Chapter Text
Robert is slowly emerging from sleep when he hears the sheets rustling next to him. Whatever it is that Aaron is up to, Robert is too tired and lazy to open his eyes and see. The rustling stops after a few moments, but Robert doesn’t feel Aaron next to him, nor did the door open. Curiosity finally gets the best of him and peers his eyes open to see Aaron perched on the loveseat by the bed engrossed in a sketchbook.
“Mornin’,” Robert’s voice has sleep still clinging to it, making it sound rough. Robert is not much of a morning person, and usually Aaron isn’t either, making this morning a bit unusual.
Aaron just grunts in response, but there’s something sparkling in his eyes when he looks at Robert.
“See something interesting?” Robert asks, stretching on the bed.
“Maybe.”
Robert smiles and closes his eyes again, knowing whatever Aaron is up to, it’s best to leave him alone. Now that he knows what Aaron is doing, the sounds of a pencil lightly scraping against paper fills the room. It’s soothing and Robert starts to drift. It’s been four days since the show, and Robert knows it’s only a matter of time before Aaron heads back to Emmerdale.
It’s a thought that Robert really doesn’t want to think about. He’s grown used to Aaron’s presence in his home, a week of living domestically has made Robert a lovesick fool. But Aaron has made Robert’s life feel complete in a way that he felt he’s been missing for years. And the way that he and Seb have taken to each other has made Robert’s heart swell in his chest.
“What are you thinking about?” Robert hears Aaron ask. Robert opens his eyes again, and Aaron is still sketching, but pauses to look up at him.
“You.”
“Soft lad,” Aaron says, finally getting up from the loveseat and walking back to the bed. He sits on the other edge of the bed and runs his fingers down Robert’s chest. Robert hums and arches his back a little to meet Aaron’s touch. Aaron’s fingers are like little wisps and goosebumps on his skin raised under his ministrations.
It’s silent for a bit, both of them just breathing softly. But it’s a good silence between them - one that will probably end the moment that Seb wakes up and barrels in the room. Aaron shifts a little, causing Robert to open his eyes again. When he does, he sees Aaron handing him the opened sketchbook.
Robert pushes himself up by his elbows to take the sketchbook and look at it properly.
It’s a sketch of Robert.
Mostly, Robert’s form isn’t all that defined. Lines sketched over each other to give the form of Robert’s body. The defining piece of the drawing is Robert’s hands. They stretch out from his body, sprawled out on the bed, and Aaron accentuates the arms in dark lines coming from the body into a light line as it turns in the hands.
Robert raises an eyebrow up towards Aaron who has been watching Robert intently. When their gazes meet, Robert hands the sketchbook back to Aaron. “I don’t think anyone has ever sketched me before.”
Aaron just shrugs a little, looking at the sketch and then closing it. “Don’t have a lot of artists in your bed, then?”
“You’re the only artist I ever want in my bed,” Robert says with a wink and leans forward to Aaron.
“Ugh,” Aaron scrunches his face but doesn’t pull away when Robert kisses him chastely on the mouth.
“I hope you know you have to sketch me all the time now,” Robert tells Aaron smugly when they pull away. “Or at least let me keep that sketch.”
“Didn’t take you for an exhibitionist,” Aaron says, stroking the sketchbook absent-mindedly.
“Only for you,” Robert shoots Aaron a wink and gets up from the bed to prove a point. He walks to the en-suite completely naked. He freshens up a bit, knowing once Seb comes in, he’ll have to start breakfast and there won’t be a moment to do so later.
*
While they’re cleaning up after breakfast, Robert touches the small of Aaron’s back to get his attention. “I have something to give you.”
Seb has already left the kitchen in favor of playing with his toys in the living room. Curious, Aaron follows Robert into his study, which before this moment, Aaron had not been in.
It’s decorated in the same kind of style as the rest of the home. Warm colors of furniture and varying mediums of artwork. Sitting proud on one of the built-in shelves are Aaron’s two pieces of glass that Robert had shown him the day after the showing. It fills Aaron with the same pleasure as when he first saw them.
Robert circles around the desk and rummages through one of the drawers while Aaron stands awkwardly in front of the desk. Finally, Robert pulls something out of the drawer and walks back to Aaron.
“This is for you,” Robert hands Aaron an envelope with Aaron’s name written in tidy letters.
“What is it?” Aaron asks pointlessly as he opens the envelope. Inside is a check made out to Aaron, the amount makes Aaron stagger back and reach out to grab the back of a chair to hold himself. It’s the most money he’s ever seen, and it’s addressed to him .
“We sold seven of your pieces. Five during the showing, and the final two were sold yesterday,” Robert explains with a smile.
“This-” Aaron is at a loss for words, “You still need your cut taken out, right?”
“No. I already deducted SITE’s percentage before I cut the check.”
Aaron is reminded of the first conversation he and Robert had about SITE. About how Robert had promised Aaron he would make him richer. That seems to be an understatement, looking at the amount written on the check. Aaron could buy himself better materials, even a new furnace. The one he’s had is ancient, and the thought of buying himself a new one makes him giddy.
“There’s another matter we also have to discuss,” Robert says, gesturing to the two chairs in front of the desk. Aaron doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to how quickly Robert can turn informal to business like. “Your next showing.”
“Already?” Aaron feels overwhelmed. He had just finished the first showing, and they’re already talking of the next showing. Was it just like Chas had said? That it’s going to be just Aaron making art and art and art with no respite?
“Don’t worry. I’m scheduling another so soon only because you’re new. Once we’ve established you as an artist, the showings will be only a yearly occurrence. I’m just trying to expose you as much as possible,” Robert says, almost as if he read Aaron’s mind. “Plus, we already have eight of your pieces already, so you won’t have to make as many as the first showing.”
“So when are you planning the next one?”
“In three months,” comes the swift reply. “And I won’t drag you to this one. I know...it’s not your scene.”
They hadn’t really spoken much about Aaron’s reaction to the showing. Aaron always thought it might be because Robert just wanted to give him space, but now, he just feels embarrassed.
“I’m sorry,” Aaron says, but to his relief, Robert just looks confused.
“What are you sorry for? It’s perfectly normal for artists not to be at their showings after the first one. And I don’t want you to do something you’re not comfortable with,” Robert reassures, placing a gentle hand on Aaron’s knee.
Aaron stares at the knee for a few moments, and he’s taken with a deep sense of understanding and love. How many times had people in his life forced him to do things he didn’t want to do? And here’s Robert seeing through him and understanding things Aaron can’t really put to words.
