As they eat the pizza everyone is quiet and there's awkward glances between them all, the kids thankfully are in the other room blissfully unaware of what's happening with their dad. He needs to speak to Cain, he needs to hear it from the man's mouth that he did it, and as soon as he can he is requesting the visiting order.
"So, you should have heard the abuse this one here gave me about pineapple on pizza, he even mocked Irn Bru." Mackenzie chuckles.
"No, I didn't, all I said after you stated how good pineapple was, is that next you would want an Irn Bru flavored sauce, I didn't mock anything." Aaron states.
"I agree with Mackenzie that's mocking us, what do you think Mackenzie, make him clean out the cows?" Moira jokes.
"Nah, the boys' rooms." Mackenzie chuckles back.
"And I like to see you try." Aaron jokes, pushing Mackenzie's arm making him drop his pizza.
"Oi rude, so now I've broken the tension, let's talk about the elephant in the room and what's next." Mackenzie says and Aaron can see Moira tense up.
"Until the plea hearing there is nothing we can do, he won't even see me. I requested to meet and it got declined. Aaron, any idea when the hearing could be?" Moira asks.
"With them charging him, I'm guessing within the next day or so. We will see what happens at the hearing, for now let's focus on the kid's and figure out why." Aaron states.
"Ay, but how do we keep them distracted? I mean they did see Cain get escorted away by armed police, not the easiest thing to swing away from." Mackenzie states.
"Well Amy is taking Kyle out with Matty, Isaac will most likely go play in his room. Which means maybe I can try to get hold of Cain." Moira explains.
"Well, maybe we can take Isaac to the park, I mean Mackenzie is a big kid after all and I'll keep an eye on them, if you want?" Aaron says.
"I mean, that would help, If that's ok with you Mackenzie." Moira says.
"Yeah, be fun, but I don't see why you're calling me a big kid. I'm mature and sensible now, I'll have you know." He says and Aaron can't help but laugh.
"Well I don't know if that's true but ok, be safe and watch him please, I don't know what he saw or heard." Moira explains.
"It's fine, we will go to the park and then the cafe for milkshake, give you time to sort things if you need longer I'm sure we can pop to mine." Aaron explains.
"There is no need for that, I know you have your own things going on and I'm sure Vinny wouldn't want a kid running around." Moira explains.
"Though it will be a good distraction for him and for Aaron. Sounds like a d.. plan to me." Mackenzie stutters and Aaron looks at Mackenzie funny. It sounded like he was about to say date, but Moria's laugh made them both look at her.
"What?" They both say in unison.
"Nothing, Isaac, once you're done your uncle Mack is taking you out with Aaron so make sure you clean up." Moira shouts, before getting up and walking into the front room leaving Aaron and Mackenzie alone and it felt awkward.
Aaron goes back to eating his pizza trying to finish it, he can see Mackenzie looking over at him and it felt weird, like he was checking him out or something that or Aaron's mind was just overthinking everything. Then a little face appeared at the table smiling.
"Uncle Mack, mum said I had come to save you, before you embarrassed yourself anymore. Oh and you're taking me to the park." Isaac states and Aaron can't help but let out a laugh which makes Mackenzie glare at him.
"Awww bud, that's sweet, coming to save your uncle, go get ready and we will set off." Aaron says.
Isaac wanders off and Aaron gets up picking up the empty boxes and piling them up by the bin and washing his hands, as he dries them he walks past Mackenzie and rubs his hand in his hair.
"Come on uncle Mack, let's go to the park." Aaron chuckles as he walks into the front room.
"So bloody rude." Mackenzie jokes.
After some arguments on which way to walk to the park, Aaron wins and they set off though Isaac had insisted Mackenzie carried him, Aaron watches from behind as Mackenzie said he knew the way and watches as he explains different things to Isaac some of which was totally made up.
"See that tree over there? That big one? It has a secret door to where a scary witch lives." Mackenzie explains and Aaron shakes his head.
"Will she catch us and eat us?" Isaac questions.
"Nope, you see we have a hero with us, he will protect us." Mackenzie says pointing towards Aaron, giving him a look to say play along.
Reluctantly Aaron decides to play along, mainly because it was obvious Mackenzie was trying to keep the kid distracted. So he looks around and finds a stick and picks it up.
"Yeah, I will protect you, I have my trusty weapon." Aaron says as he swings his stick.
