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It’s a surprisingly mundane Thursday afternoon when the topic of marriage gets brought up.
Whenever the weather’s decent, each lunchtime Aaron drives over from the scrapyard to the farm so he join Robert on his break, the two of them sitting together at one end of the field nearest the house while they eat.
Today is no exception, both of them polishing off their food in the late May sunlight, talking about everything and nothing – whatever pops into their heads. Right now, it’s Belle and Kammy.
“Apparently he dropped the L-bomb on her the other day,” Aaron says, stretching out on the grass. “That’s what Cain says, anyway.”
“Hm, must be serious then,” Robert replies from where he’s lying next to him, eyes closed and arms crossed under his head. “He’s a nice lad.”
“Yeah. Kind of reminds me of one of those annoying yappy dogs, but apart from that he seems alright.”
“From what Jimmy’s told me about Tom King Junior, she could do with someone nice. Sounds like he was a nasty piece of work.”
“Don’t even mention that scumbag. Anyway, the rate things are going Kammy’d better start preparing himself to drink out of the welly sooner rather than later.”
“Poor sod. What he needs to start doing is thinking of ways to get out of it.”
“What, like you did?”
“He should learn from my mistakes.”
“Hm, I’ll remember that the next time we’re getting married.”
“God, I can’t think of anything worse.”
The silence that follows is deafening. Aaron sits up stiffly, head turned so he’s facing away from Robert.
“Right, well… if that’s how you feel.”
“…Aaron.” Robert sits up too, much faster than Aaron had. “Wait, that’s not what I – ”
“It’s fine,” Aaron says shortly, packing up the remnants of his lunch. “Shouldn’t have assumed.”
He rises to his feet, keeping his back turned. “I should be getting back to work.”
“You’ve barely been here 20 minutes,” Robert’s also scrambling to his feet behind him, hand reaching out to try and grab Aaron’s. “Aaron, just hang on a second, just let me explain.”
“You don’t have to explain anything.” Aaron keeps his voice even, face neutral as he finally turns to look at Robert. “If you don’t want to get married, then that’s fine. I mean, it’s not like the first two tries worked out so why would you wanna give it another go?”
He regrets the words the second they’re out of his mouth. Robert’s brow furrows, the hurt in his eyes clear as day.
“I – ”
“Robert!” They’re interrupted by the sound of Moira shouting from the other side of the fence. “I’m really sorry, I know you’re on your lunch, but would you mind giving us a hand over here? We’ve got a bit of a situation in the cow shed and could really use some help.”
Aaron uses the opportunity to take his leave, marching over to where his car is parked before Robert can say another word. He drives away from the farm without a backwards glance, a combination of embarrassment and guilt flaring hot in his belly.
He buries himself in work for the rest of the day, Robert’s words still echoing in his ears as he rips into the old car in front of him.
I can’t think of anything worse.
The thing is, ever since they got back together, marriage hasn’t been brought up once. It’s barely even occupied Aaron’s thoughts until today, not consciously anyway, but he now realises that somewhere in the back of his mind, he really had just assumed they were heading that way eventually. That one day they’d be husbands again.
It hadn’t occurred to him that Robert may not feel the same way, and now he feels like an idiot. Because if Robert doesn’t want to get married again, if he just wants them to remain as boyfriends or partners or whatever… then it’s fine. Of course it’s fine, after everything he’s been through over the last few years, the last thing Aaron would ever do is try and force him into something he doesn’t want. As long as they’re together, Aaron can live with that.
It’s just… did he have to say it like that?
I can’t think of anything worse.
Was the idea of being married to Aaron again really that awful?
He swallows thickly and starts pulling the car apart with more aggression, tearing into it until his muscles are burning. His own horrible retort and the look on Robert’s face when he said it replay in his mind over and over again.
He works late, staying long past his usual closing time, then heads into town straight after, running every errand he’s been putting off until he can’t think of any more. He gets himself a burger, sits in the car and eats it slowly, before eventually admitting defeat and heading back to the village. When he remembers his mum isn’t on shift tonight, he ventures into the Woolpack and parks himself at the bar, moping over a couple of pints.
As he’s finishing off the second drink, Mary sidles over to him. “Can I get you another?”
Aaron sighs and shrugs. “Might as well.”
“Is everything okay, poppet?”
Ordinarily, pet names – especially ones like poppet – would only serve to wind him up further, but Mary has such a natural motherly air about her that he finds he doesn’t mind it coming from her.
“Not especially.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Don’t suppose you’ve got a time machine I can borrow?”
“Ha, I wish!” She laughs lightly as she pulls him another pint. “Oh, the things I would change if I had the chance. But you know – ” She gently puts the filled glass down in front of him. “I generally find that dwelling on the past doesn’t tend to do anyone much good. Stops you from seeing the good things right in front of you.”
He stares at her for a second, considering.
“Actually Mary, forget the pint. I need to get home.”
She smirks and takes the drink back. “I thought you might say that.”
As he walks back to Tall Trees Cottage, he checks his phone one more time. Still nothing from Robert.
It’s no less than he deserves, really, so when he makes it home and opens the front door to see the landing light switched on, he doesn’t even pretend that he’s not relieved.
Robert’s here.
