#i just think it might be good for Emmerdale to explore the aftermath of being released from prison

[actual-exhusbands]

I think I'd like a mix of all options:

Aaron starts a relationship with someone before Robert returns. Both Aaron and his bf are happy together. After a few months Robert is released and moves into Vic's. Robert has developed agoraphobia so stays in the house all the time. Vic is nervous to update Aaron so keeps Robert a secret. Eventually, Aaron needs to nip into Vic's home for something only to discover his ex-husband. Whilst stunned, Aaron walks straight back out saying nothing. He marches back to his flat and lets his silence turn to anger and he stews before confronting Victoria. Hours later, his new boyfriend pops by for a visit but before Aaron could invite him in he spots Vic over his bf's shoulder walking home from work. He shoves his way out of his porch and makes a beeline for Vic. He starts yelling after her making all sorts of claims out of his fury. Robert, from the safety of Vic's cottage peeks out from a curtain to see what all the noise is. He sees Aaron shouting abuse and, for the first time since returning to the village, steps out into the main street for all to see.

Aaron turns his aggression towards Robert. Aaron starts to accuse Robert of being a liar and a cold blooded murderer thinking his words will cut Robert deep like Robert's desertion did to him 5 years ago. Robert becomes aware of the villagers who are watching from the other side of the street. Terrified to attempt to defend himself. He spots Wendy and is suddenly filled with utmost guilt. Unfortunately, Roberts silence only heightens Aaron's rage. Before he could say anything, Aaron charges at Robert and tackles him to the ground. Aaron is now pinning Robert down whilst screaming all his emotions out; tears streaming down his face. A large audience has now formed The Dingles all exchange glances and looks of concern towards each other. Moments later, Aaron's boyfriend tries to break them apart with the help from Vic but to no avail. Chas and Moira shoot a sharp look towards Cain and eye him to go help break it up, too. Against his own judgement, Cain grabs Aaron by the scruff of the neck and drags him back to his flat. Paddy and Chas chase the rest of the crowd away as Vic helps Robert to his feet and chaperones him back into her cottage.

Weeks go by and Aaron refuses to make eye contact with Robert. He never once acknowledges Robert's presence. He doesn't want Robert to think he still cares. During this period he emphasises all romantic gestures with his boyfriend if Robert is in eyesight. However, Robert fails to take much notice as he's too concerned over the residents thoughts in regards to him living back in the village. The weeks turn to months and Robert's anxiety only grows as the days go by. Vic tries to help her brother by encouraging him out for a drink in the woolpack. Reluctantly, Robert agrees to go with her. They perch themselves by the bar closest to the door (so Robert can make a quick getaway), however, there is a stag do in full swing by the time they arrive and Aaron is a guest of the party as his boyfriend is the best man. Robert swivels around so quickly he nearly gives himself whiplash but Vic clutches on to his forearm preventing him from making an escape. Aaron's face turns to thunder as he enforced his attention away from Vic and Robert. His boyfriend is having too much fun to even notice the sudden change in Aaron's demeanor. Robert being fully aware of his ex husband being merely inches from him set his nerves off. Victoria made failed attempts to ease him by saying "it can't get any worse than this". Of course it then did get much worse.

At that exact moment Wendy and Bob walked into The Woolpack for a drink. It didn't take long for Wendy to loudly announce passive aggressive comments directed towards Robert to the whole pub. She stretched as far as to link Heath's death with her own son's death. Victoria was stuck in-between a rock and a hard place. She loves her brother but doesn't want to push Harry's grandmother away. Obviously all shots of mediation were ignored by Wendy and Bob and most of the new residents sided with them because of all the horror stories that were spread around about Robert. All of the chaos was increasing Robert's anxiety and he became more uncomfortable by the second. His nerves were shot. He couldn't concentrate on anything that Victoria was saying. The only thing that seemed to stabilise his mental stat was the sight of Aaron. Of course by this point every one in the room was staring at Robert, including Aaron. They locked eyes at each other for only a moment before Aaron dragged his eyes away to the beer mat on the table. That moment created peace in Robert's mind. The crash. Charity has dropped a glass but that sudden sound pushed Robert back over the edge. He darted for the door and escaped into the darkness. Victoria now found the courage to defend her brother against Wendy and the rest of the pub and shamed the stag do members. Pointing directly at each person to force guilt upon them. One person was missing from the party though. Aaron.

