(A/N): Next chapter and I'm posting this mere moments before the new year, so happy new year everyone! Have a chapter to celebrate. I think the counsellor was called Charlotte but I can't completely recall, so for this fic she is definitely called Charlotte. I am once again further in this story and it's showing no signs of slowing down so I hope that's okay. As always, read and enjoy and let me know what you think.

What the Heart Wants

Chapter 23

"Aren't you going to talk to her?"

Alia glanced up from her desk where she'd been trying to tidy up one handed to find Steph stood in the doorway looking worried. She fought the urge to roll her eyes. Maxine and Janeece had found the argument in the office more entertaining than a daytime talk show, but Rachel had left before Eddie could even say anything to her, picking up her bag and disappearing as quickly and efficiently as possible. Eddie had looked worried but had made his goodbyes and left with Michael without looking for Rachel. The rest of them had found the woman waiting by the car for them, the boot full of things she and Steph had collected from the latter's house and Janeece's house. Since arriving back at the house, Rachel had handed Alia the car keys and promptly disappeared, though only Alia knew she'd gone up to her music room for some privacy, rightly deducing that Steph would appear at her bedroom to try and talk to her. Maxine and Janeece were still moving their clothing and other essentials into the room Steph and Maxine were currently sharing, leaving the blonde woman to find Alia instead of the person she actually wanted to talk to.

"And say what?"

Steph sighed, letting herself into the room. "I don't know, that she should call Eddie?"

Alia snorted despite herself. "It's not as simple as that. Rachel has some pretty big reasons for not wanting to let Eddie in."

"Like her scar?" Steph noticed Alia stiffen for a moment before forcing herself to relax.

"I assume you've seen it then. She's only willingly shown it to one person so far," Alia clarified at her puzzled look. "Look, things are not as simple as you think they are, and Rachel will not take it kindly that we're trying to talk her into anything."

"But, she loves him!"

"I know that, you know that, and so does she." Alia knew she'd taken Steph by surprise with that comment. Sighing, she took a seat on her bed beside her French teacher. "Look, you really need to not push her right now. I know where she is and if she's not down by lunch then I'll go get her." She sighed again at the teacher's mulish expression. "Fine. Can you keep a secret? I mean not even let on to Rachel or Eddie that you know, let alone gossip to anyone else?"

Steph nodded, realising that the girl was only telling her so she'd understand why Rachel needed to be alone. "Cross my heart. I swear, Alia."

"The day of the fire, Eddie asked my mum out for drinks. She said yes." Alia rolled her eyes as Steph stifled a pleased squeal. Yes, it had been a good thing at the time, but it was so long ago, and so much had changed, it was hard to recall the simple pleasure she'd felt back then that her mother had finally agreed to go for drinks with the guy she liked. "Obviously, everything blew up that day both figurately and literally, and it took a month before she had even come out of her coma. I was trying to pick up the pieces for both of us. Then that first day back." She shuddered at the reminder.

"With Denzil and the gun," Steph supplied, flinching slightly at the mention of a weapon that had done such damage to the two teenagers. Alia offered her a sad smile.

"Yes. She shouldn't have been anywhere near the school that day, let alone put herself in danger, again. But on top of everything that happened that day, Eddie dragged her to the pub and then proceeded to try and push her into a relationship with him as she tried to leave. Idiot."

Steph muttered a few choice words under her breath. She may not be the most subtle of people, but when Rachel didn't want pushing into something, it was more like a foghorn blasting people from a hundred yards away. Even she knew not to mess with the head at times like that. So why did Eddie decide to jump in, regardless of the consequences? He knew her better than anyone, hence the bets that had cropped up from the second week of them working together. "Sorry, go on." She realised Alia had stopped talking to get her reaction out of the way.

"She pushed him away, trying to get home to me, but he followed, saying she was special. She tried to show him her reasons for pushing him away, that she wasn't ready." She paused a moment, managing a smirk as she remembered her mother telling her about the conversation that evening. Sure, there had been quite a few tears, but she'd also managed to make her smile. "Mum blushes a wonderful colour every time I remind her she flashed Eddie her boobs that night."

Steph bit her lip to keep from laughing. She knew the scar came down pretty far, as it fell below the neckline of Rachel's pyjama top, but she had not expected for the ever prim and proper Rachel to basically rip open her blouse to show Eddie her chest, no matter the reason. "I bet she does."

