I cannot lie, wasn't expecting to be back here quite so soon with another chapter.

Once again, thank you so much for all the reviews, I'm overwhelmed by the response this fic is getting.

Now, a couple of you seem to think that things aren't what they should be between Eddie, Melissa and Charlotte. Shall we go and find out? Then afterwards, you can all do your worst...

Enjoy!

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Chapter Twenty: History Repeating?

"Rachel, answer me this," Eddie demanded as he burst into the office, not realising she had company, "sorry, didn't realise you were busy."

He glanced towards her company. Steph smirked at the unexpected intrusion and rose from her seat, "I'll leave you and Mr Lawson to it, we'll pick this up later," she insisted.

Rachel wanted to protest, but before she could, Steph took her leave, closing the door behind her. The atmosphere changed in an instant; Rachel and Eddie were alone for the first time since the breakup. Neither knew where to put themselves. Rachel recovered first as she watched Eddie move further into the office. She raised her eyebrows, "if you've something to say, Eddie, say it. I'd like to get home before the sun goes down, it's been a long day."

Eddie stuffed his hands into his pockets and shuffled from one foot to the other. Rachel didn't appreciate the air of teenage angst his demeanour exuded. He was a fully grown adult. She didn't understand it. Was this all because of the breakup?

"Rachel Mason finishing work early, there's a first," Eddie responded.

The sarcastic intonation in Eddie's voice got Rachel fired up, "what's that supposed to mean?"

"It means, Rach, you're a workaholic."

Even though Eddie was right, Rachel focussed on another aspect of his statement, "please don't call me that. You lost that right the moment we broke up."

Eddie sighed. This conversation suggested that working together after the breakup would prove to be more problematic than expected. "Is this what's become of us?"

Rachel ignored him. "It's a reasonable request, do it. And be grateful I didn't argue your point about being a workaholic."

"Nice, not denying it."

"I've been that way my entire career. Eddie, you accepted that when we got together, why are you now using it as a stick to beat me with? The job's always been rewarding and fulfilling, unlike most relationships."

Rachel's words stung, "and our relationship was neither of those things?"

She only realised how her previous statement must have sounded after Eddie uttered his response. So, she fell silent, not wanting to give him the wrong impression with her reply. "Our relationship was the exception, hence 'most relationships'. I don't want you to assume I wasn't happy with you, Eddie. I was… happier than I'd ever been."

"Then why end it?"

Rachel shook her head in disbelief, "we've been through this. For Charlotte. She deserves to be part of a loving family. Not a dysfunctional one where her Dad's dating her Aunt. Imagine the comments."

"I don't care what people think," Eddie said, firing up.

A sad smile crossed Rachel's face, "but I do." She paused. "Charlotte deserves the upbringing I never had and if giving you up guarantees that…"

Rachel left the sentence hanging, hoping Eddie would fill the gaps. She didn't want to finish the sentence. Didn't want to say out loud that choosing Charlotte on his behalf was for the best.

"I'm not here to discuss our spilt."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Really? What did you want to ask then?" Rachel questioned.

"I wanted to know why you never questioned why I was at Melissa's when she went into labour."

If Rachel had any preconceptions regarding what Eddie had wanted, his words superseded them. She hadn't expected that. "Why now? It's been four weeks, give or take."

"Didn't deem it appropriate to have this conversation over the phone. Wasn't sure you'd appreciate me turning up on your doorstep."

Rachel wondered why Eddie reckoned doing this now was better than doing it before school started back up again. "I didn't ask because Charlotte's birth took priority, she took me by surprise being however many weeks early." She paused, once again shoving down the guilt that sprung up from not knowing when Melissa had been due. "Why were you there?"

Eddie had played this conversation over so many times since the breakup. However, being with Rachel and having to answer the question was more difficult than expected. "Remember the conversation we had in the park that afternoon?" Eddie started. Rachel nodded but didn't interrupt, thus allowing him to continue. "When you said you'd think about reaching out to Melissa, I knew then that you wouldn't feel able to go through with it, which I understood. I went to see Melissa and persuade her to reach out to you. Should've known it was a bad idea as soon as the conversation started. She said some awful things about you, then got annoyed when I defended you. Her waters broke as I tried to leave, and I stayed to support her, nothing more."

