One word. One word that ripped his whole world apart. Five letters, that ruined it all.
Sorry.
Aaron had found the note when he woke, resting on Robert’s pillow. Panic filled him, he quickly grabbed his phone the was sat on his nightstand, quickly unlocking it and tapping on Robert’s name in his contacts.
“You reached Robert Sugden, sorry I missed your call, leave a message and I’ll get back to you.’”
Aaron swallowed back the tears that had been building up. “Rob....” His husband’s name falling out his mouth, pausing for a second. “Please, please tell me you haven’t,” he choked out, he paused again as if Robert had picked up the call. “We were supposed to do this together,” he explained. “You and me,” he went on. “ Robert.... please don’t do this...” he said through the tears unable to hold them back anymore. “I can’t do this without you, Robert, just please....”
Robert was an idiot he knew that who else would purposely go out their way every day for a year to see a complete stranger. Well, stranger probably wasn’t the right word. Aaron Dingle, he knew of him, knew he lived back in the village, knew he was mates with his sister but the two never properly met. So there he was day 367, give or take a couple of days, sat in the small café tucked away in the corner with his americano staring at the entrance willing it to open.
“He’s not do in for another hour,” Robert heard as he took a sip of his drink. He looked over to the woman who was wiping down the table next to him.
“What?” He asked after gulping down the lukewarm coffee.
The brunette smirked, “The scrapper, Aaron,” she clarified.
“Don’t know what you’re on about,” he lied, turning his attention back to his Americano.
The brunette chuckled, grabbing a discarded mug from another table.
“Wait,” Robert called after her. She turned back, the smirk still painted across her face. “How did you know….”
“Well seeing as the first time you came in here you told me my coffee was utter shit and demanded your money back, I figured there had to be another reason for you coming back for more,” she explained. “And the fact that you’re not very subtle, you practically start drooling when he walks through the door.”
“What? I do not,” he replied defensively.
“Another Americano while you wait?” She asked ignoring his last response. Robert hesitated at first before nodding his head in response.
“Give us a sec, I’ll bring it over,” she told him before making her way back to the counter.
An hour had passed and still nothing, Robert had pulled his laptop out in his wait trying to get some work done, hoping the distraction would ease the stress of waiting.
“Hm,” he heard looking up to see the brunette standing by his table. “He must be running late,” she commented. “He’s usually finishing up his last run right about now,” she added checking the time.
Robert frowned, “Stalker,” he muttered before turning back to his laptop.
The brunette laughed, “Coming from the man who's been coming here every day just to see a man he barely knows,” she replied taking a seat across from him.
“Shouldn't you be working?”
“Who said I’m not?”
“Wouldn’t your boss have something to say about you harassing the customers?”
“Would you like to speak to my boss?”
“Maybe I would,” Robert replied. The woman reached over closing his laptop before holding out her hand to shake Robert’s hand.
“Jessica Johnson,” she replied. “Owner of this fine establishment, what seems to be the problem?” She added.
“You own this place?”
“Well part owner, my dad, and Uncle opened this place years back, when I uncle got ill I had money to spend and well here I am,” she explained. “Anyways, enough about me, so are ya going to do it?”
“Do what?” Robert questioned.
“Order something other than an Americano,” she replied sarcastically. “Ask Aaron out ya idiot!”
“Oh,” he replied. “I’ve not-“
“Not thought about it?” She laughed. “Don’t give me that crap, what are you afraid he won’t fancy you as much as you fancy him?”
“Please, have you see me?”
“Arrogant much?” She laughed. “I imagine you could win him over with that.” Robert rolled his eyes. “It’s a little more complicated them him fancying me,” he replied.
“And that would be?”
“He’s… he’s not a complete stranger alright, he’s mates with my little sister,” he explained.
“Right, and you’ve been stalking him here at my café because…”
“I don’t get back to the village that much… I go like once a month to have dinner with my step-mum and sister,” he tried arguing.
“Is that what helps you sleep at night?”
“I should just go,” he argued grabbing his laptop, placing it in his bag that was sat on the ground next to his chair.
“It's your lost then,” she replied getting up from the table. “But if you ask me you don’t seem like the type to just give up… just think about it, what are you gonna lose by asking him?” She questioned. “Worst case scenario he says no,” she finally added before making her way back to the counter. “There he is,” Robert heard looking up to see Aaron making his way into the café. “You sir are twenty minutes late,” Jessica replied. “Was about to send a search party out to find ya,” she added. Aaron frowned. “That fine gentleman over there…” she went on pointing over to Robert. “..even offered to be the leader of it.” Aaron looked over at Robert who looked like a deer caught up in headlights. “ I wasn’t… ” he stammered.
“Right,” Aaron replied turning back to the brunette.
“Joking, obviously,” she replied smirking. “You want your usual?”
“No, just a black coffee,” he replied. “please,” he added last second.
Robert glared at the woman as she turned to pour Aaron his coffee in a to-go cup.
