Sorry! Work is ridiculously busy, we're actually over capacity at this point. Thank you so much to everyone reviewing and reading- hope you like it! x

Rachel wasn't going back on her word to Eddie. She'd had every intention of ensuring she was never alone behind closed doors with Adam but she hadn't quite considered how to get around the issue of him coming to her office unsolicited, and closing the door behind him.

She smiled weakly at him, inwardly cursing. "This isn't a great time..."

"Even the headteacher needs a break every so often." He put a mug of tea down on her desk, and how the hell was she supposed to get out of this?

She murmured a thanks, wrapped her hands around it. "What can I do for you?"

He looked amused. "Do I need a reason to come and see you?"

She shrugged slightly. "Most people usually have one."

"You need to get out of this office more," he advised with a laugh. "Why don't we do something tonight? We could go see a film."

He was just being friendly, she told herself even as her stomach sank. "I can't I'm afraid."

Adam's expression flickered. "Why not?"

Please don't be doing this, she prayed, putting the mug down. "Eddie's son is with us tonight- we're talking him out for dinner as a treat."

"I see." His tone was unreadable, and she tilted her head at him in confusion.

"Adam, are you upset with me for some reason?" she asked. "Because you've been in a funny mood with me for days now and I'm not quite sure why..."

He looked hesitant, like he wanted to say something but then shook his head. "No. No, I'm not upset with you, I'm upset with me. It's nothing."

"I don't understand," she admitted and he smiled slightly.

"No, you don't, do you?" It was murmured as he looked at her with the oddest expression, and she wasn't sure how to respond to that, or even if she was supposed to.

"Adam..." she began, but trailed off because what was she supposed to say now?

"It's okay." He smiled, bitter and twisted. "The issue's mine, Rach, not yours. Don't worry about it."

Despite the fact she'd done nothing wrong, guilt swam within her as her jaw dropped a little, and wasn't Eddie going to be thrilled when she had to tell him that he'd been right all along? Adam had risen, crossed the office with the intent to leave and she was on her feet before she realised she'd moved. "Adam!"

He turned, looked at her enquiringly as she came around the desk, confusion washing over her.

"I'm not completely obtuse," she told him softly, and saw his expression contort. "But I still don't understand. You don't even know me."

He scoffed. "Of course I know you."

"You knew me at sixteen. But neither of us are teenagers anymore, things have changed."

His gaze met hers, and she was startled by the depth of the emotions in his. "Not everything."

For a long moment, she couldn't tear her eyes away. Her gaze was caught by his, and if this were Eddie in front of her, this conversation would be ending very differently. But it wasn't Eddie and when movement caught her eyes, just on the peripheral of her vision, Adam's hand reaching out towards her, she quickly stepped away, ignoring the hurt that crossed his face. "I love Eddie," she told him softly, but her tone leaving no room for questioning. "I'm going to be his wife. We have a life together, one I'm very happy with. Adam..."

"I've heard the talk," he interrupted. "He was engaged to your sister, you all thought he'd got her pregnant. Rachel-"

Anger flashed through her. "You don't get to judge us. My relationship with Eddie is none of your business."

"You really want to build a life with someone who could do that?"

"I'm marrying him, aren't I?"

They were both breathing more heavily, gazes fixed on the other. Rachel was praying he would drop it, leave the argument, but this was her and of course things weren't going to be that easy. Adam tilted his head, pinned her with a look. "You don't have to."

She groaned. "Adam!"

"Alright!" He held his hands up, looking resigned. "I had to try."

She wished he hadn't. "You were my friend, and that meant more to me than you'll ever know," she told him quietly. "I'd hoped we could be friends again but not... not unless..."

"Tell me one thing?" Adam requested. "And then I promise I'll drop this, it'll be forgotten. But I need to know one thing first."

Her arms were wrapped around herself, but she nodded in agreement. "What?"

"Did you ever consider more?"

She didn't have to ask what he meant, and swallowed thickly. "Adam..."

