“You okay?” Aaron dares to ask, pocketing his phone. He leans closer to Robert, half whispering the words, as if not wanting others to hear his concern.
Robert doesn’t think there will be a time he’ll ever be fully okay anymore. He just has to accept this is his life now. “No. But I will be.”
Aaron bites his lip and shifts in his seat. Robert had always been good at reading Aaron’s facial expressions. It’s how he managed to have an affair for so long, how he could just know if he wasn’t okay after Gordon or prison or problems with his mum or Liv or Paddy. It’s written all over his face now; hurt, discomfort, longing.
“In a different life, me and you,” Aaron pauses, takes a breath. “Maybe things would have been different.”
It’s a comment that guts Robert. He doesn’t think he wants any type of life where he isn’t in love with Aaron Dingle. Robert tilts head slightly, lip trembling. “I can’t stop loving you in this one, Aaron.”
Chapters: 6/6
Fandom: Emmerdale (TV 1972)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Aaron Dingle/Robert Sugden
Characters: Aaron Dingle, Robert Sugden, Victoria Sugden, Chas Dingle, John Sugden, Mackenzie Boyd (Emmerdale)
Additional Tags: moonstruck au!, Angst and Drama, Adultery, not everything is what it seems it’s quite exciting, Ableism, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence
Summary:
aaron is ready to settle down and marry his boyfriend of two years: john sugden. everything is fine until he decides to seek out john’s moody estranged brother to come to the wedding.
Bradley Johnson (vinny) posted a GRWM video on ig and it shown who was in his dressing room at itv ... anyone else find it strange that Danny and Ryan don't share a dressing room?
They were in the Hyatt in Leeds. It was admittedly a little expensive, the kind of spending John might have noticed, if they had a joint bank account, but Aaron had wanted to make it up to Robert.
It, in this instance, could be a half dozen things – an apology for missing their scheduled meet up because John had come home from work early, and Aaron hadn’t been able to get away, a sorry for all of the clandestine meetings in barns, a desire to want to do something nice for Robert, because the Robert he’d been married to had always loved a posh hotel room, and a fancy ensuite.
ao3 link
written for day 3 of @robronweek - affairs. double posting so i'm finally caught up! thanks @mellaithwen for reading this one over for me and being such a help!
this is also, somehow, my 100th emmerdale fic. thank you for ever reading any of my nonsense!
emmerdale // robert / aaron / teen and up / 35k words / 5 chapters
Robert Sugden walks out of prison for the second time with nothing but a thin jacket and the urge to keep moving. His plan is simple: hire a car, drive to Bristol, and finally see his son again.
What he doesn’t plan on is Aaron Dingle — fresh out of a coma and his second marriage — wangling his way into the passenger seat.
Five hours of road between Yorkshire and Bristol, a car with no radio, and everything they’ve lost sat right between them — maybe it’s the worst idea in the world. Maybe it's a way forward.
[ao3 link]
author's note: hey team! i finished writing this. it's canon compliant up until robert getting out of prison for the gorge incident. i would love people to read it and give me feedback and feed my delusions so i write more things.
The below were recommended during the month of July 2025 on both 🐦 and 🦋.
Against the Clock (2016) 9.9K words, softlyspoken
Speed dating AU. Vic has worked weeks putting together a singles night at the pub with a special surprise… it involves speed dating! Aaron reluctantly agrees to be part of it even after he learns it was not what he expected. At the same time, Vic’s brother Robert is coming down from London and more than happy to join in. What happens when, at a certain point, Vic has put together her brother with Aaron? Will they hit it off especially when Aaron’s gotten an earful about Robert from Andy in the past?
I know that if i let you down you’d never let me burn (maybe you should) (2017) 8.6K words, messedupforever
It’s hell year and the lads are still broken up. The big difference here is that Robert abandons his plans to get revenge on that horrid family and instead faces a downward spiral in his mental health which involves depression and zoning out for extended periods of time. He slowly withdraws within himself from those few that still sort of care for him feeling everyone is better off without him. But there comes a time when he goes too far… will it be too late to save him in the end?
