#but aaron will always come first for robert

[kotori-mochi]

Can't afford art school?

After seeing post like this 👇

And this gem 👇

As well as countless of others from the AI generator community. Just talking about how "inaccessible art" is, I decided why not show how wrong these guys are while also helping anyone who actually wants to learn.

Here is the first one ART TEACHERS! There are plenty online and in places like youtube.

📺Here is my list:

Proko (Free, mostly teaches anatomy and how to draw people. But does have art talks and teaches the basics.)

Marc Brunet (Free but he does have other classes for a cheap price. Use to work for Blizzard and teaches you everything)

Aaron Rutten (free, tips about art, talks about art programs and the best products for digital art)

BoroCG (free, teaches a verity of art mediums from 3D modeling to digital painting. As well as some tips that can be used across styles)

Jesse J. Jones (free, talks about animating)

Jesus Conde (free, teaches digital painting and has classes in Spanish)

Mohammed Agbadi (free, he gives some advice in some videos and talks about art)

Ross Draws (free, he does have other classes for a good price. Mostly teaching character designs and simple backgrounds.)

SamDoesArts (free, gives good advice and critiques)

Drawfee Show (free, they do give some good advice and great inspiration)

The Art of Aaron Blaise ( useful tips for digital art and animation. Was an animator for Disney. Mostly nature art)

Bobby Chiu ( useful tips and interviews with artist who are in the industry or making a living as artist)

Sinix Design (has some tips on drawing people)

Winged canvas (art school for free on a verity of mediums)

Bob Ross (just a good time, learn how to paint, as well as how too relax when doing art. "there are no mistakes only happy accidents", this channel also provides tips from another artist)

Scott Christian Sava (Inspiration and provides tips and advice)

Pikat (art advice and critiques)

Drawbox (a suggested cheap online art school, made of a community of artist)

Skillshare (A cheap learning site that has art classes ranging from traditional to digital. As well as Animation and tutorials on art programs. All under one price, in the USA it's around $34 a month)

Human anatomy for artist (not a video or teacher but the site is full of awesome refs to practice and get better at anatomy)

Second part BOOKS, I have collected some books that have helped me and might help others.

📚Here is my list:

The "how to draw manga" series produced by Graphic-sha. These are for manga artist but they give great advice and information.

"Creating characters with personality" by Tom Bancroft. A great book that can help not just people who draw cartoons but also realistic ones. As it helps you with facial ques and how to make a character interesting.

"Albinus on anatomy" by Robert Beverly Hale and Terence Coyle. Great book to help someone learn basic anatomy.

"Artistic Anatomy" by Dr. Paul Richer and Robert Beverly Hale. A good book if you want to go further in-depth with anatomy.

"Directing the story" by Francis Glebas. A good book if you want to Story board or make comics.

"Animal Anatomy for Artists" by Eliot Goldfinger. A good book for if you want to draw animals or creatures.

"Constructive Anatomy: with almost 500 illustrations" by George B. Bridgman. A great book to help you block out shadows in your figures and see them in a more 3 diamantine way.

"Dynamic Anatomy: Revised and expand" by Burne Hogarth. A book that shows how to block out shapes and easily understand what you are looking out. When it comes to human subjects.

"An Atlas of animal anatomy for artist" by W. Ellenberger and H. Dittrich and H. Baum. This is another good one for people who want to draw animals or creatures.

Etherington Brothers, they make books and have a free blog with art tips.

📝As for Supplies, I recommend starting out cheap, buying Pencils and art paper at dollar tree or 5 below. If you want to go fancy Michaels is always a good place for traditional supplies. They also get in some good sales and discounts. For digital art, I recommend not starting with a screen art drawing tablet as they are usually more expensive.

For the Best art Tablet I recommend either Xp-pen, Bamboo or Huion. Some can range from about 40$ to the thousands.

💻As for art programs here is a list of Free to pay.

Clip Studio paint ( you can choose to pay once or sub and get updates. Galaxy, Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, or Chromebook device. )

Procreate ( pay once for $9.99 usd, IPAD & IPHONE ONLY)

Blender (for 3D modules/sculpting, animation and more. Free)

PaintTool SAI (pay but has a 31 day free trail)

Krita (Free)

mypaint (free)

FireAlpaca (free)

Aseprite ($19.99 usd but has a free trail, for pixel art Windows & macOS)

Drawpile (free and for if you want to draw with others)

IbisPaint (free, phone app ONLY)

Medibang (free, IPAD, Android and PC)

NOTE: Some of these can work on almost any computer like Clip and Sai but others will require a bit stronger computer like Blender. Please check their sites for if your computer is compatible.

So do with this information as you will but as you can tell there are ways to learn how to become an artist, without breaking the bank. The only thing that might be stopping YOU from using any of these things, is YOU.

I have made time to learn to draw and many artist have too. Either in-between working two jobs or taking care of your family and a job or regular school and chores. YOU just have to take the time or use some time management, it really doesn't take long to practice for like an hour or less. YOU also don't have to do it every day, just once or three times a week is fine.

Hope this was helpful and have a great day.

"also apologies for any spelling or grammar errors, I have Dyslexia and it makes my brain go XP when it comes to speech or writing"

[pencil-n-pen]

masterlist ⋆ ‧₊ ᵎᵎ 🍒 ⋅ ˚✮🧸⋆˙₊📀 ⊹

requests: closed!

request guidelines

fics linked in white are drabbles!

── ࣪˖ ࣪ ⊹ ࣪ ˖

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leon kennedy ⋆౨ৎ₊˚⊹

princess : burn out comfort, college au, slight rivals to lovers, eldest daughter! reader- Leon, your rival, just wants you to take care of yourself

overworked : sequel to Princess, enjoying have boyfriend brain with Leon, Leon shows you when to take a break

not so messy : depression/overwhelm comfort, in the princess universe, Leon being a good boyfriend, the magic of cleaning your room (with a hot man)

study or date: a study date with Leon goes awry when an old friend shows up. Luckily, things work out in the end :)

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eddie munson .・。.・゜✭

spill your guts : anxiety comfort, love confessions, fake/practice dating au- Eddie gets upset, and fear responses die hard

music boyfriend i’m your yum-yum: post highschool! eddie x weird girl! reader, weirdos to lovers- coming soon!

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spencer reid ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗

all i do is try, try, try : post prison! spencer x new to the team genius! reader, you’ve always been second best, the second choice- he shows you what it’s like to be first

i’m still trying everything : post prison! spencer x fem reader, in the mirrorball universe (the above fic) now that you and spencer started dating, insecurities start to rear their head- spencer knows just what help you need

buzz : spencer x autistic! reader, having a meltdown isn’t fun, but spencer knows how to help :)

suddenly i had a valentine: spencer x hopeless romantic! reader, you’re not sure you have a chance with the hot guy who frequents your cafe, but he shows you otherwise

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aaron hotchner ˙⋆✮

handle with care: aaron x fem! reader, when breaking a mug leads to a flashback, aaron is there to bring you back.

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joel miller (hbo) 𓂃⋆.˚

tongues and teeth : jackson! joel is a protector in his heart. too bad you’re having a hard time letting him after everything you’ve gone through, you’re having a hard time letting him. no ellie au (I’M SORRY)

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tasm! peter parker ･:*࿔.ೃ⋆

coming soon!

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rafe cameron ₊˚⊹ .

youngblood: rafe x black cat! pogue! reader, rafe wants to give the stubborn pogue no guy has ever dated the princess treatment, but she won’t stand for it.

eye to eye, thigh to thigh: sequel to youngblood- you’re having a hard time adjusting to having Rafe of a boyfriend, but thankfully Rafe (and his wallet) are happy to help

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ghost (COD) ── .✦

coming soon!

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evan buckley ๋࣭ ⋆｡ °✩

reduced to skin and bone: buck x fem! coworker! reader- you’re a people pleaser, too good at what you do. It’s a shame Evan “Buck” Buckley sees right through you.

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robert chase ᝰ.ᐟ

coming soon!

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daryl dixon . ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁

coming soon!

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rick grimes .☘︎ ݁˖

i want an innocent love : alexandria leader! rick x fawn (not literally) reader- you’re a soft, sweet little thing- and Rick can’t figure out why he wants you so bad.

plush: rick x fem! reader- since arriving to alexandria, you’ve put on some weight. rick happens to like it very much

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benedict bridgerton ✧˖°.

you bewitch me- benedict x eldest daughter! reader (NOT INCEST)- You’re a spinster in the making, and really, have no business entertaining the likes of Benedict Bridgerton. It’s a shame you both find arguing so invigorating.

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˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[scrapyardboyfriends]

"It brought everything back...about Robert...I can't go back there again"

"I couldn't trust myself"

I feel like I came out of this episode understanding this story from an Aaron perspective more than I ever have before. And like, it's not revelatory, people have been saying this the whole time, it's just that I never quite let myself believe it because I couldn't get my hopes up about Robert coming back. But now that Robert is part of this story and it seems clear that if not definitely part of it from the beginning, the hope or intention was still there, a lot of things do start to fall into place in a way that they didn't before, that made this story very frustrating to watch.

Aaron didn't really have a POV before. He went from that first line to just hooking up with John and they didn't really delve further into it and that was infuriating to me. And a lot of people joked or theorized that he was going after John because it was the closest he could get to Robert and I always kind of dismissed it because of the above but now it kind of rings true. Maybe not exactly that but I think there's kernels of truth there.

Aaron loves Robert more than anything but is also so scared to let himself feel that again, to let Robert in again, to even let the memory of Robert in again in that first quote that he'd rather just cut him out and repress those feelings so that he doesn't risk losing him again. It's technically what his whole return story was about even if they made that about Liv but it relates to this too. He close himself off, tried so hard not to care so that he wouldn't risk getting hurt again. Because losing Robert has the power to utterly destroy him. It broke him when Robert cut him off last time and he probably thinks it would kill him this time. And he's terrified of that.