He could just say it. Tell Robert he loves him. But distance holds him back. He’s going to be leaving London soon. So he doesn’t. He’s a coward, and just rests his hand atop of Robert’s and they share a secret smile between the pair of them.
Maybe words don’t need to be said. Because this moment between them feels a lot like love.
*
After their meeting in the study, Aaron stays only two more days. They both act like the two days are for an execution or something, the way they both pretend it’s not almost over. Robert didn’t think it was going to be this difficult, but he’s gotten used to Aaron’s presence.
The day Aaron is due to return to Emmerdale, they first go to drop Seb off at daycare. He gives Aaron a long hug and is reluctant to let go, the sight moves Robert. He’s never seen his son take to anyone outside of Robert and he knows Seb is going to miss Aaron just as much as Robert will.
“Can we still talk every day?” Seb asks when he finally pulls away from Aaron.
“We’ll talk loads, I promise,” Aaron says, ruffling Seb’s hair. The answer seems to placate Seb, who nods and then gives a shy smile to Aaron.
“I’ll see you tonight, little man,” Robert tells Seb and doesn’t miss the way Aaron’s eyes flicker. Seb nods again and gives both Aaron and Robert a hug before the daycare receptionist holds Seb’s hand and takes him to the back.
The drive to the station is quiet, both of them seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Robert parks the car along the curb to the station and gets out to help Aaron with his small suitcase. It’s all pretense, but Aaron seems generous enough not to make fun of him about it.
They both just stand in front of each other at a loss for words. Aaron fiddles with the handle of his suitcase. Robert breaks the silence by reaching into his car and pulling out something he had bought for Aaron.
“This is for you,” Robert hands a small wrapped box to Aaron. With a curious look, Aaron takes it and unwraps it. He lets out a huff of a laugh when he sees that it’s a smart watch.
“So that way you always know when I’m calling and pick up your phone,” Robert explains with a smirk. Aaron laughs and continues to look at the watch but soon his face turns from amused to sadness.
“Ever wish you could be in two places at one time?” Aaron asks when Robert makes a questioning noise.
Robert pauses for a moment, churning the question in his head a few times. “Not particularly.”
“Oh.”
Robert touches Aaron’s hand that’s holding the watch box, “I know why you’re asking, though. I don’t want you to leave.”
Aaron chews his lip thoughtfully then purses them. “When am I going to see you again? Two months? Three? More?”
“It will be sooner than that, I promise,” Robert reassures, but it feels heavy on his tongue. Like he’s lying. And maybe he is. He doesn’t actually know when he’ll see Aaron again. He had neglected his work the past couple of days in favor of being with Aaron, and he knows he has so much to catch up on. Then there’s the added part of attending to new work too.
“Well…” Aaron trails off, looking out to the platform.
“Well,” Robert agrees. The goodbye feels anticlimactic, but Robert doesn’t know what else to say. He reaches out and envelopes Aaron into a hug, and they sway back and forth gently. If Robert were any more selfish, he’d tell Aaron he loves him. But he can’t. Not with the unpredictable nature of their relationship. Would it give Aaron false hope? Would it give Robert false hope?
“Guess I’ll be seeing you later,” Aaron tells Robert when they pull away from each other.
“Take care,” Robert says softly, heart halfway up his throat. Aaron gives Robert a tight smile and picks up his small suitcase, walking away without looking back.
Robert stays there until he can’t see Aaron anymore.
*
Returning to Emmerdale was met with little fanfare for the most part. Chas throws a proper Dingle do upon arriving, celebrating Aaron’s success. It feels like a breath of fresh air compared to the art showing, but that’s something Aaron keeps to himself, lest it makes Chas smug. For the most part, she holds her tongue about Robert and it’s a small win.
Vic and Diane sidle up to Aaron and ask about Robert. Aaron answers their questions and sticks with them throughout the evening. Until Adam comes by and coerces Aaron into a few rounds of darts. The familiarity of being in the Woolpack feels comfortable and it eases some of the sadness that Aaron felt when he left Robert. He’s reminded of all the people who love Aaron and it’s not the end of the world to be away from Robert. Still, he does miss the routine he had created with the two Sugdens.
After the do, Aaron holes himself in the Mill with his unpacked luggage. He stares at the check, chewing his lip. He knows it’s his money, but the moment he starts to spend it, it will make everything... real . Not as though the past ten days hadn’t been real. But it was almost like he could pretend he was living two lives. Now, he’s home, and he has in hands a check he earned due to his craft.
Aaron deposits the money after a few days, and starts with small things to buy. He gets himself a new blowpipe and a blowtorch. Next, he buys raw materials to make his own soda lime glass. He usually buys glass that he can use to blow, but has wanted to make his own glass for years. Now that glassblowing has become his full time occupation, Aaron can experiment more.
In the evenings, Aaron will either text or call Robert and they spend the majority of the evening talking to each other. Because he has more time to make fewer pieces, Aaron can relax and spend more time talking to Robert. They both talk about when they’ll see each other again, but nothing concrete is ever made. Each phone call ends with promises to see each other soon.
A month and a half after returning to Emmerdale, Aaron finishes seven pieces and sends them all to SITE in a timely manner. It probably makes Alicia and all the other SITE people happy with his quicker turnaround than last time. Robert shows his appreciation by sending a series of texts, each talking about the pieces and Aaron’s talent. It still makes him blush - not used to being heavily complimented on his work.
Because all his evenings are spent talking to Robert, Aaron hasn’t made much time going to the Woolpack. It’s a relatively empty evening, Katie and Chas are on one side of the bar no doubt gossiping. He sits himself on the other side of the bar, and soon enough, Chas sees him, her face lights up, and she hurriedly makes her way to his end of the bar.
“Hiya love,” Chas says excitedly, handing him a pint. “Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I finished up my pieces for the next show,” Aaron tells her and she beams at him. He swipes through his phone so she can see all the finished pieces that he had sent and she oohs and aahs at the appropriate moments. Soon though, some punters need Chas’s attention so she pats Aaron’s arm lightly before returning to her job.
He scrolls through his phone idly while taking sips of his beer. His solitude is short lived when he looks up and sees Katie sidle up next to him, placing her wine glass on the bar next to his pint.
“So,” she says with an innocent smile, “Chas tells me you and Robert are business partners.”
Aaron has no opinion of Katie. She’s his mum’s best friend and has been around Aaron’s life long enough, but he couldn’t really care about her. He looks at her coolly before casually shrugging, “Yeah.”
