Wise After the Event
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
-O-
It was a bright spring morning in Emmerdale village. Summer was on the way and the weather was warming up. Most of the trees had burst into leaf and Aaron took in the view as he walked to the scrap yard. Life was finally good for him, he and Robert had resolved their differences and he knew, beyond all doubt, that Robert loved him. He had always loved Robert, but for so long he had doubted his sincerity. Robert had been engaged to Chrissie and then married her, so he had always thought that an affair with him was all he could ever hope for. Also, Robert had lied to him on several occasions, but he could see now that Robert had been in denial about his sexuality and had been terrified of being 'outed' and of losing his wealth and status. He had also lied to protect Aaron from his father, but Aaron knew that his lover had always had his best interests at heart. He knew now that Robert cared for him deeply and he had finally been able to give him his trust. A smile played around his lips as he entered the Portacabin to find Adam sitting at the desk.
Adam could not help but smirk as he took in the sight of his best friend. Aaron looked happier than Adam had ever seen him. He knew that Jackson had once made him this happy, but that had all ended tragically and Aaron had been back to square one, romantically. Now, he knew that his brother-in-law Robert was responsible for the renewed smile on Aaron's face, "You're looking very loved-up this morning, Dingle Lad!" Adam had adopted a new nickname since Aaron had changed his surname by deed poll.
Aaron's smile disappeared to be replaced by a sneer and he decided to tease his mate, "What's up? Is my own personal Sugden totty putting out more than his sibling?"
"Oi!" Adam chuckled, "Mine and Vic's love-life is none of your business."
"Well, mine and Robert's is none of yours."
"Fair point," Adam knew his limits with his best friend of so many years, so he decided to drop the banter for now, "Brew?"
"I'll make it," Aaron headed for the kettle.
Just then, they heard the sound of a siren. Obviously, an emergency vehicle was racing down the main road leading into the village.
"I wonder where the fire is?" Adam quipped.
"Could be a police car," Aaron answered.
"Oh yes," Adam replied, a wry smile playing around his lips, "Maybe Jason's late for his breakfast. Or did he stay over with your mum last night?"
Aaron looked at Adam as he waited for the kettle to boil, "Why have you suddenly become obsessed with the love lives of the Dingle clan?"
"I'm not," Adam chuckled again, "but I just wondered how serious your mum was about Jason Wise: that was all. I didn't think the Dingles would be that keen on having a copper in the fold."
"Marlon was married to Donna, remember?" Aaron poured the hot water into the cups, "So it's not the first time we've had a copper in the family."
"Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about that. Do you mind that your mum is going out with Jason?"
"No, not in the slightest, mate. If she's happy, then so am I. He's a sound bloke as it goes: he helped me a lot with getting my father sent down. He's okay by me."
Adam was pleased that Aaron was happy with his mother's choice of boyfriend. With that and his relationship with Robert, he thought that his best mate now had his best chance of happiness in a very long time.
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Aaron and Adam were sitting at the bar in the Woolpack for their lunch. Chas served them their drinks, "Have you heard about the goings-on at Home Farm?" she asked.
"What goings-on?" Aaron asked.
"You obviously haven't heard then," Chas continued, "Lawrence White was rushed to hospital earlier: full blue-light job apparently."
"Ah!" Adam sounded like he had solved a riddle, "That must have been the siren we heard this morning then."
"Yeah," Aaron replied to Adam and then turned to his mother, "is he okay?"
"I don't know, love," Chas answered.
At that moment, Andy walked in and approached the bar.
"Any news on Lawrence?" Chas looked at Andy.
"I've just come from the hospital," Andy replied, "Bernice and Chrissie are with him. He's had a stroke."
"How is he?" Chas enquired.
"The doctors said that he's comfortable. Bernice and Chrissie sent me back to pick up some stuff for him from Home Farm. I thought I'd nip in and grab a sandwich or something," Andy almost felt that he was making excuses for his presence.
Chas fetched sandwiches from the back and gave them to Andy, free of charge with a bag of crisps.
Andy wanted to pay but Chas wouldn't hear of it, "Diane wouldn't forgive me if I charged you for this under the circumstances and anyway, you're family...kind of," she nodded at Aaron and Andy took the hint as her son was Robert's partner, "Do give Lawrence my best when you see him."
"Yes, I will. Thanks, Chas."
"Poor old Lawrence," Adam said, after Andy had gone.
"Yeah, the residents of Home Farm don't seem to have a lot of luck, do they?" Chas mused.
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The next morning, Robert stirred and turned his head to see Aaron laying next to him in their bed at the Woolpack. He gazed lovingly at his boyfriend and thought how cute he always looked when he was asleep. Aaron slept soundly now, the younger man knew beyond all doubt that he had Robert in his life for good and he was finally content. The nightmares had gone; he no longer cut himself and was peaceful and calm.
Aaron roused to see Robert staring at him contentedly. A confused expression crept across his handsome face, "What?" he asked.
Robert chuckled, "I was just looking!"
Aaron loved to tease his boyfriend and a smirk played around his lips, "Like what you see?"
"I'll say!" Robert pounced, his early morning libido always got the better of him and he kissed Aaron passionately...and Aaron wasn't complaining! He kissed back and their kiss deepened, their tongues duelling as the passion intensified. Just then, they heard voices on the landing and listened to them.
"You use the bathroom first, babe," that was Chas' voice, "I'll go downstairs and put the brekkie on."
"OK gorgeous," Jason replied and they heard the sound of a kiss before the sound of the bathroom door closing.