"Then again, when I pointed it out to Eddie, he seemed a bit lost to the world." Alia snickered, though she did try to stifle it a little. Steph shook her head, smiling. That girl was something else, deliberately embarrassing her mum over flashing her chest to her deputy and then reminding said deputy of what had happened. Steph had no doubt that Eddie had been very focused on what Alia had reminded him of. Even a blind person could see how in love they were with each other. Alia continued after a moment. "Anyway, she wanted to believe him when he said she was special, but less than a week later…"

"… He was with Melissa, her sister." Steph finished for her, her heart going out to the woman currently hiding in her own house. No wonder Rachel's walls were higher than a skyscraper. She'd been through many things in her life, but Rachel seemed to be thrown from one thing to another without the space to breathe, let alone get ahead of anything. She never thought she'd been sympathising over Rachel Mason of all people, but she could see how awful everything must be for someone so intensely private as her. She honestly didn't know what would have happened if Rachel didn't have Alia in her life. Everything would probably be a lot worse. Rachel would probably still be pretending to be fine, and Eddie and Mel would probably be engaged or something. She didn't even want to think of what could've happened to Max.

Alia nodded. "Exactly. I've tried to work on it but honestly, unless something happens that makes them rip each other's clothes off, I can't see of a way they'll get past all of this." Steph blinked at Alia's casual mention of her mother and her maths teacher having sex. Most people Alia's age would be completely disgusted at the thought of their parent even kissing someone, let alone doing anything more with them. Alia read the thoughts right off her face with a knowing smile. "My dad told me pretty early on what sex was, and what my mum had done when she was younger, explaining that she'd had no choice and that although it wasn't anything to be ashamed of, people would look down on her if it got out. He had girlfriends over at times too. It was never in front of me, but it wasn't a secret either. When I moved in with Rachel she tried to shield me from it all, but honestly, because she tried to hide it all from me, I accidentally walked in on her having sex when I was thirteen." She snorted in amusement. It had been more than embarrassing at the time, but now it was much more embarrassing for Rachel than it was for her. She rarely reminded her mum of the event, but when she did, Rachel's reaction was always priceless. "In my defence, who has sex in the kitchen when there's a thirteen year old in the house?"

"The kitchen?"

Alia shrugged. "Whatever. Since then, she's been a lot more open about it all." She let out another sigh, tried to adjust her arm and gasped at the pain the movement caused, waving off Steph's concern for her. "My mum, she doesn't like letting people in. But she let Eddie in, let him see her, really see her."

"And he managed to hurt her."

"She didn't want to tell him about me. She doesn't want to give him any more pieces of herself, can't bring herself to be broken anymore."

"I can understand that. Eddie really messed things up, didn't he?"

"I've tried to put his head on straight as well, but I swear it's hard enough parenting one adult, let alone two." Alia glanced at the clock. "I think there's some stuff in the fridge for lunch but I don't know what. We usually do the shopping today. I best go find Rach."

"Why do you call her half by mum and half by her name?"

"I lived with my dad most of my life. He called her by her name so it stuck." Alia shrugged. "I'm getting there with calling her mum, but I forget a lot."

"Alright, well, I will keep out of it for now. You need to go find your mum, missy, whilst I'll rope the other two into helping with lunch. Is Jack home?"

"No, he went to go see my godfather. He'll be home before teatime."

"Rach?"

Rachel glanced up from her position curled up on a beanbag as Alia walked into the room, practically falling into a seat beside her. She'd been hiding up there since they'd got home, not wanting to face Steph's inquisition or the giggling of the teenagers. She knew she'd pretty much thrown her daughter to the wolves with her disappearing act, but she seemed fairly unscathed. The last thing she'd needed was for her feelings for Eddie to be brought out into the open that day. She'd had a hard enough time just entering Steph's house to help her pack some things for her and Maxine.

The women both entered the house cautiously, fighting their instincts to run as far as they could and not come back. Steph and Maxine needed clothes for the next couple of days at the very least and the two teachers had agreed that the teenagers would also need the school things still abandoned in the hallway. They'd entered to find the pile of bags still left there, as though the girls had only been there a moment ago. Rachel had taken note of her daughter's leather jacket hanging over the banister, much like it usually was at home. The whole place gave off this eerie feel, as though the events of the previous afternoon had affected the very building itself. Steph had silently led Rachel down the hall to the living room, pausing in the doorway. Rachel glanced in the room, a faintness creeping in as she saw the twin blood smears on the wall and the shattered remains of the vase on the floor. Her baby, her daughter. This was much, much harder than she'd thought it would be, finally understanding completely the girls' reluctance to come with them. It was only the knowledge that Eddie was with them that had stopped them from completely freaking out once the teens were out of their sight.

