Big Bang – Chapter 1

-O-

DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV

-O-

Smiling all over his face, Robert Sugden emerged, victorious, from the courtroom. His sister Victoria and his surrogate mother Diane both gave him a hug: they had always sided with him despite his previous adulterous behaviour with Aaron and were glad that he had managed to get the better of Lawrence White. Robert was no angel, but they felt that he did not deserve to be cheated out of his settlement from the Home Farm business.

"How much did the judge say again?" Victoria had a disbelieving look on her face, although Robert knew that she had heard the judge's words just as clearly as he had.

"One and a half million!" Robert replied, with a stunned look which indicated that he did not quite believe it himself.

"You'll be able to buy up half the village with that," Diane added, with a smile.

Robert turned serious, "I'll have to think very carefully about my future," he said. Robert knew that Victoria and Diane would take his remark as a statement about his financial affairs, but Robert's thoughts were with Aaron, the man he still loved. But today was not the day to think about his love life, he had some celebrating to do with his nearest and dearest.

Robert was still not the most popular person in Emmerdale village. His brother Andy still hated him for ruining his last days with his late wife Katie, plus the rest of the residents still blamed him for his part in the helicopter crash that had killed Ruby and Val. They felt that, although Chrissie had been to blame for starting the fire which had caused the disaster, she would not have taken such drastic action against Robert if he had stayed loyal to his wife. The old saying was very true: hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!

So, his celebration had to be a low-key affair, a few drinks in the back room of the Woolpack with Diane, Victoria and her husband Adam. Adam was still wary of Robert, but was grateful to Robert for saving his life in the disaster and felt that he needed to get on with his brother-in-law for Victoria's sake, even though he felt uneasy about it as Aaron was his best mate and he knew that there was bad blood between the former lovers.

"Have you settled back on the farm okay?" Robert attempted some polite conversation with Adam.

"Yeah, although I would rather still be scrapping: running my own business and that," Adam replied, wistfully.

"I could still help out, you know," Robert could see a chance of getting back into Adam's good books, "Now I've got the money behind me, I could invest, like I did before. We could rebuild the scrap yard or set up somewhere else."

Adam looked at Robert steadily, "No thanks! We can't just pick up where we left off. For one thing, the business was a chance for me and Aaron to strike out on our own and I didn't realise back then that you were investing because Aaron was your secret boyfriend. I'd rather not take your money on that basis."

Robert was a little insulted, but kept his temper in check, "Well, this would be a strictly financial arrangement: for one thing, me and Aaron are not together anymore. You're my brother-in-law now and you were doing a good job of running the scrap yard."

Adam eyed Robert suspiciously, he still did not trust him, "Thanks, but no thanks!" he said firmly.

"Well," Robert was always one to have the last word, "the offer's there if you change your mind."

Victoria butted in, "Come on you two, this is supposed to be a celebratory drink and all you can do is talk shop."

Robert grinned at his sister, "Yeah, you're right," he held his full glass aloft, "Cheers!"

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Aaron had returned to work at Dingle's garage after the explosion had wrecked the scrap yard. Like Adam, he did not want to give up on running his own business, but he needed to somehow earn a living and counted himself fortunate that he could walk back into his old job as Cain and Debbie would not let a member of their family fall on hard times. Both his uncle and his cousin had been shocked to find out about his affair with Robert Sugden, but the Dingle family had so many skeletons in their closet that they were not in a position to make judgements.

Chas called round to the garage to deliver a letter to Aaron, "I had to sign for this, so I thought it might be important," Chas said as she handed the envelope to her son.

"Ta!" Aaron replied as he tore it open. He looked at the letter in disbelief.

"Bad news?" Chas enquired.

"No, good news for once," Aaron replied.

Chas waited for her son to elaborate, but was left hanging, which did not come as any big surprise as she knew that Aaron always played his cards close to his chest. But, her interest was now aroused, "Well?"

"It's from the insurance people," Aaron decided to share his good fortune with his mother, "they're paying out for the scrap yard being wrecked...thirty grand!"

"That's great!" Chas was delighted, "You could set up again if you wanted."

"Hold your horses," Aaron stopped her in her tracks, "I'll only get ten grand of that myself, a third of it goes to me, a third to Adam and the rest to Robert Sugden," Aaron sneered as he mentioned his ex-lover's name.

"Why should he get anything?" Chas said in an exasperated tone.

"That's the way the business was set up," Aaron seemed resigned to the situation.

"Pity," Chas knew about Robert's good fortune in the court, "old Moneybags has got enough in the bank as it is...he doesn't deserve any of it, the toe-rag!"

Aaron was surprised to find that his instinct was to try to defend Robert, but he checked himself and stayed silent. He decided that the least said: the better.

