Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Poppy, it’s time to go,” Aaron called out to his daughter who was five going on forty with a powersuit.

She stuck her head out of her bedroom door and looked at him standing in the hallway.

“Who’s going to fix my hair?”

“Aunt Victoria.”

“Hmmm…I want Grandpa to do it.”

Paddy had watched a lot of YouTube videos on how to learn to do Eve’s hair and Poppy has always been jealous.

“Grandpa is busy, he’s going to be helping me get ready.”

She looked him up and down and even though she was biologically his, he felt those were Robert’s judging eyes.

“I guess you do need more help than me.”

“Rude.”

She shrugged and Aaron really did believe she was an old, cynical pensioner reincarnated in a little girl’s body.

“Are you excited about today?” he asked.

“If he’s the best you can do.”

“I told you to stop saying things like that, you’re going to hurt John’s feelings.”

“If his feelings can be hurt by a five-year-old maybe he shouldn’t be marrying into our family.”

How his child was born a genius, he had no idea. He had been holding back having her tested because he wanted her to have a real school experience. But he wondered if that was a dangerous thing, giving her time to plan what atrocities she’ll do next while others learn the alphabet.

“We need to go, I’m dropping you off with Aunt Vic, I need to get ready.”

“But you’re a boy. Just put your suit on and wash your face.”

“It’s my wedding day.”

“Your third, it’s not that important is it?”

“It’s my first to John, you said you would be nice to him.”

She shook her head, her brown curly hair falling into her eyes. She had his hair meaning it was a mess most of the time and since you can’t really shave a little girl’s head to control curls, it was wild.

“I said I wouldn’t make my self sick on his suit.”

She had learned she could make herself vomit; it was a dark day because she now could use gastrointestinal warfare against her enemies. Her enemies right now only consisted of John and her cousin Henry. She thought Henry was too sensitive, she really was Robert Sugden’s child. How that happened when she wasn’t biologically Robert’s and never met him, he didn’t know. Aaron’s curse to bear, having a daughter exactly like his ex-husband.

He heard the door open downstairs.

“AARON!” he heard Liv shout.

He really didn’t want to deal with her today. “Hurry up,” he told Poppy before he went downstairs.

Liv was setting a box on the kitchen table when he descended the stairs.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“If you’re so dead set on this travesty-

“I am,” he said, cutting off whatever she was going to say.

To say Liv wasn’t a fan of John was to say Cain was a little crazy. She had made her stance very clear that if he married John, she wouldn’t be there for him when it all fell apart.

“Then I got you this as a wedding present.” She gestured to the box.

Poppy came down the stairs at that moment and stood next to Liv, standing on her tiptoes trying to see in the box.

“What is this? Anthrax? Ricin? Cyanide?” Aaron questioned his little sister.

“Where would I get ricin on short notice?” Liv said making Poppy giggle.

Aaron looked down at his daughter. “Do you even know what ricin is?”

“Walter White,” she said.

Aaron looked back up to Liv. “Have you been letting her watch Breaking Bad?”

“No, of course not, I think that’s her and Mack’s show.”

“No, Mack says its too naughty for me to watch,” Poppy said, protecting her pseudo uncle.

“Then how do you know what happened on a show you’re not allowed to watch?”

“Grammy fell asleep, and I watched it.”

He would have to talk to his mother. She already had Eve knowing what Game of Thrones is because of her falling asleep watching things.

Liv nudged him with her foot. “Go on, open it.”

Just as he was about to open it, the box whined.

“You didn’t, Liv.”

“What?” she asked innocently.

“We can’t have a dog.”

“Why not? A girl needs a dog.”

All Poppy needed to hear was that it was a dog and she was grabbing a chair to climb on the table to get in the box.

“We’re not keeping it,” he told them both.

Poppy opened the box and inside was a giant white thing.

“What is that?” he asked while Poppy squealed.

“This is a Great Pyrenees; she’s ten weeks old and she’s the runt of the litter.”

“She’s the runt? She’s huge.”

“I’ll be honest with you.”

“Please do,” he said trying to keep his anger in check.

“I went over to the vet surgery today, hoping to get Paddy to talk you out of this mistake you’re making.”

“Liv,” he warned.

“I know, I know. Anyway, he wasn’t there because I guess he took the day of your wedding off, who knew? But Rhona showed me this little girl who she was giving her shots. Apparently, the mother rejected her so Rhona, Paddy and Belle have been taking care of her. She’s finally big enough to get a home and what better home than yours?”

“Why don’t you take her if you are so worried about her?”

“Because I adopted her equally small brother.”