Robert cuddled Aaron to him and stroked his shoulder, "I wish we lived somewhere on our own," Robert mused, "I don't feel completely comfortable sharing a bed with you in the Woolpack."
"I thought you'd gotten over all that," Aaron said, "sneaking around and denying everything. I thought you were happy to tell everyone that we're together now."
"I am!" Robert replied, defensively, "It's just that I wonder if your Mum and Jason, or Charity and the kids for that matter, can hear what we get up to in the bedroom. It kinda inhibits me a bit."
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Aaron snuggled into Roberts' arms, "Maybe we can find a place of our own."
"It would be best if we buy something in the village," Robert suggested, "Our work is here so it would be stupid to move to Hotten, or further afield."
"Is anything available in Emmerdale?"
"Rakesh's apartments?"
Aaron wrinkled his nose, "They're a bit pokey as they've been crammed into an old house."
"True," Robert replied, "Maybe something else will turn up."
"Will we be able to afford it?"
"Of course we will. I've got the money Lawrence gave me and the divorce settlement money still in the bank, plus there's your money that you inherited. We could buy Home Farm if we wanted!"
Aaron laughed, "I said the flats were a bit small, but you've gone to the other end of the spectrum now!"
Robert also laughed, "Think big, I always say!"
Aaron kissed Robert and pulled back to gaze into his eyes, "You'll never change!" he chortled.
When Aaron and Robert appeared in the back room, Chas was putting toast on the table, "Morning you two," she smiled at them, "Help yourselves."
"Thanks, Mum," Aaron said as he sat down next to Robert at the table, "Where's Jason?"
Chas knew that having her boyfriend stop over was no secret, "He was on duty early, so he's gone off to work. I hope you don't mind him staying here."
"What?" Aaron sounded shocked, "After you've accepted me and Robert being together, how could I object? Anyway, I like Jason, he's a top bloke."
"N'awww, thanks love," Chas bent to kiss Aaron on the top of his head.
"Get off!" Aaron, as usual, was bashful about displays of affection, "Anyway, Robert and me have been talking and we think it's best if we find a place of our own."
"Yeah," Robert chipped in, "This place is a bit crowded now with you, Jason, me, Aaron, Charity, Noah and Liv all living here. You have to take a ticket for your turn for the bathroom."
"Aww, I'll miss you being here!" Chas looked a little sad, "But I can see your point. You're loved up and want to be alone, I can understand that."
"We'll start looking then," Aaron replied as he and Robert exchanged a loving glance.
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Chrissie walked into the Woolpack that night. She had a worried look on her face.
"Hi Chrissie," Chas greeted her from behind the bar, "How's Lawrence?"
Chrissie looked close to tears, "He's not good, Chas. The stroke has left him partially paralysed and his speech is slurred. He's going to need round the clock medical supervision."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Chas replied.
Aaron and Robert were sitting at the bar with their drinks and Robert spoke, "Chrissie, I know I'll never be your favourite person, but if there's anything I can do..."
Chrissie, for once, did not reply with a snide remark, "Actually, there might be something you could do."
"Name it."
"Could you find some spare time to help out at Home Farm Estates? My dad is in no fit state to keep running things and Bernice can't manage on her own. I'm going to be tied up sorting out dad's healthcare arrangements so I can't do much."
Robert could see his chance to get back into business at Home Farm, "Wow! I never expected you to let me anywhere near Home Farm again!"
Chrissie studied Robert carefully, "Much as it pains me to say it, you've got a good business brain and I've accepted that you turned things around when my dad was in charge. I can see you've changed since you've been with Aaron and accepted who you are."
"But," Robert was still a little-shell shocked, "won't Lawrence hit the roof if he knows I'm back in the firm?"
"Don't worry about him," Chrissie reassured him, "I've made arrangements for him to be cared for in a nursing home and I think he'll be in there for quite some time. I won't tell him that you're running things at Home Farm. It's not as if he hasn't kept secrets over the years. I still haven't totally forgiven him for never telling me that he's not my real father. But, I don't want his business to suffer and, everything else aside, you're the best man to take over. Why bring in someone I don't know, when I know you can do it with one hand tied behind your back. Better the devil you know and all that!"
Robert could see his chance of getting some privacy for himself and Aaron, "One question," he said.
"Go on," Chrissie could see that Robert was being hesitant.
"As I'll be running the place, any chance I could live at Home Farm too? I'd pay rent, of course. It would make sense to be on site all the time."
"It would," Chrissie replied and then, looking at Aaron, she continued, "I expect you'll be moving in too?"
Aaron looked a little sheepish. The thought of him previously cheating with Robert behind Chrissie's back flashed through his mind, "I don't know..."
Chrissie laughed, "Don't worry, I'm over it now! I've got Andy and Robert's got you. I think we can all be mature about this, don't you? Andy and I are going to be renting a flat in Hotten, so that we can keep an eye on dad in the home. We won't be getting in your hair."
Robert looked at Aaron, "What do you think, babe? Shall we move into Home Farm?"
Aaron was surprised that Robert had used a term of endearment in front of Chrissie, "Yeah, sounds good, as long as everyone is okay with it."
"That's settled then," Chrissie studied Robert carefully, "just don't let me down!"
Robert smiled, "I won't. I've got nothing to hide now that Aaron is in my life properly. I've always been good at running the estate."
"Nice to see you're as modest as ever!" Chrissie laughed.
Robert and Aaron looked at each other and Aaron spoke, "I think this calls for a celebratory drink, don't you?"