Hello,

I loved writing this chapter, so I really hope that you enjoy reading it! This chapter and the following two chapters are all set on the same day, so get ready for a long day for Rachel and prepare yourself for some drama in the next chapters! The next part should be up sometime next week, once I've got round to editing it.

As always thank you so so much for reading and for your lovely reviews, it means so much to hear your feedback, so please keep them coming!

Enjoy,

Becca xxx

A Change of Heart

21st October 2011

It was the last day of school before the October half term. After an exhausting first term back at Waterloo Road, Rachel was looking forward to the break and so woke up in a good mood that morning. When she had gotten out of the shower, she went through the task of trying to find an outfit which fitted her without drawing attention to her growing pregnant stomach. Now at fourteen weeks pregnant, she had begun to develop a small bump; fortunately, it was still small enough to be kept concealed under a loose top. However, she knew that it would not be long until Adam noticed and so she had decided that she would tell him that night. At least then she would have two weeks to try and get over the chaos following her revelation. After some deliberation and a few outfit changes, she decided on a white blouse that floated over her growing stomach and paired it with a knee-length dark grey skirt.

Whilst Rachel was getting ready, Adam was downstairs making some breakfast, he had just sat down to his muesli when Rachel's phone, which was on charge in the kitchen, began to ring. Upon answering her phone, he was greeted by an unfamiliar voice. "Hello, it that Rachel Mason?"

"Hi, it's her husband, can I take a message?"

"Could you please get her to give us a ring? We're going to have to rearrange the date for her 16-week scan."

"Right..." Adam replied in a confused tone as he gave a bewildered frown, although, before he had time to register what he had just been told, Rachel came down the stairs.

"What time are you home from work tonight?" She asked as she walked into the kitchen; she needed to be fully prepared before revealing the truth about the baby that evening. However, she suddenly stopped as she caught sight of Adam's face which was covered in utter confusion as he still had her mobile clutched in his hand. "What's wrong?" She asked nervously; instantly sensing that something was not right.

"Some woman just rang you...she was asking about a 16-week scan. Was that some sort of prank or something...?"

The energy that Rachel had woken up with, now dropped from her face. Ever since finding out about her pregnancy she had rehearsed this moment in her head; however, she had never anticipated it to come out like this. "No, it wasn't a prank...Adam I was going to tell you tonight. I'm pregnant."

After hiding her news for almost five weeks, it felt strange to say it out loud. When she had rehearsed how she would tell him in her head, the pregnancy part was the easy bit, it was always the following revelation that was the difficult part; she never found an appropriate way of revealing that she did not know who the father of her child was.

Adam was absolutely stunned as he tried to get his head around her revelation. "You're definitely not joking?"

"No," She replied, quite seriously.

Instantaneously, his shocked expression broke into utter joy and excitement. "You're really pregnant? Rachel, we're having a baby? Oh my god, I can't believe this!" He exclaimed as he rushed over to hug her. "Wait...Did she say 16-week scan?"

Rachel was absolutely lost for words; she knew that she could not let his excitement go on for much longer; it was cruel, she had to tell him. "Yes, well I'm fourteen weeks now. Adam..."

He excitedly interjected "Fourteen weeks? How long have you known?"

"Over a month." She hesitantly revealed.

"What? Why haven't you said anything?"

"I've just wanted to make sure that everything was okay..."

"With the baby?" He smiled to her, completely unaware of the turmoil that was going on in her head at that very moment. "You were trying to protect me? Just in case anything went wrong. Rachel that's lovely of you but you could have just told me. Everything is okay isn't it? The baby's okay?"

"Yes, the baby is okay. Adam, it wasn't just..."

"Thank god! And you're okay, about being pregnant?"

"Yes, I'm happy about it. Adam…"

"I'm so glad about that." He smiled as he started to get emotional and pulled her in for a hug once more. "I just can't believe it Rach. I'm going to be a Dad; I'd almost given up hope...I love you so much, you know that. I'm so excited for our future."

There was a real weight to his words that left a heavy feeling in the pit of Rachel's stomach; a feeling beyond guilt. Giving a barely audible sigh, Rachel knew that she was going to be late for work at this rate and so would have to have the rest of this conversation later. "Sorry, I've really got to get to work."

For the first time that term, Rachel was the last one to arrive in the staffroom for the morning meeting; she was ten minutes late as a result of her surprise pregnancy announcement to Adam.

"What time do you call this, Miss Mason." Steph exclaimed in an overexaggerated shocked voice.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, trust me it won't happen again." Rachel apologised to her staff.

"At least it's the last day before the half term Rachel. We'll let you off." Tom smiled reassuringly at her as she appeared noticeably overwhelmed following the morning that she had experienced.

The look on Rachel's face did not go unnoticed by Eddie who looked at her with concern now as she briefly glanced at him. It had been almost two weeks since he had told her that he loved her and they had shared a brief kiss, since then Eddie had been doing his best to keep their conversations strictly work-related; it was the only way he could cope after she had pretty much told him that there was not a chance of them being together.

