We Start Again – Chapter 3
-O-
DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
-O-
Robert and Aaron were finding that sleep was difficult as the high temperature was making it uncomfortable, even at night, plus they were both worried about Adam. But after escaping the forest fire, they were exhausted, so they managed to get a few hours sleep.
In the morning, Aaron left Robert dozing in bed and, dressed in nothing but boxer briefs and carpet slippers, he padded down the spiral staircase to the kitchen. He toasted some bread, spread butter and marmalade on a couple of slices, then flicked on the TV and sat down to watch. A morning local news programme was running and he was about to change channels when something caught his eye. A camera on a helicopter was filming the forest fire that he and Robert had escaped from and as the camera filmed the scene of devastation it passed over a damaged, abandoned truck which had obviously careered off of the road.
"Oh my God!" Aaron exclaimed as he recognised his scrap-yard vehicle.
Just then, Robert appeared, yawning and also just in his pants. He had heard Aaron's gasp, "What's up?" he asked.
"Look!" Aaron said as he pointed at the screen and pressed the 'rewind live TV' button on the remote control.
Robert surveyed the scene, "So that's both my car and the truck that are write-offs. Just as well our insurance covers them both."
Aaron pointed to the kitchen, "There's toast if you want it, babe."
"Okay, ta!" Robert bent to kiss Aaron and then went to fetch his breakfast.
The news moved on to a new topic and Aaron was going to change channels when Robert stopped him, "Leave it on, gorgeous."
"Okay," Aaron replied as he dropped the remote control back on the table.
Robert sat next to Aaron with his toast and he was interested in the next news item. The announcer was showing pictures of fires breaking out all over Europe and then a meteorological expert was being interviewed.
"Many areas are now tinder dry, both in the UK and in Europe," the expert explained, "the forecast is for even hotter weather and we have already seen record temperatures. The sun is going through a phase we've never seen before and I'm afraid the solar flares that we are seeing at the moment are causing much higher temperatures than we have been used to here on Earth. If this carries on, vast areas could be scorched and there will not be enough water."
"He's a right barrel of laughs, isn't he?" Aaron mocked.
"He knows what he's talking about though," Robert replied, but did not comment further as he was still watching and listening.
"You make it sound like the end of the world," the announcer said.
"It is the end of the world as we know it," the expert replied, "Crops are decimated, the polar ice caps are melting faster than ever before which means the sea levels are rising, while fresh water is evaporating away, causing problems not only for crops, but for people and livestock too."
"We don't want people to panic though, do we?" the announcer tried to be a calming influence.
"No, of course not," the expert realised that his comments might be seen as scaremongering, "but the public need to be aware of the situation so that they are sensible and stay safe when outside in extreme temperatures, plus conserve water where possible."
Before Aaron and Robert could discuss the news item further, Robert's mobile phone rang. He had left it on the bedside table so he sprinted up the stairs to answer it. A short while later he appeared downstairs again as Aaron was putting the breakfast things in the sink. Aaron looked at him and could tell something was amiss straight away.
"What's up?" Aaron was worried.
"That was Vic," Robert took hold of Aaron in his arms to steady both their nerves, "Adam's taken a turn for the worse, she wants us to get to the hospital as soon as we can."
They dressed themselves in lightening time and Aaron drove them to the hospital, he was on tenterhooks all the way and was worried sick about his best mate. When they arrived at the hospital, they found Vic in the waiting area.
"How is he?" Robert's face was etched with concern.
"He's rallied," Vic said with tears in her eyes, "the doctors said he actually flat-lined at one point, but they got him back. I think an internal bleed started again but they reckon they've cured that. I thought we'd lost him!"
Robert hugged his sister tightly, "Don't worry Sis, he's in safe hands...and we're here now."
The doctor appeared and spoke, "Mrs Barton, your husband is stable again. You can go in to see him now. He's sleeping, but he could wake up at any time. We're going to let him come round naturally."
Vic, Aaron and Robert resumed their previous positions by Adam's bedside. This time, instead of sitting in silence, they chatted to each other and also spoke to Adam, in case he could hear them. Vic held Adam's hand and rubbed it with her thumb.
After about an hour, Adam opened his eyes.
Vic was quick to speak to him, "Hey, babe, we've been worried about you. How are you feeling?"
With his free hand, Adam pulled the oxygen mask from his face, "Where am I?"
"You're in hospital," Vic replied, "you've been in some sort of accident. But you're safe now. Look who's here!" She gesticulated towards Aaron and Robert.
Adam turned his head to look at them and smiled.
"Hey, bro," Aaron said, tenderly, "you do know how to give us a fright, don't you."
Adam did not answer: he still seemed a little disorientated.
"I don't know why you're lazing about here," Robert also spoke in a soft voice, "you've got to get yourself organised to be our best man."
Adam looked at Vic again, "What are you doing here? I thought you'd given up on me."
Vic squeezed Adam's hand, "Don't be daft. You're my husband and I love you. Where else would I be?"
Robert decided that husband and wife should be left to chat in private for a while. He looked at Aaron, "Come on, babe, let's get ourselves a drink from the machine."
Aaron took the hint and they left Vic with Adam.
"I hope that Vic and Adam patch things up," Aaron said as he and Robert sat in the waiting area with their cups of coffee.
"I think they'll be okay," Robert replied, "we've all just been reminded that life's too short to hold grudges forever. None of us knows what tomorrow holds, what with our experience in the woods, Adam's accident and global warming or whatever it is."
"I think we should get married as soon as possible then," Aaron remarked, "I want to be your husband, properly, before the world ends."
