The next morning Robert woke up and smiled when he felt Aaron kissing him softly on the neck, but he did not open his eyes.
"Are you awake?" Aaron asked as he repeatedly planted soft kisses on Robert's neck. He already new the answer when he saw the growing smile on Robert's face.
Robert grinned when felt Aaron's warm breath on his neck, "Nope" Robert answered.
"Are you sure" Aaron smiled as he caressed Robert's chest.
"I love you" Robert opened his eyes and looked at Aaron.
"I love you too" Aaron smiled.
Aaron and Robert got out of bed, they got dressed And they walked downstairs; Robert was leaning on Aaron as they walked., it was more than clear to Aaron that his Robert was in a lot of pain but desperately trying to hide it.
"Slowly Robert" Aaron said. He saw the look of pain on Robert's face as he limped down the stairs.
"No fun in that. Ah!" Robert winced.
"Fun can wait, you're more important" Aaron said once they had reached the bottom of the stairs.
"I hate having to rely you to walk. I hate pressuring you" Robert sighed.
Aaron place his hand on the right side of Robert's face, so that he would look at him "You don't pressurise me. I don't mind having to help you. It won't be forever, but you don't have to feel bad for needing a little help. It's part of my job to help you out".
"What's the other part?" Robert smirked.
"To kiss and hug you. To keep you warm at night, to support you and love you in another way" Aaron smirked at Robert.
"What did I do right to deserve you ay?" Robert smiled fondly at Aaron.
"Leave that question to me and I'll get back to ya" Aaron laughed.
Robert kissed Aaron, then they walked through the door to the backroom. They saw Liv and Noah sat at the table eating their breakfast and arguing about something.
"What are you two arguing about?" Robert asked. Aaron helped him around the sofa and sat him down. Before Aaron could walk into the kitchen, Robert grabbed his hand and kissed it. Aaron smiled at Robert and stroked his cheek with his thumb.
"Liv is annoying me" Noah said with a mouth full of cereal.
"What have you done now Liv?" Aaron sighed.
"I said that the X-Men would win in a fight against the Avengers" Liv chuckled.
"You two are seriously arguing about which fictional superhero team would win in a fight against each other." Aaron looked at Robert and rolled his eyes. He then looked back at Liv and Noah "Hurry up or else you'll miss the bus." Aaron handed Liv and Noah their bags.
"What about your boyfriend?" Noah asked when he saw Robert sat on the sofa.
"What about him?" Aaron asked as he and Robert both looked at each other and then at Noah.
"Doesn't he have to go to work?" Noah asked.
"Robert's on sick leave. He won't be going to work for few days" Aaron ushered Liv and Noah out of the Woolpack.
"But he doesn't look ill" Noah said with a confused look on his face.
"Good bye you two" Aaron shut the door when Noah and Liv walked out, and then he sat on the sofa, landing with a thump.
"Wow" Robert looked at Aaron.
"What?" Aaron gave Robert a half smile.
"You look very sexy when your stressed" Robert smiled.
"Just for you, future husband" Aaron smiled.
"I love hearing that" Robert smiled and put his arm around Aaron.
"How are you feeling?" Aaron asked.
"I'm happy because I have you" Robert faked a smile because he new what Aaron meant, but he didn't want to make him worry.
"You know what I mean Robert." Aaron looked at Robert with a knowing look.
"Aaron you don't have to worry about me. I'm alright." Robert said.
"Robert, I know you and I can tell from your eyes" Aaron said with a concerned look on his face.
"They still hurt but I do feel better." Robert tried to hide the truth that he was still in a lot of pain.
"You can't hide pain from someone like me, Robert" Aaron knew that Robert still felt the pain, from the torture that Gordon put him through.
"I hide it to protect you." Robert looked down at the floor.
"Let me protect you" Aaron held Robert's hand "Don't forget I know what he was like. I know that he scared you and that you're badly hurt".
"I guess I had it easy, compared to what you went through" Robert looked up at Aaron.
"I was easy prey. He hurt me to control me. He used you to get control back over me and to punish me. We were both his prisoners." Aaron stroked Robert's hand.
"No one can control you anymore. No one will hurt you ever again, I won't let them" Robert cupped Aaron's chin.
"I couldn't handle it if I'd lost you" Aaron hated to see Robert so vulnerable.
"You'll never lose me. I asked you to marry me because, I love you and I want to be there for you" Robert pulled Aaron into a hug.
"How could you love me? I'm broken, I used to cut myself and I hurt the people I love the most." Aaron was careful when he was hugging Robert because he did not want to hurt him.
"I love you because you are a very kind person, you stand up for what's right and when I look at you I see a strong, beautiful man. I adore everything about you, don't ever forget how much you mean to me. You're my Aaron and I'm your Robert." Robert released Aaron from his embrace.
"I better change those bandages" Aaron stood up and picked the first aid kit up off of the table and he sat beside Robert and took off the old bandages.
Whilst Aaron was bandaging up Robert's wrist, the door opened and Chas walked in. She saw the large cut that was on Robert's wrist "That looks painful. How did you even get a cut like that?".
"It does hurt a lot, but not as much as it did. He had a pocket knife and he decided to drag it up my arm." Robert watched Aaron bandage up is arm "You're quite good at that." Robert smiled at Aaron.
"You have to be, when you have a family like mine. And I used to get into fights almost every month" Aaron joked.
"How many fights have you been in?" Robert asked.
"Too many to count" Aaron stood up and smiled at Robert "All done".
"So how does it feel to be engaged?" Chas smiled at Aaron.
"It's weird. But it's exciting." Aaron looked at Robert "I don't know how you'll cope with my family though".
