Set at the end of series 4, episode 20
Chapter 1
"I can't be your girlfriend, Melissa's sister, Philip's Auntie, the baby's step Mum"
"I won't have anything to do with the baby"
"Even though you say it, you know you don't mean it. Eddie you lost one child; that nearly finished you. I won't do that to you again"
"I love you Rachel"
"Oh Eddie, I love you too. It's not going to change anything though"
"I know"
How could things go from being so perfect to so broken in the space of 24 hours. Just yesterday Rachel Mason, head mistress of Waterloo Road school, had never been so happy in all of her life. After what seemed like something that would never happen, she had finally got together with her deputy. Eddie Lawson. The only man she had truly ever loved. Still loved.
But she knew that things were going so well, it would all go wrong soon. She just wasn't one of those people who were lucky in love. Rachel could say with no hesitation that these past six months had been the best ones of her lfe, but somehow she knew that something or someone would happen to ruin it all.
As she turned her back on the love of her life, she thought she was doing it for the best. But was she? Of course she was. How could she possibly be with a man when her sister is carrying his very child. It wouldn't be fair on anyone. Not her, not Eddie, not Mel, not Phil and definitely not the baby.
That was one of the things that Eddie admired about Rachel, her need to always put others before herself. But right now he wished she would do something for her. Would it really hurt if, just this one time, she put herself before others. This certainly wasn't what Eddie wanted, and he didn't think it was what Rachel wanted either, but he knew that now she'd made up her mind there would be no changing it.
There was nothing Rachel wanted to do more now than just go home. But she couldn't. Once again she had to put others before herself. Slowly, she walked towards her fellow staff and pupils to reassure them that everything was okay. She had to put their minds at rest. Let them know that there was still a Waterloo Road. Let them know that everything was going to be okay.
But was it going to be okay? Would the so called 'Dream team' still be able to function considering everything that had gone on between then. She didn't know if she wanted to stay. Rachel had persuaded Eddie to stay, for his sake. Maybe she was the one that should go. Maybe Waterloo Road would be better without her.
That wouldn't be fair on the kids. They were relying on her. After everything she had done for that school she couldn't just walk away from them now. They all meant too much to her.
After receiving the much needed reassurance from their head teacher the pupils left the school to begin their summer holidays. Rachel rushed up to her office to gather all of her belongings. She knew all of the staff would be going down to the pub to celebrate the end of the year, but she definitely wasn't in the mood for celebrating. She didn't want to celebrate the end of her relationship with Eddie.
Rachel closed her office door behind her before slowly sinking to the floor with her back against the door. The tears that had been needing to fall for all this time slowly began to leave her eyes as she began to sob. At first she tried to muffle her sobs, but in the end they became uncontrollable. The more she thought about what had just happened the harder she cried.
She cried as she remembered all the memories they'd shared. She cried as she reflected back on the break up that had just occurred. She cried as she thought about the future that they could've shared.
Once the tears had subsided, for the time being, she quickly packed up her things and made a beeline for the entrance. She knew she should speak to the staff. Say thank you for all of their hard work throughout the year and wish them a happy summer. But she just couldn't face it. So instead she just ran to her car in the hope she wouldn't bump into anyone.
She reached her car and then remembered that her and Eddie had arrived together this morning. Oh well she thought to herself I'm sure he'll be able to find another way home.
More tears were threatening to fall but she pushed them away knowing otherwise she wouldn't be able to drive home safely. Yesterday Eddie was travelling home with, they only ever bothered with one car these days. There was no point both of them driving in when they came from the same house and then went back to the same house. Either hers or his, but whichever one it was always the same one. They were talking about what time they should leave on Saturday morning to get to the airport on time.
That's when she remembered the holiday. The holiday that her, Eddie and Michael were going to share. The holiday that would only ever be a what if. She wondered if him and Michael would still go, she hoped they would. Michael would be devastated if he didn't get to go on this trip that he'd been looking forward to for all this time.
Rachel let out a sigh as she pulled onto her driveway and turned off the engine. She sat in her car for a few moments not wanting to go into her big house all alone. She wasn't ready to be faced with all the memories that just yesterday were reality. But were now nothing but ghosts.
A/N this fic is purely Reddie. I know I normally do one based on Rachel's children. But I wanted to write an alternative series five because I think it's poor how the Mel, Eddie and Rachel situation was left. Please let me know what you think.
