sideblog: a place filled with cute and fluffy robron headcanons! most will be made by me but you're more than welcome to message me your own favourites or even take some for inspiration for a small little ficlet. follow back on my main blog (littlelooneyluna)
He closes the door and looks towards the kitchen, he half expects there to be no one there but then he sees half of Aaron’s shadow and he breaks out into a small smile.
Naturally, maybe upon instinct, Aaron looks up and right towards Robert. He blinks a few times, eyes flickering a little and Robert steps forward into his space, jacket half forgotten as it hangs across the chair.
Aaron’s face is almost unreadable, and Robert hates that the most. He doesn’t like dwelling on his fears but when it comes to them, Aaron’s indifference towards him is up there and he doesn’t know if it’ll ever climb down.
He hopes it will. He moves his hands out from behind his back and reveals the cans of beer to Aaron. A last ditch attempt maybe, a token, something to make Aaron want to stop looking so heartbroken and angry. He shimmies them slightly and then looks down at them.
“A uh … a peace offering.” Robert says, he plays with the plastic holding them all together and then he looks up towards Aaron again and sees that he doesn’t look the way he did just seconds ago.
He has a gentle frown on his face as if he’s bawled over and confused and yet doesn’t want Robert out the door. And then he goes and walks slowly towards Robert and takes them from his hands, they touch for the smallest of seconds and Robert watches Aaron nod.
Tight and controlled and so unlike the married soft lad he’s turned out to be. Robert feels a tide of guilt for things, things he cannot even control and for others he knows are all his fault. He tries to ride the feeling as much as he can, give Aaron the space he didn’t last night and he gets up the stairs. He wonders if making Aaron tea later on will make him look at him gently again.
He’s halfway up there when he hears Aaron’s voice.
“Fancy a beer?” He freezes slightly against the words, he’s heard them before, he’s seen Aaron giving him that soft look and that apprenshion on his face. Aaron, like a wave searching for the tide, unsure of when to reach for the sure. He was wearing a suit then. They were maybe just as in love as they are now.
Robert smiles around it, and the way Aaron nods slowly, encouragingly.
Aaron doesn’t say anything else, leaves the question dancing but it was enough last time.
aaron does this thing where he snuggles up close to robert, as far as he can go, and then nods his head just slightly until robert gets the hint and throws an arm around him
a waitress catches aaron looking at robert across the table and then playing with his wedding ring and can’t help but come over and congratulate him. he turns bright red as she calls robert lucky and then puffs his chest out as he says, “i’m the lucky one”
robert got so drunk one night that he spent the whole night trying to convince aaron to marry him instead of the ‘twat who gave him the expensive ring’
i had this headcanon that robert and aaron spent some time at their layby before they properly headed off, so here you are!
–
Aaron’s face is aching in the best way possible. He’s been smiling too much and he knows it’s a good thing but sometimes he just gets stuck in the shock of it all.
He’s driving them away like they’re in some bloody romcom, like they’ve got their happy ending or something.
Only they have, haven’t they?
Robert’s a bit more pissed than Aaron first thought and he’s banging on about how happy he is, slurring more than anything really.
“Are you listening to me husband?” Robert stretches over, and Aaron laughs, pulls Robert away from him playfully.
“Oi you idiot! I’m tryna drive ‘ere.” Aaron gulps, eyes wide and a smile on his face as Robert’s hand falls over his knee.
Soft, gentle, his.
“You married this idiot you know.” Robert leans back against the seat, shuffles comfortably and then looks back over at Aaron again like he can’t quite believe it.
Because he can’t. He really can’t believe it.
“You married me, you actually married me.” Robert whispers, blinks back some tears because it’s his turn to cry and be soft now that the alcohol is hit his system properly. “Hey, hey pull over here.”
And Aaron smirks, because Robert might be pissed but he remembers where they are like he could ever forget their place.
Ahem excuse me, when are we gonna see your beautiful fic where the boys discuss asking their sisters to be best wo(men)?
just a little something!
