Thank you so much for all the reviews and your support with this.

Of course, this is one of those special advent calendars that have 25 windows. Why wouldn't I give myself more work than I need to?

Merry Christmas to you lovely lot. I hope you have a wonderful day, however you are spending it in this insanely weird year.

I think most of you are counting down anyway but I will be back on New Year's Eve (31st December) with the first instalment of Follow Your Fire. Honestly, I am more than a little excited to give it to you.

Set during 2009

Day Twenty-Five
Confusion

Rachel is confused as to why there is only one small box under the tree (when she knew that there was more under there when she went to bed). Eddie encourages Rachel to open the present.

Word count: 3,419

"I'll be up in a minute," Eddie said.

Those six words actually sent a wave of relief through Rachel as she wanted to double-check a couple of things before she went to bed.

It was a little strange for it to be Christmas Eve and they were still at home but Rachel wasn't certain how Eddie was going to take the news and, therefore, agreed when he said that maybe they should go to his parents on Christmas Day. Although, Rachel had also managed to negotiate her way out of the four am start by saying that they would open their Christmas jumpers on Christmas Eve before they went to bed (with Sue pushing them into their arms even when they tried to argue that they could open them when they got their Christmas Day).

Because there were two little things that Rachel wanted to present Eddie with and she was still trying to work out how she was going to do it all. One part she felt was easier than the other.

She closed the door to their bedroom before she walked over to their bed and pulled out the drawer and moved the few things that she had hiding Eddie's present, relieved that they were both still there.

She knew that she was good with words. She had delivered many speeches over her time as a headteacher. But when it came to what she had planned to do, she just couldn't find the words. She was sure that it would come in the moment. Mainly because it had to.

"I'll be up in a minute," Eddie said.

Eddie let out a sigh of relief as Rachel made her way up the stairs and he waited for the door of their bedroom to close before he made his way to the living room to put his plan in action. He had been given a number of ideas about how he should propose but Alice, Zoe and Claire all agreed that the idea that he had come up with was a good idea.

He was very careful to be as quiet as he possibly could be as he started to move all of the presents under the tree to the front door and then to the car. There were only a couple in the group for them, most of the presents were for his family, and he knew that he had his mum had managed to convince Melissa to come over one day during the period (with his mum understanding that Rachel only kept Melissa around so that she could have a relationship with Philip. Because the whole family was certain that Rachel could do without Melissa).

With that task done, he took his present to Rachel out of his coat pocket and spent a while placing it in the perfect position so that it was hidden by the coffee table, so she would have to walk over to the tree to see what was there.

He went through a couple of run-throughs, making sure that there was enough room for him to be on one knee behind Rachel as she realised what the present was. He even went over the words that he had written for the occasion (with Alice, Zoe and Clarie's 'help').

Once he was sure that everything was going to go to plan, he headed to bed, knocking on the door, just to make sure that he didn't walk in on his present from Rachel. He felt like this was going to be a very special Christmas. He just didn't know how special it was going to be yet.

Rachel did wonder what Eddie was up to when he encouraged her into the living room while he made a start on breakfast. It wasn't uncommon for Eddie to make her breakfast but that morning felt rather suspicious. Although she couldn't see that she could do anything else but walk into the living room, hoping to finally plan what she was going to say to Eddie.

She was stopped in her tracks when she noticed that there were no presents under the tree and she started to panic.

"Eddie! Where are the presents?" She shouted.

"In the car."

"Is that what you were doing last night?"

"Have a closer look."

Rachel was still panicking, even though she was sure that Eddie had put them in the car. It just seemed a little strange. The panic turned into confusion as she saw the small box underneath the tree. She picked it up and looked for a label.

"This isn't labelled." She said.

"Then why don't you open it?"

"I can't open it if it isn't for me."

"Well, it is for you. So just open it."

It was well wrapped (not that she expected anything else from Eddie) and it took her a few moments to actually get into the present. There was this nagging feeling in the back of her mind that she knew what the present was but until she opened the box and saw the ring inside, she knew what was happening. She turned to go and talk to Eddie to see him down on one knee.

"Rach, I always worry about rushing you. I always worry about what you think of our relationship and I always hope that with every year that passes, you become more comfortable with us. And I understand that we only became official this time last year and that we only met two years ago, but, at this moment in time, I never want to leave your side. I want to be there, loving you and supporting you and being the one person you know you can rely on. So, will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"

A million thoughts went through Rachel's mind and she had to keep her laugher in. Of course, they would decide to do exactly the same thing at exactly the same time.

"Do you want your present now?" She said.

"Rachel, the only present you could give me if a yes or an in the future."

She reached into her dressing gown pocket and handed him the first part of his present. "I think this will give you an answer."

Rachel could see that as Eddie was unwrapping her gift that what had happened was slowly hitting Eddie and he started to laugh as he opened the box to her ring for him.

"I'll take that as a yes then." He said as he looked up at her.

"Of course it's a yes. And you?"

