Rebecca let herself into Home Farm, looking around the kitchen. "Joe?"
Joe emerged from the next room, his face breaking into a huge smile when he saw her. "Hi." He strode over and pulled her into a hug. "I've missed you."
"I'm sorry," she said, lifting her head to kiss him. "I've been busy with Seb, and the Woolpack..."
"Seb alright?"
"Yeah, he's great." Rebecca smiled. "Victoria just took him back to Robert's..."
"Where does Victoria think you are?"
"At home. She's gone out for the night..."
"So I've got you for the whole evening?"
"You, me and Graham?"
"Nope. He's out too." Joe pulled Rebecca close to him and kissed her tenderly. They pulled apart at the sound of the back door opening. Robert was standing in the doorway, his face a mask of fury.
"What d'you call this then?" Robert seethed, looking from Joe to Rebecca.
"Robert... it's okay," Rebecca started.
"You and him?"
"Robert," Joe started, his arm still around Rebecca. "It's not what you think."
"I think you're a sicko. I think this is one of your games."
"You're wrong."
"Look, I'm sorry. I should have told you," began Rebecca.
"Told me what?" demanded Robert. "How long has this been going on?"
"That's none of your business, Sugden." Joe faced him.
"I needed a friend after what happened—"
"So you chose him? After what he did to Debbie?!" Robert scoffed. "Are you—?"
"What?" Rebecca snapped.
"Be careful what you say, Sugden?"
"I'm sorry—" Robert stammered. "No offence, like, but can you blame me?"
"What, for almost calling me mental?" Rebecca demanded, as Joe tightened his arm around her.
"I'm here because I'm worried about you," Robert insisted. "I went to Victoria's to check on you, and when you weren't there... I thought you might have lost your memory again. Broken in here again."
"I'm not crazy, Robert. I'm doing much better now, and that's partly because of Joe." Rebecca stood defiantly next to him.
"Why him, of all people? You know he hates me?"
"The feeling's mutual, Sugden."
"Look, stop it! It's my choice, you don't have any claim to me," Rebecca retorted.
"I'm just trying to stop you making a mistake!"
"I made a mistake, when I slept with you!" Rebecca snapped. "And I don't regret it, because it gave me Seb. He is the most precious thing in my life."
"And mine too."
"And I would never do anything to endanger him. If I thought Joe was using me, or would do anything to hurt Seb..."
"Debbie probably thought the same."
"I'm not that person any more." Joe finally spoke. "I did want revenge on you. That's why I called the police that time..."
"Joe..." Rebecca looked at him.
"But I regretted it, and then I got to know Rebecca. I'm not using her. I'm not going to hurt her or Seb. This is for real."
"Do you hear yourself?" scoffed Robert. "Nothing about you is real, Joe."
"So faking that you're in love with a woman when actually you're screwing a Dingle pleb makes you real, does it? Two words, Sugden. Pot. Kettle."
Robert moved into Joe's personal space.
"Yeah, you wanna start draggin' that up, do yer? You are so like your dad."
"Good." Joe stepped closer to Robert, moving away from Rebecca. "My dad was a strong man. He achieved more in his life than most people ever do. Your dad was just a washed up farmer who cheated on his wife with my mother. His step-niece. And you call me sick?"
Robert grabbed Joe and pushed him against the kitchen sink. "Don't you dare say another word about my dad!"
"Robert!" Rebecca tried to pull him off Joe.
"We all know what kind of upbringing you had, Tate. No wonder you're as weird as you are."
"That's enough." A cold, dark voice interrupted.
Rebecca jumped, startled. Robert looked around, still gripping Joe.
"Graham?"
Joe's right-hand man had entered through the kitchen door, as stealthy as ever, his expression menacing.
"Let go of him," he instructed Robert. Rebecca took Joe's arm.
"Do you know what's been going on with these two?" Robert asked Graham.
"I think I can probably guess." Graham's eyes flicked to Joe and Rebecca.
"No need to fill in the blanks, though, Graham," warned Joe.
"Graham, Mr Foster—" Rebecca appealed, like a schoolgirl to the headmaster. "Robert's just very protective of me."
"Let go, Robert," Graham repeated.
"You approve of this, do you?" Robert asked Graham.
"It's not up to me."
"I love Joe," Rebecca blurted. "This is what I want." She turned to Joe, whose eyes widened.
"Fine. I can't stop yer, I get it." Robert shoved Joe away viciously, leaving him massaging his chest.
"No, you can't. I love Joe. I want to be with him."
"Alright, I get it. But don't think this is gonna change things between us."
"No, you'll always be an arse," Joe snapped.
"And you'll always be a stuck up little git."
"Right, now we've established that," said Graham. "I think it's time you left." He nodded at the back door.
"Robert," said Rebecca, as he headed for the door. "This doesn't change anything, with Seb..."
"What, you think I'd stop you seeing him?" Robert turned and stared.
"So you'll bring him over tomorrow again?"
Robert nodded, then looked at Joe. "This isn't over, Tate." He walked out, slamming the door behind him.
"I love you too, by the way," Joe murmured to Rebecca.
"I love you, Joe." Rebecca clung to him, as Graham cleared his throat.
"Rebecca, can I speak with Joe, please?"
"Of course." Rebecca wandered away from him, looking meek.
"Just take a seat in the lounge," Graham advised.
"He'll call you shortly," Joe added sarcastically.
When Rebecca had gone, Joe pulled up a chair at the table. "I thought you were out tonight?"
"Good thing I came back early." Graham raised an eyebrow.
"I could have handled Sugden."
"I don't think Rebecca needed the stress, do you?"
"No." Joe glanced in the direction of the lounge. "This isn't quite the romantic evening I had in mind."
"No, but you need to seriously think about the implications of this. It isn't just you involved. There's the child to consider too."
"Seb? You think I haven't thought about him?"
"I know you, Joe."
"No, you don't. You think I'm still the same lost little boy you took under your wing at school. Well, I'm not."
"Did you mean what you said to Rebecca? The love part?" Graham paused. "Because you said the same thing to Debbie..."
"Yeah, well, maybe I did love Debbie." Joe looked down. "But it could never have worked out. Not after Ross, and everything..."
"And you think it can work with Rebecca? Even with her condition?"
Joe shrugged. "It's not like I'm a stranger to disability."
"Are you really sure about this?"
"I've never been more sure about anything." Joe smiled. Graham had never seen him look so content.
"Go and see her, then."
Joe strode into the lounge, where Rebecca was sitting, her legs bouncing, feet tapping on the carpet.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Sorry about that. I didn't expect Graham to be so..."
"It's fine. Really." She paused. "So, did you mean what you said?"
"Of course." Joe sat next to her. "I love you, Rebecca. I would do anything for you."
Rebecca leaned into his embrace. "We'll have to go public, then. I'll tell Victoria tomorrow."
Joe kissed her hair softly. "If you want me to be there..."
"No. I can handle it."
"I know you can." Joe held her as she rested her head on his shoulder. "It'll be fine."