Rachel had finally calmed the horde of Waterloo Road students down, though truthfully she didn't want to. She wanted them to continue to cheer, to hype themselves up so she could join them and shout about just how proud she was of them all. But she quietened them down and took to the stage, a large grin taking up her face as she congratulated her team of spellers. It was only as she spoke of how it was her first year at the school that it really sunk in just how much had changed since she began. She couldn't help the sly smile she threw Eddie's way as she mentioned how much she'd enjoyed getting to know them all, her children clearly agreeing as they gave small kicks either towards each other or towards her stomach.

"Yeah but they don't know you, do they? Not really."

Immediately, Rachel's blood ran cold and her smile quickly vanished. All happy thoughts of her first year and meeting Eddie was out the window as she caught sight of Stuart walking towards her and talking to the packed hall.

"They don't know the truth, do they Amanda? Oh yeah, that's her real name see."

She didn't know where to look, could feel eyes darting between her and the man who hadn't stopped speaking. But she couldn't tear her eyes away from Stuart, not even to see what Eddie was doing as she waited for what would be coming out of his mouth next. This was it, the end of her career and life as she knew it. She felt like saying a final apology to her stomach, knowing she was about to lose her children the possibility of a good future.

"Or at least it was, when she was a prostitute."

Now Rachel did catch sight of Eddie, as he sprung to his feet and jumped to her defence. He was moving towards Stuart, but still Rachel was frozen on the spot. She'd heard the gasps, could almost hear the whispers as they all took in the new piece of information.

"That's right boy's and girls, your Miss Mason used to earn her living on her back."

It seems that Eddie's body hurdling towards him was not stopping Stuart at all as he tried to get out as many poisonous words as he could. He knew he wouldn't last long in the hall, not with Rachel's personal bodyguard around anyway; so he had to make every second count.

Eddie saw red, and it was only with the slightest glance towards Rachel that stopped him from throwing punches and kicking Stuart firmly through the window. It didn't stop him from pushing him away though, desperate to get him away from Rachel as soon as possible. "That's enough Hordley, time to go." He continued to push, not caring how forceful he was being in his desperate to get the man to disappear.

"Yeah, I knew it was you who bleated to the council. You two and those bastard children of yours."

Eddie simply didn't care anymore, and pulled his clenched fist back ready to land a clean punch to Stuart's jaw. Luckily for him, Matt was there to catch his hand and stop him from really doing what he wanted to. Tom was the other side, taking over Eddie's job of pushing Stuart away and getting him out of the hall. It was the final comment that had done it, the final secret out in the open as the students all heard about their teachers private lives in the worst of ways. Eddie didn't stay to stick around as Matt and Tom threw him from the hall, he hoped they really took care of him but he couldn't find it in himself to care as he turned back to Rachel and saw she hadn't moved a muscle. He noticed Steph and Jasmine had stood up to get to her, but he was far quicker on his feet. He ordered the students back in their seats as he made his way towards her, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Come on darling, let's get out of here." He pulled her against him softly, hoping she'd follow and allow herself to be whisked away from the nightmare she was currently living. Only that would be too easy. Not Rachel, not his incredibly stubborn and headstrong girlfriend who simply gave him a look and shook her head. His only saving grace was that she didn't move away from his embrace, instead shuffled even closer and leant on him for some much needed support before she began to speak.

"No, I can't lie to the people who have trusted me. They deserve better than that."

She was too stubborn and self-sacrificing for her own good, Eddie thought, as she stood up straight and faced the crowd. He knew she had a point, that the rumours would spiral if she didn't acknowledge them but he wished that he could save her this, could protect her from this humiliation.

"What that man just said is true. I was a prostitute."

He had never hated Stuart Hordley more.

He watched as she spoke, never faltering, or shying away from the hundreds of eyes fixed upon her, but so close to breaking, he knew. Voice catching in her throat, until she shifted in a way that he couldn't quite decipher until she began to walk out, meeting his eyes for only a split second. He should stay, he knew. He was the deputy, this was literally his job, to be there when she couldn't be. But there was no way he was leaving her alone, so he met Tom's gaze, nodded his head towards the kids in a clear message of 'deal with this' and hurriedly followed her out.

He didn't say a word, knowing she needed to get somewhere safe. But they hadn't even made it through the next doors when the applause started. Rachel paused, eyes closing for a brief moment as something that looked a lot like grief flashed across her face. "Rachel…"

She grabbed for his hand without looking, shaking her head slightly. "Go back in," she choked out, before dropping her grip and shoving the doors open. He ignored her, following her up to the office, and shooting a tight smile at a visibly bemused Bridget, closing the door tightly behind them. Rachel collapsed onto the sofa, shoulders shaking with sobs as she attempted to muffle the sounds with her fingers.

