Thank you for the reviews.

This one is set after the episode... And I don't really know why it ended up the way it did, but hey, I don't think any of you will be complaining. Plus this is all from Eddie's POV.


Series 3 Episode 14

"How was your date with Stuart?" Eddie asked.

He knew why he was so happy when she groaned. He didn't particularly like the fact that she went out with Stuart for dinner and if he hadn't already made plans with Jasmine, he might have gone. He was teasing her when he said about Stuart having a thing for her and he was glad that she cut him off when he tried to insinuate she had a thing for Stuart. He was glad she didn't, because he had a thing for her and all of her secret meetings with Stuart were starting to annoy him.

"Let's just say that it was a dinner I don't want to repeat any time soon."

"That good then."

"What did you have to run off to?"

He smiled. She obviously wanted him there.

"I took Jasmine for a drink. She needed it after what happened yesterday."

"You're rather protective of her, aren't you?" She said, sounding a little jealous.

"Some people here have taken the mick. She was totally right about Paul and it makes me think that she is completely right about yesterday."

"Eddie, I do believe her when she said that she didn't hit Michaela. I just have to do anything by the book. It is to protect her as well."

"I still think we can make them crack."

"Right, that's it. You are not allowed anywhere near Michaela or her little gang."

"What?"

"I can't be put into a situation where I will have to suspend you as well. Especially when you are the only thing keeping me sane at the moment."

"I… keep you sane."

"Just don't."

"You're the one that said it."

"And if you tell anyone, I will deny it straight away."

"Why are you being so defensive?"

She sighed as she sat down in her chair. "I'm not."

"You are."

"Just take the hint, Eddie."

"You haven't been the same for a good few weeks now. Come on, just tell me what is wrong."

"The building process. I thought that we just picked who we liked, tried to get them the bid and then they would just build it. Hordley seems to be trying to make this as difficult as possible."

"Bearing in mind how you were after the LEA meeting about it, I don't think you want to go through that process again."

"No, I don't."

Before Eddie could say anything else, the bell rang, signalling the start of the school day. He gave her a small smile before he left for his first class of the day.


"Rachel, it is just a drink."

"And I went out last night. I have got paperwork to catch up on because of the whole Jasmine/Michaela situation."

"And you look like you could do with a drink."

She sighed and Eddie hoped that it meant that he was going to get his way. He wanted to talk to her. He wanted to find out what had been going on. Not that he was certain whether he wanted to know the truth or not.

"I just want to talk, Rach."

He always noticed the way her mouth would start to curl up when he called her Rach. He was all for shortening people's names. He went by Eddie rather than Edward. He had noticed that no one else called her Rach and he wondered whether, to her, it was his thing.

"Fine. But can we go back to mine rather than going to the pub? I just want to be at home."

"That's fine by me. I'll follow you?"

She nodded at him before she got the rest of her things together.

He was glad that she had agreed. Now he had to get her to open up to him. That might not be so easy.


Eddie slipped off his shoes as she did. He allowed her to walk off while he quickly peered into the living room. He didn't really know what he was expecting. Everything was clean and tidy, not quite like his living room. He eventually followed her into the kitchen where she had opened a bottle of wine and had poured two glasses and already drunk half of one.

"I know you are a beer drinker, but I don't have any." She said.

"Wine is fine. Are you sure you are okay?" He said, nodding towards her glass.

"I'm fine Eddie."

"Rachel, when are you going to let me in?"

"What do you mean?"

"You have been in a weird mood since the morning that Stuart showed up. What is wrong?"

"I said earlier…"

"The building process. I know." He said as he interrupted her. "I don't believe you."

"Well, you are going to have to."

"There you go again, being so defensive."

"I am not being defensive."

"I don't believe you."

Eddie couldn't remember moving but somehow he found himself only inches from her, looking down into her eyes. They never failed to show what she was feeling. Part of him thought that they were showing him that she was scared but he couldn't think of why she would be scared. He watched them change as she placed her drink down. His was definitely forgotten about. He could see the same person that told him that he had a heart of gold or was thankful for his support in trying to get Waterloo Road business college status. Something was happening between them and he had no idea whether he should take the leap or not.

