The last chapter… thank you so much to everyone who has reviewed this story, and to anyone else who has been reading it. I really do appreciate it.

I've only posted a couple of fics but this has to be the one that I've enjoyed writing the most. Feels weird that it is coming to an end.

Please enjoy :) x

Chapter 40: Be My Once in a Lifetime

Eddie was standing in a jewellery shop, gazing down at a ring he knew Rachel would love. He had been umming and ah-ing with the idea for several days now. Ever since they had been lying in bed together, when Eddie had vowed to himself that he would tell Rachel properly that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

Eddie had fallen asleep that night with thoughts of proposing to Rachel in his mind. He loved her with all his heart, and wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of his days with her. And he was sure she felt the same. But that wasn't enough to hold back the nerves Eddie felt at the prospect.

"Are you going to take the ring, sir?"

The woman behind the counter had Eddie removed from his reverie. He bit the inside of his cheek, questioning to himself if he was really going to do this, if he was really going to take the final leap with Rachel.

"Yes, I'll take it. Thanks."

Eddie noticed the bemused expression on the woman's face and he suppressed a chuckle himself at how evident his anxiousness probably was. But she had most likely seen this more than a dozen times before.

He left the shop with plans flying around in his mind - how to do it, when to do it, where to do it. Eddie just wanted it to be perfect. Because that's what Rachel deserved, and he wanted her to know that.

With everything that had occurred in recent weeks, Eddie hoped that him proposing would show that he would constantly be there for her, forever. He wanted it to be a mark of everything he felt for Rachel.

He eyed the box as he reached his car, smiling to himself as he thought about everything it could bring. As Eddie slid the box into his pocket, he felt an idea of how to go about it all forming in his mind.

He thought back to their first proper date, as he had called it at the time. Eddie remembered just how much Rachel had loved it there, and the conversations they'd had about going back there in the future. Well, now they had the perfect excuse. It would be last minute, but Eddie decided to chance his arm at booking the restaurant for this evening, as well as an overnight stay.

He drove with musings about the evening ahead very prominent in his mind. That along with a replay of their first proper date together. Eddie recounted almost everything about the evening in his mind. That was when he decided upon something else to surprise Rachel with, that was if she said yes. Only time would tell, and he had a few things to put in place before the evening went ahead.

….

It was a few hours later when Eddie had booked everything, he now just had to get Philip on his own. Ever since Melissa had initially left the boy, Eddie had treated him like his own, he and Rachel both had. So it was more than fair to say that he was a huge part of their lives. Which was why Eddie felt like he needed his approval for the proposal just as much as Rachel's.

"Hi mate," Eddie greeted as he entered Philip's room. He wondered if Rachel had guessed that he was up to something. It was probable, considering the way he'd been sneaking around trying to get everything organised. Eddie planned to tell her of their night away, and put it down to a righteous end to a difficult couple of weeks rather than him asking her to be his wife. So he hoped that if Rachel was curious, she would see it as him planning their evening together, and not the latter.

"Hi Eddie, what's up?" Philip questioned, looking slightly confused as he removed his headphones.

"Well… the thing is…"

"Is this about your night away with Rach?"

Eddie saw the boy get slightly awkward once he had quirked an eyebrow in questioning.

"Thing is, I erm… heard you booking it, when she was in the shower earlier."

"Well that makes a whole load of sense," Eddie laughed.

For some reason he actually felt quite nervous talking to Philip about what he had planned. But it was just a mark of how much this meant to him, of how much he longed for both Philip's and Rachel's approval.

"So is that… what it is then? Romantic night away?" Philip chuckled, shuffling slightly in his seat.

"Sort of," Eddie ran a hand through his hair.

A silence fell and he knew he just had to say what he came here for. Eddie didn't want to chicken out of it now. He mentally shook himself as he once more thought over how nervous he was going to be later if this was his reaction now. How was he going to get down on one knee if he couldn't even reveal his plans to Philip?

"Look, you know how much Rachel means to me, don't you?"

Philip smiled, obviously slightly unsure about where Eddie was going with this, "well… yeah. Anyone could see that with the way you look at her really."

"What do you think about… me asking her to marry me?"

It was nothing other than a relief to see how Philip's expression instantly broke out into laughter.

"Honestly thought you'd have asked her by now."

"So you're okay with it?"

"Yeah. I haven't got a reason not to be. Thanks for… you know… asking."

"Your approval is just as important as Rachel's. I wanted you to know that Phil."