She raises her eyebrows as if she’s surprised. “That’s a big commitment...think you partnered with the right person?”
It’s the same song that Chas has been singing for the past four months. It would be entertaining if it wasn’t so annoying. “Is that really something that concerns you?” he asks flatly.
“I don’t know what charm Robert has put on to get you to not be worried, but you should know he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He doesn’t care about people, and who he hurts to get what he wants,” Katie says, tucking her hair behind her ear. Whether it’s consciously done or not, she uses her left hand, flashing her wedding ring. Aaron knows the story of Robert, Andy, and Katie. But it’s been years, and Katie is back with Andy and happily married. So all this does is make Aaron see an embittered ex who hasn’t let go of the past.
“What are you hoping to accomplish by telling me this?” Aaron asks, bored.
“I’m just saying,” Katie says innocently, widening her eyes. “I know Robert Sugden.”
“No. You knew a Robert Sugden. I know Robert Sugden. And he ain’t like that. Not any more. So I’d stick my nose in things I have a clue about, if I were you,” Aaron finishes his pint and slams it onto the bar harder than usual. It causes Chas to stop chatting with Zak and come over to the pair of them with a curious face.
“Everything alright?” she asks, glancing between Aaron and Katie.
“Just fine, I were just leaving,” Aaron says, tossing a couple of pounds on the bar and leaving without a second word. Aaron’s anger boils under his skin as he stomps out of the pub and back to the Mill. The hardest part of coming back to Emmerdale has been the mudslinging about Robert. They don’t know him like Aaron does. It’s been fifteen years, and Aaron can finally understand why Robert doesn’t want to come back. How could anyone when they would have to deal with that lot?
As he’s making his way up the driveway to the Mill, he hears crunching behind him. “Oi!” Chas’s voice rings out behind Aaron.
“What?” Aaron turns around to face Chas, who has a thunderous look upon her face.
“What was that in the pub with you and Katie? She had a right face on,” Chas crosses her arms over her chest and raises her eyebrow.
“It doesn’t concern you.”
“She’s me best mate. And you’re my son. So yeah, I do think it concerns me,” Chas pointedly says.
Aaron just stares at her for a bit, before rolling his eyes. “She was just slagging Robert off, and I didn’t want to hear it.”
“You have a soft spot for him. It’s not our fault we all know what he’s like.”
“And like I told Katie, you don’t know him anymore. I didn’t spend almost two weeks with him in London because he’s bad company,” Aaron defends heatedly.
Aaron doesn’t think he’s making any sort of face, but something gives him away because Chas widens her eyes and says, “Oh Aaron, please tell me you didn’t.”
“Didn’t what?” Aaron asks but he knows it’s useless, she’s sussed him out.
“You and Robert! How stupid can you be? He’ll only use you and then discard you when he gets bored.” Chas exclaims, throwing her hands up in the air.
“You don’t know ‘im,” Aaron defends again, anger rising up his throat.
“I know enough ! How can you let him fool you like this?” Chas demands.
“Why do you think you can dictate my life?” Aaron levels with a cool face. He’s had enough of Chas butting her head into his business with Robert. Since the moment Robert first came to Emmerdale to see Aaron, Chas has done nothing but try to get Aaron to believe her poisonous words.
Chas splutters as she tries to backtrack. “I’m not! I’m just looking out for you.”
“I’m not a child anymore, so maybe you should stop treating me like one. If you can’t accept that, then I don’t want you in my life.” And without another word, Aaron turns on his heel and finishes his walk into the Mill. He can hear Chas calling after him, but he doesn’t acknowledge her.
Aaron misses both Robert and Seb more than anything.
*
It’s been two weeks since Aaron and Chas had their falling out. She’s called him a few times and even has knocked on his front door, but Aaron continues to ignore her. He knows he’ll eventually forgive her, but he’s still too keyed up and mad at her to bring himself to talk to her right now.
So he does the thing he does the best when he’s upset, play video games. He spends days just headshotting zombies and brooding until he starts to get cabin fever. There are only so many video games he can take before his hands start itching for the blowpipe.
The second week of his self-imposed isolation, Aaron goes to his workshop. All his pieces for the next showing are complete, so with nothing else to do, Aaron starts to experiment with new techniques. He starts off with making marble sized pieces of glass, with varying forms of perfection and imperfections. There’s no goal in making the pieces at first, if only to practice some of his breathing techniques and control of small pieces.
Hours pass and Aaron keeps blowing these small little pieces of oblong glass. Each with a dazzling different color. From reds, to blues, to yellows, each piece is different from one another. After he finishes each piece, he drops it in his container of water. Some of the pieces break completely, while others splinter and crack. By the time he’s done with his little experiment, he’s left with at least twenty small egg shaped pieces of glass, all sparkling and shining in their own unique way.
Like little pieces of unattainable stars.
Picking up his pipe and raising up to his lips, he thinks about Robert’s vibrant smile. He’s never felt such inspiration from someone before. Almost like a proper muse, the kinds from a fairytale or something.
He lets the memory of Robert’s laughter and Seb’s rambunctious personality guide his hands as he frees the glass from the pipe. It starts to balloon out into the fire, and Aaron pulls out his tools to start letting it shape. A trail of sweat goes down his neck as he spends minutes upon minutes shaping up the main piece of the sculpture.
The piece starts off in jet-black and blooms into deep purples and indigos. Once the piece has taken a spherical shape hollowed out, Aaron takes the bucket of the stars and drops them into the hot piece of glass. They stick inside the hot glass and melt into one piece.
It takes only a few minutes to finish up the piece. The night sky. Limitless and infinite. Aaron thinks if you stick a small tea light or even candle, it would illuminate the ceiling in a fantastic way.
He sits at his stool, cracking open a beer and admiring his latest piece, when his watch starts vibrating, indicating he’s getting a phone call. A greedy smile takes up his entire face when he sees that it’s Robert calling.
“You’re on speaker,” Robert says in lieu of a greeting when Aaron answers it.
“Hi Aaron!” Seb shouts into the phone.
“Hiya Seb. What are you two doing?”
“We’re making dinner!” Seb’s voice is loud on the phone, and Aaron can just picture him holding the phone while Robert is doing all the cooking.
“Sounds fun, I wish I could be there with yous.”
“What are you up to?” Robert asks over the sound of sizzling.
“I’m in the workshop, just finished something. And I think you’ll like it,” Aaron stares at his creation as he says it.
