Thanks for reading!

It was almost too easy for Rachel to tuck herself against Eddie's side as they walked out of the building, her hand sliding into his back pocket as she rested her head against him. Eddie wasn't about to argue, pressing a kiss to her head as they walked. "Maybe we should take a rain check on drinks."

She stopped walking, pulling away to look at him. "What?"

He probably should have explained that better. "You're exhausted, Rachel. Drinks can wait- you resting can't."

She couldn't deny that he was right. "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow sounds good." He stepped forward, kissed her cheek and let his lips linger there for a long moment. "I'll see you in the morning."

"Good night…" Her stomach did a flip that had nothing to do with the babies and everything to do with the warm smile he gave her.

The drive home was filled with thoughts of Eddie, the babies, the school, Michael… a hundred thousand things that buzzed around her brain, distracting her so that she didn't notice the lights in her house were on until she stepped through the door and finally noticed she wasn't in the expected darkness. "What on-?"

"Rach."

She sighed, grit her teeth. "I regret giving you that emergency key."

Melissa leant against the doorframe, shrugging one shoulder. "What happened?"

"Babies are fine, growing well, I'm definitely 22 weeks pregnant, as if I didn't know that. You can go now."

She narrowed her eyes. "You're angry with me. What did I do?"

"Oh, I don't know," she said sarcastically, rounding on her. "Maybe tell the man I love that he does nothing but hurt me and it would be better if he stayed away?"

Melissa crossed her arms. "He told you."

"Yes. Why would you do that?" She glared at her angrily.

"Because it's the truth!"

"The hell it is!"

"Open your eyes, Rachel!" Melissa snapped. "You have spent weeks crying over him! Weeks telling me how much it hurt to have to work with him, pretend that nothing was wrong, having mixed feelings over the pregnancy and his involvement. He called me, wanting my help in worming his way back into your good graces so yes, I told him to back off!"

"You had no right!"

"I had every right!" she snapped. "This may shock you, but you're my sister, I love you! You think it doesn't hurt me to have to see you heart broken and grieving? I was trying to spare you that and I won't apologise for it! Someone has to look after you; Lord knows you don't do it yourself."

They stared at each other in silence, one defensive, the other shocked. "Dammit, Mel," Rachel cursed suddenly, "I'm trying to be angry with you here, would you let me?"

She relaxed and smiled slightly. "Sorry?"

Rachel crossed her arms. "Don't do it again, you hear me?"

"I won't promise that."

"Melissa, I'm serious. I'm a big girl, and mine and Eddie's relationship is none of your concern."

She blinked. "Since when did you have a relationship again?"

"If you hadn't pissed me off so badly, you'd know by now, wouldn't you?" Rachel smiled sweetly at her and brushed past to the kitchen. Melissa pouted.

"Aw, Rachel!"

Seeing as she had little to no willpower, it didn't take long for Rachel to be spilling everything that had happened throughout the day. Melissa would have to be crazy to not see the huge grin that her sister was sporting, but she wasn't allowing herself to be fooled. She'd seen the same smile multiple times over the past months, only for it to be replaced with tears and sobs days or weeks later. She hated to be the one to deliver the harsh truths, but there was nobody else to do that. So she listened carefully as Rachel filled her in about her conversations with Eddie and the events that had transpired at the hospital, but it took her sister one look at her face to see that she wasn't really buying it.

"Alright, hit me with it."

Melissa was about to protest, but knew it was pointless. She couldn't lie, not when asked straight out. It was always one of her weaknesses, especially when Rachel was concerned. To her parents, she was able to worm her way out of their questions with little fibs and white lies, but it had ever been that easy with her sister. "Rachel, he's no good for you." She knew there was no point sugar coating what she wanted to say, and stopped her from interrupted with a wag of her finger. "No, I listened to you. Now it's my turn." She tried her hardest to stand her ground, knowing she was going to be the one to pick up the pieces either way. "He's hurt you so much, said so many stupid things. I've never seen you as sad as I've seen you in the recent weeks."

Rachel nodded along, knowing there was no use arguing that point. She had been heartbroken over some things Eddie had said and over his actions too. "You're right Mel. But answer me this, have you ever seen me as happy either?"

At that, Melissa was truly stumped. She knew Rachel had caught her out with that one, and truly stopped her in whatever rant she had been planning. "Well... I mean, no. But-"

"There it is. I love him." She confirmed, the truth shining in her eyes as she hoped Melissa would trust her. "I'd be happy on my own, you're right about that." She couldn't argue that fact either, it was a happy time in her life. Something she'd been waiting for since she was a little girl, so she would be thrilled to be blessed with the chance of motherhood. But she knew her happiness was down to Eddie too, the experience made even more special due to having someone by her side through it all. "But I'm happier with him, with him and Michael." She confirmed, her voice determined to show that no matter how much Melissa tried to sway her, she had her own mind. She loved her sister, and appreciated the concern, but would be following her heart where Eddie was concerned.

The voice Rachel used held no room for argument from Melissa, so she held her hands up in surrender and halted any argument she was planning to make. "I'm only looking out for you, Rach."

"I know you are, I appreciate it."

Melissa smiled, glad that her concern was recognised at the very least. "So what happens next? Is it all forgotten and back to normal?" She really didn't want to sound cynical, was trying her hardest to support Rachel but wanted to know that she was looking after herself at the same time. She wanted the fairy tale, Melissa couldn't hold that against her, and hoped and prayed that she got it in the end.

"No of course not." Rachel rolled her eyes, standing up to make them both a hot drink as she had a sudden craving for a large hot chocolate. "But whatever we are, we're working through it together. And that's what I want. I want him." She confirmed, smiling to herself as she mentally went through the day's events and just how great they had turned out. "Now, can we stop this soppy talk and buy more things for these babies?"

Melissa finally let it go and let out a shriek of excitement. "I thought you'd never ask; I saw the cutest blankets earlier..." She rambled about her findings and the tense conversation was long forgotten, the mood picking up immensely as they focused on the future.