(A/N): Once again, I lost track of what I was doing, but I'm actually quite proud of how much I've written as well as what I've written. This chapter clears up an issue, whilst next chapter deals with the fallout of Earl and Maxine. Yes, I am going to post both chapters together and I am still working on it. This story became so much bigger than I ever thought it would, and if you would please let me know what you think I would be forever grateful. Oh yeah, warning for language. Not a lot of it but I thought I'd put the warning in there anyway. This chapter is longer than usual, and the next chapter is even longer because I wouldn't dream of splitting it with a cliffhanger. That would just be too mean. Enjoy and I promise, there will be Reddie goodness eventually.

What the Heart Wants

Chapter 19

Eddie had knocked on the door of Rachel's office just before the start of lunch and opened it, surprised that Rachel wasn't there, but then realising that she was probably somewhere with Bridget, as the assistant wasn't in the antechamber either. He made to leave his completed paperwork on her desk before curiosity got the better of him. He lowered himself down into her chair and pulled open the top drawer, finding the blue folder he'd seen stuffed in there earlier quite easily, seeing as it was placed right on top. He placed it on the top of the desk, opening it hesitantly. His jaw dropped as he perused the items in there, a stray thought reminding him that he needed to stop looking at folders Rachel specifically hid from him. They somehow always contained bombshells.

Tom knew Eddie had non-contact time that afternoon and Rachel had no urgent meetings, so he found the maths teacher first, getting him to follow him with no questions after he'd mentioned it was to do with his role as head of pastoral care. They both made their way to Rachel's office, the woman bidding them to enter immediately following their knock. Tom offered the same explanation he'd offered Eddie and she got them to sit on the sofa, her in the middle, in the corner, with Tom and Eddie either side of her so she could see both of them, noting the deep concern Tom had whilst Eddie looked just as confused as she felt, though she could also feel a slight awkwardness as he sat beside her, which only confused her further.

"Tom, what's going on?"

Tom took a deep breath. "I overheard an argument between two of the pupils this lunchtime. One of them mentioned you, Eddie, but the other denied it. Eventually, the second pupil mentioned that she hadn't been sleeping because of some particularly awful threats that had been made to her. It didn't help that the first one grabbed hold of the second one's arm as she tried to walk away."

"Me? What's this to do with me? I haven't threatened any student. I wouldn't." Eddie denied.

"We'd probably need to get in touch with the parents. Who was it between Tom?" Rachel tried to make sense of it in her head, worried for the welfare of her students and wondering just where Eddie's name came into it.

"Something about a relationship between you and her mum?" Tom shrugged as he addressed Eddie. That part was still nothing but confusing to him. "She said it had nothing to do with who her mum was sleeping with. I did ask her if her mum was Melissa but she denied it rather forcefully."

Rachel and Eddie shared a worried look as the penny started to drop, having a sinking feeling that they knew at least one of the parties in the argument. It was more a case of damage control to find out who she was arguing with and who overheard. Tom took note of the worried look but misunderstood the meaning behind it.

"Look, it might not have anything to do with anything recent, and she didn't mention your name about the threats. She actually mentioned that contractor bloke from last term. The one who er, outed you about your past, Rachel."

The penny had well and truly dropped for the two most senior members of staff as they shared another loaded look. Rachel knew she should've made Alia stay at home. Sleep deprivation caused her brain to mouth filter to run awfully low and she said a bunch of things she never had any intention of saying out loud. "Who are they?" Rachel asked quietly.

"Alia Falan and Bolton Smilie," Tom supplied.

"He grabbed her?" Eddie checked, surprising himself with the anger he felt, though most of it thankfully didn't come out in his tone.

Tom nodded. "Yeah, she was trying to walk away from him and he grabbed her arm to stop her. That's when I made my way over. Plus they were the only ones out there, yelling in the bloody pouring down rain. It was like a scene from a bad movie until I heard what they were yelling about. She managed to rip her arm away from him at some point though, and when I was speaking to them both, they promised he didn't mean to and it wouldn't happen again."

Rachel felt her heart sinking, though surprisingly not as much as she'd feared. "Okay. Eddie, you go get Bolton from class. Tom, you go get Alia. We'll bring them both back here and sort it all out."

