Thank you for the reviews.

Now I think these four are in need of a bit of a break, don't you?

TW: mention of self-harming scars

A Greek Experience

Rachel knew that it was too late to change her mind, especially as she was browsing the perfumes in the duty-free while James and Amelia said that they had accounted for a trip around duty-free into their packing. She had lost Eddie along the way but she knew that they would all meet where the restaurants were to get a quick bite to eat before they boarded the plane.

But Philip was still playing on her mind and there was a part of her that was regretting not inviting him to come with her. Other than the grief that Melissa would have given her about it, Philip had become a constant feature in their home. So it just felt weird for him not to be there, heading off with James and Amelia.

It was strange how Eddie found her as she was thinking about that, rubbing a hand down her back to get her attention.

"Will you worry a little quieter?" He said.

"It isn't really about leaving Philip with Melissa." She said, knowing that she had to get the thought out of her head at some point.

"Okay."

"It's more about him not being here with us when he has been spending so much time with us."

"I get what you mean."

"It just feels like something is missing."

"But then again, damage control. She was angry at you yesterday because you said that this holiday was just you, me and the twins. Christ knows what she would have said or accused you of if you added Philip's name to it." He sighed. "No, it doesn't feel right to leave him behind but we have to think about lowering the damage that Melissa's words can cause you. We've taken all these steps forward in our relationship, I don't want to take any backwards because she has said something that makes you overthink."

"I know. We'll just have to get him a little something, won't we?"

Eddie smiled down at her before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "We will. But first, I think we better find the twins and get something to eat. I'm starving."

"You men. You are always starving."

She was glad that Eddie didn't say anything else back, just smiling at her before giving her a nudge to get her moving. Rachel was sure that they were going to have a good time and it was probably what they all needed after everything that had happened since they all arrived at Waterloo Road. It was a break that signified that it was all over. That the back and forth, them being reunited, the fire, the gun, everything could more or less be put behind them and Rachel was more than ready for the next chapter of the rest of their lives.

The first day that they had been in Greece had been finding the villa and unpacking along with trying to find a good restaurant for that night. The second day had been the twins exploring the area while Eddie and Rachel went to get some supplies (as they were self-catering) with the idea that they would meet the twins on the beach before they started to explore Rhodes Town properly.

With the beach only a stone's throw away, once they had finished what they had planned for the third day, with Eddie glad that they did have two weeks, they made their way down there for a bit before dinner. And it was clear that the Greek sun was taking to them all well, with them all already looking rather tanned for it only being the third day.

It was only then that Eddie noticed it. He knew that Amelia had told him what happened and how far she took it the time that she freaked out but he had never really looked or noticed the scar on her arm before. He was sure that the only reason he did was because it stood out against her (now) tanned skin.

With Jamie and Rachel already swimming, with Rachel nicking one of his t-shirts to hide her own scar, Eddie knew that it would be a better time to bring it up.

"You know, I've never noticed it before," Eddie said.

"Noticed?" Amelia said before she looked down at her arm. "Well it isn't small, is it?"

"I think I just never looked for it."

"I don't think it is nice to think of the lengths my mind could take me to."

"I don't… Are you sure that you are going to be okay going all the way to Bath? I know it is your dream."

Amelia laughed. "You sound as bad as Mum."

"Maybe but until you and until the gun… I think I thought it was a taboo. People trying to put a label on a feeling that we all deal with from time to time. That horrible thought that someone threatening to take their own life was just attention-seeking."

"At least you have changed your mind on it."

"But it shouldn't have taken all that to change it."

"Dad, I'm going to be fine. I've already looked into societies. Like a running one. And I will call. You don't have to worry about me."

Eddie smiled at her. "My little girl? You know I am now going to worry about you until the end of time. I know the world you are going out into."

"Maybe. But there is something that both you and James need to accept and that is that you aren't always going to be there. I can't rely on you always being there, can I?"

"I suppose not. At least you are your mother's daughter."

"Really?"

"You don't know how many times I have thought that over the last year. You are more like your mum than you realise."

"Yeah but…"

"No buts. Don't you remember when you challenged Rob? Or just the bloody-mindedness that you Masons all seem to have? You are like your mum, okay? I know I didn't say it at the time, but it was one thing that I held onto when we were waiting for her to wake up. That you two were so much like her and that you were her legacy and that you could only go on to make her proud. That there would always be a little bit of her living in you."

Amelia huffed. "Well, you've got better with words, Dad."

"Maybe I have enlightened moments." He said, remembering that she had said something similar when they had spoken after he had confirmation that he was their dad and he had been reunited with Michael.

"I'm sure you do."

It seemed like the best way to finish that conversation, especially when Rachel and Jamie rejoined them, with Eddie having one too many thoughts about Rachel being in his wet t-shirt and the way that it was clinging to her body.

"Shall we skip the cooking tonight and check out that place we saw the other day?" Rachel asked.

"I'm up for no cooking," Eddie said. "And maybe we can discuss what we are going to do tomorrow."

"Yeah and when is best for us to leave you two alone for a night," Jamie said.

"Ooh, yeah. I forgot about that." Amelia said.

"Well, if they are going out, we should stay in that night," Eddie said.