Robert’s all deep in thought and being annoying with it, sort of just not saying a word as he washes up and Aaron has to pinch his side to make him talk.
“Oi.” There’s lightness in Robert’s voice at least and Aaron settles a hand against Robert’s waist.
“You’re in your head.” Aaron reasons, a frown forming. “Is this about Rebecca?” It’s plausible but not spot on and Robert delivers, arms folded and everything.
“I’ve sort of just realised, about the whole best man thing.”
And he’s Billy no mates.
Aaron frowns at him a little, “Did you see the turn out today?”
And yeah but he’s still Robert Sugden who almost violently has always felt like he was on his own against the whole world. He can’t help but offer out a shrug and think they were mainly here for Aaron’s benefit and like Aaron knows all of this, he goes and squeezes Robert’s shoulder and kisses him gently.
“I’d be your best man if I could.” Aaron beams, teases, hands flying up towards Robert’s cheek and yeah they are best mates but it’s not the point is it?
Aaron would have had Adam and that hurts but Robert would have had —
“I just — it would have been nice if Andy got to be around.” Robert doesn’t know where they would be because he’s not psychic, but he knows that they left on good terms, almost happy heartfelt terms and to think of Andy standing by his side and being happy for him would have embarrassingly meant a lot.
Aaron nods. “Yeah I know.” He says, and it’s clear that his mind wanders to Adam. “But you know who would be over the moon?” He leans up a little, a smile stretched across his face and oozing sincerity as Robert thinks of only one person.
“She’d totally take over you know.” It’s only facts, he thinks of Andy’s bonkers stag do and he loses his mind against all the ideas she’ll try and throw towards him.
He’ll take it though.
“Let her. Bridezilla.” Aaron presses a kiss towards Robert’s cheek and Liv walks towards them with her hands over her eyes dramatically. It makes Aaron’s heart flutter and Robert elbows him gently and yeah —
They’re all over each other and it’s pretty disgusting isn’t it? It’s all hands over the other’s backs, slow and soft and yet firm at the same time and eyes looking like the sun has swallowed up inside them.
Faith decides that they need to get bladdered, it’s the Dingle way and Aaron doesn’t say no because Robert doesn’t want to leave his side. They sit by the bar whilst Chas tries to hold herself together, and then she’s leaning over the side and dragging Aaron towards her with a smile on her face.
“What?” Aaron’s still smiling, he’s got wrinkles right around his eyes and they won’t budge for anything. He can’t physically stop smiling and he’s never ever thought he’d see the day where that would make an ounce of sense. He remembers wanting to not exist anymore rather than ever possibly be married to a bloke. He sees all his thoughts in his mother’s eyes and there’s a lump in his throat that won’t budge.
“I have *never seen ya so happy.” Chas shakes her head, whispers the words like she doesn’t want anyone seeing how flipping emotional she’s being and it’s a joke because the whole pub knows. “I never thought I’d see the day —“
Aaron gulps, lets that lump go and the tears are back in his eyes as he smiles at her even wider. “Look mum, I’m all grown up, happy and boring now.” He sniffs, chin wobbling and all sorts and it’s enough for her to race around the bar and cling onto him.
She doesn’t let go as well, she holds him close until Aaron looks over his shoulder and sees that somehow Robert has gotten himself into some awkward conversation with Paddy.
“Mum, is it okay if I —“
He struggles free and she squeezes his cheek until he’s moving across the room and holding Robert’s hand as Paddy turns bright red and looks set to cry.
“Hold it in.” Aaron points out and Robert laughs breathlessly, shoulders relax and this softness about him that makes Paddy’s eyes flicker.
“Robert said — he said you were going to adopt little Seb.” He expects some sort of lecture until he realises that Paddy is smiling, he goes and removes his glasses and all hope of the whole not crying thing just flies out of the window doesn’t it? He’s pulling Aaron into a hug and Robert’s eyes flicker uncontrollably as he stands aside and watches. “I’m so proud of you.” He says, and Aaron pulls away.
