A/N:

It's only a little one before the final chapter! A big thank you to everyone still reading and a huge thanks to Mrs Carmichael, hannah5240, Lynny, RachelMasonFan39, fayeftvanity, LittleH12!

Please enjoy.

The collateral damage of love

Her heart thundered against her chest and the sweat brimmed along her palms. The uncertainty of what he would ask alarmed her greatly. She was a planner, and anything of a spontaneous manner frightened her.

Eddie looked serious.

'What it is?', she questioned nervously. She took a moment to decide whether she should have been sitting or standing for this. In an ideal world, she would have preferred to run, but that wasn't an option anymore.

'Rachel ...', he began. He didn't quite know how he would ask her. He looked just as nervous as she did. It was the fear of rejection, just like that very time at the pub. He had always vowed never to feel like that again.

'Eddie, what is it?', she asked again. He could sense her fear and knew that he had to ask her, quickly.

His hand moved to balance on her hip, and she instantly looked to his actions. She couldn't bring herself away from his gaze, and knew this was important.

The atmosphere began to increase in intensity.

'Will you marry me?'.

Will. You. Marry. Me.

Her whole body washed over with a hundred different emotions and she felt paralysed.

A minute passed.
Two minutes passed.
Three minutes passed.

He wanted her to be his wife.

Melissa's sister. Phillip's aunt. Holly's aunt. Holly's step-mum. Eddie's wife.
Adam's ex wife.

In an instant she panicked. What would everyone think? She hadn't even properly divorced Adam yet. This was ridiculous and there was absolutely no way she would follow in Mel's footsteps.

She broke away from him and took herself to other end of the room. Her heart broke for him. She had caused him pain again and this time there was no escaping. She watched as he took a seat at his kitchen table and brought his head into his hands. He looked broken, and she felt responsible.

When would she ever stop hurting people?

Throughout her life, she had always felt an instinct to run. She never liked to face her emotions and felt afraid to put her trust into anyone. There was, however, one man who had her trust. Eddie. She had learnt to open up to him, she had learnt to rest on him when she became weak and she had learnt to love him.

This whole time she had continued to watch him, and her heart felt heavier and heavier. Slowly, she reached him and felt the need to comfort him.

She suddenly stopped.

Had he been crying?

His eyes appeared red and heavy. In disbelief, she ran her thumb across his cheek and she gasped as she felt them slightly damp. Eddie Lawson had never cried. He cried for the final time of losing her. He had put everything into saving her and she had declined almost everytime.

It alarmed her, and somehow she knew that it was her fault. This was her wrongdoing. She wouldn't do this anymore. She had spent her whole life protecting people when in actual fact she had been punishing them. She had hurt those she loved, and so, she would not do it any longer.

She didn't want to be afraid anymore. She wanted to give herself to the man who deserved her, and honestly, she trusted him with her life.

She lifted his eyes to meet hers. She gave him a small smile and used her other hand to entwine their fingers.

'Yes', she whispered.

He gave it a moment.

'Yes?'. He was almost sure he knew what she meant, but he wanted reassurance, and she couldn't blame him for that.

'I want to be your wife'.