"I'll manage." Robert laughed.
"So when's it going to be?" Chas asked.
"Hang on mum! We've only been engaged for a few hours. Next thing you'll be asking if you can plan the whole day" Aaron joked.
"Aaww I just can't believe that my beautiful baby boy is getting married" Chas jumped from her seat and hugged Aaron.
"Mum. Get off" Aaron held both his arms out forward past his Chas's arms, when his mum hugged him. Aaron then hugged Chas back, whilst he was looking at Robert
"Aaww, mummy's little boy" Robert grinned.
"Shut it Robert. But mum seriously get off, I can't breath" Aaron closed his eyes tight and Robert laughed.
Chas let go of Aaron and she then pinched his cheek "Look at his cute little embarrassed face" Chas smiled.
"Mum" Aaron said in a annoyed tone.
"Aaww, sweet" Robert said with a smug smile on his face. Aaron looked at Robert with a disapproving look that made Robert laugh.
Chas let go of Aaron and walked to the backdoor, but then she turned around an whacked Robert around the head before she ran out of the door.
"Ah!" Robert said as he rubbed the side of his head "What the hell was that for?" He then looked at Aaron.
"It's a family tradition" Aaron said as he rubbed his cheek that Chas had pinched.
"It's a bloody weird tradition" Robert chuckled "What's next? Everyone uses me as target practice?" Robert briefly looked over his shoulder as he spoke, to make sure that no one was going to surprise him again.
"Try not to give Cain any ideas. But at some point they will make you drink out of the welly." Aaron leaned back as he spoke.
"Really? Moira didn't have to, so why do I?" Robert whined.
"Because you will be joining the family. But I'll try and get you out of it, because you let me see you naked" Aaron smirked.
"Don't tell anyone that you've seen me without clothes on" Robert leaned back.
"Why would I do that. That's our little secret" Aaron winked at Robert.
"How long is your mum going to be at the shop for?" Robert asked.
"About 45 minutes, why?" Aaron replied.
"Well... we haven't had any fun since being engaged" Robert put one arm behind Aaron.
Aaron noticed Robert looking him up and down, with a tell tale smirk on his face "Dirty minded sod" Aaron turned to face Robert.
"I can't help the fact that I want you so badly, that I would crawl on my hands and knees for you" Robert looked deep into Aaron's eyes.
"That just makes you sound really desperate, but I can say the same about you" Aaron looked at Robert and smiled.
"So... does that mean you're thinking about the same thing as me?" Robert smiled.
"I don't want to hurt you, you're still covered in bruises" Aaron looked at Robert with a knowing look.
"I don't care" Robert leaned over Aaron as he spoke "I want you so badly, Aaron." Robert could not resist he kissed Aaron on the lips, but just when he was about to break the kiss Aaron pulled him back into a more fierce kiss. "Mmmm!" Robert moaned as their kiss deepened. Aaron pushed his tongue past Robert's lips. Robert moved his hand from Aaron's knee, up his leg to his fiancé's thigh and slowly rubbed it. When their lips parted their eyes locked in a gaze for moment until Aaron looked at Robert's wet lips "I'm guessing that's a yes then" Robert gasped, still starring into Aaron's Astonishingly beautiful blue eyes.
"Couldn't help it. I want you so badly, that it kills me" Aaron looked deep into Robert's eyes.
"Like wise. Come on" Robert stood up and walked around the couch "Get your sexy arse up stairs, now!" Robert smirked at Aaron.
"You don't have to tell me twice" Aaron got up and walked with Robert to the stairs where they kissed again.
"Race ya" Robert smiled at Aaron when the kiss ended and he ran up the stairs with Aaron following closely behind him.
Once they had got to Aaron's bedroom, Robert shut the door behind them and he turned his gaze to Aaron. His fiancé walked towards him, he held him against the door as he began to kiss him on the neck. Aaron then lifted Robert's top over his head. They both fiddled with each others belts until they had completely undressed each other.
"Aaron" Robert moaned as Aaron kissed the side of his neck. Robert then pushed Aaron down onto the bed, Aaron laughed as Robert climbed up on top of him "God I love you" Robert said as he duct his head and kissed Aaron.
Afterwards Aaron and Robert were lying in bed, they were exhausted and both of their chests were rising and falling at a quickened pace as they panted and sweat clung to their naked body's "You're so beautiful" Robert said in a soft voice with a smile, he had one arm around Aaron's waist and Aaron had his hand under his head as he lay facing Robert.
"That makes one of us" Aaron looked down at his chest.
Robert saw the sad look on Aaron's face "Aaron, are the strongest person I know" Robert cupped Aaron's chin with one hand "You're beautiful to me. You must know that" Robert knew that Aaron was self conscious.
"How can I be beautiful... I mean look at me... I'm a mess" Aaron started to cry as he spoke.
Robert wiped away Aaron's tears with his thumb "When I look at you I see the gorgeous man, that I've fallen in love with" Robert pulled Aaron into a hug "You're not a mess, Aaron. You're my amazing fiancé" Robert held Aaron in a tight embrace.
"How do you always manage to make me feel better?" Aaron smiled at Robert.
"It's what I do" Robert smiled "I love you".
"I love you too Robert" Aaron and Robert rubbed their noses together, and then they went back to hugging each other for a few minutes whilst they talked. They then got dressed and walked back down stairs and saw Charity reading a something.
"Oi! That's mine!" Robert shouted as he leaned over the couch to grab the piece of paper.
"Aaww you really do love him" Charity laughed.
"What's that?" Aaron looked at the piece of paper.
"Just something I wrote" Robert folded up the piece of paper.