"Of course. Of course, I will marry you."

Eddie pushed himself off the floor and they were soon in each other's arms, with Rachel holding Eddie tightly before they parted for a kiss.

"There is something else." She said.

"What else?"

She reached into her other pocket and pulled out the test that she had done weeks ago, holding it up so that he could see the result. The confusion in his face was a picture as he took the pregnancy test off her and looked at it properly.

"A baby?" Eddie asked.

"A mini-Lawson in the making."

"You're pregnant."

"Hence why I've been feeling so tired and craving your mince pies and… the nauseous feeling that I kept from you." She paused. "It is everything that we spoke about last Christmas."

She could see that Eddie's emotions were getting to him as the news hit him properly and she placed a kiss on his cheek before she curled up into him.

"Oh, we're having a baby," Eddie said as he sighed.

"Yes, we are."

Eddie wiped his eyes with one of his hands. "I knew this Christmas was going to be special."

"And just think, we are going to have to announce it to your family when we get to your parents."

"Oh, Mum is going to be thrilled."

"I think everyone is."

Eddie pressed a kiss to her hair and Rachel couldn't help but agree with him. She felt like the last two Christmases had felt special but this one definitely had extra meaning.

They took a few moments in the car to calm themselves down before they walked into Eddie's parents' house. One of Rachel's new favourite noises was the way that Eddie's engagement ring would ring out as it was tapped against the steering wheel and she was sure that when she did the same with hers, it would join it.

"I don't know whether I can actually go in there with a straight face," Eddie said.

"I get what you mean. But it is Christmas, so we have a reason to smile." Rachel said.

"Are we just going to go in there and telling them?"

"I think that we should go in there and let them see the rings and announce the pregnancy when someone tries to give me alcohol."

"I never asked how far along."

"Eight weeks. Our first scan is booked for afterschool on the first day back."

"And how long have you known?"

"Just under two weeks. I thought it would be a lovely Christmas surprise for you as you didn't actually give me any ideas."

Eddie sighed as he looked at her. "Come on. We'd better get in there."

They pushed open their doors at the same time and started to get a few of the presents out of the back of the car to bring in. Eddie went for a second time to the car while Rachel took off her shoes and popped her head into the living room.

"Hello." She said.

"Rachel!" A number of kids shouted at the same time, almost running into her as well.

She said hello to them all before asking all the adults where she was to put the presents. Alice helped her with the bags. Once they were sorted, Sue came out of the kitchen as Eddie joined her in the living room.

"Drinks?" Sue asked.

"I'll have a tea, please." Rachel said.

"Tea? It is Christmas you know." Alice said.

There was probably the point in which to say the news but as they looked at each other, they weren't ready to give over the news and Rachel was sure that they had an order in which they wanted to say the news.

Which is why Rachel was glad that she was left-handed when Sue went to hand her over her tea, with her left-hand leading, meaning that there was no way that Sue wasn't going to miss it.

"Edward, care to explain," Sue said as the tea was placed down on a table and Rachel found her hand in hers as she admired the ring.

"I proposed," Eddie said, lifting up his hand as well.

"And I proposed as well." Rachel said before Sue started to berate Eddie about them getting married without them knowing.

"Well, at least it is a beautiful engagement ring this time," Sue said.

"What was so wrong with the ring I bought Alison?" Eddie said.

"I think I've told you that isn't a list that you are going to want," Alice said.

"And I suppose this is a great time to say the other bit of news." Rachel said, pausing just to let her sentence sink in as she tucked herself into Eddie's side. "I'm… well we're pregnant."

Rachel knew to expect the explosive reaction that Eddie's family gave. She got the feeling that everyone understood that there was going to be another Lawson to join the group and Rachel knew that they had been emotional about it but it brought all those emotions back.

"Anyone tries to give Rachel a drop of alcohol, they have me to answer to," Sue said.

Rachel was sure that with the announcement, no one was going to. But she was sure that no one was now as she finally got a hold of her tea before she was pulled over with the girls, probably to talk about the ring and the baby.

Eddie was distracted for two reasons. First was the ring on Rachel's finger and how it looked like it belonged to always be there. The second was the ring that adored his finger, that he found himself playing with from time to time, spinning it on his finger with his thumb.

"I suppose it was a good thing that you decided to do it at the same time." His mum said.

"At least I know that I wasn't rushing her. I would have been happy with a yes or a not now but in the future."

"And another little one on the way."

"I wouldn't talk too soon."

"Has she had the first scan then?"

"No. 5th January. But… this is an older pregnancy. I read up. Pregnancy in older women can… there is a higher risk of twins."

"I think you need to go to that scan and work things out from there."

"Mum, I-I-I can't have it happen again."

"I know." She said as she rubbed a hand down his arm. "And I am sure Rachel knows that. But you do know that there was nothing that you or Alison could have done."

"I know. I know. Just Rachel deserves this more than anyone I have ever known. I." He stopped as he thought about how he was going to word it. "I can't let her have any more heartbreak."

