Hello all, I'm back again with another chapter for you all.

Thank you so much for all the reviews on my previous update, I appreciate them all so much. I know I should probably have more faith in my own abilities but y'know, easier said that done sometimes...

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Chapter Five: Domesticity

Rachel awoke early the next morning, blinking sleepily as the sunlight peeked through a small gap in the curtains. She glanced over at Eddie's sleeping form and a smile stretched across her face. In that moment, an astounding realisation hit her. She was at her happiest in that moment, all because of the man sound asleep beside her. Rachel shuffled out of Eddie's embrace and sat up; a familiar feeling of nausea crept over her as she threw the bedclothes off. She high-tailed it to the bathroom, then emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl. Eventually, Rachel rose from her crouched position, leaning against the sink before reaching for a glass and filling it with water. She drank the contents before replacing the glass and splashing her face with cold water. She loved the fact that she was having Eddie's child but hated the morning sickness, hoping it wouldn't linger for the duration of her pregnancy.

Rachel pulled her purple silk dressing gown off the hook, wrapping it around her otherwise naked body before returning to the bedroom. Eddie stirred as she got back in, "where did you disappear to?" he questioned, still half-asleep.

"Bathroom, morning sickness," Rachel replied.

Eddie sat up in haste, fixing her with a look of concern, "are you OK? Do you need anything?"

Rachel met his gaze and melted upon seeing the look he gave her. For many years after escaping her prostitution hell, she'd avoided getting close to anyone, especially men, for fear of what would happen when she let her defences down. For her, getting together with Eddie was a massive deal, and he understood that, no man had ever given her feelings due consideration before. Eddie was different, for he was always doing just that. "Just a cuddle, please."

Eddie grinned, flopping back against the pillow as he opened up his arms; Rachel shuffled into his embrace and relaxed, a sense of security overwhelming her as Eddie's hold tightened, he'd keep them safe. "Rach," he murmured, breaking the contented silence that had fallen.

"Mmmm?" she replied before stifling a yawn.

"I love you,"

At Eddie's words, Rachel's heart skipped a beat; coming from someone who meant so much to her, those words meant everything. Yesterday evening may have been the first time they'd uttered those words but deep down, Rachel knew that was how he felt when they first got together. Why else would he have chosen her over Melissa when she forced the ultimatum upon him? "I love you too," she responded, beaming with pride.

Eddie smiled before leaning over to press a soft kiss to Rachel's lips; she reciprocated briefly before he pulled back, "breakfast?"

Rachel thought about Eddie's suggestion for a moment, "yeah, why not,"

Eddie kissed her again before pulling back the bedclothes, finding his boxers at the same time. Rachel watched as he retrieved his clothes, pulling on his jeans. Eddie glanced over and smirked, "are you going to get dressed too, or just sit there and tease me?"

Rachel laughed, "which would you prefer?"

"Neither,"

"Come on Eddie, pick one, please,"

"OK," Eddie responded, fastening the buttons on last night's crumpled shirt, "I'd rather you got dressed too. Not too sure I can take your teasing this early."

"Spoilsport,"

Once he'd finished, Eddie approached the bed, sitting down beside Rachel. "You coming down for breakfast, or shall I bring it up?" he questioned, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

Rachel smiled, "I'll come down,"

Eddie grinned, kissing her once more before standing up and heading towards the bedroom door. He turned back, threw Rachel one final smile before leaving to head downstairs.

Once Eddie's footsteps receded, she took a few seconds to gather herself before throwing off the bedclothes and getting up. Moments later, she left the room and headed downstairs.

She padded downstairs and heard Eddie moving about in the kitchen. Their relationship's progression astounded Rachel, they hadn't been together long and here he was, pottering about in her kitchen as if they had been for years. Since that night, Eddie had spent more time at Rachel's than his own place. She joined him in the kitchen and upon entering, Eddie smiled in her direction, "toast OK for you?" he questioned whilst popping a slice of bread into the toaster.

"Toast's fine," Rachel replied, thinking that would be all she'd be able to keep down. She moved towards her man, wrapping her arms around him before kissing the back of his neck, "thank you."

"What for?"

"Taking care of me."

"No thanks necessary, looking after you is my number one priority."

The concept of being in such a stable and happy relationship was new to her, and it was a concept she cherished. Rachel couldn't imagine another man making her so happy. Eddie spun around and faced her, leaning downwards so his forehead rested against hers. At that precise moment, the toast popped out, ruining the intimate moment.

Eddie put the slice of toast on a plate, then passed it along to Rachel, "shall I put another one on?"

Rachel nodded, "aren't you having breakfast?"

"I am, but I wanted you to eat first, you're the one eating for two."

Deep down, Rachel already knew it, but his words confirmed it; Eddie was the perfect man to father her child. "Thank you, again,"

Eddie kissed the top of her head as he moved back towards the toaster, popping another two slices in. For a short period, there was silence until Rachel broke the spell, "did you hear Phillip come home last night?"

Eddie shook his head as the toast popped out once again, "did you?"

Rachel too shook her head, "why do you think I asked you?" she questioned. Eddie shrugged, "I'll go see if he's still in bed."

