Eddie was lucky, Rachel thought as she looked up from her seat at the desk. If he'd burst into her office thirty seconds earlier, she would have been on a phone conference with the LEA, discussing budgets and educational policies. Riveting topics that she wouldn't have minded a rescue from, but explaining why her deputy had come bursting into the office without warning might have required more of an explanation than she could have developed on the fly. She gave him a small, unsure smile in greeting but it quickly faded at the look on his face. "What's wrong?"

A beat passed. Then two. "Would you like to go out for drinks later?" He hadn't quite intended to blurt that out, but he'd have to run with it now.

Rachel blinked, a little taken aback. "Weren't we doing that anyway?"

But Eddie shook his head. "No, I don't mean to the pub with everyone else. I mean... somewhere else."

Oh. She swallowed hard, mouth suddenly dry as a desert. They'd parted the night before when the door to the pub had burst open, wrenching apart and Eddie had hastily bid her goodbye, promising to see her the next day. Only Rachel hadn't even made it to her office that morning before she'd stumbled across- quite literally- one of the year sevens in hysterical tears and the day hadn't gotten any calmer. She'd caught only fleeting glances of Eddie, this was the first conversation they'd had. "Just us?"

"Yeah." He shrugged, biting the inside of his mouth as he looked at her. "How about it?"

She swallowed again, heart so loud she wondered how he hadn't heard it, and did something ridiculously impulsive. "Okay."

A smile spread across his face. "I'll pick you up at 7?"

She nodded her agreement, stomach summersaulting but couldn't find it on herself to regret it when she saw the broad grin on his face, and simply hoped none of the kids saw them out.

It was a hope that repeated throughout the rest of the day, and the evening. Her stomach was doing flips, and she only managed to force down some nuts and fruit, picking at them as she redid her makeup, wavered between outfits. Would Eddie prefer her in something similar to what he'd seen before? Or something completely different? And then she paused, and wondered why she was trying to dress according to his opinions.

Her phone was in her hand before she'd even registered it, and as soon as the line was picked up she was talking. "It's me. What do you wear to go to a bar?"

There was a beat of silence. "I think I'd better get mum."

Rachel felt her cheeks heat at the sound of her nephew's voice. "Sorry Philip." She waited patiently, heard the thump of footsteps, muffled voices until her sister's voice came over the line, and she repeated the question.

"You're going to a bar?" Melissa sounded thoroughly confused.

"Is it really so surprising?"

"Yes," Melissa told her openly. "Is it a work do?"

"No." Rachel collapsed onto her bed and ran a hand through her hair. "It's a date. At least, I think it is."

"How do you not know? Either it is or it isn't."

Rachel ground her teeth together, reminded herself that she needed Melissa's help and snapping at her would do no good. "It's me and a guy, in a bar, by ourselves. Draw your own conclusions."

Her sister's voice was irritatingly cheerful. "Sounds like a date to me!"

"Wonderful. Can you please help me now?" She knew she sounded impatient. "I only have- crap, half an hour till he picks me up."

"What do you want to wear?"

"If I knew that I wouldn't be calling you!"

Melissa's eye roll could be heard through the phone. "Jesus, just do jeans and a nice top. It can't be that fancy of a place, not in Rochdale."

That was probably offensive, Rachel thought, but couldn't bring herself to scold her at that moment. "Which top?"

She frowned when there was a long few seconds of silence. If it hadn't been for Melissa's breathing, she'd have wondered if the line had cut off. She heard Melissa shift, and when she spoke, there was an odd note in her tone. "You really like this guy, don't you?"

"Melissa..."

"Wear the red one I bought you last Christmas. And put some heels on, men love heels."

Rachel took a deliberately careful breath. "Thank you."

Unknown to her, at that moment, across town, Eddie was on the phone as well. "I don't do dress up!" He ran a hand over his head, staring at the contents of his wardrobe. "Why didn't I ask her to the pub or something?"

From across the country, his brother chuckled. "For God's sake Eddie, it's not the Ritz. Will she really care what you're wearing?"

That brought Eddie up short. For all Rachel sometimes made jokes about his casual dress sense, the only time she'd ever actually complained was during that presentation they'd made. The other times, it had been almost affectionate jibes at his lack of formality. "No," he admitted with a sigh, and grabbed a simple white shirt.

He was almost late to pick Rachel up- almost. He was rather proud that he was almost on the dot, actually, Rachel's front door opening a minute after he'd knocked. She smiled at him nervously, stepping back to let him in. "I just need to two seconds."

He watched as she slipped a pair of heels on, appreciatively trailing his eyes up her legs as she balanced on one, then the other before straightening. At which point, he realised what he was doing and hastily looked away, cheeks heating. Rachel didn't notice, grabbing her bag and shooting him another hesitant look as Eddie shifted his weight, shoved his hands into his pockets. "Ready?"

She nodded. "I think so."

Her eyes met his briefly, skidded away. And Eddie sighed. "This is silly." He stepped forward, gently lowered his mouth to brush against the corner of hers and had to hide a smirk when he heard her breath hitch. "You look lovely," he murmured. Her cheeks were pink, but her smile was more genuine now.

"You don't look so bad yourself."

He chuckled, and in a moment of daring reached out to interlace their fingers. "It's just us," he said quietly. "Dancing around each other is silly."

Her expression softened, lips twisting. "Yes, it is."