He closed the distance a little more and was slightly grateful that she didn't take a step back to create some space. Maybe this was something that she wanted as well. He tilted his head as he leant forward and kissed her. He had no idea how they had gone from having a small argument about how she was feeling to kissing her but that was where they were.

When she didn't respond, he felt like he had read the situation wrong. As he pulled back, ready to apologise, she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him back towards her to kiss him. His hand automatically landed on her waist as he backed her up to the counter. He made sure there was enough room that the counter wasn't digging into her back but keeping the distance between them to a minimum.

Rachel broke the kiss and nudged his nose with hers.

"We shouldn't do this." She said before she kissed him again.

His hands ran down her sides and landed on her hips to pick her up and sit her onto the counter, making her more his height. She allowed him to stand in between her legs and he never felt more confused in his life.

"Are you sure Miss Mason?"

He could hear her breath hitch as he started to kiss down her jaw and neck.

"Hmm… this is a really bad idea."

"Then tell me to stop." He said as he pulled back.

He could see the conflict in her eyes but somehow it looked like it was in his favour as she kissed him again.


When Rachel said it was a bad idea, Eddie did almost agree with her. But lying in Rachel's bed, with her back against his chest with their left hands intertwined, he couldn't think of anything more perfect. He hadn't felt this way Alison and it had been building between them. Maybe he just didn't expect them to be at this stage already.

"Eddie."

"Yes."

"I think I need to tell you something."

"Only if you want to."

"It… It just… it relates to why I have been in a weird mood recently."

"So you admit you have been in a weird mood."

"I just don't know how to tell you. I've… been trying to find the words for a good couple of weeks."

"Then just tell me bluntly."

"I don't think you would like it. I think it would change your whole opinion of me."

"Nothing you say could change my opinion of you."

"Are you sure?"

"Sure. Like how bad can it be? Have you murdered someone or something?"

"I was a prostitute."

His mind was filled with thoughts. Mainly ones about crossing things off his mental list of things that he thought might be wrong with Rachel. Her, being an ex-prostitute wasn't one of them and as time went on, Eddie just willed himself to say something, feeling Rachel's discomfort in his silence.

If anything, it was just the shock of what she had said. It wasn't something that he expected from her. But it made sense as to why she didn't really like to open up about her childhood. There must have been a series of events for her to make that choice. Unless the choice was made for her. He didn't want to think like that. He had to give her the chance to explain,

"Right."

"Right?"

"I'm still processing at the moment."

"It was a long time ago Eddie."

"Okay. So why is that behind your weird mood?"

Her silence did more than any words could. It might have been a long time ago but someone saw it fit to bring it back up.

"Stuart hasn't been blackmailing you, has he?" Eddie asked.

"He… wanted me to get his bid reinstated and then he wanted me to win the bid for him. Whatever way I could. Eddie… I felt awful in that LEA meeting. I threatened to walk. I… knew that George wanted the Ladmore bid because he was mates with them. I… I've even given up Waterloo Road's congentceny fund for the next five years all because… All because I can't allow this to get out. I've worked too hard for this to get out."

"So your 'date' with Stuart. What was that all about?"

"He… wanted to explain why he did what he did. I… don't know how much longer I can do this for."

"The git."

"Eddie. What do I do?"

He knew that she had totally let down her guard and as she sat up and turned to him, he could see the same scared look in her eyes. This is the thing that was scaring her. The fact that this massive secret could get out and ruin her and the school's reputation. He found himself tucking part of her hair behind her ear before he said anything.

"Leave it with me. I'll sort it."

"It isn't your mess to sort."

"It is now. It is our problem. We've got to sort it together."

He could see the relief and he knew that she didn't regret telling him. He just wished that she had told him sooner, rather than letting it build up. Their relationship had taken a step forward in many directions and any questions or concerns Eddie had regarding what she had just told him had to be sorted out and soon. Rachel needed him and he wasn't about to let her down.