Hello guys, here I am again!

Now, I'll be honest, I had intended on delivering this chapter yesterday but I had a massive crisis of confidence with it because it wasn't coming together how I'd intended. So, instead of sorting it, I sulked!

Also, you almost didn't get this chapter in its entirety. I almost edited out the smut that follows the first scene but left it in because a) I don't see why I should have to censor my own work and b) I'm quite proud of it, not gonna lie.

So, prior warning, this chapter does contain sexual content so if that's not your thing, then skip over it, I won't be offended.

Finally, this chapter is dedicated to my greatest cheerleaders, you both know who you are. Again, thank you for listening to my frustrated ramblings yesterday!

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Chapter Four: All The Good Things

A few moments of silence elapsed as Eddie digested Rachel's news. Everything made sense now she'd said the words; the mood swings, the cranberry juice that evening, leaving her coffee the previous day. Joyce enquired about Rachel's well-being the previous lunch-time before mentioning she hadn't touched her coffee that morning. Eddie berated himself for not noticing the signs, Alison had been pregnant too, he should have realised.

The relief etched into Eddie's face became clear to Rachel as she noted his features no longer showed any hallmarks of concern, worry and anxiety. Instead, she found a mixture of shock, excitement and affection, filling her with hope. "Say something, Eddie," she prompted.

With Rachel's announcement still ringing in his ears, Eddie couldn't string a sentence together. For the time being, he hoped she'd glean enough from his expression to alleviate any curiosity. Her news came as a surprise to him too because like Rachel, he thought they'd been careful; however, he was no fool, they'd definitely slipped up once for the pregnancy to occur. After getting together with Melissa on the rebound from Rachel's rejection, Eddie believe his chance had gone. Now, as she sat there, telling him she was having his baby, he realised nothing would ever make him so happy again. "You're sure? I mean, you've done the test?"

Eddie cringed at his idiocy, feeling stupid for even asking the question. Rachel nodded, "this morning," she replied, "I had suspected since the start of the week though."

"Why didn't you mention it?"

Rachel shrugged, "I didn't want to say anything until I'd done a test. Plus, I wasn't how you'd react, I mean, it's only been six weeks, isn't it too soon?"

Eddie's forehead rested against Rachel's, his lips hovering so close to hers in a moment that seemed like another next step in their relationship. He hooked a finger underneath her chin, tilting her head upwards before planting a kiss upon her lips. Perhaps the most tender kiss he'd given her to date. The kiss took Rachel's breath away, as Eddie noted upon pulling back. He scrutinised her as she inhaled a huge gulp of oxygen, noting the emotional tears gathering on her bottom eyelids. Eddie wiped them away before resting a comforting hand upon her cheek as he spoke. "Maybe it is too soon, maybe it isn't, we have no way of knowing. Whatever you decide, I'll support you wholeheartedly; I don't want you doubting how much I love you, or how much I'll love our child. Yes, we've only been together six weeks, I realise that, and my only regret is that we didn't get together sooner. All that matters now is that we are together, and I promise, I'm not leaving you… or our baby."

Tears re-appeared in Rachel's eyes as Eddie finished speaking; once again, he wiped the residue away before manoeuvring a hand between their bodies, allowing it to rest upon her stomach. She realised it long before they even got together but he'd amplified it in the last few minutes. To Rachel, Eddie Lawson was the most extraordinary man. No-one had shown her respect to the degree he did every day. Most men she'd become involved with ran a mile at the slightest sign that the relationship was getting serious. Eddie was different, and she loved that, she loved that her pregnancy news delighted him as much as her. They came so close to being separated forever when she'd gotten injured in the fire and a great number of things had happened since, preventing the inevitable. The issues didn't need listing, they knew where they'd gone wrong. With their past misdemeanours behind them, Eddie would ensure nothing came between them again. "Thank you," Rachel murmured.

"What for?"

A smile rose upon Rachel's face as he planted a kiss to her forehead, "for just being you. Every word I said earlier, I meant, I love you… so much, and I can't wait to welcome our baby too."

Reciprocation wasn't necessary, she knew it, and felt it more keenly that evening than ever before. "Neither can I Rach," he replied, pulling her closer.

Rachel took a huge, steadying breath as she rested her head against Eddie's chest, listening to the soft thumping of his heartbeat. A heart that belonged to her. Eddie's arms tightened as he pressed the occasional kiss to the top of Rachel's head. For several moments, silence enveloped them before Eddie switched the television off. Rachel frowned as he made a move to rise, "where are you going?"

