A few weeks had passed since Rachel and Adam shared that kiss, and since then a lot had changed for Rachel. Her and Adam decided to move in together, more Adams idea than hers but she went along with it anyway and a proposal, Rachel and Adam were now engaged with a date still to be arranged when they'll get married.

But something was still bugging Rachel, with everything that she has going on in her new chapter of her life with Adam she still couldn't stop herself from thinking about Eddie. She should be happy with Adam, shouldn't she? Before he life with Adam moves forward she needed to get these thoughts sorted and to do that, she thought back to what Dr Smith said

Speak to Eddie, it won't do you any harm

With that, that's what she decided to do, she was going to speak to Eddie. She grabbed her phone from her bag and scrolled through her contacts until she found Eddie name and pressed dial. No answer.

Waiting a few minutes and then trying again, still no answer. Not wanting to seem eager but really wanting to talk to Eddie, she picked up her keys and head for the door, got into the car and drove to the one place that he could possibly be on a late Friday morning, Waterloo Road.

The drive there Rachel just spent making mental notes in her head, what she wanted to discuss and ask Eddie. The drive felt long, but eventually she arrived, driving down the road to the car park the yard was quiet, not a child to be seen. Getting out from the car there was lots of banging, she looked up and there was the children, banging on the windows and waving excitably, much to her confusion Rachel just decided to wave back and then put her head down and walked for the entry door.

Welcome back Miss Mason

Hiya Miss Mason

Yes Miss, you're back

"Err rrr... i suppose I am" everyone seemed to know her, had welcomed her on her arrival. Rachel had no idea what was going on, the smells were familiar, and faces but she still had no recollection of her memory, she just wished the pieces would fit together and tell her, her story. She started to feel a hot sweat take over her body and her breathing became faster

Oh no, not now please not now

Then she heard his voice, her saviour she thought

"Get back to lessons the lot of you, before I put you all in the cooler and that'll be afternoon detention with me for the next few days"

"But sir, Miss is back init"

Rachel stared at the young lad and then back towards Eddie

Eddie could tell she was very confused right now and there was a lot of information he would probably have to tell her, because there's no doubt that she will have a lot of questions

"Get to class Bolton"

His head down, he walked back towards class.

"Err wait a minute, Bolton"

Eddie turned his head looking straight at Rachel, wondering what on earth did she want to say to him, did she remember

"Now if you're going back to lessons, I think you can take those sunglasses off don't you? And take your hat off, no hats to be worn indoors"

"Yes Miss, sorry Miss"

Eddie just smiled, even though she forget who she was and what she did, it was still there in her heart. The caring, passionate head mistress still looking out for the children and wanting the best for them.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Eddie was mesmerised by Rachel that he didn't seem to notice that Bolton had already gone back to class and Eddie was just staring at her like a lost puppy and all love eyed.

"Oh.." shaking off all thoughts "Why are you here Rach?"

"Is there somewhere we can talk? Privately?"

"Follow me, come on" placing his hand around her waist and leading him towards the office

Arriving at the office, Rachel placed her hand on everything that was in reach, the doors, walls, the desk..

"Take a seat" pointing towards the sofas

But her eyes were fixed elsewhere

"You can sit there if you like" knowing full well she wanted to try out the head teachers chair that was behind the desk

"Oh can I?"

Laughing "go for it... can I get you a drink, tea, coffee? Water?"

"Water would be nice" thinking how dry her mouth had become, the nerves had flooded her and nausea was building up in her stomach to her throat.

Eddie placed the glass in front of her where she was staring down at the table

"Thank you" she took a slip hoping it would take away that nausea feeling.

Pulling at his trouser legs and lifting them up, he took a seat on the sofas and held both his hands together and rested his elbows on his legs, leaning forward and giving Rachel full eye contact he was intrigued to why she visited the school today. The last time Rachel visited was when she was fully in charge and the disaster happened, which caused her that have no recollection of her past, well some of it. And the last time Eddie saw Rachel was their date, which then was rudely interrupted by Adam Fleet. Her voice, nearly a whisper attracted him away from his thoughts

"Hmm, sorry what was that?"

Rachel's hands were in full grasp around her glass, the white in her knuckles. Eddie picked up the chair and sat opposite Rachel, only the desk between them. He took hold of her hand and rubbed a thumb across the knuckles and showed his support.

"Sorry" shaking her head in embarrassment and removed her hand from Eddie's reach

"I don't know what came over me, I think this was a mistake. I need to leave"

She started to get up from the chair and straightened out her blouse

"No Rach, wait! What is it?"

"I'm scared"

"Scared of what? You obviously came here for a reason? Hmm. Are you hurt?" He tried to stay calm but her actions were worrying him and the last thing Eddie wanted, was for Rachel to be in danger

"Look Rach, I'm probably the last person you want to talk to right now, but you came here for a reason. Somewhere in that brain of yours knew you could trust me. So take your time, but you're not leaving here until you tell me what's wrong and how I can help you"

Reluctant she sat back down and just stared towards him, a knife could cut through the tension between them. She felt awkward and didn't know why she was struggling so much to talk to him but he was right, her mind did tell her to come here today and she needs to trust that, even though she doesn't really understand her mind at all right now.

"Was the restaurant the first time you met me?"

"What?"

"You know, the day you came to where I worked. Was that the first time you met me?"

Silence, this was it. She was asking the questions and he needed to answer them. A sweat starting to form on the back of his neck, pulling at his collar and then folding his arms

"No, no it wasn't" not being able to look at her, just staring anywhere but at her

"When?"

He gave her direct eye contact at this point "Look Rachel, I don't know if you're ready..."

"I am Eddie, I'm asking and I want the truth. When?"

"Rach.."