Good, Bad and Undecided (2015) 10.4K words, tenpercentbatteryremaining (Louiseeeee)
Fake dating AU. Aaron no longer lives in the village which means constant calls from Chas to check up on him including if he’s seeing anyone. Fed up with the question, Aaron decides to lie that he’s with someone and what pops out is Robert’s name, who just that day started at the garage. Six months later, Aaron and Robert are the best of friends and Robert is none the wiser about his lie… that is until Chas wants to meet him. Robert agrees to go with Aaron and all is fine until Chas decides to play a couples quiz with them and others one night. Is the gig up?
You are the only one (2017) 8.2K words, EscapingReality51
Follow up to the Faking dating AU ‘promise me you’ll always be a friend’ recommended in Dec-2022. It’s been six months since Robert and Aaron became official boyfriends, Aaron not only the most important person in his life but also the love of his life. Robert is at his happiest now so much so he wants to asks Aaron to move in with him… which he does. But Robert’s insecurities has him doubting that he’s enough for Aaron and they won’t last even while looking for a place of their own. What will calm those fears?
"Aaron, I feel like this is perhaps indicative of a much larger issue." Mackenzie says. Which is a stupid thing to say. Aaron hates him.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Well, I mean, people don't cheat unless there's something wrong in their relationship. Maybe John isn't satisfying you, or—"
"Oh my god will you please shut up."
"You're the one who asked me for advice."
He's at the farm again. On Robert's day off. Mackenzie's in his overalls fixing some fence, had listened rather politely actually while Aaron ranted at him about what an idiot he's been. As much as he hates Mackenzie's input, he's glad to have someone he can talk to about everything.
"Aaron, you've got to stop asking me what I think if you're just going to ignore everything I say anyway."
Aaron gives him a look.
"No I don't."
The ringing tone is almost at the end before there’s a click and a gruff voice filling the line. Robert’s throat spasm’s, words not escaping past his lips. Come on, Robert. His hands are numb and bloody, curled around his phone.
“Sugden, you there?” Cain’s voice calls out.
Speak, for God sake. Robert wills his body to say words, curled up on the floor surrounded by the mess he made. The blackout had been the worst he’s had since prison, losing control of his body and mind. Gone somewhere so deeply buried he’d half-forgotten it existed inside of him still.
He said he’d get the boys from school today, yet he can’t move himself from the floor. It was his turn. He’d made a promise. Seb needed him. Seb needed him. Seb-
“Robert?” Cain asks again, huffing over the line.
Robert feels like he’s choking, Cain’s voice calling out to him still. He must make some sort of sound, a choked off whimper. Cain’s asking if he’s in trouble, is he hurt?
Hi. Just wondering if you could rec some robron fic. I never normally get the chance to read them but now it seems I have unlimited reading time so the longer they are the better! Anything to keep me occupied right now. Thanks in advance
Hi!! Sorry I left this for a while because I had done one not too long ago which I will tag here, you can find all my other posts abouts fics under the tag fic rec
Here are some recent faves:
Multi-chapter fics:
The future is already here - @robron-til-the-end-of-time
A hundred mini dreams and a healing scar - @sugdenssrobert
both sides of the moon - @jacobsantiagos
Back to us - denysegiguere
Grace Us Happily - DominikaDecember
Stargazing - ItsKarla
Most Wanted - @sugdeninabeanie
Back Home - @susieskinner93
I’ll love you always - @love-you-always
Telum tenebris - @marisaaa
Postscript - @illgetmerope
One shots:
Music, lyrics, and you - @sugdenlovesdingle
Inferno and The Operator - @spamela-hamderson
Family is When I’m with You - Wandering_in_space
the earth pulls me back - @jacobsantiagos
If you want to read longer fics, definitely check out all the big bang fics from 2017, 2018 & 2019 because they are all so amazing!
