Chapter 11

Warning: un-beta

Date: March 2023

"You two don't have to do this." Patty protested from his place at the kitchen table.

"Now you tell us." Aaron appeared just inside the door momentarily carrying a box before he made his way up the stair. Paddy ignored Aarron's sarcasm, as the other man at the table began to speak.

"Paddy, we want to be here for you. Though I don't think you'll ever get him to admit it, I think with the baby on the way Aaron wants to be closer to his family."

"I still can't believe you talked him into that." Paddy chuckled softly.

Rhys smiled broadly in response but replied, "We both know he doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do."

"You two going to go for a civil partnership next?"

The younger man nearly choked on his glass of water, "One hurdle at a time, Paddy."

Paddy nodded in understanding, but before he could say anything the two men sitting in the kitchen became silent as Aaron came back down stairs passing Adam carrying a box himself as the mechanic exited. Adam disappeared up the stairs.

"Thanks, again for letting us use his old room for storage. We shouldn't have too much more, than we'll finish unpacking at the flat then be back here for tea."

Paddy nodded, "And Aaron starts back at the garage on Monday and…"

"I'll be here to help you out and go with ya to the appointment."

Paddy looked solemn for a moment before trying to avoid the subject, "Not sure how much use you'll be." He joked, eying Rhys' plaster covered arm.

"Aw, now, you'll be surprised what you can do with one good arm."

"And yet?" Adam's voice turned both Paddy and Rhys' attention towards the door way, "You can't help your boyfriend with all this junk?"

"That's what his best mate is for." Rhys bantered back as Aaron entered. The mechanic breathed a quiet sigh of relief as the two joked. The pair had had a bit of a falling out after Adam had accused Rhys of forcing Aaron into agreeing to raising children. Or to the point a child due to arrive in just under seven months.

Adam turned to Aaron, "How much more?"

"This is the last box for here. And I can get the last few back at the flat…"

"You want to join us for lunch once Aaron takes that upstairs?"

Adam declined, insisting he needed to get back. The actor nodded his thanks as the farmer took off as the other three men headed towards the Woolpack. Marlon distracted Paddy away from their table, and Rhys noticed that Aaron's kept looking their direction every couple of minutes.

"Aaron, he's only on the other side of the room. If anything happens, I promise we will be the first people to know." Rhys tying make a little light of Aaron's near obsessive worry since the phone call a month and half ago that had been the main spark of their move back to the Aaron's home.

"I know." Aaron conceded turning his focus to the bag of crisp Rhys was handing him to open.

"And the doctor said they caught it early. And if Paddy case stays typical he should be back to normal long before his grandchild arrives."

"Grandchild." Paddy's voice interrupted, as he approached the younger pair at the table. "Still don't know if I like the sound or that are not…" Looking at the confused faces he continued, "It makes me feel old."

"We are old." Marlon noted, bringing a round of refills.

"Aww." Rhys grinned, "Neither one of you look a day over thirty."

Marlon mumbled as he walked, "I like this one."

Aaron rolled his eyes, "Well, we best be off, so we can unpack and be back for tea."

Paddy began to his mouth but Rhys cut him off, "And we'll bring the take away. No arguing"

"Fine. I'm just stay here a little longer, then I've some paperwork…"

"You'll be alright on your own for a little?" Aaron asked concern in his voice.

"I'll be just fine."


Alright, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, it was definetly one I enjoyed writing it. Only three more to go! Can't wait to hear what all of you think!