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"Another, Chas," Robert said, dragging the glass closer to her.
"I'm not sure that's a good idea," she answered, looking at him pitifully. "You can't drown your sorrows on alcohol, love."
"Isn't that what everyone does?" Robert asked. "It's not like I have anything to stay sober for."
Chas glared at him. She put the glass that she was cleaning down and slapped her hand next to Robert's glass. He looked up at her with a frown.
"You do have something," Chas said. Her voice was earnest and soft, filled with that passionate tone that was usually reserved for her son. "You have so many things. Like Liv. That little girl needs you so much right now. And Home Farm and the scrapyard. And I need you." The last part was quieter, as if she wasn't sure she should be saying it out loud. "And Aaron is gonna need his husband once he gets back."
"But he won't, will he?" Robert said, almost in tears. "At least not for a long time. It's been four months, Chas, and he's still in there. And there's nothing I can do to make it better for him."
He closed his eyes and sighed, all fight leaving his body.
"Oh, sweetheart." Chas rounded the bar and approached the blond. She enveloped him in her arms, and Robert clung to her like a lifeline.
"It's just… I feel so powerless. I don't know what to do."
Chas sighed. "It's gonna be okay. You'll see. Before you know it, he's gonna be back here, with us, and this will all look like a distant memory. You and him will have the future you deserve."
"I thought it was gonna be easier," Robert confided. "I thought once we stopped hiding and making each other the enemy, once we made a proper go of it, it would all fall into place." He wanted to add more, but his mouth dried. He gulped and batted his eyelids to stop the tears. He felt lost and broken, like a part of his soul had left with Aaron.
Chas offered him a kind smile. It was comforting to know that she had his back. At last, the months of insistence and living in close quarters had paid off. Their relationship, albeit rocky sometimes, had managed to survive even Aaron's absence.
Suddenly, Chas' eyes drifted towards the door and opened like saucers. She looked like she had seen a ghost. Her hold on Robert's shoulders weakened. Robert turned around, and felt the world freeze around him.
In front of him, like an angel sent from heaven, was his husband. A little thinner than he was when he last saw him in the pub, a little worse for wear, but there. He was smiling at Robert like time hadn't gone by and filling the room with music again.
"Sorry, do you know where my husband is?" Aaron joked. He let go of his bag just in time to catch an armful of Robert. The force of the impact almost sent them both tumbling into the ground, but Aaron held on to the bar with one hand and to his attacker with the other. Once stabilised, Aaron enveloped his arms around his husband's waist, holding on as tightly as he could.
"You're here," the blond muttered into his neck. "You're here." He repeated like a mantra.
Aaron laughed, pulling apart in order to take Robert's face in his hands. He pressed his lips to his husband's in a sweet kiss that sent a shiver down Robert's spine. Both men smiled into the kiss.
"How are you here?" He asked in wonder.
"Ask your attorney," Aaron asked simply. "He was the one who convinced them to let me out early."
"It doesn't matter. You're here," repeated Robert, burrowing his face in Aaron's neck.
Aaron smiled again and looked at his mother over Robert's head. "Hi, mum."
Chas approached, elbowing Robert so he'd let go of her son and hugging him tight. After a few kisses and comforting words, she went back to the bar to pour them a drink.
Robert felt like he was about to burst with happiness. The dark hole inside him receded, giving way to Aaron's warmth.
A few people approached to congratulate Aaron on his comeback. Chas left two pints in front of them, smiling widely like she hadn't in months, and run to the back to call Cain. Soon, the entire Dingle clan was inside the pub, clapping Aaron's back and offering to buy rounds. Robert let the joy of the scene fill him and watched as Aaron got reacquainted with his family.
Finally he stepped in to reclaim his husband and lead them to a booth. They settled next to each other. Robert threw his arm around Aaron protectively and Aaron melt into him. They talked quietly, relying on each other stories about Liv and prison and whispering 'I missed you's in each other's ears.
Robert lifted his hand to Aaron's face and caressed his bruises softly. That was the only way he acknowledged them. Inside, he was furious. He couldn't understand how anyone could hurt someone as pure as Aaron, someone as undeserving of it. But it didn't matter now. Aaron was home and those men could not touch him anymore. Whatever was needed for Aaron to get back on track, he'd do it.
"What are you doing this weekend?" Aaron asked, lifting his head from Robert's shoulder.
Robert frowned in confusion.
"Spending it with you, I hope," he joked, pushing Aaron lightly and making him laugh. He dropped a kiss on top of Aaron's head.
"Wanna make this official?" Aaron asked, lifting his hand to show his wedding ring.
Robert laughed.
"Why, Mr. Sugden, are you proposing again?"
"Are you saying yes, Mr. Dingle?" He asked back, grinning.
Robert took Aaron by his sweater and drew him close. He rested their foreheads together.
"You know I am." He answered. There was never any other answer with Aaron.
"I know."
They weren't delusional. They knew there was a long road to recovery ahead. That the nightmares and the fear would not disappear instantly. But they could deal with that later. For now, they would sit and drink and argue about honeymoon destinations. The rest could wait.