He pads quietly up the stairs and shuffles into his bedroom to find Robert sitting against the headboard, cup of tea on the bedside table and a book propped against his bent knees, feet flat on the mattress. He’s wearing nothing but one of Aaron’s t-shirts and a pair of boxers, the low light of the bedside lamp casting shadows across the contours of his face.
He raises an eyebrow at Aaron in the doorway.
“Hullo.”
Aaron edges around the door and softly shuts it behind him. “Hey.”
Robert turns a page. “You finished sulking?”
Aaron winces and sits on the bed, Robert’s toes digging into his bum through the covers.
“Okay, so. I didn’t handle that well.”
“Running off the second I said something you didn’t like the sound of?” Aaron could swear he spots Robert’s mouth twitching. “Pretty old-school. Very 2016 Aaron Dingle of you.”
Aaron groans and leans forward, an arm wrapping around Robert’s bent legs and chin resting on his knees as he looks at him pleadingly.
“I’m sorry for bein’ such a twat. I shouldn’t have said… what I said, I didn’t mean it.”
After a brief silence, Robert drops his book on the bed. “I know.”
“M’really glad you’re still staying over, was worried I’d come back to an empty house.”
“Pff, you should know by now I don’t scare off that easy,” Robert says with a scoff. “But Aaron?”
“Yeah?”
Robert rests his hand on the arm that Aaron had curled around his legs, fingers stroking gently. “Just to be clear. Of course I wanna be married to you again.”
“I – oh.” It stuns Aaron into momentary silence, his mouth opening and closing a couple of times until all he can come out with is – “What?”
“I’d marry you tomorrow if you asked me.” Robert looks amused now, smiling softly at him. “And if you’d stayed long enough to let me explain what I meant, I could’ve told you that earlier.”
“You – you said you couldn’t think of anything worse.”
“I didn’t mean being married to you, I just meant… having another wedding. Like the ones we had before.”
“I’m not following.”
“Listen,” Robert sighs, his face falling a little. “I need you to know, each time we got married, those were the two happiest days of my life. It doesn’t matter what happened after, nothing’s ever gonna change that.”
“I know that,” Aaron nods, pressing a quick kiss to Robert’s knees. “They were mine, too.”
“But things were different back then.”
“…Okay?”
Robert lets out a short breath, shoulders tensing as his eyes wander off to one side, avoiding Aaron’s gaze. It’s a look that Aaron’s become familiar with over the last few months – usually one he associates with Robert trying to talk to him about prison or tell him how therapy’s going.
“Oi.” He gives Robert’s legs a squeeze, tilting his head to one side so he can catch his eye. “It’s just me. Take your time, I’m listenin’.”
Robert shoots him a grateful look, pressing his lips together. Eventually, he says, “Aaron… twice I’ve married into your family.”
“I know, I was there.”
“And on the day, the Dingles… they’re all smiles, right? They cheer when you drink from that bloody welly, they say you’re invited for Christmas, they tell you you’re one of them from now on… and d’you know what, the first time I actually believed them. We both know how that turned out.”
Aaron bites his lip and nods, reluctant to dwell on how the rest of that year went for them any more than he has to.
“The second time I didn’t buy it, not really. By then I knew that them playing nice was always going to be conditional, but I was happy to go along with it because it was just easier for everyone if I did. You and me were solid, no one was actively hating me anymore, we were all getting along so as long as I got to marry you, that was good enough for me. But now… after everything… I don’t think I could go through with that a third time. The ceremony, the speeches, the idea of having to stand there in front of your whole family when I know what they actually think of me…”
Robert trails off, the corners of his mouth downturned and a sad look in his eyes that Aaron immediately wants to make disappear.
“You know they don’t think that anymore, right? They’ve been such idiots and I’m still so angry with them, but you need to know they get how badly they messed up – I’ve made sure of that. They don’t think you’re…” A murderer. “…what they thought you were.”
“For now, maybe. Only after the evidence against John was shoved right in their faces so they couldn’t deny it anymore.”
Aaron closes his eyes in reluctant agreement. There’s really nothing he can say to that, nothing that would persuade Robert – or himself – otherwise.
Because since the day he awoke from his coma and found out exactly what had happened to Robert while he was unconscious, Aaron’s relationship with his family has been… strained, to say the least.
Despite her best efforts, in the months that had followed his ordeal with John, he’s barely spoken to his mum – and when he does it’s generally only for Eve’s sake. She seems to have gotten that message that any attempts to talk to him beyond that only lead to a shouting match.
He’s stayed civil with Cain, because the two of them can never fall out for long and he’s seen firsthand how hard him and Moira have been trying to make things up to Robert. Robert seems happy enough to work with them again, and if Robert’s happy then Aaron’s happy.
As for everyone else… he’s still keeping a cool distance for now. And he can’t see it changing anytime soon.
Robert suddenly breaks him out of his reverie. “You know when the police came to arrest me at the hospital?”
Aaron frowns. He doesn’t know all the details – he was comatose after all – but he knows the basics of what went on that day.
“Yeah?”
“Your mum was smiling the whole time.”
“What?”
“She’d been nothing but distraught before then – angry and scared, crying, worrying about you. But the second the police arrived she stopped crying and just broke out into this big smile. And she didn’t stop. Not when they were putting on the cuffs while I was trying to tell her that I didn’t do it, that I loved you. Even as I was being dragged away and begging them for help, she just kept on smiling. The others at least looked upset, but she watched the whole thing like all her Christmases had come at once. Aaron, I – ”
Robert’s voice cracks and he runs an agitated hand back and forth through his hair.