"Can I have a weapon so I can protect Uncle Mack?" Isaac asks, Aaron looks around again to find a smaller stick, when he cant he ends up breaking a bigger stick in half handing it to Isaac.
They walk through the rest of the woods playing and story telling. Aaron forgot how much he enjoyed doing things like this but in the same way it reminded him of what he had lost also.
Getting to the park Aaron helps Isaac take a seat in the swing and gently pushes him as Mackenzie leans on the post of the swing smiling at him.
"What are you smiling at?" Aaron questions.
"Just you, didn't realize how good you were with kids, it's sweet." Mackenzie explains.
"Well you're not too bad yourself." Aaron says, and sees Mackenzie flinch a bit. "Hey, you will be a dad one day and a good one at that." Aaron adds.
"Thanks mate, but think that ship has sailed." Mackenzie replies.
"No it ain't, don't put yourself down, you have some good qualities. Don't ask me what they are though." Aaron says sticking his tongue out.
"He's a great uncle, makes great eggs and soldiers, and puts little eyes on the toast." Isaac chuckles.
"See someone agrees. Isaac, do you want to go on the slide and climbing frame then we will go get milkshakes." Aaron says, helping him off the swing.
As Isaac goes down the slide Aaron follows and feels Mackenzie close behind but still looking down, he wishes there was something he could do to help. He slows so Mackenzie ends up level and gently bumps their shoulders together, well his shoulder to Mackenzie's arm with the height difference and smiles at the man who sort of smiles back.
"Come on, what's up Mack? I get you want to be a dad and it hurts about the whole she who will not be named, but I feel like there is something else, you can talk to me." Aaron says.
"It's nothing, you will judge me and at the moment you actually talk to me." Mackenzie replies, now Aaron knew there was something, but Isaac climbing the ladder to the slide made him move away.
"Isaac wait, you need someone with you, Mackenzie wanna catch him at the bottom?" Aaron asks as he moves to the ladder to make sure the kid didn't fall.
Mackenzie didn't really say anything but moved and caught Isaac as he went down the slide, Aaron catches some old people watching them and galres at them which makes them give him a look and walk over.
"Sorry we didn't mean to stare, we just think it's lovely to see a kid and his two dads out having fun." The old lady says.
"Oh, er thanks but.." Aaron starts.
"They're the best." Isaac gleefully says as he starts climbing again.
"We will leave you to it, have a good day." The old man says and they walk off, Isaac slides down again.
"Well that wasn't awkward, was it hunny?" Mackenzie chuckles. "And you, you little monkey come here." Mackenzie says and starts to chase him around the park.
Aaron watches as they run around causing loud laughter and cheering when Mackenzie falls over and rolls on his back all for Isaac to pin and shout the three count. He starts to think these are the kind of things he and Robert would have done with Seb when he visited.
"Looks like they're having fun?" A voice from behind and Aaron turns to see Chloe standing there.
"Yeah, he will make a good dad one day, how's your Kerry doing?" Aaron asks, he didn't really want to know but wanted to be polite.
"As you can expect, look I best get back to her, see ya." She says and glares over at where Mackenzie was and it just seemed weird.
Turning around he can see Mackenzie glaring back and follows her till she is out of eyesight and it dawned on him what Mackenzie was on about now about judging him. Soon enough Mackenzie is up and walking towards him, Aaron thinks to himself if the first thing Mack asks is what did she want it confirms what he is thinking.
"What did she want?" He asks and Aaron has to hold his laugh back.
"Well that just confirms it, she was just talking about Kerry, but the way she glared at you and you at her and that the first thing you ask is what did she want tells me everything, Robert was the same when he had slept with Rebecca. Oh." Aaron says as he sees Mackenzie flinch at the slept word.
"Always about Robert with you, perfect Robert this, perfect Robert that. How is anyone meant to compete for your love when all they get is Robert." Mackenzie snarks before walking back off towards Isaac.
Aaron stood there in shock unsure where that outburst came from, he knew that he always made sure not to mention Robert as it was the same thing Ben had said when they first started dating, but the way Mackenzie had reacted just proved to Aaron that Mack and Chloe had slept together, was that the reason Charity ended it? He knew pushing Mackenzie wasn't the best idea right now with Isaac around, but the other thing that he couldn't shake off was what Mackenzie said about competing for his love. It made no sense.
