Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The frost was slowly melting away from the corners of the windows, the bitter morning temperature finally disappearing as the bleak morning becomes brighter. The mornings up to spring still had that sudden chill, still made the hairs on your arms spike up as cold air touches your skin, makes you shudder and wanting to run and hide back under the warm and soft covers.

It’s the morning weather that no one really wants to have.

However Robert doesn’t really mind it, not anymore, maybe before prison life he would have moaned and groaned about this weather....never wanting to to leave the bed for the rest of the day and comfort himself in the warmth of the bedsheets.

But..things have changed, life has changed a lot for the blonde man ever since he went to prison....and ever since he returned to the village. 

He doesn’t really want to take anything for granted anymore. He doesn’t complain - well he complains sometimes, but not as much as he used too - and why would he, anything is better for him after being stuck in a cell for so long....staring at four walls, counting down the minutes until the next day, the feeling of loneliness and sadness creeping on you every single day, the screaming, the fighting, the day to day horrific experiences that you see and- 

But he’s free now, he’s back in Emmerdale. 

He has to keep telling himself that, keep reminding himself so he doesn’t go into a state of panic or surprise.  He’s not back there anymore, he’s out, and he’s trying to find his feet again.....well as best as you can living in this village and still having the weight of prison life still drowning you. 

It’s a step by step process. Right now with slow steps he’s stepping back into the place he calls home, eyes starting to recognise the village after being away from it so long. 

Which was why instead of staying in bed on the frosty morning, he now starts with getting up and standing by his bedroom window in his little sisters house as he stares out into the open village, with a coffee in hand, his eyes capture the nature that overwhelms it....searching around the village that he used to call home. 

From thinking he would never see the outside world for quite some time, seeing it suddenly feels like a dream come true...even being out for just over three weeks now he still feels like this isn’t reality. Like with a snap of his fingers he would back in the prison cell, his mind telling him that this freedom won’t be for long....but that’s not going to happen. 

Because he’s out of there now. 

He’s free. 

If Robert was honest, all that happened was a bit of a blur to him. Fourteen years was set, and he was getting used to the fact that fourteen years he would be in a dusty prison cell for murdering the monster that hurt his sister. But then, one day changed it all. He had an unexpected visit from his lawyer, demanding to speak to him....he refused at first, not seeing the point of why his lawyer is wanting to see him. For one pointless conversation, it wasn’t worth it....but in the end he gives in. 

And thank god he did..because his lawyer gave him news that he would never forget. 

He didn’t murder Lee Posner...he never did.

Apparently one of the doctors was dodgy in the Hotten hospital, a lot of misinformation to patients and a plan not to make their lives better but to make them much worse. He made alliances with people he shouldn’t, and deals that shouldn’t have been made...such as a deal with Lee’s younger brother Luke Posner, to change the cause of death so the youngest of the rotten family wouldn’t go to prison for killing his own brother...letting Robert take the fall for the murder. 

He remembers how angry he felt at that moment, that he lost the life he had before, let go of the people he loved and suffered by himself for nothing, because some bloke that was so angry at his brother thought killing him was the best option. 

If the youngest Posner was infront of him at that moment, Robert wouldn’t know what he would have done. 

The dodgy doctor got caught out, he confessed to all, and apparently Luke was at the Police station with not a lot of luck on his side....and with that information, Robert sentence could be reduced, and also a chance that he could be out of prison in the forthcoming weeks. 

There was a chance, a small one...but Robert held onto a tiny bit of hope that something would go his way. He never told anyone, he kept it like a hidden secret, didn’t want to get anyone else’s hopes up if it all came crashing down.

But in the end, holding onto to that hope paid off.

Because his time in prison only lasted a year and a few months, his time was cut short....because he got out, he was free from prison...a rucksack of his belongings over his shoulder and he was walking out of the prison gates never to return. 

Stepping out of prison, he finally felt like he could breathe properly again.

The question was then where would he go? Well...there’s was only one place he could go, the one place he could only think he would go back to.

So...back to Emmerdale village he went.

He didn’t know what to expect when he was Vic’s doorstep, it was late into the evening when he arrived back in Emmerdale, shaking with nerves as he held himself together to put a firm knock on the door to her house. Quickly thinking to turn back around and get the hell out of here before she opened the door. 

But the door opened, and standing infront of him was his little sister. 

He remembers her face when she opened the door to him, her eyes showing many emotions as she stared at her brother....the shock, the surprise, the happiness...and the anger. 

“Robert?!”

“H-hi Vic, you miss me?”

After a huge hug, and a few tears, she brought him inside, made him a cup of tea while asking all of the questions under the sun. The why’s, the how’s the what’s, the why didn’t you tell me you were getting out of prison questions. Robert tried to explain as best as he could, tried to talk out his answers carefully as he held his tea tightly in his hands so they would stop shaking, stopping himself from bolting out of the room because the questions were becoming overwhelming for him. 

But he took deep breaths, and carried on.

He explained his lawyer visiting unexpectedly, about Luke - which, by the look on his sisters face, the fury that she held, she knew about Luke and what he did - about the whole waiting around and how suddenly his sentence was getting reduced and he was getting out of prison....and now here he was, sitting infront of his little sister again...talking to her like nothing ever happened. 

He remembers Vic crying into his arms, demanding an answer from a question he knew he would get asked multiple times.

“Why did you cut us off Robert? Why didn’t you let us help you?!”

“I had to Vic, I needed all of you to be happy. Prison...being so far away. It was something I had to do on my own....I just wanted all of you to be happy and living the best life you possibly could have.” 

There was a few angry shouts from his sister, a few remarks about how ridiculous he was - which Robert took hiding his winces, as loud noises are something that he’d have to get used to again- and then there was silence...which led Robert waiting on the edge as he waited to see what Vic would do next. 

Would she kick him out? Tell him to leave and never come back? Slam the door and turn her back on him....Robert wouldn’t blame her.

But that didn’t happen.

And suddenly, Robert was back in the spare bedroom of his sisters house, Vic not letting him stay anyway else but here with her and her son Harry. He’s grateful, grateful that his sister is letting him stay here as he slowly rebuilds his life again, that she trusts him to be around her son. In the three weeks, they’ve slowly fallen into a routine - well, mostly Robert has - and they are slowly rebuilding their relationship that was slightly cracked and misshaped when he went to prison. 

He was nervous, seeing his sister, but he was glad he could save one important relationship in his life. 

Because it’s not like he can save and rebuild the rest of them. One of them being with the man that was just running pass the house - a morning jog, Robert assumes - jogging down the village and leaving his sight in seconds. 

The first person he thought about when he realised he was getting out of prison. 

His hus....ex-husband....Still feels weird to call him that, even after so long. 

Aaron Dingle, the man who he’s still madly in love with....he never stopped, staring at the pictures he had on the prison walls of his cell were the only type of joy he had at the time. 

It was a few days after his return to the village when he came face to face with Aaron for the first time in so long, opening the door to see his face again was a surprise...but the look on his face Robert knew he wasn’t just coming by for a friendly chat. 

Aaron wanted answers, he wanted to know why. 

They argued at first, Aaron spitting out words towards his ex-husband and Robert couldn’t do much but take in the anger...take in the hurt. He knew this was coming, he ended things in the worst way possible, cutting Aaron off as he moved to the isle of wright and then sending divorce papers to his doorstep. He wanted Aaron to be happy, and being away for fourteen years, he didn’t want to put that type of pressure on Aaron...he wanted the love of his life to be happy and free with his life, him moving forward and not holding back because of him. 

Even though he knew Aaron was strong and could face seeing him, and even though he just wanted to clutch onto Aaron so badly because he didn’t want to let the best possible thing go...he knew he had to, for Aaron to be happy. 

That’s why he said on that dreadful day on November to never forget that he loved him, that he was the best thing, because he wanted to Aaron to know how special he was, and how this decision wasn’t for his own selfish reasons...but it was for Aaron. 

And Robert explained that to him, tried to explain in every detail and angle he could , tried to make him understand why he did what he did. Tried to explain that he just wanted Aaron to be happy. 

“I was happy Robert! I was with you! And I would’ve waited fourteen years for you-” 

“And that’s it Aaron! I didn’t want you to do that. I wanted you to live the best you possibly could, me being stuck in a cell and frequently visits and phone calls wasn’t going to make you happy!” 

“You didn’t know that!” 

“I wasn’t worth it Aaron! You....I wanted you to live your life, you deserved someone better. You shouldn’t have to wait so many years just so you could touch and kiss your husband again...it wouldn’t be fair on you.” 

Eventually the fighting stopped, and eventually they sat down on the the two separate couches and talked...well, Robert mostly did the talking while Aaron let out a grunt of a remark somewhere in between. In the end, there was an understanding between the two of them....and now two weeks on there in that stage where they don’t know whether to say hello or just ignore eachother as they pass in the street....that awkward scenario of...what are they?

Friends? Acquaintances? Or basically nothing? Robert doesn’t even know, and what he realises is that he probably won’t find out. 

Why? Well...he broke a heart of a Dingle, he knew facing that family again would be a huge battle...it was never going to be easy. 

And they certainly didn’t make it easy, the Dingle family have basically surrounded Aaron, guarding him like the poor bloke was going to break every time Robert was in the same area as him. Like Aaron needs to be protected from Robert because he was the big bad man.

He even had Chas on his toes, threatening him as soon as he made eye contact with the woman. 

“You stay away from my son alright?! You’ve cause him enough pain already, your a danger to him, and all you do is make his life miserable. Stay away Robert, or you will regret it.” 

It makes Robert chuckle to himself, it’s funny really. It’s not like the Dingles don’t know about causing people pain do they? Or breaking people’s hearts and making people’s lives miserable?

Making people lives miserable is basically the Dingles motto ain’t it?

But what can he do? It’s one of him versus a whole lot of them. He can’t say what he really feels about them all, can’t stand there and say to them that Aaron is not a child and doesn’t need to be treated like one, that Aaron is his own person and doesn’t need them to make decisions for him. 

He knows his voice will be silenced by the loud voices of that family...so he doesn’t even bother. Right now, he takes what he can get...which really isn’t anything at the moment, seeing as Aaron hasn’t spoken a word to him for a while. 

And why would he, after everything Robert did.

So right now, he’s just taking everything he can at the moment, whatever happens, he’s not taking things for granted, he’s gonna live his life as good as he can....pushing through the struggles he faces, re-building himself from what was lost when he stepped into his prison cell. 

The blonde man sighs, taking a sip of his coffee as his eyes capture the village that is in his view from his window, from a place he now calls home. 

However....home isn’t exactly home just yet. 

He realises he still a little bit shaky, it’s a step by step process, maybe sometime soon he can ground his feet into the emmerdale soil again.

It will just take time. 

“Morning Rob!” 

Robert takes himself away from his thoughts and from the view as he turns to his sister who was just tugging onto her coat by his bedroom door. He lets out a tired small “morning Vic, you off to work now?” 

“Mhmm, just wanted to check on you and-” she stops, grimacing as she smells the strong coffee in the room. “Geez Rob how strong is your coffee?”

Robert chuckles, staring down at his black coffee which he realised....does smell very strong. “Yeah well, some of us didn’t get much sleep so....need to feel awake somehow.” 

“You’ve not been sleeping well?” 

He looks away from Vic as he tries to figure out an answer, he doesn’t want to explain that he gets woken up to nightmares every night, jumping himself awake...sweat dripping down his skin as he tries to silently catch his breath so he doesn’t wake anyone in the house. 

The nightmares of everyone abandoning him in the end, the realisation that he’s not worth it. The nights in prison where the loud screams and bangs kept him awake half the night....the sounds that still haunt him in his dreams. 

How do you tell your sister that prison life is grasping tightly onto and you can’t seem to push it all behind you.

“It’s just...my body clock, still getting used to being out of prison and actually allowing to sleep in.”

“Well it will take time, you were in there for quite a bit....but you know I’m here if you ever want to talk-”

“Yeah Vic, I know.” 

That’s what everyone is telling him right now, especially Vic and Diane, that they can talk to him, that if he has any worries that he should come to him. But Robert doesn’t think that talking to anyone would help right now.

“Well good.” Vic smiles, before she claps her hands together which gives her brother a slight startle. “Right I’m off to work, Harry is in his room playing with his toys. Now remember you need to bring him over to Diane’s at around two.”

“Yes I remember.”

“And make sure you pack his blue dinosaur teddy and his toys because he’ll make a fuss.”

Robert nods his head, noting that down. “Blue dinosaur, got it.”

“Oh and please remember that-”

“Vic, I’ve got it.” Robert laughs, pulling his sister into a small hug with a grin. “I’ve got it, I know what I'm doing.” 

“Okay, I’m just checking.” Vic says “What’s your plans for today?” 

“Well...” Robert sighs, shrugging his shoulders. “Might go for a walk after dropping Harry off, might go to the cafe for something to eat....see whatever happens I guess. Don’t really have a plan.” 

“Because I was just wondering...” Vic pauses, holding out her hands “now you can say no. But I was wondering maybe if you would want to come with me and Diane to the pub this evening? I know your still getting used to crowded spaces, and noise...but maybe you could come for a meal and a drink?

“Are you buying?”

Vic rolls his eyes “I’ll buy the first round of drinks.” 

Robert smirks “Then how can I ever say no.” 

It’s a big step he’s taking, he hasn’t stepped into the pub since the first time where he got stared at so much that he had to leave before he started to panic infront of everyone. But the way Vic’s face lights up, the way she smiling brightly towards him and pulls him into another hug, he thinks that maybe this time it might go better with his family by his side. 

“Right, you better head off to work.” Robert gestures her to get a move on with his hands. “Don’t want to keep customers waiting now do you?” 

“Alright alright I’m going.” Vic laughs making her move, stopping just by the door as she turns back to her brother. “Robert?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m...I’m glad your home.” 

Robert smiles, feeling a touch of sudden warmth surrounding him. He might not have everything he wants, he might be dealing with things from his time in prison....but he’s home, and that’s all that matters

“Yeah...it’s good to be home.” 

When he’s by himself again, he goes back to the window again, and this time the view is different, more people exiting their homes and making there way onto the streets. The peaceful village becoming its lively self again. 

A new day in Emmerdale has just begun.

He wonders what the day will bring.

~~~

After Harry’s been dropped off at Diane’s, and his afternoon walk was complete, the cafe was the next thing on his list. 

He needed the coffee, and maybe something sweet aswell to satisfy his tastebuds. 

When he came back to the village, he always wondered if anything had change when he was away. He had so many questions. Have some people left, have new faces made their way into the village. Did the buildings change, have olden ones been knocked down and new ones taken their place. Have relationships when he went inside broke apart or become even stronger. Has the village become more peaceful over the time he’s been away. 

Peaceful? How did Robert ever think this village could be peaceful? Something is always happening across the village...and maybe Robert is a tiny bit glad that the drama of the village never faded away. 

In his first week back, he realised the village has never really changed. There has been some new faces, such as Charles the new vicar and his son Ethan who he met shortly after arriving back to the village, but Emmerdale...Robert realises that nothing has really changed here. 

However, the village has given him a few surprises along the way....like the first time he entered the cafe to see Jimmy and Nicola running the place. 

He remembers the face he made when he saw them two behind the counter, he remembers their faces when they realised he was out of prison. Robert didn’t really think Nicola and Jimmy would work working together in the cafe...but surprisingly it does, and Roberts happy for them that they’ve got a new adventure somewhere other then the haulage company. 

Robert still sometimes shocked that it’s Jimmy that’s making the coffees and teas....he remembers some bad drinks made by him when they were working together. 

“Good afternoon Robert!” 

“Afternoon Jimmy, chirpy as ever.” 

“Well what’s good about being moody on a Monday eh?” Jimmy says with a smile as Robert makes his way to the counter. “What will you be having today then?” 

“The usual please, a black coffee. Oh, and if you have any Bakewell tarts I’ll grab one of them too.” 

“Coming right up! To take away or are you staying in?”

“Umm..” Robert turns to look back towards the seats inside the cafe, they weren’t many spaces left, but he recognises a familiar face in the corner of the cafe that he hasn’t seen since he has come back. He hands the money over as he says “I’ll stay in actually, better than going back out and facing that wind again.” 

“Great! I’ll bring everything to you when it’s ready.” 

“Cheers Jimmy.” 

With change in hand, he makes his way over to the corner of the cafe where he pulls on a smirk to greet the person who’s sitting on the sofa tucked away from the rest of the room.

“Well isn’t it Charity Dingle in the flesh.” 

The blonde woman -who seemed to be in her own world before being interrupted - looks up at the sound of Roberts voice, and a scowl appears on her face at the sight of him. “What do you want Sugden?”

“Just wanted to say hi, haven’t seen you around since I’ve been back.” Robert kindly smiles before scoffing “well I wasn’t expecting a good ‘welcome back’ party from ya but-”

“Well I have things going on, so sorry for not congratulating you on your release.”

“Heartbroken I am, thought we were friends.” Robert jokes with a small laugh and smile, but it slowly fades away when he realises he’s not getting the response he would usually get from a Charity. A sarcastic comment, a teasing sentence, a roll of her eyes...that cheeky charismatic persona that lingers around her....it wasn’t present at all. 

There was just silence, she was staring back in front of her, back in her own little world. 

This is strange.

“Okay..” Robert murmurs to himself, clearing his throat before pointing to the seat closest to him. “You mind if I sit, the tables in here are getting full.”

Charity shrugs with no care in the world. “Do what you like.”

With a short nod of his head, he slowly sinks down into one of the chairs that were opposite of Charity, leaning back onto the leather seats with a small grunt. “These seats, never get comfortable do they?”

Charity lets out a grunt in response, and Robert frowns confused as he now’s sits in silence waiting for his coffee and food to come. No vibrant conversation between the two of them, no Charity trying to push gossip from him.

He didn’t want to stare at Charity, but he couldn’t help but glance over to her. 

Robert’s frowns, this isn’t the Charity he knows. 

Now, that might be a weird thing to say. But Charity is a lively person who was full of energy. Right now, she would be making a joking remark towards him with a glint of fire in her eyes, one side of her lip pulled back into a teasing smirk. 

Looking at Charity now, she seems just....drained...exhausted..like the whole world was against her.

The brightness and sharpness that surrounds her...just wasn’t there, her eyes just looked sunken in and tired. Her body more closed in than her body so open with confidence like she does when she stood behind the Woolpack pulling pints for all the happy customers. 

She just seemed...so alone. Like she had no one by her side, no one to turn to. 

“What are you staring at?” 

“Sorry sorry.” Roberts quick to apologise, shuffling up on his seat as his eye flicker away. “Was just wondering if everything is okay? You seem lost in your own world.”

“Well as you know I’m not having the best time in this village at the moment.” Charity rolls her eyes “so sorry I’m not as chirpy as ever.” 

“Is this about...you and Vanessa?” Robert questions. He knows about their break up, Diane told him a while back. Knows that Charity made a bad mistake that cost the relationship, leaving Charity alone and sad in this village as Vanessa had stayed away from here, not wanting to return home. Maybe that’s it, maybe she’s still in her heartbroken phase of loosing her partner, that why she looks so distant. Maybe she hasn’t got over it just yet, and she’s moving through the stages of the break up that seem to have taken her whole world apart. “I’m sorry about that Charity.” 

“Why are you saying sorry?! I ruined everything!” 

“I know I just....I guess it’s still tough. Loosing the person you love, even if you were the one to mess it up.” 

Charity glances up to him in a slow motion. “Is this how you felt when you lost Aaron?”

“Um..well.” Robert doesn’t respond for a few moments, ignoring the slight painful ache in his chest, hiding the emotion that suddenly showing in his eyes. It’s sometimes hard when people mention that he lost Aaron, that the family they built together is no more. Robert doesn’t even know how to fix things with his ex-husband. It’s hard sometimes, when people bring Aaron into a conversation.

He’s not at the stage where he finds himself okay mentioning Aaron in any conversation just yet.

“Yeah I guess, probably feel a lot worse if I’m quiet honest.” Robert admits, nibbling on the corner of his lip before continuing on “But I know it’s not best being by yourself. So if you ever need someone to talk to about-”

A menace laugh escapes Charity lips, cutting off Robert’s words as she shakes her head. “I don’t need someone to talk to about anything.” 

“Well the offers there if-”

“And I have a lot more going on then my broken relationship at the moment.” Charity continues “I have a family who basically don’t want me anymore, who say we’re always stick together but push you out at the first sign of trouble.” She looks forward, speaking out to the cafe “and I would appreciate it if everyone would stop speaking behind my back!” 

Robert is quick to turn around and see the people behind them pulling apart from eachother quickly, before closing back in to continue their little gossips session in whispering voices. Eyes wide and frantic at Charity calling them out. 

He didn’t even release the chatter behind him, didn’t realise the they were gossiping about Charity.

But it’s not just that, it’s what Charity said aswell...about how her family have pushed her away, how they don’t want her anymore.

Is there something else going on?

What have the Dingles done this time?

He turns back to Charity with a concerned frown, a confused look in his eyes. “Charity, is something else going on?” 

“Oh no, it’s absolutely nothing!” Charity stands up before laughing in a high pitch. “I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine. I feel on cloud nine right now being the whole talk of this bloody village!” She lets out a huff, grabbing her coat. “I’m out of here.”

“Wait-”

“And you know what Sugden.” Charity turns back before she makes her exit. “Do yourself the favour and don’t try and make the Dingles forgive you, don’t try and weave your way back into that family. Because the truth is, you should be running a mile away from them.” 

And with a look she goes, the door of the cafe door slammed shut. Leaving a stunned Robert sitting in the chair, silence surrounding him, confusion whirling inside of him. 

But her words, he hears them loud and clear.

And it’s not just the blonde woman’s words aswell, the whispers he’s apparently been missing from the villagers are now so loud to him. 

“She caused a lot of problems, the family probably had enough.” 

“She only has herself to blame.” 

“If I was Charity I would maybe be saying good riddance, that family ain’t at all what it seems.” 

“To be on the wrong side of that family is dangerous, trust me...Charity should be careful.” 

All these whispers, and Robert is still clueless as his day goes on. 

What in the hell has he missed here?

