Five years later, Robert (now Ryan Hawley) returns and moves into Home Farm with his fiancée, Chrissie White (Louise Marwood) and her father Lawrence White (John Bowe). Robert learns that Donna has recently died and he is reunited with Victoria (now Isabel Hodgins) and their former stepmother Diane (Elizabeth Estensen) at The Woolpack. Robert gets into an argument with Andy, who has recently reunited with Katie (who had returned to the village during Robert's absence), and Andy punches him when he insults her. Lawrence doesn't like Robert and wants him out of Chrissie's life. When Robert learns Lawrence had an affair with Edna Birch's (Shirley Stelfox) husband, he tells Victoria, Finn Barton (Joe Gill), Val (Charlie Hardwick) and Eric Pollard (Chris Chittell). Chrissie's son Lachlan (Thomas Atkinson) soon moves into Home Farm. Robert catches Aaron Livesy (Danny Miller) and Ross Barton (Michael Parr) with his stolen car and he blackmails them into robbing Home Farm, in order to teach Lawrence a lesson. Ross knocks Lawrence unconscious but Chrissie comes home unexpectedly, Ross and Aaron threaten her. Robert feels guilty when Chrissie discovers that her mother's ring was stolen and Aaron helps get it back. Robert is surprised to discover that Aaron is gay. He calls him to say his car has broken down and kisses Aaron, before pulling away and driving off. They later have sex in a car at the garage.