Making his way over to them, Aaron thinks on how to try and smooth this over temporarily till they get somewhere quieter to chat.
"I'm sorry, I brought Robert up, I don't mean to, it's just we had an intense relationship with a lot of ups and downs. Look this aint the best time to chat, but we will chat, I can see you need to vent." Aaron explains as he places his hand on Mackenzie's shoulder to which Mackenzie just places his hand on top.
"No I'm sorry, that outburst wasn't meant for you, I'm just frustrated with myself. But yeah can we talk maybe later when some little ears aren't about." Mackenzie says.
"Of course, right little man time for milkshakes, what do you think?" Aaron asks.
"Well I'm not little." Mackenzie smirks.
"He wasn't talking to you uncy Mack, yes milkshake I want a chocolate one." Isaac cheers as he comes down the slide again.
"Awww uncy Mack." Aaron jokes and Mackenzie gently slaps his hand on Aarons chest.
They make their way to the cafe, watching Isaac run around picking up random stuff and placing them in his pockets, Aaron makes a note to empty them when they get back, the last thing he wants is Moira kicking off because the washer breaks.
Entering the cafe he can feel the eyes on them, he kind of thought this would happen, but they had nothing to hide, none of them knew why Cain did it so for once they weren't lying. Aaron ushers Issac to the corner sofa and he walks to the counter with Mackenzie, he notices that Mackenzie stares at Vanessa but focuses on the counter.
"Can we get a strong coffee, a chocolate milkshake and what you having Mack?" Aaron asks.
"Coffee as well." Mackenzie replies.
"So have you found out why he did it? Or are you keeping it a family secret?" Brenda questions.
"We don't have to answer your stupid gossip questions, were here to get drinks and keep a young kid distracted as his world changes, so why don't you for once but out." Aaron snarks.
"No need to be rude." Brenda remarks.
"Well you did ask an inappropriate question. So hop to it and make the drinks or maybe we should go to the hide." Mackenzie says.
"Oh ever the charmer, god knows what Charity ever saw in you, though it wouldn't be long before you cheated in her." Vanessa snarks, Aaron couldn't hold his anger back, he wasn't sure what had actually happened between Mack and Charity but he knew enough.
"Woah get off your high horse, he loved her and she dumped all over him even with all the love and support he gave her, yes he has his faults and they are many but he didn't have to be treated like that, especially with all the mistakes you have made, so back off and leave him alone, come on Isaac were going the hide it stinks in here." Aaron says, making sure Vanessa could reply.
"Yeah like old people." Issac chuckles as he gets up and walks out with Aaron, he can feel Mackenzie behind him.
As they make there way up main street, he hadn't dared look behind him towards Mackenzie, it was one of them things had he gone to far by standing up for him or was it ok, as they turn to walk up the road towards the hide he takes hold of Isaac's hand so he couldn't run off whilst so close to where the cars and buses come shooting down.
"So thanks for that. I mean you didn't have to." Mackenzie says as he gets level with Aaron.
"Mack, I wasn't going to let her speak to you like that, she was out of order." Aaron explains.
"But she's right." Mackenzie mutters.
Aaron tries to think what to say, he had just defended him and now he admits he had done something to which with the evidence it was Chloe.
"Chloe? Really I thought you had at least some standards. Look I feel like a right idiot now as I just defended you and she was right, was this why you and Charity split? Actually it ain't otherwise you wouldn't be walking." Aaron states.
Mackenzie goes to try to say something but Aaron holds his hand up and signals towards Issac, this wasn't the place or time to have this chat. They continue to walk Isaac chatting away with Aaron joining in as well, as Mackenzie joins it's awkward but eventually they get to the hide and bump into Matty.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Matty questions.
"Uncle Mack and Aaron were taking me for a milkshake but it smells funny and people aren't nice, so Aaron shouted at them and we decided to come here, but then they both started arguing, can I sit with you, they need to talk." Issac explains, before Aaron can say anything Matty picks Issac up.
"Go talk, don't you think it's bad enough without Cain here, without you two fighting, go sort it." Matty states as he walks off.
Aaron watches as Matty takes Issac towards a table and sot him down, Aaron decides he can't deal with this right now hr needs be alone before he loses it and walks off out, slightly bumping Mackenzie.
"Aaron, mate wait." Mackenzie shouts as he walks out.