~~~

“Because the truth is, you should be running a mile away from them.” 

The pub was busy for a Monday night, but he had enough room to glance over towards the bar where some of the Dingles were seated. Cain, Sam and Aaron sitting on the stools infront of it, Chas and Paddy standing behind the bar. They all seemed to be in deep discussion, hands vibrantly expressing and faces that tell a story. 

Whatever they are talking about, it seems serious. 

Are they talking about Charity, about what she’s done? Or is it about something else?

Robert shouldn’t be so interested, but he is. 

He shouldn’t want to be searching for answers, he should leave it all alone and focus on himself as he gets back to life in the village....but his interest has risen just a little.

There’s no problem in finding out what’s happened is there? 

He’s been in his thoughts about his conversation with Charity for a while as Vic and Diane talk about their days, the pubs noises surrounding him, echoing in his ears. It wasn’t too loud, the noise, but it wasn’t comfortable for him either. Loud noises were common in prison, constantly people were shouting, fighting, threatening you with a snarl even if you gave them a wrong look as you walked by. Banging on the walls and doors, stuff crashing which echoed in your ear if you were close to it. 

There was chaos always surrounding you....and with every noise you always had to look over your shoulder, you always had to check what was going on around you. 

He’s still getting used to the fact that he doesn’t have to be so aware anymore. 

Someone slams a pint down on the bar behind him.

Robert jumps as he quickly looks behind his shoulder, his thoughts vanishing quickly into thin air. 

“It’s just a pint glass pet, it’s fine.” 

The blonde man takes a deep breath to calm his nerves as he turns in his seat to Diane with a wavering smile. “Yeah, yeah of course it’s a pint glass.” He breathes out, shakily laughing as he runs a hand through his hair. “Sorry I was so lost in my thoughts, the loud noise kinda got to me.”

“Don’t be sorry Robert.” Diane tells him, squeezing his hand tightly from sitting opposite him. She looks over to Vic who was kindly smiling towards him aswell, telling him with her eyes that it’s okay.  “It’s just those rowdy punters.”

Robert smile turns more sincere towards them both as he squeezes her hand back, before he lets go to take his final sips of his first beer of the evening.

It’s just rowdy punters, it’s fine. 

If he just tells himself that everything is fine, maybe he won’t feel that urge to run out of here like the first time he stepped into this place. 

“So how was your walk today Robert?” Vic asks, clearly trying to distract Robert from his thoughts as she takes a sip of her wine. “See anything exciting?”

“Just...nature.”

Vic raises an eyebrow “....that’s it?”

“What do you want me to say, I saw a rocket flying pass the sky, the flowers started to talk to me” Robert says with a sarcastic tone, laughing when Vic rolls her eyes and whacks him in the arm. “I don’t really go for a walk to find something exciting Vic.”

“Then why do you go for these walks then?” Diane asks, shivering at the thought of walking in the weather they are recently having. “would rather be wrapped up warm and cosy in my house than walking outside.” 

“It just helps me....focus I guess.” Robert explains, well, he tries to. He doesn’t really understand himself why he enjoys walking a lot lately, he just finds himself wanting to walk around the village, taking in the fresh air and the nature that endures in the village. Maybe because it helps him clear his head, maybe because the feeling of being free was still becoming something he was use to...so instead of staying inside a house all day he wants to step outside because it’s something he hasn’t done in over a year.

And sometimes, a walk can sometimes make your day a lot better. 

“Well at least you had a peaceful afternoon.” Diane says with a huff “I was having a nice time with Harry until Charity came barging into the house, muttering about how people need to keep their mouths shut and slamming every draw to find her bottle of wine to drink.”

Robert straightens up in his seat “Charity, she was at yours?” 

“Yeah pet, did you see her today?”

Robert nods his head, eyes filled with curiosity. “Yeah I was speaking to her in the cafe this afternoon.”

“And...” Diane peers forward, speaking quietly “did she seem alright?” 

“Well not actually..” Robert says slowly, playing with the beer mat as he seeks for a reaction from the two women. “She was really acting strangely, sitting there so distant that she was in her own world. I tried to make a conversation but it wasn’t really going anywhere. Has..has something happened?”

“Well, you know about her and Vanessa-”

“Yeah but there’s more ain’t there?” Robert cuts Vic off with a frown “because she told me that I should be running far away from the Dingles. So clearly something else has been going on right?” 

He waits, his eyes flickering between the two woman as they share looks with eachother, clearing having a silent conversation.

“You both want to tell me what’s going on?” Robert asks slowly, turning to Diane. “Look I know Charity is staying with you, but clearly there’s something more to it right?” 

“It’s a long story.” 

“Well I have the time Diane.” 

Diane sighs, placing her glass back down on the table as she finally begins to tell Robert about what’s been happening. After a few irritating moments of silence, she speaks again. “Charity...she’s...she’s been excluded from the Dingle family.” 

Robert face changes into shock quickly. Did he just hear that right? “I’m...I’m sorry? Excluded? Like kicked out?”

Diane nods with a sad hum. “Cain told her that basically no one wants her around.” 

The shock remains on Robert face as he glances over to the Dingles who were chatting away. Robert’s mind was making him think in all directions...questions circulating his head...the why, the what’s, the how....They just, threw Charity out? For what?

“Why did they do that?” 

“Well after Charity and Vanessa broke up, a whole lot more happened.” 

And that’s when Robert finds out about everything that has happened in these past few weeks. 

From Charity and Mack - apparently Moira’s brother that has caused havoc in the village already - to Sarah and her problems, then Debbie coming back, then Debbie and all her problems of being the other woman in Al’s life, then Noah wanting to join the army and apparently Charity ruined that when she was only trying to help, then her nearly sleeping with Al and dropping Debbie in on her scheme...which led to Debbie leaving, Sarah and Noah wanting nothing to do with her...and the whole family pushing her away so she was basically by herself.

So what Robert was getting throughout everything, was that Charity caused some problems...and the Dingles decided that enough was enough.

“...and then she was kicked out of the place she was living, she’s only aloud to see the kids through Cain, and Chas makes her sign over the pub-”

Robert splutters, the beer that was just touching his lips escaping his mouth “I’m..I’m sorry what?” 

“Yeah, Marlon is now her new partner.” Vic says with a little scoff. “Well I say partner, Chas treats the poor bloke like a bloody child sometimes.” 

“When does Chas not treat anyone like a child, her son is adult and she still treats him like she needs to hold his hand to cross the street, make decisions for him because he hasn’t got his own voice.” Robert rolls his eyes, slightly smirking at the women’s chuckles before looking back at Diane again. “It’s always been Charity behind that bar with Chas, they had some great times together. Why would she turn her back on Charity when they have always stuck together.”

“Well..Chas doesn’t seem to care about her now, no one does.”

“So then what, they just chucked her out the family now? Pretend like she never existed in it?”

“Pretty much, and I wasn’t gonna let her be on the streets...or staying at the B&B by herself.” Diane points out “so I told her she could stay with me. Not like Chas or many Dingles are happy about that-”

“Well it’s not up to them who you decide to live in your home. I think it’s good that you let Charity come and stay with you.”

“Yeah Vic’s right.” Robert agrees, leaning back in his chair as he collects his thoughts on this brand new information. So... because of a bunch of bad decisions Charity has made, her destructive behaviour making her follow through with some questionable choices, and for causing trouble with a family that causes more trouble than anyone else in this village...The Dingles have decided to turn their backs on her and leave her to dust, making her stand in the village all alone.

Doesn’t that just seem...unfair? 

He understands that Charity has made mistakes, some huge terrible mistakes...and people have a right to be angry at her because she’s messed up a few things in the family. But for them to do this, tell her she’s not wanted, tell her she’s not welcome in the family anymore, throw her out to the wolves with no support and make her lose everything in the process. Make her out to be this imbecile when some of the Dingles have done much worser things across the village. 

He feels for Charity, he really does. 

However, is Robert really surprised this is what the Dingles have done? No, no not really.

Because this family, they have always got to take something one step further. 

You mock one of them, you get thrown into the boot of one of their cars. You don’t agree with them on something, they always try and get the upper hand in every situation. A Dingle wrongs the family, they’re thrown out, the Dingle name snatched from their fingertips and then left by themselves. 

With being with Aaron, he’s been around that family, he’s knows as a collective what they are like...and maybe because he wanted to keep on the right side of the family that he didn’t really take a broader view on how this family runs. However, with being in a cell, you have time to think...and Robert realises this family ain’t at all what they seem to stand for. 

A family can be your family, until you do a few wrongs in life, and suddenly all of them turn their backs.

Or in Dingles terms, if you don’t follow the Dingle code....you become the traitor. It’s pretty stupid when you really think about it. 

It’s the hypocrisy of it all, that gets to Robert though. These Dingles are as bad as eachother, they fight, they lie, they sleep with the same people, they steal..they do more criminal activity than any other family in this village...but Charity is the one that’s getting all of heat for the things she’s done. 

And as he looks over to the Dingles at the bar, seeing Chas with her smirk, Cain chuckling as the rest of the family join them at the bar...being all one big happy family....Robert realises they don’t really care. 

They don’t really care at all. 

And knowing that the Dingles don’t have a care in the world as they move on with their lives, not understanding the effects of their actions...it angers Robert quite a bit.

They never understand the consequences of their actions.

They don’t realise the damage they do sometimes. 

“How could they just do that?” Robert asks quietly “why would they do that?”

“Because that what the family is like, they push people out and then pull them back in when they are needed.” Vic tuts while taking a sip of her drink. “Charity will be probably have a knock on the door in a few weeks time because one of them is in trouble and she’ll need to help them.”

“I know some of the things that Charity has done are terrible and yeah people have a right to be angry.” Robert continues on, fingers holding tightly onto his pint glass in front of him. “But surely there’s another way to sort this, ignore her for a few days, argue and be angry, let her make amends. But to take everything away from her, tell her that the whole world is against her, isn’t that just taking it a little too far?”

“Well the one thing I notice, is that there’s rules for one, but a whole other set of rules for Charity.” Diane says. “That family scream that they all stick together but with Charity it’s always been different, she’s never really got the support from most of them. I’m telling you, if it was anyone else in that family they wouldn’t be getting kicked out and treated the way Charity has been.” Diane shrugs her shoulders “but what can you do pet, you won’t be able to say your word about the situation because they won’t let you. You can never defeat the Dingles, you never can.”

Robert sighs defeatedly, Diane’s right, she really is. With that family, you can never get the upper hand on them.

Because to the Dingles, they are always right, and somehow they always win in the end...and there’s nothing you can do about it. 

And that...is probably the most frustrating thing ever.

~~~

Robert follows the crowd out of the Woolpack a few hours on, - ignoring the Dingles stares as he walks past- stepping out into the cold air that immediately made his skin prick up because of the wind, and he’s the only one that spots Charity in the distance...looking at a place she used to call home, a place where she stood behind the bar and entertained the people with her charisma. 

That’s all gone now, an end of an era Robert supposes.

But it didn’t really end though did it, all of this was snatched from Charity’s hand unfairly. All because the Dingles finally had enough. Nobody should be treated the way the Dingles have treated her....the Dingles shouldn’t treat anyone the way that they do, but the story never changes with that lot. 

It’s the same cycle, repeated over and over....Robert wanders when it will ever get exhausting for them.  

Under the yellow light of the lamppost, he sees the sadness hidden in her eyes.

Robert takes a step forward, mouth beginning to open to ask if Charity was okay. But in a flash, she walks away, moving quickly up through the village, probably returning back to Diane’s for the night. 

She probably feels so alone, feels like she has no one to turn too. Robert’s felt like that a few times in his life, that...unwanted feeling. It’s not nice. 

“Right, you ready to go?”

“Well I’m waiting here for you ain’t I?” Robert says, smiling as Vic rolls her eyes at him as she zips up her coat, tugging his arm closer so she could link theirs together before walking across the street to Vic’s house. “Just saw Charity a few seconds okay.” 

Vic raises her eyebrows, “did she seem alright?”

“Not really, well how can she be when her whole family has basically disowned her.” Vic nods her head in agreement with him, and Robert sighs. “I feel for her you know, she’s caused a lot of problems...but I’m sure they can be resolved with something more simple than making sure she doesn’t have anyone to turn to.”  

“Yeah well, it’s just that way that family rolls, nothing about the Dingles will ever change.” Vic says, pulling away by the gate so she could fully turn to her brother. She gives her brother a pointed look. “Don’t get worked up about it alright, there’s no point in you getting involved with Dingle drama.” 

“Yeah they already hate me enough.” Robert mumbles, before saying out loudly. “And when do I ever get worked up over anything?”

“How long you got?”

“Well that’s just rude.” 

Vic lets out a laugh, shaking her head as she moves forward to her front door. “Come on grumpy, I’ll make us some hot chocolate before bed.” 

“I’m not- fine but I’m expecting extra marshmallows for your cheek.” 

He begins to follow the laughter from his sister into the house, but not before looking up the village to where Charity has wandered off to. 

Maybe he can talk to her sometime tomorrow, or in the next few days....he’ll just see what happens. 

And when he was warm from his hot chocolate, he falls straight into bed, falling asleep that night with a lot on his mind. 

A lot of thoughts, thoughts about what he heard today, thoughts about all the information and everything in between. 

He thought it would help, his mind too busy to fall into another restless dream. However halfway through the night, the nightmare comes, the nights of prison haunt his mind, and Robert is jolted awake with a heavy gasp, dizziness and confusion surrounding him as he comes back to his senses in his sisters spare room.

He’s back in reality. 

Robert doesn’t know when life after prison will get easier, he hopes it will be quite soon. 

He guesses another restless night, and another strong coffee in the morning too. 

~~~

“Hey, Robert wait up!”

As the next day comes along slowly and steadily, a change in the weather occurred, a day of drizzly rain instead of the wind and sun that the weather man suggested earlier on the tv. 

But when has the weather forecast been a hundred percent correct eh?

Robert does really hope for some better weather soon. However the change of weather didn’t really bother the blonde man today, he just stayed inside for most of it, enjoying the comfort of his sisters house for the first time in a while. In the comfiest and warmest clothes he owned, he’s been sat on the couch watching reruns of old Come Dine With Me episodes most of the day, snacking on a packet of custard creams he found in the back of Vic’s kitchen cupboards. 

The noise on the tv was not bursting his eardrums, the rain hitting the windows was light and melodic. 

The chaos that he’s been mostly feeling, was calm....just for a little bit. 

He had no plan to go outside and into the village today, but towards the start of the evening when Vic arrived back home from work with Harry being his bubbly self in her arms, he was made to go to David’s shop to grab a few groceries and a bottle of wine for tea tonight. Of course Robert had his complaints, saying that the weather was awful and that they could just order something in. But when Vic mentioned that the rain had stopped, and the weather is getting slightly better - which is something he didn’t really notice - Robert knew he had no choice but to go. 

So here he was, out in the cold walking past the cafe down to David’s shop with a list of things needed written by his lovely sister before he got out of the door. 

He came to a standstill when he heard his voice calling him back. 

Aaron  

In his black puffy jacket, wrapped up warmly to protect himself from the slight wind that suddenly appeared. Robert turns to find Aaron taking slow steps towards him, a small gentle smile on his face, blue eyes seemed to be searching Roberts face as he gets close. 

My god, does Robert miss him. 

“Hi Aaron.” 

“Hi, uh you heading to the shop?”

“Yep.” Robert replies with a soft chuckle, holding up the folded piece of paper that got shoved into his jacket pocket. “Vic’s sent me on the magical adventure of picking up a few groceries and a bottle of wine for tonight, think she just wants me to get out of the house for a bit.” 

“Well with the weather we had before I’m not surprised you’d stayed in all day.” 

“Oh yeah, a day on the couch with a packet of custard creams and re runs of Come Dine With Me.” Robert says with humour as he raises his eyebrows. “Living the life I am.”

“Come Dine With Me? Your back watching that show then.” 

“It’s an entertaining show!”

Aaron snorts “entertaining? You’d rant about something every time it was on the telly.”

“I did not rant.” Robert points out innocently, even though he knows Aaron is speaking the truth. “It’s just that if you wanted to win a thousand pound at the end of the week why would you try and put stupid food combinations together and hold ridiculous entertainment. I’m just saying if some people actually took their time and designed decent meals then-”

Aaron laugh cuts Robert off, a melodic, happy laugh that Robert misses so much. He chuckles himself with a light smile, a red sheen appearing across his cheeks as he realises that he was back to his ranting ways. 

“Sorry.” 

“Don’t be.” Aaron shakes his head, his smile returning soft. “It’s good to see a smile on your face, don’t think the village has seen that for a while.” 

Robert eyebrows raise in surprise....this wasn’t the conversation he was expecting with Aaron. He expected anger, sadness, words thrown at eachother with a intent to hurt the other...not this..not them two smiling and having a laugh with eachother, not them two having...a good and enjoyable conversation. 

Maybe something is shifting, maybe the awkward greetings and ignored glances are very slowly...slowly melting away. 

Robert’s not getting his hopes up too much. 

There’s silence for a moment or two, the two men just staring at eachother, taking in eachother as liked they have missed so much. 

“Is there..” Robert begins to speak when the silence gets too much. He gulps loudly. “Is there anything else you wanted?” 

“Listen I...” Aaron clears his throat, scuffing his feet into the cobbles. “I’ve been meaning to come and see ya-”

Robert frowns, he wasn’t even expecting Aaron to even have a simple conversation with him for a while. “Have you?” 

“Yeah I just...wanted to see how you were doing.”

“Well I’m alright” 

“Are you?” 

It’s like Aaron still knows him so well.

“....well, as good as someone who just got out of prison a couple of weeks ago can be.” Robert shrugs “but it’s like everyone keeps telling me, it takes time, adjusting to life again just takes time.” 

“I know I’ve been distance and-”

“What you think I’d be angry with you about that?” Robert asks confused, he had come to term with the fact that him and Aaron would be distance for quite a long time. They didn’t really end their last conversation on a high note, so he doesn’t get why Aaron is apologising for keeping his distance...Robert doesn’t blame him for doing that. “Aaron I understand if you don’t want to see me, or talk to me. Not after everything I did, not after hurting you. Your family have been telling me enough that I’m this bad man and should be staying away from you.” 