“Oh? I thought you finished all the pieces for the next showing?” Robert’s tinny voice sounds distant, probably walking away from the phone.
“It’s not for the gallery. It’s for you.”
There’s a pause on Robert’s side of the phone, and all Aaron wants is to see Robert’s face at this moment. “What is it?” Robert finally asks, and his voice sounds warm, and no longer distant. Almost as if Aaron’s admission made Robert take him off speaker phone.
“You’ll just have to come up here and see it for yourself,” Aaron smiles into the phone, heart fluttering. It’s only been a few weeks since they’ve last seen each other, but Aaron feels almost like a piece of himself is missing.
“Oh is that so?” Robert sighs into the phone.
“I came down last time, it’s your turn.” Aaron doesn’t mention how it’s been two months and all they have had is phone calls. It’s not enough, and Aaron just wants to be near Robert again.
Robert doesn’t say anything, and Aaron feels like maybe he might have said something he wasn’t supposed to say. Maybe he had misinterpreted all this and they’re purely on a hookup basis when they’re in the same place, and not go out of their way to see each other. “I mean...I can always just send it to you,” Aaron hastily says after the silence turns into dread.
“No!” Robert finally snaps out of whatever trance he was in. “I’d love to come up to see you, I’m just trying to think of all the logistics.”
“Oh…” Aaron isn’t sure what to say.
“Hold on a second,” Robert says, and then there’s a lot of noise coming from the other side of the phone. He hears him say something to Seb, but it’s soft and Aaron doesn’t catch it. Then after a few moments Robert is back, “Sorry about that. I just didn’t want Seb around when I asked you...if you were willing to host both of us.”
Aaron straightens up on the stool, “Yeah, ‘course I am. You’re a package deal.”
“I know...everything with Seb...hasn’t always been your decision. I mean I didn’t even tell you about him until you got to London and you just had to deal with it. And now, you have to deal with him again if I were to come to visit you, and-”
“Robert,” Aaron interrupts Robert’s rambling, “I want both you and Seb here.”
“Oh, good. I mean, why wouldn’t you?” Robert says, turning that charm Aaron knows so well. And it’s at that moment that Aaron realizes he uses his charm when he’s insecure.
“I mean I would rather see Seb, but I guess you bringing him here will have to do,” Aaron teases gently to disabuse Robert of any insecurities.
“Cheeky git,” Robert says with no heat in his voice, causing Aaron to grin against his phone. “When will you have us, then?”
“Whenever you want,” Aaron answers honestly. With no Chas butting in Aaron’s life, he can have Robert and Seb here at any moment.
“Let me check my calendar and I’ll text you?”
“Yeah, sound good,” Aaron says with a small smile. The idea of being with Robert again makes him feel an excitement he’s not felt in a long time.
*
Before Robert and Seb get here, Aaron knows he has to tell Chas. It would only give her more ammo to be mad at Aaron and hate Robert. When he walks into the pub, Chas is talking to Charity, who notices Aaron first.
“Babe,” Charity says, pointing to Aaron. Chas turns around and she widens her eyes and smiles when she sees him. It makes Aaron feel momentarily bad for the silent treatment he had been giving her for the past few days.
“Love,” Chas sighs out when Aaron reaches them.
“Can we talk in the back?”
“‘Course!” Chas exclaims, shooing Charity away from them and starts to walk into the back. Aaron follows, and he can feel Charity watching as they go.
Chas sits on the couch and grabs a pillow to fiddle around with. Aaron sits on one of the dining chairs, away from Chas.
“I’m sorry,” Chas blurts out before Aaron has a chance to say anything. “I don’t want us falling out because of Robert Sugden .”
“He’s the reason I’m here,” Aaron says, watching Chas narrow her eyes slightly. “Him and his son are coming up to visit and I don’t want you causing any aggro.”
“His son?” Chas asks faintly. Her not knowing about Seb just proves Aaron’s point that she doesn’t know Robert like Aaron does. But he decides to keep his mouth shut about it. He doesn’t want to put salt in the wound while they’re trying to reconcile. “Oh Aaron, that’s a big commitment.”
“I like Seb. And it’s my commitment to make,” Aaron stresses emphatically.
“I don’t want to see you get hurt, love.”
Aaron doesn’t say anything at first. He knows the risks of a long distance relationship, and adding on a kid makes it messy. But none of that really matters when he feels as strongly for Robert as he does. He doesn’t want to give Chas the satisfaction of voicing those thoughts. “As long as you keep your comments to yourself, then we’re okay,” Aaron says instead.
“Deal,” Chas says, making a cross over her heart and shoots Aaron a smile.
*
The day Robert and Seb get into Emmerdale, they eat their tea in the Woolie. Katie and Chas are in a corner gossiping like schoolchildren and Aaron glares at them with daggers in his eyes challenging either one of them to come and say something. Chas keeps her promise and doesn’t say anything and even manages to temper Katie from coming over and saying something daft.
“Another pint do ya?” Aaron asks when they finish their food.
“Only if you’re paying. You make enough money for another pint,” Robert says winking at Aaron and nudging Seb.
“Charming!” Aaron says, delightfully offended.
“Don’t offer if you’re gonna complain!” Robert laughs and Seb joins in, even if he probably doesn’t understand what’s going on.
“Well this looks cozy!” a voice says above them, and Aaron tears his gaze away from Robert to see Vic and Adam standing before them. Vic has a wildly happy smile.
“Auntie Vic!” Seb shouts, jumping up from his seat and hugging Victoria.
“Hiya little man! Well, you’re not so little anymore!” Vic exclaims with a smile, picking up Seb into her arms. With Vic’s small frame holding Seb, who is taking after Robert with his lanky body, it’s quite a sight to behold. She asks him a few questions about the drive up and Seb enthusiastically answers all the questions.
“Aaron is letting me stay in one of his bedrooms!”
“Is he?” Vic glances at Aaron with a smile. “That’s very generous of him. It’s too bad your dad didn’t ask to stay with me!”
Robert smiles softly and touches Aaron’s hand softly, “Well you didn’t offer.”
“Wait. Are you two-?” Vic asks, pointing between Aaron and Robert. Aaron rolls his eyes and then nods with a smile and Vic squeals hugging Robert.
“I’m made up for ya, bro,” Adam says, slapping Aaron’s back. Their warm acceptance of it makes up for Chas’s cold response. Although, throughout the night, Chas holds her tongue like she promised Aaron she would.
“So what do you have planned while you’re here?” Vic questions after a lull in the conversation.