“You are taking a mick, right? Two runts.”

“No and two dogs would just be too much for me and Vinny.”

“I’m getting married today.”

“Don’t remind me.”

“Papa, can we keep her, please. I’ll bathe her, feed her, and teach her to fight burglars,” Poppy begged.

“Fine. Whatever, this day can’t get any worse.”  Liv looked away, which was strange in itself. But he really needed to get ready for his wedding. “Can you take Poppy over to Vic’s to get her hair done and take the puppy back to the vet surgery.”

“Papa no!” Poppy cried.

“Just until after the wedding. We can’t leave a brand-new puppy alone here, she’ll get scared.”

“Promise we’ll go get her back?”

“I promise.” He looked at Liv. “I’m not through with you. Are you still boycotting the wedding?”

She just looked at him and he had his answer, she was not budging. She said she didn’t trust John, but she had always been weirded out because he was Robert’s brother.

Chapter Text

Liv dropped Poppy off at Vic’s and then took the puppy back to the vet surgery. After that, she headed to Holy Scrap where she was meeting someone. She knew it was for the best, but she still felt like she was betraying Aaron.

She looked around the scrapyard for the uninvited wedding guest.

“Looking for me?” the voice said, coming from behind her.

She jumped but was able to calm down quickly. When she saw him she launched herself at him.

“Robert,” she said, hugging him.

He stiffened for a moment but returned the hug.

“Today’s the day, huh?” Robert said, stepping back.

“He’s going through with it.”

“Why?”

“Before I would have said he thinks he has to, John has made it not an option for him to say no anymore,” Liv said. “It’s the only way he gets to keep her. John has too many friends in high places.”

“I don’t get it; the Dingles would flay anyone trying to take her away from Aaron.”

“He hasn’t told anyone. He’s in this fog, is the only way to explain it. He completely cut me out of his life two months ago.”

“This feels like some sort of bad horror movie.”

She nodded. She thought that for the better part of a year. “He’s got something on Aaron, I know it. I think it has something to do with Ruby’s dad.”

“Who’s Ruby?”

“Faith’s long lost son, Caleb’s wife.”

“There’s a fire sale on long lost sons it seems.”

“I don’t trust him.”

“So, you’ve told me, you told me for a year. The reason why I even went for the appeal even though I thought it was useless. But all you ever told me was he was too intense.”

Liv rubbed her hand down her face. “I want to say he’s got Aaron snowed but like I said, I think it’s more than that. At first Poppy liked John but said that he was making Aaron sad. So, she started not to like him very much and Aaron broke it off with him.”

“So, what happened?”

“Aaron did something to Anthony, I don’t know what, but I think he might have killed him. And I think John cleaned it up.”

She could see the shock on Robert’s face. “No, Aaron wouldn’t kill anyone, not like that.”

“You’ve proven that anger can cause a lot of damage. He won’t tell me anything, all I know is what I’ve pieced together from listening to Caleb, Ruby, Stef, and Aaron. Ruby’s dad was bad, like Gordon bad.”

“Damn. And you think John is holding whatever it is over Aaron’s head?”

“I know he is. Aaron just gets back together with him after that when he had already ended it, no. And I was there when he found Aaron and Poppy’s passports in Aaron’s bag.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Aaron was going to run away with Poppy.”

“Aaron was going to take Poppy and do a runner?”

She nodded. “I don’t know where, he wasn’t even going to tell me goodbye, I found the letter he was going to leave me. But now, he acts like none of that ever happened. I don’t know if he’s completely disassociated or what. I just know two months ago; he was still planning on running but now he’s going through with this farce of a wedding.”

“I don’t know what you want me to do, Liv. If he really is holding something over Aaron, we could really drop him in it if we stop the wedding.”

“No, I’ve been thinking about this. We need to get him to leave Aaron. He’s obsessed with Aaron and I’m actually not sure why.”

“Aaron’s amazing.”

“Only you think this, he’s a great brother when he’s not being a complete knobhead but right now, he’s not Aaron and hasn’t been him in months. Not since John found the passports. Something happened that day. I think up until the passports were found Aaron was thinking clearly but I don’t think so anymore. Before he looked scared around John after Anthony “left” the village but now it’s like he can’t live without him. How can someone go from planning on leaving the country and all your family to get away from someone to picturing the next fifty years with them?”

“The only thing I can think of is if he’s drugging Aaron.”

“No, I would have noticed.”

“But you said yourself Aaron’s cut you out of his life for the past two months. I wonder who else he’s not talking to.”