“I’m proud of me too, which is weird.” He admits, biting his lip and falling back towards Robert until Robert has his hands around Aaron’s front and he’s kissing his head.
“You should be.” Robert says, an echo, standing right behind him, a voice that won’t leave. It makes Aaron turn around and hold at Robert’s left cheek, the other hand is on the older man’s waist.
“So should you.” Aaron whispers, lovingly, as if Liv isn’t by the bar pulling faces and making Paddy wipe his face with a napkin. He sees nothing but Robert standing there, freckles cluttered and eyes green, lashes longer than they should be and lips slightly parted.
He sees only him and they’re getting married. They’re getting married.
“Hang on. You’re gonna be okay. Keep breathing.” Aaron to Robert pretty please 😘
also for @aarondingel
It happens because of a mixture of things really. It’s the fact that the bed isn’t theirs, the ceiling is too high, he feels like he’s going to be sick.
It’s just a mixture of things that just so happen to result with him jumping out of bed in the middle of the night with this ache in his chest and this need to *protect Aaron from the smoke that’s filling the room. Aaron’s a bleary mess of a man as he rubs his hands over his eyes and pulls hands out to hold Robert back down again but he’s relentless with his panic.
“Not again, not - I can’t fall asleep and let it - you have to get up Aaron.” Robert barely has his eyes open either, he’s shaking and his shoulders heave up and down before Aaron’s holding him by them and pressing his hand against the older man’s chest.
“Rob, you’re okay.” He says, and Robert stares right at him. He still sees the smoke circling and he clings onto Aaron for dear fucking life like he’s afraid he’s going to swim away from him. He closes his eyes around him. He wants to cry. He can’t.
Aaron’s got tears in his own eyes, hates the fact that this Robert’s afraid because it’s the worst feeling in the world and it makes him feel sick. He aches for a second, over and over and over again until Robert is pulling away and his chin is wobbling all over the place.
“Aaron I could have been away from you forever.” He means he could have died, he can’t say it now, knees on the mattress and hair flat against his forehead. Aaron kisses his head slowly.
“I know. I know.” He can’t bare this chat, he’s been avoiding this whole thing. If he took one flight later he could have been too late. He could have been too late.
“I could - God I couldn’t have - have been able to - if I died.” He’s all over the place, he’s shuddering and shaking and -
“Hang on. You’re going to be okay. Keep breathing. Please Robert, for me.” Aaron holds Robert chin, small circles forming and this small sad smile on his face that won’t budge. “It’s okay.”
Robert shakes himself a little and then he’s looking like he’s old self apart from the paleness. He looks like the Robert Aaron fell in love with and not this scared guilty man.
the nurses offered aaron a blanket and told him he could sleep in the family room sofa but he chose to sleep right next to robert and explained by saying:
“whenever he wakes up he reaches out for someone - i want to be here so he can reach out for me.”
aaron is now sick of the daily text he gets at ten o’clock at night from robert teasing him over the fact that doctor alex still hasn’t found the one yet.
aaron is sort of obsessed with your average bog standard date night once a month and has reminders on his phone and everything for booking restaurants and checking out films to see.
(robert is always in awe of how organised aaron can be when it matters)
The alarm should be the thing to wake him up but instead Seb kicks out, and decides to also punch Robert almost square in the face.
Robert’s eyes flicker before he hisses and looks at he’s supposed bundle of joy, he nearly frowns and then Seb sticks his hand in his mouth and looks like better wouldn’t melt. He just smiles at him instead and watches the way he wriggles on Aaron’s side of the bed.
It’s soppy, he knows that it is soppy but Seb seems to like being on Aaron’s side of the bed and with Aaron and Liv gone, he welcomes having someone beside him.
The other little man in his life that he adores.