"What about your slices of toast?"

"You have them, put another one on for me please,"

Eddie obeyed, popping one final slice of bread into the toaster as Rachel took off. Seconds later, she stood outside the bedroom Phillip had occupied these past weeks, listening for any sounds that would suggest he was asleep behind that door. There was nothing, so Rachel knocked, "Phillip, are you awake?"

Still no answer so she pushed open the door and stepped inside. Upon entering, Rachel noted that Phillip's bed was empty, meaning he hadn't come back. Rachel's subconscious straightaway jumped to the worst-case scenario, what had happened? Why hadn't he informed her? In fairness to Phillip, Rachel's mind was elsewhere the previous evening. He may well have shot off a text, she hadn't checked her phone.

Rachel left Phillip's bedroom and careered downstairs to retrieve her phone from the sideboard. As she picked it up, she breathed a sigh of relief upon noting her one unread message from Phillip. Hey Rach, I'm staying at Bolton's tonight, hope you don't mind. Figured you and Eddie needed some space too, see you soon.

With her mind now at rest over Phillip's whereabouts, Rachel re-joined Eddie in the kitchen and sat down. "He stayed at Bolton's last night,"

The toaster spat out Rachel's second slice, which Eddie passed over before returning to his own. "He sent a message then, I take it,"

Rachel nodded as she watched slather his slice of toast in butter. "Only just seen it because I think it's fair to say I was a bit… preoccupied last night,"

Eddie glanced up at Rachel, mirroring the smirk present upon her face before biting into his toast.

"I need to do the food shop later Eddie, you don't fancy coming with me, do you?"

Rachel hated food shopping, it was such a chore, and she hoped with Eddie accompanying her, it would be more bearable. He approached from behind as she washed up their breakfast things, "course I will, if it means I get to spend more time with you."

Rachel giggled as Eddie took the tea towel from her, then pressed his lips against her neck, "sure, that's exactly what it means. I hope you intend on washing and changing your clothes before we go though."

"Course I am," Eddie replied, bristling with indignation.

Rachel turned in time to see the mock hurt expression cross his face; the smile told Eddie she was only teasing. "You can use my shower if you like. I'd be more than happy to keep you company," she murmured with a seductive intonation.

Upon hearing the obvious insinuation, Eddie's eyes widened. "Hmmmm," he replied, pulling a face as he pondered Rachel's suggestion, "how can I refuse?"

Rachel grinned, then glanced up at Eddie; she placed a hand against his arm before leaning upwards to capture his lips in a kiss. "I don't think you're meant to refuse,"

With that, she grabbed his hand and together, they left the kitchen and headed up to Rachel's en-suite, leaving the plates to drip dry beside the sink.

Eddie and Rachel emerged from the en-suite after their intimate shower. She smiled upon spotting Eddie's holdall, which laid open at the foot of her wardrobe; only then did it dawn on her how natural this whole situation felt. She'd missed waking up beside Eddie the previous morning when he was away in Manchester. Before they got together, it had just been herself and Phillip in this house. As much as she loved her nephew, she had no desire to go back, "Eddie,"

"Rachel," Eddie responded as he bent down to pick some jeans, a t-shirt and boxers out of his holdall.

"Can I ask your opinion about something?"

"Course, fire away,"

"I was wondering… how would you feel about moving in together?"

Eddie glanced up at Rachel as he struggled to suppress a smile, "is this hypothetical, or are you asking?"

"I'm asking if you'd like to move in with Phillip and I,"

This time, no amount of suppression stopped Eddie's rising grin, and he rose and faced Rachel. "I'd love to Rach," he declared, dropping his clothes to the bed before taking her face in his hands and pressing a passionate kiss to her lips. He pulled back and gazed into her eyes, "you realise that with me moving in here, we should tell the staff about us."

Again, Rachel nodded, "I know, we're all professionals and if they can't deal with it, that's their problem. Seems a small sacrifice to pay for being able to live with you."

"Won't you get sick of the sight of me?"

"If I thought that would ever happen, I'd never have asked you to move in," Rachel said, pausing briefly before continuing, "we should tell Phillip too."

Eddie nodded before pressing a kiss to her forehead, "we'll talk to him when he's back, when do you want me to move in?"

"Whenever you want,"

"Tomorrow then,"

"Perfect," Rachel said before kissing him once more. She pulled back as a thought occurred to her, "we should tell him about my pregnancy as well."

Eddie nodded in agreement, "it'll be for the best,"

Rachel hummed an acknowledgement before turning towards her wardrobe as she began to get dressed. That process took longer than she'd have liked because Eddie couldn't keep his hands off her. Eventually, she gave up. "Right, I shall go get dressed in there" she said, removing Eddie's arms from around her as she pointed towards the en-suite. "I'd like to get the food shop done and dusted today," she added before flouncing off.

Eddie listened for the closing and locking of the door before uttering a single word, "spoilsport."

He didn't care, he still loved her.

Feel free to drop me a review, I absolutely love reading them and they motivate me so much.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and (just in case I don't get another chapter up before the New Year) a Happy New Year. They'll definitely be more of this to come in 2020, watch this space ;)

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