Thank you for the reviews.

So the first part of this is set the day after the last chapter. The second part is two weeks later. And then the third part is a month after that... okay... makes sense...

Chapter 18

There was definitely a different feeling around Eddie the next day and he knew that Rachel had noticed it as well. They both hadn't slept but it didn't seem to matter as they spoke about their plans for the summer holidays, even seeing if they could get a last-minute deal somewhere aboard. It gave them something to look forward to, even if it was only a week as they had no idea how everything was going to pan out.

But it was clear that Kim noticed it as well as she stopped him in the corridor.

"I hear it was a good result." She said.

"Well, we are here today. Didn't need you. Or Philip, thank God."

"No, you did."

"Shall we get back to hating each other? Because I think Rachel is getting a little worried about how well we are getting on."

"Yeah, it might have been hard to actually say anything nice about you."

Eddie laughed before it died. "Just… watch her today. It was mentioned."

"We knew that Melissa was going to play dirty."

"But really? She didn't need to drag that up."

"And I thought that she thought that Rachel was lying about it."

"Melissa believes things when it suits her. We haven't slept. But it will be nice once the Child Arrangement Order is drawn up. It will just mean that I have two standing orders going out. Never have kids, Kim."

"Bit late for that," Kim said as she gestured her bump.

"Although you are on the better side of things. Sure you don't want Max knowing just to get child maintenance."

"I don't think it would be worth the hassle."

"Well, I have about £300 to add to the £250 that I pay Alison a month. And I am sure that Max earns more than I do."

"Did earn. I would have no idea what he is doing now. Except I know that he isn't teaching." She sighed. "Eddie, it wouldn't be worth it because he would want to have another go at things and I can't. He almost destroyed the friendship that I had with Rachel all because he complimented me and put Rachel down for the same things. And I enjoyed the way that he was complimenting me. He was trying to drive a wedge between us and he almost succeeded. Which is why I knew I had to be there for Rachel now."

"Even if it meant saying nice things about me."

"I can't believe I agreed to do that."

"Don't worry, come September, you can act like I never returned."

"Come September, I will be on maternity."

"I'm not covering yours."

"So you aren't going to leave teaching?"

"Well let's just say that I don't fancy retraining at 42. And Rachel is right. I would have ended up missing it. It is a challenge if you pick the right school."

"And I am sure Rachel has a glowing reference waiting for you."

"She'll have to tweak it a bit. Only looking for a maths teacher role. There is only one headteacher that I want to be their deputy and unfortunately, she already has one. I'll take a head of maths but no higher than that."

"You don't fancy having a head teaching role then."

"No. Because when she leaves here, I hope to follow. I wouldn't be able to follow if I have a school to run myself."

"You think she will leave here?"

"One day. Just not this academic year. She will want a new challenge. This place is almost ready just for someone with new ideas. It doesn't need saving. It just needs improving further."

"You know what, I do think that you are right."

Rachel smiled as she tapped her foot against Eddie's as they sat at the kitchen table, her doing paperwork while he did his marking. She held the pen in her hand between her teeth as he looked up at her.

"You obviously want to tell me something." He said.

"I might have had an email earlier today."

"From?"

"Lukas Reeves of Wardle Academy."

"Right."

"Asking me for a reference for you."

"Have you given me one?"

"Well, I think I may have gone over the top. I may have praised you a little too much."

"Can you praise me too much?"

"I think so because he then called me to ask why you were leaving when I could be so complimentary. I told him that you were only with us because it was a maternity cover because you were between jobs. I didn't really know what to say. But just so you know if he asks you. That is what I said." She giggled. "Although part of the conversation was me confirming and denying rumours that he had heard about Waterloo Road."

"I think part of all my interviews are going to be why are you only applying for a teaching role when you have been in a leadership role."

"Have you come up with your answer for that yet?"

"Why do you think I am going to get an interview?"

"I would be surprised if you didn't."

"I think we are even now. Don't you?"

"Well, I am not having any thoughts about giving up teaching."

"But?"

"But I think that next year might be my last at Waterloo Road. I've never stayed somewhere as long as I have done with Waterloo Road. I always move on after two years. I do what I need to do and then I go. But this is my third year now. I know my first year wasn't a full year but it is longer than I have ever planned. Maybe I thought Waterloo Road still needed me when actually I needed it."

"I said something like that to Kim. I did think that maybe you would be ready to move on soon."

"I'll have a word with the LEA over the summer. See whether there would be anything for me next September. I know that they do like to place me in failing schools."

"Test the waters."

"What if I have to move?"

"Maybe something to talk about when you are given a place."

Rachel tilted her head to the side. "Move in."

"What?"

"Properly. Move in. It isn't like you have been back to your flat and there is no point in you having it when you have been here and I want you here. So move in with me, properly."

"Sure you have enough space for my things as well."

"I can make space."

"Sure that you want me here all the time."

"Of course I do."

"Are we back officially dating then?"

"English dating?"

"Of course English dating. There is no one else but you."

"Likewise." She said.

She watched him as he finally threw down his pen. He had obviously caught onto the fact that she didn't want to do any more of her paperwork and she hoped that he was the same about his marking.