"The most beautiful man that I have ever seen. He completes me I cannot live without him. I pushed him to the limit but he understands me better then anyone else. He is the love of my life. Oh how I love my Aaron!" Charity recited and laughed.
"I was bored ok! Where did you find it?" Robert asked.
"I found it in the pocket of your leather jacket when you went missing. I was looking for clues into where you were" Charity laughed and threw her arms over the arm of the sofa.
"How many times have you read it?" Robert quickly asked when he realised that Charity knew it off by heart.
"About three times. You need poetry lessons though" Charity giggled and walked to the door leading to the bar "He completes me I cannot live without him!" Charity yelled into the backroom as she left.
"First the doodle and now this" Robert sighed.
"The most beautiful man that I have ever seen?" Aaron said with a half smile.
"You are. But don't take the piss" Robert shook his head.
"Too late!" Aaron snatched the piece of paper out of Robert's hand. Opened it as he quickly backed away from Robert.
"Hey, give it here you!" Robert laughed as he ran around the sofa after Aaron.
"The most beautiful man that I have ever seen. He completes me I cannot live without him. I pushed him to the limit but he understands me better then anyone else. He is the love of my life. Oh how I love my Aaron!" Aaron ran around the sofa so that Robert would not catch him.
"That's not fair. You're faster than me!" Robert laughed as he continued to chase Aaron around in circles around the sofa.
"Aaww there's even a little doodle of me and you holding hands! But your head is too small in this one again!" Aaron chuckled.
"C'mere!" Robert chuckled as he grabbed Aaron around the waist with both hands "I don't have a big head!".
"You're a right soft, big headed sod. Aren't you?" Aaron laughed as Robert threw him onto the sofa and pounced on top of him.
"I was bored!" He held Aaron's wrists either side of his head.
"Oh how I love my Aaron!" Aaron threw his head back and shouted.
"Sshh someone will hear us" Robert shushed.
"Their your words not mine. And... I live here!" Aaron smiled.
"You're a pain in the ass" Robert giggled.
"So everyone keeps telling me" Aaron chuckled.
"You're not going to let that go are you?" Robert stated.
"Nope. Oh how I love my..." Aaron stopped when Robert covered his mouth with one hand.
"Don't push it" Robert smiled.
"Oh how I love my Aaron" Aaron said even though his voice was being muffled.
"God damn it!" Robert moved his hand away from Aaron's mouth.
"I love you too Rob" Aaron smiled at Robert.
"Good! Robert kissed Aaron on the lips. He let go of Aaron's wrists and he placed both of his hands on either side of Aaron's face.
"Can I frame this poem?" Aaron asked as Robert kissed him.
"Go on then. Just because I love you" Robert whispered when their lips parted.
"So you can't live without me ay" Aaron grinned.
"What can I say? You complete me" Robert smiled as he sat up.
"I like hearing you say that" Aaron rested his head on Robert's knee. "I think that it was cute" Aaron played with one of the buttons on Robert's shirt.
"What was?" Robert stroked Aaron's hair.
"How you chased me around this couch, so I didn't read the poem that you wrote about me" Aaron smirked.
"You weren't meant to read it" Robert said in a pouty voice.
"Stop your wining, You big baby" Aaron sniggered.
"Why you little" Robert laughed and started to tickle Aaron on the chest.
"Stop. Rob!" Aaron laughed and squirmed around as Robert continued to tickle him. After a few seconds Robert stopped tickling Aaron and he just starred at his smiling fiancé. "What is it?" Aaron asked with a puzzled look.
"You're so gorgeous" Robert smiled down at Aaron.
"So are you, even with that big head of yours" Aaron smiled.
"I think that's a compliment" Robert chuckled.
"It is a compliment" Aaron giggled.
Suddenly they both heard a scream, that rocked the earth's core "AARON!" The scream came from the front of the bar.
Aaron and Robert jumped to their feet, and they hurried to the front of the bar "What's wrong?" asked Aaron.
"Where's the fire?" Robert sarcastically said as he placed one arm over Aaron's shoulder to steady his balance.
"Mind the bar for me Aaron. I need to go and fetch Noah, he feels sick" Charity said as she walked around the bar and through the doors "Cheers Aaron, you're a lifesaver!"
"Hang on, when did I ever agree to do your job? Charity! And... she's gone" Aaron rolled his eyes as he spoke.
"So much for having a quiet day in with my financé" Robert sighed.
"Go and sit down I'll bring you a drink over" Aaron looked at Robert.
Robert saluted "Yes sir" Robert slowly walked around the bar.
"Are we going to be served here or not!" Lawrence shouted at Aaron.
"Sorry you guys. What can I get ya? Aaron looked at the table that Lawrence, Bernice, Chrissie, Andy and Lachlan were all sat around.
Two glasses of white wine, one pint, an orange juice and a Pepsi. Please Aaron" Chrissie ordered their drinks and she went back to talking to Lawrence. Aaron started to pour the drinks when he over heard the topic of conversation
"How do people manage to have a civilised conversation in this place?" Lawrence asked Chrissie.
"Life in the village isn't always bad." Andy said.
"When there's no drama or fights going on" Lachlan crossed his arms and slouched in his seat.
"Most of that drama is caused by those Dingle's of course. Such a diffusional family" Lawrence did not notice that Aaron was stood behind him "No wonder that Chas' son is messed up in the head."
"Ahem, there's only one person to blame for me being messed up" Aaron clonked the drinks down onto the table "And that would be my dad, Gordon Livesy. Before it happened he was my hero, I trusted him more then anyone else and he let me down. So it's not the Dingle's fault that I'm messed up in the head" Aaron raised one eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"I've heard the stories about you" Lawrence looked at Aaron.
