Thank you for the reviews.

Now I am going to confess. I have stolen an idea from another story which I use in this chapter. The story is The Power of Words by hannah5240 and if you haven't checked it out, you should. Because it is a great story and the reason why I have done what I have in this chapter.

Where We Belong

Just to prove a point, Rachel and Eddie made sure that they were in the room, ready to get the meeting over and done with before Max had even met the governors and the LEA representatives. Rachel tried not to sigh or fall asleep as she sat at the table while Eddie quickly rushed to get her something to eat from that canteen. Her eyes were closed when he re-entered the room and she smiled and hummed as he placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Don't worry, you will have your school back." He said.

"That is if this all goes to plan. This is Waterloo Road after all."

"I just wished you had more sleep."

"Apparently things will get better the second trimester." She said as she opened her eyes and sat up properly.

"When is that?"

"About three weeks."

"Maybe I am looking forward to the scan we have booked in a couple of weeks."

"First sighting of baby Lawson."

"Still want to take my name? Not double-barrel it?"

"Eddie, if I wanted to keep Mason, I would use my maiden name and just say that I was married to you. I want your name."

Rachel was just about to kiss him when Kim entered the room, meaning that Max wasn't far behind her. Them being there stopped Max for a moment but it was Ralph that showed the most anger about them being there. If only he knew what they knew.

They were introduced to Jennifer again and Rachel felt like they had done an okay job at making it seem like they hadn't met before. Rachel felt like it was a bit of a blessing when Rose came in to take their order of hot drinks.

"Miss Mason?" Rose said.

"Tea, please. Milk, no sugar."

Rachel had noticed that Max had noticed her change in habits. She also felt like the couple of times that he showed some kindness by making her a coffee was just to gauge her reaction, which was trying to drink it while not gagging or rushing to the loos.

With that all sorted, the meeting started and Rachel didn't think that Max and Ralph would be so quick to start attacking her.

"Just so we are all aware, the LEA always saw Max's appointment at Waterloo Road to be temporary," Jennifer said. "In all honesty, we only agreed to it because we felt like we were giving Rachel someone else to turn to. I don't know about you, but I've never been in a fire or had a gun pointed at me. We wanted to show that we were going to support the school while also addressing the governors concerns."

"The governors are all in agreement that Max's role should stay. Definitely passed Easter and into the new academic year." Ralph said.

There were a couple of the other governors there, whose faces showed that they didn't agree.

"Why's that?"

"Why not?" Max said before he moved around a few things and dropped a folder onto the desk, not as large as Rachel thought it was going to be.

"That's disappointing," Eddie whispered to her.

She tried not to laugh but she couldn't really stop the smile that graced her lips. She caught the look that Max was giving her and she felt like he was suspicious about what was going on.

"Sorry, Eddie?" Max said.

"Sorry, carry on Max."

"This is what he is like all the time. It is intrusive when he only agrees with what she has to say."

"Eddie doesn't always agree with me." Rachel said.

"Of course he doesn't."

"I wouldn't want a deputy that agreed with me all the time. I would want a deputy that would tell me if they thought I was wrong as well as one that would admit when they were wrong. But it goes the other way as well. For me to admit when I was wrong as well. I would want someone who could look at a plan and say 'Great but it might be better if we do this'."

"Which is fine all the time there isn't a lapse in judgement. I mean, were you ever going to do anything regarding the exam irregularities? Mrs Hanson from the exam board thought that you weren't too worried about them when she was here."

"And half an hour before that, my biggest secret had just been announced to the whole school and I had a phone call from Eddie, confirming that my cousin had kidnapped him and beaten him up. I wasn't in the right frame of mind to be professional. Plus I did care. I was on my way to find Tom, who I had made acting head of department, to see how he was getting on before I was grabbed by Stuart."

"You never told the police that," Ralph said.

"Well, the investigation into the fire was wrapped up before I had regained consciousness. You had blamed Stuart for it, which I only confirmed that he was the one to start it. But nobody seemed interested in getting my statement. Only Sally asked me what went on and I didn't think that was for the investigation by the way that she asked the question. Because I would have also told you that Danny was involved."

"Still doesn't explain the lack of response to the exam irregularities," Max said.

"I dealt with it, in Rachel's absence," Eddie said.

"And I agree with the action that was taken." Rachel said. "I read what Eddie had set out and the investigation and how the fire didn't help any of that. The exam board agreed and the matter was put to bed."

"And yet the head of department who was responsible for not bringing the cheating to your attention remained head of department," Max said.

"I think we all know that Grantly isn't the best teacher at Waterloo Road." Rachel said. "But he is loyal to the school. For me, loyalty goes a long way."

"What about competency?"

"Because school is just all about exams and coursework."

"It is what they will need when they go out into the world of work."