"What about the parents?" Tom asked as both he and Eddie stood.

"We'll bring them in as and when necessary," Rachel assured him, gesturing for them to go before rearranging the room so she had three chairs facing the sofa, hoping to create a slightly less formal atmosphere. She closed her eyes briefly. She was still upset over what had been revealed the night before, and honestly, she wasn't sure how to play it. She just hoped no one else had overheard them for the moment.

Eddie and Tom had gotten their respective charges from their classes and met up in the corridor. As soon as Alia and Bolton saw each other, they knew what was happening. Alia didn't miss the concerned look Eddie shot her, though the other two did. She averted her eyes, hoping he realised she didn't want to talk about it. Silently, the two teachers led the teenagers through to the headteacher's office, letting themselves in to find Rachel stood behind her desk. She quickly gestured for the pupils to sit on the couch before taking a seat closest to Alia, who had sat down first. Tom was sat in the middle, with Eddie on the end. Noting the wary, closed off faces of the teenagers, Rachel sighed.

"I think you know what this is about," She told them, watching as they winced slightly. "I think you two better explain yourselves."

"It was nothing," Bolton denied, obviously trying to protect Alia. Alia offered him a small smile in thanks before shaking her head.

"You know denying it won't work. They all know what happened now."

Rachel pressed her lips together, itching to envelope her daughter in a hug but fighting the impulse. "Everything," she found herself saying, to everyone's surprise. "You both need to tell us the full conversation you had. Then we can go from there."

"Or we really will have to get your parents involved," Tom added, frowning when he didn't see the panic he had earlier noticed on their faces. If only he knew it was a redundant threat as he had already told the parent they didn't want to find out. Bolton already knew he wouldn't be in too much trouble with Candice for trying to help someone, even if it did result in an argument.

"Ali's been off the last couple of days, everyone's thought so, so I went to find her," Bolton started, shifting uneasily. "She said she was fine and what did it matter anyway because no one would do anything." He winced as the headteacher and deputy head's eyes narrowed in on the girl beside him and she flinched a little. "I asked if she'd fought with her mum. She said no and tried to run away. I grabbed her arm."

"He didn't mean to," Alia defended him before taking over the story. "I was tired and angry and I just wanted to get away from the conversation. He asked about the rumour and I said it had nothing to do with that, but he kept pushing and eventually I told him that I didn't get much sleep because I told my mum about fucking Stuart's threats." She practically hissed the last part of her sentence. "It was only then we realised Mr Clarkson had overheard us. I mean, no one else heard us though."

Rachel ran a hand through her hair, wondering what the hell she was meant to do. A glance at Eddie showed he wasn't much better. She decided to focus on the lesser of the issues first. "Bolton, you know you shouldn't have grabbed her like that."

Bolton nodded, colouring slightly. "I know and I'm sorry for it. We've already made it up about that bit. It won't happen again."

"It better not." Rachel let her expression soften slightly. "Go on, I know you want to ask."

"Is… is it true?" Bolton looked between Rachel and Alia. "Did he really say that to you?"

Alia nodded, reluctantly. "And more."

"Holy shit. I mean…" He trailed off when it became apparent none of the teachers were going to call him out on his language, then recalling they hadn't said anything when Alia had said worse. "No one knew?"

"I knew she'd been threatened the first time, as I was with her. But I was here the second time and didn't find out until now." Rachel confirmed, missing out exact times, or that Eddie had found out first. She felt Tom's confusion and turned to him. "Your threat of contacting their parents holds nothing over them. I mean, I don't think Candice will take kindly to Bolton's actions, but as he's promised not to do it again, I think we can overlook it this time." Bolton's sigh of relief was evident to them all. He'd clearly forgotten his mum would find out about him grabbing hold of another student.

"We still need to talk to Alia's mum though," Tom pointed out.

"You have done," Alia told him tiredly, resigned to what was happening.

"What?"

Alia rolled her eyes. Was everyone so blind? "We didn't want her finding out but you told her anyway."

"No I didn't. I only told Miss Mason and Mr Lawson, and that's because I have a duty of care."

"Exactly."

