A/N: It's been a little while and I am sorry ...

Thank you for reading and a huge thank you to RachelMasonFan39, fayeftvanity, LittleH12, hannah5240, Mrs Carmichael and wrprincess for the reviews and your patience.

Please enjoy.

Burning under your control

Chapter twenty-one

Controlling someone is having the ability to influence and dominate a vulnerable human being.

Sickened.

Silence beckoned all three of them for two long minutes. Flashbacks taunting her, bringing her back to that fatal day; tearing her apart piece by piece, ripping her soul day by day. The smell of his lingering aftershave, the sound of his torturous laugh and finally, the gasping of his last breaths as he begged for her help.

'What do you mean Phil?', Eddie asked. Although trying his best attempts to keep calm, there was still a strain of panic to his voice, and he noticed her hands starting to shake. He quickly grabbed hold of her nearest hand and Philip supposed it was for reassurance that he were there.

'No- .. nothing .. I .. I'll see you in the morning', Philip stumbled whilst he backed away from them. Finding the way to the frame of the door, he halted and opened his mouth ready to apologise, however realising the damage had already been done, he thought otherwise and scattered to the direction of the stairs. Realising that he hadn't been ready for that yet, he sought solitude. He knew she and Eddie would want answers, but he'd also figured that her patience would give him that time.

Her inability to sleep that night worried Eddie tremendously and although he felt sick himself, he had to put her first. The thought of old wounds reopening themselves and threatening their relationship, well, he hated the thought. As selfish as it may have been, he'd finally cracked her, and he sure as hell wouldn't be letting go.

Lightly running his fingertips up and down her arm, he half expected her to pull away, but to his relief she did not. Holding up her guard had always been an instant defense and he desperately hoped she wouldn't shut him off and barricade herself away under the control of her fears.

'I need to take Philip alone today .. to the grave', she hesitated on her words. He looked angered, and she awaited his argument.

'Rach, I don't think-', he protested. In true nature, she sat up sharply and authoritatively instructed him.

'Eddie, I need to understand.'

Death. We can neither escape nor prepare for it. It engulfs you, taunts you, and then leaves you broken. Stuart and she had never been friends or anything more, but his death would forever haunt her. The blame would forever lie with her, and there was no escaping that.

Rain had been forecasted, and yet there hadn't been a drop in sight. The air had a bite, but the sun had made an unexpected appearance. Slowly peaking through the cloudiness, she felt warmth hit her skin. The birds lightly chirped as they found comfort in the many trees surrounding them.

Taking a lingering glance over to Philip, she worried that his silence would perish them both into unknown waters. She took a moment to focus back onto Stuart's grave. Detail had been very sparse and only two sets of flowers had been laid - hers being one - which she half expected being the man he was. She had decided against telling Eddie of her plans to lay flowers in fear that he'd become even more angry. She understood that his fear had been for her safety, but this was her chance of closure, and he wouldn't possibly understand. The silence between them both became a little awkward. She wondered how she could break the ice, but it soon became apparent that Philip had more to say than she thought.

'I hope it was painful', Philip spoke quietly. She grew confused at his comment and although she had still been none the wiser, his words had lashed with anger.

'His death.' She acknowledged his anger once more and took the moment to place a hand on his arm to comfort him.

'Phil-', she began but halted as he interrupted.

'No, Rach. You don't get it. He was bad .. really bad.' There was a hint of desperation to his voice and she secretly begged for him to tell her everything. The suspense had been killing her. She turned her body to face his, giving him her full attention and away from Stuart.

'Then tell me, love.'

'I can't, Rach', he muttered as he looked away from her. His body became stiff, and he wished he hadn't of said anything. He heard Rachel omit a small sigh, and he felt instantly guilty. Unsure of the relationship between his aunt and Stuart, he realised that she must have had something to tell him as well.

Silence welcomed them once more, and she cleared her throat awkwardly. To stop the small talk, Philip interjected before she could begin.

'Mum, she knew him.'

Rachel almost fell to her knees in disbelief. Her fears had been confirmed, and she felt sick to her stomach. Words escaped her, and she couldn't bring her eyes to Philip. Her body screamed at her to flee, and to escape this nightmare, but this was her nephew. Her nephew, who'd been placed in her care. Her responsibility.

'Her and Stuart-', Philip stopped suddenly to check that she was okay. He'd noticed her change in body language and her sudden loss of voice; she became closed and silent. Glancing over to her for a few seconds, he awaited her confirmation to continue.

'They were together.'

'Oh my God ..', Rachel whispered. Droplets of sweat accumulated on her forehead and she felt the inability to breathe creeping up on her.

'Things got bad, he started drinking ..', Philip pulled at his jumper to free himself from the suffocating feeling. The thought of Stuart gave him nightmares.

'Started lashing out -', he continued. His eyes drifted away from his aunt's and he hoped that she would protect him from Stuart - even if he had been lying 6 foot under.

'Your mum?', Rachel questioned. A lump formed in her throat and she struggled to digest the information presented to her.

'Me.'

'Oh Philip!', Rachel gasped in horror. Bile rose to her throat, and she had to use everything in her power to stop herself from crashing in front of him. He needed her more than ever, and she had to put aside her own fears to save him from the same darkness.

'I hate him Rach .. I hate him', he spoke between the sobs that admitted from him. His body shook, and naturally she became his protector. Grabbing hold of him, she let him cry out the pain and anger that he had been conserving. Stuart hadn't only killed her, but he'd taken the life of her nephew and somehow he had the power to control them from his grave.