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I meant to get this chapter out to you all yesterday... but it didn't turn out to be the most productive of days!

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Chapter 20: First Priorities

Eddie had discovered that he was rubbish at bowling. Perhaps it was when the ball went straight into the gutter, or when he realised how effortless it was for Rachel to get consistent strikes. He had wanted to make some sort of quip back at her as she made a comment about his bowling abilities. But his lips were soon otherwise occupied as Rachel pressed her own against them, and Eddie quite quickly found that he didn't care half as much about winning the game.

Rachel pulled away, seemingly breathless. Their foreheads pressed together, which was another gesture that had become one of their traits in the past week. From the gleeful expression on Rachel's face, Eddie guessed that she had no intention of cutting the game off here. Much to Eddie's dismay. He wasn't sure what was worse, losing to Rachel or enduring her teasing for another moment longer. Eddie decided that it had to be the latter.

She gave his arm a slight squeeze as she passed him, only letting go when he was out of reach. Eddie watched on - no doubt with a gigantic beam spread across his mouth - as Rachel picked up her next ball. Just as she reached the alley, she turned to face him. It was a thought constantly swimming around in Eddie's mind; but she truly was beautiful. Her appearance reminded him of that every second of every day.

"I still need to whip your butt, remember."

It was as if Rachel answered the slightly questioning look behind Eddie's eyes. The look which wondered why they had to continue the game of bowling when she could still be wrapped up in his embrace.

"I think you already have," Eddie huffed.

She swivelled round fully now, so that her body was entirely facing him. Eddie couldn't stay rooted to the spot any longer, and made a move towards Rachel. He kept a slight distance - if she was going to tease him, there was no way that she was getting off lightly.

Eddie couldn't help but smirk as she closed the gap between them even more. There were only several centimetres between them now. He wasn't complaining, neither was she.

"Can we just rewind a moment?"

Eddie chuckled at Rachel's line of questioning, he knew exactly what she was going to say. He knew her too well. Having said that, Rachel seemed to know him astonishingly well too.

"Mr Lawson, did you just admit that my bowling abilities are far superior to yours?"

"Just this once. Tell anyone, and I'll deny it."

Rachel's grin only broadened, "on a scale of one to ten how good are you at bowling?"

They shared a look and Eddie had to laugh once more when he realised that Rachel had asked him that exact question just a few hours previous. How did he reply? Eddie wasn't quite sure, but he seemed to remember making out that he was some kind of bowling specialist.

"I think you should be the judge of that. Seen as you're so observant."

Rachel felt a light blush on her cheeks as she laughed. Eddie's emphasis on observant was clear. Maybe when she was gazing at him earlier, she hadn't been all that subtle. This was probably his way of repaying her evening full of teasing. Rachel seemingly had a sixth sense when it came to Eddie's reactions to her. She had to admit, it was one of her favourite qualities.

"I wouldn't want to crush your ego."

Eddie's mouth gaped open as Rachel's lips curled into a ginormous smile.

"Oh now come on!" Eddie chuckled as he spoke, gaze firmly locked on Rachel, "I'm not that bad."

She quirked an eyebrow, offering Eddie one last grin before returning her attention to the game. At least that's what Rachel told herself, her mind was very much focused on the man standing behind her.

….

"Looks like our little pep talk with Bolton did the trick."

Rachel couldn't deny that she agreed with Eddie entirely. Her house was exactly as they left it, and extremely quiet. She almost felt guilty for expecting any less. Rachel was half anticipating having drunken students strewn across her home. Maybe she should listen to Eddie more often, maybe they did respect her.

"It certainly did," Rachel commented as she peered her head around the living room door, in search of Philip.

"Where is that boy?" Eddie wondered aloud, taking a look in the kitchen.

Rachel didn't want to bother him too much, and neither did Eddie. They just wanted to see how his evening had gone. On top of that, Rachel wanted to find out how he was coping. She wasn't entirely sure how well he was truly managing, what with Melissa not even sending a text on his birthday.

Little did she know.

"Philip?" Rachel called up the stairs, Eddie following slightly further behind.

Just as she reached the top of the stairs, Philip emerged from his bedroom. He plastered a smile on his face, but Rachel wasn't sure how genuine it was. Not very. Despite only living with him for a week, Rachel had gotten to know her nephew rather well. She could certainly sense when something wasn't quite right, or when something was upsetting him.

"Good night Phil?" Eddie wondered, obviously sensing Rachel's rambling thoughts.

"Yeh… it was... good."

Philip only sounded half truthful, and Rachel began to worry. What had happened?

"Are you sure love?"

She took a step closer to Philip as she asked this. Rachel was glad when he didn't flinch or pull away as she placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Honestly, it was good. Guess I'm just tired."

Rachel tilted her head to the side, she could see right through Philip's facade. Maybe because it was so similar to the one that she wore for pretty much everyone; with the exception of Eddie.

"Philip, has something happened?"

Rachel sensed Eddie's presence to her right, and she was more than glad of his support. She gathered that he was reading the boy in a similar way to her. Something had definitely occurred to result in this conflicted mood from Philip.

"Well… erm…"

Similarly to the previous week, Philip considered diverting from the truth. He could tell that his mum's contact upset Rachel, worried her. Philip had heard a conversation she had with Eddie in recent days. He hated how anxious his auntie was about Melissa ruining everything. Rachel didn't deserve that, she deserved happiness. Certainly after everything she had done for him. But she also deserved honesty, something that Philip had to give her now.

"Mum did text. A few hours ago."

Rachel couldn't stop herself from sharing a glance with Eddie. He was forever her calming influence. Rachel was sure that her legs would have collapsed beneath her without the hand that he placed on her elbow.

"Wishing you a happy birthday?" Rachel wondered further.

"Kind of yeh. It was weird… she basically acted as if nothing had happened. Said that a card was in the post."

"I see. And… how do you feel about it?"

Rachel didn't want to sound like a therapist, or seem like she was interrogating Philip. Yet she wanted to get to the bottom of his emotions, so that she could at least try and help him. The last thing Rachel wanted to do was fail him. Philip (along with Eddie) is her first priority, her first responsibility.

"At first it annoyed me, that she could be so chilled about it all. But she doesn't deserve my thoughts."

Rachel nodded, "I can certainly understand that."

Philip nodded too. Suddenly seeming rather awkward.

"Right, well... I'm off to bed."

"Glad you enjoyed your night though Philip," Rachel commented, followed by Eddie, "yeah, good night mate."

Rachel was about to turn her attention to Eddie when she heard her nephew's voice once more.

"And Rach?"

She turned back to face Philip, to see him standing in his bedroom doorway.

"Thanks for tonight. You too Eddie."

They responded and a second passed before Philip's door was tightly shut.

Eddie turned Rachel in his arms, instantly bringing her into an embrace. She sighed into his warm touch, unable to deny how brilliant it felt to be in his arms. How incredibly soothing it was. How did Eddie just always know exactly what she needed?

"It'll be alright you know."

Rachel tilted her head up from it's position on Eddie's chest to meet his eyes, "I hope so Eddie. I do worry about Philip… and the damage Melissa has the potential to cause."

He cupped her cheek, hoping to reassure her that little bit further, "it'll just be a one off, to say happy birthday. I doubt she'll be coming back any time soon. And if she does, you just remember everything we've spoken about. It's always going to be you and I."

Rachel smiled softly, feeling herself relaxing an inch more. Alternating her gaze between Eddie's eyes and lips, the prospect was all of a sudden too tempting to resist.

She pressed her lips against his, deep and meaningful before pulling away to voice the words she had been longing to voice all evening.

"I love you Eddie."

"And I love you."