After a few days, Aaron had noticed that his mother was not being herself and he became worried about her. He had been helping Chas with running the pub, and he had been covering her late shifts. However, he was very tired and he was under a lot of pressure because Liv was causing trouble and Robert was stressed.
Aaron was at the scrapyard when he got a call from Chas. "I'm on my way, mum. Don't do anything" he stood up and he grabbed his wallet.
Robert looked up and he saw that Aaron was worried "What's wrong?"
"My mum's PTSD's acting up. She's panicking, I need to go" Aaron answered.
"Come on" Robert stood up and he grabbed his car keys.
Aaron and Robert drove back to the village, they ran into the backroom and Aaron saw that Chas was sat in the backroom and that she was crying.
"Mum!" Aaron ran over to Chas and he rubbed her arm.
"Aaron!" Chas clung onto her son.
Aaron held Chas and he shushed her until she stopped crying. "Robert, can you get her a glass of water please?"
"Sure" Robert walked into the kitchen and he got Chas a glass of water.
After Chas had a drink, she began to explain what had gotten her so worked up. Two customers had broken up into a fight and whilst they were both kicked out, the raised voices brought up memories that startled her.
Aaron understood because raised voices also triggered his anxiety. He rubbed his mother's back to tell her that she was not alone.
"Are you okay now?", Robert asked gently as he sat next to Aaron.
"Yeah, thanks. I didn't want to bother anyone", Chas replied in a hushed tone as if she were ashamed of herself.
"You're not bothering anyone, we're all here for you mum, never forget that", Aaron said with a smile.
"You're a good lad" Chas smiled at her son before she hugged him.
Robert smiled as Chas and Aaron hugged "Are you gonna okay, Chas?"
"Yeah, don't worry about me. It's your job to worry about Aaron" Chas nodded.
"I'll always look after him" Robert smiled, he leaned closer to where Aaron was, and he kissed his boyfriend's head.
Aaron smiled and he pulled away from Chas "Get your head down for a bit. I'll manage the pub until Charity decides to help out" he rolled his eyes.
"Thank you, Sweetheart" Chas smiled, she then went upstairs for a lie down.
Aaron had something to drink before he walked into the bar, he had only been working for a few minutes when Robert sat at the bar with his laptop.
"Why aren't you at the scrapyard?" Aaron asked.
"Nicola's being her usual self and I'm gonna keep you company" Robert answered.
"You don't have to, Rob" Aaron sighed fondly.
Robert looked at Aaron "I want to."
Aaron smiled and he nodded "Cheers".
"Aaron, I need you to babysit for and hour" Charity said as she walked into the pub with Moses and she practically shoved him into Aaron's arm.
Aaron held the baby in his arms and he looked at Charity "I'm not a nannie".
"Nope, your family. So keep an eye on Moses and you can take a break" Charity said before she went to serve some customers.
Aaron looked at Moses "Sorry, kid. It looks like you're stuck with me for a bit".
Aaron sat down with Moses sat on the bar, and he was holding onto the child's hands.
"You're very good with him" Robert stated.
Aaron looked at Robert and then back at Moses "You should've seen me when Leo was a baby".
"I've seen the pictures" Robert smiled.
"Rhona?" Aaron asked.
"Yeah, she showed me the pictures of you looking after Leo. It made me smile" Robert softly said, he then kissed Aaron's cheek.
As Aaron had expected 'a bit' turned into a few hours and Moses was hungry. Charity took Moses and she fed him whilst Aaron managed he bar.
Once Robert had finished his work and Chas had returned to the pub, Aaron and Robert walked into the backroom of the Woolpack and they sat on the sofa. They were watching TV when Aaron felt a hand on his thigh, he saw that Robert had his hand on his leg and he smiled. Robert squeezed Aaron's leg and he moved his hand high up Aaron's thigh. Dangerously high.
Aaron smirked at Robert and they leaned into kiss. Robert gently guided Aaron back so that he was lying down in the sofa, he leaned over his boyfriend and he slid his hand under Aaron's shirt. Aaron wrapped his arms around Robert's neck and he moaned with want as he kissed his boyfriend.
Just as it was about to get good... the door swung open and Liv stormed into the backroom "You don't care about me!"
Aaron and Robert quickly sat up and they looked at Liv, Robert was annoyed that his 'alone time' with Aaron had been interrupted.
"You only care about yourself and Robert! You're so selfish!" Liv shouted.
"Liv, what are you talking about? Of course I care about you" Aaron insisted.
"How can you love that weasel? He lied about dad, you don't care about how I feel about you dating that prat!" Liv shouted.
"Liv! Watch your attitude!" Aaron shouted as he stood up "Everything that Robert's done he's done because he loves me, he was protecting me because god knows what Gordon would've done if he was found not guilty! I'll date who I want to date and I want to be with Robert" Aaron firmly said.
"I hate you!" Liv shouted before she ran upstairs.
Aaron stood there for a moment before he looked at Robert "I'm sorry about that".
Robert stood up and he walked over to Aaron "It's alright. I'm not gonna leave, you've got me for keeps".
Aaron smiled and Robert hugged him "I'm not in the mood for sex anymore. I'm sorry".
"It's fine. Don't worry about it" Robert reassured.
Aaron and Robert hugged for a moment, before they snuggled up on the sofa to watch TV. Robert made dinner that night as Aaron did some work, Aaron had offered to help but Robert politely declined his boyfriend's help and he kissed Aaron's head.