"Oh, god." Rachel clamped a hand over her mouth, instantly nauseous at the scene before her. So much destruction in such little time, and she could've lost her daughter to it without even knowing until Steph called her. She turned to the woman beside her, shocking both of them as she pulled the blonde woman into a hug. "Thank you Steph. She must've been so scared. Thank you."

Steph hesitantly hugged her back. "It's alright. Thank god they didn't leave anything in here we need to get. I don't think I could bring myself to go in there just yet." Rachel nodded her agreement, stepping back with more than a touch of embarrassment that Steph waved off with a forced smirk. Stepping away from the room and avoiding the kitchen, where everything was still set up for Steph's special meal (the stove had been turned off though by the police the day before, thankfully), Steph led Rachel up the stairs where she directed Rachel to the bathroom to collect wash things whilst she quickly packed bags for herself and Maxine, packing at least enough for a week. Thinking quickly, she also gathered up all her marking and Maxine's schoolwork. They would have to find new school ties for Janeece and Alia as the police had theirs; Maxine's was over the banister beneath Alia's jacket, having been taken off as soon as she'd gotten home. Steph took a deep breath. She knew she'd broken down to Rachel a couple of times, but she'd tried to be strong in front of the teenagers. And little Michael, who looked very familiar and comfortable with Rachel and Alia. Well, she had to lighten the mood before it suffocated them somehow.

"Rachel?" She asked as she stepped out of her room with hers and Maxine's bags. Rachel stepped out of the bathroom with another full bag of toiletries.

"What?"

"Eddie didn't seem surprised."

"About what?"

"Your daughter." Steph smirked as Rachel flushed red. "Which tells me he already knew about her."

"He did." The flush would not budge from her face. "Alia fainted in his class and I'm her emergency contact. That phone call was a bit of a shock on both sides."

Steph felt a little bad at that, but it did fit with what she knew of Rachel. "And Michael? Sweet kid."

"He is," Rachel agreed easily as they slowly made their way down the stairs, doing their utmost to avoid looking at the open living room door. "I had him in my office for a day when he was ill," she explained, knowing what the ever curious Steph was wondering. "24 hour thing. Not the first time I've looked after a sick child; probably won't be the last."

"He seems very taken with you both." Steph sighed as they reached the school bags, Rachel having plucked her daughter's jacket and Maxine's tie from the banister as they'd passed, turning to face the other woman. "Rachel. Life is too short. Go after what you want. There are worse people out there to like than Eddie Lawson."

"It's not that simple, Steph. It's never been that simple." Rachel grabbed two of the school bags, whilst Steph grabbed the remaining one, before they let themselves out of the house and down to Rachel's car, piling everything in the boot. They'd called Janeece's mother on the way to Steph's, so when they arrived at Janeece's house, her mother had bags on the doorstep waiting for them. Half appalled that her mother seemingly couldn't be rid of her fast enough, half relieved it was all done so quickly, they drove back to the school, hoping for a quiet day with the kids.

"Ali." Rachel reached out, pulling her daughter onto her lap and holding her close, her head buried in Alia's good shoulder as a few sobs escaped against her will. She felt Alia run a hand through her hair soothingly and part of her wondered when their roles had been reversed and Alia was the adult. "I… I don't think I can face them." She pulled back a little with red rimmed eyes.

"Yes, you can. I've made Steph promise to leave you alone for a bit, and Max and Jan are more focused on Mel's bigamy than anything else. They think it's a much better scandal than those year 10s breaking up on Thursday, even if one of them cheated on the other with their best mate."

