Hi everyone, thank you so much to Mrs Carmichael, faeftvanity, FaeMelody and RachelMasonFan39 for the reviews. They all made me smile.

This chapter is a fairly short one, but it is kind of a filler chapter for the next one - please enjoy :) x

Reluctantly, the pair broke apart from their long needed embrace. It seemed that reality couldn't be avoided forever. Eddie glanced at the digital clock slightly - 19:42. Six hours since Melissa's death was brought to his attention. Five hours since he was reunited with Rachel. To Eddie, this day had felt like a week; a whirlwind of varied events had occurred. The occurrences of recent hours were not something he was prepared for, or at all expecting for that matter. Eddie's emotions throughout the day had been at an all time high, he genuinely didn't know what to feel. Today brought him a daughter, his own beautiful little girl. On top of that, the reconciliation with his one true love. Eddie had been presented with something that could fulfil his happiness. Equally though, the mother of his child was dead. Rachel's sister. It was unbelievably difficult to witness Rachel slowly falling apart bit by bit, today had broken her - no doubt she was feeling utterly overwhelmed by the circumstances that had unfolded.

"Eddie."

Rachel's soft voice immediately removed Eddie from his ever growing trance. His thoughts were so prominent, that Eddie hadn't even recognised the thick silence surrounding them.

His head was lifted as a way of response, Eddie gathered this gesture would clarify his want to listen to whatever Rachel had to say.

"I can't thank you enough… for everything you've done today. Eddie, you didn't give up on me, and that's something I will be forever grateful for. I pushed you away when I needed you most, I recognise now, that these last few hours wouldn't have been possible without you."

Eddie wasn't a crier. Only twice in his life did salty residue escape his lids: his mother's death, and the day he and Rachel parted. So to say crying wasn't something Eddie was accustomed to, would be a perfect explanation. This might've been why the man wasn't necessarily prepared for the liquid that seeped down his cheeks in turn for Rachel's words. Every second, every hour of sorrow he had endured that day, came down to this.

Briefly, Rachel's own eyes filled up at the sight of Eddie's upset. No, he had been strong for her, it was her turn now. Rachel decided in that moment, that she must put right all the wrongs: comfort Eddie, care for him. Just like he had done countless times for her.

Acting on instinct, Rachel slowly brought her hand up to the man's face to gently wipe away any evidence of tears. In turn Eddie shut his eyes and mentally stored this moment, not wanting it to disappear unexpectedly.

"Don't cry darling."

Darling.

This hit Eddie like a tonne of bricks. For months, he had associated that one word with their breakup, his cruel departure. Not once did Eddie believe he would hear Rachel mutter 'darling' again. In fact, in the depths of self doubt, Eddie had imagined Rachel with another man, living another life. A life separate from the one they had built up so very well together.

"Come back to the hospital with me, to see Isabelle again."

Eddie spoke hushly, covering Rachel's hand with his own.

"Isabelle?" she queried, although already aware of what he meant.

"That's what I've decided to call the baby. For a while, I sat and thought about it… when I saw her though, that name just sprung to mind."

"It's beautiful Eddie, just like her."

"I thought it would be nice to give her a middle name too. What do you think?"

"I think that's a lovely idea," Rachel smiled in reassurance, turning her hand over to allow herself to squeeze his, "have you thought of one already… a middle name I mean?"

Eddie glanced down instantly, unsure of whether to voice his thoughts. A middle name for his daughter was something Eddie had only considered in recent hours. But he didn't want it to be any old name, it had to symbolise something, someone. Eddie longed for it to be special, he wanted his daughter to hold her name with pride. A silence had elapsed, which was when Eddie raised his gaze once more to meet Rachel's. The second his stare was welcomed by her facial expression, Eddie knew his initial ideas had to be communicated.

"Rachel… I would like it to be Rachel."

"Eddie I …" she stuttered in disbelief, "I don't quite know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything. I would love for Isabelle to grow up and hold similarities to the woman you are today, so I thought giving her a part of you was a good way to start."

Eddie received a sincere smile filled with warmth in response. It was then he realised he had no reason to doubt himself, no reason to be nervous. The reaction Rachel gave was priceless, something he would always remember. It was clear for Eddie to see just how much this meant to her. With that, he ignited the engine, and the pair were soon on their way back to the hospital.

….

"Oh Eddie look," Rachel gasped, pulling him back slightly upon glancing in the room.

Her touch alone was enough to stop Eddie in his tracks, let alone the beautiful sight his eyes were presented with. Philip was perched on a chair next to his Isabelle's cot, stroking her hair ever so gently and whispering nursery rhymes. It was an image both Eddie and Rachel would have etched in their minds forever. For Rachel especially, she knew how much of a deal this was for the boy, he had just lost his mother and apparently, it had come to his attention that his younger sister was one of the few things remaining connected to Melissa.

Several seconds elapsed before the pair emerged into the room. Rachel's hand came to rest on Philip's shoulder, as a gentle way of breaking this content state.

"Philip love, are you alright?"

"Hi Rach, Eddie," he muttered in response, unconsciously discarding Rachel's initial question.

She could sense that the boy was obviously feeling marginally better, Rachel hoped that was due to the steadfast presence of his baby sister. This was why she felt reluctant to remove Philip from this bubble, however, Rachel knew she had to raise the subject of her parents. No matter how difficult it would be, the boy had to be made aware of the situation, she had to offer him the option of meeting his grandparents. It would be unfair not to.

"Come with me for a second Philip."

Rachel spoke softly, attaching her words with a smile in an attempt not to startle him. Eddie glanced at her with an expression full of support, he was anticipating the difficult challenges that lay ahead of Rachel. He wanted to guide her through that; reassuring as possible. Eddie had already allowed her to slip through his fingers once before, that wasn't something he wanted to put himself or Rachel through again. No, Eddie longed to be present for the foreseeable future.