“Black coffee?” She questioned handing the cup over. “Someone must be havin’ a bad day.”
Aaron sighed as he pulled his wallet from his pocket. “My truck broke down,” he explained. pulling a card out to pay. “had to wait for my mate to come ‘rescue’ me, made me late for everything else today” he explained.
“Oh and you still found time to come see little old me,” she teased as the receipt printed.
“More like I was gonna throttle someone if I didn’t stop and take a breather,” he replied.
Robert made his way over with his mug in hand, deciding to make his move. Jessica was right what was the worse that could happen? He was lost in thought when he felt it the other man crashing into him.
“Oi, you flipping muppet,” Aaron nearly yelled as the coffee spilled. “Haven’t you heard of personal space.”
Robert stared at the younger man.
“As if this day couldn’t get any worse,” Aaron muttered to himself. “I have to go through the rest of my day like this now,” he went on looking down at his shirt covered in coffee. “Thanks to you.”
“Let me get you another coffee,” Jessica replied turning to grab another to-go cup.
“What not got anything to say?” Aaron questioned the older man noticing he was still staring.
“Marry me,” Robert muttered, the words slipping from his lips.
“What?” Aaron questioned.
“Oh shit, you heard that?” Robert replied, eyes wide. “I… that’s not… I’m…”
“Are you okay?” Aaron questioned with a frown.
Robert looked back at Jessica, who was biting back a laugh.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean-“
“What you didn’t mean to propose to me? Or you didn’t mean to make me spill coffee all over myself?”
“Both.”
Aaron laughed, “Right, then,” he replied taking the second coffee from Jessica. “With that, I’m just gonna … go. now,” he said pointing towards the door. “Before this gets really awkward,” he explained.
“Wait!” Robert exclaimed stopping Aaron. Aaron turned back confused. “Look, I-“
“Don’t I know you?” Aaron questioned after studying Robert’s face, realizing he looked familiar.
“Yeah, actually,” he replied.
“You’re Vic’s brother aren’t you?”
‘Ye-yeah,” he replied nodding his head.
Aaron laughed, “Wow, so that makes that proposal even more awkward,” he stated.
“I don’t know where that came from I’m sorry,” Robert explained.
“Relax, I’m just winding you up,” Aaron replied.
“Right.”
“So… was there anything else?” He questioned Robert. “Because I do have a lot on,” he explained.
“What?”
“You told me to wait…”
“Oh, yeah right…” Robert replied. ‘Now or never,’ he thought to himself. “I’m gonna be in the village next week, dinner with Diane and Vic” he explained.
“Okay?”
“…I was wondering if I could buy you a drink in the pub…” he trailed off. “You know to make up for the mess that just happened.”
“Are you asking me out?” Aaron questioned. “Aren’t you married?”
“Divorced. A year now.”
“Sorry,” Aaron muttered not knowing what else to say.
“It’s fine,” Robert replied. The two fell silent for a moment. “So?” Robert questioned. “Pint? Next week?”
“…We’ll have to see if I’m around won’t we?” Aaron replied with a wink before turning to leave the café.
“Was that a yes?” Robert questioned almost in shock.
“Guess you’ll have to wait and see,” Jessica replied making her way around the counter with a mop in hand, handing it over to Robert.
“What’s this for?”
“To clean up the mess,” she replied pointing at the coffee spill. “Oh and I expect an invite to the wedding,” she replied with a smirk as Robert took the mop.
For ur feb prompt thing-“Who are you?” Aaron's in a accident of some sort and forgets who rob is
Hi Lovely!
Sooo, I probably drank way too much coffee yesterday which is why I current up at 1:02 in the morning filled with anxiety for no damn reason but lucky for you guys this fic came from my caffeine-fueled anxiety! So enjoy! Hopefully, you like this lovely anon! <3
Day Seventeen: In Sickness
“Who…who are you?” The words breaking him instantly, this wasn’t meant to be happening, this was meant to be their second chance, this was meant to be their happily ever after, yet instead of them waiting for their flight on their way to their honeymoon they were in the hospital. They were in the car on their way to the airport when the lorry behind them had lost control plowing into them flinging them into the ditch. Aaron’s head smashing into the stirring wheel, Robert looking over at his husband the blood oozing from the gash on his forehead. The whole thing was a blur, the ambulance ride, the call to Paddy and Chas, before he knew it, it was three days later and he was sat in a dark room staring at his unconscious husband, studying his chest, watching it as it moved up and down, telling himself that Aaron was alive. That was the only thing that mattered, Aaron… was alive. For a moment, Robert had hoped that everything was going to be okay when he saw Aaron blinking his eyes open. An overwhelming feeling of relief washed over the older man, his smile fading noticing the panic on his husband’s face and then the dreaded question came out.
“Aaron?
“Who are you?” He was asked again as he sat before the other man still dressed in his wedding suit.
“Aaron… it’s me… Robert,” the man explained.
“Who?”