“I’m sorry but I just can’t do it. If the two of you end up making up, that’s fine, if it makes you happy I really don’t mind. But please don’t ask me to try having a relationship with her – with any of them – again. Because every time I see her all I can think about is her smiling while she saw me get arrested. And the thought of us getting married while she sits there and watches me… it actually makes me feel a bit sick.”
Aaron doesn’t speak for a long time. He releases his hold on Robert and gets to his feet, pacing back and forth at the foot of the bed as he tries to calm down his heart rate. It’s either that or he punches something and he’d rather not do that in front of Robert, not when he’s as vulnerable as he is right now.
“I’m sorry.”
Aaron whips his head around to see Robert watching him uncertainly from the bed. He shakes his head rapidly.
“You’ve got nothing to be sorry for. Nothing.”
He unclenches his hands, lets out a slow breath. He can be angry tomorrow, right now he’s got more important things to focus on.
He climbs back on the bed to straddle Robert’s hips and sits back on his heels, hands resting on Robert’s chest.
‘Honestly, now that I think about it… I’m not sure I could do it, either. Apart from anything else, the thought of askin’ them all to come to another wedding after the last one I invited them to…” He trails off with a bitter laugh. “No thanks.”
He leans forward slightly, resting their foreheads together.
“It’s okay, I get it. You don’t have to do anythin’ you don’t want to, I’d never make you. And I’m sorry I stormed off before you got a chance to tell me any of that stuff.”
“S’okay, I know the way I said it sounded bad. You’d think after all these years I’d have learnt to think before I open my mouth but – ”
“Nah.” Aaron shakes his head against Robert’s, brown curls brushing against blond strands. “I like knowing some things will never change.”
Robert’s mouth finally curls upwards. “Me too.”
Eventually, Aaron pulls back slightly. “So…”
“Hm?”
Aaron raises his brows at him. “You do wanna marry me again, then?”
“Yep,” Robert replies without hesitation, leaning back and smiling at him properly.
“Tomorrow, apparently.”
Robert’s heads ducks down, sheepish and a little bashful and for god’s sake, how did Aaron ever manage to convince himself he wasn’t still completely gone on this man?
“Suppose I did say that. But seriously, d’you know how hard it is to not accidentally call you my husband when I’m talking about you?”
“What, still?”
“It’s not an easy habit to break.”
“Well what if you didn’t have to break it?”
Robert blinks at him. “What?”
“What if we went somewhere and got married, away from the village? No family, no reception, no fuss.” Aaron reaches his hands up to cup Robert’s face, thumbs resting on his cheeks. “Just you and me.”
“I – Aaron, are you being serious?”
“Do I not sound serious to you?”
“Well you’ve not actually asked me so…”
“Oh, you – fine.” Aaron rolls off the bed and beckons Robert to follow him. “Get up.”
“What?”
“If we’re doing this I need you to stand up for a second.”
Despite his obvious confusion, Robert does as he says, coming to stand opposite him.
Aaron takes a step back and starts lowering himself down. “Robert Sugden – ”
Robert’s eyes immediately widen. “Wait, are you actually – ”
“Shut up, you’re the one who wanted it done properly.”
He shoves aside any nerves he feels – they’ve never done the whole down on one knee thing before but he’s feeling brave right now – and finds his balance, grabbing one of Robert’s hands.
“Robert Sugden, will you marry me? One more time?”
Robert just stares, jaw hanging open. “I’m in my boxers.”
Aaron blinks up at him. “Seriously? That’s your focus right now?”
A small, high-pitched laugh bursts out of Robert and Aaron can feel the hand he’s holding start to tremble slightly. “Yes. Yes, of course I’ll marry you, get up here.”
He yanks Aaron sharply to his feet and kisses him hard enough that they both go stumbling into the wall, laughing into each other’s mouths.
***
“So, I guess we’ll need to find a couple of witnesses,” Robert says the next morning, the two of them walking hand in hand to the cafe.
“I think most venues just provide them for you if you pay a bit extra.”
Robert frowns slightly, nose wrinkling. “Is that not a bit sad? Hi, we couldn’t find anyone to come to our wedding so can we pay you to be our friends for the day?”
Aaron huffs out a laugh. “This whole elopement thing was your idea in the first place, you know.”
“I think you’ll find you’re the one who suggested it.”
“Because you put the idea in my head, genius.”
“Alright, you win.” Robert rolls his eyes and plants a kiss on the side of Aaron’s head. “Sorry, I know I’m being difficult. It’s just, I know I said I didn’t want to get married in front of family, but I dunno how I feel about a couple of random strangers watching us do it instead. It’s a bit weird, innit?”
“Hm, you might have a point. So not family and not strangers either – who’re we havin’ then?”
“What about Mack?”
“Really? You wouldn’t mind him being there?”
“Course not. He’s your best mate – and one of mine too, really. If anyone’s invited it should be him. And we could trust him not to blab, right?”
Aaron nods firmly, already grinning at the thought of the look on Mackenzie’s face when he finds out. “Definitely. He wouldn’t say a word.”
“Okay, so that’s one down. Easy.”
“Would you…” Aaron hesitates, knows he needs to tread carefully. “Would you maybe want Vic to be the other one? I bet she’d say yes if you asked her.”