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Chrissie had been dreading this day. In a court of law, she had been found guilty of arson and manslaughter and, as expected, had been sentenced to a term in prison. She was led, weeping, from the dock with a worried Lawrence and Lachlan watching from the gallery. Robert had wanted to attend to support his wife but, with the family history, had decided to stay away. The news of her imprisonment soon reached him and still came as a shock, even though he could not see any other possible outcome.

"Never mind, pet," Diane consoled him in the back room of the Woolpack after he heard the news, "I don't suppose she'll be in there for long."

"I can't help thinking it's all my fault," Robert was sad, "if I hadn't cheated on her, she wouldn't be in there now."

Diane sat next to Robert and put a comforting arm around his shoulders, "Don't go blaming yourself, you didn't force her to torch your car. I know she wouldn't have done it if you had stayed loyal to her, but you couldn't have known this would happen."

Robert looked at Diane quizzically, "Why are you being so good to me? You've lost your sister because of it: I'm surprised you don't hate me too."

Diane squeezed Robert's arm, "I don't hate you. You're my stepson and I can't hate you. You've been a complete idiot, truth to tell, but I love you like my own."

"Thanks Diane...that means a lot."

Just then, Aaron walked in from upstairs. He glared at Robert and disappeared through the door to the bar without saying a word.

"I wish he could forgive me," Robert said, wistfully.

"Give it time, pet," Diane's soothing voice calmed Robert a lot, "I know you're not very popular in the village right now, but people will forget in time. Adam seems to have cut you some slack so I'm sure Aaron will come round too."

Robert gave Diane a weak smile. At that moment, if felt that he had lost both Chrissie and Aaron and his secret affair had ruined everything.

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Aaron was not looking forward to facing Robert. It was the last thing in the world that he wanted to do, but the insurance company had sent him a form which needed three signatures. Of course, getting a squiggle from Adam did not prove a problem, but Aaron knew that he needed one from Robert if he was going to get his hands on his share of the money. So, he bit the bullet and invited Robert into the back room of the Woolpack.

"Hi Aaron," Robert smiled at his ex-lover.

Aaron could tell that Robert had misread the situation, "This isn't a social call," he looked at Robert sternly, "I just need your signature on the insurance papers, that's all," he motioned Robert to sit down at the table in front of the strategically-placed form.

"Oh, I see," Robert could not hide his disappointment as he had hoped that he and Aaron could talk.

Robert picked up the pen from the table and, after reading the document, signed his name, "There, you'll soon be ten grand to the good. Have you decided what you're going to spend it on?"

"That's none of your business," Aaron scowled.

"Oh, come on mate, don't be like that!"

"I'm not your mate," Aaron almost spat out the words, "after what you did to me and tried to do to Paddy, you can count yourself lucky I'm even speaking to you."

"You can do the same," Robert snapped back, "after blabbing to Chrissie and dropping me right in it! You proud of yourself?"

"What was I supposed to do?" Aaron was having none of it, "You killed Katie, you tried to kill Paddy and threatened Rhona and Leo: all the people I care about, what did you expect? Anyway, you've come out of it smelling of roses, as always."

Robert looked at Aaron steadily, "I may have gained financially, but I've lost you...that's my biggest regret."

Aaron had a face like thunder, "Don't bullshit me Sugden! I can't believe a word you say after all you've done. Why don't you take your stash and clear off into the sunset...nobody wants you round here."

Robert rose from his seat, "Look, when the insurance money comes through, I'll give it to you, to make up for all the hurt I've put you through."

Aaron was in no mood to back down, "Keep your money! I told you before, you can't buy me! I just want you gone!"

Robert could see no point in prolonging the argument. He felt like telling Aaron that he still loved him, but he knew that the time wasn't right. So, he just said goodbye and left Aaron in the room on his own.

Aaron fought back the tears, his head was telling him to give Robert a wide berth, but his heart was telling him the opposite. At that moment, he just wanted to hold Robert in his arms, just like he used to.

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The visiting order came out of the blue. Robert stared at it in disbelief: Chrissie wanted him to visit her in prison! He was amazed, as previously she had made it clear that she did not want any more to do with him. However, he could not pass up the opportunity to speak to his wife, so he made plans to go and see her.

"Hello!" Robert spoke as he sat opposite Chrissie. He felt that a one-word greeting was pretty pathetic and felt totally ill-at-ease.

"I didn't know if you would come," Chrissie looked tired and drawn and Robert still cared about her and was worried.

"You're not ill, are you?" Robert asked.

"No...not unless you count morning sickness!"

"What?!"

"You heard me correctly Robert," Chrissie stared her husband in the eye, "that's why I wanted to see you: I'm expecting your child."