And if you want to check out my favourite fics over the years, you can look at my bookmarks on ao3 here
here it is. what a beast. just to let u know it's very link heavy (i hope they all work, let me know if any don't) and remember it's just a bit of fun <3
2014
things just CLICKED (their dicks) the screen test of DREAMS (release the tapes) and going out for drinks... imagine danny flirting with ryan trying to break him out of his shell... the nervous energy... the start of something new.mp3 right in front of kate oates salad
“There was a brief hint [of chemistry] from the screen test as it was one scene done twice. We then all went out for drinks to check all was OK,” said Kate. (x)
"it was pretty uneventful until i met this guy here, danny miller, at the screentest and i guess things just clicked" - ryan hawley
first bts pic
2015
"I get on really well with Danny and now I wind him up constantly before any of our kissing scenes. I'll say to him I had garlic bread for lunch, It breaks the tension." (x)
they won best soap moment of 2014 which gave us another early bts pic
in july they had this promo shoot and we got our first dryan selfie!
in september they went to the tv choice awards. danny won best soap actor, dannys hollyoaks gf was there and we got the famous 'kiss' pic with her.... (btw for some extra context there were rumours of danny cheating on her a lot so ... inch resting to real rpfers like me and u)
I’d like Ryan and I to win one because he deserves something for the work he’s done this year. He’s come in, kept his feet on the ground and given his own edge to Robert, which I’m so proud of him for, as a colleague and a mate. I’ve loved every minute. (x)
Admitting he was "proud" of his co-star, he said: "Credit where credit's due, Ryan Hawley's come in and he's been absolutely amazing. He's kept his feet on the ground and head above sea level, and he's really taken to the story so well.
"I think he was a bit nervous at first because he knows about public reaction and who intrigued people get into these stories so he'd done great." (x)
in november... not relevant to anything but tight t shirts arm round shoulders.. they shared a dressing room then too
2016
'But working with Danny [Miller, who plays Aaron] – we both enjoy working with each other and we have chemistry so I hope there’s a long future for the relationship.’ - Ryan (x) HOWS 10+ YEARS RYAN!!
may really blessed us cos they were doing promo together for awards season. this beaut gifset shows the highlights. it included:
a twitter q+a and these videos 1 , 2 , 3 (shout out to 'yeah you are', danny thinking about ryans fingers and THE tommy hawley <3)
filmed radio interview which makes me giddy <3 (x)
this morning interview which had them flirting for the cameras
and then it was time for the bsa's. danny and emmerdale both nominated. pics from the start of the night... no wife or straight best mate could keep them apart
the show won (dryan hugged) and so did danny. lovely gifset showing the dryan moments. also ryans reaction when danny thanked him in his speech:
and then as if things couldn't get any better allaboutsoap (rip) posted this pic of dryan. im not saying anything. but they were drunk and ecstatic and ryan congratulated danny by fucking him nasty in the mens room. okay maybe i am saying something...
What's the best thing about working with Danny Miller, who plays Aaron? We get on very well, and he's very grounded. We share a lot in common, and we've got a great rapport. I did my screen test with Danny, and he was the first person from the cast I met. He's a great actor, and I'm very lucky to work so extensively with him. - Ryan (x)
in september danny posted a video for fans for 'his mans' birthday
october was when ssw aired which meant bts and promo and what else can i say except investigate pinewood!!!!!!! (if u cba to read all that this is when they fell in love with each other. btw. in case u didnt know.)
BUT i missed out this quote from ryans exit interview in 2019 (spoiler alert)
“I was so lucky to be involved in the big crash scenes in 2016,” he adds. “The underwater scenes that we filmed at Pinewood studios were fantastic to do. Me and Danny (Miller, who plays Aaron) got to have a lot of fun there, swimming in a tank."
a lot of fun there he says... OH I BET!!
