A few days had passed since the attack, Robert noticed that Aaron seemed very distant. Aaron would isolate himself or he would go for a run so that he could be on his own. Robert knew that his husband was trying to hold it all together but he knew that he was struggling. Robert walked upstairs and he opened the door to his and Aaron's bedroom. He saw he husband lying on the bed, he stood in the doorway and smiled as he watched Aaron.

Aaron felt eyes on him so he looked up and saw Robert stood in the doorway. "Hiya" Aaron smiled.

"Hey sexy" Robert smiled. "Want some company?"

Aaron put his phone down and looked at Robert "Yeah".

Robert smiled as he walked over to the bed and laid down next to Aaron. "You alright?"

Aaron rolled onto his side "Yeah I'm okay".

"You're so beautiful" Robert said in a soft voice as he stroked Aaron's check with the back of his fingers.

"You're so handsome" Aaron smiled as he moved closer so that he was almost touching Robert.

Robert moved his hand and placed it on Aaron's waist "I love you".

"I love you too" Aaron smiled softly.

His husband's blue eyes made Robert's heart dance and he smiled. Both men leaned in and they shared a long and passionate kiss. Robert slowly moved his hand and placed it on Aaron's thigh. As their kiss deepened Robert moved his hand and slid it between Aaron's thighs.

Aaron opened his eyes "No!" He pulled away from their kiss and he rolled onto his back as he began to cry.

Robert realised what he had done. The guilt and the anger for himself hit him "Oh God, Aaron. I'm so sorry".

Aaron continued to cry "Please don't hate me".

Robert lifted one arm "Come'ere baby".

Aaron rolled onto his side and he looked at Robert. He then moved closer and Robert wrapped his arm around Aaron.

"I don't hate you. I'm sorry for scaring you. I didn't think" Robert kissed Aaron's forehead.

"I'm sorry for pulling back" Aaron sobbed.

"It's okay. I'm not angry at you. I'd never pressure you into sex. You don't have to do anything you don't want to" Robert said as he rubbed his husband's back. "It's alright".

"What happens now? This could go on for ages. What if you get bored of me because we don't have sex? I don't want to lose you" Aaron sobbed.

"I'll never get bored of you. I love you more than anything. You'll never lose me. You don't have to worry about a thing, we'll just go one step at a time. I shouldn't have touched you like that, I'm sorry" Robert said in a soft voice.

"It's alright. You have the right to touch me like that" Aaron sobbed.

Robert pulled back and he looked into his husband's tear filled eyes "No one has the right to touch you like that. I don't have the right to touch you if you don't want to be touched. Only you know what you want and you're the only one who knows how you feel. I know you really well but that doesn't give me a free pass to anything. Come'ere baby" Robert put both of his arms around Aaron and held him close. "Squeeze my arm if you feel uncomfortable". Robert placed his hand on Aaron's bicep and slowly moved his hand down his arm. He then placed his hand on Aaron's waist and slowly moved it to his husband's thigh, he then slowly moved his hand and slid it between Aaron's legs. He felt Aaron tense up and squeeze his upper arm. Robert immediately moved his hand and placed it on Aaron's back "Sh sh it's alright" he kissed the top of his husband's head "I'm sorry. It's alright". He felt Aaron relax in his arms "I did that to find out where you're comfortable with being touched. That's all, it's just so I know how to help you. Are you okay?"

Aaron slowly exhaled and nodded "Yeah".

Robert placed on hand on the back of Aaron's head "I'm sorry if I scared you. I just needed to know how I can help you". Robert held Aaron for a moment before he eventually stopped crying and relaxed. Robert held Aaron close for a few minutes and his husband hugged him back.

Suddenly Aaron and Robert heard a loud banging on their bedroom door.

"Robert! Aaron!" Liv shouted.

Robert sighed and he pulled away from Aaron "What is it, Liv?"

"ARE YOU PLANNING ON STARVING ME!" Liv shouted.