“What?” Robert replied nearly breathless.
“Where am I?” Aaron questioned the panic painted across the younger man’s face.
“The hospital… we were in an accident.”
“We?”
“On the way to the airport,” he tried explaining.
“Where’s my mum?”
“Her and Paddy went home,” he explained. Aaron’s breathing was rapid, he was shifting in the hospital bed going to pull the I.V. from his arm, Robert quickly stopping him, “Aaron, you have to leave that,” he told the man.
“I need to get out of here,” Aaron explained pushing the blankets off of him.
“And go where?” Robert questioned.
“I need… I can’t be here!” Aaron nearly yelled the panic in him building even more, his breathing turning into gasps.
“You need to calm down,” Robert replied stopping the younger man from getting out of bed.
“Help! Someone!”
“Aaron,” Robert replied.
“Get off of me!” Aaron spat trying to pull free from Robert. “I need help!” He called out.
Robert looked over at the door to see a nurse rushing in.
“He won’t let me go,” Aaron told the woman.
“He’s having some sort of panic attack,” he tried explaining. “Mr. Dingle,” the woman began. “I’m gonna have to ask you to stay in bed,” she went on guiding him to lay down again.
“I want him gone,” Aaron told the woman.“Aaron, I’m not going anywhere,” Robert argued.“Maybe it would be for the best,” the woman replied.
Robert frowned, “I’m his husband, I’m not going anywhere,” he reiterated.
“My what? I don’t have a husband.”
The woman looked over at Robert with a frown.
“I am his husband,” Robert argued. “I’m still in my wedding suit!”
“He’s lying!”
“Aaron!”
“Mr. Sugden, please,” the nurse stated. “Why don’t you step outside while I page his doctor?”
Robert hesitated.
“Mr. Sugden,” the woman repeated. Robert reluctantly rose from the hospital chair, making his way out into the hallway. He dug his phone from his blazer pocket, quickly unlocking it and tapped on Chas’s name. “You need to get down here… He’s awake,” he explained. “I don’t know, I’m out in the hallway, he… he went straight into a panic attack, just you and Paddy, get down here.”
“Robert?” He heard Chas call out, he was staring into Aaron’s room who was now sedated, his doctor insisting it was for the best. “Robert,” she repeated as she and Paddy made it by his side.
“He… he doesn’t remember,” Robert muttered.
“The accident?” Chas questioned. “That… that’s to be expected-“
“He doesn’t remember me,” Robert clarified.
“What?”
“He… doesn’t remember… me, the wedding… he… he thinks he still on the run,” Robert explained his chin wobbling as he fought back the tears.
“Oh, love,” Chas muttered pulling her son-in-law into a hug.
“Have you spoken to his doctor?” Paddy questioned. Robert nodded his head yes. “Well?”
“He reckons it’s to be expected with Aaron’s brain injury.”
“Is it permanent?” Paddy asked.
“It can be,” he replied his eyes glued to Aaron. “They had to sedate him,” he continued. “He wouldn’t calm…” he breathed out.
“Why don’t you go home… have a shower, maybe try and get some sleep,” Chas suggested. “Paddy and I can sit with him,” she went on.
“I can’t,” he muttered.
“Robert,” Paddy tried arguing.
“No, Paddy, I just can’t… I can’t leave him.”
“I’ll get us some coffees,” Paddy finally said after a moment. Chas mouthed thank you to the man as she guided Robert over to sit in the chairs across the way from Aaron’s room. “Can…can you go sit with him?” Robert asked. “I don’t want him to be alone,” he explained.
“I can’t leave you on your own,” she replied.
“Please Chas?” Robert pled. “I’ll be fine I just need a breather.”
The woman hesitated at first before making it to her feet, slowly making her way into her son’s room. Robert only waiting until he saw his mother-in-law was only a foot into the room before breaking down.
He didn’t know how long it had been, the last thing he remembered was Paddy making his way back with the coffees handing him one of them before heading in to join Chas by Aaron’s side. He must have dozed off because the next thing he knew he was hearing his name. “Mr. Sugden,” he heard in the distance. “Mr. Sugden,” he heard again this time bring him back. He opened his eyes to see Aaron’s doctor stood before him, “Sorry,” Robert muttered sitting up straight. The older man flashed him a sympathetic smile, “Your husband, he’s asking for you,” the man explained.
“He remembers?” Robert questioned jumping up.
“Not exactly, he’s still quite confused but his mum has seemed to calm him a bit,” the doctor explained.
“Are you sure it’s a good idea?”
“As long as he’s comfortable with it,” the man explained. “I don’t seem the harm in it.”
Robert stared at the room for a moment.
“Mr. Sugden?”
“Yeah, sorry,” he muttered.
“I’ll be back in a bit to check up on him.”
“Thank you,” he added. He watched as the doctor turned to leave before working up the nerve to enter his husband’s room. He stopped by the door knocking softly, Chas and Aaron turning their attention over to the door. “There he is,” Chas said warmly. “We were just talking about you,” she added.