2017
february aka robron wedding month!! there was an interview segment on this morning where they called each other good kissers again because of course they did.
they did a cheesy press day where they played mr and mr (which was never filmed and u best believe i blame iain!!!) and danny gave ryan the biggest heart eyes ever
and then in may, one of the best days in the fandom i remember lol ryan was announced as the manager of dannys team in his charity football match (important gifset) little bit of bantz from danny and his best mate:
playing 90 minutes and sneaking off for a quick suckathon during half time with the manager iktr!! the facts speak for themself...
in august danny called ryan fit on instagram. a pic of ryan at pride no less... okay 🏳️🌈🤨
moving on to september and the next best day that happened in this fandom! the 2017 tv choice awards:
danny could literally say anything and ryan would think it's the funniest thing in the world (which is how u know hes down bad cos danny is seriously unfunny) (x)
“I’d like [Robron] to be on because I like kissing Ryan.”
RYAN WON BEST ACTOR AND DANNY WAS THE PROUDEST BF EVER!! (x)
he posted a video with the caption 'Ryan saying thanks to the fans ❤️ Love this guy!' and looked ridiculously in love with him omg and also said “CANNOT tell you how happy I am for my man Ryan. So SO deserved!! Buzzing for him!!” HIS MAN AGAIN!!!
"let's go get fucked" (x) which wow... i mean do i even have to say it? we all know what happens between these two when they're drinking at award shows. they left that hotel room in a messier state than robron ever did 😮💨
oh and you know they would have been missing each other a lot during this year cos robron were broken up
TVN: Have you missed working with Danny Miller as much?
I haven't worked with Danny as much, but I still work with him so we still get to spend time together. We enjoy working with each other and we enjoy each other's company. We just talk about whatever and have a laugh! At the same time, when you're not working with the same person all the time, it makes it that much better when you do work with them again. It seems very easy for myself and Danny to work together. - Ryan (x)
and december gave us another bts video of them being flirty
2018
so this quote was from january and i just think its INTERESTING. okay ryan wasn't at the ntas in 2017 but let's just apply it to every award show they go to... danny drinks too much and things get a bit fruity🌈 imagine him calling ryan after the show won... lots to think about
and then in march ryan won another best actor award and danny was a proud boyfriend once again:
and in april ryan went to danny's charity ball! (i THINK this was the first one he ever went to?) gifset and video
soaps awards in june, silly boys posing (skip to 2026 and truly nothing has changed wow 😭)
october aka robron wedding 2.0! and guess what! danny is still making ryan laugh (x)
Me and Ryan are so close now. Are you mates outside work? Oh, absolutely, yeah, he's a really good friend of mine and we get on so well on set. - Danny on this morning
2019
nooo we've reached the break up guys... so in august it was announced ryan was leaving the show and his last scenes aired in november so im guessing he filmed his exit around august too. but there's a couple of interviews from that time i want to share
one. the END OF THIS VID!!!! danny says it and u can see it on his face too when ryan is saying thank you for everything it suddenly hits danny that this is real :( they wont be working together every day from now :( and of course he does what danny does best and tries to make jokes out of it (much like he did in this interview too) but it's to mask how devastated he is really...
he's in love..........
two. ryan saying 'im going to miss him just as much' ... like this isn't a one sided love guys THIS BREAK UP IS HARD FOR RYAN TOO!! danny saying 'i hope they leave the door open for him' SIX YEARS DANNY JUST U WAIT!!
and i've talked about this before but ryan saying 'I'll be seeing him anyway, I'm sure, for football matches and so' is truly heartbreaking because they didn't see each other FOR TWO YEARS (pandemic ya know) but i'll get back to that in a minute...
