Uncharacteristically, Rachel fell asleep in the car on the way home, a troubled look remained on her face even as she slumbered. Eddie kept giving her concerned glances, especially when he pulled up outside and she didn't even stir. He reached out, brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheeks. "Rach, we're here."

She hummed, wincing as she shifted her neck out of the awkward position it had ended up in. She was quiet as they went inside, collapsing onto the sofa without even taking her shoes off. Eddie trailed after her, frowning worriedly. "Are you getting ill?"

"I don't know. I hope not, I don't have the time." She raised her hand to her own forehead, trying to tell if she had a temperature. Eddie took over for her.

"You don't feel hot."

"Maybe I'm just tired."

"Why don't you lay down for a while?" he suggested. "I'll make a start on dinner."

A wave of guilt washed over her. "Are you sure?"

"More than." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'll come and wake you when it's ready."

She nodded, fully intending to go upstairs as he left the room to hang his jacket up. She'd go in a minute, but it was such a long way and all she wanted to do was close her eyes. With a gargantuan effort, she managed to unzip her boots and tug them off, leaving them where they fell as she snuggled back into the sofa. She would only be there a minute, just to muster up the energy to climb the stairs…

Two hours later, Eddie found her fast asleep, still on the sofa. He picked up her boots and stowed them away, brushing his hand over her head again, relieved when she still didn't seem warmer than she should have been. Although that did beg the question of why was she suddenly so tired?

He debated not waking her, but decided that if she found herself wide awake at 3am because he'd let her sleep, it would do more harm than good. "Rachel. Sweetheart, wake up. You've been asleep for hours."

She blinked blearily at him, then looked around and frowned in confusion. "I don't even remember falling asleep. I guess I didn't make it to the bedroom."

"Apparently not. I made duck salad for dinner, is that okay?"

She smiled at him. "It's like having a personal chef," she joked, and tugged him down to kiss him. "Thank you for earlier, by the way."

"You don't have to thank me." He pulled her to her feet, guided her to the kitchen. "Bolton's a good lad. You've done amazingly with him."

"He did most of it himself. I just can't believe that Stuart would-," she cut herself off, and Eddie snorted as he fetched the plates.

"I can. Though I don't quite understand the timing of it. Why do it now?"

She sighed. "I've given up trying to understand him. What sort of person would rather go to prison that walk away scot free?"

"A crazy one?" he deadpanned, and was rewarded by her laughter, however faint.

When the plates had been cleared and the food eaten, Rachel felt herself gaining some of her strength back. She was lucky to have Eddie, who had allowed her to sleep and dutifully cooked her dinner. So with that in mind, she sent him off to the living room with a smile. "Wait for me in there, I'll wash up." She pushed delicately, standing to retrieve his plate and rewarding him with a small kiss.

He was by her side as soon as her back was turned though,

"I'll help."

"No you won't, you cooked. Let me do this and I'll be in." She ordered softly, her voice leaving no room for argument as she shooed him away with the tea towel.

Rachel was hopping along to her own humming as she finished up, far more awake after her nap and trying not to think about the days events that had occurred. She wanted one night to just focus on her and Eddie, to try and enjoy the fact that they were finally a couple after months of dancing around another and their feelings. Only that was too much to ask for, and she finally turned after finishing to find Eddie stood waiting for her with a look on his face that she couldn't quite read. "What is it?" She asked, almost scared to hear the answer.

"It's Steph." Eddie answered, plain and simply. There was no use beating around the bush.

"Oh god, what?"

"The meeting is off. I don't know how she's done it but she has."

The pure elation that crossed Rachel's face was enough for Eddie to cross the room and pick her up into his arms. Her legs wrapped around him as a reaction, and she found herself kissing him with all of her might as she struggled to contain her happiness.

Eddie pulled back from her kisses, earning a soft groan from her that almost had him forgetting his train of thought. But he didn't want to get carried away, not yet anyway. "It's sorted for now, but we've got to think of something. Bolton could help, we need to arrange a meeting."

Rachel nodded her agreement, but she was so desperate to get back to kissing him that she would agree to pretty much anything. "We will. We'll discuss it later. But not now."

"Not now?" Eddie asked, figuring that Rachel would want their next steps mapped and worked out before the evening was through.

"No Eddie, not now." And she kissed him again, the passion needing no more explanation as Eddie picked her back up and started to carry her upstairs to the bedroom.