Thank you for the reviews.

Another 7 week time jump. Just to bring us to the beginning of September. And because you all loved the teasing from Jane and Sally, here is more of it.

Almost Boyfriend

Rachel's phone buzzing was the least of her worries. The fact that the text was from Eddie didn't matter or that he was telling her about the first day back after the summer and fire, even if she wished that she could have joined him for the rather quiet day. Although she couldn't stop herself from giggling as he mentioned that he was already bored of the paperwork and was thinking of some way that he could secretly bring her some.

No, as much as she wanted to be back at work and to start the process of putting everything behind her again, she knew that it wasn't worth the arguments with Jane over it. The thing that was on the top of her list was Jane and Sally's teasing, again.

"Ooh, it must be her almost boyfriend," Sally said.

Rachel shook her head as they finally joined her in the living room. "Are you two ever going to stop?"

"Not a chance when it makes Eddie go bright red," Jane said.

"He was the one to say it to me when we were talking about it on the last day of term. We were going to make our relationship official until Danny and Stuart stuck their noses in. Even briefly spoke about maybe me moving in with him. Did you do anything regarding that holiday?"

"I had to take a bloody photo of you in intensive care to show that you weren't going to be going on it. Had a doctor's report and everything. They only said that they would refund you after I told them that I was going to report them."

"Maybe for next summer then."

"Maybe book something last minute next time."

"Jane, I don't plan on doing that again."

"You said that the last time. With the kid that almost threw you and himself off the top of the school building."

Rachel flicked her eyes over to Jane before her gaze landed back in her lap.

"If he is your almost boyfriend, does that mean that you are his almost girlfriend?" Sally asked.

"You know he only said that because Melissa was there. It was why he also mentioned that he was Jane approved."

"I was rather impressed by that," Jane said.

"He mentioned."

"Rachel. You need him more than ever. Don't… don't push away what you have with him. Not when… we've supported each other while we were waiting for you to wake up. He is part of the family now."

If Jane had told her that before the fire, she would have been thrilled. She would have wanted to watch her and Eddie arguing over something while she shared an eye roll with Sally. She would have wanted to have them all laughing around the dining room table as someone told a story. The four of them together.

"Shame I've gone backwards." Rachel said.

"I don't think it will be for long. Not with us and Eddie by your side. All three of us aren't going anywhere."

Rachel was sure that there was part of what Jane said that was true. She just couldn't allow herself to rely on it. Not at the moment.

Rachel hadn't realised how much she had missed Eddie being next to her in bed. Her head rested on his shoulder, while her hand was on his chest, feeling his heartbeat underneath her palm. His hand was gently stroking her side and she couldn't remember the last time she felt that content.

Although, she knew that she would have to break the way that they were. She had learnt her lesson last time and she needed to tell Eddie as she had decided that she was going to do earlier that day.

"Eddie, there is something you should know that I don't know whether you already know."

"Is this about the scar?"

"So you know?"

"I know of its existence. Plus Jane text me earlier. Said that you were freaking out about it."

"You haven't seen it."

"No but… Rachel, we can do this all at your pace. I don't want to rush you."

"They want me to do more skin grafts."

"Okay."

"I think Jane wants me to go for it."

"What do you want to do?"

Of course, he was going to ask that. She hadn't yet disclosed to Jane why she was so desperate to leave the hospital. Maybe Eddie would do that for her.

"I can't… I can't spend another moment in hospital. It reminds me… of losing the baby and Danny coming and dragging me out of there because the doctors and nurses had started to ask too many questions and they were worried about what I was going to say. I can't be in hospital."

"Fine."

"Sorry?" She said as she rose up on her elbow to look at him.

He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. "It's fine Rachel. If you don't want it, then you don't have to have it. They aren't going to force you to have it."

"You don't know how bad it is."

"Do you want to show me?"

She thought about it for the moment. It had obviously been implied that she didn't like the scar on her chest. The best way to do it would be just to rip the bandage off now. Just get everything over and done with. She knew that she surprised him when she sat up properly and straddled his lap. He was up into a seated position in an instant. His hands landed on her back. If anything, she wanted to place her hands on his neck and kiss him. This whole thing shouldn't be about her showing him her scar. This should have been them letting off some steam after the first week back.