"Then a bit of background about me." Rachel said. "I was thrown out of school at 15. I didn't have an exam to my name. Admittingly, yes, I did go to college to get English and Maths GCSE before I went to university. But I have had to work bloody hard to be where I am today. I know what it is like to have nothing. That was always my plan here. To get the students that didn't have their sights on university to at least leave here with English, Maths and a vocational qualification that set them up for the world of work."

"So we water it down to the lowest common denominator?" Max said.

"No, we cater for both."

"Then why have you turned down every idea I have had regarding catering for the students looking to go to university?"

"I haven't done anything like that."

Max leant back in his seat and gestured towards the folder. Rachel stopped herself from huffing. She knew that part of what that folder held was lies. She had turned down a few of his ideas, mainly because she knew that they wouldn't work at Waterloo Road, but he had never once expressed his concern over the sixth form and what they wanted to do.

"What about this place being a breeding site for criminals as well?" Ralph said.

"Not this again," Rachel muttered.

"I'm sorry?" Jennifer said.

Rachel hadn't really noticed that it was only now that the hot drinks were being passed around and it was probably not best when Ralph went off on a bit of a tangent as Rose placed Rachel's tea in front of her.

"And the Kellys. Max has turned them around." Ralph finished.

"You what?!" Rose said.

"Rose." Rachel said as she placed her hand on the other woman's arm.

"No, I am not taking that. Definitely not from a man who wants our Marley to break up with his daughter because he thinks that he is unsuitable for her. Our Marley is twice the man he will ever be." She said pointing at Ralph before she turned to Max. "As for him, he doesn't give a flying monkeys about us. He called our Sam vermin."

"I can assure you that I said nothing of the sort," Max said as all eyes landed on him.

"Rose. Leave it." Rachel said when she noticed that the other woman was going to say more.

Rose looked down at her before sighing and leaving, probably going to find somewhere to calm herself down.

"Still a loose cannon I see," Ralph said.

"Because you have no faith that she can change. Because you haven't given her any respect. I told you that the other day, Max. A little faith and respect can go a long way." Rachel said.

"Until they abuse that faith and respect," Max said.

"I can't think of anyone that has yet."

"I see what is going on," Jennifer said.

"Nothing is going on," Max said, rather defensively. "Rachel just can't see the bigger picture."

"Really?" Rachel asked.

"Why don't we go back to your professional conduct? Because you haven't been very professional recently. I mean, falling asleep on the job."

She could feel Eddie getting angry and she turned to him, giving him the same look that she had done in Jane's kitchen when they told them. He shrugged at her.

"Your decision." He said.

Rachel didn't know why the next person she turned to for advice was Kim but she gave her a smile as did Jennifer. They were obviously happy if she was.

"No reason then?" Max said.

"Well, you try being 10 weeks pregnant and spend more time throwing up than sleeping at night. But still coming in every morning, because I know where I belong and I know where I put the most good in the world. I do good coming here every day and trying to inspire one person. That is all I have ever wanted to do as a teacher. Inspire one person to do something good with their lives. To not have to be forced into making choices that they don't want to make or doing something because they had to do it for money. I belong here. Maybe forever or just another year but… this is where… we belong." She said as she turned to Eddie.

He gave her a smile and she knew that he felt the same. The thought that she'd had nearly a year ago was still true to this day. She belonged at Waterloo Road, with Eddie.

"Belonging and directing a school are two different things," Ralph said.

"But it helps." Rachel said.

She was certain that things were starting to head south for Max. But they hadn't really put the arguments across as to why they didn't want Max there. Or they didn't have any proof until Philip ran into the room.

"Can I say something on behalf of the student body?" Philip said, obviously before the courage left him.

"Go on," Jennifer said.

"Really? From her nephew?" Max said.

"You do know… I would only have to tell a handful of people that you want Rachel out and there would be a protest outside. No one would want you." Philip said.

Rachel stood up as Max did, if only to put a warning to him that he wasn't about to try and intimidate her nephew.

"The boy is her nephew. He would say anything to save his auntie." Max said, trying to stare her down.

"Maybe I don't have to say anything. Maybe you do." Philip said as he got out his phone and pressed a few buttons.

"I don't know what Sally has been saying about me but I am not the same person I was when I was a child." Max's voice came through the speaker.

"Really?"

"Yes." There was a pause. "You might think my beloved sister is something different but I know her for what she is. Like you. You are a wannabe leader with no leadership skills. This school has only improved slightly by pure luck. Nothing that you have promised has come to fruition and soon the LEA will see that. Although, if you leave here, I doubt that anyone else will give you a job. Who would want an ex-hooker running their school? You are only still here because of your boyfriend. You have allies here. You won't anywhere else. Your whole teaching career will go into a box. Maybe it will be time to start back up again. It seems like it is the only thing that you were good at."

Rachel looked down at Eddie, knowing that he knew that was what happened the other day. He kept moving the pen in his hands, probably to stop him from punching Max but also so he didn't break the pen.