“Head to Leeds for the day tomorrow, look at some art galleries,” Robert says with a smile. “Check in on the competition.”
“Do ya ever stop working?” Vic grumbles with a cheeky smile.
“I want to be an artist like Aaron!” Seb chimes in. Vic raises her eyebrows and starts to ask Seb follow up questions about art.
The evening goes on with laughter and catching up. But Aaron doesn’t remember much of what was said, because Robert casually places a hand on Aaron’s thigh and absent-mindedly rubs up and down throughout the night. He does it in front of Vic and Adam and anyone who might be watching them and Aaron feels as though he couldn’t ask for anything else in life.
*
True to his word, Robert takes Seb and Aaron to Leeds to visit a number of art galleries. Most of them are small in size and don’t compare to SITE. But it’s an interesting excursion nonetheless. Some of the galleries have artists from around the world and very little with just Yorkshire artists. It’s something Robert catalogues away, for a purely business point of view.
“Did anyone approach you to represent your art before I did?” Robert asks after leaving one particularly abstract gallery. It held ceramics and basket weaving and other three-dimensional art pieces.
“Once, but it was a long time ago and I wasn’t convinced they held my best interests,” Aaron responds with a shrug.
“But you thought I did?” Robert can’t help the smugness in his voice.
Aaron gives him a smile and takes Robert’s hand in his own. “Yeah, I did. Guess we both have good judgement.”
Robert squeezes Aaron’s hand in return and they keep walking hand in, down the streets of Leeds. Seb begs them for some ice cream and they end their trip out sitting outside and eating ice cream.
By the time they get back to Emmerdale, the sun has long since set and Seb falls asleep in the car. Robert picks up him without waking and takes him to the bedroom Aaron had set up for him. Robert changes him into his pajamas and watches Seb sleep for a bit before going back downstairs.
When he gets downstairs, Aaron is sitting on the couch fiddling around with a box. It’s not that big, smaller than most of the boxes Aaron sends to SITE with his artwork. But Robert knows what it is. The piece that Aaron made especially for him.
Robert circles around the couch, touching Aaron’s shoulder as he does, and sits next to Aaron.
“Here,” Aaron all but shoves the box into Robert’s hands and starts biting at his fingernails. Robert carefully opens the box and sees a small spherical piece of glass sitting in the box. And once he pulls it out, he’s stunned into silence by the beauty of it.
Robert plays with the glass, turning it over in his hands and quietly examining it. When Aaron had told him he’d made Robert a piece, he had no idea what it would look like. The piece almost looks like the galaxy with shades of purples and blues he’s never seen before.
“It’s beautiful,” Robert tells Aaron finally, who had been watching anxiously across from him.
“London doesn’t have a vivid night sky like here, thought I’d give you one,” Aaron shrugs nonchalantly, but a slight blush dusts his cheeks. The meaning behind the piece makes Robert smile and he places it on the table to give Aaron a sweet kiss.
“I love it. Thank you,” Robert says against Aaron’s lips. He’s crazy in love with Aaron and this piece only solidifies that love. Aaron sighs with his body and his fingers dance up Robert’s arms up to his shoulders as Robert deepens the kiss.
“I love you,” Robert can’t help but blurt out. Aaron pulls away from Robert’s embrace, his eyes darting all across Robert’s face.
“I love ya, too. Thought it was just me,” Aaron mumbles, the blush only getting redder. The declaration sears Robert’s heart and he pulls Aaron into his arms again and presses his nose in the crook of Aaron’s neck. Aaron rubs small circles along Robert’s back, and Robert thinks that maybe there’s no heaven, but sitting here with Aaron is pretty damn close.
*
Aaron invites Robert into his workshop the last day Robert is in Emmerdale. Vic is watching Seb, trying to spend as much time with her nephew before they leave. It’s a huge gesture: Robert remembers the first and only time he had been in Aaron’s workshop. When they didn’t know each other and Aaron had only been a nuisance to Robert. Now, Robert sits in the workshop watching the man he loves go about his craft.
“Will you tell me about your mum?” Aaron asks as he rolls his pipe on some crushed glass. The question startles Robert as much as it touches him. So he does. He tells Aaron about Sarah the librarian who was a force of nature. Who loved Robert despite his faults and was his biggest cheerleader.
At times, Robert has to stop talking as he watches in awe as Aaron manipulates molten glass. The shape turns to a beautiful seafoam vase with dazzling white speckles. It’s so simple yet beautiful.
Aaron pulls out two cans of beer from a small fridge under the table while they wait for the glass to cool for a bit. They make idle chit chat for a bit, each sipping at their beers.
“What made you decide to drop your glass in water for it to crack?” Robert asks, watching Aaron dunk the vase into water. The vase starts to crack and internally splinter, giving it the signature look that Aaron has on all his pieces.
Aaron puts the vase down and looks at Robert thoughtfully. “I one time heard of this Japanese technique called kintsugi. It’s about mending broken ceramic with gold. To show something beautiful can come out of broken and useless things. Dunno, it just resonated with me.”
Robert knows what Aaron’s talking about. The scars on Aaron’s stomach has never been broached before, but Robert has run his fingers over them a few times. Before Robert can say anything about it, Aaron is telling him about a bloke called Jackson.
“I learned about kintsugi shortly after me mum had helped me through my self-harming. It just sort of made sense, and it made me want to blow glass for the first time since Jackson died,” Aaron explains, playing with his fingers.
Something clicks in Robert’s head after hearing the story. “The first piece I own-?”
“Yeah. It was the first time I’d perfected the technique. And the first thing I’d made after Jackson.”
Robert touches Aaron’s arm, curling around his wrist. “Thank you for telling me this.”
“What a pair we make, eh?” Aaron asks sardonically. Robert smiles softly before leaning forward and kissing Aaron softly.
They walk hand in hand back into the Mill with Aaron carrying the vase he made earlier. When Vic comes by to drop Seb back off, Aaron clears his throat awkwardly and stands up.
“I made this for Sarah,” Aaron announces, holding the vase up. “So you can put flowers in it and think of her.”
Robert’s heart starts beating twice as hard when he hears Aaron. Vic looks similarly speechless. “It’s daft...I know, but-”
“Aaron, it’s perfect,” Robert cuts him off before he can say something self-deprecating.