Aaron shakes his head with frown. “What? They shouldn’t be saying that to you, they shouldn’t be crowding you like that”

“Well..when have your family ever left anything or anyone alone.”

“Yeah..true that.” 

Robert feels like there’s more to them words that Aaron just spoke, the look on the others face speaks out that those words have a whole different meaning, but he doesn’t push it. 

“Look...” Aaron says gently, but with some edge to his tone. “You’ve explained why you did what you did, even though I still don’t understand your stupid decision-”

“Aaron-”

“I don’t, and I probably never will. And I’m still hurting at the fact that you didn’t trust me to stand by your side throughout all of this” Aaron keeps going, ignoring Robert interruption and carrying on with determination in his voice. “But your not this bad man, and your not in prison anymore. And I don’t want us to be in this village ignoring eachother and only greeting eachother in awkward phases. I don’t want us to have any tension or think that we can’t speak to eachother in the village like mates. Because despite what you may think, I still care about you.”

“You do?”

“Yeah I do, I’m crazy I know” Aaron confirms with a joke, leading the two men to let out quiet laughs. However to Robert, them words mean so much to him. “So can...can we try and be mates maybe?”

Robert lips quirks a little, remembering how being friends went so well for them last time. But this time it’s different, because so much has happened before this moment. Robert was in prison, cutting the people he loved most out of his life. Leaving Aaron in Emmerdale by himself to continue on with his life, hurt and angry towards the person he thought he would be with forever. 

So much broke the pair apart, and maybe it’s too soon to be where they were before....maybe it will never happen again. 

And it’s not what Roberts wants, the blonde man would love nothing more than to call Aaron his husband again. To wake up and fall asleep next to him, to hug and kiss and love him with every fibre in his heart. 

But that can’t happen right now.

So having Aaron in his life as a mate, is so much more than he was expecting. And he’ll grasp onto being a part of Aaron’s life...even if it’s not the way he wants it to be. 

Robert nods his head, a small smile reaching his face, a lighter look appearing in his eyes. “Yeah, being mates sounds good.” 

“Great!” Aaron lips turn up into a smile, matching the others. “the silence coming from you made me nervous then.” 

“Oh you know me, like to keep people waiting on their toes.” 

Aaron scoffs, shaking his head with a chuckle “well for that you can pay for the first round of drinks when were both at the pub again.” 

“Oh we’re already making plans?” 

“I’m just saying that your getting the first round of drinks.” 

Robert makes a noise in the back of his throat “um I think it should be you that-”

“What’s going on here then?” 

The two men turn to see Aaron’s mum just a few meters away from them, standing there with her arms crossed in her big fluffy coat, her eyes staring down the blonde man who was talking to her son. The stare makes Robert feel slightly uncomfortable, and he dips his head and takes a step back from Aaron....which the other doesn’t notice him doing as he turns to his mum with raised eyebrows. 

“What mum?” 

“I said whats going on here?” 

Aaron sighs, rolling his eyes. “Just having a conversation, you know...when two people talk to eachother. I’m sure you know what a conversation is.” 

“If I was you I wouldn’t be anywhere near him.” 

Robert couldn’t help put wince at that, the harsh words and the spiteful tone coming off the woman that he would consider a mother figure a long time ago making the hairs spike up onto his skin. Or maybe he’s wincing because his mind is saying that she’s telling the truth, that Aaron shouldn’t be anyway near him. Like he told him in that garage on a cold February night....he’s a disaster...all he does is ever hurt Aaron.

He wants to talk to, he wants to be your mate Robert repeatedly thinks as he looks back up towards Chas, ready for whatever happens next.

Who knew a few moments of enjoyment can shatter so quickly in this village. 

“Mum we’ve sorted it alright?” Aaron tells her firmly, sharing a worrying glance over to Robert who’s standing silent behind him. “We’re mates now.”  

“In my eyes you haven’t sorted it. And how do you think that being mates with him is a good idea?” 

Aaron body deflates with a groan under his breath, and Robert couldn’t help but let out a loud scoff at the way Chas is being right now. He shakes his head in almost disbelief  “Still trying to dictate your sons life Chas.” 

“Well someone has to tell him what to do. So he doesn’t make stupid decisions like being anyway near ya!” Chas spits out with her voice rising. “Why would he want to be friends with you? You just hurt people and drag them down...you drain peoples energy more than lightening up people’s day.” 

“And you know what Chas, some people might say the same thing about you.” 

Chas mouth agapes at Roberts response, she turns to Aaron frantically “see son, this is-” 

“It isn’t up to you who I talk to! So stop it!” Aaron grits out, taking a deep breath so he doesn’t snap at her out in the village. “What is it you want anyway?” 

Chas glances between the two of them, before huffing as she knows she’s lost this battle. “Dingle meeting at Cain’s in a bit, was just coming to tell you.” 

Robert briefly glances up to see Aaron revealing an annoyed expression at what his mum had said. He’s not surprised, he wouldn’t want to be spending time with that family all together at Cain’s either. He find it slightly funny, so Robert hides his humorous smile at Aaron’s face, turning his face away so Chas wouldn’t notice. 

“What’s this one about now?”

“You know what’s it about love.”  

Robert perks up on the way Chas says that, how the attitude shone between her words. How the look on her face was cold, heartless. 

He knew exactly who she was talking about. 

Charity Dingle. 

The anger returns to Robert again, remembering how this family has been treating her. How can Chas just forget about her close relationship with Charity and pretend like she’s nothing anymore. To be so thrilled with herself to have a new partner in The Woolpack when Charity has been by her side through it all. 

And what else is there to discuss, they already made Charity lose everything. However it’s the Dingles, they’ll always find something somehow. 

He not one for much confrontation at the moment, he told Vic he wasn’t going to get involved...but he couldn’t help it. He opens his mouth...and the words just tumble out. 

“Oh there’s no need to be so secretive about what your little family meeting is about, half the village already knows about what’s happened.” Robert speaks up, bringing the other twos attention towards him. He steps closer to Aaron, sending Chas a fiery look. “What is there to talk about this time? Is it how you all are gonna make Charity feel even more worse than she already feels? Or is it something else?” A shocked, sarcastic look appears on the blonde man face. “Are you gonna tell another Dingle to sling their hook, is a Dingle court gonna decide someone’s future. Because can the rest of the village join in this time aswell? Is there a form we can sign? because there’s a few names right now that I can just thrown in if you’d like.” 

And your one of them right now Robert thinks, wanting to end with that, but he keeps that in his head...he’s already feels like he’s said enough when he should of kept his mouth shut. 

He hears Aaron stifle a small laugh beside him, but the look on Chas face...well let’s just say it wasn’t a happy one. 

“You think your so funny don’t you?” 

“Oh I think I’m hilarious.”

“Stay out of this Robert!” Chas snaps, taking a daring step closer, her teeth barring as she shows her anger. “You don’t know anything!”

“I think I know enough.” Robert scoffs harshly, standing strong with his arms crossed against his chest. “it’s always the same with your family ain’t it?”

“What? Our family...our strong united family. We get through everything because we stick together!” Chas sneers, and Robert has to hold in an urge to roll his eyes dramatically because the Dingles don’t always stick together do they. Her eyes suddenly peer around him, speaking to someone who was standing behind the three of them. “What have you said to him huh?!”

Robert and Aaron quickly turn there heads to see that Charity was behind them, staring at the scene with wide eyes...meaning she’s probably heard it all since Chas interrupted the two mens conversation. With the bottle of whiskey in her hand, Robert realises that she was just coming back to the shop.

He suspects she didn’t think that this was happening just a few feet away from David’s.

The blonde woman shakes her head, stuttering out an answer “I..I h-haven’t told him anything.” 

“Oh of course you have!” Chas scoffs harshly, it becomes almost frightening. “What have you said to make this family look so bad! Come on, tell me!” 

“Charity didn’t tell me anything.” Robert interjects Chas loud temper, almost standing infront of Charity to make sure she’s out of the other woman’s view. He crosses his arms, a steady stare sent Chas’s way. “Just being away, and coming back into this village has made my eyes really open on a few things. So stop trying to blame people here.”

There’s silence then. Robert, Aaron and Charity on one side, Chas stood on the other side. Robert’s surprised no one has been watching this confrontation that has just happened in this village, but surprisingly, the village was just as silent as the four of them right now. 

Chas is the first one to break the silence, huffing out “I don’t have time for this.” She turns away back to the pub, speaking to Aaron. “Come on, we’ve got to go.” 

“I’ll be there in a minute.” 

“Aaron-”

“Mum.”

“Fine!” Chas grits out through her teeth after a few seconds, and Robert knows that she seething because she doesn’t want to leave Aaron alone with him again....and he might be feeling a bit happy to see it. “Just don’t be long.” 

And with a final glare that screams I am watching you towards Robert, she walks away with her heels clicking...and Robert can’t help but say his goodbye. 

“Very nice to see you again Chas!” He sarcastically calls with a bright, charming smile, waving his hand dramatically as she walks away. His smile drops when he sees Aaron giving him a look. “What?” 

“Thank you for that.” Aaron sighs, shaking his head. “Another family meeting is enough to ruin my evening, but now I’ll have my mum ranting down me ear aswell.” 

Robert couldn’t help but feel guilt, he nibbles on the corner of his lips as he looks away. “Sorry.” 

“Don’t be.” Aaron says after a few seconds. “At least we know your snarky and charming behaviour hasn’t changed one bit.”

“Yeah unfortunately for everyone that part of myself hasn’t gone away.” Robert jokes, and it sets off a chuckle between the men, the atmosphere becoming much lighter again since Chas left. “I just couldn’t help but say something.” He continues on. “Don’t you feel like just wanting to stand against what your family say or do sometimes? I mean you have to admit sometimes they take things too far.” 

“Yeah, most times I do.” Aaron admits truthfully “I wish I could say something weeks, months even years ago. But what’s the point.” He shrugs his shoulders. “What’s the point of saying something when I know I’m in a battle that I probably gonna lose. I don’t think I have the strength to even say anything anymore” he lets out a large sigh, before nodding to the pub. “I better go, before my mum gets worse.”

“See you Aaron.” 

“Yeah see you soon.” He begins walks backwards as he continues on with a smile that grows bigger as he speaks “And your definitely getting the first round of drinks now.”

Robert breathes out a short laugh, nodding his head in agreement. The first round of drinks, will be on him.

“Uh..bye Charity.”

“See you Aaron.” 

The blonde man turns in surprise to see that Charity was still standing there, but the pointed and firm look that she was sending his way tells him that she’s not very happy about him opening his mouth. And yes, he shouldn’t have, maybe he should just leave this all alone...but the Dingles have treated so many people unfairly within their time in the village...it’s the same old game with that lot.

Maybe Robert, and many other people, are getting pretty tired of it....but just maybe now wasn’t the right time to open his mouth.

Robert looks at Charity with an apologetic expression. “Look I shouldn’t have said anything-”

“No you really shouldn’t have.” Charity cuts him off. “Why did you?” 

“Well I’m always the one to open my big mouth aren’t I?” Robert jokes, but doesn’t really get him anywhere when the blunt expression on Charity’s face doesn’t change one bit. Robert purses his lips, now he needs to give a proper answer. “Diane told me what happened-”

“And you thought you had to say something.”

“Well your my friend Charity, and I find it unfair that the Dingles are treating you this way.” Robert explains. 

“They don’t care about the effects or their actions or anything. I just...I just think your being treated unfairly in all of this.”

There’s moments of silence, and Roberts on nervous ground as he waits for Charity to reply. 

“You sound like Diane...” She snorts with a slight roll to her eyes “I guess your just more vocal about it.”

“Yeah, well for once me and Diane agree on something.” Robert teases with a smirk, falling into a chuckle with Charity when she lets out her own short laughter. He nods to the bottle of whiskey that is tightly gripped in her hand. “you drinking that bottle then?”

“Mhmm.” Charity hums, lifting up the bottle in her hands. Robert could see that it’s probably the strongest bottle of whiskey David’s shop owns. “Who needs family when you have this eh? Sometimes alcohol can be your best friend.” 

Robert frowns, he knows that drinking by yourself isn’t the best road to go down on. It can lead to stupid decisions, lead to a massive hangover the next morning. He can understand that Charity feels alone, feels like the whole world is against her right now and has no one to turn to..and the only thing to do is drink and sit in your troubles and worries. 

Sitting with your troubles and worries ain’t the best thing to do.

Robert didn’t want to leave his friend like this. 

“Well drinking by yourself won’t do you any good. Sitting in your troubles won’t help you one bit.” Robert says. “And as your friend, I think it would be unfair for you to not share that bottle with me. So why don’t I come with you to Diane’s and we can drink and talk about everything.” 

“I don’t really feel like chatting.” 

“Well sometimes the best things in life is drinking and having a good old rant about life.” Robert smiles, beginning to walk up the village to Diane’s. “Come on, I’ll even show you where Diane keeps her fancy whiskey glasses that are hidden in the back of her cupboards.” 

“Hey Sugden?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you.” 

There’s a pause, and Robert smile widens kindly.