"But…"

"They know?" Alia finished for her with a small smile, knowing exactly what was running through her mother's brain. "Everyone knew way before today, mum. It's one of the worst kept secrets of Waterloo Road, that you and Eddie love each other. The year 13 betting pool is nearly tearing its hair out with waiting for you two to get together. You already know about the staff betting pool." Alia sighed. "Look, Rach, you're going to get questions no matter how long you hide up here for. Max and Jan won't tell anyone about today and neither will Steph. The school is only going to find out if you, Eddie or Mel say something. You and Eddie won't, and Melissa won't want the bigamy to be public knowledge. This will stay contained to us lot. The girls just want to help. You've got me and Max in your office for two days; you really can't avoid us.

"Max and Jan will help. So will Steph. You tell us you want to talk with him? We can set it up. You tell us you don't want to be near him for a bit? We can run interference for you. Mum, we just want to help. You're not alone."

"When did I raise you into this?" Rachel pulled her back into a hug, holding her daughter close, reminiscent of simpler times when having her daughter crawl onto her lap at the end of a hard day could make the world seem infinitely brighter and better. The problem was, things just seemed to keep coming out of nowhere and it was only lunchtime.

"The devious part? I'm pretty sure that was dad's doing. I think I got the 'save people without thinking of what could happen to me' part from you."

"I can take you to see Sam this afternoon, if you'd like. We could bring Jack back with us, pick up some food on the way home?"

"You just want to avoid your houseguests a bit more."

"No, I'll come down to lunch with you all, love." Rachel pressed a kiss to the top of her daughter's head, holding her as close as she dared with Alia's injury. "I know you had your heart set on seeing Sam yesterday and we never got the chance. I can go with you so you won't be alone, and Steph will be here with Maxine and Janeece, so they won't be alone either. What do you think?"

"I think if you're trying to distract me then you're doing a poor job of it. We still need to talk about what happened today. But, if you promise me we will talk about it, then I promise I won't let anything about it slip to Sam." Rachel nearly groaned at her devious expression. Sam wouldn't let it go if Alia so much as hinted that she was interested in someone, let alone the soap opera worthy situations she and Eddie seemed to be continually thrust into. He would hound her until she confessed everything and then insert himself into the picture to either scare Eddie away or lock them in a room together. She didn't know which scenario would be worse at this moment in time either. She took another look at her fifteen year old's determined, devious face and sighed.

"Alright, fine. I will talk with you tonight, okay? But not a single word to Sam that could even hint about Eddie and I. I mean it."

"Oh so there is an 'Eddie and I', interesting," Alia teased, gasping as Rachel began to tickle her in response, breathing out laughs until she twisted her arm slightly trying to get away from the tickling. Immediately she stilled, screaming through gritted teeth at the burning sensation shooting from her arm. Rachel stopped her tickling and held her daughter as still as possible, cursing herself for forgetting about her daughter's injury. Apologising, Rachel helped Alia stand and together they made their way from the music room, stopping just before the landing. "Mum, whatever you want is okay. I know I keep saying it, but I think I'm going to have to until you start believing me."

"I don't know, Ali. Everything is complicated. But right now, we need to get food and I need to get you some more painkillers."

Rachel gritted her teeth as she pulled into the hospital car park. She hated hospitals in the first place, but here she was for the second time in two days. She knew her daughter was watching her with concern, but she ignored it, putting the handbrake on the car and pocketing the car park ticket that would need paying before they left.

Lunch hadn't been too bad, considering. She had had to explain Melissa and her actions more than she'd liked to the two curious sixth formers, but everyone seemed content enough to leave the subject of herself and Eddie alone for the time being. Maxine had solemnly told her that they were all on her side and would back her no matter what, which had brought tears to her eyes that she'd instinctively tried to hide, touched at the respect the teenagers had for her. She'd made her getaway quickly after eating, with a heavily medicated daughter in tow. She could only pray that Alia kept her word and didn't let anything slip to Sam.

Climbing from the car, she rounded it to help the fifteen year old out, knowing handles and seatbelts were difficult one handed. Alia had only managed that morning because Janeece was sat between her and Maxine and had helped them both out. Together, they walked into the main hospital building, following the signed directions to the right ward, ignoring the feelings that welled up in them both as they passed the entrance to the children's ward, thankful they didn't have to go in. Rachel did have to take Maxine and Alia to the children's outpatients' area on Monday afternoon for a follow up on their arms and the initial dressing change. From there they would be told when the stitches could come out and when they could start using their arms again. Steph had wanted to go but she had year 11 french that she couldn't really miss, especially not with the whole policy of being there for the kids that week, so Rachel had offered to take them both. Eventually, they reached the correct ward, finding Jack outside leaning on the corridor wall almost lazily. He shot them a grin as soon as he spotted the pair, giving away that he'd been waiting for them. Pushing off the wall, he joined them, falling into step the other side of Rachel to Alia, so the woman was flanked by both teenagers.