So he can't go there with Robert, but then he's confronting a Sugden in a barn again and things happened and it wasn't quite like old times but it was something. And maybe he can have this reminder of Robert instead of actual Robert and maybe that's a risk that he can take. I was kind of likening Robert to heroin and John to methadone in my head. Haha. He's addicted to Robert and it's messy but the highs are so high it's worth it and getting cut off from that nearly killed him but here's methadone John, the safer, less addictive version that prevents the Robert withdrawal from being too devastating.

So he can try and love John, he can risk that because he will never love him the way that he loves Robert and if he loses John, it might suck a little but it won't be the life ruining blow that losing Robert was, that he's still messed up about.

From a realism perspective, the fact that Aaron called the police on Robert kind of sucks because Aaron knows what it's like in prison and he wouldn't want to put someone in that position. But from a purely soapy drama romantic perspective, the fact that he literally couldn't have Robert in his general vicinity because it was not if but when he would go after him again, he already did after all, THAT is the biggest admission of Aaron's feelings that we've gotten so far.

He LOVES Robert, so much. He's carried that photo of Robert around for 6 years (further proof that Marlon and Jessie's wedding was also their fourth wedding haha).

This is the first time in this story that I really feel like we're finally getting some of Aaron's POV on everything where he doesn't just feel like a pod person going through the motions for the sake of the Plot. And it's going to suck watching him push down his feelings and try to ignore Robert and not help him when he needs it. But it's because he's so terrified of losing him again. And that, while again, not at all revelatory, is enough for me for now.

I mean, he and Robert are going to have a LOT to work through after all of this stuff plays out but at least I feel like I not only know where Aaron stands, but I know where the show thinks Aaron stands and that's very welcome after the last 9 months or so.

So...welcome back Aaron Dingle...you've been missed.

Also his face while Robert was talking about wanting everything back with them was utterly heartbreaking. He wants it so badly too if only he'd let himself have it.

[mrsugden-dinglefirst]

John’s hero complex with Aaron

I feel there is going to be a development in Aaron and John’s relationship in terms of how he treats Aaron and why Aaron seems to be acting ‘out of character’.

John has a hero complex, there is no way the show is going to tell that story and not show how it affects a relationship. Someone with a hero complex may overextend themselves to help their partner and instead of creating an equal partnership, they create a parent-child dynamic. This can lead to the “hero” feeling unappreciated, burnt out, and resentful, while the partner may feel infantilized or suffocated, we’ve seen Aaron being driven to guilt because John gets insecure and often blames Aaron for it.

The hero/savior dynamic can create a power imbalance where one partner takes on a parental role, which is not conducive to a healthy romantic relationship. John seems to do that a lot with Aaron, telling him to ‘go home’ or to ‘shut up’ or telling him to ‘calm down’, it’s John taking control and giving Aaron orders and Aaron accepts it. This plays a part in control, and we’ve heard John say that he loves control, needing to feel in control.

The “hero” might feel responsible for solving their partner's problems or making them happy, which can lead to them neglecting their own needs and well-being. We know that John immedietly took control of the situation with Anthony right after Aaron told him about it as he thought he was helping/saving Aaron. He also feels like he can and is making Aaron happy by being with him.

A hero complex can stem from underlying trust issues, leading to difficulty trusting others' abilities or intentions. This shows with John’s obsession with Robert and trust issues he feels between Aaron and Robert and Aaron constantly having to reassure him. They also make their partner feel they have to be dependant on them. This is made known all those times where John has said “Aaron knows he’s always got me” “I make him happy” etc. This also counts for the “hero” needing to feel need/wanted by their partner. This is a big dynamic with John and Aaron.

If I’m correct, John feels like Aaron ‘owes’ him. For helping him hide Anthony’s body and for saving Aaron’s life that one time. But we’ve actively seen that possessiveness when John tells Aaron that he’s ‘never letting him go’, he also told Robert that he knows every inch of Aaron ‘what he enjoys, thinks, feels, who he likes and who he dislikes’ which Robert called creepy, because…it is.

I think overtime Aaron has grown to learn to stay quiet to keep John calm and not so angry. The first time we ever saw John lose it with Aaron was outside the pub when they were arguing over a car because of Anthony and John made Aaron jump when he shouted at him to shut up and proceeded to tell Aaron to ‘get a grip’ which can come across as belittling or dismissive. Something else people with a saviour complex sometimes tends to do, that’s an example of narcissistic abuse. Aaron sits quietly and acts like he just agrees with John to keep him happy. The difference in example is when in November 2024, Aaron defended Robert when John badmouthed him, this was before the Anthony stuff started. In tonights episode he stays quiet when John does it again. When John told Aaron to ‘go home’ when Aaron mentions Robert in the shop, Aaron just does it. No arguement, no pushback, he just says ‘okay, fine, alright’ and leaves (it reminded me of a teenager being told off). When Aaron felt amused by Robert being back yesterday, he looked to see if John was looking and immediatly changed his expression like he’s scared to know how he’ll react if he had caught him smiling at Robert. Aaron tiptoes over John’s feelings quite a lot which his over reassurences and excuses to keep John feeling happy and satisfied.

John knowing where Anthony’s body is definitely gives him control over Aaron and I believe he has used that before in the past.

It’s worth the reminded that John HAS in fact harmed a partner in the past and he claimed that he loved his partner more than (Aiden) ever did. Which may play out similar with Aaron loving Robert.

[sunsetsover]

you know what i think would be so fun ? if, at least at first, it wasn't aaron that made john feel insecure, but everyone else in the village

like, imagine they get back from their honeymoon, and john thinks everything is fine bc aaron married him didn't he? that means he's won. but then he walks into the pub, or the shop, or the cafe, and everyone's still talking about robert. about robert and aaron. about their history, about people john doesn't know, about the mess they caused. about how much they loved each other. how so and so thought they'd always end up together, or about how so and so thought they were soulmates. whispering between themselves, looking at john over their shoulders, shutting up when john got too close. think about how insecure and paranoid that would make him.

and it'd only get worse once robert comes back for good !!! think about the material !! newer characters who have never seen him before talking about how handsome and charming he is, or how romantic it is that he's still so devoted to aaron after all this time !! bonds with older characters reigniting !! aaron's best friend - who has never liked him - immediately bonding with robert, esp if it's over their mutual hatred of him !! vic and robert starting to get closer again once they have the time and space to start to repair their relationship !!!

that would drive john mad, i think. no matter what aaron says or does, even if he was steadfastly loyal to john regardless of all of that, it wouldn't matter, would it? he'd be convinced there's something going on between aaron and robert, even if there's not. and eventually, just like robert did when he called aaron to that lay by when chrissie accused him of sleeping with someone else, aaron is gonna think 'well, i might as well actually do the thing i'm getting in trouble for'.

you know what they say. it takes a village 🤪🤪

[jonny-versace]

What's really cool is that we've never seen Robert stripped down to the skeleton like this. He's always had a home (if we're not counting the first head change), or money, or a job, or a brother, or a sister, or a Seb, or an Aaron, to keep him pushing through, and he's lost or been rejected by all of them.

Like he literally has nothing now, I'm so excited to see how he comes out of this

[robronfic]

can you recommend some “classic” fics for newer fans?

hello anon!!! of course i can, i love these kind of asks and could talk about these fics alllll day. and if you're new here, then welcome to the chaos!

take my sins by sugdensquad

[robert is an ambitious businessman, an insomniac… and lonely. aaron is a desperate, broken young man… who is also a prostitute. when they crash into each other - literally - one night, their lives are sent spiralling. but they both have baggage, and the past has a funny way of showing up at the worst possible moments. will they manage to cling to each other, or be torn apart for good? mutli chapter - 331k]

read all about it by robron_til_the_end / @robron-til-the-end-of-time

[robert's just been promoted for the paper he works for, one of the youngest music editors the paper's had. one of his first jobs is to interview aaron dingle, a famous musician who's notoriously difficult to get an interview with. multi-chapter - 81k]

a different kind of love by softlyspoken / @kellykadesperate

[robert sugden was born with the ability to make anyone fall in love with him by simply commanding it, one night after being left heartbroken robert gets drunk and commands it from the wrong person, ending up being forced into their life until the spell can be broken. multi-chapter - 162k]

in the eyes of the law... by softlyspoken / @kellykadesperate

[robert is popular and well known crime investigator respected for his countless successful cases and always being able to catch the culprit. for robert to mess up, lie, cheat or even think about harbouring a fugitive would be absurd...that is until robert unexpectedly grows attached to a seemingly down on his luck young man who quickly turns out to be a whole lot more damaging to his name than he first thought. but when the line between pity and affection is well and truly crossed, how will robert be able to keep him hidden? multi-chaper - 144k]

ice swans and dry-cleaning by persiflager / @persiflager

“so,” says the twat. “aaron dingle, married. never thought i’d see the day.” one shot - 6.8k]

iceberg by miss_whimsy

robert attends counselling to try to help with his depression and guilt. multi-chapter - 18k]

a different language by thisissirius / @thisissirius

“he can’t hear you,” vic says, touching aaron’s arm. aaron frowns. “what?” - “robert,” she says, gesturing at the blond standing by the bar. "he’s deaf, and he doesn’t wear his hearing aid.” one-shot/series - 6k]

the hardest science by jentacular

[robert sugden has had aaron dingle erased from his memory. please never mention their relationship to him again. thank you. multi-chapter - 230k]

ticket to anywhere by perksofbeingaiko / @strongboyfriends

[sixteen years old is full in ways that movies and television never want to admit, and every minute felt like a countdown until he could escape. but life didn’t work like that. at least, not for robert. aaron couldn’t possibly be the one to change that. could he? one shot - 43k]

you can avoid the fire but you'll never be free by wafflesofdoom / @capseycartwright

[fire had always been robert's worst nightmare. from the day he watched his own mother die in a fire, it had scared him - and then he gets caught up in an explosion at the b&b, and all the things robert has spent the last sixteen years of his life avoiding come back to ruin him. multi-chapter - 37k]

[nooneelsecomesclose17]

So, I don't think we're going to get this, but that just means someone needs to write it! So here goes.

