The entire evening was pure torture for Robbie.  Harry was mad at him now for standing him up.  It wasn't his fault, except for planning the dinner on the same night as Grandfather's birthday party.  Emma was holding his phone hostage so he couldn't call Harry to give him a heads up that he wouldn't be there.

Robbie sat next to Emma  and endured the entire party.  He wondered how he could get Harry to listen to him, make him understand.

At one point his grandfather took him aside.  "How are things going with you?" he asked Robbie.  "I haven't seen much of you lately."

"Things are okay."  Robbie didn't feel like going into details.  What was he supposed to tell the old man, that he was fucking another guy? "Work is good."

"How are the wedding plans coming along?"

"Good as well." Robbie caught himself feeling uncomfortable at the word "wedding".  It was getting to be a new thing.

"Have you two discussed children?" Grandfather demanded.

Robbie wanted to roll his eyes.  "Geez, Grandfather, we haven't even tied the knot yet and already you're talking kids? Seriously? Can we at least have a honeymoon first?"

"Children are important." Grandfather gave Robbie's shoulder a poke to make his point.  "We have to have heirs to keep the Kay name strong."

"I got it." Robbie was looking around for an escape to get out of the conversation he'd heard many, many times.

Grandfather glared at him.  "Do you? We have a multimillion dollar business.  We don't want to leave it to outsiders who will no doubt run it into the ground.  I won't be around forever and neither will you."

Gee, thanks a lot, Robbie thought.

"I am hoping that you and Emma have at least one son to pass on the business."  

"Isn't that a little sexist?" Robbie asked.  "What if we have a girl and she wants to take over? She might be better than the both of us put together."

Grandfather wasn't listening.  One of his minions came over and whispered something to him.  "I have to go," Grandfather said as he left with the minion.  "We'll talk about this later."

Of course we will, Robbie thought.  

After walking around the party listlessly, Emma took Robbie's arm and led him to a secluded area outside.  They sat down on a bench.

"Okay,"  Emma said.  "Talk to me."

Robbie was confused.  "What?"

"Are you going to tell me what's going on with you?" she asked, taking his hand.  "You've been very distant lately.  What's wrong?"

Robbie focused his attention on his knees.  "Nothing."

Emma took his face between her hands and gently turned him around to face her.  "Sweetie, don't tell me it's nothing.  There's something going on with you.  Why won't you talk to me? How do you expect our marriage to work if we don't communicate?"

Robbie squirmed a little.  "We talk."  He was not comfortable looking her in the eye.  
It was as if she suspected something was going on. 

"Really?" Emma looked him in the eye.  "When was the last time we did that, sweetie?" The tone of her voice was so gentle and non accusing that Robbie immediately felt a sudden rush of guilt. He didn't want to be here.  He wanted to run away.  He wanted--

"I want to go home," he blurted out.  "I feel sick.  I need to get out of here."

"What about your grand--" she said.

"I don't care, I need to just go."

"Okay, just let me go say our goodbyes."  

As soon as Emma left Robbie snuck out of the restaurant.

At the club Harry did his best to put all of his focus into his work.  He made sure there was enough supplies for the clients, saw that they were having a good time, and checked that his staff was meeting the needs of everybody here.  So far all was good.

When he finally made it to his office his thoughts returned to Robbie and the fact that he was stood up.  Typical straight man behavior.  They would promise the entire galaxy but couldn't be bothered to even show up for dinner.  He shook his head, wondering why this behavior was even surprising.

Harry found himself looking out the large window at the crowd below, checking for Robbie to walk through.  There was no sign of him anywhere. Not that he was expecting Robbie to show up.  He felt that familiar dull ache in his gut.  The ache of rejection.  Why, he wondered for the millionth time, did he keep putting himself through this? He deserved better than second place.

When the club closed up for the night Harry locked up and headed for home.  He noticed that Robbie never even showed up at the club like he used to.  Maybe this was his way of ending things.  Well that was just fine.  Harry didn't need this.  It was all casual anyway, just two guys having fun.  Robbie would eventually go back to Emma.

So why didn't this ache in his chest go away? Why did it matter so much that Robbie would do that? 

After locking up his car Harry walked to his apartment.  To his surprise there was a dark figure sitting outside his door.  It was dressed in black.  What the actual hell? Harry hung back, wondering if he should call the cops or go back and get his crowbar. 

The figure burped and sat up.  "Hiya." it slurred.

Harry breathed a sigh of relief.  "Robbie? Dammit you scared the shit out of me!"

Robbie tried to stand, stumbling against the door.  Harry could smell whatever he was drinking.  Robbie pointed a drunken finger at him.  "Where have you. . .been? I was worried." He burped again.

"Where was I? Really though?" Harry scoffed.  "Where were you when you stood me up?"

Robbie paused as if in deep thought.  Probably thinking of a lie, Harry thought.  "I was at grampa's birfday and Emma took my phone." he whined.

"Oh that's a good one." Harry shook his head.  "I've been told some crazy stories before but that one takes the damn prize."

"Is true." Robbie slurred out.  "Is the truth.  Emma got my phone and I couldn't call you to tell you it was my Grampy's birfday dinner I forgot it was my Grampy birfday so when I tried to call you Emma took my phone and said no more work calls family first  she dragged my ass out to the dinner and Gramps was being a dick as always I borrowed somebody's phone but I didn't know your number so I called your club but Zayn was being a dick too then Emma talked about communicate with her and shit so I just left and had some drink down the street and saw your apartment so I walked here to wait for you."

Harry was surprised.  It actually sounded like Robbie was telling the truth.  He knew how Robbie felt about his grandfather.  "So why didn't you just come by the club like usual?"

Again Robbie went into deep thought mode.  "I forgot where it was.  I wanna come home with you."  He hugged Harry.  "I wanna hug you." 

The smell of the alcohol nearly knocked Harry out.  "Okay, let's get some coffee in you."

Robbie looked back at him.  "I think I need to puke." he said in a serious manner.

"Oh shit!" Harry quickly opened his door and tried to lead Robbie in.  "Come on, the bathroom's this--"

Robbie fell against him.  He had passed out.  

Holding his upper body in his arms, Harry managed to drag him over to the sofa, then carefully laid him out.  Robbie lay like a rag doll, completely unconscious.

Harry retrieved a cover from another room and draped it over Robbie.  Then he sat nearby, watching him and trying to piece what Robbie had said.  Apparently when Robbie made the date with him, he had forgotten he already had one with his grandfather and wasn't able to contact him.  Harry had to admit he felt better about hearing that.  So the stand up wasn't intentional.  It was a relief, but what about next time? How long will he ride this roller coaster of emotions?