“Mack. He and Mack had a falling out around the same time but if he was drugged we would have noticed. He’s not acting drugged.”

“Could he be self-harming again?”

Liv looked down at the ground then back up. “I’m almost 100 percent sure he is.”

“One phone call to Children Services saying he’s a danger to himself and Poppy, and John’s won.”

Liv shook her head. “I don’t think John wants to hurt Aaron, I think he wants to be his hero.”

“How do you make that out?”

“Just the praise he seeks all the time, it’s unsettling.”

“If Aaron is self-harming again, if he did do something to Anthony, I can’t crash the wedding.”

“He’s alone.”

“Aaron is the furthest thing from alone. He has a huge family, a daughter and you.”

“In his head, he’s alone. I know my brother, once he knows you’re out of prison and can take Poppy, he’ll find a way out from John.”

“Why don’t I like the sound of that?”

“As much as I hate to say it, right now our priority is to get Poppy away from John.”

“I’m an ex-con, no one in their right mind is going to give me custody.”

“Aaron isn’t in his right mind.”

“He’ll fight me.”

“He won’t. He doesn’t have it in him to be that kind of selfish. He’s sick right now, but he knows you are the better choice. The only issue is after she’s not in the house anymore, John doesn’t have any reason to pretend to be nice anymore.”

“Aaron, not weak, remember Kasim?”

“If he killed Anthony, I don’t think he’s okay, Robert.”

“You’re not even sure Anthony is dead. You just said he disappeared, he could be in Bali for all we know. Maybe this is just wishful thinking from you that there is a reason Aaron is with someone his sister and daughter hate.”

Robert was sounding angry now, she couldn’t blame him.

“Be mad. Be angry but stop this wedding. If he marries John, John will have more rights than Chas or me if anything happens to him. People have a tendency to get hurt near him. I told you about Aiden.”

“Fine but when this blows up in our faces, I get to blame you.”

“Deal.”

Chapter Text

Mack was trying to keep Poppy occupied while they waited for Aaron to arrive. It was starting to get a bit awkward. He had sent Aaron a few texts, but none were answered.

“Where is he?” Vic whispered to him.

“I don’t know. He’s not answering my calls.”

John was starting to look a little uneasy. The only reason Mack was even at the wedding was to make sure that Poppy was alright. She didn’t like John and truthfully, he didn’t think Aaron liked him much either. That was until two months ago and then everything was right as rain according to Aaron.

“I’ve got to go,” Moira said, before leaving.

Slowly everyone left, leaving only Mack, Vic, and John. Chas had left cursing out Aaron. Paddy and Mandy took Poppy with them so she could play with Eve.

“I can’t believe he stood me up,” John said, he looked hurt but sounded angry.

“We don’t know if he stood you up,” Vic said. “Maybe he’s just late.”

“Two hours late?” John snapped.

“I’ll go look for him,” Mack volunteered.

“Don’t bother,” John said, leaving a stunned Vic and Mack.

“He’s really angry,” Mack said.

“Wouldn’t you be? I can’t believe Aaron did this to him.”

“I SWEAR TO GOD, IF YOU DON’T LET ME GO!” Aaron shouted.

Two hours ago, he was headed to get married when two huge blokes pulled over and bundled him into the boot of their car. They drove for a while and finally stopped. Aaron didn’t know where he was, it wasn’t any place in the village, he knew that. It actually reminded him a lot of the cabin that Paddy got shot in by Robert.

He shook his head. Why was he thinking about Robert on his wedding day?

“Shut up,” the taller of the two said, kicking Aaron in the shin.

The door opened and Aaron felt like he was in some nightmare. Robert was standing there, a little worse for the wear but beautiful. Aaron must have hit his head or finally gone completely delusional.

“Did you hit him?” the Robert illusion demanded.

“He was putting up a fight,” the smaller of the two hulks said.

“Just go,” the Robert illusion told them.

Aaron watched the Robert illusion pay them and then they disappeared through the door.

“I’ve lost my mind,” Aaron said, not knowing what else to say.

“No, I’m here, you’re not seeing things. I got my appeal.”

Aaron shook his head, but his vision blurred some. “No.”

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“The real Robert would never hold me hostage.”

Illusion Robert laughed lightly. “Isn’t that our foreplay. I’ve done it before.”

“You would never joke about that.”

“Being locked up for six years gives a person a warped sense of humor.”

“Untie me.”

Aaron pulled on the zip ties around his wrists, they had tied him to the radiator. He fucking hated radiators.

“I will but only if you promise not to run…or hit me.”