“What are friends for eh?” 

~~~

“So...” Robert begins to say as he slides Charity’s glass of whiskey across the dining table to her. He settles in his seat opposite her, leaning back against his chair to get more comfortable. Diane was out for the evening, so it was only them two who were in. “Welcome to the Dingles hate you club I guess.” 

“Oh what a joy to be here.” Charity sarcastically mutters, raising her glass. “Cheers.” 

“Cheers.” 

After a raise of his glass, and clinking his own glass with Charity’s, he knocks back the whiskey...which is something he hasn’t done in a while...so his reaction wasn’t pleasant to the fiery liquid that was flowing down his throat at the moment. “Ugh god.” Robert groans with some disgust, heavily grimacing at his first drink of the night. “That’s quite strong.” 

“The stronger the better I say.” Charity grins, gesturing towards the bottle. “Come on, hand over the bottle.” 

Still making a face and shaking his head at his drink, he blindly reaches for the bottle and hands it over to Charity, who is quick to fill the two glasses again. This time though, Robert doesn’t knock it back like the other one does, he leaves it on the table with fingers lingering against the glass as he opens his mouth to speak.

“I’m sorry, that this has all happened by the way.”

The blonde woman freezes, her hand tightening on her whiskey glass as she places it back down on the table, her body tensing up as a cold expression remains on her face. “Well it what happens with being a Dingle ain’t it. You make mistakes, you suffer the consequences.” 

Robert frowns “you really think you deserve this?” 

“Well, they feel like I deserve it, the whole family says that I’ve stepped over the line and cause so much trouble within the family. And you know what, maybe I do deserve this, I hurt Noah, Debbie...Vanessa...” she gulps loudly, holding her emotions in. “I messed up badly and-”

“But it’s like you said Charity you made mistakes...and yeah okay maybe some big ones, but not so big enough to be treated like this.” Robert cuts Charity off, speaking firmly as he moves more forward in his seat. “You were heartbroken about losing Vanessa, and you spiralled..and that happens sometimes and making mistakes comes with that, it’s human to make mistakes. But what your family shouldn’t have done is kicked you down even further..you didn’t deserve to be chucked out of the family, lose everything. You should of at least be allowed to apologise and make amends.”

“Make amends? That all I’ve been trying to do! But they have all turned their backs! Smirking and being smug as I’m left alone....it does hurt a little, that feeling like-”

“You have no one to turn to?”

“Y-yeah.” 

Robert nods, gulping heavily as he takes a swift drink of his drink. Hopelessly ignoring the flashes of memories of the times he felt alone. “Felt like that a few times, it’s not a good feeling. And no one should make you feel like that either, especially the people you call family.”

“Yeah well...They won’t listen to me so, what can I do?” 

“Oh but if they were in trouble they would be crawling right back to you demanding for help. They won’t listen unless there’s some big game to be played, or trouble is brewing with one of them.” Robert states, shaking his head with annoyance as he thinks how typical this family really is. “Why can’t this family just accept a genuine apology and move on with life.” 

“Oh an apology won’t do with that lot.” Charity says with frustration rising, rolling her eyes. “Got to prove yourself every single time. It’s almost like they can’t have a proper conversation with anyone and work things out in a kind and calm manner, there’s always insults to be thrown, words that hurt-”

“Fights that actually are quite ridiculous when you look back on them.” 

“Exactly! They always have to take a step too far...they always have to show that their these big and arrogant    people that you can never defeat...and in reality there just-”

“Hypocritical arseholes.” 

“Are...are you just gonna continue finishing my sentences?”

“Sorry.” Robert apologises, chugging down half of his drink as Charity shakes her head at him in amusement as she fills up her glass with more alcohol. He tilts his glass silently asking Charity for a top up, who is happy to oblige as she lifts the bottle to fill the rest of his glass. He takes another hearty sip before continuing on, the whiskey becoming more easy to drink as the evening rolls along. “I just...I just didn’t realise how wrong I was about this family. You know your eyes really open when you leave the village and suddenly come back to it, that people you considered family ain’t really who you think they are.” 

“Ooo” Charity scrunches her face “let me guess, Chas has got under your skin huh?” 

“Who else?” Robert bluntly puts, which makes Charity laugh. He leans back into his seat again, crossing his arms against his chest. “Look, I know I hurt Aaron alright? I did the worse thing, but I just wanted him to be happy. And yeah, I didn’t expect my time back here to be such a thrilling experience. But I didn’t expect her to be this cruel, talking to me like I’m some scumbag that never deserved Aaron when before I went to prison she was screaming how lucky she was to have me as a son in law.” He shakes his head. “Bet she was the first one to tell Aaron to move and and he can find someone better.” 

“Oh she was, quite early on after you left actually....but she wasn’t the only one.” 

And Robert knew, he knew who she was talking about....it wasn’t just Chas, it was Liv and Paddy too. He doesn’t want to admit it, but it hurts just a little...that they changed their opinion on him so quickly once he was out of the village, probably pushing Aaron to accept the fact that he was gone and move on and find someone else. 

And maybe, even thought it hurts his heart to admit, in the back of his mind that what he wanted for Aaron, to move on. But they couldn’t just let Aaron breathe for a moment, they clawed onto him and pushed their opinions about Robert onto the poor bloke. 

He probably knows what they said, he overheard it plenty of times from the three of them when they think he ain’t listening. Maybe that’s what they truly felt about him all along. 

Maybe they were just happy that Aaron was happy, and the mask finally slipped when he messed up and ruined everything.

And they push, because that’s what they Dingles do...them three certainly, they push and push until they get the answer they are satisfied with. 

He feels the pit of angry fire that has risen in his stomach.

Wow...maybe he’s more hurt and angry about this than he thought.

“Give me that bottle.” 

“You alright?” 

“Yeah I’m alright.” Robert nods, filling up his glass and drinking it before continuing on. “It’s like I just said, maybe you don’t really know the people that you considered family.” 

“I’ll cheers you to that.” 

He takes a pause, taking a deep breath. “I’m happy me and Aaron are mates now, it’s better to have him in my life than not. But what I didn’t appreciated was the ‘nothing is okay until I say’ attitude from Chas, like she can dictate her sons life, like she makes the rules.”

Charity snorts “That’s exactly what Chas and Cain are like, demand what we should do and people are expected to follow. You really think by now they should let people...oh I don’t know...have their own opinions.” 

“Exactly! And right now it’s like all the bloody Dingles are the same, thinking that they can have their word in situations that doesn’t even involve them. Expecting the whole family to follow what is said” He sighs, running a hand down his face. “I just hate seeing them think that they run this bloody village, thinking that they know it all and that they can dictate people’s lives to follow their rules.”

“If your in that family, it’s their rules and nothing else.”

“And if you do wrong your kicked out, thrown out to the wolves...and how is that fair!” Robert states, unleashing all his thoughts on the table. “What has happened to you just shows how hypocritical they really are, this family is just as bad as eachother. They scheme, they lie, they hurt people. Theirs been affairs that’s caused havoc in the village. They ain’t these saints that bring all the joy to the village, you ask anyone around here and they’ll say how the Dingles have caused chaos with them.” 

“But Robert.” Charity bitterly chuckles, her eyes open with sarcasm. “They have learnt from their mistakes apparently, Cain said so himself. Apparently I get into peoples head and ruin lives along the way, and I’ve learnt nothing at all.” 

“And I get remarked as being a prick who just breaks everyone’s hearts, but it’s just the bullshit that comes out of their mouths so they can show that they are the better people when half of them have probably done worse things than we have.” Robert exaggeratedly rolls his eyes. “And when have they ever learnt from their mistakes, they say one thing and do something completely different the next. Half of that family make the same amount of mistakes, or even more than we do. But oh no, apparently were the people that are bad and deserve what is coming to us.” 

“Like you said, hypocrites.” 

“Massive hypocrites, and it’s the same old game with that lot, the same old morals and rules which quite frankly are getting quite boring.”

“You mean like the Dingle meetings and the Dingle court? Because those were ridiculous from the start.” 

“Literally, what was the point in those?” Robert asks. “they never really mattered in the end since it was either Zak, Cain or Chas who made the finals decision. There’s like this constant cycle with the Dingles that no one knows how to break...and you know what, maybe I’m getting quite sick of that. Maybe I’m getting quite sick that the Dingles think that they have this control on everything.” 

Charity huffs, nodding her head to herself as it looks like she’s come to a realisation about something. “You know what, maybe I’m getting quite sick of it too.”

Silence overcome the both of them then, and it gave them time to reflect on the conversation. Robert finally feels like he can finally relax a little, the conversation helping him let everything out that he has thought about the Dingles in the months and weeks of being here and being away from this place. 

Maybe it’s the whiskey, or maybe Robert just finally had enough after his confrontation with Chas today...but it felt good to get his anger and frustrations out to someone who shares the same views as him. Which surprised Robert just a little...but maybe everything has been bubbling up.

Maybe she’s just tired of it all too. 

He looks over at Charity, and somethings different. She wasn’t like her defeated self, she was more....angry? Robert doesn’t even know. But there was a fiery look in her eyes as she looks off into the distance, her hand was tightly gripped onto her whiskey glass and it looked like it could smash if she squeezed even harder. 

It seems like...she had more to stay.

“Charity, if you feel like you want to say something else you can talk to me right.”

Robert’s voice snaps Charity out of her trance, she immediately shakes her head, bringing her drink to her mouth to sip. “It’s nothing.” 

“Doesn’t look like nothing, it looked like you were about to break the glass in your hand if you held onto it any tighter.” Robert says, and by her reaction of removing her hand from the glass, it almost looks like she didn’t notice she was doing it. “Look you have a right to feel some sort of anger-”

Charity lets out a short ‘ha!’ that pierces to the corners of the room, nearly hurts Roberts eardrums because of how loud it really was. She shakes her head, revealing to Robert about how wrong he was. “I can’t be angry about this Robert, people will just say I don’t have a right to say what I feel because I put myself in this position.” 

But Robert wasn’t backing down, he wants her talk, to let everything she’s feeling out into the open. “You are allowed to have your say about all of this-”

“I’m gonna see if there’s anything else to drink.” 

Charity is quick to get out her chair and move towards the drinking cabinet, but Robert body turns with her movement, not letting this slip away. “Charity just talk to me-”

“And say what Robert!” Charity snaps, turning around as if something has switched on inside of her and it couldn’t contain her feelings much longer. She breathes heavily, eyes full of anger and hurt, face full of sadness. “Say what! That maybe I’m sick of the way that these people that are meant to be my family treat me and sick of the way they treat other people like yourself! How that our family is known for scheming, lying and hurting people and doing so many wrong things but when it’s an individual that be causing some problems they suddenly act like the good guys that have done nothing wrong and decide whether or not people should be in the family or they should sling their hook!” 

She lets out a laugh in disbelief, running a hand through her blonde locks. “Okay I’ve done bad things, I’ve hurt people but I don’t even get the chance to make amends because Mr Cain Dingle says so. Why is it me that getting told that no one wants me in the family anymore, why is it me that gets told I’m not aloud to see the kids unless I ask through Cain first. Why is the person that I considered one of my closest friends making me sign over my share of the pub because she’s unable to work with me anymore. Why is it that when I mess up, everyone turns their backs!” 

“It’s just the way the Dingles rule things ain’t it?” 

“Yeah well, the way our family rule things is such bullshit if you ask me. Why is it always them that got to take things too far? Why is it them that have to win every game and scheme they place? Why have they got to have the upper hand in everything?!” Charity states, shaking her head. “I’ve supported this family through everything, and yeah maybe I am a bit hurt that this is the response I’m getting, but that’s who Dingles are aren’t they? They treat people one way and treat other people different, even though they have no right to because all of us have caused trouble within in this village.” She takes a deep breath, wiping that lonely tear that starts to fall onto her face. “And you know what? There are days where I just want to say something, to just walk right up to them and say how hypocritical and selfish and mean this family can be! To actually stand up towards them and maybe just maybe...get the upper hand on them lot. And see how they feel when they have been played in a game.” She scoffs, opening up her arms. “But oh no, we can’t defeat the good’ol mighty Dingles now can we? We can never teach them a lesson because they always see right through ya! So what’s the point in....” 

Charity continues to rant on, her voice loud enough to bounce on the walls and her arm making frantic gestures as she continues on. And Robert was listening at the start, but he begins to slowly drift off, drift off into his own thoughts. 

He remembers the things that people said.

“You can never defeat the Dingles, you never can.”

“What’s the point of saying something when I know I’m in a battle that I probably gonna lose. I don’t think I have the strength to even say anything anymore”

“But oh no, we can’t defeat the good’ol mighty Dingles now can we? We can never teach them a lesson because they always see right through ya!”

And it makes him think....it makes him really think. 

Because...what if they could...get the upper hand on the Dingles? What if they could...catch the Dingles in a little game of their own? 

Robert eyes light up just a little....and the clockworks start turning in his head. 

They turn

They turn 

And they turn

How nice would it be to swipe Chas’s smirk right off her face?

How nice would it be to stand up to Cain Dingle and the rest of them? 

How nice would it be to see them realise that....they can’t always win.

How nice would it be, to watch the Dingles......fall. 

Now, that would be quite satisfying.

Suddenly, ideas were spinning, risky ideas, ideas which would cause trouble if they didn’t work out in the end. But a plan was forming, links coming together and intertwining with eachother....and it with a lot of work, some time to be patient...it could work out. 

Robert’s emphasising the could....but it wasn’t a plan that would directly fail. 

He couldn’t do it alone alone though, and maybe..just maybe...he knows who to ask to join him on his plan.

“Are you even listening to me?!” Charity snaps, coming closer back to the table when she notices Robert staring into space. She huffs in annoyance, hands on her hips with scowl “you say to me to talk about this and when I do you-”

“What if we could.” 

Charity stops, her scowl turning to confusion “c-could what?” 

Robert lips turn up into a smirk, looking up at Charity. “everyone keeps saying that we couldn’t take down the Dingles, that if you stood up to them you know your in battle that you would lose. But, what if we could stand up to them.” 

Charity lets out a laugh, shaking her head at the others silly words as she leans back against the kitchen counter. “I feel like the whiskey is going straight to your head.” 

“I’m being serious.” Robert states, a slight careless shrug to his shoulders as he leans back against his seat, his drink just hovering near his lips. He takes a sip before continuing. “It’s like you said, you wish you could say something. You wish you could say how unfair they treat other people, how they decide to display that they’re the better people in this village when they have made caused more problems than anyone else in this place. They have no place to judge but they do....and I can tell you not the only one that sick of the Dingle code and family morals that have never changed and probably never will. They seem to think they can dictate anyone on how to live their lives, who they can speak to and who they turn their back on...it’s getting tiring”

“It’s not just tiring, it’s exhausting Robert.” 

“So..” Robert proceeds to place his glass back down on the table, leaning forward with his arms resting against the surface. “Lets see the mighty fall, turn the tables.”

Charity tilts her head, eyebrows raised. “Turn the tables?” 

“The Dingles like to have the advantage, the upper hand. They play the games...maybe it’s time we play the game back at them.” 

He watches as Charity begin to show interest in the conversation, as she walks back to the table and to her seat, pouring herself another drink as she sits in thought. 

She’s probably not a hundred percent convinced, and to be honest neither is Robert. He might wake up tomorrow and think about how stupid this all it, how this idea was so crazy that it seems so out of reach for it to be a success. When his mind was clearer, he many find the problems in these scheme.

But right now, everything is fresh in his mind....a fire igniting in his stomach, a angry fire cantered towards the Dingles....and Robert doesn’t want to let this fire burn out just yet.

He wants to know what happens if he lets this fire keep burning a little while longer. 

Charity sighs, taking a big gulp of her drink before saying. “Even if we were gonna do this, anything the Dingles will find suspicious they’ll immediately look at. And knowing them were probably the first two they’ll turn to.”

Robert snorts “Charity I’m not saying we confront them now, shout and glare at them as they walk through the village and cause a scene. If we make this big this ain’t gonna be a success, we’ll immediately get shut down and they’ll be there smug selves again.” 

Charity leans back into her seat, her interest peaked much more this time. “So we do it secretly, we play our game without them knowing it’s us.”

“It’s the only way to do it. You see the Dingles, they like control, they like knowing that nothing can break them because of the security they have....bringing in some chaos, it might shake things up a bit.” Robert smirks. “We become the problem, causing havoc and rifts between that family....wouldn’t it just be so satisfying to see the Dingles united family collapse before our eyes. To make them see the problems this family cause in the family and out of it.”

“But that won’t be enough Robert, we need to make this bigger.” 

Robert frowns, shifting in his seat. “What do you mean?” 

“Causing chaos won’t achieve anything, yeah it might shake them a little but they’ll go back to how they were before” Charity explains, emphasising by pushing her finger down on the table. “the only way to get through to the any Dingle...is taking something from them. While they are falling apart, we snatch something right under their noses.” 

“And you have any idea what that would be?”

“Maybe.” Charity smirks, rising from her seat as she turns to the window in the kitchen, watching as the stars start to appear in the sky. She folds her arms across her chest as her thoughts unravel out of her mouth. “You know I realise I’m not gonna get everything back, everything I done some consequences I will have to accept, the life I had has crashed to the ground and....there might not be a way to have the life I had before. But there are things I can get back, like a place which I had shares to...that I was forced to sign over.” 

It takes the few seconds for Robert to figure out what she means, his eyes widens when he finally clicks on what she is saying. “The Woolpack?” 

“Mhm.”

Robert chuckles “Right...now I think the whiskey has definitely gone to your head.”

“Don’t think it has.” Charity states, turning around with a wicked smile on her face. “Oh come on Robert, Chas has been stuck behind that bar for ages, people will be probably getting sick of her face and high pitched complaints already. Maybe it’s time for someone else to shine at that pub, for me to actually be interested in it.” Her smile widens. “And maybe a new face behind that bar too.” 

It’s now Roberts turn to be confused. “Me?”

“Come on, a scheme big like this would be so good to pull off.” 

“I don’t think I would be good at working behind a bar.”

“But it’s a good business to invest in, and before you went to prison you were all about investment.” Charity takes a step closer to the table. “And...would be quite satisfying to wipe the arrogance and smugness off Miss Chasity Dingle face when we appear behind the bar.” 

Robert quietly laughs. “Yeah, would be quite good wouldn’t it.” 

He has to admit the idea is intriguing, it’s very intriguing, much bigger than Robert was thinking about when this small idea came to his head. However there’s doubts, there’s always gonna be some worries. “Charity this is big, if this all fails we’re gonna be taking a thousand steps back instead of moving forward. The problems will be coming to us instead of us bringing the chaos to them.” He looks down for a second. “Also, this ain’t about all the Dingles, I don’t want to hurt anyone.” 

Charity raises her eyebrows. “You mean Aaron?”

“Of course I mean Aaron!” 

“Well he seems to be getting pretty tired of his family aswell.” Charity says. “I do notice things ya know?”

“Yeah I know it’s just...” Robert lets out a sigh, shaking his head. “This is crazy.” 

“Well the crazy ideas are sometimes the ones that work out best. We schemed together before-”

“And how well did that turn out.”

“Well a lot has changed since then for us hasn’t it.” 

And that really gets to Robert, because yes...things have changed drastically, especially for him. His whole world was torn apart, he left everything behind with thoughts at the time that he had lost everything forever....Thought to be watching the world through a prison cell. 

But now he’s here, and maybe things aren’t as what they seem just yet....but maybe right now he can sneak some normality back into his life. 

Scheming is in his blood ain’t it? Robert never thinks that would change. 

“Are you in Sugden? Don’t get cold feet now.” Charity places him out of his thoughts, picking up her glass and raising it. “Lets turn the tables...” she raises her eyebrows “shall we?” 

Robert lets the silence sit for a few moments, and then, his lips curl upwards into a smile. Okay, he thinks as he reaches for his glass. Lets do this.

He raises his glass to join Charity, his smile turning more into a half. “Lets show the Dingles what happens when they piss too many people off.” 

Robert didn’t expect to be spending his time back in the village taking down the Dingles with Charity, but if there’s a game to be played, a scheme which could be a success if done properly....Robert is not going to be hesitant to play it. 

Especially to see the smirks wiped off the Dingles faces. 

Their whiskey glasses clink together.

The plan is set.

Let the fun begin.

Chapter Text

Scheming someone can sometimes be quite easy, but a whole family...playing a game with the Dingles, it’s kinda a whole different story.

It’s like playing with fire, if you slip up....your gonna get burned. 

It’s a dangerous game. 

It seems almost impossible...like really impossible. People would probably say that your insane to try and get through to a stubborn family and pick them apart, expose and stand up to the morals that have been running through their veins for many years. However the difference between the impossible and the possible lies with the determination you have. And the determination hasn’t died over night, the anger and frustrations that was buried in Robert hasn’t magically gone away. 

Something needs to be said...a lesson the Dingles need to learn. There’s double standards, screaming with hypocrisy...and maybe they’ve taken it too far. 

It’s time to make some noise, make some chaos. 

When Robert exits Vic’s house just after noon the next day, he lingers at the front door, staring outwards to the Woolpack that was just in front of him. The sand covered stones that make the building whole, the green vines with their leaves climbing up the walls to the windows. The sign above the door in all this glory, the red writing of ‘The Woolpack’ shining bright against the black marble sign. 

The place stood out in the village, an eye capturer for visitors who decided to come into the village (which was rare, however there have been a few unfamiliar faces in the village lately). However if you were to take a step back, you would notice that it was becoming frail around the edges...like change needed to happen for it to brighten the village again. Like the owners of the pub have overstayed their welcome, and the pub needed something new.

“Admiring the winning prize are you?” 

Lost in thought, he didn’t realise that Charity appeared just outside the gate of Vic’s house, a smile appearing across her face as she pushes her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose. Her voice was loud, almost too loud....which makes Robert eyes widen as he searches the village frantically in case anyone just overheard. “Keep your voice down will ya?” He hisses in almost panic as he exits the gate of his sisters home. “Half the village will hear if you keep speaking so loudly.” 

“Oh don’t be so dramatic.” Charity rolls her eyes, “no ones around.” Her smile widens “And besides, aren’t you feeling excited, finally getting your scheming hat back on.” 

“.....yeah of course.” Robert says with his sentencing quieting down towards the end, nibbling on the corner of his lip as some slight nerves hit him. Of course, he’s ready to scheme the Dingles, his body tingling with the anticipation to start. But there’s always that worry of dread that things can go wrong....that things can go very...very wrong.

One slip up and they can be in the back of the Dingles car boot.

It seems that Charity notices Robert nervousness, tapping him on the arm to bring him back to reality. “Oi! You ain’t having second thoughts are you?!”

“No, of course not!” Robert responds quickly. He pauses, before raising his eyebrows at her. “Are you?”

“Oh I never have second thoughts about anything, especially something like this.” 

“Well...good.” Robert nods his head. At least things hadn’t changed overnight.

“It’s going to be lovely, watching them all squirm and lose control.” Charity sighs with some happiness, glancing over to the pub. “And to see our names underneath the sign of the pub...the brand new owners.” 

“Your names underneath it already ain’t it?”

“Oh but I bet you Chas is making a new sign as we speak. To mark the brand new era of the pub” Charity points out with a annoyed expression, which only lasts a few seconds before she beams out a smile “But obviously, that won’t matter when we get our hands on it.” 

“Yeah but remember this is about standing up to the Dingles. It’s showing the Dingles their double standards and hypocrisy and showing how people have finally had enough. The pub is way out of our reach at the moment.” Robert points out, watching as Charity turns to him with a confused expression. He begins to explain more. “Which is why we need to start slow on this, we need to build up the problems, make them bigger as we go along. So they will be wrapped up in their chaos and eachother they won’t notice us coming.” 

“And how do you suggest we start all of this?”

Robert sighs...well that is the question...where do they start?

They couldn’t just go in guns blazing, that would immediately make that family notice that something was off. They can’t just go and confront them, they can’t start a fight publicly. They couldn’t just start big either....no....this was a process. 

Not a long process, but not a short process either. 

They had to be hiding in the shadows while causing problems, to eventually try and grab the Woolpack from under the family’s feet feet. Their games had do be subtle, but effective….just like the way the Dingles do most of the time. 

“So….you gonna stay silent on me or?”

“I’m thinking.”

“Well think faster!”

Robert sighs more with agitation, turning back to the blonde woman. “Right now if we start causing trouble it will get us nowhere. If we cause a scene it’s gonna get us nowhere. We need to find an opening, find out if something is happening where we could put ourselves in and start messing things up….cause some friction between the family. Our main focus is the pub but….” He lips lift up into a half smirk. “This is about all the Dingles remember, so let’s cause trouble for all of them.” 

“And take them all down from their throne.”

“Exactly.” 

“So..” Charity shrugs. “It’s just the waiting game right now.”

Robert sighs “Unfortunately yes.”

“Well…” Charity shows her disappointment “that’s not exactly the plan I had in mind.” 

“Haven’t you heard the saying patience is just a virtue.”

Raising his eyebrows in a humorous manner, he chuckles at Charity’s grumpy face. He knows it’s annoying, he even finds it annoying that they just can’t go in and strike. But they’ve got to be more clinical with this…and that takes time. 

When all these two want to do is get an upper hand on the Dingles. Annoyingly and frustratingly…it can’t happen right away.

“Oh what’s he staring at now.”

Charity grumble makes Robert turn his head to see that Cain Dingle staring at the both of them. Staring at them with his mighty head held high. 

He looks like such a prick, staring down at them, glaring at them with his piercing eyes. 

But what Robert realised was, the glare wasn’t directed at Charity, it was directed at him. And it clicks in Roberts head that Chas has probably told her brother about all their little fight on the street. Chas probably ranting to her brother about the guy who ruined her son’s life has the urge to confront her about things he shouldn’t be involved in. Probably saying all kinds of things and slating him. 

Not that it bother him what Chas says, it’s mostly poison that escapes her mouth most days anyway.

He internally lets out a little laugh. Well, it seems like Cain has moved his anger towards someone else, thinking he can be the big hard man and frighten poor old Robert with his glare and snarl. Making Robert think that he should watch his back.

Well, things are different this time.

Robert stands more forward as he raises one eyebrow, jutting out his chin forward as if to say go on, say something.

It was almost like a silent conversation shared between them. A moment of who’s going to say the first word.

But nothing comes his way, nothing happens….as Cain is being tugged into the cafe by Moira. The two blondes following him walk into the cafe with their eyes. 

Well…that was that then. 

“When is he gonna realise his glare is the most pointless thing he ever does. It’s not even scary.” 

“Well, we’ll just write that down on the list of things that piss us off eh?” 

Charity lets out laugh, stepping closer so she standing by Roberts side. “How long are you expecting us to wait?” 

“Oh not that long.” Robert replies, sending Charity a smirk. “The Dingles are always doing something, we’ve just got to be aware of what that is.”

~~~

However, being aware of what the Dingles were doing seemed to be a lot more hassle than they thought. 

Hours turned into days, and a week has flown by and Robert and Charity have….

Charity: You have anything?

