Wise After the Event – Chapter 2
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DISCLAIMER: I am not connected to Emmerdale and its characters, which belong to ITV
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Another day dawned and Aaron was awake first. He looked at the clock and then looked at Robert, still asleep beside him. As he looked at his lover, thoughts flooded his mind. He had said hurtful things to Robert in the past, but he had come to realise that all his spiteful comments had been born out of frustration. He had loved Robert all along: that was why he had lashed out at him. He heard someone say once that there was a thin line between love and hate and he understood that now. He had wanted Robert so badly, but Robert had hurt him and he had not been able to lose face and admit that he needed him, so his self-defence mechanism had kicked in and he pretended that he hated Robert and wished that he was dead.
Now, he could not imagine a life without Robert. Over the preceding months, he had been a tower of strength and had proved his love and loyalty. Aaron did not fully understand why Robert had stuck by him after all the horrible things that he had said, but then he came to the conclusion that Robert felt the same way about him as he felt about his partner. They had both hurt each other out of frustration and anger, but they had a strong bond underneath it all. Right from the moment that they had first met, they had been attracted to one and other in an inexplicable way. Aaron thought about his initial reaction to Robert: the flash, rich, successful guy. Just the type of man that he would not normally touch with a bargepole. When he initially thought about Robert, he did not understand how an apparently straight, affluent man had been attracted to a 'dirty little grease monkey' like him. But, the attraction had been there, whether it made any sense or not. Their first kiss, out on the road when Robert had called Aaron out on a fictitious break down, had been incendiary. From that moment on, they both knew that they would not be able to resist each other, no matter how much they fought it.
Aaron's thoughts then turned to the day that he nearly lost Robert. His eyes travelled down to Robert's scar tissue from the gunshot wound. It had been touch and go as to whether Robert would survive. That memory suddenly frightened him. He lightly feathered his fingers over Robert's scar, making the other man snuffle and wriggle slightly in his sleep. Suddenly, Aaron cuddled Robert to him, pulling his naked body tightly against his own, burying his head in his lover's chest. The tears formed and he wept quietly.
Robert roused and could feel the wetness of Aaron's tears on his skin. It took him a moment to register but, when he realised Aaron was crying and holding onto him for dear life, he stroked his dark hair and spoke, "Aaron? What on Earth's the matter, babe?"
Aaron mumbled into Robert's chest, "Nothing! I'm just being soft, that's all."
Robert hugged Aaron tightly to him, "If you need to have a little cry, you go right ahead, it's better to let your emotions out," Robert continued to stroke Aaron's hair, "I'm here for you, babe...always. You don't have to pretend with me. I know about everything that you've been through and you're not alone anymore. I love you so much."
Aaron lifted his head to look into Robert's eyes, "I love you too. I always have...I realise that now."
Their lips met. There was so much tenderness in the kiss. So different to their first kiss: that had been full of urgent expectation and lust, but this kiss was different. The lustful desire was always there between the two of them, but now there was a deep love which meant so much more. Both of them could feel it.
"Robert?"
"Yes, babe?"
"I never want to lose you."
Robert looked into Aaron's heart-stopping blue eyes. He could see the uncertainty in his handsome, tear-stained face. Aaron had been let down so many times in his life by the people who should have loved him the most, so it was not any surprise that he now needed reassurance, "Oh, Aaron, you mean the world to me. I'll never let you down. You've got me for good, if that's what you want."
Aaron looked deeply into Robert's beautiful, trustworthy eyes, "Robert, I want you more than I've ever wanted anything in my life. I couldn't cope if I lost you."
"Aaron, listen to me. My place is by your side from this moment on. As long as you need me, I'll be here. I need you too: I realise now that you make me complete. I don't care about anything else: you are all that matters to me."
Aaron kissed Robert again: his passionate speech had touched his heart and his soul. He broke the kiss and cuddled Robert to him and whispered in his ear, "I love you, gorgeous."
Robert was moved. Aaron had used a term of endearment! It spoke volumes to Robert that Aaron trusted him that much to let his guard down and utter words of love, "Oh Aaron, I am so in love with you, babe. I know now that I did absolutely the right thing in choosing you: and I'm so lucky that you chose me. I've never been this happy in my life before. I'm finally content and that's all down to you. I'll spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy."
Aaron drew back again and rubbed noses with his lover, "You do! That goes for me too. That's all I want now: to keep you satisfied. Whatever you want, if it's within my power to give it to you, then you've got it!"
"You don't need to give me anything...just yourself."
They kissed again before hearing the now familiar sound of Jason and Chas on the landing.
"Anyway," Robert broke the mood, "much as I'd like to spend all day in bed with you, we're moving into Home Farm today so we'd best get a move on."
"Yeah," Aaron was reluctant to move from his comfortable position against Robert's naked body but he knew that they had things to do, "it will be like déjà-vu for you won't it? Sleeping in a bed you used to share with your wife!"
"We won't be sleeping in that room!" Robert chuckled, "We'll be in one of the other rooms: at the back of the house: one with an en-suite bathroom. At least we'll be on our own in the house for most of the time."
"I think I could get used to living in that big house," Aaron mused.