Amidst the pandemonium in The Woolpack, no one had noticed Aaron sneaking out the back of the pub to chase after Robert. Against all better judgement, he wanted to check on Robert. That shared glance sparked something in him. He just knew something wasn't right with Robert. After all, Robert never shied away from confrontation. He thrives in it. The opportunity to outsmart someone gave him a buzz. The Robert he knew would stand his ground and argue his case across until he won. The Robert in the pub wasn't his Robert.

Aaron knocked at Vic's home but there was no answer. There were no signs of life at all. He next ran down by the B&B to see if Robert was seeking refuge with Eric but there was no luck. He next searches the garage but stumbles upon Mac instead locking up for the night. Mac is about to ask Aaron how he's holding up but before he could get the question out Aaron runs off in the direction of Vanessa's. She was the only other person in the village to stand by Robert's return. He was hoping she would be hiding him from the entourage in the pub but, again, with no luck. Aaron is starting to get desperate. His concern quickly turned to uneasiness. He was starting to properly worry about Robert. He was rattling his brain for places he might be. His next bet was the cemetery. Aaron hated visiting there. Ghosts from his past were all buried there. All the ghosts he cared about that is. He sprinted down towards the church and jumped over the short wall. Scanned every corner with no Robert in sight. His eyes did fall onto one gravestone. Liv's. Suddenly, one memory of all three of them flooded his mind. That gave him an idea.

He scampered his way out of the cemetery and down the road until he got to the back of The mill. He followed a winding path that led to an opening of woodland. As he neared the opening he saw a shadow. An outline of someone. His speed slowed as he approached with caution. The closer he got the clearer the silhouette became. It was Robert. He was leaning on the handrail of the footbridge. The same footbridge Robert had embraced him on many a time in the past. The same footbridge the two would throw stones from with Seb. Robert looked deflated. There was no energy in him whatsoever. He looked like a bare copy of himself. This vulnerability tore down what was left of the little wall Aaron had built for himself to keep Robert out. Despite all the heartbreak and misery he had endured at the hands of Roberts actions here he was again. Willing to fall back into old habits but how could he stop himself?

Robert was blindly staring at his reflection in the stream. He failed to hear the approaching footsteps of Aaron. Gently, Aaron crossed his forearms and rested them on the same handrail inches next to Robert. He slowly peered over the edge and nestled his chin into his arms. Aaron gazed into Robert's eyes in the stream. Robert slowly scanned over to Aaron's reflection. Feeling that serenity brush over him once again at the mere glimpse of Aaron. Robert caught himself off guard by how hastily he confessed his anxiety about being back in the village. How he was sorry for how he ended their marriage. How he hated that he missed Liv's funeral. How he hates how quickly he threw his life away for one bad decision.

Robert sobs harder and harder for every admittance of all of his regrets and surrenders himself to his grief. Without any hesitation he lets slip the trauma he suffered whilst in prison. Knowing how hard life was for him when he was jailed away, Aaron throws one arm over Roberts shoulders and pulls him in closer. For the first time, Robert welcomes the physical embrace. They both relaxed into one another. They both clearly needed it. They both remain on the bridge quietly enjoying the stream shimmer in the moonlight.

