Thank you for the reviews.

This and the next chapter was going to be one... but I kinda had a lot that I wanted to say in this and I think it works as a nice little two-parter.

Oh and this is the another life/another timeline mentioned in Chapter 49.


Control

The frantic knocking on Kim's front door surprised her. Not that she wasn't going to get a bigger surprise when she opened the door and Rachel barged her way into her house, telling her to close the door. It wasn't until Rachel was pacing her kitchen that Kim noticed the baby on her shoulder.

"Rachel…"

"Adam. Was he…" She started.

"Was he what?"

"Was he always that controlling?"

"Rachel, you aren't making any sense."

"I… do get that you were more worried about yourself and Dex and everything but… did you notice or think that Adam was controlling?"

Kim thought over the question. By how Rachel was, she didn't want to cause her any more distress than what she was already in. But she had to be honest to the friend that she hadn't seen in almost a year.

"Fine. I'll go to Tom. I know he will give me a straight answer." Rachel said.

"Hang on," Kim said as she caught her. "Rachel, you are in a panic. I… I will tell you what I think but, I need you to calm down first. Tell me about this little one."

Kim was glad when Rachel allowed her to pull her from the kitchen into the living room and sat her down on the sofa. She rested against the coffee table.

"Is he still asleep?" Rachel asked.

"Seems like it."

"I think he already knows I am a worrier."

"I suppose I should say congratulations."

"Thanks, Kim. Tommy. Tommy Edward."

"Oh."

"Obviously still haven't told Adam about Eddie. I… I couldn't argue with it though. Adam... wanted to call him Benjamin. And then I could veto the middle name he chose as well."

"I think it is perfect."

"30th May."

"Just under a month ago?"

"I thought Adam was being weird about it. I… I don't think he… he wanted to be a father like I wanted to be a mother. I think he didn't want him."

"Is that why you have realised that he is controlling?"

"So you think he is?"

"Rachel, you went from freaking out over a book to marrying a guy that you had only been reunited with a few weeks before. To me… it sounded like you did what Eddie did with Melissa. You were never one to run into something unless one of your students was going to get hurt. It… was too quick. For you."

"Adam keeps mentioning about how we could still be travelling. I… I would have gone to Philip but… I have this feeling that he isn't going to let go of me that easily. Oh God, I should let Philip know. Not that I think Adam knows where he lives but still what if Philip goes round there and Adam says or does something or…"

"Rachel. Why don't I find the Moses basket I had for Dex and we can put Tommy down and then we can talk properly about this over a nice cup of tea?"

"Where is Dex?" She said as she looked around the room.

"Afternoon nap. Come on."

Kim was grateful when Rachel smiled at her. If anything, Kim had her friend back.


"Just… stay safe Philip. I… I don't know what he is actually capable of." Rachel said.

"I will. Luckily I changed jobs last week so he doesn't know where I work. And I could always ask someone if I could crash at theirs. Rach… everything will be okay."

"Did you have your suspicions?"

"You were happy. But… the reason I told Eddie that you were getting married was because I… hoped he would do something stupid. Like crash your wedding or go to school and talk you out of it. I do think that he still loves you."

"I do think Kim will nag me again."

"I'll have to pop over to see you and Tommy."

"You will."

Rachel sighed as Philip hung up and there was a sense of relief. It was like she had space to think again. That her day wasn't just for Tommy. Because that was how Adam made her feel.

"What will I nag you about?" Kim said.

"Eddie."

"There is a good shout."

"Kim…"

"Really? You are still going to question whether it is a good idea to call him or not."

"Kim, I have never not wanted to call him. In fact, I have picked up the phone multiple times with every intention of calling him. Just… It is better than the arguments that we would have with Melissa."

"You are going to need someone to support you."

"I've got you again."

"I think you need someone else."

"I'll get back in contact with Tom."

"Last I heard, he was too busy at Waterloo Road. Apparently it is the Karen Fisher show. She even closed the cooler for a bit."