"Yeah," Robert kissed Aaron again before they climbed out of bed, "stick with me kid...I'm going to give you the world!"
"Flash git!" Aaron teased, but he knew that his life was taking a turn for the better, at last!
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"Morning boys," Jason greeted Aaron and Robert as they appeared in the back room.
"Where's my mum?" Aaron enquired.
"She's sorting out a delivery with the dray man," Jason replied.
"You seem to be spending a lot of time here now," Aaron remarked.
"Problem?" Jason asked.
"No, not in the slightest," Aaron smiled at Jason, "You're good for my mum, I haven't seen her this happy in a long time."
"Believe me Aaron, I intend making her happy. She's one special lady and she deserves a bit of happiness after all she's been through...so do you. Are you ready for your move to the posh house?"
"We've not got much to pack," Robert joined in the conversation, "just our clothes really and a few bits and pieces."
"Well, I hope you'll be very happy," Jason said, sincerely, "I'll miss seeing you two around the place."
"Thanks, Jason," Robert replied, "You and Chas will have to come over for dinner once we're settled in."
"I'll hold you to that," Jason smiled as he made for the door, "I've got to go, good luck with the packing."
Aaron filled the kettle while Robert poured some cereal into bowls as he spoke, "He seems a really nice guy that Jason."
"Yeah," Aaron replied, "My mum could do with someone decent for a change, after my pervert father, that toe-rag Carl King and that madman Cameron Murray."
Robert chortled, "Never had a brilliant taste in men your mother, has she?"
Aaron decided to tease his boyfriend, "Like mother, like son!"
"Oi!" Robert grasped Aaron's inference and grabbed his lover around the waist, "at least I'm not a serial killer or philanderer. Well, not since I cheated on my wife with you!"
They kissed. Their crotches pressed together and they could both feel the hardness of their arousal as Robert gently rubbed his swollen bulge into Aaron's.
"We can't do this here!" Aaron was concerned that Chas would appear at any minute.
"Wait until we've moved in to Home Farm...we'll have the place to ourselves," Robert chuckled.
"Well, almost," Aaron replied.
"How do you mean?" Robert looked perplexed.
Aaron wondered how Robert would react to his next statement, "As I'm Liv's legal guardian, she should really be living with me."
"But, Aaron, the idea of living at Home Farm is so that we can have some privacy."
"We still can, there's plenty of bedrooms. I'm sure she won't get in our way."
Aaron was expecting Robert to explode, but he was surprised when Robert hugged him, "Do you know what? You are the most loyal, caring person I've ever met. Of course Liv can live with us. But, there's just one thing."
Aaron could see the uncertainty in Robert's face, "Come on, what's on your mind?"
"Can we just have a couple of days by ourselves at Home Farm, before Liv comes to stay? I want us to have a little quality time together. I'm sure Chas won't mind looking after her for once: they seem quite close now."
Aaron was relieved at Robert's calm reaction, "I thought you'd go ballistic when I said about Liv coming too."
"I know it means a lot to you and if something's important to you; then it's important to me too. We're partners now and that means taking on each other's responsibilities."
Aaron hugged Robert to him, "Oh, babe, I do love you."
Robert was proving himself over and over again. He whispered to his lover, "I love you too, gorgeous: I'd do anything for you."
Aaron drew back to look at Robert's attractive, smiling face, "I know!" he said.
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Aaron and Robert packed their belongings and they drove in their two cars to Home Farm. Chrissie had already given them a key so that they could let themselves in. However, as Robert went to unlock the door, it opened to reveal Bernice standing there, "Hello you two. Chrissie said you would be coming today."
Aaron and Robert suddenly realised that Bernice and Gabby would be in the house. They knew that Lawrence, Chrissie and Andy would not be in residence but they had forgotten about Bernice.
"I didn't know you were here. I thought you'd be with your husband," Robert said.
"There's not much I can do for him, to be honest," Bernice replied, "He's in the nursing home and Chrissie and Andy are keeping an eye on him. I'm trying to keep the business afloat here, but I go to visit him every day."
Aaron and Robert took their cases upstairs and placed them on the floor in their room.
"So much for being on our own," Aaron said.
"I know," Robert replied, "It had completely slipped my mind that Bernice and Gabby would be here. I just assumed they'd be with Lawrence."
"Where's Lachlan?"
"He's staying with his father while Chrissie's occupied elsewhere. I suppose having Liv here wouldn't make much difference now."
"At least my mum is taking care of Liv over the weekend, so I've got a bit of respite for a couple of days."
"I've just had a thought," Robert said.
"That's dangerous!" Aaron laughed.
Robert also chuckle and pulled Aaron to him, "No, listen! Liv's off your hands: I don't start work here until Monday, why don't we go away for a weekend break to a hotel or something: just the two of us?"
"Count me in," Aaron answered.
"Right, I'll get it booked. I know a beautiful place in the Peak District and it won't take us long to get there. We can have two whole days, all on our own, before we get bogged down with babysitting and business. Sound good?"
"Sounds perfect!" Aaron replied before moving in to lock lips with Robert.
Finally, they were going to be alone, even if it was for just two days.