There was probably a part of Jamie and Amelia that cringed at that but Eddie just focused on the smile on Rachel's face and he was grateful for every time he managed to do it.

With it being easily 10 degrees warmer in Rhodes Town than back in Rochdale, Amelia found herself coping with the heat a lot better than she expected (while she was sure that everyone was going to be envious of her tan when they got home).

And with the morning as warm (or warmer) as it was probably at home during the day, Amelia enjoyed the fact that she was a morning person as she sat out on the patio area, enjoying the early morning sun. And as she sat there, nursing a cup of tea with her feet up on the chair, her hands rested against her knees, she realised how at peace she was.

She knew that it wasn't going to last forever but there was a part of her that hoped that she could, at the very least, start university off demon free.

She couldn't remember when the overwhelming feeling started but she knew that it was the first time in five years that it didn't feel like it was ruling her life. That she was back in control.

And she knew that she couldn't lose it again and she hoped that she could weather the storm better in the future. Mainly because she knew that running and talking helped her.

With her dad's words on her mind as well, she knew that she would have to keep in contact with all of them so that she didn't have any surprise visits to Bath. She did get where they were all coming from. She was moving quite far away, bearing in mind she actually had to get into Bath Uni first. She was sure it was just the distance that they were all worried about and what that was going to do to her.

She knew her peace was going to be broken soon. James might have got more stealthy over the years but there were still times that he was like a bull in a china shop and she could stop herself from smiling as she heard him flick on the kettle before being rather loud while going through the cupboards.

"Oh, I thought I was first up," James said as he joined her.

"No, I've been up for a while now. The sunrise this morning was beautiful."

"And I thought you were doing okay."

"I am. Just woke up and couldn't go back to sleep so I thought I would see the sun come up. I'm sure I will feel it later."

"Just as long as you are."

"What is this? First Dad, now you. I am okay and I am going to be okay."

"Alright. Alright." James said, holding up his hands in surrender.

"It is going to be different though, isn't it?" Amelia said to make things a little better. "I know we have done time without Mum. But that was only a couple of nights max and when we could have done more, we had Dad. I… I do think the hardest thing is going to be away from you. My constant companion."

"Nah, you'll be fine. It will be me that is pining after you."

"You know… there was one time that I thought that the distance would do us some good. I don't think that anymore. I quite like having my brother around."

"Yeah, well I don't blame you. I was a dick."

"Strange how things change."

"Hmm, but there is always going to be a part of me that wishes we found Dad sooner."

"But you heard Mum. You know why she didn't go looking for him."

"That doesn't make the feeling go away."

"I know." She sighed. "Do you think Phil is okay?"

"Probably not. Did Mum say anything to you about what Auntie Melissa wanted?"

"From what I gather, Auntie Melissa thought she was coming with us."

"Oh."

"So I don't think she was too pleased when Mum corrected her."

"That is the only reason I don't want to leave. I… I don't want her coming between Mum and Dad again."

Amelia turned to James, clearly seeing that it was something that was worrying him.

"I do think they are a lot stronger now. Together. I don't think we need to worry about them falling apart again."

James briefly looked over at her. "You've been spending too much time with Dad."

"Well both of us can't be worriers."

"The laid backness does suit you."

"Maybe the bad thing was me being around you stress heads," Amelia said before they both laughed. "What?" She said as she saw the look on James' face.

"I love you. I don't think I've said that for a good few years. But I do, Amelia. I love you."

"You soppy git. Is that what Dad has done to you then?" She said as she laughed. "But I love you too."

Amelia turned to the house as she could hear more movement, with it clear that their parents were up and about to join them. Meaning that their day was going to start and Amelia was left wondering when she was going to have the same conversation with her mum.

Eddie liked a bit of culture and he liked to do different activities. He definitely wasn't one to just sit and do nothing on his holidays. But he wasn't really into history like the others were. So while Rachel, Jamie and Amelia followed the trail of knights or something like that, he went a bit further into town to do some exploring and to note where might be best to get souvenirs and something for Philip.

And if he hadn't stopped at the shop next to it (which happened to be some cheap t-shirt shop), he might have walked straight past it. But as he slowed down, shaking his head at some of the t-shirts on display, the jewellery shop caught his eye and he couldn't stop himself from walking over, just to have a look in the window.

The problem was that he felt like he had found it.

That his eye was just drawn to it and, for some reason, he just knew he had to have it. It would be the perfect thing for Rachel.

He didn't realise that he was walking into the shop, his wallet already out before he even reached the counter and as he found himself looking up at this rather Greek looking man, Eddie was sure that this was going to take some explaining. There was a moment of silence as Eddie tried to think about the best way to explain what he wanted when the man smiled widely at him.

"Want a closer look first?" The man said, his accent thick but Eddie was relieved that he could speak English (although maybe it was his fault not knowing Greek).

And so Eddie took him over to the window and pointed at the item that had caught his eye. Even up close, it still took his breath away. It just felt like it was just something that he had to give Rachel, that he hoped that her face was going to light up in the same way that he was sure that his face was. And as he handed over the money, he knew that he would have the perfect opportunity to give it to her on the night that the twins were going out.

He just hoped that his gut feeling was right.