"So has Philip said anything more to you about how he is going to do things regarding where he lives?" He said.

"He says that Melissa is treating him a little better. Although he suspects that is because she still needs his help with looking after Daryl which I have told him isn't his responsibility. He said that he might spend half his time here, half his time with Melissa. It doesn't completely matter as next year he will be off at uni." She sighed. "But he did mention that he would be over later. He is currently still trying to make things up to Ros."

"Poor girl."

"Chris is still hoping that she will make a decision soon over her re-sit. I think she needs the summer to think about it. She can always take it in January. There is no point in rushing her into making a decision about her future when she is working herself out."

"He does seem rather enthusiastic about it."

"And to think we got enthusiastic over C grades."

"And Ds and Es. It was Us we didn't want to see. We cared about getting them a job, not a university place at Oxbridge."

"And I think it goes back to what I asked Chris. Why did you get into teaching? I wanted to stop others from making the choices I did."

"I want to inspire the next generation as I had been inspired." Eddie paused. "I know you said about going to see Kim, but were you thinking about getting her anything?"

"I suppose we should."

"A little outfit for when Dex is a little older is probably the best bet."

"All boys."

"Elise is the only girl."

"Little Izzie Charles is the last girl I know of."

"What a day that was."

"Never a quiet moment."

"Are you worried?"

"Of course I am."

"Earl and Maxine?"

"Keeps playing on my mind. Just… the things that Finn can make Amy do. It does scare me how far he is willing to push it."

Eddie smiled at her and she couldn't help but shake her head at how their conversation had moved through a number of different things before ending. If someone had told her over four months ago that she would have Eddie Lawson back in her life and they would act as if they'd never been apart or that all the nastiness of how they broke up wouldn't come between them again, she wouldn't have believed them. Because she was sure that she would never have the honour of being back in Eddie's company again. And she was extremely grateful that she was.

"I have an idea," Eddie said.

"What's that?"

"Well… it is one that I think we should do sooner rather than later as Philip is out."

"Is this going to be like the idea you had in my office?"

"Not exactly."

"Good because I am still trying to come up with an excuse as to how the chair broke."

"I didn't think that would happen."

"I could tell that by the look on your face. So what is this idea of yours?"

"Firstly, we need to ditch this."

"Perfectly fine."

"And then… I think it is best if I show you."

"Then what are you waiting for Lawson."

She couldn't explain why the sight of Eddie getting all flustered excited her so much but it went back to her earlier thought. She was grateful that she had this second chance with Eddie but she couldn't also help but wonder where her life would have been if her and Adam hadn't been locked in a cupboard.

If it was anyone else standing in front of him, smoothing down their dress and looking at their reflection in the mirror, Eddie probably would have said that they didn't have to go after the events that closed the term and academic year at Waterloo Road. But he knew that they were going to the prom whatever. How could they not?

"Has Chris got a hold of you yet?" He said.

Rachel looked at him through the mirror. "Suicide."

"God."

"I've spoken to Kim. She is going to get Finn some help. Something else we have all missed."

"I don't think you missed it. You just didn't think that it would go that far again."

"Chris got there in time. I don't think Amy was all for it so I am glad that she asked for five more minutes. I would love to know what was going through Finn's head."

"Probably that no one cared about him. The only time he got any real attention was when he was playing up. He probably loved all the times he was called into your office or Chris 'sorted' him out. It was probably giving him the attention that he obviously isn't getting at home. But he has hidden that by his bad behaviour."

"It is funny what your own mind can tell you."

"He isn't the first kid to cry out for attention and he won't be the last."

"It just can't get to that stage again."

"That is all we can hope."

He walked up to her and wrapped his arms around her, glad that the days of where she would tense up were gone and he could just focus on giving her the comfort that she needed as she leant back into him. He placed a kiss on her cheek as her hands slid over his forearms.

"You look absolutely beautiful." He said.

"And you look as handsome as ever."

"Is this an event where the sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave?"

"You wish Lawson."

"Just as much as that dress looks amazing on you, I think it would also look just as good on the floor."

"I think you are completely back to normal."

"Maybe I just know that I can be myself around you. I don't have to hide anything from you."

"I get that. When I am with you, I am always Rachel. I never feel like I am Amanda."

Eddie looked at them in the mirror and he couldn't help but notice the smile that graced both their lips. He knew that he wasn't happy without Rachel but he could never imagine that one person could give him so much happiness. That he was happy when she was happy and that he would be there to comfort her when she needed comforting. He knew what they had said once they had been reunited but there was nowhere else that he wanted to be than at Rachel's side. It was going to be weird not working beside her every day again but at least, this time, he would always have the thought that he would be coming home to her.

"Come on. Let's go before my thoughts get too wild." He said.

"Really?"

"Of course Mason." He said before placing a kiss on her temple. "I don't know how I ever had a professional thought about you."

"Maybe you never did."

"Now you are teasing me."

He loved the way that she bit her lip before she turned in his arms and played with his collar, putting it where she deemed right. She placed a kiss on his lips before she tapped his arms, telling him that he was right and they should get going. Eddie knew that they would pick this up later. Because that was the way their relationship was and he had no idea why he let her go so easily a year ago.