"Calm down, mate, I'm sure there's no reason to panic," said Adam. "He'll have forgotten or something."

"Yeah," said Aaron quietly, trying to look like he believed him, even though he couldn't miss the note of uncertainty in Adam's voice. "It'll be something like that."

There was a pause which neither of them wanted to fill – though neither of them felt they could get on with work either. They just stood there, either side of the car, waiting for the other one to mention the connection they were both thinking. Finally, Adam did:

"This wouldn't have anything to do with the Facebook photo, would it?"

Aaron kicked the tyre – not quite angrily, but out of a sort of frustration that he didn't know the answer to that question.

"It's not like he's been hiding your relationship," insisted Adam. "And Vic wouldn't have posted it if she wasn't sure you'd be ok with it."

He looked back at his phone. The picture had received a few likes, and one comment ("Fit", from Kerry), but it had hardly caused a huge stir.

"I dunno," said Aaron. "It's one thing family knowing. It's another when it's – I dunno – people from his school or from his old job or something. I've been so caught up in the trial and – " He had to stop for a moment, as his voice wavered a little, but he took a breath and continued, "and us getting together, that I hadn't really thought about how he was coping. Maybe he wasn't ready?"

Adam wanted to reassure his friend, but Aaron could tell by his expression that he was also uncertain on that topic. He was frowning in concern, obviously trying to communicate a reassurance with his eyes that he couldn't honestly put into words. Aaron kicked the tyre again, this time more forcefully.

"I've been such an idiot. I've not thought about him at all, have I?"

"Mate, he loves you," Adam said. "He's not hiding it. You're always flirting. He's with you in the pub, in that restaurant…"

"But we don't…" Aaron trailed off, embarrassed. "I mean, you and Vic are all over each other in public. We don't – well, we don't do any of that."

"That's just not who you are. Who either of you are. It doesn't mean that Robert's, I dunno, fled the country or anything. C'mon mate, it'll be fine."

Suddenly Adam's phone, still in his hand, started ringing and vibrating. He and Aaron realised together that Victoria would still be waiting for a reply.

"You'd better get that," said Aaron.

"Hey babe," said Adam, answering and half-turning away from Aaron. He obviously wanted to make sure that his face didn't give anything away if it were bad news, though Aaron was still studying his expressions for clues. "No Vic, we've not heard from him. Yeah, Aaron's here – no, he hasn't either."

For the next couple of minutes, all Adam said was 'yeah' and 'no' at intervals, darting quick looks at Aaron every now and then. Aaron started shaking his head to himself, lips pursed.

"Yeah, babe. No, we'll call if anything happens. Of course. Yeah, love you too."

Adam turned back to Aaron.

"Look, don't get alarmed. He's not answering his phone, he's not been to work, and he's not at ours or in the pub – "

Aaron swore under his breath and stuck his hands in his pockets, trying to stay calm.

"But his car is still there, and I can't see Rob getting a bus, can you? So he can't have gone far"

Aaron smiled despite himself. No, Robert was unlikely to hop on the 35 to Hotten. And he definitely wouldn't be getting a lift from the Barton brothers and their unlikely taxi firm.

"Let's head down the road for dinner, and – well, he'll turn up soon. It won't be anything drastic."

They walked down to the village together in silence. Aaron was running over last night and this morning in his head, trying to think of any explanation. Robert hadn't mentioned going anywhere, had he? Not a dentist appointment or something boring like that? Aaron kicked a stone into the hedge. But what else could have happened, and why was he so anxious? They'd been so happy last night. And surely one Facebook photo wouldn't have thrown Robert too much?

But Aaron had to admit that he wasn't sure of that. He *felt* like he knew Robert in and out now – but he'd felt that before. True, there was a much deeper basis to their relationship now, and a trust and love that replaced all the furious uncertainty of the affair – but he couldn't shake the idea that Robert might do something unexpected. He'd done it by paying Ryan to lie. He'd done it by destroying Gordon's letter. Aaron knew the impulses behind those actions was love and protection, of a variety that made him feel simultaneously deeply moved and deeply frustrated – but also it showed that he didn't yet know how Robert would always respond. But, damn, he loved him. He loved every inch of his tall, handsome, funny, flirty, sexy, impulsive, determined, ambitious, clever, loving boyfriend.

"What you thinking, Aaron?"

Aaron blushed a little about quite what he'd been thinking – which was the final sight of Robert's extraordinary naked body on the bed that morning, when Aaron had pulled the duvet onto the floor, and the thought he'd had at the time that he needn't stare at it for too long because it would always be available for him to see and love and know… Instead, he just grunted "Nothing" – which appeared to be the answer that Adam had expected.

