Are We Out of The Woods Yet?

Part 20

All night long Aaron sat on his bed, head in his hands, silent tears falling every now and then. His face became wet and sticky as he gave up wiping the tears away. He let them fall just like he was falling. He stared up at the starry sky through the window. The moon cast a spotlight over the village, it was the only light now. "Where are you Liv?" He whispered, his almost silent call, earning another tear. The moon wouldn't show him. Who would?

Eventually he lay on the top of his bed, on his side. At first he faced the window then he turned over on to his other side. He closed his eyes begging to sleep. It would help him. To be asleep. To feel nothing. But the night wouldn't let him. It let him over think. It let him sit up once again, let him clench his fist, let him fail as he reached out for what he needed...

It was the next morning and in Keeper's Cottage, Vic was busy downstairs, juggling making breakfast whilst responding to Adam's constant pestering. He couldn't understand why she was letting Robert stay after she'd told him to move out. "I told 'im, until he finds his own place, he can stay."

"Aw, come off it. He told ya he'd do that ages ago and look, e's still 'ere."

"Yeah, well maybeh when he gets back with Aaron..."

"What? No way! There's no way I'm lettin' that 'appen. Anyway what about that Joe 'e's been seein'? Can't 'e go and stay with 'im?"

"No, anyway he doesn't even seem that keen on 'im. He's dead serious about Aaron, he told meh." Vic winked, excitement etched on her face.

"You what? When?" Robert suddenly appeared at the bottom of the stairs, still dressing it seemed as he walked in to the kitchen, pulling his jumper over his head.

"Careful Rob! I've got hot stuff in here!" Vic adjusted the frying pan where the bacon sizzled and spat on the hob, so the handle was facing further away from Rob. "Hang on, haven't you had that jumper on for like days?" She eyed the blue jumper her brother had chosen to put on. Robert's hands appeared out of the ends of the sleeves and he pulled the hem of the jumper down gently so the collar of it lowered, brushing against his bed hair and face as it went. It finished comfortably, resting upon his shoulders. The remainder of the jumper followed the force of his pull as it fully covered his torso. "Here I bet if I smell it..." Vic reached out to grab a fraction of his clothing.

"No." Robert edged away faster than Barry Allen. Vic's eyes widened in question, he'd never been so overprotective over something like that before. "Did I hear someone mention Aaron by the way?" Robert thought that by changing the subject, he'd helped himself. However he'd really gone and dug himself a deeper hole or in Vic's eyes, he'd created for himself, an even bigger, vibrant rainbow.

"Does that jumper have somethin' to do with him by any chance?" Vic was half serious, half teasing. Robert's eyes widened then his brows furrowed.

"No. Nothin' at all."

"Urgh, I can't be bothered with this. See ya later Vic." Adam brushed past Robert, passing him a dirty look before heading out of the front door.

"Adam you forgot your sandwiches..." Vic held an open bread-case with newly placed bacon on it, out to the invisible man.

"Well if he's doesn't want it." Robert closed the bread in Vic's hand and took it from her, stuffing a corner of the bacon sarnie in to his mouth.

"Rob!" Vic complained.

"Mmm?!?" Robert muffled a 'whattt?!?' through the food in his mouth. Vic didn't even bother, she sighed rolling her eyes.

"Hey, careful you might get something on your jumper." For the second time that morning Robert moved far too fast for the average person. He detached the sandwich from his mouth with his right hand, holding it out at arms length whilst he looked over his jumper hastily, heart in his mouth. "Don't worreh there's nothing on it."