*****

It had been on the mat when they'd got back from their weekend. John hadn't noticed, too happy after their weekend in Rhyl to notice anything, but Aaron knew what it was and stuffed it in his pocket. He'd decide what to do with it later.

"You alright?" John slides a hand around his waist.

"Just tired. Shouldn't you be getting ready for work." He turned to face him, trying to keep the smile on his face and not think about the prison letter burning a hole in his pocket. "Unless you want to stay home with me all day."

"Can't let Liam down, he needs me. How about instead you meet me for lunch in the pub. My treat."

"You really want to spend time with my mother the day we come back from honeymoon?"

"I like your mum. Come on, it'll save cooking." He nods and then he's gone, slamming the door as he goes.

He doesn't open it right away, tells himself to just ignore it, that Robert had known what he was doing, and what the consequences were, and he wasn't Aaron's problem anymore. So why couldn't he throw it away, why did he keep looking at it.

He's still doing it when he's waiting for John in the garden at the back of the pub, looking at Grace's garden that he and Robert helped to build. Sometimes he wishes he'd stayed away, where there were no memories to hit him at every turn. But then he would never have met John.

"You don't look like a man who just came back from his honeymoon." He rolls his eyes as Mack sits down beside him, beer slopping out of his glass onto the table. "Ooh, a letter, anything interesting?"

"Just junk."

"Always carry your junk mail around with you, do you."

"Anyone ever tell you you're annoying."

"Many many people. So, go on, what is it."

"A prison visiting order, or at least I think so." He glances behind him, the last thing he needs is his Mum earwigging and telling the whole village.

"Right..."

"From Robert."

"Ah. Well I guess he doesn't have many people to send them to."

"After what he did, why does he think I want this?"

"So chuck it and forget about him. Unless...you don't want to."

"Of course I do. I married John didn't I."

"Sadly yes." He doesn't even have to look over at him. "Sorry sorry. I'm just messing. Still doesn't answer my question about why you're fondling that envelope like it's a long lost lover."

"And to think you were meant to be my best man."

"Says more about you than me." He sips at his beer, sighing. "I'm guessing you haven't told hubby."

"He had to rush to work."

"Sure. Well you've got two choices. You can throw it away, forget all about Robert Sugden which will be hard as you're married to his brother and all, or you can mope about for days before finally deciding to visit him and see what he wants."

"I know what he wants. Me."

"Man obviously has no taste. You already know what you're going to do so I say get it over with."

"I'm meant to be meeting John." There was never really a question, he could fight it as much as he liked, he would never leave Robert alone in prison and wasn't that the whole sticking point in the first place.

"I'll tell him you got called out on an emergency scrap run."

"Just that, none of your dramatics. Tell him I'll meet him for tea instead." He insists as he gets up from the stool.

"You're doing the right thing you know."

"You don't even know Robert."

"For you, idiot. Now go on, before you change your mind and we have to do this all over again. You're making my pint go flat."

He doesn't think twice, gets in the car before he can change his mind.

[sugdendingle]

I hate how when people talk about what happened with Katie they act like Rob is some cold blooded murderer. He didn't go there with the intention to kill Katie. He didn't even know Katie would be there. He went to Wylie's to meet up with Aaron and it was Aaron who got Katie to go there (because he was upset about the wedding and was planning on outing Rob). Katie then saw Aaron and Rob kissing and took a pic of them and was planning on outing Rob to Chrissie.

Rob and Katie then argued over her phone (that had a picture she had taken of him kissing Aaron on it) and over her planning on going to tell Chrissie. He grabbed her and threw her back into a room to stop her from leaving and when he did the floor (which was wood and all rotted) broke apart and she fell down through some glass windows to the basement and died.

Yes Robert's actions played a part in why she died but there's no way he could have known that part of the floor was rotten. Plus this was him right after it happened:

He was in shock. He wasn't gloating and happy she was dead.

Rob did some fcked up stuff to Katie but I think a part of him always loved her, not in the same way he loves Aaron (because that's his soulmate) just in that Katie was his first real love. I don't think he ever wanted anything like this to happen to her. You can also tell in how anytime the subject of Katie has come up Rob definitely still seems haunted by what happened.

Rob also talked about how he didn't mean for Katie to die when he tells Andy about what happened. And sure you could argue he was lying to cover his own ass but I don't think he was in this convo. He admits to pushing her and that the floor giving way surprised him. Rob has definitely told his share of lies but this convo between him and Andy felt more like Rob was finally able to open up and be honest about this thing he'd carried around with him all year.

I know in the real world Rob would and should face consequences for his role in Katie's death but then so should ever other character in the village for every messed up thing they've done. And some have definitely been worse than Rob accidently killing Katie. Which I will die on the hill that it was an accident and should be talked about that way. I think Rob covering it up and lying about it for like a year was way worse than his part in how Katie died.

And before anyone says well Rob also said "I killed the bitch" to Andy. That was literally in the middle of him and Andy fighting and almost killing each other. Also that wasn't even the whole quote.

Rob and Andy are talking about Andy trying to have Rob killed (the whole Who shot Rob thing) and Rob says: You really hate me that much? Andy: You killed Katie. Rob: I didn't kill Ka.. You know what I'm fed up with telling you that it was an accident. You want to believe I killed her fine I killed the bitch. So you tried to kill me. No actually you got someone else to do it and you let Aaron take the blame. You coward.

He only said "I killed the bitch" because he knew it would hurt Andy and he was angry and hurt at Andy being the one who tried to kill him. And for the fact that Andy still didn't believe him about Katie.

Also another time Rob talked about Katie was when he told Aaron the truth about him and Katie getting into a fight before she died (that was when Aaron had punched him).

Aaron: Was my mom right about you? Did you murder her? Rob: No. Aaron: You admitted it you said you killed her. Rob: She fell. It was like I said it was an accident. But it's still my fault. I wound her up. I threatened her. I made her life miserable. I never wanted it to end like that I swear I didn't. All I wanted was for her to keep her mouth shut.

I just hate that whenever Rob is talked about some people still to this day act like he's the most evil villain the Dales have ever seen or they lump him in with the likes of Lachlan, Meena, Carl, Emma, etc when all of them did things that were way worse than anything Rob ever did.

Almost all of the the characters have done messed up stuff. Like I love Aaron but I could practically write a novel of the messed up things he's done. Which I'm not saying that in judgment (he's one of my fav characters of all time) just that there's always been a double standard between Robert and Aaron both on the show and in fandom. I mean even with Katie's death Aaron played a part in that too and that's almost never talked about. Katie wouldn't have even been there if not for Aaron and Aaron helped to cover up her death too.

I just will always be on the Robert Sugden defense squad because while lord knows he can be a smug bastard trash king and get up to all kinds of shenanigans (and god love him for it) no one loves as fiercely or is as protective over the ones he loves quite like Rob. I also feel like for as much as Rob has screwed up over and over he has also always continued trying to be a better person for the people he loves (for Aaron most of all).

[rileychester]

I was watching a video about Aaron and Mack's friendship. And I was thinking Robert needs a friend outside of Aaron, Robert's family, and Aaron's family.

So, no Victoria or any Dingles in this situation. I'm also taking Mack out of the equation because he's connected to Dingles as Charity's husband, and he's Aaron's best friend.

Yes, people can share best friends, but we all know how messy Aaron and Robert get; they need friends to be able to sort things out with. And Mack can not be split down the middle or forced to choose sides.

Which leaves characters like Vanessa, Nicola, Tracy, and Jimmy. They all had interactions with him in the past, and they all need a story boost in the new Robert's return fairy dust.

I also think it should be an already established character that was around when Ryan was first there. So no Steph, Lewis, and as much as it pains me to say no Caleb or Ruby.

Though I think he would make a brilliant friendship pairing with either Caleb or Ruby. But they are connected to Dingles, since Caleb is Faith's son, and they are new characters. I do think that there are longer-standing characters that should get the benefit of Robert being back. We all know that Robert is going to get a lot of scenes when he is back onscreen, he's going to have a big hot girl summer.

I say let's make them all his friends, though I know ED limits that, especially with the budget cuts. I mean, they must have spent most of the budget getting Ryan to come back. So they keep characters very separate from each other. I miss the days when the show felt like an actual village.

So, who is in the running for Robert's bestie?

Nicola:

Now these two are a lot of fun together, and dear god, do they have history. Robert lost his virginity to Nicola when he was a teen and she was an older woman. These two have bickered and schemed together and have shown they work great together. Plus Ryan and Nicola have great onscreen chemistry together. She knows better than anyone what it means to be a morally gray character and what it means to come from rock bottom. The chaos these two could cause in the village together. He also gets on with Jimmy, and he could get two friends for the price of one. Though Nicola already has a long-standing best friend in Laurel. Like I said, ED keeps characters pretty separate.

Jimmy:

I have always loved Jimmy, and I always will. He's just a sweet, stupid, but loving guy who does try. I have also always liked Ryan and Nick's onscreen chemistry, and Jimmy has been a good friend in Robert's corner before. Plus, Jimmy is a King; he knows what it's like to be morally gray, too. What it's like to have everyone turn on you and have to take your lumps and work your way back. Jimmy also knows what it is like to have VERY complex relationships with your siblings, which will come in handy for Robert. He also has several different kids with several different women. Jimmy could be a good dad friend for Robert to hang out with. As well as I don't think Jimmy really has a lot on and could really use some Robert magic for more screen time. Also, Jimmy could really use a friend of his own, I think there is Bob, but I am not sure.

