Joe was making a pot of coffee when Robert burst through the side door of Home Farm. He immediately grabbed Joe, pushing him up against the wall.

"Does nobody knock any more?" Joe asked, before Robert's fist connected with his face.

"Stay away from Rebecca!" Robert yelled. "She's not well, and you're messing with her head, just to get at me? You're sick, like your old man."

"What's going on?" said Graham's icy tones, from the kitchen door.

"Why don't you ask him?" Robert let go of Joe, who slumped to the floor, holding his bleeding lip. "I saw him with Rebecca."

"We were just talking—"

"I know what you're doing. What's the plan, buy her and Seb a house and then throw them out like you did with Debbie?"

"There is no plan." Joe glared at him from the floor. "You're paranoid."

"Stay away from her, and keep well away from my son. You hear me?"

Robert stormed out, leaving the door wide open.

"Is that true?" asked Graham, handing Joe a napkin for his lip. "Are you using Rebecca to get to him?"

"What do you take me for?" Joe sounded genuinely hurt.

Graham didn't answer that. "Whatever your problem with Robert Sugden, don't drag an innocent woman and child into it. Not again."

"This has nothing to do with Robert Sugden. I like her, okay?"

"Well, you liked Debbie, and look how that worked out."

"This is different."

"She's vulnerable, Joe," Graham said, as if he needed reminding. "If you really care about her, you'll stay away."

...

"You hit him?"

Robert slammed his glass down. "Don't worry, I didn't use the golf club. Maybe I should've," he added as an afterthought.

"You had no right!"

"Oh wake up Bex, he's using you!" Robert snapped. "He was willing to shop you to the police to get at me, now he's trying to worm his way in with you..."

"It's not like that! We're friends!" Robert made a disbelieving noise. "Why do you care anyway? You're with Aaron—"

"And Seb's my son!"

"And he'll always be your son, whether I'm seeing Joe or not!"

"So you are seeing him?"

Rebecca stood her ground. "You know why I like spending time with Joe? He treats me like an actual person, not a baby incubator or a liability who can't be trusted with her own son!"

Rebecca pushed past Robert and left Mill Cottage, Robert still glaring after her.