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The first person to find out about Robert and Aaron getting back together was Mackenzie. The pair of them agreed to keep it quiet for a while, mainly due to how The Dingles (mainly Chas) would react to seeing him back with Robert. However, they both agreed to tell Mackenzie, after all he was their biggest cheerleader and had spent the majority of his time trying to convince the pair that they’re soulmates and need to get back together as soon as possible, for his sake if not their own.
So, they invited him out for drinks to tell him the good news. They decided on a bar in Leeds, that way no-one would overhear and Mackenzie wouldn’t drunkenly tell everyone he sees about his two best mates finally getting back together. The three of them- sometimes accompanied by Matty or Ross- went out for drinks so it wasn’t anything unusual and Mack didn’t suspect a thing.
“So, when exactly are we telling him?” Robert asked as Mack went to get their next round of drinks- the three of them already on their way to being drunk. “Because I really want to kiss you right now,” Robert added with his signature smirk.
“Well, I’m not stopping you,” Aaron said lowly, his eyes flicking between Robert’s eyes and lips.
Robert closed the gap between then, his hand cupping Aaron’s face. Aaron’s hand came up, tugging at the hair at the nape of Robert’s neck causing him to moan. The two of them seemed to forget they were in the middle of a bar, getting so caught up in the passion of the kiss that they didn’t notice Mackenzie making his way back over to the table. They were snapped out of their bubble by a loud gasp from Mackenzie and a shatter as he dropped one of the drinks in shock.
“Well, I think he knows,” Robert said with a laugh as he snaked an arm around Aaron’s waist.
“Y-you’re back together!” Exclaimed Mack, looking as happy as a kid on Christmas morning. “That’s certainly one way of telling me. And thanks for the show by the way,” Aaron swears he has never seen Mack this happy, not even when he’s with Charity.
“No problem mate, we can give you another if you’d like.” Teased Robert to a delighted Mack before leaning in to kiss Aaron again. Aaron lightly pushed Robert away, feigning annoyance at his boyfriend.
“I don’t think so, not all of us are exhibitionists like you!”
“I beg to differ, I can think of a few instances where-” Robert began before a blushing Aaron slapped a hand over Robert’s mouth to stop him talking. “Mackenzie really doesn’t need to hear this,” Aaron said.
“Mackenzie really does,” Mack jumped in talking about himself in first person for some reason.
Suddenly Aaron pulled his hand away from Robert’s mouth and wiped his hand on Robert’s shirt, “gross, did you just lick me?”
“You didn’t seem to mind my tongue this morning licking your-”
“If you finish that sentence I will dump you,” Aaron threatened jokingly.
“I don’t think you will, you love me too much.” Robert replied, and the look of pure adoration on Aaron’s face was all the answer Robert needed. Seriously though, Robert didn’t know who looked more in love right now, Aaron or Mack who looked like this was the best night of his entire life.
“Aww, you guys are so cute!” Mack cooed before getting up from his seat and standing behind Robert and Aaron, putting his arm around the pair of them.
“I am so happy right now!” He added before kissing Robert’s then Aaron’s cheek. Aaron complained about that but couldn’t keep the smile off his face.
“So can I be best man at the wedding?” Mackenzie asked as he sat back down.
“Not like I have any other choice is it?” Aaron replied without really thinking about what he was saying. He took a sip of his drink when he noticed Robert staring at him in disbelief.
“What, have I got something on my face?” Aaron questioned, suddenly feeling self-conscious.
“No it’s just, I didn’t know marriage was something you wanted with me still.” Robert replied almost shyly. Aaron hesitated for a moment before the realisation of what he had just said hit.
He smiled softly at Robert, “of course I do. I’ve spent enough of my life without you, and I won’t do it again. Messed up forever remember?” Mackenzie swore he was about to combust witnessing these two, and he made a mental note to ask about the ‘messed up forever’ thing.
“Yeah, forever,” Robert sounded almost breathless as he spoke. Neither of them spoke for several moments, so caught up in each other and seemingly forgetting about Mackenzie again.
“Wait, does this count as a proposal?! Please say it does, because you both just agreed you want to get married again!” Mack practically yelled out of excitement, drawing the attention of people nearby.
“Yeah, I think it does,” both Robert and Aaron said at exactly the same- reminding them both of their last proposal. Who knew their third, and hopefully last, proposal would be just as unconventional as the first ones. Mackenzie practically squealed before cheering loudly for their pair as they kissed.
“And Aaron still has your wedding rings,” Mackenzie added once they finally stopped kissing.
“You kept them?” Robert asked in disbelief.
“Of course I did you idiot, I could never bring myself to get rid of them- it would have felt like I really had lost you then.” Aaron confessed and Robert swore he fell just that little bit more in love with Aaron- if that were at all possible.
As soon as they got back to the pub, Aaron checked the coast was clear before sneaking Robert upstairs. The first thing Aaron did was find their rings out and they put them back on. They knew everyone would notice, but they could no longer bring themselves to care- why waste more time hiding their relationship when they could just be open and happy? Besides, if Chas or anyone else gave them too much grief they always had Mack in their corner.
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“Good night was it?” Charity asked as Mack rather loudly stumbled into their bedroom, clearly drunk.
“The best- I found out the greatest news ever; I'm so happy.” he replied dreamily before collapsing on the bed and promptly falling asleep.
‘Yep, Robert and Aaron are back together then’, Charity thought.