"So you'll already know that I'm worse, then how Robert used to be. Did you know that I managed to evade police for two years whilst I was in France?" Aaron smiled.
"You tried to kill yourself, you killed the man you loved, you had an affair with a married man and you self harm. I know a lot about you Aaron Livesy" Lawrence ignored the constant shushing coming from Chrissie and Bernice.
"Did you know that I was abused by my dad when I was eight years old, until I left when I was a teenager? Did you know that he hit me? Did you know that Jackson asked me to help him? I used to cut myself because of Gordon. I didn't want to help Jackson end his life, but I did it because I loved him" Aaron was stating facts to put Lawrence back in his place.
"No I did not know about all of that." Lawrence sipped at his drink.
"As for the guy I had an affair with... he must of liked it because, he put a ring on it" Aaron held up his hand so that Lawrence could see the silver engagement ring that Robert had given him. Robert was watching Aaron from across the room and he smiled at how witty Aaron was being when Lawrence was gossiping about him and his family. "Enjoy your drinks. Oh and my name is Aaron Dingle not Aaron Livesy." Aaron said before he walked back to the bar to pour Robert a drink.
Just then the door opened and Diane walked in with Doug, Diane saw Robert sat at one of the booths and she noticed all the cuts and bruises on his face. "Oh my god, Robert! What happened to you?" Diane asked as she sat down opposite Robert.
"Gordon happened to me. He had me tied up at Wyllie's farm for a couple of hours" Robert looked at Diane.
"What did he do to you?" Diane asked.
"He kidnapped me, tied me up, punched me a lot, he cut my wrist, held a gun to my head and he was about to kill me" Robert showed Diane and Doug his bandaged up wrist.
"What do you mean he was about to kill you?" Doug asked.
"My hero came to my rescue" Robert smiled and he went back to watching Aaron.
"How did he save you?" Diane asked when she realised that Robert was talking about Aaron.
"He walked in before Gordon could punch me again and when me and Gordon fell through the floor he grabbed my wrist. Him and Cain pulled me back up to safety. He hasn't left me alone since." Robert smiled when Aaron looked over at him, to check that he was okay.
"I trust that you are talking about Aaron." Doug nodded.
"Well... I didn't ask Cain to marry me." Robert grinned.
"You proposed to Aaron Dingle!" Diane shouted and everyone including Aaron looked at her.
Robert saw the cheeky smile on Aaron's face, and he smiled before turning back to Diane "Yeah I did" Robert said in a hushed tone.
"What did he say?" Doug asked.
Aaron put a drink down on the table in front of Robert "I said yes" Aaron smiled before sitting down next to Robert.
'Thanks babe" Robert said before taking a sip of his pint.
"When did you propose?" Diane asked with a smile on her face.
"Last night, after he saved me" Robert put one arm over Aaron's shoulder.
"Why are you working the bar? Where's your mum and Charity?" Diane queried.
"Mum's at the shop and Charity has gone to pick up Noah" Aaron answered.
Lawrence, Bernice, Chrissie, Andy and Lachlan then walked out and Gabby walked in. She walked straight up to where Aaron was sat "I'll have a orange juice with lemonade. Or are you too busy cuddling up to your new fiancé" Gabby ordered in her normal arrogant tone of voice.
"I don't work here. I work at a scrapyard" Aaron sighed.
"It was a rhetorical question, that means I wasn't asking. I can't see Chas so I'll settle for you" Gabby looked at her nails as she waited for Aaron to get her a drink.
Aaron rolled his eyes at Gabby "Coming right up" Aaron stood up and walked back around the bar. He made Gabby her drink and then he placed it in front of her "£2.50 please?" Aaron said as Gabby starred at her phone.
"Huh, no chance" Gabby was about to take a sip of her drink but Aaron pulled it away.
"No money no drink" Aaron said.
"Get mum to pay for it, we're loaded now" Gabby went to grab the glass but Aaron placed it further away from her.
"Gabby, you normally have to pay to have a drink here, or in any other pub for that matter" Robert said. He was annoyed by how Gabby was talking to Aaron, but what could he do? It annoyed him how rude Gabby was being to Aaron. He was hoping that he could just spend time with Aaron today, but other peoples plans seemed go keep getting in their way.
"Normally you don't get kidnapped by your boyfriend's pervert of a father" Gabby looked at Robert "I would've run for the hills if my boyfriend told me that he was abused by his dad".
Aaron went quiet and looked down at the floor. Robert noticed that Aaron was starting to tear up. "Why would I run for the hills? He needed me. And I love him. I'd watch what you say if I were you, Gabby. You don't want to be a bully, do you?" Robert wanted to jump up, run around the bar to Aaron, and give him a hug but he didn't have the strength to do so.
"Too much trouble over nothing, he's managed to get by on his own. You blew your chance with Jackson. You should've stayed in France. You're not wanted here. No body wants you here. You're a useless waste of space" Gabby snarled.
"If you want a drink you need to pay up. Or the door's there, your choice" Aaron sniffled and held back his tears "I'm not asking you again Gabby".
Just at that moment Chas walked into the Woolpack, and she saw that Aaron was close to tears "Aaron? What is it sweetheart? Where's Charity?" Chas asked.
"Apparently... I should've run for the hills, when Aaron told me about what happened with Gordon" Robert said as he slowly stood up and walked around the bar.
"Who said that?" Chas asked, she knew that Aaron confided in Robert because he trusted him. Chas knew that Robert made Aaron feel safe and she respected that.
"Little miss Gobby Thomas here" Robert nodded in Gabby's direction to signal to Chas that it was Gabby.