Eddie could do nothing but draw her into a hug. To his relief, she turned into him instead of away, burying her face into his shoulder as she wept almost silently, clutching at the material of his top. He rocked her gently, his own heart breaking in the face of her grief.

Today hadn't been part of the plan, they were supposed to have been free. How exactly had this happened? Guilt swam within him- he should have told her about the envelopes this morning. But she'd been so happy when he'd come to see her, light dancing in her eyes as she suggested they go out to celebrate that evening. Celebrate the successful end of her first school year at Waterloo Road. What a joke. Eddie pressed his lips to her hair, and wished he could go back to that moment. She'd stopped shaking, had calmed against him though he could still feel her tears soaking into his shirt. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, and he frowned.

"What on earth are you sorry for?"

"You're the guy who knocked up the ex-prostitute now. Your career's going to suffer as well."

He scoffed. "I don't care about that."

"I do. Maybe we could move away? Far enough that you could escape the talk. It would mean a lot of driving with Michael but we could manage."

He pulled her back enough to see her face, ravaged by tears. "No one's moving anywhere. Stop it."

"Eddie, we have to be sensible about this." She rose to her feet, ran a hand through her hair as the other curved protectively around her bump. "We can't survive off savings for more than a year, maybe eighteen months if we were really careful. I'm going to lose my job, and I won't be able to get another until after the twins are born. And even then it certainly won't pay the same, we have to start thinking about-,"

"Rachel!"

Her mouth shut with a click, and she shot him a startled look. She was a sight, eyes red and voice choked as she spoke so sensibly about the future. He sighed, rising to his feet and crossing to wrap his arms around her. "Just stop, okay? Just stop."

It was only when he finally felt her rapid breathing calm down that he pulled back to look at her. She looked utterly broken, and he longed to take some of the pain away from her. But the only thing he could do, was reassure her with his words. "That clapping… that was for you." He felt her shake her head, ready to protest, but Eddie was having none of it. "It was, Rachel, they don't care." He had no idea what had started the applause, but he longed to thank whoever it was. Only that would involve leaving Rachel, and that certainly wasn't something he planned on doing for as long as he could help it.

Rachel quickly moved away from Eddie and starting to pace the office. She picked up her bag and threw things into it, looking out into the car park and hoping she'd be able to make a quick getaway before parents started to flood in. "I know exactly what's going to happen. First it'll be the press, knocking on doors, asking the kids questions. And then the parents will get uncomfortable, they'll start looking for other schools. Then the LEA will step in, it's not right. It's not right at all, I'm not bringing that on the school. I've made a really big mistake Eddie, I should have nipped it in the bud. I should have handed my resignation in the minute-"

Eddie cut her off, taking her hands in his and stopping her from packing, removing the notebook from her bag and putting it back on her desk. "It's not your fault, not this time. It's mine. I just couldn't leave it Rachel." He admitted, shame coursing through him at the hurt she was going through because of his actions.

"We both agreed to contact your friend in the council, it's my fault for not stopping this sooner. What kind of mother does that make me?"

"You deserve to run this school, you deserve everyone's respect sweetheart."

"I don't deserve your respect." Rachel admitted, sneaking a look up at this wonderful man who still hadn't left her side. Everyone knew, they knew her past and they knew her future as well. Yet still Eddie stood by her, accepted the words and continued to defend her until the ends of the earth.

He knew it was only her insecurities reering their head, knew that she knew how much he loved and respected her. He hadn't run when he first found out, about her past or her pregnancy, so that wasn't going to change now. "You've got that, I thought you knew it. You're not going Rachel." They'd been through too much for her to simply throw in the towel now, had overcome too many obstacles for this to be the end of her Waterloo Road career.

"I need to clear this mess up today and then I'm gone. We need to think of the babies Eddie, of Michael and their future-" She was interrupted by the opening of the door, a very sheepish looking Grantly trailing behind a woman Rachel had never seen before in her life. She stood up taller, no idea what was happening but knowing already that she could probably do without it.

"I'm sorry to interrupt but I think I've waited quite long enough. I'm Stella Hansen, from the exam board. I'm here about the investigation."

There was a long moment of silence. Both glanced at each other in confusion, saw the same blank bafflement in the other's eyes and immediately turned back to her. "What investigation?" Eddie asked, knowing Rachel's voice would still be thick with tears. The woman's jaw dropped slightly.

"You… don't know?"

"Know what? Grantley?"

The man winced, and shuffled his feet, not meeting their eyes. Rachel narrowed her eyes at him. "What have you done?" And today had started so well, she thought, and received a foot to the ribs in response.