A/N:

I wasn't going to update so soon, but the next chapter won't be up for a few days and so, I'll leave you with this …

Thank you to Mrs Carmichael, LittleH12, hannah5240, RachelMasonFan39 and Lynny!

The collateral damage of love

What a mess.

She had been lost for words. He would leave her sister, and she knew deep down that she was the reason, and it made her feel sick.

'Look, why don't we have another session in the next few days, we can talk further. I think you're both tired and talking now wont solve anything', they both nodded at Dr Williams and grabbed their things before leaving.

The door opened, and they both left, sheepish.

'Rachel, wait!', Eddie quickly called out to her hoping she would wait for him. He just craved for a normal conversation-something far from what they had been discussing.

She sighed and did a 180 to face him, she just needed to head home. In a dismissive tone, she replied, 'What is it, Eddie?'.

He felt hurt by her tone, all he wanted was for her to chat to him like she used to. She wasn't the same person who he remembered. 'I just want to know you're okay?', he asked with sadness.

Shifting her eyes downwards, she took a deep breath and gave him the answer he didn't want. 'Well as it stands, no, but I will be'.

With that, she vanished within seconds and he could distantly see her opening the boot of her car before dumping her bag and driving off.

. . .

It had been two hours since he'd left the session. Truth be told, he'd been sitting in an empty carpark for the majority of the time. He was wondering how he would do this. Melissa. She'd be heartbroken, and he'd be the cause of it. His daughter, she'd grow up without having two parents side by side. There was even the thought she could stop him from being a dad. Mentally, he'd prepared for that, and that killed him inside.

He reached the door and took a deep breath before sliding down the handle to be greeted within seconds. There she was, waiting.

'There you are, where have you been?', Melissa asked with her arms folded, eagerly awaiting his answer.

'Mel, can we have a chat?', he questioned.

Shifting awkwardly, she tried to keep herself preoccupied with whatever toys she could see on the floor. Furiously she tried to tidy them away. 'What is it love? I need to get Holly sorted'.

'Please Mel, I just need a chat', he begged. He watched as she stopped in her tracks, and he followed her into the kitchen.

. . .

She'd drove home, rather quickly. In all honesty, she couldn't even remember driving, her thoughts had just overcome her. She sat for five minutes before finding the confidence and made her way to the front door slowly. Quietly, she crept in, and found Adam in the kitchen sitting at the island eating his dinner; hers was right there next to him. Guilt. There it was again. It was only a matter of seconds before he felt her presence.

'Hey', he said as he continued to eat his dinner. He ways annoyed, and honestly, she couldn't blame him.

'Hey', softly she replied as she half smiled to diffuse the situation. She took small steps to the stool before standing inches away from him.

'Where have you been?', he asked with frustration.

Alarms started to ring within her. She'd forgotten to buy anything on the way home to support her lie. Sh*t what was she going to say.

She took her time before sheepishly replying, 'Ah, just to morrisons-'.

He'd interrupted her, 'Didn't get anything? That was a long time just to have a look'. He knew she had been lying, again. He wanted to know the truth, he deserved to know the truth.

'I er, ..', she began but didn't have an answer. She'd landed herself init this time. Tucking some strands of hair behind her ear, she cleared her throat awkwardly.

'I've made your dinner', he mumbled as he pointed to the dish next to his. He had almost finished his, and with that, he stood and made his way to the sink. He couldn't bring himself to look at her.

'John needs help tonight at the restaurant, it will be a busy one, so I said I'd help. Don't wait up, I'll be late. I'll see you in the morning'. He carried on washing the dishes as he spoke and didn't give her a second thought before grabbing his coat and making his way to the front door.

Just like that, he left, leaving her alone, again.

. . .

'So what is it, love? You know I've got things to do', Melissa rushed as she leant against the counter.

She knew exactly what this was about. She'd known from day one. She had been countlessly trying to deny it to herself.

'Mel', Eddie began, making his way to one chair and taking a seat. Melissa took her eyes away from him and poured herself a glass of water, turning her back to him before starting with some excuse.

'Holly, she needs a bath and-'. She didn't have time to finish before he finally gave her those final words.

'I can't do this. I'm sorry'.

He looked at her and found sadness. He knew that this might ruin everything between himself and his daughter, and because of that, he desperately tried to conceal his tears. Another child that he would probably lose. He was selfish.

Melissa, now in a state was begging and pleading. His heart naturally broke, he didn't mean to do this, but he wasn't happy.

'Please Eddie, I love you, please don't do this. I …', she stopped. She wiped her tears and anger grew within her. She walked up to him, and stood directly in front of him, trying her hardest not to lash out.

Disgust. That's what she felt, and in doing so, she used that to support her words. 'It's Rachel isn't it? You still .. you still love her. You've never stopped'.

He could do nothing but nod. He would not deny it any longer.

'Get out. Get out, Eddie'.

. . .

Throwing the rest of her dinner in the bin, she took a minute to realise how much of a mess she was in. She placed her plate into the sink and grabbed herself a large glass from the cupboard, filling it with the crimson liquid that she was all too familiar with. Taking a sip, she found her body relax and her mind fall at ease. This was what she needed after today.

Flicking the kitchen light off, she turned to walk into the direction of her living room. She was brought from her trance by the doorbell ringing.

Her body clammed up, and she did for a second think to hide in the living room until the person behind her front door had left.

It rang again.

She took a moment to compose herself and found the adrenaline pumping through her body.

Three

Two

One

On opening the door, she stood, still and in disbelief. Her body started to shake and her palms started to sweat. Eddie Lawson stood on her doorstep, desperate for her to let him in. He was not going anywhere, regardless of whether or not her husband was around. He would be selfish.

'I love you. I can't hide it any more. I won't let you run any more, Rachel'.

Silence.

For the first time in a long time, she was ready to let him in. She opened the door, giving him the space to enter. He made his way to stand in front of her, inches away from her personal space. He looked deep into her eyes, noted her sadness, and gave himself no more time to think before he acted. Shifting the palm of his hand to her cheek, and bringing her features closer to his, he finally shut the gap between them and kissed her.

There would be absolutely no going back from this. He needed her, and she needed him.