"And that is why you have this chance. I know you lost your belief in fate over Stephen, but you and Rachel found each other and she helped you with Michael when you thought that you would never see him again. You helped her through the whole Stuart thing. Admittingly, you might not have dealt with that in the right way but you were her rock during that time. The universe put you two together for a reason,"

"Well, I had forgotten how much you did believe in it."

"Trust me, Edward. The world isn't all good all of the time. Every storm runs out of rain, just like every dark night turns into day."

Eddie allowed his mum to leave him, knowing that she had given him enough food for thought. And she was probably right. This baby was probably going to bring a storm for him and Stephen was going to constantly be on his mind. He shook his head to try and remove his memories of that awful day.

He had a new beginning with Rachel and their baby. Maybe that was what he needed to focus on.

"A girl," Eddie said.

"A girl?" Rachel said.

"I want it to be a little girl. The split of her mother."

"Only looks-wise. Imagine having two people that overthink."

"And you think my laid back personality is a good attribute."

Rachel thought about it for a moment before she replied. "Maybe a healthy mix of the two. Like she stresses out about the important things and is laid back about the not important stuff."

"So are we going with a girl for the moment?"

"Well, we can find out at the 20-week scan if you want."

"Maybe something to think about."

"Why do you want the baby to be a girl?"

By the way that Eddie went silent, she was sure that it had something to do with Stephen, meaning that her initial research into depression in dad-to-be wasn't for nothing and she should continue down that road. She didn't want to involve Kim just yet but she knew that at some point she might.

"Just how Michael was with Ella last Christmas." Eddie eventually said. "I think he might like a little sister."

"I suppose that is the next person to tell."

"He's going to be so excited."

"When isn't that boy excited?"

"True."

"We are going to have to explain to him what it will mean."

"Rachel, you are only eight weeks."

"Of potentially 40. I think we have a lot to do in the next 30 odd weeks. Although, I already feel sorry for them."

"Why?"

"Eddie, they are going to be due late July, early August. They are going to be the youngest in their academic year."

"And with teachers as parents, I am sure that if they fall behind, we can catch them up. You're a July baby. You didn't struggle, did you?"

"I suppose not."

"So I doubt they will too because they are going to get your intelligence."

"Then they are also going to get your kindness."

"Your determination."

"Your passion."

"Your selflessness. To a degree."

"Then your impulsiveness, to a degree."

"Your beauty."

"Okay, I think this is something that we could do all night."

Eddie chuckled. "Maybe then we can leave it at they will hopefully be a good mix of our best attributes."

"Maybe they are allowed a couple of our bad ones."

"Just a couple."

"But everything will be okay." She said as she stroked her hand across his chest. "I've just realised. We have a wedding to plan."

"Well, I don't need to do the big white wedding thing if you don't want to."

"I don't think that is my style."

"Hence why we don't have to do it."

"I pretty much think our guest list should be your family and Philip."

"No Melissa?"

"I wish but I suppose I should invite her."

"Should I have asked Philip for permission to marry you?"

"Asking a 16-year-old kid whether you can marry their auntie?"

"He is the only person you think of as family."

"I know but… that seems a little strange."

"Glad I didn't ask him then."

Rachel thought about what Eddie had said a little more as she snuggled into him. Philip was really the only family that she had that was related by blood. She knew that she already felt a part of Eddie's family and that they were, by law, going to become her family. But something that Eddie said sparked an idea in her.

"Maybe it would have been weird if you had asked him. But I might ask him to give me away. Depending on how we do things." She said.

"I suppose it depends on whether the wedding is going to happen before the baby or after. I don't mind either way. A short engagement or a long one."

"Maybe there will be an element of what the availability is when we agree on a venue." Rachel paused. "I don't know but the thought of… us all being Lawsons together. All having a Christmas of many first next year."

"So do I."

Christmas never used to be a special time of year for Rachel. And no one really blamed her for the reason why she stopped celebrating Christmas and adapted a bad coping technique to deal with it all. Rachel didn't believe in soul mates or the one or fate. But she was certain that fate brought her and Eddie together. Two opposites that made the other one understand what it was like on the other side of the fence. However, Rachel was sure that she was never going to get Eddie hating Christmas and she wouldn't want him to hate Christmas. All she hoped for was that her love of Christmas would grow and grow until a Lawson Christmas was the only way for Christmas to happen.

But Rachel was insanely content on that Christmas of 2009 to know that she did have everything that she wanted at that moment. She had a man that had shown her a proper relationship and loved her unconditional as she loved him unconditional. She was finally given the chance to be the mother that she always wanted to be (and it was weird that she could just feel the life inside her growing and growing stronger with every second that passed).

Never in a million years, when she was on the streets, just about surviving, would she have imagined where she was then. That was probably the best lesson that Rachel had ever learnt. Things change. And for that part of her life, she owed everything to Eddie Lawson.