He doesn’t even realise what day it is until Seb’s on his arm awkwardly and Vic decides to drop in and wish him a happy father’s day. It’s nothing if not odd but Robert takes it with a soft smile which meets his eyes in a gentle way.
It just so happens to be his first father’s day and it means something different this year, the day doesn’t make his chest tighten, it makes him feel light. It makes him feel loved and he guesses that he deserves that, especially when Seb looks up at him in awe almost like he knows how much Robert should mean to mean, does mean.
“Thanks.” Robert says, offers Vic a brew as Seb dangles on his arm. It makes Vic start to laugh and Robert frowns at her.
“You.” She waves a hand out. “A natural, it’s -“
“Ridiculously unexpected.” Robert puts a teabag in a yellow mug and Vic shakes her head.
“I was going to say, exactly what I thought you’d be. Once you let yourself be that is.” Robert is an idiot because the comment seems to go straight to his heart and make his legs feel like jelly.
It’s nice, to hear it from someone who should think he’s a decent dad, someone who saw him deny his boy one too many times.
It’s not even been a whole year since Seb was born but he’s changed, he loves him and he’s embarrassed by how much Vic’s praise means to him.
“You think?” He feels stupidly vulnerable and she goes and stands, squeezes his arm and pokes her tongue out at Seb.
“I know you idiot. You couldn’t change a nappy the first few times.” Vic waves a hand out and laughs, Seb decides to copy her and Robert is in awe for a second.
“Yeah well, Aaron’s come along as well on that front.” Robert fixes Seb’s little dungarees as he speaks and thinks of his husband, he’s embarrassed by how much he misses him, and Liv. It makes him almost mope about the place until Seb giggles and he has a reason to smile again.
“He’s come along in all areas hasn’t he eh?” Vic says, and Robert knows what she means.
::
Rebecca remembers to write Robert a card from Seb and it sort of melts his heart a little.
It doesn’t say much, just that Seb loves him and he knows it doesn’t really mean anything but the sentiment seems to turn him into goo.
And Seb seems to know what day it is as well, doesn’t fuss too much when Diane parades him up and down in the pub and Faith tries to wrestle in for a squeeze.
“Happy Father’s Day then.” Cain says, like there’s something bitter in his mouth. Robert can’t help but find it amusing.
“Cheers. Same to you.” Robert shrugs and Moira looks on, suppressing a laugh. “Bit weird how we’ve adapted.” He points to Isaac in Cain’s arm and then Cain nods.
“Our Aaron not around is he?” Cain diverts the conversation seemingly, sips at his pint whilst Robert nods. “Suppose he’d say you adapted pretty decently as well.”
And that’s the best compliment he’ll ever get from him.
::
Seb decides to stay up past his bedtime but Robert appreciates the company, puts him out on his chest like he’s a starfish and makes faces until his laptop is making funny sounds and he’s getting a Skype call.
He lifts himself up so fast that Seb screeches and he has to spend a few seconds rubbing his back before he accepts the call.
Aaron’s there, looking all stupidly beautiful and making Robert’s face light up. He waves a little and then Liv pokes her head around.
“Hiya.” Aaron leans closer towards the screen. “Liv says that I’ve set it up right.” Robert scoffs as Liv tilts the laptop better so that it’s focused clearer.
“Yeah you have. I can see ya. You alright?” Robert bites down on his lip as Aaron speaks all animatedly about nearly getting lost in the Scottish highlands or something.
“Happy Father’s Day then.” Aaron leans even flipping closer and Liv chirps in.
“Yeah, you old man.”
Aaron playfully slaps her and that gets Seb gurgling a bit more and Robert nearly melts as Aaron makes faces at him through the screen.
“Cheers.” Robert says, bounces Seb on his lap a few times and then gulps. “I miss you two.” He admits, “Doesn’t feel the same without you here.”
That’s Liv’s cue to leave because Aaron’s eyes start to getting softer and she’s not an idiot.