His laugh was hollow and bitter. "It's okay. I can see the answer in your face."

Rachel closed her eyes for a moment. "It wouldn't have changed anything, even if I had," she murmured. "I would never have acted on it. There was too much going on in my life. I had your friendship, I was grateful for that and it was enough for me."

"If you hadn't been with Eddie, could things have been different?" he asked, and she couldn't deny him an answer in the face of his obvious hurt, even if it wasn't the one he was looking for.

"I honestly don't know," she admitted. "But I am with Eddie- the point is moot."

"I suppose it is."

His agreement did nothing to ease the ache in her chest, and she couldn't help but be relieved when he left without saying anything further. She collapsed onto the sofa, head buried in her hands and absently wondered what she would have to do to have one normal week around this place.

W.R.

Friday night equalled pub. It had been like that at Waterloo Road for as long as anyone could remember, and Rachel couldn't see it changing anytime soon. It was one of the nicer traditions at the school though, she thought as she laughed at Tom's impression of one of the kids during his class that day, a nice way to decompress and remind themselves they were more than just teachers. Even if there was a part of her that would rather be home with Eddie.

Steph took over the story time, gesturing wildly as she spoke and Rachel settled back into her seat, enjoying the story that had almost everyone laughing. "No, there's no way." Chris was arguing back, grinning. "You did not get away with screwing your boyfriend in the headteacher's office."

Steph took a dainty sip of her drink. "It's easier than you'd think. Tell them, Rachel."

Rachel almost choked on her wine. "Excuse me?" She looked at her incredulously, while everyone else fell silent, wide eyed. Adam looked almost in pain, while poor Ruby on the verge of passing out. Steph blew a raspberry.

"You and Eddie must have gotten up to some fun in your office last year?"

"No!" Rachel was aghast. "Of course we didn't!"

"Not ever?"

Her cheeks were on fire, and she must have had even more to drink than she'd realised to be continuing this conversation. "No! We would never… and we work in a school! Besides, I think almost everyone here has at some point barged into my office without knocking, it's not exactly private."

Now, the blonde just looked sly. "So you would've?"

"No! Oh my God." Rachel covered her face with her hand. "This is so inappropriate. No, Steph, I can honestly say I have never been that unprofessional, not with Eddie or anybody else for that matter."

"I heard my name."

Rachel looked around in surprise, unbelievably relieved to see Eddie walking up to them behind. "Oh thank God, somebody sane."

"On a good day," he joked, leaning over to kiss her softly. Across from them, to Eddie's satisfaction Adam looked away stonily, while a quiet 'aw' sounded from somewhere on their right. Eddie looked up, hand sliding around Rachel's shoulders. "What are we talking about?"

"Yours and Rachel's sex life."

Steph's casual remark had him spluttering, while Rachel turned red. "No we were not!"

Eddie glanced between them uncertainly while Steph just cackled. "Eddie be honest- have you ever thought about doing it in Rachel's office?"

"Doing what?"

Rachel raised an eyebrow at him pointedly. His eyes widened. "Oh. God no! Never seriously, anyway. Why are we talking about this?"

Chris came to their rescue. "Steph has, in the headteacher's office with her boyfriend."

Eddie looked startled. "What? When?"

"At my old school." She waved a hand in the air. "Silly old codger had no idea."

Ruby was pale, and a little green around the gills. "Can we please change the subject?"

"And that's my cue," Rachel said hurriedly, standing up and grabbing her bag. "See you all Monday!"

Steph laughed loudly. "Chicken!" She called after her, but she and Eddie were already halfway towards the door, the latter somewhat bemused.

"I think I probably needed to be there for the whole conversation to fully understand that."

Rachel laughed quietly, slowing down once they were outside. "Honestly, if it were anyone but Steph I'd think they were exaggerating."

"She has no need to."