Eddie grinned, "I'm not going anywhere, we are. I'd like to take the mother of my unborn child to bed."

A soft smile lit up Rachel's face, "lead the way, you know where it is."

As Rachel rose from the sofa, Eddie entwined their fingers before leading her out of the lounge and towards the stairs, switching lights off as they went.

The speed with which Eddie pinned Rachel against the wall upon reaching her bedroom took her by surprise. He realised this and gave her a few moments to catch her breath. In those moments, Eddie's gaze alternated between eyes and lips; Rachel soon caught him off-guard with a kiss. A gentle nip to Eddie's bottom lip pried them open. She gasped as her tongue crossed the threshold, meeting his following suit. Her fingers became fisted in his hair once her arms wound around his neck. Eddie gasped in an audible reaction to the pressure she exerted.

Before too long, Rachel pulled away, holding Eddie close as she took some much-needed air into her lungs. Before taking things up a level, she drew Eddie further into the room. Her fingers trailed over his shoulders, stopping to grasp the shirt collar. It was at times like this that Rachel appreciated the casual way with which he fastened his shirt. Fewer buttons to undo in the throes of passion. Rachel unfastened each button with a quickness Eddie didn't expect before casting aside the cotton garment. Then, Rachel's lips settled against his jaw-line, pressing soft, teasing kisses to it before moving over his neck and collar-bone. A groan rose in Eddie's throat as he tilted his head to accommodate Rachel's movements before deciding to exercise a modicum of control over the situation.

He tilted her head upwards, meeting her gaze before closing the gap and instigating another passionate kiss. Rachel gasped into it as Eddie upped the ante, swallowing every sound as his hands cradled her waist. His fingers brushed against the hem of her t-shirt, inching it upwards; in doing so, they also stroked over her stomach. Tears of happiness gathered in Rachel's eyes; his sentimental caress told her more about his feelings that words ever could. Another gasp left her as she fought valiantly to keep a stranglehold on her emotions. At that moment, Eddie broke away, frowning upon seeing her tears. "Are you OK?" he questioned.

Rachel smiled at his expression of concern before delivering an assurance, "more than."

"We don't have to do this…"

Rachel nodded in acknowledgement, "I want this, and you."

Eddie grinned back before picking up where he'd left off. Her t-shirt landed atop Eddie's and Rachel, sensing an opportunity, made the next move. With their lips once again entangled, she made a grab for his jeans, unfastening the button and lowering the zip. Again, Eddie pulled back, finishing the job Rachel started in removing the garment. His next move was imminent

Eddie's next move saw him sweep Rachel off her feet, guiding her long legs around his waist. With their foreheads pressed together and her laughter ringing in his ears, the couple soon fell onto the bed. Rachel's giggles soon ceased, being replaced by heavy breathing as Eddie's fingers brushed over the waistband of her jeans. A mirror image of Rachel's own movements beforehand. With her jeans soon clear, they dived beneath the bedclothes, continuing things from there.

The look Eddie gave Rachel smouldered, resulting in a hitch to her breath. Only now did Rachel understand how Eddie could see past her various imperfections and love her in the way he did. He didn't care about her past, his only interest was their present and future. Starting with her lips, Eddie kissed her then moved south, following a similar path to Rachel earlier, caressing neck and collar-bone before reaching her chest. The physical reminder of the fire that so nearly took Rachel's life remained. Eddie descended beneath the bedclothes, thus bypassing the scar. His lips met her stomach, hoping to project a kiss to their unborn child. Butterflies fluttered in Rachel's tummy at Eddie's contact, euphoria surged through her body as the enormity of the situation hit home. At that moment, her expression was alight with happiness; happiness that he hadn't flipped out over the unexpected pregnancy and his steadfast presence remained.

Rachel's thoughts soon returned to the present as Eddie shifted upwards, his lips returning to her upper body. They brushed over the edge of her scar, pressing feather-light kisses to its perimeter. Rachel's breaths came out in gasps as he refused to avoid her biggest insecurity. This scar was the main reason they hadn't ended up together at the start of term, after she returned; Rachel viewed it as a mark of imperfection, something to be ashamed of but to Eddie, it was part of who she was. It was the price she paid for trying to save a life, her blackmailer's no less. Rachel Mason refused to leave anyone behind; Eddie loved that about her but it also drove him mad. However, he embraced it, knowing she wouldn't change, he didn't want her to.

