"I can't believe we're going on a double date!" said Victoria, leaning her head to one side and beaming at Aaron, who rolled his eyes affectionately. "Tell me this isn't everything you'd ever hoped for, Aaron. You, me, your bestie, my brother going out for dinner together. Shall I see if Doug and Diane are free too?"

"Yeah, yeah, give them a bell. Are Adam and Robert ever going to be ready?" He shifted from foot to foot, feeling a little uncomfortable in the suit he'd put on that he usually only wore for weddings and funerals. It was dark blue, fit him well, and had lapels that were just made for grabbing - or so it seemed whenever Robert was around. Aaron brushed down one lapel self-consciously, hoping Vic couldn't read minds.

"Oh, they're plastering themselves with aftershave. I swear, you'd think Adam was trying to wake the dead, the amount of that stuff he puts on."

Adam came into the room at the moment - as Victoria had probably known he would, given the wink she gave him.

"Is that right, babe?" he laughed, kissing her on the cheek and rubbing his bristly face over hers. "I'll just have to rub some off on you, then."

"Quit it, you too," said Aaron, snorting at their silliness.

"Looking very smart, mate," said Adam. "You'll show me up – I had to borrow this suit off Cain, and I'm pretty sure he bought it in about 1995. And he made very clear that he'd kill me if I spill anything on it."

"You look gorgeous, hubby."

"Aww, you too Vic. Give us a twirl, eh?"

Victoria spun, and her silvery dress made a little billowy circle around her.

"She looks mint, doesn't she, lad?"

"Definitely too nice to be seen with a farmboy like you," Aaron laughed – even though he and Adam had precisely the same job now, he still called Adam farmboy as much as he could get away with.

"I don't know why we had to go somewhere so fancy anyway," said Adam, glaring at Aaron in mock outrage.

"Oh, it'll be nice," said Victoria. "I like seeing my three favourite men all dressed up. And you know Robert – he likes things to be a bit fancy, doesn't he?"

It was one of the things Aaron both loved and feared about Robert. Being with a man who knew the difference between types of wine and was used to posh hotels, and all that sort of thing, was unexpectedly sexy – but he did sometimes feel a bit out of his depth. He knew that Robert was equally happy to watch a film on the sofa, with Aaron leaning against his chest, circling an arm around protectively – but Aaron also wanted Robert to enjoy nights out in posh restaurants if that's what made him happy.

"Where is Robert, anyway?" said Aaron.

"Still upstairs, mate. He was wandering around in a shirt and boxers when you arrived. Something about needing to iron the trousers again?"

Aaron pictured a half-dressed Robert and smiled to himself. But that was rushing to the end of the night before it had started, and he could wait. It would be quite exciting, seeing Robert opposite him at the table all evening and knowing how the day would end.

"I'll go up and give him a hand in a mo."

"I bet you will, mate," laughed Adam, earning a light slap from Vic – who followed it up with a kiss and what seemed, from Adam's little leap, to be a bum grab.

"No need, Aaron." Robert appeared in the doorway and smiled at him. Aaron almost gasped. He'd seen Robert nearly every day for ages, but there was still something about Robert coming into a room that thrilled him. And that he had that smile on his face for him, for Aaron. Aaron couldn't help thinking of all the months he'd wanted Robert to smile at him like that – casually, openly, lovingly – and thought it would never happen. And now it happened every day.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." Robert walked over to Aaron and touched him on the arm. Neither of them felt quite comfortable with kissing in front of others yet, but little touches were their equivalent. "Wow. You look great, Aaron."

"Right back at you," Aaron grinned. And Robert did, in a new suit of dark green. He'd had his hair newly cut, and it really suited him. But most of all, he looked good because he was relaxed and happy.

"Sorry to break into this, lovebirds," chimed in Victoria, "But if Adam is going to eat four courses, we'd better get going."

"Ha! I bet you eat more than I do, babe. You usually do."

"Are you calling me fat?" she said, pretending to be hurt.

"I'm calling you sexy," Adam growled, and Victoria squealed.

Robert wrinkled his nose. "My sister, ladies and gentlemen."

Aaron lent forward and whispered so that only Robert could hear him: "Her brother's not so bad either." He was pleased to see a blush shoot over Robert's face.

"Before we go, everyone – " Robert started.

"Oh lord, he's going to give a speech," Victoria interrupted.

"It'll be your eulogy, if you don't shut up. No, I just wanted to say that I'm paying for everybody tonight. No arguments."

"No arguments from me!" said Adam, leading Victoria out to the taxi that had started hitting its horn. "Bottle of wine each, eh?"

Not long ago, Aaron would have refused the offer – wanted to keep things equal and owe Robert nothing. But now, he knew it didn't alter how Robert thought of him, and Robert wasn't trying to buy him off or make him feel inferior. If anything, it made him feel proud to have a boyfriend who could treat them all. But Robert was perhaps still uncertain about that, and was looking at him with a little concern.

"Is that ok, A?"

The nickname – if it could be called that – sent a frisson of pleasure through Aaron, and he smiled. With Adam and Victoria squabbling over who ride shotgun, he didn't need to whisper this time.

"I'm sure I'll think of some way of paying you back," he said, and Robert grinned. "Maybe twice, if you're lucky."

He walked out to the taxi, aware that his boyfriend was looking at his ass as he went. He turned and looked over his shoulder. "Coming?"

"You bet!" Robert jogged the few steps to catch up, and – while keeping his eyes straight ahead and calling out to Adam and Victoria to settle down, gave Aaron a quick smack on the butt. "Something to keep you going til later," he said quietly, and Aaron laughed happily. This was going to be a great evening.