“Yeah, Aaron. Thank you so much,” Vic touches Aaron’s arm softly, admiring the vase. Even Seb asks Robert to pick him up so he can properly look at the vase. It might be the most thoughtful thing Robert has even gotten. He mouths ‘thank you’ to Aaron while Seb is exclaiming how he can’t wait to put the vase at his Nana Sarah’s sleeping spot. Aaron smiles back and leans his head against Robert’s shoulder as they continue to listen to Seb prattle on.
*
“Aaron-” Robert’s voice catches in his throat as Aaron thrusts into him. He feels weightless and engulfed in Aaron at the same time. Aaron shushes him and kisses Robert’s cheeks. It’s everything and it feels so much more knowing they both love each other.
Robert feels his breath catch in his throat as Aaron’s thrusts become more erratic until he’s shouting out Robert’s name and Robert feels himself give in and arches up on the bed. Aaron rummages around in the rooms for a bit, wiping each other off and then tossing the cloth and used condom into the trash. He comes and cuddles next to Robert, resting his head on Robert’s shoulder and begins to idly draw lines across Robert’s chest and stomach.
He’s barely catching his breath when he feels Aaron shift a bit. “I don’t want to move to London,” Aaron whispers against Robert’s shoulder.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Aaron picks himself up to look at Robert’s face searchingly, “I love you, and you love me, but we have two separate lives. I don’t fancy doing this long distance thing forever.”
Robert is silent. “I don’t want to do it forever either.”
“Why am I sensing a but?”
Robert shimmies out from under Aaron and sits himself up on the bed. “But it’s not that easy, is it? You don’t want to move to London, and I would never ask you to. But my business and art gallery is in London. I can’t exactly leave that behind. And there’s also Seb to consider.”
A heavy silence engulfs the bedroom and Robert knows he said the wrong thing. He can feel Aaron pull away emotionally, and he doesn’t know how to fix this.
“So that’s it? We just keep doing this until it just peters out?” Aaron gets up and sits on the edge of the bed, his back facing Robert. “Put in a few fucks every two months or so?”
Aaron bluntly surmising their relationship as just meaningless fucks stings. Robert knows that’s not actually how Aaron sees it, they’ve told each other they love each other, but it still hurts. “You know it’s not black and white like that. I don’t see this ending any time soon.” Robert scoots a little closer to Aaron.
“I don’t either, it’s just hard, knowing that this has an expiration date-” Aaron cuts himself off. “So my mum and Katie were right. That you would just use me.”
“Aaron, stop. Where is this coming from?” Robert asks helplessly. “I meant it when I said I love you. I meant it then and I’ll keep meaning it. Why are you acting like this? We can figure this out. Isn’t it worth giving us a try?”
Aaron finally turns to look at Robert and there’s visible tears in his eyes. It claws at Robert’s heart, so he does the thing that comes most natural and reaches out to hug Aaron. “I love you, ya idiot. I’ve loved you since that night of your first showing.”
In Robert’s arms, Aaron turns and presses his face into Robert’s chest. “I don’t want it to be another two months until we see each other again. It hurts when you’re not around.”
“I know, me and all. But it’s not going to be like this forever. I promise.” But it feels like a lie, and Aaron probably knows it as well. Instead of challenging Robert about it, Aaron just nods his head against Robert’s chest.
It’s not a resolved conversation, and maybe it never will be, but they slowly fall back onto the bed and cling to each other. Robert thought the last time in Emmerdale would be more joyous than this, and the tension between them seems to create a tide between them even in bed.
*
When Robert wakes the next morning, Aaron isn’t in bed next to him. Unease fills him, recalling last night’s conversation. They hadn’t gone to bed angry with each other, but now that the elephant in the room has been addressed, Robert worries that they might be on a path to the ending of their relationship. Shaking those thoughts away, Robert quickly dresses and decides to go looking for Aaron and Seb.
Before he goes down the spiral staircase, he hears Aaron and Seb chatting in the kitchen. Quiet, Robert stands at the top landing and listens.
“I like it here,” Seb says happily.
“Oh yeah? What do you like the most?” Aaron’s voice sounds the same as it normally does, no thread of sadness or anger.
“Aunt Vic and Diane!” comes the enthusiastic answer, making Robert’s heart clench. “But I like being here with you the most!”
Robert closes his eyes, feeling guilt wash over him. None of this has been fair, but most of all, it’s not been fair to Seb.
“I like you being here too,” Aaron quietly responds.
“Will you show me how to make glass?” Seb asks, launching into a new conversation. “Daddy told me you showed him how to make glass and I want to learn, too!”
“Maybe the next time you visit.”
“When will that be?”
Aaron is quiet for a long time and Robert is almost tempted to go down the stairs and interrupt the difficult position Aaron is in. But before Robert can do it, Aaron is answering, “I don’t know, kiddo. Guess it will be up to your daddy.”
Robert decides it’s time to stop eavesdropping and break the conversation. He makes a groaning noise and walks down the stairs, yawning loudly.
“Mornin’ sleepyhead,” Aaron says, but it’s subdued and quiet. Not like how he was when talking to Seb.
Seb jumps off the chair and runs to Robert, launching himself in Robert’s arms. “Hiya. Good morning little man,” Robert murmurs softly, and pets Seb’s head.
“Coffee?” Aaron asks and Robert nods, putting Seb back down. There’s a little bit of tension in the air, but Seb doesn’t seem to notice or care. He talks enough to fill the room. Eventually, breakfast is over and Seb wanders away from Robert and Aaron to play with some of his toys that Robert brought.
“Are we good?” Robert asks when it’s just the two of them. Aaron is slouched in the chair and picking his fingernails.
“I don’t know,” Aaron answers honestly and Robert’s chest aches in the worst way possible.
“I don’t want this to be over.”
Aaron narrows his eyes and sits up in the chair. “Who said this is over?
“No one. But you sounded so sure of it last night,” Robert points out. Aaron closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose.
“Robert...I’m tired. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”
Aaron gets up and picks up both his and Robert’s plates and disposes of them in the sink. He barely pays Robert any attention when he walks over to the living room to talk to Seb. It stings, but Robert doesn’t know what to do or say to make this better. They both came into this with their eyes wide shut, and it was only along the way that they started to realize the problems of having a relationship like this.
It’s certainly not the way Robert thought he would be spending his last morning in Emmerdale. The rest of the morning is tense while Robert starts to pack his things away. Aaron watches quietly and sometimes chimes in with inane and stilted conversation. He’s not completely ignoring Robert, which makes the morning harder.
Aaron watches Robert pack up the car from the doorway of the Mill, his face unreadable and cool. He gives Seb a big hug and kiss to the top of the head and whispers something into Seb’s ear. Then, when it’s Robert’s turn to say goodbye, Aaron just shrugs his shoulder and sniffs.