“Mum… could …could you give us a minute?” Aaron asked.
“You sure?” She asked. Aaron only nodded his head yes. “I’ll be right outside,” she replied as she rose from the chair making her way out the room giving Robert a comforting squeeze on his arm. Robert stood in the doorway staring at the man in the hospital bed.
“You coming in?” Aaron asked him.
“Yeah,” Robert replied clearing his throat, making his way in and over to Aaron’s bedside. “You’re still in that suit I see,” Aaron remarked. “Mum said it’s been three days.”
“Yeah, well… I couldn’t bring myself to leave you.”
“You did earlier.”
“Was just outside, I didn’t go far.”
“Mum said.”
“How do you feel?” Robert asked.
“Alright, I suppose,” Aaron replied. Robert sat down, “You’re looking better,” he replied reaching for the other man’s hand. Aaron quickly pulled his hand back. “Sorry,” Robert muttered pulling his hand back as well. “No, I’m sorry,” Aaron muttered his eye-catching Robert’s ring before catching his own. He ran his thumb over it, “So you’re… we really are married?” Aaron questioned. Robert nodded his head yes, “I have witnesses that saw you say I do,” he replied with a soft smile. “Even got it on video.”
“I don’t… I don’t remember,” Aaron explained teary-eyed.
“That’s okay,” he muttered.
“How? How is that okay?” Aaron questioned. “I… I don’t remember my own husband!” He told Robert. “What if I never-“
“Don’t alright,” Robert stopped him mid-sentence. “It might not be forever,” he argued.
“And what if it is?”
“We’ll manage.”
Aaron just stared at him.
“I love you, Aaron, alright,” Robert replied. “and I know you might not remember it but I know you can feel it,” he explained. ”…I made a promise to you…. in sickness and in health, we’re in this together,” he told him. “and we’re gonna get through this, I promise you.”
Aaron didn’t say anything.
“Hey…. just think if anything… you’ll get to fall in love with me all over again,” he tried joking. Aaron smirked and let out a small laugh. Robert smirked.
“Someone’s full of himself,” Aaron replied.
“I’m pretty sure my arrogance is something you found attractive,” he explained through a smile.
Prompt: robron meeting Seb's first girl or boyfriend
Hey Lovely!
came up with after yesterday’s first episode (Feb 7th) I hope you enjoy! sorry if there are any mistake :) <3
Day Eight: No, You Can Stick with Mr. Sugden-Dingle
“I’m home,” the teen yelled out making his way into the Mill slamming the door behind him. He kicked his shoes off by the sofa before throwing his school bag and hoodie next to them in the middle of the walkway. He made his way over to the fridge in search of a quick snack grabbing a coke instead and went for the crisps on the counter next to the fridge. He made his way over to the sofa plopping down on it placing his drink on the coffee table before shoving a handful of the greasy crisps into his mouth, his phone went off, he leaned back pulling his phone from his pocket, Have you asked your Dads yet? The message read, Seb smirked quickly replying, not yet haven’t seen either them just walked in.
“There he is,” Seb heard looking up to see Aaron making his way down the stairs. “Just got home?” He asked stepping over the pile of things that Seb had left behind.
“Couple minutes ago,” Seb replied before returning his attention to his phone. “I yelled I was home when I walked in.”
“Sorry, I was on the phone with your Aunt Liv,” Aaron explained making his way into the kitchen. “She’s not gonna make it home this weekend,” he went on looking over noticing the boy wasn’t paying attention anymore. “And I’m talking to myself,” he replied.
“Soz,” Seb called back.
Aaron smirked.
“Hey Dad,” Seb said sitting up and turning to face Aaron
“Yeah?”
“Can I have a mate over?” The teen asked nervously.
“When?”
“Tonight?”
“I mean you’d have to get your homework-“
“It’s for school,” Seb argued. “I have a paper in English…” he added.
Aaron frowned at the teen’s behavior, “So you want a mate to come over to study with?” He questioned making sure that he was understanding what his son was asking for.
“Yeah.”
“That’s fine,” Aaron agreed.
“Thanks,” Seb replied with a grin turning back to his phone.
“Oh and before you get lost in that thing,” Aaron began. “Pick up your things,” he told the teen. “You weren’t born in a barn.”
Aaron smirked, noticing Seb jump at the sound of the buzzer going off, out the corner of his eye.
“You alright?” He questioned.
“What? Yeah, fine,” he answered immediately.
“Do you want me to get the door?”
“No, no, I’ve got it,” the teen stated jumping up from the sofa making his way over to the door choosing to go out and let his mate in.
“Are you sure your Dads are alright with me being here?” Aaron heard a familiar voice say.
“I told ya didn’t I,” he heard Seb say as they made their way in. “Dad, you remember Matthew?“ Seb replied pointing at the teen boy.
“Yeah, of course,” Aaron replied with a smile.
“Hi Mr. Sugden-Dingle,” the teen replied nervously.