Aaron just stared at Robert, if he was real, he knew both of those things were going to happen. He might even hit him twice.

“You’re thinking about hitting me, aren’t you?”

Aaron sighed. “Just let me go. I promise, I won’t hit you.” He didn’t like hitting Robert. Every time he had done it before was a reaction to something and he wanted to change. He wanted to be someone that his daughter could look up to and not be scared of.

“I will but we have to talk first. Liv is scared for you.”

“When did you talk to my sister?”

“I’ve been talking to Liv for years. A while after the divorce she found a way to get a letter to me against my will.”

“You’d talk to her but not me. Not the person you claimed to love.”

Robert sat down beside Aaron. It really was déjà vu of the cabin that he tried to trick the confession from Katie’s death at. At least he wasn’t bleeding this time but maybe that would be better, he would be able to keep his mind focused.

“You know why I had to break contact. If I didn’t you would have waited for fourteen years. You wouldn’t have had a life. It wasn’t fair to you.”

Aaron scoffed. “Funny, you never asked me what I wanted. But that’s Robert Sugden to the core, isn’t it? Controlling and manipulative.”

Robert shook his head, grabbed Aaron’s chin, and forced him to look at him.

“Call me controlling, call me manipulative but I didn’t pick a man over my child. You sleep with a man that our daughter hates.”

Aaron was seething now. “Our daughter? How is she our daughter when you refused to have anything to do with her? And my life choices are none of your concern. One more thing, you were going to pick a man over your child. Did you forget when you planned to run away with me when Rebecca was pregnant? Never even to meet Seb.”

“That was different.”

“How?”

“He didn’t hate you. He wasn’t even born. Liv and Poppy both hate him. The two people you are closest to in the world, hate this man. What does that tell you?”

Robert watched the fight drain out of Aaron and he let go of his chin. He hated having to do it this way, but Aaron was not about gentle reassurance when he was in this kind of state. When he was upset and down, yes. When he was a hissing, rabid wildcat, no.

“You don’t understand,” Aaron said, breathing hard, showing how worked up he had been.

“Make me understand.”

“I made a mistake, a huge fucking mistake.”

Robert grabbed the pocketknife he had for the zip ties, cut them and Aaron was free. Aaron didn’t move from the spot; he just ran a hand over his face.

“What happened?”

Aaron turned to Robert, and Robert noticed the tears threatening to fall from Aaron’s eyes.

“When I met John, I had no idea who he was. He kind of hated me actually.”

“You’re so problematic.”

“Yeah, I guess. Well, we started hooking up.” Robert was holding on to his restraint by a fingernail at the moment. The thought of Aaron with anyone else, killed him.

“I didn’t introduce him to Poppy until around Christmas. I wanted to know that he was going to stick around. By that time, we were a real couple. In the beginning, she liked him. Liv hated him from the beginning. She told me it was because she thought he was hiding something. But I finally got it out of her that she felt he was trying to come in between me and them.” Aaron put his head back, resting it on the wall next to the radiator. “Poppy started picking up Liv and Mack’s distaste for John.”

Liv had told Robert about Mack; in the beginning he was worried that Mack was Aaron’s new him but turned out the other man was Aaron’s new Adam.

“What happened then?” Robert asked. Trying to stay focused on the story, not the fact that he wanted to kiss Aaron. Since Aaron was close to tears, maybe now was not the right time.

“I broke up with him. He took it well; he said no hard feelings and that was that.”

“Until?”

“Ruby’s dad, Anthony. I saw the way she acted around him. I knew in my bones what he was, what he did. I confronted him. I lost my temper. I thought I killed him. I didn’t but it doesn’t matter. I called John, I didn’t know what else to do. He got rid of Anthony’s body. After that, he talked about how much a shame it would be for both Poppy’s parents being in prison for murder. John got rid of the real killer’s evidence but kept mine. Don’t ask who, I won’t say. And anyway, he said that if we got back together, there would be no reason for him to give the evidence to the police.”

Aaron stood up, jarring Robert who had been leaning into him some. Suddenly, Aaron started to pace. He continued, “I planned to run. Take Poppy and go to Italy. With me gone there would be no reason for John to shop me to the police. But he found our passports. Liv was so angry, but she understood, I told her I just wanted a fresh start. But John wouldn’t allow it. So, we got back together. I pretended to be happy, then one day, I was. But it was weird, it was like I was watching my life happen through a fishbowl. The decision being made, were John’s. I would smile and nod, I didn’t even have to think.”

This was definitely some kind of dissociation. “But Poppy was unhappy.”

