There were days when Rachel wondered how she'd ended up where she was, days when she had to pause and take five minutes to register that she was here, that she'd made it here despite everything. Never in her wildest dreams had she dared to hope she would ever have this. She'd forced herself to be okay with her career, with caring for children who would never be hers, with putting her energy into building up a school and all the people inside it. And now she was here instead. With a little boy running around not far from them, his father's arm slung around her shoulders, his ring on her finger.

She'd never been happier, she thought warmly as Eddie shifted, absently dropped a kiss on her head as he settled into a more comfortable position. Warmth flushed through her and she leant against him, drowsy not from tiredness but from utter contentment.

"You two are so sweet." Kim's quiet comment had Rachel glancing at her, rolling her eyes but unable to stop the small smile from playing across her lips. Next to Kim, Chris was smirking, but didn't dare voice his agreement aloud.

This had been a good idea, Rachel thought, surveying the rest of the staff. A picnic, open to partners and children as well, officially as a team building exercise but in reality an excuse for some free food and football. Tom had managed to persuade Chlo to come, and Rachel had been startled to realise her baby was trying solid foods and crawling around, Donte beaming with pride the whole time. Kim and Chris had been side-by-side the entire afternoon, while even Grantley had been persuaded to come, although Rachel suspected some arm-bending on Steph's part.

The single concern Rachel had had, was keeping Eddie and Adam apart. While she was almost convinced Adam wouldn't do anything, she dreaded to think of what Eddie would do or say if he came face to face with man.

Kim knew, and thought it was hilarious.

"Rachel!"

She looked up at the sound of Michael's voice, saw the boy racing towards them. "What's up?"

He jumped at them, and both she and Eddie reached out to catch him automatically, though judging by Eddie's wince, they weren't quite fast enough to stop knees landing in uncomfortable places. Michael didn't notice, settling onto her lap and holding his hand out. "For you!"

She laughed delightedly, and took the daisy from him. "Thank you, my love." She tucked it behind her ear, smiled. "What do you think?"

"Pretty," Michael agreed, before looking over to Eddie. "Daddy, come play!"

And so Rachel found herself alone as she leant back on her arms, watching as her boys dashed off together. From the corner of her eye, she could see Adam. An unreadable expression on his face, but the expected wave of faint guilt didn't come and she simply raised an eyebrow at him. This was her family, she told him silently, and he didn't get to interfere.

In perfect timing, Michael appeared in front of her, beaming and holding her hand out. "Come on, Rachel!"

She didn't even hesitate, taking his hand and rising to join him and Eddie. She kissed her fiancé, aware there were now a lot of eyes on them both and not caring one bit. Neither did Eddie, judging by the grin on his face. "What was that for?"

"Maybe I just love you."

She watched the pleased surprise enter his eyes, quickly followed by pure joy. "I love you too." He leant over to kiss her again and Michael looked exasperated.

"Daddy! Stop kissing Rachel and play!"

They broke apart, Rachel laughing while Eddie looked indignant. "She kissed me first!"

Michael looked on the verge of stamping his foot. "Daddy!"

"Yeah, daddy!" Rachel teased, scooping up the ball and tossing it at him. Michael grinned happily, and all thoughts of Adam were firmly wiped from all their minds.

It was only later, when Rachel had dropped back onto the grass, waving off Michael's pleas, that Kim came to sit next to her, lowering her voice. "Adam's been glaring at Eddie the whole afternoon."

She sighed, glancing up and sure enough, the chef had a dark look on his face, eyes tracking Eddie as he dodged a tackle from Tom. "I don't know what to do anymore," she admitted. "I've spoken to him, he seemed to accept it. But he looks at Eddie like he's the one who's done something wrong."

Kim's lips twisted. "Men. More trouble than they're worth."

"I don't know." Her eyes softened, flicked over to her fiancé. "I think I got a good one."

"True."

"What are we talking about?" Steph flopped down beside them and Kim exchanged an amused look with Rachel.

"Men."

"Bah." Steph made a face. "More trouble than they're worth."