“I know.” Aaron whispers. “I completely forgot it was this Sunday, I -“
“Shut up. It’s fine.” Robert whispers, and it’s hilarious how softer his voice gets when he’s talking to Aaron. Seb picks up on it and starts to press his hands against the screen as Aaron waves at him. “It would have been better if Seb got to give you a cuddle though. I reckon that’s why he’s still up. He misses his soft dad.”
Robert watches as Aaron visibly gulps. He doesn’t say anything for the longest time and Robert is scared that they’ve lost connection.
“Aaron?”
Aaron shakes himself a little. “His soft dad.” He says, almost like a whisper, almost in awe of what it means.
Robert panics, naturally. “Shit. I mean, I think of you like you’re his dad as well, I didn’t mean to -“
“I feel the same.”
Of course they decide to have the conversation now. On Father’s Day. It almost makes more sense than anything else.
Robert bites his lip and his chin seems to be set off. “I’ve always wanted - hoped that you would have seen him as more than just -“
A mistake.
Rebecca’s baby.
My son.
“I do.” Aaron promises, sniffs like he’s crying and Robert already knows that he probably is. “My little man.” He says, looks right at Seb who is completely silent and staring at the screen.
“Happy Father’s Day to you too then.” Robert says and Aaron looks at him with his eyes wide and a slight smile on his face like he didn’t even expect it.
“Thanks.” Aaron bites his lip and then laughs a little before smiling. He’s obviously caught up in his joy for too long and then suddenly he shakes himself. “Oh look under the bed by the way. I - I got you something.”
Robert tuts, he shouldn’t have got him anything but five minutes later he’s opening up a box and finding a mug inside.
World’s Best Dad.
He’s not, he makes mistakes and Aaron makes it so much easier than he knows.
“Aaron -“
“You are.” Aaron shrugs. “You’re a brilliant dad so just accept the cheap mug and move on.”
Robert’s eyes flicker softly and he sniffs, smoothes a hand over the writing and then pulls Seb up closer towards him.
“The card is naff and soppy but -“
That only makes Robert open it up and basically try not to cry his heart out.
‘ To Robert,
I’m writing this as you sing badly to Seb in his room, it’s about three in the morning as well, but you don’t seem to care which is why I know you’re a top dad even if you don’t.
Happy Father’s Day. I know how far you’ve come and how much it has taken you to be where you are now and I’m so proud it’s a joke.
You’re an amazing dad, kind and softer than you think even though we both know that you’ll end up being the strict dad whilst me and Seb team up against you when he’s old enough.
I know you don’t think you’re any more than just decent, but I promise you, you’re already given that little boy a better childhood than me or you had.
And I love you so much for it, I love the family we have and the fact that you’ll always look out for us, always do what you can to protect us, never want to disappoint us.
It’s why you’re an amazing dad.
It’s why I love you and can’t wait for you to hear Seb say exactly they same thing thing.
All my love,
Aaron.
Robert has tears in his eyes as he finishes reading and Aaron’s turned bright red.
“Told you it was sappy.” Aaron says suddenly. “I just wanted you to know, like really know, that I’m so proud of ya.”
Seb starts wriggling about on Robert’s lap and he starts pressing a hand down on his little head.
“I know.” Robert nods. “When no one else was, you were proud.” He gulps hard and suddenly hates that Aaron’s not sitting right next to him.
Aaron seems to lose it himself, presses hard down on his eyes as they water and then when he looks up they’re all red. “‘Cause I knew you could do it.” He shrugs. “And I love you.”
Robert presses a hand on the laptop like he’s in some teen drama and Aaron’s his long lost love. “And I love you.”
Aaron blinks quickly. “And him.” He says, “Can’t forget Seb.” He whispers, laughs a little and Seb reacts to it by bouncing his body about.
Robert yawns and Seb starts to wriggle like he’s tired so he decides to call quits on this mush fest.
“Happy Father’s Day.” Robert says, and Aaron still beams at him a little like he’s still getting used to it.