Tracy:

I don't think they ever interacted much, but I think she was always a fan of Robron. Plus, she could really use a friend outside of Vanessa and Eric. Tracy is fun, sweet, kind, and up for almost anything. Robert and she could get up to all sorts in the village. She also knows what it's like to cheat on someone you deeply love and have it destroy your life. But she didn't get her second chance at a happy ending because Nate died. Though I don't think Robert will feel guilty for what John did to Nate. It would be super soapy if Robert stepped up and helped out the woman whose daughter had lost her dad because of his long-lost half-brother. That sounds like something Jack would do. And I hope for Robert to step up as the head of the Sugden family like Jack, Diane, and Andy were. I also think that once Nate's death and John's showdown are wrapped up, I don't think Tracy will have much on and could use some story help.

Vanessa:

I LOVED these two being paired up as friends before Ryan left the show.

With all honesty Vanessa ticks pretty much all the future best friend of Robert Sugden boxes. They were just good fun, and Ryan and Michelle had great onscreen chemistry. And how great to see a out and proud queer friendship.

I know technically Vanessa already has two other besties with Rhona, her longtime best friend, and Tracy, her baby sister. Robert could have fun with her, and he could also have real conversations with her. She also would be a strong person to be in his corner and to have his back. And she was in a serious relationship with Charity Dingle; she understands and accepts complicated people. But like I said, she's Tracy's big sister, and I could see her joining forces with Robert to make John pay.

She has also been a solid person in Robert's niece Sarah's life. And one of the main things I really want in Robert's upcoming storylines is for him to rebuild the Sugdens. Including him being there and having a solid relationship with Sarah.

Also, can you see the soapy complicated drama goodness, if Vanity becomes a couple again, from what I have heard from rumors. If Robert is best friends with Vanessa, who might be paired with Mack's wife, Charity. Mack, who happens to be Aaron's best friend. Causing so much drama and complications because there is a lot of tension and loyalty issues in play.

And from what I have heard Vanessa could desperately use a screen boost since they really didn't delve into the fallout of Suzy's death or what went down with Suzy and Mary from what I have heard.

Matty:

I love Matty Barton, and the show has basically given him crumbs since he returned to the village in 2009. That's freaking 16 years of basically being a background character who gets a storyline if the writers can be bothered. Which is mostly zero percent of the time.

I don't think Robert and Matty really have a friendship or relationship. But dear god, Matty could use some screentime magic by being paired up as Robert's new best mate. Matty is kind, loyal, sweet, and an overall great guy. Plus, he knows what it's like to be in prison and have people turn on you for crap reasons. Matty has also survived and accepted both the Dingle and Barton madness. I think he could handle the chaotic behavior of Robert Jacob Sugden.

Also, I think Ash is a fine actor when given the chance, and I think he could rise to the occasion.

Ross:

Ok, hear me out, yes, they are canon enemies and Ross calls Robert and I quote, "big-headed pompous git." And techinally there is a lot of anger there since you know Ross shot Robert almost killing him and Robert has screwed over Ross over from time to time too. Like dumping Ross's money-making weed into a woodchipper. But Robert was okay-ish with Ross being Seb's stepdad, as far as we know.

Ross, for as far as we know, took good care of Seb, and they both love that little boy. So they could bond over that. As well as having complicated dad issues, over fathers playing favorites, and in some ways, pitting brothers against each other. Both their father are dead, so in some ways they can't get closure. They also have COMPLEX sibling relationships. Like long-lost half-brothers showing up out of the blue from long-dead parents, turning their lives upside down.

Plus, Mike and Ryan have strong chemistry, so their being frenemies could be fun. Though, as far as I'm aware, Mike and Danny still do not like each other, which is understandable considering the behind-the-scenes drama. And since Aaron and Robert are a double act and any best friend of Robert would also spend a lot of time around Aaron. I can not see that happening.

Though honestly, I have no idea where Ryan and Mike stand. All I know about what went down is that Mike has made peace with Isabel. But from what I have heard, Mike and Danny do not get on, though I guess they are civil, considering they work on the same show again and have shared scenes and stories.

Also, if it wasn't for Ross nicking Robert's car way back in the day. We probably wouldn't have Aaron and Robert. So basically, Ross helped Robert meet his soulmate.

Here is where I'm a giant hypocrite and cheat at my own rules.

Caleb:

I'm sure these two are more likely to be freenmies, considering the complicated relationship Caleb has with Aaron and the rest of the Dingles.

Plus, Caleb is his own morally gray complex character to bounce off of. Not to mention Robert's business and them both being ambitious businessmen.

I know it's unlikely, but I just think they would be really entertaining.

Ruby:

From what I have seen of her so far, I have quickly grown to love her character. She's complicated and messy; she likes to constantly slam the self-destruct button like another blonde I know. And I think she could use a bestie of her own, someone who could be fun and drama-filled, enter Robert. I think they would match each other's energy.

The only other friends' options I think she has are Chas and Moira, and they both have complicated relationships with her. Well, maybe Charity, though I don't think the show really lets them interact. She needs someone out than Caleb to interact with. Robert and Ruby could talk each other down, but also make each other worse. Which is perfect for a soap.

Mack:

I know he's Aaron's best friend, but if there is anyone who can keep up with Robert's chaotic energy, Mackenzie Boyd is your man. Also, we can all agree on the amount of competing sassy comments and pizzazz that these two would have. PURE ENTERTAINMENT all around. You just know that Lawrence and Ryan are going to deliver gold in their scenes together.

[properlittlefamily]

[ID: reply from @dairxoxo that says, "What are you reading? I haven't read anything since 2021 or so. Do you have any good recs. I need something to try to awake my love." [two smiling emojis] /End ID]

Okay this turned out longer than I thought because of course I had to go through all my bookmarks to answer this properly haha.

Warning (I guess): I am a very anti-Rebecca person. I've gotten used to the idea of Seb over these last years, but still very much prefer not to have him in my fantasy soap realm.

omegaverse au - butteredsc0tch | a/b/o, mpreg

"He’d started to feel nauseous, nothing extreme but just a little queasy in the morning when he’d wake up and again just before he’d go to bed. And if he’d felt tired, well he’d been working hard – add in the strain between him and Chrissie and it’d been no surprise he’d felt more exhausted than normal.

But then one day he’d sat down to rest his eyes for 5 minutes at his desk, and had woken up 2 hours later to Chrissie shaking his shoulder, peering down at him with worried eyes. The fact that he’d then slept for 10 hours that night, and had still needed another nap the following day, didn’t go unnoticed by him either.

So he’d bought a test, and had locked himself away in the en-suite where he'd known he wouldn’t be disturbed."

I know omegaverse/mpreg is not everyone's cup of tea, but this is one of absolute favorites. Like top 3 for me, no contest. I just think it's so well written, both story and character wise. I've read this series so many times, I've lost count. Love, love, love.

you're so much brighter than the sun to me - wafflesofdoom | canon divergent

"after their fight at home farm, aaron and robert sit and talk, and decide a holiday in vegas is exactly what they need to sort themselves out.

or, the one where their holiday of a lifetime to vegas turns out to be unforgettable for more reasons than one."

Everytime I go back and reread this, I'm always just clinching my fists and grinding my teeth because of what could've been. And because it's just adorable.

The Plan - orphan_account | smut, accidental voyeurism

"As soon as Aaron saw that smirk on Rebecca's face, he knew she was doing this on purpose so he comes up with a plan.

That plan includes texting her to walk through the back and watch Robert fuck him and not her."

Aaron being an absolute menace and literally marking his territory is just so fun to me. Also always love me some shameless smut

sweet dreams are made of these - KayCeeCruz (locked to users)

"After a tragic accident, Robert’s left in a coma. While his loved ones fight to keep him alive, Robert sinks into a world of dreams. When he wakes up, he is confused about what life is real and all he wants is to have his husband by his side." I haven't reread this one yet, but I remember absolutely loving it the first time I read it. This one has definitely been bumped up the list.

Triggers - KiyoYoon | past abuse, smut, aftercare

"Aaron and Robert enjoy a day without Liv in the house alone, meaning that they can gladly have sex without the thought of scarring their little sister. Until Aaron feels a heavy weight in his chest and doesn't realise he's stumbled across some triggers."

Another top favorite of mine. I really love all the fics that dive into emotional/mental/physical response Aaron (could of) had in the aftermath of his abuse, but this is one that has always stuck in the back of my mind.

pushing up daisies series - softlyspoken | mpreg

“I’m just ...” Robert looks at Aaron, really looks at him and Aaron looks away from him. “You look different.” He whispers.

Aaron’s eyes flicker slightly. “Your leather jacket is annoying.”

“Eh?”

“I thought we were pointing out random things.” Aaron says, he puffs his chest as he speaks.

Yes, another mpreg fic. This is actually a trope I read quiet often. Anyway another well written series that I just adore and have read so many times.

Reiteration - Otherworldliness | time travel (kind of)

"Robert Sugden falls asleep in August 2017 as a broken man rapidly losing everything he loves. He awakes in August 2014 with more knowledge and hindsight than any man should, but more importantly Hope."

Another fic I haven't reread yet, but I'm always thinking about it. Basically a "god is a robron shipper and is not happy" fic and I remember loving it.

Village Talk series - theprincessed

"A collection of random, often canon-related conversations starring Robert and/or Aaron and featuring assorted villagers in Emmerdale."

Just a fun collection of short stories of Robron interacting with other villagers.