Kim burst into laughter. Rachel's lips twisted, and she leant back on her hands as Kim explained why she was laughing to a baffled Steph. Rachel tipped her head back, closing her eyes against the sun as she heard Michael giggling in the distance, Eddie's answering chuckle.

She smiled.

It could have been any length of time later that Michael, red-faced and breathless came racing over to collapse next to her. "Too hot!"

She chuckled, handed him a drink. "That's what you get for running around in the sun."

He looked at her seriously. "Ice cream is needed."

Her eyebrows shot up. "Is it now?" And he nodded solemnly.

"Stat."

"Stat?"

"Alison watches ER," Eddie supplied, coming to sit next to them and she laughed.

"Well then, we'd best get some ice cream hadn't we?"

Michael beamed, and Rachel and Eddie somehow found themselves on an ice cream run for the whole group, hands linked as they walked, in comfortable silence until Eddie caught her attention.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," he said hastily. "I just… Rach, marry me?"

She came to a stop, looking at him in amusement. "Darling, I already said yes."

"I know. But I don't want to wait." He blurted it out, and then looked at her nervously. She seemed more confused than anything, tilting her head.

"Where's this come from?"

He shrugged, felt her fingers tighten around his and he sighed. "It's going to sound silly."

"I already think you're silly." She slid her arms around his neck, grinning at him. "How much worse can it get?"

His expression softened, whole body relaxing as he drew her nearer. "I want to be your husband," he murmured, "and I want you to be my wife. We've spent half our relationship dancing around, I'm tired of waiting when we have no reason to."

He waited for her to scoff, to tell him he was being impulsive or to list all the reasons it wasn't practical. Instead, she looked considering for a moment. "Okay."

Eddie blinked. "What?"

"Okay," she repeated. "Let's get married."

Eddie stared at her. "Rach…"

"You're right." She shrugged slightly. "There isn't really a reason to wait. I love you and you love me, and unless you want to do the big white wedding…?"

He made a face before he could stop himself. She laughed lightly, stretched up to brush her lips over his jaw. "Let's do it," she repeated, and quickly found herself swept of her feet into a hug, Eddie laughing against her.

"I love you."

"And I love you." She smiled at him, and he couldn't resist kissing her.

W.R.

Despite everything, Rachel couldn't deny that her niece was beautiful. With big brown eyes, and a constantly happy demeanour, it was easy to love the little girl. The thought briefly crossed her ind, that in another life it would have been Eddie's daughter she was holding, but she quashed it ruthlessly. That train of thought would lead nowhere good. Rachel bounced Lacey on her knee, giving Melissa a small smile as she came into the room with two cups of tea. "She's gotten so big."

"Growing like a weed," her sister laughed, and it was only a little forced. "I'm going to have to go shopping for her again soon."

"What a tragedy," Rachel quipped, and this time Melissa's laugh was more genuine.

"I do appreciate you coming, Rach."

She swallowed thickly, eyes fixed on Lacey. "I meant what I said before. I don't want to lose my sister, no matter what."

"I don't want that either."

Lacey cooed, and giggled, pushing herself against Rachel to go to the floor. She placed her down without thinking about it, held her up right as she found her balance. "Eddie and I are getting married," she found herself saying, without even consciously deciding that she was going to.

Melissa sounded amused. "I know that?"

"No, I mean… soon. Probably over summer." Finally, she looked up at her sister, relieved to find no hint of pain or anger on her face.

"That's wonderful. Why so soon?"

"There just didn't seem much point in waiting." She shrugged, deftly caught Lacey when the girl almost toppled over. "We're both eager, and neither one of us wants a big celebration. So… why not?"

"Who are you and what have you done with my cautious sister?"

Rachel grinned at her. "Maybe it's time I started being a bit less cautious."

Melissa became more serious, voice softening. "I'm really happy for you, Rach."

She took a deep breath. "We're not sure of the details yet. But if we decide to stay in England for it… will you come?"

She watched as Melissa stilled, eyes widening and when she spoke, her voice was choked, her words forced out. "Really?"

Rachel nodded, biting her lip.

"Of course I will."

Rachel smiled at her, relieved and unsure and feeling slightly sick from the emotions swirling through her. "I'm glad."