Aaron was stood on the bridge to get away from everything, the sound of the stream and the wind was relaxing and he was completely relaxed. That was until he felt arms slowly wrap around his waist and he smiled, he held onto the wrists of the other person and he felt soft lips on his neck.

"Sugden" Aaron addressed.

"Dingle" Robert rested his chin on Aaron's shoulder.

"I need to find a better hiding spade" Aaron smiled.

"I'll always find you no matter what." Robert whispered.

"I'm sorry about last night" Aaron apologised.

"Don't apologies for having nightmares. It's not your fault" Robert soothed.

"I literally kicked you out of bed. I'm so sorry" Aaron sniffled.

Robert turned his boyfriend around and he pulled him into a hug "It's okay, I'm not mad at you and I understand that they scare you. It's okay".

Aaron gripped Robert's jacket and he melted against the older man "I'm always tired. I'm not sleeping enough".

Robert kissed Aaron's head "It's know, Aaron. I'll get you through this, it'll be okay".

They hugged for a bit before they walked back to the Woolpack, they had dinner before they went to bed. But the night before was about to be repeated.

Aaron woke up, tears running down his face, he saw that Robert was hanging over him with a worried expression.

"Are you alright?" Robert asked.

But Aaron could not answer, he could only choke on his tears as many emotions overrode his being; fear, distress, pain and sadness. Aaron shivered violently as he sobbed, unable to speak as he whimpered.

Robert took Aaron in his arms, upon realising that his loved one was having a breakdown. "Shh", Robert said gently, rocking his boyfriend , "It's okay, I'm here".

Aaron managed to calm himself down a fraction as he sobbed, just enough to blurt out, "H-he hurt me! C-cut my ch-est".

Robert's eyes widened as he remembered the many scars Aaron had given himself, he had thought all of them were due to self harm... but now he knew what had started it all off. Robert stroked Aaron's hair, helping his boyfriend to calm himself, "It's okay, he's not here anymore".

"It's never gonna end. He's still in my head" Aaron sobbed.

Robert kissed Aaron's head "Sshh you'll find a way to let them go. It'll be alright, I've got you".

Aaron buried his face into Robert's chest and he clung onto the older man "Can you just hold me like this for a bit?"

Robert nodded "Okay, anything for you".

Aaron snuggled up in Robert's arms and he let out a shuddery breath "You're the best.

Robert smiled "So are you".

Chas woke up at 8am and she walked downstairs, she put the kettle on. She walked into the living room and she saw that Aaron was lying on the sofa in Robert's arms. "Aaron?" she rushed over and she knelt down next to the sofa.

Aaron opened his eyes and he looked at his mum "Hi, mum".

"He had a nightmare and he couldn't get back to sleep. I found him down here" Robert explained.

"Oh, Sweetheart" Chas stroked Aaron's hair.

Aaron smiled "I'm okay. I just need to sleep".

Chas nodded and she looked at Robert "Look after my boy".

Robert nodded and he rubbed Aaron's upper arm, he looked down at his boyfriend and he smiled at him "Close your eyes for a bit. I'll be here to protect you".

Aaron nodded and he closed his eyes.

Only five minutes had passed, when the sound of someone stomping down the stairs caused Aaron to open his eyes. The younger man looked up at his boyfriend and Robert stroked his hair, Liv walked over to the table and she sat down.

"What horror movie were you two watching last night? I could hear the TV from my room" Liv scoffed.

"We didn't watch a movie. I had a nightmare" Aaron answered.

"What did you dream about? Being six feet under?" Liv scoffed.

Aaron said nothing, he just closed his eyes and he tried to go to sleep.

"I want pizza tonight" Liv informed.

"We had pizza last night, Liv" Aaron sighed.

"You mean that frizzbie that rat face stuffed in out faces last night? I want real pizza tonight" Liv stubbornly said.

Aaron rolled over onto his side and he rested his head on Robert's lap "No, Liv. You'll eat what you're given".

"I won't eat it!" Liv yelled.

Aaron opened his eyes and he looked up at Robert.

Robert saw the look in Aaron's eyes that told him that something was wrong. He stroked his boyfriend's hair and he held his hand "Try not to think about it. You're here now and he can't do anything to ruin that".

Aaron nodded and he closed his eyes "It's either what we have for dinner or nothing. It's your choice, Liv".

Liv glared at Aaron before she stopped out of the pub to go to school.

Aaron opened his eyes and he sighed "She hates me".

"No she doesn't. She's a kid that is just as stubborn as you, she just likes getting her own way" Robert assured.

Aaron curled up "It reminded me about what happened".

Chas looked at her son and her heart broke when she realised what he had meant. All she wanted to do was to protect her baby boy, but she knew that Robert would comfort Aaron.

"Nothing's gonna happen to you, you're okay now and I won't let anything happen to you" Robert soothed.

Aaron smiled and he closed his eyes to go to sleep for a bit. He fell into a peaceful slumber after a few minutes as Robert soothingly rubbed his back.

"Does he have nightmare every night?" Chas asked.

Robert looked at Chas "Not anymore, it's every couple of nights now. But he's not been sleeping well, he's overworking his brain too much. He struggles to handle stuff most days, he hides it though".

"Does he open up to you about things?" Chas asked.

"Yeah, but I know what there's something wrong." Robert answered.

"My whole world came crashing down when he told me what happened. I blame myself for all of it" Chas sighed.

"My world came crashing down too. He doesn't blame you and he doesn't blame himself as much anymore, neither of you were to blame" Robert assured.

Chas smiled at Robert "You really care about him don't you? You really love him?"

Robert smiled "More than anything" he then looked down at Aaron "He's my everything".

"How long before he's okay?" Chas asked.

"A few hours. His nightmare was very bad last night, he'll be okay in a bit though" Robert nodded.

"Is he okay?" Chas looked at her sleeping son.

"Sometimes he is... sometimes he isn't. He just needs us to be there for him when he isn't okay" Robert softly said as he gently rubbed Aaron's back.

Chas nodded and she smiled "I'll always be with him. And you better stick around too".

Robert smiled "I intend to." He then looked at Aaron "I'll never leave him".