The one place he wouldn't know to look for her was at Melissa's house, so that's where Rachel found herself an hour later, seconded on the sofa with a mug of tea and baffled sister. "I don't understand," Melissa was saying. "I thought things were good between you?"

"So did I."

Tears welled in her eyes, and a pang hit Melissa. "Oh Rachel…"

"Stupid hormones." She swiped roughly at her cheeks, scowling. "He told me he wanted to adopt them, Mel. The day he can, six months after they're born. He said he'd sign the birth certificate if it was legal for him to do so. And now he's changed his mind again."

"What did he actually say?"

"That they aren't his. And then he tried to backtrack, but that was his automatic reaction. That he's not their father, despite his pretty words before."

"Well… he's not," Mel pointed out practically, and was promptly pinned with a glare. "But that's not the point," she added hastily.

Rachel sighed. "Maybe it is," she murmured. "I had doubts all along, but I told myself that it was just me being my usual anxious self. Maybe it was instinct instead."

Melissa pulled her into a hug. "Oh Rach. You've moved so quickly with him. Most people are still casually getting to know each other four months after meeting- you're moving in with him and having twins. Whatever happened to my cautious, sensible sister?"

She let out a teary laugh, leaning against her. "She fell head over heels in love and lost her damn mind."

Now, it was Melissa's turn to laugh. She squeezed tighter. "What do you want to do?"

"I want to never see him again. Not entirely practical when he's my deputy."

"You don't mean that."

"Right now I do."

Melissa didn't know what to say to that, so said nothing. Rachel stayed resting against her, eyes burning but oddly dry now, throat still constricted but unable to cry. "It's really, really stupid," she murmured suddenly, "but I want mum."

"That's not stupid."

"She's been gone for thirty years, and I choose now to not be okay with it?"

Melissa snorted out a laugh. "That's normal. I think most women want their mums- it's natural. I did too."

Rachel levered herself upright, turning to look at her. "Really?"

"When I was in labour," she nodded, "I just burst into hysterical tears, asking for her, even though logically I knew it absolutely wasn't possible. Phil's dad had no clue what to do, and then this well-meaning midwife turned to him and asked if she was nearby, or if it was possible to get her on the phone. Which of course, only made me cry harder."

She cursed herself when she saw her sister's expression constrict at the word 'dad', and hastily cast around for a new topic. "Have you decorated the nursery yet?"

"I promised you can help, didn't I?" Rachel shot her a smile. "That one's ours. I think I found a wallpaper I like though. Bright coloured clouds- pretty, gender-neutral and it will even age well with them."

"Sounds perfect." Melissa squeezed her hand, inwardly thinking that Rachel could have suggested anything and she still would have agreed.

Rachel knew Eddie would be lying in wait for her Monday morning. She'd avoided him all weekend, turning her phone off, spending the night at Melissa's and generally trying to distract herself. She'd had the added advantage of knowing Eddie had Michael, and it was hard to be sneaky with a toddler in tow.

But she was out of luck when it came to avoiding him completely at school, though she intended of giving it a good go. Instead of going to her office first, she went to the staffroom on the pretence of needing to talk to Davina (which wasn't a lie- she did need to have a conversation with her). While she was there, Tom asked a question about exams and before she knew it the bell had gone. Eddie had registration, so she was safe enough to head back the other way.

"Miss!"

She turned. "Hello, Bolton."

"Miss, I really need to talk to you."

She gave him a smile, hefting her bag up higher. "Well, come on then. Let's go to my office."

It was occupied. Eddie looked up as she entered, shooting to his feet and the expression on his face was almost comical when he spotted Bolton behind her. "Good morning Mr Lawson," she said coolly. "Did you not hear the bell?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Bolton's first in line I'm afraid," she dismissed. "And you have a form group waiting for you."

Do your job, was the underlying warning in her voice. He gave a sharp nod, and she carefully schooled her expression as she turned to face Bolton, paying no attention to Eddie's departure. "What's up?"

Six and a half hours to go, she thought to herself as the boy began to talk.

Rachel knew she wasn't being rational, and was definitely being slightly childish as she caught sight of Eddie down the corridor and immediately turned the other way. Moving as fast as her feet would carry her, she drifted into a classroom filled with year 10's and pretended to be interested in the Religious Education lesson she'd stumbled upon, asking questions and peering into books as Eddie looked in through the door. Making herself look as busy as possible, she waited as long as she could and studied the worksheets until he left and gave her an out to leave and go back to her office, hopefully to find she had a meeting scheduled that would keep her away from him for longer.

Only she wasn't so lucky, and as she approached her office, she found no Bridget but one Eddie waiting for her in the otherwise empty space. Rachel breezed straight past him without a second glance, not caring for how petty and immature it may seem. She knew they needed to talk, especially as she couldn't hide at Melissa's for much longer, but she couldn't face him without crying and she wanted to at least pretend she was strong and okay.

"Rach, please talk to me." His voice sounded so broken that it almost caused her to stumble in rearranging the sheets on her desk, desperate not to make eye contact as she avoiding even looking in his direction.

So she shook her head and focused on a piece of paper, the words swimming in her vision as the tears formed in her eyes already. "I can't Eddie, not here, not now." Her voice was a whisper, her lip trembling as all different emotions whirled in her head. Anger, heartbreak, confusion. She didn't know where to start or what to do next.

"Yes, here. And yes, now!" Eddie moved closer to her, taking the papers from her hand and hoping it would make her look at him. But he head no such look, and she hung her head with her eyes focused on the floor to avoid him entirely. "I didn't mean it, you've got to believe me. I'm so sorry." He couldn't find the words, didn't know how to explain what had happened and why he'd panicked so much. Truthfully, he knew Rachel had every right to never speak to him again. What he'd said was unforgivable, but he knew he needed to try everything before they got to that point.

"How can I believe that?" Rachel asked, practically spitting the words out as her emotions fought but anger won out. "I heard the words, clear as day. They're not yours, you said it remember? Not me. You said they're not your children, so I don't think there's anything more you need to say to me." She began to pace, moving away from him and walking in lines up and down the small space in order to keep herself busy and just simply do something.

"There is." Eddie insisted, stopping Rachel from moving before she made herself dizzy by taking hold of her arms gently and forcing her to look at him. "There's a lot more I need to say Rach. I need to say that I'm an idiot. That I was wrong, I was put on the spot and panicked because the last time I saw Francine, I didn't even know what we were. I need to say that I want to be with you, more than anything. I want a life with you, and with our three children. It's quick, I know that, but I love you." He confirmed, hoping that at least some of his words were getting through to her and swaying her back towards him in some way. He didn't expect it to be easy, knew he had his work cut out for him in terms of winning her back and making up for his stupid actions. But he had an idea, and let go of her arms as he allowed his imagination to run away with him. Eddie was desperate, and suddenly found himself down on one knee in front of her. "Marry me Rachel, let me prove this to you."