Eddie's lips soon met Rachel's, her back arching against him as they kissed, allowing him the freedom to reach underneath and unfasten her bra. Once more, Eddie descended beneath the covers, hooking his fingers into her lace undies before shifting to remove them. His fingers, then his lips brushed over Rachel's inner thigh, causing her to release a gasp, almost inaudible to him because of the bedclothes. The sound brought Eddie to his senses, making him realise she was getting impatient at the lack of progress in their physical encounter. She needed him, just like he needed her.

At last, Eddie made a move, his fingers stretching out over the bundle of nerves between her thighs. His touch was light, but still sent Rachel's arousal sky-rocketing and Eddie wished he could see her face contort with pleasure whilst touching her. Overwhelmed by that sense of desperation, he shifted upwards, leaving his fingers to do the work.

The fast movement of Eddie's fingers between her thighs took Rachel by surprise; however, she welcomed the change-up. One minutes they stroked over her entrance, the next, two fingers curved inside her and his thumb circled her clit. Eddie's earlier desire paid dividends, her face contorted in pleasure while the groan that followed left little doubt to her state of arousal. There was a familiar to Eddie's movements as they fastened. Rachel's hands reached for him, fingers fisting in his hair. He kissed her yet again, upping the ante with it and extracting a whimper from his consenting partner. All too soon though, Rachel's own desire won out. Breaking away once more, she pleaded, "Eddie, please."

Eddie was the only person permitted a glimpse at Rachel's true vulnerability. That included showing weakness in begging for things. She'd only ever begged him for two things; a retraction of his resignation and now, her release, and his as well. Eddie nodded before pressing a soft kiss to her puckered lips. He soon removed his boxers, losing them somewhere in the confines of the bedclothes. Without further preamble, Eddie manoeuvred into position above Rachel, paralysing her with a gaze so full of love and lust as he made the initial, shallow penetrative movement.

Eddie's lips crashed down onto Rachel's, swallowing her groan of pleasure. She responded, her reciprocation fierce as she poured all the passion she felt for him into that kiss. For several moments, Eddie remained motionless, giving Rachel time to acclimatise to the sensation. "Are you OK?" he murmured in an undertone upon pulling back.

Rachel beamed, "I'm more than fine."

Eddie grinned and soon leant down to kiss her again; Rachel's arms hung loosely over his shoulders and her legs fastened around his waist, urging him on. A gasp emanated from her lips as Eddie moved within her. After a slow start, Rachel's fingernails became embedded in his back as she began her pleading. Eddie complied, upping the pace, sensing that she needed the release. His lips left hers and Rachel moaned out loud, immediately missing the contact. Eddie seemed to realise this as he soon placated her by pressing his lips to the erogenous zone in her neck. At the contact, Rachel groaned, his lips warm as they trailed over her beautiful body once more. All the while, Eddie carried on his movements into her compliant lower body as Rachel met each one and they worked the other towards a climax. Rachel's body arched against him, his movements more urgent as he coaxed a climax from her. Her legs tightened around his waist and Rachel's release was upon her before she even realised it, "oh God, Eddie," she moaned into his ear, succumbing to the elation.

Rachel's womanhood clenched around his erection and her hips bucked against him, unable to control her body's reaction to the intense orgasm Eddie gave her. His movements slowed and eventually came to a stop, he withdrew and propped himself up to gaze over Rachel. "I missed you last night," she murmured into the silence.

Eddie smiled, "are you suggesting I take up a lot of space in this bed?"

Rachel laughed, digging a fist into his ribs, "I never said that. I just meant, we've come home together almost every day for the last however long, it didn't seem right leaving you behind yesterday."

"Are we getting soft?"

Again, Rachel laughed, before shaking her head, "I'm just not used to being treated with this much respect in any relationship."

"Better get used to it Rach, because you deserve all the good things, and I want to be the one to give them to you."

Rachel smiled before pressing a kiss to his lips, "God, I love you Eddie,"

Eddie reciprocated, "I love you too, Rach."

With their conversation now at an end, Rachel settled and soon drifted off, leaving Eddie awake with his thoughts. For a while after Rachel dozed, he watched her sleep; so beautiful, so peaceful, how lucky was he? As he replayed her pregnancy announcement in his mind, a smile creased his face; he couldn't wait for the little one's arrival. Rachel, Eddie and Baby Lawson, the perfect family; with that thought at the forefront of his mind, Eddie soon joined Rachel in slumber land.

If you've made it to the end, thanks for reading and feel free to drop me some reviews, they motivate me :D

As with the last chapter, can't guarantee when I'll have the next one ready. With Christmas round the corner, work's going to be busy so not sure how much time I'll have to gear towards writing. Will do all I can to get it to you in time for Christmas though.

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