They walked around the corner of the building to the carpark, and Eddie automatically headed towards the car. Only Rachel pulled him to a stop, spinning them into the shadows against the wall and looking at him in amusement. "So, you've never 'seriously considered' it?" she questioned, putting the phrase in quotation marks. Her smile only grew when his eyes widened.

"I…"

"Insinuating," she continued with a smirk, "that you have thought about it in a non-serious way?"

He stared at her. "There is absolutely no way for me to get out of this, is there?"

"Nope." She looked highly amused, winding her arms around his neck. "Tell me."

Eddie swallowed, mouth suddenly very dry. "There may have been a few… fantasies," he admitted reluctantly. Her obvious enjoyment at his predicament was not helping matters.

"Were there now? Before or after we were together?" She tilted her head. His expression said it all, and she let out a delighted laugh. "Both?"

"Rach…" His face was hot, the whine escaping him before he could help it. She payed it no heed, and he took courage at the fact she hadn't pulled away or made a face to tug her closer. Rachel came willingly, stretching up to brush her lips against his, tantalisingly lightly. "I think I may need details of some of these fantasies," she murmured, and his eyebrows shot towards the sky.

"Really?"

She hummed, kissed him again, slower and deeper and leaving no doubt as to her intentions. Eddie was just growing hot under the collar, seriously considering tugging her deeper into the shadows towards the back of the building when she pulled away abruptly, hair mussed and a grin on her lips. "But not here," she amended, amused. "Not before we start something we can't finish."

He hadn't seen this side of her before, but he couldn't deny that he liked it very, very much. He smirked at her, held out a hand, and wondered just how far he could push the speed limit on the way home.

W.R.

It was late, but neither Rachel or Eddie made any effort to move from the position they'd fallen into on the sofa. Both barely dressed, they'd only ventured back downstairs for food, picking at leftover salad and cold meat from the fridge as they lay entwined, both half asleep until Eddie spoke suddenly. "Did you see your Mr Fleet's face when I kissed you."

"He's not my anything," she murmured. "But yes, I did."

"Rachel-,"

"I know." She cut him off, not wanting to go there.

He raised an eyebrow. "Do you?"

"He made it quite clear."

He looked down at her in shock, stiffening. "What? When?"

Rachel sighed, and leant her head against him. "A couple of days ago," she admitted, fully aware she probably should have mentioned this sooner. "I shut him down."

There was a long silence, the only sound Eddie's breathing. Rachel felt a flicker of worry, was just mustering up the energy to lift her head to look at him when Eddie snorted in laughter. "Poor bloke."

"Eddie!" She swung herself upright and frowned at him, unamused.

"Come on, Rach, it's a little funny."

Her voice was ice cold. "Forgive me if I don't think so."

"Rachel!" Eddie was bewildered as she abruptly stood up from the sofa, pausing before she got to the door.

"I'm aware you find this hilarious, but I don't. He was my friend once, and not only has he pretty much ruined any chance of that again but I had to hurt him in the process. I don't find that amusing at all." And then she was gone, leaving Eddie blinking in shock. It took him approximately thirty seconds to regain his wits and head upstairs after her, pausing before he joined her in the bedroom. She was slumped on the bed, her back to him and despite that fact that she must have heard him, said nothing.

Eddie sighed, and crossed the room to ease down next to her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

It took a moment, but she leant her head against his shoulder. "I know. I'm sorry too, I just… I'm angry with Adam. But I can't say that because he was so hurt the other day I felt bad for him."

"What did he actually say?"

She shrugged. "That I wasn't tied down to you yet, I could still change my mind. That you weren't good for me, that I should date him, more or less."

Eddie had to clamp down on the instinctive rush of hot anger, taking as slow breath and blowing it out before he answered. "And you said?"

"That we had to keep it a secret until I could get life insurance money for you."

The response was so dry and deadpan that it took him a second. "Hilarious."

She shrugged one shoulder, smiling regretfully before she stretched up to peck his cheek. "I'd have liked to have my friend back. But I'd much rather have you."

That sounded pretty good to him, Eddie thought, wrapping her in a hug.