“I had to make a choice. Unhappy with me where I could watch over her or unhappy with my mother. I love my mother but…let’s just say it’s a good thing Eve has Paddy. But Paddy wouldn’t have any rights to Poppy. Mum could get with someone worse than John, someone like Gordon. You weren’t here when she was with Al. I’m not saying he was anything like Gordon but it proves, she picked him over Eve. Liv almost died because of her want to be with Al.”

“How can you be so sure John isn’t like Gordon?” Robert hated pressing Aaron on this, but he had to get him to see sense.

“You sort of get a sixth sense, you know what to look for. She hated him but she wasn’t scared. After everything started with Gordon, you couldn’t tell. There are videos of me smiling and hugging him. But if you really watch, you could see the milliseconds I’m watching his face, his movements to see if I’ve done something. I can’t guarantee John isn’t like Gordon. But then Liv’s medicine started disappearing every time John was around, that was the first thing I noticed.”

“Her seizure medicine?” Robert was going to kill John. This time he wouldn’t leave a body.

“Yes. I think he knew what I was doing.”

“What were you doing?”

“I was going to give Liv and Vinny guardianship over Poppy. Then if he really did turn me into the police she would be safe. But then Liv was having seizures weekly. He said that no one would give her custody.”

“People with epilepsy have children all the time.”

“You don’t understand, he was ALWAYS in my ear. I couldn’t get away from him. After so long, things that didn’t make sense, made perfect sense.”

“He was conditioning you; you know that right? I bet you started watching what you said, just so you didn’t anger him.”

“Yes.”

“Did you ever do that with me?”

Aaron laughed, it was a little broken. “Never. Best time of my life was fighting with you.”

“Same.”         

“I don’t know what to do. I’m so fucking lost.”

“Tag me in.”

“What?”

“Let me take care of it.”

“But Anthony.”

“I swear on my father’s grave that you will not go down for his death.”

“John is going to be so angry.”

“The Aaron I fell in love with didn’t give a fuck who was angry with him. He always went in fighting.”

“Maybe I’m not that Aaron anymore.”

“No, he’s there, he’s just in protection mode. I’m not saying I don’t have my own problems. Prison was no cake walk but, with us together, we can do this. But what I need you to do is send Poppy away for a while, so she doesn’t get mixed up in this.”

“I guess I can have Liv take her to the coast.”

“Do that.”

“But what about John?”

“You don’t worry about him.”

Chapter Text

Aaron had called Liv from Robert’s phone. She was packing up Poppy as Aaron and Robert drove back to the village. They would be gone before Aaron got back and that was good, one less thing for him to worry about.

“I need to talk to John alone,” Aaron said as they saw the sign for Emmerdale.

“No way.”

“If you’re with me it’s just going to put his back up. Maybe, this doesn’t have to be so bad. Maybe now that you’re here and he knows even if he goes to the police, Poppy won’t be taken away. She’ll go with you, and he’ll hate that even more.”

“Do you really think it will be that easy?”

“Yeah, all he’s got on me is Anthony, but I don’t think he’ll actually use it. Now that you’re here, things will be different.”

“Aaron, I don’t even have a place to live. It’s not like I can get custody of her.”

“Since when did you ever not land on your feet. Yeah, prison knocked you down but you’re still Robert Sugden. The most annoying narcissist in the Dales.”

“I’m not sure that’s the compliment you think it is.”

Aaron smiled to himself as Robert continued to drive. It was strange being back in his presence. It felt normal and foreign at the same time. At one time he was sure he would never be calmed just from his close proximity to someone, like he was with Robert.

When they got back to the village, against Robert’s pleading, Aaron went back to Mill Cottage to speak to John. Living in the second flat, not the one that Robert built for Aaron, made it more acceptable in the beginning. Aaron couldn’t imagine sleeping in the same room with John as he did with Robert.

Upon entering his house, he saw that all John’s things were gone, and a note was on the table. His hand shook as he grabbed it. If you were to ask him if he loved John that morning, he would have said yes. He would have been lying but he would have said yes. Now, he wasn’t sure of his feelings.

Aaron,

I had a feeling you wouldn’t go through with the wedding. Then seeing Robert show up, it seemed I was the only one in this for love. I have given all of myself to you and you have thrown it in the rubbish bin. One day I hope you realize the mistake you’ve made. He will hurt you again and this time, I will not be there to pick up the pieces.

                                                 John

He heard the door open and expected it to be John, but it wasn’t. Robert stood there looking like a cross between a vision and a nightmare.

“Where is he?” Robert asked.

Aaron held up the letter then let it fall to the ground. “He left me.”