[hereforrobron]

I just finished rewatching Robron’s entire storyline from the beginning and boy was that refreshing to watch again after so long. It’s really hitting me now and I’m ready for what’s to come, I just hope Emmerdale writers do them justice (I mean ffs it’s been 6 years lol they better know what we want). Although I’m sure it’ll take a good while until the boys get back together, I know this’ll be one hell of a ride and I’m here for it. I have so many scenarios in my head as to how this’ll possibly play out and I feel like my younger self again from when this ship first started, giddy and all. I’m so glad Ryan agreed to come back and Danny really wanting this reunion to happen, goes to show it’s genuine. Good job to Danny though messaging Ryan in the first place about coming back bc I don’t know how I would feel if they had recasted, it just wouldn’t have made sense. Oh gosh I’m so so happy. Robron is alive and well guys! They’re back, I’m back, we’re all back 🥹 Also, I just deeped that I really waited 6 years for this….that’s insane but I knew they would come back. Just like Robert said, “I was always coming back for you Aaron.” 😭

[damnitiloveyou]

To the anon that sent the ask about Robert anti's and the backstory to certain Robron things. I'm assuming you're new, so welcome aboard. I answered it and typed out this insanely long reply, but Tumblr ate it before I could post it. So I will attempt to reply to you now, with a shortened response just in case, but your ask is no more. I'm sorry and hope you still find this.

The short simple answer would be that I don't know why anyone who supposedly enjoys, at least to some degree, the soap medium could or would hate a character like Robert Sugden. He's really kind of the archetype of a good soap character. That would be the safe answer for me to give. But the real answer is that most of the hardcore Robert anti's are hardcore Aaron/Danny stans who don't want anyone or anything being treated as equal to Aaron. They like John because he's not a character threat to Aaron's spotlight (which blows my mind because they've had to make Aaron so plot dumb/blind for this storyline that it's hard to see how they could enjoy it). And Robert is not only equal to Aaron in his own right as a character, but Ryan doesn't get chewed up in scenes with Danny either. That's it. I will say though that the reaction to Ryan's return seems to indicate that the anti Robert group is decidedly smaller now.

As for the Robron backstory, I do recommend going over to YouTube and watching their complete storyline. There are several channels there that have it, but I would recommend the Aaron Dingle channel. They have everything. You can start with Aaron's return in 2014 and go from there. I do strongly recommend though at some point you watch Aaron's coming out storyline because it is still to this day one of the most devastatingly beautiful coming out storylines that television has ever done. It is stunning. The Lodge is a decidedly different thing all together. When Robert first returned it was supposed to be temporary and the Lodge came before they decided to keep him around and give him a redemption arc. It is a big part of their lore though so I wouldn't advise skipping it. I just always advise people that you cannot apply real life morals to soap characters, so please keep that in mind. I personally enjoy the context of those scenes but there are people who hate them to this day. I think everyone should watch it at least once though. I'm sorry my original reply got deleted because it included much more detail, but I would advise you to just strap in and enjoy the ride. I promise they're worth every minute of it. 🩷

[mrsugden-dinglefirst]

I understand people are upset that Aaron comes across that he really doesn’t care about Robert but I don’t think he’d risk his current marriage to go and see Robert by lying if he didn’t actually care. He heard Vic talk about how worried she is and how he isn’t coping and the first thing Aaron did after was book an appointment to see him after saying twice that he wouldn’t.

Aaron’s attitude has kinda always been this way when he’s protecting himself. He did it in 2015, he constantly had the ‘I don’t really care Robert’ and the ‘it’s over I’m not interested’ attitude then just before Robert got shot he literally broke down in tears questioning why he can’t stop loving him.

[octoberobserver]

The Set Up - a Robron fic

(Read on ao3 here)

Hi! I truly cannot believe that I’m not only back watching Emmerdale (or at least bingeing clips) in the year of our Lord 2025, but I’m writing fic for it for the first time, too. The power of Robron, I swear. Full disclosure, despite having grown up with it, I haven’t actually watched the show properly in over six years, so I’m playing catch-up in a lot of ways. If anything seems off, that’s why.

This fic is also for my Mum, who passed away recently and was a massive Robron shipper, even bigger than I ever was. She always said there was nobody else for Aaron, and Robert would be back, and she was right on both fronts. ❤️

~*~

He let Mackenzie Boyd, of all people, set him up.

Robert knew from the start, right when it was happening over several ill-advised pints in The Woolpack on a Thursday evening in early August, that it was an absolutely terrible idea.

And yet…

“Come on,” Mack nudged his shoulder, taking a large gulp from his fourth pint of the night. “A friend of mine is comin’ down from Aberdeen the weekend. I said I’d show ‘im round, but I have a thing, can’t miss it. So, do me a favour and show ‘im Hotten for me.”

Robert took a much more respectable sip of his third pint of the night. He had been back in the village for a couple of months now and, bafflingly, among the animosity from the Dingles, the hesitancy from his sister, the vitriol from his dear, long-lost half brother, and the soul-crushing heartache from his hus…ex-husband, he had somehow managed to make a friend.

Mackenzie. Aaron’s best friend and perpetual, if well-meaning, new thorn in Robert’s side.

“This friend of yours,” he took another sip, eyes carefully averted. “He wouldn’t happen to be the same one I heard ya makin’ plans to head to the new gay bar with, would he?”

Listen. The village was small. He couldn’t help but overhear phone conversations in the café while waiting for his Americano and trying (and failing) to ignore Aaron’s existence in the queue behind him, even if Mackenzie weren’t a giant motormouth. Which he 100% was.

As if reading his mind, a slow grin passed over Mack’s face.

“One in the same,” he winked. “Logan. He’s thirty-five, brunette, and a bit rough around the edges. Just your type…or so I’ve heard, anyway.”

Robert snorted, putting down his pint and locking eyes with him.

“You’re a lot of things, Mack. But subtle isn’t one of ‘em, eh?”

Mackenzie practically vibrated in his seat, his dark eyes lit up in excitement.

“No, it’s not, Robbie m’boy. Come on, go out with him. I promise it’ll be fun. He’s dead fit too.”

He waggled his eyebrows in a ridiculously suggestive way.

“Aren’t you straight?” Robert tilted his head inquisitively at him.

Mack rolled his eyes. “Mostly,” he smirked, “but that doesn’t mean I don’t have functioning eyes, Sugden.”

He sighed before waving his hand around the half-empty pub.

“What, have ya some other big plans in your lively social calendar?”

Robert rolled his eyes back at him. He was a recently released ex-con who wasn’t exactly Mr. Popular before he went inside, so he was hardly batting invitations away with a stick. And this numpty knew it.

Still, something had his stomach churning.

“And what does Aaron think about his best friend trying to set up his ex-husband on a date with a ‘dead fit, rough around the edges’ type?”

He said it lightly, almost flippantly, but didn’t quite hit the mark. They both pretended it did, though.

After a tumultuous first few weeks back in the Dales, Robert was honouring his promise to leave John (and reluctantly, Aaron) alone. They hadn’t seen much of one another since their last blow-up over a month ago, and it was slowly killing Robert.

Catching only brief glimpses here and there of his hus…ex-husband in the pub or the shop or the café was a quiet torture. Harder than the last six years without him inside had been because this time, this way, he was so close but…just out of reach.

Instead, he had to watch, in real time, as Aaron lived his life without him. Was happy (if he was to be believed, anyway) with someone else—Robert's half-brother, army-medic twat, John Sugden.

Of all people.

But every cloud had a silver lining, and his sheer hatred for John had been what drew Mackenzie into Robert’s orbit.

Because it turned out, Aaron’s best friend hated his new husband and really, somehow liked his ex. And wasn’t that just fucking hilarious?

They’d bonded in minutes.

“Lucky for us,” Mackenzie shrugged, “Aaron doesn’t get to have an opinion on what, or who you do anymore, Robert. And yeah, he’s my best mate in the world, but he doesn’t speak for me and what I choose to do with or for my other friends, either. So. Free country and all that. He knows we’re friends. Accepts it. And settin’ ya up kinda goes with the territory, doesn’t it?”

Robert narrowed his eyes, suspicious of his tone.

“This isn’t another one of your bonkers plans to get us back together, is it? ‘Cause I told Aaron I would speak to you about—”

“Nope, no, my matchmaking days are over, Sugden. Scout’s honour.”

He held up two fingers to his forehead, almost like he was blessing himself.

“Something tells me you were never a Boy Scout, Boyd.”

“And you’d be right,” Mackenzie grinned. “Was kicked out my first week for nickin’ badges. But my point still stands. Ya gotta get back out there, man. See the world, meet new people. You’ve been outta the game for over half a decade. It’s time.”

Robert shifted in his seat.

“And does this Logan know why I’ve been ‘out of the game’ for over half a decade, Mackenzie? ‘Cause something tells me that might be a dealbreaker.”

A trace of a grimace passed over his friend’s face before he gave another shrug.

“He knows you were inside. He has a bit of a past himself, so he gets it more than most,” he sighed. “But I didn't get too into the details. It's not my story to tell.”

Robert nodded at that. And let himself briefly consider it. Being with another man who wasn’t Aaron had honestly never crossed his mind. Not once. He was attracted to plenty of men, sure, had been since he was a teenager, because yeah, he also had functioning eyes, but actively putting himself out there after knowing what he and Aaron had? Could possibly have again if it weren’t for the small, tiny issue of Aaron being married and Robert having broken his trust and his heart all in one foul sweep?

Never stopped ya before, a snarky voice that sounded devastingly like Liv echoed in the back of his head.

His heart gave a painful thump.

“Look, I’ve said my piece,” Mackenzie held up his hands, breaking Robert from his reverie as he dug in his pocket and retrieved a slip of paper, sliding it slowly across the table like he was in a film negotiating his price for a bounty.

Dramatic little shit.

“There’s his number. I told ‘im I’d pass it on, and he said no pressure either way, he’s well able to entertain himself till I can grace him with my lovely presence. So do with it what ya want.”

Robert stared down at the eleven digits, the black ink blurring a little as he heard the last words he and Aaron spoke directly to each other, all those weeks ago…

“He stole my husband, my sister, my home, and my life, and I’m supposed to, what, Aaron? Play happy families with the bloke? Shake his hand, send Christmas cards, and share pints down the pub? All while he has you in his bed, Vic in his corner, and everyone else in this godforsaken village wrapped around his little finger? Gimme a break.”