The nurse on duty barely glanced up as they entered the ward, allowing them to make their own way to the end of the room, where a couple of more private rooms were situated. Jack gestured towards the latter of the rooms, the one with the closed door signalling its occupancy. Rachel offered the two fifteen year olds a reassuring smile before knocking briefly on the door, the smile widening hearing Sam's jovial "come in" from within the room. She opened the door, ushering the two in before her.

"Princess!" Sam called out, happy to see his goddaughter. Jack had been to visit but had remained surprisingly tight lipped about his best friend, something that worried Sam but Jack had assured him she and Rachel were alright and would be by when they could. He glanced at Rachel, his eyes instantly taking in her unusually non put together appearance, the lack of makeup accentuating her clearly sleepless night. His worry only kicked up a notch when his greeting gained a wide smile from his goddaughter, but she made no move to rush to him as she usually would. Yes, he was injured, but he had been before as well, and it hadn't ever stopped her from rushing to his side, even just to hold his hand. "Princess, what's wrong? Rachel?"

Alia turned to Rachel, offering her her good arm with a silent request. Rachel took hold of the sleeve and gently helped her daughter out of Jack's hoodie, making sure her arm wasn't jostled in any way as they both turned back to face Sam.

Sam's face lost all colour as his eyes zeroed in on the bulky bandage and the sling holding her arm to her chest. What had happened? "Princess?" He knew he sounded almost lost as his gaze flickered between the three visitors in the room. Jack looked sheepish, clearly having wanted to tell him what had happened but not knowing how to. Alia was watching him, watching for his reaction to her injured state. Rachel was every inch the worried, exhausted mother, her focus half on him, half on her daughter. Whatever had happened, it was big.

"Surprise?" Alia offered weakly, wincing at her own words. She had to stop saying that when she didn't know what else to say. She hadn't missed Rachel's wince at her phrase, particularly as she'd said the same thing to her over the whole situation. "I'm okay Sam."

"You'll have to forgive me if I don't immediately take you at your word, Li. Rachel, what on earth's happened?"

Rachel directed the teenagers to sit down, sitting herself down beside her daughter and offering Sam a shaky smile that didn't meet her eyes. "I wish I could tell you something that won't sound completely made up. It's pretty unbelievable to be fair. Friday afternoon, I thought she'd skipped school to grab Jack and come see you. As it turned out, she'd skipped school to support a friend through a break up."

"You made a friend? I thought you were too scary for that princess."

Alia managed a smile, though everyone could see how forced it was. Clearly the painkillers weren't working as well as either her or Rachel had been hoping for. Rachel took hold of her good hand, squeezing it gently. "Her ex-boyfriend didn't take the break up too well. He decided to persuade her to get back with him." She swallowed heavily. It wasn't any easier, telling people for the third time in 24 hours.

Alia seemed to sense her struggle, taking over with the struggle obvious on her own features. "Sam, he was crazy. He… he had a gun. We were all fighting for it when it… it just went off." Her eyes flicked down to the bandage hiding her wound. She'd already been told she'd probably have a wicked scar there once it had healed.

"No," Sam breathed, his eyes wide with horror. If it had been anyone else, he'd have sworn they were messing with him, but the sober, heavy atmosphere told him it was all too real.

"He shot Ali and her friend before another girl got the gun from him. Ali knocked him out." Rachel continued, her eyes never leaving her daughter.

"With his own gun," Jack added. "Both Ali and Max, the other girl, were shot in the arm. They'll both be fine."