first some more from danny:
“it’s been amazing working with ryan. it’s been full on and sometimes we get on each others nerves but we just work so well together. we have a level of trust and understanding that i will really miss. we had great chemistry on screen, right from our first scene and i guess the producers must have seen it too. i think they saw something in us and decided to take it to the next level and it worked out amazingly. i already miss him and he hasn’t even left yet! i was doing scenes without him today, talking about robert and it just felt weird but i guess everything good comes to an end.” - danny
and another tweet when ryan's last scene aired </3 (using that pic too when we all know what they got up to that night... thinking and observing)
2020/21
ok so... some tough years ya know... not only do we have to deal with danny winning im a celeb and never letting us forget it, we also have to deal with ryan hawley growing out his hair and beard 😔however danny helped us through it with these moments:
missing his man (at an award show of all places!)
how sweet and intimate this message from ryan feels!!!
"I’m also still in touch with Ryan [Hawley, who played Aaron’s former husband, Robert]. We speak a lot and I know he’ll be over the moon for us that we’re going to be parents." -from Dannys engagement spread in ok mag
get danny b miller back on twitter and off of facebook and tiktok NOW
2022
danny got married and ryan attended the wedding and it was the first time they'd seen each other in TWO YEARS!!!! danny even got emotional (AT HIS OWN WEDDING ??)
Danny posed with his former on-screen sister Isobel Steele and on-screen husband Ryan Hawley. "Ryan doesn’t really like events so it meant a lot that he came. I haven’t seen him for a couple of years so I felt quite emotional," said Danny. ok mag again
ryan doesn't like events you know... but for danny he'll always show up... NOW I FEEL QUITE EMOTIONAL no but really from ryan saying he'll be seeing him anyway when he left in 2019 but then they didn't see each other for two years and just kept in touch a bit over phone during that time... (they both had children during that time!) and then ryan shows up at dannys wedding and danny gets emotional and forgets where he is and who he's marryi- WHO SAID THAT
ok moving on to september: ryan was running a marathon this year and publicly asked 'king of the jungle' to donate (it was a castle ryan you should know that WHEN HE DOESNT SHUT UP ABOUT IT) (x) and danny did donate😌 (x)
and in october we got this pic of them looking BEAUT at isobels leaving do
2023/24
april 2023 blessed us with these reunion pics posted on both ryan and dannys instas (x) discussing a new project they said... they were lying! they had the aarondingle youtube channel open on those laptops!!
and in may 2024 ryan had started to get the hang of using insta and we got this flirty moment <3
which brings us to.......
2025/26
at the start of the year in a magazine interview:
"What do you think it will take to persuade Ryan Hawley (Robert) to come back?"
I'd be lying if I said I haven't tried! I miss Ryan very much; I miss him every day when I'm in work. He's such a good lad to work with and a great laugh. But I'm not sure what it will take. He has two little ones now and he's off doing other jobs, so he's focused on that. But fingers crossed one day it'll work again.
so ryan was living in brazil, danny was sending him needy texts and a dick pic every week and well, you know the rest! he just couldnt resist! (but seriously ryan had a comfortable life in brazil and im not saying he left just because of danny but what the hell of course thats what im saying)
in may, after ryans return ep, ed posted this bts and everything just felt RIGHT again. our dryan at their best!!! smiling and flirting and being kind of annoying tbh LOL
On working with Robert actor Ryan Hawley again, Danny shared: "It's been nice. It is refreshing to work with him. It's always nice when someone comes back to the show especially someone in your main character group and it's like we've picked up where we left off.