“I’m not asking you to have any type of relationship with John, Robert. But I do need ya to move on. From me and from us. Find someone else. I have.”

Move on. From Aaron and from the life they had together. Find someone else. First Chas, then Vic, now Aaron, all saying the same thing, like it was just the easiest thing in the world. To move on from the one person in the whole world who ever made him happy, ever made him feel like himself, ever made him fall in love with—

“Oi, Mack, where the hell have ya—oh.”

Robert just about managed not to jump as the man of the hour, Aaron Dingle, (or Sugden-Dingle, he supposed he was now, again?), suddenly appeared, storming right over to the table before stopping dead in his tracks at the sight of him sitting with Mackenzie.

“Uh,” Aaron’s brow furrowed as he stared between them for a beat, before he shook his head and gestured at his friend. “I was lookin’ for ya. The footie’s at eight, so…”

Robert stood up, deftly slipping the piece of paper into the palm of his hand and nodding at Mack.

Decision made, then.

“Right, I’ll let ya get on. Thanks, Mack,” he drained his pint and turned, giving a curt nod to Aaron before making his way out of the pub, heading for Vic’s.

Move on. From me and from us. Find someone else.

He wasn’t sure if he was ready to do exactly that just yet, but…maybe, just maybe, a drink with a ‘dead fit, rough around the edges’ Scot couldn’t hurt.

~*~

Aaron watched as Robert, dressed in a tight navy shirt and dark trousers, with perfectly messy hair (styled in the way he knew took him ages), and a leather jacket slung over his shoulder, hopped into a taxi at seven o’clock on a Saturday night.

“Where’s he off to?” Aaron mumbled to himself, hating that he still cared.

He shouldn’t.

But he did.

It had been…weird having Robert back in the village. Well, it had been a lot more than just weird, but he didn’t wanna think about all that just now. Not when he was supposed to be having a quiet night in with his new husband.

His husband. John. Not—

“You okay?”

He startled a little at the sudden voice in his ear.

“Yeah, yeah, fine. Hurry up, will ya, the food’s gettin’ cold.”

John let them into their flat, throwing his keys down and shrugging off his jacket.

“Was that Robert getting into a taxi?” he asked over his shoulder, his tone clipped.

Aaron refused to rise to it. They were supposed to be having a quiet night in, with some takeaway and some Netflix and maybe a quick shag if he didn’t fall asleep halfway through whatever boring documentary John forced him to watch—but none of that would happen if Robert Sugden became the topic of conversation.

“Didn’t see,” he lied, just one of many he’d accumulated over the last couple of months, starting with his wedding day and the kiss he hadn’t told him about.

The same kiss that Robert did eventually tell him about, and all Hell broke loose.

“He and Mackenzie seem to be cozying up a lot,” John continued, despite it being obvious Aaron didn’t want to keep talking about it. “Is he trying to steal your best friend or something?”

“Who knows with Robert?” Aaron sighed as he got out plates and dug through the bag, taking out containers of food, the smell as delicious as always, but his stomach suddenly queasy. “And, Mack’s allowed to have more than one friend, so it’s none of my business…”

He shrugged, hoping the topic was dropped.

(He should’ve known better.)

“Don’t you think it’s a bit weird, though?” John asked, making his way over and folding his arms across his chest. “What, Robert can’t have you, so he’ll take the next best thing?”

“Robert’s not interested in Mack like that, John. Just ‘cause he’s bi doesn’t mean that he wants to get with everyone.”

That wasn’t what he had intended to say. He had no idea what he had intended to say, but he was pretty sure it wasn’t that. Judging by the creases lining John’s forehead, he thought the same.

“I know, Aaron,” he said a little sharply. “I just meant that it’s odd that he could make his own separate friends, but instead is being pally with your best mate. Having pints and talkin’ shop and letting him set him up on dates with—”

“What?”

Aaron’s heart skipped a beat.

John’s eyes narrowed slightly, tracing his face. Aaron kept still, trying to show none of the reaction that the rest of his body was having right now.

Mack set Robert up on a date? Was that where he was going, all dressed up in a taxi?

“I overheard Mackenzie talking to that friend of his from Aberdeen. Logan?” John was saying, almost drowned out by the thundering in Aaron’s ears. “He said something about giving Robert his number and telling him to text him.”

Something clicked in the back of Aaron’s mind. Last Thursday, he had gone to The Woolie looking for Mack, only to find him sitting with Robert. Predictably, Robert had made a pretty hasty exit once he’d seen him (unpredictably keeping his promise about leaving him alone), and slipped what looked like a small piece of paper into his hand before heading out.

Aaron probably shouldn’t have noticed something like that, but then again, when had he ever not noticed every single little thing about Robert Jacob Sugden, even when he didn’t want to?

“Oh, right,” he forced out, gathering his food and making his way over to the couch. “Good for him, then.”

The words were like ash in his mouth, so he cracked open a can and tried to dowse it in the shitty craft beer John insisted on buying from Hotten.

(It didn’t work.)

He could feel John’s eyes on him as he tucked into his dinner, his stomach protesting every bite but forcing himself to swallow it down anyway.

“Yeah, I suppose it is a good thing,” John continued, sitting down beside him, a plate in one hand as he wrapped the other around Aaron’s shoulders, leaning in close, his breath on his cheek. “He can find someone else’s life to ruin, so we can get on with ours.”

A spike of anger flared in Aaron’s veins at that. He had spoken to John before about not understanding what he and Robert had, what they had once been to one another, and having opinions about something he knew nothing about, but as time wore on, he just kept picking and making snide comments, and it was really starting to wind him up.

He swallowed down that anger along with his food.

A quiet night in. He wanted a quiet night in. Food. Film. Fucking. With his new husband. That was what he wanted. Not whatever Robert was up to in Hotten with some mystery bloke Mackenzie set him up with.

“Whatcha wanna watch?” he unsubtly changed the subject, but thankfully John didn’t object.

“Oh, there’s a documentary on submarines that’s meant to be…”

Aaron tuned out the rest, numbly nodding as John, none the wiser, put on the film and settled in.

Over the next, God, he had no idea how long, Aaron tried not to glance out the window or look at his phone or wonder just what his ex-husband was up to. It wasn’t his business anymore. Robert could be friends with whoever he wanted, and go on dates with whoever he wanted, and fall in love with who…

He leapt up off the couch, nausea swirling in his gut as his heart hammered in his chest.

John stared at him, a worried line between his eyebrows.

“Aaron? Are you o—”

“Need the toilet,” he put down his plate of completely untouched dinner and backed out of the room. “Keep the film playin’, I’ll be out in a minute.”

Not waiting for a reply, he shut himself in the bathroom and tried to control his suddenly haggard breathing.

Resting his face against the mirror, he took a deep breath in and slowly let it out.

“Get a grip, Jesus,” he hissed to himself, while digging in his pocket for his phone and pulling up Mackenzie’s number.

It rang exactly twice before a far-too-enthusiastic voice picked up.

“Aaron, mate, I had a feelin’ you’d be callin’.”

He swallowed down every curse word and snappy comeback he wanted to lob at his best mate and growled, “What’s this I hear about you settin’ Rob up with Logan?”

An annoyingly smug chuckle sounded down the phone.

“Heard about that, did’cha?”

“Mackenzie.”

“Oh, fine, it’s not like it’s a big secret, 007,” Mack sighed, and Aaron could practically see him rolling his eyes. “It’s exactly what it says on the tin. Logan’s visitin’, and I couldn’t take him out on the town tonight, so I set him up with an eligible bisexual bachelor instead. It’s called being a good friend.”

“Oh yeah, you’re a saint,” Aaron shot back, tone dripping with sarcasm and hating himself for it.

“I didn’t think you’d mind, considerin’ you’re all loved up with Hubby Number Two,” Mack remarked lightly, knowing well he minded far more than he’d ever admit. “Sugden Lite, Diet Sugden, Sugden Zero—”

“Mack.”

A laugh was bubbling up his chest and mixing with his initial annoyance, but he’d be fucked if he ever let Mackenzie know he found him funny. Sometimes. On occasion.

Robert was the same way. Give him an inch, and he’d take a mile. The bastard.

“Was there any particular reason for this call, Aaron, or can I get back to what I was doin’?”

Aaron stared at himself in the mirror, taking another deep breath and letting it out.

“What were ya doing, anyway, that ya couldn’t meet up with Logan?”

“Jesus, the fuzz wouldn’t even ask me that,” Mack snorted, and Aaron could practically see him wink. “Mind yer ain business, Dingle. Pint tomorrow?”

That was that, then.

Aaron knew a lost cause when he heard one.

“Alright, yeah, see ya then. Judas.”

Another laugh trickled down the line.

“Maybe ask yerself why me settin’ up your ex on a date with a fit Scotsman feels like betrayal, when you’ve said time and time again to anyone who’ll listen that you want him to move on, eh? Ya might figure out a couple’a things and save me the bother next time.”

The dial tone punctuated his point.

Aaron lowered the phone from his ear and gritted his teeth.

Fuckin’ Mackenzie Boyd.

Resigning himself to his fate, he took another deep breath and made his way back out to the living room, only to find John mid-kip in front of the telly, the boring monotone of the narrator the only sound over his soft snores.

Alright. Maybe he’d have that pint now, then.

~*~

Robert hated to admit it, but—Mackenzie was right. Logan was ‘dead fit.’

And funny.

Smart.

Charming.

And, yep, a good kisser too.

(Though he wasn’t sure if Mack knew that last one. Probably not. Maybe? He kinda had his suspicions about him, sometimes.)

He pulled back from the admittedly good kiss and bit his lip, staring down into chocolate brown eyes, hating that he wished they were sea blue instead.

“Pint?”

The word was out of his mouth before he could stop it.

Logan was staying in The Grange for the weekend, so of course, the only place close by to get that pint would be…The Woolpack. That was currently full to the brim with his ex-in-laws because it was a day that ended in ‘Y.’

