WHEN I FALL AT YOUR FEET

A/N – Thanks for all your lovely updates, I've struggled with this chapter, think it was a case of writer's block I caught after last week's episode! The next one is looking much better.

CHAPTER 9 – First Date

Rachel's meeting had been due to finish at 16.30, it was now almost 17.30 and she was anxious to get away, she had a 30 minute drive ahead of here and she wanted to enjoy getting ready for her date with Eddie.

"So, if we're all agreed on that, I think we can call it a day" the chairman said

Thank God, she thought to herself, she was glad the meeting hadn't been about Waterloo Road specifically because she hadn't really been listening for the last hour. She'd just have to wait until she got the minutes by e-mail to find out what she'd agreed too!

As the other attendees stood around chatting before heading off for the customary post-meeting drink, Rachel packed her things and put on her coat.

"Not coming for a drink tonight Rachel?" Geoff, the finance controller asked

"Not tonight, Geoff, I've got plans" she replied

"Plans, eh?" He raised an eyebrow

"Yes, plans" she smiled back. She knew Geoff was happy for her, he was in his late 60s and had really looked out for her, she was sure that it was because of him, and Eddie too of course, that she still had her job at Waterloo Road and for that, she would be forever grateful.

"Well, have fun" he said

"I will" she grinned, giving him a wave as she left the office.

When she got home, she flew in the door and stripped off as she ran up the stairs and straight into the shower, she had less than an hour to get ready and she had no idea what she was going to wear. Ten minutes later, she was stood in front of her wardrobe trying to pick something to wear, Eddie had said to wear something nice. She decided on a raspberry coloured shift dress, with a black patent bow belt and matching black patent peep toe heels. She dried her hair, did her make up and was just about to put in some diamond earrings when the door bell rang.

"Typical!" she said to herself, "always running late for meetings but gets here tonight ten minutes early!"

Her heart skipped a beat and all was forgiven as soon as she opened the door to reveal Eddie, or rather Eddie's legs, his top half was obscured by one of the biggest and most beautiful bouquets of flowers she'd ever seen.

"Hi, sorry I'm early but I've been ready for ages and I just couldn't wait any longer. These are for you"

"Thanks, Eddie, they're gorgeous"

"So are you" he said, taking a minute to appreciate her outfit, she looked amazing

"You don't scrub up too badly yourself! Come on in, I'm nearly ready"

Rachel took the flowers from him and walked through to the kitchen to put them in some water, leaving Eddie in the hall.

"Rachel?" She heard him call through to her

"Yes?"

"I was just thinking that I would never have expected you to be so messy when you're so tidy and organised at work"

"What are you talking about?" She reappeared with a confused look on her face.

"The clothes" he gestured toward the clothes she'd stripped off earlier as she ran which she now realised were still strewn all the way up the stairs. She laughed.

"Oh those! My meeting ran over and I didn't have much time to get ready so I multi-tasked and undressed whilst climbing the stairs"

"And here was I thinking that Geoff had made a move!" he grinned.

"Oh, shut up Eddie" She punched him playfully on the arm.

"I'll be back in a minute or two, make yourself at home" she said, not that she needed too as Eddie was already headed for her sofa.

Rachel scooped up the clothes and put them in the laundry before going back to her dressing table. She put in her earrings, checked her hair and make up and put on a few squirts of perfume. She picked out a black clutch bag and put her things in it before grabbing a cropped black jacket from behind the door and closing it behind her. As she descended the stairs, she stopped to watch Eddie who was sitting on the sofa, flicking through a magazine. She couldn't believe how luck she was. Eddie felt her eyes on him and turned round to see her stood on the stairs, he couldn't believe how lucky he was.

"Ready?" he asked

"Sure am" she replied. As she locked the door behind them, Eddie hugged her from behind making her fumble with her keys.

"Having some trouble?" he whispered in her ear

She turned her head and kissed him as she slid the key into the lock and locked the door.

"Not at all Mr Lawson"

"I'm impressed, there's no way I could even think about anything else if you were distracting me like that!"

"but you're much easier to distract" she teased

Once they were buckled in to Eddie's car and on their way, Rachel asked him to tell her where they were going.

"You'll find out soon enough" was the only answer she could get

Usually she hated not knowing things, she wasn't spontaneous like that and liked to be prepared but she was quite enjoying this, she was excited. Must have something to do with Eddie, she thought, he had a way of making her think, and feel, things she never would have before. Lost in her own thoughts, Rachel hadn't paid any attention to where he was driving them to and was a more than a little surprised when he stopped the car in an empty car park in what appeared to be the middle of no where.