Sam nodded slowly, allowing the conversation to drift to other, more banal topics as he took in everything he'd been told. Part of him was still in disbelief over the story, though he knew it was true. It was Rochdale and somehow teenagers had guns now. He did still remember Alia talking with him over Rachel's first day back and how she'd run back in after an eleven year old with a gun. Still, Alia seemed to be holding up alright, though that could just be due to the painkillers Rachel had probably insisted she take, not wanting her daughter to be in pain when she didn't have to be. He knew Rachel would be going insane over not being able to protect her daughter. He could still recall the legendary freak out she'd had when she'd first seen the mark on Alia's neck from her brush with barbed wire. It was too healed to be called a cut, but too new to be considered a scar. She'd worked herself into a state of near hyperventilation panicking over what had happened and what could have happened, watching Alia with a hyper vigilant stare and constantly questioning everything and everyone, including herself. He knew Alia's dad had eventually calmed her down, though he wasn't sure how. God only knew how she was reacting to all this, experiencing an injured Alia firsthand. He'd have guessed she was driving Alia insane, but the fifteen year old didn't appear to even notice, let alone mind, her mother's hovering state. He glanced at Jack, but the boy didn't seem to have read anything into Rachel's behaviour either. Strange. He'd have to look into that further. He zoned back in on the conversation as Alia spoke, the slightly glazed look the only indication she was on some heavy painkillers.

"You're staying another week, right Jack? I don't think I could cope with Rach and Steph, Max and Janeece all by myself. When did I become the adult?"

"I dunno, Li. I haven't exactly asked or anything."

"I told you Jack; you're welcome to stay as long as you want. And as for you young lady, if you think you're an adult now you're in for a hell of a shock when you actually become one."

Sam zoned in and out again after that, only noticing when Rachel reluctantly sent the teenagers out of the room. "I can't be long, especially as I can't be out of Alia's sight for long unless there's another adult there. Thank you Sam. She was really worried about telling you."

"Not a problem. Hey Rach?"

"Yes?"

"I'm going to be stuck here a while." He gestured to the sparsely furnished hospital room with a grimace. "I know the kids will visit a lot but, I'm here for you too. You can talk to me, even though I know, you're a grown woman that can fend for herself. My point is that you don't have to. Don't be a stranger."

"Thanks Sam."

"Look after the princess, okay?"

"You know I will."

Monday morning arrived much too soon for the current residents of the Mason household. Rachel, Alia and Jack had gone shopping on the way home from the hospital, getting a food shop as well as finding some baggy sleeved tops for both Alia and Maxine if they were needed. The rest of Saturday and all of Sunday was spent lazily in the house, though the teenagers did commandeer the garden when the house became a little too cramped for their liking. They were outside alone but still knowing where the adults were, which seemed like a good compromise on both sides. Alia and Jack took some good natured ribbing over their relationship or lack thereof of a romantic one, but in general, everyone relaxed, to the extent that the doorbell signalling takeout on Sunday evening barely made the girls jump. Rachel had gotten a phone call midday Sunday to inform her that Earl had been discharged from hospital and immediately detained and charged by the police, with their assurance that Alia would definitely face no charges for knocking him out. They'd actually sounded a little in awe of her, something that Rachel had decided her daughter did not need to know. So with everything that had happened, Monday had shown up far too quickly.

Rachel had woken a little later than Alia and both had set to work making drinks and toast for everyone. Alia made the hot drinks because she could pour the kettle one handed but couldn't spread anything on the toast one handed. Rachel had on her usual boots, work pants and high buttoned shirt combo, but Alia was once again in boots, leggings and a vest top, an oversized hoodie of Jack's waiting for her to pick up off the banister. Jack was next to stumble down the stairs, wearing the uniform for his own school. He'd gotten a week off whilst his mother was away but her conference had been extended and he couldn't let his attendance dip any lower. Thankfully, they'd found a bus route that took around half an hour and would drop him off less than ten minutes from his school. Somehow, neither Rachel, Jack or Alia could see his mother agreeing to take him out of the high achieving school he attended to put him in Waterloo Road, no matter how it had improved with Rachel in charge.

Steph, Maxine and Janeece stumbled down to the kitchen together, Steph dressed for work as she always did, Janeece wearing her school uniform and Max dressed almost identically to Alia. They sat in sleepy silence to eat their breakfast before Jack had to rush off to catch the bus and Rachel began to gather her things together.

"Ali, have you seen those LEA forms?"

"I put them in my bag so you wouldn't forget them."

"Thanks love."

Slowly, they all managed to gather their things together, Alia and Maxine pulling on their hoodies just before they all piled out of the house and into Rachel's car. The trip to school was quiet, with the sports car pulling up in its usual spot just as a motorcycle rode through the school gates. Rachel offered a smile at the surprised faces in the car.

"That will be Charlotte, the counsellor we hired for the week."