Robert: Nope, just keep being aware. Something will come along soon

….Nothing, they have nothing. 

Robert sighs as he pushes his phone away from him on Vic’s dining table in her living room, leaning on the table with his elbows as he runs his fingers through his blonde locks. 

How hard can this bloody be? 

The Dingles have been radio silent, carrying on with their days in the village with no plans of doing something that Robert and Charity can dig into and cause trouble. The frustration was getting to the both of them, Robert could tell. They just wanted to start, start causing trouble, getting the upper hand to confront this family on their hypocrisy and double standards…to just make the see how unfairly they treat other people. 

But right now they’re getting nowhere. 

In the back of Roberts mind he has a small scenario that the Dingles already know what they are doing, and keeping everything under wraps so they could strike at Robert and Charity unexpectedly. That somehow there scheme is exposed…and now there laughing as they are watching them scramble to find something…to find anything. 

But the blonde man knows he’s overthinking. 

The Dingles can sometimes be smart, but not that smart to figure something out like this.

Everything is just taking a little more time than expected, all they need to do is wait for the right moment…and well..that moment hasn’t really arrived yet. 

Robert wishes that moment would hurry up though.

“What you looking so down about?” 

Robert looks up to see Vic entering the living room area, wearing her night out clothes as she’s heading on into town with Amy and Matty for cocktails. Robert was in babysitting Harry for the night, who was already asleep upstairs, the baby monitor placed just by him on the table. 

“Just..life.” Robert sighs, relaxing his arms back down on the table as he smiles. “You look nice.” 

“Well thank you, feels like ages since I’ve got dressed in my night out clothes.” She turns to him, away from the mirror she was just facing. “It isn’t too much is it?” 

“No” Robert shakes his head, observing the nice spring dress that his sister has on. It was very elegant, he thought it suited her really well. “Stop over thinking it, you look lovely. And besides, you haven’t been out in a long time so go all out is what I would say.” 

“And get tipsy on two for one cocktails.” 

“Exactly…enjoy yourself. Me and Harry will be just fine.” 

“I know you will be.” Vic smiles, turning back to the mirror as she applies her lipstick, patting it down with her finger. “Taxi is here in five minutes and-oh shoot my earrings! I must of left them on the cupboard.” 

“I’ll go and grab them.” Robert sighs standing up. “Don’t want you to be breaking an ankle while running up them stairs in them heels.”

“They’re not that tall.”

“Well I’ll check on Harry aswell, see if the little guy is still asleep. Just doing my big brother duties.” Robert says with a smile, but it soon turns to a concerning frown when he sees tears welling in Vic’s eyes. “Hey, what’s the matter?”

“I just..it kind of feels like you never left.” Vic sniffles, blinking back her tears. “sorry I just…I just missed you so much when you were-”

“Oh Vic come here.” Robert pulls his sister into a hug, their bodies swaying as he rests his head on hers. He missed her so much as well when he was inside, just wanting to be her big brother again was all he ever wanted. 

And he gets to be again. 

Obviously things are different now, Vic’s a mum, Robert has just got out of prison. Life has drastically changed for the both of them…but the sibling bond, it’s always stays the same…it’s become much stronger. 

They talk more now, becoming more open and honest about their emotions and feelings instead of hiding and facing them alone. Well..Vic is more open about them, Robert is still struggling with that part just a little.

“I hated it.” Vic murmurs into his shoulder, her sadness shown in her voice. “I hated not being able to see you and see how you were, you were all by yourself in there and-”

“I know I know.” Robert rushes out cutting Vic off, he doesn’t want to slip into the memories of the lonely nights in his prison cell, not right now. “But that’s over now yeah, I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.”

“You promise?”

“I promise ya Vic, no matter what happens next in my life I’m always gonna be here for you.” Robert pulls away, gently cupping his sisters face. “Now, go and get drunk on some mojitos while I watch some cheesy movie on the telly. Enjoy this night, you deserve it.” 

And that’s how the evening move forward, after a quick rush of getting Vic ready and waving her goodbye as  she went to her taxi, and a quick check on Harry to see if he was still asleep. Robert relaxed back onto the sofa, baby monitor in one hand and the tv remote in the other, flicking through the channels to see what was on the tv for the evening. 

It was mostly rubbish tv, but Robert found a decent film that he could watch. It was more of a background noise to him if he was quite honest.

Half an hour had passed, the clock just moving past half seven and Robert was about to doze off on the sofa when light taps came from the front door. Robert sits up confused, as he wasn’t expecting anyone….but he was quick to answer the door, not wanting anymore loud noises that could disturb the baby upstairs. 

He’s completely surprised, and shows it when he sees that it is Aaron on the other side of the door.

“Aaron…hi?”

“Hey.” 

Aaron sends him a smile that’s almost makes Robert knees weak, his heart skipping a beat and his stomach turning all warm which he drastically pushes away. He leans against the door with a confused expression on his face. “Is everything okay? Vic’s not in-”

“Oh yeah I know, told me this afternoon about her night out.”  Aaron moves his hands into his coat pockets as he leans back and forth on his feet. “I had nothing going on so thought I’d come and see you, thought we could…hang out maybe.”

Robert raises an eyebrow, never hearing that phrase leave Aaron’s mouth before. “hang…out?” 

“Thought as a mate I would give you some company.” Aaron says. “I know we said we would have a pint at the pub but it’s pretty overcrowded there at the moment, and your on babysitting duties tonight so…”

“So a takeaway and a few beers here?”

“Yeah, if your up for it.” 

Robert stays quiet for just a moment, this is weird. For a moment a strange feeling comes into Roberts chest as the thought of being friends hadn’t really settled in yet for him. They didn’t really ask eachother if they wanted to spend time together, making plans of just hanging out with some beers and takeaway. Making plans wasn’t really something they did, asking if the other wanted company wasn’t really never asked, because they were always together.

They were husbands….but that’s not the case anymore.

This is the norm, friends is what they are. 

And if Robert was being honest, having some company would be good right now, especially so he doesn’t have to watch another crap movie on the telly. 

The blonde man nods his head, opening the door wider for the other man. “Come in then, you buying the food though.” 

“Yeah yeah alright…football is on if you wanna watch?”

Robert frowns as Aaron steps past him, teasingly saying. “Are you just here because Liv is hogging the Tv and you want to watch the football?” 

Aaron scrunches his nose, clicking his tongue in a humorous manner. “Dammit, you caught me.” 

Robert lets out a short ‘ha’, leaning back against the now closed door to. “Well I don’t know if I want the company now, seeing as your using my sisters tv as a cinema so you can watch your sport.” 

“I’m getting you food aren’t I?” Aaron raises his eyebrows as he folds his arms. “And what are you doing right now, watching some cheesy movie on the telly.” 

“If you want to know I’m watching a lovely film about two people who are falling in love when the guy comes home from the big city to the little village.” Robert says “I’m finding it very touching.” 

Aaron playfully rolls his eyes. “You always go soft when your watching films.”

“Well you were the one that cried when we watched-”

“Thought we weren’t gonna speak about that again?” 

“Ah no that’s what you said, I will continue to mention it on many occasions.” 

Aaron pretends to scowl “asshole.” 

Robert lets out a big laugh, and so does Aaron too. Both of them sending bright uplifting smiles to eachother. It was a moment, but a moment like no other. It wasn’t a moment like before, but a moment of something new….it’s kind of like a new beginning for the two of them, as friends. 

But Robert really doesn’t like the term new beginning, it’s more like a step forward for them, a new chapter.

It’s nice…it’s comfortable and….nice.

However, the moment gets interrupted when they hear cries coming from upstairs, meaning that Harry was awake. 

“Oh he must of woken up to the noise.” Robert says as both of their heads turn to the stairs. “Vic has been saying he’s been a light sleeper lately. I’ll just go and check on him-” 

“And I’ll order the food.” Aaron turns to walk into the living room. “Vic still got them takeaway menus.”

“Yeah in the cupboard, think she keeps them as souvenirs or something. She got a bloody lot of them.” Robert chuckles as he makes his way up the stairs. “And don’t just order what you want, there’s two people here you know.”

“Not making any promises!” 

Robert lips curl upwards, watching Aaron flick through the menus with burrowed brows, tongue out in concentration as he looks at the food options. It makes Robert feel something positive, it makes him feel warm. 

Maybe he can get use to this whole friendship thing. 

~~~

“Pass the bloody ball will ya?!”

“You know that no matter how many times your gonna shout at the tv, the players ain’t gonna hear you.” 

“Well I wish they could, they are playing crap.” 

Robert shakes his head with a smile at Aaron attitude to the football team he supports currently loosing 2-1 with fifteen minutes left to play. The food has been eaten, takeaway boxes spread across the coffee table, beer is being drunk and there was a continuous moment of Aaron being frustrated and Robert taking the piss. 

He doesn’t really care who wins this game, he’s just sitting back and observing if he’s quite honest, taking a few sips of his beer as he relaxes back into the sofa. But it’s nice…it’s nice to have company. 

“How have we gone from winning to losing in the matter of seconds.” Aaron groans, hiding his face in his hands. “Why is it in such easier games we lose our marbles.” 

“Aww.” Robert mocks a pout, “is Aaron getting upset about his team loosing. Your like near top of the table though aren’t you, does it really matter that you lose one game?” 

“Does it matter?” Aaron looks at him like he’s been offended, making Robert roll his lips inwards to hide his sudden urge to laugh. “Of course it bloody matters Robert, points are points!”

Robert lets out a laugh, watching with humour in his eyes as Aaron relaxes back into the sofa like a grumpy child, arms folded and a small pout on his face. The blonde man just finds it hilarious. Isn’t it so funny how football can change you, how it can change your mood in seconds?

However his laughter suddenly turns into a big yawn, him covering his mouth and shaking his head so he could get rid of the cloud of tiredness that just came over him. 

“You tired?” 

“No I’m fine.” Robert rushes out to say, shuffling in his seat as he takes a sip of his beer.

“I can leave if you want to get some rest-”

“No it’s alright.” Robert cuts him off, eyes flickering between Aaron and the Tv. “Don’t think I would be getting much rest even if I was tired.” 

He leaves it at that, not wanting to go into too much detail about his horror nights of sleeping at the moment, not wanting to get into more depth about his nightmares right now. He’s having fun, he doesn’t want to get talking about anything too serious. 

But he watches as Aaron frowns, watches as Aaron face turns to a concerned expression. 

“Everything okay?” 

“Yep…fine.” 

Aaron moves his head so he could look more at the other in the eyes. “Robert?” 

“Look there’s really no need to talk about it.” Robert says, but the eyebrow raised on Aaron’s face means otherwise, and the blonde man knows he won’t drop it. He sighs, running a hand through his hair. “It’s just nightmares that’s all.”

“They’ve been bad?” 

“Keeping me up half the night, always got to have a strong coffee in the morning to get me through the day.” Robert sadly admits with a small wavering smile. “It’s those type of nightmares.”

Aaron body fully turns to the other then, shifting himself on the sofa so his full attention was on the blonde man and not the TV. “Is it…is it about prison?”  

“What else” Robert scoffs, playing with the label of his beer bottle. “You know the memories you have with being in prison don’t magically just disappear do they? There always there, holding on in your mind so you can relive them each day.” 

“Yeah I mean, I know I wasn’t I prison for long but…it still haunts you.” 

“Very much haunts you.” Robert admits. “I just feel like I can’t escape that’s all, feel like when I try to feel….normal again it just….the normality just goes because prison just drags you back in. A bang heard in the distance, shouting from someone across the street. You don’t realise how much prison effects you until after your out of there.” 

“It’s hard, stepping back into the world after being locked away from it for so long. There’s so many things you need to…adjust to.” Aaron says gently. “But keeping it in your head won’t help you, but maybe talking will. And you have people to talk to…you have Vic and Diane, you have Jimmy and Nicola and…” Aaron reaches over and squeezes one of Roberts hands. “You have me too alright? So if you ever want to talk, you can. I’ll always listen.”  

Robert smiles kindly, squeezing Aaron’s hand back. It is a nice feeling knowing that he has people, people he could talk to and they will listen….but thats just the problem, Robert doesn’t really want to talk to anyone about this right now. He feels not ready to talk about. 

It’s like he has this wall that’s stopping him from letting himself talk about life in prison, blocking him from letting people in.

Robert suck his bottom lip inwards, looking down towards their intertwined hands with a deep breath. “Just don’t feel like talking about it yet.” 

“Well when you do want to talk about, know you have people here who care.” 

“Um..Thanks Aaron.”  

Aaron squeezes his hand again before letting go, a soft smile melted on his face as he turns back to the tv. He frowns and gestures drastically as a questionable tackle has been replayed on the Tv. “Oi! That should be a red card! Ref it’s a red card!”

Robert lets his head fall into his hand as he smiles at the others now dramatics. But before he can open his mouth to comment, three loud knocks appear at the door. 

Both men’s head turn to front door. Robert frowns, “who would that be?” 

“Might have an idea.” Aaron grumbles, taking a look on his phone, and Robert eyes glance over to see that he has like a hundred messages. “I told mum and Liv that I was spending time with you so I guess you can wonder who’s at the door.”

“Oh god this is gonna be fun.” Robert says as Aaron stands up to answer. “Should we guess how many Dingles are out there before we do the big reveal?” 

Aaron laughs, rolling his eyes dramatically. “shut up Robert.” 

Robert smiles widely as he lets Aaron go to the front door, answer it with a grunt. Robert doesn’t mean to listen in, but the voices were so loud he didn't have a choice. Two distinctive voices that Robert knows very well. 

It seems like Paddy and Liv have decided to stop by. 

“What are you doing here Aaron?!”

“I’m just watching the football with Robert, what’s the big deal?”

“What’s the big deal?! You really wanna ask that? Your hanging out with Robert flipping Sugden!”

“Keep your voice down will ya! Harry is asleep upstairs.”

The loud voices suddenly went quiet, but not quiet enough for Robert as he could still hear them from the distance. About how Aaron shouldn’t be here, how he should be staying away from Robert because he is apparently the worst human possible.

You know, the lovely stuff that Robert keeps getting thrown at him lately. 

He decided in the moment to make his presence known, setting his beer down on the table. He stands up and thinks it’s time to greet the people that are standing on his sisters doorstep…and also, maybe he would feel quite satisfied to rile them up even more than they were now. 

“Good evening you two.” Robert announces loudly, making his stance behind Aaron and leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face, he lifts his head higher when he sees the looks on Liv and Paddy’s faces. “How nice it is to see you both.” 

Paddy sneers “well wish we could say the same.” 

“Oh..” Robert tilts his head. “Good thing that my last sentence was a lie then.”

“What not gonna do your whole look innocent act and do you old convincing speech.” Liv says, “is that how you convinced Aaron to spend time with you? Lure yourself back in his life?”

“Liv!”

Robert lets out a sarcastic laugh, folding his arms across his chest. “Well first off Liv, Aaron was the one to suggested us to hang out. So maybe you should really think hard about why Aaron doesn’t want to spend all his time with you and his family and is spending time with the person your trying to keep him away from.” His smirk rises again. “And secondly, I’m not wasting my breath on a speech for you when all your gonna do is shove it back in my face and call me every name under the sun..and to be honest, I’m not really bothered in what you guys think of me anymore.”

“You should be bothered.”

“Oh wow Paddy, really scary, sending shivers down my spine right now.” Robert mutters with a sarcastic tone, rolling his eyes at Paddy’s lacklustre glare as he pushes himself off the wall. “I’m gonna get myself another beer.” He turns to Aaron. “You want another one?” 

“No he does-”

Aaron nods, ignoring the other two at the front door. “yeah go on then, another football match is on that we could watch.” 

Sending a genuine smile to Aaron, and a fake one to the other two. He moves himself into the kitchen, leaving the door ajar so he could leave them three argue in peace, but also just have a small knowledge on what they are saying. 

He doesn’t feel like he was harsh to Paddy and Liv back then, maybe some people would think he was…but he didn’t feel that guilty for biting back against them two. They have the same energy that all the Dingles have with him, they treat Aaron the same way Chas does…all thinking that they need to make decisions for him, that he doesn’t deserve control in his life. 

He’s not bothered by what they think anymore. 

He’s gonna give the same energy he gave with Chas when they had a spat in the street all those days ago. 

The conversation carries on for just a few more minutes, Liv and Paddy saying something, Aaron fighting back. He opening up the bottles with a bottle opener when he finally hears that Aaron has had enough and tells them to go, he can hear the door beginning to close, almost like he was forcing them to leave. 

But before the door closes, something Paddy says really catches Robert. 

“You better not drink too much, you know we’ve got family stuff on tomorrow. We’ve got things to do.”

Plans? Tomorrow? 

Robert raises his eyebrows at the statement, now this could be interesting…this could start his and Charity’s scheme…this could be what they needed.

Well…he needs to find out what’s happening tomorrow first. 

He hears Aaron groan irately as he closes the front door and he opens the kitchen one, sending an apologetic glance the blonde man’s way. “Sorry about that.” 

“No..” Robert shakes his head. “You don’t need to apologise, it’s fine.”

“They don’t understand that when I’m ignoring all their text messages and calls it means I don’t want to talk to them.” Aaron grumbles, nodding a thanks as Robert passes the beer over. He takes a big gulp, sighing in satisfaction as the cold drink trickles down his throat. “This is exactly what I need right now.”

“Well if you need them when your around your family your gonna need lots for tomorrow when you spend the whole day with them.” 

“Yeah… might get a pack tomorrow just to get me through the day.” 

Robert chuckles, leaning back against the counter as his face shows interest. He needed to find information, he needed to find out in the most casual way possible. “So…big day tomorrow then?” 

“It’s not really a big day, Paddy, Cain and my mum are all exaggerating it.” Aaron sighs, leaning against the doorframe as he explains. “Basically mum wants to get this new ale in to please more customers, and to get some more spirits and things as she forgot to do the stock checkup before and the pub is currently running low.”

“How can you run out of alcohol?”

“No idea, seems like this Chas and Marlon duo ain’t going to plan just yet.”

Robert hides his smirk, good he thinks with some sort of victory let the duo fail miserably even more.

“However the company they usually buy off have no time to deliver to Emmerdale so quickly so Cain and Sam are gonna go pick it up. But then Cain has also got a very important client to meet…so the three of them have dragged all of us to help.” Aaron face shows how unhappy he is about it. “I’m on duty at the pub to drag all the stuff in.” 

“With your mum barking her orders at all of you.” Robert adds in, laughing as Aaron nods his head. “Poor you.” 

But in his head his mind was turning, this was good…this was really good. 

“So if something goes wrong…” Robert says slowly, tilting his head to the side as the clockworks turn in his mind. Something slowly forming. “I guess people won’t be happy?”

Aaron snorts “mum will be screeching onto the pub walls, Cain will be in a mood all day….you know our family, if something doesn’t go right…” he leaves it at that, knowing that Robert understood what he meant. He shrugs his shoulders, turning away to begin to walk back into the living room. “So here’s to hoping nothing goes wrong eh?” 

Aaron walks back into the living room, and Robert can hear Aaron frustrated grunt at the football, and shouting for Robert to bring some crisps in for a snack. But a small smirk rises onto his face, his eyes have lightened up with delight.

The opening is here…this is where everything begins. 

Oh Aaron, something definitely is going wrong tomorrow.

Robert: Charity, I think I’ve found out way in. 

Charity: what you got? 

Robert: I’ll explain more later, but as a start…you any good at voice impressions? 