Robert twists his mouth, considering. While Aaron knows he's already forgiven Victoria for everything that happened the previous year, he also knows that the damage John managed to do to their relationship isn't fully mended yet. While the two of them still see each other every day, there’s still a distance between them, Vic’s guilt and Robert’s sense of betrayal still lingering. They’re getting there, slowly, but there’s still some way to go for them to regain the bond they’d managed to build in the first few months after Robert’s release from prison.
Eventually, Robert shakes his head. “No, I don’t think so. If you’re not having family there then I shouldn’t either, it’s only fair.”
Aaron nods, knowing better than to push it, and the two of them continue to the cafe. However, before they can step inside, a car comes flying down the road and screeches to a halt next to them.
“Oi!” Ross sticks his head out of the window. “Get in, Sugden, Moira wants us at Butlers asap.”
Robert scowls at him. “I’ve not even had breakfast yet, just give me – ”
“There’s food and coffee at the farm and you know it, now get in!”
Robert drops his head back with a groan. “Fine.”
Aaron snorts and pulls him in for a kiss. “See you at lunch? Promise I won’t ditch you this time.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Robert replies before kissing him again, and then once more until the sound of a horn honking makes them jump apart.
“Hey lovebirds,” Ross leers at them. “Suck each other’s faces off in your own time, yeah? I’m not getting yelled at by Moira for being late because of you.”
“Jealousy’s not a good look on you, Ross,” Robert shoots back cheerfully, before giving Aaron one last peck. “See you later.”
“’Kay, have a good morning.” Aaron lowers his voice to a whisper so that there’s no chance of Ross overhearing. “And have a think about who you want as the second person, yeah?”
“Will do.” Robert heads towards the car with a wave. “Love you, bye!”
“Love you, too.”
Robert hops into Ross’s car and the two of them speed off. Aaron watches them go, sniggering when he sees them already bickering through the back window.
“You two looked pretty cosy.”
“Jesus.” Aaron spins around to see Nicola standing behind him, tray in hand and an inquisitive look on her face. “Wear a bell next time.”
“Aw, it’s nice to see a bit of romance first thing in the morning,” she smiles at him widely, all teeth. “So it’s all going well then, is it? You and Robert?”
There’s an almost predatory glint in her eyes and Aaron just knows she’s fishing for any scrap of potential gossip she can get her hands on. No one has enjoyed aftermath of John more than Nicola, watching every development like it’s her favourite TV show.
He shoots her a mild glare and pushes his away towards the entrance to the cafe. “Can I get a coffee or what?”
There’s a huff behind him. “Alright, I was just making conversation. Usual?”
“Ta.”
He takes a seat and makes a mental note to himself.
Nicola King is definitely not witness material.
***
“So I was thinking,” Robert says, taking a sandwich out of its tinfoil. “What about Matty?”
Aaron takes a large bite of his own sandwich. “You mean for a witness?”
“For god’s sake, chew, swallow, then talk. And yes.”
“Is that just because Matty was the first person you saw after I told you to think about who you wanted?”
“No!” Robert squirms a little. “Well, yes. But that’s not the only reason, the second I saw him this morning I couldn’t believe I didn’t think of it sooner.”
Aaron can’t help smiling. Robert and Matty’s friendship may still be pretty new, but between Matty being the only one to offer Robert a lifeline when no one else would (something Aaron would be eternally grateful for) and the two of them working side by side nearly every day, over the last few months they’d formed a pretty tight bond.
“He’s my friend,” Robert continues. “And I trust him more than just about anyone these days, so I know he’d keep it quiet if we asked him to.”
“Looks like we’ve got our two, then.”
“If they say yes, that is. We need to actually ask them first.”
“Uh-huh.” Aaron pulls out his phone and sends a quick text. “I’m on it.”
A few moments later, two overall-clad figures exit the barn and start walking towards them. As they approach, Mack holds up his phone.
“You summoned us?”
“Needed to ask you both somethin’.”
“And neither of you could be bothered to use your legs?” Matty says exasperatedly, wiping sweat from his brow.
“Nah.” Robert stretches his arms over his head, grinning up at them both. “Still on lunch break, aren’t we?”
“Well we’re not, so if you could get on with it?”
Aaron glances over at Robert. “You wanna tell them or should I?”
“Oh my god.” Mack brings a hand to his chest, eyes wide. “You’re pregnant.”
Matty bursts out laughing. Aaron takes a deep breath and pinches the bridge of his nose, hearing Robert snort beside him.
“Close,” he says, resting a hand on Aaron’s thigh. “We’re engaged, actually.”
Mack and Matty both gape at them for a moment, before simultaneously dropping to sit on the ground opposite them and immediately talking over each other.
“Guys, that’s amazing – ”
“When did this even happen – ”
“ – who asked who – ”
“ – did you plan it or – ”
“ – where did it happen – ”
“ – d’you know when you’re gonna set a date for – ”
“ – does anyone else know – ”
When they eventually tire themselves out, Robert blinks for a moment before answering, counting off each reply on his fingers.
“It happened last night, we were at Aaron’s, no it wasn’t planned – ” Robert smiles softly at Aaron. “And he asked me.”
“I knew you had it in you!” Mack reaches over to clap Aaron on the shoulder. “Proud of you, mate.”