Liv and Chas sat at the table, and they started to eat the meal that Robert had made. Aaron was sat next to Robert and Chas, Aaron and Chas really liked what Robert had made but Liv pulled a disgusted face and she pretended to gag.
"How can you eat this stuff? It's gross!" Liv exclaimed.
Robert was upset that Liv felt disgusted by what he had made. He looked at Aaron and he saw the sorry look in his boyfriend's blue eyes.
"Liv, don't be so rude. There's nothing else" Aaron stated.
"I want something else. I hate this!" Liv shouted.
Robert held his tongue and he stood up from the table, he walked into the kitchen and he leaned on the counter.
Aaron stood up and he went over to see if Robert was okay "You okay?"
"I'm really trying, Aaron. I made chilli because I know that it's your favourite" Robert sighed.
"It's fine. And the chilli tastes amazing, you're doing great" Aaron softly said.
Robert smiled and he nodded, he walked back over to the table and he sat down with Aaron next to him.
"This tastes amazing, Robert. We'll done" Chas smiled at Robert.
"Thanks, Chas. I'm glad that you and Aaron like it" Robert smiled.
"It's hate it! I'm not gonna eat it, let's get some fish and chips" Liv said to annoy Robert.
Aaron froze on hearing those words, he gulped and he felt tears in his eyes "Just eat your dinner, Liv".
"I don't like it so I'm not gonna eat it. Just get me some fish and chips" Liv glared at Robert.
Aaron froze as he had a flashback of the worst night of his life. "Robert".
Robert knew that Gordon would buy Aaron fish and chips out of guilt. He looked at his boyfriend and he saw the fear on Aaron's face. "Aaron?"
Gordon's voice was in Aaron's head and he started to shake. "It's not my fault. It's not my fault".
Robert saw that Aaron was shaking, and he watched as the blood drained out of Aaron's face. "Chas, can you get Aaron a glass of water and a blanket?"
Chas hurried into the kitchen and she got Aaron a drink of water, she then got a blanket and she looked at Robert.
"Please don't. I don't want to, it's not my fault" Aaron said to the Gordon that was in his head.
Robert had realised what was happening, and he knew what was going to happen next. "Liv, I know that you hate me but I need you to go to your room now".
"I want fish and chips!" Liv shouted.
Aaron whimpered and he started to cry "No no no, it's not my fault!"
Robert looked at Chas "Chas, if he starts to scream, I need you to wrap the blanket around me and him. He's having a flashback and I'm gonna hold him to sooth him."
Chas nodded and she picked up the blanket, she stood next to her son and she looked at Robert. "Liv, go to your room".
"I need my dinner. It's not my fault that I don't like what Rat-face made!" Liv shouted.
Suddenly, Aaron screamed and he cried more "It's not my fault! I did nothing wrong!"
Robert quickly but gently pulled Aaron close to his body, and he held his boyfriend "Aaron, can you hear me? It's just me, it's just your Robert. It's okay".
Aaron screamed and he started to thrash around "No! Stop! Please!"
Chas quickly wrapped the blanket around Aaron and Robert, and she practically dragged Liv out of the room "Get to your room now!"
Liv stormed off upstairs and she slammed the door shut.
Robert had tears in his eyes as he held his screaming boyfriend "It's okay, Aaron. If you can hear me just know that it's okay and you're okay".
Chas rushed into the backroom, she saw that Robert was struggling to comfort Aaron. "Please help him, Robert".
Robert nodded and he kissed Aaron's head, he started to shush his boyfriend and he stroked Aaron's hair. After a minute Aaron came out of his flashback, he felt strong, loving and protective arms around him and the warmth of the blanket.
"I'm sorry" Aaron sobbed into Robert's chest.
Robert kissed Aaron's head "You have nothing to be sorry for. It's okay and I'm gonna take care of you, it's alright now Sshhh".
Aaron cried for a bit, before his eyelids became heavy and he yawned.
Robert knew that flashbacks and panic attacks often drained Aaron, he knew that Aaron would be exhausted after them "Come on. Let's go to bed".
Robert and Aaron stood up, Robert helped the younger man up the stairs and to their room. The blanket was still wrapped around the couple, and Robert helped Aaron into his pyjamas. The older man laid his boyfriend down on the bed, and he pulled the duvet up to Aaron's shoulders.
Chas stepped into her son's bedroom. She saw that Robert was sat next to Aaron on the edge of the bed, and that he was stroking his boyfriend's hair "What happened to him?"
Robert looked at Chas "He had an absence and a flashback. He's had them before and I know how to help him. Somethings trigger bad memories for him, like how somethings trigger your PTSD. He can't control it and it scares him a lot, it physically and emotionally drains him and it exhausts him. He's been sick a few times and other times he just cries" he explained.
"It's hard for you to see him go through flashbacks isn't it?" Chas asked.
Robert nodded "Yeah, he doesn't deserve to be so scared. I wish that I could just make all of his pain and insecurities disappear" he looked at Aaron and he stroked his boyfriend's hair.
"Hold him. It helps him when you hold him. Thank you for looking after my son" Chas smiled before she slowly shut the door and she walked to her bedroom.
Robert got ready for bed and he climbed into the bed, he gently pulled Aaron close and he kissed his boyfriend's head. "I'll never stop loving you, my precious Aaron".
Aaron unconsciously rolled over and snuggled up against Robert, he let out a few small groans and whimpers but he was sleeping peacefully.
Robert smiled and he held Aaron "I love you so much. You have no idea how special you really are".