Chapter 1

Decided to start a new fic in this story Rachel is with Eddie and has been for about 3 months now Eddie has a daughter called Hayley who is 11 years old and still in primary school, right at the beginning of the fic her relationship with Rachel is not that good and she only see's Eddie on weekends.

It was the weekend so as usual Hayley was round at Rachel's house much as she loved spending time with her Dad she hated him being with another women now it made her Mum and Dads divorce seem all the more real. Hayley could see that Rachel was trying her best to get on with her and although Hayley would never admit it Rachel actually seemed like a lovely women however because she was with her Dad it meant Hayley would never try and get on with her.

"Hayley will you come downstairs please love" Rachel asked politely, Hayley sighed heavily before going downstairs.

"I've made dinner, will you come and sit at the table with me and your Dad" Rachel asked

"I'll eat mine in my room" Hayley said

"Hayley come and sit down with me and Rachel please" Eddie ordered, Hayley just stood there defiantly, crossing her arms under her none existent chest.

"I don't want to sit down with her" Hayley said gesturing towards Rachel.

"Oi don't you dare speak to Rachel like that it is completely unacceptable" Eddie shouted

"I'll speak to her how I like she's not my mum"

"Yes but it's her house and she's doing her best and she's doing a very good job now apologise"

"Eddie leave it, it doesn't matter let her eat upstairs if she wants" Rachel said, she hated these arguments she never knew what to say or do

"No I won't leave it sit down right now and apologise"

"I'm sorry" Hayley sighed before sitting down at the table

"Don't worry about it" Rachel said

They ate the rest of the meal feeling very uncomfortable they barely spoke at all to one another, Rachel tried to break the ice by asking Hayley about school and friends however all she ever seemed to get was a one word response, eventually she gave up and they ate in silence.

"Please can I be excused" Hayley asked when she had eaten all she wanted to

"Yes of course love" Rachel replied Hayley got up and put her dish by the sink and then went upstairs and went up to her room.

"What am I going to do with that girl, I know her mums not here and that must be hard on her but she has no right to take it out on you" Eddie sighed

"Oh Eddie she's hurting I get that you know"

"But still …"

"She'll come round trust me" Rachel said, suddenly the phone started ringing and eddie went to answer it while Rachel continued outing the plates and cutlery in the dishwasher.

A few minutes later Eddie came back in looking extremely angry and a bit shocked.

"You alright love?" Rachel asked

"That was Louise-Hayley's mum apparently she's booked an around the world tour and wants Hayley to stay here she says she's not coming back"

"Oh my god what? She's leaving her own daughter"

"Yes that's what she's saying Rachel I'd understand if you want me and Hayley to move out it's not fair on you to be landed with a kid"

"Oh Eddie of course I don't I love having you here, that poor kid though"

"Thanks Rachel I best call her down I have no idea how I'm going to explain this to her"

"Hayley come down here I minute" Eddie called. About a minute later Hayley appeared downstairs.

"Love we've got a bit of bad news for you im afraid" Rachel said

"What is it?" Hayley asked

"Your Mums going away and she's not coming back"

"Oh Dad I'm going to miss you so much but we'll still be able to see each other …." Hayley began Rachel felt so sorry for the little girl however much Hayley tried to make things difficult for her, Rachel did like the girl very much she understood why she was like she was with her but Rachel knew if she was going to be the only motherly figure in Hayley's life she was going to have to make more of an effort than ever to get on with her.

"No darling she's going on her own" Eddie explained, Hayley didn't know what to do how the hell could her mum do this do this to her.

"Mum wouldn't do this to me she wouldn't leave me" Hayley said a lump forming in the back of her throat.

"Love I know how much of a shock this must be to you …"Rachel said

"Shut up you don't know anything about me or my mum and if you did you'd know that she wouldn't do this to me" Hayley yelled before running up to her room and crying into her pillow

"Rachel im sorry about that"

"It's fine she's just shocked"

"I'll talk to her"

"Eddie would you mind if I talked to her" Rachel asked

"Of course not" Eddie replied, Rachel then went upstairs and walked up to Hayley's room she knocked on the door, when she got no response she decided to walk in anyway. It broke her heart to see Hayley sobbing into the pillow.

"GO AWAY" Hayley shouted

"I know I'm probably the last person you want to see but just sit up for me a minute please" Rachel said, Hayley turned round and sat up.

"Oh love it's been an awful day for you hasn't it firstly you've been stuck here with me-the wicked witch of the west" Rachel said Hayley couldn't help but giggle despite how awful she was feeling "and then you've just had a really horrible shock haven't you huh?" Rachel said

"I hate her" Hayley said bitterly

"No you don't I know you must feel like that at the moment but it's going to be okay"

"I just don't understand why she'd do this we were so close, I could tell her anything and now she's not going to be around there's not going to be anyone I can talk to about ..you know stuff"

"You've got your Dad and I'm here anytime you need me"

"I know but it's not the same there are some things you can only talk to your mum about" Hayley cried

"I know honestly I do understand how you're feeling?"

"No you don't how could you"

"No honestly I really do understand, when I was a little bit younger than you my mum died suddenly and I felt like I had no one I remember I used to cry myself to sleep every night" Rachel said

"Oh I'm sorry I didn't realise"

"I know. I just don't want you thinking you're alone if ever you need someone to talk to you just come and find me. I'd never try and replace your mum because no one could ever do that, I just want you to know I'm here" Rachel said gently

"Why are you being nice to me? If I were you I'd have kicked me out your house, I've been horrible to you" Hayley cried

"No you haven't I get why you're angry with me I would be to given the circumstances"

"I'm sorry"

"What for?"

"Everything" Hayley replied

"Apology accepted now why don't you come downstairs and watch some TV, I think I've got some chocolates somewhere we can have"

The two of them got up and started to go downstairs

"Rachel" Hayled said

"Yeah"

"Thanks, for you know…"

"No problem"

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