A plethora of mixed emotions swirled within Rachel as she made sense of Eddie's admission. It shouldn't have surprised her, but it did, and she couldn't work out why. "It doesn't matter now anyway," she said upon regaining her composure. "Whilst I doubt I'll ever forgive Melissa for what she did, I have to put it to one side and move forward. Charlotte is the priority now."

"That's ridiculous, you're letting her get away with it."

"I'm not letting her do anything, I'm simply choosing to forget about her part in what happened and move on."

"Does that extend to our baby too?" Eddie questioned, "I guess now there is no 'us', our baby is another reminder you don't want."

The force with which Eddie slammed the office door shut upon storming out gave Rachel some idea of the fury pounding through him. Their relationship, working or otherwise, was far from satisfactory, that's what unsettled Rachel. How could she make things better now?

"Rachel promised to buy the first round, where is she?" Kim questioned upon joining Eddie at the bar.

"No idea, I'm not her keeper," Eddie snapped, taking Kim by surprise.

Kim sensed all was not well with the two senior members of the management team but vowed not to interfere. She and Eddie had got off on the wrong foot upon her return and never recovered from that. They were at a stalemate. However, her relationship with Rachel was poles apart. They'd forged an understanding that had grown into a friendship. Kim had listened as Rachel spoke about Melissa crashing back into her life, the miscarriage and Charlotte's birth. She'd offered her opinion when asked but remained unsure if Rachel was offloading because she needed help or wanted a friendly ear. Kim suspected the latter. Rachel wasn't someone who'd readily ask for help. "I'm taking it things still aren't great between you two?"

"Worse."

"Eddie, we've never seen eye-to-eye or even got on that great. Despite that, we have common ground in wanting what's best for Rachel. If I can help in any way…"

"Thanks, Kim," Eddie replied, "Tom's said as much himself. I'm still trying to get my head around it all, to be honest. Look, I'm sorry for snapping, I'll pay if Rachel doesn't show."

Kim nodded in acceptance, "the offer's there."

Eddie nodded as the barman approached to take his order. He ordered for the table, setting up a tab he hoped not to have to pay off.

Once all the staff had their drinks, they spilt into their various cliques, leaving Eddie on his lonesome. Tom swerved the drinks, opting to have a night in with the nappies to give Chlo and Donte a break. Reb entered the pub and made an immediate beeline for Eddie upon seeing him alone. "Sorry, Reb," he apologised, "wasn't sure what you drunk so didn't order for you."

Reb waved him away, "it's fine, I'll just order. I need a drink."

A slight smile crossed Eddie's face as Reb walked away. She returned a few minutes later, carrying a glass of what looked like red wine. The similarities between her and Rachel regarding their poison startled Eddie. However, it was a thought he soon banished from his mind. After how their conversation had transpired earlier, he didn't wish to dwell upon how badly his relationship with Rachel had deteriorated. Reb broke the silence, "tell me to sod off if you like, just thought you might like some company."

"You're fine, company would be good."

"What is up? You're brooding."

Eddie did not immediately answer Reb's question as he wondered whether opening up was a good idea. He wondered whether Rachel had done similar with Kim, resulting in her earlier words of support. "I can talk to you, can't I?" he questioned, "I mean, you won't go sharing anything I say from here with the rest of the staff?"

"Course. I don't betray a confidence, if it's not something to share, I'll keep schtum," Reb replied before miming zipping her lips.

"What's your understanding of mine and Rachel's history?"

"All I know is what you said during the briefing and Steph's summation at break."

Eddie rolled his eyes, "I can imagine her version."

Eddie told Reb their story. Leaving out nothing as he filled her in. Matt interrupted as Eddie explained how Rachel came to miscarry their child. "I'm interrupting something cosy here," he noted, "Reb, you're first up on the karaoke."

"Oh great, didn't want to hear that," she muttered as Matt wandered towards the stage to pick her song.

She shot up from her seat, returning to the table with two shots. "Erm, why the shots?" Eddie queried.

Reb didn't answer until she'd downed them both, one after the other. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure."

"I haven't sung in public since I was sixteen."