“Not at all patronising, thanks. And as for when we’re gonna do it and if anyone else knows…”
He glances quickly at Robert, who nods back at him.
“That’s where you two come in.”
***
One month later
“So remind me,” Mack yawns widely and crosses his arms on the roof of Aaron’s car. “Why couldn’t we just go to Hotten registry office or the town hall? Both of which are a nice, short 15-minute drive away?”
Aaron rolls his eyes and rests his own arms on the car, mirroring him.
“Because knowing our luck we might bump into someone we know, and we’re not taking any chances of this getting back to any of my lot. And besides, just because we’re not doing the whole big day thing, that doesn’t mean we can’t still make it at least a bit special.”
“Aw.” Mack grins at him. “I knew you were a romantic deep down. I can’t wait to give you away.”
“You’re not giving me away, Mackenzie.”
“Ah, that’s what you think.”
“Alright, lads!” Matty suddenly calls out as he exits the cafe with a takeaway coffee tray in his hands, Robert following close behind him. “I’ve got the drinks, Rob’s got the sarnies, let’s get this show on the road!”
Before Aaron can reply, Tracy approaches them with a curious look on her face, Frankie in her school uniform next to her.
“Where are you boys off to so early?”
“Road trip,” the four of them say in unison.
Her mouth twitches at their immediate answer. “That’s nice, where to?”
There’s a short silence.
“Just, y’know.” Robert waves a vague hand in the air. “Around.”
“I see.” She gives them a slightly bemused smile. “Well, I’d better get this one off to school. Enjoy your trip to… wherever it is you end up going.”
As she turns and walks in the direction of the bus stop, they all breathe a sigh of relief and quickly get into the car.
“Okay, so.” Mack pipes up from the backseat. “I’m thinking we maybe should’ve worked on the cover story a bit more.”
“Well we’ve got a two-hour car ride to figure it out,” Aaron mutters, punching the address into the satnav. Once it’s set, he starts the car and gives Robert’s hand a quick squeeze. “Ready?”
Robert grins and squeezes back. “Ready.”
***
The next couple of hours pass quickly, the four of them chatting about nothing in particular and fighting over the music choices the whole way, almost like they actually are on a road trip.
When they eventually cross the border into Scotland, Mack leans back in his seat and looks out of the window.
“Ahh it’s good to be back, even if it’s just for a day.”
“That’s a point, actually.” Robert twists around in his seat to frown back at him. “We’re on your turf, could you not have called them up and gotten us a discount?”
Mack squints at him. “Do you think all Scottish people just know each other?”
“…Do they not?”
“You’re lucky you’re pretty, Sugden.”
“Oohhh, you’d better not be flirting like that after today, mate,” Matty says with a laugh. “He’s about to be a taken man. Which you also are, come to that.”
“If Mackenzie thinks he’s got any chance in hell of handling Robert then good luck to him,” Aaron mutters, concentrating on the satnav directions. “In fact, I dare him to have a crack at it.”
Robert just smirks while Mack splutters indignantly.
“Excuse you, if I can handle Charity I could handle Robert! Easily!”
They make it to the venue’s car park and clamber out of the car, arms stretching and backs popping after the drive. Robert checks his watch.
“Bang on time.”
Aaron gives him a smug smile. “Once again, my driving skills are – ”
He’s interrupted by another car pulling in beside them. It looks… worryingly familiar, and when the driver steps out of it, all four of their jaws drop.
“Ross?”
The man in question smirks at them. “What’s going on ’ere then?”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“What the hell are you lot doing here?”
“No, we asked first.”
“I followed you.”
“You what? Why?”
Ross just shrugs, arms folded.
“Well all that rubbish about your little road trip obviously wasn’t true, Matty can’t lie for shit. Seemed weird, all four of you sneaking off together so I decided to follow you, find out if you were up to somethin’ dodgy and why I wasn’t in on it.”
Aaron stares at him. This can’t be happening. This cannot be happening to him.
“You followed us… for two hours?”
At that, Ross has the decency to look a little sheepish.
“I’ll admit, by the time we reached the motorway I realised I might’ve made a slight mistake. But it wasn’t like I could turn around by then so…” He shrugs again. “Here we are.”
He looks around curiously, eyes falling on the old blacksmith’s they’re standing outside of.
“Hang on… this is Gretna Green.”
“Wow, nothing gets past you, Sherlock,” Mack mutters, slapping palm over his face.
Ross’s eyes widen, and he quickly jabs a finger at Aaron and Robert. “Don’t tell me you two getting hitched.”
“That was the plan,” Aaron says through gritted teeth.
“Again?”
“Yes, Barton.”
“Right. Well, third time lucky I guess.”
Before either of them can retort, Matty takes a step towards Ross and grabs his arm.
“Ross, you can’t tell anyone about this,” he says pleadingly. “It was meant to be private.”
“What, you mean no one else knows? Is this just so you can avoid one of those godawful Dingle shindigs?”
“We’re not kidding,” Aaron says, the mere mention of the Dingles making his stomach do an uncomfortable flip. “You can’t tell Moira or Cain, not our families, not anyone, not until we’ve had the chance to tell them ourselves.” He sighs and grits his teeth. “Please, Ross.”
Ross looks at them carefully, something like understanding finally dawning on his face. “Wow. So this really is like a proper old-school elopement, then.”