“Hi Matthew,” Aaron replied. “Uh, Seb I thought you said you were gonna work on an English assignment, isn’t Matthew a year ahead of you?”
“Well ye..yeah,” Seb stammered on. “But he had the same teacher last year and remembers the assignment so he offered to help me with it,” the teen explained.
“That was nice of you,” Aaron replied turning to the other teen. Seb grabbed his school bag, pushing Matthew the stairs “Right, uhm we’re just gonna go up to my ro-“ he began saying before Aaron interrupted him.
“You know what why don’t you two study down here, on the sofa, yeah,” Aaron suggested giving Seb a look of “it's not up for negotiation”
“Right,” Seb replied turning back heading towards the sofa.
“Em, Matthew you staying for dinner?” Aaron questioned. “It’s just gonna be burgers from the woolpack but still…”
“Uh…” Matthew began looking over to Seb to see if he was okay with it. “if you want,” Seb muttered to him. “Uh, yeah, I can stay,” the teen replied.
“Right, I’ll let Rob know to pick an extra order up.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aaron was making his way down the stairs as he heard the two shuffling around, making it down to see the two boys with slightly rosy cheeks, sitting shoulder to shoulder, slightly out of breath, Seb pretending to type-a-way on the computer on his lap. “Alright?” Aaron question stopping at the bottom of the stairs.
“Yeah,” Seb quickly replied. “Why?” He asked defensively.
“Just wondering,“ Aaron simply explained. “Let see what you have so far,” he added reaching for Seb’s computer. “It’s not-“ Seb tried saying as Aaron grabbed the computer.
“The past reasoning for the insert mega ten line sssk nfert ttsgdsrerrrr?” Aaron read off. “Yeah, I reckon that you two need to focus on the task at hand,” he added with a knowing look on his face handing the computer back to Seb.
Seb quickly erasing the incoherent sentence, “Sorry,” he muttered blushing.
“Look at your face,” Matthew teased with a laugh.
“Shut up,” Seb muttered to the other teen.
“What?” Aaron heard the other teen whisper back as he made his way back into the kitchen. “It’s not like he saw us kissing,” the teen whispered.
“Yeah, but I don’t want him to know what we were doing!”
“We’re gonna have to tell them we’re seein’ each other eventually,” the other teen argued in a whisper.
“You two alright over there?” Aaron replied smirking at the confirmation.
“Fine,” Seb called back.
An hour had past and Aaron could still feel the nervous energy coming off his son from across the room. The teens were now watching some nonsense on the telly, while Aaron sat at the kitchen working on his own computer when Robert made his way in seeing the teens, Matthew straightening up at the sight of Robert, “Hi Mr. Sugden-Dingle,” he said nervously.
“Matthew…” Robert stated stopping in his tracks. “It’s been awhile.”
“He came over to help me with an English assignment,” Seb explained.
“Did he now?”
“Yeah,” Matthew chimed in. “Not that he needed much help, all I did was proofread it,” he explained.
“Right,” Robert replied before continuing into the kitchen where Aaron was sat placing the take-a-ways in front of his husband before leaning over for a quick kiss hello. “Why didn’t you tell me it was Matthew?” He muttered.
“I wanted to see the look on your face,” Aaron replied with a smirk.
“So Matthew, you’re staying for dinner I hear,” Robert replied after a couple of minutes grabbing four plates handing them back to Aaron who was now stood next him.
“Uh, ye… yeah I mean if that’s still okay,” the teen replied.
“Of course it is,” Aaron explained. “Right, Robert?”
“Of course,” Robert replied unconvincingly.
“Uh, thanks, Mr. Sugden-Dingle,” he replied looking over at Aaron
“You know, Matthew, you can just call me Aaron,” Aaron explained. “Might get kinda confusing now that this ones home,” he laughed pointing at Robert.
“So I can call you Robert then?” The teen asked Robert.
“No, you can stick with Mr. Sugden-Dingle,” he explained.
“Dad,” Seb plead looking over at Aaron. “Robert,” Aaron warned biting back a laugh.
“What? I just answered his question,” Robert argued.
“Can I talk to you?” Seb asked Robert.
“Go ahead,” Robert replied.
“Outside!” Seb added through his teeth as he went to push his dad out of the kitchen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Oi, stop your pushing,” Robert replied once they were outside the Mill.
“What are you doing!” Seb nearly yelled.
“Watch your tone,” he warned his son.
“Dad, come on,” Seb pled. “You’re being rude.”
Robert frowned, “Cause I won’t let him call me Robert?” He asked.
“Dad!” Seb exclaimed. “Can you please just be nice to him?”
“He’s still in the house, isn’t he?” Robert questioned. “You know your Dad text me you had someone over, didn’t think it would be him though.”
“Dad, is this still about him and Maxine?”
“He treated her like dirt, those were your words,” Robert explained.
“Yeah but… he’s different now,” Seb explained.
