Destiny - Chapter 5

-O-

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

-O-

Aaron stirred and rolled over to look at Robert on the other side of the bed. But, his boyfriend wasn't there and he wondered where he had gone.

"He's probably gone to the loo," Aaron thought to himself, "poor old man's bladder can't hold it in for long."

He smiled to himself, even in his thoughts he liked to mock the love of his life. But, he was content at last: he had Robert for good now and he had never loved anyone the way he loved his boyfriend.

As he lay there musing, Robert appeared with a breakfast tray loaded with toast, eggs, coffee and a freshly picked rose in a long-stemmed glass vase.

Aaron looked at him quizzically, "What's the occasion?" he asked.

"You'll see," Robert was being as enigmatic as ever, "I thought we'd take advantage of Liv being away on her school trip. We usually have breakfast downstairs with her: before she goes off to school, so it's nice to have breakfast in bed for a change."

Aaron had to smile. Robert had taken a long time to accept the fact that he had fallen for another man. He was usually sassy and confident, even abrasive, but he was never like that with Aaron and the younger man was getting used to these little spontaneous random romantic acts.

"It's nice to have the place to ourselves for a while," Aaron said as Robert joined him on the bed after putting the vase on the bedside table and placing the breakfast tray between them, "I don't think I've ever really thanked you for accepting that Liv comes with me...as a package deal."

"She's your sister," Robert replied, "She's important to you and, therefore, she's important to me. We are family, the three of us."

Aaron dug his spoon into his egg, which was still warm. Robert had obviously only just boiled them before he came upstairs with the tray, "Anyway, in case I don't say it enough, thanks, babe!" Aaron smiled as he looked at his lover.

"Aaron, I'd do anything for you and always want you to be happy. I'm doing my best to get on with your family. I had a long chat with Faith the other day and she's marked my card for me."

"How do you mean?" Aaron looked a bit puzzled as he scoffed his egg.

"She told me to look after you and treat you right. She's very fond of her grandson, you know. I think I put her mind at rest, though, I told her that you were the most precious thing in the world to me. She's a bit feisty, but her heart is in the right place."

"Yeah," Aaron had to chuckle, "I can see where my mum gets it from now."

They ate their eggs and Aaron spread some marmalade on a slice of toast. Robert expected Aaron to start munching on it, but instead he held it towards Robert's lips and Robert took a bite from it, then Aaron took his own bite from the same slice. It was like a secret ritual between them: something that they would feel uncomfortable to do in front of Liv.

After they had finished consuming their breakfast, Aaron got up and went to leave the room but Robert stopped him by the side of the bed, he picked up a small jeweller's box from the cabinet and went down on one knee in front of his boyfriend.

Aaron gasped: he knew what was coming.

"Aaron Dingle, you are the most precious thing in the world to me. I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you by my side. Will you marry me?" Robert opened the box to reveal a gold ring inside.

Aaron was temporarily struck dumb. He had not given a great deal of thought as to where his relationship with Robert would eventually lead and suddenly it all came into sharp focus. He cleared his throat, looking at Robert staring up at him with expectation in his eyes, "Of course I will!" he answered.

Robert, on hearing the words he had wanted to hear so desperately, quickly jumped to his feet again and swept Aaron into a tight embrace. They kissed passionately: a kiss which went on for ages, neither of them wanting it to end. When they finally came up for air, Robert took the ring from the box and slipped it onto Aaron's finger.

Aaron looked down at the ring. For the first time in his life, he belonged to someone and had never realised the significance of a ring before. It was more than just a little band of gold, it was a symbol of the deep love that Robert felt for him and, because he was wearing it, a symbol that Aaron was Robert's fella.

"Robert," Aaron's words were almost a whisper, "I don't show my feelings, I never have. I keep stuff inside and hide my emotions. But, now I'm wearing your ring, I want you to know that while it's on my finger, I'm yours...I'll always be yours...and I'll always love you, no matter what."

Robert was touched, for all his bravado: he was putty in Aaron's hands and had insecurities of his own. That was the reason why he and Aaron were a perfect match. They both had trouble in believing that someone could love them, but they also both knew that their partner loved them back...and then some. No words were needed at that moment and they kissed again. A silent understanding flowed from one to the other and then back again. They were both home at last: just the two of them against the world.

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Aaron ran into Paddy later in the day when he popped into the Woolpack for a bite to eat. Chas was in the back room, so Aaron suggested to Paddy that they go into the back room as he wanted to give them both his news at the same time. They all sat round the table and Aaron eyed them up cautiously, he did not know how either of them would take the news, given the history between both of them and Robert.