Robert reached out and squeezed Aaron's hand in his own, "There's nothing I want more. If the world does come to an end, I want you by my side...for all eternity."
After drinking their coffee, Aaron and Robert returned to Adam and Vic and were heartened to see that the couple were all smiles.
"You look pleased with yourself," Robert looked at Adam.
Adam was beaming, even though he was still groggy, "Am I dreaming? Or has this lovely lady just agreed to take me back?"
"That's mint, bro," Aaron looked at his best mate and could not contain his delight. He pulled Vic into an embrace.
"Congratulations!" Robert shook Adam's hand, gently so as not to hurt him.
Aaron turned his attention back to Adam, "So, how come you ended up trashing the scrap truck?"
Adam looked sheepish, "I'm sorry, bro. I guess I've cost the business some serious dosh now."
"Don't be soft. We're insured and it can be replaced...but you can't," he gripped Adam's hand after Robert let go of it, "I'd rather have you alive and well, you are way more important than the business. How did it happen anyway?"
"I don't really know for sure," Adam tried to recall the events leading up to the crash, "I got a call from a guy in Calderdale, asking if we were interested in some lead piping. As it was quiet, I decided to lock up and take the truck out to investigate. I never got there. I was driving along the road, near the forest, when all this thick black smoke suddenly engulfed me. It was so quick that I barely had time to react. I couldn't see where I was going, but my memory goes blank there. Next thing I knew, I woke up here."
"It was a forest fire," Robert filled in some missing details for Adam, "me and Aaron got trapped in the woods and we had to leave my car behind. It's probably toast by now."
"No way!" Adam exclaimed, "Are you okay?"
"Robert breathed in a lot of smoke, but he's alright now," Aaron explained, "but I escaped practically unscathed. Anyway, don't you worry about us: you just concentrate on getting well again: like Robert said before, we need you back to full health to be best man at our official wedding."
Adam grasped Aaron's hand and shook it, "Man! I can't tell you how happy I am that you're getting married...properly. What with making up with my gorgeous wife, it will give me just the incentive I need to get better."
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As soon as Adam was fit enough, Aaron and Robert arranged their wedding at the church. Harriet, without hesitation, agreed to officiate.
On the night before the wedding, Aaron and Robert were saying goodbye at the Mill. Robert had arranged to stay at Vic and Adam's on the eve of the big day.
"I don't know why you're going to all this bother," Aaron was in one of his uncompromising moods, "I know it's traditional to stay apart on the night before, but we are unofficially married already!"
Robert drew Aaron into a tight hug, "It's just for one night. I don't want to jinx it after all we've been through in the past."
Aaron kissed Robert and they held their foreheads together, "I know, it's just that I'm going to be lonely all alone in that big bed tonight. I'm going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too," Robert whispered, "But we've got the rest of our lives to make up for it."
"I just saw the weather forecast," Aaron said, "looks like torrential rain tomorrow. Can you believe it, all these weeks of blistering heat and we have to pick tomorrow to get hitched."
"It might be more comfortable to wear our wedding suits if the rain cools things down," Robert was trying to see the advantages.
They kissed again. The kiss lingered and neither of them wanted to let go, but they could not stand there all night so Robert reluctantly pulled away and opened the front door, "Until tomorrow then, Mr Dingle-Sugden."
Mr Dingle-Sugden. The name was new to Aaron and took him slightly by surprise. But it was a very nice one.
The next morning, all the Dingles, Bartons and Sugdens, plus other invited guests, gathered at the church. It was still hot but, as predicted in the weather forecast, dark clouds were gathering in the distance. Everyone was sitting in the church, waiting for the ceremony.
Robert arrived first and waited nervously for his husband-to-be. Vic gave him an encouraging smile and a nod.
Then, Aaron and Adam arrived and Aaron took Robert's breath away. He had never seen his partner look so handsome before. He was dressed in a light grey suit with white shirt and a grey and black patterned tie. Robert himself had opted for a dark blue suit with light blue shirt and a blue and white tie. They were both glowing and each thought that the other one looked stunning.
As Harriet began the service, a huge clap of thunder nearly drowned out her opening speech. She continued on regardless, even though the thunder continued to rumble throughout the proceedings.
Harriet asked Robert to place the ring on Aaron's finger. Adam passed the ring to Robert and he took Aaron's hand on his own. As he slipped it on, he made his vows, "Aaron Dingle, I give you this ring as a sign of my undying love, respect and devotion. I have found in you a lover, a soul-mate and a life partner. We have been through so much together to get to this point. But I have no doubt that we will make it together. I promise to love you and only you. No one comes close."
Adam then passed another ring to Aaron with the ghost of a wink. Aaron took Robert's hand in his own and spoke, "Robert Jacob Sugden, I give you this ring as a sign of my love and commitment. I am yours, I always have been and I always will be. You are my everything and I will always want you by my side. I will cherish the love we have and keep it in my heart forever."
Just as they heard the heavy rain and hail battering down on the roof of the church, Harriet concluded the service, "These two young men, in the presence of God and of their witnesses, have committed themselves to each other for life. They are now legally married in the eyes of the law and, as they have already signed the relevant documents, are now officially known as Aaron and Robert Dingle-Sugden." She looked affectionately at the happy couple, "You may now kiss your groom."
Aaron and Robert embraced and kissed and everyone cheered, just as another huge clap of thunder shook the place. As they filed outside, the guests made a mad dash to the Woolpack, where the reception was to be held. Aaron and Robert paused outside the church. They were getting soaked but they didn't care as they stood on the pathway and embraced and kissed. The storm raged all around them, but the rest of the world did not exist anymore. They were finally united for life. They had weathered so many storms in the past, but this one was easy!