“That’s good, isn’t it? Now he has no reason to shop you to the police.”

“He has plenty reasons but if he does them is another question entirely. I’m not sure what to do now. Our plan kind of depended on him being here.”

“What do you want to happen?”

“I don’t know. Liv and Poppy will be gone for a week. That’ll be enough time for me to make sure every part of him is out of here.”

“I can help.”

“No Robert. Just because I’m not with John doesn’t mean you just slide into his place.”

Robert, who had been looking like a kicked puppy most of the day, straightened his back and looked at Aaron with those eyes that used to make Aaron weak in the knees.

“I am not a replacement; I’m the genuine article.”

“Well, I’m glad prison didn’t shrink your ego.” Aaron leaned down and grabbed the letter, crumbling it up. “This was so…anticlimactic. I’ve been terrified of what he would do for months, and he just leaves. I don’t trust it.”

“I can’t say I’m not glad he’s gone.”

“But?”

“No, but, I just can’t say I’m not glad he’s gone.”

“You really think we’ll just get back together? You divorced me. You broke my heart.”

“Not because I didn’t love you. It was because I loved you so much I couldn’t let you’re life end with me.”

“That wasn’t your decision. If I wanted to wait fourteen years for you, that was my decision. You didn’t even let me visit or write to you. Do you know what that did to me?”

“Probably the same thing it did to me. Being in there, it changed me but the one thing that has never changed is my love for you.”

“Rebecca took Seb, I wasn’t allowed to see him anymore. If it wasn’t for Liv and Poppy, I’m not sure I would have survived. Poppy was supposed to be ours, but you wanted nothing to do with her.”

“What good would I have done for her in prison? For you? As for Seb, it wasn’t my call, it was Rebecca’s.”

“Then she died, and you let some aunt take him.”

“I couldn’t ask you to raise him. It was too much.”

“Another decision that you made without even talking to me. Like when you turned yourself in or pleaded guilty. Do I rank anywhere in your decision-making process?”

“Everything I’ve done in the past ten years; you have always been my deciding factor.”

Aaron moved around Robert and sat on the couch; his legs felt like jelly for some reason. Robert didn’t sit down but he did start to pace back and forth like a caged animal. Aaron recognized the move; in prison you need to move but there is no room. The prison is a cage, and the prisoners are the animals. Aaron only had to be in prison for months at a time. Robert had been in for six long years.

“Ten years ago, you just got back with Chrissie. We weren’t even together. All we kept doing was hurting each other. You told me I was a waste of space, and I should top myself.”

“I was angry, I never meant any of it. And if memory serves, you weren’t shy with your own hurtful jabs.”

“Which should be a reason we don’t try this again.”

Robert stopped his pacing and looked at Aaron. “We’ve come a long way since those days. Without you, I’m nothing.”

“You just think that because you haven’t been out long. Soon, you’ll be back to your old self.”

“No. Prison did change me but not my love for you. If anything, it’s made it even more deep.”

Aaron couldn’t tell who made the first move nor did it matter. Somehow, just like always, they found themselves back in each other’s arms. The bedroom was the next logical step. Sex hadn’t even been in Aaron’s mind a few minutes before but now it was all he could think about. The difference between Robert and John were staggering. Maybe it was why he wasn’t able to get over some of the things John said and did.

On the outside, John was polite and kind, only very rarely would you see the darkness behind. Robert was all smug arrogance with little semblance of niceties. But his trust of Robert was definite, and his trust of John was severely lacking.

Robert went back to Vic’s after an amazing night with Aaron. He didn’t know what his next step was, it would all depend on Aaron. Robert wanted to get back together right away but he could understand Aaron’s hesitancy.

He was lucky he didn’t have one of his nightmares the night before. So far he had woken up in cold sweats since he got out. Last night was the first night he had slept through the night, and he owed all that to Aaron. Could you have an emotional support person like you do a dog?

“Hey, Robert,” someone shouted.

Turning he saw it was Vinny with two huge puppies on leads. They both looked like big snowballs.

“Yes?” he asked.

“I said I would watch the dog, but I need a name.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m guessing you were with Aaron. I saw John leave yesterday. And you and Aaron are not quiet. Thank God Liv and Poppy are in Whitby. Like, I had to put on headphones. I get you just got out of prison but, it was too loud.”

Robert hadn’t realized they had been loud. And if he were honest, he didn’t care. Aaron would be mortified though. This is the problem with Vinny and Liv in the other flat at Mill Cottage.

