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Chapter 29: Time to Ourselves

"Do you think Rach is okay?"

It was something that had been playing on Philip's mind ever since the previous evening with the whole debacle with Melissa. He knew that Eddie could read his auntie better than anyone, always had been able to. So he couldn't think of a better person to ask how Rachel was really doing.

Eddie paused, giving Philip a small smile which he wasn't sure how to interpret. Maybe Eddie was just glad that he was another person looking out for Rachel and caring for her.

"She's furious with your mum, as am I. But other than that I think she's just trying not to think about it."

"Suppose you both have erm… the baby and everything to look forward to."

"I think you're right there. Something for us both to take our minds off your mum."

"I… it will be nice to have a cousin."

"I think you'll make a great cousin, Phil."

He chuckled, unsure how to take the compliment, "thanks, Eddie."

They paused for a moment, both taking a sip from their drinks. Philip felt as though Eddie had something he wanted to talk about, something he wanted to say. Philip had gotten to know the man fairly well in the few years he had known him.

"You know Philip, I've been thinking. About… taking Rachel away somewhere. With it now being the Easter holidays. Obviously… with Darcy as well."

"Erm yeah… sounds good," he nodded, "er… where abouts?"

"I was thinking about keeping it in the UK… maybe the coast somewhere."

"I think she'd like that."

"Would you be alright with it though?"

"Me?" Philip asked, laughing, "oh that's why you asked me isn't it."

Eddie smiled, "that… and maybe I'll need your help to choose the exact location."

"Honestly Eddie it's… fine by me," he reddened as he thought about what he was going to say next, "thing is well… I'm having a few days away in Edinburgh… with Amy anyway so…"

Philip wasn't sure if Eddie's smile helped with his blushed cheeks but it did make him happy. To see that Eddie cared so much about how he was getting on. The father figure he never had.

"I'm glad to hear it lad."

Philip nodded, "thanks. So shall we erm… start looking at places to stay for you and Rach then?"

Philip could tell that Eddie couldn't help but laugh, "should have known that you'd change the subject from Amy."

Busted. Philip thought. Eddie knew him too well by this point, but Philip was just glad that they had now moved back to his trip away with Rachel.

….

"I don't know who's more excited," Eddie joked as they got into the car, ready for their journey, "you or Darcy."

Rachel couldn't help but laugh at Eddie's words as she looked across at the girl in her car seat, grinning and chatting away to the best of her ability.

"She certainly is looking forward to it. As am I… but I would like to know exactly where you are taking us. Or are you just leaving me to guess?"

Eddie tilted his head, taking one hand off of the steering wheel to tap his nose, "the coast is all you are getting."

Rachel groaned, "spoilsport."

Even as Eddie grinned back at her, Rachel couldn't deny how grateful she felt to have such a perfect man. Although she did desperately want to know where they were going, Rachel was happy to guess and adored the idea of Eddie planning something and surprising her. Not to mention the company of Darcy too. They really were going to have the best week away, Rachel thought as she allowed her hand to rest on her stomach for a moment.

….

Eddie's eyes had been flicking to Rachel for the majority of the journey, from where she was sitting in the back with Darcy. His daughter had fallen asleep at one point, where him and Rachel delved into several topics of conversation. Of course she couldn't resist trying to prise the exact location of their holiday out of him, and even more so when they stopped for a bite to eat.

After discussing several places with Philip, Eddie had established that Rachel had visited Devon on multiple occasions, as well as certain parts of Cornwall. Both places she held close to her heart. He knew it would be a fair drive - five hours at the least - but Eddie also knew that St Ives in South West Cornwall was the perfect location for himself, Rachel and Darcy to spend their week's holiday. He just couldn't wait to see Rachel's expression light up, or watch Darcy run up and down the beaches.

It was why he looked in the rear view mirror as he pulled up outside of the cottage he'd booked, expecting Rachel to have guessed where they were. But the sight that met Eddie was perhaps an even more heartwarming one than he'd imagined.

Rachel was evidently fast asleep, with her head resting against Darcy's car seat. Whilst the little girl herself was now awake, tilting her head in Rachel's direction and smiling.