“Happy Father’s Day.” Aaron nods back, bites down on his lip a little. “I’m glad you’ve had a good first one. You deserved it.”
Robert blushes and just loves Aaron too much.
He’s what he’s thinking about up until Seb’s wriggling about in bed and Robert scoops him up in his arms.
“Love you little man.” Robert kisses his head softly, his onesie with the little cars on it reminds Robert of Aaron and then he smiles softly before placing him back down.
Robert finally closes his eyes and tries to get to sleep, Seb and all his little sounds enough to make feel at ease.
He almost makes him feel proud, actually proud of himself for coming this far, and he could really get used to it.
Just think of the phone conversations where they pretend they’re not really missing each other at all and Robert will be all cryptic saying Seb misses his soft dad so much and keeps hugging his hoodies when he sleeps but Aaron will see straight through it but play along and be all ‘oh Seb hugs my hoodie yea’ and it will be a little bit Seb but mainly Rob and just before they hang up Aaron will say I miss you too Rob, I’ll be home soon and that just turns his soft hubby to utter goo #fact
HOLLLAAA NONNIE,
ok this is perfection, look i tried to do a thing:
Robert makes a grab for his phone as he holds Seb awkwardly in one arm and immediately picks up like he’s a needy giddy teenager. “Hey you.” He says, breathless and soft and happy.
“You alright?” Aaron sounds like he’s trying to suppress his excitement down the line and Robert gulps hard. “How are you?”
Robert bland on for a while, still stupidly giddy as Seb gurgles in his arms. “Seb’s missing ya by the way, yeah, he keeps trying to reach ya through the wallpaper on my phone.”
Robert can almost hear Aaron smile. “Yeah?”
It makes Robert blink quickly and stare down at Seb. “Yeah course he is, you’re the soft one aren’t ya?” It makes Aaron laugh, makes Robert miss him so badly.
“How is he?” Aaron asks, eager clearly and Robert shrugs.
“Little grouchy to be honest. He’s keeping me up at night, he’s got into this habit of hugging your hoodies at night as well. It’s proper weird, has it out on his pillow like a loser.”
He blushes as he speaks and Aaron doesn’t say anything for a second before making a small sound.
“He does? He’s such a sap isn’t he?” There’s clearly something caught in Aaron’s throat and Robert adores him.
“Yeah he is.” Robert admits, bites his lip and rocks Seb a little.
“Wonder where he gets it from eh?” Aaron mumbles down the line, a softness about him which seems to ooze out and make Robert tingle a little. “Anyways, this has been fun but I’ve got another few hours of driving until we get to a decent beach so I should get some sleep for now.”
Robert imagines him happy, kicking his legs in the sea and splashing Liv.
“Yeah, you do that.” Robert mumbles, something soft between them for a second until Seb gurgles and Robert smiles. “Seb says bye.” He says, laughing a little.
“Bye little man, see you soon.” Robert is a sap and puts the phone on speaker as Seb does this little happy dance.
“He’s smiling, he misses ya like a loser.”
“It’s weird innit?” Aaron laughs before he shudders. “I miss you like mad you idiot.”
Robert just smiles. “I miss you too.”
He misses him too much, way too much.
“I know. I’ll be home soon though, don’t worry too much.” He laughs a little and Robert aches. “Love ya.” Aaron mumbles down the line, and Robert loves him an embarrassing amount.
I guarantee you that when Robert went downstairs to put the pizzas in the oven after they made the most of a free house, Aaron snuck one of his husband's favourite pyjama tops into his bag to sleep in on hols. Rob spends weeks thinking it's gone to the same magical washing machine land of missing socks until Aaron comes home and he sees the top poking out of his bag. Cue the slightly less emosh but just as soft 'it's yours though innit?' convo, because Aaron's just as soft as his husband.
HOLLLAAA NONNIE,
thank you dearly for blessing me with the goods on the regular.
aaron is a SAP who would totes blush and try to shrug it off but robert knows his husband and honestly would fall in love even more with him right on the spot.