“Yeah, it is,” Robert tells him. “No one knows except us four. And now you. And we really want to keep it that way.”
“Alright, you’ve got it. I won’t say anythin’.”
“You swear?”
“Scout’s honour.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
“Yeah,” Aaron adds cautiously, still hardly daring to believe it. “Thanks, Ross.”
Ross just nods and shoves his hands in his pockets. “Don’t mention it.”
“Guys, we’d better get inside,” Mackenzie says, gesturing to the building. “We’ve only got a few minutes.”
As the four of them heads towards the entrance, Ross falls into line with them. Aaron turns around with a frown.
“What are you doing?”
“Er, coming with you?”
“Are you not just… going home now?”
“What, so I come all this way – ”
“You weren’t invited.”
“I come all this way and I’ve agreed to keep schtum about what you’re doing, do I at least not get to watch the show?”
“Do you… want to watch?”
Ross shrugs. “Never been to Gretna Green before, wouldn’t mind seeing what all the fuss is about.”
Aaron glances at Robert, who sighs and shrugs. “Fine, you’re in.”
They’re met in the foyer by a young woman carrying a clipboard. She beams at them both as they step through the door.
“Mr Dingle and Mr Sugden?”
“That’s us.”
“Wonderful, you’re right on time.” She holds out a hand to shake. “My name’s Hayley, I’ll be your wedding host today. And I see you’ve got your witnesses with you?
Mack and Matty both give her a small wave.
“Yeah, these are our friends.” Aaron sighs and reluctantly adds, “And that’s Ross.”
Ross grins and winks at her.
“I see.” She looks at him with slight confusion before turning her gaze back to Aaron and Robert. “Well, we’re all set up for you and there are a few minutes to spare if you’d like to get changed and take a few photos?”
They separate into pairs – Aaron with Mack and Robert with Matty – and put on their suits. Personally, Aaron would’ve been happy doing the whole thing in the clothes on their backs, but Robert had insisted.
“I know I tend to go more casual these days,” he’d said as they’d traipsed around John Lewis. “But the day I don’t wear a proper suit to my own wedding is the day hell freezes over.”
And so, because Aaron will never say no to his fiancé, he finds himself putting on one of two matching dark green suits (moss green, according to Robert), faffing with buttons and waistcoats once again.
“For god’s sake, c’mere.” Mack slaps his hands away from his half-knotted tie. “You’d think after all the times you’ve been in court you’d know how to do a proper tie by now.”
“Shut up.” Aaron shakes his hands out and blows out a breath.
“Nervous?”
“No.”
Mack raises an eyebrow at him.
“Fine, I am a bit. Mad innit, it’s not like I’ve never done this before.”
“Yeah, but I guess you both went through a lot to get here again.” Mack finishes the tie and takes a step back. “Okay, I’m gonna be serious for a second. Prepare yourself.”
“Oh no.”
“The last time I was your best man – ”
Aaron frowns at him – the last thing he wants to think about is that day.
“No, listen,” Mack insists. “The last time I was your best man, I did it ’cos you asked me to and you know I’m always gonna support you no matter what. This time… I’m doing it because I know that this is right for you. You and Robert are the real thing, the two of you are so meant to be it’s actually a little nauseating. I’m so glad I get to see you marry someone who actually deserves you, and I’m really, really happy for you.” Mack smiles at him and takes him by the shoulders. “I love you, y’know.”
Aaron’s eyes begin to blur and he tips his head back to the ceiling, blinking rapidly. “Oh you bastard, I can’t be crying in front of Ross.”
“If you’re already going before this thing’s even started, I think that ship has sailed, mate.”
Aaron swipes his thumb across both eyes, sniffing loudly. “I love you too, you idiot.”
“I know you do. Can we have a cuddle?”
“No.”
“Come on, just a quick one.”
“Ugh, fine.”
Despite his initial protest, Aaron doesn’t hesitate in throwing his arms around his best man – best friend – squeezing tightly and trying not to think about the fact that less than a year ago, he came far too close to losing him forever.
There’s a quiet knock on the door and Hayley pops her head inside. “If you’re ready I can take you through to the photos area.”
She leads them back the way they came, Robert and Matty already there with Ross. Robert turns to look at him, his smile stretching from one ear to the other. The green of his jacket brings out his eyes and suddenly Aaron takes back everything he said about not bothering with suits.
He looks perfect.
Hayley goes through a few last-minute checks with them and introduces them to the registrar, a man who looks to be in his early sixties, with a neatly-trimmed white beard and horn-rimmed glasses.
“We’ll give you all a few minutes to take a few photos before the ceremony,” he tells them, his soft Scottish accent and warm smile easing the last of Aaron’s jitters. “Then we can get you both wed.”
Mack and Matty take turns snapping pictures with their phones while Ross wanders around the room, examining the old coaches, blacksmith tools and other random historical objects with mild interest.
“This place is a bit spooky, if you ask me. D’you think it’s haunted?”
“Shut up, Ross,” Matty says cheerfully, taking a photo of Robert and Mack together. “I think it’s really cool, Amy would’ve loved all this stuff.”
He glances at an old sign that reads, “Gretna Green, a safe haven for runaway love since the Marriage Act of 1754”.
“And it’s mad to think about how many couples have been stood here over the centuries, innit? People who didn’t care what their families or society thought, people who decided they were gonna be together no matter what and screw what anyone else thinks.”