“We’ll see you soon,” Robert promises but it feels empty and he thinks Aaron knows it.
“Have a safe drive,” Aaron responds stiffly.
“Aaron…” Robert knows it’s stupid, but tells him, “I love you.”
The declaration seems to crumble any walls that Aaron had put up in the morning. His eyes well up and he bites his lip before shaking his head. “Give us a shout when you get home.”
“I will,” Robert whispers, heart up his throat. It’s not like he was expecting Aaron to say it back, but it still hurts.
When Robert and Seb return to London, Robert feels as though he’s been put through a crusher. He had left London feeling giddy and happy to see Aaron again. Now, upon returning, he feels dejected and sad. It’s not like they broke up, but the stalemate they ended the visit might as well be a death sentence on their relationship. And Robert isn’t sure what to do about it.
*
Robert attends Aaron’s second showing as he attends all showings at SITE. But despite the many times he’s gone solo to artist’s showings, it feels empty without Aaron. All the pieces glitter and sparkle under the lights and there’s a healthy amount of people fawning over the glass - a number that probably would have overwhelmed Aaron. Robert fights the urge to step outside and call Aaron. They’ve spoken a few times since Robert returned to London, but the conversations are stiff and awkward.
The problem with the fear Aaron has about their relationship petering out is the fact that it has stunted them from getting closer. The fear of losing each other has become self-prophetic due to their fear. Robert is trying to pretend their relationship is dying, which is why they’ve spoken to each other a few times. It’s not like their nightly phone calls they had started doing before Robert and Seb went up to Emmerdale, but nothing has been the same since they visited Emmerdale.
“Robert? A moment please?” a voice breaks Robert out of his maudlin thoughts. It’s Paul, smiling politely at Robert.
“Yes, of course,” Robert murmurs and they walk to Robert’s office, away from the bustling of the show.
Robert closes the door behind him and with a soft click and motions for Paul to take a seat. He goes around the desk and sits at his chair looking at Paul with a raised eyebrow.
“That’s a beautiful piece,” Paul says, nodding at the galaxy that Aaron had given to him. Robert had placed it in his office on top of the credenza upon returning to London. There are a few other pieces of art that he’s collected over the years that flank the glass.
Robert smiles at the piece, not paying much to Paul. It’s the most unique of Aaron’s glass that he’s ever made and it twinges Robert’s heart every time he looks at it.
“I spoke to our accountant and he informed me SITE’s solvency is up more than we expected. It can afford the piece of property you were looking at in Leeds. I can draw up the contract with the landlord about buying it,” Paul says, placing his clasped hands on Robert’s desk.
“As my solicitor, I need your opinion. Do you think this is the right choice?” Robert asks.
“I do,” Paul swiftly agrees. “I think SITE’s potential shouldn’t be contained to one city. You once told me that Dingle would be the defining artist for SITE. This deal...it could be the key to that. A gallery for Yorkshire artists.”
Robert looks at Aaron’s piece of glass and lets out a small sigh. It’s been a small dream of Robert, to own multiple art galleries around the country, and possibly even around the world. Having a Leeds art gallery would anchor him closer to Aaron and his family in Emmerdale. It wouldn’t be strictly for Aaron, but he thinks maybe this gesture could help close the gap that had formed between them. Robert purses his lips for a bit and thinks back to all the galleries he had visited with Seb and Aaron. They were small league and Robert’s tenacity could make SITE grow large there as well.
“Draw up the contract,” Robert finally says with a smile.
*
The days that pass after Robert leaves feel as though Aaron is slowly suffocating. Aaron feels as though that creative tap that Robert had turned on has withered away and all he does now is sit in his workshop and blow sad pieces of glass that aren’t worth anything. Perhaps he’s a fool and brought it all upon himself. But Aaron feels as though his heart has been ripped out of his chest and he doesn’t know how to get it back.
“He says he’s been really busy, but has been pretty closed lipped about it all,” Vic tells Aaron one evening. She and Adam have been trying to cheer Aaron up by dragging him to the Woolie and hanging out.
The night goes relatively well, Aaron manages to laugh genuinely at whatever insane story Adam is telling. Chas even offers a round of drinks on the house. She knows that Aaron has been down, but she’s wisely kept her gloating to herself.
Between rounds of darts, Aaron’s watch starts vibrating and he almost drops the pint of beer he’s holding when he sees that Robert is calling. He quietly excuses himself and walks outside of the pub to answer his phone.
“Hey,” Robert says softly into the phone when Aaron answers it.
“Hiya,” Aaron replies back, gripping onto the phone. “How are ya?”
“Better, now that I'm talking to you,” Robert replies and Aaron can’t help the smile that breaks onto his face. It’s the most normal they’ve spoken to each other in a long time. “Your second showing did amazing.”
“Oh?”
“Sold nine pieces. I told you, it’s just going to be an upward trend from now on,” Robert confidently tells Aaron. The news makes Aaron’s stomach somersault, but he’s not sure if it’s because of happiness or nerves.
“So I should start sending you more pieces?” Aaron asks cautiously. He still hasn’t been able to find it in himself to make any art, and the thought about having a deadline to make more is daunting.
“No, not yet. I think we’re going to take a break on your shows for now.”
The news makes whatever stupid somersaults that his stomach was doing fall dead. “But I thought…”
“There’s things happening on my end that I need to take care of, and then we can discuss your next showing. It’s been a little full on over here,” Robert apologizes and it does nothing to soothe Aaron’s whirring brain. Any happiness that Aaron had from the beginning of the phone call has evaporated into apprehension.
“Oh, okay.”
“I promise it’s nothing to worry about,” Robert always has an uncanny ability to read Aaron’s thoughts. But Aaron has stopped listening to Robert’s promises. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too,” Aaron replies honestly, feeling the sadness creep back into his body.
“I want you to know...that I love you, and that I’m working on our futures. Don’t give up on me,” Robert whispers into the phone.
“I won’t,” Aaron says, but it feels a little disingenuous. He’s not told Robert he loves him back since the night they first said it. Maybe it’s cruel, but Aaron can’t say it.
Robert’s voice is distant for the rest of the phone call. It doesn’t last much longer, but it’s enough to ruin the good work that Vic and Adam had done this evening.
Aaron falls asleep with a frown on his face that night.