~~~

“Hello? Hi it’s Chas Dingle here, I made an order with you to collect for tomorrow?….yes that’s it…yes for the ale and….yes for the Woolpack in Emmerdale….I know it is a bit late but I was just wondering if I would be able to make a few changes to my order, it’s just things have changed and after a thought I realise there some things I don’t need and some thing that I do….it’s okay? I would be able to? You do more than alcohol do you…like soft drinks?…oh well that’s just absolutely perfect…” 

~~~

“How long does it take to find spare keys!?” 

“Robert, this is a garage, spare keys are everywhere.” 

“Well hurry up will ya? My fingers are freezing out here.” Robert whisper-shouts through the open garage door. It was currently nearly six in the morning, no one in sight, the village as quiet as it can be. 

It was weird, to see this village so quiet, the only thing Robert hearing was the wind that was blowing through the leaves and everything around him…and also Charity trying to not make too much noise how we banging around everything that seems to be infront of her.

Another little clang is heard from inside, and Robert has to bite his lip to not snap as he circles the village to see if anyone is out and about. 

He sees no one, he sighs in relief. 

The day was about to rise and it was bright and early for the blonde pair as they sneakily made their way to the garage this morning. They had to get there early, early before anyone was awake, early before the village became alive for a new day. 

So they could use the hidden key tucked away in the same place so they could get into the garage and grab the spare key for the van that’s parked nicely outside of the building. 

The van that Cain and Sam are using today on their little adventure.

The van that has the address for the stock company perfectly placed into the Sat Nav, that’s what Aaron said anyway last night while telling him how far their driving, his words perking up Roberts ears.

Well… the address won’t be perfectly placed for long. Because that device will be taking the two Dingles on a completely different route when Robert gets his hands on it…and completely changes the direction that they are going. 

Which means that they will be late for the pick up for the stock, which means that Cain will be late for his client…and the one thing Robert knows about clients, it that no matter who they are, they always hate the other being late.

It shows the lack of professionalism, it shows that you aren’t being serious in making a deal…and maybe that’s the image that Robert and Charity are trying to make Cain put across. 

So in the end….everything won’t go as planned and the whole day will become a disaster..late for picking up the stock, Cain won’t get to his client on time and with the phone call that Charity made last night to change the order of the stock…the Dingles will definitely become frustrated and angry with eachother…it will be a simple but effective start right?

Robert thinks him and Charity should pat themselves on the back for thinking this quick…well, if it all works out of course. 

“Finally.” Robert breathes out as Charity steps out with keys in hand. “Took your time didn’t you? Bloody freezing out here.” 

“Aww poor you.” Charity mockingly coos before throwing the keys for Robert to catch. She nods towards the van with a mischievous smile on her lips. “Go on then, do your magic.” 

“It’s just changing directions on a Sat Nav, it’s nothing special.” 

Charity rolls her at him and follows him to the van, standing to the side as Robert unlocks the door and gets into the front seat, seeing the Sat Nav placed on the centre console. 

“Right…” Robert rubs his hands together before he starts to tap buttons on the small screen. “Where are we sending the Dingle duo today then? Sending them north, south maybe?” 

“Maybe across the country, maybe the duo would like a trip to wales or to Scotland for the day.” 

“We’re trying to make this unnoticeable for them.” Robert snorts “I think they will notice if they are driving over the boarder to a different country.” 

“Worth a shot ain’t it.”

Robert chuckles, shaking his head as he deletes the already saved address, clicking his tongue as he tries to figure what to do next. “They can’t drive too far away from the destination, but they also can’t be too close to it either.” 

“So put them a couple of miles north.”

“Will that work though?”

“Probably, because sometimes there too clueless to realise where they are going.” Charity huffs, wrapping her coat around her more tightly. “Hurry up will ya? It’s freezing.”

“Oh…so now your cold.” 

Robert is quick thinking as he adds an address that is miles away from the intended destination, not too far but a destination that would make Sam and Cain lost. He wipes the screen of any finger marks, before stepping out and closing the van door shut with a quiet click…not wanting the door to slam loudly in the street. 

He waits near the bonnet of the van as Charity heads back to place the key back in its intended place in the garage. 

Robert turns to her when she arrives back and lets out a small laugh. “Look at us, we’re like two mischievous children causing trouble.” 

 “Causing trouble for people who deserve it.” Charity sighs, letting the wind blow through her hair as she shoves her hands into her coat pocket. “This is all just the start Rob.” 

Robert looks back at the van with raised eyebrows. “You think we’ve started off too strong?”

“No” Charity scoffs. “They can’t sometimes figure out the big picture that’s right in front of them, so there not gonna figure out that someone has tampered with the Sat Nav and made a call to change the stock order. There not gonna figure out that someone has placed a nail under their wheel so they’ll have to change the tire.”

“Yeah…wait what?” 

Robert holds confusion on his face before it slowly fades as Charity holds up a nail from in her pocket. “Just another lovely present from me.” She says with a wicked smile, placing the nail directly under the wheel with the spiky part sticking up. “They’ll roll under it, and then they’ll have to change their tyre along the was…wasting a lot more time, and everything will keep being delayed even more.” 

“The bigger the delay, the bigger the problem.” Robert murmurs to himself, before he nodding with an impressed look on his face. “Wow, that actually is a good idea.”

“Well you know, one of us has to be the brains of this duo.” 

“Umm who’s idea was this to stand up to the Dingles?” Robert questions, raising his eyebrows and laughing as Charity makes a face at him. “Come on, we need to go before someone catches us.” 

“And let’s hope the drama unfolds.” Charity says as the take slow steps away from the garage. “I can’t wait to see Chas face when she gets her stock” 

“What exactly did you change it to by the way?”

Charity stops, turning to look at him with her face full of excitement. “Well, thats for me to know and you to find out.” She grins “It’s gonna be a spectacular surprise though.” 

The two blondes stare at eachother for a moment, Robert trying to see if he could get any clues about what the surprise really was, but Charity’s face remained neutral with no clue on what she swapped the stock over with. After that the moment of silence fades as the two laugh quietly and sneakily walking back to their homes like - well, as Robert described - two mischievous people causing trouble. 

And they were causing trouble, it was the beginning of scheming there way into making a mess of things for the Dingle family. 

The day moves forward, and all Robert and Charity could do is wait…as annoying as it is to wait to see if the result you want is right infront of you. So hours past by, and Robert keeps himself preoccupied by going out to town with Vic and Harry for the day…but he was on the edge of his seat…waiting…just waiting. 

Time was ticking very slowly. 

However the result comes later that evening, Robert stepping in to the Woolpack to meet Diane, Vic and Charity for food when he spots the mass of Dingles around the bar. 

He could feel the tension from where he’s standing at the door as Cain and Chas snipe at eachother.

“Well if you gave me the right address-”

“I did Cain! What did you think I did make it up on the bloody spot!”

“Well it was clearly the wrong address! Me and Sam ended up in the middle of nowhere and whatever roads you sent us on gave us a flat tyre!”

“Oh so now it’s my fault.”

“I’ve lost a very important client sis, it was a big deal!” 

“Well..” Robert sees Chas throw her hands up like she doesn’t know what to say or do, she seems stressed, like she doesn’t know where to place herself in the conversation. “I’m sure there’s another client out there for you. You shouldn’t have booked this client on the same day then should you!” 

“Or if maybe you’d sorted out stock earlier-”

“Don’t start Aaron!” 

Robert makes a face at the number of frustrated Dingles around the bar, moving towards the table at the back of the pub where everyone was waiting for him. 

But internally, he was having a small celebration…a small happy dance. 

Charity raises her eyebrows at him, sending some sort of job done? message from her face. Robert just smiles brightly in reply, sliding into the seat next to her, opposite Vic and Diane. 

“What’s going on over there then?” Robert asks acting innocent, nodding Diane a thank you when he sees she’s bought him a pint. He takes a big sip, sighing at the coldness of it before continuing. “Seems to be some conflict.” 

“No idea, but they have been like that since we’ve got here.” Diane sighs, shaking her head as her eyes stick to the group at the bar. She leans more forward, like she was about to tell a secret. “Think Cain has lost an important client because Chas took him and Sam on an adventure while collecting things for her.” 

“And now they have been back and forth on who’s to blame.” Vic says, eyebrow raising at Chas voice gets louder, as does Belle and Sam’s too. “And they have been quite vocal about it too, some customers have even left because of the noise.” 

“Well..when have the Dingles ever been quiet on anything.” Charity snorts, defiantly finding enjoyment in all of this. She grins, taking long worthy sip of her wine. “Shame though in it, loosing a client that could of brought so much to them, the possible delays that led them to now be fighting.” 

“Yeah what a shame…a real shame.” Robert adds on slowly, sharing a knowing look and smile with Charity as they both relax back into their seats and take a satisfying sip of their drinks…it was a small celebration, a small starting victory that the two could both share. 

The blonde man was quiet enjoying this from his view at the back of the pub…and the enjoyment continued a few moments later when Marlon and Paddy rush in from the back…looking flustered and…looking very nervous towards Chas

Like whatever they are about to say is gonna make her more angry than she already is.

“Here we go.” He hears Charity murmur from behind his shoulder, and Robert sucks in his lips to hide his smile as he leans back to watch the rest of this lovely show. 

It’s a lovely viewing to see…all the Dingles against eachother at the moment. Stressed, frustrated, tension brewing between them all.

He wonders what’s coming next.

It was Paddy who spoke up first, sharing a look with Marlon before spluttering out words. “Um Chas we..um..we may have a small problem.” 

“Not very small though is it.”

“A small problem Marlon.” Paddy emphasising, giving Marlon a look as he turns back to Chas with a wide smile. “It’s nothing to worry about.” 

“Well now you are making me worry.” Chas says turning around to them with a frown, she frustratedly sighs when the two men remain silent. “Well come on then! Your only unpacking the stock I don’t understand what the problem is!” 

“It’s not exactly the stock you ordered though..” Paddy says slowly, and from the back of the room Robert and Charity discreetly edge a bit closer in their seats, waiting for the reaction. 

“What do you mean Paddy? We brought everything in.” Aaron frowns. “The boxes were quite heavy.”

“Yeah heavy with well…um well..”

“Oh for god sake.” Chas sneers “spit it out!”

“Fruit shoots.”

Robert has to smack a hand over his mouth to muffle the laugh that wants to escape him as he looks away with so much laughter in him his shoulders begin to shake. The rest of the table were like that too, Diane and Vic hiding their faces to not show the amusement…Charity quietly chuckling into her drink. 

But it wasn’t just them…seems that the people that stayed found it amusing too.

“Fruit….shoots?” Chas spits out slowly, and if Robert looked close enough he could see her eye twitching to hide her anger. “Kids drinks?! Where’s my ale?! My spirits, The things I ordered?!”

“Not there…” Paddy says, “just fruit shoots”

“Every flavour…in every box.” Marlon says, and he tries to make light of the situation. “But everyone likes fruit shoots right?!” He nervously laughs “big fan of the purple ones-”

“Yeah people who are under twelve.” Aaron snorts, shaking his head as he turns to his mum. “Did you check the order before you confirmed it?”

“Of course I checked the bloody order Aaron! Do you think I’m stupid!” Chas snaps, turning back to Cain and Sam at the bar. “Clearly you two didn’t read the labels!” 

“They said you changed the order last minute.” Sam states, defending himself.

“And we were already late as it was because of your wrong navigations so we didn’t ask.” Cain adds on.

“I didn’t give you wrong directions! And I never changed my bloody order!” Chas snaps loudly throwing her hands up in the air. “What is this blame Chas day?!” 

She stomps off into the back room, the rest of the Dingles following through. The loud voices still being heard from the back room. 

“Well… that’s that then.” Diane sighs, making a face as she takes a sip of her drink. “Seems that the Dingles are having a mare at the moment”

“It’s a lovely bit of entertainment for the evening.” Robert brightly smiles with grace, and as Diane and Vic slip into conversation. He turns to Charity with burrowed brows. “Fruit shoots? Really?” 

“Oh come on, it’s like Marlon said…everyone loves a fruit shoot.” Charity mocks Marlon’s words with a wide smile making Robert laugh and shake his head. “Oh come Sugden, we can have some fun while doing this. This is only just the beginning of the trouble that is about to come.” 

And it was true…the start was a success..maybe a bigger success than Robert was expecting. The edges of the dome the Dingles sit under are crumbling, that united front slipping away from them. 

“What am I meant to do with all these fruit shoots!” 

Robert and Charity snort a laugh out as they clink their glasses together and take a drink, enjoying that rest of the evening with the company of others as the Dingles fight it out in the back room. 

The problems have just started.

The nightmare the Dingles face has just begun.

~~~

After that, it was quite easy for them to continue their scheme. 

The mess up on stock and clients for the garage and other Dingle businesses continued steadily, and the cracks within the Dingle family kept getting bigger and bigger. Robert didn’t realise how much enjoyment he would get watching the Dingles get more frustrated each day, from their smug faces to turning into scowls and angry frowns. 

He didn’t even realise how easy it was to rile to the Dingles up…but it was quite satisfying and enjoyable to see. 

The trouble didn’t just come from pub stock and important clients. Oh no, the blonde duo defiantly had some fun while bringing chaos to the Dingles….the trouble came from Charity using her spare key for the pub to sneak in and loosen the pumps so when in use liquid would fly everywhere. 

Robert was there to see the culprit who got soaked.

Robert and Aaron stepped into the pub with laughter and teasing phrases escaping their lips, Aaron sending out an invitation for Robert to come and get some early lunch with him before he headed off for a scrapped run..and well Robert wasn’t going to not accept was he? 

However when they stepped in, the first thing they see was Paddy covered in beer behind the bar, head to toe liquid was stuck to his skin and clothes.

It was his face that made it though…that angry sullen look on his face which makes Robert hide his laugh as they both step up to the bar. 

He would have taken a picture to send to Charity if he could, but that would just be too risky.

“What the hell has happened to you?” Aaron says with a chuckle, resting his elbow on the bar as Robert stands just by the side of him. “You know the beer is meant to be in a glass right…not all over your clothes.” 

“I know that Aaron.” Paddy grits through his teeth, hands clenching tightly by his side. “I’m not stupid.” 

Robert thought otherwise, but he wasn’t going to elaborate on it and just bit his lip to hold his smile as he let Aaron do the talking. 

“So why have you got beer all over yourself?” 

“Someone loosen the pumps didn’t they?! And now…” Paddy looks down at his clothes, flicking some of the liquid that was visible on him. “And now it’s all over me and- Aaron this isn’t funny!” 

“Um it kinda is..” Aaron laughs, his eyes lighting up with amusement as he nudges Robert shoulder, who has to let out a small laugh himself….which probably wasn’t the best idea standing infront of the guy who hates him drastically. 

“Oh of course you would laugh!” 

“Well…” Robert shrugs, “it is kinda hilarious like Aaron said.” 

Paddy sneers across the bar. “What are you doing with him anyway? You should be-”

“We’re here for lunch, which I invited him for by the way.” Aaron interjects, rolling his eyes at the look on Paddy’s face. “So when your done making beer fly everywhere, we’ll have two pints and two lunch menus please.”

“Or…” Robert leans forward on the bar, a wicked grin on his face as he attempts to push the buttons with Paddy one more time “we could buy some of them fruit shoots, heard that Chas went a bit overboard….” 

“Why, you want one because you act like a child.”

“There’s plenty of adults around here that are childish Paddy.” Robert frowns “seem to think of it Paddy why don’t you have one? the sugar might make you loosen up a bit and you can find a sense of humour.” 

Paddy lets out a mysterious growl towards Robert before storms off into the back room, probably to rant to Chas about how much he hates the blonde man. 

He can hear Aaron chuckling beside him, telling him to grab a table before he causing more trouble. Robert just smirks wildly as he walks away…oh how easy it was to rile up Mr Paddy Kirk.

It was them causing chaos at the Wishing Well.

Charity and Robert peer their heads around the wall which gives them a direct view to the Wishing Well, smiles reaching both of their faces as they see most of the Dingle chasing the pigs that have suspiciously gotten out of their pen.

It wouldn’t be the case that Charity and Robert unlocked the pig pen just a few moments ago when all the Dingles were inside having a family gathering, making them run around by the front of the house. 

It wouldn’t be the case that they did on the day where the rain was pouring down, making the mud squelch against their feet so it would be harder to run.

No..if anything…the door just magically have opened itself…well that what the Dingles are probably thinking anyway 

“Get them Sam!”

“I’m trying but it’s quite difficult- Belle there’s one behind you!”

Robert stifles a laugh as he watches them scramble around to herd the pigs back into their home, the little piglets running ragged which Cain and Sam are trying to catch. Liv and Belle were helping too, but they didn’t seem to be too much help as Zak shouted by the door for them to get a move on.

His laughs were muffled as he watches them struggle, but he has to turn away to laugh as Sam falls into the mud and drags Cain along with him to land face first into the ground.  

Robert smiles “You know I said that this idea was stupid but I have to admit how wrong I was.” He turns to Charity, and lets out a frown as he sees her holding her phone out. “Are you recording this?”

“What?” Charity shrugs her shoulders innocently with a smirk. “This will be good entertainment later on.” 

They caused arguments, tension between Dingle members.

Robert and Vic were strolling through the village with Harry as they heard loud voices that were coming from the side of The Woolpack. They were angry voices, snapping at eachother while using expressive gestures.

“Don’t talk to me like I’m five!” 

“Well Sarah, maybe if you started acting like a grown up then I will treat you like an adult!” 

“It was just a party! We didn’t even drink that much-”

“The police showed up at the door!” 

Robert eyes light up as he realises what the argument is about. Today was Sarah big wild party that she was secretly holding.  The house party that seems to have had an abrupt ending…maybe next time she shouldn’t shout out so loud in the cafe when there’s two people sitting close that are trying to cause trouble for the family.

Seems that Robert impression of an anonymous irritated villager who was sick of the loud noise seemed to do the trick. 

“Just because your having problems at the moment, doesn't mean you can shout your head off at any of us!”

”I can speak to you however I want to speak to you.”

”well no wonder nobody wants to have a decent conversation with you, all you do is sound like the wicked witch of the west.”

”Sarah! Enough with the attitude young lady!” 

“Trouble in Dingle world then.” Vic says with a snort as she tickles Harry’s belly who was wrapped up in blankets in his pram. “Seem to be trouble over there lately.” 

“Yeah they’ve had loads of problems haven’t they? Nearly had an argument everyday so far” Robert says with an innocent look on his face, glancing back over to see Sarah storming off with a angry look on her face. He immediately sees Chas turn back to the others..probably starting the argument of who’s to blame. 

Nobody seemed happy, the tension was noticeable from the other side of the road. Their voices rising as Robert and Vic continue their walk…not joining the nosey community with staring at the fight over the road.

“It’s weird in it…a few weeks ago they were screaming about how united they all are and they stick together.” Robert smiles, tilting his head “Maybe the Dingle bubble is starting to burst just a little.” 

It was problem after problem, if Robert or Charity caught something interesting that the Dingles were doing, or planned to do. They tried to do something to cause a whole lot of trouble. 

It wasn’t constant to make them suspicious, but it was steady….and the cracks were already starting to show. 

However, even though they riddled there way in to burst the bubble, to begin the adventure on getting the upper hand on the family. 

They weren’t close yet, close to what Charity is calling the winning prize. 

The Woolpack.

It was there, standing out in the village and still in Chas and Marlon Dingles hands even with the problems that keep bombarding them in that place. They have like a toe into to pub, but not a foot where they halfway into grabbing what they want…there not at the place to snatch The Woolpack under their feet just yet…there’s still some time to go.

Bigger problems to cause. They needed something big, something that would be the final push on the family.

Something that could ruin their reputation, because the Dingles always like to maintain their image don’t they?

Robert could tell that Charity was getting on edge about it. Yes, causing all the little problems have been fun, beginning to tear the Dingle family down has been enjoyable to see. But they need to take a step further…more thinking needs to be done. 

And he could see that Charity was thinking as they were both sat outside the cafe with a drink and some lunch infront of them, watching as Cain gets another unhappy customer come back to him at the garage. 

She was looking into space, tapping her foot against the cobble floor. 

“Penny for your thoughts?” Robert says as he takes a bite of his cheese and pickle sandwich, watching as Charity breaks from her thoughts and looking at him with a smile. 

“Just soaking in the joy of Cain Dingle getting brought down a peg or two.” Charity sighs “while us two, the people that the Dingles despise are just relaxing on this glorious afternoon.” 

“Hmm it’s quite nice ain’t it, the tables slowly turning.” 

“It’s been quite thrilling.” Charity says, moving forward in her chair, her arms resting on the table. “but I think now it’s time to move to phase two” 

“Didn’t realise we were going in phases.” 