"Tom, Alia is my daughter," Rachel informed him gently when it became apparent that he still didn't understand even with her teenager trying to point it out to him.

Tom's eyes widened as he looked between Rachel and Alia. The threat she spoke of made much more sense if Rachel was her mother, as sick to the stomach as it made him to even think of someone having the gall to say such a thing to a child, let alone mean the words. And of course, he'd heard of the rather malicious rumour that had gone around the day before about Rachel and Eddie, though he hadn't believed a word of it. He could see Eddie going at things with Melissa way too fast, and how hurt Rachel was over it, though she tried to hide it. There was no way that there was an affair going on there. The kids must've told them about it, he realised as he remembered yelling at those particular two students and Philip to slow down during lunchtime the day before. It also explained Rachel's motherly behaviour to the students, including his two. She'd looked after Mika after she'd thrown up on her, drunk as anything. Chlo had even hugged her. No teenager wanted to hug their teacher. But of course Rachel understood them, partly due to her past and partly having her own child of the same age. "That… makes a lot of sense, especially with what I overheard with these two."

"I've only known for two days, and Bolton found out yesterday," Eddie told him with a shrug. "It's not something exactly advertised."

"Okay, here's what's going to happen. Bolton, you can go back to class. Not a word to anyone, I mean it."

"Are you going to tell my mum, Miss?"

"I think she'll find out about the argument one way or another. I'll explain to her you're not in trouble over it, okay?"

"Thanks miss."

"And as for you Ali." Rachel paused for a moment. "Tom, can she have a nap in your pastoral room? I wouldn't normally ask but I'm snowed under with paperwork, as is Eddie, and I think she needs the sleep more than she needs one science lesson."

"Of course, not a problem," Tom agreed instantly. "If you need an extra set of hands with the paperwork, I'm willing to help."

"That'd be good thanks." Rachel turned to the teenagers. "Now then I better not hear of any more arguments, especially not over anything like that again."

"No miss," the teenagers chorused before trudging out of the room to go to where they'd been respectively told to.

Once they'd left she turned back to Tom, smiling wearily at his still concerned features. "I found out last night Tom. He'd threatened my baby with forcing her to follow in my footsteps over six months ago and I only found out about it last night. He was going to get her the day of the fire, to destroy me and my reputation and then take my daughter from me." She saw Tom's face darken and knew he was thinking of creative ways of killing Stuart. She knew, because she'd been thinking the same thing ever since finding out. "I spent last night finding out exactly what happened from her and if there'd been anything else, which is why there wasn't much sleep. I should've let her stay home today but I've only just got her to actually go to school, without letting her skive."

"No wonder you wanted to keep her quiet, especially with Stuart breathing down your neck." Tom offered her a small, genuine smile. "I get it. Now, what's all this paperwork?"

The bell had rung and Tom had left to go check on Alia and Chlo, leaving Eddie and Rachel alone at the table, across from each other. She hadn't even glanced up from the paperwork, which was by now ninety percent finished thanks to the extra help and having worked on it all day.

"I know."

"Sorry, know what?" Rachel asked distractedly, glancing up from her paper, frowning at the thought that the situation seemed somehow familiar to her, and not in a good way. The last time the conversation had started like that, he'd found out about her past. Eddie must've had the same thought as he grimaced at her reply.

"I really need to stop snooping when you hide files from me." Eddie noted how the colour drained from her face and the pen dropped from her fingers.

"You…"

"I know," Eddie reiterated. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I… I didn't know how," Rachel whispered, swallowing the lump in her throat. "And poor Phil had to tell me, and then Ali said she and Jack could get the proof and-"

"Wait. Philip knows? Alia knows? Why did none of you tell me?"

"Well, I assume you've seen all the documents in there." Rachel bit her lip as he nodded shortly at her. "Philip was worried. You and Mel were moving too fast for his liking and he didn't want you in the same situation as his dad. He'd apparently told my Ali a year or so ago and they'd both kept it a secret.

"I made them both tell me what was going on, and Alia offered to find proof for us, her and Jack. I don't ask questions, but I know they've never been caught before. I refused to let them help with Stuart. He would've noticed and I wasn't putting the kids in danger." Rachel scoffed, a self-depreciating sound that ate at Eddie a bit. "Turns out I was putting her in danger anyway."