*
A month after his conversation with Paul, Robert signs the contract to the lease in the morning and tells Leyla he wants to meet with her in the afternoon. He spends the day walking in his gallery, feeling a certain kind of pride. All his hard work has culminated into an expansion, into more art and he couldn’t be prouder of his artists in this moment.
During his walk about the gallery, a framed painting catches his eyes and he stops to admire it. It was the first painting of his first artist when Robert opened SITE. The artist had gifted it to SITE and since then, it’s hung in the main corridor of the gallery. It always reminds Robert of how far he’s grown and how much there is still to do. Robert stands there in silent contemplation before he hears the clicking of Leyla’s heels on the floor. She doesn’t say anything but stands next to Robert, also looking at the painting.
“Who would be the best person to run SITE if I took a step back? Robert asks after a few beats of silence, still looking at the painting.
Out the corner of his eye, Robert can see Leyla bristle next to him. But she calmly collects herself and says, “I can compile a list and send it to you by the end of the day.”
Robert finally turns to her and she stares back at him with an even gaze. “I think we both know who would be the best person to run it. And I’m looking at her.”
Leyla doesn’t say anything, but they both share a smile. Leyla has been by Robert’s side for as long as the painting hanging before them has been in this gallery. “Well?” he prompts with raised eyebrows. “Are you up for the challenge?”
“Are you sure?” she asks. “To give up your hard work? All for Aaron?”
“He’s worth it,” Robert tells her honestly. “I would give it all up to be with him. But I reckon Yorkshire could do with some art recognition.”
Leyla’s eyebrows fly up when she understands Robert’s ambitions to open another art gallery. She studies him for a long time before straightening up and giving Robert a smile. “Well...I guess I have no choice but to accept.”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
They share another smile before Robert turns back to the painting. The painting of promise and of a future.
*
One particularly gloomy day, Aaron decides to go for a run. He’s played through all of his video games and he’s starting to feel sluggish. He hopes that going for a run will clear his head and get himself out of this funk.
It’s been a month since Aaron had last spoken to Robert and he tries not to read too much into that. The fact that Robert hadn’t been eager to schedule Aaron’s third showing almost feels as though in addition to his relationship with Robert crumbling, his own professional success is starting to deteriorate. Aaron barely had a chance to enjoy it before it slipped out of his hands.
All the maudlin thoughts cause Aaron to run further than he normally runs. He slowly makes his way back, feeling both physically and emotionally tired. As he’s coming into view of the driveway of the Mill, he sees both Seb and Robert. Robert is sitting on the bonnet of his car, back towards Aaron, while Seb is at the front door peering into the house. Both Sugdens whip around to see Aaron when his shoes crunch onto the gravel of the driveway.
“Aaron!” Seb shouts, running past Robert and into Aaron’s arms. Aaron drops to his knees to hug Seb and stroke his back absentmindedly.
“Hey,” Aaron says softly, still in disbelief, “Hey kiddo.”
Robert comes up behind Seb with a face Aaron can’t discern. “What are you doing here?”
“Can we talk inside?” Robert asks, nodding at Seb.
Aaron straightens up and nods, walking towards the house. Seb is chattering about the drive up to Emmerdale and about what he’s been up to in school since he last saw Aaron. The child’s presence has brightened Aaron’s mood, even if he’s still confused as to why they’re here.
They walk into the Mill and it feels like the last time they were here, when things didn’t hurt. Seb makes himself comfortable in the living room, nestling on the couch. Aaron goes to the kitchen and wordless turns on his kettle to make some tea. Robert hovers about the kitchen for a bit before sitting down at the table.
“So,” Aaron starts, handing the cup of tea to Robert. “Gonna tell me why you’re here?”
Robert takes the mug and fiddles with the handle for a bit. Aaron half expects him to ignore Aaron’s question as the silence starts to drag out between them. Finally, Robert sighs and reaches his hand towards Aaron. “I’ve come to be with you. If you’ll have me.”
Aaron stares at the outstretched hand in confusion, knitting his eyebrows together. He looks at the hand and then at Robert, who stares back at Aaron with that same loving look he always gives Aaron. It makes his heart twist in a painful way. Robert sits in front of Aaron, but it still feels like a gulf is between them.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Robert shifts in his seat and gives a tentative smile, “I’m here...for good.”
“You what?” The air leaves Aaron’s lungs. He doesn’t want to believe what Robert is telling him. In all of their awkward conversations, Robert had never given any indication that he was ready to give up his life in London to be with Aaron.
“For the time being, I’ve put Leyla in charge of SITE. Or rather, she’s in charge of SITE London,” Robert says as if it explains everything. Instead, it confuses Aaron even more.
“What are you talking about?”
“My gallery is my life. I have built it from nothing and it’s become the success that it is through hard graft and my keen eye. Seven years I’ve built my portfolio. And then you come along and threw everything on its axis,” Robert starts. “I love you. And I want to be with you. But I don’t want to give all my hard work either. So, I made a decision. To start SITE Leeds, and showcase Yorkshire artwork. With your artwork as my crown jewel.”
“Rob…” Aaron is speechless, he doesn’t know what Aaron had been expecting Robert to say. But this is beyond anything that Aaron could have imagined.
“Of course, there’s a lot of kinks to still figure out. But it’s why I haven’t scheduled your next showing. But I want you by my side as I start this endeavor,” Robert continues to say, steamrolling through anything that Aaron might say. Not that he has much he wants to say.
Robert digs around the inside of his suit and then hands a check to Aaron. The amount nearly doubling the amount from the first showing. “I know I’ve said this before, but you’re so talented, Aaron. I’m so lucky to have you in my gallery. And...in my heart.”
“Robert,” Aaron’s voice is hoarse and he’s not sure if he can say anything else without crying.
“My future is with ya. I think I’ve known that for a long time, but I was too stubborn to acknowledge it. I just hope you feel the same.”
Aaron drops the check and lunges for Robert. Hugging him, kissing him, trying to get closer to him. “‘Course I feel the same as you, ya idiot. I love you.”
“I love you, too,” Robert says against Aaron’s neck and Aaron feels like his body is singing. The grays that have veiled his world the past couple of weeks dissolve as he holds Robert. Soon, the patter of Seb’s feet is heard on the floor and he squeezes between them and they’re all hugging and laughing (and crying).
*
It starts with a piece of glass that Robert falls in love with. Somewhere along the way, it’s Robert going halfway across the country to his childhood home and falling in love with the man who blew that glass. It ends with Robert uprooting his life to be with the fit glassblower and be a family with him.
But Robert reckons it’s really just the beginning.