Aaron was the first person to wake up, the room was dim but he knew that it was not his bedroom; he grasped a hold of the soft red blanked that was draped over his stomach and he realised that he was still wearing his jeans, black t-shirt and his socks. He tilted his head back and he realised that he was lying on Robert's chest. His boyfriend was snoring softly and his hair was flopped over his forehead, he had one arm around Aaron's shoulders and his other arm was underneath his head.
Aaron smiled and he kissed that corner of Robert's mouth and then he started to stroke his hair, he gazed at his boyfriend as he slept and his heart fluttered in his chest as he watched his gorgeous Robert "I love you so much, you mean everything to me and you've made everything better. I wish that you knew just how special you are and how happy you make me. I know that you're insecure and that you have so much self-doubt but you're only human and you're allowed to make mistakes. However, you've done so many good things and you've saved me. You saved my life" he whispered.
Robert began to stir and Aaron quickly looked away. "Hhhhmmn... morning. Did you sleep well?".
Aaron nodded, "Yeah, you?"
Robert smiled widely because, to him, Aaron was just like a god, burning even brighter than a star. "I had the best dream ever."
"What was it about?", Aaron asked.
Robert shook his head and pressed his lips together tightly before he stood up and walked towards the kitchen.
Aaron huffed but he followed suit and he walked into the kitchen "You're a pain in the ass".
Robert chuckled and he looked at Aaron "It's just part of my charm".
Aaron put his hands in his pockets as he started to walk towards Robert "You're also cocky, arrogant, sarcastic and your ego is massive" he stated but he pulled one hand out of his pocket and he grabbed a hold of Robert's belt.
Robert found himself being sensually pulled towards Aaron and he smirked as he placed his hand on his boyfriend's waist. He blushed slightly when he felt a hand on the small of his back and his boyfriend kissed him, he groaned against Aaron's flush lips and he gripped his boyfriend's waist.
Aaron pulled back after a few seconds and he smiled at Robert "But you're also amazing, brave, funny, kind, caring, sweet and a sex god".
Robert chuckled "Well saved, Dingle".
Adam walked downstairs and he saw what Aaron and Robert were doing "PDA!"
Aaron looked over his shoulder and he scoffed "You can't say much, you and Vic go at it like rabbits when you think that you are alone".
Adam clicked his tongue and he nodded slowly "Good point" he walked into the living room.
Aaron and Robert went back to the Woolpack and the brunet walked upstairs to have a shower whilst Robert started to make breakfast. Robert made some simple eggs, bacon and chopped up some passion fruit and laid the plates out on the table just as Aaron walked downstairs wearing a clean pair of jeans and his black long sleeved shirt.
"Thank you!", Aaron chirped sat down to dig into the first meal of the day.
Robert chuckled as he watched his boyfriend eat whilst chewing on a piece of crispy bacon. Aaron finished his food before Robert and he waited until the older man had cleared his plate as well. Once Robert had finished, Aaron took both of their plates and washed them up. "I have to help my mum out in the pub today, will you be alright at the scrap yard?", Aaron asked upon returning to sit next to his boyfriend.
Robert nodded "Yeah, I'll be fine".
"I'm sorry, but my mum is struggling and I don't know how to help her" Aaron sighed.
Robert held Aaron's hand and he moved closer to his boyfriend "Don't worry about it, just do what you have to do but please don't work too hard and try not to take on too much stress".
Aaron nodded "I'll be careful, I'm okay".
Robert moved his other arm and he stroked Aaron's cheek with his thumb "Thank you. I love you so much".
"I love you too" Aaron smiled.
Robert had a shower whilst Aaron cleaned the bar and changed a few barrels, the blond man changed into some clean clothes and he walked into the back room. Robert saw that Aaron was sat on the sofa and he sat next to him.
"What are you thinking about?" Robert asked.
"It doesn't matter" Aaron shook his head and he started to chew the skin under his lip as his leg started to nervously bounce.
Robert moved closer to Aaron and he put his hand on his knee, his boyfriend looked at him and stopped bouncing his leg "It matters to you, therefore, it matters to me".
"I'm tired all of the time, my mum is not coping and I'm going to end up pushing you away and screwing everything up." Aaron confessed and a weight lifted off of his shoulders "I always screw everything up and I push everyone away".
"I know, but you cannot get rid of me. You won't screw everything up, because I'll always be here to pull you back towards me" Robert comforted as he moved his arm so that he was holding Aaron's hand.
Aaron nodded and he sighed "You're amazing".
"I know!" Robert smiled snuggly.
Aaron smiled and he chuckled before he kissed Robert.
Robert kissed Aaron back but the kiss came to an end when they heard the sound of someone stomping downstairs.
Liv ran downstairs and she glared at Robert as she sat down and grabbed a piece of toast. She received an annoyed look from Aaron but she just shrugged and she sat down at the dining table.
Robert ignored Liv's glare but he kissed Aaron and he stood up "I'll come home on my lunch break, don't work too hard".
"See you later," Aaron said happily.
Robert kissed Aaron's head and he left to go to work.
Robert left the building and drove over to the scrapyard, leaving Aaron at the Woolpack. A wave of uneasiness washed over him but he tried to ignore it. When he arrived at work he found that Adam was already there and working on pulling a car apart.
"Hey!", Adam greeted cheerfully as Robert opened his car door.
Robert got out of his car and locked the door before waving to Adam in return, "Hey, you got here okay?"