They’d be lambs walking into a lion’s cage.

“Lead the way,” Logan smiled back before Robert could backpeddle and shit, yeah, there was Chas right at the bar, Charity wiping glasses, Sam sitting gormless with Belle and Aaron—

Fuck.

They locked eyes, Robert frozen on the spot, distantly aware that Logan was saying something to him but not hearing a word.

Because Aaron was staring right at him with those unfairly gorgeous blue eyes. Drinking him in with that quiet intensity that took his breath away from day one, over eleven years ago.

Some things never change.

“...Robert?”

“Hm, what?” he dragged his gaze away from his ex-husband and forced his attention on his date.

His date. Logan. Who was looking at him with a far-too-knowing stare.

“I said, what are ya havin’? It’s my round.”

Mumbling the first thing that came to mind, he took a seat, his legs feeling a little shaky, no matter how much he scolded himself.

Aaron went and married his half-brother, for fuck’s sake. Robert, being on a casual date with a man shouldn’t feel wrong. Shouldn’t feel like he’s cheating right in front of him because Aaron wasn’t his anymore. He wasn’t Aaron’s. They weren’t anything to each other anymore and—

And that just isn’t true, is it?

Aaron still hadn’t looked away. Robert didn’t need to be staring directly at him to know that. He could feel it.

“Here we are,” Logan grinned as he placed a pint in front of him and sank down beside him. “So, this is The Woolpack, eh? Mack’s second home, now.”

Robert nodded, trying and failing to ignore the multiple pairs of eyes that were on them now.

The rest of the Dingles had noticed them, then.

Great.

“Yeah, his wife, Charity, owns the place,” he cleared his throat and took a sip of his drink, itching to tear up the beer mat in front of him.

Logan hummed thoughtfully. “Yeah, he mentioned Charity. Was gutted I missed the wedding. Heard it was…unique.”

Robert shrugged, “I couldn’t tell ya, I missed it too. I was…” he trailed off, realising he didn’t really want to delve into where he was and why right this second.

Logan nudged his shoulder with his.

“Me too.”

Robert’s eyebrows shot up his forehead.

“You were in prison during Mackenzie’s wedding?”

“Yep,” Logan chuckled. “I thought Mack told ya I’d been inside too?”

“He… alluded.”

Logan laughed, “Yeah, that sounds like him.”

They shared a smile, and Robert felt himself relax a bit, something loosening in his chest.

“So, the lad at the bar currently glaring daggers into my skull, that’s your ex, then?”

Robert tensed all over again.

“What?”

Logan tilted his head ever so slightly in Aaron’s direction.

“That lad—dark hair, ruggedly handsome, intense as fuck. That’s your ex-husband? Aaron, right?”

“What exactly did Mackenzie tell you?”

“Oh, this wasn’t Mack’s doin’. You’ve mentioned ‘Aaron’ like a dozen times since Hotten. It doesn’t take a genius.”

Robert winced, opening his mouth—

“Don’t apologise. I get it.”

“I’m not sure ya do.”

“Maybe not,” Logan nudged his shoulder again. “But I don’t mind. Let ‘im look. We could even give ‘im a show, if ya want?”

Before he could try to come up with a response to that, a very familiar and very unwelcome figure walked through the door, a thunderous expression on his face.

Unable to help himself, Robert smirked.

“Hello, Johnny. Looking for someone?”

John glanced from where Aaron was now straightening up at the bar, looking oddly caught out, to where Robert sat with Logan.

“Robert,” he gritted between his teeth. “This the next man whose life you’re gonna ruin?”

Before he could reply, Aaron appeared at John’s side, speaking lowly.

“I just nipped in for a quick pint, didn’t wanna wake ya, but let’s go, yeah? Finish the film.”

Robert snorted, gaze trailing Aaron’s face.

“Lemme guess, something boring. A war documentary? Navy ships? Am I close?”

Aaron’s jaw tightened, telling him everything.

Unable to shove down his amusement, Robert turned to Logan, waving a hand.

“John, Aaron, this is Logan, my date. Logan, this is John, my long-lost half-brother, and Aaron, my hus…brother-in-law.”

He caught his slip, but he knew they all heard it. It was also the first time he had uttered the words ‘brother-in-law’ in the same sentence as ‘Aaron’ out loud, and it tasted foul. Like someone had switched his pint with filthy drain water.

He could see Logan’s shocked expression out of the corner of his eye and surmised that Mackenzie had left that little nugget of information out of his lowdown on Robert Sugden.

“Nice to meet you,” John said, sounding like he meant anything but as he leaned closer. “But watch yourself with this one, eh? He’s just got out of prison.”

Logan caught Robert’s eye before leaning in and chuckling.

“Well, there’s a coincidence for ya. Me too. Expect I’ll be alright, so.”

He winked before staring at Aaron, standing up, and hooking a thumb behind him.

“Gotta see a man about a horse,” he murmured, heading for the toilets.

Robert watched him go, sipping his pint.

“Anything else I can help ya with, Johnny boy, or…?”

“I know what you’re doing, ya know,” John growled as Aaron made an aborted gesture to hold him back. “And it’s not gonna work. You’re not gonna flaunt some fling in here in front of Aaron and get him to come runnin’ back to ya or something, you hear me?”

Robert blinked, and before he knew it, he was on his feet.

“Oi!” Chas yelled from across the pub. “I want no trouble in here, you hear me, Robert Sugden? Take it outside, all of ya.”

Shooting his gem of an ex-mother-in-law a smile, he walked out, John and Aaron hot on his heels.

“First of all, Johnny Not So Good,” he said lightly as soon as they stepped out into the night air and the door shut behind them. “What I do or do not do in this village is none of your business. Second of all, I’m not in the habit of manipulating the man I love. I didn’t even know Aaron was in there. Last I heard from Mack was that Aaron was having a ‘lovely, quiet night in’ with you. So, I had no plans to make him jealous.”

John gave a hollow laugh, stepping towards him.

“‘Not in the habit of manipulating?’ That’s not the way I’ve heard it.”

Something painful twinged in Robert’s chest at that, as he couldn’t help but look at Aaron, who wouldn’t meet his eye.

“Yeah, well. Maybe that was true once upon a time. But people change.”

“Not you,” John glared, taking another step towards him and jabbing a finger in his face. “You’re a bad apple, Robert. Always have been from what I’ve gleaned about ya around here. Everyone says it. Chas, Victoria, Paddy…” he trailed off, looking right at Aaron and letting Robert fill in the blanks.

That pain in his chest twisted like a knife.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it,” Robert smacked his hand away. “You’re better than me in every way,” he paused, a slow, smug smirk crossing his face as he finally caught Aaron’s eye, winking. “Well, not every way, eh, Aaron?”

John lunged at him, but Aaron was faster, holding him back as Robert let out a cold laugh.

“I already told ya, Johnny Do Wrong, you should be worried. And everyone knows it. Victoria, Paddy, Chas, Mack, Aaron, hell, even deep down, you. Your marriage was cursed from the start. Not ten minutes before your wedding, Aaron was kissing me, and, the cherry on top, his own best friend, his Best Man, even missed the big day. If that isn’t a bad omen, I dunno what is…”

Robert was on a roll now, the whole world narrowing down to just the three of them as he delivered the final blow.

“Don’t worry, though, Johnny boy, Mack’ll be Best Man at his next one…” he laughed, leaning down to stare right into his brother’s eyes. “Remember, Aaron loved me so much he married me twice. So, whatcha think? Could we go for a hat-trick?”

John lunged for him again, but Aaron held him tighter.

“Give over, Rob,” he growled but didn’t look at him, just as Logan emerged in the doorway, looking puzzled and intrigued.

“What’d I miss?”

Robert turned to him, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Family drama, it’s rampant round here,” he remarked lightly. “Walk ya back to the B&B?”

Ignoring Aaron’s heavy stare, he strode away, side by side with Logan, letting their shoulders bump together.

He knew it wasn’t fair, was shitty and a low-blow, especially for Aaron’s ears to hear, but he had meant every word he’d said. Despite everything, despite himself, he still had hope.

Hope for them. Hope for what they could be again.

And it was probably going to be his downfall.

So for now, he shoved it underneath all the years of yearning and pain and love for a man that wasn’t his anymore, ignored his tit of a brother and walked his date home.

Robert Jacob Sugden was a lot of things. He was smug, arrogant and cocky with a bad taste in music and who dances worse than Paddy Kirk. But one thing he wasn’t was a quitter.

Neither was Aaron Dingle.

And for now? That was enough.

~*~

Aaron watched, his stomach in knots and his chest tight, as Robert walked away with Mack’s stupidly fit friend.

They had kissed earlier. Just before heading into The Woolpack.

Aaron had seen them from where he had been standing outside, trying to cajole his best friend into a sneaky pint with him from wherever he was hiding, only to look up and feel his whole world tilt on its axis.

Because there Robert stood, his ex-husband and not-so-ex love of his life, twenty yards from him, his lips locked with another man’s.

A man who wasn’t him.

Over the years, he had seen Robert with other people before, sure. Women. More than one. And yeah, it had bothered him, of course it had. But not like this. This felt different. When Robert had been with women in the past, Aaron could fool himself into thinking it was because they, as women, had something he didn’t. They could, as women, give Robert something he couldn’t. But to see him with another man? That he couldn’t fool himself into thinking anything but, see? It’s not that he doesn’t want a man. It’s that he doesn’t want you.

The thought felt like being cut by the sharpest knife and drowned in ice-cold water at the same time.

(And Aaron would know. He’d experienced both in his lifetime.)

He felt like that because it was Aaron who helped Robert accept that part of himself. It was Aaron he wanted to be himself with, and he had fallen in love with and realised that he wasn’t a disappointment with. Aaron. Not Chrissie, or Katie, or Rebecca, or…what was his name, again? Lorcan? No, Logan. Not him either.