"Cheers Eddie."

Philip was blushing now, and Eddie hoped that was a sign that the boy knew how much he wanted him to be a part of their little family.

"Have you… got a ring?" Philip laughed, leaning forwards on his elbows slightly.

"I do actually. All week I've been… indecisive about it. Then this morning I made my mind up."

They paused a moment as Eddie brought the box out of his pocket, opening it so that Philip could see his ring choice.

"It's really nice yeah. Rachel will like it."

Eddie could feel his smile growing by the second, he was glad that he hadn't misjudged Rachel's style and that Philip thought the ring would be to her taste too, "let's hope so."

As Rachel called them up the stairs to ask if they were coming down for lunch, Eddie was glad that everything had gone to plan so far. Although it was the more tricky parts that remained. Next would be to broach the subject of a night away with Rachel. Something that Eddie was hoping she would grab with both hands.

….

Rachel's head was resting on Eddie's lap, and he was playing with her hair absentmindedly. He stopped and removed his hand for a moment, thinking about what he was going to say. Rachel didn't welcome the loss of contact apparently, she looked up at him with a mock glare. Eddie couldn't help but laugh at the expression on her face.

"What?" She questioned, laughing now herself.

Eddie shook his head, attempting to put on a semi serious expression, "nothing. But I do have something to ask you."

"This is all sounding rather interesting," Rachel spoke, raising her hand to clumsily brush it against his jaw, "what is it?"

"Do you remember… where we went on our proper first date?"

Rachel grinned at the memory, "how could I forget."

Eddie realigned his hand with her hair, running his fingers through it gently, "well, I know how little you've been able to relax these past few weeks. And I know how stressed out we have both been. So I've booked it. For tonight."

Rachel's face lit up instantly, and Eddie took that as a good sign. Little did she know what else he had in store. He just hoped that his question and everything that came with it would make her expression light up just as much as it just had.

She sat up now, placing both hands on his chest, grinning wildly.

"Do you know what Lawson, I'm sure I've said this before but… just when I think you can't get any more fabulous… you exceed yourself."

"You love it though," Eddie muttered against Rachel's lips, finding it irresistible to not mould their mouths together from the way her hands were trailing across his chest.

"I most certainly do," she mumbled before leaning in properly and getting lost in the feel of him.

….

Eddie was starting to regret deciding to wait until they got to their room for the night to pop the question. Just, he wanted it to be a special moment between them both. That was if it went to plan. He had decided to make the room that little bit more momentous than usual. Rose petals and candles were part of it. But this didn't avert from the box in Eddie's pocket that felt as if it was burning a hole in his leg. He wanted this to go right more than anything. Because this meant more to him than anything ever had.

Rachel's hand stretching across the table to take his own in hers, had Eddie refocusing his attention.

"Are you alright? You seem rather quiet?"

Eddie cursed himself, he really had to reign in how he was feeling about all of this. Before Rachel started guessing what was going on.

"Yes. Why wouldn't I be?"

She smiled at him, tilting her head slightly. It was a question in itself, she didn't need to say anything.

"I'm fine," he assured, "just thinking that's all."

It wasn't a lie, what he was about to say. Just maybe not the main reason he was being quieter than usual.

"About what?" Rachel asked lightly, stroking her thumb across the back of his hand.

"How lucky I am to be here with you. It feels… surreal, after everything that has happened since we were last here."

"Looks like I should listen to you more often. Because you did tell me that everything was going to be alright, and that we would resolve everything together."

"And I'm so glad we did."

Rachel grinned, "me too."

She looked thoughtful for a moment, glancing down at the table before looking back up at him.

"Do you think Philip is truly okay? After his talk with Melissa yesterday?"

"I think we could say that he is. He seems happy enough with the way things were left. I get the impression that he's working it all out."

"And he knows that we are there for him, doesn't he?"

"Exactly," Eddie couldn't stop himself from smiling, "now you are starting to sound like me."

"Oh, I don't think that's such a bad thing."

Suddenly, Eddie was no longer feeling so nervous about what he had planned. Not with the way he and Rachel were currently looking at each other. He was confident that everything would turn out just perfect.

….

They reached the door of their room, and Eddie gently turned Rachel to face him. She wondered what was going through his mind as he took her hands in his. Eddie was certainly acting different than usual, Rachel just couldn't quite put her finger on it.

She was more than happy to find out though, and found herself giggling as Eddie told her to close her eyes as they walked through the door.