And that set the tone for the evening. They spoke quietly on the journey to the bar, about school and policies which somehow ceded into Tom and Davina and if one of the PE teachers was pregnant. By the time they'd sequestered themselves into a corner and ordered a drink apiece, the conversation had turned to children- Michael, specifically, though Eddie dropped a story about Stephen in there as well. Drinks flowed, and the conversation never faltered.

It was much later, when the bar had become much louder that Rachel realised they had pressed together, leaning close in order to hear each other. And the second she did, she became acutely aware of every inch that was in contact with him- hips to knees pressed together, arms brushing and when they did the only barrier between their skin was the thin material of his shirt. Eddie ducked his head to murmur in her ear, and there was something so oddly intimate about it that she struggled to hold back a shiver.

"Do you want to get out of here?"

She glanced at him, trying to decide on his meaning. Then realised she didn't actually care, and nodded.

The cold air hit them in a welcome blast when they stepped outside, and with it an instant reduction in noise. A look of sheer relief appeared on Eddie's face as his ears almost rang at the quiet, only now realising just how loud it had been inside. "I'm too old for this."

"You're hardly old." Rachel fell into step with him, wondering if he had a destination in mind.

"Too old for bars."

She laughed, enjoying the breeze that fluttered across her skin. "I enjoyed it. It's nice in there."

"It is," he agreed, but privately thought that his enjoyment had been more to do with the company than the location. "Have you eaten yet?"

Now, she looked sheepish. "I had some fruit?"

Exasperation saturated Eddie's tone. "Fruit is not dinner. Come on."

Which was how, without her really knowing how, Rachel found herself perched on a bench, sharing fish and chips out the bag. "I've had fun tonight," she said softly, nibbling on a chip, and Eddie gave her a warm look.

"So have I."

"And I do appreciate it, you know."

He looked at her oddly. "What?"

"I know a bar like that isn't really your thing." She smiled, shrugging a shoulder. "So thank you."

Was he that obvious? "I enjoyed it too, Rach," he said gently. "I didn't mind."

"I'm still grateful."

She nabbed another chip, dunking it in ketchup while he swallowed his mouthful of fish. "Maybe next time, I can take you for dinner properly, instead of on a park bench eating out the paper."

Eddie only realised what he'd said when Rachel's gaze snapped towards him, half surprised, half embarrassed. His stomach lurched, and he opened his mouth to apologise for presuming, for jumping ahead too quickly but before he could get a single word out, Rachel relaxed slightly. "As long as it's not to that place with the awful pizza you're so fond of," she said casually.

Eddie had to forcibly suppress the beaming grin that desperately wanted to break free. "That pizza is amazing."

"It's nothing but grease."

"That's why it's amazing."

She laughed, and Eddie decided right there that he wanted to hear that sound every day for as long as physically possible. "That's disgusting," Rachel told him, and he shrugged.

"So are those awful herbal things you drink, but you don't hear me complaining every time I make you one."

"Tea, Eddie." She was still grinning, eyes dancing at him. "It's tea. And it's healthy."

He pulled a face, sticking his tongue out and she giggled at him, throwing a chip in his direction. To her surprise, however, it hit him square between the eyes. He went cross-eyed, as Rachel gasped before bursting into laughter. Eddie just looked rueful. "What is it with you and throwing things at me lately?"

Her mouth twitched. "Sorry."

"No you're not," he grumbled jokingly, his tone mild and light. They polished off the rest of the food, and now the night air was cooler than was pleasant- Rachel wrapped her arms around herself, fighting off a yawn.

"I should get home, before I fall asleep on my feet."

"I'll walk you."

She blinked in surprise. "You don't have to do that."

"Maybe I want to." He held his arm out, tipping an imaginary hat. "Milady."

She rolled her eyes even as she laughed, taking his arm and inwardly thinking how much she loved seeing this side of him, one he understandably kept hidden at school. The walk home was no less pleasant than the rest of the evening. Sometimes they would be in companionable silence, sometimes conversation would spark up again. Eddie fancied that he could feel the heat of her touch burning even through multiple layers of clothing, couldn't stop the warmth inside him at the knowledge she hadn't pulled away at any point. Not until they'd reached her front door, and suddenly the night seemed a lot colder as she drew away from him, searching through her bag for her keys.

"If I asked you out for dinner tomorrow, would that be too forward?" Eddie had blurted it out before he'd even finished forming the thought. Rachel looked up in shock, and he had to resist the urge to shuffle his feet like a schoolboy, however much he might have felt like one at that moment. And then added sheepishly, "Unless you already have plans…"

"No," she murmured, and his heart stopped. "I don't have plans. Dinner… dinner would be nice."

She couldn't bring herself to regret it when she saw the look on his face. "How about I pick you up this time?" she suggested and he agreed immediately, too happy she'd consented to see him again to think about arguing. "Then I guess I'll see you tomorrow."

"Night, Rachel."

He was watching her with a look in his eyes that she couldn't have named for anything. But it was soft, and tender, and completely non-expectant, and it was for that reason that she stepped forward and stretched up to oh-so-gently brush her lips against his, in a kiss that was almost too sweet and far too short for either of their likings. But perhaps that was for the best, she thought, stepping back and smiling shyly at him. "Goodnight, Eddie."

It was only once she stepped inside and softly shut the door, that Eddie allowed the widest grin to stretch across his face.