And yet, as much as he hated admitting it to himself, watching Robert kiss another man, a man who wasn’t him…hurt in a way he hadn’t expected it to after all this time.

But he had no right to feel that way. He knew that.

He’d gone and married Robert’s brother, for God’s sake.

Hypocrite.

Shoving those dark thoughts to the back of his mind, he practically dragged John back to The Mill, knowing another fight awaited them, but suddenly so, so sick and tired of it all.

“You just couldn’t keep away, could ya?”

He wanted to go to bed, but John’s tone and his glare told him that wouldn’t be happening any time soon.

“John, I swear. I just wanted a pint, that’s all. I had no idea Robert would be in the pub.”

Liar.

“We’re bound to run into each other. It’s a small village.”

Excuses.

“We’ll just give ‘em a wide berth, yeah? As much as we can.”

Empty promises.

The fight lasted well into the night. The same old issues cropping up over and over and over again until finally, Aaron just left the room, heading towards his bedroom and calling over his shoulder, “Follow me, or don’t. I’m going to bed.”

It was another while until he felt the bed dip.

He pretended to be asleep.

John actually fell asleep much quicker than he thought he would.

And all the while, Aaron thought of Robert.

Robert and his dramatic wedding crashing and declarations of love. Robert and his bruised and battered face, still so happy to see him when he got back out of prison. Robert and the love they once had, the life they once shared, the future they had been planning with Seb, and Liv and more kids on the horizon. Robert tonight, in his tight shirt and stupidly messy, ridiculous hair that he wanted nothing more than to run his hands through again for the first time in six years. Robert’s soft eyes and sharp tongue and that same tongue shoved down another man’s throat as he probably fucked Logan within an inch of his—

Aaron was tiptoeing out his front door before he fully caught his next breath.

It was cold, and his threadbare jumper and joggers didn’t do much to shield him from it. But Vic’s place was in his sights now, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make himself turn back. Go home. To the bed he shared with his husband. Who wasn’t Robert. Not anymore.

He knocked louder than he would have if he didn’t know that Victoria had taken Harry to visit Diane this weekend.

“Robert?” he yelled through the door, an urgency surging through him, a frantic panic as the thought that maybe he wasn’t home but instead up at the B&B, with fit, Scottish Logan with his tongue shoved down his—

“Aaron?”

The door swung open, revealing a sleep-rumpled Robert, in grey pyjama trousers and loose T-shirt, staring blearily down at him.

Aaron drank him in like a man parched, words flowing from him without thought.

“I think I’d rather never have you back than lose you again. That’s what you said to me once,” he whispered, tears welling up in his eyes as he swallowed the lump in his throat.

Robert looked devastated as he heard his own words from so long ago repeated back to him.

He took a breath. His eyes wide, bright, and gorgeous.

“Aaron, what—”

“Did ya sleep with him?”

Robert blinked, arms crossing over his chest as his face hardened.

“I don’t think you get to ask me those kinda questions since you married my brother, Aaron.”

Aaron winced, knowing he was right. Knowing he was being beyond unfair, but not able to stop himself.

“Okay, let me ask ya something else, then.”

He took another deep breath, stepping closer to him, tilting his head up to look straight into those same eyes he had missed more than anything in the world.

“Is this me losing you, Robert?”

It was soft. Barely above a whisper. But he knew he had heard him, if the kaleidoscope of emotion crossing his face was any indication.

Robert heaved a sigh, reaching out and gripping his arms, tight, but not constricting. Comforting. Warm. Everything.

“You could never lose me, Aaron. I told you. I’m not going anywhere. Never again.”

His thumb swept over his forearm, right where his faded scars lay underneath his sleeve.

“And no, I didn’t sleep with him. I walked him to the door and said goodnight because all I could think about is you, because…well, you know.”

A broken sob tried its best to wrench its way out of Aaron’s chest.

But he kept it together. He had to get this out. He’d waited over half a decade. It was time.

“I know,” he gripped the edge of Robert’s T-shirt, summoning every ounce of strength he had. “So if we…if we do this, Rob, can you promise me, swear to me, that we will do everything we can not to lose each other? Never again. Because that’s what I need, Robert. I can’t…I can’t do what I want to do without being sure of that. Because I can’t lose you again. I won’t. It will kill me.”

Robert reached up and cupped his cheek, his gaze unwavering.

“We won’t lose each other, Aaron. Not again, never again. I swear, I promise, I—”

Aaron leaned up and crashed their lips together, pushing him over the threshold and kicking the door closed behind him.

Robert kissed him back instantly, as if it were inevitable, and maybe in a way it always was, ever since that day on the bridge.

(Ever since the lay-by, really.)

Robert kissed him like it was the only thing he wanted to do for the rest of his life. And Aaron kissed him back.

Because, yeah. It was one of the only things he wanted to do for the rest of his life. That, and so, so much more. With Robert.

It was a terrible idea, and would definitely blow up his life worse than he ever had, but he couldn’t find it in himself to care.

Because it was Robert. It was always Robert. It would always be…Robert.

Messed up. With him. Forever.

And no husband or blind date or prison sentence would ever change that. For either of them.

He broke the kiss, chest heaving as he struggled to breathe, watching Robert do the same, their breaths mingling with their lips barely an inch apart. And suddenly, a memory came to him, from the deep recesses of his brain, making Aaron smile, his hands coming up to finally rake through that ridiculous hair that he loved so much, because despite everything still unspoken between them, he knew only three more little words needed to be said tonight.

“Right. Upstairs. Now.”

Somewhere, out there, Mackenzie is throwing one hell of a party and filling Charity in on his matchmaking genius🥳

I might do a smutty part two if people are interested? Would love to know what you think. Thanks! ❤️

[yeah-sure-amanda]

Who is John Sugden?

Like everyone else, my blog has risen from the grave at the first sight of Robert showing back up in Emmerdale. I have been watching Emmerdale quietly from afar while I went full-blown Corrie fan for a while (sniff Paul double sniff), but Robert's return has brought me back into the fold. It also got me watching Emmerdale again while I play catch-up. Britbox has had mid-February to current days so I have been watching.

However, there are some that stayed around and continue to watch. Commenting on the show. Commenting on Aaron and John. This new, long-lost Sugden appeared in 2024. I've been reading through those posts and my brain woke up and started wondering. Formulating.

What is up with John Sugden?

This question occurred to me when I came across a post that provided a general timeline of what had been happening with Aaron since 2021. As I was reading it, John just appearing jumped out at me. So, I took a deeper look and looked up his journey. Read up a little.

I keep hearing that the John/Aaron romance plot is very much a watered-down version of Robert/Aaron's romance, minus a few factors, but the signs are there. Doesn't it all seem targeted? Like, John needed to hit certain things to get there with Aaron, Victoria and be accepted into the village. Maybe he planned a few chance meetings and the rest he just got lucky but he has seemly filled right into Robert's role (minus the sass and general personality...other than angry...John is very angry). He just slotted himself in and even Robert kind of commented on it. Everyone is just going with it.

It's weird. No? I am missing a lot of information (obviously) but it triggered an idea in my brain.

What if Jack did know about John and rejected him. To get back at Jack (who is long dead...obvi) he decides he is going to be part of the Sugden family, through Robert.

This line keeps standing out to me.

"How did you know?"

"I checked the socials..."

I feel like Robert is the type to put EVERYTHING up on his social media. Aaron might put up cars or pictures of family members, but generally not good with the social media thing. Robert on the other hand, always felt like a 'look at my husband! Look at my kid! We said yes with a picture of the layby in the background with a description below" What I'm saying is Robert is an emotionally slutty person and after years of hiding things, is very open about it now. Proud to share. Which is how John learned the finer details of the Robert and Aaron relationship. Was about to recreate certain things he learned about via Robert's social media.

So, John Sugden comes in with Aaron, which gets the Dingles on board, which in turn brings in Victoria, and then the entire village. He has the life Robert had and is accepted, screw you dad. John now has the final say. He has the control to exist. However, he needs to keep things up and running and continue that so hence the murders and hurting people, to save them. Continue to assert acceptance in the village. He is a hero!

What he didn't expect was Robert Sugden being Robert Sugden and showing up. He is going to fight again for that life again. Robert has already clocked that something off...

What does he know? Obviously, if he knew more, he would have said it but Robert was being a bit...elsusive. Yes, he was messy and very 'heart on sleeve' but he didn't bring up the kiss to John (which normally he would have) and he was trying his hardest to stop this wedding. Other than wanting Aaron...he knows something is wrong with this guy? This half brother. Another brother that the village accepts over him.

It could be part of a bigger story of the Sugden family. Robert's ever lasting goal of just being accepted by family and the place he called home. John getting all that and Aaron? Something weird about that.

OR

This means nothing. They were setting up a love story for Aaron and just decided to have some fun with certain things, hoping fans wouldn't notice (they did by the way), and when Ryan signed back up....something changed drastically. I hope the show makes it messy and twisty and a lot of fun to watch as we get closer and closer to that Robron reunion. Lets get an affair 2.0 in there (Robert as the other man for once). Let's get some jealousy, secrets, and then having to save each other. OR give Robert his own story where Aaron is in the background (because...come on...they will always be in the background of each other's stories) but Robert gets to interact with new and old characters as he sets up his life again. I'm team give Robert a best friend that won't turn so easily on him. Victoria needs to not be his best friend. She isn't consistent. (LOL)

Either way, this has made my brain go into hyperdrive with possibilities for stories and it was been so much fun thinking of this instead of *gestures off* everything else. Excited to see what comes next and I'll be watching! (I'm almost caught up so, let the fun begin!)

(Side note: I'm still laughing at Joe STEALING A KIDNEY AND EVERYONE IS LIKE...COOL. LETS TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DID TO NOAH. WHAT ABOUT CALEB?!?! I don't see the point of Joe right now and I still adore Jimmy and I have a crush on Mack.)

*Whew...that was fun! Lets do this again sometime!*