"Rach."

Rachel shook herself mentally. She didn't want to have to tell Eddie everything, especially with what she had had planned once the bell had gone. Thankfully, Alia hadn't arrived yet, so there was a little time. "I couldn't tell you without proof, Eddie. Neither could the kids. Philip was terrified of what you'd say, what his mum would say, and you didn't even know Alia, let alone who she was in relation to all this."

"And what about you?" Eddie asked quietly.

"I… I've seen how in love you are with Mel," She managed to choke out. "Do you honestly think I could tell you there was something wrong with your perfect woman after what happened at the start of term?" Eddie flinched, knowing that before he'd found out about Alia, and Alia had spoken to him last night, unless it came straight from Melissa's mouth, he'd probably deny it without proof. It wasn't something he was proud of. "I didn't want to be the bitter almost ex, Eddie. I was just looking out for you. Alia and Jack got the proof Tuesday night, and well, everything kicked off yesterday. I always intended on telling you. I just needed to find the right time."

"So… its true then? She's married to two people?" Eddie checked.

Rachel nodded, looking miserable. "I didn't know. She promised me she was getting a divorce. Eddie, I swear I would've warned you if I'd known before you went out with her."

"All this time. She made Phil keep her secret this whole time." He looked disgusted. "Poor kid."

"He'll be happy you aren't mad at him."

"What? How could I be mad at him?"

"For keeping it secret from you. Alia doesn't care if you're mad at her for it, but Phil does."

"I'm not mad at either of them." His eyes softened slightly. "I'm not mad at you either, Rach." He noticed her flinch slightly at her shortened name, further proof she'd assumed he'd be mad with her.

"You should be. They're just kids, really, though mine acts like she's older than me sometimes. I know better."

"Rachel." Eddie knew he needed to nip that line of thought in the bud straight away. He could see her clearly enough to know she was blaming herself; ridiculous considering it was her sister that had committed the crime, and lied about it to boot, when Rachel hadn't even known about it. "I am not mad with you. Or Phil. Or Alia. Or even Jack, not that I know him past the introduction. The only person I am angry with right now is Melissa." He held her gaze until she nodded. Thinking further over what he'd found out about his girlfriend and what Alia had told him about his best friend and asked him to do, he knew what he needed to do next. "Rach. I need to talk to Mel, confront her really. But once I do, we need to talk."

"What about?" Once again, she couldn't meet his eyes, deciding to play innocent in it all.

"Why you feel the need to run all the time."

"I…"

"It's okay. I'm not going to push you into anything you aren't ready for." He made sure to catch her eye again and offer her a soft smile. "Now then, what's happening with Fiona?"

"What do you mean?"

"I saw all the documents in there, Rach. There's no way they're in there not to be used, especially after what she did yesterday. I want to help."

Rachel glanced at the clock. "I planned on walking Alia out in about ten minutes. Fiona usually waits around after school to make snide comments at me. I planned on responding this time, telling her that unless she leaves me and my school alone, then I was going to show Mel the divorce proceedings and Mollie's birth certificate. Then I was going to send copies to her snide little group of friends." She couldn't help but laugh at the evil smile Eddie had adopted hearing her plan. "Ali and Jack have enough copies to do just that. I hate blackmail but short of a restraining order, I have no other option."

"Hey, you aren't using it to get anything at anyone's expense, just for her to leave you alone. Considering what she's doing, I think it's more than reasonable. Want some backup?"

"She'll say much worse things if you're there," She warned, but Eddie shrugged, unaffected. "Oh, alright then. Can you stay near Ali, pull her away if things go really badly?" She shook her head as Eddie made to protest. "I don't need protecting, and I don't expect things to go that downhill, but I need to know my daughter will be safe. Can you do that Eddie, please?"

Eddie nodded his agreement, turning back to his paperwork as the door opened and Alia stepped in, looking slightly more rested than she had before, blinking in surprise to see him there. "I… don't you have to go pick Michael up?"

"I've got the afterschool club for these few days. Explained the paperwork mountain to his headteacher, who was more than understanding. Apparently he gets his own ridiculous amount of paperwork to deal with. I've got until half four to pick him up." He stood, facing Alia as Rachel shuffled the paperwork into a vague sort of order so they could leave. "Alia?"