"Oh, Steph and Matt's tradition will fall flat then."

"Eh?"

"They've traditionally called up the new recruits first on the karaoke for the last couple of years, it's their way of making themselves sound better."

"What did you sing when you were the newbie?"

"I escaped. Matt spent most of his first day of term stuck on a runway."

Reb laughed out loud, "I assure you, they've got one Hell of a shock coming." She paused. "This conversation isn't over, we will pick this up again once I've shaken them off."

Eddie nodded, taking a sip from his pint glass as Reb rose from her seat. Matt soon introduced her, and the opening bars of Patsy Cline's Crazy sounded through the speakers. By the end, Steph and Matt conceded defeat. A newbie who could sing, at last. "Another slot later, Reb? Promise you can choose your song this time."

"Nah, you're alright," Reb replied, brushing him off before returning to Eddie.

"I can't remember the last time I saw Steph lost for words, I'll savour that," he complimented her.

Reb flushed, "now, where were we before Matt interrupted?" she questioned, picking up their previous conversation where they'd left off.

"The miscarriage," Eddie replied. Reb listened as he continued to fill her in, bringing it to a close with the birth of baby Charlotte. "She was full-term, not early as Melissa claimed when her waters broke."

"Meaning what?"

"Meaning, I don't think she's my daughter."

At that moment, Rachel walked in. She glanced around as if searching for someone. As her gaze settled upon him, her stomach lurched as she noted how close he and Reb were. Heads close together as if sharing an intimate moment. If only Rachel knew. Steph saw her hover in the doorway before turning to walk straight back out. As soon as she'd gone, Steph leapt into action, sweeping across the pub to strike Eddie across the shoulder. "Hope you're both pleased with yourselves," she snapped.

Both parties were indignant, "what have we done?" Eddie questioned whilst holding onto his shoulder.

"Rachel was here, she saw you two and walked straight back out."

"She's got the wrong end of the stick, we were just talking," Reb said.

"Rachel didn't see it that way, nor did I."

"You see what you want to see, Steph," Eddie said.

"I hope you know what you're doing, disregarding her feelings like that," Steph replied before returning to the table she shared with Matt and Grantly.

Silence fell. "Do you reckon everyone thinks that?" Reb questioned, casting a wary gaze over her colleagues.

"Ignore her Reb, she won't remember she said half of that in the morning."

"And if she does?"

"Let her draw her own conclusions, we know the truth."

Reb breathed a sigh of relief, reassured by his words, "you need to do something about your suspicions, Eddie."

"Not sure what I can do."

"Talk to Melissa and if she's still evasive, then tell her you want a paternity test. Then, you'll know for certain whether Charlotte is your daughter and whether all this could was avoidable."

Reb's words stirred something within Eddie, "I'll think about it."

Satisfied with the answer given, Reb nodded, thus bringing the conversation to a close.

"Perhaps we should think about calling it a night," Reb muttered to Eddie hours later.

The two of them were the last ones standing, Grantly and Matt had taken their leave an hour beforehand, wanting to ensure Steph got home in one piece. Kim and Jasmine bailed an hour after arriving. "Must we?" Eddie questioned.

Reb nodded, he'd had too much to drink, and she wanted to ensure he got home safe, "we can share a cab home, where are you in relation to me?"

"Bunking down in the spare room at my ex-wife's, gave my flat up when I moved in with Rachel, so that's a no-go.

"And I'm guessing you don't want her to see you like this?"

"Or Michael."

"Michael?"

"My son," Eddie elaborated.

Reb fell silent, giving Eddie's arrangements for that night some thought, "I've got a spare room, you can stop there for the night if you like."

"I don't want to put you to any bother."

"It's no bother, I'll just have to throw some bedding on, but that won't take long."

"Thanks," Eddie said, throwing a grateful smile in Reb's direction, "can I tell you something, Reb?"

"What?"

"You've got beautiful eyes."

"Eddie." She paused. "Don't even go there."

"Why not?" Eddie questioned as he inched closer.

Reb tried to wriggle away, but it came too late, he'd already made a move…

I think I'll go hide a bulletproof bunker to hide in until I'm ready to post the next chapter...

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