"You should've said something sooner, and then more people would've believed you and the verdict would've been guilty" Gabby scoffed.
"I believed him. I still do, and so does everyone else in this village" Robert held Aaron's hand as he spoke.
"Obviously not everyone. Because the jury didn't believe your little story" Gabby murmured under her breath.
"Get out!" Chas ordered.
"What's next? Are you going to barr me?" Gabby scoffed.
"No, I'm going to call your mum and tell her that you are skiving off school, and that you are being a two faced brat" Chas crossed her arms.
Gabby stood up from her seat at he bar and she walked out of the Woolpack in a strop. It had been a while since anyone had told her off or she had not gotten what she wanted, so she felt that her desires had been put to one side. Gabby began to conjure up a plan to punish Aaron and Robert for not doing what she asked ('Ordered' depending on how you look at it).
"Just ignore her, she's not worth it" Robert looked at Aaron.
"Why do people keep having ago at me today? When Charity gets back tell her that I'm on strike" Aaron looked at Robert "I'm sick of waiting, we're going into the backroom and I'm going to have a quiet day in. With you".
"Finally. Doug has been showing me pictures of plant pots, whilst you were slaving away behind this bar" Robert smiled.
"I should've taken your offer to buy Diane's share of this place." Chas smiled at Robert "Charity doesn't even do her job".
"I don't know if I'm that useful, when I can barely walk without Aaron acting like a crutch for me" Robert frowned.
"You still have your uses" Aaron smiled as he put Robert's arm over his shoulder and helped him walk into the backroom.
"You ok babe?" Robert asked when Aaron sat him down on the sofa.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Aaron went silent as he sat down beside Robert
"Aaron, tell me what's wrong" Robert placed his hand on one of his fiancé's knees.
"Would you've run for the hills? When I told you about... what happened to me" Aaron asked.
Robert knew that Aaron was starting to doubt him "No. I'll always be here for you. I'd never leave you alone after knowing about something like that".
"I thought that you wouldn't believe me. I thought that you'd think that I'm a liar. Or that you'd hate the sight of me" Aaron covered his eyes with his hand and started to cry.
"I believe every word that you said. I know that you would never lie about something like that. I'd never hate the sight of you, I love you Aaron. You're my strong, beautiful, amazing fiancé. I love everything about you, I worship the ground you walk on" Robert rubbed Aaron's back as he cried.
"I'm not strong, Robert. I'm a weak, I'm messed up" Aaron moved his hand away from his eyes and ran it through his hair.
"You're stronger then you know. You're not weak, you're not messed up. You're my Aaron" Robert pulled Aaron into an embrace and held him there, rocking him from side to side. "Never forget how much I love you" Robert said as he kissed Aaron's head.
"Even when he's dead he still gets in my head" Aaron sobbed.
"Just know that he can't hurt you anymore. I'm always going to be here for you" Robert stroked Aaron's hair as he spoke.
"So it's not just me against the world?" Aaron asked through his tears.
Robert heard the innocent tone in Aaron's voice; it was like the voice of a scared child. 'An eight year old child' he thought. His man needed reassurance because he had lost faith in everyone. Aaron felt like he had been abandoned by his family as a child, and that childhood had been snatched away into the night. Robert kissed Aaron on the shoulder "It will never be just you against the world, ever again. I'm here now, and I'm staying". Robert thought about how he wished that he had known Aaron when as a child. Oh how he wished that he had known Aaron before he had been abused. He wished that he and Aaron had been friends growing up, maybe Aaron would have confided in him sooner, maybe Robert would have been able to stop the abuse; he was older than Aaron by a few years, if they had been friends maybe just maybe... Aaron would have felt safe enough to tell him about the abuse. But what could he have done? He was just a teenager himself when Aaron was being abused. He wished that he had not married Chrissie and that he had chosen Aaron instead. But it was far too late for any of that now, he just knew that his life goal from now on is to protect and love Aaron.
Aaron pulled back from Robert's embrace and looked into the older man's eyes "I'm a right soft git. I'm meant to be the bad boy of the village. Now look at me, crying over what happened when I was a kid" Aaron pulled the sleeves of his shirt over his hand and wiped away his tears.
"I don't care how you act" Robert cupped Aaron's chin "Bad boy or golden boy you're still my Aaron, and I love you for who you are. You're my angel and I worship the ground you walk on" Robert leaned in close and put his forehead against Aaron's forehead "I know that I'm the luckiest man on earth, because I have you".
Aaron smiled, he then wanted to change the subject "Right err, there's nothing worth watching so do you fancy a game of cards?" Aaron asked with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Alright, I'll win though" Robert said with a smug smile as Aaron stood up and opened one of the drawers of the cabinet.
"Good luck with that" Aaron picked up the pack of cards, he walked back over to the sofa and he sat opposite Robert. Aaron then opened the pack of cards.
"Do you need me to shuffle them?" Robert said with a smug voice that he was well known for.
Aaron separated the deck of cards so that each half of the deck was in both of his hands "I think I can manage" Aaron smirked and then he started to shuffle the cards. Robert watched in amazement as Aaron shuffled the cards like he was a professional. Aaron dealt the cards so that they had nine cards each and then he put the remaining deck of cards down in between them "You can go first" Aaron said as he arranged his cards. He already had a good hand but he kept a straight face.
"How did you...? You just shuffled those cards like a pro. Where did you learn how to do that?" Robert asked as he arranged his cards. He also had a good hand.
"My Grandad Shadrach, taught me how to play cards when I was a kid" Aaron smiled at the thought of his Grandad.
