Chapter Text
Robert tapped his pen while sat in his office, trying to fight off both the irritation and the fear he felt. Polly was trying to get into contact with them. So far, Robert had managed to put off any effort, throwing away her letters, ignoring her calls and emails. He knew he wouldn’t be able to avoid her forever, but he really didn’t want to talk to Ben’s birth mother. When the first letters had arrived, he’d spoken to Ben, trying to keep calm. But Ben had said point blank that the answer was no. He didn’t want to speak to her, and Robert didnt blame him.
“I’ve two great parents, I don’t need any more,” Ben said bluntly, before returning to the car he’d been working on. Ben was now eighteen, he’d just left school but hadn’t really decided what he was doing with his life. He was having some time off, that combined with the fact that he’d just broken up with Jamie, his long term boyfriend, made it that he wasn’t the usual cheeky boy of theirs that both he and Aaron had gotten used to. They both knew he’d get over it, with time, but now wasn’t exactly a great time for Polly to be trying to get into contact, especially when Ben didn’t want to talk to her.
Robert was also hiding it from Aaron, which he hated doing. Aaron had noticed the letters, and tried to pass them onto Ben, but Ben wasn’t interested. Robert was hiding the emails and phone calls, not wanting to upset Aaron. He wasn’t quite sure why he was doing it, he loved Aaron and it wasn’t like he didn’t trust him… maybe old habits die hard? Robert simply knew he didn't want to do anything that would upset Aaron if he could avoid it.
Robert gave up even pretending to work, and went up to the scrap yard to talk to his husband. “Hey,” Robert said, kissing him briefly. “How is he?” They both looked across to where Ben was messing around with the engine of a car.
“I’m starting to get worried,” Aaron admitted. “This isn’t like him, moping around. I know he misses Jamie, but…”
“Yeah, he’ll never admit it,” Robert agreed. “Too much like you.” Aaron smiled at Robert softly.
“So, what’re you after?” Aaron asked. “You didn’t come here just to ask over him,” he added, nodding in Ben’s direction. “I know you, Robert.
“Nothing,” Robert said, deciding against mentioning Polly’s name on the spur of the moment. “Just concerned.” Aaron narrowed his eyes like he didn’t quite believe him, but didn’t question it. Robert knew that Aaron knew he wasn’t telling him the whole truth, but right now he didn’t want to get into it. He felt that Ben was too fragile.
“See you at home, then?” Aaron said. Robert nodded and kissed him once more in parting.
“What did dad want?” Ben asked ten minutes later. “Checking up on me?”
“No, it felt more like he was checking up on me, actually,” Aaron said. “I don’t know what he wanted. How’s the car going?” Ben just shrugged, returning to it without comment.
Robert was at home, trying to clear his head, when there was a knock on the door. He opened it, thanking God it was him who was home, rather than Aaron or heaven forbid, Ben.
“No, we don’t want to see you,” Robert said, closing the door.
“Wait!” Polly shouted, jamming her foot in the door, wincing as Robert continued to close it. “I need to talk to you, Robert,” Polly said. “Come on, let me do the right thing here. Five minutes.”
“You have three,” Robert countered, his nature wanting to always be in control as he reluctantly opened the door. There was no way he was letting her into his house.
“Right, okay. Ben’s biological father died,” Polly said bluntly.
“Oh. What do you want me to do about that?” Robert said with a shrug. He tried to ignore how this would effect Ben if, later on, he wanted to find out more about his genetics or family history. “I am his father, he has two of us, he doesn’t need or want another one.”
“Would you calm down?!” Polly said, clearly rattled. “I am not here to try and “steal Ben away” which is clearly what you think. I’m trying to do what’s right, stop making it so bloody difficult!”
“Fine,” Robert said. “Carry on, then.”
“Okay,” Polly took a deep breath. “He died of a genetic heart condition.”
Robert froze. For a few moments it was like he wasn’t even breathing, couldn’t see or hear anything else but that last terrifying sentence. “Genetic?” he managed, swallowing around the lump in his throat.
“Yes,” Polly said. “I thought you’d want to know so you can have Ben tested.”
“I mean… what is it?” Robert said, stumbling over his words, fear making him unable to think clearly.
“It’s called… hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,” Polly said, clearly trying to remember the correct way to say it. “Shortened to HCM, if you want to google it.”
“Okay…” Robert said, breathing heavily, trying to wrap his mind around this. “So surely, this is just… a glitch, I mean… What’re the odds he even has this thing? Must be tiny, right?”
“Fifty percent,” Polly said, eyes wide, trying to show how important this was. “I needed you to know. I’ve got a packet of information in my car if you want it.” Robert shook his head. He wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible, he’d look up this condition in his own time.
“Fifty percent? Seriously?”
“I’m sorry,” she said, sounding it. “I told you as soon as I knew.”
“Is it a death sentence?” Robert asked bluntly, not sure how he’d cope if the answer was yes. Ben was eighteen, his life was only just beginning. This was so unfair, it was too much. Ben didn’t deserve this.
“No,” she said. “But he needs to be tested. It can be controlled with medication, it’s when you don’t know you have it that it can be fatal.”
“Thank you,” Robert said sincerely. Fifty percent. Heart condition. Fatal. The words were bouncing around in his mind, fighting for dominance as he went back into the house, trying to remember how to breathe properly. This couldn’t be real. Their beautiful boy couldn’t have a faulty heart. It wasn’t possible. And yet, it horrifyingly was. And fifty percent? The chances were as bad as the flip of a coin.