She stood up, both palms of her hands slapped on the desk, she wanted answers and she needed them and she was sure as hell she was going to get them today

"Eddie!" Her voice all stern and firm

She had his full attention now

"I'm about to marry a man who I haven't seen since my teen years and some how been reunited and within a short few weeks my world has turned upside down and all I can seem to think about is YOU"

Rolling her eyes, shaking her head not being able to stop her emotions the tears started to fall. He stood up to try and show some comfort but she didn't want that, she wanted answers.

"Adam?"

"What?"

"Is Adam the guy you're marrying?"

"It doesn't matter who I'm marrying, I said yes we now live together and I can't stop thinking about you. I've come here for answers Eddie. You said you met me before and I can't remember, so I want to know when?"

Rachel had a way with her eyes that when they pierced towards you, it was like her eyes could suck and information out of you. Maybe that's why she was so good at connecting with the children, as well as relating to them from her childhood.

"Ok, ok I will tell you. But just remember that I don't think you're ready for this. Take a seat"

She sat back down, arms folded fully intrigued to what Eddie had to say, although a tad nervous and signs of panic starting to overwhelm her but she didn't let Eddie see that.

"I'll tell you the story and no word from you till I'm finished. Understood?"

"Understood, go on"

His hands started to sweat, rubbing them together on his knees he started to open up to Rachel

"This isn't how I wanted it to go, I wanted you to fall in love with me again.."

"Again?" Rachel raised an eyebrow in confusion

"The first time I met you was in this office, you just got the headteacher role, although I got told I'd be supporting head teacher and then to walk in here and see you. Well at the time I wasn't best pleased..."

He started to laugh, thinking of the memory. Rachel smiled but hated the fact she couldn't remember that

"I grew to like you, not like that yet anyway, but working with you. I learnt more about you and how you worked. You had all the goals and by damn you did everything in your might to see them through. Your ambition and respect for the children, you were the best headteacher I've ever seen, yet alone worked with."

He caught her rubbing away tears from her eyes but didn't let on that he knew and carried on

"That friendship turned into something more, I started to really care about you and then..."

There was a long pause and Eddie stared down at his feet

"And then, what?"

"Rach I don't know if I can do this"

"Eddie please, I'm asking you. I need to know"

"Well long story short, you used to be called Amanda and Stuart.."

"Stuart? He was here? Oh my god" her hand reached her mouth

"Wait you remember being Amanda?"

"Yes of course I remember and I try to forget about it every god damn day, but why was Stuart here?"

"Stuart blackmailed you, he wanted a contract for the school and threatened for your past to go public if you failed to do so. You obviously went along with this, I found out and handled it the totally wrong way, I hated the thought of what you once were but in the end it was my failing of not hearing your side of the story and took judgment and for that I'm sorry."

He looked up and gave a little smile, to which she returned

"Anyway, after my idiotic behaviour overcome, I put it all aside and trusted my heart and gut and found the love I always had for you. I helped you with Stuart and then again my brain got the better of me and took things further, it all back fired Rachel and everything is my fault, I'm s s s-sorry" tears started to fall heavily, he brought both hands up to his face and tried to wipe away the tears but they kept falling, he felt her touch, surprised she was offering comfort but he was grateful for it, he opened his arms to her and embraced her in a hug

"Eddie, what was your fault"

"The fire"

Rachel's heart stopped for a moment, little flashbacks of memories were coming back to her, she gasping for breath, she couldn't breath. Opening a window and sitting back down, she started to undo the button on her blouse just to give her chest room to breath, everything became tight.

"It was my fault Rach, I went to Stuart's office and riled him up, he lost his job and contractors. He came to the school and blew up the canteen, you being the good person you are and seeing kindness in everybody you went and tried to help Stuart and doing so you were found by the fire officers under rubble and in severe condition. They brought to hospital and induced you in coma and the rest I don't need to tell you as you know the outcome.."

Looking up he saw a very distressed Rachel

"Rach, Rach you ok?"

Panting heavily, one hand on her chest the other fanning whatever document Eddie had laying on his desk to cool herself down

"Eddie I can't, I need to leave"

Standing up, grabbing her bag and heading towards the door, only his hold on her arm stopping her from actually leaving

"Rachel wait, please. You told me you were ready and I knew you weren't. I'm so stupid"

"I thought I was and I'm not. Please let me leave Eddie, let me go"

Pushing his hand off of her arm she ran out the door

"Hiya Rach" Tom says surprisingly as she ran past him in the antechamber entering Eddie office.

And she was gone. Tom joined Eddie who was stood gazing out the window watching the only women he had ever truly loved get in her car and drive away

"Sorry mate" placing a hand upon Eddie shoulder "you want to talk about it?"

"Hey you never guess who I just seen" Steph said excitedly as she entered the staff room

"Tina Turner?" Grantly said jokingly

"Grantly, I'm being serious so avoid all jokes please"

"Tom kissing Davina?" Joe said

"No, right get this" holding up both hands "What if I was to tell you that Madame Mason came running out of Eddie office?" Raising her eyebrows

"What, noooo?" Joe seemed intrigued

"Yep, face all red as if she'd been crying."

"Wonder what that was about?"

"My bet is that she's come for her job back and Eddie turned her down"

"How much we betting?" Grantly always up for a bet

"Hmm ten pounds?"

Tom walks in "what we placing bets on"

"Rachel and Eddie, Rachel came for her job back and Eddie turned her down"

"Steph, stay out of other people's business, you've no idea what's going on there.."

"And you do?" Butting him in before he could finish

"I have some idea, to which I'm not discussing with you lot."

"Oh come on Tom. We hardly get any goss anymore. All we get to gossip about it when you and Davina will be onto baby making and then we can make bets on the sex. Doesn't get more eventful than that"

"Shut up Steph" grabbing his coffee and heading back out the staff room