"You're fifteen! There's a pot noodle in the cupboard" Aaron yelled to Liv.

"YOU CHILD ABUSERS! YOU WON'T EVEN FEED ME!" Liv shouted.

"Stop being a drama queen. Just go and make yourself a pot noodle. I'm busy in here!" Robert shouted.

Aaron gave Robert a punch on the arm "Don't say that".

Robert looked at Aaron and smirked "Oh Aaron. Oh" Robert exaggerated

Aaron started to laugh "Robert sshh".

"Yeah, right there. Uh that feel's so great. Keep going, babe. Oh!" Robert smiled as he tried to sound convincing.

"Robert!" Aaron giggled.

"Ew! I don't wanna hear that! I'm calling social services!" Liv shouted.

Robert laughs with Aaron still in his arms, "You wouldn't even dare Liv, and both of us know it!"

A moment of silence before the sound of stomping feet comes from the stairs. Aaron looks up at Robert and smiles "She actually would. She did it last year too, after she was told she couldn't have a pack of crisps!"

Robert continued to smile for a few seconds until the information sunk in and he leapt off the bed and out the door. "LIV!" He shouted as he ran after his sister-in-law. Robert and Liv both ran to the phone, but Robert yanked the cord out of the wall before Liv could grab the phone.

"Robert!" Liv whined.

"Olivia!" Robert said in a whiny voice.

"You're a nightmare!" Liv huffed.

"One of the many reasons why Aaron loves me" Robert smirked.

Robert then felt strong but gentle hands wrap around his waist, and hug him from behind "Very true". Said a soft voice.

Robert looked over his shoulder and he saw Aaron smiling at him "Hiya, beautiful" Robert smiled as he lifted one arm and put it around Aaron "You okay?"

"Yeah" Aaron smiled.

Robert kissed Aaron's forehead and held him close "You sure?"

"I'm sure. You made me smile" Aaron answered.

Robert smiled as he walked over to the sofa and he sat down with Aaron. Aaron laid down and rested his head on Robert's lap as his husband stroked his hair and smiled down at him.

"There's nothing here!" Liv shouted.

Aaron put his hand in his pocket and he pulled out his wallet. "Liv!"

Liv walked in with a stroppy look on her face "What!"

"Catch" Aaron throw Liv some money and she caught it "Go to the cafe and get yourself something to eat".

"Thanks bro" Liv smiled.

"Be good, kiddo!" Aaron called to Liv as she walked out of the front door and shut it behind her.

"You're too soft on her" Robert smirked.

"I just save you from being yelled at by a teenager. Wait... scratch that a teenager who is just like me" Aaron smiled.

"Oh really? Well I don't have many pictures of Liv but I do have some of a certain Dingle who is known for being a badboy" Robert smirked as he got his phone out of his pocket.

"Since when did you get any pictures of me as a teen?" Aaron raised one eyebrow.

"It took some digging but... I managed to find Ed and he sent me some pictures of you" Robert smiled as he flicked through the pictures on his phone.

"Wait what?" Aaron remembered what pictures he had taken in France.

"This one is one of my favourites" Robert showed Aaron the picture of him without a shirt and his hands in his pockets.

Aaron remembered that there were worst pictures "Give me that!" Aaron tried to grab the phone but Robert held it away from him and continued to look through the pictures.

"Ay up! This is my favourite" Robert smirked before he showed Aaron the picture.

"Oh God" Aaron covered his face with his hands.

"I must say that you do look very good with just a very small towel, covering one of my favourite part of you" Robert smirked.

"I was nineteen. I had just waxed my legs, and every other inch of me. I was just showing off" Aaron groaned.

"I still love you" Robert smiled.

"I love you too" Aaron smiled.

Robert put his hand underneath Aaron's head and he lifted his husband's head before he passionately kissed him and Aaron kissed him back. Robert had realised that the only cure that Aaron needed was... laughter.