"None of you believe that," Max said.

"Max. It's over." Jennifer said. "Good on Philip because the LEA now have everything that they need. And your sister is right about you. You are still a bully."

"What is she going to walk in here and give me a character reference?"

"No, she isn't." Rachel said.

"Good."

"Because she isn't in school today."

"Where is she then?" Ralph said.

"Currently sitting with the Superintendent, in his office in Rochdale Police Station."

"Why?"

"With a dossier. I mean, she is right when she said that she may have focused on Operation Thunder a little too much but… When she mentioned that you were one of the most bent coppers she had ever worked with, I didn't quite believe her until she told me a few things about your conduct during that investigation. Mainly the one where both Eddie and Tom had reported seeing Earl and Danny talking and you brushed it off." She paused. "Or that fact that an officer saw Earl and Danny together the night before they came into the school with guns and told you and another Sergeant that it looked like a drugs swap. You brushed that off again. Tell me, Ralph, do you know what it is like to be controlled by Danny as well?"

It was clear that both men didn't see the meeting turning the way that it did. To Rachel, it didn't matter whether Ralph was Danny's lapdog or something like that. She just had to get in the last word, mainly for Sally.

"Maybe you should have just allowed Sally to become a Sergeant."

Jennifer took over and Rachel sat back down, knowing that what she had to do and say was over and done with. She turned and gave Philip a quick smile before he ducked out of the room, probably hoping that half the room forgot that he even entered.

"I think we have our school back," Eddie whispered as Max seemed to start arguing his case.

"I think so too."

"Philip?" Rachel said when she saw her nephew at the first opportunity that she got.

She watched him as he told Bolton and Paul that he would catch them up before he walked over to her. She grabbed onto the sleeve of his blazer and pulled him into the empty classroom. She smiled up at him and cupped his face.

"When did you start growing into this brilliant young man?" She asked.

"Maybe when my auntie became more like a mum to me."

"Davina told me that you had got her that day and told her not to tell me that."

"I couldn't have anyone else find you and I didn't want Tyler to find me loitering."

"Thank you."

"It is what you would have done for me."

She pulled him into a hug and held onto him tightly. She was glad that he hugged her as tightly back. They stayed that way for a few moments before she let him go and said that he wouldn't want to waste his lunchtime with her.

"Rach, any time that I spend with you isn't a waste. I always like being around you."

"Go on. Otherwise, you will set me off again and then Eddie will be fussing over me."

"Is that a bad thing then?"

Rachel shook her head at him before telling him to go again. Maybe it was something else that she should have realised ages ago. Because she hadn't realised that Philip saw her in that way. Maybe because she was realising that she always treated him more like her son than her nephew.

"So is this your first?" The sonographer said.

"First together. This is my second pregnancy." Rachel said.

"I have a little boy," Eddie said.

"He must be looking forward to being an older brother."

Rachel was quite glad that she picked on Eddie's answer than hers. Although, she could imagine that a few women came through with multiple pregnancies without having any children. It was just circumstances. Ones that she had to go through with her doctor when they spoke about how she was pregnant and anything they should know while asking her a lot of questions about her health. There was a question mark over her blood pressure for the moment, which she hoped didn't turn into anything serious.

"I don't really think he knows exactly what is going on," Eddie said. "Even if he is five."

"It is a lot for you to take in, let alone someone that young." The sonographer said as she finished setting up. "Now this might be a little cold."

It was colder than Rachel was expecting but soon enough, the scanner was being moved over her belly and it wasn't long before their baby came up on the screen. She was trying to hold back the tears and as she turned to Eddie as he grabbed her hand, she could see the tears in his eyes as well.

"So I would say that looks like a rather healthy looking baby. I would say that you are about 12 weeks along. Which is sort of what your notes say. They gave an estimate of 11 to 12 weeks."

"We have been using the 12 weeks one." Rachel said. "Maybe because I want the morning sickness to be over with sooner."

"Said nearly every mother I have seen. I would be happy enough to call you 12 weeks plus two." She stopped moving the scanner when she felt like she had a good image of their baby. "I'll pause that there and work out your new dates."

The sonographer didn't leave the room but definitely gave them a little space to look at the screen.

"There is Baby Lawson," Eddie said.

"You do know how hard it is going to be to find a name."

"I don't think so."

"Eddie, we are teachers. I don't know about you, but I have had names ruined for me."

"And we will be able to find a name before this little one is born. You do have 28 weeks-ish left."

"Estimated due date of 29th October." The sonographer said. "Plenty of time."

Rachel allowed Eddie to answer the questions that the sonographer had over getting the scan pictures and all that. For Rachel, she was glad that this was all happening. That she was being given a second chance at being a mother. If anything, she felt like she was being given a second shot at life with a man that she fell in love with more every day. She couldn't wait to build a proper family with him. A different family from the one that she'd had.