What Is Love - Barlow/Williams

Part 19: You Only Have to Open Your Eyes

Chapter Summary:

Robbie comes up with a plan to prove to Gary exactly what he wants, but will it be enough? See end of chapter for Author Notes.

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"But, Rob, you've got to come!" Mark implored. He and Robbie were for a change and highly unusually, the first into the studio that morning. Being so close to the end of writing now, both Howard and Jason had seemingly decided to have lie in rather than come in early as normal. It likely had more to do with the fact that not even Gary would be in early. Gary had been at a gig in Newcastle the night before, and so was getting a morning flight back. It did all mean, Mark had Robbie alone to corner him about coming to the club that evening.

"What's the point, Mark?! – I can't drink, can't talk or dance with the man I love, or even steal a drunken kiss from him!" Robbie argued, completely deflated.

"You never know Rob, give it a chance", Mark suggested with an encouraging smile, "– some time together in a chilled out atmosphere, it might be a good opportunity for you both to just relax with each other and let things happen organically!". But Robbie shook his head, dejectedly, "No, Mark! I'm sick of waiting for things to happen, I just want my boyfriend back, I want everything back the way it was – I hate my life right now!" He moaned, letting out a long deep huff, before he collapsed onto the studio sofa, sliding down in to a slouch, his spirit completely deflated.

"Rob, come on now" Mark sat down beside him, and draped a comforting arm around his mate, "– that's not a very helpful attitude is it? Besides, if it's meant to be – and we all know it is, then it WILL happen, you just need to be patient! Gary needs time, and if you just try to rush things it will only end up making things worse – BELIEVE ME!" Mark told him with a meaningful look.

"I get that, and I AM being patient but how long do I have to wait, honestly, Mark?!"

"Well, if you really want him back, then whatever, or how long ever it takes. Gary doesn't talk to me much about it and I hate to say this, but I get the feeling, in fact I know, he's still uncertain when it comes to knowing whether you actually want a long term COMMITTED relationship with him, Rob", Mark told him honestly.

Robbie was shocked.

"Are you kiddin' me?! Mark – l love that man more than anything!"

"You're not getting it Rob, it's about more than love, it's about life – Gary wanted to build a life with you, but your actions... I mean, can you blame him for doubting whether you want the same thing?"

"– but of course I want the same thing! My life literally means nothing without him!"

"Well...then tell him that".

"He won't listen!"

"Then you just gotta find a way to prove it to him, instead, don't you?"

Robbie opened his mouth to argue, but with Mark's last words, the cogs suddenly started to rotate in his brain, and he instantly began to shape an idea of how he might prove to Gary, just how much he wants to make a life with him too".

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"Rob - you're back! Gaz was looking for you earlier" Howard called out to him, as Robbie drifted by the open doorway to their privately booked conference room. Inside, they were getting to make initial album track choices later on that afternoon. Robbie, however, had taken an extended lunch break; after all, Gary hadn't made it in till very late in the morning so not much was scheduled, plus he needed time to finish pondering over his conversation with Mark, earlier on; "Prove it to him"... Yes, Mark was right, Robbie thought to himself – he needed to prove to Gary, he was ALL in, and 100% deadly serious about having a long term relationship with him. A long consideration over lunch had all led him to one conclusion as to what to do; he was going to ask Gary to marry him!