“So what, he’s bi…”“Yeah,” Seb replied. “I thought you of all people wouldn’t find that hard to believe considering…” he trailed off.
“Is that why you wanted to talk to me and Dad the other week?” Robert questioned. “ ‘cause you were sure that you weren’t gay… so bi or…”
“I don’t know if Bi is the right word though,” he explained. “I just know I like him, like a lot”
“So he and you are definitely…”
“Yeah,” Seb nodded his head. “We just started seeing each other so…”
“But he’s older than you,” Robert tried arguing
“By like fourteen months,” the teen argued. “Plus you’re six years older than Dad, aren’t ya?”
“…That’s…well yeah but…”
“But what?”
“You're my son…” Robert began. “I … just don’t want to see you get hurt,” he explained.
“I can take care of myself, Dad.”
“So, how long were you gonna wait to tell us about you and him?” Robert asked. “Cause I reckon if you wanted to wait, snogging your boyfriend in the open on the family room sofa wasn’t the best way to keep it quiet.”
“Dad texted.”
“Yep, he didn’t exactly see anything but he assumed.”
“I told Matthew he knew,”
Robert laughed, “Come on let’s go eat before Dad gets a hold of our food,” he stated pulling Seb in, wrapping his arm over his shoulder“You know you scare him, right?” Seb explained as they made their way towards the house.
“Matthew?”
Seb nodded.
“You serious?”
“Yeah.”
Robert smirked, “You think I’m bad you should have seen your Dad when he caught your Aunt Liv with a boy.”
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
TWO chapters in one week! TWO!!!!!
Chapters: 21/?
Fandom: Emmerdale
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Aaron Dingle/Robert Sugden
Characters: Aaron Dingle, Robert Sugden, Original Dingle-Sugden Child(ren), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Adam Barton, Victoria Sugden, Chas Dingle, Paddy Kirk, Rhona Goskirk, Cain Dingle, Chrissie White
Additional Tags: Angst, Humor, Angst with a Happy Ending, Don't know what else to add
Summary:
Previously: Tale Of Us
Robert and Aaron are married have been happily married for 14 years and have two beautiful kids. When a nearly decade-long secret that Robert has bee hide comes to light will the duo be able to make it out together?
(loosely) Based off of the post I made a while back:
http://smugdensugdendingle.tumblr.com/post/115101913867/random-late-ish-night-robron-thought
hey could you write a first meeting au where robert and aaron are set up on different blind dates but they end up being stood up by their dates and meeting each other? please please please?
Hi Lovely!
I hope you like it! First meeting au, idk know why but these au's have been my favorite to write! I also love writing Robert openly bi soooo yeah.
Sorry if there are any mistakes!
also sorry for the delay <3
Day Twenty-Six: (Un)Lucky Men
He didn’t even want to go on the blind date. He would have rather been sat at home in front of the telly, eating every junk food in his and Adam’s flat but he let his mate talk him into going. It had been a while, he’ll admit it but he didn’t really mind. After Ed, he hadn’t really been interested in seeing anyone else, but Adam had a mate who had a mate that was supposedly interested, really fit too. Aaron had rolled his eyes when his best mate told him that but in the end, he agreed. Definitely regretting it now, it had been an hour since he got there before finally excepting the bloke wasn’t gonna show up, abandoning the table he was sat at, he made his way over to the bar.
“Pint please,” Aaron told the woman behind the bar.
“Crap night?’ The man sat on the other side asked. Aaron frowned, “What’s it to you?”
The man shrugged, “Was just a question,” he replied before taking a sip of his drink.
“Nosey.”
The man smirked.
“What?” Aaron questioned.
“Nothing.”
“No, go on you clearly have something to say,” Aaron explained.
“Got stood up didn’t ya?”
Aaron stared at the man slightly shocked, “How?”
“Mate, you don’t just come to a place like this to just sit on your own,” the blonde explained.
“You’re sat on your own,” he replied.
“Yeah, cause my date was supposed to be here like three hours ago,” he explained.
“Oh.”
The man laughed, “I feel your pain is all I was trying to say.”
“Cheers, I guess,” Aaron replied as the woman made her way over with Aaron’s drink.
“Place it on my tab,” the man spoke up.
“You don’t-“
“Call it paying it forward, one unlucky man to another,” the man explained.
‘…thanks,”
“Join me if you like,” the man added with a smirk.
“You joking?”
“I mean you can’t just sit in the corner drinking that on your own, now can you?”
“…suppose you have a point,” Aaron replied making his way over to the blonde.
“Name’s Robert,” he replied as Aaron took a seat next to him.
“Aaron,” he replied.
“So, Aaron what’s your story, aside from being stood up?” He questioned. “What brought you here?”
“Blind date,” he admitted.
“You kidding?” Robert replied nearly choking on his drink.
“What?”
“I was meant to be meeting a blind date here,” he explained.
“What are the chances that you were supposed to be my blind date?” Aaron questioned.