"As you know we've got our open evening for the parents tonight, so please ensure that your classrooms are tidy and well presented. We really want to show the parents the improvements that we've been implementing this term and show off all the kid's hard work. Matt, I hope the choir are ready for an audience tonight." Rachel began.

"God help us." Grantly muttered before burying his head back into his Racing Post.

"I can't wait for you all to see their hard work." Matt added. "I've reserved you a front row seat Grantly."

"I'm sure they'll be fabulous Matt! And afterwards I think we'll all deserve a drink...Or five!" Steph chipped in, before giving Rachel a probing look. "Will you be joining us Rachel?"

"I'd love to Steph, but I've got plans." Rachel excused before moving on to the notices.

Once the morning meeting was over and Rachel had headed off to her office, Steph turned to Matt; instantly, her face informed him that she was musing over something. "Have you noticed something different about Rachel?"

"I can't believe she was late! Rachel's normally the first one in the building." Matt commented. "I wonder if something's happened."

"I don't mean that, although now you come to mention it, that could explain it as well. Have you not noticed her recent outfit choices? She's not normally one for an oversized top...She's been an absolute stress head since she arrived back even though she'd been sunning it up for the last year." She looked to Matt with widened eyes, making it clear that she was hinting towards something. "She never comes for a drink at the pub."

Matt pulled a shocked face as Steph's hints eventually clicked. "Wait...do you think she's pregnant?"

"Finally! All the signs are there Matt. She has that look about her as well..."

"Surely not," Matt remarked as he mulled over the idea. "Can you really imagine Rachel Mason with a family car and baby sick on her designer coat. I can't see it."

"I'm telling you Matt. I can feel it in my waters!"

Rachel had only just stepped into her office when Eddie came following her. "Are you okay? It's not like you to be late." He pointed out as he became worried by the expression on her face. "Rachel, has something happened?"

As she sat back into the sofa, still trying to take in the morning that she had faced, she stressfully exhaled. "Adam knows, about the baby. It all came out this morning, that's why I was late."

Eddie sat beside her now. "Oh god. I'm guessing he didn't take it well."

She shook her head. "I only got round to telling him about the pregnant part."

"What?"

"Eddie you should have seen his face, I've never seen him be so happy. I couldn't do it." She sunk further into the sofa. "How could I break his heart and then come to work."

"Rachel, he needs to know. I think he's a bit of a prat myself, but even I know it's not fair to let him get attached to a child that might not be his!"

The room went silent as Rachel rested her head against the sofa, becoming deep in thought for some time. "I'm going to tell him the truth tonight." She broke the silence, before sitting up straight and looking to Eddie. "And then I'm going to end things. Well if he doesn't beat me to it after I tell him the truth."

Eddie was fully focused now. "You're going to leave him?"

"Yes." She confirmed. It was something that had played on her mind for a while, it felt strange to say it out loud. She kept her gaze firmly on Eddie. "There's something else I wanted to talk to you about. I know we've not spoken much since that conversation we had the other week..."

"I thought it was for the best," Eddie looked disheartened. "Rachel, I need to talk to you as well. I don't know how long I can keep working here for; it's too difficult, seeing you every day..."

She cut him off. "Eddie just shush a minute." When he pulled a face, she explained. "I'm sorry but I need to say this. What you said the other week on that bench, did you mean it?"

"Of course I meant it, surely you know by now that I love you, unconditionally. Don't worry, I get it; we don't want the same things."

"We do, want the same things." Rachel suddenly announced and could not help but smile at him as she now reached for his hand. "Eddie, I know I said that I didn't think I could do it...but I just can't stop thinking about everything that you said..."

"What is it that you're saying Rachel?" He asked as she stumbled across her words in a way that was out of character for her. Ever since she had taken his hand, he had anticipated the direction in which their conversation was leading but needed her confirmation before he could allow himself to get his hopes up.

"Eddie, this term has just been...everything I didn't expect and I probably haven't dealt with a lot of things in the right way, but I want to change that. I'm so sick of all the lies. It's not just Adam, he obviously deserves the truth, but I need to be honest with myself too, about what I want. Eddie, I want you."

Eddie beamed now as he put his other hand on top of hers. "Do you really mean that?"

As she nodded in confirmation, her smile continued. "Absolutely. I'm sorry I know I've not made my feelings clear; I've just been so focused on all the reasons why it wouldn't work and how it wasn't practical but... Eddie, you were right when you said we've been fighting it, ever since you appeared on my birthday, I knew I still had feelings for you. I don't want to fight it anymore Eddie, so if you still want to make a go of things then, so do I."

Taken aback by Rachel's honesty, Eddie struggled to recall the last time that she had been so open about her feelings; it completely caught him off guard. He did not reply instantly, however, he did not need to as the loving look in his eyes spoke volumes to Rachel. Smiling back at her now, he squeezed her hand. "Of course I do, Rachel..."