After a while, Aaron and Robert break apart and gaze into each other's eyes. Robert opens his mouth to speak before Aaron interrupts him. "I told you I'd wait". Aaron spoke those words as though they were the magic key to freeing Robert. Relief fell upon Robert as though the heaviest weight had been lifted. He could breathe for the first time again. "Yeah?" Robert sighed with a slight smile stretching the corner of his mouth as his eyes glisten with hope. Aaron's face softens as he mimics Robert's expression. Without any hesitation or consideration Aaron leans in and kisses Robert. Hearts start to flutter but Robert jolts back pulling away from the kiss. They both stare towards each other before Robert returns his focus to the stream. Reality kicks in for him. "Don't!" Roberts whispers. A tear falling down his cheek. Robert doesn't feel worthy of Aaron's attention. He believes Aaron is better off without him. Everyone is better off without him. Robert turns his back to Aaron but before Robert can walk off Aaron grabs his arm "You can't keep walking out on me like that, Robert". Those very words killed the fluttering instantly. There was a sinking feeling like guilt was an anchor tied to his heart pulling it down. Aaron continued, "I know how hard it must've been in there but I would've stuck by you regardless. Helped you through it. I was willing to wait the whole 14 years because you were worth it. You are worth it." Aaron bit his lip as he realised what he'd just admitted out loud. The feelings he had been trying to compress. Robert, confused by Aaron's confession, stood teary eyed looking back at the man he so adored and yearned for feeling defeated. "But I'm not. I mean, I can't even step out the front door without fear of having a panic attack." Aaron remained baffled by this statement. How can Robert believe that? After everything. Aaron reaches out for Roberts arm and tilts his head ever so slightly that it draws Robert's stare back onto him. "You are to me". The words echoing those Robert once used for him. Robert also remembered the relevance of those specic words. Robert instinctively glanced down at Aaron's lips and back to his eyes. That was enough for Aaron to lean for a second kiss.

This time Robert kisses back and suddenly it's like they haven't been apart for the past 5 years. They fell back into their own natural rhythm with their bodies matching the other as they smoothly swayed from side to side. Aaron's hands travel to Robert's back holding him close as Roberts holds Aaron's face in his. Reluctantly, they pull away from each other only to rest their foreheads against one another. Aaron pulls his hands away from Roberts waist and traces his physique as they glide upwards his sides and across his chest. He lightly strokes down Roberts arms as he finds his hands, which are still cupping either side of Aaron's face, to take in his. They entwine their fingers as they relax their arms down by their sides. Foreheads still resting against one another fearing to break apart. Both wish to stay in this moment forever.

Thus, starting their second affair-era as Aaron will inevitably listen to his family who think getting back with Robert is a bad idea so will be guilt tripped into staying with this new boyfriend but will continue to rather seek out Robert for any true romantic connections.

Thank you. I am Eve and this has been my TED Talk.

Another poll, this time from Aaron's perspective!

I want to know how everyone feels! And please, there is no need to comment on whether Aaron would ever cheat or not, if you don't think that or want it, just choose another option 🙂 This is just for fun!

Reblog for wider spread if you fancy...

[saras-almanac]

Sorry to bother you but I was wondering if you’d ever work on a rewrite for Robron and like the break up of 2017 to like deal with Robert basically being assaulted (even though the show never did) and how Rebecca isn’t the victim in this (that will always make me angry that she was able to do that). it’s totally fine to not or ignore this. I just love how you write robert and feel like you could really do that justice if you wanted.

Thank you so much for liking my fics / how I write Robert in some of them. And also sorry if this has been sitting in my askbox for a while. I’m been super busy and haven’t been on here super frequently. And the app just never tells you when you have any notifications I feel like! :) Also lots of talk of Rebecca below the cut cause I... started rambling. And there’s brief mentions of assault in regards to the ONS. I’ll mark that paragraph. tw: assault mentions 

Also, I rambled so long that I also marked where I actually answer you question Anon! It’s the section below the *** 

Here’s the thing... I actually like the idea of Rebecca as a character when she first arrives, but they almost immediately ruin any of the potential they had with her by wanting to have their cake and eat it too. They wanted her to be a bitchy and dramatic--she had an affair with her sister’s boyfriend--but also a victim of Robert’s at the same time. And Robert’s not blameless in that part, but taking him out of it for a second, what do we have? A woman who was sleeping with her sister’s boyfriend-turned-fiance up through their engagement party, then she took off and was apparently heartbroken but also secretly in love with him for years so much that she was willing to drop everything to rush to Emmerdale to help him take down her sister, but she also still loves her sister and doesn’t like that Robert’s splitting them up. I mean, just right there, it’s a lot of contradictions already, and to be honest, that’s boring. It’s boring (and bad writing) to have a character that will literally morph and change into whatever suits the plot best. 