“Whatever you do, don’t tell Aaron,” he said firmly. Aaron would never sleep with him again if he knew.

“Yeah, I figured that.” Vinny’s face was a little red. Robert was pretty happy with his performance the night before, so he was glad to have fans. “So…what should I call the dog?”

“What dog?”

Vinny held up the pink lead, that the white fluff ball with a pink collar was attached to. “This is Aaron’s dog.”

“Aaron has a dog?”

“Liv’s wedding gift to him.”

“He didn’t get married.”

“Okay, his freedom gift.”

“Don’t you mean Poppy’s dog?” Kids get dogs all the time.

“Liv really got her for Aaron. He’s not doing well, and she was worried for him. Did you know Great Pyrenees are guardian dogs? They protect their families or livestock or both. She wanted protection for Aaron and Poppy but mostly Aaron.”

“Why not Poppy?”

“John doesn’t care about Poppy. It’s weird. He adores Harry, but Poppy, they just don’t get on. I don’t agree with Liv’s idea that John is bad news. But he doesn’t get along with Poppy, ignore her maybe.”

The dogs started to pull Vinny, and he started to walk, Robert decided to find out what he could about his half-brother from someone besides Aaron, Liv, and Vic.

“How do you not get along with a five-year-old?” he asked as he watched the two dogs trot along happily.

“You can’t tell Liv,” Vinny said seriously. He wasn’t looking at Robert, more like he was doing his best not to look at him.

“Tell her what?”

Vinny stopped making the puppies whine. “Christmas, we all got together, it was a big do, you know how Dingles like to party. John didn’t want to go; told Aaron he just wanted them together. Told him to let Poppy stay with me and Liv, and we would take her to the party. First Christmas since Zak died, everyone was trying their best to cheer up Belle.”

“I was sorry to hear about Zak dying. If I could I would have been here for Aaron.”

“He’s not as fragile as you think he is.”

That angered Robert. “Never for a minute have I ever thought Aaron was fragile or weak.”

“I know, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it that way. Anyway, a little before Christmas, Aaron said something about Ben and John went off on him. I’ve heard him go off on Aaron when he’s brought your name up but not Ben. Like how jealous could you be at a dead guy.”

“Ben, that was the boyfriend that was killed by the woman Meena, right?” He already knew the answer, Liv was very chatty in her letters.

“Yeah. He was a nice bloke; he was good for Aaron.”

“But?”

“No but, not really.”

“But?”

“He was vanilla. And nothing is wrong with vanilla. But when you’re used to something with a little kick, it’s a little boring.”

“Was that a compliment for me?”

“No, it really wasn’t.” It was.

“Anyway, like I was saying, Poppy had heard the argument. She told Aaron it scared her the next day and he broke up with John.”

“How did they get back together?”

Aaron said it was because of Anthony’s death but Robert wasn’t so sure, he thought Aaron had more secrets he was keeping.

“I think there were a lot of factors but the one I know, you can’t tell Liv. She’s so protective of Aaron, it would hurt her if she knew.”

They had arrived back to Mill Cottage and Robert followed Vinny into the flat that used to be his and Aaron’s, but now was Liv and Vinny’s.

Vinny took the dogs off the leads and the girl dog jumped on Robert’s lap…hard…just as he sat down on the sofa.

“OUCH!” he said loudly.

“Down girl dog,” Vinny said.

“She really does need a name.”

“That’s what I’ve been saying. “

After a moment, the dog got off of him and went to play with her brother.

“So, finish the story,” Robert told Vinny.

The day after Boxing Day, Aaron went into Hotten to some gay bar. Long story short, he was drugged and a guy brought him back to his flat. But John had been at the bar and saw Aaron acting…off. He followed them and was able to save Aaron before anything happened.”

“Don’t you find that suspicious?” Robert asked.

“What?”

“That John just happened to be at the bar that Aaron was at, same time and day, just happened to see him needing help.”

“What? No, it was just a good thing he was there. But as close of a call it was, Liv would be watching over him with a microscope. So, just don’t tell her and don’t tell him I told you.”

“How do you know?”

“I saw him bringing Aaron home. Aaron could barely walk he was so out of it. I helped John get him in bed.”

“Then what?”

“What do you mean? I went back home.”

“You left Aaron drugged and out of it with his ex-boyfriend.” No way would Aaron feel comfortable enough to have a man who he only dated a few months then broke up with, stay with him while he was out of it.

“Look, I know Liv has a problem with John but besides being a bit insecure, he’s an okay bloke.”

Robert had a pretty good bullshit meter, and it was going off. Vinny was also keeping something quiet but if he shared a story of Aaron almost being assaulted. Then what he’s keeping schtum must be big.

