We are really, truly very sorry it's been so long!

Tom glanced at Eddie, saw the state he was in and readily agreed. He knew Eddie had been getting the cold shoulder from everyone- him included- but Tom probably had less right to judge than most people and the man obviously needed to talk.

Despite that, when they finally managed to escape the confines of the school and were each sat with a pint in front of them, Eddie was silent. Tom eyed him cautiously. "So," he began, "can I assume this is to do with Rachel?"

Eddie shot him a look. "I will never understand how absolutely everything at that school becomes public knowledge so quickly."

He snorted, picking up his drink. "It's pretty obvious." He swallowed a mouthful, eyed Eddie. "So what is going on? Are you two over?"

For a long moment, Eddie couldn't bring himself to reply. He knew what he had to say, but actually saying it aloud…

"Eddie?"

He gave a single, sharp nod, leaning back in his seat with a defeated expression. Tom blew out his breath. "Why the hell would you do that?"

"I didn't!" Eddie defended automatically.

"You didn't leave her?"

He scowled. "Of course not. I never would."

Tom stared at him. "Then what the hell did you do? Because there's no way a pregnant woman kicks her partner to the kerb without a very good reason."

Eddie scrubbed his hands over his face. "She was right to," he admitted, voice muffled.

"What did you do? Sleep with her sister or something?"

Eddie choked. "Of course not! Besides, I'm pretty sure Melissa hates me."

Tom blinked. "I didn't know she actually had a sister," he commented. "So?"

"I said something without thinking," Eddie murmured, downing his pint. "I didn't mean it, not really. But I said it, and it hurt her. And it's not the first time… I keep sticking my foot in it, ruining things for her. Melissa says I'm no good for her, and I'm inclined to think she's right."

He obviously didn't want to go into details, but Tom was growing more and more confused. "Did you try apologising?" he asked tentatively. Eddie scoffed.

"Of course I did."

He sounded so depressed that Tom instantly went and bought each of them two more. And then two more after that. Eddie went up a few times, and Tom realised too late that each time he did, he was also ordering and downing something stronger. Which meant that fairly soon, Eddie was out of it and Tom ordered them a taxi, having to wrestle him into it.

Probably a good thing Rachel wasn't around to see him in this state, he thought grimly. He lugged Eddie up the stairs and into his flat, just managing to tip him onto the sofa. "Mate, you're going to have to pull yourself together," he told him, shaking his head as he looked around at the empty bottles and general mess. "Even if things don't work out with Rachel, you've still got two babies who need their father."

Eddie was barely coherent, slurring as he spoke. "But they're not really mine, are they?"

It took a few seconds.

"What?"

Tom's head snapped up, gaping at him in disbelief. "Eddie, what do you mean?" he asked, but received no reply. He was already asleep.

It was probably wise for Tom to leave, but he just couldn't quite find it in himself to leave his friend in such a state. So he carefully removed Eddie's jacket from him and went about finding some water and paracetamol for when he finally woke up. It wasn't even a Friday so there was still work to contend to, meaning Tom would have to make sure he was up before Eddie and got him into the shower so he was presentable. Even though he was very vague with the information he'd given about him and Rachel, he knew the headteacher would not care to find her Deputy hungover. So after another check on Eddie, Tom set him alarm far earlier than he would and sent another text to reassure those at home that he was fine and simply taking care of Eddie in his state. He took himself off to the spare room and found it piled high of baby furniture that needed to be assembled. His heart ached for how much pain both Eddie and Rachel must be going through, and vowed to help them in any way he was able to.

Even though it felt like he had only just shut his eyes, soon Tom was groaning at the sound of his alarm as he dragged himself out of Eddie's spare bed. It had taken him a while to fall to sleep, too focused on the items that littered the room as his own thoughts drifted back to the pain he felt when both Izzy and Lorna lost the babies. He'd been stripped of the chance of fatherhood twice now, and would do anything he could to ensure Eddie didn't feel the same way he did. Only he needed to get to the bottom of the comment he'd made. What did he mean that the babies weren't his?

So Tom was beside himself with surprise to get to the bottom of the stairs and find the living room empty, the smell of coffee wading in from the kitchen. When he followed it, he found Eddie there freshly showered and looking far less bleary eyed that he was sure he looked himself. "Eddie?" He had to ask, wondering if he'd somehow woken in an alternate reality as it seemed the only reasonable explanation.

Eddie looked at Tom and had to hold back his laugh, purely for the fact his friend really had done him a solid in staying over. Unbeknownst to Tom, Eddie had ended most nights of late by cradling an empty bottle of whatever spirit he had left, so the stay over really wasn't necessary. He'd long since learnt to deal with his hangovers so to not cause suspicion at work. It wasn't a healthy coping strategy but he'd also lost the love of his life so he tried to argue with himself that it was normal. "Thanks for last night mate. You know, for listening and staying." He was slightly shocked to find the door to his spare room open when he dragged himself upstairs earlier to shower, even more shocked to discover Tom tucked up under the blankets that him and Rachel had purchased for the twins. He avoided looked at all of the flat pack furniture yet to be assembled, not needing an emotional breakdown so close to starting a work day.

"Look Eddie, before you, you know.. passed out. You said the babies weren't yours? Did you mean it?"

And that's how Eddie found himself spilling his guts before the clock was even showing 7am, knowing he was cornered due to the loose lips that came with having a few too many. He was only grateful it was just Tom that heard, glad to not be in a pub full of people he knew were likely to spill the story and count it as the latest staffroom gossip. He tried his best not to get choked up but couldn't hide the tremble in his voice as he looked at Tom with a hint of desperation. "What can I do to make it better?" His voice was nothing but pure heartache, practically begging for help from someone or anyone who could end this nightmare he'd found himself in.

Tom was struggling to keep his jaw from hitting the floor. "Has anyone ever told you your life is like something from a film?"

Eddie gave a mildly hysterical snort of laughter. Tom leant back, shaking his head slightly. "Look- if I'm honest, I don't know what you do. I don't know Rachel that well. But… I know it's possible to love two children even if they don't share your blood," he said softly, and Eddie's gaze snapped to him.

"How do I prove that to Rachel?"

Tom couldn't believe he was having this conversation with and about his bosses. "I'm not sure you do," he admitted. "God knows I'm no expert on women, but my guess is if she's asked you to keep your distance, refusing to do so is going to cause more harm than good."

"If I do, I'll lose her completely."

Tom frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"The only reason she'll have any contact with me is because she doesn't have a choice, because of the school. But when the holidays start…" he trailed off, and Tom grimaced.

"I see your point."

Eddie scrubbed his hands over his face. "I've really ballsed this up."

"Yeah, you did," Tom agreed. Eddie shot him a look but couldn't deny the truth in his words. "Look, Eddie, if you want my honest opinion- I wouldn't rock the boat yet. Concentrate on working together and supporting her as the head. Work your way up to being her friend."

He looked sceptical. "I'm not sure that will work with Rachel."

Tom shrugged. "It's not like you can make things worse," he pointed out. Well, he wasn't wrong, Eddie thought tiredly.