Since we’re unlikely to actually get Robert being anything more than slightly irritated with Aaron for the lying on the show, may I please prompt a fic where Robert gets to actually be angry about being lied to when they promised to be honest? Like, at least make him sleep on the couch angry. Like, they’ve just gotten married, and they got married while Aaron was hiding something pretty big from Robert. I don’t think the show will satisfy me on this, so pretty pretty please?
This was an excellent request as I am in a MOOD today so I am feeling the angry Robert vibe. Here you go Anon
“Will you just say something please?”
Robert just kept walking away from Aaron. Two strides ahead and refusing to look back. He marched into the Mill, angrier still that he couldn’t slam the door in his wake with Aaron hot on his heels.
“Robert, I’m sorry…”
Robert turned then, heat in his eyes, his jaw clenched.
“Yeah, Aaron, you keep saying that. You said it before, just over a week ago. You know, before our wedding, when we got married! You promised to be honest with me. God, I can’t believe this!”
Aaron just looked at the ground.
“Robert, I know. I know okay. But what was I supposed to do?”
“I don’t know, Aaron, maybe what we promised! Talk to me?! Don’t keep secrets from me?!”
Robert shoved past Aaron to head up the stairs.
“Rob, please just talk to me?”
Robert turned on the stairs, gripped the railing so hard his knuckles went white.
“No, Aaron. We don’t get to talk just because you deem it necessary. That’s not how this marriage is going to work.”
He got some satisfaction when he was able to slam the bedroom door.
**********
Aaron knew to leave well enough alone for the rest of the day. Robert made dinner while fuming, irritated by Aaron’s laughing with Seb. Liv clearly felt the vibe and made a quick exit for Gabby’s.
Smart girl.
They ate dinner in silence, Robert ignoring his husband until his food was finished.
“I’ll be giving Seb his bath. Alone.”
He took their son upstairs and didn’t care when he saw the pained expression in Aaron’s eyes.
**********
Seb was scrubbed clean and ready for bed, sucking on his fist when Robert brought him back downstairs.
He marched over to Aaron, who was doing the dishes like it was any other night.
“Seb is ready for bed. He wants his goodnight kiss.”
Aaron turned to him, sad eyed, but gave Seb a smile and blew a kiss into his cheek.
Robert started marching back up the stairs, almost vibrating.
“Robert?”
He stopped. The whisper in Aaron’s voice made his stomach drop.
“What, Aaron?”
“Thank you.”
He looked down into his husband’s eyes.
“I’m mad at you, Idiot, but you’re still his Dad.”
*********
Seb has been asleep for a while now, Robert couldn’t keep hiding in his son’s room. But he wanted to. It hurt. Aaron lying to him, keeping things from him, it hurt like he never wanted to feel again.
He didn’t enjoy any of this. Fighting with his husband. They’d barely been married a week. They just got back from their honeymoon. Jesus.
But the anger had left him. He was just sad now. Disappointed. Pained.
He finally gave in and headed to their bedroom, knowing Aaron would be in there. Sure enough he was pacing the room. He stopped mid stride and made a step in Robert’s direction. But he thought better of it and moved instead to the bed to sit.
“I’m sorry, Robert.”
“Yeah, you keep saying that.”
Robert busied himself by slowly getting ready for bed. It was way too early for sleep but he was exhausted, more emotionally than anything else.
He felt Aaron behind him then, the ghost of his hands on his back.
“How can I make it up to you?”
“You can’t.”
Aaron’s hands stilled then.
“What does that mean?”
Robert turned then, his shirt half buttoned and Aaron a breath away.
“It means I’m mad. And I’ll be mad for awhile. What it doesn’t mean is that I am going anywhere. Or that you’re going anywhere.”
He let Aaron slide his hands up Robert’s chest, let his face be held by them. The callous shot a thrill down Robert’s spine as they grazed his cheeks.
“I love you, Robert. I swear it won’t happen again. I mean that. You know….”
“Yeah, Aaron. I know. Still doesn’t make it okay.”
Because maybe Adam was his best friend. And maybe he was protecting him. And Victoria. And Robert. But it wasn’t right. It wasn’t what they promised, what they vowed.
Aaron’s hands started to slip away but Robert stilled them with his own.
“I love you too.”
Aaron smiled softly at him then.
“So we’re okay?”
Robert rolled his eyes.
“We will be.”
So they crawled into bed. And it was awkward, both of them on separate sides, not wrapped up in each other. Not like they always were. And they laid there in the dark, backs to each other. Neither sleeping or saying anything.
Eventually Robert gave up, rolling over to fit his front to Aaron’s back. Wiggling slightly to press his face into Aaron’s neck.
He heard his husband sigh.
“Rob…”
“Shut up and go to sleep, Aaron.”
Aaron just squeezed Robert’s hand that had slid over his waist and pressed backwards. Two pieces, always slotting into place. And they slept, because tomorrow would be one more step to making it right again.