“Why bring him home? Why not take him to hospital, make a police report?”

“John said Aaron wouldn’t have wanted that and from what I could tell, Aaron didn’t.”

Robert realized that Vinny was much too naïve for this talk. He would have to find someone who knew more. Aaron’s new best mate Mack for one, maybe.

Aaron decided to get this over with. He headed to the pub to tell his mum that he would not be marrying John. And that John had left the village. She liked John, he had saved her after all. It was a bit interesting, at first she thought it was too fast until John saved her. It was lucky he was there.

The pub went quiet when he walked in. Sam, Lydia, and Belle were all there, but it was lunchtime.

“Where have you been? The only reason I didn’t ring the police is because Liv said you were okay. Please tell me you weren’t with Robert Sugden,” his mother snapped.

“I’ve been home. I just came to tell everyone that the wedding is officially off, and John has left the village.”

“What about Robert?” his mother demanded.

“What about Robert?” he asked.

“Don’t be cheeky. Were you with Robert last night?”

“Not that it’s any of your business but yes. We’re not back together but I’m an adult and what I do is my own business.”

“Not when you have a child, it isn’t.”

Aaron laughed mockingly. “Funny, because you didn’t give a stuff about Eve when you were jumping in bed with Al.”

“That’s not fair,” his mum said.

“But accurate,” Aaron said. They had a huge falling out when he found out she cheated on Paddy with Al. “There’s a difference between us.”

“What is that?”

“I put my child first.”

It was her turn to laugh mockingly. “Oh sweetheart, you’re just like your old mum. You pick men, the wrong men, over and over again. Jumping back in bed with Robert proves that we’re more alike than you want to acknowledge. The only difference is, I’m not a hypocrite.”

“How’d you work that out?”

“You’re all about sanctity of marriage except for the fact that you were sleeping with Robert behind Chrissie’s back. You didn’t care so much as long as you got what you wanted.”

“Tempers are a bit elevated right now, why don’t we take a breather.” Aaron hadn’t even realized Mandy was there.

“I just came to tell you the weddings off. What I do or who I’m with, is none of your concern.”

He left after that, not wanting to get into another row in public. As he walked back home, his mobile rang. Looking, he saw it was Liv, and she was video calling.

“Hey, strangers,” he said.

Liv and Poppy’s smiling faces were staring back at him.

“Papa, we have lobster,” Poppy said happily.

“You spoil her and you’re going to have to find a way to get her to eat fish fingers again.”

“It’s vacation, we’re supposed to spoil ourselves,” Liv said.

“Yeah,” Poppy agreed.

“How is everything?” Liv asked, looking a little hesitant.

“He left a note. He ended it with me.”

“Really? That doesn’t sound like him.”

Aaron shrugged. “It is what it is.”

“What about Robert?”

“What about Robert?”

He was starting to feel like a damn parrot.

“You know what.”

“Nothing is going on with him.” Except Robert stayed the night and he started kicking in his sleep. Robert usually did that but this time it was joined by crying. Aaron was able to calm him down even without waking him up. Prison, he didn’t need to ask why. For someone like Robert, it was hell.

They talked for a few more minutes while he walked. He had taken the week off because it was supposed to be his honeymoon, but he decided just to take the day off. After all there wasn’t a marriage.

“Aaron!” he heard Paddy call out to him.

He told Liv and Poppy goodbye and turned to see what Paddy wanted.

“Mandy just texted me about John. I’m really sorry.”

“Don’t be. Well, if that’s all.”

“No, I was wondering if you would like to come over for dinner tomorrow night. Eve really wants to invite you for her dinner pick.”

“Which is?”

“Breakfast for Dinner. We’re having pancakes.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Please do, she misses you.”

When he neared Mill Cottage he saw Mack and Robert talking. They both were too much alike, whatever they were talking about wasn’t good. Not wanting to talk to either, he turned and left. He did hear Mack say that it was all going to blow up in Robert’s face.

John looked around his childhood home. He knew this would happen. He had been having nightmares about Aaron leaving him for Robert for weeks. Even when he thought it was impossible because Robert being in prison. Now that it happened he didn’t know what to do. He left but he wasn’t about to give up on Aaron. Let Robert have him…never. Aaron was his and Robert was never going to have him, even if he had to resort to unsavory methods. Aaron could be with him or no one, those were the choices. John did not share, and he wasn’t about to start to now. He would lay low for a while, until the Nate stuff cools down. Let Robert believe he won until John could fix it all.