Summary: I'm rubbish at summaries. Basically, Rachel is away on a course and Eddie misses her, is this enough to get him to finally tell her how he feels? R & R please!!!

Eddie was sat in his classroom at his desk starring at the pile of marking in front of him. She had been gone for the entire week now on a course and he was about ready to shoot himself in the face, it wasn't the fact that he was single handeadly running the school, although that was challenging enough, it was that he missed her. He would never admit it to anyone but he couldn't wait till Monday morning when he would be able to come into work, head for her office, have a bru with her and swap stories. That was his favourite part of the day.

He loved how she was in the morning. Carefree. She hadn't been bothered with that day's drama yet, she was relaxed Eddie would actually describe her as happy.

There was a slight tap at the door, Eddie looked up and saw her there. Standing, he couldn't believe how beautiful she was.

"Rachel!" He exclaimed, "I thought you weren't back till Monday!"

"Surprise" she said lamely. "Thought I would do a quick check up on the school before Monday."

"Yeah" Eddie smiled, then looked mock hurt. "You think the place will fall down with me in charge or something?!?"

"Well I dunno you were starring so intently at that marking the whole school could have fallen down around you and you wouldn't have noticed!" Eddie looked a bit sheepish at this.

"Everything ok?" she asked. Eddie heard the genuine concern in her voice, it almost made him smile, it reminded him that even if its only as friends, she does care for him.

"Yeah" he sighed, "Actually, no. There's something I need to tell you" Rachel looked up at this, she would always be there for Eddie no matter what he needed.

"Im listening" she said as she moved from leaning on the doorway, gently closing the door as she did so, and sat on the edge of his desk.

He looked up at her, he could smell her perfume he was dying to reach out, drying to touch her, to hold her in his arms, to finally call her his own. But he knew, he knew he had to take this slowly, after that day at the pub at the start of term, he knew he had to do this by her terms.

"Rach…" he started but failed.

"Hey" she said, "whatever it is you can tell me" she reached out, put her hands on his face and drew his eyes up to look at hers, "I'm here."

"Do you remember that day at the start of term… when I told you you were special… well I wanted to tell you, needed to tell you that you are still special." He looked her in the eye and saw no reaction. He was scared but knew he had to finish saying what he started. "Rachel, I realised how when I come to work in the morning, the thing that puts a spring in my step is the thought of spending the day with you, the idea that I will get to see you. I still want there to be an us. My feelings haven't changed. Scar or no scar, Rachel, you are beautiful, you are amazing, you are dedicated to your job, you are funny, incredibly smart, caring, generous and when you smile, when you truly smile I think it's the most beautiful thing I have ever seen."

He looked at her. Still she hadn't moved. He started to fidget uncomfortably in his chair. Had he gone to far? Did she believe him? He was terrified.

"Rachel?" he asked, desperate for a response, she looked up into his eyes.

"Eddie……………"

Ok so first chapter, more if people want it. Make my day, let me know what you think!!!