"Yes?"

"I know."

"About what?"

"The other reason you're so tired." He didn't miss the way she glanced to her mother before looking back at him.

"Which would be?" She asked warily.

"Finding the documents on Mel and Fiona." He watched as her eyes closed briefly. "Alia. I understand. Why you did it, why you couldn't tell me. I get it. I'm not going to be a prat over it." He saw Alia nod, though she still looked wary. In some ways she was much more closed off and reserved, warier than her mother was, which seemed to be no mean feat. "Anyway, we've got a wicked witch to scare off. The paperwork will still be here tomorrow, so let's go."

Eddie had somehow ended up carrying his own bag, Alia's schoolbag and a bag of filing for Rachel as they made their way through the school together. There were very few students still in the building, mainly the ones that had teachers for guardians or parents, whether they be teaching at Waterloo Road or not. Alia had caught sight of Janeece and Chlo sat together in the library, though thankfully, they hadn't seen her or who she was with. Maxine had gone off with Earl again, still intent on starting a family with him, no matter how hard the girls had tried to make her see reason. She'd tried to carry her bag, but Eddie had taken it from her with a glance that told her not to argue it. Rachel had her own handbag, with the folder in it, and they traversed the stairs together, none of them feeling the need to fill the silence between them. They were all trying to spot Fiona without making it look obvious what they were doing.

There was no need to search, as it turned out, as Fiona happened to be loitering near the front entrance, her eyes lighting up maliciously when she spotted Rachel, her face only falling slightly at the sight of a pupil and the deputy head with her. But it was only for a moment, the smirk firmly back on her features as the three approached, slowing their pace gradually until they stopped a few paces from her.

"Amanda. Taking your newest client home for the evening, I see. Tell me, how much does she charge the staff? Then again, if rumours are to be believed, you're already going at it whenever my poor Melissa's back is turned." She turned to Alia, who looked disgusted with what she'd said, adopting a falsely sweet tone. "I mean, why would a whore change her ways?"

Rachel gritted her teeth at her mother as Eddie placed a hand on Alia's shoulder, clearly ready to hold up his end and pull the teenager away as quickly as possible. "Fiona. I want you to leave. I want you to leave me, this school, alone. Not just for the day, but for forever."

"And why would I do that?" Fiona practically snarled, all pretence at nicety long gone. Eddie backed up a couple of paces reluctantly, pulling Alia back with him. Far enough back to keep Alia away, but close enough to grab Rachel if he needed to. He knew he needed to stay quiet, even if he wanted nothing but to knock out the woman before them. "I'm not stopping until I've driven you out of this place, preferably in disgrace!" Rachel took an involuntary step back at the woman's vitriolic outburst. "You've always thought yourself above us, your entire life. I'm just here to show you you're not worth shit."

"Why? You were the one behind the rumour?" Alia stepped forward slightly. Both Rachel and Eddie frowned, well aware that the teenager knew what Fiona had done. Fiona smirked.

"Of course I was the one behind that. It was easy. I just found a bunch of year 7s and they were all too willing to spread the news round," She confessed, boasted actually. "As for why I spread that rumour? It could be true for all I know, not that I care. But what better way to hurt your illustrious headmistress? Hurt her relationship with her sister and her deputy and her students all in one go. It was too good a chance to pass up."

"Thanks." Alia stepped back, feeling Eddie's arm once more wrap round her shoulders. She pulled her phone from her pocket. "Thanks for confessing to it all on record." She shook her phone at her biological grandmother, smirking at her.

Fiona let out a screech, lunging for the teenager with outstretched fingers looking more like claws. Eddie immediately pulled her behind him as Rachel reached out and pushed Fiona back, away from Alia. The elder woman nearly growled at the two teachers blocking her way from the teenager. "Delete that recording now!"

"Not a chance." Alia poked her head out round Eddie's side, staying behind him though. "Think of it as insurance that you'll do as you're told."

"I spoke to dad," Rachel commented, causing Fiona's eyes to snap to her. "He told me you'd try something like this. He also told me what you didn't want getting out."

