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'....and we can have cows, chickens, sheep....pigs!' he smiled as took a swig of beer.
'And a Bull! We need a Bull, just like off of Clarkson's Farm, ey?' he called to Aaron who nodded from the kitchen as he made a drink.
'Us four. Sugdens Farm. Or shall we keep it as Emmerdale Farm? We can put the family stone in the wall can't we?' he craned his neck round to see Aaron walking towards him from the kitchen, raising his brows as he sipped his coffee. He nudged Roberts legs off from where he was resting them on the coffee table so he could pass and sit on the other side of the sofa.
'You've farmed a bit before haven't ya?' Robert continued.
'Yeah, I helped at Butlers a few times.'
'Oh yeah...no I remember, years ago when I helped you and Andy. God you look good in overalls!' he wriggled his brows at Aaron, who gave him a tight smile.
'The Sugdens will come out on top, Aaron, you just wait. The Tates won't know what's hit 'em. Ey, we can build a farmhouse and live there can't we? Ready for when Vic and Harry come back. And then I'm sure Moira will get out of prison and get her farm back and we'll be neighbours.' he grinned, taking another swig of beer.
'Sounds lovely.'
'Lovely? It's the best! You know, I was never really interested in farming as a kid, you know, shoveling muck and all, and then growing up was rough, but I loved the farmhouse itself, open fields, that side of it. Perfect place for a kid to grow up.'
Aaron took a sharp intake of breath.
'Sorry I'm going on. How do you feel about it all?' he asked, shuffling a bit to make himself more comfortable, turning himself to face Aaron better.
'It's great. I'm behind you every step of the way....'
Robert frowned a little, sitting up more.
'But?' he added, raising his brows at Aaron, who sighed.
'When I found you earlier at the farm, you mentioned me, you, Vic and Harry running the farm.'
'Yeah....?'
Aaron shrugged slightly, searching Roberts face for some realisation of what he was getting at.
'Is your own son not part of this future you're planning? He is a Sugden too.' Roberts face fell, reaching to place his beer on the table, this feet now on the floor
'Of course he is Aaron. I haven't forgotten him.'
'Well it sounds like you have.' Aaron said firmly.
'I want him back, you know I do.'
'Did you even reschedule that meeting with Angela?' Robert glanced to the side at Aaron, shaking his head slowly.
'I think he might be better off without me.'
'Yeah he is.' Aaron said flatly, as he got up, taking his coffee mug back to the kitchen.
'What?!'
'You just said yourself. He's better off without you.'
Robert sighed, rubbing his hand over this face before standing up.
'No, I...'
'You're fighting for a farm which hasn't even been properly built yet, and for the 'Sugden Legacy' which you've never really care about before. You're fighting for me, Vic and Harry. And you're fighting the Tates. Yet you won't even fight for your own son?'
'I am! I'll get him back!' he insisted, voice strained as he fought back tears.
Roberts bottom lip started to wobble as he tried to speak. Aaron's face softened. He probably sounded harsh but it was the truth.
'I've messed it up haven't I?' Aaron shook his head gently as he made his way back towards Robert.
'When he was born I held him in my arms and I told him I would be the Best Dad to him. And I haven't been have I? I even went to my Dad's grave and I said 'I ruin everything but I won't ruin my boy.' And here I am, miles away from him and I haven't seen him for 6 years.' he covered his face in his hands as he started to cry.
'Rob.' Aaron said softly as he wrapped his arms round him.
'I want him back Aaron I do but I've ruined everything.'
'We'll call Angela. OK? Well explain the situation and get another visit.'
He felt Robert nod on his shoulder.
'And then he'll come home to us., where he belongs.' Robert took a long, deep inhale of breath as he straightened up out of Aaron's arms, hands moving on top of his shoulders.
'Me, you, Vic, Harry and Seb. Us five.'
Aaron nodded with a smile, eyes glassy with unshed tears.
'This time next year, we'll all be living at Sugdens Farm.'