"He still annoys me immensely but we have always been very close even outside of Emmerdale."
in august, this morning showed behind the scenes of the gorge ep and we got them acting for the cameras again (x) and danny being silly which shows just how close they are (x)
in november ryan did an interview with inside soap<3 and used a classic dryan response:
how many times have these two said they like kissing each other? the list would be longer than this damn timeline!
december!!! i cant lie the stuff we were getting on screen was making me so depressed and had me doubting if they still had chemistry off screen... and then dryan said HOLD ON and gave us great content from the corriedale premiere
like that's crazyyy
and on lorraine. is he in love perhaps ?
ryan winding danny up with the name thing AGAIN (x) they live to make each other laugh im FINE
and then after corriedale i found myself back in that same place of not enjoying what we were getting on screen, the robron scenes weren't hitting the same and at the 2026 tv choice awards we didn't get a single joint interview or red carpert pic. what was going on? was this the end?
the answer is NO! i was just being impatient and over dramatic because mr hawley suddenly remembers his instagram password and blesses us with this!!!
and not only did this post prove they might have shared a hotel room (thank u fellow rpf detectives u know who you are), ryan added a song to the post with these lyrics:
Are we really sure
Can a love that lasted for so long still endure?
Do I really care? Hey, hey
Let's talk about the distractions goin' on elsewhere
My mind drifts now and then
Lookin' down dark corridors and wonders what might have been
Something's up ahead
Hey, should I keep this same direction or go back instead?
Honey, now let's stop walkin' around
When there's love lost to be found
Oh, and you know I still care, I still care
What's the sense of goin' elsewhere?
I MEAN???????????
that song kind of sums up this timeline tbh. what's the sense of going elsewhere? these two will always find their way back to each other <3
as we say goodbye to the iconic year of emmerdale that is 2025, i would like to present you all with my favourite robron fics i've read this year (some were written pre-2025 but i only got into the fandom side of emmerdale this year after spending my youth watching it alone in my bedroom like a loser)
in order of when i bookmarked them:
the chains to freedom by brokenspell77
take my sins by @sugdensquad
sunflower seeds by @kellykadesperate
one more word and you won't survive by @softlass27
reiteration by otherwordliness
(your love is like) bad medicine by ninth_life
say i'm loveless by @madroxed
i think he did it (but i just can't prove it) by @irinaboginya
if our stars would meet by @kellykadesperate
from the moment we touched by @snarfettelove
mr. blue sky by qualitystreet
pretend to play by @madroxed
the insubstantial shadows by @thisissirius
two night stand by @robertisbisexual
the long way home by @kellykadesperate
the deepest cuts, well, they heal so slow by @capseycartwright
not without desire by @shanastoryteller
operation: woo robert sugden by @softlass27
some good mistakes by @shanastoryteller
better than three buses by @irinaboginya
i'll find a new place to be from by @donotpercievemebaby
i can't seem to let myself leave you (but i can't breathe anymore) by emilia_kaisa
the love in your eyes by @karlakattz
the taste of you by @robron-til-the-end-of-time
if i'm far from home (oh brother, i will hear you call) by @irinaboginya
love me blind by @exploring-in-space
your love was handmade for somebody like me by @capseycartwright
do you see me now? by @bartonmatty
what's good for the goose by thebodydies
i kiss the name that you sign by @bartonmatty
just know i've bookmarked almost 200 robron fics this year and trying to narrow it down was a herculean task. you can find the full list here and i cannot recommend them all enough! sorry to anyone who i didn't tag, it took me an age to work out people's tumblr usernames from ao3
this isn't a challenge but if anyone wants to do this then please feel free to do so and tag me! i'm always on the hunt for new fics to devour <33
The kiss- the sex- the closeness of it all; the way Robert had crumpled in his arms, the desperation in his eyes. It was just a moment, a mistake. A brief lapse in judgment. A moment where everything felt raw and uncertain, but it had meant nothing.
It was a reaction to Robert’s breakdown, to the memories, to the flood of things he thought he’d left behind.
Nothing more.
He should have known it's never that easy with him and Robert.
-
On a faithful day in August, Aaron gives in to temptation and finally sleeps with Robert. But it was just a one off- a mistake brought on by Robert's breakdown. It absolutely does not mean Aaron will sleep with him again! (Two weeks later, Aaron sleeps with him again. Then, he doesn't stop sleeping with him.)
Aka, the post August 18th rewrite in which they end up in an actual full blown affair- just like they deserve.