"Rachel."

"Just… make this more than me showing you the scar."

Her hands rose to his neck to do her earlier thought and the pace was slow, almost too slow for Rachel. It made her want to get back to normal even more. She wanted to be with Eddie. She wanted his love and everything that came with that. It was only herself standing in the way.

He gently pulled on her wrists to grab her hands to place them on the hem of his t-shirt, trying to tell her that she wasn't going to be on her own for this. That she wasn't going to be the only one topless. She pulled his t-shirt slowly and they broke when she got to a position where she could pull it over his head. There might have been an expectation that they would go back to kissing but they didn't as Eddie's hands moved to the hem of her t-shirt. He started to gather it up in his hands before she lifted her hands up so he could bring it over her head.

His eyes went straight to the scar over her right breast. She knew that she couldn't take his first reaction because she was sure that she looked at it with the same weird look that he was giving it. His eyes finally met hers and he pressed his lips against hers, probably trying to show her that it didn't matter.

"Is it sore?" He said.

"A little. Apparently, it is healing well. The skin grafts are more… I suppose cometic. I don't have to live with it."

"I can see why they would offer it."

"Why?"

"Because a lot of people wouldn't be able to live with it. You have your reasons why you want to stay out of hospital and, I also think, that there is an element of more surgery will mean more time you need as rest and the longer it will be before you get back to work. It's like you don't trust your incredibly handsome deputy to look after the place."

"Says the deputy who is only a week in and already complaining about the paperwork."

"Well… I get paid to teach. You get paid to do that sort of thing."

"You are terrible."

"Am I?"

"I bet my filling has gone right out of the window."

"Maybe not entirely." He laughed. "I've got Michael next weekend."

"Right?"

"And like last time, I think you need your mind taken off a few things."

"The ramblings of a four-year-old."

"Four and a half. You've got to remember the half."

"So a weekend of the ramblings of a four and a half-year-old or the constant teasing from Jane and Sally?"

"Tough choice."

"I think I'll take my chances with the four and a half-year-old."

"Good, because he has missed you. Asked me whether I could take him to see you. I… maybe I should have asked but I didn't think that you would have wanted him to see you like that and all the questions."

"I think it would have confirmed to Jane that she was right being gay."

"Really? Have they never thought about adopting?"

"They had their careers and Jane has spent the last 10 or so years being sent aboard for work. They thought about it once. Start the application process and was put off it because of the prejudice against same-sex couples. I think they have always settled on being the weird aunties to any children I might have. Although that is seeming less likely with each year that passes."

"Do you want children?"

"That isn't a simple question."

"Why? Rachel, it isn't like we have been overly cautious. But if it is something that you want, then maybe we can think about it a bit more."

"Do you want more children?"

"I love Michael. But there are… times where I wish I was more hands-on with him. I know that the reason I don't see Michael more is because it became complicated. I'm probably going to be jumpy as hell but I am sure it is something we can work through."

"Then maybe not now. Something to think about. Make sure that Danny is out of our lives."

"That is perfectly fine."

She smiled at him before he leant forward to kiss her again. It was almost forgotten about the reason why she was straddling his lap or why they were both topless. But Eddie obviously read her thoughts as they returned to the scar. He kissed his way along her jaw and down her neck towards the scar. Obviously trying to show her, again, that it didn't matter to him. He just happened to kiss over a rather sensitive part of new skin, which made her gasp, making his head shoot up.

"Did I…" He started, more horrified that he may have hurt her.

"No just… a little sensitive."

"Do you want me to stop?"

She found herself shaking her head. "No."

"But you will tell me if you do."

"Why is she always right?"

"Who?"

"Jane." She paused. "Why does it always feel like I can take on the world when I am with you? Why do you always do or say something that stops me from pushing you away?"

"Because we are a team." He said after he took a few moments to come up with his answer. "Because we do everything together. And I am not going to let you go easily. I always want to be by your side. The only reason I am going to leave your side is if I am forced to. I would never willingly leave your side."

"Well then… I'm glad I fell in love with you, Eddie Lawson."

"So am I, Rachel Mason."