They all climbed out of the car, Rachel and Steph helping their charges automatically before they all grabbed their bags from the boot and greeted Charlotte, who had just parked up and removed her helmet.

"Ah, you three must be Maxine, Janeece and Alia. I'm here if any of you need to talk about anything."

"Girls, go with Steph whilst I show Charlotte around, please." Rachel requested. The girls nodded, albeit reluctantly on Alia's part, trudging after the french teacher that led them into the building. Rachel turned to Charlotte with a slightly forced smile. "Shall we?"

They went on a tour of the school, barely noticing as time went on and the hallways filled more with rowdy students and grumbling teachers, though both sets seemed unusually muted. Charlotte shot Rachel a knowing look. "I see what you mean about this place being a family. I'd recommend an assembly for all years to explain what has happened and introduce me to them. It might help if the three girls were there, but that's all down to if they feel up for it or not."

"They'd be in the room anyway as both Steph and I have to be there. We arranged an emergency assembly during form time this morning." Rachel smiled at Charlotte's curious look. "Steph is Maxine's guardian and I'm Alia's mother. They and Janeece have been staying with me since Friday. The girls seem to find it easier when they can stay together."

They made their way to the assembly hall where Steph, Maxine and Janeece were all waiting outside, the rest of the school crammed into the hall. Rachel instinctively glanced round looking for her daughter. "Where's Alia?"

Steph nodded forwards, out of the door to the playground. Stood there was indeed Alia, talking intently to Eddie, who was nodding. Rachel felt her heart sink slightly. What was her daughter up to this time?

"Mr Lawson!" Alia called out, closing the door behind her as she stepped onto the playground, ignoring the few curious looks she was getting from students. Eddie winced at her address, pasting on what he hoped was a neutral expression as he approached her.

"Why the formality, Alia?"

"I just didn't think it appropriate right now."

Eddie sighed. "Listen, Alia, whatever happens between me and your mum-"

"We're in the middle of school, just before assembly. That's why calling you by your name isn't appropriate right now," Alia cut him off with an eye roll. "The topic of you and my mum has nothing to do with why I wanted to talk to you."

"Really?" Eddie double checked. Alia seemed to live for interfering with his and Rachel's relationship, whatever that was. "Only I happen to recall quite a few times-"

"Will you just listen?" Alia held her hand up as she cut him off for a second time. "I think, and Max and Jan agree, that in the assembly you should be the one to tell everyone what's happened."

"But Rachel-"

"Could barely get through telling you and we had to take over telling the staff. How's it going to look if the headmistress has to get the three girls involved to tell everyone what happened? It's one thing to do it with the staff, but the kids are going to talk a hell of a lot more."

"She's really struggling, isn't she?" Eddie asked quietly.

"She nearly lost her only daughter on Friday, feared the worst had happened, along with two sixth formers. Try telling that to a hall full of students without letting on that one of the teenagers is your child."

Eddie nodded solemnly. He honestly didn't think he'd do much better of a job than either Rachel or Steph but could understand why the teenagers had sought him out in a bid to protect the two women. "Alright, I'll do it."

"Thanks."

"Ali." He stopped her as she turned to go back in the school, swallowing as she turned to him with a curious look. "How, uh, how's she doing?"

Alia shrugged her good shoulder; her face sombre. "I assume you mean after that whole thing in her office on Saturday. I don't know. But I'd suggest not mithering her for a bit. She has had everything just thrown at her recently without the chance to even breathe."

"So have you."

"Yes, but I have my mum and Jack and Sam. Plus, I'm not nearly as open as you think I am." She smirked. "You only found out about my mum through my passing out in your class. Not because I said anything. And when we've talked, its mainly been about her. So you think I'm opening up, but I haven't actually told you much about me." She shrugged again before turning and stalking back into the school, leaving a speechless deputy head behind.

The assembly had gone about as well as anticipated by all those previously in the know. Eddie had told the student body what had happened on the Friday, including about the cancellation of the mock exams, causing Rachel to shoot Alia a questioning look, to which her daughter had pasted on a carefully blank façade. Naturally, the whole school was shocked and horrified, with more than a few stares directed in the teenagers' direction where they'd been sat on the front row between Rachel and Steph. Steph had managed to shepherd the girls out and up to Rachel's office before they could be bombarded by the other students, whilst Rachel and Eddie had had to try and answer questions as well as they could whilst directing them to their lessons. Finally, even the last of the reluctant lot had left, with Tom showing Charlotte to his Pastoral Care office to set up shop for the day, leaving the head and deputy head alone.

