Emmerdale has confirmed the future for Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle after the departure of John, whose evil deeds were finally exposed to the village recently. But are the fan-favourite couple getting back together or not?

Tonight’s episode saw Aaron discharged from the hospital and go to the café for a drink. Robert sat listening as Nicola gossiped about John’s disappearance and claimed someone must have helped him escape. Annoyed at what Nicola was implying, Aaron stormed out without saying a word to Robert.

Robert later went to track Aaron down. He found him in the scrapyard burning John’s possessions, including photos of them together and his wedding ring.

“I just want him gone,” Aaron said as he angrily stoked the fire, until he started coughing and hunched over.

Robert tried to take him home, but Aaron told him to do one. “I’m not leaving you here alone,” Robert said. “You’re just out the hospital, you shouldn’t even be driving.”

Aaron stated that he didn’t want to go back to the pub where every room he walks in “someone looks at me like I’m a loser”.

Robert then invited Aaron to his house, to watch a movie or just do something to distract him for a bit, adding that it would be just as mates and there was no pressure.

Aaron took him up on the offer, and once at Robert’s place he opened up about how he was worried that he’ll never be able to move on from what John has done.

“How you can stand to have me here, after everything?” he then asked Robert. “All you’ve done is try to help me and I just pushed you away.”

“I still care about ya,” Robert admitted. “A lot.”

Aaron apologised for how he had treated Robert, with Robert responding that all that matters now is that they got through it.

Aaron took this opportunity to lean in for a kiss. However, Robert pulled away and told Aaron: “Not now, not like this.” Aaron got annoyed again, pointing out that Robert’s been chasing him ever since he returned to the village.

“I’ve never stopped wanting you, you know that. But not like this,” Robert explained. “You’re rebounding, you’re vulnerable, you’re all over the place. What you’ve been through is massive, it’s life-changing. The trauma, it’s not even sunk in yet. When it does, it’s gonna hit you like a train.”

Robert then let slip that Chas had asked him to keep his distance from Aaron, which angered Aaron further. He returned to the pub and shouted at his mum for treating him like a 5 year old.

Later on, a calmer Aaron had another chat with Robert outside the pub, and they agreed that it was best they stay friends for now while Aaron heals.

As Robert walked away, he received a text from the mysterious ‘K’, demanding that Robert stop ignoring him.

‘K’, or Kev, is set to turn up in the village next week, and the secrets that Robert has tried to keep hidden will be exposed.