When they got to the pub, Victoria was looking impatient and worried.

"You've not heard anything from him?"

"No, babe," said Adam, giving her a hug. "But I'm sure it'll be – "

"Do you think it could be that stupid Facebook photo?" she said, anxiously. "I honestly didn't think he'd mind."

Adam looked at Aaron and then back at his wife, wanting to be both honest and reassuring. Aaron didn't want to make things awkward, and also didn't want to stand around doing nothing.

"I'm gonna go for a walk," he said quietly. "I'll keep phoning him, and let you know if I get through."

"I wouldn't bother," said Victoria. She held up Robert's phone. "It's turned off, and I found it on our kitchen counter."

"Well, that's good, isn't it?" said Adam. "He won't have gone for long without his phone."

Aaron didn't have anything useful to say to that. He just nodded thoughtfully and turned to leave.

"Have you had any dinner?" called Victoria after him.

"Not hungry," he mumbled, not caring whether or not they heard him.

He walked aimlessly around the village for a while. He wasn't exactly looking for Robert, but standing still felt so useless. And walking meant he had time to think about… well, about everything. About how Robert had changed, and how he had changed; how, despite everything, they had learned to love and trust each other. And about where their lives might go in the next few years. And how wonderful it was that he could think in terms of years. Surely this blip, whatever it was, wouldn't get in the way of that.

Suddenly, he could hear Robert's voice. It was faint, but he could definitely hear it. It wasn't until he heard that familiar sound – reassuring, warm, so articulate where Aaron had never been able to use words as easily as he'd wish – that Aaron realised quite how worried he'd been.

And it was coming from down by the church, down the hill. where it couldn't be seen from the road. Aaron walked a bit closer, so he could hear but not be seen – he didn't want to interrupt whatever this was.

"But I haven't just come here to sit in silence," Robert was saying. "I know that's what I've done for about an hour now. But this isn't easy."

Aaron was mystified. Who could Robert be talking to? And why was he meeting them here?

"Ok, here it is. I'm in love. I'm in love with this fantastic… person. Well, this fantastic guy." Robert laughed self-consciously, and the sound made Aaron's heart leap with love. "Yep, he's a man. You know his family – he's a Dingle. I know! A Sugden and a Dingle – who'd ever think that would work?"

Aaron smiled to himself. Who, indeed?

"It's Aaron. He's – oh, he's amazing. He's the bravest, kindest, most loving person I've ever met. He's the most forgiving person I've ever met – you know I don't make good decisions, and I've hurt him more than most people. By rights, he should hate me. I hate myself when I think of some of the things I've done and said to him."

Aaron wanted to go right over and comfort him, to tell him again that none of that mattered, but he didn't want to interrupt. He couldn't hear the other person's voice, so presumably Robert was on the phone, but he still didn't want to burst in on this conversation that Robert had clearly been so keen to have privately.

"But he's forgiven me, and – believe it or not – I've changed. Not just for him, but for me – and for you, I think. It's not just *for* him, but I think it might just be *because* of him."

Looking at the ground, Aaron couldn't help but tear up a little at that. He felt a little bad for eavesdropping, but couldn't stop now.

"And," Robert continued, "yesterday he told me he loved me for the first time since we started dating. And I love him. It's wonderful. And Vic – of course – had to put her foot in it. She went and told everyone. She put it on Facebook – but of course, you wouldn't know what Facebook is."

Aaron wrinkled his nose in surprise. Who didn't know what Facebook was these days? Even Sandy had an account and kept trying to add Aaron as a friend – despite the number of times Aaron ignored it.

"But that doesn't matter," Robert went on. "The point is, everybody knows now, all at once. And I wanted you to know too. Silly, isn't it? But I couldn't bear the idea of everybody else in the world knowing how happy I am, and you not knowing."

It started to dawn on Aaron who Robert might be talking to.

"So, there you go, Dad. I'm the luckiest guy in the world. Oh, and I guess this isn't the sort of thing that sons say to dads, but… wow, he's sexy. So attractive I can hardly believe it when I look at him."

Aaron couldn't help himself then – he started laughing, even while he was still crying a little. After making that noise, he couldn't help walking over to Robert – who was sat on the ground, next to his father's grave. He looked a bit surprised and embarrassed.

"Aaron – I wasn't…"

But Aaron didn't let him get any further. He sat down next to Robert, and firmly kissed him. Then he rested his head on Robert's shoulder, arms around his knees, and both of them realised that, for the moment at least, neither of them needed to talk. All was well.