“Sounds like the right place for us, then,” Robert says with a quiet laugh.
“Hm,” Ross says contemplatively. “Plus a bunch of pervs who just wanted to get their hands on underage girls.”
“Ross,” Mack snaps at him. “Not the vibe for the day, man, not even close.”
“I’m just sayin’, there’s been some stories about this place.”
“Well you can keep those stories to yourself, can’t you – ”
“Everything okay out here?” Hayley reappears in the doorway.
“Absolutely,” Robert says firmly. “We were just… making sure we got all the photos we wanted.”
“Oh don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time after the ceremony as well,” she smiles brightly and beckons Mack, Matty and Ross. “If the witnesses would like to come with me first, we’ll get started.”
The three of them follow her around the corner into the ceremony room, Matty turning back to give them both a quick thumbs up before disappearing inside.
Once the two of them are left alone, Robert reaches out and takes Aaron’s hand. He notes the slightly sweaty palm.
“Okay?”
“Yeah,” Robert says quickly, his lightly tapping foot the only indication of any nerves. “Just can’t believe we made it here again.”
“I know. And hey.” He intertwines their fingers. “Like Ross said, third time lucky right?”
Robert chuckles and Aaron can’t help snickering along with him, the two of them smothering laughter until they hear the sound of the music they’d chosen playing over the small speaker.
Hayley nods for them to come in, and the two of them make their way into the tiny ceremony room. Mackenzie, Matty and Ross (who appears to at least be making himself useful by filming on his phone) all stand on the stone steps and watch as they take their place next to the anvil in the centre of the room.
The registrar gives them another kind smile and opens his book.
“Good morning everybody, and welcome to the Famous Old Blacksmith’s here at Gretna Green. We’re here to witness and to celebrate the joining together in marriage of Aaron and Robert…”
***
Later, Aaron will be glad that Ross was filming and he can watch the ceremony back, because the whole thing is over in a flash. One second Aaron’s opening his mouth to say the first vow, then before he knows it the registrar is striking the anvil with a small mallet and declaring them officially married.
There are whoops and cheers behind them as they kiss, both of them smiling too hard to really do more than press their mouths together, and then the others are crowding around them – even Ross – to clap them on their back and pull them in for tight hugs.
Once the ceremony is over, they all hang around outside for a while, buying overpriced souvenirs from the gift shop and taking more pictures together, Matty insisting on getting every traditional newlywed shot he can think of.
When Hayley offers to take a photo of all five of them, there’s only a brief hesitation before Ross shoves himself into the group, grinning brightly at the camera.
“You still weren’t invited,” Aaron says, his face still fixed into a smile as Hayley snaps a few extras. “But thanks for not totally ruining things, I guess.”
“Eh, I like a wedding,” Ross replies, throwing an arm over Robert’s shoulder and pulling them both closer. “And I s’ppose this means you owe me a favour, so the next time I feel like swanning off with Steph for the day who’s gonna cover for me at the farm?”
Robert gives a resigned sigh. “I am.”
“Glad we understand each other. Right!” He claps his hands together. “I dunno about you lot, but I’m starving.”
They have lunch in a nearby pub, several locals coming over to congratulate them as soon as they spot Aaron and Robert in their matching suits, smiling and fussing over them like they’ve known them for years.
Aaron imagines they must be used to seeing couples coming to their town to get married without much – or any – family around them.
The rest of their time there flies by, and all too soon they’re settling the bill and heading back to the car park. Before either Aaron or Robert can get in the car, Mack holds out a hand to stop them.
“You two aren’t going anywhere tonight.”
“Eh?”
“Me and Matty have booked you a room for the night, you’re staying in one of the wedding suites in the main hotel.”
Aaron and Robert both gape at them. They’d both resigned themselves to having their wedding night back in the village, agreeing that going straight home was the best way to avoid any unwanted attention.
“But – ”
“Come on, you can’t get married and not have a proper wedding night away together,” Matty says, handing a key card over to Robert.
“Not that we want to hear about it,” Ross adds.
“I dunno, I kind of wanna hear about it,” Mack says with a smirk, causing Matty to elbow him sharply. “Don’t worry, no one will even notice if you’re not back until tomorrow, and if they do then we’ll come up with something.”
“You really didn’t have to.” Robert says, turning the card over in his hands.
“Look, just call it a wedding present and stop arguing with us, would you?” Matty grins. “And promise you’ll share some of that Scottish whiskey the registrar gave you when you get home.”
Robert laughs and yanks Matty in for a hug. “We can do that.”
Mack tugs Aaron by the arm until he gives in to being hugged as well and drags them both over to the other two, the four of them squashed together for long enough that Aaron is really, really glad they’re far from home. He’s got a reputation to maintain, after all.
Eventually, Ross loudly clears his throat.
“Not to interrupt the sop-fest, but if I’m giving you two a lift home I’d like to get movin’ sometime in the next hour. Either get in the car or get left behind, your choice.”
Mack and Matty give them one last wave and climb into Ross’s car, Aaron and Robert watching as it slowly reverses out. Just before it turns towards the exit, Ross winds his window down and sticks his head out.
“Congrats.” He throws them both a salute and winds the window back up, before driving out of the car park and onto the road.
Once they’re gone, Robert snakes an arms around Aaron’s waist, mouth brushing against his ear.