Just think if they’d done something just slightly different. Like Rebecca turns up and still half-in-love with Robert and thinks that now that him and Chrissie broke up, she thinks this is her chance. Only to discover that he’s with Aaron and she’s pissed--she’s waited years for him after all. But instead of trying to be his friend, she tries to get Chrissie to work with her to ruin Robert and Aaron’s life while still playing the act of helping Robert. Or even if Chrissie wasn’t involved and Rebecca was helping Robert with Andy but still making it very clear that she was going to keep going after him. Make Robert confront her a bit more, allow Rebecca to be complex and villainous at times. Maybe this would even be where Lachlan comes in as the only White still willing to go after Robert as Lawrence and Chrissie are sort of tired of it and just want to move on. (That connection between Rebecca and Lachlan might also explain why he didn’t kill her later, but whatever.) 

It’s just... the show wanted her to be a little bit of a soap villain initially but a sympathetic one and she might have been, had she not been sleeping with her sister’s boyfriend behind her back. It’s like the show was so desperate to paint Robert as The Villain that they never stopped to think about what story they were actually telling with Rebecca. There was a way to write that story and have Rebecca sympathetic, but the show didn’t do that. They just had her cry and were like, “Isn’t it sad that she’s being taken advantage of by Robert?” And I’m like, “No? Cause she’s a grown woman who had an affair knowingly and willingly. And came back expecting him to choose her and yet still tried to get him to have an affair again. You can’t be trying to orchestrate an affair with the man and still claim to be a victim of his.” Like yeah, Robert might have manipulated her a bit and maybe that’s not a good look (I love it cause I like manipulative characters), but she’s not an innocent victim. That’s where I have the hang up with her. (And other things.) 

I just realized I’ve rambled on for so long that I haven’t even answered your originally question! I’m so sorry! 

****

As for rewriting 2017 someday, I actually think it would be really fun. I sort of always liked the idea of having Chrissie and Robert sleep together actually, just because of the history there and the idea of was Chrissie just doing this to ruin Robert’s relationship some more or was it a genuine moment of nostalgia? (Probably a bit of both cause it’s Chrissie) Or having Rebecca literally taking advantage of the situation with Robert and literally manipulating him and willingly/knowingly ruining his life because she’s pissed at how he’s treated her. Or even using him as a scapegoat while she’s actually pregnant by Ross because she sees it as a way to get even with him. 

And as much as Liv can annoy me in canon, I actually like the Roblivion dynamic in fics because they tend to remember that Robert and Liv actually have a relationship. So I’d love the idea of a fic that has Liv and Robert teaming up to take down the Whites for what Rebecca did because Liv’s pissed and while she’s angry at Robert she’d still rather have him in her life than not--which might lend itself to an AU where Aaron and Robert sort of “share custody” of Liv during their break up in a sense too. 

(tw: talk in general about the ONS and sexual assault recovery) But I do like the idea of having a 2017 rewrite that deals directly with the aftermath of Robert being assaulted, especially since it’s not the “well-known” situation and it’s Robert so even if he talked about no one would likely believe him anyways. But that would be a really intense type of fic and I’m not sure I have it in me right now to work on it... 

But I do like the idea of revisiting this storyline as some point because, like the 2016 boyfriends era, there’s a lot to explore and I do love canon divergences! Thanks for your question and I hope you didn’t mind my crazy-long answer that wasn’t really an answer after all!