Chapter Text
Family. A word that Robert had spent his whole life hating, until now. Now it was the reason he got up in the morning with a smile on his face, the reason his heart felt light and unburdened, the reason he fell asleep in the arms of the man he loved each night. The difference was, now he had a family he wanted rather than a family he’d been stuck with. A family who made him feel loved and wanted. Aaron and Liv were his family. That’s all he needed.
“Orange or apple juice?” Aaron asked Liv as he made her breakfast, buttering a slice of thick toast.
Liv sat at the table of Keeper’s Cottage, earphones stuck in her ears, nodding her head in time to the music. Robert shook his head amused as he walked in to the kitchen. He’d seen her iPod, he knew she listened to Little Mix when she thought no one would find out. Liv’s eyes were glued to her phone, seemingly unable to hear Aaron. Aaron turned around exasperated, a frown upon his face.
“Oi Liv.” he shouted.
Robert grinned, watching the scene before him. This was family. Arguments over breakfast, a mouthy teenager with a heart of gold, a rugged boyfriend with the deepest blue eyes. He found himself just appreciating life lately, pausing for moments just to absorb his own happiness. He’d never before experienced the feeling of content he’d felt since moving in with Aaron and Liv.
Victoria and Adam had packed up and left for the summer. A summer of festivals and parties in the food truck with Holly in tow. It had been Robert’s idea for Aaron and Liv to spend the summer with him here, almost a trial run before they bought their own place. Aaron had hit his arm and called him a soppy old man when he’d suggested it but Robert had known what this step forward meant to Aaron as they’d made love on the first night here, Liv sleeping peacefully in the room down the hall.
This was the life Robert had needed without even knowing he wanted it.
Robert leaned forward plucking the earphones from Liv’s ears, popping one in his own to hear the gentle murmurings of ‘Black Magic’ drifting through.
“Oi.” Liv called, annoyed and partly embarrassed.
Robert grinned, nudging her shoulder with his own and she grinned back, sharing their own little joke. It hadn’t always been like this. It had been a long journey. Struggling not to snipe at each other, to open up when everything in them told them to shut down. Robert and Liv were more similar than they would ever admit. Aaron leant against the kitchen counter, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth as he watched them together, the toast lay forgotten. His heart swelled as he watched him with her. He’d never imagined that this Robert existed. Liv brought out a side of Robert that Aaron hadn’t even found yet. And he found himself falling more in love with Robert every day.
With Liv, Robert was silly and sarcastic, childish and caring. Sweet in a way that made Aaron’s heart skip a beat because he knew he wasn’t doing it to please Aaron anymore, he did it because he loved Liv just as much as Aaron did. Robert looked up at him suddenly, a carefree grin on his face, his blonde hair dashingly ruffled from sleep. Aaron held out a hand to him, pulling him in to his arms.
“Ya hair’s a mess.” Aaron teased, aware of how self conscious Robert was about his appearance.
However Robert shrugged, tilting his head to the side. “You don’t think it looks sexy?” Robert flirted quietly.
Aaron bit his lip, fighting back a grin. He would always think Robert was the most gorgeous man he’d ever laid eyes on, nothing and no one could ever change that.
“Eww, I can hear everything you’re saying, you know? And please stop making those heart eyes at each other or I’m going to choke on my breakfast.” Liv muttered, rolling her eyes.
Robert sat down across from her at the kitchen table. “Oh Olivia, you’ll fall in love one day and then you’ll see how blue the sky can be and curse the butterflies fluttering up a frenzy inside you.” Robert teased, looking at Aaron dreamily.
Aaron hit him playfully as he shook his head, laughing. Liv rolled her eyes again, but Robert caught the slight smile upon her face as she quickly bit in to another slice of toast. Liv had never had a family. Not the kind of family that made her feel loved and wanted. But now she had Aaron. A brother who would love her and protect her always. And she had Robert. At first she’d just tolerated him to appease Aaron but now, well, she relied on Robert. She went to him when she had a problem. She never wanted to worry Aaron, she knew how hard his life had been and she never wanted to add to his struggles. So whenever she was scared or worried, she went to Robert. Robert didn’t laugh or pity her. He just listened and although she’d never admit it out loud, it helped, he helped.
“You’re gonna miss ya bus.” Aaron reminded her, already clearing away the plates in to the sink, making a mental note to wash them later. Victoria would never forgive them if she came home to a house full of dirty dishes and unwashed clothes.
Liv huffed and made a show of grabbing her bag and dragging her feet towards the door. Since befriending Gabby and Jacob, she didn’t mind school, even enjoyed it. But she was still a teenager and sometimes you just had to act like one for the sake of it. As Liv reached the door, she looked back at Aaron and Robert, already sharing kisses and jokes about who was washing up tonight. Liv smiled, this was home.