“I’m just saying that to make it easier.” Charity brushes off Roberts comment with a wave of a hand. “But we need to start pushing more, to try and grab the pub…or make them at least sign over the rights to new owners.”

“Which would be us” 

“Yes obviously…but they wouldn’t need to know that though until the very end.” 

“We could throw a surprise party.” Robert jokes, laughing as Charity rolls her eyes at him. He does think about that sometimes, about what could they do to reveal that their the new owners of the pub if they get it. That the Dingles have been played right under their feet. 

Maybe they could do a small celebration, maybe they could jump up from behind the bar and scare the crap out of them. Maybe they could do a whole fiasco of ‘we’ve been sick of your family treating us like fools for a while so we decided that it was time for us to get the upper hand’ 

You know…something simple.

He’s thinking too far ahead, but sometimes you have to think of that to keep you head swimming with ideas. 

“So what’s the next step in this plan, any ideas?” Robert asks, leaning back in his seat to get more comfortable as he takes another bite of his food. He’s gonna be here for a bit, knowing the thinking look on Charity’s face. “We stealing something, causing chaos at a party. Isn’t Paddy’s birthday coming u-”

“I don’t think it can just be just us anymore.” 

Robert stops his chatter, frowning with confusion at her words. “What do you mean?”

Charity sighs, sitting upright in her chair. “We need to get closer to the pub, we need to start this grand finale of our scheme. This isn’t about them willingly handing over the place, we have to somehow make them. Cause so much stress for them that they would just want to move on from that place…and we need details about that, details that you and I won’t be able to just overhear in the middle of the street.” 

“Okay…so what do you expect us to do?”

“We need to bring someone else in…thinking like someone close to home.” 

“You mean someone in the family?”

Charity nods her head, and Robert stays silent for a moment, taking in Charity’s idea..before letting out a breathless laugh at how insane it sounded. “Are you being serious, bring one of the Dingles into this. What we gonna say… ‘hey so we’ve been causing trouble for your lot for quite some time and now we need you to come in and help because we need to start putting everything together’…do you know how mad that sounds?”

“It sounds insane I know.” Charity sighs “but do you have any other ideas Captain Smarty pants?”

“Well I think any idea is better than that.” 

“We have to start being risky with it all now, I just want to get in there.” Charity admits, folding her arms on the table. “I want to finally have all this chaos and trouble we caused pay off, I just…I finally want to stand there and say that they can’t knock me down anymore, or push me out and pull me back thinking that I’m just gonna reluctantly follow. I want to say that they can’t keep treating anyone unfairly because they don’t stand by the values and morals that have on life, or they break them by a tiny margin. I just want them to stop being so arrogant and smug about everything and listen to people, listen to people when they say they’ve had enough.” 

“You really thought about this haven’t you?” Robert asks gently, after a few moments of listening and letting everything sink in. “What you would want to say to them.”

“I’ve been thinking about it ever since we decided to do this plan. I mean I haven’t been sitting there writing notes but I always thought what I would want to say.” Charity says “all my life in this village I don’t think I’ve been really considered family to them you know, when they need me they need me but when they don’t…or when I stepped over line…I get the boot.” Her lips tremble, slight emotion rises in her voice.  “I just feel like I was never really supported even when I give my most to support them, like I’m always made out to be the bad guy. And yeah I make mistakes, terrible ones at times but…they never really give me a chance to make things right, and it’s like we discussed that night…I’m tired of them thinking that they can hold this control over what says or go’s within this place.” 

“Well control is slipping from them steadily at the moment.” Robert comments, crossing his arms over his chest. “And you’ll be able to say what you want to say when the time comes, they won’t be able to hold you back.” 

“Oh I’ll be saying a whole lot more than that.” 

Robert snorts “I know that, think you seem to forget our ranting session over glasses of whiskey a few weeks back.” 

“I remember the bloody headache I woke up to.” Charity grumbles under her breath, but Robert caught on, and lets out a chuckle.

“Well you were that brought the strongest whiskey available.” 

“Okay….true.” 

They both share a smile to eachother, and Robert just has enough time to finish his sandwich before Charity pops up with her idea again.

“So you on board with my idea or…”

Robert sighs a little as be drifts off into his thinking mode. If he is honest, it is the most simple and easier  route to find their way in to prod the Dingle bubble more…to bring someone close to the family along on their scheme. But isn’t that just too risky, isn’t that a step too far for them. 

What if they don’t want to do it, and find it all stupid? 

What if they tell and it all blows back up in their faces? They can’t just let it fail now when they have come so far.

“You know this whole silence thing as you go into thought is kind of getting annoyi-”

“If we do this, if this is the next step. Who are we gonna ask?” Robert cuts her off, asking probably the most simple but important question about this idea. “Who do you think is willing to help, because I haven’t got a single clue” 

It takes a few moments of silence before the answer comes to them.

Charity eyes suddenly light up, looking past Roberts head and up towards where The Woolpack was. “Well I think I might have the person.” 

Robert burrows his brows but turns to where Charity was looking anyway, to see Chas, Paddy and Aaron standing just outside the place. You couldn’t hear them speaking, but by the way their bodies were moving and the looks on their faces….it didn’t seem to be a pretty conversation.

He focuses on Aaron, seeing his body slump like he feels defeated…seeing him so sad…so angry. He despises Chas and Paddy for making Aaron feel so down.

But then, suddenly Charity words came to light…and all the pieces come together. Is she suggesting that they ask….

“You wanna ask Aaron?”

“Seems like the perfect person.”

But in Robert mind, it wasn’t. Red siren lights were spinning in his head. The demand call of BAD IDEA BAD IDEA BAD IDEA 

He couldn’t ask Aaron to join them in something like this, he wouldn’t.

He turns back around, sinking in his chair as he mumbles “maybe let’s stick with ruining Paddy’s birthday.”

“Why?” Charity asks, “what’s wrong with asking him?”

“You really have to ask that question.” Robert asks, almost in shock. “Charity he would never help us, or join us for that matter.”  

“He would..” Charity taps her nails against the table. “If you were to ask.” 

“He loves his family, despite them frustrating him.” Robert states, shaking his head. “He’s always been a family man, he protects his mum and Paddy through anything. He helps any member of that family when I’m trouble. When we started being boyfriends years back he always put Liv first…even though it bugged me in the end but that’s a story for another day.” He mumbles off the end of his sentence, shifting in his seat to carry on. “He loves them all, I don’t think he would turn his back on them.” 

“But have you not notice how distant Aaron has been, I mean watching from afar you see how he just wants to shout at them to stop.” Charity points out. “He looks drained, ever since you went to prison Robert, Chas, Paddy and Liv have been pushing and prodding him to move on, how they need him and all that and he needs to listen to them, because apparently they are the only ones that know what’s best for him. Not like Aaron is his own person and can decide things for himself.”

“Aaron? Making his own decisions without the pushing of others…that would be the day.” Robert says with sarcasm…but when he thinks about it, I mean really thinks about it…what Charity is saying is true.

Robert seen the tiredness in Aaron’s eyes up close when they’ve been hanging out, the ‘I’m so done’ look on his face when he notices Chas glaring over at them in the pub. Or when one of the family member interrupts their conversations because they need something from Aaron….but they don’t need anything at all, they use that excuse to keep Aaron away from Robert. 

They use any excuse to keep Aaron away from him, and Robert wants to snap and say that he’s not a child that needs to obey by their rules. But he knows he will just cause more trouble….but maybe Aaron is starting to realise the treatment from his family too.

Because besides, this hasn’t started from when Robert went to prison, everyone telling Aaron what to do has been happening for years now. 

He can tell that everything is piling up on Aaron, the way he never really mentions his family anymore to Robert. If Robert asks a question about them he finds an excuse to move on, probably not wanting to go down the loophole of how he’s feeling about them, and reveal all of his frustrations.

Even though he’s been away for a while, he feels like he still knows Aaron, and he knows when things start to get to him. 

It seems like everything is piling up at the moment, his parents or his sister or any member of his family throwing something at him and all Aaron does is take it. 

Robert does question at times why he doesn’t fight back.

“I’ve noticed it Charity.” He speaks softly and quietly, looking back at Aaron to see him throw his arm away from his mother’s touch. He could see Chas face shift into anger, and Robert knows the tone of the conversation is about to change drastically. “Of course I bloody noticed it. I’ve noticed the shift in his relationship with that family since I’ve come back. How demanding Chas and Paddy are, how pushy Liv is. How they all seem like Aaron needs protecting when he’s probably fine by himself. I’ve notice a lot lately how sad and tired he is, like the light has drained from his eyes. But he doesn’t say anything, he won’t say anything because family is everything to him.” 

“And maybe this is because he feels like he won’t win, because they will immediately shut him down again.” Charity says, raising her eyebrows. “Maybe if he sees that were trying to stand up to the Dingles, when he understands why were doing this, maybe he’ll realise that he’s not on his own about how he feels-”

“Charity I don’t know.” 

“Trust me Robert. Yeah probably at first he’ll think we’re bizarre, probably shout at us until the birds start singing but…he’ll understand.” Charity says, “one day he will snap at them, and it will be probably nice for him to know that he has people on his side.” She smiles “and anyway have you heard that trios are more powerful than a duo.”

“Never heard that in my life.” 

“I know, just made it up.”

Robert laughs, rolling his eyes as Charity finishes up her drink and stands up, preparing her departure from the table. 

“What if this ruin things between us?” Robert asks, that pool of dread squirming in his stomach…he thinks maybe that’s the real reason he is afraid. Because things have been going so well with Robert and Aaron being friends…he doesn’t want to jeopardise that, not when he’s just got Aaron back in his life. “We’ve been great as friends lately and I-”

“Yeah I can tell, glued to the hip most days.” Charity teases, making Robert become a slightly flushed in the cheeks which makes Charity laugh and tease further. “Look at ya, red in the cheeks already.” 

Robert scowls at her as he pats his cheeks to hopefully hide the warmth that’s spreading across his face. “I’m being serious Charity.” He mutters.

“Just ask him Robert. We need to start taking risks, we need to rile up these Dingles even more so their downfall can even more glorious than it is now.” 

She leaves, walking away and leaving Robert by himself completating on the situation. He knows it’s a time to take risks, it’s time to take things up a notch…but is this the right thing to do? 

The voices get louder, and he turns his head to see Aaron storming down the street, Paddy calling him to get back and to not walk away, Chas standing there looking bright red in the face…anger seething from her. 

That red siren that turning in his head might have just turned amber. 

Charity’s maybe right, maybe Aaron needs to know what’s going on, maybe Aaron joining wouldn’t be such a bad idea. 

He’ll speak with him later about it all…he’ll see how it all goes.

~~~

Robert: You okay? Saw you storming down the street earlier.

Aaron: I’m fine, it’s just the same old problems. Just gonna have a few beers to calm down. 

Robert: want some company?

I’ll grab two pizzas from David’s?

Aaron: yeah, company would be nice….but don’t be getting your spinach and Parma ham shit. 

Robert: There’s nothing wrong with some spinach and Parma ham on a pizza! It’s delicious!

~~~

He hears them just as he’s about to knock the front door.

Liv and Aaron, loud voices which Robert can only assume is them arguing.

“I don’t want him here!”

“Well that isn’t your decision to make! Your going out with Vinny anyway so what’s it got to do with you!”  

Ah, so it’s about him then….what a shock there eh?

He rolls his eyes to himself and gives it a few more seconds before he knocks the door, mentally preparing himself for the wrath of Liv Flaherty as he hears someone coming to the door. 

Luckily… it was Aaron, almost sighing in relief as he lets out a wide smile towards the blonde bloke. “Hey, you got the pizza’s?”

Robert nods with a hum, holding up the bag that contains goodies from David’s shop. “Yep, one pepperoni and a three cheeses one.”

“So you listened to me then.”

“Like I was gonna listen to your complaining all night if I bought the spinach and Parma ham one.” 

Aaron makes a face of disgust. “Why put them green things on a pizza?”

“They’re delicious!” Robert defends his choice of topping on a pizza, laughing at Aaron’s face as the both enter the living room of the Mill.

He has to hold back his breath, suddenly realising that this is the first time he has stepped into the Mill since he went away. 

Stepping into a place which was once his home, now stepping into it feeling like a complete stranger to it.

He holds the bag he was carrying tightly in his hand, as he looks around the place with his eyes. Nothings really changed..well furniture wise. Apart from a few photos and a few decorative items Robert put up have disappeared…it hasn’t changed that much since he’s been gone.

But it feels different….it feels really different standing here right now.

“You get some beers aswell?”

Aaron breaks Robert out of his small trance, and he nods his head as he hands over the bag to Aaron so he could bring it to the kitchen. “Yeah bought a couple of bottles, and it’s the nice beer.. not the cheap stuff that you love.” 

“Beers a beer ain’t it?” Aaron shrugs, pulling everything out on the counter. “A good horror is on as well if you wanna watch it.”

“Yeah sounds goo-”

“Aww, a nice little movie night, how lovely.”

Both heads turn to see a unhappy Liv on the steps, stepping out of her hiding spot on the metal stairs to stand in the middle of the two of them, almost like a barrier even though they were both on opposite sides of the room. 

Robert has to roll his lips inwards to hide his smile, a smile that shows how ridiculous this all is. How Liv is glaring at him like the she hope the ground will swallow him up, at Aaron who is dramatically rolling his eyes behind her. 

He’s been glared at so many times by this family it really doesn’t surprise him anymore when piercing eyes just come at him.

“Evening Liv.”

“Evening, now leave.” 

“Well your polite aren’t you?” Robert says with sarcasm as he raises his eyebrows. He gestures between them. “I’ve really missed this you know? Our quality conversations.” 

“Well I haven’t.” Liv sneers, crossing her arms over her chest. “So what…gonna have a little movie night and cuddle him close on the sofa are you? Whisper sweet nothings in his ear?” 

A loud slam is heard behind Liv before Robert could even open his mouth to respond. 

“Don’t you have somewhere to be Liv!” Aaron demands, turning to her with a pointed look. “Or are you gonna keep digging your nose into places your not wanted!” 

“He shouldn’t even be here!”

“Well I want him here!” 

Robert doesn’t want to admit that his heart takes a small leap at Aaron statement….but it does flutter just a little bit. 

Liv scoffs harshly, turning to her brother. “You know we’re all just trying to help you here.” 

“By what? By telling me what I need to do with my life. Well sorry Liv but I don’t need to run things by you, especially when I just want to hang out with my friend for the evening.” 

“Right?” Liv mocks “hanging out as just friends.” 

Aaron scoffs in disbelief, shaking his head and gesturing for her to go. “Just go and hang out with Vinny yeah?! Leave me and Robert in peace.” He looks over Liv’s head, his blue eyes staring at Robert. “Beer Rob?”

“Uh yeah..” Robert says, clearing his throat after just standing there completely silent and letting the argument carry its way out. “Yeah a beer would be great.” 

Aaron turns his back to Liv, moving to get the bottle opener to open up the first drink of the evening for him and Robert. 

Liv, well she looks so angry in the face steam could be whirling out of her ears.

“Fine I’ll go!” She stomps over to the back of the sofa and snatching her jacket from it, beginning to storm past Robert to get to the front door. “Don’t be surprise if you get a knock on the door from Chas and Paddy later on.”

“Oh why cause your gonna tell them that Robert is here! Tell them how awful it is! Make comments about Robert once more!” Aaron scoffs, placing the beer opener down and speaking loudly so Liv could hear him. It looked something has snapped within Aaron, and emotions has hit its peak. “Go on Liv! Go and talk to Chas and Paddy about it, and you know what? Throw Cain into the mix aswell since everyone wants to have a bloody opinion about my life!” 

The front door slams, and Robert just stands there, mouth opened like a goldfish at the scene that just happened. 

Wow..just..wow

They really are trying tell Aaron how to live his life aren’t they?

He didn’t realise the tension between Aaron and his family was so bad. 

He watches as Aaron sinks back against the counter, running his hand over his face and showing just how exhausted he is. His whole body slouching forward just like he wants to curl up into a ball and erase the worlds around him. His head hand between his shoulders, almost like he’s holding everything in. 

Robert just wants to grab him and hold him tight. 

“Aaron?”

“What?”

“You alright?” 

Aaron sniffles, lifting his head and Robert catches the lonely tear that breaks from the others that were around the brim of his eyes.

“No, no I’m not alright at all.” 

And Robert thinks screw it and walks up to Aaron, grabbing him and pulling him in for a comforting hug. Wrapping his arms around him tightly as he feels Aaron grip onto his leather jacket and let out a few soft cries into his shoulder. 

“It’s okay, it’s gonna be just fine.” Robert murmurs with his cheek resting on top of Aaron’s head, a slight sway to their bodies as he tries to bring some warmth and comfort to the obviously upset man in his arm. “I’m sorry that they keep going at you.” 

“I just can’t deal with them anymore.” Aaron sniffles into Roberts shoulder, clutching tighter. “I feel so crowded that I can’t breathe.”

“Come on, sit down and lets talk about it.” 

“Can we just stay..” Aaron squeezes him closer. “Can we just stay like this for a bit longer.” 

“Uh y-yeah..” Robert stutters out, freezing at first towards Aaron’s words before resting his head more comfortably on Aaron’s as he moves to run circles into his back, taking in this moment. “Yeah we can stay like this.”

It’s a few minutes after, but Robert eventually lets Aaron go, seeing the upset man wipe his cheeks furiously with his sleeve as he moves to sit at the kitchen table. Robert opens the bottles of beer instead, the small clink of the lid coming off being very loud against Aaron harsh sniffles. 

He slides the beer over to Aaron, the other bloke giving a small ‘thank you’ before taking a hearty gulp of his beer. Robert watches on for a few moments, concern dripping over him.

He hates seeing Aaron this upset.

“Has this all being going on for long? This constant pushing?” Robert asks slowly, even though he probably knows the answer of when Chas and the rest decided to peck Aaron’s head with all their words and phrases…but he wants Aaron to tell him, let him share his feelings that his family are so keen for him to ignore and block out. 

Aaron pulls his jumper over his hands on the table, tilting his head as he replies softly. “Since you were gone I guess.” 

Robert nods, not showing the hurt he feels for the family he once would do anything for turning their back so quickly and telling Aaron what to do. 

“I was a wreck, when you went away and cut me off.” Aaron admits with a whisper that clenches Robert heart almost too painfully. “I wasn’t sleeping great, crying, drinking…doing crime with Cain. I um…” Aaron hesitates, eyes flickering up to the blonde man. “I was having one night stands.”

Robert doesn’t say anything, eyes just widening just a little…a kind of ‘oh’ expression.

Aaron lets out a little scoff, hiding his face. “God I shouldn’t even be telling you this I’m sorr-”

“Hey no don’t apologise.” Robert cuts him off softly, reaching out to pull Aaron’s arms down from covering his face. He sends him a kind smile when Aaron teary eyes meet his again. “Aaron it’s your life, I cut you off I..I sent the divorce papers.”

“Your not mad?”

“No! I’d never be mad at you Aaron. I’m not gonna judge you on what you did and how you moved on.” 

And it’s true, he’s not going to judge, he would never. Of course maybe it hurt a little to imagine Aaron with some other guys….but he was the one that broke everything between them. He wasn’t here to see how Aaron coped. 

Aaron frowns at him. “They didn’t help me move on, they were just…they were just there.”

“To…help you forget for a little while.”

“Yeah..” Aaron sniffles, “instead they made me feel a hundred times worst. Because I just kept thinking about you even more. And then you sent that letter to Vic-”

“Aaron I’m so sorry.”

“No don’t, we’re not apologising no more remember?” Aaron tells him almost firmly, and it’s true…they made that promise to eachother on a cloudy afternoon when Robert couldn’t stop saying the phrase. Robert nods his head with a short laugh at the exaggerated glare he’s been given, he lets Aaron continue to speak. 

“Liv, mum and Paddy were on the Robert’s gone you need to move on train and I…it just felt so demanding you know? They were telling me off like I was some kid, Liv and Chas were having chats behind my back and scrutinising my behaviour. But I wasn’t ready yet. I wasn’t ready to just accept things. You just left and…you know everything happened and I needed to cope on my own terms…but apparently I was coping too slowly for them.” 