She could not help but cautiously interject, "I know that we've got a lot ahead of us and of course, it's not going to be easy."

"When are things ever easy for us Rachel?"

"I'm going to have to tell Adam everything tonight and Eddie, I need you to promise me that you're going to sort out things with Melissa."

"I'm already on it, I promise." He assured her as he moved closer towards her.

"I mean it Eddie, I..."

He hushed her "Rachel will you please just let me kiss you."

She stood up to check that no one was around outside the office. For once, she was glad that Janeece was running late. Eddie then stood up from the couch as he wrapped his arms around her waist "I take it the coast is clear." He commented before he leant in and connected their lips tenderly. As he began to softly kiss her, she reciprocated instantly and found that her fingers naturally combed through the back of his hair as she deepened their embrace. When Rachel finally pulled away from their long kiss, her arms now wrapped around his neck and she breathlessly added. "Oh, and... I love you too."

Eddie tried not to get emotional as she finally confessed her love. For so long now, since the very start of their reunion, he had wondered if she felt the same way that he did. His love for her had never stopped, if anything, since their reunion his feelings had only intensified. He could not have imagined loving Rachel any more than he had done previously, but there was something about the time that had passed between them during those two years apart and the connection that he felt when they had reunited. It was such a cliché, but one that made so much sense to him now, absence really did make the heart grow fonder. "You don't know how much it means to hear you say that." He confessed as he gazed into her eyes; utterly besotted.

There was such an energy between them both. For Rachel, it was as if she could feel the love radiating from him. "I just really wish we didn't have to hurt anyone."

"Whatever fallouts or consequences, we'll deal with them Rachel." He assured her. "I'm going to be here no matter what, for both of you." As he told her this, his hand which had been rested on her waist now moved to her stomach. Ever since finding out about Rachel's pregnancy, he had tried not to allow himself to get too attached to the idea of having another child. Having a child with Rachel was always such a dream for him and not knowing whether this was going to be a reality was difficult at first. Yet now, as he held his hand to her stomach, the closest he had gotten to his potential future child, he was sure that regardless of the outcome, he was not going anywhere.

"Thank you," she briefly reconnected their lips before adding. "And I know that it's not just me that comes as part of a package...I want to support you with Charlie as well whether that be with the custody battle or the day to day things, I'm here."

"Rachel Mason, I don't think I've ever loved you more." He admitted as he began to kiss her once more.

Fortunately, Janeece was not a quiet person and they both heard her singing long before she arrived at the office, giving them chance to separate from their embrace before she knocked on the door.

"Come in." Rachel called as she sat on her desk, attempting to look casual.

"Miss, I am so sorry I'm late, Cheryl was being a diva, refusing to get dressed and that. I know I was late the other day as well, but I am trying!" Janeece rambled on.

"Janeece, it's fine." Rachel assured her; after being late herself that morning, she did not think that she was in a position to criticise Janeece for doing the same.

"You look very happy this morning Sir." Janeece commented on the smile on Eddie's face before the phone then started to ring. "Better get to work, hadn't I?"

Once Janeece had left the room, Eddie laughed as he commented, "She does know that she's not a pupil anymore, doesn't she?"

"I've given up trying to get her to call me Rachel."

"Now, where were we?" Eddie smiled at her as he wrapped his arms around her waist once more and resumed their earlier kiss; as he did so, he pulled her closer towards him.

"Don't you have a class starting in a few minutes?" Rachel asked as she briefly parted their lips.

"Do you know everyone's timetables?"

"I try to." She admitted before tapping his arm which was still entwined around her waist. "Go on then, we wouldn't want you to get too...excited now, would we Mr Lawson?"

Once Eddie had reluctantly gone to his classroom, Rachel felt such mixed emotions. Being so close to Eddie once more and the prospect of them being able to finally be together made her feel ecstatic. However, she knew that this came with a price. Despite the morning that herself and Eddie had shared, she could not avoid the feeling of dread which seeped in whenever she thought of the conversation that awaited her that evening. Adam was not the easiest person to be married to, he could be sulky and difficult and really wound her up at times, but he did not deserve this. It was hard to imagine how he was going to react to the truth and how she was going to put her revelation into words; the only certainty was that there was no way to avoid hurting him. As Rachel attempted to plan what she would say to Adam that evening, her mobile began to ring.

Her assumption had been that it would be Adam calling her, however to her shock, the caller ID was her sister. "Melissa? Is everything okay?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yes, I'm great. I know you must be busy, but would you be able to meet me for a quick coffee at lunch?"

"Well I don't think I'll be able to..." Rachel began but was quickly interrupted by her persistent sister.

"Please Rach, I really need your advice."

Rachel sighed, she knew that Melissa would not give up and reluctantly agreed. "Right okay, but I can only be 20 minutes, half an hour at the most."