On Valentine's Day, Robert offers to help Aaron cook a meal for his boyfriend Alex and they end up sharing an intimate moment when Aaron leans in to kiss Robert, interrupted when Alex arrives unexpectedly. Robert is hopeful and confused about whether Aaron still has feelings for him after all. On their wedding anniversary his hopes are dashed as he sees Alex moving in to live with Aaron at Mill Cottage. He decides he needs to get over Aaron, and so the following evening he goes out to a gay bar accompanied by his sister, step sister and other ladies from Emmerdale there to give him moral support. He reluctantly agrees to get the phone number of an Irish hiker called Mike, and while they are talking, Aaron arrives and sees them. Aaron finishes with Alex because he says he misses Robert, but Robert leaves with Mike. Aaron goes back to Emmerdale to the Woolpack. When he leaves the Woolpack, he hears noises coming from the garage and finds Robert inside with a bottle of whiskey. Robert admits he didn't go back to Mike's place after all, because even if it doesn't count anymore he still feels he wants to be faithful to Aaron. Aaron tells him he finished with Alex and that he still wants him, and the two talk over their past issues but Robert says he can't get back with Aaron because losing him was so hard he would rather not have him back than lose him again when Aaron figures out he is a terrible person after all. He goes back to Keepers Cottage, but an emotional Aaron arrives on the doorstep and lists all the reasons he knows Robert and the good things Robert has done, and he asks Robert to come home. Robert tells him he loves him so much, and they reunite and Robert goes home to Aaron.