Emmerdale has seen two of its fan-favourite couples struggling in their relationships recently, with tonight's double bill bringing things to a head for both Pete Barton and Rhona Goskirk and Robert Sugden and Aaron Dingle, as one couple split and the other reunited.
In recent weeks, viewers have seen the relationship between Robert (Ryan Hawley) and Aaron (Danny Miller) become strained following Victoria Barton's rape, with Aaron ordering Robert to leave Mill Cottage in last night's episode after reaching breaking point over his reaction to the ongoing Lee Posner situation.
Meanwhile, Rhona (Zoe Henry) and Pete (Anthony Quinlan) have been forced to consider their future as a couple in the wake of Rhona's recent hysterectomy, which meant that she couldn't have any more children.
But although it looked like their relationship was getting back on track last night when Pete organised a romantic re-proposal, the couple ended up having a heart to heart during their re-engagement party tonight (July 18). Pete admitted that he might still want children of his own one day.
"I think me not having kids, that's still an issue," Pete told Rhona. "I should have listened. I am so sorry it's taken me so long to realise and say it. It's not just the marriage. I think the issue lies deeper than that."
With the couple realising that they would be unable to make it work considering their different plans for life, they ultimately agreed that it was best to split up, even though they still love each other.
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"I love you, that's the stupid thing," Pete said. "I wanted it to be enough, you and Leo. I used to plan us growing old together, having our own bit of land [...] I'd never settle for you, it's the situation."
"We gave this our best shot," Rhona replied as she handed back her engagement ring. "I don't think we could have tried any harder. You didn't do anything wrong."
And as Pete ended up turning to Leyla Harding (Roxy Shahidi) for support in the wake of his break-up, could he already have found someone to move on with?
Thankfully, things are looking a lot more promising for another couple on the soap, as tonight's episodes saw both Robert and Aaron turning to their sisters to talk out their differences.
After Robert was called out for putting Dawn in danger by a furious Harriet, the couple finally sat down and talked. Aaron gave his husband one last chance to stop obsessing over his need to get revenge on Lee Posner.
"I will back off Lee," Robert promised. "As long as he does the same. I won't let him break us, Aaron."
"Last chance," Aaron told him. "And this time you stick to your word."
But with Ryan Hawley set to leave the soap soon, we're not sure Robert and Aaron will be able to stay happy for too long.
Emmerdale currently airs weekdays at 7pm on ITV, with an extra episode at 8pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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