“Not unless you had a sex change in the past three hours,’ Robert explained.
“Oh,” Aaron replied awkwardly.
“I mean not…not that I wouldn’t mind you being my date,” Robert stammered on.
“You don’t-“
“No, I’m-“
“Just forget I said anything,” Aaron replied getting up from the bar stool. “I’m just gonna go,” he added pulling his wallet out to pay the blonde for the drink
“No, Aaron, stay,” he told the man. “I wouldn’t have bought you the drink if I wasn’t interested,” he explained. Aaron hesitated at first.
“Please?”
Aaron sat back down.
“Sorry, if that got awkward,” Robert explained. “That was my weird attempt of trying to let ya know that… that I was interested.”
“So your blind date with a woman…” Aaron replied trailing off.
“I’m bi,” he explained.
“Oh, okay.”
“Yeah, and this date was down to my sister,” Robert explained. “She reckons I’ve been off the dating scene too long, after my divorce.”
“Some sister,” Aaron remarked.
“Oh it’s not completely her fault,” he explained. “She only set up a dating profile for me and pretended to be me to set up this date, from what she said this woman seemed up for the meeting,” he went on.
Aaron bit back a laugh.
“What?” Robert grinned.
“This isn’t your sister’s fault?” He asked through a laugh. “You just said she’s the one that set up this date.”
Robert thought about it for a moment.
“Did you even talk to this woman before coming here?”
“No… I… I kinda just deleted the profile when I found out about it.”
“Well, no wonder why she hasn’t shown, she probably thought you were some creep,” he laughingly explained.
“Fair point,” Robert replied. “So how about you, how did you get roped into a date?”
“My Best mate reckoned I should get back into the dating scene… his mate had a mate and I thought it was a stupid idea but apparently this bloke was fit,” he explained emphasizing the ’t’. “Long story short I should have trusted my instincts,” he added.
“Can be all that bad,” Robert remarked. “You met me.”
“And is that supposed to be the highlight of my night?”
“Yeah, I reckon,”
“You’re just a little bit full of yourself aren’t ya?” Aaron laughed.
“You know you’re not the first person to tell me that.”
Hours passed and the two found themselves moving to a table in the corner of the place and ordering actual meals. Spending most of the evening people watching and commenting about them. Aaron would have to admit that the night wasn’t a total waste, although Adam wasn’t gonna hear the end of this.
“Did you see the two that walked in earlier,” Robert whispered biting back a laugh. “The bloke looks like he’s about to sob,” he explained.
“Break up,” Aaron replied.
“You reckon?”
“Have you seen her, she hasn’t looked up from her phone once,” he explained referring to the blonde woman a couple of tables over.
“Jess, please,” they heard.
“Look, I don’t even know why I agreed to come here,” They heard the woman say as she looked up from her phone. “You’re a complete loser, you had to borrow money from your mum just to come here.”
“We shouldn’t be listening in,” Aaron remarked with a laugh.
“You’re kidding right?” Robert questioned. “This stuff is better than daytime telly.”
Aaron stared at the blonde.
“I’m self-employed, daytime telly makes the day go by quicker.”
“What are you, like 80?” Aaron laughed.
Robert smirked before he could respond the waitress made her way over, “Can I get you, gentlemen, anything else?”
“Uhm,” Robert began looking over at Aaron. “I should get going,” Aaron replied. “Just the check, thanks,” he told the woman. The woman nodded her head before heading back to retrieve the check.
“So… this, this was fun,” Robert replied.
“Yeah,” Aaron agreed. “It was, I’m only gonna rip Adam half a new one,” he explained.
The two fell silent for a moment, Aaron speaking up first, “Look… I know that we’ve just met but what would you … say to I don’t know, us meeting up again, sometime?” He finally managed to ask biting his lip.
Robert smiled, “Yeah.. yeah, I’d like that,” he replied.
“Right… well, give us your phone, I’ll give you my number,” he explained. Robert pulled his phone from his jacket inner pocket, unlocking it and pulling up the contacts before handing it over. Aaron quickly typed in his information before handing it back. Their waitress returned handing over the bill before leaving again.
“I’ve got this,” Robert replied.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
“You can get the check next time we see each other,” Robert argued.
“You sure?”
“Of course,” he replied. “Plus this gives me more incentive to make sure we meet up again,” he added.
Aaron laughed, “Right then…. I guess I’ll see you… soon?” He questioned.
“Yeah.”
“I’ll be waiting on that text,” Aaron replied as he rose from his chair.
Robert smirked as he watched the younger man make his way out. Aaron exited the restaurant, heading towards where he had parked when his phone went off, he pulled it from his jean pocket to see a message from an unknown number, he unlocked his phone,
No prompt today wanted to do some fluff, non-angsty type fic and came up with this! so I hope you guys enjoy, I also apologize for the cringeyness that is this fic but still anyway... Enjoy! Sorry if there are any mistakes
Day Twenty-One: Fit Mechanic
It was meant to be his day off, from the garage and the yard, he knew there would never be a dull moment after buying into the garage but still, he didn’t mind. Both businesses were making good money, Aaron was even able to hire more help at the yard, leaving him time to focus on the garage. He was under one of the cars when he heard the footsteps on the gravel.
