "And I said to you that we could declare it between ourselves…be our secret"

Aaron smiled. "I remember, like a married type of thing"

Jackson nodded and he pulled out an untied necklace from his pocket and a ring. And let Aaron see them.

"Wow…Jackson" he gasped.

"I-I know we can't do anything like it but, the secret and declaring it between ourselves…we could…a-and I'm not suggesting a marriage type vow just, I want to give you this ring to keep close to your heart so that you'll always know how much I love you" he told him as he placed the necklace through the ring and moved to put it round Aaron's neck and clipped it together.

"I-I don't know what to say" Aaron was stunned, emotional and so completely in love.

Jackson smiled. "You don't have to say anything" he told him as he took hold of his hand.

Aaron held the ring in his palm and looked at it. An engraving on the inside read A&J April 10th 1912 – It brought tears to his eyes. "I never want that last date to be added anytime soon"

Jackson was crying too and pulled him close and held on tight. "It won't be" he told as he kissed his forehead.

"I love you so much, thank you"

"You're welcome, I love you too" Jackson replied. "You ready for bed?"

"Hmm…yeah…I hope you're not tired Walsh"

"Me? No, I'm never tired when you have bedroom plans"

"And who said I did?" Aaron asked as they walked back into the house.

"You did, the cheeky glint in your eye and the smirk on your lips when you said that, see…I know you Aaron, you were being very suggestive and I do hope you follow that through when we get to the bedroom"

Aaron chuckled and stood against Jackson and whispered; his voice husky through his arousal "Well you lock up down here, give me a couple of minutes and you'll see how I put that suggestion into action…" Aaron slowly turned and walked along the hallway, once at the stairs he stopped and turned to Jackson and simply winked.

Jackson chuckled and bit his lip as he watched his boyfriend saunter up the stairs to the bedroom. He still couldn't believe his luck, Aaron was perfect. He shook himself from his daze of Aaron and quickly ran to both doors and locked them then walked upstairs. Everything was so perfect and it was about to get a hell of a lot better as he pushed open the bedroom door, Jackson walked in and closed it behind him…his man had been waiting…

TBC…