Rachel didn't miss the way he leant forwards to make sure she felt his warm breath against her neck as he said, "open your eyes."

She felt a swell of affection and warmth as she did just that. All because of the man who was now standing in front of her rather than behind, grinning wildly. Rose petals were scattered around the room, and it was only lit by a dozen or so fairy lights and the odd few candles.

Rachel couldn't stop her mouth from gaping open before she began to laugh, and allowed her eyes to finally settle on Eddie. She took a step closer to him, unable to resist doing so now. Not that she ever found it easy to resist that.

"What's all this for?" She whispered, not wanting to break the somewhat magical moment.

Eddie glanced down, surprisingly shyly. That was until Rachel hooked a light finger under his chin and their gazes met once more. She hoped the soft smile she gave him was enough to retain that look. It was, and as he took a hold of her hands, Rachel didn't think she had ever been as happy before.

To her surprise, he let go of them, shuffling backwards slightly. Rachel was curious now, but Eddie looked like he had words on the tip of his tongue, so she held her breath, waiting for what he had to say.

"Rachel… I'm not really all that great with words. I'm a maths teacher, as you so very kindly pointed out on the day I met you."

She giggled but otherwise remained silent, wondering the direction he was going with this.

"But I do know how much I love you. I think we both know that I was aware of that long before we got together. I've told you before… that I would be the happiest man alive if I could spend the rest of my days with you. And I want to tell you that properly now."

Rachel could sense the tears gathering in her eyes. And they were most certainly happy ones. Her breath caught as Eddie reached forwards just enough to take her hand with one of his. He brought it up to kiss it, lips lingering on her skin for longer than she would have expected. Not that she was complaining.

Eddie stayed silent for several moments, his eyes resting on her features. Rachel couldn't take the way her heart was pounding in her chest for much longer. She brought her free hand to rest upon his cheek before speaking, "Eddie?"

Eddie still didn't speak, just simply smiled at Rachel, still holding on to her hand whilst his other one reached into his pocket. Rachel allowed herself to believe for just a second that this was going where she guessed it was. Just the thought made her slightly dizzy with joy.

As he took a step back, letting go of her hands, Rachel's went up to her mouth. She couldn't quite believe this was happening. It was just as Eddie had put it earlier, this felt surreal.

With the box in hand, Eddie knelt down on one knee, opening the box so Rachel could see its contents.

"I have never loved someone as I love you. Will you marry me Rachel?"

She was aware of the way she paused, it was just whilst she was replaying Eddie's words over in her mind. Because there was definitely no hesitation. Rachel saw him looking at her expectantly, but hoped in those few seconds of silence, that he was able to glean enough from her no doubt dazzling expression.

"Yes… yes of course I will."

Eddie stood now, grin growing by the second, "yeah?"

"Yes."

In an instant Rachel was scooped up in Eddie's arms as he spun her full circle. He lowered her to the ground, bringing his arms down to rest upon Rachel's waist as hers respectively wrapped around Eddie's neck.

"I love you too by the way. More than anything."

Eddie kissed her softly in response, but there was certainly a promise of passion and desire that would undoubtedly be present in the rest of their evening.

Rachel watched in awe as he turned his attention back to the box for a moment, removing the ring to place it on the righteous finger.

"Eddie, I absolutely love it."

"I'm glad. I thought you would. But Philip gave me the final reassurance."

"Philip?"

Rachel noticed that Eddie flushed slightly, looking down at the floor and back up at her.

"I kind of… broached the subject with him earlier today. Showed him the ring as well."

"Oh, Eddie. Thank you."

If at all possible, she fell in love with him even more upon finding this out.

"Oh erm," Eddie began, reaching into his pocket once more, to bring out an envelope with her name written on it, "this was for if you said yes. And you have so, I suppose I'd better give it to you."

Rachel opened the envelope with shaking hands, wondering what could possibly make the night even more amazing.

Eddie had only gone and bought them both tickets for a few days away in Paris, during the may half term.

Rachel looked back up at him, feeling herself becoming lost for words.

"Paris, because… of what you said. On our proper first date, about us going there one day. And maybe, just maybe, I'll try some snails. Just for you."

Her smile was uncontrollable now, and she was glad to see that Eddie's looked that way too. Finally, he drew Rachel towards him again, pressing their lips together. That night, their thoughts weren't only filled with one another, and how amazing it felt to be with each other. They were full of a future spent together, and everything that would bring.