"You've never told me about your granddad" Robert said with a soft smile "What was he like?" he asked.
"He was a drunk, he farted like every five minutes, he never took baths and a disaster was around every corner" Aaron picked up a card and swapped it with one of his.
"He sounds interesting" Robert said as he picked up a card and swapped it with one of his cards.
"Once he left the bath running, and he fell asleep on the couch" Aaron chuckled "He got out just before the whole bathroom came crashing through the celling. Zak and Lisa weren't happy with that" Aaron picked up a card and then he looked at Robert.
"The whole bathroom?" Robert asked.
"Bath, toilet, the lot. And then he borrowed a police car" Aaron giggled.
"Flaming heck. And I thought that Val was daft because she blew up the oven" Robert laughed "What else have your family done?" he asked.
"Mum climbed onto the roof, Belle wouldn't stop singing; even though she can't sing, Marlon and Sam were complete idiots, when the Dingles saved me from the drug dealers I worked for, Eli wore armbands in a hot tube. And Shadrach farted in it. And I gave false teeth to Cain for his birthday" Aaron picked up a card, but it was not the one he wanted so he put it back down.
"Shadrach sounds like a very interesting guy" Robert smirked.
"He never stopped burping and farting. It was so bad that people had to evacuate the room a number of times. I'm just glad that I didn't pick up any of his features" Aaron joked.
"I wouldn't love you any less" Robert smiled at Aaron.
"Good to know" Aaron smiled "I win" Aaron showed Robert his hand of cards; he had four aces and three tens.
"Wait what!" Robert said as he starred at Aaron's cards. He then showed Aaron his cards; he had the two of hearts, the three of hearts, the four of hearts. He also had the nine of spades, the jack of spades and the queen of spades "You had the card I needed" he grumbled.
"Sore loser" Aaron grinned.
"Ok Dingle. Why don't we make this interesting? Lets use money" Robert smiled to himself. He was good at throwing money Around and Aaron knew it.
"Alright. But I'll just win again" Aaron smiled as he got his wallet out of his pocket
They played five more games of cards before Robert gave up and threw his cards onto the coffee table "I give up" He sighed. Robert leaned back so that he was lying down with his head on the arm of the sofa "That's 65 quid you've won off me".
Aaron put his cards and the deck of cards down on the coffee table, and he smiled at Robert "Has the Sugden family champion finally lost his title?" he chuckled.
"I don't know how, but I've lost to a Dingle" Robert huffed and he looked at Aaron.
Aaron leaned over Robert and smiled down at him "What can I say? Us Dingles are relentless".
Robert grabbed handfuls of Aaron's shirt and he pulled him into a passionate kiss. When their lips parted Robert smiled as he looked into Aaron's eyes. Those blue eyes shone like diamonds, Robert loved to look into the eyes of his fiancé; he could get lost in those dreamy eyes.
Aaron looked confused "What was that for?" he asked with a smile.
"No reason. I just had to kiss you" Robert let go of Aaron's shirt and he cupped Aaron's face with both hands on either side of his face. Aaron smiled and he kissed Robert again. When Aaron's soft, warm lips connected with his a smile grew on Robert's face.
"Mmmm" Robert groaned "I love you so much" He whispered as they kissed.
When their lips parted Aaron put his lips to Robert's ear "I love you too" Aaron whispered.
Suddenly the door leading to the bar opened, and the two men sprang apart just in time before Noah and Charity walked in "Why aren't you covering for me at the bar?" Charity asked.
"It's not my job. And I don't take orders from snobby teenagers, who have nothing better to do then bully me about Gordon" Aaron said as he put the pack of cards back into the cardboard box that they came in.
"What about him? You come running whenever he says your name" Noah pointed at Robert.
"I think that's more of what I tend to do, whenever Aaron texts me" Robert smiled and put one arm around Aaron, "I just love him so much".
"Ew gross" Noah said as he walked to the dinning room table and sat on one of the chairs.
"I'm going back to work. Noah, be good for Romeo and Juliet" Charity then walked out of the door leading to the bar.
"Whatever" Noah murmured as his gaze remained fixed to his phone.
"Romeo and Juliet?" Robert asked.
"Dibbs on being Romeo'" Aaron said quickly.
"Why do I have to be Juliet?" Robert looked at Aaron.
"Because... I had to save you when you were the damsel in distress" Aaron smiled at Robert.
"I'll give you that, but..." he kissed Aaron on the cheek "You've always been my Romeo"
Aaron moved closer to Robert and he rested his head on the blondes shoulder "I'm no saint" he said.
Robert kissed Aaron on the head "Neither am I. However you're my guardian angel".
"I'm going to vom if I hear you too flirting anymore" Noah pulled a face as he spoke.
"At least you wouldn't be skiving off school then" Aaron said and he looked at Noah.
"I'm sick so I have a reason" Noah looked up from his phone in shock.
"Give up the act Noah. I know all of the tricks, I used to cause all of the trouble in the village. When I skipped school" Aaron said with a straight face.
"How did you know?" Noah asked.
"Because I could pull off that trick, you can't. So go and play in your room. This room is reserved for the day" Aaron lifted his head off of Robert's shoulder.
"Don't tell my mum. I'd be in trouble" Noah said in a worried tone. As he ran upstairs to his room.
"Now... where were we?" Robert when he heard to door to Noah's bedroom shut.
"Right about here" Aaron said before he kissed Robert on the lips.
As their kiss deepened, Robert gently guided Aaron backwards so that he was lying down on the sofa. He pushed his tongue passed Aaron's lips as they kissed. Aaron had a hand on Roberts's waist and the other on the back Robert's head. The older man then drew back and lowered his head and he started to kiss Aaron's neck.