“See you tonight.” Liv called, as she opened the door, raising her hand behind her to acknowledge the goodbyes shouted by Aaron and Robert.
Life was simple, easy. And Liv was happier than she’d ever been.
“It’s your turn.” Aaron stated, shaking his head determinedly.
Robert rubbed his nose against Aaron’s, their lips brushing slightly. Aaron closed his eyes, leaning closer, waiting for Robert. As the seconds passed, Aaron opened his eyes, frowning in confusion as he saw Robert just staring at him.
“What?” Aaron asked.
“Aren’t I allowed to just look at my boyfriend?” Robert asked in mock outrage.
Aaron shook his head, laughing. Robert could be so ridiculous sometime. “You’re mad, mate.”
“Mate, eh?” Robert grinned, before crashing their lips together.
Aaron gasped as Robert’s lips met his. Even after all this time, Robert still stole his breath with each kiss. Aaron’s arms slid around Robert’s waist pulling him closer, as Robert’s hands cupped his face. As he moaned, Robert eagerly deepened the kiss, exploring Aaron’s mouth with his tongue. Aaron’s hand slid under Robert’s shirt, rubbing circles against his hip bone.
Suddenly the moment was interrupted by the sound of a long ringing; Robert’s phone. Aaron held him tighter, as Robert broke the kiss.
“Just ignore it.” Aaron whispered, kissing Robert’s neck.
Robert laughed, batting him away. “I can’t, it might be work.”
Aaron pouted, crossing his arms as he watched Robert pick up the phone, smirking at Aaron’s sulking.
“Hello.” Robert said. “Oh hi Bernice.”
Aaron stood up straighter as he heard Robert’s side of the conversation, furrowing his brow in confusion. Why would Bernice be ringing Robert? Maybe she needed help up at Home Farm now that Andy and Chrissie were away visiting the kids in France. Aaron rolled his eyes, the last thing he wanted was Robert being a puppet for the masters in the manor.
Robert listened silently to Bernice, his eyes widening in shock. He stumbled slightly, reaching out to grip the edge of the table. Aaron rushed to his side worriedly, helping him sit down in the nearest chair.
“Yeah, I’m still here.” Robert murmured through the phone staring blankly ahead.
Aaron knelt next to him, placing his hands on Robert’s knees, watching him anxiously. What was going on? What was Bernice saying?
“Yeah, I’ll come right now. Honestly, it’s fine, I’m glad you called.” Robert said, muttering a goodbye before hanging up, the phone resting loosely between his hands.
“Robert.” Aaron whispered.
“It’s Lachlan.” Robert said quietly.
“What about him?” Aaron asked, puzzled.
“He tried…” Robert began, before placing his head in his hands, shivering.
“Rob.” Aaron encouraged him, placing a comforting hand on his back.
“He tried to kill himself, Aaron.” Robert’s admission burst out loudly in the quiet kitchen, seeming to echo around them.
Aaron inhaled sharply, shocked, memories of his own struggles crawling their way back in to his head. He remembered the darkness that had once surrounded him, and it pained him to imagine anyone else going through that. He stood up, holding his hand out for Robert. Silently, they put on their coats, leaving the house, closing the door on their simple life.
Once at the hospital, Bernice rushed over to Robert’s side. Her eyes were red, her cheeks flushed. Her hair tied back untidily in a bun.
“Robert, I didn’t know who else to call. Chrissie’s in France, Lawrence is on that business trip. He can’t get back until tomorrow and Donny, well he seems to have disappeared. Chrissie can’t even get ahold of him. She’s trying to get a flight home as soon as she can.” Bernice said, her words tumbling over themselves.
“It’s okay, Bernice. Here let’s sit down.” Aaron said gently, guiding her to a plastic hospital chair.
Bernice nodded, tears spilling down her face, as she collapsed in to the chair. She stared down at the floor.
“I was supposed to be looking after him. But I just found him there in his bedroom, and he wouldn’t move. I didn’t know if he was breathing.” Bernice sobbed, pressing a hand to her mouth.
Robert could hear Aaron behind him, muttering words of comfort to Bernice, reassuring her that it wasn’t her fault, that she’d done all she could. But all Robert could focus on was the sight of Lachlan, separated by a thin sheet of glass, lying on the hospital bed. Robert stared at him through the window, hooked up to machines, wires emerging from various parts of his body. A lump formed in his throat, this was his fault. He’d torn Lachlan’s life apart when he’d cheated on Chrissie.
He’d cheated and lied, schemed and plotted. And then he’d just walked away with no regard for the people he was leaving behind. No thought of the fragile, messed up teenage boy he’d let down. As he stared helplessly at Lachlan, for the first time in his life he prayed to anyone that would listen, to anyone that could possibly help. He prayed for Lachlan to be okay and promised that he’d make it right. This time he wouldn’t let him down.