"Shh," Darcy sounded as she looked up at Eddie, "Rach sleep."

Eddie wouldn't have been able to stop his beam from widening even if he'd wanted to.

"Yes darling. Yes, she is."

….

It was the following day that the trio found themselves strolling along Porthminster beach, enjoying the warm but not too warm feel of the spring sunshine. Halfway along was where Darcy decided to sit herself down in the sand, instantly getting to work on making some sort of sandcastle.

Eddie looked across at Rachel, feeling joy explode within him upon noticing the expression on her face. She had never looked more content, relaxed or at peace as she alternated her gaze between the wonderful view and the little girl based at their feet.

Somehow Eddie managed to bring himself out of his reverie as he nudged Rachel's arm slightly, grasping her attention, "you like it here then?"

Her previously small smile grew larger as she slowly turned her gaze towards Eddie's, just taking in his expression for a few moments.

"Eddie I… absolutely love it. I've… been here on a few occasions, you know, as a child. But I," Rachel leant into him slightly and he wrapped an arm around her instinctively, "kind of never expected to be here with the man of my dreams. As ridiculously corny as that sounds."

Eddie brushed a lock of hair back from her face that had been dislodged by the slight wind, unable to resist himself, "it's not corny. I rather like it. Especially when you're the woman of my dreams."

He loved the way she giggled softly and the way a light blush dusted her cheeks.

"Thank you for bringing us here. Because I'm sure Darcy is loving it just as much as me."

Eddie allowed his eyes to drift away from Rachel's for a moment, towards his daughter who was looking at her lopsided sandcastle rather proudly.

"You might be right there."

"Maybe this little one will love it here just as much."

Eddie's eyes searched for Rachel's as she spoke, meeting them just in time to see her glance towards her stomach.

"I'm sure she will. We'll definitely have to bring her back here one day."

Rachel hummed, "she… did we decide on a name the other day?"

Eddie chuckled, remembering the in-depth discussion he and Rachel had had about which names were instantly barred due to troublesome pupils, and which ones they were instantly inclined to from positive experiences.

"I think we rattled it down to a few."

"Still umming and ahhing though."

Eddie couldn't help his slight laugh as he jibed, "when are you not."

It was Rachel's turn to nudge now, "oi, I'm not that bad."

Eddie quirked an eyebrow, receiving a second nudge from Rachel even as they both threatened to burst into laughter.

It was Darcy who turned their attention away, tugging on both of their trouser legs.

"Sea!" she announced, pointing with a grin towards the turquoise waters.

Eddie glanced across at Rachel before down at his daughter, knowing exactly where this was going.

Rachel crouched down to the little girls level, brushing her hair back from her face.

"Yes sweetheart, it's very pretty, isn't it?"

Darcy nodded, still grinning toothily, "paddle!"

"Ohh!" Rachel laughed, craning her neck to look at Eddie, "you want to go and paddle do you?"

Darcy nodded once more, "and you. And Daddy."

"I suppose we can join you."

"Yayyyy!"

Darcy jumped up and down with glee at their feet, starting to run around them in circles as Rachel turned her attention back to Eddie.

"Come on Lawson. Shoes off and roll your jeans up, it can't be that cold."

"Whatever you say."

….

"What a wonderful first day here," Rachel sighed contentedly as she flopped down next to Eddie on their bed.

"You could say that. I think Darcy has tired us both out."

"Well," Rachel grinned as she looked up at him, "we'd better get used to it. I'm sure we are going to find out the true meaning of the expression double trouble with Darcy and this little one."

Eddie wrapped his arms around her waist, planting a soft kiss on her temple.

"I can't wait."

"Neither can I."

Rachel couldn't resist it for much longer as she craned her neck, looking towards Eddie as she alternated her gaze between his eyes and lips. After all this time it still felt amazing when their lips met, and even more so as they both smiled into it. Rachel had meant it when she'd agreed with Eddie, she couldn't wait to welcome their baby girl into the world. And she felt overjoyed that Eddie was having those exact thoughts. He really was her perfect man.