Adam nodded "Yeah, traffic was a nightmare though".
Robert nodded slowly as once again he was consumed with worry for Aaron 'What if he's not coping? What if something has happened? What if he's stressed?'
"Hey, you okay?", Adam asked, seeing Robert go slightly pale.
Robert debated whether or not he should tell but in the end, he decided that it was best to get it off of his chest. "No, not really. I'm worried about Aaron, I'm afraid that with all the work he's doing he's going to end up in the hospital. He doesn't get enough sleep half the time and it's always stress, stress and even more stress.". Robert exhaled before giving Adam an apologetic glance, "I'm sorry ... it all sort of came out ...".
Adam smiled gently and shook his head, "It's alright, you don't have to be sorry, especially since I'm the one who asked".
Just as Adam was about to say something else, Robert's phone went off. The blonde hurriedly took it out and looked at the name, "It's Vic."
Adam pulled a face, "She calls you during work hours but not me?!"
Robert snickered and answered the phone, "Hello?".
"Robert? Sorry, but can you come down here if possible, the pub is jam-packed and there aren't many people at the bar other than Chas and Aaron. He looks pale and stressed, Chrissie has been glaring at them and she has been trying to talk to Aaron about Gordon"
Robert frowned and sighed deeply, "Yeah, I'll take my paperwork down there with me, give a bit of time."
"Okay, see you soon, bro!", Vic replied.
"See you.", Robert said before hanging up and putting his phone away. He looked at Adam "Aaeon's not coping at the pub, I have to go. Call me if there's any problems!" he hurried back to his car and he wasted no time in driving back to the village.
Aaron was stood behind the bar and he was talking to Cain. "So...", Cain had begun the conversation, "How are you and Chas doing?".
Aaron shrugged and then he sighed, "I'm fine but I think all of the stress lately is getting to mum."
Cain's brow furrowed and he bit the inside of his mouth, "Anything to do with ..."
Aaron nodded to the unspoken last words.
Cain shook his head and took a big gulp of his drink, "Damn!", he breathed out. "Take care of my sister, Aaron and don't forget to call if anything goes downhill".
Aaron smiled weakly and nodded, "Of course."
Meanwhile, Robert arrived five minutes later and he walked into the pub, he smiled at Aaron and his boyfriend smiled at him. The blond man sat at the booth with Victoria, they soon settled into a deep in a conversation of their own.
"So, how often does Aaron have nightmares exactly?", Victoria asked.
Robert shook his head, "Nearly every night."
"God that must be exhausting for the both of you... do you know the cause?", Victoria asked.
Robert nodded, he knew exactly why Aaron often had nightmares, "I think so, but I only know what I can see and hear. I don't know what it is like for him".
Victoria clicked her tongue, "With the way that this is going, Aaron is going to be a zombie before that happens, he can barely stay awake as it is! Try changing up your night routine with him, make him listen to music or watch a few funny videos to lighten up his mood before bed."
Robert nodded as he listened, "Will do, thanks Vic.".
The pub was jam-packed and the noise was too loud to silence as both Chas and Aaron worked hard and fast behind the bar. Whispers and giggles could be heard in a certain corner. "Hey, you know that wench, Chas?", "Yeah, why?", "She used to be with a psychopath, even got knocked up with a kid!", "Oh my god, no way! Where's the kid?"
The man nodded at Aaron "He's the gay dude working at the bar."
One of the women pouted "Aw, he's so cute. Too bad he's gay".
"He's got daddy issues, slept with his own father!" one of the other women piped up.
"Ew!" the woman that had been gawking at Aaron pulled a face of disgust.
The giggles and laughter continued for a long time, Chas and Aaron not being able to hear due to just how busy they were. The one person who did hear, however, they just happened to be the woman who given the giggling gossipers the information... Chrissie.
Robert had also heard what the group of people had been saying and he glared at them before he stood up and he approached them "Hi, I can't help but think that you have a problem with the man that is stood behind the bar. May I ask why?" he sat down at their table.
"He was unwanted by his mother and his father is sick in the head" The man stated, "He is obviously a troublemaker".
Robert shook his head and he looked at the man "What has happened to my boyfriend in the past is none of your business, I suggest that you keep your gossiping gobs shut. His mother is standing next to him and she loves him very much so get your facts right!" he said protectively, he hated it when people badmouth Ed his Aaron, it made him angry because his boyfriend did not deserve to be gossiped about.
The group of people stared at Robert before Aaron's admirer spoke. "Sorry, is he okay?"
"He is now" Robert lied "Who told you about my boyfriend?"
The other women looked at the direction of where Chrissie was sat "The women over there, the brunet in that black top and brown jacket".
Robert followed the gaze of the woman and he saw that she was looking at Chrissie "That pathetic bitch" he cursed. He then looked back at the group of people "Take my advice, that woman is bad news. She slapped my boyfriend when she was drunk and she yelled in his face that he was a liar because he told his family what happened to him.".
The group of people looked shocked and then they glanced at Aaron before they looked back at Robert.
"Sorry, mate. We didn't know" the man apologised.
Robert nodded "It's fine, just be careful about what you talk about" he then stood up and he walked over to the bar. He sat down and he looked at Aaron, he watched as his boyfriend poured drinks served customers, Aaron smiled at him and he smiled back as he crossed his arms on the bar and sighed 'How lucky am I to have him?' he thought as he watched his Aaron in awe.