"She… closed the cooler. The cooler is one of the best things to happen to that place."

"Believe me, if I was still there, I would have told her that. I am hoping that Chris put her in her place."

"Depends on how much he was trying to impress his new boss."

"Just because you couldn't keep your hands off your deputies."

Rachel found herself laughing and she was slowly realising how much she had changed. She couldn't really remember the last time she laughed like that.

Kim handed her the baby monitor.

"I should get Dex up soon. Otherwise, he won't sleep tonight."

"I should probably sort myself out before Tommy wakes. Thanks for letting me stay, Kim."

"No problem. Although it might be on one condition."

"That I call Eddie?"

"You got it."

Rachel looked at her phone as Kim left her. Would it really hurt?


Eddie didn't expect to be outside Kim's door but that was where he was. He had the weird call off of her and the only way that he would get to the bottom of what was happening was if he went round there. The only problem he had was that it had been a week since the call and he had Sophie with him. Mainly because Melissa had said that it was 'his day' to look after her. As he wasn't working due to it being the summer holidays.

"Eddie," Kim said as she opened the door.

"Kim, what's going on?" He said as he entered the house, putting Sophie down.

"How old is she?"

"Sophie? She is 20 months. 17th November 2009."

He only noticed the little boy crawling into the room when Sophie toddled over to him.

"Yours?"

"Dex. 5th July 2010. So he has recently turned one."

"Father about?"

"Oh dear no. As far as I am aware, he doesn't even know that Dex exists."

"I'm sure we can get onto that later. What was the phone call about?"

"Tommy. 30th May. Obviously 2011." A familiar voice said.

Eddie didn't quite believe his ears until he turned to see Rachel standing in the hallway, with a baby resting against her shoulder.

"Actually, he is Tommy Edward. I suppose you can make up your own mind."

"Rachel?"

"Hello, Eddie."

He could sense Sophie looking up at him. Maybe he had mentioned her Auntie Rachel to her too many times for her to instantly recognise the name.

"I get that it is two years too late, but I think we need to talk." Rachel continued.

"I am happy to talk."

"I'll look after them. Come on then, Tommy." Kim said as she walked over to Rachel. "Let's leave your mummy to talk. And you too Sophie. Let's leave your daddy to talk."


"Tommy Edward?" Eddie said.

"I vetoed Adam's name for Tommy. He wanted to call him Benjamin. So I said he could pick his middle name and… he just came out with it. I thought I was never going to see you again and… Maybe it was a nice sentiment that my son was going to carry the name of the… the only man I have ever loved."

"What about Adam?"

"Why do you think I am here, living with Kim? I do love him but not in the way that… I still love you."

"Philip told me you were getting married."

"He did say. And then he confessed a couple of weeks ago that he told you because he was unsure about Adam. He hoped you would do something stupid, like crash my wedding."

"I might have done if he hadn't said that you were happy." He paused. "I did turn up to Prom."

"You are the strange man Jo saw then."

"I couldn't go in. I didn't want you to regret your decision."

"I didn't quite think that I would be the one to walk out on him."

"What happened Rach?"

She smiled at him. "I've missed that."

"What?"

"The way you say Rach." She took a deep breath. "I left Waterloo Road because of Adam. It was causing way too many arguments. He… He just didn't understand what the school meant to me then. It was everything. I've always wanted children. It… is one of the reasons that I couldn't do it. I couldn't be with you while Melissa was pregnant with Sophie and me… wanting to start a family with you as well. I… I think I could guess your reaction if I ever told you that I was pregnant. Adam's, I couldn't guess at all. I don't think he wanted children.

"Philip was a big help when we came back after travelling. We only came home because I wanted to have Tommy at home. Not in some foreign country. It was the little things that I started to notice that made me think he was controlling. Like… he doesn't want me to rush 'back' to work. Or that he said that I should try and get the house in his name as well. Or the way I think he would just tolerate Philip being around."

"Doesn't sound like the type of guy you want in your life."