"You're bluffing. You don't even have contact with your father."

"Am I? See, he told me to mention something to you. Mollie Dean."

The colour drained from Fiona's face even as she glared at Rachel. "You… you…"

"Oh, dad told me I should threaten to tell Melissa, that that would get you to back off." Rachel could see it in Fiona's eyes, that she actually would back off with the threat to tell the daughter that supported her what she was really like. "But then there'd be no guarantee you'd leave me and my school alone. Then I remembered something.

"All those years growing up, you pretended we were better off than we were. I mean, god knows you never cared about me, but you always made sure that you and Mel looked like we were well off, ate the best things, did all those pointless neighbourhood things. I don't think that's changed. I wonder what your little clique of so-called friends would make of your adultery and secret child?" Rachel smirked, knowing she had something else to use as well. "In fact, I wonder what they'd say if they were to find out you forced your own daughter to choose between starving to death on the streets and prostitution to help out her sister?"

"You wouldn't. Then everyone would find out about your past. Where would your precious teaching career go then?"

"They already know around here," Rachel pointed out blandly. "And yet here I am, still the headteacher of this school. I'm sure it's going to hurt you much more than it will do me at this point."

"What about your daughter?" Fiona burst out desperately, taking the immediate stiffening of the two adults (Alia was still hidden behind Eddie, who was holding her back one handed from hurting the elder woman) to mean that it was a secret she'd just revealed. She smirked, glad to have something on her once more. "I'm sure little Alison would be over the moon to know her mother earns her living on her back." She deliberately used the present tense as she turned to address Eddie directly for the first time. "Didn't she tell you? Oh, so many secrets. Not content with spreading her legs for anyone paying enough, Amanda here also got herself knocked up."

"My daughter knows about my past," Rachel bit out, hating that her mother had brought her daughter up at all. Eddie looked furious, though Rachel knew it was partly Fiona trying to stir the pot, and partly that she'd coincidentally said the same thing that Stuart had when threatening Alia. "Her dad told her when she was old enough to understand what sex was about. She's absolutely fine with my past. And Eddie knows about my daughter too. You have nothing over either of us.

"Now you have a choice. You either leave quietly and never come back, nor try and interfere in my life or school in any way again."

"Or?"

"Or I provide Melissa with copies of these documents." Rachel pulled out the folder and handed Fiona the documents referring to her divorce and Mollie. "And then I mail copies of those documents to everyone in your sad little clique of 'friends' along with the news article of me being a prostitute and a letter explaining how you treated your own child for seventeen years." She offered a sad smile. "The news article even has a helpful photograph of me during the police raids."

They watched as Fiona seemed torn as to what she would do, only to turn and storm from the school, documents still tight in her grip as she nearly ran from the school grounds. Rachel felt herself sag slightly in relief at having gotten Fiona to leave, only to find herself propped up by arms around her waist and shoulders. Alia and Eddie respectively. "Do you think that's it, it's really over?" She found herself wondering.

"I think so Rachel." Eddie nodded. "Are you sure you're in any state to drive home?"

"I'll be fine." Rachel brushed off his concern, though she was still pretty much being held up by him and her fifteen year old. "Are you alright?" She asked her daughter, who shrugged a little.

"I still hate the bitch. Nothing's changed there. I'm more concerned how you are. She said some awful things."

"I'll be fine," She repeated, wrapping an arm round her daughter's shoulders. "Now then, how about we get home and I'm sure you and Jack can find some stupid game for us to play? We can even pick McDonald's up on the way." She then turned to Eddie. "Thank you for pulling her out of the way. I honestly never thought Fiona would lunge for her like that."

"No problem." Eddie directed them all out of the door onto the carpark. "Not that I needed to do much. Mama bear Rachel can be pretty fierce over her cub. I thought you were going to push her through the nearest window."

"No I wouldn't. That's a waste of a perfectly good window." They bantered in much the same vein as they approached the cars, parked near each other as always. Eddie got into his own after placing their bags he'd been carrying in their boot, intent on picking Michael up before half past four, whilst Alia and Rachel climbed into the latter's car, heading home to forget the day and stand Jack down from sending out the documents.

TBC…