"God I love you Aaron" Robert said as he kissed Aaron's warm skin.
Before anything else could happen, they heard Chas' voice as she walked around the bar. Robert and Aaron both sprang apart just a few seconds before the door opened.
"Hi boys" Chas said in a cheerful voice as she walked through the door and she walked straight to the kitchen.
"Hey mum." Aaron said in response.
"How are you Robert?" Chas asked as she boiled the kettle.
"I'm good, they don't hurt as much as they did yesterday" Robert replied.
"That's good." Chas then looked at Robert's bandaged wrist "How's your wrist?" she asked.
"It's a lot better now. It doesn't hurt every time I move it" Robert looked at Aaron.
"Do either of you want a cuppa?" Chas asked when the kettle finished boiling.
"Just a black coffee for me, please mum" Aaron said.
"Same for me please Chas" Robert said, with his eyes still watching Aaron. Robert could watch Aaron all day; admiring Aaron's long eyelashes, his well kept stubble, his soft lips and his gorgeous dark brown hair 'he's so beautiful' Robert thought 'I love him more than anything'.
Then Aaron turned his head and he looked at Robert "What?" he nervously smiled at Robert.
"I'm just looking at you" Robert smiled at Aaron.
"Like what you see?" Aaron smiled.
"I love what I see" he leaned over and gave Aaron a light peck on the lips.
Chas then walked in with their coffees, and she put them down on the coffee table, she then picked up her coffee and sipped it "How long were you working the bar for?" Chas asked.
"About an hour. I took a lot of insults from Lawrence and Gabby. Robert was just watching me the whole time" Aaron smiled at Chas.
"I'm proud of you for standing up for your family. You sure showed Lawrence who was the better man" Robert picked up one of the mugs and he sipped the coffee.
"No one messes with my family and gets away with it" Aaron said before he sipped his coffee.
That night Aaron and Robert were just lying in bed holding each other and talking. Robert had one arm around Aaron, and he was stroking Aaron's hair. Robert kissed Aaron on the head and he smiled.
"Today has been very weird" Aaron smiled as he snuggled into Robert.
"You can say that again. But I enjoyed being with you, after we got away from everyone else" Robert said as he stroked Aaron's dark hair.
They both fell asleep after talking for a while. Robert was holding Aaron and Aaron was holding onto Robert. However the backdoor was opening and somebody walked in. Gabby closed the door behind her and she put her plan into action, she knew what she was going to do to get revenge on Aaron and Robert for humiliating her. Gabby walked into the backroom, she turned on her torch and she opened all of the cupboards and she went through Chas' bag. She took out all of Chas' money out of her purse as well as the fossil that Aaron had given her, and then she caught sight of a tin box on the side counter. She looked at the photos in the box and she got a knife out of the draw. Gabby placed the tip of the knife on the picture of Aaron and she scratched through the picture. She then caught sight of a picture of Aaron and Robert, she ripped up the picture and then she threw it on the floor. Gabby then took the baseball bat out of her rucksack and she walked over to the door leading to the bar.
"Time to wake up" she whispered to her self before she slowly opened the door, and then she slammed it shut. The loud bang echoed through the house, causing everyone to wake up.
Aaron and Robert both jolted awake and looked at each other in a panic "Did you hear that?" Robert asked.
"Yeah, I did" Aaron replied.
"Do you think it's a burglar?" Robert asked.
"Oh god mum" Aaron jumped out of bed when he remembered that his mum used to sleepwalk.
Robert then got out of bed, he and Aaron ran out of the room. Chas then came running out of her room "Aaron!" she ran to her son and hugged him.
"Mum are you ok?" Aaron asked as he hugged his mum.
"What was that?" Chas asked.
"We don't know" Aaron looked at Robert "It wasn't mum".
Chas then let go of Aaron just as Liv, Noah and Charity came running out of their rooms. "Aaron!" Liv ran into the arms of her brother and he hugged her.
"It's ok Liv" Aaron then turned to look at Robert "Robert look after her. I'm going to have a look around downstairs" Aaron let go of Liv.
"What? No, they might be dangerous" Robert said as Liv walked over to him.
Chas and Charity also protested to Aaron's act of bravery, but Aaron's mind was set on making sure that his family and Robert were safe. Aaron slowly started to walk down the stairs to see who was in the house.
Robert walked over to the top of the stairs "Babe don't" he whispered down to his fiancé.
Aaron looked back up the stairs and he saw the worried look on his fiancé's face "I'll shout for you if I need you" Aaron then started to tiptoe down the stairs again. Aaron then turned and looked at Robert before he turned and walked into the backroom.
"Aaron, Aaron" Robert whispered .
The backroom was dark when Aaron walked in. He could barely see a thing, he turned on the light and he saw all of the pictures on the floor "Who's there?" he called out.
Aaron walked over to the dinning table, and he picked up all of the pictures that were on the floor. Aaron then noticed that Chas' bag was on the floor, he walked over and picked it up. He looked into the bag and saw that his mum's purse was gone along with the fossil he gave her. He then saw the picture of him and Robert, he picked up the pieces and placed them on the table.
"Shit" he muttered under his breath.
Gabby slowly opened the door leading to the bar. She crept up behind Aaron with her baseball bat in hand. As she walked up behind Aaron she accidently kicked the metal box of photos, Aaron was alerted to the fact that someone was behind him. He quickly spun around and Gabby whacked him around the head with the bat.
"Ahh! Robert!" Aaron shouted before the intruder wacked him around the head again, and he fell back. He hit his head off of the coffee table and he was knocked unconscious.
