A/N:

Thank you all for your patience and wonderful reviews! Many thanks to Mrs Carmichael, hannah5240, RachelMasonFan39, Lynny, fayeftvanity and Amelia0204.

Please enjoy.

The collateral damage of love

Twenty-four hours.

It had been a whole day since he had left, and nevertheless, she missed him. It confused her, and she couldn't understand why. She wanted Eddie, and she needed Eddie, but Adam, he was her friend.

Just like that, the doorbell rang. She almost jumped at the sound and wondered who it could have been.

Unlocking the chain, it revealed the very man that she had been thinking about moments prior. Adam. He looked tired, sad and more than anything, defeated. She had done this to him.

He took a quick look at her before giving her a quick nod. He couldn't even stand the sight of her, and that killed her.

'Hi', he blurted before looking back at his car.

'Hello'. It was a quiet greeting on her behalf, and she pulled the door open wider and hoped that he would take the hint to come in and talk.

'I've just come to get my stuff and then I'll be gone'. His words had hit her once again, and reality sank in. His belongings, that's all he wanted.

She wanted to press further and to plead him for his forgiveness but it wasn't the time. Instead, she gave a small nod and stepped away from the door. 'Where did you go?', she questioned.

'Does it matter?', his question was short and sweet, ironically imaging this visit.

She followed him briskly, annoying him. There was a hint of desperation in her voice as she spoke, 'Adam, please, I just want to explain'.

He stuffed some belongings in his bag and carried on into the next room. He avoided all eye contact with her. 'I think you've said all you need to say'.

She left him be for a few moments before returning to the entrance of the doorway. 'I didn't mean to hurt you'.

He stopped momentarily and felt his heart sink. He didn't want to hear it, but he felt her sadness. He hated the thought of her upset but knew she had done wrong. He turned to look at her properly for the first time that night.

'Where is he?', Adam questioned watching as she almost winced at the thought. There was an awkward tension to the air, and she wanted him to know the truth.

'He's gone home. I needed some space', she averted her eyes away from his. It was true, Eddie had gone for a few days respecting the situation.

'I'll send over the divorce papers in the next few days'.

Divorce. She had failed. She felt her eyes fill, and her body felt numb.

He waited for a reply, but in true style to her nature, there was nothing.

'I wouldn't have done that to you. My wife or not, my loyalty was always there'. She watched as he grabbed as his bags and made his way to the car. It had really hit home, and she felt awful.

She found herself lonely, again.

. . .

She had locked herself away in her office, again. This was becoming all too common. It was her safety. Still, she had a job to do and she couldn't afford to jeopardise that.

Straightening her suit jacket and wiping at her eyes, she pulled herself together and made way toward Kim's classroom. She wanted to organise something for the kids, for all their hard work that term and nobody knew better what to do than Kim.

On arriving at her classroom, she saw the kids engaging and embracing their creativity. It made her smile, and for the first time in a while, she felt a warm feeling engulf her. She was proud of them.

Kim opened the door and greeted Rachel with a smile.

'Rachel, hi', Kim said as she closed the door behind her. She trusted the kids to behave and carry on with their task.

'Kim, I wanted to ask your opinion on something. I want to arrange something for the kids, you know, end of term and whatnot', Rachel said watching the kids from the corner of her eye.

'Erm okay, what about a school disco?', asked Kim as she folded her arms and waited for Rachel's opinion. She knew a disco probably wasn't the best idea but in saying that, they didn't have many options.

'With the likes of Bolton? Maybe not, eh? He's still in my bad books after the choir incident'. Rachel rolled her eyes at the thought of Bolton and his little 'incident'. The little sod deserved nothing she thought.

'Okay, er, well what about a charity football match? Girls and boys?', Kim answered eagerly. She observed as Rachel thought for a few seconds.

'Why not? Can I leave it with you to organise? Maybe I'll get Tom in on it too'

'Yeah sure, I'll tell him at lunch'.

'Great, thanks Kim', Rachel smiled as she left Kim deep in thought.

She pulled her phone from her pocket on hearing her message tone as she began to walk to the cooler.

Her heart stopped. Eddie, he had messaged. He'd given her time as promised and now he was ready for answers. Truth be told, she didn't know the answers, not yet anyway. On opening the message, she hoped it wouldn't be anything too complex.

I know you're hurting and I know this probably isn't enough time but I care about you Rach. Can we please meet later? X

She wondered what she would say. She closed the message and gave herself some time. She loved him, but this was complicated. Her marriage was ending, and she'd hurt somebody who only ever wanted the best for her. She craved for Eddie badly, but it still felt wrong.

. . .

Another day, and honestly, he needed a break. He was tired of all the continuous drama, and how exhausting it was. He wanted Rachel and his daughter. Simple. Over the last few weeks, Melissa had ignored his messages regarding Holly. He knew ending things with Melissa would have consequences, but she was hurting their daughter too and it was wrong.

On looking down at his phone, he found an unknown number ringing. Frowning, he pressed the accept button to an old friend.

'Eddie Lawson speaking'

'Hey mate, it's Tom'

'Tom?'

'Tom Clarkson from Waterloo Road'

'Sorry mate, how are you?'

'Yeah good thanks, how are things there?'

'You know, they're okay, can't complain'

'Listen, me and Kim are organising an event for the end of term, a charity football event. We thought it would be an idea to get some other schools involved. Do you think John fosters would be up to it?'

'I'm not so sure Tom after that incident with Bolton and one of my lot'

'Ah come on Eddie, the kids will be dying to see you. Afraid of losing is it'

'No no, we wouldn't lose mate. You've got yourself a match'.

. . .

Seven o'clock. She was tired, and she needed her bed. She also needed Eddie. She hadn't replied to his earlier message and now she had been kicking herself. Enough she thought as she pulled herself from the sofa and made her way to the phone. Finding his number, she waited a few seconds before the line connected. There was a familiar voice that answered, but it wasn't Eddie's.

'Melissa?'.

Within seconds, she put the phone down. Melissa and Eddie, together.