"Well," Aaron began, "I expect you know I've got something important to tell you both. It's like this, me and Robert...we're engaged."

Chas and Paddy looked at each other and then at Aaron.

Chas was the first to speak, she looked at Aaron steadily, "Are you sure this is what you want?"

"Never been as sure of anything," Aaron was glad that neither Chas nor Paddy had hit the roof by this point, "I love him and I know he loves me, so there we are."

Paddy also looked at his surrogate son, "Robert Sugden?" he said it almost as if he had never heard the name before, "Out of all the men in this world, you had to choose him!"

"I know that you and him will never see eye to eye," Aaron felt that he was making excuses, but he continued, "But you know as well as I do that you can't help who you fall in love with. I know after all the things he's done in the past that you might never be able to trust him...but, I do! He's changed, Dad...and I'll never be happy without him."

Chas reached across to take Aaron's hand in her own, "I know we've both given Robert a hard time, but that's only because of the bad things he used to do, but I can see he's changed and, since you've been living together, he's not put a foot wrong."

"He'd better not ever hurt you," Paddy said with a stern expression.

"He won't," Aaron replied, "He loves me, I know he does. In any case, he won't want to incur the wrath of the Dingle family!"

"Sensible lad!" Chas smiled at Aaron, she could see how happy her son was and she would go along with the engagement, for his sake.

Paddy smiled, "I must admit, I've never seen you this happy before. If living with Robert is responsible for this, then you've got my blessing. Aaron, all I've ever wanted is for you to be content."

"I am, Dad," Aaron replied with a smile and Paddy knew that everything would be fine.

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The next morning, Chas and Jason Wise were sharing breakfast in the back room of the Woolpack, after spending their first night together after starting their new relationship a few weeks earlier.

"So, how did the little chat with Paddy and Aaron go?" Jason knew about their little soiree the day before.

"Yeah, good," Chas replied as she filled the kettle with water, "Paddy seems to have accepted the situation."

"And what about you?" Jason asked as Chas sat down opposite him.

"I wouldn't have let Robert within a hundred miles of Aaron at one time, but he's changed for the better. He's besotted with my son and Aaron adores him. It's never a good idea to try to drive a wedge between two people who love each other...they only find a way of getting together again, so what's the point? Anyway, Aaron has never taken any notice of me in all these years so I'd be wasting my time and I'd risk losing him...and I couldn't handle that. I'm never going to see Robert as my son's ideal partner, but at the same time, above all else, I want Aaron to be happy and I know that he is with Robert, in fact, I've never seen him this happy. So, it's very much a case of the devil you know. Anyway, they're engaged now and it looks like they're going to be together for good."

"Well," Jason smiled at Chas, "you're doing the best thing. If you stand in his way, he'll only dig his heels in. I know I'm a late-comer to the party, but from what I've seen, I think Robert cares for Aaron very much. I don't think he'll go far wrong there."

Chas knew that Jason was trying to cheer her up and was being encouraging and supportive. She smiled back at Jason, "I don't think I'll go far wrong with you, either."

They kissed. Chas thought that maybe mother and son could both find happiness with their men!

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Aaron was at the top of a stepladder, paint roller in hand, giving the ceiling of the living room at Woodbine a fresh coat. Robert was sanding down the skirting boards, ready to paint them later.

"Whose idea was it to do this?" Aaron asked as he moved the ladder to continue further along the ceiling.

"Don't you want our house to look nice?" Robert asked.

Aaron had to smile, the expression "Our house" rolled so easily off his fiancé's tongue.

"I thought you were talking about getting the decorators in," Aaron remarked.

"You get a sense of achievement, doing it yourself."

"You're not the one up a ladder, getting splattered by paint!" Aaron complained. So saying, he took a brush from the pocket of his overalls, dipped it in the emulsion, and flicked it at his lover.

"Oi!" a paint-speckled Robert grabbed hold of Aaron's overalls and pulled him off the ladder. They fell on the floor laughing their heads off and play-fighting. Robert quickly pulled the overalls off Aaron's shoulders and Aaron quickly removed Robert's t-shirt. Their lips locked and they tussled with each other, they needed to be naked, that minute: the flame had been ignited! Their passion intensified as they wrestled on the floor, they were no longer laughing, the lust showed in their eyes as they gave each other sultry looks. They had always had a very physical need for one and other and the love they shared only heightened their senses. They were about to take things further when they heard a key in the door!

"Hi, I'm back!" Liv's voice drifted from the hallway.

Aaron and Robert scrambled for their clothes. They had to deal with the situation...and fast!