"'I didn't realise it'd be such a struggle to get your attention for what is now our severely constructed wedding day.' Should have seen it come from a mile away."

"Maybe. Maybe you just got to a point where you didn't want to be lonely anymore."

"Still know me well enough Lawson."

"Of course Mason. It has only been two years."

She smiled at him and it was weird to think that she could say that she felt like she was home. That she had missed him so much that everything else didn't feel right.

Their moment was spoilt by her phone ringing and she was confused when Philip's name flashed up.

"Philip." She said after she answered it.

"Rach, I am so sorry."

"What are you sorry for?"

"Adam… he caught me on the way to the shops. He dragged me down an alley and threatened all sorts if I didn't tell him where you were. He will be with you soon enough. I am sorry."

"Well thanks for warning me."

"I didn't think he would be like this."

"Get yourself safe." She looked up at Eddie. "I have the head of my defence squad with me."

"Who?"

"Eddie's here."

"Rach, he is really angry."

"It will be fine, Philip. I'll give you a call later."

Rachel placed her phone back on the kitchen counter before she went into the living room and pulled the curtain back slightly.

"What's going on?" Kim asked.

"Adam's on his way. He has just threatened Philip."

"Shall I get the kids upstairs then?"

"Probably best," Eddie said. "Maybe we should call the police."

"Yeah, I think we should." Rachel said as she walked away from the window. "Philip sounded terrified."

"You call them while me and Kim get this lot settled. Just… don't open the door to him on your own."

Rachel nodded at Eddie before she reentered the kitchen.


It was a nervous wait for all three of them as they waited for Adam to knock on the door. The police were on standby, not really thinking much of it. He hadn't yet done anything to Rachel. Or that is what it seemed like the operator was saying.

Rachel jumped as Adam bashed on the door.

"Rachel! I know you are here!"

So he wasn't even going to try and be nice about it. Eddie wasn't far behind her as she opened the door and Adam pushed his way in. There wasn't much room between her and Adam, with her back being pressed against the wall.

"You are such a bitch," Adam said. "Come on. We are going home."

"We aren't not going anywhere with you."

"Rachel, this isn't up for discussion."

"Isn't it?"

"You are coming home."

"Just me?" Rachel found a little strength to push him back. "Aren't you forgetting about someone?"

"Tommy? If it wasn't for Tommy, you wouldn't have left."

"You can't blame a seven-week-old!"

She watched Adam as he changed. The anger was still there but it was different.

"I'm sorry. You've been tired and you are still recovering from the caesarean. Come on, come home. We can talk about this."

"Is this how we are going to be now?"

"What do you mean?"

"That we are going to argue, you are going to lose your temper and before you do something stupid, you are going to apologise. I don't want that life, Adam. I lived like it in the past. Mum and Dad would argue and then Mum would leave. I don't want another life of being careful about what I say."

"You really are that selfish, aren't you?"

Adam took a step into her personal space again but it was short-lived as Eddie intervened, placing himself between her and Adam.

"I think you should leave," Eddie said.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Can you keep your voice down? There is a 20-month-old, a year old and a seven-week-old trying to sleep."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Eddie. I was previously Rachel's deputy. But you wouldn't know that. Because she didn't tell you. Now I think you should go before you do something stupid. Because there are two witnesses here to anything you do to Rachel."

She didn't see the way that Adam was glaring at Eddie or the way that he looked at Kim before deciding that it was probably best to leave. Rachel, in fact, was trying to resist the urge to place her head on Eddie's shoulder, like she had done that day, and wrap her arms around her waist.

She heard Eddie sigh before he turned to her and brought her into a hug.

"You know, we know a pretty good lawyer. And maybe we should bring Melissa into this conversation as well. Not that I think she will be happy about it."

"No, she won't be. But she is Sophie's mother. I suppose she does have a say."

"And I think she might like to meet her nephew."

Rachel held onto Eddie a little tighter and looked over at Kim. She knew that she had both their support. And her realisation over Adam's behaviour might just have saved her.