"Eddie, where on earth are we?" she asked

He just grinned in response, then told her to wait in the car.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll be back in a minute"

She watched him as he walked up a narrow footpath and could see him signal something to someone on the other side of the trees. What was he up to? She wondered as he walked back to the car, he opened her door, offering her his hand which she accepted despite not needing the help. Eddie closed the door but kept her hand in his.

"Oh no, I've forgotten something" he exclaimed.

"What is it? Do you want to go back?"

"No need, I just forgot to do this" he said, pulling her close and kissing her. He could feel her smiling against his lips.

"Well, we'll just need to make sure you don't forget again" she said, kissing him again.

"Now will you please tell me what we're doing in the middle of no where?"

"Follow me" he said, as he locked the car and led her by the hand up the path and through the trees at the top, revealing a beautiful boating lake. The lake was lit by hundreds of multi-coloured Chinese lanterns hanging from the surrounding trees, their light reflecting on the water's surface.

"Oh Eddie, it's just beautiful" she said, tugging on his hand causing him to turn to face her. They stood for a few seconds just looking at each other, Eddie noticed how her eyes were sparkling like the water behind him. She pressed her lips to his in a short but meaningful kiss. Eddie grinned and turned away, leading her down the path. At the end of the path, close to the water's edge, a picnic rug had been set out, Rachel could see a stuffed hamper, champagne on ice and even some candles.

"When did you organise all this? We only decided to come out tonight earlier today"

"I had some help"

"Who? And don't say Steph!" She giggled.

"My friend Paul owns a deli so the food is his handiwork and my cousin, Mark, is the park ranger here so he did this, he indicated to the lanterns adorning the trees. All I really did was make a couple of phone calls and get you here at the right time"

"Well, you did that brilliantly, it's perfect Eddie but I do have one question"

"Go on"

"Why am I wearing one of my best dresses to sit on a rug?" She raised a quizzical eyebrow.

"That's simply for my benefit" he winked.

Rachel laughed, he had a way of making her feel so special.

"Come on, let's get this show on the road" he said excitedly.

She watched as he busied himself pouring drinks and unpacking the hamper, the food looked amazing, she sat down next to him and he raised his glass in a toast.

"To us" he grinned

"To us" she repeated, a similar expression on her own face.

Desperate to know every detail about each other, they enjoyed their food in between a million questions, learning the smallest things about each other. Rachel discovered that Eddie's favourite toy as a child had been a yellow tractor he'd been given for Christmas when he was seven and the small scar above his left eyebrow was caused when he'd tried to ride his bike down a flight of stone steps when he was twelve. Eddie found out that Rachel's first day as a teacher was a complete disaster and that she nearly didn't come back for day two, he smiled as she talked about happier times, before things had gotten difficult at home. He listened as she fondly remembered the summer months she'd spent with her Grandmother in Edinburgh, sitting in the garden, drinking lemonade and making daisy chains. She knew his favourite colour was green and he knew that she'd been 30 before she'd plucked up the courage to get her ears pierced.

Once they had exhausted all lines of questioning, at least for the time being, she lay in his arms looking up at the stars. Eddie wasn't looking at the stars, he was looking at Rachel, in fact, he hadn't been able to take his eyes off her all night and it was then that he noticed a single tear fall from the corner of her eye, he leant forwards and kissed it away.

"What's wrong Rach?" the concern was evident in his voice.

"I was just thinking how wonderful tonight has been and how we almost never got here, I nearly pushed you away again Eddie and I am so sorry"

"Rachel, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, the important thing is that we did make it here and no matter what happens, I'm not going anywhere"

She smiled at him before propping herself up on her elbow to kiss him.

"Rach, you're shivering, let's head back"

"They packed up the picnic things and headed back to the car, they drove back to Rachel's house in a happy silence, though she didn't take her hand off his knee for the whole journey. They pulled into her driveway and not wanting to push his luck, Eddie didn't move, he needed her to know that he was happy to do this on her terms, at her pace.

"Coffee?"

It was only one word but it was all the signal he needed as he nodded and got out of the car, running round to open her side for her. He locked up the car as she unlocked the door. After hanging up their jackets, Eddie sat on one of the stools at her breakfast bar as she made them both a coffee, both thinking to themselves how surprisingly natural it felt. Taking their coffee through to the sitting room, they cuddled up on the sofa and watched the news. Coffee finished, Eddie stood up and took their cups back through to the kitchen, Rachel followed.

"Thanks for tonight, Rachel, it's been great"

"It's me that should be thanking you" she replied "all I did was turn up"

"No, you did so much more than that, you let me in Rach" he said, coming over and drawing her into his warm embrace.

Back in the hallway where their evening had begun, only a few short hours ago, Eddie leaned in for a goodnight kiss, but was stopped by Rachel putting both hands on his chest, holding his gaze for a few seconds.

"Eddie, stay?" She said, running her hands from his chest, down his arms and taking his hands as she led him silently upstairs.