"Rach," Eddie scratched at the back of his neck nervously.

"What did she say to you?" Rachel asked warily, something that Eddie immediately clocked onto.

"Nothing. She just asked me to take the assembly for you. Wanted to save you having to do it again. All three of them did, apparently. Probably should be worried about them ganging up on us." Eddie tried to reassure her, though her tense features didn't ease with his words.

"Don't remind me. Grantly is going to have it in for them now, especially Ali."

"Oh, she knew what she was doing; they all did." Eddie held open the door to the hall, letting Rachel through into the corridor first before following her as they roamed the hallways. He had a free first thing, as did Steph, who was with the girls in the headteacher's office. "That might have been opportunistic for that day, but they definitely had it planned."

"I don't know whether to be annoyed they're ganging up on members of staff, or happy that she's made such fast friends. I'm honestly surprised with the number of friends she's made here."

"She's friends with Katie Lucas as well as Maxine and Janeece, right? They sit next to each other in Maths."

"Yes. She's friends with Chlo too, and Bolton and Paul, to an extent." She shrugged. "It's been just her and Jack for so long, I'd half thought she'd forgotten how to make friends."

"Are they…?"

"Best friends," Rachel clarified with a smile. He wouldn't be the first to think Alia and Jack more than they were, and most likely wouldn't be the last either. "They love each other, by the way, but apparently that's not really a factor. If they end up together, then that's fine, but if they fall in love with other people? That's fine too. They've promised each other that no matter what happens, they'll be best friends forever."

"BFFs? That sounds so… underwhelming." Eddie couldn't think of another way to describe it. Watching Alia and Jack together was strange, as the two fifteen year olds were scarily in sync at times and seemed to almost innately know what the other needed. Calling them friends just seemed to devalue them somehow. Rachel offered him a knowing smile.

"Don't tell them that. You'll be on both their hit lists in an instant," She teased as they climbed the stairs closest to her office. "At this point, Jack's practically my son, even if I have to deliver him back to his mother at the end of this week. Her dad warned me that they came as a package deal as soon as they became friends in the first place."

"How come Jack's at yours in the first place?" Eddie asked, regretting the question slightly when Rachel winced, the tenseness instantly back in her features.

"Do you recall the blue folder?" Rachel asked hesitantly, referring to the folder Eddie had found less than a week earlier. Eddie nodded slowly; his brow furrowed in confusion. "Jack came to stay at mine to help Ali out." She sighed at his look of incomprehension. "They stole the documents Eddie. They broke into the council and stole the information." She waved off his shocked expression. "They've done it before. I refused to let them do it to Stuart though. I knew he wouldn't hesitate to hurt them, whether he had proof it was them or not." They'd reached the landing as Tom called out to them, making them pause in the corridor before the antechamber to Rachel's office, turning to face the English teacher.

"What's up, Tom?" Rachel asked kindly.

"I told Chlo what happened Saturday afternoon. I figured she needed to know before the school did, what with everything." Tom and Rachel shared a knowing look. Despite the teenager starting to show, hardly anyone knew about Chlo being pregnant. She couldn't blame Tom for wanting to break the news to Chlo in a gentler way than she would've had if she'd found out the same time as everyone else. "She feels awful. She saw the argument between Maxine and Earl in the corridor Friday lunchtime and even though she text Janeece and Alia about it, she didn't follow up about it and put it out of her mind when no-one texted her back to tell her what happened." Tom sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She blames herself for not being there."

"She would've been putting herself in danger had she been there," Rachel pointed out softly.

"I know, and I've tried telling her that, but she's convinced that the girls were hurt because she was too focused on herself. I never thought I'd say this, but I actually feel sorry for Donte. Since she found out, he can't do anything right for her. He's really trying, but she's stuck thinking everything is her fault."

"What class has she got now?"

"She's in the library. She's got a free. Why, what're you thinking?"

Rachel shrugged slightly. "I'm thinking we brought a counsellor in for a reason. Let's put her to some use. Get her in a room with Chlo, Maxine, Alia and Janeece. Let them all sort it out. At the very least, Charlotte can let us know if they're going to be alright or not."

TBC…