“I’ll be right with you,” he called out getting no response. He sighed quietly to himself before pushing out from under the car. He made his way to his feet, turning to look out the garage to see Robert. He smirked grabbing the towel that was on the bumper to wipe his hands.
“What are you doing here?” He asked making his way over.
“Sorry to bother you,” Robert replied causing Aaron to frown. “I was passing through on my way to a meeting when my car broke down,” he went on. “A couple of the locals said there was a fantastic mechanic here that might be able to help me out,” he added with a smirk. Aaron laughed, “Is that so?” He questioned leaning on the boot of the car he was working on crossing his arms over his chest.
Robert smirked, “They didn’t mention he was fit though,” he replied eyeing him up and down in his overalls.
“Bit full on for a stranger,” Aaron remarked playing along. “I should tell you I’m married and I don’t know how my husband would feel about you checking me out.”
Robert hummed, “Your husband is a very lucky man,” he said in return.
Causing Aaron to laugh and roll his eyes, “So where is it?” Aaron asked.
“What?” Robert questioned.
“The car,” his husband explained. “The reason you were looking for a ‘fantastic mechanic’.”
Robert turned pretending to look around, “Well would you look at that I’ve seemed to have lost it,” he replied as he made his way closer to the other man.
“Looks like you don’t need a mechanic then,” he replied as Robert’s hands found their way to Aaron’s waist pulling him in closer. “I think we could find something else for you to do with those hands,” Robert muttered before taking his husband’s lips with his own for a kiss. Aaron pushed him away slightly, with a grin. “Hi,” Robert whispered.
“Hi,” Aaron echoed. “You know Cain’s only over at the pub to get me and him something to eat,” he explained.
“So we shouldn’t waste any time then,” Robert replied pulling Aaron into the office pinning him up against the wall. He quickly turned his attention to get his husband out of the overalls, pushing them off Aaron’s shoulders and down, to his waist, his hand tugging at the hem of Aaron’s shirt pushing the fabric up to run his fingers over the other man’s abs.
“So we’re really gonna do this here?” Aaron laughed out as Robert buried his head into his neck, his hands now wandering his body. “Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve done it here?” Robert argued pulling away from the man. “And I’ve been dying to do this since you bought into this place,” he added before returning his attention back to Aaron’s neck.
“Where are the kids?” Aaron asked trying his best not to give in to Robert.
“With your mum,” he heard Robert muffle out before pulling back meeting eyes with him. “Now, shh, I’m trying to have my way with the fit mechanic,” he replied before kissing the other man. Aaron ran his hand through Robert’s hair, bracing himself on Robert’s bicep with the other, before turning his attention to Robert’s jacket. Robert released Aaron from his grip letting Aaron pull his jacket off of him, tossing it on to the boot of the car. Aaron began unbuttoning his husband’s top Robert watching as the younger man eagerly made time with it, exposing his freckled chest.
“Not the only fit one here,” Aaron replied with a smirk. Robert laughed, “Like what you see?”
“What do you think?” Aaron questioned pushing against Robert causing him to groan at the hardness brushing against him.
“What would your husband have to-“
“We’re done with that,” Aaron told Robert.
“Too far?”
“Too far,” Aaron agreed.
“Sugden!” The two heard a familiar voice call out.
“Damn it,” Robert muttered pulling away from his husband as he began buttoning his shirt back up.
“Sugden, I don’t know who you were fooling racing out the pub like that,” Cain called out again. “But I’m not taking another step until I see ya out in the open, fully dressed.”
“Give us a sec,” Robert called back as he finished with his shirt, he reached for his jacket as Aaron tied off his overalls. The two made their way out to find Cain stood with two take-a-way boxes shaking his head. “Is this why you bought into this place?” He asked his nephew.
“I didn’t know he was coming over here,” Aaron replied.
“Excuse me for trying, we got three kids at home, it’s not like we get a lot of alone time,” Robert argued as he straightened out his jacket.
Cain pulled a face, “Too much information, thank you,” he replied.
Aaron sighed, “I’ll see you at home, Robert,” he told his husband.
“Or Cain could finish up the car…."
“Goodbye, Robert,” Aaron replied cutting the man off mid-sentence.
Robert side out in frustration, “Fine,” he replied before leaving the two behind.
Cain made his way over to his nephew handing him his food.
“You two are getting too old for stuff like this,” Cain jokingly told his nephew as he made his way into the office.
Aaron smirked, “It won’t happen again,” he lied to reassure his uncle.
“It better not.”
Aaron watched Robert make his way back towards the pub.
“I’m taking the kids to Moria tonight and pumping them full of sugar,” he muttered to himself as he rounded the corner.
