Thank you for the reviews.

I know what I am going regarding work now... I do think I will be glad when I can go back into the office but I still have a job which is the main thing.

Now, this is how this episode should have ended and I think it is all the change that you are expecting. With Eddie being a bit of a romantic.


Series 4 Episode 1 II

"Just leave it, Eddie."

Deep down, Rachel knew that she didn't want to push him away. She knew he was right when he said that there was something between them. But she couldn't do it. She couldn't put it into words but she just couldn't do it. Not with the scar.

She was only half-aware of him calling after her but she only had one destination. Her sister's car.

She was a few steps away when he finally caught her up and stopped her before he got onto his knees in front of her.

"Eddie, get up."

"Not until you have listened to me."

"This is ridiculous."

"And… you potentially throwing whatever we had away is equally ridiculous. Rachel… All I want you to do is listen to me. Properly listen to me. If you still feel the same way when I have finished, then… I'll find a way to get over you. I'll move on."

She sighed, knowing that there were times when he was as stubborn as she was. She nodded at him, unable to trust what might come out of her mouth.

"Rachel, there is no one like you. And as much as I shouted at you earlier, I know why you ran back into that building. Because you knew that there was a scared 11-year-old boy who didn't know what the hell was going on and I hate that you do stupid things like that, but it is what I love about you. I love your determination. That never giving up attitude. I love your passion for the kids. I love that you want to help them out. I love… Well, I am certain that I love you.

"You don't know how much I wanted you to walk out of the doors during the fire. How equally worried and angry that I was when they pulled your body from the rubble and then Stuart's. You wouldn't have known that I tried to be by your bedside as much as I could. That the only reason I… abandoned you was because they said that they had contacted your next of kin and I had heard of the vote of no confidence.

"Rachel. You are Waterloo Road as much as every teacher and student that walks through the gates. You are the woman that has turned around the school. And I will forever be making up for the fact that Stuart told them all your secret. Waterloo Road wouldn't be the same without you. It is your school and as much as Ralph wanted me to take the job, I couldn't. Because turning up, day in day out, without you in that office would… it wouldn't be worth doing the job any more. Rach…"

It was only as the car horn went off that Rachel realised that they were in the middle of the road. The person rolled down their window to shout at them.

"Yeah, well can't you see I am trying to declare my love here," Eddie shouted back.

"Eddie, just get up."

He did and the driver made obscene gestures at them as he drove off. It was only as Eddie moved back to where they were that she felt like this was all going a little too far. Although she was enjoying the gesture.

"You were there." He said, pointing at where she was.

"And Eddie, we were in the middle of the road."

"So, I hadn't finished."

She found herself smiling and shaking her head at him. She retook her place in front of him, hoping that he wouldn't get back down on his knees.

"Rach, I'm not going to stand here and tell you how you should feel. I know you better than that. But, I… I do need you to be certain. I… don't want you to say no now, when you should have said maybe. I don't want to hurt you, Rach. I don't want to do something stupid. Because I know you, Rach. You will always put others before yourself. Which is another thing I love about you."

She was finding the words to say to him when her phone rang, it wasn't a good distraction but she knew it was only going to be one person and she was so glad that Melissa hadn't got out of the car.

"Are you coming?" Her sister asked.

"Yeah, just… give me five minutes."

"Who are you talking to?"

"The guy… that I told you about."

Rachel didn't wait for her sister's reply and hung up. She knew she had to say something to Eddie. She knew that she had said what she had to give him a little hope as well. She just had to organise her own thoughts.

She found herself raising her hand and cupping his cheek. He had reminded her as to why she fell in love with him at the end of the last school year. Why she was looking forward to that drink with him on the last day. Why she was so disappointed when he didn't turn up when she was at the hospital or when she was home.

"No. You are right. It… isn't a no. There was something." She paused. "I wish we got that drink. I… wish I never tried to save Stuart by myself. Still don't really know what was going through my mind when I thought it was a good idea. Eddie… there were equal parts of me that wanted you to visit me and not. Did… did you know about the scar then?"

"No. They wouldn't tell me much. And at that point, you had a hospital gown up to your neck."

"Eddie… I wasn't ready to come back today. As much as I wanted to come back, I realise now that it was too soon."

"That was only because of the gun."

She shook her head at him. "No, it was before that. It was the way that my hands shook as I left my car or the way that I thought people were talking about me. Or… or the panic attack that I almost had in the foyer. Or the way it took me a few moments to get the assembly started this morning. I wasn't ready as much as I wanted to come back to work. So whatever there was between us at the end of the school year… I am not ready for that either. I need to take this one step at a time. Work is more important. I have more people relying on me. I am grateful for everything you have done. And I realise that I need you by my side. I need your support. I… I just can't take it to the next stage yet."

He smiled at her as he took a small step forward.

"Then I will be by your side, supporting you. I want to be there for every breakdown, every time you feel like you are going to go into a panic. I am there for you Rachel. And I'll wait for you. We will get you settled in, where you belong. Then we can work out everything else. Because nothing else matters at the moment. I… just wish you told me sooner."

"Used to just putting on a brave face."

"Not to me. Not anymore."

Her arms slid around his neck and she knew that he wanted more than a hug but it was all she could manage at the moment. His arms wrapped around her waist and she felt him place his nose on her shoulder.

"We will talk more in the morning." He said as they pulled back.

"I think we have a lot to talk about in the morning."

"There is the Rachel Mason I love."

"I don't think so. But… I'll get back there."

"I'll pick you up at 8."

"Sounds like a plan."

He didn't want to let her go, but she knew that he knew he had to. They hadn't left it at her saying no to them. It was a maybe. It was a we will see. And Rachel couldn't be more glad that Eddie followed her.