“Room?”
“God yes.”
****
Several hours later, they’re both sprawled on a kingsize bed with a single sheet half-pulled over them, passing a bottle of champagne back and forth as they catch their breath and watch the sunset through the window.
The room is enormous, complete with a balcony, a generous mini bar and a walk-in shower the size of Aaron’s entire bathroom at home. There’s an excessive amount of tartan, but other than that Aaron can’t fault it – especially when it comes with free alcohol.
As Aaron turns to pass the bottle back to Robert, he catches him looking down at the ring on his finger with a soft smile. He reaches over to take Robert’s left hand, kissing it briefly.
“S’it nice? Seeing it back on?”
Robert grins and rolls over to face him properly. “Definitely.”
“Don’t even think about taking it off again,” Aaron murmurs, releasing Robert’s hand to wrap an arm around his waist. “‘Cos this is forever, you and me.”
Robert nods, nose brushing against Aaron’s. “I thought I might get one of those safety rings for work, though, y’know, the silicone ones? I don’t wanna damage it, need to make sure it lasts until I’m at least 80.”
“At least.”
The smile on Robert’s face dims slightly. “I’m sorry we lost six years. Closer to seven by now, really.”
Aaron frowns. “Oi, no. We’ve been through all that, haven’t we?”
Because they had. They’d fought and made up over it until they were both blue in the face, they’d hashed all their feelings out in therapy, they’d told each other every single thing that each of them had gone through from the moment Robert went to prison until the moment he’d returned to the village – and then some. They’d gotten the closure they both needed to move forwards, Aaron wouldn’t have been able to stand at an alter (or an anvil) with Robert if they hadn’t.
“That’s done now, and you can’t be sad on our wedding night, I’m not havin’ it.” His arm tightens around Robert’s waist. “We’ve still got so much time, Robert. Years and years and ye – ”
Robert cuts him off with a kiss, catching Aaron’s bottom lip between his own.
“I love you, Mr Sugden,” Robert murmurs, pulling back barely an inch or two.
Aaron smiles at him, runs a hand along the side of his face. “Love you too, Mr – hm.”
A thought suddenly occurs to him, one he only dwells on for a moment before making his mind up, but before he can say anything further Robert pulls a face.
“Uh, that’s the part where you call me Mr Dingle. I know it’s been a while but it’s a thing we do – ”
“No.”
“…No?”
Aaron props himself up on his elbow. “Not this time, I don’t think.”
“Aaron, what’re you talking ab – ”
“You’re not a Dingle, Robert, you’re a Sugden. That’s who you are, that’s who I just married.” He runs a hand through Robert’s hair, gently pushing it back before letting it flop back down on Robert’s forehead. “You’re not marrying into my family, this time. I’m marrying into yours.”
He sits up properly, looking down at him. “I wanna change my name.”
Robert stares at him for a moment, before slowly sitting up as well, the two of them cross-legged together in the middle of the bed.
“You mean… to Sugden-Dingle?”
“Actually…” He considers the idea for a brief second, before nodding decisively to himself. “I was thinking just Sugden. If that’s okay with you.”
Robert just keeps staring at him, open-mouthed. “Aaron, we never – we’ve not done anything like that before.”
The first time they got married, there hadn’t really been much talk about name changes. Apart from the fact that the whole thing had been so rushed and ceremony wasn’t technically legal, Aaron had only recently taken Dingle as his surname, and he hadn’t been ready to relinquish that quite yet. The second time, they’d jokingly called each other Sugden-Dingle, vaguely talked about making it official at some point, but they’d just never gotten around to it, too busy with other things going on in their lives.
With John, a name change wasn’t something Aaron had even considered – the thought had never crossed his mind. Which, in hindsight, probably should have clued him in on a few things, really.
“Well it’s like you said a while ago, things were different before.”
Robert remains silent, but Aaron can see the disbelieving smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Your family will hate it,” he eventually tells him, voice barely above a whisper.
“They can hate it all they want, it won’t change my mind.” Aaron curls one hand around the back of Robert’s neck, fingers twisting in the hair at the nape of it. “You’re my family, Robert. And besides, if you’re gonna be building this new Sugden farming empire then I’m definitely getting in on that.”
Robert rolls his eyes. “Steady on, it’s just a bit of land.”
“Yeah, for now. But I know you, I know you’ll turn it into something amazing. And if you’re serious about reclaiming your family legacy n’all that, don’t you think it’d be easier if you had an extra Sugden in your corner? Help boost the numbers a bit?”
Robert throws his head back and laughs, chest shaking against Aaron’s. “Well when you put it like that.”
“So is that a yes?” Aaron shoots him a playful grin, rising up on his knees to sling his arms around Robert's shoulders, swaying them both slightly. “Can I have your name, Mr Sugden?”
“Of course you can have it,” Robert tips them back down on the mattress, rolling on top of Aaron and kissing him hard, the warm lengths of their bodies pressed together.
“You can have whatever you want,” he sighs against Aaron’s mouth, slowly rolling his hips in a way that makes Aaron’s eyes flutter.
He reaches up to cling on to Robert’s arms as they move, smiling to himself when he feels the cool metal of the wedding ring on his finger pressing against his skin, the sensation both new and so familiar at the same time.
“I’ll just take the name for now, thanks.”
He doesn’t need anything else.