"Aaron!" Robert said as he ran down the stairs and into the backroom. Robert saw Aaron lying on the floor and the intruder standing over him. "Aaron!" Robert then ran at the intruder Robert grabbed the bat and he pulled it away from the intruder. In a panic Gabby kicked Robert's shin and punches him in the stomach "Ah!" Robert fell to the floor holding his stomach as he withered around in agony. Gabby then stamped Robert's wrist "AAHHH!" Robert screamed, she made a run for it and he gripped his wrist.
Gabby made a run for the door but she was tackled from behind, Gabby let out a screech as she fell to the floor with her attacker on top of her. "Don't move!" Liv shouted. Gabby stopped struggling and she accepted that she had been defeated.
"Aaron!" Robert quickly crawled over to Aaron and rolled him over onto his back. Robert saw the blood running out of Aaron's head and he started to panic "No, no, no Aaron. Babe wake up! Baby please wake up!".
Aaron opened his eyes and saw Robert "Robert? Argh" he exclaimed when he felt a pain in the side of his head.
"Oh thank god" Robert released the breath that he had been holding in. Robert then helped Aaron to his feet and Aaron sat Robert down on the sofa, because of the fact that Robert was in pain because of his many injuries.
Chas and Charity came running into the backroom and saw that Liv had restrained the intruder. Chas ran over and lifted the intruder to their feet. Chas then pulled back the intruder's hood and saw that it was Gabby.
"Gabby? What are you doing here?" Liv asked.
"I wanted to get back at him" Gabby nodded in Aaron's direction.
"What did I do to deserve being hit around the head with a baseball bat?" Aaron asked with a clear look of shock on his face. Aaron then sat next to Robert on the sofa.
"You humiliated me. You and your fiancé" Gabby snarled at Aaron.
"You did that yourself. It's not Aaron's fault that your a brat" Robert looked at Aaron "You ok babe?" he asked.
"Yeah. I'm ok" Aaron answered.
"Oh I'm the brat? Tell me again why his dad abused him!" Gabby scoffed.
Robert snapped his head to the side to face Gabby "Oi! That's uncalled for!" Robert then looked at Aaron "Don't listen to her babe" Robert hugged Aaron.
"How dare you!" Chas shouted as she picked up the phone. She then noticed her bag on the floor "You went through my bag?"
"She's emptied your purse and she took the fossil I gave you" Aaron winced as he put his hand on the side of his head.
"Give me that!" Charity grabbed Gabby's rucksack and pulled it away from her.
"Hey that's mine!" Gabby shouted as Charity rummaged through her rucksack.
Charity then pulled out a handful of cash and the fossil. "These don't belong to you" Charity then handed the money and the fossil to Chas.
Chas then looked at Gabby "My son gave this to me. He's done nothing wrong!" Chas shouted at Gabby.
Robert looked at the cut on Aaron's head. He cupped Aaron's head to the side, to get a better look at his fiancé's injury. "Robert, I'm fine" Aaron looked at Robert.
"Your not fine. Your bleeding hun" Robert placed his hand over the injury on Aaron's head.
"Ah!" Aaron hissed in pain.
"Do you remember what happened?" Robert asked.
"She hit me with bat, twice around the head, I fell and I hit my head off of the coffee table" Aaron then turned to face Robert and saw that he was clutching his stomach "Robert are you hurt?" He asked.
"She kicked me in the shin and punched me in the stomach." Robert replied.
Aaron rolled up Robert's shirt and he saw the fresh bruise on his fiancé's stomach "Ouch that looks painful" he then looked at Robert.
"I'll be alright Aaron" Robert gave Aaron a sheepish smile "Ah!"
"What is it?" Aaron was concerned about Robert.
"She stamped on my wrist" Robert winced.
"Let me see" Aaron gently lifted up Robert's arm and unravelled the bandages. "Liv get me the first aid kit!" Aaron quickly said once he had seen the blood leaking out of his fiancés wrist.
"Why can't you get it?" Liv protested.
"Now Liv!" Aaron snapped. He them placed his hand over Robert's wrist to stop a large amount of blood loss.
"Ahh! Flaming hell it hurts" Robert hissed. He closed his eyes tight when he felt the burning sting in his wrist.
"Sorry babe." Aaron looked up at Robert.
"Here you go" Liv handed her brother the first aid kit.
Aaron quickly opened the green box and got the bandages out. He also grabbed the cleansing wipes and dapped Robert's wrist. "Ah! Shit it burns." Robert hissed in pain.
"Just hold my hand if you need to" Aaron said.
Robert gripped Aaron's hand and closed his eyes tight, as Aaron cleaned the cut again. He then wrapped the white cloth around Robert's wrist "There. That should keep it clean" Aaron put the left over bandages back in the green box.
Chas phoned Bernice, explained to her what happened and Gabby was made go apologise. Then she was taken back home. Robert put a plaster on the cut that was on Aaron's head, and they all went back to bed with hopes that the next day would be more calm.
"You alright?" Robert asked.
"Yeah I'm ok. What about you?" Aaron asked as he rested his head on Robert's chest.
"I'm alright now. Don't pay any attention to what Gabby said" Robert said in a soft voice.
"Easier said than done" Aaron said before he kissed Robert's bare chest.
"She's not worth the aggro. She's just a stupid kid" Robert said as he stroked Aaron's hair.
Aaron looked up at Robert "Let's just go to sleep. I'm tired" Aaron admitted.
"Alright" Robert kissed Aaron on the lips. "Goodnight beautiful" Robert said after he turned off the beside lamp. He held Aaron tight and he closed his eyes to go to sleep.
"Night babe" Aaron said before he closed his eyes and he fell asleep