“When has time ever been a question for your mum? Everything has to be done quick and snappy for her.” 

“Yeah you got that right.” Aaron murmurs, folding his arms over his chest. “I eventually did carry on with my life, I went to Scotland for a bit. Came back, was here for the family, for Liv and her problems…was a great uncle to Harry.”

Robert lets out a small smile “yeah, full of energy that one is.” 

“Yeah, runs laps around anyone.” Aaron laughs and Robert joins in. Aaron sadly smiles. “Think him and Seb would be mischievous best friends.”

“Uh yeah, causing chaos for all of us.” Robert says, a sudden sadness flowing over him at the mention of his son. The person who he thinks about everyday…the person who he wants to see again so badly. 

But he’s too scared to pick up the phone and call Rebecca….he doesn’t think he’s ready for the battle just yet. He wants to find his feet into the soil of the village before he brings one of the most important people back into his life. 

Well…that is only if Rebecca and Ross will allow him to see his son. 

Aaron hesitates, biting on the corner of his lip. “have you seen Seb ye-”

“Um No, no not yet.”

Aaron watches as Robert body tenses up, how he takes a big gulp of his drink as if he wants to move the conversation along.

Aaron nods his head, maybe another conversation for another day. 

“When we heard you were back in the village, doesn’t take long for news like that to spread around here, so it was quite soon.” Aaron says after a few silent moments, a sudden angry look that Robert couldn’t place glazing across Aaron’s eyes. “They were all panicked, speaking and treating you like you were some…some monster that I needed to stay away from. They put me in this box where I couldn’t even look at you without them breathing down my neck and asking me what I was doing.”

“Yeah, felt some glares at the back my head from some of your family even when I was keeping my distance.” Robert comments. “Seems to me they can’t treat you like a proper adult.” 

“Because I’m never an adult to them, they still think I’m that gobby teenager that needs protecting from the world. That they need to hold my hand and guide me because they know what’s best.” Aaron clenches his hands. “But they don’t know what’s best, I only know what’s best. Because I’m a grown adult and I can make decisions for myself.” 

“Yeah, your right, you are your own person.”

“But why don’t they see that?! Why does my family treat my like I’m this broken doll that needs to be looked after twenty four seven. I feel so trapped in a corner everytime I’m around them. With mum and Paddy telling me that they know best, with them and Liv making decisions for me. With them asking all of our family to keep an eye out for me and distracting me so I couldn’t even get a step near you.”

Robert nods his head “can’t say it was unnoticeable, every corner a Dingle appeared.” 

Aaron scoffs out, “everyone in that family was just hovering around me because they think that keeping myself away from you is the best desicion. And I get it at first, they wanted to protect me because when you left I wasn’t okay…I was hurt and angry and I didn’t know what to do without you by my side. But you were in this village and I didn’t want to ignore you anymore, and I didn’t want us to be strangers in this village, I wanted us to be mates.” Aaron lets out a smile. “And I’ve enjoyed us being mates a lot, we have a laugh together. We drink beer and watch the football and eat till we’re full and…and it’s been nice.” 

Robert smiles, he agrees with that. It’s been a weird feeling being mates with Aaron, but it’s been a nice feeling too. “yeah, I’ve enjoyed us being mates too.” 

“But they think it’s the worse idea on the planet.” Aaron scoffs, shaking his head. “I got mum in my ear demanding me to stay away from you, I got Liv and Paddy telling me what I got to do and how I don’t need you in my life…and half of the family make comments too.” He plays with the label of his beer, his focus drifting off into the distance. “It’s the constant arguing, me against them lot. Them demanding things and then get mad at me for refusing to listen to what they have to say. I mean you’ve been there yourself when they hover around us, throwing their opinion into our faces like we want to hear them…and the things they say to you-”

“It’s fine Aaron.”

“It’s not fine Robert, it’s not fine at all!” Aaron perks up in his seat, his frustrations hitting him square in the chest. “They see what only they want to see, and if you don’t like that then they react….and it’s the constant cycle that I’m getting so tired of. It’s so exhausting repeating the same thing over and over again, hearing the same thing.”

“Then…why don’t you say anything?” Robert asks slowly. “Why don’t you stand up to them and tell them how you really feel? That your sick of their constant interfering. Tell them to stop.” 

“You think I get the chance?” Aaron snorts, shaking his head. “One word out of my mouth I get shut down by mum or paddy, telling me that there only trying to help and I should be grateful. Liv brings on the tears and starts saying how I’m acting differently and how she needs her big brother. And now, I’ve got Cain on my back glaring at me any time I mention your name, saying that I should stay away from you because your a piece of work.” He lets out a tiny sniffle, wiping that start tear. “That’s what was happening this afternoon, Cain giving me a warning with Chas and Paddy’s support. Saying that I’ve been acting different since you’ve been around, that they have more problems to deal with than trying to protect me from getting hurt again.”

“But you've done nothing wrong! They can’t just tell you off because they are stressed because of their own problems..” which me and Charity are causing Robert thinks as he continues on, his anger rising about this family…again. “It’s their own faults these problems keep coming, and they can’t just expect you to sit back and let them demand what you should do with your own life.”

“Well, welcome to my life. Because that all keeps happening lately.” Aaron says with a broken tone. “And it’s funny ain’t it, because Cain supported me the most when you left, and now suddenly he’s turns his back, judging you like the rest of them.”

“Don’t think my fight with Chas in the street helped.” 

“No Robert, it’s what our family does. They judge other people, they pick people apart who makes mistakes like you..even Charity!” Aaron exclaims. “I feel for her you know, Charity didn’t deserve the treatment that she got. I think sometimes, our family just need to look in the mirror because we are just as bad as people who make mistakes, we’re even worse at times but we don’t like to admit it.” 

“You calling them hypocrites?” 

“Massive ones.” Aaron wipes a hand over his face in aggravation. “It’s just, sometimes my family always needs to have the control..they don’t like loosing it like they have been recently-”

Robert couldn’t help but let out a small smirk at that, the joy from that comment sinking in. 

“And I think, we’ve been so caught up in these rules that our family has placed for years we don’t even realise how outdated they are.” Aaron states, blue eyes flickering over to match Roberts green ones. “I want to live the life I want to live, not a life that my family tells me to. All of this has been going on far too long.” 

“Then…” Roberts pauses “what do you want to do?” 

“I don’t know, truth to be told I’m not entirely sure what I want yet…I’m just, going with the flow I suppose.” Aaron shrugs, “I don’t think I can do anything but just take everything they throw at me for now, they’ll calm down eventually I guess.”

“Well I’ll be here to support ya, no matter what. And if you need another ranting session or anything you know I’m just a phone call away.”  

Aaron smiles, soft around the edges as he squeezes Roberts hand that was laid palm down on the table. “Thanks Robert, I appreciate it.” The hand stays on Robert for a few moments, and Roberts eyes hold onto their hands until the moment is lost, Aaron moving his hand in a quick motion and sipping the last few drabs of his beer. “Want another beer?” 

“Go on then.” 

With Aaron away it gives time for Robert to think, to think about Aaron has said….and he felt the anger and frustration, he understood it even though he wasn’t in a position like Aaron was. It must be so tiring for your family to be at your throat constantly for the decisions you make, telling you what to do and expecting it to be followed.

He’s noticed it, but to hear Aaron talk all about makes him ever more angry at that family who just won’t listen. Who won’t be there for Aaron bust instead go against him.

They never really listen do they. 

But when he really thinks about it, Aaron is thinking the exact same thing that Robert and Charity have been thinking and talking about…but just from a different perspective. The hypocritical stance they all stand on, tired of the motto of ‘you do as we say or your out’, this throne they think they can sit on and dictate people’s lives and what they should do. 

Half of the younger generation of Dingles are adults now, they don’t need telling what to do. 

Maybe Aaron is starting to break out of the Dingle bubble and see what problems lay within the family. 

Maybe he’s had enough.

And that brings Robert back to the conversation that he had with Charity, because she isn’t maybe right….and it’s irritating to admit it but…she’s completely right.

They need to ask Aaron.

“So movie starts in about half n hour so-”

“What if you could?”

Aaron stops speaking at Roberts questions, a frown appearing on his face as he sits slowly back down in his seat. “What if I could what?” 

“Stand up to them, tell them how you really feel?” Robert says with raised eyebrows, a lazy smirk appealing slightly on his face. “What if you could take them down from the Dingle throne and let them hear some home truths.” 

“Well you got any ideas?”

“Yeah I do.” 

Aaron, who was about to bring his second bottle of beer to his mouth, freezes and gently places the bottle back down on the table, giving Robert a look that screams for the blonde man to tell him what’s going on. 

“Okay look..” Robert sighs, bringing his hands together on the table as his green eyes focus on Aaron’s face as he speaks. His stomach beginning to twits and turn, not knowing the reaction that’s about to come. “I have to tell you something, and you’ll probably get mad at me first and shout your head off…but um…once you understand it guess-”

Aaron faces turns worried. “Your not in trouble are ya?” 

“No no of course I’m not…it’s just…” Robert internally groans as he struggling to explain to Aaron how basically him and Charity have been the ones to cause his family problems, that they’ve made this plan to take down the Dingles. He suddenly has a lightbulb moment, reaching for his phone in his pocket. “Hang on, let me just message Charity.”

“Why do you need to message her?”

“Because if your gonna have a go at me, you might aswell have a go at her too.” 

~~~

Piercing blue eyes stare at the two blondes across the room.

“Are you both mad?!” 

“Well-”

“No actually your are mad, actually your both practically stupid and insane!” Aaron shouts loudly throwing his hands up in the air as he paces infront of the Sofa. Robert perched nervously on the edge of the furniture while Charity leant on the small kitchen table behind him. 

They told Aaron, they told him about the plan to take down the Dingles. How they wanted to get the upper hand on them after many years of thinking that family can be so hypocritical and arrogant. How they have been the ones to cause all the problems within the family to start bursting the bubble that they have strongly created around them.

How they finally decided that they have had enough of the Dingles games and decided to play a game of their own.

And how they were digging their way in to grab the Woolpack from under Chas and Marlon’s feet. 

And how, most importantly…they were both wanting Aaron to join them.

Robert watched as Aaron face grew from confusion, anger and then looking at the two of them like they were proper insane for doing something like this. 

It’s almost like Robert knew this was the reaction they were going to get. 

“Aaron can you stop pacing and-”

“And what? Listen more?!” Aaron snaps, but he eventually does stop, crossing his arms over his chest with a scowl planted on his face. “You really think this is gonna work?!”

Charity shrugs “well it’s been working so far.” 

Aaron runs a hand through his hair, scoffing out in disbelief. “So you were the ones who were messing up clients and switching up orders?”

Robert nods.

“And the ones who loosen the beer pumps so the beer would fly everywhere on Paddy? How did you do that?” 

“You mum was dumb enough to not take back the spare keys I had on me.” Charity replies. “It was quite simple really.” 

“And then Sarah’s party? All the arguments? The stuff at the Wishing Well?

“Well a simple anonymous phone call to police dealt with the party, and well the arguments come naturally after the first scheme we placed.” Robert snorts, leaning back against the cushions. “It’s not that hard to cause a roar within your family.”

“Cause a roar? Everyone is at eachothers heads at the moment, like there’s a massive tear within the famil-” Aaron stops his words, he pauses as he looks between the other two in the room, and then sighs out like everything has just hit him, that this was their plan all along. “That’s exactly what your plan is ain’t it?” 

“To watch to them squirm, oh yeah that’s something.” Charity states. “To watch the united family fall and crumble, to watch them realise that they can’t dictate people lives anymore…and that the old morals and rules they stand on are so outdated that they don’t really mean anything anymore.” 

“At a time, no one would go against the Dingles and their ego has grown from there.” Robert adds on. “They think they can have this control…isn’t it time someone actually plays a game right back at them?”

“If they found out you two are doing this there will chaos at your front door step!” 

“Well they won’t be any chaos because they won’t find out till the end, the chaos will be thrown at them and they’ll just have to take it.” 

“Oh they won’t find out till the end.” Aaron mocks with a harsh scoff, shaking his head. “One slip up and you’ll be in the back of someone’s car boot! Or worse, thrown into a ditch somewhere!” He runs a hand down his face. “And the pub? You really wanna try and go for that! My mum would never sign over her rights to that place.” 

“Well, maybe she’ll realise that maybe the pub needs new owners!” Charity exclaims with expressive arms, throwing them up in the air. “Look you know what the Dingles are like, they don’t like stuff being taken from them. We can’t just scheme against them and not get anything from it because then what will we achieve?!” She pauses and waits until she gets silence as a response before she continues. “We’ll achieve nothing, because the Dingles wouldn’t learn their lesson, sometimes you got to go big to get it through to their thick skulls.” 

“And you think I wanna help with this?”

“Yeah we do.” Robert states with the confidence he didn’t really have before, staring at Aaron’s wide eyes as he leans forward on the sofa. His arms rest on his thighs, as he begins to speak with determination running through his voice. “And maybe we’re stupid to think that, but Aaron were all thinking on the same wavelength, you basically told me a minute ago the exact same feelings that were all feeling here.”  

“And what’s that?”

“That the Dingles have been screaming with hypocrisy for too long now, how they say things about other people but won’t take a look at themselves and realise that there just the same. That there is a set of rules for one person and other rules for someone else. How they are so quickly to judge someone for mistakes when they have made some pretty bad ones themselves.” Robert scoffs. “Do you think it was anyone else in your family they would be treated the way Charity has?”

Aaron hesitates, nibbling on the side of his lip as his eyes flicker towards Charity. He shakes his head, letting out the softest no. 

“They make people lose everything, kick them out the family and for what? To teach them a lesson? To punish them for what they done? How is that fair?” Robert continues on. “They push family away when they make mistakes, and expect them to to come back willingly when they are in trouble and need help. They demand people on what to do, who they talk to and how people should live their lives…and if you don’t follow the oh so important Dingle code your thrown into some Dingle court, or you get bombarded with warnings or threats until you step up or listen.” 

“That’s just the way are family does stuff!”

“Yeah and I’m sure you realise how awful that really is.” 

Robert sighs as Aaron remains silent, standing up as he runs a hand through his hair, staring at Aaron with kindness as he speaks much more softer than before. “Look, the pub is just an extra bonus on the side to really dig into that family. But what we are trying to do Aaron is show that people have finally had enough, that they are sick of this family dictating and ruining lives for years. That they think they can have a upper hand in every situation and think that they so superior that they can look down on others and play games. Enough is enough Aaron, you said yourself these morals and Dingle codes are outdated, it’s time to play a game right back at them for them to realise that.” 

“And to wipe the smirk off their faces.”

“Yes, Charity, thank you for the amazing input.” Robert mutters in a sarcastic manner, giving her a look before turning back to Aaron…who was more awake in listening to what Robert is saying. 

“Why are you doing this?” Aaron asks Robert with a gentle tone, “why do you want to get involved.”

Robert sighs “Look, you may think I’m doing this for selfish reasons but I’m not. I’m doing this because I’m sick of the people I care about feel so down because of something they did, and I’ve finally had enough of being in this village and hearing that the Dingles have done this, and the Dingles done that. They don’t own this place Aaron.” 

“I know they don’t! And I don’t like any of what my family is doing Robert, I hate it most of the time.” Aaron admits with a shrug of his shoulders, like he’s stuck in this situation and can’t get out. “But I just have to accept it, because what can I do.” 

“You can do many things Aaron, you can say how you really feel. You don’t have to take whatever they throw at you anymore, you don’t have to accept it. You said you were sick of the treatment that’s heading your way…if you want to…you can join us and we can stand up to them together.” 

“It’s better knowing you have people behind you rather than going through this constant war with your family alone for much longer.” Charity adds. “We’ve all been through shit with that family, maybe putting our minds together might help this plan much stronger.”

“And what, risk being shunned by my family, looked down on from across the street.” Aaron stutters out a breath, shaking his head “I don’t…I don’t know about this.” 

Aaron turns his back to them then, a signal that he needs time to think…and it leaves Robert and Charity waiting on the edge for what ever Aaron was gonna do next. The blonde man was nervous, pulling down his jumper so his hands wouldn’t shake like they have been for the past few minutes. 

He glances back at Charity, seeing her tight lipped as her heels make a clicking sound on the floor as she taps her feet against it.

They both waiting, waiting on ice…either they were gonna be staying afloat or the ice is gonna crack underneath their feet.

Because this can go either two ways.

Aaron will join to help them….or he’ll run to his family and tell them what’s happening. Robert hoping for it to be the first one. 

But as time moves on, Robert’s thinking it could be going the other way. His stomach dropping as he thinks oh no oh no oh no this is bad. His heart speeding up, probably too quick than it’s suppose to be as Aaron continues remains silent, his back facing them. 

He turns to Charity, hissing out quietly “I told you this was a bad idea”

“Don’t have a go at-”

“I’m in.” 

There was pause, the low spoken sound of Aaron’s voice making the pair of them stop and turn to him quickly, Charity with a bright smile on her face while Roberts contained a whole lot of shock and surprise. 

“You are?!”

“Y-You…are?”

They were both spoken with different tones, Charity’s coming out like a kid who just got his favourite toy for Christmas. While Roberts was more slower, like he was in some sort of dream…like reality wasn’t real right now. 

Aaron nods his head. “Your right, my family needs to realise they can’t keep being like this anymore. And I guess I’ve just been accepting it because it’s what I’ve always done, I’ve always had the warning to never go against my family otherwise trouble will be made. Especially with Cain and Zak.” He sighs, a hand scratching through his stubbly beard. “I’ve been fighting with my family for so long, over every little thing that I do with my life-”

“Yeah, we’ve all noticed it.”

“Charity.” Robert gives her a look, shaking his head, before staring back at Aaron and asking. “Are you sure?” 

“Well I’m not running to them and telling them all of this am I? So something you said was right.” Aaron says in jokey way, making the three fall into comfortable laughter. He nods his head a few moments after. “I’ve been standing up against them by myself for months, and they’re never gonna listen. And I don’t have to just accept what’s happening right now. So maybe there’s something else needed to be done…and even though this sounds ridiculous and I have no idea how this is gonna end up..it’s also very smart how you’ve kept this under wraps so far. And it’s working..”

“Yeah, slowly.” 

Aaron raises his eyebrow “slowly?” 

“Well I mean we’ve cause problems but, we can’t keep doing them forever otherwise they’ll definitely start to notice…now it’s time to speed things up you know.” Robert explains lightly, shrugging his shoulders. “But we have no idea what to do next.” 

“Okay…Then why don’t I get us all drinks and we can discuss what to do next then yeah?” Aaron waits for the two blondes to nod before he moves. “Great, let me get the drinks in then.” 

Aaron walks away, and Robert and Charity turn to eachother with happy looks on their faces.

”I told you he would join didn’t I?” Charity says almost in a song. “I was right.” 

Robert rolls his eyes, but the smile remains. “Yeah, you were right.” 

“What was that?” Charity juts her head forward, teasingly letting out. “Did you just say that I-”

”yeah yeah I’m not saying it again so don’t start cheering too much.” 

It leaves Charity eyes lighting up as she gives Robert a playful shove before joining Aaron in the kitchen. Robert quietly laugh at Charity’s vibrant reaction to it all. But maybe they can be just a little bit more excited about this. Everything so far is going in the right direction.

“Got any champagne?” Charity asks with a bright smile as she takes her seat around the kitchen table. “Feels like this is something to celebrate.”

Robert snorts, moving to join the other two at the table. “let’s wait on the champagne till after we’ve done all of this yeah?” 

And that’s what happened, a duo turned to a trio. All with the same goal of standing up to the Dingles, but for different reasons. Some are personal, some are not…some reasons are big and some reasons are small. 

But the goal that was just out of reach, was just about to become a bit closer to them. Charity and Robert had started have to push the Dingles over the edge with their fun and games, but the downfall was coming. And with an extra person on board, the stand off was going to become much stronger.

Because as Charity says, sometimes a trio is more powerful than a duo.

And these three are about to put that to the test. 

Lets see what else they can bring to the Dingles, what trouble will come next…